The best news we could ever hear is found in Psalm 97:1:
1THE LORD reigns, let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of isles and coastlands be glad!
The Lord, our God, He REIGNS! It doesn't make any difference what ANYONE thinks about it, HE REIGNS! He IS the One, True, Most High, Living, Almighty God of the Bible. He is the God of ALL creation, those who want Him and those who don't! AND HE IS the God of our Salvation! Nothing is impossible for Him and HE SAID, nothing is impossible for those who believe! Let the Word of the ONE WHO REIGNS be the final authority over every area of your life!
In Luke 9:1-2 we see Jesus doing this:
1THEN JESUS called together the Twelve [apostles] and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases,2And He sent them out to announce and preach the kingdom of God and to bring healing.
He gave them "power", the Greek word, "dunamis", which means: strength, ability, power, inherent power, the power of performing miracles. He also gave them "authority", the Greek word, "exousia", which means: ability, privilege, force, capacity, competency, mastery, delegated influence, right, jurisdiction. This power and authority was over all demons and devils, and to cure diseases. Jesus also sent them to preach about the Kingdom of God that was present in their midst (verse 6 says they preached the Gospel - Good News!) and to heal and restore the sick! They did, God did and they came back with a Good Report! Jesus took them away to give them some privacy, but the crowds wanted more of Jesus! (He LOVES it when people want more of Him!) When it was getting late the Twelve, who had just returned from their miracle tour, wanted Jesus to send the people away so they could eat. This is what Jesus did:
13But He said to them, You [yourselves] give them [food] to eat. They said, We have no more than five loaves and two fish--unless we are to go and buy food for all this crowd,14For there were about 5,000 men. And [Jesus] said to His disciples, Have them [sit down] reclining in table groups (companies) of about fifty each.15And they did so, and made them all recline.16And taking the five loaves and the two fish, He looked up to heaven and [praising God] gave thanks and asked Him to bless them [to their use]. Then He broke them and gave them to the disciples to place before the multitude.17And all the people ate and were satisfied. And they gathered up what remained over--twelve baskets of broken pieces.
Who do you think the TWELVE baskets left over may have been for? Remember, a laborer is worthy of his hire! Jesus proceeded to let them know what was ahead for Him and these were some of the things they would remember AFTER His Resurrection! Eight days later Peter, James and John see Jesus transfigured by the Glory! Do you know how SEEING something like that affects your faith? John wants to call fire from Heaven down on people by the end of this chapter and Peter denies Jesus three times during His trial. Seeing things like this are a wonderful blessing, but they do nothing for your faith! What does? Romans 10:17:
17So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Stick with the Word of God and develop your faith into a vital, productive, working faith! That's what we're called to do!
In Deuteronomy 1-2 we see Moses and the people are at Kadesh-Barnea. It has been 40 years since they left Egypt and Moses is getting ready to explain the Law in detail to the new generation to prepare them to enter the promised land. Moses himself would not enter, but he is still preparing the people for what is ahead of them. They SHOULD have entered the land 38 years before, but failed because of their unbelief and disobedience! God has given them a second chance and Moses doesn't want them to mess up again! Philosopher George Santayana said, "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it". Moses doesn't want that to happen so he is reviewing for the people who they are, where they came from, why there here and what they are to do next! Keep reading in Deuteronomy to see what happens next!
Shalom in Him!
