September 11st
Could You Really Do the Same Works That Jesus
Did?
Do Not Fear, Only Believe!By Riqui Ricón*
Verily, verily,
I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works
that I do shall he do also;
and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
(John 14:12 KJV)
What a declaration! What an amazing statement (because it
is a statement) that Jesus Christ makes by establishing in His Word, the Bible,
that if you believe in Him, then you will do the same works that Jesus did and
even greater, because—He said—I
go to the Father (meaning
that the one and only almighty God is His Father but He is
ALSO your Father).
See
what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called
children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know
us is that it did not know him. (1 John 3:1 NIV)
The key, the secret, for you to do the works that Jesus did, and even greater, is that you know and, above all, BELIEVE
that you truly are a legitimate and genuine Child of God. Exactly like Jesus!
This is how love is made
complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. (1
John 4:17 NIV)
Perhaps today you are facing serious problems, illnesses,
or sorrows and you are asking yourself, “How could I even resemble Jesus a
little?” The readings from the
Bible-in-a-year program for today will show you how amazingly easy it
is to move from that attitude
of failure and defeat to the permanent Victory that allows you to rise from any circumstance and begin to do the same works that Jesus did and even greater.
Because you have the same Father that Jesus has!
Jehoshaphat was terrified by this news, so he decided
to inquire of the LORD. He proclaimed a fast for all Judah. The people
of Judah came together to seek
help from the LORD; they came from every town in Judah to seek him. (2 Chronicles 20:2–3 NLT)
Pay close attention because, perhaps like you, King
Jehoshaphat, when he saw the enormity of his problem and realized the lack of
ability and resources to face it, was afraid. However,
he acted wisely and prudently: He sought God and
put ALL his trust in Him.
Jehoshaphat did not pray or fast just for a little while
while also seeking help and advice from his friends
and close ones. No! Jehoshaphat overcame his fear by putting ALL his trust in the Lord.
While he was still speaking, some people came from the house of
Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your
daughter is dead,”
they said. “Why bother the teacher
anymore?” (Mark 5:35 NIV)
Look at Jairus! He was a synagogue leader who hoped Jesus
would heal his dying daughter, but it seemed
it was too late—his daughter
had died! Can you
imagine such a problem? Jesus probably would have saved her, but now that she’s
dead, nothing can be done!
But Jesus,
overhearing what they said, told him, “Don’t
be afraid; just believe.”
(Mark 5:36 NIV)
And what about
Martha, faced with the sad reality of her brother
who had been dead for four
days?
Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to
him, “Lord, by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.”
Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that
if you believe, you will see
the glory of God?” (John 11:39-40 NIV)
The most exciting
thing about being a Born Again Child of God—that
is, having received Jesus
Christ as Lord and Savior of your Life—is that IT’S NEVER TOO LATE!
You only have to, like Jehoshaphat, find a way to nullify
the fear that neutralizes and paralyzes you. This can only be achieved by beginning to believe; by believing God, believing
His Word.
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
(Ephesians 6:10 KJV)
But how do you do this? How can you be strong
in the Power of God’s might?
You just have to understand that the Power of God’s might is not angels, nor
thunder and lightning. Nor is it His muscular arm. The
Power of God’s might is His Word, for He needs nothing more
than to speak His Word and it will happen.
So then faith
comes by hearing,
and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10:17,KJV)
Therefore, as you begin to read and meditate on the
Bible, constantly and persistently, you receive
the FAITH that gives you strength, for you are certain
and fully convinced that if God promised you something regarding your problem
or need, then He will fulfill it!
All the men of Judah stood before the Lord with their wives and
children and little ones. The Spirit of
the Lord came upon one of the men standing there. His name was Jahaziel son of
Zechariah, son of Benaiah, son of Jeiel, son of Mattaniah, a Levite who was a
descendant of Asaph. He said, “Listen, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Listen, King Jehoshaphat! This is what the Lord says: ‘Do not be afraid! Don’t be discouraged by this
mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.
Tomorrow, march out against them. You
will find them coming up
through the ascent of Ziz at the end of the valley that opens into the
wilderness of Jeruel. But you will not even need to fight. Take your positions; then stand still and watch the Lord’s victory. He is with you, O people of Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be
afraid or discouraged. Go out against them tomorrow, for the Lord is with
you!’” (2 Chronicles 20:13-17 NLT)
Doesn’t it seem familiar that both in the Old Testament
and the New Testament, whenever someone
sincerely seeks God in times of need, God
always responds: “Do not fear, I am with you”?
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)
The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The
Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked
advance against me to devour me, it is my enemies and my foes who will stumble
and fall. Though an army
besiege me, my heart will not fear; though
war break out against me, even then I will be
confident. (Psalm 27:1-3 NIV)
And when I saw him, I fell at
his feet as dead. And he laid
his right hand upon me, saying unto
me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. (Revelation
1:17–18 KJV)
Fear is the exact opposite of faith [faith is believing
God, believing His Word], and its only purpose is to hinder
and nullify your faith [believing God, believing His
Word]. Your adversary the devil will always pressure you with problems and
circumstances. And he will do it in such a way that he tries to get you to
focus your five senses and your emotions on how big and difficult your problem
seems, so that he can steal the Word of God from you and then you begin to
BELIEVE that there is no solution or that it is too late.
The
sower sows the word. And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is
sown. When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was
sown in their hearts. These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who,
when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness; and they have no root in themselves, and so endure
only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or
persecution arises for the word’s sake, immediately they stumble. (Mark
4:14-17, NKJV)
Satan is defeated and the only thing he can do is try
to deceive you with a lie so
that (if you believe
the lie), he can steal the Truth
of the Word of God that
was sown in your heart.
Satan is a loser!
So, Do not fear, only believe! Believe
God! Believe His Word!
Consequently, faith [believing God, believing His Word] comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard
through the word about Christ. (Romans 10:17 NIV)
Among many other things, the Word of God has the Power to produce
faith [that is, believing God, believing His Word] in the heart of those
who listen with intention or purpose, in those who honestly seek God.
Early
the next morning the army of Judah went out into the wilderness of Tekoa. On the
way, Jehoshaphat stopped
and said, “Listen
to me, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Believe in
the Lord your God, and you will be able to stand firm. Believe in his prophets,
and you will succeed.” (2 Chronicles 20:20, NLT)
After praying and listening to the Word of God, King Jehoshaphat and the people of
Judah acquired the FAITH [believing God, believing His Word] necessary to
obtain the Victory.
After
consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the LORD and to praise him for the glorious victory
he was going to give Israel. They went
out at the head of the army, singing: ‘Give thanks to the LORD, for his love
endures forever.’ As they began to sing and praise, the LORD caused the army of
Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir to start fighting among themselves. And when the armies of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir were destroyed, Judah’s army simply marched around watching the dead bodies. By
the time they arrived at the place of the dead bodies, there were no bodies
left! When Jehoshaphat and his people returned to Jerusalem, they went straight
to the temple of the LORD with harps and lyres and trumpets
to give him praise. Then the fear of
God came upon all the surrounding kingdoms when they heard how the LORD had fought against the enemies of Israel.
And the kingdom of Jehoshaphat was at peace, for his God had given him rest on
every side. (2 Chronicles 20:21–27 NLT)
What prevents God from working
that great salvation you need today in your favor? Only your faith! If you can
believe, all things are possible to him who believes.
Believe what? you might ask. Believe that God loves you so much that He
preferred to give up His own Son rather than lose you.
For God so loved the world, that he
gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not
perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16, KJV)
Believe that you are a Born Again Child of God.
For you have been born again, not to a life that will quickly
end. Your new life will last forever
because it comes from the eternal, living
word of God. (1 Peter 1:23, NLT)
Believe that you can do all things.
I can do all things
through Christ who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13,
NKJV)
Believe that from every problem,
anguish, or illness
you will come out more than a conqueror through Him who
loved you, Christ Jesus.
Nay, in all these things
we are more than conquerors through him that loved
us. (Romans 8:37 KJV)
Believe that on the cross of Calvary, Jesus Christ bore all your sicknesses and suffered all your pains, and
therefore, you have the right to divine healing.
Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried
our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and
afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our
iniquities: the chastisement of our
peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. (Isaiah
53:4–5 KJV)
In short, believe
that the Bible truly is what you say it is: The Word of God.
So, what prevents
you from beginning
to do the same works that Jesus did and even greater? Only your faith! For if
you can believe God, believing what He says about you in His Word, then ALL
things are possible for you.
Let us pray aloud:
Beloved Heavenly Father, today I want to thank You again
for such great Love with which You have loved
me, that while
I was dead in trespasses and sins You gave me Life together with Christ.
And not just any kind of Life, but You gave me the Eternal Life of a Born Again
Child of Yours. Thank You because now Jesus Christ is the first among many
brothers, of whom I am one. Oh God, it is so amazing to know I am loved in such
a way. Jesus, by Your sacrifice on the cross, by Your precious Blood, Your
death and resurrection, I have been justified, forgiven, sanctified, and
glorified! Yes! Glorified! Because those whom
You foreknew, You also predestined to be conformed to the image of Your Son, so
that Jesus might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those You predestined, You also called;
those You called, You also justified; those You justified, You also glorified.
Thank You for having prepared for me a way of salvation, a living and perfect
way through the death and resurrection of Your Son, Jesus. Jesus Christ, You
are my King, Lord, and Savior. You have transferred me from darkness to Your
marvelous light, granting me Your own Life. Thank You Lord Jesus, because of
You I am Eternal. Together with You, I will live forever! I will never die!
Heavenly Father, I believe and receive this Eternal identity as Your Child. I
accept the price that was paid for it! So, if You are for me, who can be
against me? If You did not spare Your own Son, but gave Him up for me out of
love, how will You not also, along with Him, graciously give me all things? So, Abba! Father! I am Yours, and in Christ Jesus I have already overcome, for
greater are You, Holy Spirit, who lives in me and with me, than he who is in
the world. Father, all and every one of Your Promises are in me, yes and amen!
I submit to You, my God and Father, I submit to Your Word, I resist Satan and
he has to flee from my life. I do not receive
doubt, nor fear, nor sickness, nor poverty, nor anguish,
nor depression. I am healed! I am
free! I am prosperous! I am blessed! For all this, I am sure that I can do the same things You did, Lord
Jesus, and even greater things I will do because You are with the Father, who
is my Father. In the name of Jesus.
Amen.
Important Note:
How do I become a Child of God? How do I establish a relationship with the
Almighty?
Just say the following prayer aloud, putting
all your attention
and heart into what you are saying to God:
Lord Jesus, I believe that You are the Son of God. That
You came into this world, born of the virgin Mary, to pay for all my sins, and I have been a sinner. Therefore, today I say that I
accept. I accept Your sacrifice on the cross! I accept Your precious Blood shed to the last drop out of love for me! I open my heart
to You and invite You in
because I want, Lord Jesus, that from today and forever You be my only and sufficient
Savior, my God, my King, and my Lord.
Thank You,
Almighty God, because with this simple prayer and profession of faith I have passed
from death to Life, I have been transferred from darkness
to Your marvelous Light. Today I have been Born Again! God, now I am Your
Child! Now You are my Father! I will never be alone again! I will never live
defeated again. In the name of Jesus. Amen.
Three Recommendations:
What just
happened by you recognizing Jesus Christ as the Lord and Savior of your life, according to God's Word, is that you have been Born Again. No longer
as an ordinary human being, subject to the law of sin and death, but now as a
legitimate and authentic Child of God, Born Again, exactly like Jesus Christ, who is now your Older Brother. Therefore,
I give you these three, very important, recommendations:
1.
Pray. Praying is talking with God. So, find a quiet
place where you can begin talking to Him about everything. Do it out loud, and you will notice
how God always responds to your heart.
2.
Read and meditate
on the Word of God. The Bible is the Word of God, so get a Bible
and start reading
and meditating on it. How do you begin? It’s very simple. Depending on the day,
look up the reading program “The Bible in
One Year” and do the corresponding readings. You can get this program at: Through The Bible In One Year
(palabradehonor.org). You
will notice
that the program
is set up so you can print it as a booklet.
3.
In prayer with God, your Father, look for and join a
Christian church or congregation where the Word of God is taught based on the Good News, which are the Gospel of Jesus
Christ.
Ricardo C. Peredo Jaime © 2020
Reading and Meditation on the Word of God
Do these daily readings, and by the end of one year you will have
read the entire Bible.
September 11 John 14:1–14 / 2 Chronicles 20 / Psalm 78:56–72
Jesus Comforts
His Disciples
14 “Do not let your
hearts be troubled. You believe in God[a]; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I
have told you that I am going there to prepare
a place for you? 3 And
if I go and prepare a place
for you, I will come back
and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the
place where I am going.”
Jesus the Way to the Father
5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going,
so how can we know the way?”
6 Jesus answered,
“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through
me. 7 If you really
know me, you will know[b] my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen
him.”
8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough
for us.”
9 Jesus answered: “Don’t you know
me, Philip, even after I have
been among you such a
long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the
Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father
is in me? The
words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is
the Father, living in me, who is
doing his work. 11 Believe me when I
say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the
evidence of the works themselves. 12 Very
truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing,
and they will do even greater things than these,
because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my
name, so that the Father may be glorified
in the Son. 14 You may ask me for
anything in my name, and I will do it.
Jehoshaphat Defeats Moab and Ammon
20 After this, the Moabites
and Ammonites with some of the Meunites[a] came to wage war against
Jehoshaphat.
2 Some people came
and told Jehoshaphat, “A vast army is coming against you from Edom,[b] from the other
side of the Dead Sea. It is already in Hazezon Tamar” (that is, En Gedi). 3 Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the
LORD, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah. 4 The people of Judah came together to seek help from the LORD; indeed, they
came from every town in Judah to seek him.
5 Then Jehoshaphat stood
up in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem at the temple
of the LORD in the front of
the new courtyard 6 and said:
“LORD, the God of our ancestors, are you not the God who is in heaven?
You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you. 7
Our God, did you not drive out the inhabitants of this land before your
people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend? 8 They have lived in it and have built
in it a sanctuary for your Name, saying, 9
‘If calamity comes upon us, whether the sword of judgment, or plague or
famine, we will stand in your presence before this temple that bears your Name
and will cry out to you in our distress, and you will hear us and save us.’
10 “But now here are
men from Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir, whose territory you would not allow Israel
to invade when they came from Egypt; so they turned away from them and did not
destroy them. 11 See how they are
repaying us by coming to drive us out of the possession you gave us as an inheritance.
12 Our God, will you not judge
them? For we have
no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to
do, but our
eyes are on you.”
13 All the men of Judah, with their wives and children
and little ones, stood there
before the LORD.
14 Then the Spirit of the LORD came on Jahaziel son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son
of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite and descendant of Asaph, as he stood
in the assembly.
15 He said: “Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is
what
the LORD says to you: ‘Do
not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours,
but God’s. 16 Tomorrow march
down against them. They will be climbing up by the Pass of Ziz, and you
will find them at the end of the gorge in the Desert of Jeruel.
17 You will not have to fight this battle.
Take up your positions; stand firm and see the
deliverance the LORD will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them
tomorrow, and the LORD will be with you.’”
18 Jehoshaphat bowed
down with his face to the ground, and all the people of Judah and Jerusalem fell down in worship before
the LORD. 19 Then some Levites from the Kohathites and Korahites stood up and
praised the LORD, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice.
20 Early in the morning
they left for the Desert
of Tekoa. As they set out, Jehoshaphat
stood and said, “Listen to me,
Judah and people of Jerusalem! Have faith in the LORD your God and you will be upheld;
have faith in his prophets
and you will be successful.”
21 After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat
appointed men to sing to the LORD and to praise him for the splendor of his[c] holiness as they
went out at the head of the army, saying:
“Give thanks
to the LORD,
for his love endures
forever.”
22 As they began to sing and praise, the LORD set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading
Judah, and they were defeated. 23 The
Ammonites and Moabites rose up against the men from Mount Seir to destroy and
annihilate them. After
they finished slaughtering the men from Seir, they helped to destroy
one another.
24 When the men of
Judah came to the place that overlooks the desert and looked toward the vast
army, they saw only dead bodies lying on the ground; no one had escaped. 25 So Jehoshaphat and his men went to
carry off their plunder, and they found among them a great amount
of equipment and clothing[d] and also articles of value—more than they could take away. There was so much plunder that it took three days to collect
it. 26 On the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of
Berakah, where they praised the LORD. This is why it is called the Valley of Berakah[e] to this day.
27 Then, led by
Jehoshaphat, all the men of Judah and Jerusalem returned joyfully to Jerusalem, for the LORD had given them cause to rejoice over their enemies. 28 They entered Jerusalem and went to the temple
of the LORD
with
harps and lyres and trumpets.
29 The fear of God
came on all the surrounding kingdoms when they heard how the LORD had fought
against the enemies
of Israel. 30 And the kingdom of Jehoshaphat was at peace, for his God had given him rest on
every side.
The End of Jehoshaphat’s Reign
31 So Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah. He was thirty-five years old when he became
king of Judah, and he reigned
in Jerusalem twenty-five years. His mother’s name was Azubah daughter of
Shilhi. 32 He followed the ways of
his father Asa and did not stray from them; he did what was right in the eyes
of the LORD. 33 The high places, however, were not
removed, and the people still had not set their hearts on the God of their
ancestors.
34 The other
events of Jehoshaphat’s reign, from beginning
to end, are written in the annals
of Jehu son
of Hanani, which
are recorded in the book of the
kings of Israel.
35 Later,
Jehoshaphat king of Judah made an alliance with Ahaziah king of Israel, whose
ways were wicked. 36 He
agreed with him to construct a fleet of trading ships.[f] After these were built at Ezion Geber, 37 Eliezer son of Dodavahu of Mareshah prophesied against
Jehoshaphat, saying, “Because you have made an alliance with Ahaziah,
the LORD
will
destroy what you have made.” The ships were wrecked
and were not able to set sail to
trade.
Psalm 78:56
But they put God
to the test and rebelled
against the Most High;
they did not keep his statutes.
57
Like their ancestors they were disloyal
and faithless, as unreliable
as a faulty bow.
58
They angered him with their high
places; they aroused his jealousy with their idols.
59
When God heard them, he was furious;
he rejected Israel completely.
60
He abandoned the tabernacle of Shiloh,
the tent he had set up among humans.
61
He sent the ark of his might into captivity, his splendor into the hands of the enemy.
62
He gave his people
over to the sword;
he was furious with his inheritance.
63
Fire consumed
their young men,
and their young women
had no wedding songs;
64
their priests
were put to the sword, and their widows could not weep.
65
Then the Lord awoke as from sleep,
as a warrior wakes
from the stupor
of wine.
66
He beat back his enemies;
he put them to everlasting shame.
67
Then he rejected
the tents of Joseph, he did not choose the tribe of Ephraim;
68
but he chose the tribe of Judah,
Mount Zion, which he loved.
69
He built his
sanctuary like the heights, like the earth
that he established forever.
70
He chose David his servant
and took him from the
sheep pens;
By Riqui Ricón*
Verily, verily,
I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works
that I do shall he do also;
and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
(John 14:12 KJV)
What a declaration! What an amazing statement (because it
is a statement) that Jesus Christ makes by establishing in His Word, the Bible,
that if you believe in Him, then you will do the same works that Jesus did and
even greater, because—He said—I
go to the Father (meaning
that the one and only almighty God is His Father but He is
ALSO your Father).
See
what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called
children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know
us is that it did not know him. (1 John 3:1 NIV)
The key, the secret, for you to do the works that Jesus did, and even greater, is that you know and, above all, BELIEVE
that you truly are a legitimate and genuine Child of God. Exactly like Jesus!
This is how love is made
complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. (1
John 4:17 NIV)
Perhaps today you are facing serious problems, illnesses,
or sorrows and you are asking yourself, “How could I even resemble Jesus a
little?” The readings from the
Bible-in-a-year program for today will show you how amazingly easy it
is to move from that attitude
of failure and defeat to the permanent Victory that allows you to rise from any circumstance and begin to do the same works that Jesus did and even greater.
Because you have the same Father that Jesus has!
Jehoshaphat was terrified by this news, so he decided
to inquire of the LORD. He proclaimed a fast for all Judah. The people
of Judah came together to seek
help from the LORD; they came from every town in Judah to seek him. (2 Chronicles 20:2–3 NLT)
Pay close attention because, perhaps like you, King
Jehoshaphat, when he saw the enormity of his problem and realized the lack of
ability and resources to face it, was afraid. However,
he acted wisely and prudently: He sought God and
put ALL his trust in Him.
Jehoshaphat did not pray or fast just for a little while
while also seeking help and advice from his friends
and close ones. No! Jehoshaphat overcame his fear by putting ALL his trust in the Lord.
While he was still speaking, some people came from the house of
Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your
daughter is dead,”
they said. “Why bother the teacher
anymore?” (Mark 5:35 NIV)
Look at Jairus! He was a synagogue leader who hoped Jesus
would heal his dying daughter, but it seemed
it was too late—his daughter
had died! Can you
imagine such a problem? Jesus probably would have saved her, but now that she’s
dead, nothing can be done!
But Jesus,
overhearing what they said, told him, “Don’t
be afraid; just believe.”
(Mark 5:36 NIV)
And what about
Martha, faced with the sad reality of her brother
who had been dead for four
days?
Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to
him, “Lord, by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.”
Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that
if you believe, you will see
the glory of God?” (John 11:39-40 NIV)
The most exciting
thing about being a Born Again Child of God—that
is, having received Jesus
Christ as Lord and Savior of your Life—is that IT’S NEVER TOO LATE!
You only have to, like Jehoshaphat, find a way to nullify
the fear that neutralizes and paralyzes you. This can only be achieved by beginning to believe; by believing God, believing
His Word.
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
(Ephesians 6:10 KJV)
But how do you do this? How can you be strong
in the Power of God’s might?
You just have to understand that the Power of God’s might is not angels, nor
thunder and lightning. Nor is it His muscular arm. The
Power of God’s might is His Word, for He needs nothing more
than to speak His Word and it will happen.
So then faith
comes by hearing,
and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10:17,KJV)
Therefore, as you begin to read and meditate on the
Bible, constantly and persistently, you receive
the FAITH that gives you strength, for you are certain
and fully convinced that if God promised you something regarding your problem
or need, then He will fulfill it!
All the men of Judah stood before the Lord with their wives and
children and little ones. The Spirit of
the Lord came upon one of the men standing there. His name was Jahaziel son of
Zechariah, son of Benaiah, son of Jeiel, son of Mattaniah, a Levite who was a
descendant of Asaph. He said, “Listen, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Listen, King Jehoshaphat! This is what the Lord says: ‘Do not be afraid! Don’t be discouraged by this
mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.
Tomorrow, march out against them. You
will find them coming up
through the ascent of Ziz at the end of the valley that opens into the
wilderness of Jeruel. But you will not even need to fight. Take your positions; then stand still and watch the Lord’s victory. He is with you, O people of Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be
afraid or discouraged. Go out against them tomorrow, for the Lord is with
you!’” (2 Chronicles 20:13-17 NLT)
Doesn’t it seem familiar that both in the Old Testament
and the New Testament, whenever someone
sincerely seeks God in times of need, God
always responds: “Do not fear, I am with you”?
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)
The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The
Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked
advance against me to devour me, it is my enemies and my foes who will stumble
and fall. Though an army
besiege me, my heart will not fear; though
war break out against me, even then I will be
confident. (Psalm 27:1-3 NIV)
And when I saw him, I fell at
his feet as dead. And he laid
his right hand upon me, saying unto
me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. (Revelation
1:17–18 KJV)
Fear is the exact opposite of faith [faith is believing
God, believing His Word], and its only purpose is to hinder
and nullify your faith [believing God, believing His
Word]. Your adversary the devil will always pressure you with problems and
circumstances. And he will do it in such a way that he tries to get you to
focus your five senses and your emotions on how big and difficult your problem
seems, so that he can steal the Word of God from you and then you begin to
BELIEVE that there is no solution or that it is too late.
The
sower sows the word. And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is
sown. When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was
sown in their hearts. These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who,
when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness; and they have no root in themselves, and so endure
only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or
persecution arises for the word’s sake, immediately they stumble. (Mark
4:14-17, NKJV)
Satan is defeated and the only thing he can do is try
to deceive you with a lie so
that (if you believe
the lie), he can steal the Truth
of the Word of God that
was sown in your heart.
Satan is a loser!
So, Do not fear, only believe! Believe
God! Believe His Word!
Consequently, faith [believing God, believing His Word] comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard
through the word about Christ. (Romans 10:17 NIV)
Among many other things, the Word of God has the Power to produce
faith [that is, believing God, believing His Word] in the heart of those
who listen with intention or purpose, in those who honestly seek God.
Early
the next morning the army of Judah went out into the wilderness of Tekoa. On the
way, Jehoshaphat stopped
and said, “Listen
to me, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Believe in
the Lord your God, and you will be able to stand firm. Believe in his prophets,
and you will succeed.” (2 Chronicles 20:20, NLT)
After praying and listening to the Word of God, King Jehoshaphat and the people of
Judah acquired the FAITH [believing God, believing His Word] necessary to
obtain the Victory.
After
consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the LORD and to praise him for the glorious victory
he was going to give Israel. They went
out at the head of the army, singing: ‘Give thanks to the LORD, for his love
endures forever.’ As they began to sing and praise, the LORD caused the army of
Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir to start fighting among themselves. And when the armies of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir were destroyed, Judah’s army simply marched around watching the dead bodies. By
the time they arrived at the place of the dead bodies, there were no bodies
left! When Jehoshaphat and his people returned to Jerusalem, they went straight
to the temple of the LORD with harps and lyres and trumpets
to give him praise. Then the fear of
God came upon all the surrounding kingdoms when they heard how the LORD had fought against the enemies of Israel.
And the kingdom of Jehoshaphat was at peace, for his God had given him rest on
every side. (2 Chronicles 20:21–27 NLT)
What prevents God from working
that great salvation you need today in your favor? Only your faith! If you can
believe, all things are possible to him who believes.
Believe what? you might ask. Believe that God loves you so much that He
preferred to give up His own Son rather than lose you.
For God so loved the world, that he
gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not
perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16, KJV)
Believe that you are a Born Again Child of God.
For you have been born again, not to a life that will quickly
end. Your new life will last forever
because it comes from the eternal, living
word of God. (1 Peter 1:23, NLT)
Believe that you can do all things.
I can do all things
through Christ who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13,
NKJV)
Believe that from every problem,
anguish, or illness
you will come out more than a conqueror through Him who
loved you, Christ Jesus.
Nay, in all these things
we are more than conquerors through him that loved
us. (Romans 8:37 KJV)
Believe that on the cross of Calvary, Jesus Christ bore all your sicknesses and suffered all your pains, and
therefore, you have the right to divine healing.
Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried
our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and
afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our
iniquities: the chastisement of our
peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. (Isaiah
53:4–5 KJV)
In short, believe
that the Bible truly is what you say it is: The Word of God.
So, what prevents
you from beginning
to do the same works that Jesus did and even greater? Only your faith! For if
you can believe God, believing what He says about you in His Word, then ALL
things are possible for you.
Let us pray aloud:
Beloved Heavenly Father, today I want to thank You again
for such great Love with which You have loved
me, that while
I was dead in trespasses and sins You gave me Life together with Christ.
And not just any kind of Life, but You gave me the Eternal Life of a Born Again
Child of Yours. Thank You because now Jesus Christ is the first among many
brothers, of whom I am one. Oh God, it is so amazing to know I am loved in such
a way. Jesus, by Your sacrifice on the cross, by Your precious Blood, Your
death and resurrection, I have been justified, forgiven, sanctified, and
glorified! Yes! Glorified! Because those whom
You foreknew, You also predestined to be conformed to the image of Your Son, so
that Jesus might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those You predestined, You also called;
those You called, You also justified; those You justified, You also glorified.
Thank You for having prepared for me a way of salvation, a living and perfect
way through the death and resurrection of Your Son, Jesus. Jesus Christ, You
are my King, Lord, and Savior. You have transferred me from darkness to Your
marvelous light, granting me Your own Life. Thank You Lord Jesus, because of
You I am Eternal. Together with You, I will live forever! I will never die!
Heavenly Father, I believe and receive this Eternal identity as Your Child. I
accept the price that was paid for it! So, if You are for me, who can be
against me? If You did not spare Your own Son, but gave Him up for me out of
love, how will You not also, along with Him, graciously give me all things? So, Abba! Father! I am Yours, and in Christ Jesus I have already overcome, for
greater are You, Holy Spirit, who lives in me and with me, than he who is in
the world. Father, all and every one of Your Promises are in me, yes and amen!
I submit to You, my God and Father, I submit to Your Word, I resist Satan and
he has to flee from my life. I do not receive
doubt, nor fear, nor sickness, nor poverty, nor anguish,
nor depression. I am healed! I am
free! I am prosperous! I am blessed! For all this, I am sure that I can do the same things You did, Lord
Jesus, and even greater things I will do because You are with the Father, who
is my Father. In the name of Jesus.
Amen.
Important Note:
How do I become a Child of God? How do I establish a relationship with the
Almighty?
Just say the following prayer aloud, putting
all your attention
and heart into what you are saying to God:
Lord Jesus, I believe that You are the Son of God. That
You came into this world, born of the virgin Mary, to pay for all my sins, and I have been a sinner. Therefore, today I say that I
accept. I accept Your sacrifice on the cross! I accept Your precious Blood shed to the last drop out of love for me! I open my heart
to You and invite You in
because I want, Lord Jesus, that from today and forever You be my only and sufficient
Savior, my God, my King, and my Lord.
Thank You,
Almighty God, because with this simple prayer and profession of faith I have passed
from death to Life, I have been transferred from darkness
to Your marvelous Light. Today I have been Born Again! God, now I am Your
Child! Now You are my Father! I will never be alone again! I will never live
defeated again. In the name of Jesus. Amen.
Three Recommendations:
What just
happened by you recognizing Jesus Christ as the Lord and Savior of your life, according to God's Word, is that you have been Born Again. No longer
as an ordinary human being, subject to the law of sin and death, but now as a
legitimate and authentic Child of God, Born Again, exactly like Jesus Christ, who is now your Older Brother. Therefore,
I give you these three, very important, recommendations:
1.
Pray. Praying is talking with God. So, find a quiet
place where you can begin talking to Him about everything. Do it out loud, and you will notice
how God always responds to your heart.
2.
Read and meditate
on the Word of God. The Bible is the Word of God, so get a Bible
and start reading
and meditating on it. How do you begin? It’s very simple. Depending on the day,
look up the reading program “The Bible in
One Year” and do the corresponding readings. You can get this program at: Through The Bible In One Year
(palabradehonor.org). You
will notice
that the program
is set up so you can print it as a booklet.
3.
In prayer with God, your Father, look for and join a
Christian church or congregation where the Word of God is taught based on the Good News, which are the Gospel of Jesus
Christ.
Ricardo C. Peredo Jaime © 2020
Reading and Meditation on the Word of God
Do these daily readings, and by the end of one year you will have
read the entire Bible.
September 11 John 14:1–14 / 2 Chronicles 20 / Psalm 78:56–72
Jesus Comforts
His Disciples
14 “Do not let your
hearts be troubled. You believe in God[a]; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I
have told you that I am going there to prepare
a place for you? 3 And
if I go and prepare a place
for you, I will come back
and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the
place where I am going.”
Jesus the Way to the Father
5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going,
so how can we know the way?”
6 Jesus answered,
“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through
me. 7 If you really
know me, you will know[b] my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen
him.”
8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough
for us.”
9 Jesus answered: “Don’t you know
me, Philip, even after I have
been among you such a
long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the
Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father
is in me? The
words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is
the Father, living in me, who is
doing his work. 11 Believe me when I
say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the
evidence of the works themselves. 12 Very
truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing,
and they will do even greater things than these,
because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my
name, so that the Father may be glorified
in the Son. 14 You may ask me for
anything in my name, and I will do it.
Jehoshaphat Defeats Moab and Ammon
20 After this, the Moabites
and Ammonites with some of the Meunites[a] came to wage war against
Jehoshaphat.
2 Some people came
and told Jehoshaphat, “A vast army is coming against you from Edom,[b] from the other
side of the Dead Sea. It is already in Hazezon Tamar” (that is, En Gedi). 3 Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the
LORD, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah. 4 The people of Judah came together to seek help from the LORD; indeed, they
came from every town in Judah to seek him.
5 Then Jehoshaphat stood
up in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem at the temple
of the LORD in the front of
the new courtyard 6 and said:
“LORD, the God of our ancestors, are you not the God who is in heaven?
You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you. 7
Our God, did you not drive out the inhabitants of this land before your
people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend? 8 They have lived in it and have built
in it a sanctuary for your Name, saying, 9
‘If calamity comes upon us, whether the sword of judgment, or plague or
famine, we will stand in your presence before this temple that bears your Name
and will cry out to you in our distress, and you will hear us and save us.’
10 “But now here are
men from Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir, whose territory you would not allow Israel
to invade when they came from Egypt; so they turned away from them and did not
destroy them. 11 See how they are
repaying us by coming to drive us out of the possession you gave us as an inheritance.
12 Our God, will you not judge
them? For we have
no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to
do, but our
eyes are on you.”
13 All the men of Judah, with their wives and children
and little ones, stood there
before the LORD.
14 Then the Spirit of the LORD came on Jahaziel son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son
of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite and descendant of Asaph, as he stood
in the assembly.
15 He said: “Listen, King Jehoshaphat and all who live in Judah and Jerusalem! This is
what
the LORD says to you: ‘Do
not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours,
but God’s. 16 Tomorrow march
down against them. They will be climbing up by the Pass of Ziz, and you
will find them at the end of the gorge in the Desert of Jeruel.
17 You will not have to fight this battle.
Take up your positions; stand firm and see the
deliverance the LORD will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them
tomorrow, and the LORD will be with you.’”
18 Jehoshaphat bowed
down with his face to the ground, and all the people of Judah and Jerusalem fell down in worship before
the LORD. 19 Then some Levites from the Kohathites and Korahites stood up and
praised the LORD, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice.
20 Early in the morning
they left for the Desert
of Tekoa. As they set out, Jehoshaphat
stood and said, “Listen to me,
Judah and people of Jerusalem! Have faith in the LORD your God and you will be upheld;
have faith in his prophets
and you will be successful.”
21 After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat
appointed men to sing to the LORD and to praise him for the splendor of his[c] holiness as they
went out at the head of the army, saying:
“Give thanks
to the LORD,
for his love endures
forever.”
22 As they began to sing and praise, the LORD set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading
Judah, and they were defeated. 23 The
Ammonites and Moabites rose up against the men from Mount Seir to destroy and
annihilate them. After
they finished slaughtering the men from Seir, they helped to destroy
one another.
24 When the men of
Judah came to the place that overlooks the desert and looked toward the vast
army, they saw only dead bodies lying on the ground; no one had escaped. 25 So Jehoshaphat and his men went to
carry off their plunder, and they found among them a great amount
of equipment and clothing[d] and also articles of value—more than they could take away. There was so much plunder that it took three days to collect
it. 26 On the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of
Berakah, where they praised the LORD. This is why it is called the Valley of Berakah[e] to this day.
27 Then, led by
Jehoshaphat, all the men of Judah and Jerusalem returned joyfully to Jerusalem, for the LORD had given them cause to rejoice over their enemies. 28 They entered Jerusalem and went to the temple
of the LORD
with
harps and lyres and trumpets.
29 The fear of God
came on all the surrounding kingdoms when they heard how the LORD had fought
against the enemies
of Israel. 30 And the kingdom of Jehoshaphat was at peace, for his God had given him rest on
every side.
The End of Jehoshaphat’s Reign
31 So Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah. He was thirty-five years old when he became
king of Judah, and he reigned
in Jerusalem twenty-five years. His mother’s name was Azubah daughter of
Shilhi. 32 He followed the ways of
his father Asa and did not stray from them; he did what was right in the eyes
of the LORD. 33 The high places, however, were not
removed, and the people still had not set their hearts on the God of their
ancestors.
34 The other
events of Jehoshaphat’s reign, from beginning
to end, are written in the annals
of Jehu son
of Hanani, which
are recorded in the book of the
kings of Israel.
35 Later,
Jehoshaphat king of Judah made an alliance with Ahaziah king of Israel, whose
ways were wicked. 36 He
agreed with him to construct a fleet of trading ships.[f] After these were built at Ezion Geber, 37 Eliezer son of Dodavahu of Mareshah prophesied against
Jehoshaphat, saying, “Because you have made an alliance with Ahaziah,
the LORD
will
destroy what you have made.” The ships were wrecked
and were not able to set sail to
trade.
Psalm 78:56
But they put God
to the test and rebelled
against the Most High;
they did not keep his statutes.
57
Like their ancestors they were disloyal
and faithless, as unreliable
as a faulty bow.
58
They angered him with their high
places; they aroused his jealousy with their idols.
59
When God heard them, he was furious;
he rejected Israel completely.
60
He abandoned the tabernacle of Shiloh,
the tent he had set up among humans.
61
He sent the ark of his might into captivity, his splendor into the hands of the enemy.
62
He gave his people
over to the sword;
he was furious with his inheritance.
63
Fire consumed
their young men,
and their young women
had no wedding songs;
64
their priests
were put to the sword, and their widows could not weep.
65
Then the Lord awoke as from sleep,
as a warrior wakes
from the stupor
of wine.
66
He beat back his enemies;
he put them to everlasting shame.
67
Then he rejected
the tents of Joseph, he did not choose the tribe of Ephraim;
68
but he chose the tribe of Judah,
Mount Zion, which he loved.
69
He built his
sanctuary like the heights, like the earth
that he established forever.
70
He chose David his servant
and took him from the
sheep pens;
71
from tending the sheep he brought him to be the shepherd of his people
Jacob, of Israel his inheritance.
72
And David
shepherded them with integrity of heart;
with skillful hands he led them.
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