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Saturday, May 29, 2010

Deaf Devotion 5/30/2010

“You know the generous grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty he could make you rich.” (2 Corinthians 8:9 NLT)

It is Memorial Day 2010. Take a moment to remember those serving our country in military service. Remember their families. They give up so much so we can have so much. No matter how much we may disagree with something our government leaders do, our military and their families are the ones on the front line ready to sacrifice for you and me. Some of us have family in the military, but for the most part, we do not know the names of those serving now. We do not know all the names of those who died for our country. There are pictures and faces, but we can take comfort in knowing that God knows the hairs on their head. Take a moment now to thank God for them.

Grace is God's goodness and kindness toward us which we really do not deserve. It does not matter about our merit or worth. It is freely given as a gift to all who believe the good news that Jesus is the Son of God, and He died for their sins.

Grace is free, but it isn't cheap. There was a high price that was paid to obtain this blessing for us. Jesus left the wealth of heaven to come to earth so that He could redeem us and give us the riches of His celestial home.

Think of what that meant in terms of Jesus' earthly life:

The One who is Creator and Owner of all things lived on earth without possessions. He was born in a borrowed stable, had no place to lay His head during the years of His itinerant ministry, and borrowed not only a donkey for entering Jerusalem but also an upper room for the last supper. Even the tomb was not His own.

Christ also laid aside the glory He had with the Father. Although He never stopped being God while He was on the earth, His dazzling God-like glory was veiled with human flesh. Being born as a helpless baby, Jesus went through all the stages of human growth and development. The Son of God descended from reigning on the Father's throne to washing the dirty feet of His disciples.

Christ became poor but lost nothing. Jesus regained the glory of heaven and brought us along. In following Him, believers likewise lose nothing and gain everything. We die to self and gain our souls; give away riches and receive heavenly treasures; and humble ourselves to be exalted in God's time.

God is simply presented in all of creation. We should know, acknowledge, and appreciate Him.
God is supreme and all powerful. We should respect Him.
God is focused on using us in His plan and loves us more than we know. We should worship Him.
God is personal and interested in our salvation and redemption. We should receive Him.

All of that is in Genesis 1:1 which says, “In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth.” We have responsibility to God. We are twice His. First, we are His because of creation, and secondly, we are His because of redemption. He made us and He bought us.

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Mid Week Deaf Devotion 5/26/2010

“When I discovered your words, I devoured them. They are my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, O Lord God of Heaven’s Armies.” (Jeremiah 15:16 NLT)

Last summer, a worker at the AT&T office in San Jose, California decided it was time to clean out an old refrigerator that was in a break room. It was stuffed with lunches, snacks, fruit, drinks, and leftovers that had been there so long nobody could remember what belonged to whom. People had avoided opening the door to this refrigerator due to the smell. But nobody was willing to take the lead to clean it out. Finally this one woman could not stand it anymore.

People were warned. The break room was scheduled to close for the time it would take to clean this refrigerator. Finally, she opened the refrigerator door. This woman couldn't smell the stench due to allergies, but the smell from the rotten food was so toxic that it spread quickly and caused someone to call 911. Ambulances came and firefighters evacuated the building. Seven coworkers were taken to the hospital, and it took a hazmat team to clear out the mess.

One might say, “Pastor John, That’s gross!” I agree. It is gross. It’s nasty. It’s not pleasant to think about. But think about our relationship with God. We try to keep secrets from God thinking that we can get away with something. We keep things locked away in our hearts and minds until they spoil. Nobody is willing to come near us. But it is only Jesus who can open the door to our heart and let out the smell of the sin that is inside that has spoiled and become useless.

Our lives, like refrigerators, can suffer spoilage if we don't keep them cleared out and cleaned up.

Things can go bad quickly when lukewarm. “But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!” (Revelation 3:16 NLT)

Make sure the sincere milk of the Word is on a shelf we can reach every day, along with solid food for the soul. “Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment.” (1 Peter 2:2 NLT) “You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s word. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food.” (Hebrews 5:12 NLT)

Treasure the words of His mouth more than our daily bread, and make sure the manna of daily Bible study doesn't become stale and wormy. “I have not departed from his commands, but have treasured his words more than daily food.” (Job 23:12 NLT)

Keep the oil of joy fresh. “You love justice and hate evil. Therefore God, your God, has anointed you, pouring out the oil of joy on you more than on anyone else.” (Psalm 45:7 NLT)

We need to look inside our hearts and our lives to throw out anything that doesn't contribute to our overall spiritual well-being. We need to become aware of anything that is going stale or is already rotten. We need to stay plugged into the current of heaven through prayer, and then we will become a source of nourishment to others.

Saturday, May 22, 2010

Deaf Devotion 5/22/2010

“But Daniel was determined not to defile himself …” (Daniel 1:8a NLT)

Daniel had a problem. He was captive in a foreign land. He still wanted to worship God and live like God expected him to live. But in reality the King and his people had a lot of authority and wanted their own way. Daniel was expected to eat what they ate, learn what they learned, and even have a name they chose. All of this was so that Daniel and some others would be groomed for “service in the royal palace.” (Daniel 1: 4 NLT)

But Daniel already knew in his heart what is right. Daniel had “purposed” (KJV) “determined” (NLT) what he was going to do. He had already decided. The Hebrew word here is “suwm.” That may look like a strange word. It sounds like “zoom.” The definition is to “to put, place, set, appoint, make.” It means to be “focused” or “fixed” on something.

Daniel had unshakable faith. His belief in the Lord kept him going when everything around him seemed to be going wrong. Daniel was uprooted from his home, taken into captivity, and sent to a foreign country. It strengthened him as he served under the authority of four different kings and faced many challenges.

Knowing God and trusting Him are the two key elements of deep faith. Daniel, who was part of the Israelite nobility, apparently learned about the Lord from a young age. While he was in captivity, his words and actions demonstrated that he knew the Scriptures and wanted to obey God. When offered a meal that had been sacrificed to idols, he took a great risk by requesting other food. God caused Daniel’s enemies to show favor to him. Like Daniel, we are to stay focused on what God expects of us and spend our lives learning and carrying out what pleases our heavenly Father.

Not only did this young man know what the Scriptures said, but he also trusted God to do as He had promised. Every time Daniel took a stand for what God wanted, he was demonstrating his confidence in the Father. And his friends—Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego—had unwavering belief as well. They did not know for sure that the Lord would rescue them from the fiery furnace, but they trusted that He would do what was right.

There are things that block unshakable faith.
Pride – “I won't admit I need God's help.”
Arrogance – “I know a better way—I don't have to ask God.”
Self-sufficiency – “I can do it myself without God’s help.”

God is always with us. Jesus is alive. The Holy Spirit has made His home in our hearts. What is stopping us from becoming people of strong faith that God knows what He is doing? Confess it and turn toward the Lord.

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Mid Week Deaf Devotion 5/18/2010

“Pay attention, O Jacob, for you are my servant, O Israel. I, the Lord, made you, and I will not forget you. I have swept away your sins like a cloud. I have scattered your offenses like the morning mist. Oh, return to me, for I have paid the price to set you free.” (Isaiah 44:21-22 NLT)

Jacob, whose name was changed to Israel after wrestling with the angel, was chosen by God for a specific reason. But it was not because he was sinless or above blame from man's point of view. The descendants of Jacob/Israel were just like us. They are real people with real problems making real mistakes. But God used this group of people to bring Jesus into the world and to give us a relationship back to God.

Even though we have been dealing with the same sin issues since creation, God does not separate Himself from us because of our sin. Jesus made a way for us to be united with God forever. We do not have the ability to become perfect while on earth but we can be shaped into God's image because of Jesus Christ.

It is because of the cross that all things are made new. We need to cling to the cross because it is there that we have been set free. We are forgiven, reconciled back to God and called out to spread the Gospel. We need to do nothing more than to accept that our sins have been cleansed and be willing to accept how the debt has been paid. It is because of Jesus Christ that we have been called. We are His witnesses established for His glory and set apart from the world for His purposes.

God says there is nothing we do can separate us from Him. But the same is not true of us. We tend to hang on to our sins, which lead us away from the Lord. Jesus has cleansed us from all sin—past, present and future. Our thoughts should not be on the Savior and not the sin. We need to be thanking Him for how good God is that He made a way for us to be with Him forever.

Relax.
Take in a deep breath.
Think about how much unlimited grace has freely given as a gift to us.
Talk to the Lord about the sin issues that keep pulling us away from Him.
Thank Him for never pulling away from us.

Now REJOICE!

God calls His people to remember who He is and what He has done for them. And then God calls His people to act in a way that will reflect His glory. The sin is forgiven once and for all. He proclaimed He would deliver us from our captivity. Because He is a God that can proclaim the future before it occurs.

Sunday, May 16, 2010

Deaf Devotion 5/15/2010 A Day Late Read On

“O our God, won’t you stop them? We are powerless against this mighty army that is about to attack us. We do not know what to do, but we are looking to you for help.” (2 Chronicles 20:12)

Let me be blunt – Satan kicked my butt this week. He tested my faith. He tempted me to give up. He wanted to destroy all the work God has for me to do. In fact, Satan did not want me to finish this Devotion. But God, in His wisdom and truth led me to the Prayer of Jehoshaphat in 2 Chronicles.

Jehoshaphat, a king whose name means "Jehovah is judge," was one of only a few godly kings in Judah. He tore down the pagan worship sites and dispatched priests and Levites throughout the nation to teach people the laws of God.

Jehoshaphat is best known, however, for how he handled a crisis that could have destroyed the country he ruled. When several surrounding nations gathered against Judah to destroy it, Jehoshaphat knew he was no match militarily. So he called the people and leaders of Judah together to pray. The last sentence of his prayer summarizes his heart. He prayed, “We do not know what to do, but we are looking to you for help.” God answered his prayer for help and gave Judah the victory. The armies that rose up against him and Israel turned on each other and destroyed themselves.

If we are facing similar situations today that seem hopeless, something for which we have no answers, pray Jehoshaphat's prayer: "Lord, we have no clue what to do, but our eyes are on You." Stay focused on Him until the answer comes.

Are we experiencing some type of problem today? Is today the day Satan decided to kick our butt? Maybe today is the day he chooses to throw his best temptation our way. Does this describe what we are experiencing? Yes? Well there is one word for us: “Congratulations!”

I don’t want to make it sound like a joke, but the comment is a serious one. You see, problems really are an opportunity in disguise. If we have no problems we are doing something wrong. We need to learn that God wants us to see our problems and enemies as opportunities. A Christian is not someone who sees a problem in every opportunity. God wants us to think differently. God says that His children are the ones who see an opportunity in every situation.

Think of a problem we are struggling through today. Notice that the sentence says “WE ARE STRUGGLING THROUGH.” There is no “maybe struggling” in that sentence. Problems are a fact of life. Now, we need to get on our knees. Ask God to show us the opportunity that is hidden away in the struggle that will bring Him glory.

Jehoshaphat prayed, “We don’t know what to do, but our eyes are upon you.”
That is exactly where God wants us to be.
The encouragement of worshipful heart is important in the midst of problems.
Worship is our response to God’s presence.
Worship is our response as we return to Him in our helplessness.

Jehoshaphat and His people worshipped before the battle during the battle and after the battle.
Worship is a way of life. Worship of God makes God bigger than any problem we have. Let God kick Satan’s butt for a while.

Thank you to Pastor Paul Arnold for His ministry. We will miss you.

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Mid Week Deaf Devotion 5/11/2010

“Jesus said unto them, "Come and dine." And none of the disciples dared ask Him, "Who art Thou?" knowing that it was the Lord.” (John 21:12 NKJV)

Is Satan whispering that God is not for us in our daily battles? Is he whispering lies that God is going to erase our name from the Book of Life for something we’ve done, yet repented over?

Satan never had it so wrong! And Jesus never had it so right!

Salvation in Christ is not a funeral, but a feast! It is not an ending, but a beginning.

The Bible is a continual feast from Genesis right through to Revelation. Covenant meals and meals of fellowship are frequent occurrences in Scripture. Our Shepherd, the Lord Jesus, has given many examples of His open invitation to be replenished and restored, to remember, and to rejoice at His table.

Spend just a few moments to think about the setting of today’s verse. God has become flesh and dwelt among His creation. He has temporarily laid aside the glory of heaven to become human like us, and become totally dependent upon and obedient to the Father, in all things.

He taught His apostles and the people of Galilee, Judea and other regions, even across the Jordan, about the Kingdom of God. He has performed miracles. There were healings, driving out demons, and demonstrations of authority over time and nature. He had caught the religious leaders in their own hypocrisy. He confronted every one of their challenges and came out on top in every case. In humility and obedience He went to Calvary’s cross, poured out His blood and died to pay the penalty for our sin, and He did it for all. Now He has risen from the tomb where He defeated death and the grave, and one by one, two by two, appeared to those who have loved Him. He gave them promise that not many days later they would receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

So now what do we expect from this Man Jesus Christ? This One who is declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead? I mean, how can anyone do more than that?

Now here we are at John chapter 21. Peter (the coward), Thomas (the doubter), Nathaniel, and the two boys who had thought they could drink the cup with Him, James and John; and two unnamed disciples, have gone back to their fishing.

And the risen, glorified, Lord of the universe, appears on the shore to cook them breakfast.

Doesn’t that just say it all? Whatever is our concept of God; however we tend to respond to Him, hold it up to the light of what we see happening in the verse. Let this picture shape our thinking of Jesus Christ, Lord, Savior, Messiah. He cooked them breakfast!

Have we sinned? Have we missed the mark in our obedience to God’s plan? Does our past come back to haunt us? Are we confused with the pains of guilt, rejection, failure and personal shame? Do Satan’s lies leave us beaten, abused, weak and tired? Have we lost our focus and are we left longing and lonely?

Look toward the shore.

The Lion of the tribe of Judah; the One who went down into death and conquered it; the One whose voice the wind and the waves still obey; the glorious, risen, Lord of all wants to serve us breakfast. He’ll feed and strengthen us, assure us, accept us, and give us focus and a purpose. Jesus goes one step further by then promising to be with us forever. He died to pay the price for our sin. He rose to give us life.

Don’t look down. Don’t look back. Look up Jesus is coming back. Don’t look down. Don’t look back. Look at the shore. Bread and fish are on the fire being prepared by a nail-scarred hand.

The Disciples knew it was Him. This time they knew for sure.

Some are so caught up in other stuff in life and expect Jesus just to keep waiting on them. They wonder why others are getting blessed while they are still struggling. It’s because those who know Jesus are swimming toward Him and the others are afraid to get their feet wet.

Knowing Jesus means we can’t wait to get to Him. Knowing Jesus means we will forget what we used to do. Knowing Jesus means leaving behind our old life. Knowing Jesus means we love Him more than anything.

Satan wants us to think we are failures and unlovable. The Master of the universe is making a meal for us. What more can He do? Nothing. His Grace is sufficient for all we need.

Saturday, May 8, 2010

Deaf Devotion 5/8/2010

“Then the mother of James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus with her sons. She knelt respectfully to ask a favor.” (Matthew 20:20 NLT)

Mothers are teachers. Mothers give out correction. Mothers are cleaning ladies. Some mothers are gardeners and some will mow the lawn. And most mothers understand that baking cookies is more important than washing windows, too.

Mothers are nurses, doctors, psychologists, counselors, drivers, and coaches. Mothers are developers of personalities, molders of vocabularies, and shapers of attitudes. Mothers are soft voices saying, "I love you." And mothers are a link to God, a child’s first impression of God’s love.

Mothers are all of these things & much, much more.

We might very well criticize the mother of James and John for her pride. But since this is Mother’s Day weekend, maybe we ought to think for a few moments concerning some positive things. We need also to recognize that when she came to Jesus, while Jesus did not grant her request, neither did he deny it. He simply reminded her of the cost of being seated on the right or left and then told her that only God decides who will be seated there.

Now, what are some of the good things about James and John’s mother? First of all, she came to the Lord, praying that her sons might be a part of His Kingdom. This really is the most important task of motherhood. That is to seek to make sure that children are a part of the Kingdom of God.

Many mothers pray. We would hope that most mothers pray. Sometimes they pray out of need. Sometimes they pray because motherhood is not easy, but extremely difficult.

Being a parent is not easy. Sometimes it is filled with joy and sometimes with sadness. Sometimes children make a mom so proud she can’t stop talking about her children. At other times she can’t find enough Kleenex to dry her tears.

What good is it if our children are successful in making money, driving fine automobiles, and living in good neighborhoods, but they don’t know God? What does it matter if they gain the whole world, but lose their souls?

Secondly, not only did their mother pray that her children would be a part of Jesus’ kingdom, but she prayed that they would be actively involved in the work of His kingdom.

Maybe it is not enough just to be saved. Churches are full of people content just to fill a pew on Sunday mornings. There are plenty of people willing to sit back & receive the blessings, but seldom do they get involved in doing any of the real work of the church.

But where does the spirit of service begin? It begins at home, with mothers & fathers setting the example & praying that their sons and daughters might be involved in the work of the kingdom as teachers and leaders. That they might be the ones going out into the world, finding the lost, and to seeing that the church continues on until Jesus comes again.

Thirdly, Mom had had big expectations for her two sons. She didn’t just pray. She didn’t just pray that her boys would be involved in the work of the Kingdom. She also wanted them on the right hand and left hand of Jesus.

When working in a kingdom, there are no higher positions than those on the right and left of the King himself. That’s what she wanted for her sons.

We may consider this mother to be thoughtless and rude think only about this for her own children. But we also want to admire her boldness. Too often we have settled for something less than the best in the church. For too long we have been content with just barely making it through the door. For too long we have been content to sit back and let things happen.

It is time for some of us to take our positions of leadership molding and fashioning the outreach of the church, encouraging others to make sure the message of Christ goes into the entire world.

It is time to strive for excellence and to reach for the very best there is. There is nothing better than Jesus Christ.

That is why Mother’s Day is always very special. It is because we recognize that a mother’s love is probably the closest example we have to God’s love. It is a love that goes through the valley of the shadow of death to bring life into being. It is a love that sacrifices itself over and over again and would even dare to lay down its life.

Mothers, God Bless You. This is your day. If you have felt that you have had to walk through that valley alone so many times, that you will recognize that there is a hand reaching out to you, saying, "There is nothing to be afraid of. I’ll go with you." You will recognize that that one has already gone through the valley of the shadow for you, and made it possible for you to live forever.

God extends His loving invitation in much the same way that a mother opens the doors of home and invites her children to come back again. God invites all His kids to come home by faith in Jesus Christ as Savior. But sometimes we need to humble ourselves, bow before Jesus and ask a favor.

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Mid Week Deaf Devotion 5/4/2010

“All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4 NLT)

Look up the word "comfort" in a dictionary or some other reference and one will find a definition like this: "Something that promotes a state of ease or provides freedom from pain and anxiety."

But God's Word has a different solution when comfort is needed. Comfort is found in the guidance of the Holy Spirit. In Greek, He is called “parakletos,” which means "he who stands at one's side; he who comes to one's aid." Believers don't have to seek outward answers or trends to ease their mind, because help is available within.

Even before the Spirit was sent to live in the hearts of believers, The Bible identifies God as the one who comforts His people. The Lord personally provides comfort and reassurance because no one knows our hurts the way He does.

God lets us pass through hardship to make us stronger believers, wiser servants, and more humble people. But He stays right by our side through the entire experience, holding us up and limiting the force and extent of our trial. The Holy Spirit's reassuring whisper to our heart gives more comfort than the support of family or the encouragement of friends.

People who fail to understand that the true source of comfort is God try to find their own escape from their pain. They seek out pleasures, material wealth, or drugs and alcohol to soothe their heart. Only God can offer lasting relief from the crushing pressure of heartache. He even brings joy into periods of mourning.

So, one of the things that Paul teaches us here in his letter to the Corinthians is that pain, whether it be physical pain, or any kind of emotional pain, should drive us to trust God for help. This is because He’s the Father of compassion, and the God of all comfort. And He’s the God of all comfort because He’s been there. He’s done that. He’s experienced more than you and I will ever experience.

He’s known sorrow. He’s seen the pain of losing a loved one. He’s suffered physical pain. These experiences are what make Him able to comfort us as no one else can.

Anyone know the shortest verse in the Bible?

John 11:35: “Jesus wept.”

Why is this verse important?

This verse is important because it reveals the depth of His compassion for us.

The source of all comfort (note the word ALL) is God Himself. However, Paul also reminds us that, spiritual gifts are not intended solely for the recipients’ benefit, but are to be used in turn for the service of others.

1 Peter 4:10 says that each one should use whatever gift he or she has received to serve others, faithfully being stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.

God’s grace also includes this comfort, received from Him, which enables us to comfort others. We can channel that comfort through prayer, we can channel that comfort through practical service, but God uses us – you and me, to provide comfort, to be the tools of His compassion, to a hurting world.

That’s who we come to today, and every day, to draw on the comfort of the one who comes alongside us. Here and now, God is with us. Isaiah 41:10 says: “So do not fear, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

God’s grace and comfort is sufficient. That’s all we need.

Saturday, May 1, 2010

Deaf Devotion 5/1/2010

“Then the whole population of Lydda and Sharon saw Aeneas walking around, and they turned to the Lord.” (Acts 9:35 NLT)

What had these people witnessed caused them to immediately believe? They had seen how one person, when they focus on the power of God, can have a miracle. The person is Peter and he had just healed Aenas who could not walk. Peter’s simple act in the name of Jesus Christ changed and entire community. It changed more cities than we know! People in the next city had heard of Peter and called him there for another miracle. The Name of Jesus was spreading quickly.

Can an entire community be transformed for Jesus Christ? The book of Acts reveals that at least one city was.

What does God want us to do to change communities to have faith in His Son Jesus Christ? What are we willing to do?

There are four key ingredients required to see a city transformed. These include prayer, humility, unity, and knowledge of God's ways.

Prayer
In every community in which change needs to happen, believers come together to pray specifically for their community. Prayer changes the spiritual focus. Some of the main areas of influence that must be the focus of our prayers includes churches and businesses; the legal, political, educational and medical fields; and the media/entertainment industry. All believers must be in prayer for the lost souls of their city. All believers should pray for the opportunity to share the Gospel in their community.

Humility
God uses men and women who recognize that they need each other and who do not seek glory for their work. "He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way" (Psalm 25:9). God’s servant-leaders only will give glory to God.

Unity
Jesus said, "May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me" (John 17:23). God calls each of us individually and as a member of a larger community to represent Christ to the world. But what happens is that we become rebellious. Our independence, pride and egos often prevent us from becoming unified in the purposes of Christ. It is not about us. It is all about the free grace offered by God and for the finished work of Jesus Christ on the Cross once and for all.

Knowledge of God's Ways
Sometimes leaders can move in what they think is best instead of in faith that God knows what is best. Such was the case of David, who wanted to bring the Ark of the Covenant into the city of Jerusalem. He was zealous for God and celebrated as he brought the Ark into the city. However, the ark was being carried into the city on a cart instead of by priests on poles, as God required. When a man named Uzzah reached out to catch the Ark when the oxen stumbled, he was immediately struck dead by God. David was devastated. He lacked knowledge of God's ways.

Do we want to see our communities changed? There is power in the Name.

The results of Peter using the powerful name of Jesus caused not one but two entire cities to turn to Jesus. Often we praise God when three or four people accept Jesus for salvation. But why stop at three or four people? What about a community, a state, a nation? But in the Book of Acts we find two communities turning from their old ways and discovering a life in Christ. There is power in the Name.

This is what can happen when we take ourselves out of the equation and allow the Lord to have His way. I know we were taught in Philippians 4:13 that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us, but sometime we need to call on the marvelous name of Jesus Christ alone. There is power in the Name.

We sometimes call on His name with doubting and wondering if it is in His will to do what we ask. But when we put our focus wholly on Jesus and take the human factor out of it, wonderful things happen.

If God’s people ever got serious about praying, communities and lives can be changed. There is power in the Name.

When Peter was traveling, he was not on a day trip to Key West. He went with a purpose. He wanted people to know the power that comes in the name of Jesus Christ. So because Peter put Jesus’ name first and foremost and left himself out of the picture, the results were amazing. Two communities turned to the Lord.

There is awesome power in the name of Jesus.