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Remember the Lord

When the people saw that Moses was so long in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said, “Come, make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don’t know what has happened to him.”

Aaron answered them, “Take off the gold earrings that your wives, your sons and your daughters are wearing, and bring them to me.” So all the people took off their earrings and brought them to Aaron. He took what they handed him and made it into an idol cast in the shape of a calf, fashioning it with a tool. Then they said, “These are your gods, Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.”

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A Touch of Faith

These passages record two intertwined miracles-both demonstrating the profound impact of simple, resolute faith. Jesus, after crossing the lake, is immediately approached by Jairus, a synagogue leader desperate for the healing of his dying daughter. Amidst the pressing crowd, another desperate figure emerges-a woman afflicted for twelve years with a condition that not only drained her body but also her societal worth and spiritual life, as her bleeding rendered her unclean by Old Testament Law. This backdrop sets a stark contrast between the crowd’s curiosity and the woman’s profound need for deliverance, illustrating how physical proximity to Jesus doesn’t equate to spiritual closeness unless coupled with faith.

The woman’s approach to Jesus signifies more than just physical healing; it symbolizes a breaking free from societal constraints and personal despair. Her condition, causing continuous bleeding, relate to us since life in this world is one of continuous hardships that drain one’s spirit without relief. Living on the margins of society, she represents those among us caught in the painful cycle of isolation and suffering due to various life’s burdens-be it chronic illness, mental health struggles, or societal rejection. Her belief that merely touching Jesus’ garment would restore her health highlights a profound faith and understanding of Jesus’ divine nature, which she pursued despite the overwhelming obstacles presented by the dense crowd and her physical weakness.

This miraculous healing juxtaposed with the resurrection of Jairus’ daughter encapsulates the essence of Jesus’ ministry-offering hope and renewal to all, regardless of their societal status or the nature of their affliction. Both miracles are connected not just by their proximity in the scripture but by their shared theme of faith overcoming despair. The woman’s healing interrupts Jesus’ journey to Jairus’ house, yet both stories beautifully illustrate that Jesus’ power to heal and revitalize is boundless, transcending all human barriers and reaching those who feel unworthy or forgotten.

This message encourage us to reflect on our lives, recognizing areas where we might be ‘bleeding’ and in need of the touch of faith and the spark of life from Jesus Christ. It challenges us to reach out in faith, believing in His power to transform even the most desperate situations.

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I Will Pour Out My Spirit on All People

Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:

“‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved

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On This Rock I Will Build My Church

Near the town of Caesarea Philippi, Jesus asked His disciples a pivotal question: “Who do people say that I am?” This wasn’t just casual curiosity; it was a critical moment that set the stage for a significant revelation. When Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God,” it marked a turning point. For the first time, Jesus spoke of building His church, emphasizing that it would be founded on the truth of Peter’s confession about His divine identity.

This conversation is crucial for us today as it challenges us to consider our own beliefs. Who do we say Jesus is? In society, it’s often acceptable to view Jesus as a moral teacher or a historical figure-a perspective that doesn’t disrupt the status quo. However, recognizing Him as the Messiah, the Son of the living God, involves a deeper, more personal acknowledgment of His role in our lives. This acknowledgment shapes not just personal faith but also the essence and direction of the church itself.

Reflecting on this, we see the church as more than a building or a gathering; it is a community founded on the rock-solid belief in Jesus as Christ and his saving grace in our lives. This foundation is what keeps the church steady against challenges. In our lives and communities, affirming the grace of Jesus Christ and role invites us to build everything on this solid ground. This belief influences how we interact within our communities, uphold our values, and face the complexities of life with faith and conviction.

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Holiness

God calls us holy people of God and makes us holy. God has the power to sanctify or make holy those who believe in Him. Jesus came not to condemn but to save from sin. We need to remember the story of the adulterous woman who was brought to Jesus; Jesus said that he doesn’t condemn but to go and leave the life of sin. This message emphasizes the compassionate and redemptive aspect of Jesus’ message and at the same time how our life should reflect the grace that we have received. It’s more important for believers to align themselves with the character of God rather than simply following rules or being outwardly “right”.

We are encouraged to introspect and consider whether their actions, attitudes, and behaviors align with the example set by Jesus Christ. It is important to live a life that mirrors the teachings and character of Jesus. We have attained holiness through the sacrificial death of Jesus and we should live a holy life that involves experiencing and embodying God’s grace and love, which empowers believers to live free from the influence of sin.

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Jesus Walks on Water

Water means a lot of things to us; it can mean the unknown situation that is out of our control, causing us to be anxious. We may face many ongoing crises that come to us as dark nights, complete pitch darkness where we cannot see anything before us. At this moment, Jesus is coming to us, and He is above the storms. He is in control.

Taking the step forward, trying to change is much better and easier than being stuck in our situation. We don’t need to make a perfect move, and there is no such thing as a perfect step, but as we take a step, God will guide our steps and walk with us.

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The Parable of the Lost Sheep

Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

Then Jesus told them this parable: “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’

I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

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New Wine into New Wineskins

Then John’s disciples came and asked him, “How is it that we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples do not fast?”

Jesus answered, “How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.

“No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse. Neither do people pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst; the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.”

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When the Time had Fully Come

What I am saying is that as long as an heir is underage, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. The heir is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. So also, when we were underage, we were in slavery under the elemental spiritual forces of the world. But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.

Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.

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Jesus Restores a Demon-Possessed Man

They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes. When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an impure spirit came from the tombs to meet him. This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain. For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones.

When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. He shouted at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In God’s name don’t torture me!” Jesus had said to him, “Come out of this man, you impure spirit!”

Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” “My name is Legion,” he replied, “for we are many.” And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area. A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside. The demons begged Jesus, “Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them.” He gave them permission, and the impure spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned.