esus is so patient with us, isn’t He? He was patient with the disciples too—even as they were arguing and disputing instead of actually ministering and serving.

To make matters worse, they were arguing and disputing about who would be the greatest—or which one of them was the most important person, as the Children’s Bible renders it.

They were arguing about all of this right after Jesus—the Suffering Servant—told them plainly that He would be betrayed and killed and then rise again on the third day.

But instead of firing them all on the spot, Jesus sits down and calls them to Himself. He doesn’t rebuke them for their desire to be great, but He ministers to them and helps them. He simply teaches them (and us) where true greatness can be found—in service. True greatness is found in being a servant—in serving those who can’t serve back, the “least of these”.

But Jesus didn’t just define greatness—He made it accessible to everyone. Everyone has the capacity and invitation to become great in the Kingdom of God as the servant of all.

We are passionate people, aren’t we? We can find something to fight about or argue over with each other in seconds. But what do we want to be found doing when Jesus comes—serving and ministering, or arguing and fighting?

The disciples had this experience as Jesus came down from the mountain after His transfiguration. In Mark 9:14, we read how Jesus noticed the scribes disputing with the disciples while there were people who needed help.

Wasting time arguing instead of serving is one of the most often made mistakes as servants of Jesus. It’s a trap—it saps our energy, grieves the Holy Spirit, and robs those around us who need our help. It’s something we are to avoid (see 2 Timothy 2:23, Titus 3:9, and Ephesians 4:29-32).\

So instead of wasting time arguing and fighting, invest time in prayer and fasting so you can serve those around you by bringing them to Jesus.

While mountaintop experiences with God are amazing, we eventually need to get down. It’s true that we are to regularly and habitually seek the Lord in solitude, we are not to remain there. We are not intended to spend our lives in solitude.

We are to be in the world, but not of the world—because that is where God has sent us. He needs us to be the salt and light in the world that is suffering in and because of darkness.

So like Peter, we realize it is good for us to be here—with Jesus, in retreat from the world, getting clarity about who He really is. But Jesus will eventually lead us back down the mountain, into the places and next to the people who need to hear the hope that only Jesus can give them.

Take the time to seek the Lord in solitude and enjoy those times of refreshment and clarity on the mountaintop with Him—so that you can come back down and serve those who are lost, broken, and hurting with what He has given you.

Receiving Jesus as your Savior is one thing. 

Receiving Him as your Lord is another.

Becoming a child of God saves us from the tragedy of spending eternity apart from Him. Being a disciple of Jesus saves us from the tragedy of a waste life while we are waiting for His return.

We are not to just be born again, and then wait around until He returns. We have work to do that He has called us to do. We are to occupy until He comes and be busy about our Father’s business.

His business is saving souls and making disciples. In order to co-operate in this work, we need to learn what it means to deny ourselves, pick up our cross, and follow Him.

We must understand this. Jesus did not to come to save us from our circumstances. He came to save us from our sin. In order to do that, Jesus needed to suffer and sacrifice Himself. In order for us to be His disciples, we must understand that He is calling us to a similar life—a life of suffering, self-denial, and self-sacrificial service so that others can be saved too.

Are you reaching others for Him by living like Him? It’s a life of love, self-denial, self-sacrifice—a life that’s full, a life that’s truly life!

When it seems like Jesus isn’t listening, He is. When it seems like Jesus is being mean, He isn’t. He may be endeavoring to draw something deeper out from you. He loves you and would do anything for you if it would bless you and bring glory to God. Remember—Jesus is God. There is nothing too hard for God, so there’s nothing too hard for Jesus.
​
Often, we convince ourselves that we need to approach Jesus in a certain way or though a specific method. But Jesus isn’t impressed with religion or ritual or a formula. When you simply and honestly say, “Lord, help me! Lord, save me!” He will turn towards you and answer you.

So pursue Jesus passionately—even if it seems like He isn’t listening, or if it seems like He is being mean, or even if He turns around and calls you “a little dog,” “a dirty dog,” or “a filthy sinner,” because that is what you are apart from Him. That’s hard to accept, isn’t it? Yet this must be acknowledged in order for you to have a real, raw, genuine saving faith to receive God’s gift of salvation.

You must admit that apart from Jesus, you are a hopeless and helpless sinner, and ONLY Jesus can save you—because He loves you. Jesus is God. And there is nothing too hard for God…even saving sinners.

Our hearts are desperately sick, wicked, and deceitful (Jeremiah 17:9). In an attempt to tame our sick, wicked, and deceitful hearts, we are tempted to turn to legalism, hoping to earn God’s favor through outward rules, regulations, religion, and traditions.

The problem is, legalism doesn’t work. Ever. It can’t heal a desperately sick heart, let alone control it. If outward rules and regulations, and religion and traditions can’t tame a sick, wicked, and deceitful heart, what can be done?

We must be given a new heart. And if you are in Christ, He has given you a new heart…in addition to your old heart, your old nature that is “continually corrupted by its sinful desires” (Ephesians 4:22). Your old nature is still lurking, still deceiving, still desperately sick as it continually corrupts.

Figuring out how to walk in your new nature as a new creation is extremely important. But there is hope—“Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16). What a promise!

“Immediately He made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side…”
–Mark 6:45

After a long day of ministry, Jesus got His disciples to get in a boat and leave. Not too long after, the disciples found themselves in the middle of a storm. 

Just think that through. Jesus made His closest friends go across the Sea of Galilee…at night…into a storm…without Him. And yet, that was safer than to remain with the multitude that wanted to take Jesus and make Him king by force (see John 6:15). Jesus made His disciples go into the storm for their own safety. 

Did Jesus have any less concern or care for His disciples when they were rowing against the wind for 6-9 hours when it should have only taken 2-3? No. He was teaching them and making them into disciples. He was stretching their capacity to trust Him. Jesus was teaching them that nothing was too hard for Him. Sometimes it’s the storm that brings Jesus directly to us. 

Are you caught in a storm today? Take your eyes off of your circumstances and fix your eyes on Jesus—the Author, Perfecter, and Finisher of your faith. He is the One who will equip you to do what He commands you to do even if what He commands you to do seems impossible.

Jesus calls us to Himself and receives us just the way we are. But He loves us enough to not leave us the way that we are. In order to grow us and increase our capacity to serve Him, there are times where He needs to challenge us and rebuke us. There are times where He needs to be stern and serious with us—even when it seems impossible, or when we’re complaining, or when we are tired. 

When you experience these moments, realize that Jesus is graciously, mercifully, sternly, and seriously making you into His disciple. In a just a couple of chapters in Mark, Jesus will tell His disciples and the multitude, “For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it.” (Mark 8:35)

So when Jesus sternly and seriously challenges you, let go of your life for Him. Then you will find and experience and receive the life that is truly life! To be someone sent by Jesus at the command of Jesus, you must learn to deny yourself and serve others…even when it seems impossible.

John the Baptist was thrown in prison because he spoke the truth. He told those who were in positions of power what God’s word had to say about the way they were living their lives. Because he stood up for the truth and God’s word, there were real and severe consequences for him.

Knowing all of this, Jesus gathered His followers and sent them to do the very same thing—to preach the word. To publicly proclaim the Good News in such a way that people realize their sin and want to turn away from it and towards Jesus.

However, Jesus told them He was sending them out “as sheep in the midst of wolves” (Matthew 10:16). Jesus didn’t say this to scare them, but to equip them for the reality of what was coming for them. Eventually, all of the Apostles were killed because of their testimony and loyalty to obediently preach God’s word to a society that had drifted far from it. 

The only way these courageous and faithful followers of Jesus could do what they did—knowing the risk it involved—was because they knew Jesus. They understood who He was and they held fast to His word. 

Trouble will come for those who take a stand for God’s word in a society that rejects His truth. But having a thorough understanding of God through His word will help you know what’s coming and how God will see you through. 

Do you have that assurance, today? Are you prepared for difficult times that may come? If you trust Jesus with your soul, get to know Him more through His word and keep preaching the word! If you have yet to yield your life to Jesus, hear and heed His word—repent! Turn away from your sin and turn towards Jesus. He is willing and wanting to save you!

God always finishes what He starts. How does this truth comfort you today in the midst of your circumstances? 

In his letter to the church in Philippi, the Apostle Paul wrote, “…He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ…” (Philippians 1:6). God starts His work in our hearts and continues to work in us by His Spirit until Christ is formed in our lives. This continual refining work won’t be complete until Jesus returns to bring us home. 

On this side of eternity, that work is accomplished many times through the problems and tragedies we face. These difficulties expose our weaknesses, but also reveal to us God’s grace. For it’s in those times that we need to know and remember that His grace is sufficient and His strength is made perfect in our weakness.

As we encounter His grace in those difficult experiences, we are changed. Our exposure to His grace in our weaknesses shapes our character and personality without us even realizing it. Our Heavenly Father is continually using moments in our lives to prepare us for a decisive moment yet unknown to us that He can see coming. 

While we may see only the unanswered questions at the time, as we look back we can see how God was working to complete the good work He began in us. So take heart, dear friend! God isn’t finished with you yet—you are “His masterpiece, created anew in Christ Jesus,” (Ephesians 2:10) and He will continue His finishing touches until you are all that He intended you to be.

In Mark 6:7-13, we see so many practical and applicable principles for discipleship as Jesus instructs His disciples and as the disciples fulfill His command. We can benefit from these practical and applicable principles as we follow Jesus today. Here a some of those principles that we looked at in depth in our study this past Sunday:

Partnership 
(“…send them out two by two…” Mark 6:7)
Serving Jesus is so much better when you’re serving Him with someone. Two is really better than one (see Ecclesiastes 4:9). In fact, two serving Jesus together is not just two—but three. The Lord is with you and a cord of three strands is not easily broken (see Ecclesiastes 4:12).

Power 
(“…power over unclean spirits…” Mark 6:7)
Did you know that you have power over unclean spirits in Jesus’ name? You do not need to fear the devil and fallen angels if you alway keep Jesus between you and him. James 4 tells us how—Submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you (James 4:7-8a).

Provision 
(“…take nothing for the journey except…” Mark 6:8)
Where God guides, God will provide. When we follow Jesus and His call on our life, He will provide all that we need to fulfill that calling. He will give us what’s necessary to go deeper in our relationship with Him. That doesn’t mean that life will always be pleasant, but it will be an adventure full of faith and learning and following Jesus.

Forsake Favoritism
(“…stay there till you depart from that place…” Mark 6:10)
In first-century Judea, hospitality was a sacred duty. As the disciples would enter a city, they would be approached by someone to stay with them. Jesus told His disciples to stay with whoever approaches them first—not to look for something bigger or better. The lesson here is to not show favoritism to other. Every person has value in the eyes of God because every person has been made in His image.

Walk in Wisdom 
(“…whoever will not receive you nor hear you…” Mark 6:11)
Just because all people have been made in the image of God does not mean that all people properly reflect the image of God. When we love, we can also walk in wisdom. We can see value in all of humanity, but also understand human’s capacity for evil and harm.

Go!
(“…they went out…” Mark 6:12)
You can’t just listen to God’s directions—you need to do them! The disciples didn’t stay put, they were obedient to go and do the Lord’s work the Lord’s way. They were faithful to fulfill the mission Jesus had tasked them with. Like the disciples, we can live out the mission that God has sent us to do for Him and His glory!

“Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us?” So they were offended at Him.
–Mark 6:3
Many people in Nazareth had an odd and unhealthy familiarity with Jesus. This made it difficult for them to receive from Him. They assumed that since they knew a little about Him, they knew all about Him. 

But they didn’t know all about Jesus. He is so much more than all of our knowledge of Him put together. We will forever be learning about Jesus and His grace and love towards us.

Sadly, a majority of those in Nazareth became offended at Jesus—their odd and unhealthy familiarity caused a stumbling block in them that led to a contempt for Him and unbelief of who He is. 

This should make you pause and consider. Do you have an odd and unhealthy familiarity with Jesus? Do you assume that since you know something about Jesus that you know everything about Him? Be careful! This kind of familiarity can lead to contempt and unbelief as it did for many in Nazareth.

If an odd and unhealthy familiarity with Jesus has influenced you, it’s time to approach Jesus afresh. Not with the familiarity of history, heritage, and culture. Simply come to Jesus—approach Him like a little child and believe.

In Mark 5:21-43, we meet two daughters and a father who go to Jesus as a last resort. For the father (Jairus) and his daughter, time was of the essence. Jairus’ little daughter was dying…but he knew that Jesus could heal her.

For the other daughter, time was tormentor. For 12 long years, she suffered from a condition that caused her great distress and societal shunning…but she knew that Jesus could heal her.

For Jesus, time was no issue. Though these hurting people may have delayed in coming to Him, Jesus did not withhold His compassionate care to them. At just the right time, He willingly served them. Jesus is right on time—all of the time…even when His timeline doesn’t match ours. 

Jesus’ character should prompt us to come to Him as our first choice instead of our last resort. Because of our pride or stubbornness, we often hold out on coming to Jesus in our time of need. We mistakenly think He will respond they same way—reluctantly or begrudgingly (or maybe even both). 

But scripture erases these misconceptions. In the Bible, we see that we have a Savior who is willing to be our last resort and wanting to save—in His time. When we might expect His anger, frustration, or disappointment, we are met with compassion, mercy and grace. Jesus is able and willing, and ready and wanting to help us in our time of need.

You can come to Jesus—anytime and all the time. Whether He has been your first choice or your last resort, you can call out to Him in your time of need. He loves you no matter what and you will be surprised with how gracious He will be towards you!

Our Small Group & Bible Study Training event on Sunday was a great time of learning how to study the Bible and how to prepare for small group discussion. If you missed it, we’ve put together a page on our website with links to some wonderful Bible teachers, free online resources to help study, and a short & simple break-down of the inductive Bible study method. Check it out at Refuge.mn/study.

As evening descended after a long day of teaching the multitude, Jesus tells His disciples their plans for the night—“Let us cross over to the other side.” The command is straightforward, but there’s an additional meaning with an application when we dig into what happened next.

During the night voyage, a violent windstorm came up and waves beat the boat (Mark 4:37). This storm was unlike any other. There was something dark about it…something demonic.

The disciples panicked, but Jesus was…sleeping. Sleeping? Like the disciples, we question why Jesus would be sleeping during such a storm (Mark 4:38). He was probably tired after a full day of preaching and teaching. But He was able to sleep because He said, “Let us cross over to the other side.”

And that’s where we find the application. If Jesus says, “Let us cross over to the other side,” then He’s going to the other side. It doesn’t matter how strong the wind or how high the waves—even if they are demonic—He will get to where He needs to be. Jesus had an appointment with a man who had his own personal demonic storm. And nothing would deter Him from getting there.

Maybe you’re on the boat with Jesus. The wind is beating you, the waves are battering you, the storm is relentless, and there is no peace in the midst of the storm. Take heart! Jesus has promised to get you to the other side. At His word, peace will come.

Perhaps you’re on that other side, battling a long, personal storm that seems to have no end. Take heart! Jesus has come for you. A word from Him will settle your troubled heart and bring you peace.

In either scenario, we see that both the disciples and the man on the other side simply came to Jesus. You can too—right now. Just come to Jesus. He is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think (Ephesians 3:20).

In Mark 4, Jesus tells a parable about a sower, the seed that the sower scatters, and the types of soil the seed falls on. Fruitfulness does not depend upon the sower and His ability to sow; nor does it depend on the seed and its ability to grow. But fruitfulness is determined by the condition of the soil.

In this parable, the soil represents our hearts. And it causes us to pause and consider the condition of our own hearts…

Is your heart hardened by life (or maybe by others)? Does it seem like no matter how many times you hear the Gospel, it just doesn’t quite pierce your heart? God wants you to know that there is hope for you. Your heart needs to be softened—He can do that for you, but He needs your permission.

Maybe your heart is harder than hard—stony and cold. There is hope for you, too! God wants to remove your heart of stone and give you a new heart—one sensitive to Him (see Ezekiel 36:26).

Is your heart crowded by the cares and concerns of the world? Is the deceitfulness of riches choking out fruitful living for Jesus? There is hope as you pour out your heart to the Lord and tell Him your cares and concerns. He can guard your heart and mind and give you true peace that lasts when you ask Him.

Perhaps your heart is broken and busted up—yet you are eager to hear what God has to say and apply.  Take heart—soil that is broken offers the perfect conditions for growth. You have hope—and the promise of fruitfulness that only God can supply. 

Whatever the condition of your heart today, there is hope! Whether packed down, full of stones, choked with weeds, or broken, your heart—like soil—can be cultivated to hear and apply God’s Word. This continual transforming work of listening to the Lord and living out His Word will yield a fruitful harvest of blessing in your life, the lives of those around you, and ultimately for Jesus.

God cannot and will not force you to believe the gospel. He cannot and will not force you to receive forgiveness. You either believe and receive or you don’t.

If you believe and receive God’s testimony about His Son, you’re part of His family forever!

So when Jesus looks around the room and claims that those around Him are His mother and brothers (see Mark 3:31-35), it isn’t a rejection of His birth mother or His blood-born relatives. It’s an acknowledgement of the amazing grace that would accept whosoever would believe and receive into the family of God.

Do you believe this? Do you receive this? Then you are a brother or sister of Jesus and have become a son or daughter of your Heavenly Father!

Do you reject this? Do you refuse this? Heed the warning Jesus gives—there is only a finite number of times that the Holy Spirit will endure being called a liar before He will simply stop giving you His testimony. This sin of blasphemy is unforgivable. Repent today, return today, and receive today what God wants to give you!

During His ministry on earth, Jesus had the habit of retreating to be with His Heavenly Father. He made the time to get away and enjoy fellowship with God the Father to receive instruction, encouragement, and strength for the battles that would come His way. 

If Jesus needed regular times of retreat, how much more do we? For most of us, making this time for fellowship with God is difficult—but why?

Maybe pride prevents you from retreating with the Lord. You want to do great things for Him, so you don’t have the time just to be with Him. Or maybe you don’t think that God would want to be with you. You might feel like you’re bothering Him with your ordinary and unimportant problems.

Nothing could be further from the truth!

God wants to be with you more than anything! God wants you—that’s what this is all about. It’s never primarily about the fight and battle. It’s always primarily about the fellowship He wants to enjoy with you. It’s not just about what God can do through you, it’s mainly about what He’s doing in you.

First, foremost, and forever—He wants to be with you…He wants you!

 tHurting people hurt people. 

This is an important truth to remember as a servant of Jesus. Jesus loves people—that includes people who are bound by sin, struggling with sin, or weary or heavily burdened. And since Jesus wants to heal hurting people, He sends His followers to hurting people to minister to them. 

So when you are helping a hurting person, they just might criticize you, oppose you, or fight against you. When this happens, remember it’s not really about you—so don’t take things personally. 

Instead, follow Jesus’ example. Gently lead them to Him—the Healer for their hurt. Show and tell them what His word has to say about the real root issue they are dealing with. And love them as He has loved you. 

If you are hurting, there is hope and healing in Jesus. Come to Him—not as His adversary, but with humility and He will lift you up (James 4:10). Ask a brother or sister in Jesus for help and be ready and willing to talk about the real root issue that is causing you pain so He can heal you.

“I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”
–Mark 2:17

Did Jesus come to call you?

​Depending on your understanding of your own sinfulness or self-righteousness, this verse either comforts you or disturbs you.

You see, everyone needs to realize that everyone has sinned and every single one of us has fallen short of God’s glorious standard…which means all have been called by Him to be saved!

But something has to happen in your heart first. You need to realize that you are a sinner in need of a Savior. And then realize (and be greatly comforted by this fact) that Jesus came for you—to help you and forgive you; to heal you and to make you whole.

Yes, Jesus is calling YOU into His service as one of His followers.

Have you answered His call? Has something happened in your heart so that you realize your condition and your need for Him? Self-righteousness can’t save you. Despite how good you try to be, it will never be good enough. But God, in His love has made a way for you to be reconciled with Him through His son, Jesus. 

Turn away from self-righteousness and let it go. Ask Jesus to forgive you and receive what He has been longing to give you—His righteousness!

One day, God told Abraham, “Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.”

So Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife, and the two of them went together. With knife raised over his son, God stopped Abraham because He saw that Abraham did not withhold his only son from Him.

In the book of Hebrews, we read why Abraham was willing and ready to obey the Lord: “By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, of whom it was said, “In Isaac your seed shall be called,” concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense.” (Hebrews 11:17-19)
​
Abraham (the father) had faith God would raise Isaac (the son) from the dead. 2,000 years later, there was another Father and another Son. The two of them went together to the same hill. But this time, no one stopped the knife. Jesus, the Son, was crucified. This had to happen this—there was no other way to accomplish the purposes of God:

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” (John 3:16-17)

God (the Father) gave His son (Jesus) so that you could enjoy life with Him—forever! Have you received this free gift He offers you? You can, right now. Ask God to forgive you & fill you with His Spirit. He is willing and wanting to save you!

"God will provide," the Patriarch said,
And faith gives every doubt away;
Fearless he climbs Moriah's mound,
And sees afar Christ Jesus' day:
Yes! God provides, and God accepts
His sacrifice, and his alone:
No blood of beasts, not Abraham's son,
​Nor ought, save Christ, can ever atone.

As Jesus approached Jerusalem on the day we now call Palm Sunday, He wept over the city. The Prince of Peace saw the city of peace and was overwhelmed with sorrow. Why? Because they did not have peace with God.

They did not recognize the specific day that God had come to them to give them peace. And sadly because of their rejection, destruction came when the Romans completely destroyed Jerusalem.

Have you recognized Jesus coming to you to seek and to save that which was lost? One day, we will all have to stand before God alone. He will inspect your heart to see if you have peace with God. Do you know the things that make for your peace?

If you don’t know and haven’t received Jesus, the coming destruction will be eternal—eternal separation from God. But it doesn’t have to be that way! This is why Jesus came—to save you from destruction.

You can ask Jesus today—right now—to forgive you of your sins, to fill you with His Spirit, and to make you a brand new creation in Christ. Cry out to Him and He will save you! Trust Him as your Savior and follow Him as the Lord of your life.

Reconcile—it’s a big word with a beautiful meaning. In the Greek language Paul used to write this letter, it means to change—not just a minor change, but a thorough change. A complete change. 

Because of sin, every one of us is estranged from God. We have all sinned and fallen short of God’s best. Sin has left us at odds with God—there needs to be a change in our relationship to Him and our relationship with Him.

It is only in and through Christ that your relationship to God is reconciled, changed, restored. There can now be friendship with God in Jesus rather than hostility with God in sin.

Jesus made that possible on the cross when He became sin for us so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5:21). 
​
Are you reconciled to God? Or are you still at odds with Him because of your sin? We implore you on Christ’s behalf—be reconciled to God! Ask Him for forgiveness. Believe that Jesus died for your sin and that God raised Him to life. Trust Him as your Savior and follow Him as the Lord of your life.

Now a leper came to Him, imploring Him, kneeling down to Him and saying to Him, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.” —Mark 1:40

Leprosy made this man unclean—physically and spiritually unacceptable and unaccepted in society. Unclean was what he shouted to warn others of his condition. It’s no surprise that he desired more than physical healing—he wanted to be made clean.

So he went to Jesus and fell at His feet—sick, forgotten, and forsaken—full of leprosy…and full of faith.

Jesus knew all about this man—his struggle with the disease that alienated him from his community. This man knew about Jesus—how He was able to heal, yet he wondered whether or not Jesus was willing.

Like this man, you may be frightened of the disgusting effects of the spiritual leprosy of sin in your life. You may be afraid of Jesus getting too close and finding out just how rotten you are. You may question if Jesus is really willing to make you clean.

Oh, He is! He is not only able to heal you of the sickness of sin, He is willing to put His hand upon your your very soul and speak a word of power to cast out sin and it’s ugly hold over your life!

And when the power of sin is broken, you are not only healed spiritually—you are clean—completely and eternally.

Have you enjoyed this healing and cleansing from sin? Just ask Jesus! He is able and willing to cleanse you today!

When you know that you are loved by Jesus, you start asking Him for anything—big things, little things, impossible things—everything! As you start a life of asking, you’ll begin to notice that He is responding. 

Often, His response is asking something of you. And when you obey Him, you realize just how awesome His is and notice what He is up to in the world. 

That prompts you to love Him even more—and you realize how much He loves you, which prompts you to ask Him more, which prompts Him to ask of you more—and the cycle continues.

This rhythm is the life Jesus intends for His followers to live—a life of asking, obedience, and love. 

The beginning to this life is easy—just ask!

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.”
​—Matthew 7:7-8