John 19

As Christ Jesus was suspended on the execution cross, He saw His mother and others grieving at the sight of Him in agony. John was standing next to Mary, and Jesus took the opportunity to establish an important principle … that Mary and John were related NOT in the flesh, but in the Spirit … members of God’s family. This relationship transcended that of mere earthly family relationships.

Often, our church relationships become more close and vital than our natural family relationships. Of course, if our natural family become Christians also, we are related on both levels. This becomes a very strong relationship. After all, the natural earthly family is a picture of the Heavenly, Spiritual family.

When you win a person to Christ, they become so much more than a mere friend or acquaintance. They become related to you in an eternal relationship in God’s family.

John 18

Peter was the prime spokesperson for the early Christian movement . (Acts 1, 2) God mightily used him to declare truths that we still hold essential. Yet, Peter was an imperfect man with big flaws. Of all things, he both cut off a man’s ear and denied he even knew Jesus when Christ was being interrogated by the High Priest.

What is your flaw? Does the knowledge of it deter you from functioning as a disciple? Think of Peter. There must have been a change between John 18 and Acts 2.

Let the resurrected Christ forgive you of your sins and restore you to FULL CHRISTIAN SERVICE. Maybe YOU can be mentioned in Acts 29 … which hasn’t been written yet but is recorded in heaven.

John 17

God made everything. So, the authority He had over everything He bestowed upon Christ Jesus. ALL AUTHORITY! (How much does the devil have? …. NONE)

When we pray, we should keep this in mind. Christ has all authority and He gave us access to His power through our prayers when we pray with faith in His name.

This confidence should soak our prayers and inspire us to ask more boldly.

And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask any thing according to His will, He hears us: [1 John 5:14]

John 16

Christ Jesus instructed us to pray and ask in His Name. What does that mean?

When Patty married me, she took my name. Her name is Patricia DEMOS. We are one. All I have is hers. She is authorized to speak for me. Together we made a family. We are usually seen together. It’s wonderful!

When we were baptized into Christ Jesus, we took His Name. [Romans 6:3; Rev. 21:2, 9] He has given to us because of our relationship all that He has. We are co-inheritors of what God has given to Him. It’s to be used to further HIS PURPOSES and not our own. Heaven’s faith currency has Christ’s picture on it, not ours.

It’s the Father’s good pleasure to give us the Kingdom. [Luke 12:32]

John 15 (This is a pivotal passage of scripture we should read often)

Christ would teach using concepts the people understood to illustrate spiritual principles they didn’t yet understand. He said, “I am the Vine and you are the branches.” Most of us understand plant growth. When we trim or prune our bushes, the scraps soon wither and die. We put them out to be collected by the refuse truck. The limbs we leave on the plant continue to grow and remain healthy.

Our spiritual life is like that. Christ wants us to stay connected to Him through our prayer, reading of His Word, and Christian fellowship through a local church or gathering of like-minded believers. (Missing church is NOT HEALTHY) Above all, reading His Word daily is probably the most essential element to being a healthy branch.

Jesus promised, “If you remain in Me and I in you, you will bear much fruit.”

John 13, 14

Just before His crucifixion, Christ was focused upon getting His Disciples ready for Him to leave them. He told them that they would do greater works than He had. He told them the key: “Ask in My name.” We know that we should keep asking, too.

We are guilty of having little faith. We don’t ask enough. We have Christ’s promise, “I will give it to you.” Jesus doesn’t lie.

We should ask Jesus about EVERYTHING. Maintain a constant communication with Him and ask Him for guidance through every day. Ask Him for provision for every need. Ask Him for healing for every affliction, both yours and that of others. His power is unlimited. He won’t run out. He never tires of giving you what you need.

It is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. [Luke 12:32]

John 12

John 10, 11

Jesus told His Disciples that Lazarus was not dead … although his body was in the tomb for 4 days … but that he was merely sleeping. This must be the way God sees a dead person – they are merely sleeping. We bury dead people. God may want to wake them up. Christ Jesus woke Lazarus up with His Voice.

While on staff at a church in Columbus, Ohio, I became acquainted with David Hogan of Freedom Ministries. His ministry was primarily to Mexico and Central America. David’s passion was authentic Christianity with NO HYPOCRISY. If you hear him preach, this is what you will discern. Most notably, David frequently speaks of the dead being raised by his ministry and his associates. Realize that he traveled by foot to indigenous natives living in remote areas where hospitals and formal medical attention was scarce. When someone died prematurely, they would bring the dead to David for prayer rather than to the undertaker. He has many hair-raising testimonies of how God’s power raised many dead people.

Christ raised Lazarus from the dead. We have Christ’s power through faith in His Name.

John 9

When Jesus was asked why a man had been blind from birth, He answered , “That the works of God might be displayed.” In other words, this man’s physical condition was a healing opportunity waiting to be performed by Jesus.

We come in contact with healing opportunities EVERY DAY. Each need we become aware of is a chance for God’s power to be displayed. When we casually acknowledge the need and do nothing about it, we are vacating a chance for a miracle. All we need to do is ask, “May I pray for you?”

Yesterday, i hired two day laborers to help us lay a flagstone pathway in our backyard. The “broker” was a man named Louie. He was needy, living out of a car with a blue tarp covering a door. It was pitiful. I took advantage and asked, “May I pray for you.” Being a good Catholic, he assumed a reverent pose and began crossing his heart. Among his needs, he wants a small camper to live in. I prayed in Jesus’ name and I’m waiting on God to answer.

If you know of a free camper for Louie, please let me know. A miracle is on the way.

John 6, 7

Jesus said, “I always do what pleases Him ( the Heavenly Father ).”

Now that should be the goal of every Christian … to live in such a way that every thought and deed pleases God. When we realize that we were created for God’s pleasure, we are starting to make headway. [Rev. 4:11]

The only way to successfully live this life is to be surrendered to God’s Holy Spirit and be obedient by the power of His grace working in our lives. [Phil. 2:13] We can’t do it by sheer willpower. (We may think we can, but we soon fall short and feel like giving up. Jesus KNEW we couldn’t do it alone)