Shine Jesus Shine...
Illus. By David Dewitt
In 1972, NASA launched the exploratory space probe Pioneer 10. According to Leon Jaroff in Time, the satellite’s primary mission was to reach Jupiter, photograph the planet and its moons, and beam data to earth about Jupiter’s magnetic field, radiation belts, and atmosphere.
Scientists regarded this as a bold plan, for at that time no earth satellite had ever gone beyond Mars, and they feared the asteroid belt would destroy the satellite before it could reach its target.
But Pioneer 10 accomplished its mission and much, much more. Swinging past the giant planet in November 1973, Jupiter’s immense gravity hurled Pioneer 10 at a higher rate of speed toward the edge of the solar system. At one billion miles from the sun, Pioneer 10 passed Saturn. At some two billion miles, it hurtled past Uranus; Neptune at nearly three billion miles; Pluto at almost four billion miles. By 1997, twenty-five years after its launch, Pioneer 10 was more than six billion miles from the sun.
And despite that immense distance, Pioneer 10 continued to beam back radio signals to scientists on Earth. "Perhaps most remarkable," writes Jaroff, "those signals emanate from an 8-watt transmitter, which radiates about as much power as a bedroom night light, and takes more than nine hours to reach Earth."
The Little Satellite That Could was not qualified to do what it did. Engineers designed Pioneer 10 with a useful life of just three years. But it kept going and going. By simple longevity, its tiny 8-watt transmitter radio accomplished more than anyone thought possible.
Light is a marvelous thing isn't it? The first thing anyone wants to do when they get lost in the dark, is to have light. If light is not available, then a fire will do. Something, anything to light the way, so the darkness doesn't consume and dominate the situation.
Many people are consumed by the darkness and become afraid of it. They constantly need and must have light at all times. Nyctophobia, is what is commonly known as fear of the dark.
There is a remedy to this condition found in the word of God. The ironic thing is, it is the word of God.
Psalms 119:105 NKJ
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
Before you can eliminate the darkness you have to turn on the light. It works the same with the word. Gods word will light your path. But for it to light you're path, you need to read it, study it and absorb it into you're life.
You weren't created for just any old purpose. God created you for a specific purpose!
You may not feel like it, or realize it. But God thought about you in great detail, when you were created.
Ephesians 2:7-10 MSG
7-10 Now God has us where he wants us, with all the time in this world and the next to shower grace and kindness upon us in Christ Jesus. Saving is all his idea, and all his work. All we do is trust him enough to let him do it. It’s God’s gift from start to finish! We don’t play the major role. If we did, we’d probably go around bragging that we’d done the whole thing! No, we neither make nor save ourselves. God does both the making and saving. He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing
The accuser may try to tell you and convince that you don’t matter to God, and that your not worthy of the blessings that He has for you, but that’s not what the word says is it?
Not to sound redundant, but we need to be redundant when it comes to Gods word. The word says faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God! And no matter how many times we hear this, no matter how much truth is in that spoken word from God! The devil still tries to steal it from us, each and every time that its spoken!
That's why we need to know the word, because in the word their is life! And not any old life, but "abundant life, the word says!" John 10:10 says!
Can anyone recite John 10:10 NKJ this morning? This is scripture that everyone should know by heart! "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly."
What kind of Life? That's right, "abundant life!" Msg. says, a more and better life then you have ever dreamed of! That's good news, friend! And the devil hates good news!
Even right now, he is stealing it from somebody! But if it's committed to memory and down in your heart, he can't steal it! Instead the opposite happens, it gives you the power and strength to say devil, your a liar! And no matter how you may try, you can’t steal the truth from me! Speak it out, get used to hearing yourself make that declaration, because it's a powerful truth!!
That's why knowing the word is important! he is going to throw everything he can at you! That's why it's important to be able to defend yourself with the word!
Hebrews 4:12-13 Msg.
12-13 God means what he says. What he says goes. His powerful Word is sharp as a surgeon’s scalpel, cutting through everything, whether doubt or defense, laying us open to listen and obey. Nothing and no one is impervious to God’s Word. We can’t get away from it—no matter what.
Jesus when He was tempted by the devil, do you know what He said? You should!
Because it's tried, true and proven ammunition you can use against the devil, just like He did!
Matthew 3:8-11 NKJ
8 Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.”
10 Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you,[d] Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’”[e]
11 Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.
That’s why TBS over and over "to him who has ears, let him hear!" The word is where your faith and your defense comes from!
Romans 10:17 NKJ
So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Well, I just don’t feel worthy of quoting the word this morning! Don't fall prey to his tactics, because the devil is always going to spew his condemnation message of, "your not worthy!"
Listen up this morning...it’s when you don’t feel worthy that the accuser is stealing your blessing right out from underneath of you and you don’t even know it!
Jesus has made you worthy to partake, not your feelings! And the word declares it over and over! If you're a Christian, you have the righteousness of God!
Do you remember when Jesus was baptized and God said these words of His Son, even before Jesus had performed one miracle, He said "This is my beloved Son, in whom I Am we’ll pleased"
It’s the same with us, our works don’t make us, or qualify us to have the righteousness of God! Our relationship with Jesus does and that’s the only thing that does!
This is the Truth, you are and you became Gods beloved son or daughter, in whom He is well pleased, the moment you became born again, Praise God!
In case you didn't know it, "those are shouting words right there friends!"
That’s why all of heaven celebrates when you do, Glory to God in the Highest!
One word, is all that you need from God, one word from God can turn any situation around, no matter how the circumstances may seem to appear.
One Word can make a crooked leg straight!
One Word can heal a broken heart!
One Word can put commas in your checkbook!
One Word can send the devil marching down the road!
The accuser will always try to use circumstances, to paint Gods involvement, completely out of the picture! he will cause your focus to shift from Gods capabilities to your circumstances every time you let him!
Our pain doesn't move God, our tears don't move God either! Oh believe me, I know we would all like to think that they would, but they don't! Our faith In the promises and the written word is what moves God to move on our behalf. And TBS He is more than able to supply your every need abundantly and not only is He able, He wants to supply your every need TBS says it gives Him great pleasure to do so!
Ain’t nobody ever gonna Love you the way that God Loves you!
Somebody ought to be given God a shout up in this place! Praise God!
Eph. 3:20 NKJ
20. Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,
*If you have a physical, emotional, financial need, or a need you don’t even know how to describe,
Whether it’s a carry over from a 100 yesterday’s, or one that your not even aware of in the future, He has already provided abundantly for it to be met!
There is nothing new under the sun, that you could come up with, that would surprise Him as far as a need, in your life. Because He has already been there, conquered and been victorious over every need imaginable, or even unimaginable!
Praise the Lord, Great God Almighty!!
God has seen it all, your past and your future, And He wants you to know that it looks good! Not only good, but Fantastic!
Start looking at yourself through the eyes of God for a change!
I think you’ll like what your seeing a whole lot better, Amen?
Will there be times of temptation? That things aren’t going the way they seem like they should?
YES, but I want you to realize Its just a trick of the enemy. And when that happens, just turn to the Word and "let him have it!" Because the Word says, your future has never looked more promising! (Jeremiah 29:11)
Illus. Joe Preston
I was regretting the past and fearing the future. Suddenly my Lord was speaking: “My name is “I AM.” He paused. I waited.
He continued, “When you live in the past with its mistakes and regrets, it is hard. I am not there. My name is not ‘I WAS.’
When you live in the future with its problems and fears, it is hard. I am not there. My name is not ‘I WILL BE.’
When you live in this moment it is not hard; I am there! My name is ‘I AM!’
Sometimes we have to remind ourselves, that Jesus is closer to us than even the mention of His name. But we still have to acknowledge Him and His presence in our lives! In order for Him to work in and to do the things we ask and want Him to do for us!
Psalms 119:105 NKJ
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
He is a lamp and a light available daily to protect and to guide our way. But only if we are willing to let Him shine in our lives, by shining through our lives!
Amen?
Let us pray!
