DIG for Sunday the 17th of February…..I am…..John 4 v 26

In the book of John the gospel writer uses a number of “I am” statements to tell us about Jesus and about His mission and work.

In the first of these statements in His encounter with the Samaritan woman Jesus really just says “I am”.

In my bible the “he” is in italics signifying that this word was not in the original Greek, so this verse could have seen Jesus saying “I that speak unto thee am”; or in other words “I am”.

This is something Jesus says again in John 5 v 58, saying “Before Abraham was, I am”.

This first “I am” statement is an amazing expression of His deity; Jesus was God and knew this and He told people by simply saying “I am”.

In exodus 3 Moses met with God and was told to say “I am hath sent you”; God said “I am”.

By saying “I am” about Himself Jesus is expressing His deity.

“I am” is only 3 letters and 2 words, but these 2 small words are loaded with meaning.

The Jews of the day knew the Torah and knew what “I am” signified; this was an awesome statement of identity and intent from Jesus.

As we start to look through the “I am” statements in DIG, we can marvel at this first instance of Jesus saying “I am”.

Speak this out today…..”Thank you Lord that Jesus said “I am”; thank you for His deity”.

John 4 v 26…..Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he

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DIG for Saturday the 16th of February……you are so very special to God…..Isaiah 53 v 10

Many believers struggle to really trust that God loves them or thinks that they are special in the eyes of God.

There are many scriptures that tell us these truths however not many are as remarkable as Isaiah 53 v 10.

This verse talks about what Father God had as a plan for our redemption; the plan was the death of His Son Jesus.

This verse says that it pleased God to bruise Jesus.

Now bruise does not sound like an adequate word to use for what happened to Jesus on the cross.

The Hebrew definition of this word bruise is to crush or shatter.

Before and during his crucifixion the body of Jesus, the Son of God, was crushed and shattered.

And this pleased God!

It pleased God as Jesus was providing for your reconciliation, forgiveness and righteousness and this is exactly what God wanted for you.

He wanted this because He loves you; He loves you so much that He was prepared to shatter, crush and kill the Lord Jesus.

That is love; so please do not ever think that God does not love you or think that you are special.

If you ever think that please read Isaiah 53 v 10 and tell your self that God put Jesus through that for you!

Speak this out today…..”Thank you Lord that it pleased you to bruise Jesus for my salvation”.

Isaiah 53 v 10…..Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand

DIG for Friday the 15th of February…..scripture holds the key…..2 Timothy 3 v 15

If you have been following DIG or heard any of my messages from MGF you will know the importance that I put on the Word of God.

I have often used 2 Timothy 3 v 16 and 17 to show how important Scripture is; this morning I read verse 15 and noticed what an awesome verse this one is also!

It takes us through what the Word of God will do, if we have know it and understand it.

It will tell us about salvation.

It will tell us that salvation comes only through faith in Jesus.

This is the Gospel!

Salvation is more than a ticket into heaven; sozo (the Greek word for salvation) talks of healing, peace, acceptance and prosperity; it is about being made whole.

The Word will teach us about salvation.

Salvation is only found through faith in Jesus, and the Word teaches us about Jesus.

So the Bible is the key to knowing Jesus and moving into His salvation. What could be more important than that!

Knowledge and understanding of His Word is vital if we are to move on in the Christian walk that we are all currently on.

Speak this out today…..”Thank you Lord for your Word and thank you that it is freely available for me to know and understand”.

2 Timothy 3 v 15…..And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus

DIG for Thursday the 14th of February…..is it any wonder people still get offended at the truth; they were offended by Jesus…..John 8 v 58

I used to be very surprised when fellow believers got annoyed and offended when I tried to tell them about the unconditional forgiveness, grace, mercy and love of Jesus.

It is no surprise to me now however!

The truth about Jesus offends those of a religious bent; 1 Peter 2 v 8 calls Jesus a stumbling stone and rock of offence.

In John 8 v 58 we see Jesus clearly telling the religious Jews that He was God; He said “I am”.

This is of course the truth and the good news however the religious Jews wanted to kill Jesus for saying this; yes, they were that offended.

Jesus was on a mission however and He carried on no matter how much offence He caused.

He carried on His mission in love.

There is a lesson that I have learned over the years; we must carry on telling people about His love and mercy and we must also do it in love.

I know I have been mistaken in the past and tried to argue and persuade fellow believers into accepting this “grace message” that I love so much.

Our “mission” is the same as Jesus really; tell people the truth and let them make their own minds up.

Plant the seed of His Word in their hearts with love and let that seed and Holy Spirit do their work.

Speak this out today…..”Thank you Lord for your perfect and incorruptible Word”.

John 8 v 58…..Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am

DIG for Wednesday the 13th of February…..trust His Word and go on your way…..John 4 v 50

Preparing for the message this Sunday I read John 4 v 50 and suddenly thought how easy the Christian life should be!

Jesus has just spoken and told a man that his son was healed.

The man believed Jesus, trusted what He said and went on his way.

That should be an example of how we ought to live our lives; I don’t know about you but it is not like this always for me!

I am learning more and more to trust in Jesus and in His Word however I am not fully there yet; as I’ve heard said “I have left but not yet arrived”.

Where are you on this journey of trust with the Lord and His Word?

Are you still looking for signs and wonders, as Jesus asks in John 4 v 48?

Are you fully trusting in Jesus and in His Word?

Or, more likely, are you on the same wonderful journey as I am on?

Where ever you are I pray that you can trust and rely more on His Word day by day.

His Word is the power towards transformation in our lives; trust in His Word, see your mind being renewed and see positive change in your life.

In this account Jesus spoke, the man believed and the son was healed; this is how it works!

Speak this out today…..”Thank you Lord that I can fully trust in Jesus and in His Word”.

John 4 v 50…..Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way; thy son liveth. And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way.

DIG for Tuesday the 12th of February…..your church is not the building; it is your brothers and sisters…..Philemon v 2

When Paul wrote this epistle he wrote it to a number of people and to a church; a church that met in a house.

This is a concept alien to many people today.

If you say church most will think if a large stone building where people meet for worship and services. This is not the original meaning of the word church.

“Church” comes from the Greek word ekklesia meaning a called out people or an assembly.

The original meaning of church has nothing to do with a building.

In this epistle we see a church meeting in a house; a body of believers (called out ones) meeting for fellowship in someone’s home.

You can have church anywhere and at any time; it does not have to be in a set building on a Sunday morning. You can have church in a theatre, a cinema, a home, a cave, on the beach; indeed anywhere.

Now I am not saying do not go to “church” on a Sunday morning; I love worship and fellowship with my brothers and sisters in our “church” on a Sunday.

I am saying however that church should be more about the people than the building.

The important “thing” about church is the people.

Enjoy your fellowship where ever and when ever you “do church”.

Speak this out today…..”Thank you Lord for the love and encouragement from my fellow believers”.

Philemon v 2…..And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house

DIG for Monday the 11th of February…..encourage yourself in the Lord, even if it is all you can do…..Samuel 30 v 6

I mentioned this verse in a DIG last week and I have been meditating on it ever since then.

This is a most powerful scripture, especially if you are going through your own trials and tribulations.

David and his men returned to find all their families captured by the enemy.

This was obviously very distressing as we see David weep until he could weep no more (1 Samuel 30 v 4).

It got worse for David however as all his men blamed him for this catastrophe and were of a mind to stone him; David’s life was in peril.

At this point David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.

This is an amazing testimony of trust and faith in God, that even in the darkest of conditions David could strengthen himself, withstand persecution and be courageous.

David was going through terrible trials and tribulations, yet his answer was to encourage himself in the Lord his God.

Friends, if we are struggling today we can do the same.


We can encourage ourselves in the Lord our God.

Speak this out today……”Thank you Lord that we have so much from you to give us encouragement”.

1 Samuel 30 v 6…..And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and daughters: but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God

DIG for Sunday the 10th of February…..saint or sinner; does it really matter…..Colossians 1 v 22

“I’m a sinner saved by grace” is a statement I have heard many times in the church; this is not a statement of truth.

“I was a sinner saved by grace” is true, as is “I’m a saint saved by grace”.

What we think and say is very, very important to how our life unfolds (Proverbs 23 v 7 and Proverbs 18 v 21).

Once we are born again we are not a sinner anymore, we are a saint.

I agree that we still sin, but we are not a sinner; our sin nature has been removed!

If we think we are still a sinner we are more likely to move into sin; and it is even worse to actually speak out this lie.

We were born sinners (Romans 5 v 12 and v 19), but when we accept Jesus as our Lord and Saviour we are born again as saints.

Because of our faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ we are holy in the sight of God (Colossians 1 v 22); this word holy could be translated as saint or most holy thing.

If you are a believer you are a saint; it is important that you know this and speak this truth out over your life.

Paul starts a number of his epistles to the saints (1 and 2 Cor, Eph, Phil, Col); he recognised believers as saints irrespective of their actions (remember the church in Corinth was a very carnal church with many sin issues).

You are a saint; please believe this truth and let the knowledge and understanding of this truth change your life

Speak this out today…..”Thank you Lord that in your eyes I am a saint and not a sinner”.

Colossians 1 v 22…..In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight

DIG for Saturday the 9th of February…..salvation is so much more than just a ticket to heaven…..Galatians 1 v 4

Many Christians live a life of waiting; waiting to get to into heaven.

One believer said this to me recently, “I thought life was a constant struggle until we got to heaven”.

That is a sad statement for a born again believer to make, however it is one often taught in church.

Jesus came to give us more than a ticket into heaven, He came to allow us to live an abundant life (John 10 v 10).

Jesus came to deliver us from THIS present evil world; He has provided deliverance from illness and disease, poverty, rejection and sorrow in this world that we are living in right now.

We can live a life of abundance NOW because of His finished work on the cross.

I saw a poster recently that said “We believe in life before death”; what an amazing truth!

Life for the believer should be one of success and abundance, not one of strife and struggle.

Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3 v 8).

It is God’s will that we live a life of abundance (3 John v 2 and Galatians 1 v 4); that is why He sent Jesus.

Enjoy this life that Jesus has provided for you and accept all His goodness; do not let man or religion tell you that life should be a struggle until you get to heaven.

Speak this out today…..”Thank you Lord that Jesus has delivered me from this present evil world”.

Galatians 1 v 4…..Who gave himself for our sin, so that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father

DIG for Friday the 8th of February…..don’t take it personally…..John 15 v 20

Many things are thrown at us by the world, by people and by the enemy; I’m sure all of us have been made fun of, ridiculed or even abused because of our belief in Jesus and His finished work on the cross.

Many of us will have been shunned by family and friends.

This should come as no surprise (2 Timothy 3 v 21) although it can be hurtful when it happens.

We need to ensure we know one thing when persecution comes along (as it surely will).

We need to know it is not personal and we must not take it personally.

Persecution does not come against you; it comes against Jesus and against the Word.

In John 15 v 20 Jesus tells His disciples to expect persecution as He was persecuted.

In Mark 4 v 17 Jesus tells us that persecution comes against the Word; it is designed to steal the Word from your heart to keep you from knowledge, understanding and fruitfulness.

I know it is hard (I’ve been there often including today), but we must not take persecution personally; we must rejoice in the Lord and not let it affect us.

Rejoice and rejoice and rejoice should be our response to persecution (Philippians 4 v 4 and 1 Thessalonians 5 v 16).

I know it is hard, I really can relate to you on this one!

My only advice is to rejoice and encourage yourself in the Lord as David did (1 Samuel 30 v 6); this is what is getting me through today!

Speak this out today…..”Thank you that I have the choice to rejoice in you”.

John 15 v 20…..Remember, the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also