2012

The year 2012 is not going to be the end of the world, as some men have predicted, but it will be the beginning of a mighty move of God's incredible love, grace and power on earth. For over a year the Heavenly Father has been talking to us a lot about grace. Although His grace has always been here, yet it will come forth in a degree or level never seen before. The sons of God are going to demonstrate His love, power and authority that will change the way the world thinks, acts and becomes.

In the past we had the visitation of Jesus Christ the Son, Pentecost and the Holy Spirit movement and now we're going to see the visitation of the Heavenly Father. Something that has never been done before. The Lord said, that He would be going into the gay community, prostitution rings, the gang members, the drug culture, even the occults and people who have had multiple sex partners into the hundreds—looking for His lost sheep in the year 2012. Wow, I have been praying for this to happen for many years, and I'm excited to see that it's finally coming to pass.

There's a hurting world out there and the only way we can help them is if we embrace them with the arms of the Heavenly Father. We are all saved by the grace of God. No one sin is really worse than another in God's eyes. Only foolish people bound by religion and unforgiveness would think otherwise. We also need to pray for their deliverance too and declare freedom to a lost, hurting and deceived world.
 

Sin is sin. We all do it and more often than we realize. God knows our every thought (Ps. 139:2). And that the heart of man is desperately wicked (Jer. 17:9). Jesus even said, that if you looked upon a women with lust, you have committed adultery. Oops! Or if you hated someone, that it was the same as murder. Wow, I think were all guilty, right? Only a fool or self-righteous person would think their better than another person. Yet, the Heaven Father loves us all and is planning on demonstrate that love to a broken world. I'm working with The Father to help restore it. I believe that's your desire also. Amen!

God is raising up spiritual son and daughters to complete the visions of the Kingdom of God that He has given you, me and future generations. I know who I am and nothing can change or stop that, the same wholes true for you. We are to prophecy and write the future, because we are God's of sons, who hear His voice and know the Father's heart. All of this happens not because of anything we've done, but because of His amazing grace and love for us. All we have done is chosen to agree with Him and be lead by His Spirit. Right?

Have a great new year as God reveals more of Himself to you. 2012 will be the year of Resurrection. We will see things come back to life we once thought were dead (such as hopes, dreams, and a "lost generation"). There will continue to be overturn, and politics in the USA will never be the same, and the judicial system will be cleansed. The medical system will not be able to compete with the power of God. The physical and spiritually dead will rise up, and the Annais's and Sapphira's will fall, including the democratic party.

This will be the greatest decade the world has ever seen, with miracles, signs and wonders. We are entering an Era of Incredible Grace, with God doing things like nothing we've ever seen or read before, even in Biblical time. "God greatest miracles are yet to come," says the Lord. And its will all happen, because of the visitation of The Heavenly Father, on planet Earth.

May God bless you, and increase your visions and fulfill your dreams. Have a blessed and prosperous new year in Christ.

Miracles

We would all love to see miracles occur in our life and we will see and hear about them, lots of them, especially when we step out in faith and obey God. They're bound to happen and not just for someone else. I have experienced miracles and I want to see lots of them. It is God's desire all His children to see and experience them, and there is no reason for them not to. It's a part of Christ's faith. He is the Heavenly Father of gifts, good gifts, and lots of incredible ones too.

This past week, I went down town to an art gallery that I hoped would sell some of my paintings that I had on displayed there. I planned to use the money to help prepare for my road trip next year and have some to give to the poor. However, after a couple months the owner decided she didn't want to have them, because of their traditional style and the confusion over my name change. The art market has changed a lot since I quit painting. What was once popular isn't any more. So I picked them up and was a little discouraged, but thanked her for trying. While I was in town I decided to go a few blocks away and give all the money I started to save for a passport and give to the poor people in the park and to a homeless shelter nearby. Now I needed a miracle.

As I was driving back home I was questioning God how He was going to provide the money so I would be ready to leave. I needed only a couple hundred to get my passport and an international drivers license to start with, but so far I had little extra money and now I had none to do even that, yet I believed nothing was impossible for God. On the way back I felt I was to change directions and stop by and see a friend so I could fix one of my paintings. While I was working on the painting at his house, he pulled out his wallet and said, "I want to sow into your ministry and give you all that I have." He counter out over three hundred dollars, and then said, "Is that going to be enough?" I was speechless and was about to weep. When I was finally able to speak, I said, it's more than enough. I would be able to buy even a few other things necessary for the trip. I told him I would have refused the money, but I knew he wouldn't have done that unless it was God's will. So I thanked him and God. What an awesome miracle and answer to prayer. My friend doesn't usually have that kind of money on him. God's timing is always perfect, if we're patient, trust Him and give Him our all as we follow the leading of the Spirit. Then we will see miracles.

A few days later, Sheldon David asked me to come over, because he needed to talk with me about something. What he shared not only grieved his and my heart, but God's. I made a decision and the next day I told my wife what happened, and that I would be leaving the little church where we have attended for the past three years. After I told her she decided to leave also. However, Sheldon had asked that his name and the incident not be mentioned when I left, and my wife agreed.

That night we went to the little church prayer meeting. After the meeting I told the pastor that I appreciated his dedication to this church and the people here, but I could no longer stay where I didn't agree with organized religion and with many things he said or did. (Including most recently his censoring of another prophet from speaking in his church and ministering to other members in their homes, even though he had attended that church for over five years and prophesied regularly with encouraging words to individuals and to the Body of Christ in general, and he was loved by most everyone. This rebuke had come in the form of a letter.) It was all based on gossip and miss quotations from a couple other members. There were no scriptural bases for pastor's actions or for how he handled it. Neither did he inquiry as to the truth of those accusations. There was also probably a lot of jealousy involved also. Sadly, the pastor doesn't even have a clue as to Gods favor on this man's life. But, the pastor did know how this prophet felt about organized religion, including Christianity, and therein laid the problem. I concluded my talk with the pastor by telling him, "Jesus was not the reason for the season!" Jesus is the reason for everything, and He has nothing to do with man-made holidays.

The previous Sunday leading up to this, I was surprised by pastor's sermon and I commented to my wife about it afterwards, how he seemed to be emphasizing, being aware of false prophets. Now it all made sense. Organized religion will always feel threaten by God's prophets. The pastor thought he was doing God and his flock a favor, not realizing he had just made the biggest mistake in his life.

I also told my wife, the Word of God says, He will bless those who bless you and I will cures those who cures you. And, God also says, "Do not touch my anointed ones; and do my  prophets no harm." (Psalms 105:15) This pastor and church are headed for some serious problems. We decided to tell our friends goodbye that night, but we wouldn't mention David's name, because he didn't want to be the cause of division.

That night when we said our farewells, I told people I just didn't agree with what was going on there, and my wife said pretty much the same thing, although she did tell one member, "We won't stay where one in our family is not welcomed." I liked that, and I think God did too. However, that person caught the connection and said she would "give him a call," because they knew each other also. And so both my wife and I said our goodbyes and left. They were all sad and confused as to see us leave and so abruptly. 

My prayer that night was, "Father forgive them for they did know what they do and open their eyes and ears to understand the truth about organize religion and a religious spirit." But God is God and there are consequences for disobedience and for those who are connected with them. (Remember Abimelech (Gen. 20:1-7) God's prophets should be honored. Many people will still stay in these types of churches. I don't expect things to change there that much. They'll keep praying their prayers for revival, not knowing they are the ones hindering it. The same applies to many other organized churches. The following Sunday I was told that three old people fell in different locations in that church. Thankfully none of them were seriously hurt, but coincident? They had nothing to do with what the pastor did, yet they are a part of that fellowship.

Many people are reluctant to change or move on even if they don't like some things. Jesus talks about the blind leading the blind. Notice, Jesus didn't say, "the blind leading the seeing." Something to think about.

Sometimes the best thing to do is just move on yourself, instead of being held back by waiting for others to change also. Do what your told to do and trust God to do the rest. Sometimes the seeds we plant or toss, fall on hard or rocky soil and other times they fall on good soil. I'm looking for better soil in the future.

Sheldon and I have done all we could to point the way and set an example at this little church, but the religious spirit is hard to get through. It will still probably be another six months, before my wife and I leave Vancouver, because that's when our apartment lease is up and the same for the renter in our house in Central Washington. Then I will move my wife back to it where she wants to live so she can be closer to our family and grandchildren. In the meantime I will finish what God want me do here in Washington State. Then I will be heading south in my van to other states and countries beyond the border of the United States for the next several years. (Mexico, Latin America and South America.) Then I travel by plane or transported some other way to other nations to continue reaching the lost for Christ. This will be an awesome experience and miracle—preaching the good news, healing the sick, restoring lives, raising the dead and setting people free from the bondage of sin, all by the wonderful love and power of the Heavenly Father.

No person is ever too old or too young to love Abba Father and serve the Body of Christ. As my daughter told my wife last month, "It looks like dad intends to go out in a blaze of glory." I like that, and that's fine by me I can't think of anything else I rather do. But the most important thing in my life is falling madly in love with Jesus and waiting in His presence.

Note: Things are changing and I'm getting ready to sow into new territory. How about you? What steps are you taking to be used of God? It's going to be a new year soon and a lot is and going to happen. Miracles are already happening and the angelic forces are preparing the way for supernatural events. Are you getting ready and expecting miracles? I am!

Peace On Earth—through a rebel

The angels declared, "Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased." (Luke 2:14 NLV)

And Jesus said, "Do not think that I have come to bring peace to earth. I have not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law, and a man's enemies will be the members of his household.

Whoever loves father or mother more than me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever does not take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life because of me will find it."   Mt.10:32-39

Disciples who have chosen to follow Jesus, have had to adjust their way of thinking and vision. The cross and the message sent from it has become their goal—complete submission to the will of God. They are willing to leave the past and forsake everything, by making Jesus Christ and His Kingdom—the New Jerusalem, their future. Children of God become disciples, and disciples become sons who rule and reign in that Kingdom.

grace, Grace, and more GRACE

Mankind is sinful and must repent. Yet when Jesus ministered to the people He didn't usually point out their sins. When they were sick or physically impaired, He healed them. When they were hungry, He fed them. And when they were bound by demons He freed them. He never accused an individual of failing or address their personal sins they committed that cause so many of them to suffer needlessly. He loved people and had compassion on them all, even the religious leaders who put Him to death. Yet, all sickness and disease are the consequences of sin in some form, either personal or because of other's actions, or defilement and curses. Those sins were forgiven and paid for by the precious blood of Jesus Christ on Calvary. When we choose to believe, we are clothed in His righteousness. We should try to stop doing the things and the habits of this world that had control over us. Yet somehow they still seem to slip in every now and then.

There are many adult Christians today who are suffering the consequences of their sins and don't even realize it. They truly love God and desire to please Him, but because of deception, ignorance, stubbornness and/or lack of faith, they are still hurting and suffering; either physically, financially, emotionally and spiritually or a combination. There are many Christians who have also died before their time for the same reasons. One evening the Lord said, "My people are killed, because of lack of knowledge and they are killed, because of a lack of discipline. They have allow their fleshly desire and unforgiveness to control their lives."

This problem has continue throughout history, despite all of the promise God has made to those who believe. Yet, in this next move of God, He is going beyond the grace He had shown past, just as Jesus did. He will restore multitudes, because He is a God of love and compassion; not just judgment as some people and preachers think. We are not heading toward the great tribulation or "the Rapture," but an age of more grace and mercy. Neither is He a harsh God as many of us have often felt. There are many people who are poor and helpless and He hears their cries and lamentations. And Lord says, He is about to deal with the main people who are responsible for the world's suffering. We are in a season of grace, overturn and restoration.

When I first asked Jesus into my heart, I knew I was a sinner, I just didn't know how bad I was. The scripture says who can know the heart for it is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. (Jer. 17:9)  There isn't hardly a day that goes by where we don't have a wrong thought or a wrong attitude. And yet He still loves you and me. No one is perfect or close to it, save Jesus Christ. God knows our heart and the restoration that is needed in our lives. And He will do it, because of His awesome love, grace, and mercy and for no other reason.

There is nothing we can do to earn it. That same evening God also said, "Holiness is not what I'm looking for, what I desire is yielding and brokenness in spirit, says the Lord" He does not demand perfection, just do your best. Over a year ago the Lord shared some things about my future that He would do. Yet, He also told me, it wasn't because of how good, smart or obedient I was. It was, because He loved me. Wow! And the same goes for all His sons and daughters. Grace is a gift, and we need to pass it on to others in order to bring healing and restoration to them.

This next move of God will take His grace to new level. God will heal and draw people to Himself that are not even seeking or expecting it or Him. He is also using His sons and daughter to be portals to bring healing, salvation and restoration to individuals, groups, areas, places, cities and even nations. It will also come through many different forms of abilities (gifts from God), art, music, writing, speaking, technology and much more. People will be healed just by looking at an anointed painting or singing an anointed song.

This next decade will be like nothing we have ever seen before. Governments will not be the same, especially in the United States. God's love, grace and forgiveness will be the foundation of the Kingdom of God. Spiritual authority will be found in the humility of God's sons and daughters. When people see and experience the awesome grace of God, then they will truly want to know Him. The one and only God, Jesus Christ, and Lord of heaven and earth. The following words are a prophecy:

"I always said to you David that the Father would visit the earth and here we are. I'm standing at the gate. Between now and the end of the year you will feel and sense the spiritual atmosphere change in this nation as I pass through the gate. As you both are moving forward, so I am moving forward the Kingdom of God. The authority of Jesus Christ is coming to the earth and who can stop it..."

"The ones who have been hurt and cry out to me and get my attention have been those who have been suffering already, hurting already and their pain and their lament and the cries have come to the ear of God...and I don't ignore their cries. I seek to alleviate the pain."

"I'm letting you know that I'm not ignoring the hurting. This nation belongs to God. It is protected by Lord Jesus Christ Himself. Not every nation has a covenant as this one does, and few nations upon the earth has intercessors the way this nation does."

"The greatest move of God is right at the doorstep, it truly is. Brownsville was a picture, but there will be 'hot spots' across this nation and across this planet. There is going to be territories that are so charged with the spirit of Yahweh God, that when people go visit those places; like going to a resort where people visit. They will be healed just by going to those territories. They will be delivered of demons by going to that land and to those territories. Cause the spirit of God is so powerful and thick. He is coming, He is descending on certain part of the land. Certain parts of this world will be 'hot spots.' That when people... it will be like going into a mountain and having this experience with Yahweh, like Moses entering into Mount Sinai, into His cloud. There will be times when men and women are bound together with God, and all will be lifted up at the same time and view heavenly places. This is not a years down the road. These things are already beginning and starting.

And do I mind that people are running to and fro, looking for healing and deliverance? Was it wrong for people to follow me 2000 years ago? To run after me for healing and deliverance? It wasn't wrong! 

I wanted them to grow up. I wanted them to get their mind straight. I wanted their focus to be right. I wanted them set free. I also wanted all men to be saved.

There are still Pools of Bethesda on the earth, says the Lord. When the angel comes and stirs the waters—all manifested in many different ways. And foolish men and their fooling ideas—they try to strip the spirituality out of everything.

The Pool of Bethesda was all about the grace of God. Whether it is Jesus healing the man or whether a man is healed by stepping into the water. It was all about the grace of God. And that is why the song, named Amazing Grace has become the anthem of your generation. And will become even more powerful. When it is sung, people will be restored in the congregation even while singing that song. Even Chris Tomlin version of it will, says the Lord.  I will break chains off peoples lives as they sing that song in the congregation. It will be sung and it will be sung powerfully across the church worldwide. People will be set free because of grace, grace, grace is coming to the earth.

The greatest salvation is in front of this land as people step into this grace. The stirring of the water is at hand. And those who are restored will be a mini-member man. Because the angel of the Lord is going and stirring the water. And the man who has been waiting for 38 years will be restored, says the Lord, as God's grace visits the earth."

(A portion of a prophecy spoken on Nov. 19, 2010, by Sheldon David)

Looks Are Deceiving

In today's world one has to be very careful when buying something. Sometimes you aren't quite sure what you are getting unless you read the small print, open the box, or take it for a test drive. As they say, "never judge a book by its cover." Even when we watch a commercial or a movie, it's hard to know what is real and what is not. What they are able to do with computer generated scenes is amazing. If you didn't know better, you would swear aliens disintegrated the US capitol and other countries, tornadoes destroyed Los Angeles or all kinds of giant monsters really exist, including dinosaurs in the twenty-first century. Hollywood makes deception an art form for entertainment and profit. There are also magicians who demonstrate incredible illusions. And then, there are the bad guys who deceive in order to take advantage of or hurt others for their own selfish benefit.

Much of life has become an illusion that many prefer to live in. They often try to put on the appearance of something other than what they really are, trying to give the impression they are better, happier, sexier, more powerful or more successful than others. It has become challenging to determine what is genuine and what is not.

Webster — illusion: 1. the act of deceiving 2. something that objectively existing in such a way as to cause a misinterpretation of its actual nature

People who live without God in their life are living an illusion. Pretending they are in control of their lives and destinies. They believe they don't need God, or if there even is a God. And if there is a God, he may or may not help people, because that is just the way they see him.

Because of the fall of mankind, our hearts were harden towards God and so was our way of thinking. Mans tendency has always been to satisfy his own wants rather than the will of God. Therefore, God allowed us to believe a lie in hopes that we would eventually see our need for a savior. Some have, but many more have not. To think that all is well without God is an illusion and a deception of the enemy that keeps our minds veiled from the truth, like a magician's black cloak. Satan is the master of deceptions and illusions. Everything he says is a lie. (John 8:44)

Sad to say, many Christian think the same way, that just because they go to church and occasionally read their Bible they are OK with God. Others even try to give the impression that they are better than others because of their religious believes or activities. We have all fallen short of the Glory of God (Roman 3:23). That Gift and Glory is Jesus Christ. (John 3:16 and Romans 6:23).

Jesus Christ was the only one who walked on earth who was not deceived by the lies of satan (Is.53:9) The more closely we follow His example, of doing only what He sees the Father doing and saying only what He hears the Father saying, then we also will be less deceived ourselves. And people will want to hear and listen to what we say because we walk in God's love and authority just as Jesus did.

"In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."

 (I Thessalonians 5:18) 


Our Heavenly Father is faithful and He will never stop loving us.

Jesus said, "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:13)

One night the Lord shared with us His feelings about blood sacrifices and the sufferings of certain individuals and groups of people that changed the course of both Biblical history and American history. I regards to America, He said, "America is held together by a cord of red. A nation of remembrance and God can't forget her."

There were a multitude of Americans in the past who helped establish and protect the United States. They did so at great cost to themselves, their families and others. Many were murdered and their possessions were burned. Through the years tens of thousands have shed their blood on the battlefields in order to free their country and their brothers from slavery. They have also fought on foreign soil to help free other nations from the oppression of evil dictators.

Still others have sacrificed their lives on mission fields, sharing the Gospel and helping the poor and the needy. God said, "A bloodline has been laid around America" and God intends to honor and protect America, because of these sacrifices and for being "a safe harbor" for His people.

God has and will continue to bless America more than she deserves, all because of the promises he made. But at the same time, God stated, " I am a Father, I do not give my rights to another to discipline. It is in my hands, not in terrorist's hands, not in China's hands, not in anyone else's hands, only in mine. I am her Father...I will not allow attacks. The blood line has been drawn around this land and who is going to by-pass that. Only God has that authority to discipline this nation... The Father disciplines those he loves and He has chosen to love America, because she is Rehab the harlot, that saw the Father's favor upon another and sought to harbor the spies. Just as America sought to harbor the Jewish people. And I cannot turn away from that. America is about to lead the world again, but first the discipline." The blessings that are coming to America will be far greater, because of the awesome love of the Heavenly Father.

All blessings from God are released through a Covenant Blessing (Gen.12:1-3), and established by blood sacrifice. Those blessings began with the sacrifices made by the Patriarchs. Abraham was willing to leave his family, his land and even offered his greatest possession, his son Isaac, in obedience to God, and so it has been with all (Abraham's & God's) spiritual sons. Unfortunately, we do not see the same kind of passion in America today.

The Lord said, "Love must be sacrificial...Many nations have had martyrs and they are so ripe for an absolute move of My Spirit. But, the American Christians have mocked suffering... And that is why there has not been a great move of God in America in a long time." Blessings are not based on American Christian's abilities to improve their self-worth or possessions, but on their obedience and their sacrifices to help others. The Prosperity Gospel is deceptive and the grace of God should not be taken for granted.

The Lord said that in the Kingdom of God, "Love will be the administration, and never, ever disassociate the sacrifice, the pain and the blood from the love; it is the same." He continued to say that, "The Father wants to save a people and He wants to see true martyrs and suffering to be seen in this land. He wants humility to be the foundation in which the flag can stand... I'm looking for a man who loves all the way to the point of death, so I can raise him up to a high position. So the love of God is the real issue in the coming days...God is looking at the heart. He's looking at the blood."

To sacrifice our life for the sake of God and helping his children, including the lost and the poor, is the purest form of love and worship. It has been that way from the beginning of time, from the shed blood of Abel, the prophets and all the saints of old, until the last saint has poured out his or her blood. Their shed blood will be honored, because of the shed blood of Jesus, two thousand years ago on the Cross. God's Son, Jesus Christ, made the ultimate sacrifice for the sins of all humanity. It was there that He gave His life, so we might have life. There was no greater love or sacrifice.

Today, we need to get a fresh vision of Jesus' tortured body seared into our minds so that we understand exactly what it took for Him to set man free. This is the Gospel's message: love forgives everything and withholds nothing. It would be wise to remember His sacrifice and honor Him above all others.

Note: God also honors and blesses all countries and nations that will bow their knees to Him. America will also bow. It only takes a small percentage of righteous people to begin turning the heart of the Father. He also appreciates every individual who sacrifices for Jesus' sake and the Gospel, at home and abroad. They too will be greatly blessed. God is no respecter of persons or nations who choose to honor Him. The earth is the Lord's, and He is worthy of every nation's praises.

Also, to those who have sacrificed and suffered extreme injuries, both physical and mental because of wars and service to their country, I honor you and tell you that your sacrifices were not in vain or unnoticed, even by God. It is God's desire to see people's lives restored—physically, mentally and spiritually—in the days and years ahead, if we'll only place our trust in Him. Nothing is impossible with God. This means absolutely nothing is impossible. We are about to see the greatest display of God's grace and supernatural powers in ways we have never seen before. So don't give up hope; place your trust in His love and healing power. He won't let you down; just reach out and touch him. His hand is reaching out to save, honor and bless you for your sacrifices.

"For the Lord takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the afflicted ones with salvation." (Psalms 149:4)

Breaking Chains

Yesterday, the Lord had me repeat the prophecy Ready to Fly? to the believers in the small church we've attended for the past few years. Shortly after I gave it, a women who helps with song worship testified that she had been suffering from a sever headache for a week and none of her pain pills were able to stop it, but now the pain was instantly gone and she was praising God. I also prayed with some others that needed to be set free. 

Later that day, when we got home, I took a nap. I was emotionally and physically tired, because of circumstances and thoughts that I have had to battled with for over a year that were hindering my sleep and my time with the Lord. I now fully realizes that the lust of the flesh is never satisfied and I couldn't deal with it anymore. Even rebuking the evil spirits that were reinforcing those thoughts only worked for a short time and then I would have to deal with them and the flesh again and again. So I sat up and I said, "I can't do this! I can't keep thinking this way." But I was unable to stop them on my own. However, as the evening went by I realized something had changed, the evil thought were gone. 

Last night, I was able to go to sleep and wake up with a clean and free mind. God knew I needed help and so He graciously broke the chains and set me free. The Lord can break any chains and cut the ropes of any mindset, circumstance or situations. He has also given us His authority to rule over evil spirits or "monsters" that would try to destroy us and our peace of mind. I'm looking foreword to helping others and seeing God set them free—so they too can fly with Him.

Ready to Fly?

Last Tuesday at a small men's meeting the Lord had me give this prophecy and I wanted to share it with you also.

Are you ready to fly? Are you ready to soar with Me? Are you ready to walk in heavenly places?
 
You are eagles and you were meant to fly. You were meant to be free, yet you have been bound by circumstances and shackled by false mind sets. But, the Lord says, I'm cutting the ropes of circumstances that have kept you bound and I'm breaking the chains of false mindsets that have hindered your thinking, and I'm setting you free. Free to fly with Me.

A Matter of Honor

For the past decade, superhero movies have been a big hit in the theaters, movies such as; Spider-Man, Superman, Batman, Iron Man plus many other unique characters. Almost everyone loves and wants to believe in a hero with superpowers, a hero who helps mankind and defends against evil and the bad guys. All these characters have incredible powers and different ways of demonstrating it. But they all had at one time one dilemma that they had to face: what would be the first thing they would do with their power? As it turns out they usually responded to an unexpected circumstance where someone needed help.

If you were a young adult, say about thirty years old, and had been given all the power in the world, what would be the first thing you would do with it? Wow, now that's a question to ponder. Our responses could vary greatly depending on our personal situations and personal humility (because often our first thoughts are of ourselves). Once our thoughts move past all the fame and glory, money, mansions, and trips around the world, hopefully we would start thinking about helping others.  

Jesus also faced a similar dilemma, as we read in John 2 1-11. "There was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there; and both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to Him, 'They have no wine.' And Jesus said to her, 'Woman, what does that have to do with us? My hour has not yet come.' His mother said to the servants, 'Whatever He says to you, do it.'"

Wow, let's stop there for a moment! What did she know of Jesus' powers? My answer would be purely speculation (the Apocryphal books indicate Jesus did some childhood miracles), but she knew something, and she had no doubts about it. She also just put Jesus on the spot—the nerve of his mother. True, this problem or situation involving the wine at a wedding would be very embarrassing to a host, also a dishonor to the bride and groom. However, that didn't seem to bother Jesus too much. But, what His mother wanted did bother him. Many mothers, including Mary, have the tendency to be somewhat controlling or protective over their children. But in our story, Mary was a widow with a very special and gifted child. Jesus was now a man ready to embark on his mission in life, and she wanted to help just a little. And just like all mothers, maybe she wanted to save her friends (the parents of the party) from an embarrassing situation. Jesus' reference to her as "woman" seemed to show he was a little annoyed with her interference. But, she was still His mother.

This was probably not the place or the way that Jesus thought his ministry would begin. He was there with his friends, maybe visiting with a few others and having a good time; perhaps having a good time before his work began. This lesson should also be considered by all God's sons and daughters. (God's will doesn't always line up with people's expectations. Even His promises can be fulfilled differently than expected, or sometimes extend beyond a person's time on earth.) Anyway let me continue; "Now there were six stone waterpots set there for the Jewish custom of purification, containing twenty or thirty gallons each. Jesus said to them, 'Fill the waterpots with water.'" (Notice, Jesus didn't ask the host and the guest to gather around to see the first miracle He was about to perform.) "So they filled them up to the brim. And He said to them, 'Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter.' So they took it to him."

Remember what these pots were used for. The guests coming to the wedding usually washed their hands and feet. Nothing in the scripture text indicated they were emptied, only that they were filled to the brim. Now that's a thought to tell your host, after he takes a drink. Anyway, "The headwaiter called the bridegroom, and said to him, 'Every man serves the good wine first, and when the people have drunk freely, then he serves the poorer wine; but you have saved the best until last.'" What God does is always better than what any man can do, no matter what was seen before.

So why did Jesus do the miracle? I don't think it was to help the wedding party guests have their fill of wine and get drunk. He could have had the waiters fill just one or two pots and that would have been enough. Nor was it to keep His mother Mary from embarrassment, by granting her wish. I believe it was a matter of honoring her and honoring her faith, "Whatever He says to you, do it." There is no question of her faith in her son Jesus; and God always honors that faith. Therefore, she was the first of many others to see faith honored. But she was also his mother. Even though in the Kingdom of God there are not the emotional ties we as humans have, Jesus still fulfilled all the laws and commandments of the Old Testament, and one of those was to honor your parents. He also knew that the human ties would eventually need to be broken, but this was not the day or the time. Jesus loved and honored her.

The Lord said, "This first miracle was a prophecy, a prophecy of the greatest move of God that is about to take place." The changing of the water; which represented the sinfulness of humanity into wine—God's best. We are about to see an out pouring of His Spirit over the whole earth, the beginning of a complete supernatural change and restoration from what we seen or experienced before. The Father will make all things new.

"In the last days I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh."

(Acts 2:17)