Tag Archives: Peter

Matthew 18. Who Is The Greatest In Heaven?

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English: Jesus entering Jerusalem on a donkey

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

Matthew 18. Who Is The Greatest in Heaven?

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? 2 And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, 3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me. 6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

7 Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh! 8 Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire. 9 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire. 10 Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven. 11 For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost. 12 How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray? 13 And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray. 14 Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.

15 Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. 16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. 17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as a heathen man and a publican. 18 Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? 22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven. 23 Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. 24 And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. 25 But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. 26 The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. 27 Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. 28 But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. 29 And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. 30 And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. 31 So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. 32 Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: 33 Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? 34 And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. 35 So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.

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 17. The Transfiguration

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The Transfiguration Lodovico Carracci 1594

Matthew 17. The Transfiguration

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1 And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart, 2 And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light. 3 And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him. 4 Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. 5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. 6 And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid. 7 And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid. 8 And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only. 9 And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead. 10 And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elias must first come? 11 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Elias truly shall first come, and restore all things. 12 But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them. 13 Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist.

14 And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying, 15 Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is a lunatic, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water. 16 And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him. 17 Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me. 18 And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour. 19 Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? 20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. 21 Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.

22 And while they abode in Galilee, Jesus said unto them, The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men: 23 And they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised again. And they were exceeding sorry.

24 And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute? 25 He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers? 26 Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free. 27 Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.

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 am who God says I am

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Stained glass at St John the Baptist's Anglica...

I am…..

  • A child of GOD – Romans 8:16
  • Forgiven – Colossians 1:13-14
  • Saved by grace through faith – Ephesians 2:8
  • Justified – Romans 5:1
  • Sanctified – 1 Corinthians 6:11
  • A new creature – 2 Corinthians 5:17
  • A partaker of HIS divine nature – 2 Peter 1:4
  • Redeemed from the curse of the law – Galatians 3:3
  • Redeemed from the hand of the enemy – Psalms 107:2
  • Delivered from the power of darkness – Colossians 1:13
  • Led by the Spirit of GOD – Romans 8:14
  • A child of GOD – Romans 8:14
  • Getting all my needs met by JESUS – Philippians 4:19
  • Casting all my cares upon JESUS – 1 Peter 5:7
  • Strong in the LORD – Ephesians 6:10
  • Doing all things through Christ Philippians 4:13
  • Doing the LORD’s commandments – Deuteronomy 28:12
  • An heir of eternal life- 1 John 5: 11- 12
  • Blessed with all spiritual blessing Ephesians 1:3
  • Healed by HIS stripes – 1Peter 2:24
  • More than a conqueror Romans 8:27
  • Establishing his word here on earth – Matthew 16:19
  • An overcomer by the blood of the lamb – Revelation 12:11
  • Daily overcoming the devil – 1John 4:4
  • Walking by faith and not be sight – 2 Corinthians 5:7
  • Bringing every thought into captivity – 2 Corinthians 10:5
  • Being constantly transformed – Romans 12:1-2
  • A labourer together with GOD – 1 Corinthians 3:9
  • An imitator of JESUS – Ephesians 5:1
  • Continually praising the LORD – Psalms 34:1

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 least expected friends of Jesus

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The capture of Christ (detail)

The capture of Christ (detail) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The least expected friends of Jesus

“This man has done nothing wrong.”  Luke 23:41

 

 

Finally someone is defending Jesus. Peter fled. The disciples hid. The Jews accused. Pilate washed his hands. Many could have spoken on behalf of Jesus, but none did. Until now.

Kind words from the lips of a thief. He makes his request. “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom” (Luke 23:42).

The Saviour turns his heavy head toward the prodigal child and promises, “Today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43).

 

 

 

 

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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Get your eyes off yourself and your problems and get them onto Jesus. Put your faith in Him; He will not let you down

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English: Jesus entering Jerusalem on a donkey

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

Get your eyes off yourself and your problems and get them onto Jesus. Put your faith in Him; He will not let you down.

Prayer!

 

 

 

 

 

Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.”
John 11:41-42

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jesus-the only perfect man-prayed consistently. He prayed to give God thanks and He prayed when He was afraid (Luke 22:42-44). We should follow His example and pray continuously as well.

Philippians 4:6 says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” When we pray, we open the door for God to work within us and in our lives. He promises to give us what we need. Matthew 7:7 says, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” God can’t make you enter into His kingdom, but He can stand at the door and knock.

Peter walked on the water until his focus turned away from Jesus to himself. As long as he kept his eyes on Jesus he did not sink. When he looked at his circumstances he started to sink.

Get your eyes off yourself and your problems and get them onto Jesus. Put your faith in Him; He will not let you down.

Further Reading

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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 18:21-22 – LORD how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me?

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William-Adolphe Bouguereau (1825-1905) - The F...

Matthew 18:21-22 – LORD how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me?

“Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, ‘Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother
or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?’ Jesus answered, ‘I tell you,
not seven times, but seventy-seven times.'” Matthew 18:21-22

 

 

 

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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No more sleepless nights

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English: Jesus entering Jerusalem on a donkey

No more sleepless nights

 

Casting the whole of your care (all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all) on Him, for He cares for you affectionately (and) cares about you watchfully (1 Peter 5:7)

I believe one of the greatest things in life is to know that you are loved by God, the Creator of the universe. The Bible says He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully. This world is full of troubles and you will face different challenge as long as you’re living in it. But the good news is that Jesus overcame the world for your sake (John 16:33). Therefore, you should no longer have sleepless nights over any situation in your life.

Some people find it difficult to sleep when they are confronted with challenges. Such people are oblivious to the fact that they were called into a life of rest. The Bible says, “For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from His” (Hebrews 4:10). Jesus was mocked to the cross; He was spat on, beaten and rejected, and then He died. All these He did so that you may no longer cry. Therefore, whenever you think about the death of Jesus, always remember that He took all those pains, worries, dejection which could have given you sleepless nights. Hallelujah!

Remember that when He was praying in the garden of Gethsemane just before He was arrested, His disciples were sleeping. They awoke only after He had finished praying  (Matthew 26:45). The Bible says, “For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his” (Hebrews 4:10). He has given you rest and taken your sleepless night away.

1 Peter 5:7 tells you what to do when you’re faced with challenges: “Throw all your worry on Him (God), because He cares for you.” The Bible says, “It’s useless to rise early and go to bed late, and work your worried fingers to the bone. Don’t you know he enjoys giving rest to those He loves?” (Psalm 127:2 MSG).  Therefore, never let worry or any other thing steal your rest away from you.

Confession:

I have the peace of God, therefore I dwell in rest. I refuse to be troubled by circumstances and situations, because I deal with them from a position of rest. Challenges are my nourishment and signs of my promotion. Glory to God! 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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Forgive us our sins, just as we have forgiven those who have sinned against us (Matthew 6:12)

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English: Baptism of Jesus Christ

Forgive us our sins, just as we have forgiven those who have sinned against us (Matthew 6:12)

Payment in full

God is merciful

Peter asked Jesus how many times he had to forgive someone. Peter thought that forgiving seven times was pretty good. “No!” Jesus answered, “seventy times seven!” Then Jesus gave an illustration showing how God views our responsibility to forgive.

A king became aware that one of his servants owed him a significant amount, so he ordered the servant brought before him and demanded the servant pay every penny. The servant could not pay so the king ordered the man and his family sold into slavery to pay the debt. The servant fell before the king and pleaded for mercy. The king felt pity and forgave him the tremendous debt.

The servant found a fellow servant who owed him and demanded payment. The friend begged for mercy, but the servant would not forgive him and had him thrown into prison.

When the king heard about it, he was angry! He called in the servant and demanded to know why he had acted so unforgiving toward his friend when he had been forgiven so much. Then the king commanded the servant be thrown into prison until he had paid every penny.

God gave His only Son to die in our place. That is mercy beyond comprehension. How, then, can we ever refuse to give mercy to others when we have received so much mercy ourselves. To the degree that we show mercy to the poor, the wretched, and the guilty, we are like God.

Your View of God Really Matters …

Since God richly lavishes His mercy on us, we must show mercy to one another. And that means letting go of all those old hurts caused by others.

What More Does God Say?

Romans 8:38-39; Luke 6:35

Because God is merciful, He forgives me of my sins when I sincerely confess them

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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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The Look of Jesus

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The capture of Christ (detail)

The capture of Christ (detail) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The Look of Jesus

 

While [Peter] was still speaking, the rooster crowed. And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. . . . So Peter went out and wept bitterly.

Luke 22:60-62, NKJV

The night Jesus was betrayed, a man stepped up to Peter in the courtyard of the temple compound and challenged him: “Didn’t I see you with [Jesus] in the olive grove?” (John 18:26, NIV). All the tension and anger of the past hours exploded in Peter and tumbled out in a stream of curses as he insisted, “I don’t know the man!” Yet as he spoke, he heard the unmistakable sound of a rooster crowing in the distance. At that very moment, a commotion in the breezeway got everyone’s attention. With the denial still burning his lips, Peter looked into the eyes of Jesus!

The look of Jesus was like a flaming fire, burning away Peter’s hypocrisy and sin. Then as the entourage around Jesus roughly pushed and shoved Him forward, the moment passed. Peter, shaken to the core of his being, went out into the night, where he “wept bitterly,” sobbing out his confession to God.

Three days later, Peter knew his sin had been forgiven when he met the risen Christ. Do you have the uneasy feeling that Jesus is “looking” at you? Is your heart burning with shame and guilt? Don’t shed tears, shed your pride and come to Him for cleansing and restoration.

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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Power to be Holy

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Stained glass at St John the Baptist's Anglica...

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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At peace with God

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Stained glass at St John the Baptist's Anglica...

Stained glass at St John the Baptist's Anglican Church http://www.stjohnsashfield.org.au, Ashfield, New South Wales. Illustrates Jesus' description of himself "I am the Good Shepherd" (from the Gospel of John, chapter 10, verse 11). This version of the image shows the detail of his face. The memorial window is also captioned: "To the Glory of God and in Loving Memory of William Wright. Died 6th November, 1932. Aged 70 Yrs." (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The capture of Christ (detail)

The capture of Christ (detail) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

At peace with God

 

Acts 12:6

“And when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers; and the guards before the door were keeping the prison.”
NKJV

How often do you allow the troubles of life to steal your peace? Do you replay events over and over in your mind wishing you had done something differently, and sometimes even allow bad events to set the tone for the rest of your day? I am reminded of a story about a man who while on his way to work had a flat tire. When he finally got to work, his secretary asked him how he was doing. Through clenched teeth he said, “Terrible! I had a flat tire.” He walked into his office, slammed the door, threw the chair back from his desk, and picked up a phone to speak harshly to an employee. At lunch, the waiter at the restaurant asked him how he was doing and he responded, “Terrible! I had a flat tire this morning!” Later that evening when he got home his wife asked him how his day went and he said, “It was terrible! I had a flat tire this morning!” That one event shaped his entire day and not only that, his bad attitude affected everyone he came across.

In Acts chapter 12, we see James had been killed by Herod and Peter was imprisoned. Although Peter was probably about to be executed, he was sleeping! Now as far as ‘bad days’ go, I’d rank his pretty high on the list, yet Peter is comfortable and peaceful enough to sleep. Peter was at peace in the Lord as we should be. No matter what the circumstance.

Jesus said, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 NKJV

No matter what trial or tribulation you are facing, know that there will be a day when you will be free from it. It may not be until you are with the Lord in Heaven, but you will be free from it. Be at peace, Christian! You have an awesome promise to look forward to…

Rev 21:3-4 “And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” NKJV

Life Lesson: Through Jesus, you may have peace.

Dear Father,
Thank You for sending Your only Son, Jesus to die on the cross for my sins. Thank You for the promise that one day, You will wipe the tears from my eyes and there will be no more death, sorrow or crying. Thank You that I can have peace through Jesus, no matter what trial or difficulties I am experiencing. Please forgive me for the times when I have surrendered my peace to a situation or problem and help me to live for You every day. 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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You are a good candidate for a miracle

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God is working on your behalf, trust Him

2 Peter 3:9

Has there ever been a time when you felt so bound by your circumstances that you thought you would never be released? Without a doubt, Peter’s situation, from a human standpoint, seemed impossible. However, from God’s perspective nothing was further from the truth. It was an opportunity for Him to display His awesome power through Peter’s life.

While the church was praying for his release, Peter was resting. In fact, he was asleep! Most of us would have been awake, anxiously watching the door and wondering what was going to happen next. But not Peter. He was in the centre of God’s loving will. Life is not void of trouble and heartache. Sometimes His plan for us includes difficulty.

When trouble strikes and you feel as though your world is falling apart, do you have this same type of faith? Many of us don’t. We may start out thinking, “Now Lord, You know my needs. Please help me.” However, when time drags on and the door to freedom remains closed, we begin to wonder what has happened to God. Has He left the scene? The answer is no. He is right where He always is – beside you, with you, and living His life out through you.

Peter was not worried about tomorrow because his eyes were set on Christ. Being handcuffed to him was probably similar to being chained to the apostle Paul. We can imagine that at every opportunity, those who were guarding him had the opportunity to hear about the unconditional love of Jesus Christ.

“The Lord is not slow about fulfilling His promises” (2 Peter 3:9). What may seem like forever to you is not even a moment to God who is infinite and eternal. Peter’s amazing release came at just the right time – the middle of the night. When life appears the darkest, the light of God’s hope will find you. Your Saviour is working on your behalf, and He will answer your prayer.

If Satan has hemmed you in on all sides, if he has handcuffed you and you see no way out, then you are a good candidate for a miracle!

May God Almighty prosper Nigeria and Israel and defend us from all their enemies in Jesus Christ Name, Amen!

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We are miracle workers

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Stained glass at St John the Baptist's Anglica...

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WE ARE MIRACLE WORKERS

Verily, verily, I say
unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and
greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father (John 14:112)

Our Lord Jesus Christ
performed several miracles while He was here on earth; He healed the sick,
raised the dead, multiplied food, and turned water into wine. His life was an
unending stream of the miraculous. As He prepared to leave the earth, He
declared that those who believed in Him would do even greater works than He
did. That means He has made us miracle workers just like Him! He said “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that
believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than
these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.”

When Peter and John met the crippled man at the gate of the
temple, Peter said “Silver and gold have I
none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth
rise up and walk” (Acts 3:6). Then Peter grabbed the man’s hand and lifted
him up and he walked! Peter didn’t pray to God to heal the man; Peter performed
the miracle in the Name of Jesus Christ! That’s the kind of life He’s called us
to live. Remember the words of the Master:
“Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you” (Acts
1:8). Power is the “dynamic ability to cause changes”

The question therefore is: have you received the Holy Ghost?
If you have, then you’re a miracle worker like Our Lord and Saviour Jesus
Christ, for it was the Holy Ghost in Him that made Him do those works. Whether it’s
someone around you who needs the miracle, or it’s you, you can effect the
change you desire. Is someone sick around you? Go ahead and lay your hands on
that one and demand a recovery in the Name of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Is it a miracle you need at work? Declare the change you want to see in the
Name of Jesus Christ! You have no reason to feel disadvantaged or helpless
anymore, because miracle-working ability is in you now!

CONFESSION

Dear Father, thank
You for putting Your Spirit within me. He is the difference in my life and the
power through which I effect changes in my circumstances. I am a
miracle-worker, and so there is no disadvantage to me or to those around me! In
Jesus Christ Name! Amen!

 

www.rhapsodyofrealities.org

May Our God The Almighty prosper Nigeria
and Israel and defend us from all our enemies in Jesus Christ Name, Amen!

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