Saturday, October 30, 2010

Learn to rejoice both when you abase or abound

Philippians 4:11-13
11 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: 12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. 

I will praise God whether I abase or abound. I can do all things in Christ who strengthens me.

Friday, October 29, 2010

Not my will

John 21:15-19 New King James Version (NKJV)

15 So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Feed My lambs.”



16 He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Tend My sheep.”


17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep. 18 Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish. 19 This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me.”

Not my will but Yours be done.

Monday, October 18, 2010

When the going gets tough - To Whom shall we go?

John 6:53-69 New King James Version (NKJV)


53 Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. 54 Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. 55 For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. 56 He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. 57 As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me. 58 This is the bread which came down from heaven—not as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever.”

59 These things He said in the synagogue as He taught in Capernaum.

Rejection by Many Followers

60 Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, “This is a hard saying; who can understand it?”
61 When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples complained about this, He said to them, “Does this offend you? 62 What then if you should see the Son of Man ascend where He was before? 63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. 64 But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who would betray Him. 65 And He said, “Therefore I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father.”
66 From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more.

Confession by Peter

67 Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?”
68 But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 


When the going gets tough, to whom shall we go? You have the Words of Eternal Life. You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.

Sunday, October 17, 2010

BUT IF NOT, let it be known to you

Daniel 3:16 New King James Version (NKJV)

16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 17 If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. 18 But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.” 


I believe that God can heal and do miracles, but if not - He still is God of my life. God is good all the time, all the time God is good.

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

The Name of the Lord is a strong tower

Proverbs 18:10 New King James Version (NKJV)

The name of the Lord is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe.

Psalm 61:3-4 New King James Version (NKJV)

3 For You have been a shelter for me, A strong tower from the enemy.
4 I will abide in Your tabernacle forever; I will trust in the shelter of Your wings. Selah

Psalm 144:1-2 New King James Version (NKJV)

1 A Psalm of David. Blessed be the Lord my Rock, Who trains my hands for war, And my fingers for battle—
2 My lovingkindness and my fortress, My high tower and my deliverer, My shield and the One in whom I take refuge, Who subdues my people under me. 

I find shelter and refuge in the Name of the Lord

Sunday, October 10, 2010

The Author and Finisher of my faith

Hebrews 12:2 New King James Version (NKJV)

looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 

God is the Author and Finisher of my faith. I believe he has a plan for my life and will see through it to the end .

Saturday, October 9, 2010

Your Grace is Enough for Me

2 Corinthians 12:7-10 New King James Version (NKJV)

7 And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. 8 Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong


Lord Your Grace is enough for Me.

Saturday, October 2, 2010

Bad things do happen to good people


Common reactions:

Ø  (Bitterness toward God) Job’s wife:

Job 2:9-10
9 Then his wife said to him, “Do you still hold fast to your integrity? Curse God and die!”
10 But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips.

Ø  (Blaming God) Lazurus sister:
John 11:16
21 Now Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.

How we should react:
Ø  (Trust God) Job:

Job 13:15
15 Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.
Even so, I will defend my own ways before Him.

Ø  (Strengthen ourselves in the Lord) David’s Conflict with the Amalekites:

1 Samuel 30:1-6
1 Now it happened, when David and his men came to Ziklag, on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the South and Ziklag, attacked Ziklag and burned it with fire, 2 and had taken captive the women and those who were there, from small to great; they did not kill anyone, but carried them away and went their way. 3 So David and his men came to the city, and there it was, burned with fire; and their wives, their sons, and their daughters had been taken captive. 4 Then David and the people who were with him lifted up their voices and wept, until they had no more power to weep. 5 And David’s two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite, had been taken captive. 6 Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.


Ø  (Praise God always) Paul and Silas

Acts 16:19-26
19 But when her masters saw that their hope of profit was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to the authorities.
20 And they brought them to the magistrates, and said, “These men, being Jews, exceedingly trouble our city; 21 and they teach customs which are not lawful for us, being Romans, to receive or observe.” 22 Then the multitude rose up together against them; and the magistrates tore off their clothes and commanded them to be beaten with rods. 23 And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely. 24 Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.
25 But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. 26 Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed. 

No matter what happens, never stop trusting God and strengthening ourselves in Him. Never cease praying and keep praising God.

Friday, October 1, 2010

Coping with the silence (Part B)

David, described by God as a man after His own heart.

1 Samuel 13:14
 
14 But now your kingdom shall not continue. The Lord has sought for Himself a man after His own heart, and the Lord has commanded him to be commander over His people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you.” 

Even he struggled with the silence:

Psalm 17:1-6 New King James Version (NKJV)

1 A Prayer of David. Hear a just cause, O Lord, Attend to my cry; Give ear to my prayer which is not from deceitful lips.
2 Let my vindication come from Your presence; Let Your eyes look on the things that are upright.
3 You have tested my heart; You have visited me in the night; You have tried me and have found nothing; I have purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.
4 Concerning the works of men, By the word of Your lips, I have kept away from the paths of the destroyer.
5 Uphold my steps in Your paths, That my footsteps may not slip.  
6 I have called upon You, for You will hear me, O God; Incline Your ear to me, and hear my speech

Psalm 22:2 New King James Version (NKJV)

O My God, I cry in the daytime, but You do not hear; And in the night season, and am not silent.

Psalm 28:1-2 New King James Version (NKJV)

1 A Psalm of David. To You I will cry, O Lord my Rock: Do not be silent to me, Lest, if You are silent to me, I become like those who go down to the pit.
2 Hear the voice of my supplications When I cry to You, When I lift up my hands toward Your holy sanctuary.

Psalm 35:22 New King James Version (NKJV)
This You have seen, O Lord; Do not keep silence. O Lord, do not be far from me.

Psalm 39:12 New King James Version (NKJV)

“Hear my prayer, O Lord, And give ear to my cry; Do not be silent at my tears; For I am a stranger with You, A sojourner, as all my fathers were.

Psalm 109:1 New King James Version (NKJV)

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David. Do not keep silent, O God of my praise!

So for us to expect an instant answer from God without waiting on Him is presumptuous. Let's become people after God's own heart. Do not cease praying and keep expecting  God's hand to move.