Have You Built a Home for Jesus So Miracles Can Be Commonplace?

The Shunammite woman made a room for the man of God to stay in when he passed by. One result was that she experienced two amazing miracles. We can do the same! Here is her story.
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• "This is a holy man of God, who passes by us regularly. Please, let us make a small upper room on the wall; and let us put a bed for him there, and a table and a chair and a lampstand; so it will be, whenever he comes to us, he can turn in there." (2 Kings 4:9-10 NKJV)

• The Shunammite woman made a place for the man of God to stay, and by doing so received two miracles. First, the birth of her son in her old age and second, the resurrection of her son when he suddenly died. Read these stories in 2 Kings 4:9-37.

When we make a room for God, we too will experience miracles. This means making room for the Father, Son and Holy Spirit to be present to minister miracles and healings. Jesus specifically tells us what we need to do to make a home for Him so He can be present with us.

"If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him" (Jn 14:23).
The result will be that the Holy Spirit will be present to provide everything we need (Jn. 14:26; Gal. 5:22-25; 1 Cor. 12:7-11).

How can I build a home for God to dwell in?

What steps would I take to make a home for the Father, Son and Holy Spirit to dwell in so that when I needed a miracle, it would be readily available?
1. Loving obedience: "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word" (Jn. 14:23). We begin our home for Jesus by loving Him and obeying His words. Obviously that means knowing His words also. So reading through the Gospels and the entire Bible several times are key.
2. Praising Him: "You who are enthroned upon the praises of Israel" (Ps. 22:3). When we worship and celebrate the Lord, He comes and fills our worship with His manifest presence. We can feel and sense this. We feel His Spirit energizing us, removing heaviness, gloom and depression. I love throne room worship, where I am in His presence seeing Him, celebrating Him and kneeling before Him.
3. Believing: "He who comes to God MUST believe" (Heb.11:6). We believe that "every good gift is from above" (Jas. 1:17). I need to believe that God is good and God is for me. He is on my side, strengthening me, not judging me or putting me down. Even the woman caught in adultery, Jesus didn't put down. He simply freed her by saying "Go." And He followed this up with the instruction "sin no more" (Jn. 8:11). This worship song will help convince you God is good.
4. Passionate Desire: "Earnestly desire spiritual gifts" (1 Cor. 14:1). This step instructs me to get passionate about seeking healing and miracles and words of wisdom and knowledge. I am not just open to operating in spiritual gifts. I am passionate that I WILL operate in the nine-fold manifestation of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 12:7-11). Passion brings breakthrough. Passion brings results. Luke-warmness gets me nowhere (Rev. 3:16). So get passionate! Go after spiritual gifts.
5. Asking: "You do not have because you do not ask" (Jn. 16:24; Jas. 4:2). There is no reason not to ask for healing and miracles. I offered to lay hands on one person who was in pain, and they withdrew in fear. I assume they had been taught that Jesus no longer does this, and their church didn't lay hands on and pray for healing. One gentleman came to me in a seminar and asked me to pray for the arthritis in his knees and so I did, and then told him to do a Jericho march around the church. He came back five minutes later and told me all pain was gone. His faith, request and action were rewarded by God’s healing power.
6. Listening and yielding: "I can do nothing on My own initiative. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me" (Jn. 5:30). "He who sent Me is with Me; He has not left Me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to Him" (Jn. 8:29). So I picture Jesus at my right side (Acts 2:25), and I ask for His input, and I tune to flow and honor the flowing thoughts, pictures and emotions which I receive, for they are coming from the River of God which flows within me (Jn. 7:37-39). Acting on His words of wisdom and knowledge releases His healing power.
7. Loving all: "When you stand praying, forgive if you have anything against anyone" (Mk. 11:23-25). Forgiving everything against everyone is probably the biggest key to getting healed. One woman's hip was instantly healed when she forgave the horse who had fallen on her and damaged her hip. So it looks like we need to forgive animals and events, as well as people. Of course we need to forgive ourselves, and ask God’s forgiveness if we have been blaming Him for allowing the event to happen that precipitated the infirmity. We listen to His instruction for steps to take.
Journaling
Lord, have I built a home for You to dwell in with me? Are there further steps in constructing this home for You that You would have me take?

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For this, “YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY, YOU SHALL NOT MURDER, YOU SHALL NOT STEAL, YOU SHALL NOT COVET,” and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, “YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.”Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the Law. Romans 13:9-10 NASB

February 5

Extending Dignity
Bible in a Year :
Exodus 36–38
Matthew 23:1–22
Has no one condemned you?

Today's Scripture & Insight :

John 8:2–11
Maggie’s young friend showed up in church shockingly dressed. No one should have been surprised though; she was a prostitute. Maggie’s visitor shifted uneasily in her seat, alternately tugging at her much-too-short skirt and folding her arms self-consciously around herself.

“Oh, are you cold?” Maggie asked, deftly diverting attention away from how she was dressed. “Here! Take my shawl.”

Maggie introduced dozens of people to Jesus simply by inviting them to come to church and helping them feel comfortable. The gospel had a way of shining through her winsome methods. She treated everyone with dignity.

When religious leaders dragged a woman before Jesus with the harsh (and accurate) charge of adultery, Christ kept the attention off her until He sent her accusers away. Once they were gone, He could have scolded her. Instead, He asked two simple questions: “Where are they?” and “Has no one condemned you?” (John 8:10). The answer to the latter question, of course, was no. So Jesus gave her the gospel in one brief statement: “Then neither do I condemn you.” And then the invitation: “Go now and leave your life of sin” (v. 11).

Never underestimate the power of genuine love for people—the kind of love that refuses to condemn, even as it extends dignity and forgiveness to everyone.

By: Tim Gustafson

Reflect & Pray
How will you react when you see someone who’s living a hard lifestyle? Who can you invite to church this week and how might you get them to come?

Gracious God, please forgive me for having a judgmental spirit, and help me to show others Your love and grace. Amen.

Jesus asks, "Are you watching for those that feel unworthy and unloved?"

Linda Garmon sent me this Bible meditation about the Samaritan woman at the well (see John 4:1-42).

Linda - I have read this story so many times and I always comes away with questions. Lord, I look at this woman and I wonder about her life. From what is recorded I can see that she has had more than her share of broken relationships and heartache with 5 marriages. She ends up an outcast, and is living with a man, unmarried, either by her choice or his choice when she meets you, Lord. The fact that you would walk all the way to Samaria to talk to this lonely, broken woman speaks volumes to me. Lord, talk to me about this encounter.

Jesus - The Father had shown me this woman in my prayer time. So my trip to Samaria was intentional; I came because of her. She came to the well for water, but she was thirsty for more than drinking water. She had a deep longing to be accepted, to be known and understood and still be loved. I am drawn to those whose hearts and lives are broken. I am a healer of the broken-hearted. There were reasons in that time period that a man would divorce his wife. If there was adultery, the woman could end up stoned to death, but if there were other reasons she could be set aside and be left feeling broken, used, rejected, inadequate and shamed.

She expected that I would be like all the others, to treat her with disdain. But I came for her, to accept from her what she had to give, which was water, in exchange for what I had to offer her, the supernatural water of life. I came to show her that she was seen and known and that I was not repulsed by her or surprised by her past or even her present situation. I came to tell her exactly who I am, and that she was known and loved.

Linda - Lord, I know the heartache of a failed marriage, but I have two amazing children even from a failed marriage and that softened the hurt a little. Was this woman barren?

Jesus - Beloved, that will be a question you can ask her when you meet her, for that is her testimony to tell. It’s enough for you to know that throughout her life she felt unwanted and unworthy. That she expected to be rejected, by both men and women. Linda, my daughter, there are so many now hurting like this woman, feeling used and cast aside. They feel unworthy and unloved. Will you watch for them? Will you go to them when I ask you to? Will you let me fill you with my love and compassion so that I can pour it from you into those who have lack?

Linda - Yes, my Lord. I love you. Please use me for whatever you desire.

Jesus - Feel my heart, beloved one. For I am yours and you are mine, always.

Want to hear God's voice like Linda does? Register for our free video event: Ten hours of training over 13 days on the 4 Keys to Hearing God’s Voice. Going on now! https://go.cluschoolofthespirit.com/hgv

The Consequences of Sin

October 18, 2023
by Pastor Chuck Swindoll
Scriptures: 2 Samuel 11:1–12:13
When Uriah’s wife heard that her husband was dead, she mourned for him. When the period of mourning was over, David sent for her and brought her to the palace, and she became one of his wives. Then she gave birth to a son. But the LORD was displeased with what David had done. (2 Samuel 11:26–27)
Nathan didn't come on his own; he was sent by God: "Then the LORD sent Nathan to David." I think the most important word in that sentence is the first one, "then." God's timing is absolutely incredible.

When was he sent? Right after the act of adultery? No. Right after Bathsheba said, "I am pregnant"? No. Right after he murdered Uriah? No. Right after he married Uriah's pregnant widow? No. Right after the birth of the baby? No. It's believed by some Old Testament scholars that there was at least a twelve-month interval that passed before Nathan paid the visit. God waited until just the right time. He let the grinding wheels of sin do their full work, and then He stepped in.

To be totally honest with you, there are times when I really question the timing of God. Times when I just don't know why He's so slow to carry out what I think He ought to do. But every time I have looked back in retrospect, I have seen how beautifully He worked out His plan, how perfectly it had come to pass. God not only does the right thing; He does the right thing at the right time.

In confronting someone in his sin, the timing is as important as the wording. Most importantly, you need to be sure that you're sent by God. Nathan was.

In his sin, David had despised the God he served. Now, as a result of that sin, in days and years to come, David would experience grief within his own household.

Thus says the LORD, "Behold, I will raise up evil against you from your own household; I will even take your wives before your eyes and give them to your companion, and he shall lie with your wives in broad daylight. Indeed you did it secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel, and under the sun." (2 Samuel 12:11–12)
Whew! Talk about the consequences of sin. David sits there with his mouth still open, leaning back, perhaps staring at the ceiling, listening to the voice of God from Nathan.

David, realizing he was absolutely guilty, admitted without hesitation, "I have sinned. I've sinned against the Lord." With that admission, restoration began.