Month: April 2020

SCRIPTURE TEXT: This plan of Mine is not what you would work out, neither are My thoughts the same as yours!” –Isaiah 55:8 (TLB)

Imagine that you’re driving up a mountain. The road is twisting and turning, and you’re stuck behind an incredibly slow car. You think, “If I could just see around the corner, I could pass this car.” Then a helicopter flies by and the pilot radios down, “I can see two miles ahead. It’s okay for you to pass.”

What’s the difference between you in the car and the pilot in the helicopter? Perspective.The pilot had a much bigger perspective than you. So he could help you know the next move to make.Your relationship with God is the same. He has a much bigger perspective on your life than you do.

God wants to share his perspective with you, and he does that through the Bible. God’s perspective helps you understand the big picture—the reasons behind what he does and what happens in the world.

Without God’s perspective in your life, life can be full of constant frustration. You spend your days asking questions you can’t answer: Why is this happening to me? Why is that happening to other people? What is the purpose of this? What is the meaning of life?

The answers to those questions are found in God’s perspective.

Have you ever tried to do something, thinking it would work out, but found that it didn’t? You lacked perspective.

Proverbs 14:12 says, “There is a way that seems right to a person, but eventually it ends in death”. By gaining perspective, you get outside your own way of thinking and learn to think like God does. Psalm 103:7 says, “He made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the people of Israel”. The people of Israel saw what God did—the opening of the Red Sea, the manna, the miracles with water, and more. But God let Moses understand the “why” behind what he did. He gave Moses his perspective. How can you get perspective? By studying God’s Word.

Talk It Over

To study God’s Word, you need to do more than just read it. You need to ask questions and to use a pen and paper, or a note on your smartphone, to record what it says. Pick a chapter of the Bible today and study it. Write down what you learn about God’s perspective.

What problem are you just seeing from your own perspective? Study God’s Word today to gain God’s perspective on it.

Think of a time when God helped you gain his perspective on a situation. Spend time in prayer thanking him for sharing his perspective with you.

STAY BLESSED

SOURCE: PASTOR RICK’S DAILY HOPE

SCRIPTURE TEXT: “But Moses tried to pacify the Lord his God. O Lord! he said why are so angry with Your own people whom You brought from the land of Egypt with such great power and such a strong hand?”  — Exodus 32:11

Moses’ desperate plea for the people reveals that God responds to the prayers of the faithful. God allows those who trust Him to have a path in bringing people back into a right relationship with God.

God clearly desired to destroy the rebellious people. Yet Moses acting as a mediator between the Lord and the people urgently on their behalf in order to turn away God’s judgement and change His intention and change His people.

Because of Moses’ intense prayer the Lord had mercy on the people. Moses’ example emphasizes how God allows His servants to be co-workers with Him (1 Cor 3:9). He wants them to deliver His message and labor in prayer for people who are spiritually lost. In a way; God’s people are responsible for the lives of those who do not know God. The sincere prayers of a person who knows and obey God may even influence God’s desire to bring salvation instead of judgement.

Prayer does not cause to do things He does not want to do. Rather, prayer allows a person to stand in harmony and agreement with God’s highest desires. But prayer does change things because God will often respond or wait to respond, depending on how His people pray.

It is difficult to understand the mystery of how imperfect people can persuade Almighty God to change His course of action. Our God is not rigid or inconsiderate when it comes to the destiny of humankind. Instead, He is a personal God who delights in responding to the love, faith and prayers of His faithful people.

In 1 Corinthians 9, Paul was concerned for his fellow Jews and was even willing to be punished for them to be saved. How concerned are you for those who do not know Christ? Are you willing to sacrifice your time, money, energy, comfort and safety to see them come to faith in Christ?

PRAYER: “O Lord, fill us with the desire to intercede for others in times of difficulties.” Amen

STAY BLESSED

SCRIPTURE TEXT: “…and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.” —James 5:16 (NLT)
 

MESSAGE

Christian’s most powerful resource is communion with God through prayer. The results are often greater than we thought were possible. Some people see prayer as the last resort to be tried when all else fails. This approach is backward. Prayer should be the first. Because God’s power is infinitely greater than ours, it only makes sense to rely on it especially because God encourages us to do so.

For those who are in a right relationship with God and who continually rely on Him to do what is right, their prayers will bring them near God (Heb 7:25), open the way to a spirit-filled life, bring them power for ministry and Christian devotion.

Prayer builds you up spiritually and gives you insight into Christ’s provision for you (see Eph 1:16-19). It helps you overcome satan and clarify God’s purposes for you. Enable them to receive spiritual gifts. Bring them into closer companionship with God. Bring them grace, mercy and peace (Php 4:6-7)

Your prayer can bring others who are spiritually lost into a relationship with Christ and bring them the wisdom, revelation and knowledge of Christ. Bring them healing and rescue them from trouble.

Prayer is a way to honor God with praise and thanksgiving and make Christ’s presence more real to you and ensure you of your final salvation and of Christ’s intercession (i.e. His pleading your case for you)

PRAYER: “Dear Lord, I come before You with praise and thanksgiving, I pray that You help me to always have a communion with you through prayers.” Amen

STAY BLESSED

“For ye bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” – 1 Corinthians 6:20 (KJV) 

The blood of Jesus Christ is powerful. It is His blood that makes it possible for you to be forgiven and cleansed from every sin. His shed blood is also the purchase price that has been paid for your redemption. What the blood of Jesus cleanses, it also claims. There is great blessing for believers when they recognize the claim that the blood of Jesus Christ has upon their lives.

It has been said, “God is ready to take full responsibility for the life that is totally yielded to Him”  What a blessing that truth is! It means that you are not only completely the Lord’s, but that He is completely yours. His righteousness is your righteousness, His strength is your strength, His peace is your peace, and His life is your life.

STAY BLESSED
SOURCE: ROY LESSIN

SCRIPTURE TEXT: “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our Spirit that we are children of God.”- Romans 8:16 (NKJV)

One of the most important things that you need to hear from the voice of the Holy Spirit is that you are God’s child.

You will no confidence to pray, to trust God for your daily needs, to claim His promises, to receive His covering and protection, to know His comfort, and o be certain of your place in Heaven, unless you have the voice of the Holy Spirit telling your spirit that you are the Lord’s.

Wishful thinking cannot give you this assurance. You will-power and strong determination cannot produce it. Your family, Pastor or Christian friends cannot declare it. It is the voice of the Holy Spirit who can bring you this assurance, and His voice is all you ever need.

STAY BLESSED

SOURCE: ROY LESSIN

SCRIPTURE TEXT: “There are four things which are little on the earth, but they are exceedingly wise…the rock badgers are a feeble folk, yet they make their homes in the crags….” – Proverbs 30: 24-28

The rock badger is a little mammal hardly bigger than a jackrabbit, The eagle is its main predator. This little animal is not physically equipped to face such a threat. To protect itself, it often stays covered, making its home in the rocks. God’s creation is rich in teachings, isn’t it?

Maybe you feel helpless and powerless, faced with devastating circumstances cause by the corona virus, illness, persecution(at home or your workplace), injustice, false accusations, or something else. Whatever the nature of what’s threatening your peace or attempting to steal your joy, what matters is that you know Christ and belong to Him! Jesus is your rock, your strong shelter, your redeemer, your protection, your life!

You are in the cleft of the rock, hidden in Jesus. Because of this truth:

Even if the storm rages, it will be calmed.(see Psalm 107:29)

Even if the enemy prowls, he will flee.(see James 4:7)

Even if war rises up against you, you are fearless.(see Psalm 27:3)

The truth is that Jesus is fighting for you. He is there, and He will never let you go. Make His presence your shelter, trust in Him today!

STAY BLESSED
SOURCE: JESUS.NET