we ARE the church!

This is what the LORD says to the house of Israel: "Seek me and live; do not seek Bethel, do not go to Gilgal, do not journey to Beersheba." — Amos 5:4-5

Do you "go to church"? I hope not! Now don't get me wrong; I'm not advocating you skip worship and fellowship this Sunday! We're told not to forsake gathering together as believers (Hebrews 10:25). But when we assemble as a body of believers, we're gathering together for encouragement and meeting with God. We're not GOING to church; we ARE the church! (The New Testament never used the word church to refer to a building!)

God warned his people in Old Testament times that simply going to the places of worship was worthless. Instead, they needed to seek him! I believe that is exactly what God would have us do. And as we seek him together, we get to share fellowship, comfort, and encouragement with each other.

How to use the Word

Acts 8: 28
and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the Book of Isaiah the prophet.

Acts 8:30
Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked.

Questions in Job 

39:9
Will the wild ox  consent to serve you?
 Will it stay by your manger  at night?

39:10
Can you hold it to the furrow with a harness?
 Will it till the valleys behind you?

God’s Word for God’s People

Zechariah 2:11
“Many nations will be joined with the Lord in that day and will become my people.  I will live among you and you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me to you.

Zechariah 2:12
The Lord will inherit  Judah  as his portion in the holy land and will again choose  Jerusalem.

Zechariah 2:13
Be still  before the Lord, all mankind, because he has roused himself from his holy dwelling.

[Message No: 7496]

An Incorruptible Crown

[For those with disciplined bodies]
1 Corinthians 9:25-27

An Incorruptible Crown
Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown  that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.    Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly;  I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. 

No, I strike a blow to my body  and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

One Breath

Psalm 39:5-7
You have made my days  a mere handbreadth;
 the span of my years is as nothing before you.
 Everyone is but a breath,
 even those who seem secure.

    “Surely everyone goes around  like a mere phantom;
 in vain they rush about,  heaping up wealth
 without knowing whose it will finally be.
    “But now, Lord, what do I look for?
 My hope is in you.

Happy Endings

1 Peter 1:13
Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober,  set your hope  on the grace to be brought to you  when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming.

Come to Me

Matthew 11:28
“Come to me,  all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

His Word Remains Forever

Matthew 24:35
Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

[Message No: 7495]

There is none like Jesus.

 ` He never wrote a book, but He is the subject of the
greatest Book ever written.

`  He never wrote a song, yet He is the subject of many.

`  He never owned a home, but He has prepared one for us.

`  He never travelled more than 100 miles from home, yet the
entire world is in His presence.

`  He didn’t have a medical license but is known as the Great
Physician.

`  He never marshalled an army, but He could bring down
every kind of kingdom imaginable.

`   Herod could not kill Him.
 Satan could not seduce Him.
 Death couldn’t destroy Him.
 The tomb could not keep Him.

Sin and Devil

He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work. — 1 John 3:8
Two simple truths: 1) The person who continues to live a life caught up in sin is of the devil. 2) The Son of God came to destroy all that the devil stands for. So, I guess the issue isn't as complex as we sometimes make it, which leads me to a final thought
: Who are we going to side with in this heavenly war?

Hair

Isaiah 50:6
I offered my back to those who beat  me,
 my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard;
 I did not hide my face
 from mocking and spitting.

Jeremiah 7:29
“‘Cut off  your hair and throw it away; take up a lament  on the barren heights, for the Lord has rejected and abandoned  this generation that is under his wrath.

[Message No: 7494]

Live a life worthy of Jesus

Philippians 1:27
Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy  of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm  in the one Spirit, striving together  as one for the faith of the gospel

Colossians 1:10
so that you may live a life worthy  of the Lord and please him  in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,

1 Thessalonians 1:7
And so you became a model  to all the believers in Macedonia  and Achaia

2 Thessalonians 1:11
1 Timothy 4:16
Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save  both yourself and your hearers.

1 Peter 2:12
Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds  and glorify God  on the day he visits us.

Be an Encourager 

Hebrew 3:13
But encourage one another daily,  as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.

Hebrew 10:25
not giving up meeting together,  as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another —and all the more as you see the Day approaching

Prayer 

“Rather than set aside daily time for prayer, I pray constantly and spontaneously about everything I encounter on a daily basis. When someone shares something with me, I'll often simply say, 'let's pray about this right now.”’- Thomas Kinkade

“Is prayer your steering wheel or your spare tire?” - Corrie ten Boom

 “You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day.” Psalm 91:5

[Message No: 7493]

God’s power in our weakness

The first step  toward receiving God’s best for you is to quit accepting less than His best. You need to raise the standard, but not through guilt and condemnation. Don’t say, “O  God, I am a terrible person because I have not stepped out in faith.” No, the Lord loves you just like you are, but He loves you so much that He doesn’t want to leave you where you are.

He wants to raise you up to a higher level. God wants you to believe for His best, but it’s  not going to come pass for you accidentally. You are going to have to set God’s best as your goal and pursue it.

Peace and Harmony

Colossians 3:14-15
And over all these virtues put on love,  which binds them all together in perfect unity.
    Let the peace of Christ  rule in your hearts, since as members of one body  you were called to peace.  And be thankful

1 Peter 3:8
Finally, all of you, be like-minded,  be sympathetic, love one another,  be compassionate and humble.

Proverbs 20:3
It is to one’s honor to avoid strife,
 but every fool  is quick to quarrel.

Avoid causing any trouble

Romans 14:13
Therefore let us stop passing judgment  on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister.

Romans 15:1-2
And again, Isaiah says,
  “The Root of Jesse  will spring up,
 one who will arise to rule over the nations;
 in him the Gentiles will hope.”

[Message No: 7492]

Deliver - 2

Psalm 91:3
Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence.

Proverbs 4:9
She will give you a garland to grace your head and present you with a glorious crown. ”

Proverbs 6:3
So do this, my son, to free yourself, since you have fallen into your neighbor’s hands: Go—to the point of exhaustion—and give your neighbor no rest!

Proverbs 11:8
The righteous person is rescued from trouble, and it falls on the wicked instead.

Proverbs 28:26
Those who trust in themselves are fools,  but those who walk in wisdom are kept safe.

Ecclesiastics 8:8
As no one has power over the wind to contain it, so no one has power over the time of their death. As no one is discharged in time of war, so wickedness will not release those who practice it.

Isaiah 31:5
Like birds hovering  overhead,  the Lord Almighty will shield  Jerusalem; he will shield it and deliver  it, he will ‘pass over’  it and will rescue it.”

God knows us by name

Psalm 79:13
Then we your people, the sheep of your pasture, will praise you forever;
 from generation to generation we will proclaim your praise.

Be Confident in God’s Strength in You

Numbers 13:30
Then Caleb  silenced the people before Moses and said, “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.”

God’s Everlasting Faithfulness

2 Timothy 2:13
if we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself.

[Message No: 7491]

An altar of Glory

And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. — Colossians 2:15

Crucifixion was so hideous, so inhumane and vile, that the word "crucify" was not considered appropriate in polite speech in Greek culture. Crucifixion was reserved for the scum of society who were considered a threat to the government. Jesus endured this hideous death. But what Satan had intended for the humiliation of God, Jesus turned into the humiliation of Satan and his evil angels. He made a public spectacle of them. He turned their torture stick of shame into an altar of glory.

 He transformed the gory fury of hell into a sacrifice of forgiveness. He redirected evil's power to kill and made it a place to heal. While we deplore the unspeakable sacrifice and shame that Jesus bore on the cross for us, we also rejoice that the evil one and his hoards of hate are broken. Their apparent victory is turned into their defeat. What was supposed to be God's greatest shame becomes his greatest grace, which ransoms us from Satan's grasp.

Divine Love in many Aspects 

. The saint’s love – as Christ’s to them
John 15:12
My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.

Characteristics of Faith

It is most holy
Jude 1:20
But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up  in your most holy faith  and praying in the Holy Spirit,

Seven fold view of the Spirit

. The Spirit Truth – John 14:17
the Spirit of truth.  The world cannot accept him,  because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.

. The Spirit of Wisdom – Ephesians 1:17
I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father,  may give you the Spirit of wisdom  and revelation, so that you may know him better.

. The Spirit of Glory – 1 Peter 4:14
If you are insulted because of the name of Christ,  you are blessed,  for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.

[Message No: 7490]

He keeps up His Promises

I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint. — Jeremiah 31:25

In the overwhelming, hair-raising, and depressing prophecies of Jeremiah, God repeatedly told his people he would destroy them for their obstinate and hardened hearts. Yet in the middle of these powerful and scorching warnings, God also slips in passages that soar with hope and grace. Can you think of anything more reassuring than God's promise to "refresh the weary and satisfy the faint"? For seventy years, that's all Israel had — God's promise. But when the time came, God made good on his word. I believe he will do the same with us today!

Significance of Peace

. Peace raises righteousness
James 3:18
Peacemakers  who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.

. Blessed are the peacemakers
Matthew 5:9
Blessed are the peacemakers,
 for they will be called children of God.

Pornography

Ephesians 1:7
In him we have redemption  through his blood,  the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches  of God’s grace

Mystery

Daniel 2:22
He reveals deep and hidden things;
 he knows what lies in darkness,
 and light  dwells with him.

Thoughts 

. The world drinks to forget; the Christian drinks to remember. - Steve Brown
. Within the reach of every Christian is the unending presence of God. - Max Lucado
. Caring is a powerful force. - Frank Reed

[Message No: 7489]

God’s gift to us – Savior!

In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. — Acts 2:17

As those living in the last days, each believer — young and old, male and female — must be Spirit-led and Spirit-empowered to give his or her personal testimony to the grace of God given us in Jesus Christ. As Jesus prayed for us before his death (John 17:20-23), we must be united across the gender barriers and across the age barriers and across the racial barriers if the world is to truly know that God sent his Son as Savior of the world!

Divine Love in many Aspects 

. Love manifested – in the Gift of Christ
1 John 4:9
This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son  into the world that we might live through him.
. Love Commended – at the Cross
Romans 5:8
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Hair

Matthew 5:36
And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black.

Matthew 10:30
And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

Thoughts 

. Convert your thoughts into prayer.  As we are involved in unceasing thinking, so we are called to unceasing prayer.  The difference is not that prayer is thinking about other things, but that prayer is thinking in dialogue.  It is a move from self-centred monologue to a conversation with God. - Henri Nouwen

In All These Things

Romans 8:37
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors  through him who loved us.

[Message No: 7488]

He died after making it!

He [the Word, Jesus] was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. — John 1:2-3

Jesus was there. He was with God in the beginning. But he was more than just a witness of Creation; he created it! Jesus, who allowed himself to be limited to human flesh and to die a cruel and agonizing death on the Cross, was there at the beginning as the Word speaking our world into existence. He made it. It is his. Yet he came and died to redeem it.

 More specifically, he came to redeem you and me. So when the Word speaks to us telling us how to live to please God, don't you think we'd better pay attention? Better yet, don't you think we ought to do it?

The Lord’s Servant

Psalm 113:1
Praise the Lord!
 Praise, O servants of the Lord,
 Praise the name of the Lord!

Daniel 7:10
A fiery stream issued
 And came forth from before Him.
 A thousand thousands ministered to Him;
 Ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him.
 The court was seated,
 And the books were opened.

Ezra 5:11
And thus they returned us an answer, saying: “We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and we are rebuilding the temple that was built many years ago, which a great king of Israel built and completed.

Avoid causing any trouble

1 Corinthians 10:32
Do not cause anyone to stumble,  whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God

2 Corinthians 6:3
We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path,  so that our ministry will not be discredited.

[Message No: 7487]

Spiritual Light

Even in darkness light dawns for the upright, for the gracious and compassionate and righteous man. — Psalm 112:4

What a powerful promise! Just as night passes into dawn, for the gracious and compassionate and righteous, dawn comes even in the worst nights of deep spiritual darkness. The Holy Spirit is reminding us that even in those worst times of cultural decay and decadence, Satan's darkness will not rule forever. His darkness cannot stay where Jesus' disciples reflect the character of the Light of the world.

In the Lord’s Hands

. The Place of Creation
Job 10:8
“Your hands shaped  me and made me.
 Will you now turn and destroy me?effects

. The of Life
Job 12:10
In his hand is the life  of every creature
 and the breath of all mankind.

. The Place of Keeping
Psalm 31:15
Into your hands I commit my spirit;
 deliver me, Lord, my faithful God

. The Place of Supply
Psalm 104:28
Into your hands I commit my spirit;
 deliver me, Lord, my faithful God

Questions of Jesus

. On Lacking
Luke 22:35
Then Jesus asked them, “When I sent you without purse, bag or sandals,  did you lack anything?”
 “Nothing,” they answered.

. On Reward
Matthew 5:46
If you love those who love you, what reward will you get?  Are not even the tax collectors doing that?

[Message No: 7486]

Our life is secured

"I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty." — Revelation 1:8

From beginning to end, our God is there! What is there for us to fear? What can happen that can change this one undeniable reality? We belong to the God who is always there, who always cares for us, and who will always work to bring us salvation! No matter what happens to us tomorrow, or the next day, or the one after that, our destiny lies with the God who stretches from beginning to end and who secures for us life that never ends.

Thoughts 

. Father,

give us wisdom to perceive you,
intellect to understand you,
diligence to seek you,
patience to wait for you,
eyes to behold you,
a heart to mediate on you
and a life to proclaim you,
through the power of the Spirit
of our Lord Jesus Christ. - Benedict

New Things

. Sonship – A new relationship with God

1 John 3:1
See what great love  the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!  And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.

. Glorification – A new place with God

Romans 8:30
And those he predestined,  he also called;  those he called, he also justified;  those he justified, he also glorified.

[Message No: 7485]

Waiting, how long?

We wait for the blessed hope of the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. — Titus 2:13

One way to view our lives is to see them as a wait. Long or short, we live in anticipation, waiting for our "blessed hope." This hope is rooted in Jesus' promise to return. But more than just his return, our hope is rooted in his glorious appearance as our Savior. On that day, our trust in Jesus as Lord will be validated and our highest dreams realized.

Hair

Daniel 4:33
Immediately what had been said about Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled. He was driven away from people and ate grass like the ox. His body was drenched  with the dew of heaven until his hair grew like the feathers of an eagle and his nails like the claws of a bird.

Matthew 3:4
John’s  clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist.  His food was locusts  and wild honey.

The unravelled power of prayer

Romans 8:26
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  through wordless groans.

Bare

Ezekiel 16:7
I made you grow  like a plant of the field. You grew and developed and entered puberty. Your breasts had formed and your hair had grown, yet you were stark naked.

Genesis 7:17
For forty days  the flood kept coming on the earth, and as the waters increased they lifted the ark high above the earth.

Exodus 19:4
‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt,  and how I carried you on eagles’ wings  and brought you to myself.

Numbers 13:23
When they reached the Valley of Eshkol,  they cut off a branch bearing a single cluster of grapes. Two of them carried it on a pole between them, along with some pomegranates  and figs.

[Message No: 7484]

Closeness to God Makes Us Strong

Don’t you sometimes feel like the leprous man who found healing and restoration in Jesus? Remember how you had nothing and suddenly you were given your life back again. You were headed for destruction and suddenly you heard Jesus say, ” am willing…be clean!” You felt like a nobody who heard Jesus say, “I love you and I forgive you.

Welcome home.” Don’t you want to grow in that kind of relationship? When you look into the face of God, don’t you want to say, “I may lose everything else in the world, but I am not going to lose my relationship with God.”

When we dare to let God be for us

Psalm 37:7
Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him;
 Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way,
 Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass.

Reject heretics 

Titus 3:10
Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition,

Refuse to support young widows from church funds

1 Timothy 5:11
But refuse the younger widows; for when they have begun to grow wanton against Christ, they desire to marry,

Remind men of the 7 things of –

Titus 3:1-2
to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men.

Characteristics of Faith

It is a precious faith
2 Peter 1:1

Simon Peter, a bondservant and apostle of Jesus Christ,
  To those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:

[Message No: 7483]

Be an Encourager

Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints. — Philemon 1:7

Wouldn't this description of Philemon be a great one to have said about you! To be loved, supported, and encouraged by an encourager is to have your heart refreshed and your attitude lifted. Let's make a commitment to be an "encourager" who refreshes the hearts of those around us.

Significances of Peace

. God’s kingdom is of peace.

Romans 14:17
For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking,  but of righteousness, peace  and joy in the Holy Spirit,

. Divine wisdom is of peace.

James 3:17
But the wisdom that comes from heaven  is first of all pure; then peace-loving,  considerate, submissive, full of mercy  and good fruit, impartial and sincere.

Questions of Jesus

. On Thanks

Luke 6:33
And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that.

. On Seeing

Luke 7:44
Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet,  but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.

Mark 8:19
When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?”
 “Twelve,”  they replied.

[Message No: 7482]

Alcohol

Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler; whoever is led astray by them is not wise. — Proverbs 20:1

Rather than spending millions on ad campaigns filled with bright lights, leggy blondes, fast cars, and handsome young studs like the alcohol industry does, God plainly states the truth: We are unwise to be in bondage to anything that makes us look foolish, that destructively incites our passions, and that open us up to temptation.

If your experience with alcohol has led to any of these, please seek the help of a strong Christian friend who can help you find freedom. If you are not in bondage to these, please keep those who have been hurt by alcohol and drug abuse in your prayers and fellowship.

Commands

Remind men of the 7 things of –

Titus 3:1-2
Saved in Order to Do Good
  Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities,  to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good,    to slander no one,  to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone.

Your Gift to God

Philippians 4:17-18

Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account.    I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus  the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant  offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.

Hebrews 13;16

And do not forget to do good and to share with others,  for with such sacrifices  God is pleased.

Authority and Independence

John 14:15
“If you love me, keep my commands

Programme of Belief

John 11:26

and whoever lives by believing  in me will never die.  Do you believe this?”
[Message No: 7481]

God sent His Son, why?

God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. — Galatians 4:4-5

God sent his Son. No one else would do. He had sent prophets, priests, and preachers. Religion remained earthbound, legalistic, and doomed. So God sent what is most precious to him, his Son. Why? So measly human beings such as you and I could be adopted into his family and have the same rights as the Savior, God's Son and our brother in the faith!

Facts about Prayer

. Pray in Jesus name – John 14:14
You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

. By Faith – Matthew 21:22
If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for  in prayer.”

Temptation of Jesus

. Jesus was to fulfil Lawful – Matthew 4:3
The tempter  came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God,  tell these stones to become bread
. Jesus was tempted to claim Spiritual Word in an Unspiritual Method – Matt.4:6 
“If you are the Son of God,”  he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written:
  “‘He will command his angels concerning you,
 and they will lift you up in their hands,
 so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”
. Jesus was tempted to offer worthy worship to an unworthy person –

Matthew 4:9-10
“All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”
    Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan!  For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”

Prayer 

1 John 3:22
and receive from him anything we ask,  because we keep his commands  and do what pleases him.

Deuteronomy 31:6
Be strong and courageous.  Do not be afraid or terrified  because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you;  he will never leave you  nor forsake  you.”

[Message No: 7480]

Prophet – Noah

Genesis 6:8-9
But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.
    Noah Pleases God
    This is the genealogy of Noah. Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations. Noah walked with God.

Genesis 9:25
So Noah awoke from his wine, and knew what his younger son had done to him. Then he said:
  “Cursed be Canaan;
 A servant of servants
 He shall be to his brethren.”

1 Peter 3:20-21
who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine long suffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water.
There is also an anti type which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

To do Right

Learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. - Isaiah 1:17

We find it easy to be incensed when wrong is done to a friend. We are ready to fight injustice when someone we love has been wronged. However, God reminds us that our worship means little if we do not also protect those who are weak, marginalized, oppressed, and forgotten.

It's not just our friends who need our help; it's also those who have no friends who need us. "To do right" doesn't just mean being a good person and avoiding evil in our sanctified little enclaves; it also means to care, comfort, and encourage those no one else wants to notice.

Thought 

. If you aspire to be a person of consolation…to share the priestly gift of sympathy…to go beyond giving commonplace comfort to a heart that is tempted, and if you long to go through life with the kind of tact that never inflicts pain, then you must be prepared to pay the price for a costly education—for like Christ, you must suffer. - Frederick William Robertson

[Message No: 7479]

He came to us in human flesh ..

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. — John 1:14

God's message wasn't content to stay confined to a book, a prophecy, or a scroll. Praise God! This Message, this Word, took on flesh and blood and bones! Praise God Almighty! This Message, this Word, didn't remain far off, distantly holy and unapproachable. Praise the LORD, God of Israel! He came to us in human flesh, bringing us love, hope, redemption, mercy, salvation, joy...

The Holy Spirit

. Bears Witness -  To Sonship – Romans 8:16

The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit  that we are God’s children.

. Sheds Love Abroad – In Experience – Romans 5:5
And hope  does not put us to shame, because God’s love  has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit,  who has been given to us.

Seven fold view of the Spirit

. The Spirit of Life – Romans 8:2

because through Christ Jesus  the law of the Spirit who gives life  has set you free  from the law of sin  and death.

. The Spirit of Sonship – Romans 8:15

The Spirit  you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again;  rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”

Questions of Jesus

On Faithfulness :

Matthew 24:45
“Who then is the faithful and wise servant,  whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time?

On Love:

Luke 7:42
Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?”

[Message No: 7478]

The light that gives life.

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." — John 8:12

Are you walking in light or darkness? Can you clearly see your path, or do you find yourself stumbling along an uncertain path? Jesus wants us to boldly follow him. The way may not always be easy, but the destination is assured, and your way can be certain. Most of all, you won't ever have to have a night light — you're assured that even in the deepest darkness, you will have his light, the only light that gives life.

An Incorruptible Crown

[For those with disciplined bodies]

1 Corinthians 9:25-27
Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown  that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.    Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly;  I do not fight like a boxer beating the air.    No, I strike a blow to my body  and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

True Discipleship

Come all, come all, the cross, the crown,
The rainbow and the thunder;
I fling my soul and body down
For God to plow them under.

Hair

Genesis 42:38
But Jacob said, “My son will not go down there with you; his brother is dead  and he is the only one left. If harm comes to him  on the journey you are taking, you will bring my gray head down to the grave  in sorrow. ”

Leviticus 13:3
The priest is to examine the sore on the skin, and if the hair in the sore has turned white and the sore appears to be more than skin deep, it is a defiling skin disease. When the priest examines that person, he shall pronounce them ceremonially unclean.

[Message No: 7477]

Listening to Him

Matthew 17:5

A bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him

Moses and Elijah appeared with Jesus on the "Mount of Transfiguration" before Jesus' closest disciples. This was the ultimate honor for them as faithful Jews. God, however, wanted them to know that as important as Moses and Elijah are, only Jesus is his Son. His Son's words are the ultimate authority and the bottom-line truth of God's will. If we are to be refreshed, renewed, and restored, we must begin by listening to and obeying God's Son and our Lord, Jesus Christ.

Commands

. Mind not the high things

Romans 12:16
Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.

. Minister as good stewards

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.

. Mortify offending bodily members

Colossians 3:5
Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

The method of Missions

Matthew 28:19
Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

Substitution

2 Corinthians 5:21
For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

[Message No: 7476]

God is blessing you today

You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. — 2 Corinthians 9:11

As we examine our blessings and give thanks to God for his wonderful grace, let's ask why God has blessed us so much. Let's also remember the primary spiritual principle that God made clear in today's Scripture and also in his call to Abraham in Genesis 12:2: God's people are blessed to be a blessing. Let's make sure we are not just recipients of God's blessings. Let's commit to be conduits of those blessings to others.

Maturity 

1 Corinthians 3:1
Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit  but as people who are still worldly —mere infants  in Christ.

Self-Centeredness 

John 3:30
He must become greater; I must become less.”

Justice

Romans 4:8
Blessed is the one
 whose sin the Lord will never count against them.”

God -Knowledge of:

John 10:14
“I am the good shepherd;  I know my sheep  and my sheep know me—

Ephesians 3:19
and to know this love that surpasses knowledge —that you may be filled  to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Romans 1:20
For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made,  so that people are without excuse.

[Message No: 7475]

Spending Time with our Lord

Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest." — Mark 6:31

"Come away." We do need to withdraw — not once-in-a-while, but often, daily! What is incredible is that Jesus invites his disciples (today that's us!) to withdraw with him to a quiet place and rest with him. The little childhood prayer is appropriate here: "Now I lay me down to sleep and pray the Lord my soul to keep." Only this isn't just about a good night's sleep; it's about taking time in the middle of our wild and crazy days to join him for a few moments of grace, rest, for His assurances and guidance.

God, My Exceeding Joy

Psalm 43:4
Then I will go  to the altar  of God,
 to God, my joy  and my delight.
 I will praise you with the lyre,
 O God, my God.

How Saul Worshiped the Lord?

. With self-justifying

2 Samuel 15:20
You came only yesterday. And today shall I make you wander  about with us, when I do not know where I am going? Go back, and take your people with you. May the Lord show you kindness and faithfulness.”

. By substituting sacrifices  for obedience

2 Samuel 15:22
David said to Ittai, “Go ahead, march on.” So Ittai the Gittite marched on with all his men and the families that were with him.
How Saul Worshiped the Lord?

. With the spirit of arrogance

2 Samuel 15:23
The whole countryside wept aloud  as all the people passed by. The king also crossed the Kidron Valley,  and all the people moved on toward the wilderness.

. By violating God’s command

2 Samuel 15:24
Zadok  was there, too, and all the Levites who were with him were carrying the ark  of the covenant of God. They set down the ark of God, and Abiathar  offered sacrifices until all the people had finished leaving the city.

[Message No: 7474]

Micah’s Promise

He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth. And he will be their peace. — Micah 5:4-5

When Jesus proclaims that he is the ''Good Shepherd," he means that he will lay down his life for us! For us, however, it means all that Micah promised — strength, majesty, security and peace.

He Can Heal the Hurt

Psalm 51:10
Create in me a pure heart,  O God,
 and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

How Saul Worshiped the Lord?

. With hypocrisy

2 Samuel 15:13
A messenger came and told David, “The hearts of the people of Israel are with Absalom.”

. Doing evil in the eyes of the Lord

2 Samuel 15:19
The king said to Ittai  the Gittite, “Why should you come along with us? Go back and stay with King Absalom. You are a foreigner,  an exile from your homeland.

Questions in Job 

39:2
Do you count the months till they bear?
 Do you know the time they give birth?

39:5
“Who let the wild donkey  go free?
 Who untied its ropes?
God’s Word for God’s People

Zechariah 13:9
This third I will put into the fire;
 I will refine them like silver
 and test them like gold.
 They will call  on my name
 and I will answer  them;
 I will say, ‘They are my people,’
 and they will say, ‘The Lord is our God. ’”

[Message No: 7473]

Spiritual Scrutiny

Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God. — John 3:20-21

What's the power behind your life? One clear way to find out is to come to Jesus and ask him to search you and reveal anything spiritually unhealthy, anything unholy, in you. Opening ourselves up to the light of his scrutiny, to the truth of his Light, gives us a remarkable sense of freedom. We don't have anything to hide. Then God can do some truly remarkable things in us and through us because there are no distorted motives.

Prayer 

Psalm 23:4
Even though I walk
 through the darkest valley,
 I will fear no evil,
 for you are with me;
 your rod and your staff,
 they comfort me.
Psalm 116:1-2
I love the Lord,  for he heard my voice;
 he heard my cry  for mercy.
    Because he turned his ear  to me,
 I will call on him as long as I live.

New Things

. Repentance – A new mind about God

Acts 20:21
I have declared to both Jews  and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance  and have faith in our Lord Jesus.

. Justification – A new state before God

Romans 4:25
He was delivered over to death for our sins  and was raised to life for our justification.

[Message No: 7472]

The life that wins respect

Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody. — 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12

What's your ambition? I don't know about you, but I'm not so sure I could say my ambition is to "live a quiet life ...." But when I hear the reason for that directive, I understand. So many people I meet are frazzled, run down, and exhausted with all their "busy-ness."

So let's make a commitment to cycle down a little, trust God more and more each day, and seek to live a life that wins the respect of those around us!

When to Praise

. All day Long – Psalm 71:8
My mouth  is filled with your praise,
 declaring your splendor  all day long.

. All my Life – Psalm 146:2
I will praise the Lord all my life;
 I will sing praise  to my God as long as I live.

. Always be On – Psalm 34:1
I will extol the Lord at all times;
 his praise will always be on my lips.

. When Downcast – Psalm 43:5
Why, my soul, are you downcast?
 Why so disturbed within me?
 Put your hope in God,
 for I will yet praise him,
 my Savior and my God.

. About Midnight – Acts 16:25
About midnight  Paul and Silas  were praying and singing hymns  to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.

. Sunrise to Sunset – Psalm 113:3
From the rising of the sun  to the place where it sets,
 the name of the Lord is to be praised.

. For Ever and Ever – Psalm 45:17
I will perpetuate your memory through all generations;
 therefore the nations will praise you  for ever and ever.

[Message No: 7471]

Our Talks

“An evil man is trapped by his sinful talk, but a righteous man escapes trouble.” - Proverbs 12:13

Our mouths can sure get us into trouble, can't they! This is especially true for someone whose heart is tainted by evil. Talk reveals so much about our interior life, and an evil person has a lot to hide! But that brings us to ourselves. What does our talk reveal about us? Does it help us escape trouble or does it reveal festering evil in our souls?

Dramatic events to take place

. Every enemy will be destroyed.

1 Corinthians 15:24-25
Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet.

2 Thessalonians 1:7-10
and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed.

. Satan will be bound

Revelation 20:1-2
Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, having the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years;

Prophet – Abraham

Genesis 18:18-19
Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation,  and all nations on earth will be blessed through him.   For I have chosen him , so that he will direct his children  and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord  by doing what is right and just,  so that the Lord will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him.”

[Message No: 7470]

Not Forgotten

The women said to Naomi, “Praise be to the Lord who this day has not left you without a Kinsman-Redeemer.” Ruth 4:14

No matter how lost you feel right now, God is at work on your behalf in ways that you may not be able to see. God’s very nature is one of Redeemer, of buying back lost or hopeless causes. He may seem far away at times, but he has not forgotten about you. He sees you in your grief and in your disillusionment with life. Help is coming!

Redeemer God, you know the despair I feel at times. Help me to believe that you’ve already made a way for me, and that you are going before me, even if I cannot see what you are doing for me right now. Help me to trust in Jesus, my Kinsman-Redeemer! Amen.

Why Are You Different?

“In my distress I called to the Lord, and he answered me. From deep in the realm of the dead I called for help, and you listened to my cry.” Jonah 2:2

Feelings of Inferiority

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” – Ephesians 2:10

Dramatic events to take place
. Judgment will be meted out –

2 Thessalians 1:6-9
Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you;   And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels,   In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ:   Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;

Questions in Job 

36:22
“Behold, God is exalted by His power;
 Who teaches like Him?

36:23
Who has assigned Him His way,
 Or who has said, “You have done wrong’?

36:29
Indeed, can anyone understand the spreading of clouds,
 The thunder from His canopy?

[Message No: 7469]

Ten Commandments

1. No Other Gods Before Me
Exodus 20:3
“You shall have no other gods before me.

2. No Graven Images
Exodus 20:4-6
“You shall not make for yourself an image  in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.   You shall not bow down to them or worship  them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God,  punishing the children for the sin of the parents  to the third and fourth generation  of those who hate me,   but showing love to a thousand  generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.

3. Do Not Take God’s Name In Vain
Exodus 20:7
“You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.

4. No Desecration of The Lord’s Day
Exodus 20:8-11
“Remember the Sabbath  day by keeping it holy.   Six days you shall labor and do all your work,    but the seventh day is a sabbath  to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns.   For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth,  the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested  on the seventh day.  Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

5. Honor Thy Father And Thy Mother
Exodus 20:12
“Honor your father and your mother,  so that you may live long  in the land  the Lord your God is giving you.

6. Thou Shalt Not Kill
Exodus 20:13
“You shall not murder.

7. Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery
Exodus 20:14
“You shall not commit adultery.

8. Thou Shalt Not Steal
Exodus 20:15
“You shall not steal.

9. Thou Shalt Not Bear False Witness
Exodus 20:16
“You shall not give false testimony  against your neighbor.

10. Thou shalt Not CovetExodus 20:17
“You shall not covet  your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”

[Message No: 7468]

Let's avoid sin

You know my folly, O God; my guilt is not hidden from you. May those who hope in you not be disgraced because of me, O Lord, the LORD Almighty; may those who seek you not be put to shame because of me, O God of Israel. — Psalm 69:5-6

While we're all weak and sinful, and while we do have Jesus to atone for our sins and to intercede before the Father on our behalf, there are still a couple of big problems with our sin. This verse reminds us of one of them: we don't want our sin to be an embarrassment to God or his people.
Let's avoid sin because that is what God wants us to do. Let's avoid sin so it won't reflect badly on God's people. But let's also pray for ourselves and our brothers and sisters in Christ that God will not allow our failures to bring shame on his Church, his Christ, and his cause.

Hair

Luke 7:38
As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.

John 11:2
(This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair.)

Kingdom of Everlasting

2 Peter 1:11
and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom  of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Daniel 4:3
How great are his signs,
 how mighty his wonders!
 His kingdom is an eternal kingdom;
 his dominion endures  from generation to generation.

Thought 

This joy in God is not like any pleasure found in physical or intellectual satisfaction.  Nor is it such as a friend experiences in the presence of a friend.  But, if we are to use any such analogy, it is more like the eye rejoicing in light.
- Augustine

[Message No: 7467]

God’s Way

 “While [Joseph and Mary] were [in Bethlehem], the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” – Luke 2:6-7

I've always been amazed at how God chose to place his Son into our world. He could have done it any way he wanted. But he chose this way — to enter the world in difficult times under difficult circumstances as a helpless infant who must be cared for by parents who were vulnerable to so many frailties.

Yet in spite of the challenges that lay ahead and the bewildering mystery that confronted them, Joseph and Mary — along with everyone around them — were caught up in the great joy of this new child. Thank God for such new hope!

Ways to Repentance

The miracles of God

Matthew 11:21
Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.

The Godly Sorrow

2 Corinthians 7:10
For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.

The Discipline of the Lord

Revelation 3:19
As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent

The brave comradeship of God

Luke 18:31
Then He took the twelve aside and said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be accomplished.

Thought 

. If there be ground for you to trust in your own righteousness, then all that Christ did to purchase salvation, and all that God did to prepare the way for it, is in vain. - Jonathan Edwards

[Message No: 7466]

Entering into Lord’s house for worship

Enter [the Lord's] gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations. — Psalm 100:4-5

Worship is always about entering — entering into grace, entering with thanksgiving, entering to share with others, but most of all, entering into the Lord's presence in a special way. But our entering is not the basis of worship. Instead, worship is about the Lord's faithfulness, goodness, and enduring grace. We come to God like so many before us, with God waiting for us.

We come to praise him for all he has been, all he is, and all he will be. We come to enter and worship. We can do this simply because God is faithful, through all the generations, to wait for us to come.

Your Thoughts 

Matthew 9:4
Knowing their thoughts,  Jesus said, “Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts?

Matthew 15:19
For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.

Prophet Moses

Exodus 10:29
So Moses said, “You have spoken well. I will never see your face again.”

Exodus 11:1
And the Lord said to Moses, “I will bring one more plague on Pharaoh and on Egypt. Afterward he will let you go from here. When he lets you go, he will surely drive you out of here altogether.

Life is a Stewardship

Philippians 1:20
I eagerly expect  and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage  so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body,  whether by life or by death.

[Message No: 7465]

Deligent in Business

The beleiver should be sure that he is making his money honestly [Proverbs 20:17]. His business may be reputable enough but his methods may be crooked. For instance:

. flasify income tax returns [Prov. 12:22]

. cheating on weights and measures [Prov. 11:1]

. bribing local inspectors [Prov. 17:23]

. advertising differences in products when no such difference exist [Prov. 20:6]

. fudging on expense accounts [Prov. 13:5]

. speculating in the market or on the stock exchange – just another form of gambling [Prov. 13::11]

. paying inadequate wages to employees [Prov. 12:16]

It is against this latter abuse that James cries out, in James 5:4  “Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers  who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries  of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty.”

A Servant Heart

mark 10:45
For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve,  and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Leading by Example

John 13:12-15
When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them.   “You call me ‘Teacher’  and ‘Lord,’  and rightly so, for that is what I am.   Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.    I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.

For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve,  and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Prayer 

Ephesians 6:11
 “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.”

[Message No: 7464]

Christian priority No. 1: God must come first

When God gave the 10 Commandments at Mount Sinai, He thundered these words: “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before Me” (Exodus 20:2-3).

God does not want us to place anything before Him. His desire is that we worship Him and Him alone. He must come first in our lives.

How do we demonstrate that we truly love God and want to put His teachings first?

We have to be honest with ourselves. Are we putting our personal relationship with God first, or are we allowing other aspects of our lives to come before the worship of the true God?

Cast Your Cares on God

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 4:6-7

He Bears and He Gives

“What a glorious Lord! He who daily bears our burdens also gives us our salvation” Psalm 68:19

Questions in Job 

38:21
Do you know it, because you were born then,
 Or because the number of your days is great?

38:22
“Have you entered the treasury of snow,
Or have you seen the treasury of hail,

38:25-27
“Who has divided a channel for the overflowing water,
 Or a path for the thunderbolt,
  To cause it to rain on a land where there is no one,
 A wilderness in which there is no man;
  To satisfy the desolate waste,
 And cause to spring forth the growth of tender grass?

[Message No: 7463]

Prophet – Isaac

Genesis 27:28-29
May God give you heaven’s dew
 and earth’s richness —
 an abundance of grain  and new wine.
    May nations serve you
 and peoples bow down to you.

 Be lord over your brothers,
 and may the sons of your mother bow down to you.
 May those who curse you be cursed
 and those who bless you be blessed. ”

Genesis 27:37
Isaac answered Esau, “I have made him lord over you and have made all his relatives his servants, and I have sustained him with grain and new wine.  So what can I possibly do for you, my son?”

Exodus 32:13
Remember  your servants Abraham, Isaac and Israel, to whom you swore by your own self:  ‘I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars  in the sky and I will give your descendants all this land  I promised them, and it will be their inheritance forever.’”

'Entrusted with Truth

2 Timothy 1:9-14

Dear Father,
Thank you that Jesus abolished death and brought life and immortality to life through the Good News. Help us be true to this message, to teach it and preach it. Help us follow the pattern of sound words which have been given us in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.

Grant that we may guard the truth you have entrusted to us by the Holy Spirit which you have caused to dwell within us.
In the name of Jesus I ask. Amen.

[Message No: 7462]

God values Endurance

Hebrews 11:23-29

As human beings, we often have a difficult time perceiving what the Lord is doing in our life. We are limited by the passage of time, the confusion of present circumstances, and a lack of understanding regarding God’s goals and His means of accomplishing them. That’s why studying the lives of men and women in Scripture helps us see how the Lord worked in previous generations. God’s relationships with the faithful in earlier times are helpful examples for us today.

When we face uncertainty, we can look to Moses’ example. His life was unpredictable and full of hardship, yet he “endured, as seeing Him who is unseen” (Heb. 11:27). In Greek, the root word for “endurance” refers to the capacity to bear up under difficulty. Moses successfully persevered under pressure by keeping his focus on God rather than on the events surrounding him.

From Moses’ example, we learn that this is what the Lord desires for us as well. Although we may want out of a difficult situation as soon as possible, this may not be God’s aim. It is not His goal to make us as comfortable as can be but, rather, to transform us into the image of His Son. And endurance helps us get there.

If God calls us to endure pain, hardship, or uncertainty, we can find encouragement in knowing we’re never alone. Part of “seeing Him who is unseen” is realizing that God’s grace and comfort carry us through every situation. The Lord doesn’t want us to simply grit our teeth and bear hardship; He desires that we trust Him and bring glory to His name through our dependence.

Shining the Light

Matthew 5:14-16

At the time Jesus spoke these words, most homes used small oil lamps for lighting, which were most effective placed on a lampstand. Covering a small lamp under a bowl (Matthew 5:14-16) would extinguish it.

In describing His disciples as the “light of the world” (v. 14), Jesus emphasizes that it’s impossible to genuinely be a disciple of His kingdom without living according to the kingdom values described in Matthew 5. To live in opposition to these values is as useless and illogical as being tasteless, ineffective salt or invisible light (vv. 13, 15).

[Message No: 7461]

Spiritual Leadership

Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. — Hebrews 13:7

What makes a great Christian leader? The Holy Spirit emphasizes 3 things in this passage: 1) they teach others the word of God; 2) they live as great examples for others; and 3) they have observable faith. God puts each of us in positions of influence with our children, our friends, our work acquaintances, and our neighbors. What kind of spiritual leadership are we showing them?

Casting Down of Satan - Plagues of Revelation

Revelation 12:10-12
Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.

Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.”

Concerning Individuals 

. Judgment on Judas

Matthew 26:24
The Son of Man indeed goes just as it is written of Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born.”

Mark 14:20-21
He answered and said to them, “It is one of the twelve, who dips with Me in the dish. The Son of Man indeed goes just as it is written of Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that ma. Birth of John the Baptist

. Birth of John the Baptist

Luke 1:13-14
But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.

[Message No: 7460]

God’s way to live?

Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long. — Psalm 25:4-5

Life can be so confusing. There are so many choices for us as we decide the values that will govern our lives. So how are we going to find the best way, God's way, to live? We will ask God to show us! Our hope is in him. Our salvation is in him. So why not ask him to guide us and teach us his truth? Why not expect that he will make his will known for us? If our hearts are open to his truth and we are seeking his path, he will make his will known.

Crown of Glory

[For godly leaders]

1 Peter 5:2-4
Be shepherds of God’s flock  that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be;  not pursuing dishonest gain,  but eager to serve;   not lording it over  those entrusted to you, but being examples  to the flock.   And when the Chief Shepherd  appears, you will receive the crown of glory  that will never fade away.

Your Prayers 

Revelation 5:8
And when he had taken it, the four living creatures  and the twenty-four elders  fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp  and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers  of God’s people.

Revelation 8:3-4
Another angel,  who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all God’s people,  on the golden altar  in front of the throne.   The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of God’s people, went up before God  from the angel’s hand.

Your Tears

Psalm 56:8
Record my misery;
 list my tears on your scroll —
 are they not in your record?

Questions in Job 

38:39
Do you hunt the prey for the lioness
 and satisfy the hunger of the lions
[Message No: 7459]

Receive one Another

Romans 15:7
Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us, to the glory of God.

Receive weak Broken

Romans 14:1
Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things.

God’s Word for God’s People

Zechariah 8:22
Yes, many peoples and strong nations
 Shall come to seek the Lord of hosts in Jerusalem,
 And to pray before the Lord.’

Zechariah 8:23
“Thus says the Lord of hosts: ‘In those days ten men from every language of the nations shall grasp the sleeve of a Jewish man, saying, “Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.” ’ ”

Zechariah 9:9
Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!
 Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem!
 Behold, your King is coming to you;
 He is just and having salvation,
 Lowly and riding on a donkey,
 A colt, the foal of a donkey.

Receive Word with Meekness

James 1:21
Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

Reckon self-alive to God

Romans 6:11
Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

[Message No: 7458]

Heaven Contains Your Record

Exodus 32:32-33
But now, please forgive their sin —but if not, then blot me  out of the book  you have written.”
    The Lord replied to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against me I will blot out  of my book.

Daniel 12:1
At that time Michael,  the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress  such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book —will be delivered.

Luke 10:20
However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

Philippians 4:3
Yes, and I ask you, my true companion, help these women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers,  whose names are in the book of life.

Revelation 20:12
And I saw the dead, great and small,  standing before the throne, and books were opened.  Another book was opened, which is the book of life.  The dead were judged  according to what they had done  as recorded in the books.

Revelation 21:27
Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful,  but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

When You Open the Door

Revelation 3:20
Here I am! I stand at the door  and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door,  I will come in  and eat with that person, and they with me.

   Thoughts 

. Ministry in its purest and simplest form is love.  Ministry is, in fact, doing love. - Win Arn

. God has a special reason, a unique design in each friendship.  He chose to surround your life with these certain treasured dear ones for good reason.  These Christian friends are the ones with whom you will live for eternity, enjoying an even deeper dimension of friendship. - Joni Eareckson Tada

[Message No: 7457]

Is it God’s Fault?

“The only have I found: God made mankind upright,  but men have gone in search of many schemes.” – Ecclesiastes 7:29

In many ways the book of Ecclesiastes echoes its companion book of Job. Both are “philosophical” asking the hardest questions about life. But this  verse shows a difference in the approach of each. In his anguish, Job sometimes questioned the character of God himself, demanding a personal explanation.

At no point  did the Teacher of Ecclesiastes “blame” God for the unfairness and meaninglessness he saw around him. “God made mankind upright,” he concludes, “but men have gone in search of many schemes.”

Love Fellow-Believers

1 John 4:16
And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.
 God is love.  Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.

1 John4:19-21
We love because he first loved us.    Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister  is a liar.  For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen,  cannot love God, whom they have not seen.    And he has given us this command:  Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.

1 John 5:1-2
Everyone who believes  that Jesus is the Christ  is born of God,  and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well.    This is how we know  that we love the children of God:  by loving God and carrying out his commands.

2 John 5-6
And now, dear lady, I am not writing you a new command but one we have had from the beginning.  I ask that we love one another.   And this is love:  that we walk in obedience to his commands.  As you have heard from the beginning,  his command is that you walk in love.

Prayers 

“And may these words of mine, with which I have made supplication before the LORD, be near to the LORD our God day and night, that He may maintain the cause of His servant and the cause of His people Israel, as each day requires.” 1 Kings 8:59

“Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.” Ephesians 6:11

[Message No: 7456]

Deliver - 1

Exodus 3:8
So I have come down  to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land,  a land flowing with milk and honey —the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites  and Jebusites.

Exodus 5:8
But require them to make the same number of bricks as before; don’t reduce the quota.  They are lazy;  that is why they are crying out, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to our God.’

Numbers 21:2
Then Israel made this vow  to the Lord: “If you will deliver these people into our hands, we will totally destroy  their cities.”

Job 5:19
From six calamities he will rescue  you;  in seven no harm will touch you.

Job 10:7
though you know that I am not guilty and that no one can rescue me from your hand?

Job 29:12
because I rescued the poor  who cried for help,  and the fatherless  who had none to assist them.

Job 33:28
God has delivered  me from going down to the pit, and I shall live to enjoy the light of life.’

Psalm 33:19
to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine.

Psalm 50:15
and call  on me in the day of trouble;  I will deliver  you, and you will honor  me.”

Psalm 56:13
For you have delivered me from death and my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before God in the light of life.

[Message No: 7455]

Measure of your life by your thoughts - 2

Proverbs 23:7
for he is the kind of person
 who is always thinking about the cost.
 “Eat and drink,” he says to you,
 but his heart is not with you.

Jeremiah 17:10
“I the Lord search the heart
 and examine the mind,
 to reward  each person according to their conduct,
 according to what their deeds deserve.”

1 Corinthians 13:11
When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood  behind me.

2 Corinthians 10:5
We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God,  and we take captive every thought to make it obedient  to Christ.

Philippians 4:8
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things

Colossians 3:15
Let the peace of Christ  rule in your hearts, since as members of one body  you were called to peace.  And be thankful.

Matthew 26:36
Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.”

Ephesians 4:13
until we all reach unity  in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God  and become mature,  attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

1 Corinthians 4:5
Therefore judge nothing  before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes.  He will bring to light  what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God.

Romans 12:2
Do not conform  to the pattern of this world,  but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is —his good, pleasing  and perfect will.

[Message No: 7454]

Difference !

The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever. — 1 John 2:17

So much of what we pursue is fleeting. Once we acquire it, we have to try to preserve it because we know it will soon be gone. God has promised us that just as he is eternal and will live forever, so also are those who pursue a relationship with him and are committed to do his will. So let's sit down and look at how we spend our time, our money, and our efforts and ask if what we are pursuing is really something that is worth having. Then let's ask one more important question: "Even if it is worth having, is it going to last long enough to make a difference?"

Mire

Psalm 40:2
He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
 out of the mud  and mire;
 he set my feet  on a rock
 and gave me a firm place to stand.
Isaiah 57:20
But the wicked  are like the tossing sea,
 which cannot rest,
 whose waves cast up mire  and mud.

Remember:

Remember that the Lord is always righteous in His judgement. Know that judgement is the fruit of sin and rebellion.

Teach your children Praise

Psalm 145:4
One generation  commends your works to another;
 they tell  of your mighty acts.

Lamentations:

The Road To Renewal 5:21

. Sin ... Suffering 1:8
. Sorrow  ... Repentance  1:20
. Prayer ... Hope 3:19-24
. Faith ... Restoration 5:21

[Message No: 7453]

Lying

Genesis 26:7-8
7 When the men of that place asked him about his wife, he said, “She is my sister,” because he was afraid to say, “She is my wife.” He thought, “The men of this place might kill me on account of Rebekah, because she is beautiful.” 8 When Isaac had been there a long time, Abimelech king of the Philistines looked down from a window and saw Isaac caressing his wife Rebekah.

Genesis 27:19=21
19 Jacob said to his father, “I am Esau your firstborn. I have done as you told me. Please sit up and eat some of my game so that you may give me your blessing.”20 Isaac asked his son, “How did you find it so quickly, my son?” “The LORD your God gave me success,” he replied. 21 Then Isaac said to Jacob, “Come near so I can touch you, my son, to know whether you really are my son Esau or not.”

Commands 

Desire not prophesying’s

1 Thessalonians 5:20
Do not despise prophecies.
Destroy none with non-essentials

Romans 14:15
Yet if your brother is grieved because of your food, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died.

1 Corinthians 8:13
Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.

Be strong, when you follow Jesus

Remaining steadfast takes courage. That’s why Paul said, “Be strong in the Lord” (Eph. 6:10). All the pressure in the world can’t make you budge when you trust the Rock upon which you stand. With God’s guidance, you can act with complete confidence of a successful outcome.

[Message No: 7452]

Spiritual Leader

Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. — Hebrews 13:7

What makes a great Christian leader? The Holy Spirit emphasizes 3 things in this passage: 1) they teach others the word of God; 2) they live as great examples for others; and 3) they have observable faith. God puts each of us in positions of influence with our children, our friends, our work acquaintances, and our neighbours. What kind of spiritual leadership are we showing them?

The source of Jealousy

Galatians 5:17-21
For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
   Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who

The Expression of Faith

Mark 11:20-24
The Lesson of the Withered Fig Tree
     Now in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. And Peter, remembering, said to Him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree which You cursed has withered away.”
   So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.

Thought

. To be “spiritually minded” simply means to look at earth from heaven’s point of view.  The spiritually minded believer makes his decisions on the basis of eternal values and not the passing fads of society. - Warren Wiersbe

[Message No: 7451]

Measure of your life by your thoughts - 1

Psalm 139:1-4
You have searched me,  Lord,
 and you know  me.
    You know when I sit and when I rise;
 you perceive my thoughts  from afar.
    You discern my going out  and my lying down;
 you are familiar with all my ways.
    Before a word is on my tongue
 you, Lord, know it completely.

Psalm 139:23-24
Search me,  God, and know my heart;
 test me and know my anxious thoughts.
    See if there is any offensive way  in me,
 and lead me  in the way everlasting.

Ephesians 6:16
In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith,  with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

Hebrew 4:12-13
For the word of God  is alive  and active.  Sharper than any double-edged sword,  it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.    Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight.  Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

1 Thessalonians 5:23
May God himself, the God of peace,  sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul  and body be kept blameless  at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Malachi 3:16
Then those who feared the Lord talked with each other, and the Lord listened and heard.  A scroll  of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared  the Lord and honored his name.

[Message No: 7450]

Ashamed

Psalm 34:5
Those who look to him are radiant;
 their faces are never covered with shame.

Proverbs 12:4
A wife of noble character  is her husband’s crown,
 but a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones.

Isaiah 24:13
The moon will be dismayed,
 the sun  ashamed;
 for the Lord Almighty will reign
 on Mount Zion  and in Jerusalem,
 and before its elders—with great glory

Isaiah 30:5
everyone will be put to shame
 because of a people  useless  to them,
 who bring neither help  nor advantage,
 but only shame and disgrace. ”

Isaiah 65:13
Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says:
  “My servants will eat,
 but you will go hungry;
 my servants will drink,
 but you will go thirsty;
 my servants will rejoice,
 but you

Fellowship in the Gospel

1 Thessalonians 3:2
We sent Timothy,  who is our brother and co-worker  in God’s service in spreading the gospel of Christ,  to strengthen and encourage you in your faith.

[Message No: 7449]

Saving from Sin

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. — John 3:17

God is not about condemnation. I know that Satan got the rumor started a long time ago, but don't believe it. God is not some fiendish teacher looking to flunk and embarrass students. God is not some cantankerous judge looking to shame, humiliate, and punish all who appear in court. God is not some gossip spreading rumours about our shortcomings across the neighbourhoods of heaven. The one true and living God wants to bless us with his salvation. He wants to dispense mercy and grace. He wants us to be his children. Yet he is also holy, righteous, awesome, and just.

So when God's gracious desire for us collides with God's call for righteous character, there is only one solution: Jesus! Jesus came to fulfil God's righteous demands with his gracious provision of mercy. God sent Jesus to save sinners. Jesus came to save people from all nations and races and cultures from sin and the penalty of sin. Jesus came to save us!

Measure your life by Love

1 John 4:8
Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

Deuteronomy 5:29
Oh, that their hearts would be inclined to fear me  and keep all my commands  always, so that it might go well with them and their children forever!

Deuteronomy 6:4-5
Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.    Love  the Lord your God with all your heart  and with all your soul and with all your strength.

Mark 12:29-31
“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.   Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’    The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  There is no commandment greater than these.”

Passionate about Jesus

Romans 8:39
neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God  that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

[Message No: 7448]

God’s New Elishas

If anyone wonders whether the Great Commission is “relevant” today, they may as well ask if plowing and harvesting are relevant or if getting out of bed is!

Relevant is not the word. The task is urgent. It is supposed  to be our existence. A Christian  is a witness. The name “Christian” developed because  it easily identified believers – they were  the people  who always  talked  about Christ. The Christian’s business is not busyness, but witness. Witnessing is the commerce of the people of the Kingdom of God.

God’s Word for God’s People

Zechariah 9:10
I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim
 And the horse from Jerusalem;
 The battle bow shall be cut off.
 He shall speak peace to the nations;
 His dominion shall be ‘from sea to sea,
 And from the River to the ends of the earth.’

Questions in Job 

38:22-23
“Have you entered the treasury of snow,
 Or have you seen the treasury of hail,
  Which I have reserved for the time of trouble,
 For the day of battle and war?

38:24
By what way is light diffused,
 Or the east wind scattered over the earth?

Thoughts 

. To forgive heals the wound, to forget heals the scar. – Unknown

. To be honest, to be kind—to earn a little and to spend a little less, to make upon the whole a family happier for his presence, to renounce when that shall be necessary and not to be embittered, to keep a few friends, but these without capitulation—above all, on the same grim condition, to keep friends with himself—here is a task for all that a man has of fortitude and delicacy. - Robert Louis Stevenson

[Message No: 7447]

Enterin

Matthew 23:13
“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites!  You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.  [
Mark 4:19
but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth  and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.

Mark 7:15
Nothing outside a person can defile them by going into them. Rather, it is what comes out of a person that defiles them.”

Mark 8:13
Then he left them, got back into the boat and crossed to the other side.

Mark 16:5
As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe  sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.

Luke 19:30
“Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here.

Acts 8:3
But Saul  began to destroy the church.  Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison.

Hebrew 4:1
Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it.

Thoughts 

. Collapse in the Christian life is seldom a blowout; it is usually a slow leak. - Paul E. Little

. Jesus is God spelling himself out in language that man can understand. - S. D. Gordon

. Should we feel at times disheartened and discouraged, a simple movement of heart toward God will renew our powers.  Whatever he may demand of us, he will give us at the moment the strength and the courage that we need. - Francois Fenelon

[Message No: 7446]