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)
John 9:7 says: “And said unto him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.” Here Jesus made clay and put it on the blind man’s eyes. Then He sent him to the pool to wash. What a miracle when the man saw! Jesus wants all of us to allow Him to apply the truth to our eyes so that we may see God’s perfect will, and that we may see how we should walk and what sin is. God wants us to see the path of righteousness and the path of destruction and sin, so that when we encounter sin we stay away from it. It’s not that God is trying to keep us from joy, but He’s trying to keep us from being cursed. He’s trying to keep us from having the devil lord it over us. And He’s trying to keep us from an eternal hell.
When God opens your eyes and shows you the path of righteousness and His will, then like the blind man you must go and do it. When you do, the world sees that you are a prized disciple. Today, if you know to do right, do it. What you know is wrong, refuse it. You are anointed of God, and empowered by the Holy Ghost. You can do all things. The Holy Ghost will help you mortify the deeds of your flesh, so stand strong; don’t cave in. Resist the devil, and he will flee.
Wash your eyes!
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!
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)
But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is He that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which
he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day
Moses said, “Remember God, because He’s the one who gave you the
ability, the supernatural power to eat and be full and to build goodly
houses. Everything happened because of the power that God gave you for the purpose of receiving wealth.” Notice that this power is a gift from
God.
Some people misunderstand this prosperity message, thinking that you
give in order to receive. However, you must understand that the main
purpose or motivation for giving is love. When you give out of love,
God will give the gift of His power to you out of His love.
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!
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 law of the Spirit that brings life made me free from the law that brings sin and death
Romans 8:3
The cross did what sacrificed lambs could not do. It erased our sins, not for a year, but for eternity. The cross did what man could not do. It granted us the right to talk with, love, and even live with God.
You can’t do that by yourself. I don’t care how many worship services you attend or good deeds you do, your goodness is insufficient . . . That’s why we need a saviour.
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!
“Then stand in the sanctuary at the place appointed for your family division and help the families assigned to you as they bring their offerings to the Temple.” NKJV
Part of being a disciple of Jesus is helping others become disciples as well. When we read the word, we should be ready to share what we’ve learned with our friends and family. When we see God answer prayers, we have a great opportunity to display the goodness of God to others. Even when we walk through difficult situations we can look for others to help disciple since, one day, they could be in that same situation.
Each moment in life can be a discipleship moment, for ourselves as well as others. This week, look for chances to disciple someone. Discipleship does not necessarily mean sitting in a classroom but can simply be a conversation or even an action. As we look for these moments, be ready for God to act. There are many believers who are wondering what the next step in the walk with Christ may be, and you may have the answer.
Matthew 28:19 ” Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”
Life Lesson: We should be helping others in their walk with the Lord.
Dear God,
Make me a bold disciple. Father, I desire to serve others, love my enemies and give my all to You. I ask that You would give me opportunities to make more disciples for Your kingdom. In those moments, give me the wisdom needed to push someone closer 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!
Česky: Kříže - symbol utrpení Ježíše Krista a jeho ukřižování (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced
Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.
-Revelation 1:7
I love sunrises and sunsets. When I behold the magnificent spectrum of colours spreading
across the sky, it is a feast for my eyes that warms my heart. Yet, with each sunrise
or sunset, I cannot help but wonder what it will look like when Christ returns.
Revelation says that, “Every eye will see Him.” That means everyone. Everyone! I
know on that day I will be rejoicing because Christ has returned, but I also have
a feeling that my heart will ache for some people I didn’t get to know better.
The neighbor I was too scared to talk with about Jesus. The one I was afraid would
laugh at me for my faith.
I won’t sugarcoat it – doing the work that Jesus has called us to can be hard at
times. You open yourself up to criticism and ridicule. And that only grows when
you say “yes” to full-time ministry because, when times are tough, you take public
blows from a crowded field of second guessers. Yet, what drives me each morning
to continue to do God‘s work is picturing the look on my neighbor’s face when Christ
returns, a look that says, “Why didn’t you tell me?”
Perhaps you never thought you could be God’s instrument of change in someone else’s
life. Oh, how wrong you are. Today, you can choose be the ambulance driver that
brings someone you know to the Master Physician, God Almighty.
Lord Jesus, show me the person You want me to introduce to You today. In Jesus’
name, I pray. Amen.
Name loved ones and acquaintances who need to know more about Jesus. How will you
model for them the love of Christ 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!
Deutsch: Mutter Teresa (26.8.1919-5.9.1997); 1986 bei einer Pro-life-Kundgebung auf dem Bonner Münsterplatz English: Mother Teresa of Calcutta (26.8.1919-5.9.1997); at a pro-life meeting in 1986 in Bonn, Germany (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Mother Teresa (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth.
.C. Immediately the top leaders of the most powerful country in the world, along with the other esteemed guests, rose to their feet and applauded. Many had tears in their eyes.
The wife of a United States Senator later said, “She looked so tiny and out-of-place in her blue-and-white habit, old gray sweater, and sandals that had obviously carried her many miles. I was struck with the contrast. I thought, ‘Lord, this frail woman has more power than I see in the Halls of Congress. She reflects Jesus everywhere she goes, and everyone is strangely moved.'”
Mother Teresa never owned anything; she never held up her fist to demand rights for herself. Yet she was raised to a pinnacle of recognition for her work with the destitute and dying in Calcutta, India. A shining example of selflessness, she proved the power of God’s love to transform people and touch a starved world.
This is real power, and, unlike that of the world, it confounds the wise and humbles the mighty. It is the power of God working through ordinary men and women for His glory.
When we are filled with His Spirit, we have that same power inside of us. But He wants us to be vessels of His mission. Then people will not see us, but will see Him in us. Like Mother Teresa, we will display a power the world does not know. But His Spirit working in us will draw others to Himself.
Your View of God Really Matters …
When people look at you, who do they see? Jesus or you? The only way people will ever see Jesus in you is if you focus on Him. It’s not enough to act right. You must focus right. Today focus on Jesus, and allow His Spirit to live through you.
Because God is all powerful, He can help us 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!
Česky: Kříže - symbol utrpení Ježíše Krista a jeho ukřižování (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Got a Dime to Spare? God did not spare His Son Jesus Christ out of love for you
Written by Sheila Schuller Coleman
“He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also
with Him graciously give us all things?” -Romans 8:32
When I walk out of a store or restaurant, I am frequently stopped by those who ask,
“Got a dime to spare?” Because I’m wary of giving money to those who might use it to purchase unhealthy substances holding them hostage, I often purchase them a meal,
instead, or hand them a bag of peanuts with one of our “Hope Centre” cards stapled
to it. I encourage them to come on Monday for a hot meal, inspiration and encouragement,
a free haircut, and help with clothes, resumes, and substance abuse counselling.
At one recent Monday Meal, I met a man I’ll call “Rich” who came up to me and said,
“Pastor Sheila, I am your resident atheist.”
“Really? Well, I have good news for you, Rich. God believes in you even if you don’t
believe in Him. He loves you even if you don’t love Him.”
“I’ve told God that I’d believe in Him if I could see Him.'”
“Rich, take a look around. See Amanda over there cutting hair? See Hilda behind
the table serving the food? See Harold by the racks handing out the clothes? You
are seeing God in action through each one of them.”
Two weeks later when I ran into Rich again, he said, “Sheila, the word on the street
is that you love us.”
“Well, that’s true. But most importantly, God loves you.”
“I’m beginning to believe that.”
So, let’s look at that question, “Got a dime you can spare?” I’d like to challenge
you and ask you, “Got a life you can spare?”
God, who did not spare the life of his Son, asks us to give our lives to Him and
to serve Him – like Amanda, like Hilda, like Harold, like so many others who are
giving their lives to say through words and works, “God loves you and so do I!”
Lord, when I am tempted to think You would withhold a blessing or a deliverance
from me, I am reminded that You have promised that You will not withhold anything
I need – not even Your Son’s death on the cross. What more do I need? Thank You,
Lord! Forgive me, Lord! Amen.
God did not spare His Son out of love for you. How does that make you feel?
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!
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)
No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it
Micah 2:1-2
“Woe to those who devise iniquity, and work out evil on their beds! At morning light they practice it, because it is in the power of their hand. They covet fields and take them by violence, Also houses, and seize them. So they oppress a man and his house, a man and his inheritance.” NKJV
In the verse above, we see those in power taking advantage of the people. The world believes that it is acceptable to take advantage of others for gain of position or authority. If you are a leader in the workplace, do you take advantage of the system to benefit yourself? Friend, let me make this more personal. Do you take advantage of your family, friends or co-workers for your benefit? When we get to know a person, we know how to set them off or manipulate them for what we want. That is ungodly and God does not bless the unbiblical practices of deception.
1 Corinthians 10:13 “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” NKJV
Even in times when it seems there is no other option but to bend the truth for your benefit, God provides a way out. Taking responsibility for your actions is an important characteristic of a Godly disciple. God will always honour you when you take responsibility for your mistakes, even when it’s difficult. Live out the Biblical model that God entrusted to you in regards to your relationships even when it doesn’t make sense.
In the end, it comes down to your making a decision about Jesus. How far will you follow Jesus in your relationships? Until it gets inconvenient – uncomfortable – what about when it becomes painful? Are you willing to follow the Biblical model all the way? What will you decide? Gain for yourself or lay your life down for the sake of the Gospel?
Life Lesson: One characteristic of a Godly leader is to do what is Biblical even when it causes personal hardship.
Dear Father:
Thank You for loving me. Thank You for continuing to do a work in my life. You have called me to live a disciple’s life, and I choose to honour You in living out the model You have set before me. Lord, when things get tough and I mess up, empower me with courage and strength to live out Your Truth and encourage others. 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!
Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you!” —John 20:26
At our church we often sing the beautiful song by Ron and Carol Harris: “In This Very Room.” It begins, “In this very room there’s quite enough love for one like me.” This song reminds me that although there is great encouragement in gathering with other Christians for worship, the important thing is that Christ is present. But it goes beyond that. He is with us not just at church but in every room of our lives.
I wonder where you’re reading this—a kitchen, a coffee shop, a prison cell, a military post? Perhaps you’re in a hospital or a courtroom. It may be a room that reflects everything that’s right in your life or a place that represents all that’s wrong. And you might be afraid.
In the aftermath of the awful reality of Jesus’ crucifixion, His followers met in a familiar room. John records that “when the doors were shut [locked] where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, ‘Peace be with you’” (John 20:19). A week later it happened again when Jesus entered through locked doors to bring peace through His presence (vv.26-29).
Wherever you are today, “There’s quite enough hope and quite enough power to chase away any gloom, for Jesus, Lord Jesus, is in this very room.” —David McCasland
When in the midst of life with its problems,
Bent with our toil and burdens we bear;
Wonderful thought and deep consolation:
Jesus is always there. —Lillenas
Our loving God is always near—forever by our side.
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!
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)
Own Up to Guilt
And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. And the Lord God said unto the woman,
What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, “The serpent
beguiled me, and I did eat.”
Genesis 3:12, 13
Where sin is concerned, there is no difference between men and women.
Both are equally quick to pass off their guilt. This, too, is a
favourite tactic the enemy uses against believers. God is always
interested in honest confession, repentance and complete forgiveness,
but satan only wants us to point the finger in endless blame games that
combine guilt and shame with the sins of being a false witness and
judging one another.
Once God heard what Adam and Eve had to say, He dealt with each party
to the sin one by one. In Genesis 3:15, God began His judgment with the
father of lies and spoke prophetically that satan’s head would be
bruised by Eve’s seed (God’s seed in Jesus Christ). He told the devil
what was coming, but since satan has been stripped of his anointing, he
has also been stripped of his ability to receive revelation. He heard
what God said but didn’t have the revelation to fully understand the
plans of God.
Woman was deceived, but man made a wrong decision knowingly. Eve’s
error took womankind down a step in the social order and in physical
safety and comfort until Jesus restored her to her original position.
Adam’s sin took all mankind-male and female-straight to the grave. Once
again, it took the Son of God Himself to bring us to a glorious
resurrection.
Father,
You know me inside and out-You know everything about me. Thank You for
looking at me with love and forgiveness and for bringing Your truth and
light into all areas of my life. 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!
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)
He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Religious rule-keeping can sap your strength. It’s endless. There is always another class to attend, Sabbath to obey, Ramadan to observe. No prison is as endless as the prison of perfection. Her inmates find work but they never find peace. How could they? They never know when they are finished.
Christ . . . fulfilled the law for you. Bid farewell to the burden of religion . . . God pledges to help those who stop trying to help themselves.
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!
Česky: Kříže - symbol utrpení Ježíše Krista a jeho ukřižování (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Remember the Lord Your God; for He is the One that gave you power to get wealth
Get the Root!
But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God: for it is He that giveth
thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which
he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day Deuteronomy 8:18
Notice that God has not promised to give you wealth. God’s covenant
promise is to give you the power to get the wealth. You can’t focus on
the fruit and not the root!
If you have just the money and not the power to get the money, you’re
going to be broke when the money runs out. The fruit is good, but if
you want the fruit, you have to get the root. The root is the power!
The root is the blessing! The root is the grace! When you get the
power, the wealth comes. If you don’t get the power, you’re not going
to get the wealth—at least not God’s way.
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!
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)
1 Corinthians 6:17 “But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.”
Just think about it, we understand “one in flesh” so let “one in spirit” sink in. We know our bodies are the temple (dwelling place) of the Holy Spirit. That is why it’s important to keep ourselves pure and clean, because God is Holy! “We were bought at a price, therefore GLORIFY GOD in your body & spirit, which is God’s.”
Read: 1 Corinthians 6:12-20)
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!
Although God was referred to as “our Father” 13 times in the Old Testament, Jesus’ frequent use of this title brought a whole new understanding of our relationship with God. Jesus referred to God as His father over 150 times, and He spoke of God as being our father 30 times. This infuriated the religious Jews of Jesus’ day who considered it blasphemy to call God their father, because they understood that to mean they were equal with God (Jn. 5:17-18).
This title has become so common in the church today that we, many times, don’t perceive its real significance. The revelation that we are instructed to call God “our Father” reveals the kind, gentle, loving nature of our God (1 Jn. 4:8). Paul amplifies this by using the term “Abba Father” (Rom. 8:15), which is an affectionate term that a young child would use for his father, corresponding to our English word, “daddy.”
We are being instructed here to recognize our relationship with God and praise Him for it. It’s a relationship that goes beyond any human relationship we could ever have here on this earth. It’s a relationship of belonging to a father, who loves us because we are His. Run to Him, drop all pretence and formality, and call Him “Daddy.”
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!
How often I have dashed home from church to get things ready for guests I have invited to lunch! I want to get the ice in the glasses, take the roast out of the oven while I pop the rolls in, make the gravy, steam the broccoli, and generally get things organized so that when my guests walk through the door everything is prepared for their enjoyment. I want them to know by the delicious aromas coming from the kitchen, and the elegant setting of the table, and the sideboard laden with dishes brimming with steaming food that they are expected and they are welcome.
In John 14:2, Jesus was telling His disciples that He was going to dash Home to get things ready for them so when they walked through the door they would know they were expected, they were welcome, and His home was theirs to enjoy!
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!
John 15:5 says: “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in Me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without Me ye can do nothing.”
Jesus is the very source of our being. We exist in Him. He is the vine, and we are the branches. God has sent Him forth so that we might live through Him, so that we might be born again, grow, and bear fruit. Jesus is with us. We are in Him, and He is our source in life. He is the source of our love, wisdom, counsel, and strength. He is moving and giving, providing and supplying for our lives. He is making our lives fruitful. If we will simply abide in Him, stay connected, and live by the Word – that life-source that He came to give us – then we will be fruitful in every area of life.
Don’t live in yesterday!
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!
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)
“This is real love – not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.” (1 John 4:10)
If you had to summarize God in only one word, what would that word be?
Steve Henning waited fifty-seven years to hear a single word. As a baby, he had contracted spinal meningitis. Since penicillin was being saved for the war effort in 1943, he received no treatment and fell deaf. In 2001, however, a new surgical procedure was developed. The doctors implanted a device in Steve’s ear, but then the waiting game began. The device could only be activated when the swelling went down—and that took six weeks.
When the moment of truth came, the doctors activated the cochlear implant. Steve’s wife was invited to say something, to see if her husband could hear it. She leaned toward him and gently said, “I love you.” A great smile came across his face. The first sound he heard was the affirmation of love.
It is a lesson worth remembering as we talk about God to those who do not know Him. The first and most important words should be affirmations of His love. It’s a beautiful, desirable message that helps the spiritually deaf to hear God saying, “I love you.”
Your View of God Really Matters …
One of God’s most amazing characteristics is His love. It is the most powerful and irresistible force in the universe. Learn to communicate His love as you represent Him to a world that is desperate for genuine love.
Because God is love, I will tell others how much He loves 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!
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)
Jesus is with You
Matthew 9:24 says: “He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed Him to scorn.”
Are you like the people around Jesus in this story? He was entering the home of Jairus, a desperate man whose daughter had just died. There was no hope in man in this situation, but Jairus hoped in God. His family was helpless, and they were at the end of what they could do when Jesus said, “Give place, for she’s not dead.” In other words, “Give place; it’s not hopeless. Give place, for I am here. Give place; nothing is impossible if you believe Me.”
Often we think that our circumstance is beyond hope. We find it hard to see how Jesus could take the worst-case scenario and make it new. But Jesus is the master of rebuilding, the master of recreating, the master of healing, the master of repair, and the master of new beginnings. Wherever you are today, no matter what you are going through, lift up your eyes because your redemption does not come from man, and it does not come from you, but it comes from Jesus Christ.
He is there with you now!
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!
Faith can be seen. Just as Jesus explained to Nicodemus in John 3:8, faith is like the wind. Faith itself is invisible, but saving faith is always accompanied by corresponding actions which can be seen (James. 2:17-26).
It was not only the faith of the paralytic that Jesus saw, but also that of his four friends (Mk. 2:3). This demonstrates the effect our intercession in faith can have upon others. Jesus saw their faith. However, although our faith released on behalf of others is powerful, it is not a substitute for their faith. It is simply a help. The person who is to receive the miracle must have some degree of faith, also. Even Jesus could not produce healing in those who would not believe (Mk. 6:5-6). In this instance, it is evident that the paralytic himself also had faith because he was not resistant to the four who brought him; and he got up and obeyed Jesus’ command (v. 7) without having to be helped.
Why did Jesus minister forgiveness of sins to this man instead of meeting the obvious need he had of healing? God is more concerned with the spiritual health of a man than his physical health. Or, Jesus, through a word of knowledge, may have perceived that the real heart-cry of this man was to be reconciled to God. In some instances (not all – Jn. 9:2-3), sickness was a direct result of sin. Therefore, Jesus would be dealing with the very root of the paralysis. Whether or not this man’s paralysis was a direct result of sin, sin in our life (that has not been forgiven) will allow Satan to keep us in his bondage. Through Jesus’ act of forgiving this man’s sins, the paralytic was free to receive all the blessings of God, which certainly included healing.
The point Jesus is making is that both forgiveness of sins and the healing of the paralytic are humanly impossible. If Jesus could do one of these things, He could do the other. He then healed the paralytic showing that He did, indeed, have the authority to forgive sins. In Jesus’ day, the people were more inclined to accept His willingness to heal than they were to accept His forgiveness of sins without the keeping of the law. Today, the church world basically accepts forgiveness of sins, but doubts His willingness to heal. They were never meant to be separated. Believe and receive all God has for you today.
We sometimes wonder where God is during the storms of life, in all the troubles of the world. Where is God? Why doesn’t He stop the evil? The Bible assures us that God will abolish evil when Christ returns. Someday He will come with shouts of acclamation, and there will be a joyous reunion of all those who have trusted in Him.
Jesus did not tell us when He is coming back. He said we were not to speculate. “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father” (Matthew 24:36). The sixth chapter of Revelation gives a strikingly detailed portrait of the end times, but no one knows when these things will occur except the Father in heaven.
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!
Prayer Point 