Category: Ministry

“What Ever”

Colossians 3:17 “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” (NKJV)

Three of the gospels record Mary (the sister of Martha and Lazarus) with the act of anointing Jesus with oil.

John 12:3 “Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.”

Mary performed this act to signal her devotion and may not have realized the significance of what she was doing. Mary’s act of anointing Jesus symbolized the anticipation of His death and burial, also the anointing of Jesus by Mary can also be looked at as an act of worship.

Colossians 3:23-24 “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men (people pleasing) Vs 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.”

Incentive: something that motivates or encourages one to do something or work harder.

Mary had the incentive to use expensive oil contained in an expensive container, not being concerned about the cost of the oil or the container.

1^st Corinthians 10:31 “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”

Motivation: the reason or reasons one has for acting or behaving in a particular way.

Mary was motivated to do what she did as an act of worship, and not to impress Jesus or others that were there in the house.

1^st Peter 4:10 “As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.”      

Priorities: the order of importance of doing things.

Mary’s priority was focused on doing what honored Jesus, and not being discouraged about the comments, or what people were saying about why she was using the expensive oil or breaking the alabaster flask.

Galatians 6:9 “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.”

Often time’s people will question your actions because what they see you doing does not make sense to them. One of the disciples, Judas asked the question “why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?”

Financial gain should not always be the incentive, motivation or the priority for a person’s actions.

“What Ever“ is said or done in a person’s life should be done to the glory of God.

Father in heaven, may both our words and deeds magnify and glorify you, and be pleasing in your eyesight, in Jesus name…Amen!

Continuing in His service…Rev

God with us

Isaiah 7:14 “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.”

Matthew 1:23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel, which is translated, God with us.”

Isaiah was a prophet in the Old Testament that prophesied about the coming Messiah, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Many have said that the book of Isaiah contains more references to the coming Messiah than any other book in the Bible. It has been considered to be a major prophetic book in the Old Testament.

Isaiah 9:6 “For to us a child is born, unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

Isaiah 9:6 is one of many “Messianic prophecies” that not only tells of the Messiah coming, but describes who He is and what He will do:  

A Son is given (Immanuel)…..He came as a gift to be with us here on earth

He has a responsibility…Government

He has several names:

Wonderful….excellent / great

Counselor….someone who gives guidance, teaches or gives encouragement / having supernatural wisdom

Mighty….possessing great power and strength

God….the great “I AM” being everything

Everlasting….eternal, never ending, lasting for ever

Father….having the nature of protecting / providing

Prince of peace….ruling with dignity and authority

The Lord Jesus Christ fulfilled the Old Testament Messianic Prophecy in several of the New Testament books;

Matthew 1:23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel, which is translated, God with us.”

Born in Bethlehem [Mica 5:2, Matthew 2:1]

Anointed by the Holy Spirit [Isaiah 11:2, Matthew 3:16-17]

Ministered in Galilee [Isaiah 9:1, Matthew 4:12-16]

Rejected by Jews [Psalm 118:22, 1st Peter 2:7]

Betrayed by a friend [Psalm 41:9; John 13:18]

Rose from the dead [Psalm 16:10, Mark 16:6]

“Father in heaven, thank you for the fulfillment of the messianic prophecy that prophesied the coming of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ here on earth…Amen”

Continuing in His service…Rev

“The Midnight Hour”

Acts 16:25-26 “But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Vs. 26 Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed.” [NKJV]

12:00 midnight is the ending of one day and the beginning of another day. It is the opposite of 12:00 noon by 12 hours.

The bible records several events the happened at the midnight hour:

Exodus 12:29 “And it came to pass at midnight that the Lord struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharoah who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who was in the dungeon, and all the firstborn of the livestock.” [NKJV]

Judges 16:3 “And Samson lay low till midnight; then he arose at midnight, took hold of the doors of the gate of the city and the two gateposts, pulled them up, bar and all, put them on his shoulders and carried them to the top of the hill that faces Hebron. [NKJV]

Matthew 25:6 “And at midnight a cry was heard; Behold the, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!” [NKJV]

God’s timing is always perfect, He is an ever-present God, and has told us in His word that he will never leave us or forsake us.

Psalm 30:5 “For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning.” [NKJV]

“Father in heaven, thank you for Your perfect timing and when You move in people’s lives at the midnight hour. The time when the old becomes new, and when the weeping that might endure for a night, changes into Your joy that comes in the morning. Thank you for the joy that comes from You, in Jesus’ name…Amen!”

Continuing in His service…Rev