The Overwhelming Importance of Believers NOT Doubting the Power and Resolve of Jesus!

30 Nov 2025 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

John 15:5b.        for without me ye can do nothing.

Come on down to the Lord’s sanctuary my people, for it’s Sunday, the Lord’s Day, and though the snow is an inconvenience, we must celebrate it with fellowship and worship, so that we can be renewed and refreshed in heart, body and soul, and thus be enabled to face another week of work and whatever else comes against us in our crazy, hell bound world. 

And as always, to help us celebrate, we have a wonderful song filled with lots of truth, one written by Colbert and Joyce Croft, aptly titled, I can’t even walk without You holding my hand. And we’ll offer up our sweet sacrifices of praise in a soulful, heartfelt version, as that done by the African American Gospel singer, Jessy Dixon at the Gaither Homecoming Festival some years ago. 

So, let’s sing: ‘I thought, that number one, would surely be me. I thought I could be what I wanted to be. I thought I could build on life’s sinking sand. But now I can’t even walk, without you holding my hand. – I thought that I, could do a lot on my own, I thought, I could make it in this big world, all alone. I thought, thought of myself as a mighty, mighty, mighty big man, But Lord I can’t even walk, without you holding my hand. – 

Oh Lord, I can’t even walk, without you holding my hand, For the mountain, is too high, and the valley, is too wide, It’s down on my knees, that’s where I learned how to stand, Because I can’t even walk, without you holding my hand. I can’t even walk, without you holding my hand. Glory to God! And I think I’ll make Jesus my all and all. And if I’m in trouble, on that powerful name, I’ll call. And if I didn’t trust Him, I’d be less of a man ‘Cause Lord I can’t even walk without you holding my hand. 

Ohh Lord, I can’t even walk, without you holding my hand, For the mountain is too high, and the valley is too wide, It’s down on my knees, I learned how to stand, I learned how to pray, Because Lord, I can’t even walk, without you holding my hand. I can’t even walk, without you holding my hand. Lord, I’m lost without you. I don’t even know my way back home Lord unless you lead me. Yes my Saviour, I can’t even walk without you holding my hand. Thank you for teaching me that through your Word…I can’t even walk without, without holding your hand…Yes Lord, I can’t even walk without you holding my hand…’ 

And it’s all the gospel truth my brethren…we can’t even walk without Jesus holding our hands! And I believe this is a very appropriate song for so many of us who are arrogant and self-centered enough to believe we can do it all ourselves, with no help from anyone, especially from our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. And we either don’t know or believe what He said when He spoke about the true vine. 

So listen up and attain some wisdom when Jesus declares: ‘Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.’ (John 15:4-5) 

Oh my people, what a rather poignant, definitive and oh so true statement! Without Christ we can do nothing! For whatever we do, it’s He who allows us to do it, for He is our Creator, Controller, Potter and Master! And until many more of us realize that awesome truth, we will keep wallowing in the mire that Satan desires us to wallow in. So many of us think of ourselves as mighty, mighty big men, but in reality, we’re nothing but a bunch of foolish sinners who don’t realize how desperately we need Jesus. 

That reminds us of the paralyzed man at the pool in Bethesda, who had been lying there for 38 years, because he had no one to help him get into the pool the one time a year an angel came and stirred up the water, and whosoever got into it first was then healed of their illness. When Jesus saw him, knowing how long he had lain there, even before Jesus was born, His heart was filled with compassion, and He asked him: ‘Wilt thou be made whole (do you want to get well)?’ (John 5:6) 

Then the man told him about his difficulty in getting into the pool first. Jesus then said to him: ‘Rise, take up thy bed and walk. And immediately the man was made whole (well), and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath.’ (John 5:8-9) Now, that’s the way many of us are, in dire need of help, yet we refuse to turn to Jesus, the One who can, wants to, and will help us if we cry out to Him for succour! And as this commentary explains: ‘This event is a significant miracle in the New Testament that demonstrates Jesus’s healing power and his authority, even over the Sabbath.’ 

That’s the difference between us and Peter, highlighted by the time Jesus came walking on the water to the disciples in their boat. At first they cried out in fear, believing it was a ghost, but Jesus quickly reassured them, saying, ‘Be of good cheer (take courage); it is I; be not afraid. And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. And he (Jesus) said Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water to go to Jesus.’ (Matt. 14:27-29) 

And why was that possible? Because Peter responded to Jesus’ command with faith. He believed that if Jesus called him to do something, he could do it. However, his faith was not strong enough to withstand the strong winds and he became afraid, and beginning to sink, he cried out to Jesus to save him. ‘And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?’ (Matt. 14:31) 

And that’s the basic problem with so many of us supposed believers today; our faith is not strong enough to withstand the strong winds and waves that occasionally batter us, because deep down, despite all the evidence to the contrary, we still doubt the strength, power and resolve of Jesus. Anyway friends, I implore us to make this last Sunday in November 2025 a red-letter day by promising ourselves and each other to raise our faith to substantial levels, because that’s the only way we will ever achieve godly success in this evil world that’s getting worse every day! Much LOVE!

…remember…that it’s down our knees praying…that we learn how to stand…how to stand strong… 

Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien

Mankind is NOTHING without Jesus!

21 Jul 2024 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

John 15:5b.       for without me ye can do nothing.

Oh friends, for the umpteenth time past, and the umpteenth time to come – it’s Sunday! That means fellowshipping in the Lord’s sanctuary with other believers; sharing praise and thanks to our great and wonderful God, encouraging and exhorting each other to stand strong in the faith, regardless of our circumstances, and receiving the Lord’s blessings as we head out into the world for another week of work, which can ofttimes be frustrating and difficult. 

Now, today’s song of worship is one that truly shows how weak and ineffective we are without God’s strength and help. It’s a song written by Joyce and Colbert Croft and titled: ‘I can’t even walk without You holding my hand.’ And is that ever the gospel truth my brethren! Without God’s help, we’d be incapable of doing much of anything at all. But right now, let’s offer up our sweet sacrifices of praise in a real, sincere, soulful, tear-jerking rendition of the song. (smile) 

Singing: ‘I thought, that number one, would surely be me. I thought I could be what I wanted to be. I thought I could build on life’s sinking sand. But now I can’t even walk, without you holding my hand. – I thought that I, could do a lot on my own, I thought, I could make it in this big world, all alone. I thought, thought of myself as a mighty, mighty, mighty big man, But Lord I can’t even walk, without you holding my hand. – 

Oh Lord, I can’t even walk, without you holding my hand, For the mountain, is too high, and the valley, is too wide, It’s down on my knees, that’s where I learned how to stand, Because I can’t even walk, without you holding my hand. I can’t even walk, without you holding my hand. Glory to God! And I think I’ll make Jesus my all and all. And if I’m in trouble, on that powerful name, I’ll call. And if I didn’t trust Him, I’d be less of a man ‘Cause Lord I can’t even walk without you holding my hand. 

Ohhhh Lord, I can’t even walk, without you holding my hand, For the mountain is too high, and the valley is too wide, It’s down on my knees, I learned how to stand, I learned how to pray, Because Lord, I can’t even walk, without you holding my hand. I can’t even walk, without you holding my hand. Lord I’m lost without you. I don’t even know my way back home Lord unless you lead me. Yes, my Saviour, I can’t even walk without you holding my hand. Thank you for teaching me that through your Word…I can’t even walk without, without holding your hand…Yes Lord, I can’t even walk without you holding my hand…’ 

And anyone who thinks differently needs their mental faculties thoroughly checked, for those words are the indisputable truth! For we have all been through times when we were simply unable to help ourselves in our own strength and had to turn to God. All of us believe we can go it alone, be big, mighty men, until the world throws us for a loop. And then what? We are forced to turn to God. Because as the song so rightfully says: ‘the mountain is too high, and the valley is too wide, and it’s down on my knees where I learned how to stand.’ 

And that’s also the God awesome truth my people! It’s in the deepest and darkest hours of our lives when we were down our knees in prayer, that we learned how to stand strong in faith in Almighty God. It’s when we finally saw the light and decided to call on the powerful name of Jesus and would be rather foolish if we didn’t. Yes friends, without the God who made us and still guides and protects us, where would we be eh? 

Lost and floundering like a battered ship in a storm, which Jesus pointed out very clearly when He spoke these words of awesome truth. ‘I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.’ (John 15:5) I doubt any sensible and mentally intact person could contest those words. But Bruh Paul corroborates Jesus’ statement with his own words to the church at Corinth. ‘Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God.’ (2 Cor. 3:5) 

And to tell the truth, we don’t even need Bruh Paul’s corroboration nuh, for if Jesus could calm the howling winds and raging sea by simply saying, ‘Peace, be still,’ (Mark 4:39) then why would we not believe when He says we can’t do anything without Him eh? And furthermore, if He could raise Lazarus from the dead with a cry of ‘Lazarus, come forth,’ (John 11:43) why would we question anything He says? And if He can heal the lame, make the blind to see, cleanse the leper, as He proved while down here on earth, why would we doubt anything He says?

 Now, some would dare to say that the prophets and the apostles did the same things, and some did, but NONE, No One, could ever do His most noteworthy deed; that’s paying the price for our abominable sins with His sinless life on the cross of Calvary! For that alone we need to bow down and worship Him, show Him obeisance from now till next never, because it’s only through His heroic efforts and unjust ‘sufferation’ that we can talk about salvation and all the other good things His crucifixion did for us. 

Oh my people, there’s absolutely no doubt that Jesus is the answer! The answer to our every problem and our every need! And it hurts my heart to hear people bad talk Him, blaspheme His holy name and mock His perfect character. But that’s what comes from the Lord giving us free choice. Some of us just don’t listen and/or use the brains God gave us, so we end up making fools of ourselves by trying to do things by ourselves, or with other weak and selfish humans. 

And it’s only when we’re going under for the third and last time, that we wake up and cry out to God for help, when we could easily have avoided most of our negative circumstances by calling on our Creator much earlier, for He’s always there, ever willing and ready to help and guide us on our earthly journey. We only have to call out sincerely for His help, and He will provide it. And I do hope that any of us who are going through tough times right now, will wake up and cry out to God for help, because that’s the wisdom of the ages! Much LOVE!

…only in Jesus…are we anything at all…

Hear our podcast at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/randy-obrien

Today’s Scrip-Bit   11 February 2024   2 Corinthians 3:5

11 Feb 2024 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

2 Corinthians 3:5.        Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God.

Welcome to another Sunday of LOVE, fellowship and worship in the Lord’s sanctuary, my fellow believers! It’s so good when we get together and share the joy of the Lord, and all the many good things He’s promised us in His Word. Promises that He will NEVER renege on, because He’s an ever-faithful God. And as Jesus said: ‘For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.’ (Matt. 18:20). And yuh know friends, if Jesus is with us, then great joy, LOVE and peace will be continuously flowing, because that’s what He is all about. 

So, let’s respond to His goodness and LOVING-kindness with sincere worship from the depths of our hearts, as we acknowledge in this marvellous and very truthful song, written by the husband-and-wife duo of Joyce and Colbert Croft and titled ‘I Can’t Even Walk Without You Holding My Hand.’ Therefore, let’s offer up sweet sacrifices of praise in a heartfelt, soulful version of the song, a la Jessy Dixon in the Gaither Homecoming Festival. 

Singing. ‘I thought, that number one, would surely be me. I thought I could be what I wanted to be. I thought I could build on life’s sinking sand. But now I can’t even walk, without you holding my hand. I thought that I, could do a lot on my own, I thought, I could make it in this big world, all alone. I thought, thought of myself as a mighty, mighty, mighty big man, But Lord I can’t even walk, without you holding my hand. Oh Lord, I can’t even walk, without you holding my hand, 

For the mountain, is too high, and the valley, is too wide, It’s down on my knees, that’s where I learned how to stand, Because I can’t even walk, without you holding my hand. I can’t even walk, without you holding my hand. Glory to God! And I think I’ll make Jesus my all and all. And if I’m in trouble, on that powerful name, I’ll call. And if I didn’t trust Him, I’d be less of a man ‘Cause Lord I can’t even walk without you holding my hand. Ohh Lord, I can’t even walk, without you holding my hand, For the mountain is too high, and the valley is too wide, 

It’s down on my knees, I learned how to stand, I learned how to pray, Because I can’t even walk, without you holding my hand. I can’t even walk, without you holding my hand. Lord I’m lost without you. I don’t even know my way back home Lord unless you lead me. Yes my Saviour, I can’t even walk without you holding my hand. Thank you for teaching me that through your Word…I can’t even walk without, without holding your hand…Yes Lord, I can’t even walk without you holding my hand…’ 

Wonderful worship my people! And I’m sure it was much appreciated in heaven. And you know it’s oh so true that we can’t walk safely and securely unless Jesus holds our hand, for when we become born again, we’re like little children just learning to walk on the straight and narrow path, and if Jesus doesn’t hold our hands until we learn the way and can stand somewhat strong on our own, then we’ll surely falter, stumble and fall. But yet, so many of us still believe that we’re so big and strong and don’t need anyone’s help, and can walk this road of life alone, but that’s a fallacy, for in this rough and tumble world we always need help. 

But foolishly we go off and build our lives on sinking sand, despite Jesus’ strong warning that anyone who doesn’t build on Him, the Rock, is building on sinking sand, and when the storms of life come they will be washed away. (Matt. 7:24:27) That’s why Cousin Sol also said in Ecclesiastes that two are better than one, because they can help each other if they fall and keep one another warm, something that a lone person cannot do. Ah friends, in these evil and ungodly times, we need all the help we can get, especially the help of Jesus. 

And He said it very clearly too. ‘I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing,’ (John 15:5) Oh my people, it couldn’t be put any plainer than that. If you don’t have Jesus and His Holy Spirit dwelling in you, your efforts to live this life successfully will be thwarted at every step. And furthermore, as Jesus continues: ‘If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.’ (John 15:6) 

So you see friends, if you don’t have Jesus securely holding your hand, then you are cast off like a dead branch and burned in the fires of hell. And Bruh Paul, in his second letter to the church at Corinth, said it thus: ‘Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God.’ (2 Cor, 3:5) That means we cannot think that we are more than we are, because we are merely frail, fallible human beings with a short lifespan and whatever big works we do, they are all in the Lord’s grace and strength. 

Bruh Paul explains that to the Corinthians in his first letter. ‘For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet (worthy) to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.’ (! Cor. 15:9-10) 

Yes, my fellow believers, Bruh Paul didn’t start out so good, being a persecutor of the church. But once Jesus got Him in grip, he was the hardest worker of all the apostles, and all the tragedies he suffered and all the great work he did could only have been done though God’s grace. And no one knew that better than him. And as Sister Joyce (Joyce Meyer) likes to say, ‘It’s not where or how you begin, but where and how you end up that’s most important.’ And that’s the indisputable truth! So please, this Sunday morning let’s remember that and make every effort to end with Jesus in heaven, for that’s our Promised Land. Much LOVE!

…on Jesus Christ…the solid Rock I stand…for all else is sinking sand…

Hear our podcast at https://open.spotify.com/show/3aVfqIC1CqwGybISs9dZ                  

Today’s Scrip-Bit 25 August 2019 John 15:5.

25 Aug 2019 Leave a comment

by randyobrien50 in Christian Thoughts and Inspiration., Daily Devotion, Daily Inspiration, Inspirational Living, Spiritual Living Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

John 15:5.    ​I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
 

It’s Happy Day! Yes friends, it’s the happiest day of the week; Sunday, the Lord’s Day, the day when He rested after creating His universe and all therein. When He looked at it, He smiled contentedly, like a workman knowing that he’s done a good job and said: ‘It is good!’ The Lord also wants us to rest on this day, or at least one day of the week, to renew our strength and energy, because He did not make us to be machines, constantly working. 

And the best way to regroup for next week is by joining fellow believers in worship and praise at the Lord’s sanctuary, His house of prayer, where we can commune together as one body, Christ’s church, His vehicle for saving the world. So let’s all do our very best to get to the Lord’s house some time today nuh, so that we can sing and praise and worship and exalt His name and find succour and confidence and grace and mercy and forgiveness and LOVE for our weary and burdened souls! 

Now let’s commence our proceedings with the usual, a song of praise and thanksgiving. And today it’s something from the Gaither Homecoming Festival of some time back, sung by my latest favourite gospel singer, Jessy Dixon. The song’s aptly titled, ‘I can’t even walk without you holding my hand.’ Yes friends we talking about Jesus here, so let’s get soulful and sincere as we declare these awesome words of truth in sweet harmony nuh. 

All together now: ‘I thought, that number one, would surely be me. I thought I could be, what I wanted to be. I thought I, could build on life’s sinking sand. But I can’t even walk, without you holding my hand. I thought that I, could do a lot on my own, I thought, I could make it, all alone. I thought, thought of myself as a mighty big man, But I can’t even walk, without you holding my hand. I can’t even walk, without you holding my hand, For the mountain, is too high, and the valley, is too wide, Down on my knees, I learned how to stand, Because I can’t even walk, without you holding my hand. I can’t even walk, without you holding my hand. 

Ohh my Jesus, I can’t even walk, without you holding my hand, For the mountain, is too high, and the valley, is too wide, Down on my knees, I learned how to stand, Because I can’t even walk, without you holding my hand. I can’t even walk, without you holding my hand. Yes my Saviour, I can’t walk, without you holding my hand. Thank You, for teaching me that valuable lesson, through your Word!’ 

Ah mih people, that was wonderfully soulful! (smile) And Jesus gratefully acknowledged our praise with a nod of His head and a shy smile, because He still doesn’t consider Himself number One! That’s the Father’s position, and He’s not foolish like Lucifer and try to overthrow Him. Anyway, those words are gospel truth, because without Jesus, we’re nothing and can do nothing, as He so plainly tells us in John’s gospel, re the vine and the branches. 

‘I am the true (genuine) vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth (prunes) it, that it may bring forth more fruit.’ (John 15:1-2) Now that’s a tough row to how because if you don’t bear fruit, you’re taken away, and if you do bear fruit, you’re still pruned, so you can bear even more and better fruit. As I heard Sister Joyce (Joyce Meyer) say the other day: ‘You’re pruned if you, and pruned if you don’t.’ But that’s the Father’s way, and also the general way of husbandmen in the physical world. 

And Jesus continues: ‘Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.’ (John 15:3-5) Don’t you like how Jesus doesn’t mince words, just puts it plainly and clearly? ‘I am the vine and you are the branches…without me you can do nothing!’ 

And that’s the living truth friends. Remember in our song today, everything was about I thought I could do this, and I thought I could do that, but then we had a surprising and sudden awakening; only when we got on our knees were we able to stand, and even then we couldn’t walk without holding Jesus’ hand. And that’s how it is if we want to be a fruitful part of His LOVE Revolution! And it’s interesting how Jesus used the grape vine as a powerful example, but in the agricultural society that was Israel back then, everybody would certainly understand what He meant. 

And the scholars offer this explanation: ‘15:5. The uniqueness of the Christian experience results from the union of Christ and the believer. This is expressed in the scripture as Christ being in the believer and the believer in Christ. Ten times Paul uses the Greek preposition ‘sun’ (together) to describe this relationship. Believers were crucified (Gal.2:20), dead (Col.2:20) buried (Rom.6:4), quickened or made alive (Eph.2:1-5; Col.2:13), raised (Col.3:1; Eph.2:6), seated (Eph.2:6), and glorified (Rom.8:17) together with Christ. 

Illustration: Jesus used the image of the vine and its branches to describe His union with the believer. Application: On the basis of this union, the apostle Paul showed how the successful Christian life can be opened with four key words in Romans 6: ‘know’ (vs.6), ‘reckon’ (vs.11), ‘yield’ (vs.13), and ‘obey’ (vs.17). The Christian can conquer sin because Christ lives in him (Gal.2:20). First Ref. John 7:37-38; Primary Ref. John 15:1-5; cf. 1 John 5:13).’

Lots of interesting scriptures there for us to check our friends. (smile) But if you really want to make a difference on Jesus’ vine you will have to know His Word, especially as it pertains to you being in Him and He being in you, for remember you can’t do anything without Him. And we’ll close with these words from Bruh Paul to the Corinthians that also highlight that very salient fact. ‘Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves, but our sufficiency is of God;’ (2. Cor.3:5) Wise words to live and die by my precious saints of God! Much LOVE!

…only as Christ lives and moves in us…and we live and move in Him…can we do great things for the kingdom…