Sep 20, 2021 |
Remember to Give Thanks.
“Thus saith the Lord, thy Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; I am the Lord thy God which teacheth thee to profit, which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go.” Isaiah 48:17 (KJV)
It is very easy to see self in whatever one does or achieves.
It is also challenging for people to see the grace of God in one’s life, leading one, step by step, into excellence and prosperity.
Where does your praise go?
Think about it.
How did you become the success that you are?
Who brought that opportunity your way?
Who brought you the status you now proudly carry?
Could it possibly be that you are better than every other person?
Or the grace of God in you is at work for your sake?
As you dwell on your life, think about those times when you were frustrated:
The agony and pain of looking endlessly for a breakthrough,
Times when things were just not working for you.
All that kept you then were the comforting words of God promising you, leading, and urging you on.
Now the story has changed.
You are regarded as an achiever!!!
God says, “For mine own sake, even for mine own sake, I will do it: for how should my name be polluted? And I will not give my glory unto another.” (Isaiah 48:11) KJV
Who has made you such a success?
Let honor return to whom it is due.
All the glory of your past, your present, and your future belong to God.
Let Him have the glory and honor and bask in the abundance of all the blessings and status that come with being a faithful, trusting child of God.
Remember to give thanks, always.
Glorify God for the marvelous things you experience in your life.
Praise Him for the help He gave during times of affliction.
Application for the Christian life:
“All the glory must be to the Lord
For He is worthy of our praise
No man on earth should give glory to himself
All the glory must be to the Lord.”
Sep 17, 2021 |
Thy Sins Are Forgiven…… Go in Peace
“And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven. And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also? And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in Peace.” (Luke 7:48-50) KJV
What burden of your past is the enemy trying to weigh you down with?
If you have truly accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior,
confessed and repented of your sins to Him, HE is saying to you:
“Thy sins are forgiven…Go in Peace.”
Thoughts, images, and even friends of the past will try and tell you that you are not free.
Please ignore them and walk in the Peace God has given you.
However, if you think you are being “smart” and have not acknowledged Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior and have not repented of your sins, there is no peace for you.
“There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.” (Isaiah 57:21) KJV
True Peace is in the life surrendered and obedient to the Lord Jesus Christ.
“Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.” (Psalm 2:12) KJV
Application for the Christian life:
God is the only one that can give Peace.
Be thankful for His Peace.
Treasure the gift.
Abide in Jesus.
Sep 15, 2021 |
But I have prayed for you,
“Peter, my dear friend, listen to what I’m about to tell you. Satan has obtained permission to come and sift you all like wheat and test your faith. But I have prayed for you, Peter, that you would stay faithful to me no matter what comes. Remember this: after you have turned back to me and have been restored, make it your life mission to strengthen the faith of your brothers.” Luke 22:31-32(TPT)
This was Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ’s words to Peter.
He saw ahead what satan was planning.
He travailed in prayers for Him.
He Prevailed in Prayers for His Disciples
Do you take time to pray for your Disciples?
Do you speak the truth to them in love?
Praying for those we are privileged to lead is essential.
Don’t just take pleasure in rebuking and punishing your disciples.
Stand in the gap and be available for them.
When you see what is coming ahead, warn them in love.
Don’t abandon them in their period of trial.
Don’t just say, “I told you so.”
Jesus did not abandon Peter.
Are you a disciple?
Pray for your leaders too.
We must continue to pray for one another.
Don’t complain about the Brethren.
First Pray.
From the altar of prayers, do what the Holy Spirit directs.
Today take time to pray for your leaders and mentors.
Pray for those you are also privileged to influence.
“…Pray passionately in the Spirit, as you constantly intercede with every form of prayer at all times. Pray the blessings of God upon all his believers. And pray also that God’s revelation would be released through me every time I preach the wonderful mystery of the hope-filled gospel.”
Ephesians 6:18-19(TPT)
Let us continue to pray and strengthen one another in the faith.
Sep 13, 2021 |
Working For God?
But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest, not the things that be of God, but those that be of men. Matt. 16:23. (KJV).
Peter was shocked when Jesus told them He would be crucified.
Peter would not allow that to happen to Jesus.
He, Peter, would save Jesus. In the Garden of Gethsemane.
He proved his heart attitude by cutting off the ear of the soldier.
Did Peter do the right thing?
Often, we think we do what God expects us to do.
Maybe we even do the right thing in our own eyes.
Sometimes we do the wrong thing because we do not understand the will of God. Other times we do it to honor ourselves.
“for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.”
James 1:20(NKJV)
Before doing something, first think, ask and know what God wants.
Secondly, examine your heart.
Why do you really want to do it?
Will it honor God, or are you doing it for personal gain?
What kind of advice do you give your friends?
How do you help them to follow Jesus?
Do you understand the will of God?
What are you going to do to ensure you do the right thing the right way?
Application to the Christian life:
Don’t just react.
Ask for guidance.
Listen to His voice.
Do everything with prayers.
Sep 10, 2021 |
Was it actually for Me that You fasted?
“Then the word of the LORD of hosts came to me (Zechariah), saying, “Speak to all the people of the land and to the priests, saying, ‘When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months these seventy years [that you were in exile], was it actually for Me that you fasted? When you eat and when you drink, do you not eat for yourselves and do you not drink for yourselves [to satisfy your own needs]?” Zechariah 7:4-6 (AMP)
Many of us have made a religion of fasting.
Fasting, to some, is synonymous with spiritual status.
All over the world, the vouge in Christendom is to fast and pray.
To some, it has become a competition.
How many days did you fast?
Then the other person or the other church wants to do more.
However, many are discouraged because they don’t see the result.
In the first place, fasting ought to be approved by God.
Many use fasting as a means to “bribe” God.
Indeed, you can not bribe God.
Even when you feel like fasting
Ask Him first.
He will give you the specifics of your fast.
Then when you follow as He has guided.
You will undoubtedly see the results.
“My Pastor told me I should fast.”
Are you now saying I should question my Pastor or Prophet?
Please clarify that they got clearance from God first.
Fasting is a good key when directed by God.
Otherwise, you will be using a key to open the wrong door.
Sometimes that could be frustrating.
When the fast is approved of God, hear what He asked of you:
“Thus has the LORD of hosts said, ‘Dispense true justice and practice kindness and compassion, to each other; and do not oppress or exploit the widow or the fatherless, the stranger or the poor; and do not devise or even imagine evil in your hearts against one another.’
Zechariah 7:9-10 (AMP)
Do you do that before, during, and after the fast?
For seventy years, the Israelites were religiously fasting.
God asked them:
Was it actually for me you fasted?
How about You?
***(Please check out our Sunday Class School Series
What Kind of Fast Does the Lord Want? Fasting Part1
on the YouTube and https://sunday-class-school.com/blog/)
