Opened Eyes

Acts 26:18
To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me. (KJV)

The blind man, Bartimaeus, threw off his cloak and ran trembling to Jesus. And Jesus said, "What do you want me to do for you?" He said, "Lord, that I may receive my sight." In that moment as he said, "Lord," his spiritual eyes were opened. And Jesus said, "Your faith has made you whole." Notice - not your intellectual understanding, not your money, not your works - but your faith. Faith! Thats all it takes! Immediately Bartimaeus, who had been blind all his life, began to open his eyes, and the first thing he saw was the face of Jesus. What a experience - to open one's eyes and look straight into the strong, tender face of Jesus! Bartimaeus met Jesus and the record says he "followed Jesus in the way." You don't go back to your business, or your home, or your neighborhood, or your friends, or your school, alone. Christ goes with YOU.

Isaiah 35:4-5
Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you.
Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. (KJV

The Slavery that FREES

Ephesians 1:7
In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace


Freedom is a precious thing. People throughout history have prayed, fought, and even died for it. Our declaration of independence upholds it as one of our inalienable rights.

But the truth is, no matter what one's political situation might be, everyone is a slave-either to sin or God. Jesus said " everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin" (John 8:34). Paul added that all of creation is in slavery to corruption (Rom 8:21). However, believers have "been freed from sin and enslaved to God" (Rom 6:22).

The Roman Empire had as many as twenty million slaves; slave trade was a major industry. For a slave to gain his or her freedom, a redemption price had to be paid. The Greek word for such a transaction is lutroo, which Paul uses in Ephesians 1:7 to speak of our "redemption" from sin's bondage.

Slavery to sin is bondage; slavery to God is freedom. That sounds paradoxical, but God is a Sovereign King, and true freedom means having the ability to bend your will to His and thereby becoming all He created you to be. Even though you will fail at times, your greatest desire and highest pursuit as a believer is to be like Christ (1 John 2:5-6) Those enslaved to sin cannot do that, nor do they want to.

Today you will have many opportunities to demonstrate your submission to Christ. Let your attitude and actions speak clearly of your love for the Master.

Thank the Lord that He is faithful and just Master who always does what is best for His servants. Ask the Lord to guard you from thoughts and actions that are contrary to His will.

For further study:

What key characteristic is required of a servant of Christ? (1 Corinthians 4:1-2)

How does Jesus describe a wise servant? (Matthew 24:42-51)

How did Jesus demonstrate the heart of a servant? (Phillippians 2:5-11)

What implications does His example have for your life?

He is an atheist and yet he is right on point when it comes to evangelism.

In this 5:11 video, he tells the story of a man who gave him a Gideon\'s New Testament. Although he is an atheist, Penn is very respectful of this man\'s witness of Christ. He calls it \"wonderful\"!

Now here is the reason we are sharing this with you as an encouragement to share your faith with everyone...

Penn makes a very strong statement about those who claim to be Christians but do NOT talk openly with others about getting right with God through faith in Christ (here he uses the term \"proselytizing\", but not in a negative sense). He is talking about evangelism.

He specifically refers to the fact that all Christians should indeed be warning about Hell, which we know is the eternal fate of those who die in their sins, without putting your faith in Christ who died for the sins of man, according to the Bible. Some Christians shy away from mentioning this biblical truth and inevitable end for many for fear of \"offending\". Penn identifies this as not wanting to appear \"socially awkward\".

Here is the part to remember...***He asks the question, \"How much do you have to hate somebody to not proselytize?\" Good question.***

This video clip, by itself, ought to motivate ALL Christians to embrace the idea of sharing their faith openly and upfront. This is what some may call\"confrontational\" evangelism.

Please pray for Penn that he may be born-again.






If you want to better understand why faith in Jesus saves from Hell, please visit this website and it will walk you through. I pray you are as open to listen as Penn was. http://www.needgod.com

Thanks to Tiffany Gelpi and CCN for sending this to me. :)

Despise God's Word and find yourself in trouble

Proverbs 13:13
Whoever despises the word brings destruction on himself,
but he who reveres the commandment will be rewarded. (ESV)

Numbers 15:31
Because he has despised the word of the LORD and has broken his commandment, that person shall be utterly cut off; his iniquity shall be on him. (ESV)


As Christians, we have the Spirit of God in us. But ours is the responsibility to keep sin out of our lives so that the Spirit can produce His fruit in us. Become grounded in the Bible. As Christians, we have only one authority, one compass: The Word of God. Abraham Lincoln in a letter to a friend said, "I am profitably engaged in reading the Bible. Take all of this Book upon reason that you can, and the balance upon faith. You will live and die a better man. " Begin the day with the Bible; and as the day comes to a close, let the Word speak its wisdom to your soul. Let it be the firm foundation upon which your hope is built. Let it be the Staff of Life upon which your spirit is nourished. Let it be the Sword of the Spirit which cuts away the evil of your life and fashions you in His image and likeness.

Romans 8:29
For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. (ESV)

Glory in my infirmities

2 Corinthians 12:9-10

And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. (KJV)


God is especially close to us when we are lying on a sickbed. God will make the bed soft and will freshen it with His presence and with His tender care. He makes the bed comfortable and wipes away our tears. He ministers to us with special tenderness at such a time and reveals His great love for us. Tell me why the gardener trims and prunes his rosebushes, sometimes cutting away productive branches, and I will tell youwhy God's people are afflicted. God's hand never slips. He never makes a mistake. His every move is for our own good and for our own ultimate good. Oftentimes He must deform us and mutilate our own image. Deformity precedes conformity.

Romans 5:3
And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience (KJV)



1 Peter 4:12-19

Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:

But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.

But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters.

Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.

For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?

Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator. (KJV)

The True Gospel