BROTHERS
Suggested Reading: John 7
(click scripture link to read online)
A Jewish man studies the Torah in a library situated in a tunnel along the western wall of Jerusalem.
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where Reynold took the photo, click HERE.
Key Verse: John 7:5
For even His brothers did not believe in Him.
Today’s reading tells us that Jesus knew the feeling of family betrayal. His brothers refused to believe in Him. He knew what it was to feel completely alone. He said, speaking of the world, “It hates me” (John 7:7). He understands when we feel alone and misunderstood. He is the Source of our comfort. The names of His brothers are recorded in Mark 6. It might be helpful to read again Mark 6:1-6. God can change families. Jesus’ brothers received the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:14). Two of them, James and Jude, wrote books that are part of the New Testament, James and Jude. Sometimes it increases the impact of Scripture on our lives to read out loud. This morning, so as not to wake Norma-Jean, I’ve gone outside and read so that I not only see the Words of Jesus from this chapter, but hear them too. They are powerful, life-changing Words.
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord Jesus, I pray that Your Holy Spirit will teach me daily as I read, highlight, write in the margins, learn, and digest Your Word inside of me. I know You are helping me to follow this blog daily, and I thank You with all my heart. Amen!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
The largest private office I’ve ever visited was in the Armenian Quarter of Jerusalem. I had made an appointment to see the Armenian Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem about renting office space in one of their buildings for the Arabic television ministry. His main goal was not to do business, but to convince me that the “brothers” mentioned in Mark 6 were actually cousins. Be that as it may, we prayed together, and I thanked him for his time. Sometime I hope to share here about the other Patriarch in Yerevan. There are two of them in the Armenian church, one in Jerusalem and one in Armenia. The Armenian Patriarch is now their Pope. When in his thirties, as the leader of the Young Communists of Armenia, he had an Apostle Paul type conversion. He sent two of his brightest priests to study with us at Crossroads. He’s now telecasting the Gospel from Mt Ararat into Turkey, the area of the infamous Armenian holocaust. He, along with the Baptist and Pentecostal pastors, ended up in the same cell in a communist prison, but that’s another story.
Yours for a daily commitment to study God’s Word,
David
Isaiah 53:3 (NLT) “He was despised and rejected – a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care.”
A wonderful reminder in today’s scripture, “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.
Jesus was well aquainted with rejection and sadness from his own family, but also from others. In verse 43 we read that there was a division among the people because of Him, and yet He continued His journey to the cross!
I thank The LORD as HE continues to work in my life ….and brings to life HIS WORD through your ministry and 100 Huntley Street…….I am encouraged,enlightened,energized and the list goes on…..and telling others to get on line with you……Thank you for your dedication to HIM!!!
Thanks for the labour of love you have taken on. I now have been writing as well every night [There Is Hope!] for 285 nights. so I know how much work it isMAY YHTE LORD GRANT STRENGTH< HEALING AND INSIGHT! .Blessings to you and may your inspiration touch many.. Pastor Greg Rathjen, [In Bentley Community Church for over 25 years.] This link will take anyone to the 285 articles since Jan. If they put it in and enter each picture the article comes up..
In the service of the Lord.. Enjoyed seeing you in Red Deer. http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1196962276557.31726.1003490505&type=3&l=9e59e2cc7e
will you tell us the “Other” the story???…I really enjoy your blogs…in Him Linda
I was excited with your story about the Armenian Patriarch.
God is so good
So mighty in battle
So powerful to save and deliver.
When nothing else can be done I can always pray and I need that so desparately sometimes.
To pray and to plead the blood over my family members.
We sponsor a young girl in Armenia and pray for her.
One of my favourite books is the “Happiest People on Earth”
I sent it to her.
So much evil in this world both past and present but God is good and again He is mighty to save
Who is like my Lord and to whom will I compare Him to?
I like the theme of the last 2 weeks Rescue and Restore but I also like the word Redeem.
God will rescue, restore and Redeem the youth of today.
Please correct if I am wrong but wasn’t John the beloved (who wrote the book of John) a young man when God called him? Younger than all the other apostles.
I was thinking and praying about the 2 weeks on 100 Huntley street “Rescue and Restore”
Isn’t it just like the Satan (liar and murderer) to try to steal the young.
I am going to stand in the gap and pray the God redeems this generation.
I remember a few months ago when I watched 100 Huntley Street doing a special on a church in Edmonton. On how the Holy Spirit can use current music and current culture and still save young people.
A young girl caught my eye and I have been praying for her since. Not everyday but when the Lord compels me to – I pray –
I am not trying to sound morally stronger or superior but when the Lord compels me to I pray.
Thank u again David for doing this blog.
We need more watchmen on the wall to sound the alarm so that the youth can be surrounded with God’s mercy, love and grace.
Moira suggestion of a national day of prayer for our youth is a good idea.
I totally support it.
Mellany
I was very interested in 100 Personal Words today. I would like to hear more on “the other story” . As a Pentecostal Armenian, I would have loved to have been a ‘fly on the wall’ in that communist prison with a Baptist Pastor, a Pentecostal Pastor, and The Armenian Patriarch. I believe God arranges everything for a purpose. Even I, seeing this article, a day after signing up for David’s Blog.