1 John 4:16
16And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.
You may have heard and know that God cares for you and loves you, and that He demonstrated His love for you by dying on the cross for you. But it’s one thing to know this; it’s another thing to believe the love that God has for you.
For example, it’s one thing to know that the sun shines on us during the day. But it’s another thing to believe that the sun is still shining eventhough you don’t feel its warmth and all you see are cloudy skies.
Sometimes we are slow in believing God’s love for us when we are going through a bad patch. Today, God wants you to know and believe that He loves you in the midst of the deal falling through, when that job is slow incoming, when the boss is fault-finding, when your child still refuses to come home.
In the midst of the pain, He wants you to know and believe that He is wholly for you, on your side and defending you. And if God, the most powerful being in the universe, is for you, can anyone or anything come against you successfully?
Perhaps you feel like you have messed up big time. God wants you to know and believe that though others may be angry with you, He will never be angry with you. Neither will He condemn you.
The sum total of His anger against your sins fell upon Jesus at the cross. So He wants you to know and believe that He will never punish you because Jesus was punished in your place.
When you feel unworthy because you have just blown it for the hundredth time, know and believe that your heavenly Father still offers you the gift of no condemnation. So come boldly to His throne of grace to receive mercy and grace. (Hebrews 4:16)
My friend, know and believe that since He loved you and died for you while you were still a sinner, at your worst and ugliest (Romans 5:8), how much more is His love for you now that you are His beloved child and the righteousness of God in Christ! (2Corinthians 5:21)
Monday, January 28, 2008
Friday, August 31, 2007
Be Numbered Among The Undevourable!
1 Peter 5:8
8Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
The devil cannot just walk right up to you and rob you of your health, peace or family. He cannot just come into your life to enforce disease and destruction.
If the devil can do that, then he does not have to walk about seeking whom he may devour. He only has to walk straight up to the one he wants to devour and devour him!
But since the Bible says that he goes about seeking whom he may devour, the truth then is that there are people whom the devil cannot devour.
You see, the devil goes about like a roaring lion trying to stir fear in people with his roars. But the people who are not devourable are those who refuse to be intimidated by his roars because they know that the true Lion of Judah, Jesus Christ (Revelation5:5), has already come and destroyed him who had the power of death.(Hebrews 2:14) They know that the devil cannot do anything to them because the Lion of Judah resides in them, and that He is greater than the devil who is in the world. (1 John 4:4)
The Lion of Judah is in you. He has given you rights, privileges, authority and power. He has redeemed you with His blood. Therefore, everything about you and your life is redeemed by His blood. If you are fearful about losing your job, cover your job with the blood of Jesus. If you are worried about your childrens safety in these days of terrorist attacks, plead the blood of Jesus over them. If you have received a bad report from the doctor, apply the blood over yourself.
Whatever you have covered with the blood of Jesus, God says, Protected! Redeemed! And the devil flees when he sees the blood. And when he flees, he takes with him sicknesses, diseases, pains, sufferings, destruction and loss.
Once the devil knows that you know who you are in Christ and what you have in Him, his days of intimidating you are over, and you are numbered among theundevourable!
8Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
The devil cannot just walk right up to you and rob you of your health, peace or family. He cannot just come into your life to enforce disease and destruction.
If the devil can do that, then he does not have to walk about seeking whom he may devour. He only has to walk straight up to the one he wants to devour and devour him!
But since the Bible says that he goes about seeking whom he may devour, the truth then is that there are people whom the devil cannot devour.
You see, the devil goes about like a roaring lion trying to stir fear in people with his roars. But the people who are not devourable are those who refuse to be intimidated by his roars because they know that the true Lion of Judah, Jesus Christ (Revelation5:5), has already come and destroyed him who had the power of death.(Hebrews 2:14) They know that the devil cannot do anything to them because the Lion of Judah resides in them, and that He is greater than the devil who is in the world. (1 John 4:4)
The Lion of Judah is in you. He has given you rights, privileges, authority and power. He has redeemed you with His blood. Therefore, everything about you and your life is redeemed by His blood. If you are fearful about losing your job, cover your job with the blood of Jesus. If you are worried about your childrens safety in these days of terrorist attacks, plead the blood of Jesus over them. If you have received a bad report from the doctor, apply the blood over yourself.
Whatever you have covered with the blood of Jesus, God says, Protected! Redeemed! And the devil flees when he sees the blood. And when he flees, he takes with him sicknesses, diseases, pains, sufferings, destruction and loss.
Once the devil knows that you know who you are in Christ and what you have in Him, his days of intimidating you are over, and you are numbered among theundevourable!
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Be Full Of The Conciousness Of God!
1 Corinthians 2:12
12Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.
I believe that you know the story of David the shepherd boy who defeated the 10-foot-tall Goliath, a champion warrior. Ever wondered why David succeeded while the others failed? David's secret was that he didn't know defeat because he was not conscious of a God who cannot. He was only conscious of a God who had rescued him time and again.
You can imagine him saying, "One day, I was taking care of my sheep when a lion came and took one of them. I was not willing to settle for that! I went after the lion, caught it by its beard and smote it. The Lord delivered me from the lion's mouth. On another occasion, a bear came and took one of my flock. I went after the bear and smote it. The Lord delivered me from the bear. The same God, who delivered me from the paws of the lion and bear, will deliver me from this Philistine." (1 Samuel 17:34-37)
David was conscious of what God had done for him. He knew that God was the one who was for him, loved him, favoured him, and gave him success. You can also remind yourself that the same God, who did tremendous things in the past for you, will do the same thing for you again.
Be like David, who was full of the consciousness of God. Do not be like the army of Israel, who were full of the consciousness of the words of Goliath. I believe that they must have talked about Goliath's threats, rehearsed his words, and as a result, filled their hearts with fear and trembling. (1 Samuel 17:11,24)
Do not feed on man's words nor the devil's which only give you anxiety and fear. Feed on God's Word by reading the Bible and listening to messages about who you are in Christ and what He has done for you. Pump yourself up with God's Word until you are filled with the consciousness of God, that you might know the things that have been freely given to you by God!
12Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.
I believe that you know the story of David the shepherd boy who defeated the 10-foot-tall Goliath, a champion warrior. Ever wondered why David succeeded while the others failed? David's secret was that he didn't know defeat because he was not conscious of a God who cannot. He was only conscious of a God who had rescued him time and again.
You can imagine him saying, "One day, I was taking care of my sheep when a lion came and took one of them. I was not willing to settle for that! I went after the lion, caught it by its beard and smote it. The Lord delivered me from the lion's mouth. On another occasion, a bear came and took one of my flock. I went after the bear and smote it. The Lord delivered me from the bear. The same God, who delivered me from the paws of the lion and bear, will deliver me from this Philistine." (1 Samuel 17:34-37)
David was conscious of what God had done for him. He knew that God was the one who was for him, loved him, favoured him, and gave him success. You can also remind yourself that the same God, who did tremendous things in the past for you, will do the same thing for you again.
Be like David, who was full of the consciousness of God. Do not be like the army of Israel, who were full of the consciousness of the words of Goliath. I believe that they must have talked about Goliath's threats, rehearsed his words, and as a result, filled their hearts with fear and trembling. (1 Samuel 17:11,24)
Do not feed on man's words nor the devil's which only give you anxiety and fear. Feed on God's Word by reading the Bible and listening to messages about who you are in Christ and what He has done for you. Pump yourself up with God's Word until you are filled with the consciousness of God, that you might know the things that have been freely given to you by God!
He Is Willing, Be Healed!
Matthew 8:3
3Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, "I am willing; be cleansed."...
Do you know that it is God's will for you to be healed? In fact, Jesus always healed the sick who came to Him. The blind, lame, maimed, mute deaf, and demon-possessed - He healed them all. (Matthew 8:16)
The Bible says that he who has seen Jesus has seen the Father (John 14:9). You want to see what God is like? Look at Jesus! He never gave sickness to anybody. When the leper came to Him, He didn't say, "Tough luck, I don't like your face. By the way, receive Aids as well!" Instead, He told the leper, "I am willing; be cleansed!"
Unfortunately, there are Christians who say, "It is God's will for me to be sick. God has some purpose, some mysterious purpose for my situation. It is all part of His divine plan and we shall all know in the sweet by and by, the reason why!" But these same people go to their doctors to get well. They take their medication and rest. Why do they do that if they really believe that God wants them sick? Doesn't make sense, does it?
Come on, what makes perfect sense is this : God wants you well. God wants you whole. God's will is for you to be healed! In fact, He is so willing that He took all your sicknesses and diseases upon His own body so that you don't have to suffer them today!
He allowed Himself to be beaten and scourged, so that by His scourging - by His stripes - you are healed! (Isaiah 53:5). Since He has already suffered the pain on your behalf, why should you suffer it today?
So, my friend, if you are sick, know that God did not give you the disease. Read every healing miracle that Jesus did in the gospels and see how Jesus is the Lord who heals you (Exodus 15:26).
Hear Jesus' gracious word, "I am willing, be healed!" and know that they are as much for you today as they were for the leper!
3Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, "I am willing; be cleansed."...
Do you know that it is God's will for you to be healed? In fact, Jesus always healed the sick who came to Him. The blind, lame, maimed, mute deaf, and demon-possessed - He healed them all. (Matthew 8:16)
The Bible says that he who has seen Jesus has seen the Father (John 14:9). You want to see what God is like? Look at Jesus! He never gave sickness to anybody. When the leper came to Him, He didn't say, "Tough luck, I don't like your face. By the way, receive Aids as well!" Instead, He told the leper, "I am willing; be cleansed!"
Unfortunately, there are Christians who say, "It is God's will for me to be sick. God has some purpose, some mysterious purpose for my situation. It is all part of His divine plan and we shall all know in the sweet by and by, the reason why!" But these same people go to their doctors to get well. They take their medication and rest. Why do they do that if they really believe that God wants them sick? Doesn't make sense, does it?
Come on, what makes perfect sense is this : God wants you well. God wants you whole. God's will is for you to be healed! In fact, He is so willing that He took all your sicknesses and diseases upon His own body so that you don't have to suffer them today!
He allowed Himself to be beaten and scourged, so that by His scourging - by His stripes - you are healed! (Isaiah 53:5). Since He has already suffered the pain on your behalf, why should you suffer it today?
So, my friend, if you are sick, know that God did not give you the disease. Read every healing miracle that Jesus did in the gospels and see how Jesus is the Lord who heals you (Exodus 15:26).
Hear Jesus' gracious word, "I am willing, be healed!" and know that they are as much for you today as they were for the leper!
Hope Does Not Disappoint!
Romans 5:5
5Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Today, we express hope as if we can't be sure what will really happen. We say, "I hope I'll win the prize.. I hope it won't rain tomorrow... I hope everything works out well.."
But "hope" in the Bible is a confident and positive expectation of good. This is because as His child, your heavenly Father favours you. Because Christ is in you, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27), you can expect the glory of God to shine into every area in your life, including your family, job, ministry, health, and finances!
God's Word says, "Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us!" My friend, you may have experienced disappointed hopes, but there is a hope that does not disappoint when you are conscious of how much God loves you. It is the hope that springs from the heart of God, who loves you very much.
It is interesting that the first mention of the Holy Spirit in the book of Romans is tied up with the love of God. Now, the book of Romans is considered foundation for all Christians. Could it be that the first thing that the Holy Spirit wants to do is to establish in your heart that God loves you? Many people think that the Holy Spirit has come to teach us about power, but the truth is that the Holy Spirit has come not to reveal the love for power, but the power of love!
My friend, you may have just lost your job, but if you believe that "Jesus loves me this I know!", you can say, "I believe I will get a better job tomorrow." Your girlfriend may have just left you for your best friend, but because, "Jesus loves me this I know," you can say, "I'll meet a better girl tomorrow!"
you believe that God loves you, you will have a positive expectation of good. You will have hope that does not disappoint, so be careful what you hope for because you are bound to get it!
5Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Today, we express hope as if we can't be sure what will really happen. We say, "I hope I'll win the prize.. I hope it won't rain tomorrow... I hope everything works out well.."
But "hope" in the Bible is a confident and positive expectation of good. This is because as His child, your heavenly Father favours you. Because Christ is in you, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27), you can expect the glory of God to shine into every area in your life, including your family, job, ministry, health, and finances!
God's Word says, "Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us!" My friend, you may have experienced disappointed hopes, but there is a hope that does not disappoint when you are conscious of how much God loves you. It is the hope that springs from the heart of God, who loves you very much.
It is interesting that the first mention of the Holy Spirit in the book of Romans is tied up with the love of God. Now, the book of Romans is considered foundation for all Christians. Could it be that the first thing that the Holy Spirit wants to do is to establish in your heart that God loves you? Many people think that the Holy Spirit has come to teach us about power, but the truth is that the Holy Spirit has come not to reveal the love for power, but the power of love!
My friend, you may have just lost your job, but if you believe that "Jesus loves me this I know!", you can say, "I believe I will get a better job tomorrow." Your girlfriend may have just left you for your best friend, but because, "Jesus loves me this I know," you can say, "I'll meet a better girl tomorrow!"
you believe that God loves you, you will have a positive expectation of good. You will have hope that does not disappoint, so be careful what you hope for because you are bound to get it!
He Is Right There Upholding You!
Isaiah 41:10
10"Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand."
It is easy to say, "Praise the Lord! Hallelujah!" when times is good. It is easy to believe that God loves you when you are on the mountain top enjoying the sunshine. But what happens when you are down in the dark valley surrounded by your enemies?
Maybe today, you are in the valley of marital, financial, or bodily trouble and you are asking, "Where is God?"
My friend, He is right there with you. The God of the valleys says to you, "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand."
When the King Jehoshaphat was surrounded, outnumbered and overwhelmed by his enemies, the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel and he said to the king, "Don't be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude for the battle is not yours, but God's. You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, who is with you. Don't fear nor dismayed. Tomorrow, go out against them for the Lord is with you." (2 Chronicles 20:14-17)
What King Jehoshaphat did then was brilliant - he acted with wisdom from on high. Instead of putting "commandos" in front, he put worshippers in front! They sang of God's love for them - "Praise the Lord for His love endures forever!" And God utterly destroyed their enemies! (2 Chronicles 20:21-23).
Beloved, it is not the trials that make us strong, but our responses in those trials. The devil wants us to respond by asking, "Where is God?" But God wants us to respond with faith in His love for us. We are more than conquerors not because of our love for Him, but through Him who loves us (Romans 8:37).
So, whatever valley you are in today, don't be afraid. God is right there upholding you. Just sing of His love for you and let Him fight your battles for you!
10"Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand."
It is easy to say, "Praise the Lord! Hallelujah!" when times is good. It is easy to believe that God loves you when you are on the mountain top enjoying the sunshine. But what happens when you are down in the dark valley surrounded by your enemies?
Maybe today, you are in the valley of marital, financial, or bodily trouble and you are asking, "Where is God?"
My friend, He is right there with you. The God of the valleys says to you, "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand."
When the King Jehoshaphat was surrounded, outnumbered and overwhelmed by his enemies, the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel and he said to the king, "Don't be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude for the battle is not yours, but God's. You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord, who is with you. Don't fear nor dismayed. Tomorrow, go out against them for the Lord is with you." (2 Chronicles 20:14-17)
What King Jehoshaphat did then was brilliant - he acted with wisdom from on high. Instead of putting "commandos" in front, he put worshippers in front! They sang of God's love for them - "Praise the Lord for His love endures forever!" And God utterly destroyed their enemies! (2 Chronicles 20:21-23).
Beloved, it is not the trials that make us strong, but our responses in those trials. The devil wants us to respond by asking, "Where is God?" But God wants us to respond with faith in His love for us. We are more than conquerors not because of our love for Him, but through Him who loves us (Romans 8:37).
So, whatever valley you are in today, don't be afraid. God is right there upholding you. Just sing of His love for you and let Him fight your battles for you!
Jesus Understands What You Are Going Through!
Hebrews 4:15
15For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathise with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.
"Does God really understand what I am going through?"
Sometimes, we can't help but wonder if God really knows what it is like to be poor, rejected by people, backed into a corner by our enemies or sick with aches and pains.
My friend, Jesus was no stranger to emotional or physical pains, poverty or hardships. He was born into a poor family. He had a smelly manger for His birthplace (Luke 2:7). From an early age, as a carpenter, He knew all about working hard with His hands, standing on His feet all day long and returning home with aches in His body.
The religious of His days made life difficult for Him. They challenged His authority (Matthew 21:23) and tested His teachings (Matthew 19:3). They also called Him a glutton, winebibber, friend of tax collectors and sinners (Matthew 11:19), and blasphemer (Mark 2:7).
They said that He was demon-possessed and mad (John 10:20), put Him on the spot when they brought and adulterous woman to Him (John 8:2-11), attempted to stone Him (John 8:59, 10:31-39) and accused Him of perverting the nation (Luke 23:2).
Have you been chased out of your home because of your Christian beliefs? Jesus understands what you are going through. He was chased out of His own hometown (Luke 4:29). Have you ben rejected by someone you love? Jesus also experienced the pain of being denied by a loved one (Luke 22:54-62) and betrayed by one considered close to Him (Luke 22 :47-48). He also knows all about sickness you are suffering because He bore your sicknesses and pains on the cross (Isaiah 53:4).
Jesus certainly understands all that we are going through because being born fully Man, He was "in all points tempted as we are". He endured His sufferings for our sakes so that we can have His peace and the anointing to rise above the troubles we are facing!
15For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathise with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.
"Does God really understand what I am going through?"
Sometimes, we can't help but wonder if God really knows what it is like to be poor, rejected by people, backed into a corner by our enemies or sick with aches and pains.
My friend, Jesus was no stranger to emotional or physical pains, poverty or hardships. He was born into a poor family. He had a smelly manger for His birthplace (Luke 2:7). From an early age, as a carpenter, He knew all about working hard with His hands, standing on His feet all day long and returning home with aches in His body.
The religious of His days made life difficult for Him. They challenged His authority (Matthew 21:23) and tested His teachings (Matthew 19:3). They also called Him a glutton, winebibber, friend of tax collectors and sinners (Matthew 11:19), and blasphemer (Mark 2:7).
They said that He was demon-possessed and mad (John 10:20), put Him on the spot when they brought and adulterous woman to Him (John 8:2-11), attempted to stone Him (John 8:59, 10:31-39) and accused Him of perverting the nation (Luke 23:2).
Have you been chased out of your home because of your Christian beliefs? Jesus understands what you are going through. He was chased out of His own hometown (Luke 4:29). Have you ben rejected by someone you love? Jesus also experienced the pain of being denied by a loved one (Luke 22:54-62) and betrayed by one considered close to Him (Luke 22 :47-48). He also knows all about sickness you are suffering because He bore your sicknesses and pains on the cross (Isaiah 53:4).
Jesus certainly understands all that we are going through because being born fully Man, He was "in all points tempted as we are". He endured His sufferings for our sakes so that we can have His peace and the anointing to rise above the troubles we are facing!
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