When Jesus came out of the wilderness, He went home to Nazareth. His mother and brothers and sister lived there. As The Bible says we are to begin at home. Jesus preached in the local synagogue. They became so angry, that they wanted to kill him. Jesus moved to Capernaum on the sea of Galilee. You know, everything that Jesus did was by the word of God. Jesus preached in the local synagogue and began to pray for people’s healing. Everyone that He prayed for was healed. The word began to spread throughout the region. Jesus began to call the disciples and to teach the core of the church. What Jesus was preaching, was repent for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand. Peter, Andrew, John and James were among the first to answer the call. Jesus was living at Peter’s house. The word of the healings went out through all of Israel, Jordan and Syria. People needing healing came from everywhere to Jesus. He prayed and healed all that asked. This is what is called a revival. So many people kept coming that he had to go on a mountainside to preach. This is what comes from prayer and fasting. I like to eat regularly, but I’d rather see miracles. God has given every believer the tools to work in the Kingdom of God. It just depends on how committed you are to the work of the gospel. What are you willing to give to God? Life is short and even if you don’t have much time left, you can still commit your life to God. (Matthew 4).

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

I want to continue talking about our crucible. The Holy Ghost led Jesus into the wilderness. It was a place that was unknown to Jesus. He had to rely on the Holy Ghost to lead him. We are led into crucibles. Yes, there are more than one in our lives. The Holy Ghost will not tell us where we are going, but we are to follow. Jesus went into the wilderness, fasting and praying. He did this for 40 days. I have fasted and prayed for 21 days. I have done this were 3 times in my life. It’s called the Daniel’s fast. Each time God was directing me in a certain direction. Just like Jesus, it was an area that I had never walked in before. Each time, I receive God’s strength and power to begin His work. Every time, God required me to do things that I had never done before. I begin praying for people and God healed them. The 1st time, I close my eyes and said, God do something. And God healed a man. God knew before I open my mouth, exactly what was wrong and performed a miracle. It is how He works in our life. We have to step out in faith and God will do the work. When Jesus finished His crucible, the angels came and ministered to Him. It is the same for us today. (Matthew 4).

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

Being led into the wilderness was Jesus ‘s crucible. A crucible is a hard test to prove what you believe. If you don’t know, it isn’t the only crucible Jesus that goes through. You never heard the expression going around the mountain again. It means that you haven’t learned the lesson the Holy Ghost was trying to teach you the first time. There are easy test and hard ones. But you don’t get to choose the test. God is the only one who does. When Jesus went into the wilderness, he had everything that we have, with the baptism of the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in tongues. Jesus came out on the other side of this crucible ready to start His ministry. But you would say Jesus is God. But He was as much a man as you and I. He had every gift that God gives to man. And He use these gifts to do the will of our Father. That is why Jesus is our example of how to live on this Earth. Jesus was tempted in the wilderness by the devil. And this was his reply, Matthew 4:4 ” It is written man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” (KJV).

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

Everyone has heard that Jesus is our example. But what about our own example? Who are we example to? We look at Jesus and think it’s too hard to be like Him. And He never did anything that we couldn’t do. What has God commanded us to do? God said preach the gospel to the whole world, starting at home and going outward. John the Baptist, Jesus’s cousin, was prepared to be high priest of Israel. God had other plans for him. John learned the bible so he could preach the gospel. John was a prophet of God. He was chosen by God to introduce Jesus to the world. In other words to preach the gospel. His ministry was no different than ours. We are to do the work of the evangelist and preach the gospel to the world. As we tell people about the gospel, we introduce Jesus to the world.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

Mary, Jesus and the disciples were at a family wedding. It was the third day of the feast. For the host to run out of food or drink was a disgrace. Mary found out that they ran out of wine. She went to Jesus for help. Mary what Jesus was capable of. Although, Jesus had not really begun His ministry, Mary wanted Jesus to help the family. Jesus was obedient to His mother and answered the prayer. He had the servants fill the water pots with water. And draw out some water turned into wine and bring it to the governor of the feast. The governor went to the host and asked why he keep the good wine for last. This is how God works. You ask in prayer, He tells you to do something and then answers your prayer. Because obedience is better than sacrifice.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

Joseph and Mary decided to stay in Bethlehem after Jesus was born. They began their life again. Joseph was a skilled carpenter. His services were needed everywhere. God came to Joseph in a dream and told him to flee to Egypt. King Herod wanted to kill Jesus. When Joseph woke up, he pack up everything and left for Egypt with his family. They lived there until another angel told him it was safe to go home. When they returned Herod’s son was ruling in Jerusalem. Joseph and Mary decided to return to Nazareth. To fulfill the scripture that says, He will be called a Nazarene. God orchestrated everything. His plan for Jesus was no difference than the one for your life. Because Jesus is our example. When you think all hell has broken loose, God’s plan is working. Open your eyes and see the hand of God working in your life.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

No one sees the hand of God working until it’s over. But God is always working in this world. He is accomplishing His will on this earth. What is God’s will? It’s to preach the gospel to the entire world. Joseph and Mary were living in Nazareth. Mary was about nine months pregnant with Jesus, when Ceasar declare a tax on the whole world. Everyone had to go to the city of their birth to be taxed. Joseph and Mary wouldn’t have gone to Bethlehem otherwise. This pregnant woman rode a donkey for 10 days to get to Bethlehem. She came to full term there and gave birth to Jesus. There were no highways and rest stops with restrooms. They carried their food and clothes. Their life in Nazareth was disturbed for years. How would you like to try that? God was working along. He directed their steps even into Egypt and back. Those gifts from the wise men, were not only because Jesus was king, but to pay for the trip to Egypt. But God doesn’t do the same thing twice. And He is working in your life to get you home. Ask God to open your eyes to see His hand.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

Hope is a very strong emotion. It’s what drives us to go on. Without it, we wouldn’t get out of bed. I just saw a picture of a friend’s new grandson. And I saw the hope of the future. What that child could become and the joyful experiences we could go through. Without that hope, we would never accomplish our dreams. I have seen what hopelessness can do to a person. I have gone through it myself. It is a belief in something. Believing will determine who you are. Then the next step is doing what you believe. But it all starts with hope. The Apostle Paul was in Ephesus and found some disciples. He ask them if the had recieved the Holy Ghost since they believed. They said, we haven’t even heard that was a Holy Ghost. Hope is also seeing the truth.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

There is a plan for our lives. What it doesn’t mean that it always goes right or perfectly. We have a direction in which were supposed to go. But knowing the plan doesn’t mean that it’s going to be all peaches and cream. We learn the truth and began to walk in the way. We know that our lives are not perfect. And there are things that we need to do to clean up our lives. With God’s help we can walk in this way and clean up our lives. So why be surprised when things go awry. As they say the best laid plans of mice and men go awry. But we know that we have someone who is there to help us and to keep us in the way. Jesus has never lied to me and I’ve trusted him. He has directed my path and I have progressed in this life. As the bible says, all things work together for good to them that love God and are called according to His purpose.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com

Of the things that man needs is provisions, like food, clothing and shelter. But there are many other things that are needed. A few are knowledge, understanding, practical applications and wisdom. One thing Jesus said was, man shall not live by bread alone. But it is agreed that we need provisions. God did say to Adam, by the sweat of your brow shall you eat. We can’t get out of working for a living. But God has provided for His children. Through Jesus, we can receive God’s blessing. God does provide not only food, clothing and shelter, but wisdom, protection, salvation and healing. And God said, seek His kingdom first and all these this shall be added. These are some of the provisions of God, The Lord my provider.

Crain Blanchard.

Joseph1637@juno.com

Joseph1637.com