Jesus Wept

A favorite memory verse among the Sunday School kids: John 11:35 "Jesus wept." A closer look at this scripture reveals an important revelation; timely as folks celebrate Easter. Jesus is on His way to raise Lazarus from the dead. He has already proclaimed that he is going to do it (verse 23). He has already stated that He is glad He wasn't there to prevent Lazarus' death, because though the situation has turned into an impossibility, that is nothing but an opportunity to Him. So Jesus let this happen? And He is glad? Why? Lazarus resurrection after 4 days is a preparation. Why should it be so hard to believe that Jesus himself can resurrect after only 3 days? Anyhow, we know in John 11:35 that Jesus isn't weeping because His friend Lazarus is dead, He let it happen and planned to raise him. Why the weeping then? He groaned and He wept because of their lack of faith. Now ask yourself, why did Jesus agonize in the Garden of Gesthemene prior to his crucifixion? The Bible says that for the joy that was set before Him, He endured the cross, but then we find Him agonizing in the garden. So in Jesus most notable miracle, He is glad, then he weeps and in His own death, there is joy and there is agony. I submit to you that Jesus gladly laid down His life and knew he was going to take it up again. His agony in the garden was over the unbelief of many: that though his sacrifice was for all, it would be made of none effect for so many through unbelief.

Going back to the resurrection of Lazarus: Jesus tells Martha that her brother shall rise again (John 11:23). She thinks she has it figured out and speaks through limited faith that she knows he will raise again at the last day. Jesus makes a stong statement of truth: "I am the resurrection." Imagine having faith in a future solution when the solution to your problem is standing right in front of you. Jesus says here not "I am going to resurrect Lazarus," no He says "I am the resurrection." Jesus doesn't have the answer to your problem, HE IS THE ANSWER TO YOUR PROBLEM. It isn't about what Jesus can and will do, it it about who HE is! Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you. But the question is will you believe, or will He grieve?

Dominion over the Enemy

In Genesis 1:28, God gives dominion to man over all His creation, but in Luke 4:5-6 the devil takes Jesus to a high mountain and offers his dominion over all the kindgoms of the world. Since when did the devil have this dominion that was given to man? That is what REALLY happened in the Garden of Eden. God told Adam that in the day he disobeyed and ate of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil he would surely die, yet Adam lived to the age of 930! It obviously wasn't Adam's body or soul that died that day, it was his spirit. "And you hath He quickened who were dead in trespasses and sins." The body and soul do not have dominion over the spirit realm; so when Satan tempted man to disobedience and man disobeyed, his spirit died and his dominion along with it. Satan now had dominion. The earth became a hard place for man after he lost his dominion; animals no longer were under his dominion and even the earth itself only yielded it's substance to man with much labor. But it was God's desire from the beginning for man to have dominion. Jesus was very much alive spiritually and had dominion. Jesus restored dominion to his disciples and they marvelled that the spirits were subject to them. God's plan of salvation for man is not just about forgiveness of sins, but restoration of dominion. "For sin shall not have dominion over you." "Greater is He that is within you than he that is in the world." We've got to understand not only the importance of receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost as necessary for salvation as it is the restoration of spiritual life within man (a spiritually dead creature) - but we MUST understand that this gift is more than a feeling, more than an experience, more than a seal of salvation - IT IS THE RESTORATION OF MAN'S RIGHTFUL DOMINION. "And ye shall receive POWER after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you." Christians who are not spirit-filled do not have dominion as they possess only a living body and soul, but a dead spirit. Christians who do not walk in the spirit, but walk in disobedience, are willfully giving away their dominion as Adam did in the garden. Gal 5:16-18 tells us "This I say then, Walk in the Spirit , and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law." "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil , and he will flee from you." When you are submitted to God and filled with the spirit, you will have dominion; you will be able to resist the devil and his dominion. When the devils realize that you are not a man or woman subject to their dominion, but rather it it YOU who has dominion over THEM - they will flee from you saying, "Have you come to torment us before our time?" "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds" The message: be filled with the spirit and walk in it and you will have dominion. "And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils . . ."

Holy Ghost and Fire!

What exciting times we live in. With the coming of the Lord quickly upon us, I am so thankful to be in the CHURCH of the living God! Just over a year ago we endeavored to plant a church here in the beautiful city of Bonita with God's help. I would lie to you if I said, I never got discouraged in the first couple of months. However, it was at those times that our Lord would send a direct message to me or financially bless the CHURCH. With assurance I knew He had my back and I could trust Him. What would I do without Him on my side. Jesus the same yesterday, today, and forevermore! The church has been experiencing the goodness of the Lord and lives are being transformed. To God be the Glory! Expecting marvelous things to come!