UNDERSTANDING OF GOD THROUGH HIM

And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding so that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. 1 John 5: 20

Throughout His gospel and his letters, the apostle John points to the Lord Jesus Christ as God incarnate – the Word made flesh, Who dwelt among us.. full of grace and truth. From beginning to end John points to Christ as the only way to God, the only truth from God and the only life of God – in Whom alone is abundant life.. eternal life and the forgiveness of sins.

The Spirit of truth is witness to the Word of truth and so John is able to proclaim that we know that the eternal Son of God has come to earth.. to live and to die as the perfect, sinless Son of Man – and that He has given us understanding in Him – for He is the visible image of the invisible God, full of grace and truth. And He alone has made the Father known to all who will trust in His name.

Love of the Lord Jesus and obedience to His command is the focal points of John’s writing.. so that all who believe on the name of the only begotten Son of God would know, without question that they have eternal life in Him.

It is this confidence in Christ that enabled John to write that we know that the Son of God has come. We know that Christ has made the Father known to us and we know that in Him we have been given spiritual understanding and godly wisdom.

God in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ came to earth to reconcile man to the Father through the Son.. and to give spiritual understanding and godly wisdom to all who would trust in His name – Who is the only way to God, the only truth from God and the only life of God.

Stay Blessed

OUR HOPE IS IN HIM

Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us; II Corinthians 1:10

In Paul writings to the church at Corinth, there are many issues that Paul wanted to emphasis for their learning and many behaviours that needed correction. But Paul also wanted to comfort, encourage and edify these believers – and so often we find that this is done by calling to remembrance all the wonderful things that God has done for us – and anticipating all the wonderful things that God has in store for the future.

 

Paul reminded them that they were called to be holy and enriched by the grace of God – and he also reminds us that our God is a God of comfort, especially in those times of trials and difficulty – for God is always in control and His grace is always sufficient .. no matter what trials or tribulations we may be called upon to face. God has promised to deliver us – and His promises never fail.

We all remember this popular hymn from our hymn book-"My hope is built on nothing less"

My hope is built on nothing less                When darkness veils His lovely face,

Than Jesus Christ, my righteousness;        I rest on His unchanging grace;

I dare not trust the sweetest frame,            In every high and stormy gale,

But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.                My anchor holds within the veil. 

       Chorus: On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;

                     All other ground is sinking sand,

                                             All other ground is sinking sand.         

His oath, His covenant, His blood,           When He shall come with trumpet sound,

Support me in the whelming flood;           Oh, may I then in Him be found;

When all around my soul gives way,          In Him, my righteousness, alone,

He then is all my hope and stay.                Faultless to stand before the throne.

 

God is faithful – and not only has he already delivered us from the consequences of sin and eternal separation from Himself, by grace through faith in the finished work of Christ on Calvary’s cross.. but He has also promised to deliver us from the evils of this world, as we travel through this earthly life – our hope is in Him, knowing that He Who has already delivered us.. will deliver us again.

 

God’s hand of deliverance has been evident in the past and it is equally certain in the future. God has not only promised to deliver us FROM our trials and distresses but He has promised to save us IN our trials and tribulations. His deliverance is as sure and His Word is true.. and we are to live by faith in His Word. We are to live by trusting His Word – in the sure knowledge that having been delivered from such a terrible death.. God will deliver us again. We have put our hope in Him, knowing that His Word is true.. and that His promise to deliver us again rests upon His Word of truth – for God has placed His Word above His holy name.

 

Our hope is in the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Stay Blessed 

UNDERSTANDING YOUR SPIRITUAL GIFT

God gives every Christian spiritual gifts that that are essential for building up the Church. When you understand your role in the Body of Christ, the unchangeable features in your life can take on new meaning and bring you to a deeper level of self-acceptance.

Physical scars, difficulties, and infirmities are like the underside of a tapestry. They may appear to make little or no sense in themselves. However, God’s design in giving spiritual gifts is like the top side of the tapestry. His purposes give meaning to everything on the underside.

Gifts at Work in the Body of Christ

The analogy of the physical body helps us picture the vital role of each gift within the Church. A body has many members. Each one carries out specific functions that are needed in order for the entire body to thrive. In the same way, the Body of Christ is made up of many individuals. Each one has an essential contribution to make.

There are seven motivational spiritual gifts listed in Romans 12:6–8. Each Christian has one of these gifts, which shapes his frame of reference. Therefore, seven Christians could have seven different perspectives on any given situation. Each one will have unique insights into how to effectively meet needs and tackle projects. Each perspective brings balance to the operation of the whole.

Instead of becoming frustrated with those who have different perspectives, Christians must communicate and cooperate with each other. When they work together and develop a balanced perspective, their unity and productivity deepen. As Christians learn to value the gifts God gives each believer and to recognize their need for other members of the Body, they will be able to effectively fulfill the assignments God gives to them.

Each Gift Is Essential

All the members of the Church are interdependent. None is inferior. None is superior. God uses all the members to make the Body function as it should. Equal care should be given to each member, because all are needed and necessary for the Body of Christ to experience the abundant life that God has prepared for them. Each member is valuable, regardless of unchangeable features in his design. (See I Corinthians 12:12–31.)

“If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?” (I Corinthians 12:15–16).

“The eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you” (I Corinthians 12:21).

Only as all the members of the Body of Christ work together will they be equipped to do what God wants them to do. As you accept God's design for your life and recognize your spiritual gift, you’ll be ready to take on your role in the Church. You will experience the joy and fulfillment of being a vital part of the Body of Christ.

PRAYERS FOR THE SEVENTH MONTH

Praise the LORD.

Let us mark our 7th month, with loud blasts of prophetic prayers.

 

These prayers will help you leapfrog above every competition, no matter how far they’ve gone ahead of you. This month, you are in the circle of testimonies

 

II Chronicles 5: 13-14 Start your prayers with thanksgiving. Acknowledge the things God has done. 

Now to the prayers

1. Every problem following me from my place of birth be roasted in the name of Jesus.

2. Powers that renew bondage, hear the Word of the Lord, die die die in the name of Jesus.

3. I prophesy that this second half of the year shall favor me, whether the enemy likes it or not, in Jesus name.

4. O LORD, send the sword, the famine and pestilence into the camp of my stubborn pursuers this month in Jesus name.

5. Evil prophecies that have gone forth against my destiny, be cancelled by the blood of Jesus in the name of Jesus.

 

6. O LORD reveal to me the abundance of peace and truth this month in Jesus name.

 

7. O LORD release your tongue of fire upon my life and burn away all spiritual filthiness present within me in Jesus name

Don’t let the enemy fool you. Be reminded of God’s Word in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18: “16Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you”; and Ephesians 6:13 “Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.”

God bless you






 

TO PASTORS AND MINISTERS: 9 PRACTICES TO AVOID IN MINISTRY

This is a share thought from Pastor Thom Rainer, President, Lifeway Christian Resources tagged “9 Stupid things I did as a Pastor” 

If you want to read the tale of a Pastor who really did some dumb things, keep reading. 

I served as Pastor of four churches. It was only by the grace of God and the graciousness of the congregations that I was called and allowed to stay at those churches. I absolutely love the members of those four congregations, and I will forever be grateful to them and for them.

Frankly, I’m not sure I would give myself a passing grade as a pastor. I messed up quite a bit. I would do several things differently today. And as a point of full disclosure, my list of nine is not close to being exhaustive. 

1.       I neglected my prayer life and time in the Word too often. It sounds absolutely insane as I write it, but I got too busy for God. As a consequence, I operated out of my own insufficient power too many times.

2.       I neglected my family too often. Paul wrote these words to Pastor Timothy: “If anyone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of God’s church?” (1 Timothy 3:5, HCSB). Ouch. So many times I communicated through my actions to my family that they were not as important as other church members.

3.       I let the crisis of the moment overwhelm me. In doing so I did not trust in God to see me through the situation. And I did not have a longer-term perspective to understand that difficulties are only for a season.

4.       I perceived most of my critics as my adversaries. Some of my critics actually had constructive input. Others were going through their own struggles, and I was a convenient target. I took criticisms personally instead of responding pastorally.

5.       I competed with other churches. Shame on me. Too often I wanted my church to have a greater attendance than other churches in the area. I should have been praying for and working with those other church leaders more.

6.       I neglected praying with my staff. My prayer time with my church staff was haphazard at best. The one thing we needed to do the most, we were doing the least. I was a terrible leader on that front.

7.       I often worried about what others thought about me. My sole concern should have been how Christ-like I was. Too often I sought the approval of others rather than the blessings of God.

8.       I often yielded to unreasonable requests and demands. Instead of spending my time doing those things that really mattered, I gave in too often to the “squeaky wheel.” I sacrificed the great in order to do the good.

9.       I gave up too often. Due to frustration, exhaustion or, more often, lack of faith, I gave up on challenges too quickly. I am convinced I missed out on many victories when they were just around the corner. 

Those are but a few of the stupid things I did as a pastor. Most of you can breathe a sigh of relief that I never served as a pastor. So why I am writing these self-critical comments at this stage of my life? I pray that some of you may see something in your own lives and leadership that you can correct before it’s too late. God is able. God is willing.

Although far to many pastors, missionaries, youth leaders, and individual Christians serving God have repeated each one of these, he have been able to articulate them in a way that bring an individual to a place where they can evaluate their own actions and move forward if they choose to in their own life. 

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