Are we light to this world?

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. — 1 Peter 2:9

We are chosen with a purpose. We are brought out of the darkness of sin and given the wonderful light of salvation so we can help others. You see, we are blessed to be a blessing and given light to shine to others. Most of all, we are called to point others to the one, true, never-interrupted light — Almighty God!

Significance of Peace 

. God makes covenant with it
Ezekiel 34:25
“I will make a covenant of peace with them, and cause wild beasts to cease from the land; and they will dwell safely in the wilderness and sleep in the woods.
. Prosperity is through peace
Job 22:21
“Now acquaint yourself with Him, and be at peace;
 Thereby good will come to you.

Persecution

Matthew 5:11
“Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.

Romans 12:14
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.

Facts about Heaven

. It is our Father’s house

John 14:2
In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

. God is its Architect

Hebrews 11:10
for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

[Message No: 7516]

On only

Stop trusting in man, who has but a breath in his nostrils. Of what account is he? – Isaiah 2:22

"If only I had a friend." "If only my father hadn't left." "If only she was more supportive." "If only..." People can fail us, but we still pin so many of our hopes on them.

 They are fallible and mortal just like we are. So while we are involved in the lives of other people, let's also remember to keep our hopes connected to the Son of God, who "defeated death and brought immortality and life to light" and who will "never leave or forsake" us.

Questions in 2 Chronicles 

25:16
So it was, as he talked with him, that the king said to him, “Have we made you the king's counselor? Cease! Why should you be killed?”
  Then the prophet ceased, and said, “I know that God has determined to destroy you, because you have done this and have not heeded my advice.”

25:19
Indeed you say that you have defeated the Edomites, and your heart is lifted up to boast. Stay at home now; why should you meddle with trouble, that you should fall—you and Judah with you?”

25:26
Now the rest of the acts of Amaziah, from first to last, indeed are they not written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel?

28:10
And now you propose to force the children of Judah and Jerusalem to be your male and female slaves; but are you not also guilty before the Lord your God?

When the Spirit Prompts, Forgive

1 Corinthians 2:14
The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.

Forgiveness

Psalm 103:12
as far as the east is from the west,
so far does he remove our transgressions from us.

[Message No: 7515]

When did we pray for others ?

Since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. — Colossians 1:9
Paul wrote these words to the Christians at Colossae, but he had never been there. Despite his lack of "in person" knowledge, he ministered effectively to the Colossians. He prayed specifically for them to better know God and his will for them. What a great idea! Let's find a mission church (inner city, overseas, hostile environment) and start praying consistently for that congregation, asking God to help them know him and his will more perfectly.

Youth

Hebrews 6:12
that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

1 Timothy 4:12
Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.

Zeal

Numbers 25:11
Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, has turned back My wrath from the children of Israel, because he was zealous with My zeal among them, so that I did not consume the children of Israel in My zeal.

Mark 9:50
Salt is good, but if the salt loses its flavor, how will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace with one another.”

Hate

Proverbs 10:12
Hatred stirs up strife,
 But love covers all sins.

Wicked punished eternally in hell

Matthew 13:42-43
and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!

Matthew 13:50
and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.”

[Message No: 7514]

The reasons for His love

To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy — to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen. — Jude 1:24-25

What a great cluster of truths are found in this one prayer of blessing. Our eyes are first drawn to what God can do for us — prevent us from falling and present us before his glorious presence in joyful perfection. But on closer inspection, our hearts are drawn to the description of our incredible God: the one who is able, the only God, our Savior, the one who lives in glory and majesty and power and authority, the one who has communicated to us through Jesus our Lord, and the one who exists before all ages and who is alive now and who will be forevermore.

Our blessings as God's children are incredible, but the reason why they are is that our God is beyond incredible, awesome, and wonderful. Our words cannot do him justice. Our brightest insights cannot comprehend the glory he has. Yet despite his grandeur, he loves you and me in our finite mortality!

Question of Jesus

. On Ability

Mark 10:38
Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?”

John 18:11
So Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?”

Divine Love in many Aspects 

. Love shed abroad – in the Spirit

Romans 5:5
and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

. Love dwelling – in the Heart

1 John 3:17
But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him?

[Message No: 7513]

Lord’s Assurance

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.

- Joshua 1:9

This command and promise to Joshua is also for us as we embrace the upcoming year. We have no idea what lies ahead, we only know that God will go with us if we will ask him on our journey and seek to follow his will. So this verse is not just a promise to cherish, "I will go with you." It is also a command! "Be strong, courageous, and do not be terrified or discouraged." We embrace this upcoming year as an opportunity to serve God and not as something to fear!

How Great Thou Art

.. O Lord, my God, when I in awesome wonder
Consider all the worlds Thy Hands have made
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder
Thy power throughout the universe displayed
.. Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee
How great Thou art, how great Thou art
Then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee
How great Thou art, how great Thou art
.. And when I think of God, His Son not sparing
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in
That on the Cross, my burden gladly bearing
He bled and died to take away my sin

Questions in Job 

26:4
To whom have you uttered words?
 And whose spirit came from you?

26:14
Indeed these are the mere edges of His ways,
 And how small a whisper we hear of Him!
 But the thunder of His power who can understand?”

27:8
For what is the hope of the hypocrite,
 Though he may gain much,
 If God takes away his life?

[Message No: 7512]

God is For You

“I have written your name on my hand! Isaiah 49:16”

Romans 8:31 asks, “If God is for us, who can be against us?”
Indulge me a moment.  Four words in this verse deserve your attention.  God is for us.
Say it out loud.  God is for us.

Repeat it, emphasizing each word.  Come on, you’re not in that big of a hurry.
God is for us!  GOD IS FOR YOU.

Your parents may have forgotten you, your teachers may have neglected you, your siblings may be ashamed of you; but within reach of your prayers is the maker of the oceans.  God!
God is for you!  If he had a calendar, your birthday would be circled.  If there’s a tree in heaven, he’s carved your name in the bark.

Isaiah 49:16 says, “I have written your name on my hand!”  No one can defeat you.  You are protected.  God is for you.

Questions in 2 Chronicles 

25:9
Then Amaziah said to the man of God, “But what shall we do about the hundred talents which I have given to the troops of Israel?”
  And the man of God answered, “The Lord is able to give you much more than this.

25:15
Therefore the anger of the Lord was aroused against Amaziah, and He sent him a prophet who said to him, “Why have you sought the gods of the people, which could not rescue their own people from your hand?”

Encourage one Another

1 Thessalonians 5:11
Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

Always with Us

Hebrews 13:5
Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

[Message No: 7511]

How to Overcome Temptation? - 2

10. By Enduring Patiently – Revelation 3:10
Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.

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

12. By Disciplining Body – 1 Corinthians 9:27 
But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.

Excuses of the Deceived

I lead a good moral life and do the best I can –

Isaiah 64:6
We have all become like one who is unclean,
and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment.
We all fade like a leaf,
and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.

Luke 16:15
And he said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.

James 2:10
For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it.

Whereby shall I Know?

Matthew 11:25
At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children;

[Message No: 7510]

Marriage / Spiritual Life

Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? — 2 Corinthians 6:14
There is probably no other Scripture that has produced more conflict for ministers than this one. While not applying just to marriage, this verse is a powerful reminder that when we make life-long partnerships with those who do not share our deepest values, we are endangering our spiritual health. Just as God would not allow the Israelites under the Law to yoke a donkey and an ox together because it would ultimately break them both down, Paul reminds Christians that the same is true in their deepest relationships as well.

Humility 

Philippians 4:13
I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
Romans 14:19
Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace  and to mutual edification.
  
Lust

1 Timothy 5:22
Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands,  and do not share in the sins of others.  Keep yourself pure.

Health

Psalm 33:20
We wait  in hope for the Lord;
 he is our help and our shield.

Questions of Jesus

. On Believing
John 1:50
Jesus said, “You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that.”

John 8:46
Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me?

John 9:35
Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe  in the Son of Man?”

John 11:26
and whoever lives by believing  in me will never die.  Do you believe this?”

[Message No: 7509]