God Speaks. Are You Listening?

For it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.  Matthew 10:20

We see so many people today with headphones on their head and ear buds in their ears.  Sometimes I wonder, though, if they are listening to the voice of God.  God does speak, and he wants to speak to us if only we would listen. 

How does God speak?  He speaks through His Word, through people like ministers and teachers, and through providence. 

God speaks through His Word, "I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go" (Ps. 32:8).  That is why we should study the Bible on a regular basis, and ask questions in small group settings.  Jesus says, "My sheep know voice"  (John 10:14).  We know the voice of God by studying the Word of God.   God speaks through providential means, that is, through timing.  Sometimes God's timing is so profound that we know instantly, beyond a shadow of a doubt that it is the voice of God because no one could have done it but Him.  He puts people in our lives at just the right time in answer to prayer.

God speaks  through divinely-called ministers.   Ministers and teachers, ask God for direction and for a word for the people.  Then, believe that what God gives you is what He wants preached.  We must pray for ministers to preach the truth of a balanced gospel in love; to speak with holy boldness even when what God has to say through them makes us uncomfortable. Who goes to a mirror and sees something on their face and does not wipe it off? As listeners, we should be ready to actively listen and act upon what we hear.  This is why we should not be distracted or walk out of church at the preaching moment, or leave before the benediction.   God speaks.  Are you listening?

It is important to understand that God speaks through His divinely appointed pastors, ministers, teachers, and evangelists.  But know this - God will never say anything through the man or woman of God that contradicts His word.  The Bible warns us about false prophets, so we should test and examine everything that is said (Micah 3:11-12). 

God speaks to us through the Holy Spirit, "For it is not you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking in you" (Matt. 10:20). The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God in us.  The Holy Spirits comforts, teaches, convicts, helps, and warns us.   This why we should not lie, grieve, quench, resist, insult, or blasphem the Holy Spirit, nor conduct ourselves in ways contrary to the will of God.

God speaks with His people, "and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ"  (1 John 1:3).  God speaks with us as a friend, for He is "a friend that stickteth closer than a brother" (Proverbs 17:17).  God speaks with us as a companion, for He has promised never to leave nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5).  God speaks through His people through songs, poems, speeches, prayers and artistic gifts.  We should ask God's guidance and believe He speaks through us when we visit the sick and bereaved and witness for Christ.  Can you hear the voice of God?  Is He speaking to you?

Happy July 4th Holiday from Jesus Saves Ministries

Celebrate Your Freedom In Christ!

By:  Min. Angela Lee Price

On this July 4th holiday, we celebrate  the birth of our nation, freedom and independence.  Let us also celebrate the Believer's freedom in, with, and for Christ.  Freedom in Christ describes the spiritual liberty we have as followers of Jesus Christ through his death, burial, and resurrection.  Through our confession of faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior, we have been set free from the  power and the penalty of sin.  The Bible states, "So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.  And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death"(Romans 8:1-2).

   

Our freedom in Christ allows us, by the power of the Holy Spirit to overcome temptation and those sins that once so easily beset us.   This freedom does not give us the right to do whatever we want, disregarding the plain truth of the Bible, but gives us power to keep God's commandments.  Romans 6:1-2 states, "Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace?  Of course not!  Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it?"

Brothers and sisters, not only do we celebrate freedom in Christ, we celebrate freedom with Christ.   We live with Christ right now through the Holy Spirit. Romans 8:10-11 states, "And Christ lives within you, so even though your body will die because of sin, the Spirit gives you life because you have been made right with God.  The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you.  And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you."   And when we get to heaven, Jesus has prepared an eternal home for us free from the very presence of sin in our lives (John 3:16).

God has given us freedom to live not only in Christ and with Christ, but for Christ.  Here in the USA, we enjoy tremendous religious freedom. Please don't take it for granted. As the birds sing, and the "Son" shines, take advantage of the freedom you have to  live for Jesus Christ by letting your light shine, by sharing that powerful testimony God has given you, that Scripture He has placed on your heart, that sermon excerpt that in faith will become a rhema word for a weary soul, that upcoming revival, conference or ministry event, that prayer request or praise report, or note of encouragement for someone who may be hospitalized or grieving.  Use your freedom to become an instrument of God's drawing and saving power in someone's life. Has Jesus broken every chain that had you bound in sin and shame?  Has Jesus set you free?  We would love to hear what great and marvelous things God is doing in your life today.

Celebrate your freedom in, with, and for Jesus Christ, "For you have been called to freedom brethren, only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh but through love, serve one another" Galatians 5:13 

The Hope of the Believer's Resurrection

By:  Min. Angela Lee Price

Sisters and brothers, the hope of the believer is this--though we die, we shall live again.  It is no more remarkable that we should live again than that we should live at all!  We just need to think of the bewildering complexity of the human body and the even more intricate workings of the human personality to see that we are indeed "fearfully and wonderfully made" (Ps. 139:14).  The God who could make us once can certainly make us again.  What is of utmost importance to the Christian faith is that Jesus Christ rose from the dead.  It is a fundamental, factual, and fervent belief.  It gives us hope for the future.  Because  Jesus died and rose again on the third day, we too, by faith shall be raised in our mortal bodies to put on immortality to spend eternity with the Lord.

Our belief in the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is a fundamental belief.  In 1 Corinthians 15, the Apostle Paul wrote to the church at Corinth to remind them of the gospel he had preached  to them stating, "For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures...." (1 Corinthians 15: 3-4).  This is the eu angelion, the Gospel which means "Good News." Apart from the Gospel, the Word of God is a false, the work of Christ is a failure, and the witness of the Spirit is a farce.

The Resurrection is a factual belief.  The Apostle Paul referenced the Scriptures, used logic and factual evidence to refute the false teaching of those claiming there was no resurrection of the dead.  He provided proof of the resurrection of Christ.  Paul stated, ...he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve, then to 500 brothers and sisters at the same time...He then appeared to James and to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me...." (vv5-8).  Paul put icing on the list of witnesses to the resurrection stating, "and.. he appeared to me". In other words, I am not telling you what I heard or what I think I know. I am telling you what I know.   Paul had a personal encounter with Jesus later on the road to Damascus as he was persecuting the saints.  Do you have a "know-so" faith?  Have you had a personal encounter with Jesus on your own "Damascus Road"?  Then you ought to tell somebody about the Lord!

The resurrection of Jesus Christ --as wonderous as it is, as marvelous and as game-changing as it is-- it is not the end of God's display of power!  Just as Jesus was raised from the dead, believers shall be raised from the dead also.   Our resurrected bodies will be the same bodies but perfected. A startled Mary Magdalene abruptly grabbed Jesus at the tomb. Thomas would not believe unless he felt Jesus' wounds.  Jesus proved this to Peter, John and the disciples whom he called from their boat to have breakfast with him along sea shore before he ascended. Paul told the church at Corinth as with Jesus, "So will it be with the resurrection of the dead.  The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power, it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body (vv 42-44). Our bodies, will be splendid bodies -- the mortal shall put on immortality.  Our bodies will be spirit bodies, incorruptible like Jesus' glorious body.  This is our inheritance, the hope of the  bodily resurrection of the believer.  We praise God for it!

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After the Resurrection: Do You Recognize Jesus?

By:  Min. Angela Lee Price

"Now come and have some breakfast!" Jesus said...(John 21:12)

I am inspired, sisters and brothers, by the stories in the Bible between the resurrection of Jesus and His ascension 40 days later into heaven.  There were several times when the disciples did not recognize Jesus in their midst. Mary Magdalene didn't immediately recognize Him at the tomb. She thought he was the gardener. The disciples on the road to Emmaus didn't recognize Him. The thought He was a stranger.  In John 21:1-14, the disciples did not recognize Jesus standing on the shore of the sea of Galilee after a failed night of fishing without a catch. Jesus shouted out to the disappointed disciples telling them, "Throw your nets on the right-hand side of the boat, and you'll get some (v6). They did as He said without knowing who He was, and caught more fish than they could haul in. John the beloved disciple recognized Jesus first telling Peter, "It is the LORD" (v7)! We had best recognize, my sisters and brothers, the very presence of the LORD in our lives! He lives, moves and has his being in the earth today through the Holy Spirit! When Jesus shows up in your crisis, on the  in your disappoint, on your the job, even at your home, I pray that you will, as John did, recognize Him.  Because Jesus just might show up at any time in this Covid-19 global pandemic to bless you!

How do we recognize Jesus?  We can recognize Jesus by strengthening our relationship with Him regularly through online worship or socially-distant in-person services as conditions permit, Bible study, prayer, and fellowship with other believers. He said, My sheep know my voice" (John 10:3).  We need to know the voice of Jesus so that we can distinguish HIS VOICE from ALL the voices and chatter out there!  Mary did not recognize Jesus until after He spoke to her at the empty tomb (John 20:14-16).   The two men on the Emmaus road, though they didn't immediately recognize Him, heard His voice and later stated, "Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us?" (Luke 24: 13-36).  Jesus speaks today through the Word of God, the preached Word, and divinely orchestrated encounters and circumstances.  Can you recognize His voice?  His is the voice that should lead and guide you in this time of crisis.

Not only do we recognize Jesus by His voice, we recognize Him by what He has done for us.   We recognize what Jesus has done for us by performing loving acts of kindness and compassion for hurting, marginalized and oppressed people.  Throughout His ministry, the people did not simply recognize Jesus by what He said about Himself (as monumental as that was), but also by what He did to others.  Jesus consistently left people in a better state than what He found them. He healed, delivered, and set people free from their afflictions. He performed miracles in their lives! Only after Jesus filled their nets with fish, did John recognized Him exclaiming, "It is the Lord" (John 21:6-7)! For the disciples, Jesus had 153 large fish (their source of income), and a hot breakfast, forgiveness, and fellowship with Him on the shore, "Now come and have some breakfast!" Jesus said.  None of the disciples dared to ask him, 'Who are you?' They knew it was the Lord  This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead" (vv12-14).   The two men who walked with Jesus on the Emmaus road recognized Christ only after He gave them, in addition to the Scriptures, bread for their physical bodies, something to eat (Luke 24:28-35).   We need to be ready to be the hands and feet of  Jesus in this crisis.

As believers, we ought live our lives in such a way that people will recognize that we have been with Jesus.   Live in such a way that those who know you but don't know God will come to know God because they know you.  The disciples were fearful right before and after the resurrection. Peter denied Jesus three times.  Their encounters with the resurrected Lord between the resurrection and the ascension, however, forever changed them from fearful disciples to fearless evangelists. Jesus forgave Peter at the breakfast on the seashore and told him, "Feed my sheep" (vv15-18).  Days later the Apostle Peter would preach on Pentecost and 3,000 souls were saved. This is what Jesus will do for you, too.  Jesus will give your life purpose and direction if you choose to recognize Him as King of kings and Lord of lords and follow Him by faith.  

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A Prayer for Help In the Time of Trouble

Heavenly Father, 

We pray for help in the time of trouble. Oh Lord, trouble don't last always! Even in this time of trouble, oh Lord, joy comes in the morning! For we stand on your Word and we believe your promises! Increase your loving hand of protection upon people who are experiencing sickness, who are in the path even of violence and death. Rescue those in harms way today, we pray from dangers seen and unseen. Raise the awareness of your ministers to sound the alarm! Shower down your ministering angels to stand in the gap to do the work of intercession. Send frontline healthcare workers, and volunteers to help where ever they are needed. We pray for your very present help in trouble, to still turmoil in the nation, to repair the breach of division that is causing us to turn on each other. In the name of Jesus, for it is by His stripes that we are healed. We pray for a greater resolve to live and not die in the face of Covid-19. Strengthen our determination to fight with the tools at our disposal, masks, social distancing, sanitizing agents and vaccinations. 

Heavenly Father, we thank you for the highly effective Covid-19 vaccines that have been approved. Please expedite the vaccine roll-out so that many more people are vaccinated in this race to out-pace variants. We mourn the lives of more than 550,000 Americans who have died to this deadly virus thus far. We pray for healing in the name of Jesus for those who are currently hospitalized, and in ICU units in Kentucky and across this nation. We pray for those who are currently hospitalized for other sicknesses, and chronic diseases. We pray for healing and for a speedy recovery. No matter how dire the prognosis, we know you have the final say. You are the Great Physician. We are encouraged by miraculous stories and testimonies of patients who recovered after fierce, prolonged battles with the virus; for patients who continue to live long past cancer and other major diseases. The wind and waves beat against the shores, this tempest, this deadly virus, Covid-19 that has infected the whole world! Speak now we pray, saying, "Peace! Be still (Matthew 8:23-27) We ask for healing, deliverance, and soon cleansing from this scourge in the mighty name of Jesus. Amen.

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A Prayer for Widows and Orphans

By:  Jazlyn (Jackie) Lee

Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Jesus, I pray that the orphans and widows are at peace. I pray that they find comfort and security in the midst of their hardship. Heavenly Father, provide them with enough to eat, protective clothing, and a warm and safe place to call home. I pray that you open the hearts and minds of those who are capable of being adoptive/foster parents and guide them to your precious children, children whose only dream is to have a family of their own. Heavenly Father, You are the God of peace and mercy. Father, I pray that you would strengthen widows in their time of need, and help us to be more receptive to the needs of others, Heavenly Father. 

Father, Your word says in James 1: 26-27, "Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight reign on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." I pray that these words are tattooed on the hearts and minds of your children. Father, I pray that your will be done. In the name of Jesus, Amen. 

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A Prayer for Mothers

By:  Angela Lee Price

Heavenly Father, Lord, we love you and adore you. Forgive our sins and those of our children. I come to you on behalf of mothers, and grandmothers, and great grandmothers everywhere, women of God submitted to your way, your will, and Your Word.

 Father, give mothers knowledge, wisdom and understanding to face life’s parenting challenges with dignity and discernment. Lord, when the load seems too heavy, help them remember that you are the burden bearer, that with you all things are possible.

 Abba Father, when mothers, grandmothers, and great grandmothers cry out to You in the midnight hour on behalf of their children, help them recall the work of our ancestors, the strength of womanhood from previous generations, and the godly women You've given as examples in Your Word.

 Help them remember, Lord that African American women endured unjust and inhumane treatment and extreme hardships in this nation's history to protect and rear their children. Help them remember, Lord the unfeigned faith of Timothy’s grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice, women who instilled a steadfast faith in the young preacher Timothy. It was a faith that caused Paul to declare to in 2 Timothy 1:5,"I am persuaded that it is in thee also.”

When confronted with rebellious children and rebellious parents who neglect parenting responsibilities, help your mothers, grandmothers, and great grandmothers recall the prayer of our sister Rev. Dr. Renita Weems in the book, Showing Mary, page 177:

 

“When I am tempted to doubt myself

and question my gifts and experience,

Remind me, God, of all that I know,

And that which I don’t know that I

know.

Remind me who I am and whose I am.

Even when I hide behind

piety to

avoid doing what must be done,

and use you as an excuse for

indecision,

for lack of action, for silencing myself.

Love me enough

to lift the lid off my basket,

and order me to stop crouching in the dark,

Like a woman without a God.”

In Jesus Name, Amen.

 

Prayer Warriors, Give Yourselves A High Five!

"And He said to them, 'Which of you shall have a friend, and go to him at midnight and say to him, 'Friend, lend me three loaves; for a friend of mine has come to me on his journey, and I have nothing set before him'; and he will answer from within and say, 'Do not trouble me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in the bed; I cannot rise and give to you'?  I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give  him as many  as he needs.  So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you"' Luke 11:9 NKJV.

Prayer Warriors, give yourselves a "high five!" Do it not because you are so good, but because God is so good. He is worthy to be praised! He heals, delivers, sanctifies, sets free, and mostly importantly, Jesus saves!

A high five is more than what we do on Sunday mornings when the sermon gets good. A high five are the names of five people you are constantly sending up to high heaven in prayer! These are five people who will not let you talk to them about Christ, but you can pray for them. Ask, seek, and knock in your prayers as you tell the Lord about the needs of your five friends, relatives, co-workers, even your enemies. Pray in the name of Jesus. You are asking the One with all power on earth and in heaven to touch their lives when you pray in Jesus name for your friends and family, even your enemies to receive Christ.

Saul of Tarsus was a powerful enemy of Christian. No one could witness to him. He was full of hate. He persecuted Christians, but he met Jesus on the Road to Damascus and became one of the greatest proponents for Christianity who ever lived.

The Lord hears our requests when we ask, seek, and knock not because we are so good, but because of our stedfastness in prayer, "I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs (Luke 11:8).  Never doubt that God is able to do exceeding, abundantly more than we can ask or think according to the power that is at work within us (Ephesians 3:20).

Do not think your prayers are weak for the five people who are hard to reach and reject Christ. If they are hard, you "go hard" in your prayer life.  Ask, seek, and knock are really three different ways of doing the same thing.   In order words, you should ask, and ask, and keep on asking in prayer.  Now give yourself a "high five" and interceed to high heaven for your five people to be saved or reconnected to Jesus Christ today! Share their first names with us and we will pray for them too. There is power in prayer.

The prayers of the righteous availeth much!!

The prayers of the righteous availeth much!! We invite you to join The Prayers of the Righteous Group on the Jesus Saves Social Network.

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