Jesus Had Whatever He Said

"Now when they drew near Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, He sent two of His disciples: and He SAID to them, 'Go into the village opposite you; and as soon as you have entered it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has sat. Loose it and bring it. And if anyone says to you, '''Why are you doing this?''' say, 'The Lord has need of it, and immediately he will send it here.' So they went their way, and found the colt tied by the door outside on the street, and they loosed it. But some of those who stood there said to them, '''What are you doing, loosing the colt?''' And they spoke to them just as Jesus had commanded, so they let them go.    (Mark 11:1-6)

"And Jesus went into Jerusalem and into the temple, So when He had looked around at all things, as the hour was already late, He went out to Bethany with the twelve. Now the next day, when they had come out from Bethany, He was hungry. And seeing from afar a fig tree having leaves, He went to see if perhaps He would find something on it. When He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. In response Jesus SAID to it, 'Let no one eat fruit from you ever again.' And His disciples heard it."

(Mark 11:11-14)

"Now in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. And Peter, remembering, said to Him, 'Rabbi, look! The fig tree that you cursed has withered away.' So Jesus answered and said to them, 'Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, '''Be removed and be cast into the sea,''' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things He says will be done, he will HAVE WHATEVER HE SAYS.'   (Mark 11:20-23)

Jesus’ words to His disciples describe the way to intimacy with God. Along the way you will find many things to say: if those words accord with the flesh, they will die; if those words accord with God's Spirit, they will come to pass. Understand that speaking to this mountain is not situational act but a daily devotion.

Are You Being Made Less, To Make All See?

"But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves are found sinners, is Christ therefore a minister of sin? Certainly not! For if I build again those things which I destroyed, I MAKE myself a transgressor. For I through the law died to the law that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ: it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain."   
(Galatians 2:17-21)

"To me, who am less than the least of all saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to MAKE all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be MADE known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, ACCORDING to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him. Therefore I ask that you do not lose heart at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.” (Ephesians 3:8-13) 

In latter times, it is tempting to rebuild what we, in Christ, have learned to destroy. The comfort of things remembered, experienced as opposed to pressing toward the mark for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. It is for your glory from God!

Those Who Look to Him will be Made Whole

"Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. Let no one say when he is tempted, 'I am tempted by God'; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death."

"Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. Of HIS OWN WILL He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures. So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God." (James 1:12-20)

"Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, 'Sit here while I go and pray over there.' And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. Then He said to them, 'My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.' He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, 'O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.' " (Matthew 26:36-39)

No variation or shadow of turning, as James reminds.

"If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. If your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. If your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out." (Mark 9:42-49) By His own will He brings us forth! Stop the reaching with the hand, stepping with the foot and looking with eye- these actions do not bring forth "every good gift and every perfect gift". It comes in the name of Jesus Christ, according to God's will, not according to the flesh.

Of What Use is a Prophet’s Reward?

"He who receives you receives Me, and He who receives Me receives Him who sent Me. He who receives a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward. And he who receives a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward. And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple, assuredly, I say to you, he shall by no means lose his reward." (Matthew 10:40-42)

"And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, 'Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns! Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.' And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. Then he said to me, 'Write: 'Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!' And he said to me, 'These are the true sayings of God.' And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, 'See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.' " (Revelation 19:6-11)

The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy; the reason that prophecy comes. His wife makes herself ready, called to marriage with the Lamb who was slain; a blending of different components (Webster's), all in Him. Not different from Him, but in Him as each part supplies.

"For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of USE have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil." (Hebrews 5:13,14)

If we know our charge from God, the requirement in Christ Jesus, we are more likely to arrive at "the end intended by the Lord.”  (James 5:10,11).

We Should Rather Say

"From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day. Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, 'Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!' But He turned and said to Peter, 'Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.' Then Jesus said to His disciples, 'If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of Man will come in the glory His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.' "
(Matthew 16:20-27)

By his works it is clear that Peter came to understand and act according to the words of God's Savior. We can quicken our devotion in Christ Jesus! Instead of rebuking Jesus' regarding His calling rather agree with Him. We should learn by this interaction to say, 'Praise the Lord! Let it be unto me according to Your word!' The Holy Spirit will rightly divide between the things of men where Satan's influence sways, and the things of God.

“Many Will Say To Me In That Day”

"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me, 'Lord, Lord, have not we prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!' "(Matthew 7:21-23)

Prophesy, casting out demons, and doing of wonders in Jesus' name are activities of the Holy Spirit. The apostle Paul directs the believer to 'pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy'. If prophesy is lawful, so must be the other two. There are many accounts through the new testament which prove that so.

"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father."

(John 14:12)

I recently attended a gathering in which the host desired to assist another ministry to receive down payment in order to purchase the building in which they were currently active. All offerings received would go directly to that purpose. They received throughout the week more than enough to accomplish that goal. Not much seems wrong with that, yet I was uncomfortable. Then Matthew 7:21-23 came to my attention. As I inquired of the Lord as to the context of it, I am impressed that He said to my spirit, "It is not that what they are doing is wrong, it is what they aren't doing." He who believes in Jesus Christ will do the works that He did. Simply put, he will prophesy, cast out demons, do wonders AND take up his cross, and follow Him, and HE WILL PREACH THAT! The activities in the Holy Spirit are helpful to men. Understanding the cross of Christ Jesus is greater because it shows how to walk just as He walked.

A Faithless, Fearful Response

"So they came to Jerusalem. Then Jesus went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. And He would not allow anyone to carry wares through the temple. Then He taught, saying to them, 'Is it not written, '''My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations'''? But you have made it a '''den of thieves.''' ' And the scribes and the chief priests HEARD it and SOUGHT how they might destroy Him, for they FEARED Him, because all the people were astonished at His teaching."
(Mark 11:15-18)

When your confidence is shaken, and it will be as that is a component of His cross for our salvation, how will you respond?

"See that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if they did not escape who refused Him who spoke on earth, much more shall we not escape if we turn away from Him who speaks from heaven, whose voice then shook the earth; but now He has promised, saying, 'Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven.' Now this, 'Yet once more,' indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire." (Hebrews 12:25-29)

An important statement in that verse, "are receiving", makes the point that there must be exchanges of what we think for what God knows, through His Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus taught His disciples that they should ''say unto this mountain", their confidence in the flesh, for whatever is not Spirit, is flesh; "be removed and be cast into the sea", proactively removing that which is hindering their vision: "the plank in their eye".