Read Every Day with Jesus Online
Authors: Andrew Wommack
In Colossians 2:16-17 Paul revealed that the Sabbath was only a shadow of things to come and had been fulfilled in Christ. Hebrews 4:1-11 talks about a Sabbath rest that is available to all New Testament believers, but is not necessarily functional in all of them. This New Testament Sabbath rest is simply our relationship with God in which we cease from doing things by our own efforts and allow God to work through us.
As you ponder the importance of the Sabbath in Jesus’ death, think about the fact that He died to give you rest. If you are in turmoil or confused in any way today, cast your care upon Him and be restored to His continual Sabbath rest.
November 9: Death Lost Its Power
Matthew 27:51-53
And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose.
Matthew 27:52
Only Matthew records this amazing event. The earthquake had apparently rolled the stones away from many of the graves in the vicinity of Jerusalem, and some of the saints buried there arose from the dead. Even at the death of Jesus, such power was released that death lost its grip on its captives.
After the resurrection of Jesus, these saints came out of their graves, went into Jerusalem, and appeared to many people. (v. 53.) We can only guess what effect this must have had on the people! The resurrection of Jesus puts Christianity in a class all by itself. Many people have come and gone professing some revelation from God or new way of approaching God, but only Jesus conquered death. This makes Him unique and elevates Him above any other man who has ever walked on the earth.
Because Jesus conquered death, the fear and sting of death have been removed for us. First Corinthians 15:55 cries out, “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?” We all have to say good-bye to loved ones who pass from this life into heaven, and we can grieve for a season; but death has lost its power over us, and our grief passes quickly.
Unbelievers have no hope to see their loved ones again, so they grieve deeply and sometimes never stop grieving. You are different because you have a great hope: the certainty of seeing your loved ones again and being with them and with your Lord for eternity. Whenever you begin to lose hope over a temporary situation, just remember those “dead” saints walking through Jerusalem. It will put your life in perspective and give you a fresh outlook for today.
November 10: Your Expectation Dictates Your Experience
John 20:11-17
And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.
John 20:14
Mary didn’t recognize Jesus. She was one of the women who followed Him and ministered to Him throughout His earthly ministry. (Luke 8:2,3.) She knew Him well and had heard His voice thousands of times. Jesus honored Mary by choosing her to be the first person He appeared to after His resurrection, yet she supposed He was the gardener.
Certainly, one of the principle reasons Mary didn’t recognize Jesus was that she wasn’t expecting to see Him alive! The thought that Jesus could be alive hadn’t yet entered her mind. This illustrates how her expectations dictated her experience, and all believers are no different. What we expect from God is usually what we get from Him.
God is who He is regardless of what we think about Him. As far as our experience goes, we will only experience Him the way we think He is. For instance, those who believe God doesn’t heal today won’t be healed until they begin to believe differently. Those who don’t believe in the baptism of the Holy Spirit won’t receive it. Those who don’t believe Jesus rose from the dead will not recognize the risen Christ, even if He stood before them.
Mary recognized Jesus when He called her name. It was the personal relationship between them that finally opened her eyes. What do you believe about Him today? If you think He’s angry with you, you won’t experience His pleasure, even though Scripture says you are accepted in the beloved (Eph. 1:6). If you believe He’s forsaken you, you won’t experience His presence, even though He never leaves nor forsakes you. (Heb. 13:5.) Believe everything the Bible says He is, and He will be all that to you and more.
November 11: Do You Remember God’s Word?
Luke 24:1-9
And they remembered his words, And returned from the sepulchre.
Luke 24:8-9
The women who came to Jesus’ tomb were greeted by two angels, who reminded them how Jesus had prophesied that He would rise from the dead on the third day. It wasn’t until they remembered His words that they quit seeking a dead Jesus and started looking for the living Lord. Just think, two angels announcing the resurrection of Jesus didn’t turn these women around, but the words of Jesus did.
Peter said that the written Word of God is a more sure word of prophecy than even an audible voice or a visible manifestation of the Lord. (2 Peter 1:16-20.) We often think that if something supernatural would just happen, then we would believe. The example of the women at the tomb and Peter’s own testimony tell a different story.
The spectacular gets our attention, but faith only comes from God’s Word. (Rom. 10:17.) God’s Word is what we need. More specifically, we need faith in God’s Word. The Lord has given us exceedingly great and precious promises (2 Peter 1:4), but our unbelief still causes some of us to mope around as if Jesus didn’t come out of the tomb. Our unbelief negates the power of His resurrection in our lives.
Meditating on God’s Word causes your faith to rise up and doubt and unbelief to run out the door. In the Word, you see a resurrected Lord and God who is alive and able to handle any problem you have. Until these women knew Jesus was alive, sorrow filled their hearts. If sorrow is filling your heart today, it is because you have forgotten the victory Jesus has given you. Remember He is alive and Lord over all your circumstances, and you will see the difference it makes.
November 12: Do You Recognize Jesus?
Luke 24:13-35
And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them.
Luke 24:15
Two of Jesus’ disciples were walking to a city called Emmaus. They were sad because they were thinking about Jesus. They were even pondering the reports they had heard that He had been resurrected, but they were in unbelief. They wanted to believe, but reason wouldn’t let them.
At that moment, Jesus joined them, but they didn’t recognize Him. The very one whom they loved was with them, and they didn’t know it. How could this be? If they could have perceived Jesus being with them, all their questions would have been answered and their sorrow turned to joy.
This same story is recorded in Mark 16:12-13. In this account, Mark said Jesus appeared to these two disciples “in another form,” but that didn’t mean He looked different. Later that day Jesus told His disciples to behold the nail prints in His hands and feet. (Luke 24:39,40.) He looked the same but was in a resurrected body. The natural mind cannot discern spiritual truth; spiritual reality must be spiritually discerned. (1 Cor. 2:14.)
Likewise, the Lord is always with us. He never leaves us, but we often miss Him. We fail to perceive His presence because we look through the eye of reason instead of the eye of faith. The disciples on the road to Emmaus recognized Jesus when He broke bread with them. (Luke 24:30,31.) It’s when we have communion with Him by faith that our eyes are opened to His presence. Look through your eyes of faith today and see the one who’s promised never to leave you nor forsake you at work in your midst. (Heb. 13:5.)
November 13: Let God’s Peace Lead You
Luke 24:36
And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
Luke 24:36
It is no accident that the first thing Jesus said to His disciples was, “Peace be unto you.” His resurrection was the way they would all find complete and eternal peace with God. But His peace was not only a heaven or hell issue; it was also an everyday issue. Just as every sport has officials to settle any disputes, the peace of God is now our umpire that settles all disputes regarding His will for our lives. We must learn to listen to and heed the peace of God in our hearts.
God’s peace is something that every born-again believer has. It’s a fruit of the Spirit. That peace is always calling the shots; we just don’t always pay attention. How many times have we acted contrary to the peace in our hearts and then experienced disaster? We then say, “I never did feel good about that.” That was the peace of God trying to tell us not to go that way, but we chose to play by our own rules and reason.
There are some things you can do to facilitate the peace of God umpiring in your heart. First, consider all the options. Don’t let fear rule out God’s possibilities. Next, use your imagination to explore what will happen with each choice. You should be able to discern a greater peace as you consider the option the Lord would have you take. Just as an umpire has to make a call, be bold enough to follow the direction that gives you the most peace.
The rudder on a ship will not work until the ship is moving. The ship doesn’t have to be going full-steam ahead for the rudder to work, but it does have to be moving. Likewise, we have to act before the peace of God will give us perfect direction. Even if you make a mistake, you will have made it in faith, trying to follow the peace of God in your heart. The Lord can bless a wrong decision made in faith from a pure heart, but He cannot bless indecision and lack of faith. (Rom. 14:23.) So act in faith and upon peace today; and if you make a wrong turn, you will know, and the Holy Spirit will get you back on track.
November 14: Power From on High
Luke 24:49
And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.
Luke 24:49
In Luke 3:16, John the Baptist declared that Jesus would baptize people in the Holy Ghost and fire. Then, after His resurrection and just before He ascended to heaven, Jesus commanded all His followers to stay in Jerusalem and not go anywhere or do anything until He sent “the promise of my Father” upon them. At that time they would be “endued with power from on high.”
On the Day of Pentecost, Jesus baptized the 120 in the Upper Room in the Holy Ghost, and they all spoke in tongues, but this blessing was not only for these few individuals. Peter said in Acts 2:39, “For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.” This same power is available to all believers today.
Speaking in tongues is unique to the Church Age. This is because when a person speaks in tongues, their new, born-again spirit is speaking (1 Cor. 14:14), not their mind. First Corinthians 13:1 denotes two kinds of speaking in tongues: “the tongues of men and of angels.” The tongues of men are known languages people speak. The tongues of angels, or heavenly languages, are the tongues that all Spirit-filled believers can speak and are what Paul spoke about in 1 Corinthians 12-14. He said that when a tongue is given publicly in a service, it must be interpreted (the gifts of tongues and interpretation of tongues). But there is also a personal prayer language every believer enjoys, in which they communicate Spirit to spirit.
Being “endued with power from on high” is not just about speaking in tongues. In Acts 1:8 Jesus said this was to empower His disciples to be His witnesses. Today, you can build your faith by praying in the Spirit (Jude 20) and be the powerful witness God created you to be. That is what praying in tongues and the baptism of the Holy Spirit are all about.
November 15: Water Baptism Is a Sign
Mark 16:15-16
He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
Mark 16:16
Water baptism is a command of Jesus and the initial action taken upon believing. Mark’s statement could be rendered, “He who believes with saving faith (faith that produces action) will be saved.” In this sense, water baptism is very important. It is an opportunity to act on your new profession of faith. Anyone who refuses to follow Jesus’ command to be water baptized may be suspected of not really believing.
On the other hand, there are scriptural examples of people being born again before they were baptized in water. Cornelius and his friends were filled with the Holy Ghost and spoke in tongues before they were baptized in water. (Acts 10:44-48.) John 14:17 records Jesus saying that an unbeliever cannot receive the Holy Ghost, so Cornelius and his friends must have been born again before their water baptism.
Water baptism is the sign of the New Covenant in the same way that circumcision was the sign of the Old Covenant. The apostle Paul made it clear in Romans 4 that Abraham’s circumcision was only a sign. Abraham was justified by faith before he was circumcised. Paul goes on to state in Galatians 5:1-6 that anyone who trusts in circumcision has fallen from grace; Christ will profit him nothing.
It is faith in the redemptive work of Jesus Christ that produces salvation—not our actions. However, James writes that faith without works is dead. (James 2:20.) Faith alone saves, but saving faith is never alone; it must be acted upon. This is what Jesus meant when He commanded all believers to be water baptized.
If you have not had the joy of being water baptized, today is your day. I’m sure your pastor would be delighted to baptize you in water. And remember, going under the water symbolizes that you have partaken of Jesus’ death to sin, and coming out of the water symbolizes that you have been raised to new life with Him. Hallellujah!
November 16: One More Time
John 21:1-6
And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.