Lisa Great

Day 11 – Feasting On John 11

Did you know one of the blessings of trials, situations, or circumstances that make us uncomfortable and feel out of control is that it reveals our theology? Theology is the study of God or I like to say how we view God or what we believe about God and His word. Division in the church is all about theology, so it should not be surprising people are divided when trials, situations and circumstances happen nationally. It’s revealing our theology.

In John 11, a situation arises in which Lazarus, the brother of Mary and Martha dies. Sounds final, no changing this outcome, right? Put yourself in their shoes, the man is in a tomb for four days when Jesus arrives and we hear Martha’s theology in her discussion with Jesus. Listen…”Now Martha, as soon as she heard that Jesus was coming, went and met Him, but Mary was sitting in the house. Now Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever You ask of God, God will give You.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha said to Him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:20-26).

Martha believed in a future resurrection of life for her brother, but Jesus was about to update her operating system to a now resurrection of life. Shifting from some distant reality to a now reality is a huge transition for a generation that has been dipped in a theology of only in heaven, not now on earth. We are no different and God is using situations that looked closed, finished, final to update our operating system to the God Who not only was, Who not only will be, but Who is!

When Jesus got the news of Lazarus being sick He declared, “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” (John 11:4). We as the nations are about to see the glory of God arise in Now time and His glory is updating our operating system so we can be activated for the kingdom of God is at hand and the harvest is plentiful. Get ready for the Now time God to resurrect what we thought was dead. He’s still Rolling Stones!

Day 10 – Feasting On John 10

No one likes division, but division is inevitable because not everyone hears the same thing. Now we can all “hear” the same message, speech, talk, whatever, but we don’t all “hear” it the same. Have you ever wondered why that is? Jesus says, it’s because not everyone is of His fold.

Listen to Jesus in John 10:8-10 “All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”

Did you know some people can’t hear good news, they can’t hear life, they can’t hear truth because they believed what the first one who came to them said, not knowing at the time the ones who came first, were thieves and robbers? When our ear is used to hearing stealing, killing and destroying when someone comes with life we can’t hear it.

We all need our ears circumcised, for we can’t hear clearly. Jeremiah 6:10 says, “To whom shall I speak and give warning, That they may hear? Indeed their ear is uncircumcised, And they cannot give heed. Behold, the word of the LORD is a reproach to them; They have no delight in it.” Acts 7:51 says it this way, “You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you.”

We need our ears circumcised because we are tuned to the thief and robber but not to the One who is here with life and life abundantly. This is why many are without hope or joy and are bracing themselves for survival rather than abundance. I warn you, things are going to be so good your cheeks are going to hurt from smiling. Can you hear it, it’s really good news, He promises!

Day 9 – Feasting On John 9

John 9:39 “For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind.”

Judgment means to render a decision about a matter. In a courtroom situation people go there to have a judgment determined in the matter being presented. I like watching Judge Judy, not only is she funny, she is brutally honest and can see through people’s charade. Jesus wasn’t in a courtroom setting in John 9, but He said He came into the world to render judgment, to make decisions.

The decision Jesus rendered in John 9 was that a man born blind from birth was going to see as an example of what was happening to many in Israel at that time. The man was physically blind, but Jesus always speaks on many levels and blindness in this chapter was not just physical it was also spiritual in those who were born into religion (Judaism).

The question must be asked how can we be in church for years and still be blind? The Pharisees in this chapter pestered the blind man that was healed and his family, because “Since the world began it has been unheard of that anyone opened the eyes of one who was born blind. If this Man were not from God, He could do nothing.” (John 9:32-33). NO ONE had ever given the blind sight before Jesus! Selah.

One thing I tell people is that you can’t expect blind people to see, they are blind. But many blind people like the Pharisees think they can see, but their blind. Many people and leaders in the church think they can see, but they are blind. At least that’s what John said in Revelation 3:16-18 “So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked— I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.”

Now thanks be to God even though some have been blind from birth, when the kingdom comes they will see for they are not blind because of sin, but so the works of God may be revealed (John 9:3). Most people are blind to it, but the kingdom is manifesting right now in our generation and very soon all will see, John 9:39 “For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind.”

It’s a great day to be alive! We are living in Job 42:5 (MSG) “Job answered God: “I’m convinced: You can do anything and everything. Nothing and no one can upset your plans. You asked, ‘Who is this muddying the water, ignorantly confusing the issue, second-guessing my purposes?’ I admit it. I was the one. I babbled on about things far beyond me, made small talk about wonders way over my head. You told me, ‘Listen, and let me do the talking. Let me ask the questions. You give the answers.’ I admit I once lived by rumors of you; now I have it all firsthand—from my own eyes and ears! I’m sorry—forgive me. I’ll never do that again, I promise! I’ll never again live on crusts of hearsay, crumbs of rumor.” Which is the feast of John 9. Blind eyes are about to see!

Day 8 – Feasting On John 8

Can you imagine being told and believing your an expert in your field, only to find out you know nothing? This humiliation would produce anger due to embarrassment, disbelief and shock. The thought, who do you think you are to tell me, I don’t know what I’m talking about would be palatable. I mean I’ve done this my whole life and here you come thinking you know something I don’t. Who do you think you are?

The more we are convinced about something, even if that something is a lie, the harder it is to dislodge us from it. When a lie becomes our truth it locks us in and doesn’t want to let us go. But not only that, we prove we’ve believed a lie, because even when the truth is presented to us we can’t hear it or understand it, for the lie is so deeply imbedded in us.

This was the reality of the religious in Jesus’ day. Listen to what Jesus says in John 8:42-47 “Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me. Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word. You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me. Which of you convicts Me of sin? And if I tell the truth, why do you not believe Me? He who is of God hears God’s words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God.”

When truth comes, it can seem offensive, abrasive, strong, and many say, who do you think you are? Why do you think you know something we don’t know? Jesus said, ““You are from beneath; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.” (John 8:23) Jesus’ brother James said it this way, “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.” (James 3:13-17)

Many religious people, devout Jews, sincere Torah readers missed Jesus in their midst because when the truth came they couldn’t hear it, see it or understand it, because they had believed a lie, the fruit of their life proved it, but they were not willing to humble themselves in order to be set free. May we never be so proud we miss the truth that is manifesting right now all around us. Our freedom depends on us knowing the truth!

Day 7 – Feasting On John 7

Timing is a learning curve for those coming from the church age into the kingdom age. The clock in the church age clicks according to the rhythm of men and their ways, but the kingdom clock ticks according to the rhythm of the roar of the Lion of the Tribe of Judah. Many people are living in the Kingdom age but their clocks are still clicking to an old age.

To have success in the kingdom we must learn God’s timing. Isaiah 55:8-9 says, ““For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.” This is hard for people because we are convinced we know so much.

Living in the timing of God’s kingdom demands we resist the devil’s timing, other people’s idea of timing, our own idea of timing and even culture’s timing. Resisting time to obey God and remain In the rhythm of His roar is hard that is why so few people are able to do it.

John 7:2-9 says, “Now the Jews’ Feast of Tabernacles was at hand. His brothers therefore said to Him, “Depart from here and go into Judea, that Your disciples also may see the works that You are doing. For no one does anything in secret while he himself seeks to be known openly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world.” For even His brothers did not believe in Him. Then Jesus said to them, “My time has not yet come, but your time is always ready. The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it that its works are evil. You go up to this feast. I am not yet going up to this feast, for My time has not yet fully come.” When He had said these things to them, He remained in Galilee.”

Jesus resisted other people’s timing in order to stay in God’s timing despite the pressure to conform to someone else’s timing. When you know what God has said, you don’t need to make it happen in your own timing. God knows what time it is, God knows what He said, the question is, can you resist the pressure of time and keep trusting God? If you can, you will see God do what He said He was going to do for you and through you.

Day 6 – Feasting On John 6

Have you ever wondered, practically, how to walk by the spirit so you do not gratify the desires of the flesh? (Galatians 5:16-18). Have you ever considered the truth that anything we do that is not by the spirit is of the flesh and profits us nothing? (John 6:63). Do you even want to walk by the spirit, being like the wind not knowing where your going? (John 3:8).

Feasting on the gospel of John is bringing a fresh awareness of how many places in our lives are out of alignment. Jesus course corrected the Jews of His day with His messages more than I realized. Like was said yesterday, it wasn’t to shame them but to liberate them, if they could only hear Him.

Jesus is after our prosperity, but for us to prosper He has to show us how investing in the flesh, doing our own thing our own way, profits us nothing. Jesus is inviting us to invest our time and our energy into Him for He is abundance. He is an abundance of life, light, joy, peace, prosperity, healing, everything.

How do we prosper in everything like Jesus did? We walk by the spirit and not by the flesh. How do we do that? We come to Him not to see healings or to the eat bread, but to hear His voice and obey. Obedience to the voice of God is our only job and this job will prosper us and add no sorrow to it (Proverbs 10:22).

Jesus was trying to align them to His voice so they could begin investing in that which truly prospers them. Those who are truly prosperous through obedience to the voice of God are God’s distributors on earth. Obedience to the voice of God is how we lack nothing by never hungering nor thirsting again (John 6:35). When we’re not hungry and thirsty we become distributors to those who are.

Remember this is the chapter where Jesus fed 5,000 men with 5 loaves and 2 fish and picked up 12 basketfuls of leftover fragments. He is the God of abundance who wants to prosper us, so we like Him can be distributors of abundance. To become this we have to obey the voice of God for that is how we prosper.

John 6:63 “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.”

Day 5 – Feasting of John 5

Today our feast is going to cause us to mature if we can handle the truth. The whole chapter of John 5 is Jesus correcting people. He corrects the man at the pool of Bethesda saying, don’t sin anymore or somehow worse may happen to you (v.14); next He’s correcting the Jews on their unbelief and lack of acceptance of the Son of God. It’s not harsh but it is obvious.

People don’t like correction because they don’t understand it. If we’ve experienced correction as punishment, we fear correction because we think we’ve done something wrong so we are a bad person. Our poor perception of correction has caused us to miss out on the life that comes from correction. Hebrews 12:11 says, “All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.” The fruit of correction is peace and righteousness.

What correction do we need as the body of Christ? I would purpose we need the John 5:40 correction, “You are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life.” Jesus corrects the Jews saying, you’ll go to others, you’ll even go to the scriptures, but you won’t come to Me. This is our issue as well. We corporately go to church, we go to conferences, we go to You Tube and Facebook, but we don’t come to Him that we may have life.

Revelation 3:19 – 4:2 of which John wrote that book as well says, “Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me. He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’ After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven, and the first voice which I had heard, like the sound of a trumpet speaking with me, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after these things.” Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne was standing in heaven, and One sitting on the throne.”

Today as we feast on God’s correction, He is inviting us to come to Him. He’s correcting us up, literally, saying come up here, come near to me. He’s not mad at us, He’s not disappointed with us, He’s not going to ground us, He’s correcting us so He can show us His heart, His nature, His ways, His truth, His love so we can have life, but we, I must come to Him if I’m going to live, if we’re going to know life abundantly. Come to Me, come to Me, I am Life says the Lord and if you come to Me, you will live, really live, come to Me.

Day 4 – Feasting On John 4

John 4:25-26 “The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming (He who is called Christ); when that One comes, He will declare all things to us.” Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am He.”

The future is a beautiful expression of hope anchored in the veil, knowing we are headed into better days when we are struggling. However, those struggles are to be temporary not permanent if we are to enjoy what is upon us now, rather than continually hoping for what is to come.

The abundant life is a life lived knowing that Jesus is speaking to you in now time about now things. John 4 shows us that we can get so focused on what’s coming that we cease to see what or who is standing right in front of us and speaking to us. The abundant life is living in the now, not the not yet or someday.

We as believers are long over due to take off the grave clothes of suffering, sadness, mourning, disappointment and despair. It is high time to realize our joy is not something coming, our Messiah is not someone coming again someday, He is alive today, He is living inside of us as believers through the Holy Spirit today. He is speaking to us today. Today is the day of salvation; today if you hear His voice; today is the day the Lord has made.

Once the woman in John 4 got out of the future coming into the man named Jesus right in front of her speaking to her today, she dropped her pot and proclaimed the good news with great joy. Today is a feast day for the kingdom of God is within you…Live NOW! This is really good news.

John 4:25-26 “The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming (He who is called Christ); when that One comes, He will declare all things to us.” Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am He.”

Day 3 – Feasting On John 3

As I feast on the open book of the gospel of John, I am in awe of the parallels between this gospel and our current reality in the world. God’s word is truly living and active right now on January 3, 2021.

We are literally living in the days of Light coming into the world. Light means truth, exposure, opportunity to repent, to surrender, to confess, to come clean. This week we will continue to see the Light shine on situations we may or may not be familiar with, for when Light comes all can see.

Many people struggle with the word judgment, but judgement is good when it comes from God for like a Judge, judgements are decisions, verdicts, they finalize a matter. It’s exhausting to keep things open endlessly, we need conclusions to matters so we can move on. Light coming is judgments being rendered that we can see and hear.

What may surprise some people is how many times people could have come clean prior to public exposure but chose not to. The Lord is merciful and kind, He always gives chances to deal with us in private, but if we refuse He deals with us in public. Public exposure will bring the fear of the Lord.

All I can say today is here comes the Light (Truth) in a public way, and all will say, Yahweh, Yahweh! At least this is what John 3 has to say.

John 3:19-21 “This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.”

On December 27, 2020 the Lord spoke to me and said, “The first 21 days of 2021 are to be feast days. Feast on the open book of John for 21 days.” Little did I know January 6, 2021 is a Feast Day. If its God speaking we will hear an echo because His voice is powerful. January 6, 2021 we are going to be feasting!