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Hello My Friend/Guest,

Today is Sunday October 24, 2010 and we are reading through and studying the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. Today's message comes from the reading of the Book of Luke, chapters 8-9. In these chapters we will read about, Jesus' parable about the seeds, Jesus rebuking legion from a man, Jesus healing a woman with a blood disease, the disciples witnessing in neighborhoods, Jesus feeding 5000, Peter's confession, and the transfiguration of Christ. If you would like to read today's chapters along with us here online you can Click Here to read them or copy & paste this link onto your browser: http://www.imfollowingjesus.com/bible-october-24

Today's Message: Trust Beyond Salvation
It is amazing to read about the journey that the disciples took along with Jesus during His three year ministry here on earth. You would have thought that these men had strong faith, no doubts about Him, understood Him, and had the utmost belief that what He said would definitely come to pass. However, their faith was not always strong, they did have doubts, sometimes misunderstood Him, and did not always believe that what He said would come to pass. How can this be when they saw Jesus in the flesh? The same reason the Israelites always questioned God on their journey in the wilderness, and the same reason we question God in our walk with Christ. They did not put their trust in Him. “It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.”- Psalms 119:8.

Let's face it, there are times when we can not even trust ourselves to get things done, so, how are we to trust in Jesus to get things done for us. The Bible says, “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” - Proverbs 3:5,6. It is only when we put our complete trust in Him that He will direct our paths to get things done. God wants us to acknowledge Him in all things, the more we acknowledge Him the more we learn to trust Him. The disciples were just ordinary people like you and I, and although they were eager to follow Christ there were times when they were more concerned about their own needs and did not trust Him with them so, they panicked and began reasoning with themselves, even though Jesus was right there with Him.

They key to acknowledging God and trusting in Him is to remain in His Word so we know His will. Jesus' main objective here on earth, besides taking the sins of every person to the cross with Him, was to teach repentance to everyone. Jesus could not stress this more to His disciples and that is why He spoke in parables (short stories representing truths). “And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him,...And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.”- Luke 8:1,10. What Jesus means here is that people who live in the world never see or hear the truth, so He does not reveal it to them, but because you believe in me you have been given the knowledge to understand and know the truth so, you can be a witness to others about the Kingdom of God. If you do not know Jesus, you can never know the mysteries of the Kingdom of God, God will not reveal them to anyone who does not recognize His Son.

It is amazing, we trust in Jesus to save us from hell, but we do not trust in Him to help us during the storms in our lives? If Jesus can save you from a burning hell, don't you think He can save you from a foreclosure, no income, or an illness? To illustrate we read about the disciples panicking when they were on a boat during a storm. “Now it came to pass on a certain day, that he went into a ship with his disciples: and he said unto them, Let us go over unto the other side of the lake. And they launched forth. But as they sailed he fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy. And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm. And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him.” - Luke 8:22-25.

The disciples could not believe their eyes, even the wind and water obeys this man. You see, they saw Jesus as a preacher man, just like John the Baptist, and although they witnessed His miracles and even knew He was the Christ that would save them, they, at times, allowed circumstances to take over and cloud their faith in Him. In turn, their trust in Him for a time as well and the same thing happens to us. However, Jesus is right there with us and will calm every storm once we call on Him. “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.” -Jeremiah 33:3.

Jesus sent the disciples to preach repentance to all, He even instructed them on how they were to do it. “Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases. And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick. And he said unto them, Take nothing for your journey, neither staves, nor scrip, neither bread, neither money; neither have two coats apiece. And whatsoever house ye enter into, there abide, and thence depart. And whosoever will not receive you, when ye go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet for a testimony against them. And they departed, and went through the towns, preaching the gospel, and healing every where.”- Luke 9:1-6. Jesus calls everyone who has trusted Him as their Savior to preach the Gospel to everyone they know.

Now, just like any other power, with it comes responsibility, we are not to abuse our power to know the kingdom of God. If we want God's blessings here on earth as well we need to acknowledge Him, trust Him, and follow Him. To put our trust in God means that we rely completely on Him for our salvation, needs, and everything else in between. If you fall, Jesus will pick you back up you just have to trust Him again. “For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe. These things command and teach....Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.” - I Timothy 4:10,11,16.

Enjoy the rest of your day/night and have a great week.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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