“Tell
Everyone Searching That Indeed Messiah’s Our Nurturing Yeshua!(T.E.S.T.I.M.O.N.Y)”
By Ramesh
C.Reddy Pittsburgh Standard
April
16,
2008
Editors Note: The devotional has a background song which can be heard if you use Internet
Explorer.
SCRIPTURE:
“As Jesus was getting
into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with
him. Jesus did not let him, but said, "Go home to your family and tell
them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on
you." So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much
Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed. (Mark 5:18-20, NIV)
Observations:
I asked
myself what the actions of the man were?
-
The man who was demon-possessed begged to
go with Jesus.
-
The man went away.
-
The man began to tell in the
Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him.
Interpretations:
Why did
the man beg to go with Jesus?
The man was demon-possessed! He used to be shackled in tombs and wander
the tombs. He was not properly dressed, could not be in one place in
peace, was mutilating himself, and not in his right mind. After seeing
Jesus, running to Jesus, and falling in front of Jesus to be healed, he
was healed. His gratitude is so much that he wants to leave his former
life behind and not to have anything to do with it.
Observations/Interpretations:
I asked myself what happened next?
The demon-possessed man who was healed did not go with Jesus but
went away.
I asked
myself why he went away?
He wanted to go so much with Jesus but went away not because he changed
his mind but because Jesus changed his mind. Jesus wanted him to share
with others how much the Lord did for him and showed him mercy, so in
obedience he went away.
I asked
myself why it is significant the man began to tell in the Decapolis how
much Jesus had done for him?
This is so significant because
what Jesus told him was to "Go home to your family
and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had
mercy on you." Jesus is proclaiming His divinity here
and the man lets others know what Jesus did for Him acknowledging Him as
Lord. The man did not
limit himself to just one town but ten towns. He was so fired up about
Jesus being his Lord who had healed him that he went all out. It is very
well possible that his family was scattered through out the ten towns.
Here Jesus was alluding to the healed man that He was Lord including
those around him.
I asked
myself why Jesus wanted him to share with others what Jesus did for him
in his life?
Jesus wanted them to know that
what Jesus did for the man he could also do for the people of the town
when they seek the Lord. How true that is because Scripture states to
seek the Lord and He shall be found. Jesus was interested in the people
of the town and cared for them.
Observations:
I asked
myself what the cause-effect relationship was because of the man’s
actions?
Because the man began to tell in
the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, all the people were
amazed.
I asked
myself why that is significant?
The people had a first hand
account of how a demon-possessed man who was losing it was delivered by
the power of the Lord because the Lord chose to save him and have mercy
on him. That is so exciting to know! The man did not keep the
transformation in his life secret but proclaimed it to the Ten Towns of
the region to share his testimony so others could come to know about
Jesus and acknowledge Jesus’ presence in their lives.
Implications:
I saw important implications for
my own life here. I need to share with others my testimony of what Jesus
did in my life so others can come to know of Jesus! Just as the people
of the Decapolis were amazed, I know my testimony can amaze people too
because it shows how much the Lord has done for me and how much He had
mercy on me.
I realized my testimony can be
very powerful when shared with unbelievers just as the man’s testimony
was when he shared it in the Decapolis. It is not because I share it but
because of the power of the Lord working through the testimony to show
others His love, mercy, and grace.
This
happened one
day while I was at the Pitt Stop outside vendor waiting to catch my bus
across the street. One of my friends came to
me and told me that the person they were talking to was a Hindu and that
I should speak to him because I had been from a Hindu background at one
point. I was taken
back because it was all of a sudden my friend came to me and told me to
evangelize to this person who had just received a tract and was
interested to know about Jesus.
First, I started telling him
that in all the religions people try to reach God but in Christianity,
God reached out to us by sending Jesus to us.
Then, I told him if God were to ask you why He should let you into
Heaven, what would your response be?
Then, I proceeded to tell
him that we can do 99.9% good things and even 0.01% bad things and we
cannot get into Heaven because God in His Holiness cannot allow sin into
his presence. I wanted him to see that Jesus alone could give us access
to Heaven as we seek Jesus who God sent for us to reach us. I saw him
feel uneasy and felt I was not getting anywhere with him and making him
confused.
So, I finally shared with him my
testimony of what Jesus did in my life. I told him, "I was a Hindu too
from a Hindu background and had severe asthma. I said to myself if Jesus
is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow as the Bible says He is then
what Jesus did then, He could do now too. So, I gave my life to Jesus
and asked Jesus to heal me of my asthma. Jesus did heal me of my
asthma!"
When I shared my testimony with him about what Jesus did in my life, he
was so amazed. He was supposed to leave but stayed there and listened to
another person share with him the Gospel now. He had to later leave but
wanted to find a forum where he could come and discuss the Bible with
us. We gave him the Gospel of John and wanted him to read it and also
told him where we could meet again. He took our numbers and gave me his
cell number. He was so
excited to meet with me in a church to learn more about Jesus
and Christianity later on.
It is sharing my testimony just as the demon-possessed man
shared his testimony after his healing experience that amazed the crowds
and also amazed those around me who I shared with. It is the not words
that I shared but the power of the Lord working through those words that
drew their amazement as they saw the Lord’s work in my own life. This
was only part of the testimony that I shared with him and he was amazed
that he wanted to know more about Jesus. My entire testimony through
the years of how the Lord has been working in my life is way too long
but so exciting too!
I ask you
now dear friend, what do you do with your testimony?
Dear friend, Jesus loves you so
much and if you have come to know Jesus as your Lord and Personal
Savior, you have a testimony to share. Yes, you do friend! Just as Jesus
told the man to share what Jesus had done for him and the mercy Jesus
had on him, Jesus wants you to share your testimony too! Oh, yes He does
friend! He loves you so much friend and decided to work in your life for
a reason. You know, each of our testimony is unique and will not be the
same but how Jesus has worked in your life can be as powerful as how
Jesus worked in another person’s life. So, do not feel like your
testimony is dull and does not have monumental events to share.
I
say that because some students have told me that their testimony does
not have exciting events happening to share. I tell them that's ok!
They do not have to be. Just seeing how you came to Jesus and how Christ
has been working in your life can be powerful enough. The key to
remember friend is BC and AD. Share with people how you were ‘Before
Christ’ and what has happened ‘After Decision’ for Christ.
You have a testimony friend and
I know you do because when Jesus touches a life and they belong to Him,
He lets you have a testimony so you can share it with others so they can
see the love of Jesus in their lives through your testimony.
If you do not know Jesus as your
Lord and Personal Savior, you can come to know Jesus as your Lord and
Personal Savior. Yes, you can friend! Now is the time of Salvation! The
man who was healed came to acknowledge Jesus as His Lord and shared
Jesus in Decapolis [Ten Towns]. He came to know Jesus because he saw
Jesus, ran to Jesus, and fell in front of Jesus in his sickness and sin.
Jesus had mercy on him and healed him. After being healed, the man still
sat with Jesus, became dressed, and in his right mind and wanted to go
with Jesus.
Jesus is the same yesterday,
today, and tomorrow forever more. Yes, He is friend and wants you to
come to know Him.
Jesus died for you and me friend so that we can have new life in
Christ as Jesus shed His cleansing blood to wash away our sin. It did
not end there on the cross but Jesus came back to life on the 3rd day to
save all those who come to Him and receive His free gift of grace. Jesus
will not abandon us or leave us as orphans in the storm.
When we do not know Jesus as our Lord and Personal Savior, we are
like the demon-possessed man because we are trapped in our own sin and
shortcomings. But when we run to Jesus, Jesus the Author and Finisher of
our faith will fix that for us as we fix our eyes on Jesus. He will work
in us and through us equipping us, enabling us, and empowering us so now
we can share with others how merciful and gracious the Lord Jesus has
been to us. Yes, friend Jesus loves you so much and wants you to tell others
about His love for you and them.
This Friday of April 18th on the last
day of classes, there will be a major evangelistic event on the Bigelow
Patio of the William Pitt Union from 11:00 A.M. - 3:00 P.M. with free food, music, discussions, free
literature, etc to share the love of Christ and the Gospel with those
that do not know Him. I hope you can join ASIAN CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP and
other believers in Christ this Friday for this event! It is for the
glory and honor of the Lord to spread His Word.
Won’t you
do that friend?
You should come to this event and more than that come to Jesus because He is Lord and
wants to work in your life.
This however this does not mean a person who
comes to know Jesus as their Lord and Personal Savior has a life that is
always peachy but Jesus will take care, do you believe that?
From October 2007 when my dad went into severe cardiac arrest
to now, we have seen the Lord's work in our families life though my dad
went to be with the Lord Jesus in heaven on Dec 17, 2007. Since October
2007 - Dec 2007. there have been amazing miracles we have seen happen
that drew us so close to the Lord and also to each other as a family. I
praise the Lord for that! Lord continues to work in our families lives
to this day even through the hardship of losing our beloved dad who was
my mom's faithful husband for 38 years.
Jesus has been with us even in our trials and tribulations and will be with you
too, never
leaving you nor forsaking you. He will be your refuge and strength giving
you the strength to endure through life’s hardships. I know He will
because I have seen it in my own life. Jesus not only healed me but
saved me and brought me into His Kingdom and He wants to do that for you
too. Remember, He died for you too and shed His blood on the cross to
deliver you too! If you were the only one I know Jesus would have still
gone to the cross to save you so you can spend with Him in Eternity.
That is so exciting to know friend! I know it is exciting for me and I
want that for you too. I am so overwhelmed that my eyes becomes watery
with joy. Jesus is always thinking about you and is Lord of all.
However, He will not force himself to be part of your life. If Jesus
wanted people to come to Him that way, He could have come off the cross
after being crucified but He did not. He does not want people to believe
in Him out of fear but out of love.
So you can come to Him as you
are and let Him fill you with His loving presence. No matter where you
have been or what you have done, His love is for you, His blood is for
you, to clean you and make you white as freshly fallen snow. So come as
you are! Come to the cross and receive Jesus! Let Him be the Lord of
your life. I have and so can you!
I gotta tell somebody what Jesus
did for me! I want to tell everyone searching that indeed Messiah’s our
nurturing Yeshua!
May you be so excited with your
testimony that you praise the Lord and want to share with others as
Jesus gives you the opportunities. Let the Lord work in you and don't
force yourself and feel condemnation. Satan loves to condemn but our
Lord loves to convict our spirit in His loving way!
“Tell
Everyone Searching That Indeed Messiah’s Our Nurturing
Yeshua!”(T.E.S.T.I.M.O.N.Y)/”What do you do
with your testimony?”
Prayer:
Dear Jesus, I heard what you do in other people’s lives. Thank you so
much for loving me and caring for me that you sent people into my life
to share your love. Help me Lord now to do that for others. Thank you
Jesus for the power of your love! Help me to give my testimony to reach
others. Thank you so much Jesus. And Lord, I pray right now for the one
that does not know you. I pray that they would come to know you Lord as
their Lord and Personal Savior. Thank you we can share your love with
others and that you have given me a mission of counseling broken hearts
with your love Oh Lord. We love you and thank you again for everything
you do for us. Thank you for healing the demon-possessed man and setting
him free. We believe you can do the same now for those who need all
kinds of healing and set people free for your Word Oh Lord says, that we
will know the Truth and the Truth shall set us free! Thank you so much
Jesus! In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!
Now is the time of Salvation friend! If you do
not know Jesus as your Lord and Personal Savior or want to rededicate
your life to the Lord right now this very moment, won't you pray this
prayer with me?
Dear
Jesus, I do not know everything about you. I still have a lot of
questions but I heard how you heal people. I need your spiritual healing
and need you to transplant yourself into my life. I am so sorry
for my sin. My sin has separated me from you. There is nothing I can do
on my own to earn your forgiveness but you give it to me in your grace.
Thank you so much Jesus. I now come and say, I am so sorry for my all
sin. I confess to you my sin and repent of my sin. Help me please Jesus
and transform my life in your timing. Please forgive me of my sin and
cleanse me with your cleansing blood. Wash me and I will be whiter than
snow. Thank you so much Jesus. Please come into my heart Jesus and make
my heart your home. Live in me Jesus and I will live for you and serve
you the rest of the days of my life. Thank you Jesus for coming into my
heart and making my heart your home! Thank you Jesus for living in me
and helping me to live for you and serve you the rest of the days of my
life! Thank you for your forgiveness and grace. I gotta tell somebody
what you did for me Jesus. Before I even do that, I acknowledge you as
my Lord and Personal Savior! Thank you Jesus for being my Lord and
Personal Savior! Thank you Jesus you have heard my prayer and answered
me! In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!
Friend, if you have prayed this
prayer and meant it in your heart, you are a new creation in Christ and
all old things are passed away and everything has become new! You may
feel something or may not but don’t base it on feelings but base your
new life in Christ on the promises of our Savior who will never leave
you nor forsake you! Amen!
Spend time in His word and let the Lord
speak to you! Start out in the Gospel of John! You can also check out
the Gospel of Mark which are the devotionals I have been going through.
Learn from Jesus through study and prayer. Also find yourself a church
fellowship and a college fellowship you can be part of where you can be
part of a community of believers to supplement your own walk with the
Lord. Let it be a Bible-believing and Bible-breathing church! Believe in
Bible Live Eternally!
Feel free to email me at
reddy4hisglory2004@yahoo.com if you want to meet to study the Bible,
pray with, talk about Spiritual issues or whatever is on your mind! My
number is 412-720-4579
"This is my
work and I can do it only because Christ's mighty energy is at work
within me." (Colossians 1:29, TLB)
Love in Christ,
Ramesh
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' I AM ' Series
Archives:
What kind of L.I.G.H.T do you follow? (Dec 13,
07, 10:09 a.m.)
"What kind of B.R.E.A.D do you eat?" (Dec 08,
07, 10:10 a.m.)
"Who is your S.H.E.P.H.E.R.D?"
(June 30,
06)
Gospel of Mark Archives:
Mark 1:1:
"What does the G.O.S.P.E.L mean to you?" (Jan
15, 08, 1:15 p.m.)
Mark 1:1-4: "How
seriously do you T.E.S.T.I.F.Y about prophesy?" (Jan
12, 08, 11:18 p.m.)
Mark 1:5-8:
"Who do you P.O.I.N.T to?" (Jan 16, 08,
8:48 a.m.)
Mark 1:9:
How will you take a S.T.A.N.D? (Jan 17, 08,
11:21 a.m.)
Mark 1:9-11:
"How is your loving P.R.A.I.S.E?" (Jan 18, 08,
8:53 a.m.)
Mark 1:12-13: "How
do you handle T.E.M.P.T.A.T.I.O.N?" (Jan 19,
08, 12:27 p.m.)
Mark 1:14-15:
How do you handle T.I.M.E given to you? (Jan
21, 08, 1:31 p.m.)
Mark 1:16-18:
"What kind of P.R.O.F.E.S.S.I.O.N are you in?" (Jan
26, 08, 10:22 a.m.)
Mark
1:19-20:
"Without having to P.R.O.C.R.A.S.T.I.N.A.T.E, what should you do?"
(Jan 29, 08,
10:44 a.m.)
Mark
1:20-22:
"How do you rate in the B.U.S.I.N.E.S.S of Jesus?" (Jan
30, 08, 11:29 a.m.)
Mark
1:20-22:
"Whose T.E.A.C.H.I.N.G.S do you follow?" (Jan
31, 08, 11:52 a.m.)
Mark
1:23-28:
"What C.A.P.T.I.V.I.T.Y are you facing today?" (Feb
01, 08, 10:35 a.m.)
Mark 4:3-20:
"What if Jesus talked F.O.O.T.B.A.L.L?" (Feb
02, 08, 10:35 a.m.)
Mark 1:29-31:
"Where do you need H.E.A.L.I.N.G?" (Feb 05,
08, 11:44 a.m.)
Mark 1:32-34:
"Where do you need an A.N.S.W.E.R?" (Feb 06,
08, 11:16 a.m.)
Mark 1:35-39:
"Where do you give your S.O.L.I.T.A.R.Y time to the Lord?" (Feb
07, 08, 11:41 a.m.)
Mark 1:40-42:
"Where do you need to be C.L.E.A.N?" (Feb 09,
08, 11:00 a.m.)
Mark 1:43-45:
"What do your actions C.A.U.S.E?" (Feb 11, 08,
9:23 a.m.)
MARK CHAPTER 2:
Mark 2:1-2:
"What do you do with your P.O.P.U.L.A.R.I.T.Y?" (Feb
12, 08, 9:52 a.m.)
Mark 2:2-5:
"What kind of F.R.I.E.N.D are you?" (Feb
13, 08, 11:49 a.m.)
Mark 2:5-12:
"Where does P.A.R.A.L.Y.S.I.S take hold of you?" (Feb
15, 08, 7:42 a.m.)
Mark 2:5-12:
"What are you thinking in your M.I.N.D?" (Feb
16, 08, 11:08 a.m.)
Mark 2:5-12:
"What do you represent by your A.C.T.I.O.N.S?" (Feb
18, 08, 8:23 a.m.)
Mark 2:13-15:
"Where are you looking for A.C.C.E.P.T.A.N.C.E?" (Feb
19, 08, 11:22 a.m.)
Mark
2:15-17:
"Who do you I.N.V.I.T.E to Jesus?" (Feb 20,
08, 9:57 a.m.)
Mark
2:18-20:
"When do you F.A.S.T?" (Feb 21, 08,
9:32 a.m.)
Mark 2:21-22:
"How do you see your L.I.F.E?" (Feb 22, 08,
9:56 a.m.)
Mark 2:23-28:
"What kind of L.E.A.D.E.R will you be? (Feb
23, 08, 10:46 a.m.)
Mark 2:23-28:
"What does the S.A.B.B.A.T.H mean to you?" (Feb
25, 08, 10:46 a.m.)
CHAPTER 3:
Mark 3:1-6:"Whose
N.E.E.D.S do you meet?" (Feb 26, 08,
9:54 a.m.)
Mark 3:7-8:
"What is your I.M.P.A.C.T?" (Feb 27, 08,
8:17 a.m.)
Mark 3:9-11:
"What S.P.A.C.E do you give yourself?" (Feb
28, 08, 9:38 a.m.)
Mark 3:11-12:
"How do you fight E.V.I.L?" (Feb 29, 08,
9:11 a.m.)
Mark 3:13-16:
"What emphasis do you put on your R.E.L.A.T.I.O.N.S.H.I.P with Jesus?"
(March 01, 08, 9:29
a.m.)
Mark 3:17-19:
"Where do you have your A.P.P.O.I.N.T.M.E.N.T in?" (March
03, 08, 9:49 a.m.)
Mark 3:20:
"Where do you G.A.T.H.E.R?" (March 04, 08,
12:07 p.m.)
Mark 3:21:
"How are your actions seen by your F.A.M.I.L.Y?" (March
05, 08, 10:24 a.m.)
Mark 3:22-27:
"How do you handle S.L.A.N.D.E.R?" (March 06,
08, 7:57 a.m.)
Mark 3:28-30:
"What is your V.I.E.W of Jesus?" (March 07, 08,
8:18 a.m.)
Mark 3:31-34:
"What do you do with God's Will?" (March 08,
08, 8:45 a.m.)
CHAPTER 4:
Mark 4:1-20:
"What do P.A.R.A.B.L.E.S mean to you?" (March
10, 08, 7:15 a.m.)
Mark 4:1-20:
"What if Jesus talked F.O.O.T.B.A.L.L?" (Feb
02, 08, 10:35 a.m.)
Mark 4:1-20:
"Where are you in your W.A.L.K with the Lord?" (March
11, 08, 9:32 a.m.)
Audio:
"Where are you in your W.A.L.K with the Lord?" (March
11, 08, 11:05 a.m.)
Mark 4:21-23:
"What kind of L.A.M.P will you be?" (March 12,
08, 9:40 a.m.)
Audio:
"What do you C.O.N.C.E.A.L?" (March 14, 08,
10:11 a.m.)
"What do you C.O.N.C.E.A.L?" (March 14, 08,
8:52 a.m.)
John 12:12-15:
"How can you B.L.E.S.S the Lord?" (March 17,
08, 1:25 a.m.)
Philippians 2:8:
"What does the C.R.O.S.S mean to you?" (March
20, 08, 1:16 p.m.)
"How do you handle D.O.U.B.T.S?" (March
25, 08, 12:36 p.m.)
Mark 4:24-25:
"What do you do with what you H.E.A.R?" (March
31, 08, 8:39 a.m.)
Mark 4:26-29:
"What do you do with the W.O.R.D of God?" (April
05, 08, 10:18 a.m.)
Mark 4:30-34:
"What do you do with the S.E.E.D?" (April 07, 08,
11:48 a.m.)
Mark 4:35-41:
"What are the S.T.O.R.M.S in your life?" (April 08, 08,
11:52 a.m.)
CHAPTER 5:
Mark 5:1-13:
"Where is your T.O.R.M.E.N.T coming from?" (April 09, 08,
11:50 a.m.)
Mark 5:14-17:
"Where do you need H.E.A.L.I.N.G?" (April 11, 08,
11:46 a.m.)
Mark 5:14-17:
"What do people R.E.P.O.R.T about you?" (April 12, 08,
11:00 a.m.)
Mark 5:18-19:
"What makes you A.F.R.A.I.D of Jesus?" (April 14, 08,
10:40 a.m.)
Mark 5:18-19:
"Will you T.E.L.L others about Jesus?" (April 15, 08,
11:32 a.m.)
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