P 3425 THINK Bigger!   

At 4.00am I was instantly awake and stuff started downloading into my heart. Then the Holy Spirit said to me: “Tell My people they need to LET ME be bigger.” Then He gave me some examples from His Word to stir our courage.

When Jesus said in Mark 4:39 : “Peace be still” to the ocean, as it tried to drown the disciples … that ocean heard the same VOICE that said: “ Let there be light! “ … so it obeyed. Everything that lived inside the sea came from the Lord speaking, including the sea itself. This world knows His voice. I think there’s a lesson for us in there … if even the SEA is obedient to Almighty God, then what excuse do we have?

We need to think bigger than getting a car park when we need one! This world is in turmoil. The people around us need the peace that passes all understanding and we have it … it is ours. The Lord gave it to us. Give it away! You can always take it back if people don’t appreciate it. That’s in the book too!

When Moses held up his staff at the Red Sea — the same staff that God had transformed from a lump of wood into a snake before his eyes — the bible says: the sea SAW it. “The sea saw it, and fled! “ Then a mighty east wind blew, and the ocean parted. Moses’ staff was nothing, just a bit of hard wood. A shepherd’s staff, used to whack wolves and bears on the head. It was ordinary. Please listen carefully to this bit .. Almighty God took what Moses already had and made it powerful. Ya might want to selah that for a minute or ten. 

After Moses told the sea to part, and all the Israelites were safe, Moses held that staff up again and two walls of water came crashing down on Pharaoh and his army. They drowned. But don’t feel sorry for them, God gave the Egyptians ten plagues to warn them about what was coming. It wasn’t the staff that controlled the sea, and it wasn’t Moses’ power that did it either. When the man of God obeyed what God told him to do, that staff in his hand became a symbol of God’s authority. Now we have His authority too.

When we act upon His Word, day by day as He leads us, it is as if God Himself is standing there with us, backing up our obedience with His power. Let’s look at another scripture in Luke 10:20: “But don’t rejoice because evil spirits obey you; rejoice because your names are registered in heaven.” Jesus was explaining to the disciples their true priorities. Our priority is not power – but power comes from our relationship and the Lord’s recognition of an individual. The people who do things with God, STAND UP!

When His disciples went out and raised the dead, healed the sick, and delivered people from demons … they got very excited. “Jesus called His twelve disciples to Him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.… “ Do you see that? JESUS gave them HIS authority. This is why He says: ‘Don’t rejoice about that stuff, rejoice that your names are in My book of life.’  Jesus knows your Name and He has written it down in His book. it doesn’t matter two hoop-de-doos what that other guy knows. 

However, when the Holy Spirit arrived at Pentecost the disciples were supernaturally given their own authority, by God’s Spirit. Holy Fire hit them! That’s purifying fire. I don’t care if you like tongues, or you don’t … we should just get over ourselves. Tongues is a way to refresh our weary souls when we get overwhelmed. But don’t chase that, or any other thing — chase after being filled, and staying filled with the Holy Spirit. He will tell us where to go and what to do.

Another time some dumb-bunnies ran about using the Name of Jesus, and they threw Paul’s name around too. But the demon said in Acts 19:15: “Jesus I know and Paul I know … BUT WHO ARE YOU?’ Demons recognise the real voice of authority because that Voice threw them out of heaven! Those seven sons of Sceva had no authority at all to throw out the devil. BUT WE DO, because we are His kids and our names are in His book.

Seek His kingdom, first. Chase after loving Him with all your heart, soul, mind and strength! Ask yourself, are you happy with what you have, spiritually? If not, then remember Jesus promised to give us His idea of an abundant life. That doesn’t mean fancy houses, planes, jewellery, cars, or mountains of money — remember how He lived — that’s the yardstick. An abundant life is filled to the top with the love of God. It  has more than enough to give away, because He is a more than enough God!

One day, long ago, Almighty God humbled Himself and came here and became a man. He made Himself just like us. Then He humbled Himself even further and became a helpless infant! He understands what human beings face. When Jesus delivered that demonic man, stuck in the cemetary of Gederah, the demons in the pigs heard the same Voice that cast them out of heaven. Boy, did they leave! As we live our lives in His Presence, we will begin to understand what we’ve been given. We have the same authority Christ did. 

No wonder Jesus said ‘speak to the mountain and it will be moved’ …He made that mountain – of course it will obey Him. Now, the Lord lives in us. So, unless we work for a mining firm and we intend to whimsically move the local mountains around like pieces on a chessboard — we can ask for whatever we need. Otherwise we don’t have the authority of a banana!

Please don’t settle for an encounter with God – capture His heart and walk with Him! Think bigger. Start thinking about what your life will be like with Jesus showing you daily what to do next … Bye 👋. “… but the people who know their God shall prove themselves strong and shall stand firm and do exploits [for God].” Daniel 11:32b.

P 2453 We have such a powerful Friend …

I found these notes in my files this morning, and it cheered me up so much I thought it might bless you guys too. Message Bible Psalm 23: “Even when the way goes through Death Valley, I’m not afraid when YOU walk at my side. Your trusty shepherd’s crook makes me feel secure.” I must have read this Psalm about a jillion times in the last 50 years.  The 23rd Psalm is so comforting  – but then I saw something from a different perspective, and it was so cool! 😎 …

The Lord Jesus walks with us through death valley. (That doesn’t mean actually dying btw, it can mean the death of a dream or a hope etc. or even a planned future)  This is OUR Shepherd Jesus, right?  And He is right there beside us walking.  But He isn’t chatting folks, or aimlessly wandering along – He’s looking out for US! He is on high alert watching to protect us from the dangers of that dark scarey place. The Lord is used to protecting sheep, He’s our great Shepherd, and we know that is true, because He went looking for a lost lamb once!

In other words, Psalm 23 tells us that this is our beloved Lord Jesus …. with a crook or … as I like to call it … a whacker.  A whacker is a big fat shepherd’s crook that shepherds use to whack predators etc. Because he was a shepherd boy David taught us about being a shepherd – and yes, I remember he also had a pretty keen sling-shot. On different occasions this young man killed a lion and a bear. Now, in my mind, Jesus is not just carrying a sort of kind of a stick, it’s a weapon with a big knob on the end of it. It is the nob that does all the damage!  It is solid, and strong and used to thump things with the intention of cracking skulls, and killing, maiming or disposing of whatever it is. Well … ya-a-a-a-a-y!!! Some things need whacking! Go Jesus! … 

In other versions it says: “Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me …” well, those things would, wouldn’t they? You now, up to now, I always had this picture of Jesus walking with me in this dark nasty place that I didn’t ever want to go to – on purpose or by accident -. and He’s so kind … He’s comforting me. He’s speaking reassuringly to me –  you know what I mean! Jesus is saying “Don’t be afraid, I am right here with you, I won’t let harm come to you.”  He’s kind and loving;  but not so much with the strong bit. Rhubarb. Shepherds carry weapons. Think about that. 

Until today, I did not think about the POWER of the One I am walking with.  I have erroneously thought of Jesus Christ, the Captain of the Hosts of Heaven, as appearing in the finale of the bible, when He is coming again etc. on that glorious white horse. But this Psalm tells me that the Resurrected Christ walks with me through every single valley, He’s on my side and He will do whatever He needs to do to get His precious little sheep through that valley to the free food He has prepared at the other end! (Feel free to shout Hallelujah right here because I did!) 🙌

The reason David, who actually wrote this Psalm, is not afraid … is because he is walking with an ENFORCER THROUGH A DARK PLACE.  And this Enforcer knows how to use His power!!  I saw that my faith previously had been in my ability to hold onto His Hand, and that He would always, very kindly, help me muddle through the hard bits. However, after today, I really, really do not think this is what this verse is saying!!

I’m saying when you have the Enforcer with you there is no reason to be scared at all, no matter wherever you are, or what comes at you, because HE can definitely take care of the bad guys and get you safely to the other side … to the free food! That your enemies aren’t allowed to eat!  <giggle> If something attacks us, He WILL whack that thing on the head! ‘Take that, wolf, 💥 and that, bear, 💥and that, you ferocious lion that wants to eat My beloved!’ 🤯 Jesus walks with you and I and He’s going to bash up anything that wants to hurt us. “You’ll be sor-ry you messed with Him!!”  Our King protects His people.

The bible says: “What time I am afraid, I will trust in Thee…” which means … whenever I am afraid or feel alone, Jesus is right there. That threat is a lie from the pit of hell. WE ARE NEVER ALONE, BE-CA-USE OUR BELOVED SAVIOUR IS WITH US a-n-d He has a big heavy whacker that can take down anything that wants to hurt us or steal our peace. So whenever something bad does come at us, Jesus knows between Him and me – we can beat it!  I will leave you with that thought today. Blessings and hallelujah! 👋🏻