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John Chapter One
19. This was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders sent priests and Temple assistants from Jerusalem to ask John, “Who are you?” He came right out and said, “I am not the Messiah.”
“Well then, who are you?” they asked. “Are you Elijah?”
“No,” he replied.
“Are you the Prophet we are expecting?”
“No.”
“Then who are you? We need an answer for those who sent us. What do you have to say about yourself?”
John replied in the words of the prophet Isaiah:
“I am a voice shouting in the wilderness,
‘Clear the way for the LORD’s coming!’”
Then the Pharisees who had been sent asked him, “If you aren’t the Messiah or Elijah or the Prophet, what right do you have to baptize?”
John told them, “I baptize with water, but right here in the crowd is someone you do not recognize. Though his ministry follows mine, I’m not even worthy to be his slave and untie the straps of his sandal.”
This encounter took place in Bethany, an area east of the Jordan River, where John was baptizing.
The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! He is the one I was talking about when I said, ‘A man is coming after me who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before me.’ I did not recognize him as the Messiah, but I have been baptizing with water so that he might be revealed to Israel.”
Then John testified, “I saw the Holy Spirit descending like a dove from heaven and resting upon him. I didn’t know he was the one, but when God sent me to baptize with water, he told me, ‘The one on whom you see the Spirit descend and rest is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ I saw this happen to Jesus, so I testify that he is the Chosen One of God.”
Matthew Chapter Eleven
1. When Jesus had finished giving these instructions to his twelve disciples, he went out to teach and preach in towns throughout the region.
John the Baptist, who was in prison, heard about all the things the Messiah, was doing. So he sent his disciples to ask Jesus, “Are you the Messiah we’ve been expecting, or should we keep looking for someone else?”
Jesus told them, “Go back to John and tell him what you have heard and seen; the blind see, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor.” And he added, “God blesses those who do not fall away because of me.”
As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began talking about him to the crowds. “What kind of man did you go into the wilderness to see? Was he a weak reed, swayed by every breath of wind? Or were you expecting to see a man dressed in expensive clothes? No, people with expensive clothes live in palaces. Were you looking for a prophet? Yes, and he is more than a prophet. John is the man, to whom the Scriptures refer when they say,
‘Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, and he will prepare your way before you.’
“I tell you the truth, of all who have ever lived, none is greater than John the Baptist. Yet even the least person in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he is! And from the time John the Baptist began preaching until now, the Kingdom of Heaven has been forcefully advancing, and violent people are attacking it. For before John came, all the prophets and the Law of Moses looked forward to this present time. And if you are willing to accept what I say, he is Elijah, the one the prophets said would come. Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand!
As I was reading these verses today I noticed similarities to these events and what we sometimes face. John the Baptist who was called and chosen of God at one time knew who he was and knew who Jesus was and yet because of circumstances of being locked in prison he began to doubt if he was really chosen and if Jesus was truly the Messiah.
Jesus told John’s disciples to go back and verify to John that he "Jesus" was the Messiah and even though John had his doubts Jesus never condemned him. Did you notice that it says that while John’s disciples were leaving Jesus began to speak great things about John even calling him the greatest prophet ever? He said these things while they were leaving so I’m sure they heard every word. Don’t you imagine that John’s disciples returned to John and told him all these wonderful things Jesus said about him? Our savior is so kind.
As I was meditating on these things Jesus spoke to me and asked me to write down these words and share them with you. He said:
My beloved ones, I know many of you have doubts. You are locked in situations that seem like prisons and wonder if you are really chosen and if I really love you and if I am who you believed me to be.
I know and understand all these things. I want to tell you that I am who I said I am and you are who I said you are. Just because you have problems and troubles doesn’t mean that I have forsaken you or that I don’t care. I make all things work together for your good. I don’t cause your problems but I am with you in the midst of them bringing you through them and out the other side.
You may feel like you are locked away and forgotten but you are not forgotten. You are my beloved and you are my hope and my dream. I am an ever present help in times of trouble. I am your savior, your deliverer, your healer, your everlasting life, your hope, your strong tower and your God who dwells with you.
Now that who I am is settled in your hearts let me tell you who you are:
You are my delight. You are the plan I had before the world began. You are the ones who I value so much that I became sin to destroy sin from your lives. I took your sickness, your disease, your death and your guilt all because I love you more than words can ever describe. I took every charge that you could ever be charged with and nailed it to my cross with a note that said “Paid in Full.”
You are sanctified, justified, glorified and beloved of all of heaven. You are the light of the world and the city on a hill. You are the glory of my creation. You are my crowning achievement. You are made in my likeness and being conformed into my image. You are the glorious ones who will fill the earth with my glory.
My loved ones, don’t let circumstances tell you who you are but rather tell your circumstances who you are. Don’t be defined by your problems but be defined by who I say you are. If you want to know who you are then look at who I am.
We are family. If you see me you see your Father. When Father sees you he sees his beloved children. Remember I prayed that we would all be made one? We are not two but we are one. You are Spirit born of Spirit. You are the inheritors of all the earth. You are not born from below but born from above.
You must begin to see your problems as opportunities. With each thing you overcome you grow stronger and stronger until you possess the whole world. The world is your inheritance and you must learn to see yourselves as I see you. You must realize that you are not victims of being born into a broken world but you are conquerors sent from above to put things in order.
Each challenge you have is a challenge to your identity. As you awaken to who you are these challenges will become much easier. When you are fully awake you will see yourselves as you truly are and doubt will never trouble you again.
So my loved ones, will you believe the report of the world or the report of the Lord from heaven? Will you see yourselves as mere mortals subject to the troubles of the world or will you see yourselves as an invading army from heaven sent to turn the earth into the image of heaven?
This was our plan from the beginning. The earth was formless and void and you are sent to put all things into order as they are in heaven. So embrace who you are. See yourselves as I see you. No more thinking of yourselves as just human. You are born from above and you are royalty.
John Chapter One
19. This was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders sent priests and Temple assistants from Jerusalem to ask John, “Who are you?” He came right out and said, “I am not the Messiah.”
“Well then, who are you?” they asked. “Are you Elijah?”
“No,” he replied.
“Are you the Prophet we are expecting?”
“No.”
“Then who are you? We need an answer for those who sent us. What do you have to say about yourself?”
John replied in the words of the prophet Isaiah:
“I am a voice shouting in the wilderness,
‘Clear the way for the LORD’s coming!’”
Then the Pharisees who had been sent asked him, “If you aren’t the Messiah or Elijah or the Prophet, what right do you have to baptize?”
John told them, “I baptize with water, but right here in the crowd is someone you do not recognize. Though his ministry follows mine, I’m not even worthy to be his slave and untie the straps of his sandal.”
This encounter took place in Bethany, an area east of the Jordan River, where John was baptizing.
The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! He is the one I was talking about when I said, ‘A man is coming after me who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before me.’ I did not recognize him as the Messiah, but I have been baptizing with water so that he might be revealed to Israel.”
Then John testified, “I saw the Holy Spirit descending like a dove from heaven and resting upon him. I didn’t know he was the one, but when God sent me to baptize with water, he told me, ‘The one on whom you see the Spirit descend and rest is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ I saw this happen to Jesus, so I testify that he is the Chosen One of God.”
Matthew Chapter Eleven
1. When Jesus had finished giving these instructions to his twelve disciples, he went out to teach and preach in towns throughout the region.
John the Baptist, who was in prison, heard about all the things the Messiah, was doing. So he sent his disciples to ask Jesus, “Are you the Messiah we’ve been expecting, or should we keep looking for someone else?”
Jesus told them, “Go back to John and tell him what you have heard and seen; the blind see, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor.” And he added, “God blesses those who do not fall away because of me.”
As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began talking about him to the crowds. “What kind of man did you go into the wilderness to see? Was he a weak reed, swayed by every breath of wind? Or were you expecting to see a man dressed in expensive clothes? No, people with expensive clothes live in palaces. Were you looking for a prophet? Yes, and he is more than a prophet. John is the man, to whom the Scriptures refer when they say,
‘Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, and he will prepare your way before you.’
“I tell you the truth, of all who have ever lived, none is greater than John the Baptist. Yet even the least person in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he is! And from the time John the Baptist began preaching until now, the Kingdom of Heaven has been forcefully advancing, and violent people are attacking it. For before John came, all the prophets and the Law of Moses looked forward to this present time. And if you are willing to accept what I say, he is Elijah, the one the prophets said would come. Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand!
As I was reading these verses today I noticed similarities to these events and what we sometimes face. John the Baptist who was called and chosen of God at one time knew who he was and knew who Jesus was and yet because of circumstances of being locked in prison he began to doubt if he was really chosen and if Jesus was truly the Messiah.
Jesus told John’s disciples to go back and verify to John that he "Jesus" was the Messiah and even though John had his doubts Jesus never condemned him. Did you notice that it says that while John’s disciples were leaving Jesus began to speak great things about John even calling him the greatest prophet ever? He said these things while they were leaving so I’m sure they heard every word. Don’t you imagine that John’s disciples returned to John and told him all these wonderful things Jesus said about him? Our savior is so kind.
As I was meditating on these things Jesus spoke to me and asked me to write down these words and share them with you. He said:
My beloved ones, I know many of you have doubts. You are locked in situations that seem like prisons and wonder if you are really chosen and if I really love you and if I am who you believed me to be.
I know and understand all these things. I want to tell you that I am who I said I am and you are who I said you are. Just because you have problems and troubles doesn’t mean that I have forsaken you or that I don’t care. I make all things work together for your good. I don’t cause your problems but I am with you in the midst of them bringing you through them and out the other side.
You may feel like you are locked away and forgotten but you are not forgotten. You are my beloved and you are my hope and my dream. I am an ever present help in times of trouble. I am your savior, your deliverer, your healer, your everlasting life, your hope, your strong tower and your God who dwells with you.
Now that who I am is settled in your hearts let me tell you who you are:
You are my delight. You are the plan I had before the world began. You are the ones who I value so much that I became sin to destroy sin from your lives. I took your sickness, your disease, your death and your guilt all because I love you more than words can ever describe. I took every charge that you could ever be charged with and nailed it to my cross with a note that said “Paid in Full.”
You are sanctified, justified, glorified and beloved of all of heaven. You are the light of the world and the city on a hill. You are the glory of my creation. You are my crowning achievement. You are made in my likeness and being conformed into my image. You are the glorious ones who will fill the earth with my glory.
My loved ones, don’t let circumstances tell you who you are but rather tell your circumstances who you are. Don’t be defined by your problems but be defined by who I say you are. If you want to know who you are then look at who I am.
We are family. If you see me you see your Father. When Father sees you he sees his beloved children. Remember I prayed that we would all be made one? We are not two but we are one. You are Spirit born of Spirit. You are the inheritors of all the earth. You are not born from below but born from above.
You must begin to see your problems as opportunities. With each thing you overcome you grow stronger and stronger until you possess the whole world. The world is your inheritance and you must learn to see yourselves as I see you. You must realize that you are not victims of being born into a broken world but you are conquerors sent from above to put things in order.
Each challenge you have is a challenge to your identity. As you awaken to who you are these challenges will become much easier. When you are fully awake you will see yourselves as you truly are and doubt will never trouble you again.
So my loved ones, will you believe the report of the world or the report of the Lord from heaven? Will you see yourselves as mere mortals subject to the troubles of the world or will you see yourselves as an invading army from heaven sent to turn the earth into the image of heaven?
This was our plan from the beginning. The earth was formless and void and you are sent to put all things into order as they are in heaven. So embrace who you are. See yourselves as I see you. No more thinking of yourselves as just human. You are born from above and you are royalty.
You are growing up into your dominion and power and glory will soon devour the darkness of the world because it will flow from within you. Just remember you are here to save and not destroy or condemn. By it's own nature light destroys darkness so just embrace being the light and you will drive all darkness from the earth. The creation is waiting for you to grow up and take charge of healing all that is broken in creation.
So my loved ones: Arise and shine. The glory you seek is already within you. Once you know your true identity you will walk in complete authority. Just because you have problems doesn’t mean you weren’t chosen. It’s quite the opposite. You wouldn’t be challenged if you were not a threat to take over. Don’t let the doubts of the past change your future. Forget the failures of the past and move forward.
Each day is a new day and you are blessed with all the blessings in heavenly places. Just as I spoke kindly of John I spoke greatly about you all over heaven. As you see yourselves in these heavenly places as above and not from below then you will learn to use and distribute these blessings until the whole world is awakened unto who they are. Never forget: The lost sheep and the found sheep are all my sheep.
So my loved ones: Arise and shine. The glory you seek is already within you. Once you know your true identity you will walk in complete authority. Just because you have problems doesn’t mean you weren’t chosen. It’s quite the opposite. You wouldn’t be challenged if you were not a threat to take over. Don’t let the doubts of the past change your future. Forget the failures of the past and move forward.
Each day is a new day and you are blessed with all the blessings in heavenly places. Just as I spoke kindly of John I spoke greatly about you all over heaven. As you see yourselves in these heavenly places as above and not from below then you will learn to use and distribute these blessings until the whole world is awakened unto who they are. Never forget: The lost sheep and the found sheep are all my sheep.
Your sins are forgiven so go and reconcile the world unto me. Tell them I took away their sins and their guilt and it’s time to come home to me. Tell them they are my beloved and I want friendship with them. I finished all that was needed to put all things into order. I love the least and the greatest. It is my will that none should perish but that all would awaken to everlasting life. Never see anyone as being too lost to save.
I love you with everlasting, joyful love and I just you to know Who I Am and Who You Are.
This was the end of the words He spoke to me at that moment.
I hope you are encouraged by these words.
Until next time,
Grow Rich in His Grace,
I love you all,
michael
This was the end of the words He spoke to me at that moment.
I hope you are encouraged by these words.
Until next time,
Grow Rich in His Grace,
I love you all,
michael
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