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DO NOT BE AFRAID

Do not be afraid...You Don't Have To Worry
FaithToday's Encouragement

Do Not Be Afraid…You Don’t Have To Worry

by GOD TV
written by GOD TV

What are you wearing today? In Luke 12:27-32, the Bible says, “Consider how the wildflowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If this is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will He clothe you, you of little faith?  And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink. Do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after such things and your Father knows you need them. But seek His Kingdom and these things will be given to you as well.”

God’s word is living and active, because it’s connected to a man, to Jesus Christ whose birth we celebrate at Christmas. Jesus came into this world as God the Father, dressed as a man. He suffered, died, and was buried, and then resurrected from the dead, so that all men can be saved and clothed as the body of Christ. As Christians say, “We live and move and have our being in Him.”  We say we are the body of Christ, but do we really live like that in the midst of all that’s going on around us? Right in the beginning when Adam and Eve sinned, they clothed themselves with fig leaves to hide from God. But God made garments from skins to clothe them, and so they were no longer naked. And that’s in Genesis.

The story of Christmas or the need for a Savior was being foretold right there. As soon as Adam and Eve sinned, they tried to deal with their own sin and make their own garments. Our loving heavenly Father said no, no, no. Do not fear, do not worry. I’ve got you covered. I’ve got you covered. Let me cover you with my Son Jesus, and we can be as one again.

Isaiah knew this where he wrote, “For He (God) has clothed me with the garments of salvation. He has covered me with the robe of righteousness.” He said that in Isaiah. Zechariah knew this. He said, “See, I’ve taken away your sins and now I’m giving you these fine new clothes.” That was in Zechariah 3.  And David wrote about it in the Psalms, “You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy.”  The prodigal son was clothed in the best robe, and Paul challenges us in Romans 13:14, to “…clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provisions for the desires of the flesh.”

You see, Jesus Himself in Matthew 22:11, shares a sobering parable about the importance of what we clothe ourselves with. He said a certain king comes in to meet his guests and he notices a man wasn’t wearing the proper clothes for a wedding. That man was not only removed from the wedding feast, he was executed. Why such a harsh punishment, you may ask? Well, if I understand it correctly, back then it was custom in those days for the one who was hosting the wedding, in this case, the king, to send out their invitations with a simple gift, a nondescript robe or garment. It was expected that every guest wear the gift to the wedding. You’d be offending the king if you showed up wearing anything else. Are you getting this?

When Jesus was sent to the cross, they took off His purple robe representing His royalty. Then they put on Him His rabbinical clothes representing worldly ways and traditions. And then, at the cross they removed those rabbinical clothes and Jesus was crucified naked, in the skin that the Father created and clothed Himself in.

See, Jesus came into the world in the flesh that the Father and the Holy Spirit knitted together in Mary’s womb, so that in His resurrection form, Jesus could send all mankind an invitation and the garment of Himself, so that we could all attend the wedding supper of the Lamb. What a gift!

So let me ask you once again. What are you wearing?  This Christmas, do not be afraid of what you see happening all around you. You just have to worry about if you are clothed in Jesus Christ. If you’re not sure if you have the proper clothing on, the King of all kings is sending you as an invitation with a garment to wear. You are invited to lay down your own life and to put on Christ for all eternity.

Here, let me pray with you if that’s okay. Father, thank you. Thank you for your Word. Thank you for your Son, Jesus Christ. Remove any veils over our eyes, our ears, and our hearts right now, and let us begin to open and to put on Christ, to bring His light everywhere we go. In Jesus’ Name. If you are not sure about all of this and you’d like to speak to someone, the GOD TV team have offices all around the world, and we’d be only too happy to answer your questions and to pray with you.

No, you can’t take anything with you to heaven. You can’t take your car, you can’t take your house. You can’t take that new computer gizmo that you got for Christmas to heaven. But there is one thing you actually can take to heaven: souls people, human beings, by reaching them with the gospel of Jesus. That’s all we care about here at GOD TV. We want to bring as many souls with us to heaven, to present them to Jesus as we can, and you can, too, by joining with us, giving a generous gift.

________

Read more on the GOD TV blog here

Watch GOD TV here

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Do Not be Afraid!
Bible Verse of the DaySpotlight

Bible Verse of the Day: Do Not be Afraid!

by Lily Benson
written by Lily Benson

Fear will retreat when you allow trust to take the lead. Psalm 56:3-4 reminds us “Do not be afraid! Trust in God.”

Today’s Bible Verse

“When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?” Psalm 56:3-4

What is God’s Message For Me Today? Click Here

Encouragement

Life often presents us with moments that stir the tides of fear and doubt within our hearts. Yet, even in the midst of these swirling emotions, the timeless truth of Psalm 56:3-4 calls us to stand firm: “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.”

Imagine fear as the gusty winds that threaten to tip your boat, and trust as the steadfast anchor that holds you steady amidst the storm. Just as a skilled sailor relies on the anchor to keep their vessel secure, you can lean on your unwavering trust in God to navigate the challenges of life.

It’s only natural to experience fear, but remember that faith is the bridge that carries you from fear to courage. As a bird relies on the air currents to soar, let your trust in God’s promises lift you above the clouds of apprehension.

Consider a climber ascending a great mountain. Their focus isn’t on the treacherous path, but on each step that leads them closer to the summit. Likewise, in the face of fear, shift your focus from the unknown to the known character of your Heavenly Father. Your trust is the guide that will lead you safely through every obstacle.

Today, as you walk your unique path, choose to step forward in the rhythm of trust. With each stride, declare that fear may knock at your door, but faith is the one who answers. Your Creator knows your concerns, and He invites you to trade them for the peace that comes from resting in His presence.

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ArticlesFeaturedNewsVideo

Young Girl Filled With The Holy Spirit Preaches, “Do Not Be Afraid”

by Le-Jovale Vallejo
written by Le-Jovale Vallejo

“Do not be afraid,” 1 young girl filled with the Holy Spirit powerfully preached this scripture.

Do Not Be Afraid

Many times in the Bible we are encouraged and instructed to not be afraid.

The words “fear not” first appeared during the time of Abraham. “After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward” (Genesis 15:1, NIV).

Additionally, even during the time of Joshua, God continually reminded His people to not be afraid. “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9, NIV).

READ ALSO | REVIVAL TESTIMONY: A WOMAN WHO COULDN’T WALK FOR A DECADE IS HEALED

God’s people were constantly swayed by the troubles of life, and God needed to remind them to never be afraid. Jesus admonished His disciples, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27, NIV).

Young Girl Filled With the Holy Spirit

Clearly, this young girl filled with the Holy Spirit was sharing this powerful message: “Don’t fear anything; don’t fear what the people say. Don’t fear anything; don’t listen to them. Let them do what they do, but for us, let’s praise God.”

In a world full of people who are afraid to offend others with truth, we need to be more like this young girl.

Additionally, she shared, “Today, I’m standing here with my two feet; I’m not afraid of anyone. I’m afraid of God. You shouldn’t be afraid of people; what do they give?”

Pray Everywhere

Not only did she remind everyone to not be afraid, but she also encouraged us to pray everywhere, remembering that God is always within reach.

“Going to the bedroom, going to this bed, going to the kitchen—praying everywhere. You should pray everywhere. Wherever you are, God is with you,” she concluded.

 

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A post shared by Brent Kudakwashe (@brent_kudakwashe)

Header image: Photo by Allen Taylor on Unsplash

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Do not be afraid...The Good Shepherd Drives Out Fear
FaithToday's Encouragement

Do Not be Afraid…The Good Shepherd Drives Out Fear

by GOD TV
written by GOD TV

Fear not! Don’t be afraid, be anxious for nothing. These are real scriptures and fear is also very real and it’s very human. As humans, there are times when we are afraid. There are times when we are anxious. There are times when we worry. This is a part of humanity, but God gave us a remedy for it.

From cover to cover, the Bible is always saying to fear not, or not to be afraid. Yet we are afraid. Just the other day I was very worried about something and I had to recite the 23rd Psalm . On the sixth time reciting it, I got comfort. It’s my go-to passage, friends. You may be tired of me talking about it, but I’ll never be tired of sharing it. The 23rd Psalm is my life passage. “He is my Shepherd and I will fear no evil, for He is with me. His rod and His staff, they comfort me,” and friend, I recite that, and I recite that, and I recite that, and I speak it quietly and I speak it loudly.

You know, there are buzz words. People say things like,  “Fear looks and faith leaps.”  You know it sounds good. And I’ll be the last to try and tell you that you should never be afraid, because fear, like I said, is a real, real thing.  To me, sometimes it’s like a little monster that sits on my shoulder and whispers in my ear, and that voice is, “It’s your own mess. You made this mess yourself. You expect God to bail you out again when you did it, when you caused it, when you created it.”  And friend, there are times where I have to just do battle with that little monster on my shoulder, that demon. And with that 23rd Psalm, I get victory every time, friends. The Lord is my Shepherd. I will fear no evil for He is with me. His rod and His staff, they comfort me.

What does the Shepherd do with His rod? He beats off our predators. What does He do with His staff? He hooks us and brings us back on path. Brings us back on track. The Lord goes after us. He leaves the 99 to go after the one.

So regardless of your situation today, this whole month of December, we’ve been telling you not to be afraid, to fear not, to be anxious for nothing. It’s a theme this Christmas here on GOD TV.  As we stand together with you this Christmas, we encourage you just as a passage today in Luke 24, those ladies were afraid, but they had no reason to be afraid. Their natural bodies were fearful, but they had no reason to be afraid.

Today, friend, whatever you’re going through, be assured that we at GOD TV are standing together with you, and we join with you and we encourage you to fear not, for your Shepherd is with you.  And with that, I say a very, very Merry Christmas, because tomorrow’s the day we celebrate the Good Shepherd who was born to take away all of our fear. Hallelujah! God bless you.

You know, you can’t take anything with you to heaven. You can’t take your car, you can’t take your house. You can’t take that new computer gizmo that you got for Christmas to heaven. But there is one thing you actually can take to heaven: souls people, human beings, by reaching them with the Gospel of Jesus. That’s all we care about here at GOD TV.  We want to bring as many souls with us to heaven, to present them to Jesus as we can. And you can, too, by joining with us, giving a generous gift.

________

Read more on the GOD TV blog here

Watch GOD TV here

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Do not be afraid...Jesus gave Himself for you
FaithToday's Encouragement

Do Not Be Afraid…Jesus Died In Your Place

by GOD TV
written by GOD TV

I have a great message for you! Do not be afraid.  Jesus died in your place! Isn’t that wonderful news? The Bible says when they came to a place called the Skull, they crucified Him there along with the criminals, one on His right and the other on His left. And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them for they do not know what they’re doing.”  They were the last words of Jesus before He died.

May I be so bold as to ask you to stop watching for a moment and literally just speak out that sentence aloud, and listen to yourself as you say the words. Here we go. “Father, forgive them for they do not know what they’re doing.”

What is Jesus saying?  In His last hour, Jesus is saying a prayer, a request to God, not for Himself, but for others. And it’s staggering to me. Today, I’d like to break down and look at His final words a little closer.

So firstly, Jesus starts off the prayer with the word “Father.”  It’s a term of trust, certainty, and endearment. Father is first and foremost a term of relationship. Abba, roughly translated means ‘dad’ or ‘daddy.’  And Jesus also used this intimate Aramaic word to address His Father in the Garden of Gethsemane the night before. Remember when Jesus’ disciples asked Him how they should pray? He gave them the model prayer that begins with “Our Father”.  Jesus is teaching us to have this same relationship. Praise God!

Then He says, “Forgive them.”  What does it mean to forgive? The word occurs often in ancient texts, and its meaning back then was ‘to release from legal or moral obligation or consequence, to cancel a debt that was owed, or to pardon.’  You know, it still means the same today.  As Jesus begins the last phase of His life, dying on the cross, hung between Earth and Heaven, He prays, asking His father to forgive. Then He says, “Forgive them.”  Who does “them” refer to? Let’s consider a number of the options. Was it the soldiers? Those guys were just following orders and I’m not sure they even had much choice about it. It wasn’t until afterwards that the centurion said, “Surely He was the Son of God.” But it could have been the soldiers, nevertheless.

Pilate might have been a better applicant. Against the law, he gave the order for the crucifixion. Perhaps Jesus was forgiving pilot for his weakness of character as he succumbed to the peer pressure of the crowds. Maybe it was the chief priests and scribes. They were the prime force behind the crucifixion. Maybe it was them. Perhaps it was the Pharisees and Sadducees. After all, they were His early enemies. Maybe He could have been remembering them. Or could I be as bold as to say, could it have been all of them, including you and including me?

You know, when you think about it, we all sent Jesus to the cross; our sins, our corruption, our weakness, even our pettiness. You see, God had a problem that He was trying to fix; a broken relationship between us all, and the barrier was sin. Jesus had no illusions. He knew exactly why He came to Earth. He explained it to His very disciples in Mark 10:45, where He said, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many.”

You see, we made the cross necessary. And even if you and I were not the original sinners, I’m pretty sure we would’ve ended up with the same outcome. It is what we call today, ‘human nature’. So I think we were the ones He was asking the Father to forgive. But here’s the thing, Jesus also said, “Enter through the narrow gate, for wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate, and narrow is the road that leads to life, and only few find it.”

As we look around the world today, what do you see? For me, it seems that the vast majority are on this broad road that ultimately leads to destruction. Jesus chose to die in your place so you can walk in freedom and forgiveness. Do not be mistaken, friend. This is the narrow gate that you are invited to walk through. I believe this narrow gate has two hinges that are critical to opening it. One is acceptance; believing that Jesus is so who He says He is, and accepting His offer.  And the other is repentance, by turning away from our wicked ways and going on a journey with God to be all that He created you and me to be.

Jesus ends with, “For they do not know what they’re doing” in His prayer. So do we know what we are doing? What I’ve learned from this prayer from Jesus is that God is merciful; far more merciful than any of us deserve. God looks at our hearts and He’s made a way for us to be cleansed of all unrighteousness. This really is truly wonderful news that Jesus died in our place and we need not fear.

If you would like to receive that forgiveness today, I would be honored to help repair the broken relationship with God. It’s so super easy. You don’t need to make an animal sacrifice. You don’t need to offer money. You don’t need to travel around the world to a special location. You just need to simply say a prayer out loud to God in the same way that Jesus prayed out loud to His Father when He was on the cross. It’s a prayer of acceptance and a prayer of repentance. And if you’d like to go through the narrow gate and rekindle your relationship with God, please repeat these words and agree with them in your heart. And if you do, that’ll be wonderful!

So let’s pray. Dear Lord Jesus, I really didn’t know the depths to which I’d fallen. I am a sinner. I’m coming to realize the depths of the love you have for me. Thank you that Jesus canceled my debt of sin to you. I accept this amazing gift of forgiveness. I repent and I turn away from my sins, and I invite you to come into my heart and into my life. Amen.

Well, if you just prayed that prayer, congratulations!!!  Your name is now written in the Book of Life, and you’ve been completely cleansed of all sin. I’d encourage you to continue watching God TV to learn. Tell your friends and family and see if you can find a great church to connect with.

And now, if I may be bold enough to ask, let me pray for you. If you’re comfortable, close your eyes and just open your hands as if you’re gonna be receiving a gift. I’d like to pray that, God, in the form of His Holy Spirit, come and reside in you. So let me pray for you. Dear God, I thank you for all my brothers and sisters who just prayed that prayer. I ask, Holy Spirit, that you fill them with your presence. Lead them and guide them into who you created them to be and to do what you are calling them to do. Help them to see their purpose, and I pray that you give them wisdom and courage to live it out. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen. Well, guys, may God bless you and may He use you powerfully!

We are so blessed by our partners around the world who faithfully give to GOD TV.  It humbles us when we receive donations from around the world, from people who’ve been blessed by the ministry of GOD TV.  You know, we are called to preach the Gospel to all the nations of the earth, and we cannot do this without you. So I want to invite you today to give generously to GOD TV, so that we can continue airing the Gospel of Jesus to the nations of the earth.

________

Read more on the GOD TV blog here

Watch GOD TV here

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Do not be afraid...Jesus gave Himself for you
FaithToday's Encouragement

Do Not Be Afraid… Jesus Gave Himself For You

by GOD TV
written by GOD TV

Luke 22:17-20,  “After taking the cup, He gave thanks and said, ‘Take this and divide it among you. For I tell you, I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.’ And He took bread and gave thanks and broke it and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’  In the same way after the supper, He took the cup saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.'”

A few weeks back, I read about a very heartbreaking incident on the news about human sacrifice. A couple wanted to get rich, and they were advised by a god man that a human sacrifice will make them very rich. Two women became victims of this barbaric act. How horrible is that? If we notice all around us, everyone is seeking atonement for something. Everyone is dealing with the evil in them in different ways. We are required to pay for the injustices that we may have caused, knowingly or unknowingly.

The place I’m standing in is like a village. I see how the villagers, here are so committed to their religious duties because they’re seeking atonement for their sins, worries, sicknesses, and all sorts of challenges in life. Some seek atonement even for their afterlife. Where can I find atonement for my sins? We all need to deal with the evil in us, the sins that separate us from God. But this passage that I just read is an answer to all the questions in the world. And here, Jesus is reinforcing that He has been poured out for us all for our iniquities and the iniquities of the world.

We are invited to remember it, receive it, and live under the new covenant. Jesus not only died for us, but rose again victoriously. That is why it is a new covenant. When we accept Him as our Lord and Savior, we come under the new covenant of forgiveness and grace. That is why communion is so powerful.

We are believing and receiving the most powerful and sovereign symbol of life. He can wash away our sins. He’s the perfect sacrifice for us. He has broken the power of death and evil. His power can transform our lives. If you are feeling low or dealing with unbelief and fear, I urge you to partake in communion. Just do it with your family or friends right where you are. Doing this in remembrance of Him will ignite new faith and assurance in your heart.

Friend, there’s a heart, there’s a life, there’s a person, there’s a real person that needs to hear the good news of Jesus Christ at this very moment. Today, I appeal to you to join with us and become a media missionary.  Sow financially into GOD TV and let’s take this good news of Jesus to the ends of the earth. Through your giving, through your prayer, through your support, this world is going to be changed, and the good news of Jesus Christ is going be heard around the world. God bless you.

________

Read more on the GOD TV blog here

Watch GOD TV here

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Do not be afraid...the Kingdom is accessible.
FaithToday's Encouragement

Do Not Be Afraid…The Kingdom Is Accessible

by GOD TV
written by GOD TV

Today’s reading is from Luke 21:29-31. And Jesus gives a parable about a fig tree. Now He spent a lot of time with His disciples, telling them that there are signs that they will see for His return. Now, it wasn’t necessarily that they will see those signs, but the generation that sees these signs are going to know that Jesus is coming soon; His second coming.

And He points out a fig tree.  Now, a fig tree is a tree that blossoms in spring, before summer, before any other trees. And He says, “Listen, as this fig tree begins to blossom, you can see that summer is coming. So all of these things that I’ve told you about, when you see that they’re happening, know that I’m coming back.”

Now, what’s the principle in this? What’s the application for us? See, the application is that we will know when Jesus is coming back. So His return is drawing near and probably nearer to us than it has ever been in history.

But we also know that Jesus is near right now. You and I can have a relationship with Him by calling out to Him, confessing our sin, asking Him to be our Lord and Savior, and watching Him do a miraculous work in your life and mind. So listen, the time is coming. Jesus is coming soon, but right now He can be living in your heart. Jesus’  Kingdom is near right now.

You know, you can’t take anything with you to heaven. You can’t take your car, you can’t take your house. You can’t take that new computer gizmo that you got for Christmas to heaven. But there is one thing you actually can take to heaven: souls people, human beings, by reaching them with the Gospel of Jesus. That’s all we care about here at GOD TV.  We want to bring as many souls with us to heaven, to present them to Jesus as we can, and you can, too, by joining with us, giving a generous gift.

________

Read more on the GOD TV blog here

Watch GOD TV here

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Do Not Be Afraid...Jesus Has All Authority
FaithToday's Encouragement

Do Not Be Afraid…Jesus Has All Authority

by GOD TV
written by GOD TV

Do not be afraid, I have good news!  Jesus has all authority!  That’s a powerful statement that He has all authority. Today, we are in Luke 20:1-8, where the Pharisees come and question Jesus. And I just want to read one verse to you.  In verse 2, the Pharisees come to Him and they say this, “Tell us by what authority are you doing these things? Who gave you this authority?” They question Jesus’ authority.

These Pharisees were the scholars, they were the smart guys. And then Jesus shows up on the scene and flips the script and says, “The Kingdom of God is near,”  and they’re looking for a warring king. And He comes as a servant, washing people’s feet. And it was blowing their boxes of what they thought the Messiah would be. And so they’re questioning His authority.

But I have good news!  Jesus has all authority. And so when we come into agreement with that truth, that Jesus carries all the authority, like in John 14:6 He says, “I am the way, the truth and the life.” When we believe that, when we know that He has absolute authority in our lives, and we live that way according to the word of God, that He is the way out of things that we’re stuck in. He is the way into the promises. He is the way into your calling. He is the way into freedom and healing and breakthrough. That He is the truth that sets us free, because He has all authority.

He doesn’t just have some. He doesn’t just have some for me, but none for you. He has all authority. He is the King of kings and the Lord of lords.  We say that, and it’s a good phrase and it sounds powerful, but have you thought about what that means? Of all the kings in the earth, He is THE King of all the kings. Of all the things that people call “lord,” He’s the Lord of all the lords.  He’s number one, He’s the top dog, however you want to put it. He has all authority.

And so when you come to Him, He can help. And I want to encourage you with that today in this Christmas season. You might be going through some things. You know, it’s an exciting time of the year, but sometimes it can be sad, sometimes it can be discouraging, because things haven’t happened and we’re at the end of another year. It can be sad because it’s your first Christmas or your 50th Christmas without a loved one. There’s lots of things, but He has all authority and He can bring you into hope and joy and peace and love, because He has ALL authority.

So I just pray that you would seek Him in this season. I pray that you would spend time in the Word (He is the Word), getting to know Him and being encouraged by Him as He speaks to you through the Word of God. I bless you with encounters with Jesus, and that as you surrender where you felt like you had to do it all, that you would hand it over and allow Him to be the biggest authority in your life. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.

We are so blessed by our partners around the world who faithfully give to GOD TV. It humbles us when we receive donations from around the world, from people who’ve been blessed by the ministry of GOD TV.  You know, we are called to preach the gospel to all the nations of the earth, and we cannot do this without you. So I want to invite you today to give generously to GOD TV so that we can continue airing the gospel of Jesus to the nations of the earth.

________

Read more on the GOD TV blog here

Watch GOD TV here

 

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Do not be afraid...The Lord sees you
FaithToday's Encouragement

Do Not Be Afraid…The Lord Sees You

by GOD TV
written by GOD TV

It is a glorious but cold day here in Norway today. My name is Edward John.  I’m Regional Director for GOD TV here in the Nordics, and I have some good news for you! God sees you, so don’t worry about anything. He knows who you are and He has a great plan for you!

Today, we have a word about Zacchaeus, from Luke19:2-5, and I want to read this incredible story about this tax collector who was a very short man, but had a deep desire to meet and see the Lord Jesus Christ. It says about him that, “There was a man there by the name of Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and he was wealthy. He wanted to see Jesus, but he was short so he could not see over the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to see Him since Jesus was coming that way. When Jesus reached the spot, He looked up and said to him, ‘Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.'”

Now listen, friend, I believe that the Lord knows that you desire to see Him. As a matter of fact, I know that He does, because the word says, “Before you were formed in your mother’s womb, I knew you.” And it says that His eyes are seeking to and fro throughout the whole earth to find those who seek Him with their whole heart.”  It says, “I Am the Alpha, the Omega, the beginning and the end,” and the Lord just sees and knows everything.

So here’s this man, Zacchaeus, a chief tax collector, by the way, a wealthy man, but he had something that not everybody has. He had a desire to see Jesus. Whether it looked stupid or not, he didn’t care about it, he just wanted to see the Master. So he thought, well, I’m short. I can’t see over the crowd, but what I’ll do is I’ll climb a tree. Can you imagine if today you say,  “I don’t care what it looks like. I don’t care what people think, what matters is that I can see the Master.”  Well, here’s the nice thing about it. Before Zacchaeus climbed this tree, the Lord already knew. So what does He say? He says, “Come down immediately, Zacchaeus, come on down. I want to be a guest at your house today.”

And you know what, my friend?  Simply because you desire to see Jesus, He says the same thing to you: “Come here. I want to stay at your house today. I want to be a guest in your heart. I want to be a guest at your place,” because He sees your desire. So don’t be afraid that you’re not seen. Don’t doubt that God sees you. He knows you. And even before you had your desire, He knew you would have it right now at this time and this moment.

So let me just say this as an ending from Norway today, that no matter what you’re going through, no matter where you are in life, what matters is not so much if you’re good, or if it looks stupid, or if it looks ridiculous what you’re doing. What matters is that you just desire to see Jesus, because He’s looking for you and He sees you, but He’s waiting for you to come and grab ahold of Him. Just like the woman with the issue of blood. She had been struggling with sickness for many, many years. No one could help her, but she thought, I’ll just press through the crowd and I’ll touch the hem of His garment. And in that very moment, she was healed. The very moment Zacchaeus decided, I’ll climb the tree, I wanna see Jesus.  At that very moment, the Lord looked up and said, “Come on down, Zacchaeus, I want to stay with you today.”

Friend, don’t be afraid. Just know this in your heart. The very moment you decide to seek Him and see Him, He’s already seen you and He’s there for you. He says, “I’ll never leave you nor forsake you. I’m always with you.”  Friend, Merry Christmas to you from Norway. I’ll see you again soon.

Friend, there’s a heart, there’s a life, there’s a person, there’s a real person that needs to hear the good news of Jesus Christ at this very moment.  Today, I appeal to you to join with us and become a media missionary.  Sow financially into GOD TV, and let’s take this good news of Jesus to the ends of the earth. Through your giving, through your prayer, through your support, this world is going to be changed, and the good news of Jesus Christ is going be heard around the world. God bless you.

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Do not be afraid...God Is Just
FaithToday's Encouragement

Do Not Be Afraid…God Is Just

by GOD TV
written by GOD TV

Do not be afraid, I have good news! God is just. I want to read out of Luke 18 today, a couple of verses, 7-8, “And will not God bring about justice for His chosen ones who cry out to Him day and night? Will He keep putting them off? I tell you, He will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of man comes, will He find faith on the earth?”

You know, the promise here is that God is just, and He is working on your behalf. He’s the great I AM. And God could have just not sent Jesus, but He’s a just God, and so He had to have payment for sin, but He wanted relationship so much. That’s just the perfect picture of how He cares about our lives. He didn’t have to do that, but because He’s just, He even took care of the payment that we deserve to pay through salvation in Jesus Christ. But He worked on our behalf even when we were sinners.

There’s hope in that, that He would do that. And so I want to encourage you today, that whatever you’re facing, whatever you’re wanting to see: vindication or justice being served where you’ve been wronged. Trust God. Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.”

And so I want to pray for you. I just pray right now that you would trust God with all your heart. Every area, your finances, your relationships, your marriage, your children, your career, whatever it is, your hobbies, it doesn’t matter. God cares. And He’s working on your behalf.

And then that last part in Luke 18 when He says, “Will God find faith on the earth?” You know, Hebrews 11 says that faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. And so I just release hope and certainty over you by the power of the word of God. In sharing the scriptures, there’s power in the word. That your faith would increase to trust God to work on your behalf. That even when there’s mystery and you don’t understand what He’s doing, that you would trust that He is working for you.

It says, “Taste and see that the LORD is good.”   “Taste and see that the LORD is good.”  And if you’re not tasting His goodness yet, I want you to remember right now a time when He has been good. And it could just be when Jesus saved you. That’s a really good time to celebrate and go back to that moment and celebrate His goodness. And that will help build your faith.

And so I just pray that the justice of God would manifest in your life. That you wouldn’t just be believing it on earth as it is in heaven, but what’s true in heaven would manifest on earth in your life and that you would see God, the just God work on your behalf this Christmas season. I bless you. We’re so thankful for you. And join us tomorrow as we keep digging into the book of Luke.

You know, you can’t take anything with you to heaven. You can’t take your car, you can’t take your house. You can’t take that new computer gizmo that you got for Christmas to heaven. But there is one thing you actually can take to heaven: souls, people, human beings, by reaching them with the gospel of Jesus. That’s all we care about here at GOD TV.  We want to bring as many souls with us to heaven, to present them to Jesus as we can. And you can, too, by joining with us, giving a generous gift.

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Read more on the GOD TV blog here

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