THE MAN GIFT
Before Jesus came to our world as a person, God's messenger said to Mary, "YOU WILL BECOME PREGNANT AND GIVE BIRTH TO A SON, AND YOU WILL NAME HIM JESUS". God had His son to be born of a woman and become a human being like us. Over the centuries people have made up many doctrines and teachings that ignore the simple fact that God sent His son as a person like us. Why does it matter? If Jesus is anything other than God's son born as a person, He is only a pretend person with a pretend resurrection, a deceiver and is not an example for other human beings. Satan is a deceiver not God, not Jesus. Jesus is real! Jesus says that "ANYONE WHO HAS FAITH IN ME WILL DO WHAT I HAVE BEEN DOING". Jesus is our example and we can do everything He did from walk on water to raising people from the dead because as Jesus says with, "GOD EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE". Yes we do need to remember to ask in Jesus' "NAME". Do we get everything we request? Probably not! Some who foolish think they are teaching faith make wild claims and cause people to have difficulty with grief when there is a death of a loved one. Yes, most people can have more from their relationship with God than they currently experience. We can have proven results from communication with God. We can see healings of an abscessed tooth where a dentist may say we need a root canal. We can see healing of a knee where many doctors would recommend surgery. We can experience healing of a thyroid where many doctors would tell a person they need to take thyroid medication the rest of their life. Most of us can experience more healing from God than we currently experience. In the same way, many can have more effective spiritual warfare as Jesus says He has given us "AUTHORITY … TO OVERCOME ALL THE POWER OF THE ENEMY". 1
If we frequently make requests from God, most of us humans have experienced not receiving what we asked for at times. Did Jesus, "THE SON OF GOD", our human example, ever fail to get what He asked God for? Yes! One time Jesus, followed what He taught about persisting "CONTINUE TO ASK, AND GOD WILL GIVE TO YOU", by asking God three times for a "PAINFUL THING TO BE TAKEN FROM ME". We correctly focus on Jesus concluding words to God in the story "DO WHAT YOU WANT, NOT WHAT I WANT" yet we must recognize that Jesus persistently asked God for relief from the painful beatings and crucifixion without getting what He asked for. Jesus, our human example, who said what God told Him to "SAY" and did what God told Him to "DO", at times asked God and did not always get what He wanted. Fortunately Jesus was willing to do what God wanted and we should follow His example and do what God wants. When a loved one is dying, we may ask God if we should pray for them to be healed or pray for them to be comforted with less pain. When in the presence of a person who has died, we may want to ask God if we should pray for them to be raised from the dead or only pray for comfort for those who are grieving. When people make up teachings and doctrine that make Jesus more than "THE SON OF MAN" that He frequently says He is, they are suggesting that He has supernatural powers, which means He cannot be an example for us and that Jesus is a liar and a deceiver. Jesus does not lie! 2
"GOD LOVED THE WORLD SO MUCH THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY SON" to be born as a "baby". Jesus learned like we all learn by "listening … and asking questions"and He was "obedient" to His mother and step-father. Jesus could "read" and "write" and He "walked" almost everywhere. He was such a normal person that people who knew Him personally before His ministry "did not accept Jesus" early in His ministry. Even after He begin His ministry He was so normal that people accused Him of speaking against God because He said He was "GOD'S SON". Jesus is our "EXAMPLE" in every way and we need to follow Him totally. 3
1. Lk 1:31(GN); Jn 14:12 (NI); Mt 19:26; Jn 16:26 (GN); Lk 10:19 (NI)
2. Jn 10:36 (KJ); Mt 7:7; Mt 26:39-44; Jn 12:24, 14:31 (IC); Mt 12:40
3. Jn 3:16; Lk 2:12, 2:46, 2:51, 4:16 (GN); Jn 8:5; Mk 5:42 (NI); Mk 6:3; Jn 10:36, 13:15 (IC)
note: click here for bible verse and translation abbreviations
A Psalm for reflection "Lord God, You are my hope. … I have depended on You since I was born. … I will always praise You. I am an example to many people. You are my strong protection." Ps 71:5-7
Understanding the Teaching: What I share in the teaching is what I believe God wants me to share. All the direct quotes from God are highlighted in royal purple. Of course the words of Jesus are in red. Rather than follow some made up doctrine, remember that Jesus said that every thing He said (Jn 12:49) and everything He did (Jn 14:31) comes from God. All teachings and all opinions should be supported by what we learn from God or Jesus (see the scripture referred to in the footnote). For those who prefer not to take the time to look up a scripture, click on the underlined hyper link to read the scripture. Example, click here for a teaching about love.
MARRIAGE WORKSHOP MOMENT
People don't just fall out of love. Their feelings of love get crowded out over time by poorly handled disagreements and arguments. It takes a lot of positive statements to offset one negative statement. When you have a disagreement it is a good time stop the conflict and then resume the discussion using the Speaker Listener Technique. Becoming one as God said we could (Ge 2:24) is difficult when people in a marriage are afraid of rejection or even criticism. When you get angry, it is never helpful to threaten divorce. Being selfish can destroy a marriage. Jesus discourages us from being selfish in Lk 9:23. It is good to consider your spouse when you read Jesus words in Luke 6:31 (TE) "Do for others just what you want them to do for you."
Cam age 10 said, "Twenty three is the best age to get married because you know the person FOREVER by then!"
Remember that how you communicate and handle conflict is crucial for how your marriage will go. If you see selfishness in your self or in your spouse, with prayer, God can help improve your marriage. Pray for God's will to be done in your marriage, daily. Remember Jesus said in Mk 10:27 (NI) that "…all things are possible with God."
Howard age 10 said, "The rule goes like this: If you kiss someone, then you should marry them and have kids with them…. It's the right thing to do."
The Better Half "When your partner won't support your efforts to make your marriage better" Without your spouse's support to improve your marriage, you can still pray daily for God's will to be done in each of your lives and your marriage ("all things are possible with God", Mk 10:27 NI). Marriages usually decline over time as a result of poorly handled disagreement or arguments. Try to avoid conflict and never threaten divorce. It is good to consider what Jesus taught when He said in Lk 6:31 (TE) "Do for others just what you want them to do for you", as you try to improve the way you treat your spouse. The old cliché about using honey instead of vinegar could apply to improving your relations with your spouse also. When a spouse calls "time out", it is an opportunity for a couple to calm down before continuing the conversation at a later time (anywhere from an hour to no later than the next day) using the Speaker Listener Technique. Initially after calling time out it is an opportunity to take authority over the enemy and pray for the marriage.
Example: "In the name of Jesus I command you demons to shut up and leave our marriage and not return" "Thank you God for helping our marriage be in Your will and guiding us in our relationship, in Jesus name, amen." When a spouse will not cooperate, you can still take authority over the enemy and pray for your marriage.
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