“So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise” (John 5:19).

In Central America scientists have discovered a four eyed fish. The upper part of its eyes have air lenses, while in the bottom part of its eyes it has water lenses. This helps the fish see everything above the water as well what’s going on under the water.

I think that leaders should be like this fish. Serving people, but acting when we are guided by the Holy Spirit and not just pushed by needs. We need to see the situations in the spiritual world and hear what the Father says to do, while at the same time seeing the earthly realm and being sensitive to other people’s needs. We must have a vision—both of heaven and of people!

James is telling us to have a supernatural response when he writes, “My brethren, COUNT IT ALL JOY when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing” (James 1:2-4  NKJV emphasis mine).

There is no joy in bills that are not paid.

There is no joy in supply lines that look cut.

There is no joy in sickness or pain shouting for attention.

This is when we COUNT IT ALL JOY. We decide to give a different response than the natural mind wants to give. We decide to laugh when others cry, to sing when others moan, and to expect good things when others just see dark clouds ahead. What can produce this type of response?

You know something the world does not know. You know that God is greater than the fallen, broken world. You know that God is good and a friend to those in time of need. You know that you have a name above every name that heaven responds to. You know that you have a destiny on earth to fulfill and a place far greater you are going to. You know you have a promise recorded in a book for all to see that guarantees God’s presence in your life and a witness within you that He truly does live in you.

You have a supernatural experience called the new birth when your sin nature was removed and God’s very Spirit and nature was given you. This happened when you decided to believe what He had said concerning His son Jesus. This miracle was just the beginning of a miracle lifestyle based on His Word, His sacrifice, His plan, His presence, His power, and your decisions.

This is how you can COUNT IT ALL JOY when you face the fallen world full of defeat, destruction, and despair!

I first met Jesus in Sunday school in the basement of a Baptist Church when I was about 5 years old. I remember coloring and the teacher was telling us the story of Jesus. As I sat there coloring, all of a sudden I understood that Jesus was real, and that He loved me.

But as life went on and I approached college, I allowed rebellion to enter into my heart. I had been a star athlete, a great student…some people would call it a charmed life. Things always seemed to go right for me. Foolishly, at the age of 17 I told God that I was busy and not to bother me, I had things to accomplish.

Why? I knew there was a great destiny in my heart and I didn’t see it in “religion.” Religion kept telling me that God might hit me if I get into trouble and mess up, and then who knows what might happen? I figured I probably couldn’t please God or serve Him enough anyway, so I told Him, “Lord, I’m busy, I’ve got plans. I know I’ll be ready to settle down when I’m 35 and retire as a multi-millionaire after travelling the world…by that time I’ll have my family, and I know everything I’m supposed to do and how I’m supposed to live. But until then I’m busy. I have things to do.”

Well, a very, very short time later I started college and found myself living with one roommate that was on drugs, and another that was manic depressive and suicidal.  Our dorm room was painted bright yellow with a rainbow, and AC/DC was playing all the time. There was no peace!

Then, one day I was playing basketball and laid down in practice and couldn’t get up again. I couldn’t walk! I went into months and months of rehab, my grades fell—still no peace in my world anywhere.

I went home for summer break, and on one particular day I recall walking into my bedroom. There was a shelf at the end of my bed, and on it was a bible that my dad had picked up from a hotel. On the front of this bible was a sunrise, and that day it seemed to leap off the shelf at me. I walked over and picked it up, and it fell open to John chapter 1, “In the beginning was God…” I stretched out on the bed and began to read.

Suddenly an intensely bright light filled the room, and once again I encountered Jesus. I was instantly healed and my mind came into complete clarity. I jumped up off that bed and declared, I will serve the living God forever!

Jesus was not ashamed of the fact that He needed miracles to validate His ministry. He said, “If I do not the works of My Father, believe me not. But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in Him” (John 10:37-38). There is no stronger statement that He made concerning the need for miracles in ministry. The church has settled for something far less.

A good example would be the old Wendy’s Hamburgers commercial where the woman demands, “Where’s the beef?!!” The church has settled for a knowledge of the miracle worker without the miracles! Where are the works?  Have we settled for a meatless hamburger?

If Jesus needed miracles to validate His ministry how much more do you need miracles to validate your ministry? Why should someone of another religion leave their religion and accept your Jesus as the way and the truth? They have a black book and you have a black book. They have morals and you have morals. They have a history and you have a history. What do you have that they don’t have? The answer is a living Jesus and the proof of that is miracles!

Christianity is the only form of worship in the world that can be validated by miracles which no witchdoctor or psychologist can duplicate. The whole history of God’s intervention in the affairs of mankind as recorded in Hebrew scripture is that of miraculous intervention. Jesus continued the tradition of miracles and we, His followers after Him, are to continue in the same way!

I have been in the center of Bangkok, where at lunch time they come out and crawl on their knees to these beautiful idols and temples so they can put food on these little houses to sacrifice to the gods.

I’ve been in Mexico where they walk for hours and days, sometimes on their knees, in order to offer sacrifices at certain times of the year.  I’ve been in the Philippines when they are literally crucifying themselves again because it’s Easter. I’ve been in India, where they say there is over 300 million gods, where every place on every corner, everywhere you look there is an idol, a temple, a statue, a place to offer an offering to the unknown god who does NOT answer prayer.

But for you and me, we have a faith and not a religion, we have a RELATIONSHIP. A relationship where Jesus tells us to ASK that our joy may be full. ASK that we might receive. ASK that it might be done unto us. ASK so My Father can see it come to pass.

We are not beggars, we are believers! Hallelujah!

Imagine giving a gift, something very precious which you have taken painstaking effort to prepare for the one you love so much. You’ve taken time, money and energy to plan the specific moment you will present your gift. And then, the unthinkable happens—the gift is rejected. The answer is NO. The reality dawns on you—this person I love so much is not interested in me or my gift.

I wonder how God feels? He sent His precious Son to carry our burdens, to take away our sins, to be beaten for our diseases. The chastisement of our peace was upon Him (Isaiah 53). This amazing substitution is God’s gracious and loving gift to us. It can’t be earned, it’s a free gift! Yet multitudes still reject His love!

Today, I encourage you to remember what Jesus has done for you. Receive this free gift! Simply dare to believe that He died for you and that He rose from the dead. You will never be the same!

The resurrected Jesus saw His followers out fishing. They needed to make some money. They needed to eat. What did He say to them? “I know where the provision is.” The Kingdom of God is provision. Jesus says to us, “Throw your net on the right side. You’re looking in the wrong place. I know where you need to go. I know what you need to do. I want to give you my ideas.”

What does that mean?  God knows where all the provision is for your ministry. And when you pray, He is giving you those ideas.  He is saying, “Cast your net on the right side. I know where it is. I know where all the gold is buried in the earth. I know where to find all the opportunities around you. Believe in Me! Respond to My words!”

There is no lack in the Kingdom of God, and you are in that kingdom.  I am not like the unbeliever who is nervous, worried, and fearful saying, “I don’t have enough! I can’t do it! I don’t have the people! I don’t have the favor! I don’t have the knowledge!”

No! I have God! God knows where everything is, and He is bringing it across my path!

“We preach Christ crucified…” 1 Cor 1:23 NIV

The cross is renowned as a symbol of Christianity, but in the day Jesus was crucified the cross was a place of great shame. We wear crosses around our necks, hang them on our walls and use them in our liturgical ceremonies, but do we remember the pain and the shame that Christ endured on this cross? Have we considered that scripture tells us He was marred beyond recognition?

I believe Christians who face life threatening persecution identify with this crucified Christ. They understand the reality of suffering for what they believe. The cross is an ever present image for them as they recognize what it means to lay down your life for what you believe. The early Christians considered it a privilege to suffer for their faith. The image and stories of this wonderful person Jesus Christ who did no wrong, being beaten and crucified for them, burned as an emblem of their faith. It was a motivation so deep that to consider one’s life more precious than one’s faith would almost seem preposterous.

As I read the reports from the young evangelists from Eurasia, I am stirred to remember the price the young people are paying to carry the Gospel to places such as Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and the remote villages of Eurasia. I remember one young group of missionary evangelists being chased out of town by the village leaders who were hurling threats and rocks at their backs. To those leaders’ surprise, however, the evangelists returned the next day. The village leaders were shocked! How could they do this? What would motivate them to come back even after being threatened with death?

These same leaders came to their knees to hear the wonderful message of Christ because of the boldness of these faithful witnesses!

“Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you” 1 Peter 4:12-14 NIV.

The natural world reflects the spiritual world. In nature we see all things working on the seed principle. What is that? Everything makes progress.

Every time we conduct a crusade meeting people will come with their tumors and heart disease. They come on crutches and in wheel chairs wanting an instant miracle and making the preacher out to be a magician, but we are not magicians. We are farmers with good seed and the heart of people is our soil.

Don’t blame the farmer if the seed doesn’t give an instant crop, and don’t blame the seed if it is good seed just taking time to produce. The problem is usually in the type of soil the seed is in. If you just keep the seed in the soil it will grow. Seeds always want to progress.

God has given us “Word seed” for every need if we will just let the seed do its work in our heart, and expect that it is working whether we see results today or not.

In 1837, George Mueller, known for his care for thousands of orphans, found himself in an interesting quandary. The growth of the ministry required more retirement to prayer for spiritual oversight, and more provision for the approximate 400 members.

George Mueller learned an important lesson about hard work which we can apply to every aspect of life. He discovered that 1 hour of prayer for every 4 hours of work would produce much more than 5 hours of work. He held to this rule throughout his life. He discovered that when he had no way of gaining provision from natural sources, he could go to the Lord who would grant it! Are you facing difficulties in life today?

High-octane gasoline is equated with high performance. The Christian finds their high octane fuel in the word and in prayer. Remember to go the high-octane way! Yes, it may be more expensive but in the long run—IT’S MUCH CHEAPER!

[Yes] I will grant [I Myself will do for you] whatever you shall ask in My Name [as presenting all that I AM] (John 14:14 AMP).