His Presence and Help

“For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.”  Isaiah 41:13

“Don’t be afraid. I’m here with you. I will help. Even when he seems distant, the echo of this thought can remind us that we are never alone or forgotten” (cf. Hebrews 13:5-6).

Spiritual Truths 

.. If God led you to it, He will lead you through it.    Author Unknown

.. Trials are not enemies of faith but are...    Author Unknown

.. The noble love of Jesus impels a man to do great...    Thomas à Kempis

.. To the world, you may be one person, but to one...    Author Unknown

.. God is a busy worker, but he loves help.    Basque Proverb
.. 'Thinking Christianly' is thinking by Christians...    Os Guinness

Psalm 119:114

You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word. —

Where can we go to remain secure from the onslaught of bad ideas, evil influences, and false hopes? We can go to God and his Word. While people can be disloyal and misguided, God's love is proven through history and through Jesus and his truth stands forever.

Ephesians 6:10-11

Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. —

Many of the struggles in our lives are not mere accidents! Many of them are not put there by God. Our challenges often come from the hand of our enemy, Satan. He always prowls about looking for the best scheme to knock us out of our commitment to and relationship with the Lord. Placing ourselves firmly in the hands of the Lord and using his tools of warfare will help us defeat our enemy who has already been humiliated by Jesus and the cross.

God and kings contrasted

Proverbs 25:2

Three unsearchable things

Proverbs 25:3

A good comparison

Proverbs 25:4-5

[Message No: 6691]

Questions in Acts – 6

21:22

What then? The assembly must certainly meet, for they will hear that you have come.

21:37

Then as Paul was about to be led into the barracks, he said to the commander, “May I speak to you?”
  He replied, “Can you speak Greek?

21:38

Are you not the Egyptian who some time ago stirred up a rebellion and led the four thousand assassins out into the wilderness?”

22:7

And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?

22:8

So I answered, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.’

22:10

So I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said to me, ‘Arise and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all things which are appointed for you to do.’

22:16

And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.’

22:25

And as they bound him with thongs, Paul said to the centurion who stood by, “Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman, and uncondemned?”

22:27

Then the commander came and said to him, “Tell me, are you a Roman?”
  He said, “Yes.”

23:3

Then Paul said to him, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall! For you sit to judge me according to the law, and do you command me to be struck contrary to the law?”

[Message No: 6690]

Questions in Acts – 5

15:10

Now therefore, why do you test God by putting a yoke on the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?

16:30

And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

16:37

But Paul said to them, “They have beaten us openly, uncondemned Romans, and have thrown us into prison. And now do they put us out secretly? No indeed! Let them come themselves and get us out.”

17:18

Then certain Epicurean and Stoic philosophers encountered him. And some said, “What does this babbler want to say?”

  Others said, “He seems to be a proclaimer of foreign gods,” because he preached to them Jesus and the resurrection.

17:19

And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this new doctrine is of which you speak?

19:2

he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?”
  So they said to him, “We have not so much as heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.”

19:3

And he said to them, “Into what then were you baptized?”
  So they said, “Into John's baptism.”

19:15

And the evil spirit answered and said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?”

19:35

And when the city clerk had quieted the crowd, he said: “Men of Ephesus, what man is there who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is temple guardian of the great goddess Diana, and of the image which fell down from Zeus?

21:13

Then Paul answered, “What do you mean by weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”

[Message No: 6689]

Because He Is

Revelation 5:13

And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying:
   “Blessing and honor and glory and power
 Be to Him who sits on the throne,
 And to the Lamb, forever and ever!”

Psalm 50:23

Whoever offers praise glorifies Me;
 And to him who orders his conduct aright
 I will show the salvation of God.”

Romans 8:9

“You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.”

We show who is in control in our lives by the way we live! We show our relationship to the Father by living with his character in our world. So let's live under the control of the Spirit — obeying the Spirit's inspired Word and following the Spirit's lead — so we can show and share Jesus in what we say and do!

Prayer

. Lord, You are the One I trust. You are my Creator, my Savior, my Lord, and my Master. I shout for JOY at the sound of Your Name and because You defend those who pledge their allegiance to You and Your Son Jesus. Thank You for blessing me, and for Your constant favor. Please continue to surround me with Your mighty shield of divine protection. You are my defense against the attacks from the world that I must withstand. Thank You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Thought 

"I do not know anyne who goes through life without some wounding of the heart. Sometimes we take a little shower at Calvary rather than let God deeply cut and wash away the hurts with His atoning blood." - Cindy Jacobs

[Message No: 6688]

What Does Our Reaction To Prophecy Reveal? - 2

Isaiah 14:13-14

For you have said in your heart:
 ‘I will ascend into heaven,
 I will exalt my throne above the stars of God;
 I will also sit on the mount of the congregation
 On the farthest sides of the north;
  I will ascend above the heights of the clouds,
 I will be like the Most High.’

Philippians 2:7-8

but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.

Matthew 11:29

Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Jeremiah 32:17

Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you. —

In the immense expanse of our universe, with its billions upon billions of stars, where our own tiny blue planet is but a small speck of sand on an inestimable seashore, God knows us each personally. Such knowledge it too wonderful to be true, and yet it is! God has shown us his love in Jesus to remind us that he not only knows us, but he cares for us and longs to bring us to himself.

Psalm 119:30

I have chosen the way of truth; I have set my heart on your laws. —

Jesus reminded us to "pick up your cross daily and follow" him. The way of truth is a daily choice. To not seek to intentionally put him at the centre of our life, the top priority in all of our decisions, is to slip a little bit further away from the life he calls us to lead. Any decision made without consciously seeking to please him is a decision to place him at the periphery of our lives. So let's set our heart on him. Let's choose his way, the way of truth, the way of life, and set our hearts on doing his will.

[Message No: 6687]

What Does Our Reaction To Prophecy Reveal? - 1

Acts 9:3-11

As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”
   And he said, “Who are You, Lord?”

  Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.”

   So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?”

  Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”
   And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one. Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.
Ananias Baptizes Saul

    Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, “Ananias.”

  And he said, “Here I am, Lord.”

   So the Lord said to him, “Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying

Acts 26:13-18

at midday, O king, along the road I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, shining around me and those who journeyed with me. And when we all had fallen to the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me and saying in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ So I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you. I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’

[Message No: 6686]

Questions in Acts – 4

9:6

So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?”
  Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

9:21

Then all who heard were amazed, and said, “Is this not he who destroyed those who called on this name in Jerusalem, and has come here for that purpose, so that he might bring them bound to the chief priests?”

10:4

And when he observed him, he was afraid, and said, “What is it, lord?”
  So he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God.

10:21

Then Peter went down to the men who had been sent to him from Cornelius, and said, “Yes, I am he whom you seek. For what reason have you come?”

10:29

Therefore I came without objection as soon as I was sent for. I ask, then, for what reason have you sent for me?”

10:47

Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?”

11:7

And I heard a voice saying to me, ‘Rise, Peter; kill and eat.’

13:10

and said, “O full of all deceit and all fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord?

13:25

And as John was finishing his course, he said, ‘Who do you think I am? I am not He. But behold, there comes One after me, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to loose.’

14:15

and saying, “Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men with the same nature as you, and preach to you that you should turn from these useless things to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all things that are in them,

[Message No: 6685]

Christian Watchfulness

1.Watch and Pray – Personal and Individual 

A – We watch against temptation – Matthew 26:41
Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”
B – We watch for the Lord – Matthew 25:13
“Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.

2. Watch and Pray – For the Souls of Men

A – Satan seeks to ruin souls – 1 Peter 5:8
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

B – We manifest  our concern for souls – acts 20:31
Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.

Hebrews 13:17

Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.

3. Watch and Pray – with and for our brethren

A – Young Christians need help – Romans 15:1-2

We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, leading to edification.

B – If we watch and pray together, God will work mightily

Matthew 18:19
“Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven

[Message No: 6684]

Questions in Acts – 3

7:49

‘Heaven is My throne,
And earth is My footstool.
What house will you build for Me? says the Lord,
Or what is the place of My rest?

7:50

Has My hand not made all these things?’

7:52

Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who foretold the coming of the Just One, of whom you now have become the betrayers and murderers,

8:30

So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?”

8:31-33

And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he asked Philip to come up and sit with him. The place in the Scripture which he read was this:
  “He was led as a sheep to the slaughter;
 And as a lamb before its shearer is silent,
 So He opened not His mouth.
  In His humiliation His justice was taken away,
 And who will declare His generation?
 For His life is taken from the earth.”

8:34

So the eunuch answered Philip and said, “I ask you, of whom does the prophet say this, of himself or of some other man?”

8:36

Now as they went down the road, they came to some water. And the eunuch said, “See, here is water. What hinders me from being baptized?”

9:5

And he said, “Who are You, Lord?”
  Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.”

[Message No: 6683]

Because He is My Creator

Colossians 1:16

For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.

Psalm 57:11

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
 Let Your glory be above all the earth.

Do not stifle the Holy Spirit.

— 1 Thessalonians 5:19

Have you ever been in the mood to kick up your heels, have some good ol' clean fun, and whoop and holler a little bit, but have found yourself in a formal situation where such behaviour would not be tolerated? We feel stifled in such moments.

Have you ever wondered how many times you've forced the Holy Spirit into a similar situation — stifling his efforts to encourage, empower, inspire, comfort, thrill, convict, motivate, sanctify, and enable you or others?

Isaiah 54:5

“For your Maker is your husband — the LORD Almighty is his name — the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; he is called the God of all the earth.”

"For God so loved the world..." "The Father, from whom every family on earth derives its name..." God is not just the God of Israel. The LORD God, ruler of heaven and earth, is the God of all nations and one day, "every knee will bow and every tongue will confess... that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father."

Thoughts 

"Sometimes God has to put us flat on our back before we are looking up to Him."
— Jack Graham

"To have God in our life, doesn't mean sailing on a boat with no storms, it means having a boat that no storm can sink!" - Author Unknown

[Message No: 6682]

Questions in Acts – 2

5:4
While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.”

5:8
And Peter answered her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much?”
  She said, “Yes, for so much.”

5:9
Then Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.”

5:28
saying, “Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man's blood on us!”

7:1
Then the high priest said, “Are these things so?”

7:26
And the next day he appeared to two of them as they were fighting, and tried to reconcile them, saying, ‘Men, you are brethren; why do you wrong one another?

7:27
But he who did his neighbor wrong pushed him away, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge over us?

7:28
Do you want to kill me as you did the Egyptian yesterday?’

7:35
“This Moses whom they rejected, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge?’ is the one God sent to be a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the Angel who appeared to him in the bush.

7:42
Then God turned and gave them up to worship the host of heaven, as it is written in the book of the Prophets:

  ‘Did you offer Me slaughtered animals and sacrifices during forty years in the wilderness,
 O house of Israel?

[Message No: 6681]

Christ The Girded Servant

In the Upper Room – Past

John 13:4

rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself.

Mark 14:13-17

And He sent out two of His disciples and said to them, “Go into the city, and a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him. Wherever he goes in, say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says, “Where is the guest room in which I may eat the Passover with My disciples?” ’ Then he will show you a large upper room, furnished and prepared; there make ready for us.”

   So His disciples went out, and came into the city, and found it just as He had said to them; and they prepared the Passover.

   In the evening He came with the twelve. Now as they sat and ate, Jesus said, “Assuredly, I say to you, one of you who eats with Me will betray Me.”

In the Midst of the Churches – Present

Revelation 1:13

and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band. His

In the coming Glory – Future

Luke 12:37

Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching. Assuredly, I say to you that he will gird himself and have them sit down to eat, and will come and serve them.

Titus 2:2

“Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled, and sound in faith, in love, and in endurance.”

Worthy of respect! What a goal for our lives whether we are men or women! Don't you want your life to reflect the character of God because our faith expresses itself in a life of self-control and godliness? This work of the Spirit in our lives happens only as we dedicate ourselves to being what he is at work trying to accomplish in us.

[Message No: 6680]

Questions of Jesus - 11

67. On Ceremony

Mark 5:39
When He came in, He said to them, “Why make this commotion and weep? The child is not dead, but sleeping.”

68. On Patience

Mark 9:19
He answered him and said, “O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to Me.”

69. On Reasoning

Mark 8:17
But Jesus, being aware of it, said to them, “Why do you reason because you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive nor understand? Is your heart still hardened?

70. On Stability

Luke 11:18
If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? Because you say I cast out demons by Beelzebub.

71. On Tempting

Mark 12:15
we pay, or shall we not pay?”
  But He, knowing their hypocrisy, said to them, “Why do you test Me? Bring Me a denarius that I may see it.”

72. On Property

Luke 6:42
Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me remove the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the plank that is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck that is in your brother's eye.

[Message No: 6679]

“To” OR “Unto Me.”

1. A Sad Case – John 5:40
But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.

2. A Satisfying Case -  John 6:35
And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst

3. A Safe coming – John 6:37
 All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.

4. A Sanctifying conclusion – John 7:37
On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink

5. A Secret Centre – John 12:32
And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself.”

6. A Saving Call – Matthew 11:28
Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

7. A Separating Condition -  Luke 14:26
“If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple.

Proverbs 10:32

“The lips of the righteous know what is fitting, but the mouth of the wicked only what is perverse.”
How many times have you said just the "wrong" thing? For me, it is more often than I would like to recall. Jesus words on this topic are indeed convicting to me: "Out of the abundance of the heart does the mouth speak." In other words, poor words and bad timing in our speech are more issues of our heart than issues of social skills and decorum. Let's ask God to purify, mend, and re-focus our heart on his will and passions.

[Message No: 6678]

Questions in Matthew – 5

15:16
So Jesus said, “Are you also still without understanding?

15:17
Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated?

15:33
Then His disciples said to Him, “Where could we get enough bread in the wilderness to fill such a great multitude?”

15:34
Jesus said to them, “How many loaves do you have?”
  And they said, “Seven, and a few little fish.”

16:3
and in the morning, ‘It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times.

16:8
But Jesus, being aware of it, said to them, “O you of little faith, why do you reason among yourselves because you have brought no bread?

16:9
Do you not yet understand, or remember the five loaves of the five thousand and how many baskets you took up?

16:10
Nor the seven loaves of the four thousand and how many large baskets you took up?

16:11
How is it you do not understand that I did not speak to you concerning bread?—but to beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”

16:13
When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?”

16:15
He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”

16:26
For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

[Message No: 6677]

Psalm 95:6-7

Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care. —

Worship is more than our heart, soul and words offered to God. It also involves our posture. When we understand the grace God has given us to be called his children, what else can we do but bow down or kneel before him in his majesty and might.


We come to him, a conquering ruler, offering ourselves in full submission. God chooses, however, to treat us tenderly like a loving shepherd who longs to care for us. Such grace leads us to bow and kneel in heartfelt worship.

Thoughts 

"Grace binds you with far stronger cords than the cords of duty or obligation can bind you. Grace is free, but when once you take it you are bound forever to the Giver, and bound to catch the spirit of the Giver. Like produces like, Grace makes you gracious, the Giver makes you give." -E. Stanley Jones

"Be thankful for the least gift, so shalt thou be ready to receive greater."
— Thomas à Kempis

Praying in the spirit will keep you in the love of God, and I believe that praying in the Spirit also will keep you in love with one another. - Marilyn Hickey

Ephesians 2:19

"You are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household." —

Those of us who have been Christians a long time sometimes forget that we have no claim or right to the grace we have received. When we feel we deserve it, that it is ours by right, it is no longer grace and we no longer live in it. To be a part of God's family is grace. For the Holy One who spoke into existence the universe (in which we are a sub microscopic speck), grace is simply and magnificently a gift from the One who knows how to share and love in ways we can't even imagine.

Prayer

. Lord, thank You so much for making it so I could take part in Your inheritance in the Kingdom. I confess that I was letting the darkness and evil things of this world control me and draw me away from You. Thank You for sending Jesus to rescue me and for accepting me into Your eternal kingdom and to the realm of Your love and hope. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

[Message No: 6676]

Questions in Mark – 2

2:26
how he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the showbread, which is not lawful to eat except for the priests, and also gave some to those who were with him?”

3:4
Then He said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they kept silent.

3:23
So He called them to Himself and said to them in parables: “How can Satan cast out Satan?

3:33
But He answered them, saying, “Who is My mother, or My brothers?

4:13
And He said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables?

4:21
Also He said to them, “Is a lamp brought to be put under a basket or under a bed? Is it not to be set on a lampstand?

4:30
Then He said, “To what shall we liken the kingdom of God? Or with what parable shall we picture it?

4:38
But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?”

4:40
But He said to them, “Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?”

40:41
And they feared exceedingly, and said to one another, “Who can this be, that even the wind and the sea obey Him!”

5:7
And he cried out with a loud voice and said, “What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God that You do not torment me.”

[Message No: 6675]

Facts about the Gifts of Holy Spirit

1] It is given for the common good –
1 Corinthians 12:7
But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:

2] God gives it as He determines –
1 Corinthians 12:11
But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.

3] We shall not be ignorant of it –
1 Corinthians 12:1
Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant

4] We should eagerly desire it –
1 Corinthians 12:31
But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.

5] Follow love ad eagerly  desire –
1 Corinthians  14:1
Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy

6] Use it to serve others –
1 Peter 4:10
As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

7] God be praised through it –
1 Peter 4:11
If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

8] Use it for strengthening the Church –
1 Corinthians 14:3
But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men.

9] It’s possible for carnal believers to have it –
1 Corinthians 1:7
So that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ,
1 Corinthians 3:1
And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ.

[Message No:6674]

Questions in Matthew – 4

11:16

“But to what shall I liken this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their companions

12:3

But He said to them, “Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him:

12:5

Or have you not read in the law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath, and are blameless?

12:10

And behold, there was a man who had a withered hand. And they asked Him, saying, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”—that they might accuse Him.

12:11

Then He said to them, “What man is there among you who has one sheep, and if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not lay hold of it and lift it out?

12:12

Of how much more value then is a man than a sheep? Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.”

12:23

And all the multitudes were amazed and said, “Could this be the Son of David?”

12:26

If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand?

12:27

And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they shall be your judges.

12:29

Or how can one enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house.

15:3

He answered and said to them, “Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition

15:12

Then His disciples came and said to Him, “Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?”

[Message No: 6773]

Questions in Mark – 1

1:24
saying, “Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!”

1:27
Then they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? What new doctrine is this? For with authority He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him.”

2:7
“Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

2:8
But immediately, when Jesus perceived in His spirit that they reasoned thus within themselves, He said to them, “Why do you reason about these things in your hearts?

2:9
Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to
say, ‘Arise, take up your bed and walk’?

2:16
And when the scribes and Pharisees saw Him eating with the tax collectors and sinners, they said to His disciples, “How is it that He eats and drinks with tax collectors and sinners?”

2:18
The disciples of John and of the Pharisees were fasting. Then they came and said to Him, “Why do the disciples of John and of the
 Pharisees fast, but Your disciples do not fast?”

2:19
And Jesus said to them, “Can the friends of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them they cannot fast.

2:24
And the Pharisees said to Him, “Look, why do they do what is not lawful on the Sabbath?”

2:25
But He said to them, “Have you never read what David did when he was in need and hungry, he and those with him:

[Message No: 6672]

Questions in Ezra

5:3-4

At the same time Tattenai the governor of the region beyond the River and Shethar-Boznai and their companions came to them and spoke thus to them: “Who has commanded you to build this temple and finish this wall?” Then, accordingly, we told them the names of the men who were constructing this building

5:9

Then we asked those elders, and spoke thus to them: “Who commanded you to build this temple and to finish these walls?”

7:23

Whatever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it diligently be done for the house of the God of heaven. For why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons?

9:10

And now, O our God, what shall we say after this? For we have forsaken Your commandments

9:14

should we again break Your commandments, and join in marriage with the people committing these abominations? Would You not be angry with us until You had consumed us, so that there would be no remnant or survivor?

Psalm 103:13

As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him. —
Compassion. Not pity, not anger, not shame, not impatience, not intolerance, not rejection, but compassion is what God, my Father, gives to me. He cares for my pain enough to enter into my world and share it in Jesus.

Psalm 90:2 and 4

Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. For a thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night. —

So many things about our life are uncertain. This one thing, however, is sure: no matter where, when, or how long, God will be there and will be with us and for us.

[Message No: 6671]

Romans 6:3-4

Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. —

Baptism is far more than getting wet or checking off another thing on our obedience to do list. You see, what saves is Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection (1 Cor. 15:1-5). God has given us the incredible grace (Rom. 6:1,14,15) of being able to share in Jesus' saving work through faith and experience it in baptism (Gal. 3:26-27). We die to the old way of life and bury it in the past.
It no longer holds us. This death is the death that matters most. Raised to a new life, our life is now joined to Christ and his future becomes our own (cf. Col. 3:1-4). The life we now live is to glorify God and to live ! with him forever. That means the Gospel is not just something preached; it is something we experience by grace.

Thoughts 

"Rejoice in knowing that you belong to God and that He is conforming you to the image of His Son. See every event of this day as part of that process. Yield to the Spirit's prompting, and take heart that God will accomplish His will."
— John MacArthur

"The Lord gets his best soldiers out of the highlands of affliction." - Charles H. Spurgeon

Your family life will be a lot less stressful if you Satan-proof your relationships with  your children by allowing the Holy Spirit to lead you in child rearing. - Marilyn Hickey

2 Timothy 1:13-14

What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you — guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us. —

 We live in a world of keys, locks, alarms, and security systems. Paul's words shouldn't come as a surprise to us. We protect the things that are most valuable to us. What is more precious to us than the truth of God's saving grace in the Gospel. Thankfully, God has pre-wired all of us with a security system to help protect that incredibly precious hope. This security system lives in us. It is the Holy Spirit.

[Message No: 6670]

Questions in Matthew – 3

9:11
And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

9:14
Then the disciples of John came to Him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but Your disciples do not fast?”

9:15
And Jesus said to them, “Can the friends of the bridegroom mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.

9:28
And when He had come into the house, the blind men came to Him. And Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?”
  They said to Him, “Yes, Lord.”

10:25
It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they call those of his household!

10:29
Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father's will.

11:3
and said to Him, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?”

11:7
As they departed, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?

11:8
But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses.

11:9
But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet.

[Message No: 6669]

Besides Still Waters - 41

Heaven’s Favourites

Hebrews 12:5
And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons:
  “My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord,
   Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him;

Illegitimate and Not Sons

Hebrews 12:8
But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons.

Let us Have Grace

Hebrews 12:28
Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.

Be Content

Hebrews 13:5
Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

I Will Never Leave You

Hebrews 13:5
Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

I Will Never Forsake You

Heb Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”rews 13:5

We May Boldly Say

Hebrews 13:6
So we may boldly say:
  “The Lord is my helper;
   I will not fear.
 What can man do to me?”

[Message No: 6668]

Cry for help

“Answer me when I call to you, O my righteous God. Give me relief from my distress; be merciful to me and hear my prayer.” – Psalm 4:1

At first, this cry for help seems very demanding. However, closer inspection shows that this is really the cry of desperation. Have you been there? I surely have and I regularly hear from folks who are there now. But, read how this Psalm ends! What is the secret to surviving a long agony? I believe three things are important:

1) honesty in our prayer life with God,

2) confidence that God hears and cares even when our prayers sizzle with pain and frustration,

3) genuine praise for God included in our prayers even when things seem bleak. It's not a magical formula, but it is a Spirit-inspired one .. check it out in Psalm 4!

Are you without Sin?

“When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her [the woman caught in adultery]." – John 8:7
When we find it easy to identify the sin of others, God wants us to be reminded of how important it is for us to take a rigorously honest inventory of our own faithfulness. He wants us to deal with our own sin before we evaluate anyone else.

Thoughts 

"Pardon comes not to the soul alone; or rather, Christ comes not to the soul with pardon only! It is that which He opens the door and enters by, but He comes with a Spirit of life and power." - John Owen

"God did not write a book and send it by messenger to be read at a distance by unaided minds. He spoke a Book and lives in His spoken words, constantly speaking His words and causing the power of them to persist across the years."

— A. W. Tozer


Prayer

. Lord, thank You for delaying my punishment, giving me time to repent and change my life. I know we aren’t promised a tomorrow, so please help others to change today, while there is still time to turn from evil and live for You. Make them deaf to Satan’s whispers to delay to obey. Let them only hear Your Spirit and be willing to respond. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

[Message No: 6667]

The Holy Spirit and Christ

1] Christ was born through the Holy Spirit – Luke 1:35

And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.

2] He was full of the Holy Spirit – Luke 4:1

Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness

3] He was led by the Spirit – Luke 4:1

Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness

4] He was anointed by the Spirit – Luke 4:18

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,
 Because He has anointed Me
 To preach the gospel to the poor;
 He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
 To proclaim liberty to the captives
 And recovery of sight to the blind,
 To set at liberty those who are oppressed;

5] He did good by the Spirit – Acts 10:38

how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him

6] He died thro’ the Spirit -Hebrews 9:14

how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

7] He was raised by the Spirit – Romans 8:11

But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

[Message No: 6666]

Questions of Jesus - 10

60. On Sufficiency

Luke 14:28
For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it—

61. On Kindred

Matthew 12:48
But He answered and said to the one who told Him, “Who is My mother and who are My brothers?”

62. On Husbandry

Matthew 7:16
You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?

63. On Purpose

Matthew 26:50
But Jesus said to him, “Friend, why have you come?”
  Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and took Him

64. On Presenting

Matthew 5:13
You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.

65. On Thought

Matthew 22:42
saying, “What do you think about the Christ? Whose Son is He?”
  They said to Him, “The Son of David.”

66. On Execution

Mark 12:9
“Therefore what will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the vinedressers, and give the vineyard to others.

Matthew 21:40
“Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vinedressers?”

[Message No: 6665]

John 8:12

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

After stumbling around in the dark watering my yard last night, I was overjoyed to find a flashlight so I wouldn't meet any unexpected "critters" as I reached into the shrubbery to turn my faucet on and off.

My joy, however, is far greater at finding Jesus, who illuminates my heart on my darkest nights, illuminates my future with his coming glory, illuminates my path with his words of truth, and illuminates my hope with the dawning of each Sunday, my weekly reminder of his triumph over the grave.

Thoughts 

"Small numbers make no difference to God. There is nothing small if God is in it." - Dwight L. Moody

"For nourishment, comfort, exhilaration, and refreshment, no wine can rival the love of Jesus. Drink deeply." -Charles H. Spurgeon
"The stars may fall, but God's promises will stand and be fulfilled." J. I. Packer

Praying in the spirit will keep you in the love of God, and I believe that praying in the Spirit also will keep you in love with one another. - Marilyn Hickey

Isaiah 8:19

When men tell you to consult mediums and spiritists, who whisper and mutter, should not a people inquire of their God? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living? —

We live in an age when people want to mix the contents of many mystical faiths into the boiling pot of their own pseudo-Christian religion. Most do not know that the basic claim of Scripture is simple and clear. Only God, the Almighty Yahweh, is truly God.

Only the one true and living God is to be worshiped. Only this Abba Father is to be trusted. Yes, there are other spiritual powers, but these powers lead to despair, death, and destruction. Jesus triumphed over them for us in the cross (Colossians 2:13-15). Seek God, YAHWEH, the great "I AM" of Israel, the Almighty, the righteous Father of Jesus and all who follow him. Seek God and live.

[Message No: 6664]

Questions in Matthew – 2

6:31
Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’

7:3
And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?

7:4
Or how can you say to your brother, “Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye?

7:9
Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone?

7:10
Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent?

7:11
If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!

7:16
You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles?

7:22
Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’

8:26
But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.

8:29
And suddenly they cried out, saying, “What have we to do with You, Jesus, You Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?”

9:4
But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, “Why do you think evil in your hearts

9:5
For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Arise and walk’?

[Message No: 6663]

Besides Still Waters - 40

Grace To Help

Hebrews 4:16
Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Blessing I Will Bless You

Hebrews 6:14
saying, “Surely blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply you.”

Sure and Steadfast

Hebrews 6:19
This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil,

Loved Ones Taken Away

Hebrews 10:9
then He said, “Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God.” He takes away the first that He may establish the second.

Seeing Him

Hebrews 11:27
By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible.

Out Of Weakness

Hebrews 11:34
quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.

Trial of Mocking’s

Hebrews 11:36
Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment.

They … Were Tempted

Hebrews 11:37
They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented—

[Message No: 6662]

You Must Be Born Again

John 3:1-16

Life is like a ladder we climb until we die. It would be a shame if we simply stopped and never progressed. But it could be utterly disastrous if we placed our ladder against the wrong wall and after a lifetime of climbing discovered that we had wasted all the years given to us.  

Where have you placed your ladder? Has God ever emptied you so He can fill you up again?
Although there’s nothing you can do to be born again—no good works or religious service—there is something you can believe. God wants you to glimpse His holiness and realize how far you are from His perfect standard. Then, if you come broken and contrite to Jesus, believing His death paid your sin debt, you’ll be born again and will someday see the kingdom of heaven.

How God Uses Your Praise?

Praise renews strength. Waiting  on God and hoping in Him renew you spiritually and often physically also {Isa. 40:29-31}. Praising God is often even more effective than prayer in refreshing, reviving, and empowering you. Every Christian at  times experiences a sense of spiritual dryness.
Certainly, after a spiritual battle, there is mental and emotional exhaustion. Praise opens an artesian well of faith and joy. Praise  is one of God’s means for you inner renewal [2 Cor. 4:16; Ps. 106:1-5].
When you are sincere in your praise of God, praise is holy, God-pleasing, and powerful.

Jeremiah 7:5-7

“If you really change your ways and your actions and deal with each other justly, if you do not oppress the alien, the fatherless or the widow and do not shed innocent blood in this place, and if you do not follow other gods to your own harm, then I will let you live in this place, in the land I gave your forefathers for ever and ever.”

What is the true measure of our character? Certainly it is not merely how we act "at church." The real test of our character, our godliness, is our partnership with him in his work of redeeming the lost, forgotten, downtrodden, and broken. When we live only for ourselves, when the "have-nots" are left so far behind, a culture collapses upon itself because it lacks the heart of God, and people become jealous and resentful of one another.

[Message No: 6661]

Questions of Jesus - 9

52. On Accusers

John 8:10
When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?”

53. On Consequences

John 11:40
Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?”

54. On Placing

John 11:34
And He said, “Where have you laid him?”
  They said to Him, “Lord, come and see.”

55. On Knowing

John 13:12
So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you?

56. On Perplexity

John 16:19
Now Jesus knew that they desired to ask Him, and He said to them, “Are you inquiring among yourselves about what I said, ‘A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me’?

57. On Smiting

John 18:23
Jesus answered him, “If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil; but if well, why do you strike Me?”

58. On Originating

John 18:34
Jesus answered him, “Are you speaking for yourself about this, or did others tell you this concerning Me?”

59. On Images

Matthew 22:20
And He said to them, “Whose image and inscription is this?”

[Message No: 6660]

Jesus Christ Our Lord

Exalted as Lord

Acts 2:36
“Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”

Confessed as Lord

Romans 10:9
that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

Owned as Lord

Acts 9:6
So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?”
  Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

Praised as Lord

Psalm 9:11
Sing praises to the Lord, who dwells in Zion!
 Declare His deeds among the people.

Obeyed as Lord

Colossians3:17
And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

Served as Lord

Colossians  3:24
knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.

Denied as Lord

Jude 4
For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.

In Humiliation – Our Example

Hebrews 12:3
For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.

In Exaltation – Our Representative

Hebrews 3:1
Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus,

[Message No: 6659]

Questions in Matthew – 1

2:2
saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.”

3:7
But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

3:14
And John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and are You coming to me?”

5:13
“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.

5:46
For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?

5:47
And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so?

6:25
Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?

6:26
Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?

6:27
Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?

6:28
So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin;

6:30
Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

[Message No: 6658]

Besides Still Waters – 39

Whom I Have Believed

2 Timothy 1:12
If we endure, We shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us.

If We Endure

2 Timothy 2:12
If we endure, We shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us.

The Lord Knows

2 Timothy 2:19
Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”

I Have Finished The Race

2 Timothy 4:7
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith

Finally

2 Timothy 4:8
Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.

The Saviour’s Fellowship

Titus 3:4
But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared,

We See Jesus

Hebrews 2:9
But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone.

In The Day Of Trial

Hebrews 3:8
Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, In the day of trial in the wilderness,

The Throne Of Grace

Hebrews 4:16
Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

[Message No: 6657]

Examples of Hard Working

1] Nehemiah and Israelites

Nehemiah 4:6
So we built the wall, and the entire wall was joined together up to half its height, for the people had a mind to work.

2] Wife of noble character

Proverbs 31:10
Who can find a virtuous wife?
 For her worth is far above rubies.
Proverbs 31:17
She girds herself with strength,
 And strengthens her arms.

3] Apostle Paul

Acts 20:34-35
Yes, you yourselves know that these hands have provided for my necessities, and for those who were with me. I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”

4] Jesus and His Disciple

Mark 6:31
And He said to them, “Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.

5] Epaphras

Colossians 4:12-13
Epaphras, who is one of you, a bondservant of Christ, greets you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. For I bear him witness that he has a great zeal for you, and those who are in Laodicea, and those in Hierapolis.

[Message No: 6656]

Questions of Jesus - 8

45. On Concern

John 2:4
Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come.”

46. On Acquaintance

John 14:9
Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?

47. On Murder

John 7:19
Did not Moses give you the law, yet none of you keeps the law? Why do you seek to kill Me?”

48. On Exchange

Mark 8:36
For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?

49. On Numbers

Luke 17:17
So Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine?

50. On Inquisitiveness

John 21:15
So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?”
  He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.”
  He said to him, “Feed My lambs.”

51. On Comparison

John 21:15
So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?”
  He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.”
  He said to him, “Feed My lambs.”

[Message No: 6655]

You are chosen by Jesus Christ

John 15:16

You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.

John 20:21

So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.”

1 Timothy 1:12

And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry,

 “Philippians 2:1-2

If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.”

Our call to sacrificially submit ourselves to others does not begin with our sacrifice, but with God's blessings. The actual grammatical construction of this statement is more accurately translated when all the "if"s changed to "since"s! We are called to unity in spirit and purpose after having received all these blessings from being in Jesus! We are encouraged by being united with Christ. We are comforted by his love. We do share in fellowship with the Holy Spirit. We have received tenderness and compassion. So how can we not share those with our Christian family and find a way to live together in his Kingdom in harmony?

Thoughts 

"I will not work my soul to save, For that my Lord alone has done; But I will work like any slave Because I'm loved by God's dear Son!" - William Henry Griffith Thomas

God is for families! He doesn’t want your family to be destroyed by any of the horrendous things that come out of the devil’s devious mind. - Marilyn Hickey

"Contentment is not by addition but by subtraction: seeking to add a thing will not bring contentment. Instead, subtracting from your desires until you are satisfied only with Christ brings contentment." - Jeremiah Burroughs

[Message No: 6554]

Three Searching Questions

1] Where art Thou?

Genesis 3:9
Then the Lord God called to Adam and said to him, “Where are you?”

2] What hast Thou Done?

Genesis 4:10
And He said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood cries out to Me from the ground.

3] To whom belongest Thou?

1 Samuel 30:13
Then David said to him, “To whom do you belong, and where are you from?”
  And he said, “I am a young man from Egypt, servant of an Amalekite; and my master left me behind, because three days ago I fell sick.

The Worthiest Resolution 

And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

1. Personal
2. Parental
3. Practical
4. Professed
5. Permanent

Our Good Words

“The lips of the righteous nourish many, but fools die for lack of judgment.” – Proverbs 10:21
I have several friends who are very wise in the way they speak. When they do speak up, everyone listens attentively because their words are always wise, well-timed, and worthwhile. Their righteous lives and careful use of words blesses and nourishes all who listen. There are others, however, that are constantly talking about everything and spending little or no time practicing what they preach. Their words are discounted as nothing more than their own desire to hear their own opinions about matters on which they know nothing.

[Message No: 6553]

Questions of Jesus - 7

38. On Reading

Matthew 21:42
Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures:
   ‘The stone which the builders rejected
 Has become the chief cornerstone.
 This was the Lord's doing,
 And it is marvelous in our eyes’?

Luke 10:26
He said to him, “What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?”

39. On Ease

Luke 6:46
“But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?

40. On Suffering

John 13:38
Jesus answered him, “Will you lay down your life for My sake? Most assuredly, I say to you, the rooster shall not crow till you have denied Me three times.

41. On Words

John 5:47
But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?”

42. On Separation

John 6:67
Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?”

43. On Desire

Matthew 20:32
So Jesus stood still and called them, and said, “What do you want Me to do for you?”

44. On Watching

Matthew 26:40
Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour?

[Message No: 6652]

Things Men Should Not Do Again

1. Turn from righteousness – Ezekiel 3:20

Again, when a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and I lay a stumbling block before him, he shall die; because you did not give him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he has done shall not be remembered; but his blood I will require at your hand

2. Build to be in bondage – Galatians 4:9

But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage?

3. Be entangled in Mosaic Law – Galatians 5:1

Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage

4. Continue sinning and repenting – Hebrews 6:1

Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,

5. Turn back to folly – Psalm 85:8

I will hear what God the Lord will speak,
 For He will speak peace
 To His people and to His saints;
 But let them not turn back to folly.

6. Build sinful things – Galatians 2:18

For if I build again those things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor.

7. Be entangled in sin – 2 Peter 2:20-22

For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: “A dog returns to his own vomit,” and, “a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.”

[Message No: 6651]

Besides Still Waters - 38

Grace For The Tests

2 Thessalonians 1:4
Therefore, among God’s churches we boast  about your perseverance and faith  in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring.

Peace Always

2 Thessalonians 3:16
Now may the Lord of peace  himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.

A Peaceable Life
1 Timothy 2:2
for kings and all those in authority,  that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness  and holiness

One Mediator

1 Timothy 2:5
For there is one God  and one mediator  between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus

That Which Is To Come

1 Timothy 4:8
For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things,  holding promise for both the present life  and the life to come.

Trust In The Living Lord

1 Timothy 4:10
That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God,  who is the Savior of all people,  and especially of those who believe.

We Shall be Content

1 Timothy 6:8
And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.

Fight The Good Fight

1 Timothy 6:12
Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

[Message No: 6650]

The Rich Ruler

A – His interest – what shall I do? – Luke 18:18

Now a certain ruler asked Him, saying, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”

B – His idealism – To inherit eternal life – Luke 18:18

 Now a certain ruler asked Him, saying, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”

C – His sincerity – All these have I kept – Luke 18:21

And he said, “All these things I have kept from my youth.”

D – His Testimony  - yet lacked thou one thing – Luke 18:22

So when Jesus heard these things, He said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”

E – His failure – very sorrowful – Luke 18:22

So when Jesus heard these things, He said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”

F – His burden – Riches – Luke 18:23

But when he heard this, he became very sorrowful, for he was very rich.

Moral Filth

James 1:21

Get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. —

Isn't it true! When we find ourselves caught in the clutches of the moral filth of our culture, we find the Word of God boring and irrelevant. Yet even in those moments when Satan uses sin to harden our hearts, God's Spirit calls us to change at a level deeper than just the mere understanding of the words of Scripture. Thank God for his Spirit which can use his Word like a surgeon's scalpel and do the needed surgery on our hearts.

[Message No: 6649]

When I see things going wrong and feel powerless

James 1:2-4

But seek first the kingdom of God and My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

James 5:16

Confess  your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

fess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

1 Peter 4:12-13

Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.

Proverbs 18:24

“A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”

Close spiritual friends — the kind that can hold us accountable when we need it, build us up when we're down, or celebrate with us when we've enjoyed success — are truly rare. So many people are lonely; they're lonely for something, or better yet, someone, they've never experienced. We have a tendency in modern western culture to have acquaintances and companions instead of friends and partners.

When things go poorly, when we have nothing to offer to them, acquaintances can run away in times of trouble, or fade away if things are long and protracted. There are, however, true friends whose commitment and dedication are deeper than even physical family. How do I know? God promised it! I've seen it! My family has been blessed by it! So let's hear the call to be that kind of friend to others and in so doing, we will often find that kind of friend for ourselves.

[Message No: 6648]

Blessings to God’s People

Isaiah 25:1

Lord, You are my God.
   I will exalt You,
 I will praise Your name,
 For You have done wonderful things;
 Your counsels of old are faithfulness and truth.

Isaiah 25:4

For You have been a strength to the poor,
 A strength to the needy in his distress,
 A refuge from the storm,
 A shade from the heat;
 For the blast of the terrible ones is as a storm against the wall.

Isaiah 25:6

And in this mountain
 The Lord of hosts will make for all people
 A feast of choice pieces,
 A feast of wines on the lees,
 Of fat things full of marrow,
 Of well-refined wines on the lees.

Advice to Youth

Ecclesiastes 11:7-8

Truly the light is sweet,
 And it is pleasant for the eyes to behold the sun;
  But if a man lives many years
 And rejoices in them all,
 Yet let him remember the days of darkness,
 For they will be many.
 All that is coming is vanity.

[Message No: 6647]

Lord, Strengthen me and Stand Against the Enemy

Ephesians 6:10-11
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

1 Timothy 2:1-2
Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence

Proverbs 10:25
When the whirlwind passes by, the wicked is no more,
 But the righteous has an everlasting foundation.

Matthew 7:7-8

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened."

God made us to seek after him and find him (Acts 17:27-28). Try to imagine the astounding reality of this truth: the God of the Universe is thrilled to see us when we come home to him! Is it any wonder that he longs for us to seek him so he can welcome us with the same joy as the father welcomed the son back again (Luke 15:11-31)?

Worship That Pleases God

Mark 12:30
And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment.

Thought

"Not until we have become humble and teachable, standing in awe of God's holiness and sovereignty...acknowledging our own littleness, distrusting our own thoughts, and willing to have our minds turned upside down, can divine wisdom become ours." - J. I. Packer

[Message No: 6646]

Gift of Revelation

1] The message  of wisdom

1 Corinthians 12:8
for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit,

2] The message of knowledge

1 Corinthians 12:8
for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit,

3] Distinguishing between spirits

1 Corinthians 12:10
to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.

Gift of Inspiration

1] Gift of Prophecy

1 Corinthians 12:10
to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.

2] Different kind of tongues

1 Corinthians 12:10
to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.

3] Interpretation of tongues

1 Corinthians 12:10
to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.

[Message No: 6645]

Questions of Jesus - 6

33. On Bread

Mark 6:38
But He said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.”
  And when they found out they said, “Five, and two fish.”

Mark 8:5
He asked them, “How many loaves do you have?”
  And they said, “Seven.”

John 21:5
Then Jesus said to them, “Children, have you any food?”
  They answered Him, “No.”

Luke 24:41
But while they still did not believe for joy, and marvelled, He said to them, “Have you any food here

34. On Knowledge

John 3:10
Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things?

35. On Finding

Luke 15:4
“What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?

Luke 15:8
Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it?

36. On What to Say

John 12:27
“Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour.37. On Calling

Luke 5:23
Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise up and walk’?

[Message No: 6644]

Seven Steps in Joshua

1. Commanding

Fear the Lord – Joshua 24:14
“Now therefore, fear the Lord, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord!

2. Choosing

Chose you … when ye shall serve - Joshua 24:15
And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

3. Confessing

The Lord our God – Joshua 24:17-18
for the Lord our God is He who brought us and our fathers up out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage, who did those great signs in our sight, and preserved us in all the way that we went and among all the people through whom we passed. And the Lord drove out from before us all the people, including the Amorites who dwelt in the land. We also will serve the Lord, for He is our God.”

4. Covenant

Joshua made a covenant - Joshua 24:25
So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and made for them a statute and an ordinance in Shechem.

5. Cleansing

Put away .. the strange gods - Joshua 24:23
“Now therefore,” he said, “put away the foreign gods which are among you, and incline your heart to the Lord God of Israel.”

6. Confidence

We will serve the Lord - Joshua 24:25
So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and made for them a statute and an ordinance in Shechem.

[Message No: 6643]

Ways to Good Works

1. Remember the poor

Galatians 2:10
They desired only that we should remember the poor, the very thing which I also was eager to do.

2. Look after orphans

James 1:27
Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.

3. Recognition to widows

1 Timothy 5:3
Honour widows who are really widows.
1 Timothy 5:16
If any believing man or woman has widows, let them relieve them, and do not let the church be burdened, that it may relieve those who are really widows.

4. Bringing up children

1 Timothy 5:10
well reported for good works: if she has brought up children, if she has lodged strangers, if she has washed the saints’ feet, if she has relieved the afflicted, if she has diligently followed every good work.

5. Showing hospitality

1 Timothy 5:10
well reported for good works: if she has brought up children, if she has lodged strangers, if she has washed the saints’ feet, if she has relieved the afflicted, if she has diligently followed every good work.

6. Helping the troubled

1 Timothy 5:10
well reported for good works: if she has brought up children, if she has lodged strangers, if she has washed the saints’ feet, if she has relieved the afflicted, if she has diligently followed every good work.

7. Helping God’s people

Hebrews 6:10
well reported for good works: if she has brought up children, if she has lodged strangers, if she has washed the saints’ feet, if she has relieved the afflicted, if she has diligently followed every good work.

[Message No: 6642]

Our God

God Before us

Deuteronomy 1:30
The Lord your God, who goes before you, He will fight for you, according to all He did for you in Egypt before your eyes,

God Behind us

Isaiah 52:12
For you shall not go out with haste,
 Nor go by flight;
 For the Lord will go before you,
 And the God of Israel will be your rear guard.

God Above us

Psalm 18:16
He sent from above, He took me;
 He drew me out of many waters.

God Underneath us

Deuteronomy 33:27
The eternal God is your refuge,
 And underneath are the everlasting arms;
 He will thrust out the enemy from before you,
 And will say, ‘Destroy!’

God Around us

Psalm 125:2
As the mountains surround Jerusalem,
 So the Lord surrounds His people
 From this time forth and forever.

[Message No: 6641]

Encouraging Each Other

“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another — and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” – Hebrew 10:24-25

We need each other. We cannot make it on our own. God calls us to get together regularly to encourage and to motivate each other to live vibrant lives of service and faith. With the day of Jesus' return and our ultimate victory on the horizon, we should be motivated even more to help and to encourage each other.

Why should we serve one another?

Serving is the best use of my TIME.

Here’s a riddle for you. We each have the same amount – but we each have a different amount. What is it? T-I-M-E!

We each have 24 hours in each day. Yet each of us have a different life span. 1 Corinthians 15:58 in the Message Bible says: “Throw yourselves into the work of time or effort”. 1 Corinthians 15:58.
 If you’re in Children’s nursery ministry and you change a diaper, it’s not without value. If you pick up a piece of trash on your way into Sunday morning worship, because you say, “Someone walking in who needs to know Jesus might be turned off by this,” that’s not worthless. It’s of value. If you open a door for someone who needs help and you do it in the name of Jesus, it’s not a waste of time.
The Bible says, whatever you do, if it is done to the glory of God, it all counts. It’s not so much God’s glory? What’s my attitude? Time is something that all of us have. What makes a great servant different is the way they use their time. Are you using it to serve others or are you using it to serve self?

Thoughts 

"Experience makes us see an enormous difference between piety and goodness." - Blaise Pascal
"Whence comes this idea that if what we are doing is fun, it can't be God's will? The God who made giraffes, a baby's fingernails, a puppy's tail, a crooknecked squash, the bobwhite's call, and a young girl's giggle, has a sense of humor. Make no mistake about that." - Catherine Marshall

[Message No: 6640]

Besides Still Waters - 37

The Hope Which Is Laid Up

Colossians 1:5
For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel

Things Above

Colossians 3:2
Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

Lest You Sorrow

1 Thessalonians 4:13
Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed  about those who sleep in death,  so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope.

With A Shout

1 Thessalonians 4:16
For the Lord himself will come down from heaven,  with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel  and with the trumpet call of God,  and the dead in Christ will rise first.

With The Lord

1 Thessalonians 4:17
After that, we who are still alive and are left  will be caught up together with them in the clouds  to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord  forever.

Comfort

1 Thessalonians 4:18
Therefore encourage one another  with these words.

Rejoice Always

1 Thessalonians 5:16
Rejoice always
Pray Without Ceasing

1 Thessalonians 5:17
Pray continually,

[Message No: 6639]

Qualification of God’s Servant

1. Being free from sin

Romans 6:22
But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.

2. Not trying to please men

Galatians 1:10
For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.

3. Receiving God’s Spirit

Acts 2:18
And on My menservants and on My maidservants
 I will pour out My Spirit in those days;
 And they shall prophesy.

4. Following wholeheartedly

Numbers 14:24
But My servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit in him and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land where he went, and his descendants shall inherit it.

5. Suffering in the soul

Isaiah 53:11
He shall see the labour of His soul, and be satisfied.
 By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many,
 For He shall bear their iniquities.

6. Wrestling in Prayer

Colossians 4:12
Epaphras, who is one of you, a bondservant of Christ, greets you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God

7. Walking without blame

Psalm 101:6
My eyes shall be on the faithful of the land,
 That they may dwell with me;
 He who walks in a perfect way,
 He shall serve me.

[Message No: 6638]

Gideon

.. The secret of his success – Joshua 6:12

And Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark of the Lord.

.. The unbelief – Judges 6:13

Gideon said to Him, “O my lord, if the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all His miracles which our fathers told us about, saying, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt?’ But now the Lord has forsaken us and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites.”

Prayer

. Lord, over and over You have shown Your power over situations on earth through Israel. You helped them escape on dry ground right through the sea while using that same event to destroy their enemies without a single Israelite casualty. You saw to it that Israel conquered the mighty city of Jericho by making the walls of that city fall outward, exposing their homes and leaving them defenseless. And, Lord, I trust You have the ability to help me through my current difficulties. I can’t wait to see how You do that! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Philippians 4:23

“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.”

Some prayers are so simple and so precious. To pray grace "on" someone is a great blessing. To pray that this grace be more than physical, external things, is greater still. So why not pray this prayer for those you love.

John 8:31-32

"If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

Truth is not something we know, it is something we live. Jesus reminds us that we must not only know his teaching, but also obey it. However, obedience is one of the proofs of our discipleship and doorway to freedom and truth.

Thought 

When we pray God’s Word, using it on spirits and situations, it begins to cut through thoughts and attitudes in order to bring about a change. - Marilyn Hickey

[Message No: 6637]

'A New Definition for Glory'

As soon as Judas left the room, Jesus said, "The time has come for the Son of Man to enter into his glory, and God will be glorified because of him. And since God receives glory because of the Son, he will give his own glory to the Son, and he will do so at once." - John 13:31-32

John has hinted throughout his gospel that Jesus would redefine glory. The word for exalt or glorify actually means to lift up on high. For Jesus, his glory will involve his being lifted up on high on the cross out of love for us and in obedience to the Father. Through his death, burial and resurrection, Jesus will bring the Father glory by fulfilling the Father's plan to bring us out of our bondage to sin and death. Are we willing to follow him to that kind of glory?

Prayer

. Lord God, I praise You as Creator and Lord of all the earth — even with the total power over death and the grave. When death threatens my own live, Lord, remind me that I need not fear it because You are the One with the ultimate power and control — even over death itself. Remind me that the last enemy to be destroyed and removed is death (1 Corinthians 15:26), and that death is not the end; but rather just a transition toward eternal life in heaven forever with You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Ecclesiastes 12:1

“Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, "I find no pleasure in them."

When we are young and have so many things to do, many things can distract us from what is important. We must let the Lord gather our passions under his grace in those early days of excitement and frenetic joy so we can be used for God's greater good. For most of us, age brings a crescendo of limitations of one kind or another.

This doesn't mean life has to be bad, just that we had better put our priorities in order. Hopefully we learned the lessons of faith in our youth so that we have the maturity and wisdom to be mentors, examples, and counselors for those who come after us on the path.

Thought 

"God does not give us everything we want, but He does fulfil all His promises . . . leading us along the best and straightest paths to Himself." - Dietrich Bonhoeffer

[Message No: 6636]