Let’s pray for heart of wisdom

Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. — Psalm 90:12

When we lose our sense of urgency to live for God, we end up wasting our time! God has a plan for us, for our world, and for his church. Without God's gift of "spiritual arithmetic" (numbering our days aright), we will never gain a heart of wisdom. So how do we get such a gift?

Ask for it without doubting (James 1:5-7)! Trusting the Lord for wisdom has a huge effect on us and the way we conduct our lives. Rather than losing heart, God gives us a heart of wisdom!

Facts About God’s Will

. Pray for His will to be done
Matthew 6:10
your kingdom  come,
 your will be done,
 on earth as it is in heaven.

. Say, “If it is the Lord’s will…
James 4:15
Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will,  we will live and do this or that.”

. Do it from your heart
Ephesians 6:6
Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ,  doing the will of God from your heart.

. Live for the will of God
1 Peter 4:2
As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires,  but rather for the will of God.

. Understand the Lord’s will
Ephesians 5:17
Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.

[Message No: 7748]

Kingdom Servants

“In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.” - 1 Corinthians 9:14

One of the great tragedies of our modern world is that while some who preach and teach the gospel are cheats, the vast majority of God's servants work just barely scraping by financially. Why not find some underpaid and forgotten Kingdom servant and share a little of the blessings God has given you?
Today, we see two kinds of God’s servants working for His Kingdom. Often times we do see the so called big preachers in the Television and even other known speakers – how they are leading their personal lives? in terms of standard and spending money for their personal besides their ministerial work.

Every coin they spend has come from God’s people for God’s work. No doubt, they must and they can use bit of it for their personal use because it may be their full time job. They do have all kind of luxury in their lives.

I am not against for their behaviour. But the question is if they are wrong in doing so, they are answerable to God. I and you can not and must not judge them.
Bible is very clear one should not rob God’s money and time.
On the other hand, we do see some of God’s servants are working, specially in the rural areas – not having proper houses, and even proper meals for their families. Even then their ministry is result oriented.

Well, it’s time for God’s family even recognize them too and help them whenever and whatever possible as per God’s leading.

Churches meeting in houses

. House to house
Romans 16:5
Greet also the church that meets at their house.
 Greet my dear friend Epenetus, who was the first convert  to Christ in the province of Asia.

. Prisca and Aquila’s house
1 Cor. 16:19
The churches in the province of Asia  send you greetings. Aquila and Priscilla  greet you warmly in the Lord, and so does the church that meets at their house.

.  Nymphas' house
Colossians 4:15
Give my greetings to the brothers and sisters at Laodicea,  and to Nympha and the church in her house.

[Message No: 7747]

Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial

 14:27-31 — Mt 26:31-35

  “You will all fall away,” Jesus told them, “for it is written:
  “‘I will strike the shepherd,
 and the sheep will be scattered.’
     But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”
    Peter declared, “Even if all fall away, I will not.”
    “Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “today—yes, tonight—before the rooster crows twice you yourself will disown me three times.”
    But Peter insisted emphatically, “Even if I have to die with you,  I will never disown you.” And all the others said the same.

Ways of a Fool - He

. Has no foresight.

Matthew 7:26 
But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.

. Is ignorant.

1 Peter 2:15 
For it is God’s will  that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people.

Works of the Holy Spirit

. Bring Conviction – John 16:8
When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment:

. Giving Gifts – 1 Corinthians 12:11
All these are the work of one and the same Spirit,  and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.

. Testifies about Christ – John 15:26
When the Advocate  comes, whom I will send to you from the Father —the Spirit of truth  who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me.

[Message No: 7746]

Is Paul’s faith is going to be our Faith?

I am suffering ... Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day. — 2 Timothy 1:12

As Paul faced very difficult circumstances near the end of his life, many of those he had led to the Lord abandoned him. But he was confident that the Lord would not abandon him! He had committed his life to Jesus as Lord. That Lord would ensure that the investment Paul had made would not be wasted. His life, his future, and his eternal destiny were entrusted to the Lord.

He was confident that they were also secure in the Lord. He believed with every fiber of his being that on a special day known only to God, Jesus will return and every knee will bow and Paul's faith in the Lord will be joyously validated.

Unnecessary Fighting

Exodus 14:14
The Lord will fight  for you; you need only to be still.”

Redeem Time

Ephesians 5:16
making the most of every opportunity,  because the days are evil.

Colossians 4:5
Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.

Example

Easu
Hebrew 12:16-17
See that no one is sexually immoral,  or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son.    Afterward, as you know, when he wanted to inherit this blessing, he was rejected. Even though he sought the blessing with tears,  he could not change what he had done.

God’s Word for God’s People

Zechariah 9:11
“As for you also,
 Because of the blood of your covenant,
 I will set your prisoners free from the water less pit.

[Message No: 7745]

He takes away our Fear

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. — 1 John 4:18

Do you remember what Jesus said when he came walking on the water to his disciples during the storm? He literally told them, "Do not fear, I Am." In the presence of the holy and awesome Son of God, we don't have to be afraid. God's grace to us in Jesus takes away our need for fear because Jesus' sacrifice makes us holy, without fault, and free from any charge against us (Colossians 1:21-22). Our response? Love! We love our Father for who he is, for what he has done, for his great sacrifice for us, and most of all, for making us holy and taking away our fear.

Three Appointments

. Death – The result of Sin –

Hebrew 9:27-28
Just as people are destined to die once,  and after that to face judgment,    so Christ was sacrificed once  to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time,  not to bear sin,  but to bring salvation  to those who are waiting for him.

1 Corinthians 15:22
For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.

. Judgment – The punishment of Sin

Acts 17:31
For he has set a day when he will judge  the world with justice  by the man he has appointed.  He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.”

. Salvation – Deliverance from Sin

1 Thessalonians 5:9
For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath  but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Thoughts 

. Cleave to the teachings of Christ completely, and let go of other teachings, just as a sailor reads his compass, though other signs around him might contradict it. - Leo Tolstoy

. We are but the instruments or assistants, by whom God works. - Martin Luth

[Message No: 7744]

Good – Kindness

Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins. — James 4:17

Jesus taught this principle when he healed on the Sabbath (Mark 3:1-7) and told the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:29-37). Our Lord made it clear that to neglect to do a good deed for another in need, even if we had a religious excuse for not doing it, was to do evil.

 Let's be a people known for doing good deeds and sharing kindness. Let's not let any excuse, especially a religious excuse, interfere with our glorious and holy opportunities to serve others in the name of Jesus.

Everlasting

. Isaiah 55:3
Give ear and come to me;
 listen,  that you may live.
 I will make an everlasting covenant  with you,
 my faithful love  promised to David.

. Isaiah 55:13
Instead of the thornbush will grow the juniper,
 and instead of briers  the myrtle  will grow.
 This will be for the Lord’s renown,
 for an everlasting sign,
 that will endure forever.”

. Isaiah 60:20
Your sun  will never set again,
 and your moon will wane no more;
 the Lord will be your everlasting light,
 and your days of sorrow  will end.

Thought 

Heaven’s calendar has seven Sundays a week.  God sanctifies each day.  He conducts holy business at all hours and in all places.  He uncommons the common by turning kitchen sinks into shrines, cafes into convents, and nine-to-five workdays into spiritual adventures. - Max Lucado

[Message No: 7743]

Facts about Prayer

. By Spirit
Jude 20
But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit,

. According to His will
1 John 5:14
Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.

. Without Thanksgiving
Philippians 4:6
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;

. By Remaining in Him
John 15:7
If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.

. By Watchfulness
Matthew 26:41
Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

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

Thoughts 

. We are not living by faith if we believe how we feel more than we believe what God’s Word says. - Joyce Meyer

. Marvellous are all God’s works; but the greatest delicacy and beauty are to be found among those works least exposed to view. - John Dawson

[Message No: 7742]

Do not Fear

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. — 1 John 4:18

Do you remember what Jesus said when he came walking on the water to his disciples during the storm? He literally told them, "Do not fear, I Am." In the presence of the holy and awesome Son of God, we don't have to be afraid. God's grace to us in Jesus takes away our need for fear because Jesus' sacrifice makes us holy, without fault, and free from any charge against us (Colossians 1:21-22). Our response?

Love! We love our Father for who he is, for what he has done, for his great sacrifice for us, and most of all, for making us holy and taking away our fear.

Jehovah – Jireh

. Inspired by His love – 2 Corinthians 5:14
For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.

. Raised by His power -Ephesians 2:6
And God raised us up with Christ  and seated us with him  in the heavenly realms  in Christ Jesus,

. Encouraged by His Word – Deuteronomy 31:6-8
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.”

    Then Moses summoned Joshua and said  to him in the presence of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you must go with this people into the land that the Lord swore to their ancestors to give them,  and you must divide it among them as their inheritance.   The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you;  he will never leave you nor forsake you.  Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

. Helped by His Spirit – 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.

Thoughts

. Many of us have inherited great riches from our parents–the bank account of personal faith and family prayers. - Nels F. S. Ferre

. As light increases we see ourselves to be worse than we thought. - Francis Fenelon

[Message No: 7741]

Christians and the Corona Virus

… “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus”  Philippians 4:6-7

It hits us with an almost paralyzing thud: corona virus, national emergency, airports, schools, churches closed, store shelves empty, hospital beds at a premium. How does a follower of Jesus live well in the midst of the crisis? We have memorized and quoted scripture’s “fear nots,” but in the dark hours of the night or when mesmerized by media, we realized that the words have not walked the journey from head to heart.

We in the Western world are now living in the reality of what our brothers and sisters face daily: distress, deprivation, denial. We, like they, are called to live sacrificially so others can heal, prosper, and find peace with God.

Relationships are God’s Gift

The LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him." — Genesis 2:18

Two powerful principles are presented here. First, God looks out for us and blesses us with what we need most. Second, God made us for relationship: relationship with him and with a husband or wife. Yes, Matthew 19 and 1 Corinthians 7 both emphasize that some are gifted to be single, but most of us are made to be complete with another. Marriage and a godly husband or wife are a gift from God. Let's live like they are!

Firm

Psalm 73:4
They have no struggles;
 their bodies are healthy and strong.

Isaiah 35:3
Strengthen the feeble hands,
 steady the knees  that give way;

Hebrews 3:6
But Christ is faithful as the Son  over God’s house. And we are his house,  if indeed we hold firmly  to our confidence and the hope  in which we glory.

[Message No: 7740]

You are there always!

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. — John 1:1
God's Message of salvation was with him at creation. In fact, by nature, the one who was the Message was God himself. John wants us to know that Jesus, God's Word and ultimate Message, was with God from the very beginning. The one who turns water to wine, feeds the 5000, and raises Lazarus didn't make his human appearance on earth until he was born in Bethlehem, but he has always been there. He is God with us, as Matthew puts it (Matthew 1:23). He is God come to visit us as Luke tells us (Luke 7:16). He is the Son of God as Mark reminds (Mark 1:1). He is God's ultimate and final Word (Hebrews 1:1-2)!

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

Rest in Seven Aspects

. Creation Rest – Broken by Sin -Genesis 2:2
By the seventh day  God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work.

. Redemption Rest – Secured in Christ -Zephaniah 3:17
The Lord your God is with you,
 the Mighty Warrior who saves.
 He will take great delight  in you;
 in his love he will no longer rebuke you,
 but will rejoice over you with singing.”

New Creation

. A New Birth – It’s Entrance -John 3:3
Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”

. A New Man -It’s Characteristic – Colossians 3:10
and have put on the new self,  which is being renewed  in knowledge in the image of its Creator.

[Message No: 7739]

One who hear and cares for us

In him [Jesus our Lord] and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. — Ephesians 3:12

In Christ we are given so many freedoms — freedom from law, sin, death, etc. But one of the greatest freedoms we have is to boldly come before the Creator of the universe, the God of all time and creation, and speak openly and confidently with him. Incredibly, we mortals can enter God's world with our problems and be confident that he hears us and cares about our concerns.

Questions of Jesus

. On Dividing
Luke 12:14
Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?”

. On Fragments
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.
Ways of a Fool - He

. Has no foresight.
Matthew 7:26 
But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.

. Is ignorant.
1 Peter 2:15 
For it is God’s will  that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people.

Thoughts 

. There is nothing anybody else can do that can stop God from using us.  We can turn everything into a testimony. - Corrie ten Boom

. The effective Christians of history have been men and women of great personal discipline–metal discipline, discipline of the body, discipline of the tongue, and discipline of the emotion. - Billy Graham

[Message No: 7738]

Resist the Devil

Submit therefore to God Resist the devil and he will flee from you. – James 4:7

As Christians we are not under law but under grace. As God's children, who are saved by grace through faith in Christ, we can walk in spirit and truth OR we can live our life in the lust of the flesh. We can yield to the work of the Holy Spirit within OR we can submit to the evil influences of Satan.
James contrasts the gracious wisdom of God with the foolish 'wisdom' of the world, and calls Christians to be spiritually-minded and not carnally-minded. He exhorts us to meekness and purity, spirituality and sincerity and warns against envy and strife, boasting and deceit.. and James gives us various steps to achieving a spiritual walk.. including submission to God; drawing near to our heavenly Father; humbling ourselves before the mighty hand of God and not giving Satan a foothold in our life.

But one very important exhortation is to resist the devil and he will flee from us. In order to overcome the temptations of the enemy we are simply instructed to resist: to resist the devil.. to resist the temptation.. to resist the sin - to resist the evil

When temptation hammers on the door of our mind we are to simply to say NO! We are to decline that sinful temptation and turn down that lustful desire. We are to refuse that fleshly fancy and resist the devil and all his devious schemes, which are designed to coax us into a multiplicity of sinful activities, that would discredit our testimony and dishonor our God. When we resist Satan - he will flee from us.

Praise God that in the power of the Holy Spirit that we have authority over our bodies to present our members to God as instruments for righteousness, holy and acceptably unto God - for we are not under law but under grace.

[Message No: 7737]

Ways of Unity

. By putting on Love
Colossians 3:14
And over all these virtues put on love,  which binds them all together in perfect unity.

. By Reconciling
Matthew 5:24
leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.

. By the Covenant
1 Samuel 18:1
After David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan  became one in spirit with David, and he loved  him as himself.

1 Samuel 18:3
And Jonathan made a covenant  with David because he loved him as himself.

. Through the Prayer of Jesus
John 17:23
And Jonathan made a covenant  with David because he loved him as himself.

Questions in 1st Corinthians  

10:22
Are we trying to arouse the Lord’s jealousy?  Are we stronger than he?

10:29
I am referring to the other person’s conscience, not yours. For why is my freedom  being judged by another’s conscience?

12:17
If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be?

10:22
Are we trying to arouse the Lord’s jealousy?  Are we stronger than he?

[Message No: 7736]

Growth of our Faith

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. — Colossians 2:6-7

Jesus is our center! He is the hub around which we turn. Rather than trying to add on to the truth of Jesus, we must learn to accept it and trust it in child-like faith. But that child-like faith must be nourished and grown. As Jesus remains our central focus and our hearts remain thankful to God for his grace, we will that our faith is strengthened and that Jesus is more real than ever.

Subtle Sin

Do you long for a closer walk with God? Do you really ache to be closer to the Lord? Have you left you first love and lost that calm and heavenly frame? Have you discovered your heart to be hardening in spiritual matters? Has your life become one long materialistic walk? Are you more bothered by all the gadgets of life that go wrong or need replacing? Materialism is not having these things it is craving after these things. Materialism is discontent in one lot in life.. it is indeed a very subtle sin. Do you look back at your early Christian life and miss His sweet fellowship?

Never take your eyes of the Lord Jesus Christ. Never ever look to Self as your saviour. Look to Christ and remain in Christ alone, for He is ALL and He in all in all – in Christ.

Churches meeting in houses

In the Bible, we read that in the first century, believers met in houses and worshipped God.

Acts 2:46
Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts.  They broke bread  in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts,

. House to house
Acts 5:42
Day after day, in the temple courts  and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news  that Jesus is the Messiah.

. House to house
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.

[Message No: 7735]

Following His Steps

He knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold. My feet have closely followed his steps; I have kept to his way without turning aside. — Job 23:10-11

How we long for this to be our true confession. We are not yet gold, but long to be. We are not yet fully following his steps, but are trying. We have tried to not turn aside, but we sometimes falter. Thank God for his grace until our intentions and desires are fulfilled in our discipleship!

Everlasting

. Isaiah 35:10
and those the Lord has rescued  will return.
 They will enter Zion with singing;
 everlasting joy  will crown their heads.
 Gladness  and joy will overtake them,
 and sorrow and sighing will flee away.

. Isaiah 40:28
Do you not know?
 Have you not heard?
 The Lord is the everlasting  God,
 the Creator  of the ends of the earth.
 He will not grow tired or weary,
 and his understanding no one can fathom.

. Isaiah 45:17
But Israel will be saved  by the Lord
 with an everlasting salvation;
 you will never be put to shame or disgraced,
 to ages everlasting.

. Isaiah 54:8
In a surge of anger
 I hid  my face from you for a moment,
 but with everlasting kindness
 I will have compassion  on you,”
 says the Lord your Redeemer.

NOTE:

You may kindly see my playlist YouTube video Messages. {See right side picture from the main page, above login is there, you may click on that. You may kindly subscribe for it. Thank you.}

[Message No: 7734]

Keeping God’s Word

. Keep the Word as a Preventive – Psalm 119:11
I have hidden your word in my heart
 that I might not sin  against you.

. Keep the Word carefully as a Treasure – Jeremiah 15:16
When your words came, I ate  them;
 they were my joy and my heart’s delight,
 for I bear your name,
 Lord God Almighty.

. Keep the Word as a Fire – Jeremiah 23:29
“Is not my word like fire,”  declares the Lord, “and like a hammer  that breaks a rock in pieces?

. Keep the Word as a River – Isaiah 48:18
If only you had paid attention  to my commands,
 your peace  would have been like a river,
 your well-being  like the waves of the sea.

. Keep the Word as a Mother does her child – 1 Peter 2:2
Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk,  so that by it you may grow up  in your salvation

. Keep the Word as a Priest did the Lamps – Leviticus 24:2
Command the Israelites to bring you clear oil of pressed olives for the light so that the lamps may be kept burning continually. 

. Keep the Word as a Man of Title to his property – 1 Peter 1:3-4
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!  In his great mercy  he has given us new birth  into a living hope  through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,    and into an inheritance  that can never perish, spoil or fade.  This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, 

Thought 

When you recognize God as Creator, you will admire him.  When you recognize his wisdom, you will learn from him.  When you discover his strength, you will rely on him.  But only when he saves you will you worship him. - Max Lucado

NOTE:

You may kindly see my playlist YouTube video Messages. {See right side picture from the main page, above login is there, you may click on that. You may kindly subscribe for it. Thank you.}

[Message No: 7733]