Jeremiah Johnston on Davos, Corporations, & the Antichrist
Tuesday, May 19, 2026
Doing Our Part
A compilation
Audio length: 13:00
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Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.—Colossians 3:23–24
Whenever I speak at writers’ workshops and conferences, I often share my testimony of how God opened the publishing doors for me at my very first writers’ conference. … Then I always say, “God put His ‘super’ to my ‘natural’!”
Of course, that statement often raises questions, so I go on to explain that if I hadn’t researched what publishing houses were going to be at that particular conference, prepared my manuscripts in a professional manner, practiced my pitch and made appointments to meet with those two publishers, I wouldn’t have walked away with two book contracts in the highly competitive children’s book market. I had to do my part so God could do His.
If I had stayed home from the conference and prayed for God to somehow get my stories published but never sent them off to any publisher, then I’d still be unpublished and “believing God” for His supernatural intervention.
Too many of us are waiting on God to act when He is waiting on us to be obedient and do what He has called us to do in the natural, so He can add His “super” to it.
The Bible is full of examples of this principle. Let’s look at three:
- God told Moses to raise up his staff, and when he did, God parted the sea so that the Israelites could cross over on dry ground. But, Moses had to do his part—raising up his staff (Exodus 14).
- God instructed Joshua to have all of his men march around Jericho one time, every day for six days. Then, on the seventh day, they were instructed to march around the city seven times and have the priests blow the trumpets and the others shout the victory on that seventh time, and at that moment, God said He would do the supernatural—cause the wall around the city to fall down—which, of course, He did! But they had to do their part first—walking around the city, blowing the trumpets, and shouting (Joshua 6).
- It was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and Jesus and His disciples were there with Mary, the mother of Jesus. When the wine ran out, Mary told Jesus the situation. Jesus told the servants to fill the six stone pots with water. So, they did. And, then Jesus told them to draw some out and take it to the headwaiter, which they did. When the headwaiter tasted the water, it had become wine. Jesus did the supernatural but the servants had to do their part—fill up the stone pots with water and draw some out to take to the headwaiter (John 2). …
So, if you’ve been waiting on God to do the supernatural in your life, ask Him what part He wants you to play and then obey.—Michelle Medlock Adams1
The step of faith
God expects us to do what we can do and trust that if something is God’s will, He will do the part that we can’t do. This has often been referred to as “taking a step of faith.” The Gospels are full of examples of people being called to take a step of faith first before Jesus performed the miraculous part that only He could do.
In one instance, we read that upon entering the synagogue, Jesus encountered a man whose hand was withered. Jesus said to him, “Stretch out your hand,” and as the man put forth the effort, believing that Jesus would heal him, his hand “was completely restored, just as sound as the other” (Matthew 12:9–13).
In another case, Jesus saw a man who had been blind from birth, and after spitting on the ground, He made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. Jesus then told him to go wash his eyes in a certain pool. This man believed Jesus and obeyed Him, and “he went and washed and came back seeing” (John 9:1–7).
When ten lepers begged Jesus to have mercy on them and heal them, He told them to go show themselves to the priests. According to Jewish custom, after a leper had been healed, he was to present himself to the priest to verify his healing. The lepers hadn’t been healed yet, but they believed and obeyed, and “as they went they were cleansed” (Luke 17:12–14).
And in the account of how Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, we see that before performing this miracle, Jesus commanded that the stone covering the entrance of the tomb be removed. When the mourners who were gathered at Lazarus’s tomb obeyed Jesus’ request and rolled away the stone, they demonstrated their faith in Jesus to perform the miracle of bringing Lazarus back to life—and He did. Jesus could have supernaturally rolled the stone away, just like He supernaturally raised Lazarus from the dead, but He didn’t. He first required the onlookers to put their faith into action and do what they could do (John 11:1–44).
Likewise in an account of Jesus feeding four thousand people, we read that Jesus was concerned and had compassion on the people, as they had no food. His disciples were worried about how to feed so many people. Jesus asked them to bring what few loaves and fishes they had and to have the crowd sit down. After giving thanks for the food, He had His disciples place the food before the crowd. As they did so, Jesus did the miracle of multiplying the food so that not only did everyone have enough to eat, but they collected seven baskets of leftovers (Mark 8:1–9).
Jesus did many miracles and signs during His time on earth, but those who received these had to take a step of faith to trust in Him. Of course, the most important step of faith is to fully place our trust in Jesus by confessing Him as our Lord and Savior, and committing to following His will and living according to His Word (John 14:15).
As we do our part and commit our lives, our decisions, our actions and relationships to Him, we can have the sure knowledge that He hears us and will act according to His good will. “This is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him” (1 John 5:14–15).—Activated
Just do your part
From cover to cover the Bible is filled with stories of people who could not do it all, but did their parts, and it was enough because God took care of the rest. One of the most prominent examples is the feeding of the five thousand, which is recorded in all four of the Gospels. That day, Jesus was in a wilderness area and a great multitude went to see Him. He taught the people all day long, and at evening the disciples told Him that He should send the people away so they could eat. Jesus responded, “We don’t need to send them away. You feed them.”
What a challenge! Philip said, “Lord, even if we had two hundred pennies’ worth (about six months’ wages) of bread, it wouldn’t be enough to buy food for everyone.” The crowd was huge—at least five thousand men, plus women and children. Eventually the disciples found a young boy who had brought a lunch to the gathering, but all he had was five loaves of bread and two fishes. Andrew saw the contents of his lunch and remarked, “What is that among so many?” (John 6:9).
That is often how we feel when we contrast our abilities with the problems we encounter. When we evaluate what we have to offer, we will see that at best, it is ridiculously insignificant compared to the enormity of the needs around us. However, we have to remember: God doesn’t expect us to do it all; He only expects us to do our part.
The boy who gave his lunch did not go home to get more food or find other recruits. He simply gave what little he had and let God handle the matter. The Bible tells us that Jesus blessed what the boy offered, broke it, and then used it to feed the multitude. The power to do the miracle didn’t come from the boy; it came from God.
Even though our part is small, it will not necessarily be easy. … Yet God still expects us to do our part, and if we ask, He will give us the strength and grace to do it. In that sense, He actually helps us with our part too. All we need to offer is willing obedience. And when we do that, He will do the same thing with our lives that He did with the boy’s lunch: He will bless it, break it, and use it to meet the needs of others.—Peter Sletmoe2
Published on Anchor May 2026. Read by John Laurence. Music by John Listen.
https://anchor.tfionline.com/post/doing-our-part/?check_auth=
1 Michelle Medlock Adams, “Do Your Part So God Can Do His,” Guideposts, https://guideposts.org/positive-living/health-and-wellness/life-advice/finding-life-purpose/do-your-part-so-god-can-do-his/
2 Peter Sletmoe, “Just Do Your Part,” Apostolicfaith.org, March 31, 2016, https://www.apostolicfaith.org/the-apostolic-faith/just-do-your-part
Porque não somos curados instantaneamente quando oramos pela cura?
Dennis Edwards
Porque não recebemos as respostas às nossas orações imediatamente ou da forma que desejamos ou pedimos? Porque é que Deus demora tanto tempo a responder às nossas orações? Porque não somos curados instantaneamente quando oramos pela cura? Resposta: Deus pode estar mais interessado na formação do nosso caráter do que na cura instantânea do nosso corpo. O apóstolo Paulo escreveu:
"Por isso, não desanimamos; embora o nosso exterior se desgaste, o interior se renova dia após dia. Pois a nossa leve e momentânea tribulação produz para nós um peso eterno de glória mui excelente; enquanto fixamos os olhos, não no que se vê, mas no que não se vê, pois o que se vê é transitório, e o que não se vê é eterno." [2 CorÃntios 4:16-18]
Deus pode saber que a formação do nosso caráter, as lições que estamos a aprender, são mais importantes do que a Sua cura instantânea e milagrosa. Ele cura quando as condições são propÃcias para os resultados que Ele próprio deseja alcançar. Até lá, precisamos de esperar e aproximar-nos de Deus em tudo o que fazemos e dizemos. Ele é o Senhor Soberano e a cura virá no Seu tempo. Se não vier, as lições que aprendemos sobre perseverança compensarão a nossa cura fÃsica. O nosso caráter e personalidade transformados e aprofundados refletirão a cura interior que ocorreu.
Marta e Maria ficaram consternadas porque Jesus não veio imediatamente curar o seu irmão quando este estava doente. Jesus esperou propositadamente até que Lázaro morresse antes de o vir curar. Jesus estava interessado em realizar um milagre maior. Ele estava a testar os corações e as mentes das suas amadas discÃpulas, Maria e Marta. Ele queria a declaração de fé delas. Ele queria que a conversa que tiveram juntas fosse registada por toda a eternidade. Ele queria que o mundo soubesse que Ele não era apenas um curador, mas, na verdade, a ressurreição e a vida. Ele queria que o mundo soubesse que Ele tinha poder sobre a morte. Então a BÃblia diz: "Jesus chorou" [João 11:35]. Antes de curar Lázaro, Jesus chorou. Então, Ele chamou Lázaro à vida como testemunho do Seu poder de cura e da promessa da Ressurreição.
No tempo d’Ele, Jesus realizará a nossa cura. Ele é o Deus Soberano, não nós. Ele sabe o que é melhor para cada um de nós. Ele sabe quando é o momento certo para a nossa cura acontecer. Se, por algum motivo, não recebermos a cura que desejamos, no momento que desejamos, continuaremos a acreditar e a crescer na fé. Confiaremos que Deus sabe o que está a fazer e aproximar-nos-emos d’Ele a cada dia. Nos Salmos, lê-se: “O Deus justo prova os corações e os rins”. Por outras palavras, Ele prova o nosso interior. [Salmo 7:9b] Deus testa a nossa fé para ver se é fé de ouro puro. Permite que passemos pelo fogo para ver se sairemos como cinzas ou como ouro verdadeiro.
Em Tiago lê-se:
"Meus irmãos, considerai motivo de grande alegria o facto de passardes por diversas provações, pois sabeis que a prova da vossa fé produz a perseverança." [Tiago 1:2-3]
Se Deus está a tentar ensinar-nos a ter paciência, talvez Ele tenha um bom motivo para demorar a curar-nos.
O apóstolo Pedro escreveu de forma semelhante:
"Para que a prova da sua fé, muito mais preciosa do que o ouro que perece, embora provada pelo fogo, redunde em louvor, glória e honra na revelação de Jesus Cristo." [1 Pedro 1:7]
Por isso, com louvor nos lábios, aguardaremos pacientemente a nossa cura. Não duvidaremos, mesmo que todos os nossos navios, "ou esperanças", regressem a casa com as velas partidas. Sabemos em Quem temos crido e estamos convencidos de que Ele é capaz de guardar o que Lhe foi confiado até àquele dia, no Seu tempo. [2 Timóteo 1:12]
Se Deus não nos curar, Ele ensinar-nos-á a superar as nossas dificuldades. Ele tornar-nos-á mais que vencedores por meio daquele em quem acreditamos e que nos ama. [Romanos 8:37] Ele ensinar-nos-á a suportar a dor e a sorrir no meio das lágrimas e das tristezas. Mesmo que os nossos corações ou corpos estejam quebrantados, a nossa fé permanecerá forte. Apegar-nos-emos a Ele, que é o autor e consumador da nossa fé e das nossas vidas. Confiaremos n’Ele, aconteça o que acontecer. Permaneceremos unidos a Ele nos bons e nos maus momentos. Ele ama cada um de nós e está a trabalhar em todas as coisas para o nosso bem. [Romanos 8:28] Ele provará o Seu amor por nós em tudo. Diz-nos: “Nem olhos viram, nem ouvidos ouviram, nem jamais penetrou em coração humano o que Deus tem preparado para aqueles que o amam.” [1 CorÃntios 2:9]
Tudo o que precisamos de fazer é agarrarmo-nos a Jesus e à quela velha cruz rústica. O sÃmbolo do cristianismo é uma cruz, um sÃmbolo de sofrimento. Precisamos de abraçar a cruz e crescer através do nosso sofrimento. Jesus disse: “Se alguém quiser vir após Mim, renuncie a si mesmo, tome a sua cruz diariamente e siga-Me.” [Lucas 9:23] Sejamos curados ou resgatados, aconteça o que acontecer, que seja um testemunho do amor do nosso maravilhoso Deus e Salvador. Confiemos nele em todas as circunstâncias. Em tudo demos graças, mesmo nas nossas enfermidades e aflições, pois esta é a vontade de Deus em Cristo Jesus para cada um de nós! [1 Tessalonicenses 5:18] No tempo e à maneira de Deus, "que seja curada". [Hebreus 12:13]
Que Ele nos ajude a perseverar em tudo o que fazemos e dizemos, enquanto aguardamos a cura ou a resposta à nossa oração. "Ainda que demore, espere, porque certamente virá". [Habacuque 2:3b] Deus ainda está no trono e a oração muda as coisas!
Publicado originalmente a 2 de junho de 2024
Why Aren't We Healed Instantly When We Pray For Healing?
Dennis Edwards
Why don't we get the answers to
prayer immediately or in the way we desire or ask? Why does God take so long to
answer our prayers? Why aren’t we instantly healed when we pray for healing? Answer:
God may be more interested in the formation of our character, than in the instant
healing our bodies. Apostle Paul wrote,
"For
which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man
is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment,
works for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; while we look
not at the things which are seen, but the things which are not seen; for the
things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are
eternal." [2 Corinthians 4:16-18.]
Martha and Mary were dismayed that Jesus didn't come immediately and heal their brother when he was sick. Jesus purposely waited until Lazarus was dead before coming to heal him. Jesus was interested in doing a bigger miracle. He was testing the hearts and minds of his beloved disciples, Mary and Martha. He wanted their declaration of faith. He wanted the conversation that they had together to be a record for all eternity. He wanted the world to know that He was not only a healer, but in fact, the resurrection and the life. He wanted the world to know that he had power over death. Then the Bible says, "Jesus wept." [John 11:35.] Before actually healing Lazarus, Jesus wept. Then He called forth Lazarus as a testimony to His healing power, and to the promise of the Resurrection.
In His time, Jesus will call forth our healing. He is the Sovereign God, not us. He knows what's best for each and everyone of us. He knows when the time is right for our healing to take place. If for some reason we don't get the healing we desire, at the time we desire, we will keep on believing, and growing in faith. We will trust, that God knows what He's doing, We will draw closer to Him day by day. In the Psalms we read, “The righteous God tries the hearts and reins.” In other words, He tries our inner man. [Psalm 7:9b] God tests our faith to see if it’s pure gold faith. He allows us to go through the fire, to see if we’ll come out as ashes, or real gold.
In James we read,
If God doesn't heal us, He will teach us how to overcome our difficulties. He will make us more than conquerors through Him in Whom we have believed and Who loves us. [Romans 8:37.] He will teach us how to bear the pain and smile through our tears and sorrows. Though our hearts or bodies be broken, our faith will be strong. We will cling to Him, Who is the author and finisher of our faith and our lives. We will trust in Him no matter what happens. We will cleave to Him in the good times and in the bad. He loves each one of us and is working all things together for our good. [Romans 8:28] He will prove His love to us through it all. He tell us, “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither has it entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for them that love Him.” [1 Corinthians 2:9.]
"My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations (or various trials); knowing this, that the trying of your faith works patience." [James 1:2-3.]
If God is trying to teach us patience, maybe He has a good reason for delaying our healing.
Apostle Peter similarly wrote,
Therefore, with praise on our lips we will patiently wait for our healing. We will not doubt though all our ships, "or hopes," come home with broken sails. We know Whom we have believed and we are persuaded that He is able to keep that which we have committed unto Him until that day, in His time. [2 Timothy 1:12.]"That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ." [1 Peter 1:7.]
If God doesn't heal us, He will teach us how to overcome our difficulties. He will make us more than conquerors through Him in Whom we have believed and Who loves us. [Romans 8:37.] He will teach us how to bear the pain and smile through our tears and sorrows. Though our hearts or bodies be broken, our faith will be strong. We will cling to Him, Who is the author and finisher of our faith and our lives. We will trust in Him no matter what happens. We will cleave to Him in the good times and in the bad. He loves each one of us and is working all things together for our good. [Romans 8:28] He will prove His love to us through it all. He tell us, “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither has it entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for them that love Him.” [1 Corinthians 2:9.]
All we need to do is to cling unto Jesus and that old rugged cross. The symbol of Christianity is a cross, a symbol of suffering. We need to embrace the cross and grow through our suffering. Jesus said, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me.” [Luke 9:23] Whether or not we are healed or rescued, whatever happens, let it be a testimony to the love of our wonderful God and Saviour. Let us trust Him through it all. Let us in everything give thanks, even in our sicknesses and afflictions, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning each and everyone of us! [1 Thessalonians 5:18.] In God's time and in His way, "let it rather be healed." [Hebrews 12:13.]
May He help each one of us to keep on keeping on in all we do and say, as we wait for that healing or answer to prayer. "Though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come." [Habakkuk 2:3b] God is still on the throne and prayer changes things!
Originally published June 2, 2024
¿Por qué no somos sanados al instante cuando oramos por sanación?
Dennis Edwards
¿Por qué no recibimos respuestas a nuestras oraciones de inmediato o de la manera que deseamos o pedimos? ¿Por qué Dios tarda tanto en responder nuestras oraciones? ¿Por qué no somos sanados al instante cuando oramos por sanación? Respuesta: Dios puede estar más interesado en la formación de nuestro carácter que en la sanación inmediata de nuestros cuerpos. El apóstol Pablo escribió:
«Por lo cual no desmayamos; antes bien, aunque nuestro ser exterior se va desgastando, el interior se renueva dÃa tras dÃa. Porque esta leve tribulación momentánea produce en nosotros un peso de gloria cada vez mayor y eterno; mientras no ponemos la mirada en las cosas que se ven, sino en las que no se ven; pues las cosas que se ven son temporales, pero las que no se ven son eternas». [2 Corintios 4:16-18].
Dios puede saber que la formación de nuestro carácter, las lecciones que aprendemos, son más importantes que su sanación instantánea y milagrosa. Él sana cuando se dan las condiciones adecuadas para los resultados que Él mismo desea. Hasta entonces, debemos esperar y acercarnos a Dios en todo lo que hacemos y decimos. Él es el Señor Soberano y la sanación llegará a su debido tiempo. Si no llega, las lecciones que aprendamos sobre la perseverancia compensarán nuestra sanación fÃsica. Nuestro carácter y personalidad transformados y fortalecidos reflejarán la sanación interior que ha tenido lugar.
Marta y MarÃa estaban consternadas porque Jesús no acudió inmediatamente a sanar a su hermano cuando estaba enfermo. Jesús esperó deliberadamente hasta que Lázaro murió antes de venir a sanarlo. Jesús estaba interesado en realizar un milagro aún mayor. Estaba poniendo a prueba los corazones y las mentes de sus amadas discÃpulas, MarÃa y Marta. QuerÃa su declaración de fe. QuerÃa que la conversación que tuvieron quedar registrada para toda la eternidad. QuerÃa que el mundo supiera que no solo era un sanador, sino la resurrección y la vida. QuerÃa que el mundo supiera que tenÃa poder sobre la muerte. Entonces la Biblia dice: «Jesús lloró» [Juan 11:35]. Antes de sanar a Lázaro, Jesús lloró. Entonces llamó a Lázaro como testimonio de su poder sanador y de la promesa de la Resurrección.
A su debido tiempo, Jesús nos sanará. Él es el Dios Soberano, no nosotros. Él sabe lo que es mejor para cada uno de nosotros. Él sabe cuándo es el momento adecuado para nuestra sanación. Si por alguna razón no recibimos la sanación que deseamos, en el momento que la deseamos, seguiremos creyendo y creciendo en la fe. Confiaremos en que Dios sabe lo que hace y nos acercaremos a Él dÃa a dÃa. En los Salmos leemos: «El Dios justo prueba los corazones y las mentes». En otras palabras, prueba nuestro ser interior. [Salmo 7:9b] Dios prueba nuestra fe para ver si es una fe pura y sincera. Nos permite pasar por la prueba, para ver si saldremos convertidos en cenizas o en oro puro.
En Santiago leemos:
«Hermanos mÃos, tened por sumo gozo cuando os halléis en diversas pruebas (o tribulaciones), sabiendo que la prueba de vuestra fe produce paciencia». [Santiago 1:2-3].
Si Dios intenta enseñarnos paciencia, tal vez tenga una buena razón para demorar nuestra sanación.
El apóstol Pedro escribió de manera similar:
«Para que la prueba de vuestra fe, mucho más preciosa que el oro que perece, aunque sea probada con fuego, sea hallada digna de alabanza, gloria y honra en la manifestación de Jesucristo». [1 Pedro 1:7].
Por lo tanto, con alabanza en nuestros labios, esperaremos pacientemente nuestra sanación. No dudaremos aunque todas nuestras esperanzas se desvanezcan. Sabemos en quién hemos creÃdo y estamos convencidos de que Él es capaz de guardar lo que le hemos encomendado hasta aquel dÃa, a su debido tiempo. [2 Timoteo 1:12].
Si Dios no nos sana, nos enseñará a superar nuestras dificultades. Él nos hará más que vencedores por medio de aquel en quien hemos creÃdo y que nos ama. [Romanos 8:37]. Nos enseñará a soportar el dolor y a sonreÃr a pesar de las lágrimas y las tristezas. Aunque nuestros corazones o cuerpos estén quebrantados, nuestra fe será fuerte. Nos aferraremos a Él, quien es el autor y consumador de nuestra fe y de nuestras vidas. Confiaremos en Él pase lo que pase. Nos mantendremos fieles a Él en los buenos y en los malos momentos. Él nos ama a cada uno de nosotros y obra todas las cosas para nuestro bien. [Romanos 8:28]. Él nos demostrará su amor en todo momento. Nos dice: «Ni ojo vio, ni oÃdo oyó, ni ha entrado en corazón de hombre, lo que Dios ha preparado para los que le aman». [1 Corintios 2:9].
Lo único que necesitamos hacer es aferrarnos a Jesús y a esa vieja y tosca cruz. El sÃmbolo del cristianismo es la cruz, un sÃmbolo de sufrimiento. Necesitamos abrazar la cruz y crecer a través de nuestro sufrimiento. Jesús dijo: «Si alguno quiere venir en pos de mÃ, niéguese a sà mismo, tome su cruz cada dÃa y sÃgame». [Lucas 9:23] Sea o no sanados o rescatados, pase lo que pase, que sea un testimonio del amor de nuestro maravilloso Dios y Salvador. Confiemos en Él en todo momento. Demos gracias en todo, incluso en nuestras enfermedades y aflicciones, porque esta es la voluntad de Dios para con cada uno de nosotros en Cristo Jesús. [1 Tesalonicenses 5:18]. En el tiempo de Dios y a su manera, «más bien, que sea sanado». [Hebreos 12:13].
Que Él nos ayude a perseverar en todo lo que hacemos y decimos, mientras esperamos la sanación o la respuesta a nuestra oración. «Aunque tarde, espéralo, porque sin duda vendrá». [Habacuc 2:3b]. ¡Dios sigue en el trono y la oración transforma las cosas!
Publicado originalmente el 2 de junio de 2024
