Tag Archives: Jesus

Understanding what Jesus did for Us

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Understanding what Jesus did for Us

 

 

“She will bear a son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save H

Detail - Glory of the New Born Christ in prese...

is people from their sins.”

 

Matthew 1:21

It’s hard to imagine what it was like for Jesus to live under the shadow of the cross every day of His life. Even as a lad in Joseph’s carpenter shop, nailing those nails into a piece of lumber, He must’ve thought about the day when those soldiers would drive the nails in His hands and in His feet.

One of my favourite pictures of Jesus portrays Christ as a toddler. It’s the end of the day. He’s playing next to His father, Joseph, in his carpentry shop and the sun is setting. And as Jesus is kneeling down handling some metal spikes, the shadow of a cross is formed on the ground over His shoulder.

Jesus lived everyday of His life in anticipation of that moment when He would give His life on the cross for our sins. So it was no surprise when He, at about 33 years of age, was arrested, beaten, and sentenced to die for the sins of the world.

And even harder than that is to imagine that when He died, He made a way for you to have a relationship with God. So thank Jesus today for what He did for you and, if you haven’t already, accept the gift of salvation He’s given you through His death and resurrection.

There is still an opportunity for you to do so now; just say this prayer of salvation with faith:

“Dear Heavenly Father! I come to You in the Name of Jesus Christ Your only begotten Son. Your Word says, “…..whosoever shall call on the Name of the Lord shall be saved” (Acts 2:21).

I ask Jesus Christ to come into my heart to be the Lord of my life. I receive eternal life into my spirit and according to Romans 10:9, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved,” I am saved; I am born-again; I am a child of God! I now have Christ dwelling in me, and greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world! (1 John 4:4). I now walk in the consciousness of my new life in Christ Jesus. Hallelujah!”

If you have just said this prayer with me CONGRATULATIONS! You are now a child of God.

You are now seated above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named (failure, poverty, sickness, infirmities, limitations, lack, diseases, fear)not only in this age but also in that which is to come with Christ Jesus Our personal Lord and Saviour.  Amen! (Ephesians 1:15-23)

Receive power to succeed in every area of your life. Study your Bible diligently and meditate in it day and night (Joshua 1:8).

And lastly, don’t forget the fellowship of the Saints; prayerfully find and belong to a Bible – faith believing Church and watch God fulfil all His Word concerning You!

Congratulations!!!!

 

 

JESUS LIVED EVERY DAY IN LIGHT OF WHAT HE WOULD DO FOR YOU ON THE CROSS. SO THANK HIM AND TRUST THAT HE’S SAVED YOU FROM DEATH!

 

 

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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I will sing to the Lord, for He has been good to me

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The Lord is my Good Shepherd

The Lord is my Good Shepherd (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I will sing to the Lord, for He has been good to me.

Psalm 13:2, NIV

 

The Switch that Turns on the Light

King David knew that the secret of victory over adversity was a conscious choice to praise God. Again and again, as he cries out to God in prayer, we hear his choice to praise: “How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrow in my heart? . . . Look on me and answer, O Lord my God. . . . But I will trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, for he has been good to me” (Ps. 13:2-6, NIV). David, hounded by Saul and living as a fugitive for years in a nation where he was the national hero as well as the anointed king, exercised his will to praise God even when he just didn’t feel like it.

Praise is the switch that turns on the light of joy in our lives even when it’s “dark” outside. And the resulting “light” causes others to see the glory of God in our lives.

Blessings

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 Light So Shine Before Men

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Let Your Light So Shine Before Men

 

READ: Matthew 5:13-16

Let your light so shine before men. —Matthew 5:16

It was just a routine baggage inspection, but there was nothing ordinary about the contents of the suitcase. The Swiss customs agent who examined it discovered 14 original drawings by Pablo Picasso. The artwork, which was contained in a sketchbook, was estimated to be worth as much as $1.5 million, yet the passenger indicated “nothing to declare” to customs authorities.

It’s hard to imagine anyone packing Picasso’s sketchbook between sweaters, trotting off to the airport, and hoping it would remain a secret. The man was obviously smuggling it.

We as Christians have something far more valuable than a Picasso to declare! Yet we sometimes keep the treasure of our faith in Christ locked in our hearts instead of sharing it with those around us. Jesus reminded us, “You are the light of the world” (Matt. 5:14). Part of our purpose is to reflect God’s glory so that others will understand their need for Him. He also calls us to let our light shine, so that they see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven (v.16).

We risk becoming spiritual smugglers when we hide our faith in Christ. Instead, let’s open the “suitcase,” share the treasure, and give glory to the Master.

Lord, help me make my witness clear,
And labour faithfully,
So friends and neighbours turn to Christ
Through what they hear from me. —Anon.

 

 

A word well chosen can open a heart to God.

 

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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When God Moves

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Jesus is considered by scholars such as Weber ...

When God moves

 

The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going – John 3:8 (NIV)

March is the windy month. And when I see the evidence of the wind in the bending trees and rippling lake water, I’m reminded of the example Jesus used in John 3:8 to describe God’s movement in a person’s life. He said, “The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going” (NIV).

Have you ever prayed for the Wind to blow? “God, would You please move in this situation? Do something! Make Yourself known!” And have you assumed that His movement would be wrapped in glory and blessing? That if only God would move in your family, in your marriage, in your church, in your community, in your own life, something dramatic would happen, and things would get better?

Hosea was an Old Testament prophet who also longed to experience the movement of God in his life and in his country. But in his wisdom, he knew that the movement of God is not always pleasant. In fact, it can be painful.

 

 

Read Hosea 6:1-3

 

 

I. GOD’S MOVEMENT IS PAINFUL
Hosea 6:1

Give the two phrases in verse 1 that indicate God’s movement is sometimes painful.

Give the two phrases in verse 1 that indicate God cares for those He wounds.

How is the movement of God described in John 15:1-2? If a plant had feelings, do you think pruning would hurt?

How is God pruning you? What has He “cut you back” from doing? Or saying? Where has He cut you back from going?

What word is used to describe the painful movement of God in Hebrews 12:10-11?

What are at least three things the pain produces, according to Hebrews?

Do you think there is any way to achieve these three things without pain?

What are two things Jesus teaches us by His own example in Hebrews 5:8?

How does Peter answer those who say God’s will is for us to be happy, healthy, prosperous and problem free? List phrases from 1 Peter 1:6, 4:19 and 5:1.

How does Peter also refer to God’s care for the wounded? See 1 Peter 5:10.

What painful experience are you now going through? Could it be evidence of the Wind?

 

 

II. GOD’S MOVEMENT IS PROGRESSIVE
Hosea 6:2

What phrase in verse 2 implies that God may not do everything all at once, but that His movement may be progressive?

Describe how this progressive movement is confirmed in Genesis 1:1-31 and 2:1-2, Exodus 14:13-14 and 19-22, Joshua 6:1-5, Hebrews 11:30, 1 Kings 17:17-24 and 18:41-45, Psalm 27:13-14, Mark 8:22-25 and Luke 9:22.

Read God’s promises in these verses: Genesis 12:1-2, 13:15-16 and 15:1-6. Then read Genesis 16:1-4 and Genesis 16:15-16 and describe how Abraham tried to “help” God out when God’s movement seemed too slow.

What were the results of Abraham’s effort to rush God? Read Genesis 21:8-14.

Read Genesis 27:1-45. Describe how Jacob and Rebekah tried to help God out. What were the results?

What counsel does the Bible give to those who are tempted to help God out? See James 5:7, 2 Peter 3:9, Genesis 27:1-45 (Rebekah and Jacob deceiving Isaac), and Psalm 40:1-3 and 27:13-14.

Instead of rushing God or helping Him out, would you give Him time to move?

 

 

III. GOD’S MOVEMENT IS PURPOSEFUL
Hosea 6:2-3

What three words reveal the purposes for God’s movement in verse 2? List the phrases that include these words.

Write out the dictionary definition for each of these words.

How are these purposes confirmed in Psalm 80:16-19?

What additional purpose is mentioned in Psalm 85:6?

Is it possible that you are spiritually dry and lack joy because you have been resisting God’s purpose when it involves pain and patience?

 

 

IV. GOD’S MOVEMENT IS POWERFUL
Hosea 6:3

Read Hosea 6:3. Give characteristics of the sun’s rise each day that illustrate the movement of God.

Describe these same characteristics in Exodus 16:4 and Luke 9:10-17.

What general transformation do spring rains bring about? See Leviticus 26:4.

How is the movement of God similar to the rain? Read Isaiah 55:10-11, John 10:10 and Galatians 5:22-23.

Have you misunderstood the quietness of God’s power and thought He was inactive?

What example does Paul use to describe the powerful movement of God in our lives? See Ephesians 1:19-21.

Describe a time in your life when you have experienced the powerful movement of God.

As you view your life, or that of your loved one or your friend …

As you view your church, or this nation, or this world …

Ask God to give you eyes to see the Wind.

It’s blowing!

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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God Will Always lead Us To A Place of Peace and Provision

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God Will Always lead Us To A Place of Peace and Provision.

 

 

 

Proverbs 5:21,23 “For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, And He ponders all his paths. He shall die for lack of instruction, And in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray.”
You might be feeling that God has forgotten you or that He is too busy to have time for your problems. The truth is that you are constantly in God’s thoughts and that He has not forgotten about you.

Take time to re-focus and read His word diligently. You will find that He has got all the answers to every challenge you may be facing. You just need to do exactly what He is telling you and not try and follow your own plans. It may seem a little strange but have faith in God and know that He will always lead you to a place of peace and provision.

 

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 Sabbath is not a day, but rather a relationship with God through Jesus. Rest in His love and let Him use you today

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The Sabbath Rest

The Sabbath Rest (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The Sabbath is not a day, but rather a relationship with God through Jesus. Rest in His love and let Him use you today.

 

 

John 5:16, “And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him because he had done these things on the sabbath day.”

 

 

JOHN 5:16-27

The Sabbath was first mentioned in Scripture in Exodus 16, when the Lord started miraculously providing the children of Israel with manna in the wilderness. The Israelites were commanded to gather twice as much manna on the sixth day because God would not provide any on the seventh day. Shortly after this, the Lord commanded the observance of the Sabbath day in the ten commandments that were communicated to Moses on Mt. Sinai on the two tablets of stone (Ex. 20:8-11). In this command, God connected this Sabbath day with the rest that He took on the seventh day of creation.

As revealed in Colossians 2:16-17, the Sabbath was symbolic. According to Exodus 23:12, one of the purposes of the Sabbath was to give man and his animals one day of physical rest each week. Today’s medical science has proven that our bodies need at least one day of rest each week to function at our peak. Deuteronomy 5:15, also clearly states that the Sabbath was to serve as a reminder to the Jews that they had been slaves in Egypt and were delivered from bondage, not by their own efforts, but by the supernatural power of God. However, in the New Testament, there is an even clearer purpose of the Sabbath stated. In Colossians 2:16-17, Paul reveals that the Sabbath was only a shadow of things to come and is now fulfilled in Christ. Hebrews 4:1-11, talks about a Sabbath rest that is available to, but not necessarily functional in, all New Testament believers. This New Testament Sabbath rest is simply a relationship with God in which we have ceased from doing things by our own efforts and are letting God work through us (Gal. 2:20; Heb. 4:10).

The Sabbath is not a day, but rather a relationship with God through Jesus. Rest in His love and let Him use you 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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Our Spiritual Inheritance

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Our Spiritual Inheritance

“Keep on asking, and you will be given what you ask for.” (Matthew 7:7)

God is Faithful!

Imagine for a moment that a distant relative has included you in his will. As part of the execution of that will, money is placed into a bank account for you, and you are notified of that fact. But you reason, “It can’t be true!” So you never bother to write a check against that account. Although you have the inheritance, you do not benefit from it because you lack the faith and willingness to claim it. How tragic!

As children of God, we must be aware of our spiritual inheritance and claim it by faith. Then we will experience the abundant spiritual riches God has for His children. This inheritance is both present and future.

I am told of a wealthy person who divided his inheritance into two parts for his children. He is giving them some of their inheritance now. For example, he helped his son start a business, and he helped his daughter purchase a condominium. They will receive additional money from time to time as they demonstrate that they can handle it well. But the bulk of their estate will come later.
In the same way, increasing spiritual maturity and faith release increasing measures of our spiritual riches. The riches begin the moment we become Christians, but the full riches of our relationship with God will be revealed in heaven.

Your View of God Really Matters …

God has devised the “faith method” for receiving His promises because it requires unwavering trust in Him. What one thing will you choose to trust Him for today?

What More Does God Say?

Luke 11:5-13

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

 

 

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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Lord, help me to be what You want me to be

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Ernest Hemingway

Lord, help me to be what You want me to be

 

 

 

Your Bio Here!

 

 

 

Culled From: http://www.odb.org.

 

 

 

 

READ: John 1:1-14

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. —John 1:14

While searching for an interesting way to instruct my college writing class about the concept of writing a biographical sketch, I found this idea: Write a biography in six words. When asked to do this, Pulitzer Prize winner Ernest Hemingway wrote this poignant bio: “For sale: baby shoes, never used.” Imagine the sad story behind those six words.

As I thought about this concept, I wondered if we could find any six-word biographies of people in the Bible. What I discovered was astonishing. Many of our scriptural heroes have already been described that way. For example, David, of whom God said: “A man after My own heart” (1 Sam. 13:14; Acts 13:22). Or Paul’s self-description: “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ” (Eph. 1:1). Or Paul’s description of Timothy: “My true son in the faith” (1 Tim. 1:2 NIV). And consider these words about Mary: “The virgin shall be with child” (Matt. 1:23). And about Jesus: “Became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14).

This exercise in precise descriptions of people of faith should cause us to wonder: What six-word description would best describe me? Would it be positive or negative? Would it be “Not an easy person to love” or “A shining light for the Lord”? What would your bio say? —Dave Branon

Lord, help me to be what You want me to be
In character, actions, and will,
For You are the potter and I am the clay—
Your purposes I would fulfill. —Fitzhugh

 

 

 

Once lost, now found. Eternally thankful!

 

 

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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Glorify God Despite Your Circumstances

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03.365 (02.08.2009) Faith

Glorify God despite your circumstances.

 

Romans 4:20 “He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God.”

Waiting almost 10 years for the fulfilment of an “impossible” promise from God, Abraham’s faith grew stronger, while he continued to give glory to God! Strengthen yourself today in this thought. Abraham had all the reason in the natural to waver in his faith, but he chose to glorify God regardless of his circumstances.

Keep praising God, give Him glory in all that you do and do not lose hope, while glorifying 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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Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Matthew 5:4

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Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Matthew 5:4

Grief Takes Time

James 4:4 says, “Your life is like a mist. You can see it for a short time, but then it goes away.”

We speak of a short life—but compared to eternity, who has a long one? But in God’s plan every life is long enough and every death is timely. And though you and I might wish for a longer life, God knows better.

Ecclesiastes 7:3 says, “Sorrow is better than laughter, for sadness has a refining influence on us.”

Egyptians dress in black for six months. Orthodox Jews offer prayers for a deceased parent every day for eleven months. Some Muslims wear mourning clothes for a year. Am I the only one who senses we hurry our hurts?

Did you know that 70% of the Psalms are poems of sorrow? That the Old Testament includes a book of lamentations?

Grief takes time. Give yourself some.

 

 

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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Games the Devil Plays

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Abrams Falls 1

Games the Devil Plays

And there was a strife between the herdmen of Abram’s cattle and the herdmen of Lot’s cattle: and the Canaanite and the Perizzite dwelled
then in the land. And Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I
pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy
herdmen; for we be brethren
Genesis 13:7-8

 

 

Abram’s men were upset with Lot’s men, and Lot’s men were upset with
Abram’s men. Abram’s men began to whisper in Abram’s ear about Lot, and
Lot’s men began to whisper in Lot’s ear about Abram. Most of you have
experienced this nasty old game of the devil in your own lives because
the devil knows that strife will derail God’s plan.

 

 

Abram, however, understood the divisiveness of strife. He didn’t say,
“Let there be a little strife.” You might think at times that it’s okay
to be a little upset with some people as long as you’re not burning
upset. No! Abram said, “Let there be no strife. We are brethren.
Believers shouldn’t fight.” Abram was guarding his heart.

 

 

 

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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Naturally Holy

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Resurrection of Christ

Resurrection of Christ (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Naturally Holy

 

John 5:14, “Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.”

 

JOHN 5:1-15

 

In saying this, Jesus shows that sin causes the tragedies that come into our lives. The reason for holiness in the life of the believer is that when we obey sin, we yield ourselves to Satan, the author of that sin. Yielding to sin is yielding to a person – Satan. God doesn’t impute the sin to us but the devil does. Our actions either release the power of Satan or the power of God in us.

 

 

Although God is not imputing our sins unto us, we cannot afford the luxury of sin because it allows Satan to have access to us. When a Christian sins and allows the devil opportunity to produce his death in their life, the way to stop it is to confess the sin, and God who is faithful and just, will take the forgiveness that is already present in our born again spirit and release it in our flesh. This removes Satan and his strongholds.

 

 

The sins of a Christian don’t make him a sinner any more than the righteous acts of a sinner make him righteous. Sin is a very deadly thing that even Christians should avoid at all costs, but it does not determine our standing with the Lord. A person who is born again is not “in” the flesh even though he may walk “after” the flesh.

 

 

What is the motive for living a separated life? We live a separated life because our nature has been changed. We were darkness, now we are light (Eph. 5:8). Many people argue for holiness in order to obtain relationship with God. We need to live holy lives because of the relationship that we already have. It’s the nature of a Christian to walk in the light and not in darkness. If Christians were rightly informed of who they are and what they have in Christ, holiness would just naturally flow out of them. It’s their nature. It’s our nature.

 

 

 

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 us learn to wait upon the Lord

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Let us learn to wait upon the Lord.

 

Isaiah 40:31 “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings as eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.”

 

Oh how often do we ask God to either help us with something or give us an answer to a specific question? And then, in our impatience, we run ahead of God and just do it in our own strength and understanding. We run and get weary, because we are doing things in our own way. Let us learn to wait upon the Lord, as hard as it might be at times, just wait! For He promises that we shall run and not be weary, walk and not faint.

 

 

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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For us, death is not a goodbye; it’s a “see you later”

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For us, death is not a goodbye; it’s a “see you later”

 

Culled From:  http://www.odb.org.

READ: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

We who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. —1 Thessalonians 4:17

As a boy, I had a collie named Prince Boy, a great dog that I really loved. One day, he disappeared. I didn’t know if he had been stolen or if he had simply run away—but I was devastated. I searched everywhere. In fact, one of my earliest childhood memories is of climbing a tall tree from which I could scan our neighborhood in hopes of spotting him. I desperately wanted my beloved dog back. For weeks, I was always watching and hoping to see Prince Boy again. But we were never reunited.

There’s a much greater sense of loss when we think we’ll never again see a loved one who dies. But for those who know and love the Lord, death’s parting is only temporary. One day we will be reunited forever!

Paul assured the Thessalonians, “The dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord” (1 Thess. 4:16-17). The words that provide comfort to the grieving heart are together and we. These words of reunion indicate that followers of Christ don’t ever have to experience permanent separation. For us, death is not a goodbye; it’s a “see you later.” —Bill Crowder

We’ll be reunited one day
With our loved ones who have died
If they know the Lord as Saviour—
Then with Him we will abide. —Sper

 

 

God’s people never say goodbye for the last time.

 

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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Love God and Live by Faith

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Deuteronomy 8:18, Thou shalt remember the Lord...

Love God and Live by Faith

Deuteronomy 8:6-7 says:

 

 

“Therefore thou shalt keep the commandments of the Lord thy God, to walk in His ways, and to fear Him. For the Lord thy God bringeth thee into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and depths that spring out of valleys and hills.”

We are Christians. We obey God, not to get something, but because He has already given us something. We obey Him, giving Him reverence and honouring Him. We walk in His ways and His paths. We represent Him to the world. We walk in righteousness and purity. Why? Because He has brought us into a land of such abundance, a land of goodness. God loves us so much, we can do nothing but love Him back. This is the heart of true faith. When we discover His love for us, we have no options but to love Him by living by faith.

Love God and live by faith!

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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God is absolute Truth

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Victoria Falls

Victoria Falls (Photo credit: tonymz)

God is absolute Truth

The Greatest Power

“By my great power I have made the earth and all its people and every animal.” (Jeremiah 27:5)

Much mystery (and ignorance) results from the fact that God’s Spirit transcends our five senses of sight, hearing, taste, touch, and smell. He can only be perceived by our spirit–that unseen part of us that is renewed at salvation.

David Livingstone was the first European to explore much of central Africa over one hundred fifty years ago. He led expeditions that pushed deep into the jungles and savannahs–often thousands of miles at a stretch.

While traveling along the Zambezi River in south-central Africa, Livingstone became the first European to set eyes on Victoria Falls. The massive falls plunge 360 feet to the earth below. Some in Livingstone’s party might have thought they had discovered the world’s greatest source of natural power. But as Livingstone knew, they had done no such thing.

When you discover what it means for the Holy Spirit to be active in your life, you experience a power greater than anything else. The power from a hydroelectric dam can light up a city. But the power of the Holy Spirit touches eternity itself. Unfortunately, to most people, this power is just as hidden and mysterious as Victoria Falls in the days before Livingstone.

Through your spirit you have a relationship with the living God, who is Spirit. We cannot touch Him physically, though we can be touched emotionally by Him. We cannot see Him, yet we can see His fingerprints in the world around us. We cannot hear His voice, though we can listen for His guidance.

Your View of God Really Matters …

Ask God to empower you by the unlimited power of His Holy Spirit to live a life pleasing and acceptable to Him today. Then, tomorrow, ask Him to do it again.

What More Does God Say?

Romans 11:34-36

Because God is all-powerful, He can help me with anything.

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 did not come to accept our sacrificial acts, but to make Himself a sacrifice for our sins. He did all this to give us new life in Him

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Jesus did not come to accept our sacrificial acts, but to make Himself a sacrifice for our sins. He did all this to give us new life in Him

SOMETHING NEW

 

Luke 5:36-37, “And he spake a parable unto them; No man putteth a piece of a new garment upon an old; if otherwise, then both the new maketh a rent, and the piece that was taken out of the new agreeth not with the old. And no man putteth new wine into old bottles; else the new wine will burst the bottles, and be spilled, and the bottles shall perish.”

 

MATTHEW 9:11-17, MARK 2:16-22, LUKE 5:30-39

These two parables are in response to the scribes’ and Pharisees‘ criticism (v. 30) and the question from John’s disciples about why Jesus didn’t act according to their religious traditions and expectations (Mt. 9:14; Mk. 2:18). The gist of these parables was to show that Jesus came to do a new thing that would not mix with the old covenant ways that were familiar to people (Isa. 43:18-19; Jer. 31:31-34; Heb. 8:7-13).

A new cloth sown on an old garment in Jesus’ day would shrink the first time it was washed. Then it would tear away from the old garment that had already shrunk, making the hole worse. This illustrates that Jesus did not come to patch up the old Mosaic covenant, but to replace it (Heb. 7:18-19).

Also, new wine (not yet fermented) had to be put into new or reconditioned wineskins to allow for the expansion of gases within the skin as the result of the fermentation process. Otherwise, an old wineskin that had already been stretched by use would simply burst and all the wine would run out. The Old Testament laws could never stretch enough to accommodate the New Testament truths of mercy and grace (Heb. 10:1-10). Jesus set us free from the judgment of the Old Testament laws (Rom. 6:14; 7:1-4; 8:2; 10:3-4; Gal. 3:12-14, 23-24; 5:4; Phil. 3:9).

These religious scribes and Pharisees (Lk. 5:30) were making the terrible mistake of trusting in their own efforts to produce their right standing (righteousness) with God. Jesus did not come to accept our sacrificial acts, but to make Himself a sacrifice for our sins. He did all this to give us new life in Him. Thank Him for His grace 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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Stay Away from Jezebel

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Resurrection of Christ (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Stay Away from Jezebel!

 

 

 

Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou
sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to
teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat
things sacrificed unto idols. And I gave her space to repent of her
fornication; and she repented not.
Revelation 2:20-21

This is written to Thyatira, a corrupt, self-promoting church. Jezebel
is a self-promoter who calls herself a prophetess, but the Holy Ghost is the real promoter. If you are always trying to promote yourself, to
get to the pulpit, or to do something that gets you noticed, you will
not get very far. The Holy Ghost gives you the gifts. He gives you the
talents you have. He gives you favour where favour is necessary. Your
responsibility is to do what your hands can find to do, and do it with
all your might.

God gave Jezebel time to repent. The book of Romans says it this way:
The goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance (Romans 2:4b). Just
because the hammer doesn’t fall when you are doing what you shouldn’t
be doing doesn’t mean that you are getting away with anything. God may be giving you time and space to come to your senses and understand what
you are doing.

It matters not only what you do but also why you do it. You can do
things to be seen. You can do things to get yourself in line for
something you want. Jezebel’s motives are absolutely wrong, and those
who have her spirit are wrong. You have to watch who you hang around
with, because you will soon start becoming what they are. If you hang
around a Jezebel spirit, you will become a Jezebel.

Prayer for Today

Father,
I am dependent on You to show me my heart and my motives. I want Your
Will to be done above all other things. I desire only Your favour and
Your blessing. In Jesus Christ Name, Amen.

Think on These Things

Jeremiah 8:4-6

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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Power to be Holy

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Power to be Holy

God is all powerful

“So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.” (Galatians 5:16)

I like to compare the Christian battle against sin to an individual swimming upstream against a surging current. His progress is slow and tortuous; he is constantly swept backward by powerful undercurrents. Hovering near the swimmer is a speedboat with a powerful motor. He can continue to try to swim upstream or he can choose to climb aboard the speedboat, which can easily whisk him up the river.

We have a similar choice. When battling evil spiritual forces, worldly influences, and our own fleshly temptations, we can either fail miserably by fighting temptation in our own efforts or defeat that sin-current that drags us down by living in the unlimited power of the Holy Spirit.

Peter explains, “By His divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know Him, the One who called us to Himself by means of His marvelous glory and excellence. “ (2 Peter 1:3) We do not have to clean up our messy lives before we invite God in; rather we appropriate God’s holiness through His Holy Spirit living His life within us.

The Scriptures assure us “that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of Him.” (I John 5:14-15 NIV)

We can become holy vessels of the all-powerful God by committing to live holy lives through being filled with the power of the Holy Spirit.

Your View of God Really Matters …

Are you tired of struggling to live the Christian life? Get in the boat! Let God’s awesome Spirit live through you every moment of every day. Then, and only then, will you have the power to live in obedience and joy.

What more Does God Say?

Ephesians 5:18; Acts 9:17; Acts 11:24

Because God is all powerful, He can help me with anything.

 

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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Delivered from the hand of the enemy

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Delivered from the hand of the enemy

Deuteronomy 7:15 says:

“And the Lord will take away from thee all sickness, and will put none of the evil diseases of Egypt, which thou knowest, upon thee; but will lay them upon all them that hate thee.”

God is never the author of any type of evil, even sickness and disease. God desires to take these things from our midst. Can you imagine how much God loves you? Sometimes we who are His children fail to see God’s love around us. We think that because bad things happen that God has authored them, or that He has allowed them to happen. In this verse we see He is a faithful God. He is our God. He sent His only begotten Son to shed His blood for our sins. If He says He will put none of the evil diseases upon us, then we can trust that He means it. God says He will take them out of the midst of us. We should rejoice, knowing that God is not delivering us into the hands of the enemy, but He delivers us from the hand of the enemy.

God delivers us!

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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