About two weeks ago, the Holy Spirit led me to begin to study the book of Hebrews. While studying, I have been amazed by the great detail of the speaker in trying to get the audience (the converted Jewish believers) to understand that they didn't have to do what they used to do. They didn't have to walk in the old covenant. Jesus was the perfect sacrifice for their sins once and for all.

As I continue to deeply study this great book of the Bible, I have asked God many questions. If Jesus was the perfect sacrifice, then why are people not walking in true freedom in Him? Why are people still bound by sin? Why is the enemy deceiving so many individuals?

God then took me to a few more scriptures to help me better understand. I begin to analyze the word "redemption." Redemption means to rescue, recovery, rebirth, or deliverance from bondage. I then begin to asked even more questions. In order to be redeemed, don't we have to first acknowledge that we need redemption from something?  Don't we have to acknowledge that what You recognize as sin is sin to us as well?  How can I remain bound if I say that I have Christ and shed His blood to set me free?   

There is a disconnect here!

I came to a better understanding that we can be our own hindrance. We can be so comfortable in sin, bound by sin, bound by our past hurts and struggles or simply walking in fear that we don't allow Christ to do the work in us, to make us whole. You see in the book of John, chapter 5, Jesus asked a man a very thought provoking question. Jesus was coming from a Jewish feast and went up to Jerusalem to a place called Bethesda. This place had 5 porches and a pool. He found many sick people there waiting for an angel of God to come down and stir the water in order to be healed of all their many diseases.

There was a certain man there that had been sick for over 38 years. On this day Jesus asked him a simply, "Do you want to be made whole? (John 5:6-11).


The man began to give Jesus excuses and blame others, but Jesus was trying to get him to take a look at himself, and understand that he had to have the will and the desire to truly be made well. This was not temporary what Jesus wanted to do in his life. It was permanent. He had to participate. He couldn't wait for anyone else to do it for him. Did he trust God or not? Did he really want complete wholeness?

Jesus then said to him, "Rise, take up your bed and walk." The scriptures go on to tell us that the man was made whole immediately and he didn't step one foot in the pool. He had faith in the only one that could truly heal him. Christ did it, because he believed and wanted a changed life.

Jesus saw him again and gave him a final instruction, Go and sin no more, or a worse thing will come upon you (John 5:14).  

So today, just like the main at Bethesda, Jesus is asking us, "Do you want to be made whole?" I believe that God has asked me that same question more than once in my life.

God is not powerless! He has all power, but do we believe Him? Do we believe that He loves us and desires to bring us out of darkness? Do we believe that His plans for us are good or are we going to keep trying to figure it out on our own? Do truly understand what it means to be made in His image and likeness?  Are we walking in fear or condemnation? What is it?

What ever it is surrender it ALL to Him! Be made whole in Him today! Only He can truly set us free. I am a living witness of it!! Trust Him! Allow Him to make you complete in Him!!

Be blessed!
#hope-in-Christ


Copyright © 2016 by Denise Walker/Project H.O.P.E. Ministries, Inc.
Bible Verses from New King James Version were found on Bible Gateway.

Hebrews 11:1 - Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. - KJV
Hebrews 11:1 - Now faith is the assurance (title deed, confirmation) of things hoped for (divinely guaranteed), and the evidence of things not seen [the conviction of their reality—faith comprehends as fact what cannot be experienced by the physical senses]. AMP
Hebrews 11:1 -  The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It’s our handle on what we can’t see. - MSG

What does the Bible mean by faith? Why is it so important?

According to the Strong's Bible Dictionary, faith is the acceptance, belief, confidence, and certainty of God's truth as revealed in scripture, The Holy Bible. Faith is essential to our walk with God. It is the essence of discovering who we are in Him. The writer of Hebrews 11:1 focused on faith's importance as he/she spoke to the Jewish converts of that time, reminding them of the dangers of turning away from true faith, faith in Jesus Christ.

As I was reading this particular scripture on faith, I found it very helpful to break it down into parts in order to get the big picture. Here is a closer look:

Who should have faith?
Believers; All of humanity

What is faith?
True faith is having confidence and belief in the God of Abraham, Issac, and Jacob and His plan for redemption of mankind through the blood of Jesus Christ.

When should one have faith?
One should have faith continually without wavering.

Where does faith abide?
Faith abides in the heart.

Why should one have faith?
 Hebrews 11:6 specifically states, "But without faith it is impossible to [walk with God and] please Him, for whoever comes [near] to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He rewards those who [earnestly and diligently] seek Him. - AMP
Without it, we can't draw nearer to God and be made whole through Christ blood.

How is faith obtained?
Faith is obtained by hearing the Word of God (the message of Christ), according to Romans 10:17.


So as you can see from the analysis, we cannot live a truly productive and redeemed life without faith. Our faith can't be placed in those things that profit nothing, but must be rooted and grounded in Christ alone. Let us keep our hand in His and allow Him to lead the way to eternal peace!

#hope-in-christ

Truth Defined:
Truth, what does that actually mean? To begin, the Webster's Dictionary defines truth in the following ways: the body of real things, events, and facts: a transcendent fundamental or spiritual reality, dependability, reliability.

Strong's Bible Dictionary simply defines truth as: in reality, in fact, certainly, verity or true.

With that being said, truth is a very important subject today. We must know and understand truth or we will believe the lies of the enemy. The Bible uses truth many times to describe God and Christ deity. The Bible also uses the word truth to explain how we as believers should worship and live our lives. Here are a few of those verses that use the same Greek definition for truth:

• God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. (John 4:24)

• For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; (Romans 1:18)

• Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. (Romans 1:25)

• Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6)

• that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (2 Thess. 2:12)
  

When I look at the above scriptures, I have to point out the fact that truth is never compared to anything else. It is to be understood beyond a shadow of a doubt that there is only ONE TRUTH! The article "the" distinguishes that fact.

Why then is there Deception:

If God is Truth, the only Truth, and nothing but the Truth, then why do people believe a lie? The Bible answers this question. Scripture helps us understand that the root of deception is Satan. It states that Satan is the Father of lies (John 8:44).

If God is truth, the Creator of truth, then truth has to have an opposite. Therefore, truth can't come from all the many different sources of which the world declares are truth. Truth must start and end with GOD! Everything else is deception!

If we walk with Christ, then we have to believe that He is who He says He is. We have to believe that the Word, the Bible is ALL truth. If there is any skepticism, then the enemy can cause us to walk in the spirit of deception.

I believe that deception comes when we begin to believe the lies of mankind rather than what God's Word states is Truth. If there is a God (and there is), then there can only be ONE. If God is who He says He is (And HE is), then TRUTH comes from Him and Him alone.

The enemy, Satan, comes to steal, kill, and destroy. He wants us to believe that Sin is not the way God defined it. He wants us to believe that there are many ways to get to God. He wants us to believe that Hell does not exist, but Christ said these words, "I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." (John 10:10). The life that Christ is referencing is not just the here and now but eternity.


So today, begin to pray and ask God to deliver you from the deception of man and turn to Christ, the Word of God and walk in HIS TRUTH because only HIS truth can make you free! And whom the Son sets free is truly free, indeed (John 8:36).


Truth, ONE Truth=God's Truth!
#hope-in-Christ

Today's world is full of many religious beliefs, but let us never cease to forget that there has always  been ONLY ONE WAY!! Jesus Christ!! As an English, Language Arts teacher, I pay close attention to words when I am reading the Bible. When I read John 14:6, I focused on the fact that the article "the" is being used by Jesus himself. This is a Definite Article. Webster's dictionary defines definite in the following way: having distinct or certain limits: free of all ambiguity, uncertainty, or obscurity: unquestionable, decided.

This definition paints a powerful picture because it leaves NO ROOM for inquiry! Jesus uses strong connotative language here so that we might get the visual of who He is in our minds. He states without a doubt, "I am the way, the truth, and the life! Jesus uses "the" 3 times for emphasis.

Now read the scripture again by focusing on the definition that is included above. Isn't that powerful? God had a plan from the beginning to redeem us to Himself and He gave us free will to come to Him for ourselves. Now that is true love!!! This scripture is only a reminder of what we already know in our hearts! Jesus Christ is not just a man in the Bible and our history books. He is Lord and He is God!! He couldn't redeem us otherwise!!

So as our world around us continues to walk in deception and uncertainties. We as believers in Jesus Christ can stand firm on "the" Truth because there is only One. There is no other God!! Jesus (the Word) became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14). He gave us access to the Father!! He and the Father are ONE (John 10:30)!!

Call upon Him and He will answer. Seek Him and you shall find Him as you search for Him with all of your heart (Jer. 29:13).

Be Blessed!
#hope-in-Christ

Copyright © 2016 by Denise Walker/Project H.O.P.E. Ministries, Inc.
Bible Verses from New King James Version were found on Bible Gateway.

The blood of Jesus! This is one of the many phrases that we declare and speak as believers in Jesus Christ, but do we truly understand the power of His blood? In prayer this morning, I begin to feel despair. I had gone through some testing at the doctor's office and the enemy was trying to make me reflect on my mistakes and choices from my youth. You see, I did make some poor choices as a result of my troubled childhood. There were even many trespasses against me. I begin to believe that God was now punishing me for those things that I may not have even understood fully as a youth. At that very moment, the Lord began to remind me of the blood of Jesus! He began to help me understand by giving me these words, "Yes you did that and yes it did happen, but when you came to Christ, He redeemed you! He set your feet on a solid foundation. You are renewed in Him! You are healed, not just physically but mentally. So today the enemy would have to reach back through the blood and that is not possible. What the blood of Jesus has covered is finished! You are free! You are not being punished. You have a testimony! Go minister my truth and be free."

I was then reminded of what the song writer wrote, "The blood that gives me strength, will never lose its power!" We have to trust and obey Him and know that He is Mighty to save! There is no one outside of Him that can heal us! There is no one outside of Him that can set us free! He is the great I Am! Oh, If we would only trust Him!!!  Let's Look at a few of God's promises regarding the blood of Jesus:

• 1 John 1:7, "But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin."
• Romans 5:9, "Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him."
• 1 Peter 1:18-19 - "knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers,  but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot."
• Ephesians 1:7 - "In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace"

Today, let us meditate on His truth and know that God has a plan for our lives. As we surrender to Christ, we can stand on the promises of God's Word. His blood cleanses us from all sin. We are justified by His blood. We are redeemed by the precious blood of Jesus, and His grace covers us!! Let us go in the freedom of Christ Jesus our Lord!! Be blessed by this song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FQCWMOmfio

#Hope-In-Christ 


Copyright © 2016 by Denise Walker/Project H.O.P.E. Ministries, Inc.
Bible Verses from New King James Version were found on Bible Gateway.