Timely Insights into God's Word from Khandielese Reyes

“Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.  And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side.  Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.  Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.  And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost.  Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.  But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.  The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord.   But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.  And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them:  Then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.  Then saith he to Thomas, reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.  And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.  Jesus said unto him, Thomas, because thou has seen me, thou has believed: BLESSED are they that have NOT seen, and yet have believed.” (John 20:19-29 

“If you MUST see……. To BELIEVE……”, then it is not faith!  For the word of God declares in the Book of Hebrews Chapter 11 verse 1 “NOW FAITH IS the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things NOT SEEN”.   Faith is the “substance”, the form, the MATERIAL that we use to build upon that which we hope for in our hearts, but are unable to “physically” see.  It brings that which we hope for into manifestation when we use THIS substance with the written word of God.  To simply “hope” is not enough to bring to pass those things that we lift up in prayer to The Lord, for His Word declares that without FAITH, it is IMPOSSIBLE to please God and The Lord himself said “Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, BELIEVE that ye RECEIVED them, and ye shall HAVE them.” (Mark 11:24)  Thus, we must first Pray having the FAITH to believe that we’ve received BEFORE we receive it and THEN we shall HAVE IT!   Seeing is not believing, but believing when one is unable to SEE, IS FAITH!   

Here in the book of John 20^th Chapter, we read the story of Thomas, or more comely known by many as “doubting Thomas”, one of the Lord’s twelve disciples. Thomas was not spoken of much in the Gospels, until he made his debut as the one who doubted Christ had risen from the dead.   

While the twelve walked with Christ during his “earthly” ministry, The Lord spoke to them on many occasions regarding the things that would take place before, during and after his crucifixion.  He verbally, face to face, told them how he would be rejected by the elders, chief priests and scribes, condemned to death, and on the THIRD DAY he would rise again.  After He had risen, he made himself known to His disciples who were in a sense just as doubtful as Thomas was, with the exception they did not utter words of doubt, but the Lord knew their hearts.  For when He appeared to he eleven (as Thomas was not present at the first appearance), it was ONLY AFTER the Lord had showed them his hands and his side that they became glad and BELIEVED.  “And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side.  THEN were the disciples GLAD, when they SAW THE LORD.” (vs 20)  Before, they were doubtful as to whom they were seeing, but afterwards when realizing it was INDEED the Lord, they rejoiced and shared the good news with Thomas that JESUS had RISEN FROM THE DEAD, and appeared to them all.  However, Thomas took it a step further in SPEAKING doubt when he said “Except I shall SEE in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I WILL NOT BELIEVE.”  He was not about to believe the report of the other disciples, unless he physically SAW it for himself.   When The Lord did appear to Thomas and the eleven some eight days later, He gave Thomas his wish in allowing him to place his finger and hand against the wounds with these words: be not FAITHLESS, but BELIEVING and after SEEING Thomas then believed and The Lord declared unto him: “because thou has SEEN ME, thou has believed: BLESSED are they that have NOT SEEN, and yet HAVE BELIEVED.”   

Faith is not something that we utilize with the “Natural eye” for then it is NOT faith, but it is utilized when we begin to SEE with our SPIRITUAL EYES!   It is seeing BEYOND the natural, into the spiritual! BEYOND a bad report, an unsaved loved one, a mountain of debt, a failing marriage, a sick and diseased body, a failed business, an otherwise hopeless situation!  It is looking beyond the circumstance, DIRECTLY INTO the written Word of God and what HE SAYS about the circumstance.  It is seeing the POSSIBLE when all looks impossible and seeing the HOPE when all looks hopeless!   It is BELIEVING the report of the MASTER and not the report of man for WITH GOD, ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE!  That which is impossible with man, is POSSIBLE WITH GOD!   

Oftentimes, many react as Thomas did when it comes to FAITH for even if doubt has not been spoken, through our actions we may demonstrate doubt in the presence of others for we withhold praise and thanksgiving unto the Lord in ADVANCE, deciding in our hearts that when it comes to pass, THEN we will thank Him.  This behavior is evidence that such have NO faith.  For if we BELIEVE the word of God (which never returns to Him void, and which is valid and truth FOR WE SERVE A GOD WHO CANNOT LIE), we would begin thanking him for the answer instantaneously during AND following our prayer of petition.  There would be no need to wait for the manifestation of answered prayer to thank Him (as Thomas needed to SEE in order to BELIEVE), as we would believe in our hearts that we’ve already received and thus give Him the praise and glory He is so deserving of!  No set of circumstance should be the dictator of our lives, but THE WORD OF GOD, and our FAITH TO BELIEVE should be the dictator of the CIRCUMSTANCE.  What does the WORD say about your situation?  Does it say you must remain in hopelessness, in despair, in sickness, in loneliness, in debt, in struggles, in sorrow OR does it say there is VICTORY, there is HOPE, there is DELIVERANCE IF YOU BELIEVE?  There is a promise from the Father for EVERY ailment be it physical, emotional or spiritual, a promise of VICTORY over EVERY negative circumstance.  If you cannot find the scripture to stand on, here is one that sums it ALL UP:   “TRUST in The Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.  DELIGHT THYSELF also in THE LORD; and HE SHALL GIVE THEE THE DEIRES OF THINE HEART.  COMMIT thy way unto the Lord, TRUST ALSO IN HIM; and HE SHALL BRING IT TO PASS” (Ps 37:3-5)  

Remember brothers and sisters: “By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth…”  Now, knowing this…..Is there ANYTHING to difficult for The Lord!  I say, NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE Just BELIEVE!   “If You Must See to BELIEVE”……then it is NOT FAITH!

I love you all so very much. Have a blessed week in the Lord and remember: Whatever we do, do ALL for the GLORY of GOD, who ALONE is worthy of the GLORY and the PRAISE!

The Lord be with you this day and always!  Shalom Uvracha (Peace and Blessings)…….. 

Kadosh, Kadosh, Kadosh,
Adonai Elohim Tzeva-ot
Asher Hayah Va-ho-veh VaY’vo 

Holy, Holy, Holy
Lord God Almighty
Who was and is and is to come!

Khandielese
Daughter & Servant
   of the Lord God