Five conditions of blessing

Psalms 84:11 

For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.

Colossians 1:23  

If you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.

2 Timothy 2:12-13  

12 if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us;

13 if we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself.

Read Isaiah 58.

Enter the Throne Room

 “Now we can come fearlessly right into God’s presence.”  Ephesians 3:12, TLV

Christ meets you outside the throne room, takes you by the hand, and walks you into the presence of God.  Upon entrance we find grace, not condemnation; mercy, not punishment…

Because we are friends of God’s Son, we have entrance to the throne room.  This gift is not an occasional visit before God but rather a permanent “access by faith into this grace by which we now stand.” (Romans 5:2, NIV)

He Cares

Give all your worries to him, because he cares about you.  I Peter 5:7

Maybe you don’t want to trouble God with your hurts.  After all, he’s got famines and pestilence and wars; he won’t care about my little struggles, you think.

Why don’t you let him decide that?  He cared enough about a wedding to provide the wine.  He cared enough about Peter’s tax payment to give him a coin.  He cared enough about the woman at the well to give her answers….Max Lucado.

Billy Graham – My Answer

(Timeless advice from God’s Word)

Question: 

Maybe I’m missing something, but I don’t understand why the death of Jesus almost 2000 years ago makes any difference to me right now. I know you’ll probably say Jesus died for my sins, but to be honest I can’t buy that.

Answer:

If  Jesus’ death were simply a tragic event that ended the life of an ordinary man, then you would be right – it wouldn't make much difference to us today.

But what if Jesus was more than a mere man? What if He was actually who the Bible says He is the divine Son of God, sent from Heaven to save us from our sins? What if His death wasn’t simply a tragic accident but part of God’s eternal plan to make possible our salvation? I think you’d agree that that would make all the difference. 

And that is exactly what happened when Jesus died on the cross, yes, from a human point of view Jesus’ death was simply another tragedy – but from God’s point of view it accomplished far more than we could ever imagine. The Bible puts it this way: “This man was handed over to you by God’s set purpose and foreknowledge” (Acts 2:23). In God’s plan, by His death on the cross Jesus became the full and final sacrifice for our sins.

Just as the men who signed our nation’s Declaration of Independence over 200 years ago accompanied something that is still with us, so – in a far greater way – what Jesus did on the cross 2,000 years ago is still with us. Why did He die? He died because God loves us and He wants us to spend eternity with Him in Heaven. Don’t turn away from Him, but by faith ask Christ to come into your life today – and He will.

Parenting:

Question: 

Why didn’t someone tell me how hard it is being a parent? We have three children, and it seems like all I do all day long is try to keep them from fighting. Will it ever get any better?

Answer: 

I’m sure almost every parent could echo your frustration, for it’s hard being a parent – very hard. It’s not just exhausting physically, but emotionally and spiritually as well. In fact, parenting is one of the hardest jobs in the world.

But it also can be one of the most satisfying, if we learn to look beyond the immediate problems and heartaches and begin to see it from God’s point of view. After all, God gave your children to you, and He did it because He knows they need the love and wisdom only you can give them. The Bible says, “Sons are a heritage from the Lord, children a reward from him” (Psalm 127:3).

In other words, God has given you one of the greatest privileges imaginable: the privilege of helping shape the future of another human being. Someday your children will no longer live with you – but what will their memories be? Will they only be of bickering or conflict or will they also be of love and joy and happiness? Don’t let your frustrations or weariness crowd out your love.

Almost every parent goes through what you are experiencing, and you’re right: it isn’t easy. But pray for your children, and ask God to help you be the kind of parents they need at this stage of life. Most of all, point them to Jesus, and urge them to give their lives to Him. God not only wants us to help our children develop physically and emotionally, but spiritually as well.

Encouragement for the Believers

Warn every man

Colossians 1:28 

We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.

Take up your cross

Mark 8:34-38 

34 Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

35 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it.

36 What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?

37 Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?

38 If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels.”

You Have Won!

 “This is the victory that conquers the world—our faith.”  1 John 5:4

What is unique about the kingdom of God is that you are assured of victory. You have won!

If you have no faith in the future, then you have no power in the present. If you have no faith in the life beyond this life, then your present life is going to be powerless. But if you believe in the future and are assured of victory, then there should be a dance in your step and a smile on your face.

God’s Promises   "For to you it has been granted for Christ's sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake." Philippians 1:29

     

      

The Whole World Is Watching

By Jon Walker

“Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.” (John 13:35)

We prove our faith in Christ, not by the rules we keep, but by the love we give.

Notice Jesus didn’t say, “Love me,” as proof of our discipleship. He said, “Love one another, and that will show the world you belong to me.” One of the best things we can do to reach our community for Christ is to love each other – that is, to love other believers.

Until the world sees the love of God modeled in Christian community, they’re going to have trouble believing it can ever exist. When we truly care for one another, we show the world a love so tangible and contagious that they can’t help but be attracted to it.

As the world watches, they’ll see us “…being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, intent on one purpose;” not merely looking out for our own personal interests, but also for each other’s interests (Philippians 2:3-4). The world is desperate for love and a sense of community, and we’re meant to be the salt (Matthew 5:13) that increases their thirst for the living water. (John 4:10) “Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.” (John 7:38)

Our love for one another shows the world our unity with the Father and also shows them that community requires unity, a oneness about the purposes of life. Jesus said, “I want all [my disciples] to be one with each other, just as I am one with you and you are one with me. I also want them to be one with us. Then the people of this world will believe that you sent me.” (John 17:21)

This means the influence of our congregations is not about attendance, or buildings, or programs. Our influence within the greater community is based upon our love for one another.

Isn’t it alarming, then, to think that we’re often known for what we are against, rather than what we’re for – and we are for the Good News of a love so “wide and long and high and deep” that it encompasses more than any of us could ever imagine. (Ephesians 3:18)

Our community of unity should reflect the faith we have in the love of Jesus Christ. Our congregations are meant to be points of love and light in the darkness of our communities. We’re to let our “light shine so that others will see the good” and praise our Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:16)

People are less impressed with our words than they are with our actions of love for one another. Your love for other believers speaks about God’s love. How loud is your voice?

So what?

• You witness to others when you love believers – Jesus gave the world the right to judge the authenticity of our faith by how much we love one another – that is, how we love other Christians. Yet some of the greatest conflicts we will experience are with other believers. Ask God what fences you need to mend. The whole world is watching how we love one another.

• What are you saying about God? – We make a statement about God by the way we love one another. It may be a positive statement or it may be a negative one, but the fact is people often form their opinions of God by how they see us individually. There’s truth in the old saying, “You may be the only picture of Jesus people will ever see.” People also may base their opinion of God on the reputation of our congregations – how we get along, how we support each other, how we criticize others.

• Is your love tangible? – Our love for one another offers a tangible, and contagious, reflection of God’s love, allowing the world to witness the power of transformed lives. How loud do your actions speak about the love of God? How loud is the voice of your small group?

Evangelism

"The neglect of prayer is a grand hindrance to holiness." - John Wesley

Eternal Things…Part 2

God’s work

Deuteronomy 29:29  

The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law.

Psalms 12:6  

6 And the words of the LORD are flawless, like silver refined in a furnace of clay, purified seven times.

7 O LORD, you will keep us safe and protect us from such people forever.

Psalms 119:89  

Your word, O LORD, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens.

Psalms 119:152  

Long ago I learned from your statutes that you established them to last forever.

Psalms 119:160  

All your words are true; all your righteous laws are eternal.

Isaiah 40:8  

The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever.”

1 Peter 1:23-25  

23 For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.

24 For, “All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall,

25 but the word of the Lord stands forever.” And this is the word that was preached to you.

God’s glory

Psalms 104:31  

May the glory of the LORD endure forever; may the LORD rejoice in his works—

2 Corinthians 4:17  

For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.

2 Timothy 2:10  

Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.

1 Peter 5:10  

And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.

Revelation 1:6  

And has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.

Kinds of hearts in the Bible

Broken

Psalms 34:18

The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Psalms 51:17

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

Psalms 69:20

Scorn has broken my heart and has left me helpless; I looked for sympathy, but there was none, for comforters, but I found none.

Grieved

Genesis 6:6 

The LORD was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain.

Psalms 73:21-22

21 When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered,

22 I was senseless and ignorant; was a brute beast before you. 

     

Willing

Exodus 25:2

 “Tell the Israelites to bring me an offering. You are to receive the offering for me from each man whose heart prompts him to give.

Exodus 35:5 

From what you have, take an offering for the LORD. Everyone who is willing is to bring to the LORD an offering of gold, silver and bronze;

Exodus 35:29 

All the Israelite men and women who were willing brought to the LORD freewill offerings for all the work the LORD through Moses had commanded them to do.

Christ mas or Xmas..?

By Dr Stafford Cripps

It's Christmas Once Again   

                                                                                                                                                                                  

Christmas brings thrill & excitement to young & old because it’s a festival of Joy, Light, Peace, Hope and Glad tidings. Christmas reminds us of the greatest gift God has given to mankind when He sent His One and Only Son, His nearest and dearest to this world to suffer and die for my sins, your sins and sins of the whole world. In II Corinthians 9:15 we read – “Thanks be to God for His unspeakable gift.” Yes Indescribable gift! Can we describe the personality of Jesus Christ..? He has such a great personality that it requires hundreds of names and titles to describe Him! That’s why when He was born, He was given a very special name – “JESUS” (Luke 1:31) which means – He shall deliver mankind from their sins (Matthew 1:21). He was given 5 star title 750 years before His birth in Isaiah 9:6 – Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father and the Prince of peace...

GREATEST GIFT: Our Loving Father has given you and me the greatest Gift, ie His Only begotten Son, Jesus Christ (John 3:16) in spite of knowing the fact that, one day He would be crushed on the Cross of Calvary. In response to this wonderful gift, we should ask a very important question like King David, who asked in Psalm 116:12, “What shall I render in return to the Lord for His great Love and sacrifice..? I am sure every believer would ask this vital question if he or she will personalise the statement recorded in Isaiah 53:5 by confessing – “He was wounded for My (our)transgressions and He was bruised for My (our) iniquities...”

CHRIST WAS BORN ON A MISSION:  Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Lamb of God came down to this planet earth on a mission, not to establish a religion or a kingdom but to establish a relationship (Colossians 1:22) that was broken, when man committed sin. This He accomplished when He died as a supreme sacrifice on the Cross of Calvary where He bought us for a price, not with the corruptible things as silver and gold but with His precious blood (I Peter 1:18). We’ve the privilege and joy of worshipping the Risen Christ (John 11:25) because on the Cross, He did not say – “I AM finished!” But He said – “It Is Finished!” (John 19:30) there by accomplished His Mission.

THE BIG QUESTION: King David, after tasting and experiencing Lord’s love, (Psalm 34:8) asked a very vital question –“O Lord, what shall I give unto Thee in return for Thy great Love and Sacrifice..?” (Psalm 116:12). This Christmas, as you look at the cradle of Baby Jesus, you can also see the shadow of the Cross there! And if you focus your eyes on that old rugged Cross where Jesus Christ was bruised and battered (Isaiah 53:10), you and I will be constrained to ask the question – O my Savior, what shall I give in return to your great love and sacrifice so unique and amazing  that you’ve demonstrated on the Cross of Calvary while I was yet a sinner..? (Romans 5:8).

WHAT’S OUR RESPONSE? This Christmas, if you and I want to celebrate the festival meaningfully, we have to respond as exhorted by St. Paul in Romans 12:1-3 where we read –“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service...”  Yes! Apart from giving our tithes and offerings to our Church and missions generously and cheerfully (II Cor 9:7), let’s surrender ourselves to Him Who loves us by placing Him in the Centre of our physical and spiritual lives. And since we are passing through this world but once, let's pray that our good Lord will fill us with His spirit to be His Ambassadors in this world (II Cor 5:20).

Dearly beloved, now the Big Question!? Are you going to celebrate the Birthday of CHRIST of CHRISTmas or a mere Xmas..? By the way you may ask, what's Xmas? You may be knowing, it's -

X-austing preperations, X-tensive shopping,

X-travagant gifts, X-citing parties,

X-cessive feasting, X-alting Santa but...

X-cluding CHRIST!

Come let's join hands and celebrate CHRISTMAS meaningfully by inviting CHRIST into our Hearts & Homes.

I will never leave thee…Hebrews 13:5

No promise is of private interpretation. Whatever God has said to any one saint, He has said to all. When He opens a well for one, it is that all may drink. When He openeth a granary-door to give out food, there may be someone starving man who is the occasion of its being opened, but all hungry saints may come and feed too.

Whether He gave the word to Abraham or to Moses, matters not, O believer; He has given it to thee as one of the covenanted seed. There is not a high blessing too lofty for thee, or a wide mercy too extensive for thee. Lift up now thine eyes to the north and to the south, to the east and to the west, for all this is thine.

Climb to Pisgah's top, and view the utmost limit of the divine promise, for the land is all thine own. There is not a brook of living water of which thou mayst not drink. If the land floweth with milk and honey, eat the honey and drink the milk, for both are thine. Be thou bold to believe, for He hath said, "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." In this promise, God gives to His people everything. "I will never leave thee."

Then no attribute of God can cease to be engaged for us. Is He mighty? He will show Himself strong on the behalf of them that trust Him. Is He love? Then with loving-kindness will He have mercy upon us. Whatever attributes may compose the character of Deity, every one of them to its fullest extent shall be engaged on our side.

To put everything in one, there is nothing you can want, there is nothing you can ask for, there is nothing you can need in time or in eternity, there is nothing living, nothing dying, there is nothing in this world, nothing in the next world, there is nothing now, nothing at the resurrection-morning, nothing in heaven which is not contained in this text—"I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."

Principles of Christianity – Part 1

Repentance

Matthew 4:17  

From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”

Faith in God through Christ

Romans 3:24-25

24 and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

25 God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished—

Water baptism

Matthew 28:19  

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

Spirit baptism

Matthew 3:6  

Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.

Laying on Hnads when Blessing men

Genesis 48:14  

But Israel reached out his right hand and put it on Ephraim's head, though he was the younger, and crossing his arms, he put his left hand on Manasseh's head, even though Manasseh was the firstborn.

Ordaining

Numbers 27:18  

So the LORD said to Moses, “Take Joshua son of Nun, a man in whom is the spirit, and lay your hand on him.

Numbers 27:23  

Then he laid his hands on him and commissioned him, as the LORD instructed through Moses.

Imparting Spirits

Deuteronomy 34:9  

Now Joshua son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom because Moses had laid his hands on him. So the Israelites listened to him and did what the LORD had commanded Moses.

Blessings

Ephesians 6:12

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Psalms 91:11

For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways;

1 Corinthians 3:9

For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building.

1 John 5:10

Anyone who believes in the Son of God has this testimony in his heart. Anyone who does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because he has not believed the testimony God has given about his Son.

Amos 5:14

Seek good, not evil, that you may live. Then the LORD God Almighty will be with you, just as you say he is.

Ephesians 2:10

For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Psalms 31:19-20

19 How great is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you, which you bestow in the sight of men on those who take refuge in you.

20 In the shelter of your presence you hide them from the intrigues of men; in your dwelling you keep them safe from accusing tongues.

Romans 8:26-27

26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.

27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will.

Thought

"I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go."…Abraham Lincoln

Questions from the book of Job

Where comest thou ?

Job 1:7  

The LORD said to Satan, “Where have you come from?” Satan answered the LORD, “From roaming through the earth and going back and forth in it.”

Hast thou considered My servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?

Job 1:8  

Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.”

Doth Job fear God for nought?

Job 1:9  

“Does Job fear God for nothing?” Satan replied.

Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side?

Job 1:10

“Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land.

From whence comest thou?

Job 2:2  

And the LORD said to Satan, “Where have you come from?” Satan answered the LORD, “From roaming through the earth and going back and forth in it.”

Hast thou considered My servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God and escheweth evil?

Job 2:3  

Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil. And he still maintains his integrity, though you incited me against him to ruin him without any reason.”

Thought

The hunger for love is much more difficult to remove than the hunger for bread. .. Mother Teresa

Lord, Draw Me into a Closer Walk with You.

Lord, I draw  close to You today, grateful that You will draw close to me as You have promised in Your Word (James 4:8). I long to dwell in Your presence, and I want to know You in every way can be known. Teach me what I need to learn in order to know You better. I don’t want to be a person who is always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth (2 Timothy 3:7). I want to know the truth about who You are, because I know that You are near to all who call upon You in truth (Psalm 145:18).

I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be with you. (John 14:16-17).

Lord, help me to set aside time each day to meet with You alone. As I come before You, teach me to pray the way You want me to. Help me to learn more about You. Lord, You have said, if anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink (John 7:37). I thirst for more of You because I am in a dry place without You. I come to You this day and drink deeply of Your Spirit. I know You are everywhere, but I also know there are deeper manifestations of Your presence that I long to experience. Draw me close as I draw near to You, so that I may dwell in Your presence like never before.

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. (James 4:8)

Fivefold Promises of Isaiah 41:10

1. I am with you.

2. I am your God.

3. I will strengthen you.

4. I will help

5. I will uphold you.

God loves you…

God loves you the way you are, but He refuses to leave you that way. He wants you to be just like Jesus.

      

Savior

Forgot God their Savior

Psalms 106:21  

They forgot the God who saved them, who had done great things in Egypt,

He will send them a Savior

Isaiah 19:20  

It will be a sign and witness to the LORD Almighty in the land of Egypt. When they cry out to the LORD because of their oppressors, he will send them a savior and defender, and he will rescue them.

Of Israel your Savior

Isaiah 43:3  

For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I give Egypt for your ransom, Cush and Seba in your stead.

Me, a just God and a Savior

Isaiah 45:21  

Declare what is to be, present it— let them take counsel together. Who foretold this long ago, who declared it from the distant past? Was it not I, the LORD? And there is no God apart from me, a righteous God and a Savior; there is none but me.

I the LORD, am your Savior

Isaiah 60:16  

You will drink the milk of nations and be nursed at royal breasts. Then you will know that I, the LORD, am your Savior, your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.

So He became their Savior

Isaiah 63:8  

He said, “Surely they are my people, sons who will not be false to me”; and so he became their Savior.

For there is no Savior

Hosea 13:4  

“But I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt. You shall acknowledge no God but me, no Savior except me.

Rejoice in God my Savior

Luke 1:47  

And my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

The city of David a Savior

Luke 2:11

Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.

The Christ, the Savior

John 4:42  

They said to the woman, “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.”