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But the Jews stirred up the devout and prominent women and the chief men of the city, and stirred up a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and threw them out of their borders. But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came to Iconium. The disciples were filled with joy and with ... -
Judah said to his brothers, 'What profit is it if we kill our brother and conceal his blood? Come, and let's sell him to the Ishmaelites, and not let our hand be on him; for he is our brother, our flesh.' His brothers listened to him. Midianites who were merchants passed by, and they drew and lifted...
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If you will not believe, surely you shall not be established. Isaiah 7:9 WEBEphraim and Aram formed an alliance and prepared to invade Judah, which terrified the people living there. When the people of Judah learned of the coming invasion, 'The hearts of Ahaz and his people were shaken, as the trees...
Intervention
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He came into a house. The multitude came together again, so that they could not so much as eat bread. When his friends heard it, they went out to seize him: for they said, 'He is insane.' The scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, 'He has Beelzebul' Mark 3:20-22 WEB
When I first got saved, I lost every friend that I had, but quickly gained new ones in my church family. I was born an American heathen, and the friends that I had scattered like roaches when a light is turned on at the mention of Jesus.
Have you ever shared your faith with someone who just thought that you had lost your mind and had them ask, "What has happened to you?" I have. Being radical was natural, but subtlety was something that I had to learn.
It is comforting to know that when Jesus was on earth, at one point His own family thought that He was 'Out of His mind.' They staged an intervention and tried to seize Him. His family and friends thought that He had lost it: 'For not even his brothers believed in Him' (John 7:5). To make matters even worse, the religious leaders from Jerusalem thought that He was possessed by a demon.
No one that previously knew Jesus seemed to understand His calling. When Jesus visited His hometown of Nazareth, they were offended at Him and said: 'Isn't this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? Aren't his sisters here with us?' They were offended at him. Jesus said to them, 'A prophet is not without honor, except in his own country, and among his own relatives, and in his own house' (Mark 6:3).
When you get turned onto God and the little fire within you becomes a flame, the world will quickly turn its back on you. You may find that your enemies are those of your own household (Matthew 10:36). Expect it, it simply means that you are on the right path. The things that you lose for the sake of Christ will be returned with better.
Also note that Jesus did not pursue His family or those that disagreed with Him with scripture to try and convince them or win them over. He simply moved on to those that would listen. He gave His disciples the 'Shake it off' rule (Mark 6:11). When they will not receive your message, shake it off and go to the next town. We would be wise to follow His example.
Prayer: Heavenly Father please strengthen me and give me a fresh boldness for You. Give me tact and help me recognize the right time to share with others. Put a guard over my mouth and give me the right words to speak. I thank You so much for all that You have done for me, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray.
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Amen, message received, thank you Pastor.
Prayer: Heavenly Father please strengthen me and give me a fresh boldness for You. Give me tact and help me recognize the right time to share with others. Put a guard over my mouth and give me the right words to speak. I thank You so much for all that You have done for me, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen <3 Thank you
Amen and amen, Dianna <3!
Amen.
Thank you so much for this word today. I have 2 sisters, 2 brothers, my mother and several children who have disowned me because of my faith. I ask God to open their eyes and I forgive them. I pray for them every day. I have gained many christian friends though, and call them my family. Especially here on RHM. Thank you again for this word Pastor. God bless.
Praying for the Lord to guide each member of your family to Him, Maureen, we love you <3!
I love you too! <3
Increase my faith and fortitude dear God. Amen.
Amen
Amen
Amen!
Yes all my friends and relatives who used to laugh at my jokes and stories and trust my judgment and thought I was smart and I thought would hang on every word, after my veil was lifted and the power of Jesus Christ was made known to me, did not hang on every word and rejected me. I was offended. But I was relieved when I heard that that's one sign you've been saved, when you want to tell everyone about what happened.
And your behavior speaks volumes much more so than your mouth. Actions speak louder than words. We don't become perfect over night. We must first remove the beam of timber from our eye before we try to remove the speck of saw dust from another person's eye.
Well said John!
Amen, brother, so true!
The Holy spirit will do His work. Wait on the LORD!
Amen!
Amen!
Paster Dion thank you for this message. I know I have gone through this.Some friends and family will not talk to me because of my faith in God.I love God with all my heart and soul and no one can take that away.He is awesome. Amen.
Amen, brother, praying for His healing for both of you, and for God to draw each of those family and friends to Him!
Amen.
Amen, being married to a pre-believer, I can identify with what Jesus must have dealt with in His family member's disbelief.
I have learned to speak to my husband of spiritual things only as God directs me to and to leave my husband's salvation to Jesus.
At first it was hard to remain silent, but as God leads me I have learned to listen, for He knows when my husband will be receptive towards my words.
That is truly His wisdom, Carol <3!
Amen!
Amen, brother! As a counselor, you may be interested in joining the addiction support group here: http://www.refreshinghope.org/group/28. Just FYI, God bless!
Amen, brother, trying to lean only on our own strength is a recipe for failure!
I smile when my family calls me "religious", because loving Jesus and striving to a deeper connection with Him is NOT the same as being religious!
That is so true, Kathy, grateful to know the difference <3!
Thank You, Pastor!
Amen!!
Amen! Pastors prayer, Heavenly Father, please strengthen me and give me a fresh boldness for you. Give me tact and help me recognize the right time to share with others. Put a guard over my mouth and give me the right words to speak. I thank you so much for all that you have done for me, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray Amen!!
Amen thank you pastor Dion
Thank you Pastor Dion. Its comforting to know that Jesus did not force His beliefs on family and others, but moved on to those who would listen and believe. I try and wait for the right time and drop in an experience or a thought to those I'm speaking to, but not always.I guess you have to judge the situation and if it feels right, go for it... Its a learning situation....I guess I felt I wasn't being forceful enough BUT now knowing what Jesus did, makes it easier for me to follow His lead.Amen.
Prayer: Heavenly Father please strengthen me and give me a fresh boldness for You. Give me tact and help me recognize the right time to share with others. Put a guard over my mouth and give me the right words to speak. I thank You so much for all that You have done for me, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen! <3
I've been through this wih my sister's the youngest one was posting thngs on Facebook after a ugly thing happen in my family 05-2015. They three hate me and the youngest was pastin she found God she's so holy and even friends of theirs stat in on the comments. I just said I don't need any of you in my life or my families life. I said your toxic people and i will pray and love you from a distance. I said that I will have nothing to do with your lies or calling me names. I said my Father will take care of all the problems on His time. I had to walk away and I can't do a think but pray for they don't know any better. Father, I love You and i'm walking on my own if they want to be liars and drink and make fun of me. they can all do it behind my back I don't hear it so I don't know. Jesus, keep my family and I coved with your blood. I pray in Jesus, name. Amen! <3
Thank you Pastor for todays devotion it was telling me a lot about people like them. Thank You! :-)
I told my close friend about accepting Jesus...she called me a Jesus Freak and ran out my door. Ran after her...but useless. I told my family..my Dad left the room, my Mother cried ( who later accepted Jesus in her heart) and my brother wrote a letter to my Dad asking him why he let me join a cult. Knowing Jesus's Family did it accept Him helped me.
Praying for your family to truly know His love for them, Cheryl <3!
Thank you Jesus for this wonderful day and thank you for Refreshing Hope Ministries.Thanks to Paster Dion And Sylvia.Thanks to everyone.Have a blessed day and keep your thoughts on Jesus. Amen
Thank you so much, David and Dianna, to you both as well <3!!!
Tamen, humbly I stand before you o Lord