Tag Archive | Good News

Good News For All People

And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger (feeding trough), because there was no room for them in the inn.

In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened.

🌹But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people;
Luke 2:7-10 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/luk.2.7-10.NASB1995

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon
https://indasharonjesus.org

Good News of Joy

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
Luke 2:11 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/luk.2.10-11.NASB1995

When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.
Matthew 2:10 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/mat.2.10.NASB1995

And they, after worshiping Him, returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple praising God.
Luke 24:52-53 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/luk.24.52-53.NASB1995

Shout for joy, O heavens! And rejoice, O earth! Break forth into joyful shouting, O mountains! For the Lord has comforted His people And will have compassion on His afflicted.
Isaiah 49:13 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/isa.49.13.NASB1995

The whole earth is at rest and is quiet; They break forth into shouts of joy.
Isaiah 14:7 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/isa.14.7.NASB1995

Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth; Break forth and sing for joy and sing praises.
Psalms 98:4 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/psa.98.4.NASB1995

🌹Sing to Him a new song; Play skillfully with a shout of joy.
Psalms 33:3 NASB1995
https://bible.com/bible/100/psa.33.3.NASB1995

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon
https://indasharonjesus.org

He Will Speak

But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I (Jesus) go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you. John‬ ‭16:7‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/100/jhn.16.7.NASB1995


But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. John‬ ‭16:13 NASB1995‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/100/jhn.16.13.NASB1995


Here, Jesus is speaking to His disciples about the Holy Spirit. This message is also for every born again believer. This message is good news for the believer. Through the Holy Spirit we can hear the voice of God. “whatever He hears, He will speak”. The Holy Spirit will speak truth that guides us.

Now that is reassuring good news. Are you listening?

🌹He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you.
John‬ ‭16:14‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/100/jhn.16.14.NASB1995

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon
https://indasharonjesus.org

30 Days of Thanks – D15

But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed,
Romans‬ ‭6:17‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/100/rom.6.17.NASB1995

Obediently living out what you were taught. Living the Word of God.
Triumphant living found only in Jesus Christ!
‭‭
But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place.
2 Corinthians‬ ‭2:14‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/100/2co.2.14.NASB1995

‭‭Leading us to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ everywhere we go, just like Jesus did.

First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, because your faith is being proclaimed throughout the whole world.
Romans‬ ‭1:8‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/100/rom.1.8.NASB1995

Stand strong Christian. Keep the faith. Love the Lord God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. Be thankful for your blessing of salvation. Be thankful for the privilege to share the good news with others. Be thankful that you know God!
‭‭
🌹Retain the standard of sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.
2 Timothy‬ ‭1:13‬ ‭NASB1995‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/100/2ti.1.13.NASB1995

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon
https://indasharonjesus.org

Decisions

Warning: this is a long one.

Testimony:
I know you have been there, where you are faced with a circumstance you don’t know how to handle. In your carnal (fleshly) mind you think of a quick, rash decision. But . . . God.

Recently I was faced with a circumstance that made me angry. It brought me to tears. I cried out to the Lord for help. The next few events happened without my really being aware until I looked back over my day and saw the trail of guidance my Lord left for me.

I received a phone call asking for assistance if I could. I did. This godly, prayer warrior woman, without her even knowing, revealed that I needed to persevere. I needed to continue to pray, pray, pray. I needed to trust the Lord.

Before and after this encounter I had received a few texts from another friend regarding scripture references from a Bible Study she attended. It is here where God moved in a miraculous way and I can admit I am so glad that I am human and in the hands of my Lord.

I was given Psalm 53:7-12
This is not what I looked up and read, but this is:

He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He did not open His mouth; Like a lamb that is led to slaughter, And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, So He did not open His mouth. By oppression and judgment He was taken away; And as for His generation, who considered That He was cut off out of the land of the living For the transgression of my people, to whom the stroke was due? His grave was assigned with wicked men, Yet He was with a rich man in His death, Because He had done no violence, Nor was there any deceit in His mouth. But the Lord was pleased To crush Him, putting Him to grief; If He would render Himself as a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, And the good pleasure of the Lord will prosper in His hand. As a result of the anguish of His soul, He will see it and be satisfied; By His knowledge the Righteous One, My Servant, will justify the many, As He will bear their iniquities. Therefore, I will allot Him a portion with the great, And He will divide the booty with the strong; Because He poured out Himself to death, And was numbered with the transgressors; Yet He Himself bore the sin of many, And interceded for the transgressors.
Isaiah 53:7‭-‬12 NASB

Not Psalm but Isaiah. My Lord Jesus faced life oppressed and afflicted and didn’t open His mouth. He had a mission to fulfill no matter the cost. Who am I to expect a perfect life when the perfect One suffered?

Oops, or was it really? It wasn’t Psalm 53, but 52:7-12 and again I was looking in Isaiah.

How lovely on the mountains Are the feet of him who brings good news, Who announces peace And brings good news of happiness, Who announces salvation, And says to Zion, “Your God reigns!” Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices, They shout joyfully together; For they will see with their own eyes When the Lord restores Zion. Break forth, shout joyfully together, You waste places of Jerusalem; For the Lord has comforted His people, He has redeemed Jerusalem. The Lord has bared His holy arm In the sight of all the nations, That all the ends of the earth may see The salvation of our God. Depart, depart, go out from there, Touch nothing unclean; Go out of the midst of her, purify yourselves, You who carry the vessels of the Lord. But you will not go out in haste, Nor will you go as fugitives; For the Lord will go before you, And the God of Israel will be your rear guard.
Isaiah 52:7‭-‬12 NASB

God has made a way! He reigns! He will comfort! I am redeemed! Salvation is mine! Victory is coming!!

Again, another change. God at work. Psalm 51:10-12 but I read, again, Isaiah.

Was it not You who dried up the sea, The waters of the great deep; Who made the depths of the sea a pathway For the redeemed to cross over? So the ransomed of the Lord will return And come with joyful shouting to Zion, And everlasting joy will be on their heads. They will obtain gladness and joy, And sorrow and sighing will flee away. “I, even I, am He who comforts you. Who are you that you are afraid of man who dies And of the son of man who is made like grass, That you have forgotten the Lord your Maker, Who stretched out the heavens And laid the foundations of the earth, That you fear continually all day long because of the fury of the oppressor, As he makes ready to destroy? But where is the fury of the oppressor?
Isaiah 51:10‭-‬13 NASB

Praise God, I have something to look forward to, hope. My God is mightier than any circumstance so I will persevere until His return or He takes me home.

God’s word is so amazing and I would not want to neglect the Psalms that were sent to me. God is an amazing, wonderful, loving, caring God who is always a prayer away.

Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation And sustain me with a willing spirit.
Psalms 51:10‭-‬12 NASB

🌹“Behold, the man who would not make God his refuge, But trusted in the abundance of his riches And was strong in his evil desire.” But as for me, I am like a green olive tree in the house of God; I trust in the lovingkindness of God forever and ever. I will give You thanks forever, because You have done it, And I will wait on Your name, for it is good, in the presence of Your godly ones. Psalms 52:7‭-‬9 NASB

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

No Matter What, To God We Go.

Is anyone among you suffering? Then he must pray. Is anyone cheerful? He is to sing praises.
James 5:13 NASB

The reference to suffering here in James is compared to the prophets of the Old Testament. They were sent by God to tell the Israelites a message from Him that was not well received.

As we share the Good News we often can get discouraged that no one is listening. No one is understanding their need for Jesus. Or as I recently experienced, they were being phony, lying and deceiving with a personal agenda. It can be disheartening.

Solution? Go to the Lord in prayer. He can heal the heart.
Take the people you share with to the Lord. Ultimately it is the Lord who changes hearts, not us. We simply need to be obedient and tell the story of Jesus and His saving grace. No matter the outcome God is in control.

And one day in heaven we might just meet that individual. Seeds planted that God used to change that person’s heart.

Is anyone cheerful? He is to sing praises.

It is extremely easy to sing praise when we have a cheerful heart. Is it the Lord to whom we direct our songs of praise?

🌹So whether suffering or cheerful, let our response be to seek the Lord God.

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Psalm of Thanksgiving Pt. 2

Sing to the Lord, all the earth; Proclaim good tidings of His salvation from day to day.
Tell of His glory among the nations, His wonderful deeds among all the peoples.
1 Chronicles 16:23-24

Sing to the Lord. Proclaim His salvation, the good news, from day to day. This is a Christian lifestyle.
Tell of His glory among the nations. This is missions. Proclaiming Christ to all peoples.

Why do we proclaim?

For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; He also is to be feared above all gods.
For all the gods of the peoples are idols, But the Lord made the heavens.
Splendor and majesty are before Him, Strength and joy are in His place.
1 Chronicles 16:25-27

🌹May your strength and joy be found in Him today as you live with and for the Lord day to day.

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Worship Leads To . . .

Sing to the Lord, bless His name; Proclaim good tidings of His salvation from day to day. Psalms 96:2 NASB

“Proclaim good tidings”, good news, “of His salvation”. How good are we at doing that? Do we proclaim the gospel “from day to day”?

If we are honest many of us have never even shared the gospel. We trust the church to do that so we invite people to church.

Could there be a missing link as to why we don’t share?

“Sing to the Lord, bless His name”.

🌹How is your prayer life? Where is your main focus directed throughout your day? Is worship of God a priority in your life? Do you have a personal, intimate, real relationship with Almighty God?

Enter His gates with thanksgiving And His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him, bless His name.
Psalms 100:4 NASB

If you do you will experience Him and be filled up with His Holy Spirit. Under the Holy Spirit’s guidance you can’t help but proclaim Jesus Christ.

🌹How is your relationship with God. He calls us to proclaim His gospel.

And He was saying to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.
Luke 10:2; Matthew 9:37-38 NASB

You might want to read Psalm 71 while contemplating the connection of the worship of God leading to proclaiming salvation to the lost.

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Wake Up Call

I am reading through the Old Testament now and about the prophets that God sent to worn the people of Israel.

As I read and listened for the Holy Spirit’s direction on a devotion for the day, I couldn’t help but put myself in their shoes.

They came with good news that is dependent upon the action of the people. It sounds like bad news. It is depressing news. No uplifting sentiment. No “feel good” message.

As God’s church experiences the current situation in the world, are we listening? The prophets are of old. The Holy Spirit is now residing in the church. . . Or is He? All things, ALL things happen for a purpose. God is sovereign over ALL. Thus He will use our current circumstances to bring glory to Himself and fulfill His purpose.

We have a choice that can affect the outcome of these days.

Now therefore amend your ways and your deeds and obey the voice of the Lord your God; and the Lord will change His mind about the misfortune which He has pronounced against you. Jeremiah 26:13 NASB

🌹Are God’s warnings good news or bad news? The choice is ours. Choose to repent and follow or continue to live life as if what’s happening around you is not God calling His church to wake up.

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Feet

How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things!” — Romans 10:14-15

Feet are definitely not my favorite part of the body. Anybody’s body. But here they are referred to as beautiful.

If I rewind into the past when this was written I see feet that are dirty, calloused, possibly with blisters depending on the length of travel, and bloody spots due to rocks or other debris they come across. Not so beautiful. The sacrifice to spread the good news is what makes those feet beautiful.

I look at Jesus as He went to the cross. Bloody. Scarred. Dirt embedded in every crevice. Possibly blisters. Not a pretty picture and yet a beautiful sacrifice because He brought good news!!! He brought reconciliation, salvation, eternity.

How beautiful are the feet of those who bring Good News!!!

Continually seeking Him,

Sharon