By Ramesh C.Reddy
Pittsburgh Standard

Thursday, Jan 22, 2009

SCRIPTURE:
“Jesus said to them, "Only in his hometown, among his relatives and in his own house is a prophet without honor. He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. And he was amazed at their lack of faith.” (Mark 6:4-6, NIV)

Observations:
I asked myself what we can learn about Jesus here?

1. Jesus could not do any miracles in His hometown of Nazareth except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them.

2. Jesus was amazed at their lack of faith.

Interpretations:
I asked myself what is the significance of the phrase ‘could not do any miracles?’.
It is very interesting that the phrase does not say ‘did not do any miracles’ but ‘could not do any miracles’. This is very significant because it tells us a lot about the character of Jesus. For Jesus to have done miracles there, it would have gone against His nature so that was not possible. Jesus wanted them to believe based on the miracles He had already done but they were not believing.

The majority of His hometown could have been saturated with unbelievers who did not want to believe in Jesus because they thought of Him as one of them so how could He be different. This created a chain-reaction.

If they were not going to believe even after all they saw and heard, Jesus would not force them to believe by doing miracles just to prove who He was to them. Jesus never wants converts to come to Him by force or manipulation.

Jesus has emphasized the importance of having faith and believing. Jesus’ miracles are grounded on people’s faith and belief. Even if they had lack of faith but wanted to believe or chose to believe, then Jesus would have still been able to do the miracles. Instead, those in His hometown did not want to even try to believe.

Why would Jesus even bother to do miracles there then! It would be like buying people who did not believe. Jesus was not about that and that is why Jesus could not do miracles.

It is important to realize here that ‘could not’ does not mean Jesus did not have the ability to do the miracles. He has the ability and capability to do miracles as has been shown time after time through the chapters I looked at. Just recently, I studied about Jairus’ daughter being raised from the dead. Jesus had the capability alright but also was obedient to the Father.

By doing miracles to those that did not believe would have messed up His ministry. He could have done it if people chose to believe and asked Jesus to help their unbelief. When the storm came on the waters, the disciples were afraid but at least they had a sense of belief that Jesus could do something.

I believe ‘could not’ can be the same as ‘did not want to’. We can think of examples where ‘could not’ does not mean ‘no capability’ but ‘have the capability but did not want to’. Jesus laying His hands on a few people and healing them shows Jesus had the power if He chose to do miracles.

I asked myself why Jesus was amazed at their lack of faith?
Jesus grew up in Nazareth and had done miracles and teachings in different places before coming back to His hometown. Here Jesus teaches with wisdom and people have come to know that Jesus does miracles but people continue to have lack of faith in Jesus. This bothered Jesus because of everything that He has done and yet He does not see their faith blossoming instead it is lacking.

Implications:
I saw important implications for my own life. I see the Lord reaching out to me through His Word because even if we have faith as small as a mustard seed, He does work in our lives.

I need to wait on the Lord because there is hope in Jesus and I am going to stand on the promise of God’s Word for His Help.

Jesus wants me to hold on to this promise He has given me from Psalm 42:
"Oh my soul, don’t be discouraged! Don’t be upset. Expect God to act! For I shall again praise Him for all that He will do for me. He is my Help! He is my God!” (Psalm 42:11, TLB)

I continue to wait and wait knowing and believing God will act. He will act in His timing. I need to hold on to the promise Jesus has given me, “Do not be afraid! Just believe”. If what I am hoping for and praying for is according to the will of God, no matter how long I have to wait, He will allow it to happen!

I ask you now dear friend, how is your faith this New Year of 2009?
Dear friend, if you are growing strong in your faith that is so awesome and a blessing. Sadly, that is not always the case even among Christians. Things can happen in our lives that sometimes make our faith fragile. At other times it seems like it has shattered or fallen.

I do not know where you are right now in your own faith but this I know, Jesus loves you and wants you to seek Him! Jesus went to the cross for you and me so that we could have new life in Christ. Jesus wants us to find our identity in Him and accepted Him but that does take faith on our part. We need to believe what Jesus did on the cross when He shed His blood for us to forgive us of all our sins. Now in Him we can have redemption. Yes, friend because of what Jesus already did for us, we can have the victory. He forgives us as we are when we turn to Him. Let not the cross of Christ be in vain for it is for you and me Jesus went to the cross. Come and accept Jesus as you are confessing and repenting of your sin. If it ended with the cross, there will be no hope but Jesus came back to life on the 3rd day to save all who received Him.

No matter how downcast you are, how hopeless a situation might seem, you can choose to have faith and remain in faith! It will not be easy always but holding on to what Jesus has already accomplished in your life and knowing that He can continue to work in your life can give you that peace to continue. Having faith no matter how small that faith is, even the size of a mustard seed, has the potential to move mountains!

We cannot always understand why things happen the way they do. Sometimes what happens gives so much pain. This does not change Jesus’ love for us. When we are in pain I believe He is in pain with us. When we are in sorrow, He is in sorrow with us. I do know whatever we go through if we are in the Lord, we are not alone and He will get us through. He does not want us to be afraid but to believe.

I speak from experience friend. I remember how much the Lord Jesus has brought us through especially when our beloved dad went into cardiac arrest on the 7th of October. Those were turbulent times but we have seen the miracles of the Lord even in those times through the 17th of December when our dad turned his life over to Jesus Christ and went to be with the Lord which is the greatest miracle of all since he was not a believer in Christ for a long time until that night. We see God's miracles even to this day.

Just this morning around 9:30 a.m. when I was about to cross the street, I almost was hit by a car within seconds because I did not see a car curving. I praise the Lord for sparing my life and I asked myself, 'How do I live the life He has given me when I could have died or got seriously injured' It is God's miracle that got me through or should I say God's intervention.

It is God's intervention that brought our family through and continues to bring our family through after losing our beloved dad. He sustains us in many ways but my experience has been through the Word of God.

It is God's Word that sustained me and our family in our turbulent times and it is God's Word that needs to sustain us always no matter where we are. When we turn to Jesus we will find hope!

Won’t you do that friend?

I do not know what you are faced with right now but Jesus knows what you are going through and what you have been waiting for. There are many times He gives us what we wait for as we seek Him. At other times, He tells us ‘No’ because He loves us and has a plan we cannot understand in the present situation.

Will there be pain and will a person’s faith be shaken?

Yes, that is very possible but also it is important to remember whatever the Lord allows in our lives, when we are His, He will not let us go through it alone. He will provide the support and strength to get through. The important thing is not to give up on the Lord and what you have been waiting for. Even if the present situation does not work out, He will open another door of blessing for you friend.

When you are tempted to give up on what you have been waiting, you need to saturate yourself with the Word of God. You see His Word will comfort you and give you promises you can hold on to. As you wait on the Lord in faith, no matter how long you wait, it will not be a waste of time because you are depending on the Lord. Do not look at the days that have gone by but look to the bright days the Lord will bring your way and will give you an answer for what you wait for.

He has His perfect will for your life and His timing for your life. Wait on the Lord friend and let Him guide you and lead you. There were a married couple who were praying to have a child but she could not get pregnant. They continued in prayer and prayer and prayer, waiting on the Lord. Five years later, they had their own child as his wife became pregnant. When the answer comes after prayer and waiting and when we see the Hand of the Lord on the situation, the result and outcome is that much more sweet and savoring.

Miracles are available friend so wait on the Lord and in His timing. I intend to wait on the Lord for the answer I am seeking whether the answer is a ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ for the Lord knows what it should be in my life. He knows the answers for your life too.

Few years ago, it was put upon my heart to write a poem to help the fallen find faith. I hope it ministers to you if you are struggling in your faith. I hope you can share it with those who you believe would benefit from it. It is taken from a counseling book I wrote for students faced with different situations in their lives.

Finding Fallen Faith
By Ramesh C. Reddy

Nothing is going your way?
At each new day
On bed, you just want to lay?
Whether it be Jan, Feb, Mar, etc or May
Don’t know if with Christ you want to stay?

There is so much pain?
Nothing to gain?
Your faith seems to be in vain?
Filled with problematic stain?

You feel Christ does not care?
But He wants to your burdens bear. (Matt 11:28-30)
And you He will from the pain soon spare.

Please in Christ, have faith. (Psalm 37:5)
To backslide from Jesus, problems Satan uses as bait.
Whoever loves the Lord, the devil will hate.
Please do not lose hope but upon the Lord wait. (Isaiah 41:10)

Jesus knows how you feel (1 John 3:20)
And your wounds Jesus will heal. (Isaiah 53:4-5)
And help you with your problems deal (1 Cor 10:13)
Purchasing you by His precious blood, the New Covenant He does seal!
Amen!

May you rest in the Lord for answers in the Heaven!

“For Answers In The Heaven!” (F.A.I.T.H)/”How is your faith this New Year of 2009?”

PRAYER:
Lord Jesus I love you so much. Thank you Jesus for loving me so much. I praise you and worship you Lord. I am sorry for my sin. Please forgive me Lord. Thank you Lord Jesus you hear me. I pray for those that are backsliding and are struggling in their faith.  I pray OH Lord that you would restore them. Lord Jesus they maybe facing circumstances in their life that's hindering their faith. They need you Lord. I need you Lord! Sadly, we rely on ourselves many times. When the devil tempts us, we forget you are there to help us. When we are faced with trials and tribulations, we forget you are with us through it all.  Sorry Lord for forgetting so easily. Please Lord change circumstances in people's lives and please Lord help them feel your love. You brought me back when I was going my own way years ago. Thank you so much Lord. Thank you Lord Jesus, you can do the same now too. I turn each one who is struggling to find you over to you Lord. I trust in you Lord Jesus with everything. Thank you Jesus, when we wait upon you, you will rescue us and mount us up with wings like eagles. Thank you that even if our faith is so small, you still work in our lives. We need your help to build our faith. Help us Jesus please. No matter how many years have gone by, we need your help to continue to grow in you Lord. Thank you Jesus, we can expect you to act in our lives. You are our help and our God! Thank you Jesus, you hear and answer. You have washed us clean and look after us. We trust in you and wait upon you with all our concerns and problems. Thank you for cleansing us with your precious blood. Thank you Jesus for the New Covenant. We give our life to thee and renounce any idols or gods that have crept up in our lives that go against your Word. Forgive us and help us! We acknowledge you as our Lord and Personal Savior! Thank you for being our Lord and Personal Savior! Thank you that you have heard our prayers and answered us! In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!

Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, thank you so much that we are never out of your love. No matter what is tormenting us, you are there for us. When there are days we cannot get through and loneliness has gotten the best of us because we are isolated in our torment and sin, you are still there. Just as the demon-possessed man saw you, ran to you, and fell before you for healing, we can come to you too. Thank you Jesus! You made yourself available to the man with the evil spirit. Thank you Jesus for making yourself available to us now when we call your Name for we are never out of your love and never out of your reach. You Oh Lord know what we have done; you know what we will do. You know what Satan will do to entice us and torment us. We come to you Lord and ask you for your healing presence in our lives. Take any addiction and torment that people face and fill them with your power to live for you. We know you can do it Jesus. Only you have the power to deliver us from any torment and find peace in you. Thank you so much Jesus. We come to you now Jesus and ask you to forgive us of all our sin. Deliver us Oh Lord and cleanse us with your cleansing blood. We believe in you Jesus; we believe you are the Son of God, we believe that you died and rose again; we believe you are here right now standing in our presence with the power to heal now and the grace to forgive. Help us Oh Lord as we turn this song “I Believe” into a prayer to you Oh Lord. Thank you so much for coming into our heart and making our heart your home as we ask you in. Take us in Oh Lord and be our Lord and Personal Savior as you lead us and guide us. Help us to help others as you help us! Thank you so much Jesus you are in our heart making our heart your home. Thank you for living in us. Thank you for being our Lord and Personal Savior! Thank you Jesus you have heard our prayers and answered us! In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!