BRIDE:
“And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!”
And let him who hears say, “Come!”
And let him who thirsts come.
Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely."
JESUS
"He who testifies to these things says,
“Surely I am coming quickly.”
BRIDE:
"Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!"
Rev 22:17 & 20
The invitation is from the Holy Spirit and the Church to ALL people who can hear and are thirsty, tired of this world, and dead in their sins to - COME and freely receive the water of life who is Jesus!
Come to HIM, believe that He died for your sins, was buried and resurrected to give you eternal life - Jesus is the Fountain of Life, the source of all life, the Living Water, and the Bread of Life that came down from heaven! He is everything that you need!
The invitation is clear: "Come and drink freely. Come! Drink and live." It is an invitation that is available to all.
After the invitation has been extended, after people have accepted it - Jesus tells us that He will come! And we as the bride cry to Him "MARANATHA - Even So, Come Lord Jesus!"
We sometimes struggle with faith - SO WHAT? One of the greatest prophets, Elija, called fire from heaven, in the next chapter he was hiding in a cave. John the Baptist was chosen to prepare the path to the Messiah - he struggled with Jesus' identity. God is STILL WITH/FOR us!
We might be struggling with our faith or feeling discouraged today - it's OK! Some of the most committed and godly leaders have struggled with doubts - like everyone else!
It can be encouraging to remember that when we struggle with faith - we are in good company.
Elijah the prophet experienced such a struggle. One of the greatest prophets of all time had just called down fire from heaven, killed over 400 false prophets, and outrun King Ahab’s chariot— He could be considered an Olympic gold medalist of faith. Then the next chapter we see him hiding in a cave, depressed and asking for death after all those miracles.
John the Baptist was another who struggled with faith. Jesus had called John "the greatest prophet". John had been selected by God before birth to be the one opening the way for the Messiah. After being imprisoned and sentenced to die, he struggled with doubts about Jesus’ identity. He sent messengers to ask Jesus if He was truly the One sent from God. Jesus did not rebuke John in his weakness but He quoted from Isaiah 61 and reminded John that He alone had fulfilled that Messianic prophecy.
A man admitted to Jesus that he wanted help with His unbelief - "Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24) Jesus did not rebuke the man, but healed the man’s child anyway.
We learn from these heroes of faith that God is patient with us when we desire to believe. When we experience times of doubt, we must immerse ourselves in truth.
We win the fight of faith when we continue to seek God individually, in prayer, and when we continue hearing the Word of God and reading our Bible. We tend to put our faith in other people when we don't have any of our own - we need to get our own faith instead!!
"But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that 👉🏼He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." Hebrews 11:6
God knows our struggle, He understands, He will not rebuke us, He will meet us where we are at and He will help us go through it!!
Never give up!!! Keep looking up!! He's coming!! He promised it and He will do it!
📖John 8:57-58🕊
57 Then the Jews said to Him, "You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?"
58 Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM."
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PRAY ....... Like Nehemiah
OBEY ....... Like Daniel
LEAD ........ Like Moses
BUILD ....... Like Noah
FIGHT ....... Like David
SERVE ....... Like Martha
BELIEVE ..... Like Mary
EDUCATE ... Like Paul
PROTECT .… Like Peter
LOVE ..……….Like JESUS
Can I get an “AMEN” ???
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