Tag Archives: Jerusalem

Psalm 116. Thanksgiving For Deliverance From Death

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Psalm 116. Thanksgiving For Deliverance From Death

1 I love the LORD, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications. 2 Because he hath inclined his ear unto me, therefore will I call upon him as long as I live. 3 The sorrows of death compassed me, and the pains of hell gat hold upon me: I found trouble and sorrow. 4 Then called I upon the name of the LORD; O LORD, I beseech thee, deliver my soul. 5 Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; yea, our God is merciful. 6 The LORD preserveth the simple: I was brought low, and he helped me. 7 Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the LORD hath dealt bountifully with thee. 8 For thou hast delivered my soul from death, mine eyes from tears, and my feet from falling. 9 I will walk before the LORD in the land of the living.

10 I believed, therefore have I spoken: I was greatly afflicted: 11 I said in my haste, All men are liars. 12 What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me? 13 I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD. 14 I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people. 15 Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints. 16 O LORD, truly I am thy servant; I am thy servant, and the son of thine handmaid: thou hast loosed my bonds. 17 I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the LORD. 18 I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people, 19 In the courts of the LORD’s house, in the midst of thee, O Jerusalem. Praise ye the LORD.

May GOD bless Nigeria, America and Israel and take care of us; May GOD make His face shine upon us, And be gracious to us; May the LORD lift up His countenance upon us, And give us peace, In Jesus Christ Name, we pray! Amen!

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Psalms 102. The LORD’s Eternal Love. The Prayer Of A Troubled Youth

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English: Church of Jesus Christ (Zion's Branch...

Psalms 102. The LORD’s Eternal Love. The Prayer Of A Troubled Youth

A Prayer of the afflicted, when he is overwhelmed, and poureth out his complaint before the LORD

1 Hear my prayer, O LORD, and let my cry come unto thee. 2 Hide not thy face from me in the day when I am in trouble; incline thine ear unto me: in the day when I call answer me speedily. 3 For my days are consumed like smoke, and my bones are burned as an hearth. 4 My heart is smitten, and withered like grass; so that I forget to eat my bread. 5 By reason of the voice of my groaning my bones cleave to my skin. 6 I am like a pelican of the wilderness: I am like an owl of the desert. 7 I watch, and am as a sparrow alone upon the house top. 8 Mine enemies reproach me all the day; and they that are mad against me are sworn against me. 9 For I have eaten ashes like bread, and mingled my drink with weeping, 10 Because of thine indignation and thy wrath: for thou hast lifted me up, and cast me down. 11 My days are like a shadow that declineth; and I am withered like grass.

12 But thou, O LORD, shalt endure for ever; and thy remembrance unto all generations. 13 Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour her, yea, the set time, is come. 14 For thy servants take pleasure in her stones, and favour the dust thereof. 15 So the heathen shall fear the name of the LORD, and all the kings of the earth thy glory. 16 When the LORD shall build up Zion, he shall appear in his glory. 17 He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer. 18 This shall be written for the generation to come: and the people which shall be created shall praise the LORD. 19 For he hath looked down from the height of his sanctuary; from heaven did the LORD behold the earth; 20 To hear the groaning of the prisoner; to loose those that are appointed to death; 21 To declare the name of the LORD in Zion, and his praise in Jerusalem; 22 When the people are gathered together, and the kingdoms, to serve the LORD.

23 He weakened my strength in the way; he shortened my days. 24 I said, O my God, take me not away in the midst of my days: thy years are throughout all generations. 25 Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands. 26 They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shall be changed: 27 But thou art the same, and thy years shall have no end. 28 The children of thy servants shall continue, and their seed shall be established before thee.

May GOD bless Nigeria, America and Israel and take care of us; May GOD make His face shine upon us, And be gracious to us; May the LORD lift up His countenance upon us, And give us peace, In Jesus Christ Name, we pray! Amen!

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Psalm 87. In Praise Of Jerusalem. The Glories Of The City Of God

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An icon of a Christian Cross.

Psalm 87. In Praise Of Jerusalem. The Glories Of The City Of God

A Psalm or Song for the sons of Korah

1 His foundation is in the holy mountains. 2 The LORD loveth the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob. 3 Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God. Selah.

4 I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon to them that know me: behold Philistia, and Tyre, with Ethiopia; this man was born there. 5 And of Zion it shall be said, This and that man was born in her: and the highest himself shall establish her. 6 The LORD shall count, when he writeth up the people, that this man was born there. Selah. 7 As well the singers as the players on instruments shall be there: all my springs are in thee.

May GOD bless Nigeria, America and Israel and take care of us; May GOD make His face shine upon us, And be gracious to us; May the LORD lift up His countenance upon us, And give us peace, In Jesus Christ Name, we pray! Amen!

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Psalm 79. A prayer for the nation’s deliverance. A dirge and a prayer for Israel, destroyed by enemies

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Psalms 79. A prayer for the nation’s deliverance. A dirge and a prayer for Israel, destroyed by enemies

A Psalm of Asaph

1 O God, the heathen are come into thine inheritance; thy holy temple have they defiled; they have laid Jerusalem on heaps. 2 The dead bodies of thy servants have they given to be meat unto the fowls of the heaven, the flesh of thy saints unto the beasts of the earth. 3 Their blood have they shed like water round about Jerusalem; and there was none to bury them. 4 We are become a reproach to our neighbours, a scorn and derision to them that are round about us. 5 How long, LORD? wilt thou be angry for ever? shall thy jealousy burn like fire?

6 Pour out thy wrath upon the heathen that have not known thee, and upon the kingdoms that have not called upon thy name. 7 For they have devoured Jacob, and laid waste his dwelling place. 8 O remember not against us former iniquities: let thy tender mercies speedily prevent us: for we are brought very low. 9 Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy name: and deliver us, and purge away our sins, for thy name’s sake. 10 Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is their God? let him be known among the heathen in our sight by the revenging of the blood of thy servants which is shed. 11 Let the sighing of the prisoner come before thee; according to the greatness of thy power preserve thou those that are appointed to die; 12 And render unto our neighbours sevenfold into their bosom their reproach, wherewith they have reproached thee, O Lord. 13 So we thy people and sheep of thy pasture will give thee thanks for ever: we will show forth thy praise to all generations.

May GOD bless Nigeria, America and Israel and take care of us; May GOD make His face shine upon us, And be gracious to us; May the LORD lift up His countenance upon us, And give us peace, In Jesus Christ Name, we pray! Amen!

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Matthew 21. The Triumphant Entry Into Jerusalem

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English: Jesus entering Jerusalem on a donkey

English: Jesus entering Jerusalem on a donkey (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Matthew 21. The Triumphant Entry into Jerusalem

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples, 2 Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me. 3 And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them. 4 All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, 5 Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass. 6 And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them, 7 And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon. 8 And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way. 9 And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest. 10 And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this? 11 And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.

12 And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, 13 And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves. 14 And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them. 15 And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the son of David; they were sore displeased, 16 And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise? 17 And he left them, and went out of the city into Bethany; and he lodged there.

18 Now in the morning as he returned into the city, he hungered. 19 And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away. 20 And when the disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away! 21 Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. 22 And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

23 And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority? 24 And Jesus answered and said unto them, I also will ask you one thing, which if ye tell me, I in like wise will tell you by what authority I do these things. 25 The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say unto us, Why did ye not then believe him? 26 But if we shall say, Of men; we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet. 27 And they answered Jesus, and said, We cannot tell. And he said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.

28 But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard. 29 He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went. 30 And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not. 31 Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. 32 For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.

33 Hear another parable: There was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about, and digged a winepress in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country: 34 And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it. 35 And the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned another. 36 Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto them likewise. 37 But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will reverence my son. 38 But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance. 39 And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew him. 40 When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those husbandmen? 41 They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons. 42 Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? 43 Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. 44 And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder. 45 And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them. 46 But when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude, because they took him for a prophet.

May the LORD bless Nigeria, American and Israel and take care of us; May the LORD make His face shine upon us, And be gracious to us; May the Lord lift up His countenance upon us, And give us peace, In Jesus Christ Name, we pray! Amen!

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Matthew 20. The Workers In The Vineyard

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English: Jesus entering Jerusalem on a donkey

Matthew 20. The Workers In The Vineyard

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard. 2 And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3 And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, 4 And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way. 5 Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise. 6 And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle? 7 They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive. 8 So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first. 9 And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny. 10 But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny. 11 And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house, 12 Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day. 13 But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny? 14 Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee. 15 Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good? 16 So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.

17 And Jesus going up to Jerusalem took the twelve disciples apart in the way, and said unto them, 18 Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death, 19 And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again.

20 Then came to him the mother of Zebedee’s children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him. 21 And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom. 22 But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able. 23 And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father. 24 And when the ten heard it, they were moved with indignation against the two brethren. 25 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. 26 But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; 27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: 28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

29 And as they departed from Jericho, a great multitude followed him. 30 And, behold, two blind men sitting by the way side, when they heard that Jesus passed by, cried out, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou son of David. 31 And the multitude rebuked them, because they should hold their peace: but they cried the more, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou son of David. 32 And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, What will ye that I shall do unto you? 33 They say unto him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened. 34 So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him.

May the LORD bless Nigeria, American and Israel and take care of us; May the LORD make His face shine upon us, And be gracious to us; May the Lord lift up His countenance upon us, And give us peace, In Jesus Christ Name, we pray! Amen!

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Matthew 15. The Teaching Of The Ancestors

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English: Jesus entering Jerusalem on a donkey

Matthew 15. The Teaching Of The Ancestors

 

 

 

 

 

1 Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying, 2 Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread. 3 But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? 4 For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death. 5 But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; 6 And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. 7 Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, 8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. 9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

10 And he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand: 11 Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man. 12 Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying? 13 But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. 14 Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch. 15 Then answered Peter and said unto him, Declare unto us this parable. 16 And Jesus said, Are ye also yet without understanding? 17 Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught? 18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. 19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: 20 These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.

21 Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon. 22 And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, Have mercy on me, O Lord, thou son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. 23 But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us. 24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 25 Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. 26 But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and cast it to dogs. 27 And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table. 28 Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.

29 And Jesus departed from thence, and came nigh unto the sea of Galilee; and went up into a mountain, and sat down there. 30 And great multitudes came unto him, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus’ feet; and he healed them: 31 Insomuch that the multitude wondered, when they saw the dumb to speak, the maimed to be whole, the lame to walk, and the blind to see: and they glorified the God of Israel. 32 Then Jesus called his disciples unto him, and said, I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat: and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way. 33 And his disciples say unto him, Whence should we have so much bread in the wilderness, as to fill so great a multitude? 34 And Jesus saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven, and a few little fishes. 35 And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground. 36 And he took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks, and brake them, and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude. 37 And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets full. 38 And they that did eat were four thousand men, beside women and children. 39 And he sent away the multitude, and took ship, and came into the coasts of Magdala.

May the LORD bless Nigeria, American and Israel and take care of us; May the LORD make His face shine upon us, And be gracious to us; May the Lord lift up His countenance upon us, And give us peace, In Jesus Christ Name, we pray! Amen!

 

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Let your dream in life be for people to see Jesus Christ in you

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Let your dream in life be for people to see Jesus Christ in you.

 

 

 

 

Read:  1 Timothy 3:15

Jesus is The Word, The Truth Of God, made flesh. The Bible describes Him as the reflection of God’s glory and the exact likeness of His being (Hebrews 1:3). In other words, when He walk the streets of Jerusalem, He was the perfect representation of God’s personality. The truth is still moving upon the face of the earth today through you and I.

The Bible described the Church of Jesus Christ as the pillar and ground of truth (1 Timothy 3:15). We’re the expression or representation of truth for we’re the temples of the living God (1 Corinthians 6:19). Therefore, we’re responsible for delivering men and women around the world into their inheritance in Christ Jesus and liberating them from every form of bondage. We were made to teach, preach and reveal the truth.

For example, when you truly understand who you really are in Christ, you’ll never condemn anyone, for the truth will never reject or condemn anyone. You can’t change people by dwelling on their faults; it’s only the truth that changes a man. The truth liberates, heals and imparts life. When you realize you’re the custodian of eternal verities, you’ll never stop preaching the message of salvation to the sinner, for you may be the only “Jesus” he’ll ever come in contact with.

As a Christian, you are the revelation of the truth of God; you carry in you the solution to every need in a man’s life. So, you see, you have a great responsibility to your world. Just as John The Baptist said in John 3:30, “He must increase but I must decrease,” let your dream in life be for people to see Jesus Christ in you. The time is indeed short, therefore, “….make every minute count” (Ephesians 5:16 CEV); the salvation of many depends on you.

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, I thank You for revealing Your Son in and through me to my world. Guide my steps towards those who are in dire need of Your liberating truth; let its light radiate through me to break every yoke off their lives. Let Your Spirit set them afire for Your Kingdom, in Jesus Christ Name, Amen!

May the LORD bless Nigeria, American and Israel and take care of us; May the LORD make His face shine upon us, And be gracious to us; May the Lord lift up His countenance upon us, And give us peace, In Jesus Christ Name, we pray! Amen!

 

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Are You A Doer? Or A Hearer Of The Word Of The Lord?

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Are You A Doer? Or A Hearer Of The Word Of The Lord?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2 Kings 23:3-4

“Then the king stood by a pillar and made a covenant before the LORD, to follow the LORD and to keep His commandments and His testimonies and His statutes, with all his heart and all his soul, to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people took a stand for the covenant. And the king commanded Hilkiah the high priest, the priests of the second order, and the doorkeepers, to bring out of the temple of the LORD all the articles that were made for Baal, for Asherah, and for all the host of heaven; and he burned them outside Jerusalem in the fields of Kidron, and carried their ashes to Bethel.”
NKJV

I’ve met many Christians who know the Bible inside and out. They can quote scripture after scripture, word for word with verse references and even comment on the meaning. I’ve met fewer who actually do The Word Of GOD. This astounds me. What if a 16 year old kid memorizes the driver’s exam study book and aces the exam, but then goes out and runs every red light he comes across? He’s going to get hurt and will probably hurt someone else in the process. The same is true with the Word of God. Think of some Christians on street corners with sandwich boards and megaphones hardening the hearts of everyone around them. They have the ‘head knowledge’ but they have not made the ‘heart application’.

To the other extreme are Christians who use church as a social club. They nod their heads and ‘Amen‘ the pastor, but their day to day life speaks nothing of following Jesus Christ. Solid biblical teaching assigns the hearer the responsibility to act on what they learn. So, where do you fall in this? Are you a Doer or just a Hearer of The Word Of God?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Life Lesson: We need to be acting on the Word of God.

Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank You for loving me. Please forgive me for times when I have failed to live by Your Word. I thank You for giving me Your Word. Help me to make doing what You tell me the priority in my life. Help me to love You and to love others. In Jesus Christ Name, Amen!

 

 

 

 

 

 

May the LORD bless Nigeria, American and Israel and take care of us; May the LORD make His face shine upon us, And be gracious to us; May the Lord lift up His countenance upon us, And give us peace, In Jesus Christ Name, we pray! Amen!

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Jesus came to serve! So Should We

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Jesus of Nazareth (miniseries)

Jesus Came to Serve! SO Should We!

Don’t focus so much on what you love to do that you neglect what needs to be done. A 3:00 AM diaper change fits in very few sweet spots! Visiting your sick neighbour might not come naturally to you. Still, the sick need to be encouraged, garages need sweeping, and diapers need changing.

The world needs servants. People like Jesus, who “did not come to be served, but to serve.” Jesus chose remote Nazareth over center-stage Jerusalem, his dad’s carpentry shop over a marble-columned palace, and three decades of anonymity over a life of popularity. Jesus selected prayer over sleep, the wilderness over the Jordan.

I’d have gone with angels. I’d have built my apostle team out of Gabriel and Michael. Not Jesus. He picked people! When they feared the storm, he stilled it.
When they had no food for the multitude, he provided it.

Jesus came to serve! So should we.

 

May the LORD bless Nigeria, American and Israel and take care of us; May the LORD make His face shine upon us, And be gracious to us; May the Lord lift up His countenance upon us, And give us peace, In Jesus Christ Name, we pray! Amen!

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Bloom wherever God plants you

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Bloom wherever God plants you.

 

 

 

 

Acts 21:30

“And all the city was disturbed; and the people ran together, seized Paul, and dragged him out of the temple; and immediately the doors were shut.”
NKJV

Although the door never really opened to the Jewish people, Paul continuously ministered to them. There was, however, an open door for Paul to minister to the Gentiles. Sometimes in ministry, you may want to do one thing but God wants you to do something else. Maybe you have a heart for a particular country, region or a specific people group, but God wants you to ‘bloom right where you are planted’. Perhaps God has given you a heart to pray for missions in an area but hasn’t asked you to do it yourself. Paul supported the church at Jerusalem, but he was never really part of the church there. Look for open doors where you are. If there is an opportunity to join a ministry team in church, go for it! Maybe your heart is in Children’s Ministry or Youth Ministry, but the open door is in another area of ministry.

“His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.'” Matt 25:21 NKJV

Friend, go for the open door. Perhaps later, God will open the other door. It’s quite possible you are being tested whether you will be faithful in the small things.

 

 

Life Lesson: Bloom wherever God plants you.

Dear Father,
Thank You for giving me gifts that I can use to serve You and others. Please forgive me for times when I have not used them to serve. I ask You to show me the open door, even if it is not what I want, and give me the faith to go through it. I pray this in Jesus Christ Name, Amen!

May the LORD bless Nigeria, American and Israel and take care of us; May the LORD make His face shine upon us, And be gracious to us; May the Lord lift up His countenance upon us, And give us peace, In Jesus Christ Name, we pray! Amen!

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Jesus Works in Community

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Jesus Works in Community

Culled from: Max Lucado Daily

“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. Acts 1:8”

None of us can do what all of us can do—Jesus works in community!

In 1976, an earthquake devastated the highlands of Guatemala. Thousands were killed and even more left homeless. Twelve of us from our college volunteered to help out during spring break. Most of us were ministry students. All of us loved to discuss theology. I can’t remember the list. But by the time we reached Guatemala, I’d discerned the faithful from the infidels. I knew who was in and who was out!

But our task turned rivals into partners. We were a team. We began to sing together. Pray together. It was Jesus’ plan all along. Jesus didn’t issue individual assignments. He didn’t move one-by-one down the line and knight each individual. He did, however, say in Acts 1:8, “You—all of you collectively—shall be my witnesses!”

 

May the LORD bless Nigeria, American and Israel and take care of us; May the LORD make His face shine upon us, And be gracious to us; May the Lord lift up His countenance upon us, And give us peace, In Jesus Christ Name, we pray! Amen!

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The Greatness Of Christ’s Love

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The Greatness Of Christ’s Love

Such Passion

“I pray that you and all God’s holy people will have the power to understand the greatness of Christ’s love.” Ephesians 3:18

From the cradle in Bethlehem to the cross in Jerusalem we’ve pondered the love of our Father. What can you say to that kind of emotion? Upon learning that God would rather die than live without you, how do you react? How can you begin to explain such passion?

May the LORD bless Nigeria, American and Israel and take care of us; May the LORD make His face shine upon us, And be gracious to us; May the Lord lift up His countenance upon us, And give us peace, In Jesus Christ Name, we pray! Amen!

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666 or 777

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666 or 777?


Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.
Revelation 13:18

This beast does great wonders, making a fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. The mark of the beast in Scripture is six, the number of a man, meaning incompleteness. The beast’s system is three sixes or an incomplete system which will fail. Satan designed it, of course, so it cannot succeed. Satan, antichrist, and the false prophet will fail.

It is important that you have an understanding of 666. Satan can’t win, so there’s no reason to hook up with him. I am not hooked up with satan, and I am not hooked up with the Babylonian system. I am hooked up with Jesus the Messiah! His number is seven, and with that number of completeness you get the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, and they win!

We are living in an anti-God, humanistic, anti-Word of God system that prevails in our educational systems and in our media. We see the rise of every kind of sin. Every perversion we can imagine is no longer shocking. We are in the last of the last days; in fact, we are in that sliver of time between Jerusalem no longer being trodden down of the Gentiles and the rapture of the church. Jesus said, “No man knows the day nor hour,” but He did say that you will know by the leaves turning on the trees that summer is near. Summer is near and the return of the Lord is near, so we need to be ready!

Prayer for Today

Father!
Your Word tells me everything I need to walk in light and truth. Your Spirit gives me everything I need to walk with courage and strength. Your Son gives me life, and I thank you! In Jesus Christ! Name, Amen.

Think on These Things

Revelation 15:2
Hosea 14:9

May the LORD bless Nigeria, American and Israel and take care of us; May the LORD make His face shine upon us, And be gracious to us; May the Lord lift up His countenance upon us, And give us peace, In Jesus Christ Name, we pray! Amen!

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Don’t get distracted

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Jesus entering Jerusalem on a donkey

Don’t get distracted

 

 

Acts 24:1

“Now after five days Ananias the high priest came down with the elders and a certain orator named Tertullus. These gave evidence to the governor against Paul.”
NKJV

 

What was Ananias doing chasing Paul around? As the High Priest, he should have been serving God and ministering to the people of Israel. Ananias was around 80 years old, yet he was so caught up in resentment that he was willing to make the 60 mile journey from Jerusalem to Caesarea to bring accusation against Paul. It’s been said, that “a distraction is what you see when you take your eyes off of the goal.” When we spend our time chasing distractions, we accomplish nothing. We only have so much time and so many hours in a day. In Matthew 5:37-40, Jesus told us to love God and love others, yet often we take our eyes off of Jesus and place them on ourselves.

Ps 90:12 “So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” NKJV

If you are over 35, you are probably more than half way through your lifetime. At the age of 50, you have likely used seventy percent of your time. Friends, as you get older the numbers don’t get better. Take a moment and reflect. Are you distracted? If you are focused on Jesus, then you will love God and love others. Do you love others? How? If you are making a long journey and your course gets off by even one degree, you will miss your destination by hundreds of miles. This is why we have to constantly make course corrections in our lives. Are you focused on Jesus or distracted by other things? Distracted? Uh oh, time for a course correction. Do you love other people? No? Oops… time for another course correction.

 

Life Lesson: As we follow Jesus we should not get distracted.

Dear Heavenly Father,
I love You. Please help me to love and serve others. Please forgive me for times when I have been distracted. If I am off course Lord, I ask that You would show me through Your Word, through a Bible teaching church, and through fellowship with other Christians, so that I make corrections. I pray this in Jesus Christ Name! Amen!

May the LORD bless Nigeria, American and Israel and take care of us; May the LORD make His face shine upon us, And be gracious to us; May the Lord lift up His countenance upon us, And give us peace, In Jesus Christ Name, we pray! Amen!

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Give Your Life Away

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Give Your Life Away

 

Acts 21:12-13

“Now when we heard these things, both we and those from that place pleaded with him not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, “What do you mean by weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”
NKJV

Sometimes we say, “I would be willing to die for the Lord.” If you say that and really mean it, then that’s awesome. But are you willing to live for the Lord?

Paul wrote,

“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” Galatians 2:20 NKJV

If anyone lived for Christ, it was the Apostle Paul. He endured many trials and suffered greatly in order to further the Gospel. Paul did end up dying for the Lord, but by his living for the Lord, his life was “poured out as a drink offering” (2 Tim 4:6). If you are living for the Lord, then you will be giving your life away and living sacrificially for others and not for yourself.

Jesus said,

“If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give it up for me, you will find it.” Matthew 10:39 NLT

Are you giving your life away?

Life Lesson: We should give our lives away as we follow Jesus.

Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank You for giving me new life in Christ. Please help me to live for You and help me to serve others sacrificially. Please forgive me for times when I have lived selfishly. In Jesus Christ Name! Amen!

May the LORD bless Nigeria, American and Israel and take care of us; May the LORD make His face shine upon us, And be gracious to us; May the Lord lift up His countenance upon us, And give us peace, In Jesus Christ Name, we pray! Amen!

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Out Of Egypt

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Israel 5 009.Jesus Christ Walk of Tears on the Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Out Of Egypt

 

2 Chronicles 36:4

“Then the king of Egypt made Jehoahaz‘s brother Eliakim king over Judah and Jerusalem, and changed his name to Jehoiakim. And Necho took Jehoahaz his brother and carried him off to Egypt.”
NKJV

Throughout the Bible, we see Egypt presented as a picture of sin. It was a land of great wealth and power, but to Israel, it was a land of captivity and bondage. As Christians, we live in a world that is much like Egypt. The world desires to see us in bondage to its system. Whether you call it the “rat race” or “keeping up with the Joneses”, the world system will only leave you wanting more. Friend, we need to get off that train because it’s headed nowhere except over a cliff.

Philippians 2:5 “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,” NKJV

Instead of letting the world dictate our life, we need to let God have control. Let the Word of God go into your eyes, your ears, your brain and your heart so that it will begin changing you from the inside out. Don’t be fooled by the “riches” of Egypt, rather experience the true riches of God.

Life Lesson: Change the way you think, and you change the way you live.

Dear God,
Give me eyes to see and a heart to receive Your Word. Help me to overcome the worldly way of thinking and instead begin thinking like Jesus. I pray that today would be the day that I change my life by walking in obedience to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

May the LORD bless Nigeria, American and Israel and take care of us; May the LORD make His face shine upon us, And be gracious to us; May the Lord lift up His countenance upon us, And give us peace, In Jesus Christ Name, we pray! Amen!

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Help For The Helpless

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4 days of Evangelism Training in Southern California provided by LivingWaters Ministry. Obeying the great commission of Jesus Christ. “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to everyone” Mark 16:15 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Help for the Helpless

“Jesus asked him, ‘Do you want to be well?” -John 5:6

Jesus was walking through Jerusalem. Think New York City. That’s what Jerusalem
was – the metropolitan gathering spot. It was crowed with all kinds of people. Eventually,
Jesus passed by a pool called “Bethesda.” This pool was believed to have magical
powers. Many believed that when the waters were stirred, the first one to enter
the pool would be healed. So, hundreds of sick people were lying by this pool,
watching and waiting for their opportunity to be healed.

One man had been waiting 38 years for his miracle! He was a paralytic and he had
lain there for nearly four decades! Every day he watched. Every day he waited.
Every day he hoped for his chance! Would today be the day…finally?

Jesus sees this man and asks him, “Do you want to be well?”

What a question! Why else would he wait there that long? But in truth, this is one
of the most salient questions we can be asked, “Do you want to be well?”

Why wouldn’t this man have wanted to be well? Well, it would mean that his way of
life would be forever changed. He would have to learn how to fend for himself instead
of living off handouts. He would have to risk standing up, falling (a likelihood
since he hadn’t stood on his legs for so long), and looking like a fool.
It meant he would have to change. He would have to let go of his old life and learn
a new one.

But he did say yes. And so Jesus gave His prescription for getting well. He said,
“Get up!” And the man GOT UP! He picked up his mat – the same mat that had carried
him – and walked! He walked into his new life! He walked into his miracle!

Get up. Walk into your miracle today!

PRAYER:

Lord, I feel helpless. But You are help for the helpless. You are hope for the hopeless!
I want to be made whole! I want to have the strength to get up! I reach out my hand to
You, today, and grab onto You. Pick me up, Lord, in Jesus Christ Name I pray! Amen.

What is holding you back from getting up and saying “yes” to your miracle today?

May the LORD bless Nigeria, American and Israel and take care of us; May the LORD make His face shine upon us, And be gracious to us; May the Lord lift up His countenance upon us, And give us peace, In Jesus Christ Name, we pray! Amen!

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The unfailing love of the Lord never ends! By His mercies we have been kept from complete destruction. Great is His faithfulness; His mercies are new every morning…..I will hope in Him

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Samuel drinking tea

Samuel drinking tea (Photo credit: Aaron Geller)

The unfailing love of the Lord never ends! By His mercies we have been kept from complete destruction. Great is His faithfulness; His mercies are new every morning…..I will hope in Him (Lamentations 3:22-24)

God is faithful

God Never Gives Up On Us

One day in 1988, Samuel and Danielle sent their young son, Armand, off to school. Hours later, a powerful earthquake rocked the area. People were trapped under flattened buildings. Kissing his wife, Samuel grabbed his coat and headed for the school. What he saw brought tears to his eyes. Armand’s school was a pile of debris.

Where Armand’s classroom used to be, Samuel began pulling a broken beam off the pile. He picked up a rock and put it to the side, then another, and another. One of the parents looking on asked, “What are you doing?”

“Digging for my son,” Samuel answered.

The man exclaimed, “You’re just going to make things worse! This building is unstable,” and tried to pull Samuel away. Others, including a firefighter, tried to get him to stop, but he would not.

All through the night and into the next day, Samuel continued digging. Finally, a faint “Help!” came from under the rubble. Then the faint voice came again. “Papa?”

He began to dig furiously. Finally, he could see his son. “Come out!” he said with relief.

“I told the other kids not to worry,” Armand said. “I told them that if you were alive, you’d save me and when you saved me, they’d be saved. You promised you’d always be there for me.” Fourteen children were saved that day because one father was faithful.

How much more faithful is our heavenly Father! Whether trapped by fallen debris in an earthquake or trapped by life’s hardships, we are never cut off from His love and faithfulness.

Your View of God Really Matters …

Do you ever wonder if God will be faithful to you, in your circumstances? Meditate on Lamentations 3:22-24. Although this was written to the Israelites after the sacking of Jerusalem, it also speaks to us today of the hope that comes from focusing on who God is.

What More Does God Say?

Psalm 36:5; Deuteronomy 32:1-4

Because God is faithful, I will trust Him to always keep His promises!

Culled from:  www.DiscoverGOD.com

May the LORD bless Nigeria, American and Israel and take care of us; May the LORD make His face shine upon us, And be gracious to us; May the Lord lift up His countenance upon us, And give us peace, In Jesus Christ Name, we pray! Amen!

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Our Testimonies

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Our testimonies

 

Acts 22:17-18

Now it happened, when I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, that I was in a trance and saw Him saying to me, ‘Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly, for they will not receive your testimony concerning Me.’
NKJV

In Acts chapter 22, Paul is sharing his testimony with an enraged group of Jews who were seeking to kill him. Notice, however, what Paul does NOT share in his testimony to these men. Paul isn’t saying anything about how difficult his life has been since he became a Christian. Certainly, he could have. Paul endured incredible hardships during his ministry. He was beaten many times; he was stoned with rocks, shipwrecked and imprisoned. Paul could easily have said, “Well, life’s been pretty hard since Jesus saved me. I’ve been beaten, shipwrecked and imprisoned and now, once again, people are trying to kill me.” Instead, Paul puts the focus on Jesus…and so should we. Brothers and sisters, when sharing your testimony, don’t talk about the difficulties in your life. Jesus told us that in this world we would have tribulation, but He didn’t stop there.

Jesus said, “Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” John 16:33b NKJV

To talk about trials will only push people away. Talk about Jesus and salvation through Him.

Life Lesson: When sharing, always keep Jesus the focus. Keep the main thing, the main thing.

Dear Father,
Thank You for the life You have given me. Lord, when You bring me the opportunity to speak to someone about my testimony, help me to always keep Jesus the main thing. Please do not let my words get in the way, but let the Holy Spirit speak through me so that Jesus will be seen. Thank You for giving us Your Word to learn and obey. I pray this in Jesus’ name. Amen

May The Good Lord Save Nigeria And Israel From All Our Enemies And Prosper Us Beyond Our Imaginations, In Jesus Christ Mighty Name We Pray, Amen!

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