Jesus Our Life Giver

JESUS GIVES LIFE

I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. John 10:10

Yes, Jesus loves me! That’s one of the first phrases children learn in Sunday school. But the full impact of it can be difficult to grasp. He came to give you life! As our Lord Jesus Christ says in the verse for today, “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”

   It’s been said that Jesus will not only add years to your life, but life to your years. The cross of the Lord Jesus Christ is God’s plus-sign to us. When the negatives of life come against us, He cancels out all the negatives so that we end up with a plus. He is the Lord who adds to us and restores to us that which the enemy has stolen from us.

   The Lord wants to be your plus sign. He wants to give you what no other human being can give you – His love, grace, favour, wisdom and eternal life. He wants to make your life an addition and not a subtraction. He wants to make you a blessing so that you can in turn be a blessing unto others.

   Through Christ, we have access to the good life! Why should we be discouraged? Why should we be distressed? Yes, Jesus loves me – He turns my minuses into plusses.

Prayer: Thank You Lord for turning the negatives in my life to addition.

Scriptural Reading: John 10:7-21

7 Then Jesus said to them again, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.

8 All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them.

9 I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.

10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.

12 But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them.

13 The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep.

14 I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.

15 As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.

16 And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd.

17 “Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again.

18 No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.”

19 Therefore there was a division again among the Jews because of these sayings.

20 And many of them said,”He has a demon and is mad. Why do you listen to Him?”

21 Others said, “These are not the words of one who has a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”

NKJV

Jesus Our Life Giver

This Is A New Day

THIS IS A NEW DAY

Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. Isaiah 43:19

It’s easy to get stranded in life. That happens when for some reason, you come to a standstill in your life and find it difficult to move ahead. It happens to all of us.

   In fact, maybe today, you find yourself stranded in your own life. Perhaps life has lost its energy for you. Perhaps you’ve settled for mediocrity. Mediocrity in your marriage; mediocrity with your Christian life, mediocrity in your career. But God has so much more  for you! He wants to do supernatural things in you, things you could never imagine.

   His promise to you today is firm and clear: “Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?” In other words, God is saying, “Look! Can’t you see it? Can’t you taste it? Can’t you feel this new thing that I’m doing?”

   He takes barren places and barren people and uses them for His glory when He does the brand new thing in their lives. And God wants to do something new in you. Give Him space in your life. Open up to the Holy Spirit. When you do, He will take you out of the place where you have gotten stranded. He will move you out of mediocrity and make your life exciting.

   Can you see the great things He has in store for you? Look, He is about to do something new in your life today. Reach out. Touch Him. Take His hand and let Him walk you into new places. This is a new day for you.

Prayer: Father, thank Your for the great things You want to do with my life.

Scriptural Reading: Isaiah 43:16-21

16 Thus says the Lord, who makes a way in the sea And a path through the mighty waters,

17 Who brings forth the chariot and horse, The army and the power (They shall lie down together, they shall not rise; They are extinguished, they are quenched like a wick):

18 “Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old.

19 Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness

And rivers in the desert.

20 The beast of the field will honor Me, The jackals and the ostriches, Because I give waters in the wilderness And rivers in the desert, To give drink to My people, My chosen.

21 This people I have formed for Myself; They shall declare My praise.

NKJV

This Is A New Day

You Are Protected

YOU ARE PROTECTED

 

A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you. Psalm 91:7

These days, reading the newspapers and listening to the news can be very frightening. Almost every news item seems designed to strike fear and terror into our hearts.

   This kind of fear creates panic. Pretty soon, that kind of panic makes even reasonable people go crazy. We behave like Chicken Licken in the fairy tale: an acorn fell on his head. He went round screaming to all who would listen, ‘the sky is falling; some of it fell on my head’.

   God promises us protection. His promise of protection does not keep us from hearing and seeing trouble around us. His promise of protection keeps us even through the troubles and turbulence round about us.

   God’s presence goes with us along the paths of danger and uncertainty. He is our shelter from the stormy blast and our eternal hope.

   To live a happy life in this turbulent world, we must:

• Be constantly aware of God’s presence. He is with us everywhere and never leaves us alone.

• Boldly claim God’s protection. Know the promises of God concerning His protection and by faith, pray them into reality in your life.

• Bypass our fears. When fear knocks on your door, let faith answer. Even when you are terrified, make the effort to bypass the fear and allow the promises of God to rule your heart.

Prayer: In the name of Jesus, I claim God’s promises of safety and protection for myself and family.

Scriptural Reading: Psalm 91:1-16

1 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.”

3 Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler

And from the perilous pestilence.

4 He shall cover you with His feathers, And under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler.

5 You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, Nor of the arrow that flies by day,

6 Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.

7 A thousand may fall at your side, And ten thousand at your right hand; But it shall not come near you.

8 Only with your eyes shall you look, And see the reward of the wicked.

9 Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge, Even the Most High, your dwelling place,

10 No evil shall befall you, Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling;

11 For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways.

12 In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone.

13 You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra, The young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot.

14 “Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name.

15 He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in troub…

You Are Protected

You Are God"s Masterpiece

YOU ARE GOD’S MASTERPIECE

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praise of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. 1 Peter 2:9

Sometimes even believers have difficulty remembering their purpose in life. In our busy day to day lives, it’s easy to forget how wonderfully and purposefully we are designed by our Creator.

   • First, we are God’s peculiar people. We don’t have to fight for a place in the house of the Lord. Instead of seeking Him, He first sought us because He wanted an eternal relationship with us.

   • Second, we are members of a royal priesthood. In Old Testament days a king could not be a priest and a priest could not be a king. The two offices were separate and distinct. But in Christ, God has called every believer into a new category. He has made us both kings and priests. As kings we have the authority to rule; as priests we have access to God.

   • Third, we are a holy nation. “Holy” simply means “set apart”. In other words we have been marked as God’s children by His Holy Spirit, who placed an eternal seal upon our souls. Our sins have been washed away in the precious blood of Christ.

   • Fourth, we are God’s own possession. You are so valuable to the Heavenly Father that He purchased your eternal salvation at a great cost: the life of His only Son. Now we are His.

   Do you believe that about yourself? If you do, does your life reflect your God-given position? God has invested His grace into our lives; it is our responsibility to live our lives by His grace.

Prayer: Thank You Lord, for Your grace that has made me a special person in Your eyes.

Scriptural Reading: 1 Peter 2:1-9

1 Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking,

2 as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby,

3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

The Chosen Stone and His Chosen People

4 Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious,

5 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

6 Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture,

“Behold, I lay in Zion

A chief cornerstone, elect, precious, And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.”

7 Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient,

“The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone,”

8 and

“A stone of stumbling

And a rock of offense.” They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed.

9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

NKJV

You Are God"s Masterpiece

Stand Up For Jesus

Stand Up For Jesus

STAND UP FOR JESUS

If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified. 1 Peter 4:14

Regardless of the opposition we may face in the world, we must always affirm the Lordship of Christ in all situations. We must remind ourselves always that we do not belong to ourselves: we belong to the Lord. He is our Lord and as such, He is responsible for us. He looks out for us and as a good shepherd, goes out of the way to seek for us when we go astray. Because of what He does for us, we must remember to give Him a special place of Lordship and honour in our hearts.

As believers, when we give Christ a special place in our hearts, we exalt Him as the object of our love and loyalty. We recognize His perfection, magnify His glory and extol His greatness. As part of our commitment to Him we submit ourselves to God’s will, realizing that His intentions for us are always for our good. That means that even when we are going through suffering and tough times, we must remain dedicated to the Lord.

No matter what happens to us, God loves us and is able to bring us help.

To be dedicated to the Lord in the face of persecution and suffering demands that we set our mind and affections on heavenly values and not earthly ones. If you are preoccupied with possessions, pleasures and popularity, you will live in perpetual fear of the enemy’s attacks. Whatever we set our hearts on, will determine what we value and give priority to.

Prayer: Pray for the grave to always honour the Lord Jesus wherever you go.

Scriptural Reading: 1 Peter 4:7-19

7 But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers.

8 And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.”

9 Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.

10 As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

11 If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Suffering for God’s Glory

12 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you;

13 but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.

14 If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part He is glorified.

15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters.

16 Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God i…

Stand Up For Jesus

The Power Of Prayer

THE POWER OF PRAYER

Yet regard the prayer of your servant and his supplication, O LORD my God, and listen to the cry and the prayer which your servant is praying before you. 2 Chronicles 6:19

Faith is released through prayer. Prayer is like pressing on the accelerator of a car. Normally, there are several processes for starting a car. First, you have to ensure that the car is in good working condition. Then you must sit in the car, turn on the ignition, and release the hand brake. All of these steps are important but they do not move the car. To move the car, the driver must step on the accelerator pedal. That is what prayer is like.

   After we have taken time to identify the promises of God, build our faith and conquer our fears, we must now release God’s power through prayer. The moment we frame the desires of our heart and send them forth through a request to the Lord, we set a whole process in motion. That process goes through several phases from the time the prayers leaves your thoughts or your mouth. In time, if you do not nullify the effect of that process, you will receive a response from the Lord.

   Prayer can be said in our thoughts or out of our mouths. You can pray in your thoughts all the time and under all kinds of situations – in the office, classroom, bus or airplane. Even while before an interview panel, you can send strong petitions to heaven. However, prayer is most often said verbally. When you prayer out loud, you hear yourself which reaffirms your faith. Because faith comes by hearing the word, when you pray aloud, you recharge your faith and create an atmosphere of power.

Prayer: Ask the Lord to renew your desire for His presence and prayer.

Scriptural Reading: 2 Chronicles 6:12-21

12 Ahitub begot Zadok, and Zadok begot Shallum;

13 Shallum begot Hilkiah, and Hilkiah begot Azariah;

14 Azariah begot Seraiah, and Seraiah begot Jehozadak.

15 Jehozadak went into captivity when the Lord carried Judah and Jerusalem into captivity by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar.

16 The sons of Levi were Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

17 These are the names of the sons of Gershon: Libni and Shimei.

18 The sons of Kohath were Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.

19 The sons of Merari were Mahli and Mushi. Now these are the families of the Levites according to their fathers:

20 Of Gershon were Libni his son, Jahath his son, Zimmah his son,

21 Joah his son, Iddo his son, Zerah his son, and Jeatherai his son.

NKJV

The Power Of Prayer

More Than You Imagined

MORE THAN YOU IMAGINED

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21

John’s Gospel tells us there were many people gathered around the pool of Bethesda, waiting for the stirring of the water by an angel. Yet Jesus went to one man and spoke to him. Notice that Jesus did no preach to everyone. Notice that He did not heal everyone. He only went to one individual. Why that was, we don’t know. Perhaps it was the utter helplessness of this man that drew Jesus to him. Perhaps it was the fact that this man had often prayed to God, not realizing, in his wildest dreams, that God Himself would personally answer and deliver him.

   This man’s desire and prayer was for somebody to help him into the pool when the water is stirred. But the Lord was there to do far more than he had prayed for or imagined. He was going to personally come down and heal him. The Bible tells us that God is able to do abundantly above and beyond that which we could ask or think (see Ephesians 3:20). The Creator of the universe, the Sustainer of all things, the King of kings and the Lord of lords stood before that helpless man, asking him, “Do you want to be made well?” Do you want a change?

   Sometimes we pray for something and God will say no. We think, “God is turning me down.” But later we look back and realize God had something better to give us, something abundantly above and beyond what we could ask for or think of. This man just wanted someone to help him to the pool. But Jesus did more than that. He healed him physically, transformed him spiritually, and gave him a personal relationship with God.

   If you have been praying and trusting God to do a miracle in your life, He is about to do more than you can asked or can imagine.

Prayer: Thank God for His amazing grace, and prophesy that God will do far more than you have asked or can imagine.

Scriptural Reading: Ephesians 3:14-21

14 For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,

16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man,

17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love,

18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height —

19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,

21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

NKJV

More Than You Imagined

The Sword Of The Spirit

THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT

And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. —Ephesians 6:17

Have you ever noticed that when you plan to spend some time reading your Bible, all kinds of strange things start happening? You wake up in the morning you can decide to read the newspaper – every section of it – and everything will be fine. There will be no phone calls, no disturbances. You can read from beginning to end without distraction. But as soon as you pick your Bible to read, the phone starts ringing. The children start screaming. You remember that you forgot to charge your phone or return a phone call. They are not necessarily evil things that are keeping you from God’s Word—they are just things. They are distractions. The devil doesn’t want you to read your Bible. Did you know that? He wants to distract you, because the Bible is a crucial weapon for spiritual battle.

The Bible refers to God’s Word as “the sword of the Spirit.” It is the only piece of offensive weaponry listed with the armour of God in Ephesians 6. The breastplate and helmet are for protection. The shoes help a soldier gain ground. The shield is something to stand behind. But the sword is for attacking and inflicting damage.

So it is crucial you sharpen your sword. You must study it and know the weight of it. You must learn how it works and how it moves. And most importantly, you want to practise and master how to use it.

What shape is your sword in? Is it polished from daily use? Has it been sharpened on the anvil of experience as you have applied and obeyed its truth in your life? Or, is your sword dulled from disobedience? Is it rusty from lack of preparation?

Prayer: Ask the Holy Spirit to help you sharpen your spiritual sword and do battle with the word of your testimony.

Scriptural Reading: Ephesians 6:10-20

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.

11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness,

15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.

17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;

18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints —

19 and for me, that utterance may be…

The Sword Of The Spirit

Applying Your Faith

APPLYING YOUR FAITH

Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”—John 20:29

Some people say they cannot have faith because they are practical. They need to know something is true before they can believe it. But we all apply faith every day. When you go to a restaurant, order a meal, and eat what they bring, that is faith. You are not sure if they followed all the sanitary guidelines they are supposed to follow. When you enter the restaurant you sit on the seat you are offered without a thought whether the chair has strength enough to carry you. You don’t know. So you apply faith.

When you go down to the pharmacy to buy medicine, you assume the little pills the pharmacist gives you can relieve you of your headache or fever. You even believe the pills she gave you are the right prescription. That is faith. When you have surgery and are put under anesthesia, you must put complete faith in the anesthesiologist, surgeons, and nurses. Or how about when you board a plane and taxi down the runway in that 747? Do you understand aerodynamics? Most of us wouldn’t. Yet we believe those pilots in the cockpit are hopefully not drunk or distracted. We hope they will get us safely to our destination.

The point is this: we apply faith each and every day. Faith is belief plus action. It is what we apply when we come to God. We act on His word. Is it amazing people refuse to put their faith in God? They can put faith, in a waiter, in a pharmacist, in a surgeon, and in a pilot but they won’t put their faith in God Almighty.

Prayer: By faith, pull down and destroy every stronghold of doubt and unbelief.

Scriptural Reading: John 20:24-29

24 Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came.

25 The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord.”

So he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.”

26 And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you!”

27 Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.”

28 And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”

29 Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

NKJV

Applying Your Faith

God Is Love

GOD IS LOVE
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for you are with me. Psalm 23:4
I heard the story of an elderly minister who liked to visit people in hospitals. He often would take along a little, embroidered bookmark that he carried in his Bible. On the back of the bookmark were a group of tangled threads with no apparent pattern. He would hand this bookmark, with the back facing up, to those who were hurting or upset and say, “Look at that and tell me what it says.” As they looked at all the tangled threads, they would say, “I have no idea what it says. It doesn’t seem to say anything.” Then he said, “Now, turn it over.” As they would flip that bookmark over, they saw the words, “God is love.” The minister would say, “Many times as we look at what God is doing, we just see tangled threads with no rhyme or reason. But from God’s perspective, He is dealing with us in love, and He knows what He is doing.”
   God is love. Everything He does is inspired by love. His relationship with us, His children, is guided purely by love. In the midst of challenges, pain, grief, or trials, God seems far away from us. In such situations we are tempted to doubt the love of God. We feel God has forsaken us. But that is far from the truth. He will never leave us or forsake us. His presence and love is always with us.
   The next time you think it is all over for you, just remember how things turned out for Daniel. No doubt things looked pretty dim when he was in the den of lions. You see, things can look bad at one moment, but then God will step in and turn events around. Then suddenly you’ll look back and say, “Now I understand what God was doing.”
Prayer: Thank the Lord for His presence and love even in your darkest moments.
Scriptural Reading: Psalm 23:1-6
1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.
3 He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord
Forever.
NKJV

God Is Love

Commit It To The LORD

Commit It To The LORD

COMMIT IT TO THE LORD

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

We have all experienced situations in our lives when submitting to the will of God becomes very difficult for us. For example, when someone has really mistreated or done something terrible against you, committing the situation to God for Him to deal with it in His own way is very challenging. Anytime you go into prayer about the situation, you are inclined to curse the person instead of praying for the person to change. This is so especially when the more you try to be nice to the person, the worse they become.

In such circumstances, we are commanded to forgive the person and pray for them. When you pray, you leave the issue in God’s hands and trust Him to deal with it in the best way. This kind of prayer is very difficult, and many times when we leave issues in the Lord’s hands, we go back for them and handle them our own way.

In every instance of suffering, our Lord handed over both the situation and Himself to the Father’s care. He did so because He was confident in the righteous judgment of the Father. When He was reviled, He committed His ways to the Father. On the cross when He was suffering and dying, he still committed Himself to the Father.

That is the way you should respond when confronted with unjust persecution on the job or in your families and relationships. When you retaliate, you forfeit the blessing and reward that suffering is meant to bring. Retaliation shows your lack of confidence in God’s ability to make things right in His own time.

Prayer: Commit all your hurts to the Lord, and ask forgiveness for all those who have hurt you one way or the other.

Scriptural Reading: Romans 12:14-21

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

15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.

16 Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.

17 Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men.

18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.

19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.

20 Therefore

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.”

21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

NKJV

Commit It To The LORD

Godliness With Contentment

Godliness With Contentment

CONTENTMENT

Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 1 Timothy 6:6-7

What is contentment? Contentment means my happiness is not dependent upon circumstances. Most people get caught in “when” thinking – “When I get such and such, then I’ll be happy.” “When I get to a certain level economically. . . When I get a certain job . . . When I build my own house … then I’ll be happy. When I get married. . When I buy my first car. . . then!” God says “No, once you get there, you’ll always want something else. You’ll always want more.” Somebody once asked the billionaire Howard Hughes, “How much does it take to make a man happy?” He said, “Just a little more.”

God says, “I want you to learn contentment.” It’s not about not having goals. It’s saying, “My happiness is dependent upon the Lord not on my circumstances in life.” Paul learned contentment. He says in Philippians 4:12, “I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I’ve learned the secret of contentment in every situation.” Contentment is something you have to learn. It’s not something that comes naturally. Human beings, by nature, are naturally discontent. And so are you.

How do you learn to be content? Stop comparing. God says it’s stupid to compare yourself to others. You compare houses, clothes, cars. We’re constantly comparing and therefore always discontent. And because of discontent God can’t trust you with wealth. You put too much priority on things in your life. Can God trust you with wealth? Have you learned to be content? If you don’t learn contentment, you’ll never find happiness in the Lord.

Prayer: By faith declare that you will not lack any good thing.

Scriptural Reading: 1 Timothy 6:3-10

3 If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness,

4 he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions,

5 useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself.

6 Now godliness with contentment is great gain.

7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

8 And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.

9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.

10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

NKJV

Godliness With Contentment

Always On Time

Always On Time

ALWAYS ON TIME

Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. Matthew 14:25

In Matthew 14, we read about the disciples being tossed by the wind and waves in their boat on the Sea of Galilee. Then Jesus came, walking on the water, at the fourth watch of the night. The fourth watch was the last part of the night, just before dawn. This means the disciples had been at sea for at least nine hours in this fierce storm. So we see that Jesus came to them at the last conceivable moment.

This reminds us that God’s delays are not necessarily His denials. Jesus knew what He was doing all along. Why did He wait so long before He intervened? Probably because it took a long time for them to exhaust their resources and completely trust in Him.

Lifeguards will tell you that often the hardest person to save is the one who is panicking. But when an individual is exhausted, when he or she has no energy left, the lifeguard can pull that person back in to safety. In the same way, sometimes God allows us to get to the end of our rope, to the end of our resources, so we will finally cling to Him.

The disciples were exhausted and afraid. Then Jesus said to them, ‘It is I, do not be afraid.’ Then they willingly received Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land where they were going. For many of us, that is what Jesus is waiting for. He is waiting for us to willingly receive Him into our situation. He is waiting for us to get to the place where we realise that without Him we can do nothing. If we invite Him, He will take control of our storm-tossed boat, even in the darkest night, and take us to our desired destination.

Prayer: No matter the contradictory circumstance around you, agree with God’s promise and confess that you are on top and still rising.

Scriptural Reading: Matthew 14:22-33

22 Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away.

23 And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there.

24 But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary.

25 Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea.

26 And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear.

27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.”

28 And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.”

29 So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus.

30 But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!”

31 And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?…

Always On Time

A Servant Heart

A Servant Heart

A SERVANT HEART

Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come back, and tomorrow I will give it.” Proverbs 3:28

Real servants pay attention to needs. Servants are always on the lookout for ways to help others. When they see a need, they seize the moment to meet it, just as the Bible commands us: “Therefore, as we have the opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.” (Galatians 6:10)

When God puts someone in need right in front of you, He is giving you the opportunity to grow in servanthood. Notice that God says the needs of your church family are to be given preference. It is a great privilege to serve them because they are dear to God.

We miss many occasions for serving because we lack sensitivity and spontaneity. Great opportunities to serve never last long. They pass quickly, sometimes never to return again. You may only get one chance to serve that person, so take advantage of the moment. “Never tell your neighbours to wait until tomorrow if you can help them now.”

John Wesley was an incredible servant of God. His motto was: “Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as you ever can.”

That is greatness. You can begin by looking for small tasks that no one else wants to do. Do these little things as if they were great things, because being faithful in little things will bring you great things.

Prayer: Ask the Lord for a servant and a giving heart.

Scriptural Reading: Proverbs 3:27-35

27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, When it is in the power of your hand to do so.

28 Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come back, And tomorrow I will give it,” When you have it with you.

29 Do not devise evil against your neighbor, For he dwells by you for safety’s sake.

30 Do not strive with a man without cause, If he has done you no harm.

31 Do not envy the oppressor, And choose none of his ways;

32 For the perverse person is an abomination to the Lord, But His secret counsel is with the upright.

33 The curse of the Lord is on the house of the wicked, But He blesses the home of the just.

34 Surely He scorns the scornful, But gives grace to the humble.

35 The wise shall inherit glory, But shame shall be the legacy of fools.

NKJV

A Servant Heart

An Unguarded Strength

An Unguarded Strength

AN UNGUARDED STRENGTH

Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. 1 Corinthians 10:12

I find it interesting that some of the great men of the Bible who were known for certain things fell in those very areas. When we think of Elijah, courage comes to mind. He walked into the court of Ahab and Jezebel, the king and queen of Israel, and told them it would not rain, except at his word. He challenged the prophets of Baal to a contest that was won as he called upon the name of the Lord. Yet later we read how he ran and hid in a cave because Queen Jezebel put out a contract on his life.

Samson was known for his superhuman strength in which he could kill Philistines with a bone or whatever objects that happened to be around at the time. Yet Samson was brought down in immorality.

We know of Abraham’s faith, yet he lied on at least two occasions by saying that his wife Sarah was his sister, for fear that the Egyptians would kill him because of her.

The Bible warns, “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall” (1 Corinthians 10:12). Sometimes the areas in which you fall are the areas in which you think you are the strongest. Usually, when you know you are weak in an area, then you will be watchful and keep your guard up in that area. But when you think you are strong in an area you then to lower lower your guard in that area.

But unguarded strength is a double weakness. You may be cautious in your area of vulnerability but lower your guard in the area in which you think you are strong. And that just might be the area in which you fall. So be careful. It is just when you think you are not going to fall that you are in greater danger of falling.

Prayer: Ask the Lord to sustain you by His power and give you continous victory over all Satan’s attacks. Lord, help me to keep on growing in my walk with You.

Scriptural Reading: 1 Corinthians 10:1-13

1 Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea,

2 all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea,

3 all ate the same spiritual food,

4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ.

5 But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.

6 Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted.

7 And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.”

8 Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell;

9 nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents;

10 nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer.

11 Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written f…

An Unguarded Strength