THE VINE, THE BRANCHES, THE RESULTS You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. You are my friends if you do what I command. You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. “But I will send…

OH! TO BE WITH JESUS! “Lord, where are you going?” And Jesus replied, “You can’t go with me now, but you will follow me later.” —John 13:36 How badly do you want to be with Jesus where He is? Your answer will give some indication about your present relationship with Him. Why wouldn’t a person, who loves Jesus, not want to be with Him in heaven, our home? To have little desire to be there, or no desire, gives indication of little or no love for Jesus. It gives indication that the relationship is unhealthy or non-existent. So how much are you looking forward to being with Jesus and all…

GOD’S PRESENCE When Solomon finished praying, fire flashed down from heaven and burned up the burnt offerings and sacrifices, and the glorious presence of the Lord filled the Temple. The priests could not enter the Temple of the Lord because the glorious presence of the Lord filled it. When all the people of Israel saw the fire coming down and the glorious presence of the Lord filling the Temple, they fell face down on the ground and worshiped and praised the Lord, saying, “He is good! His faithful love endures forever!” Then one night the Lord appeared to Solomon and said, “I have heard your prayer and have chosen this…

THE LIFE AND LIGHT OF JESUS Jesus replied, “My light will shine for you just a little longer. Walk in the light while you can, so the darkness will not overtake you. Those who walk in the darkness cannot see where they are going. Put your trust in the light while there is still time; then you will become children of the light.” —John 12:35-36 “In Jesus was life, and that life was the light of all mankind” (John 1:4). Without Jesus men walk in darkness—- they are “dead in (their) transgressions and sins… (following) the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air,…

TRUSTING OUR SOVEREIGN That night God appeared to Solomon and said, “What do you want? Ask, and I will give it to you!” II Chronicles 1:7 Wow, if God were to ask you this, how would you reply? How would most people on this planet respond? Would they want a better house, car, job or more wealth? Would they ask for better health, more healthy family relationships or friends in high places? Would their asking be self-centered or others centered? How about you and me? “Give me the wisdom and knowledge to lead them properly, for who could possibly govern this great people of yours?” God said to Solomon, “Because…

I AM WHO I AM BECAUSE OF WHO HE IS Wealth and honor come from you alone, for you rule over everything. Power and might are in your hand, and at your discretion people are made great and given strength. —I Chronicles 29:12 Why do some people become people of great influence and others of some influence? It is because of God’s plan and purposes. He is the One who rules over everything and everyone. He gives wealth to whom He desires to give wealth. He gives honor to whom He desires to honor. He gives power to whom He desires to give power. He is the One who makes…

THE GIFT I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. —John 10:28 I give— When somebody gives someone something it is a gift. They give it because they desire to give it and not that the receiver deserves it or has earned it. Jesus gives the greatest gift that could ever be given. Have you received it? Jesus gives eternal life— This is unending life, a life that will never, ever end. As this gift unfolds it is filled with glory. Eternal life starts when a person calls on the name of the Lord Jesus and has the Son (John 3:16,18, 36; Romans 6:23; 10:13). Then it continues…

DOING RIGHT FOR ALL PEOPLE So David reigned over all Israel and did what was just and right for all his people. —I Chronicles 18:14 To have a leader who is looking to be “just and right for all his people” is indeed a rarity. Most often the leader is looking out for their own interests and not that of the people. An example of not caring is that is a dear brother who leads a ministry and has the opportunity to bring over 150 tons of food to Uganda to the needy refuges there. The government leaders want to charge 60% tax to do so. Here are people in…

SING…PRAISE… PROCLAIM…SHARE & DECLARE! Let the whole earth sing to the Lord! Each day proclaim the good news that he saves. Publish his glorious deeds among the nations. Tell everyone about the amazing things he does. —I Chronicles 16:23-24 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. —I Peter 2:9 Are you singing to the Lord today? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UuuZMg6NVeA Are you ready to “proclaim the good news that he saves” today? Will you bear testimony to “His glorious deeds among the nations” today? Will you “tell…

FULL OF FAITH OR NOT So Saul died because he was unfaithful to the Lord. He failed to obey the Lord’s command, and he even consulted a medium instead of asking the Lord for guidance. So the Lord killed him and turned the kingdom over to David son of Jesse. —I Chronicles 10:13-14 To be faithful is to be full of faith. To be unfaithful is to be not full of faith. The choice is to be trusting or not to be trusting in the Lord God Almighty. Are you full of trust toward Him today? Have you fully put yourself in His care? Saul was unfaithful to the Lord,…