Fresh Manna by Pastor Tim Burt

Divine Strength in Times of Weakness

2008-11-20T03:02:00Z

Fresh Manna for Thursday, November 20, 2008 by Pastor Tim Burt

Divine Strength in Times of Weakness by Pastor Tim Burt

Matthew 8:17 “That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.”

The other day I mentioned that I had just started to get over a five day bout with the flu. When you are coming out of something like that and you’re at that in between stage of the sickness – where it is ending and where you start to feel good again, life begins to pour back into you. It is at that stage you can see just how demonic sickness and disease is. And it is that – demonic! By that I mean that it’s part of Satan’s work in the earth.

Jesus often cast out demons and diseases at the same time. We see this in Matthew 8:16 “When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to Jesus, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick.” Satan often worked to possess people and when he couldn’t he’d try to hurt or take their life through sickness and disease. As Jesus said in John 10:10, “The thief (Satan) comes not, but to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I (Jesus) am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”

When we have been attacked with sickness or disease, the goal is to create weakness – to weaken our state of mind and body with the overall attempt of trying to steal our life. We all know that every sickness and disease does not end up in death, but they all do create a weakened state of mind and body. That is how I felt for those five days. It is in those times, especially when you are hurting, that thoughts and questions that are from the devil come as secondary attack. “Why is this happening to you?” “You aren’t living for God because if you were this wouldn’t have happened.” “Remember when you did __________ , well that is why you got sick. It’s payback because God is mad at you.” “If God loves you so much why aren’t you getting healed like the people in the Bible?” “God doesn’t heal today so why do you believe that mumbo jumbo?” “If you believe in healing you are out there.”

If you’ve ever heard thoughts like that, you are in good company – in company with Jesus. When Jesus went to fast in the desert for forty days, (Luke chapter 4) he was in a weakened state. It was precisely at that time, that Satan came to Him and said, “If you are the son of God, command this stone to be bread.” Satan was actually tempting Jesus to question whether he was the Son of God. Doesn’t that seem ridiculous? But, that is what he does to you and I in our weakened state. “God doesn’t care about you.” “Why would God do anything for you – look at all the times you are disobedient to Him.” “How can you even call yourself a Christian and pretend like God loves you.” “You a child of God – ha!”

In today’s Fresh Manna verse, it says, “Himself (Jesus) took our infirmities…” The Greek word for infirmities means – weak, feeble, or frail from sickness or disease. The promise of God’s Word is that Jesus took our weakness – our times in life where the devil attacks us and tries to discourage us. He took them so we don’t have to put up with the lies of Satan. Hebrews 13:5-6 “…for the Lord has said, I will never leave you, nor forsake you. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.” What we should be saying in that weakened state is exactly that. “The Lord is my helper so I will not fear what man (or devil) shall do unto me!” Satan does not want us to have that perspective and he does what he is able to weaken it. That is the point of sickness and disease.

Today’s Fresh Manna verse finishes by saying, “(Jesus) bare our sicknesses.” He went to the cross, not just to take the punishment that we deserved for our sins and not just to forgive us of our sins, but to “TAKE our infirmities and our sicknesses upon His body that Satan would attack us with throughout life. 1 Peter 2:24 “(Jesus) who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness--by whose stripes you were healed.” If you saw the “Passion of the Christ” then you saw the whippings and stripes left on Jesus body that He took for you and I. He paid a high price for us to be healed. “…by whose stripes you were healed.”

When you are in a weakened state because of sicknesses, it can be hard to be in remembrance of this truth but grab your Bible and read these truths for yourself and begin to meditate on and thank the Lord for what He did for you and me. He did what He did knowing we come to this weakened state when attacked. He took that too! “He took our infirmities” – our weaknesses and the temptation to believe less when we are hurting. Jesus is our Healer today! He is the Author and Finisher of our Faith! Glory to His Name!

In His Love,

Pastor Tim Burt
http://readfreshmanna.blogspot.com/

Published by Pastor Tim Burt
Copyright© 2008 Tim Burt, All rights reserved.

“You Are Not A Snob”

2008-11-19T03:54:00Z

Fresh Manna for Wednesday, November 19, 2008 by Pastor Tim Burt

“You Are Not A Snob” by Pastor Tim Burt

Gal 3:27-29 "... for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise."

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think there is one of us who hasn't worried at one time or another (maybe multiple times) thinking, “I wonder if anyone things I’m a little weird.” Is that word too strong? Okay, how about quirky, a little strange, have our faults, cut from another mold, etc, you name it. I think everyone wants to be thought of as normal and okay. At the same time, how many times have you looked around you and thought - "that person is weird." "She is majorly quirky." "He's a little out there if you know what I mean." "She has got some major issues." "I'm not sure what planet he's from."

On one hand, we've had this reoccurring thought, "I hope people think I'm normal and nice," and on the other hand, we see a lot of people that we think might qualify for the "not quite normal list." There may be a few perfect people out there but I don't know any of them.

Because we have to deal with people on a continuous basis, we can begin to categorize people without even realizing it and create judgments and mindsets about the way a person is. That might lead us to treating them in a lesser way than they deserve. It happened to John the Baptist. Jesus was teaching His disciples when he explained that the religious leaders of that day categorized John because of the way he looked and conducted his ministry. "For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He has a demon." (Matthew 11:18) Later, Jesus was proclaiming hard truth to those same religious leaders and they accused Him also of having a demon. (That must have been the popular word or phrase to put someone down in that day.)

So, there is nothing new under the sun. People were judging and categorizing and putting down people then and continue to do so today. We are all tempted at times.

Today's Fresh Manna verse reminds me of something huge that I want to be mindful of. It’s this. If someone has surrendered their life to Jesus Christ and made Him Lord and Savior, then they are what today's Fresh Manna verse says they are - "...baptized into Christ and clothed with Christ."

It is such a temptation for so many to feel superior in some way to others. None of us want to admit that we would ever feel that way. But, our words - categorizing people - our actions, wanting to avoid people because we think they are something less than us - all of these things we do are telltale signs that we do see ourselves as better than someone else.

God's Word has that way of piercing our heart and putting us back in our right place. Many people might look like dented cans on grocery store shelves, but the insides of that can are probably just the same as the cans that aren't dented – the insides are good!

God wants us to help each other get the dents out. God wants us to see others "clothed in Him." He wants us to help others undergo supernatural transformation that only His Word can do. Romans 12:2 "And be not conformed to this world: but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." God's Word will help anyone and that is the promise that we are heirs to and need to stand with and support each other in.

Satan through his disobedience was transformed to the fake, deceiver, and destroyer he is through the pride he yielded to. Now he lives in that pride as a fake pretending he is good. 2 Corinthians 11:14 "And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light." This means he deceptively hides behind a mask appearing to be good. We don't want to be the fake he is. We want to love others seeing that they like us are clothed with Christ and stand with them for all of God's best. John 13:35 "By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love one for another."

In His Love,

Pastor Tim Burt
http://readfreshmanna.blogspot.com/

Published by Pastor Tim Burt
Copyright© 2008 Tim Burt, All rights reserved

“I Am Healed!”

2008-11-18T00:56:00Z

Fresh Manna for Tuesday, November 18, 2008 by Pastor Tim Burt

“I Am Healed!” By Pastor Tim Burt

Isaiah 53:5 (NLT) “But he was wounded and crushed for our sins. He was beaten that we might have peace. He was whipped, and we were healed! “

When I had awakened this morning, I was still feeling like I had felt for the last several days - very sick. The symptoms of the flu hit me hard, fast, and furious Thursday night and I was bed bound for the next few days. It made me mad. I hadn’t had the flu in many, many years. The symptoms may have tried to come upon me a couple of different times over the years, but I resisted them and rebuked them in Jesus name and they never did fully come upon me. This time that was not the case. I hurt so bad all I wanted to do was lay still and sleep. When I was awake, it was painful.

I didn’t know if I was going to get Fresh Manna out today but I had never missed a day (except on vacation) since I started writing it almost nine year ago. Then about 4:00pm today I started to feel better. Halleluiah! Now I will make the devil pay!

Our faith can get confused when you see all the sickness and pain in the world. The question is always asked, “Why God? Why do you allow it?” There are theological answers that will not fit in the space I have today. But it’s not so much about God allowing it as it is Satan hating us and all of God’s creation – that includes every human being. We won’t all be theologians and won’t all have the insight to the Word of God that helps us to understand deep truths, but we can know great things just by knowing God’s character and will. Jesus actually summed it up in His own words in John 10:10 saying, “The thief (Satan) comes not, but to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I (Jesus) am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” That pretty much sums up God’s will. He wants us to experience an abundant life – not a life stuck in bed sicker than a dog over the course of a week. I never forget that truth the entire time I am resisting sickness.

In Matthew chapter 8, we read about Jesus healing lepers, healing a centurions servant, and then after a long day, going home to His disciple Peter’s house to rest. Peter’s mother-in-law had been sick with a fever. (I can relate!) He ministered to her and then to more people that came to their house knowing Jesus the Healer was staying there. We read what happened and WHY it happened. Pay attention to both. Matthew 8:14-17 “When Jesus came into Peter's house, he saw Peter's mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever. He touched her hand and the fever left her, and she got up and began to wait on him. When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: "He took up our infirmities and carried our diseases."

This verse comes from Isaiah 53. This chapter is Isaiah describing the Messiah to come and the attributes of His. It describes Jesus carrying our sins upon Himself and taking our punishment so we don’t have to. When Jesus was physically healing these people, He was fulfilling what Isaiah prophesied all those years ago. Jesus healed to fulfill the purpose of the Messiah foretold by Isaiah the prophet hundreds of years before Jesus was every born. Isaiah told of the Messiah that would come and what he would do. Isaiah 53:5 “But he was wounded and crushed for our sins. He was beaten that we might have peace. He was whipped, and we were healed!

Satan may try to beat us down but at those times but it’s important to let faith arise in our heart and say, “Jesus, you bore my sins and sicknesses. By your stripes, we were healed. If I was, then I am healed. I receive and thank you for what you bore upon the cross for me, In Jesus name I pray.”

As you all know, when you are under attack, you don’t feel much like doing anything. That is the point of sickness or any attack of Satan – to make us feel helpless, abandoned and hopeless, and to get us to isolate and want to give up, curl up and want to die. Jesus wants us to remember that He is the healer in those times and that He paid the price for us to be healed.

When you are under any kind of attack from the enemy you may feel like a piece of gum on the bottom of a shoe, but it’s always time thank Jesus for being our Healer and never stop looking to Him as the author and finisher of our faith. He hates what the devil does in this earth. This is why He came – to pave the way for our salvation, our restoration in every area of our life, and to pay the price for our healing. 1 John 3:8 “…For this purpose Jesus was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.”

I feel so much better just proclaiming it to you all! “He is my healer!”

In His Love,

Pastor Tim Burt
http://readfreshmanna.blogspot.com/

Published by Pastor Tim Burt
Copyright© 2008 Tim Burt, All rights reserved

Words That Help!

2008-11-15T03:31:00Z

Fresh Manna for the weekend of November 15, 2008

Words That Help! By Renee Burt

I left everyone yesterday with this question: So what SHOULD we do when someone has a complaint against someone else, and they say they need to talk to someone about it? Do we politely brush them off and tell them we can't talk to them? No! The point isn't to deprive people of someone to talk to. The point IS to help point the conversation in the right direction. So it's not just a venting session...or a commiserating session...or a gossip session...which it can easily become. Instead, when that kind of conversation presents itself to me, what I pray is that God will help me to bring encouragement to that person, and some godly perspective...whether it be that they need to go to that other person to work things out, or to help them see that they just need to move past it, or possibly even to be daring enough to help them see that their current perspective or perception is skewed. Now, you might think, "But HOW would I know what to say? And what if I say the wrong thing?" That's where you need to learn to apply today's scripture to your life each and every day. I do, and I'm amazed continually by the things God helps direct me to say to people who need to talk to someone. I'm thankful that I don't have to rely on my own wisdom or know-how...and I don't have to have experienced what they're experiencing. All I need to know is that if I'm faithful to open up my ears to the Lord each morning, asking Him to help me say what HE wants me to say that day to encourage someone...well, let me just say, He has never failed once to give me the right kinds of words to help that person in that situation. I'm awake and ready to "take orders." Want to join me?

Isaiah 50:4 MSG ~ The Master, God, has given me a well-taught tongue, So I know how to encourage tired people. He wakes me up in the morning, Wakes me up, opens my ears to listen as one ready to take orders.

More devotions from Renee's Fresh Manna

http://readfreshmanna.blogspot.com/

Are You Perfect Yet?

2008-11-13T12:51:00Z

Fresh Manna for Thursday, November 13, 2008 by Pastor Tim Burt

Are You Perfect Yet? by Pastor Tim Burt

Psa 37:37 “Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.”

This may seem like a silly question to some, but have you ever strived to be perfect? The pursuit of striving to be perfect is a good thing not a bad thing. If you have, it’s because the desire was built within you. Does that sound shocking? Let me shed some light on it.

First of all, we were created by God in His image. Genesis 1:27 says, “So God created people in His own image; God patterned them after Himself…” I know your parents conceived you. I know your mother gave birth to you. But it all started with God. He first created man in His image. Just as you take on appearance and qualities of your parents, so you were created to take on qualities of God. That is inherent within our being. God is perfect so would it then be surprising that we might want to strive for that perfection?

Our efforts toward perfection in the image of God were curtailed by sin. Romans 5:17-18 helps us see that before Jesus Christ, man was stuck in sin and that sin led us away from God’s image and perfection. It says, “The sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over us, but all who receive God's wonderful, gracious gift of righteousness will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ. Yes, Adam's one sin brought condemnation upon everyone, but Christ's one act of righteousness makes all people right in God's sight and gives them life.”

The gift of reconciliation or having our sins forgiven and being made right and united with God comes to all who personally receive Jesus Christ as Savior. That happens by asking God to forgive you of all your sins and by asking Jesus to come into your heart to be your Savior and Lord. Upon that sincere request through prayer, the Holy Spirit of God comes to live within you in response to your request and life transformation is ready to happen. The Holy Spirit gives you the power over sin that you never before had.

In that light, the Apostle Paul wrote these words to us that again lead us back to striving for perfection. Col. 3:5-10 “Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.”

Jesus said, “But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.” Matthew 5:48 That rocks our world in a bad way because we all know that we fall short in obeying Him perfectly. That is why we need to receive Him as Savior having our sins forgiven and receiving His inward power for transformation. That is when and where the desire to “be perfect” is reactivated in our life. We may have gotten lazy and apathetic or lethargic, but inwardly the desire to become “perfect” or more and more like Jesus is within us.

Having said all that, what is perfect? Well we know that God is perfect. We also know that Jesus is the perfect reflection of God. Jesus said in John 14:9 “… Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father…” We know that although Jesus was God in the flesh, He laid down His deity and humbled Himself to live as a man. Jesus did that from perfect selflessness. Man is mostly selfish. Jesus became totally selfless toward God and man. He lived his life ministering to those around Him.

In our desire and efforts to better ourselves which is a good thing, we often get too focused upon ourselves. We try to raise our personal standard and then unconscientiously raise the standard of expectation from those around us. That isn’t necessarily the best route to take. We find a better path to go down in Phil 2:3-8. “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross!”

I don’t’ think self help books focus on this aspect of improvement. Serving God and man is seldom at the top of anyone’s list. Selflessness may be the greatest self improvement plan and step toward perfection you could ever take. It is what brings “salt” into this world.

Today’s Fresh Manna verse says “Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.” Trying to reach some unattainable measure of perfection in your life might lead to never ending disappointment and frustration. But becoming more selfless – giving yourself over to loving and serving God and those around you will bring you much peace and joy and you will see transformation in your life – real heart transformation toward God’s measure of perfection!

In His Love,

Pastor Tim Burt
http://readfreshmanna.blogspot.com/