“DISCONTENTMENT ROBS JOY FROM THE UNSUSPECTING” 31-3-18

“The Bible tells us in (Philippians 4:13) “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”    And in (John 10:10) “The thief’s purpose is to steal and destroy.  My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.” 

This is the truth Jesus taught us, to be content in all things and grateful for all that we do have and He will add more of the good things to us.  But discontentment robs gratefulness from unsuspecting people who dismiss any ideas of joy.  Discontentment is the feeling of desiring that which one doesn’t have, and is a form of idolatry, mistrusting of God, and discontentment amounts to complaining against God’s plan, and wanting what we can’t have, relying on self alone to have, and get what one wants, when that particular thing and cause of discontentment is continually focused upon, rather than to trust God with His judgements for our provisions.  Therefore, giving access to the devil who is the thief, whose purpose is to steel and destroy, even to the point of extreme causes to interfere with the faculty of a person, to disable a normal lifestyle of joy, and the loss of ordinary physical, and mental abilities.  If this has happened to you, or anyone you know, here is a prayer of release for you, or to intercede for another by putting their name in wherever “I and me” is mentioned –

*”Lord Jesus, I am truly sorry for having discontentment as my idol to bow down to whenever my thoughts have gone astray from your good will and plans for me.  I am truly sorry for behaving in a manner of ungratefulness, adhering to the discontentment wherever I cannot have what I desire.  I am deeply sorry for offending you Lord Jesus in not relying on your judgements and plans for my life, rather to the contrary I have rejected all your joy in my life for what I truly have from you already.

Lord Jesus I am truly sorry for the way I have abandoned my faith in your provisions for me, wanting what I have wanted, when I wanted.  Truly, truly Lord Jesus, I renounce Satan the thief who has come to steal and destroy my joy, disregarding you Lord Jesus that your Word specifically states, “My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.”

I am sorry for not trusting in you Lord Jesus with my life’s needs, and I repent in dust and ashes for replacing your joy with discontentment.  I thank you Lord Jesus to forgive me of all my sins of idolatry of discontentment which has drawn my focus away from the truth, the way, and the life Jesus you died on the cross at Calvary to pay for my sins, relying heavily on myself which has brought loss of faculty and a disease into my life, forgetting your word of truth in (Philippians 4:13) “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”  Father God, I am truly sorry for offending you, and truly believe, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16).  I thank you Father in Jesus’ name to wash me with the precious blood of Jesus, giving me back the joy of the Lord which is my strength and salvation.  I thank you Father in Jesus’ name, to send me the Holy Spirit to fill in all those places now made void within me, with the abilities and talents to worship and praise you in all things, trusting solely on you to provide for my life’s needs, with my faculty means restored to have physical power, capability, facility, potential, propensity, wherewithal, preparedness, and a grateful and thankful heart, for I know and believe that God is and God will provide.  So be it Lord Jesus to do it, and I draw the bloodline of Jesus over the whole lots, Amen!  Thank you Father, thank you Jesus, thank you Holy Spirit, for the joy in my salvation in Christ Jesus, Amen!”               

“THE PRIORITISATION OF GOD’S AFFAIRS” 7-3-18

“When people go on their merry way, and do not consult with God on how He wants them to be compliant - in His will – this becomes a self-prioritisation – which means “self” is first thought and not God’s pattern for our designed life in His care, to choose His life’s outcomes for us as individuals, as a flock of followers – being the same, doing the same, and thinking the same – No!  (Romans 12:4-6) distinguishes how, although we are made up of one body – Christ is the head – and under His direction all the parts different, though the same – must use the different giftings to allow God to enhance their lives for God’s Kingdom come living in exhibition of His gifts, and not to hide them away, but to be sincere and loyal, giving thanks to Him with all He has given to us.

Most people who are hard-hearted – become toughened through an uncompassionate observance of others taking advantage of their gifts – for their own purposes – but never want to learn for themselves – this is a state of leadership crisis because one’s placement of barriers up around themselves against hurting people hurting them, becomes impenetrable to love and have any heart felt feelings towards other needy people.

This true identity crisis exhibits the personality of an undefeated person as a camouflage, to prevent their true feelings shown – of not letting their guard down for one minute.

This hard-hearted approach becomes a pattern of self-protection and preservation of their self-rights – no matter how you try – a conversation with people like that, is always turned around into a conversation about their self-rights.

My Lord Jesus gave up all His self-rights, when He became incarnate of the virgin Mary, was born and suffered on the cross for our transgressions – His self was never mentioned – the only time He spoke of Himself, was to teach about His Father – and that we should do the same, to love and serve others as unto His Father’s will too.

This pattern is what truly pleases Him – for as long as self-values is first in our lives – we can’t see the needs of other people as a necessary plight – but become judgemental in their progress not being in line with their opinionated judgement.

This factor of judgement becomes an, “I don’t care, they can do it for themselves” approach, rather than – “I will do what I can, and I will encourage them to adapt too.”  By doing this, you allow God to mould you and the others you are attending – whether it be in your work field, or in your personal circle of family and friends – when we become pliable and work with God to conform us into His purpose, we also become gentle hearted with the love of God’s heart in our actions, words, and deeds according to His will – and not a stubborn heart full of self-interests – with no feelings of compassion for anybody else’s needs.

This agenda of self-sufficiency, cannot endure for very long – because, it is a false trait of the person’s true identity, and not one that will win many heart’s approval – but backs them off to be alone in their own world – thinking and doing for themselves, and not sharing as the Scripture says in (Romans 12:7) “If it is to serve, we should serve, if it is to teach, we should teach.  If it is to encourage others, we should do so.  Whoever shares with others, should do it generously; whoever has authority should work hard; whoever shows kindness to others should do it cheerfully.”

Cheerfully – means happy to be of help and caring with unconditional loving.

My aim here is to point out the factors relating to a person’s true identity being hidden through a fear of being taken advantage of as in a previous relationship.

*” My wish Lord is to please you and to help others achieve their true worth goals for you – help me Jesus to repent of all the times, when I did use the hard-hearted approach to distance myself from being manipulated and disadvantaged.  I am truly sorry for this attitude of self-ambition, contrary to your will for me.  I relinquish all that I am to you.

Thank you Father to bring me into your true workmanship of my true giftings to be pliable in your hands for my good and for the good of others, and I repent of having a judgemental and opinionated attitude against others in need.  I thank you Father to give me the understanding I need, with a sincere loving heart, as you have taught me through your Holy Spirit – to be the person you have created me to be – loving, compassionate, and full of humility for the needs of others in my care, and that I do the very best that I can, and with your help I can do all things in Jesus’ name for your glory and my welfare, to be forgiving of all the people who took advantage of my kindness from the past and present, and in Jesus’ name I thank you Father to draw the bloodline of Jesus over the whole lot.  Amen!”

This will bring your pliability back into God’s hands, and to never allow yourself to become held by any disadvantageous persons again, to use or abuse the kindness you display for a genuine caring heart.

This statement of facts can apply to most people at some time in their lives, and it is our duty to lend a helping hand freely, to show how it’s done.  Sometimes actions are louder than words, and if we can pray the aforementioned prayer on their behalf, God will raise the curtain from their eyes to see His wonderments of serving with a true kind heart and not be wanting anything in return as a recognition of their good works – but satisfied in themselves, for doing the right thing always – with confidence in the Father’s choices to put them where they are needed most, to love in their service to others.”

“THE FOCUSED SELF-SERVING LIFESTYLE OF CONCENTRATED ON ONESELF’S DESIRES” 28-1-18

“According to (2 Timothy 1:3-7 GNT)  “I give thanks to God, whom I serve with a clear conscience, as my ancestors did.  I thank Him as I remember you always in my prayers night and day.  I remember your tears, and I want to see you very much, so that I may be filled with joy.  I remember the sincere faith you have, the kind of faith that your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice also had.  I am sure that you have it also.  For this reason I remind you to keep alive the gift that God gave you when I laid my hands on you.  For the Spirit that God has given us does not make us timid; instead His Spirit fills us with power, love and self-control.”

This Scripture indicates the right Spirit of God within us, will lead us and prompt us to have a right standing with God at all times of joy, and love, and gratitude in the things we already have, and not the things that we seek at times, to make us happy.  A spirit of fear lurks around to bring a timidity (frightened, and faint-hearted, cowardly) expression on life with a powerless lack of self-control.  These aspects can thwart (hinder and frustrate) a person’s joy in the things one already has, for always wanting more, and never being satisfied, but rather frustrated, wanting more items, or people that will make them happy.  Jesus warned us in (Matthew 16:1-4 GNT) “Some Pharisees and Sadducees who came to Jesus wanted to trap Him, so they asked Him to perform a miracle for them, to show that God approved of Him.  But Jesus answered, “When the sun is setting, you say, “We are going to have fine weather, because the sky is red.”  And early in the morning you say, “It is going to rain, because the sky is red and dark.”  You can predict the weather by looking at the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs concerning these times!  How evil and godless are the people of this day!  No!  The only miracle you will be given is the miracle of Jonah!”  Jesus had performed many miracles, but yet it wasn’t enough to satisfy those who would not acknowledge them, except for the miracle of Jonah, that Jesus would ultimately give all the world to witness, that of His death on the cross, and three days later His resurrection from the dead to life.  Ingratitude for the things we already possess, will bring a lack of self-control, and missing out on enjoying the things God has already placed into our possession – our life is a miracle, and His gift of faith within us is another miracle, the family we are a part of is another miracle, and lastly but not least, the unfathomable love and forgiveness of the Lord Jesus when we turn away from Him, seeking our joy in things, rather than holding dear to us what we already possess with a grateful heart of thanksgiving and praises to the one and only Provider of our joy and life needs – Jesus!

If by any chance, you have been caught up in timidity or lack of self-control, and are seeking to be happy and have a mindful approach of wanting to be grateful and wanting to be satisfied, here is a prayer, where Jesus can sustain our every desire, and to our joy the things He has already miraculously given us –

*”Lord Jesus, to you I give my thanks for all the miracles of your provisions in my life.  I am grateful for the joy you sustain me with in seeing through your eyes of love and a grateful heart to acknowledge what is already mine from you.  I am deeply sorry Jesus for all the times I’ve missed it, wanting more to make me happy and not exercising the gift of self-control in making decisions and choices for my life, which has drawn me apart from being confident and empowered by the Holy Spirit to discern what my needs really are, and just wanted what I thought would make me happy.  I have sinned against you Lord Jesus, and I now lay at the foot of your cross, all the wonderments of your love through the miracles you have already given me, which I have forsaken and forgotten, and wanted more of what I believed would make me happy and fill my life with joy.  I now draw the bloodline of Jesus over the whole lot, and I let go and let God on them all.

I ask you Lord Jesus to fulfil in me your every desire to bless me with your miracles, as it is written in (Psalm 116:7 GNT) “Be confident, my heart, because the Lord has been good to me.”

“PRAISE BE TO GOD FOR OUR PLUSES & NOT OUR LOSSES” 1-1-18

“According to the Scripture of (Matthew 18:23-35 NKJV) we have a perfect mandate how to count our pluses and not our losses, through our forgiveness of those who have planned and undermined us in any ways to get us into troubles or heartbreaking times – “Therefore the kingdom of God is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.  And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him, who owed him ten thousand talents.  But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made.  The servant fell down before him, saying, “Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.”  Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt.  But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, “Pay me what you owe me!”  So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, “Have patience with me, and I will pay you all!”  And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt.  So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done.  Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, “You wicked servant!  I forgave you all that debt because you begged me.  Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?”  And his master was angry, and delivered him to the servants until he should pay all that was due to him.  “So my heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from the heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.” 

This stern warning by Jesus is for our good life counting our pluses and not regarding our losses, through bad-mouthing anyone who has wronged us in any way, but to forgive them and letting go of them and letting God on them all.  This is the only way God can bless us through our moving forward counting our pluses of blessings through Jesus, who shed His blood on the cross at Calvary for the forgiveness of our sins, and likewise setting an example for the way we must conduct ourselves as Jesus was crucified for all our transgressions we can also lay at the foot of the cross all our transgressors’ sins against us, and by the blood of  Jesus be cleansed and purified and resurrected from the past into the beautiful future Jesus acclaimed for us in doing His Father’s will, setting the example of love for everyone who is in our life, without holding any grudges against those of whom we no longer have a communicative relationship.  Forgiving, immediately those whom are near and dear to us.

Here is a prayer for forgiving those of whom we no longer have a relationship with, but we are still feeling the hurt they inflicted upon us.  Harbouring un-forgiveness will only remind us constantly of the unjust treatment served us, for it is time we moved forward and give all our losses to Jesus, and acknowledge HIM with thanksgiving for all the pluses He has made available to us –

*”Almighty God and Father, in Jesus’ name I give you thanks for all the pluses in my life, and I now choose to leave all my losses with you Lord Jesus, and in your precious name Jesus, I can now forgive all my adversaries of the losses past of the losses, and lay them all the foot of the cross Lord Jesus, and with humble thanksgiving for your forgiveness of all my sins, I now draw the bloodline of Jesus over all the adversaries, and I let go of them all and I let God on them all, Amen!

So be it Lord Jesus to do it, for God is and God will always provide for me, to disregard the losses by never bringing them up with bad-mouthing anyone, which will be beneficial to me, and give you the honour and the glory Jesus for all the pluses instead!  Amen!”

 

“THE UNSEEN WONDERMENTS OF THE LORD” 5-12-17

“According to (2 Samuel 22:33 GNT), “This God is my strong refuge; He makes my pathway safe.”  It’s true in every aspect of the word.  My pathway is safe because of the wonderments of the Lord’s provisions ahead of me daily, improvising for my losses with His goodness and mercies daily.  God, is always wanting to protect us from harm’s way in directing our paths as we proceed forward, not in our own strength, but in His capacity to be sure footed every step of the way we encounter on life’s challenges daily, to be ever faithful and true to His Word of Truth Jesus stands for in leading and guiding us into His provisions for our good, and never to harm us.

At Christmas time we can see how much change occurs from the daily routines, with people busy shopping for gifts to give one another in exchange during Christmas celebrations, and to put under the tree as a gift from santa.  This was never God’s intention that people had to be stressed to the max about what to choose for gifts at Christmas time, but rather the opposite, to accept His gift of Jesus Christ, His beloved Son, for whom we celebrate Christmas and God’s greatest gift of love, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16 ).  This gift of Jesus is free for all to receive Him as our Saviour in all of life’s strategies, to uphold the peace within our heart and soul and mind to, “Have reverence for God, and obey His commands, because this is all that we were created for.  God is going to judge everything we do whether good or bad, even things done in secret.” (Ecclesiastes 11:13-14 GNT).

God does not want us to perish ever from His good will through Jesus to us, to testify of His love in all our display of character, especially at Christmas time when everything is hectic and the rush and bustle is everywhere to be seen, with more traffic about, more shoppers in the malls, and people carrying their goods in trolleys back to their cars to take home for the festive season of Christmas.  Have a look at their faces-- is gladness apparent—or is stress and anxiety obvious in their demeanour?  Jesus came that we might have a life of joy and peace remembering Him always, but especially at Christmas time, for Jesus is the reason for the season, and we should heed what the angels sang announcing Jesus’ birth to the shepherds in the fields in (Luke 2:14 NKJV) “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will towards men!”  Peace and good will is our gift to each other, displaying God’s love for us and the free gift of good will to men, and women and children alike, persevering with great patience at Christmas in all that we say and do, never complaining, but cheerfully giving of our peace and good will and courteousness to others to share the love of God especially now with the forthcoming Christmas day approaching with, “the unseen wonderments of the Lord,” providing for all our needs without any anxiety or stress on our part, but to trust Him with all our plans for a super special Christmas day honouring God’s greatest gift to us, Jesus the Lord, and second to none.

One more aspect of Christmas is the commercialism of this time, to buy and pay later.  This is offensive to God because Christmas is supposed to be a joyous time, and not a worrying time for after Christmas day in how to pay for the items bought to satisfy our ambitious giving to receive appraisal.  God wants us to be happy—not stressed out, so if you would like help in this area, please pray for, the unseen wonderments of the Lord, to guide and provide for what we can truly afford to give monetarily with joy, and not over spending our capacity:

*”Lord Jesus, I come to you now with thanksgiving and praise for becoming your Father’s greatest gift to me.  I need you Jesus more and more in my life at this particular time of Christmas.  Help me by your grace through the Holy Spirit Jesus, to remain peaceful at all times with a sound mind to not give in to the commercialism of this season, but to be a joyous giver in my spending adequately for the gifts and Christmas day celebration provisions in my budget capacity.

I thank you Lord Jesus, that you are the focus for me at this time and especially beyond, that “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!”  According to (Philippians 4:13), to remain constant and stable in my purchases of goods within my budget capacity, debt free for the coming New Year, where I will trust in the unseen wonderments of the Lord who, “is my strong refuge; He makes my pathway safe,” Amen!”

“Have a happy and joyous New Year!”

 

 

“LABOURING IN VAIN WITH CONSTANT FEAR AND RESENTMENT & LYING TO ONESELF” 8-11-17

“(1 Corinthians 15:57-58 AMP), “But thanks be to God who gives us the victory (as conquerors) through our Lord Jesus Christ.  Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work  of the Lord (always doing your best and doing more than needed), being continually aware that your labour (even to the point of exhaustion) in the Lord is not futile nor wasted (it is never without purpose.”

*“God forgive all my sins for the sake of Jesus.   I have sinned in labouring in vain with constant fear and resentment, and lying to myself for the positioning of myself in areas which you did not provide for me, where I laboured for my own gain, my own popularity in appeasing others, in lying to myself that all was fine and good for me.  I have succeeded to remove your plans for me Lord Jesus, in replacing them with my ambitiousness and planning what I believed would be to my success in all the avenues for my life’s pursuit to be successful in the fields I worked in, and building my house on vanity and pride, whereby it was a constant battle with fear and resentment to remain afloat.  I have gone astray from your ways Lord Jesus, and found myself indebted to many people for what they could provide for me to gain access into my life to suck me dry of all empowerment in making right and honourable choices which would last in the prosperity gain I expected, being fully incapacitated to their whims of appeasement in a life of demise and pitiful returns.

 

I am deeply sorry Jesus for my futile attempts without you in my life, to be the person and live the life I thought would make me happy, but I lied to myself, for everyday was a battle that I lost with trying to keep up the charade of prosperity in my life, when the reality was that through my lifestyle of labouring in vain with constant fear and resentment and lying to myself, I was never happy for what I did, or had, because it was not from you Jesus.  I have successfully manipulated others into giving me what I thought would make me happy, but alas it was a constant battle to appease those who submitted to my will in placing my agendas for life as my priority.

 

Lord Jesus I now stand before you in repentance and the full understanding of my erring in your sight, and I place all of my faults and sins through the lifestyle I believed would make me happy, living and labouring with constant fear and resentment and lying to myself, was all in vain, and I cast it all onto you Lord Jesus, that I might be cleansed of it all once and for all time, for good, with the washing of your precious blood Jesus, that I might receive in its place your plans for my good always, in subjecting myself and my life into your hands, as the Scripture declares in (Jeremiah 29:11 GNT) “I alone know the plans I have for you, plans to bring you prosperity, and not disaster, plans to bring about the future you hope for.”  This I trust will happen now through you Jesus, Lord and Saviour of my life, and may the Holy Spirit fill me up with your abundance of grace to, “be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord,” for I am now the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus, and my life belongs to Jesus now and forever, Amen!  I now draw the bloodline of Jesus over the whole lots, Amen!  For God is and God will provide!  Amen!”

“SELF-JUSTIFICATION IS AN ABOMINATION IN GOD’S SIGHT” 5-11-17

“We are told by Jesus the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector in (Luke 18:14 GNT), how it is easy to justify oneself without recognizing it.  “Jesus also told this parable to people who were sure of their own goodness and despised everybody else. “Once there were two men who went up to the Temple to pray; one was a Pharisee, the other a tax collector.  The Pharisee stood apart by himself and prayed, ‘I thank you, God, that I am not greedy, dishonest, or an adulterer, like everybody else.  I thank you that I am not like that tax collector over there.  I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of all my income.  But the tax collector stood some distance away and would not even raise his face to heaven but beat on his breast and said, God, have pity on me, a sinner!’  I tell you,” said Jesus, “the tax collector, and not the Pharisee, was in the right with God when he went home.  For those who make themselves great will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be made great.”

What a powerful testimony of his faith we read about the tax collector.  Jesus gave this parable to give us insight of His power over all, and not man’s power over all, for God is all -knowing, omnipotent and omniscient, where He knows us and our true nature before we utter one word in our defence.  Just like the original sin committed in the Garden of Eden, in (Genesis 3:12-13 GNT), the role of self-justification came into play from Adam and Eve’s disobedience to God’s command, not to eat from the tree that gives knowledge of what is good and what is bad, in (Genesis 2:16-17), “You may eat the fruit of any tree in the garden, except the tree that gives knowledge of what is good and what is bad.  You must not eat the fruit of that tree; if you do, you will die the same day.”  This dying God informs us about, is called sin, for before they committed the sin of disobedience, Adam and Eve were in harmony with God their creator, but once the disobedience came into their lives, it altered them from the good they had known, into the bad traits of self-justification mode as a self-defence mechanism.  This is the origin of self-justification we first read about in God’s Word the Bible, and it is a clear indication how God is certainly not pleased with our self-defence mechanisms when we pray to Him for forgiveness of any sins we may have encountered in our daily journey of life, for God is a compassionate and loving Father, who sent His own beloved Son Jesus to pay for all our sins firsthand, and we don’t need to justify ourselves whatsoever, but just repent of all our sins with a grateful heart of the availability of Jesus’ blood shed at Calvary, which can wash away all our sins when we pray with a penitent heart just like the tax collector who praised God with his simple prayer of acknowledgement of his wrong doing and humbling himself before the Supreme God of the universe.  Jesus is our only defence, and He alone can forgive our sins, so let’s be humble like that tax collector who heartily acknowledged he was a sinner, and prayed for God’s forgiveness:

*”Lord Jesus we thank you for the parables you have given us in your Word the Bible, that we might display all your qualities of good in our lives, and that when we sin you are there always ready to forgive us and restore the good back to us.

Lord Jesus we have no need for self-justification or self-defence on our own part, for you conquered sin and death on the cross at Calvary with the shedding of your blood for all our sins once and for all, and on the third day you rose from the dead, and you are now seated at the right hand of the Father in heaven interceding on our behalf when we repent you are our defence and our righteousness.  Lord Jesus, we now lay at your feet in repentance, all of our sins of self-justification and self-defence, which have furthered our sins to pride, for which we are truly sorry. 

 

Help us by your grace Lord Jesus to remember that you are Sovereign, and all we need to do is truly repent with a penitent heart for all our sins, and you will forgive us.

 

Help us Jesus to be free once and for all from the sins of pride through self-justification and self-defence, by washing us clean now with your precious blood Jesus, and cleanse us of all unrighteousness to now be right standing with you, by your grace through the Holy Spirit to enter us now with the confidence in you alone Jesus, for the joy of the Lord is our strength and our salvation daily to continue in our life’s journey with the hope of good and not bad.

 

In Jesus’ name we pray Father God to you in thanksgiving for what Jesus did on the cross at Calvary for us, with the truth of your Word, that “God is and God will provide,” and we thank you now to draw the bloodline of Jesus over the whole lots, Amen!”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“WHAT CAN WE EXPECT FROM LIFE IN GOD’S SERVICE OF OUR FAITHFULNESS?” 4-11-17

"The Bible tells us clearly how God would have us exercise our faithfulness and to trust Him to be with us through any such hardships, even when nothing seems to be going the way we thought it would, we need to be confident it will happen as we know God has told us.

“The sower and the soils” is the parable Jesus told of the various types of stages people can miss out on their salvation, which is written in (Matthew 13; Mark 4 ; Luke 8), “A farmer set off to sow some seed on his land.  He threw it in huge sweeps, and as he did so, some fell onto the well-trodden path on which he was walking.  Almost as soon as the seed bounced on the hard ground, hungry birds swooped down and ate it.

Other seed fell on rocky patches with just a thin covering of soil.  The plants grew quickly at first, but soon shrivelled up, because their short roots could not find enough water to protect them from the scorching sun.

Some seeds landed among thorns that choked the young plants.

Others however, fell on rich soil and gave rise to thirty, sixty or a hundred times the crop.”

“Jesus concluded, “Whoever hears my words, let them hear with understanding.”

“Master,” His disciples then asked Him, “what does this parable mean?”

“Jesus replied, “The seed that was sown along the path is like a person who listens to the message of the Kingdom of God, but does not understand it.  The devil comes and plucks away what has been sown in that person’s heart.

The seed that landed on the rocky soil is like someone who gladly listens to the message and is full of joy.  But without any roots it is impossible to last.  As soon as any form of difficulty or trouble comes, all enthusiasm is lost and the person falls away.

The seed that fell among the thorns is like the person who hears the Word, but is suffocated by the worries and concerns of this life and is unable to produce any fruit.

Lastly, the seed that fell on productive soil is like the person who hears and understands the message.  That person then produces a crop thirty, sixty or a hundred times what was originally sown.”

This account Jesus’ gives, is to awaken our understanding that, it is by faith alone that we are saved, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, nor of works, lest anyone should boast.  For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:8-10 NKJV).  This then is how we should live in faith at all times, even when nothing is going the way we thought things would be for us now, we must keep our faith fully immersed in Jesus, and not our circumstances, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16), and that’s where our faith lies alone, and never on our standards due to the circumstances which may arise to entrap us to give up our faith and our salvation here now, and through to eternity with Jesus who is our faith in all things made possible to us when nothing seems to be working out as we believed would happen.”

“THE MOST BEAUTIFUL NAME IN THE WORLD IS JESUS!” 2-10-17

“(Hebrews 12:2 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.”  What this all means is this: Jesus took upon Himself all the shame and despise that we have carried through misadventures of ours, that we did not know any better, and where sin invaded our camps undetected.  Jesus was disliked by those in authority who despised and shamed Him in front of the multitude of Jews who at first followed Jesus, wanting to be close by Him and to receive the benefits He could give them, but denied Him when they found out He was not going to rebel against the authority of the Romans in their town of Jerusalem.  People may follow Jesus for a short time when things are good, but when things don’t turn out as they would have thought, they retreat back to their old ways.

We must never turn back to our old ways of living, but, “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,” we too can be sitting in wait for Jesus to complete all His promises to us with joy.  We can endure as Jesus endured the cross – which is a symbol of suffering, because He is the finisher of our faith when the completion is set before us of the long awaited miracle before our very eyes.  Jesus is the only way, truth, and life we need to live by, and all else is meaningless without His authority in our lives, for God is and God will provide, when least we expect it, and in the form we could never imagine possible, but He is the Creator of all things, and can do all things for our advantage, and what God gives, God gives for keeps, and where God guides He does provide for, and what God provides, He cares for.  So let’s affirm with faith solely on Jesus to do His part, and we do our part in our life to remain joyful until the end of the matter, by affirming out loud – “I am 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, as I have with Him in all that I do and say to be mindful that Jesus is my Lord and my Saviour, Amen!”

“WHAT CAN WE DO TO BECOME MORE AFFECTIVE IN OUR LIVES TO RECEIVE GOD’S BEST FOR US”

“The Bible refers to many ways we can inherit God’s blessings, even the most minute of ways serving Him as described in (Matthew 10:42 NKJV) “And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is My disciple, truly I tell you, he will never lose his rewards.”

Many times when we have done exactly what the Scripture tells us to do, and we’ve not seen any rewards forthcoming, it does not mean that God has forgotten us, but rather that He is going to be forthcoming with our rewards for diligently serving Him at the right season when the reward will matter to our lives most.  In general, we can be sure that God notices everything we do for Him as His followers, just as the disciples did, with a fervent heart towards God, and not our rewards for doing so.

People who do good things because of the need for them, do it out of an unselfish ambition to please God, serving Him in their life fulfilling the needs of family and their job responsibilities with integrity always to serve because that is just simply what is a necessary part of our lives, to serve, and be served by blessing others.  To serve God is a blessing in itself, for when we can serve Him in serving others and fulfilling their needs (even if it is offering someone a cup of water) then we do it to Him, and He acknowledges us in that when we need something (even a cup of cold water offered to us) we can remember that what we have sown we also reap back as a blessing.

Many times alas, people have deserted us after taking advantage of our goodwill and kindness to them, but God has not forgotten those times because we did it to Him as is written in (Matthew 10:42).  So let’s not blame God for the times we did good and were repaid evil from those we helped and served.  God is love, and therefore love covers a multitude of sins (Proverbs 10:12 NKJV) “Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all sins.”  This means that we are not to hate anyone for not acknowledging our kindness and generosity to them, but rather forgive them for anything they took advantage of us, and let God deal with them, and may His love fill us up to the brim overflowing with joys immeasurable, that we could, and still can love in His name.

This is a short prayer to bring about His comfort to our “waiting on Him” times to bring about His rewards to us, when others have deserted us:

*”Lord Jesus, I know that you are omnipresent in my life, and I know that Your Word is truth to me.  Help me Jesus to remember that always in those times when I have felt abandoned and rejected for doing your will in my life as is mentioned in (Matthew 10:42) when I have given freely and not received in return anything from those who have used my kindness and generosity for their gain alone, Lord I believe I did them unto you, because the need was required to be filled.  I am truly sorry Jesus for harbouring bad thoughts about those who have deserted me in my time of need, but that’s when I have seen your love and kindness fulfil my every need.  Lord Jesus I love you, and I will serve you in doing good as is needed because that’s what you would do and have done for me.  Help me by your grace Lord Jesus to forgive all who have abandoned me in my time of need, wash and cleanse me of all unrighteousness with your blood shed at Calvary for my sins, and may the Holy Spirit indwell me with the gifts of compassion and understanding  to forgive and forget all my sins and those who have wronged me, because love covers all sins, and I will not keep an account open for them any longer, but I now close off all accounts of my past sins and others’ towards me, with the precious blood of Jesus drawn over the whole lots, Amen, so be it Lord Jesus to do it, for God is and God will provide, Amen!”                                                                                                                  3-9-17