Bible passage for sermon: Isaiah 55: 1-end, Jeremiah 29: 5-7, 10-14
Isaiah 55 - 1 “Ho! Everyone who thirsts, Come to the waters; And you who have no money, Come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk Without money and without price. 2 Why do you spend money for what is not bread, And your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, And let your soul delight itself in abundance. 3 Incline your ear, and come to Me. Hear, and your soul shall live; And I will make an everlasting covenant with you— The sure mercies of David. 4 Indeed I have given him as a witness to the people, A leader and commander for the people. 5 Surely you shall call a nation you do not know, And nations who do not know you shall run to you, Because of the LORD your God, And the Holy One of Israel; For He has glorified you.” 6 Seek the LORD while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near. 7 Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the LORD, And He will have mercy on him; And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon. 8 “ For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD. 9 “ For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts. 10 “ For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, And do not return there, But water the earth, And make it bring forth and bud, That it may give seed to the sower And bread to the eater, 11 So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it. 12 “ For you shall go out with joy, And be led out with peace; The mountains and the hills Shall break forth into singing before you, And all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. 13 Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress tree, And instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree; And it shall be to the LORD for a name, For an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.”
God says in verse 1 that you should buy without money. This is because the price has been paid for already. The milk God is referring to is the sincere milk of the word, and the wine is the new wine of the new testament.
v3 - Incline your ear and come unto me. Your soul will live when you come unto him.
Isaiah 9: 6 - For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Jesus was given to us for 3 reasons as seen in verse 4:-
To be our Witness - meaning someone who has seen and experienced. Acts 1:8 Jesus had to show the things he had seen of the father.
To be our Leader - taking us by our hands and leading us to heaven.
To be our Commander - speaking the things of God with authority.
God is speaking to us through Jesus. God has already done all things and it is up to you to reach out and make it work as seen in verse 5.
In verse 8 he tells us about his 'thoughts' and his 'way'. Let us define the word thought - it means imagination, purposes, devices, contriving, machine, invention, fortify. The definition of way - walk, journey, way of life, worship. God wants us to change our thought and ways illustrates how his thoughts towards us brings good things. Your thought is influenced by the word of God, the more you hear the word, the more your thoughts are changed.
Jeremiah 29 - 11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. God has promised to give you a future and a hope, and all this is through his 'thought' towards you. The word 'think' is defined as - account, reckon, count, induce, impute, invent, weaver. God already has a good accout of you, God has a good reckoning of you, God has a good invention of you. All this he has done through his thoughts.
In conclusion: God wants us to walk in dominion wherever you are, and he has given you the ability to do that through your thoughts and your ways. Let your thoughts be changed daily by the word of God, and your way be influenced by your thoughts, so that you can have good seeds to sow and be a blessing everywhere you go.
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Showing posts with label wordfortoday. Show all posts
Showing posts with label wordfortoday. Show all posts
Friday, 21 October 2011
Friday, 14 October 2011
Wait For It - Devotional
Bible passage for sermon - 1Kings 18: 41-46
1Kings 18 - 41 Then Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink; for there is the sound of abundance of rain.” 42 So Ahab went up to eat and drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; then he bowed down on the ground, and put his face between his knees, 43 and said to his servant, “Go up now, look toward the sea.” So he went up and looked, and said, “There is nothing.” And seven times he said, “Go again.” 44 Then it came to pass the seventh time, that he said, “There is a cloud, as small as a man’s hand, rising out of the sea!” So he said, “Go up, say to Ahab, ‘Prepare your chariot, and go down before the rain stops you.’” 45 Now it happened in the meantime that the sky became black with clouds and wind, and there was a heavy rain. So Ahab rode away and went to Jezreel. 46 Then the hand of the LORD came upon Elijah; and he girded up his loins and ran ahead of Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.
This passage is about when there was a drought in samaria, and Elijah, after showing the people of the land that the Lord is truly God, told Ahab that there is a sound of abundance of rain. He "heard" it first in his spirit and even reassured Ahab to "go up, eat and drink". He heard it and he believed that will certainly come to pass.
Elijah went to the top of carmel to pray by taking the position of bowing down on the ground and putting his head between his knees. This indicates that he was praying so much and didn't let anything distract him, but also he understood the importance of watching at the same time. So he got his servant to do the watching for him while he prayed. You need to learn to watch and pray at the same time...most believers either pray and pray without watching, while some just keep watching and hoping that thing will materialise because they have heard it.
Elijah sent his servant to go and look at the sea for any sign of rain while he prayed hard and held onto what he heard in his spirit. Even though he heard it, he still had to wait to see it materialise. The servant went back and forth 6 times bringing back news of no sign of the rain. This alone is enough to make you disappointed and probably lose faith at that which you have heard from God. The servant would probably have written off Elijah and doubted in his mind if he truly was a prophet from God. This happens to everyone of us when people will write you off because you are not where "they" think you should be. You have promised so much but you haven't delivered anything that "they" can see.
But on the 7th time the servant saw a rain cloud rising from the sea. This changed the whole complexity of things for both the servant and Elijah. The servant then realises that Elijah is once again the prophet of God that he has always been, and Elijah receives the confirmation of that which he had heard and believed in. Even though it is still not the rain which he expects, he knows that the cloud is the start of that which he heard. This applies to you in your daily life that that which you are expecting might not come immediately in the finished form you are expecting, but that which you see is a sign of the thing expected.
Once Elijah got the little confirmation, he acted upon it by sending message to Ahab to prepare the chariots so the rain will not stop him on his way to jezreel. At this time there was no rain yet when the message was sent, the clouds only became black with clouds and wind and thenwith heavy rain after the message was delivered. Elijah acted upon his faith that God will certainly bring to pass that which he had spoken to him in the spirit. Elijah started to put things in place in readiness for that which he knows will happen. You also need to start to put things in place and prepare yourself for the promises once you get little confirmations about them. Don't just spen all the time praying and praying, there is a time to pray and a time to get ready for when the prayers get answered. The keyword here is "prepare".
Ahab prepared his chariots and set off to jezreel but without Elijah, probably in his haste he forgot about him. But Elijah even though the rain had come, still waited behind until the hand of the Lord came upon him. Only then did Elijah gird up his loins and left on foot for jezreel and made it there, even before Ahab who was on the fast chariots. I said previously that the keyword is "prepare", even though Elijah saw the rain and could have gone with Ahab on the chariots, he intentionally waited upon the Lord to touch him, to confirm to him that all is well and that he can now go ahead. All this while Elijah was preparing himself for the appointed time when that which he heard would come to pass, and because he now saw the rain he didn't just jump without the full confirmation from God.
He chose Gods appointed time to embark on the trip to jezreel, and because he waited God accelerated his progress tremendously that he even got to the destination before the man on the fastest chariot. When your have waited upon the Lord for so long for a thing he has promised you, hold on to that till you get Gods full blessings to then go ahead.
In conclusion - When God gives you a word, you will not die waiting. The Lord will not break his word for you. He exalts his word over his priciples, therefore wait on the Lord and obey his instructions and he will elevate you at the appointed time.
1Kings 18 - 41 Then Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink; for there is the sound of abundance of rain.” 42 So Ahab went up to eat and drink. And Elijah went up to the top of Carmel; then he bowed down on the ground, and put his face between his knees, 43 and said to his servant, “Go up now, look toward the sea.” So he went up and looked, and said, “There is nothing.” And seven times he said, “Go again.” 44 Then it came to pass the seventh time, that he said, “There is a cloud, as small as a man’s hand, rising out of the sea!” So he said, “Go up, say to Ahab, ‘Prepare your chariot, and go down before the rain stops you.’” 45 Now it happened in the meantime that the sky became black with clouds and wind, and there was a heavy rain. So Ahab rode away and went to Jezreel. 46 Then the hand of the LORD came upon Elijah; and he girded up his loins and ran ahead of Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.
This passage is about when there was a drought in samaria, and Elijah, after showing the people of the land that the Lord is truly God, told Ahab that there is a sound of abundance of rain. He "heard" it first in his spirit and even reassured Ahab to "go up, eat and drink". He heard it and he believed that will certainly come to pass.
Elijah went to the top of carmel to pray by taking the position of bowing down on the ground and putting his head between his knees. This indicates that he was praying so much and didn't let anything distract him, but also he understood the importance of watching at the same time. So he got his servant to do the watching for him while he prayed. You need to learn to watch and pray at the same time...most believers either pray and pray without watching, while some just keep watching and hoping that thing will materialise because they have heard it.
Elijah sent his servant to go and look at the sea for any sign of rain while he prayed hard and held onto what he heard in his spirit. Even though he heard it, he still had to wait to see it materialise. The servant went back and forth 6 times bringing back news of no sign of the rain. This alone is enough to make you disappointed and probably lose faith at that which you have heard from God. The servant would probably have written off Elijah and doubted in his mind if he truly was a prophet from God. This happens to everyone of us when people will write you off because you are not where "they" think you should be. You have promised so much but you haven't delivered anything that "they" can see.
But on the 7th time the servant saw a rain cloud rising from the sea. This changed the whole complexity of things for both the servant and Elijah. The servant then realises that Elijah is once again the prophet of God that he has always been, and Elijah receives the confirmation of that which he had heard and believed in. Even though it is still not the rain which he expects, he knows that the cloud is the start of that which he heard. This applies to you in your daily life that that which you are expecting might not come immediately in the finished form you are expecting, but that which you see is a sign of the thing expected.
Once Elijah got the little confirmation, he acted upon it by sending message to Ahab to prepare the chariots so the rain will not stop him on his way to jezreel. At this time there was no rain yet when the message was sent, the clouds only became black with clouds and wind and thenwith heavy rain after the message was delivered. Elijah acted upon his faith that God will certainly bring to pass that which he had spoken to him in the spirit. Elijah started to put things in place in readiness for that which he knows will happen. You also need to start to put things in place and prepare yourself for the promises once you get little confirmations about them. Don't just spen all the time praying and praying, there is a time to pray and a time to get ready for when the prayers get answered. The keyword here is "prepare".
Ahab prepared his chariots and set off to jezreel but without Elijah, probably in his haste he forgot about him. But Elijah even though the rain had come, still waited behind until the hand of the Lord came upon him. Only then did Elijah gird up his loins and left on foot for jezreel and made it there, even before Ahab who was on the fast chariots. I said previously that the keyword is "prepare", even though Elijah saw the rain and could have gone with Ahab on the chariots, he intentionally waited upon the Lord to touch him, to confirm to him that all is well and that he can now go ahead. All this while Elijah was preparing himself for the appointed time when that which he heard would come to pass, and because he now saw the rain he didn't just jump without the full confirmation from God.
He chose Gods appointed time to embark on the trip to jezreel, and because he waited God accelerated his progress tremendously that he even got to the destination before the man on the fastest chariot. When your have waited upon the Lord for so long for a thing he has promised you, hold on to that till you get Gods full blessings to then go ahead.
In conclusion - When God gives you a word, you will not die waiting. The Lord will not break his word for you. He exalts his word over his priciples, therefore wait on the Lord and obey his instructions and he will elevate you at the appointed time.
Friday, 16 September 2011
The Devil Is Not After You - Devotional
Bible passages for sermon: 2Kings 7: 1-8, Luke 17: 11-18
2Kings 7 - 1 Then Elisha said, “Hear the word of the LORD. Thus says the LORD: ‘Tomorrow about this time a seah of fine flour shall be sold for a shekel, and two seahs of barley for a shekel, at the gate of Samaria.’” 2 So an officer on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God and said, “Look, if the LORD would make windows in heaven, could this thing be?” And he said, “In fact, you shall see it with your eyes, but you shall not eat of it.”
The devil always looks for ways to hamper your relationship with God. The devil didn't like the fellowship Adam had with God and he did all he could to ensure the relationship was broken. After Adam fell, mankind resorted to the shedding of animal blood to reconnect man to God temporarily. Hebrews 9: 21.
From the passage above, the leaprous men had totally lost all their faith due to the famine in the land. Everyday they sit at the entrance of the gate and go through the motions, the devil probably keeps reminding them that they will eventually die and pretty soon too. The devil made them lose their faith and strong will. But suddenly, they realized that their sitting there at the gate entrance was not doing them any good. They finally tapped back into their faith, they reconnected with God once again. They made a conscious effort to go into the land of the syrians throwing all caution to the wind and hoping they might get some respite from the famine. And we read that God made a way for the men when they went into syria, God made the syrian army disperse leaving behind lots of food and loot. Their faith and reconnection to God caused God himself to bring the things their hearts desired to them.
We can see from the scriptures that our faith is what God desires and it makes much things availeth much. Romans 1: 17 talks about living by faith in connecting with God.
Hebrews 11: 6 - There is no pleasing God without faith.
Ephesians 2: 8 - We are not saved only by Grace, but by Faith also.
Romans 10: 9 - We confess by faith to accept the Lord Jesus Christ.
In conclusion: Grace is made available by Christ but you need to activate your faith to receive all you are trusting for. The devil understands how powerful your faith is, and the principles behind having faith. The devil is not after you afterall, he is after your Faith!
2Kings 7 - 1 Then Elisha said, “Hear the word of the LORD. Thus says the LORD: ‘Tomorrow about this time a seah of fine flour shall be sold for a shekel, and two seahs of barley for a shekel, at the gate of Samaria.’” 2 So an officer on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God and said, “Look, if the LORD would make windows in heaven, could this thing be?” And he said, “In fact, you shall see it with your eyes, but you shall not eat of it.”
The Syrians Flee
3 Now there were four leprous men at the entrance of the gate; and they said to one another, “Why are we sitting here until we die? 4 If we say, ‘We will enter the city,’ the famine is in the city, and we shall die there. And if we sit here, we die also. Now therefore, come, let us surrender to the army of the Syrians. If they keep us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall only die.” 5 And they rose at twilight to go to the camp of the Syrians; and when they had come to the outskirts of the Syrian camp, to their surprise no one was there. 6 For the Lord had caused the army of the Syrians to hear the noise of chariots and the noise of horses—the noise of a great army; so they said to one another, “Look, the king of Israel has hired against us the kings of the Hittites and the kings of the Egyptians to attack us!” 7 Therefore they arose and fled at twilight, and left the camp intact—their tents, their horses, and their donkeys—and they fled for their lives. 8 And when these lepers came to the outskirts of the camp, they went into one tent and ate and drank, and carried from it silver and gold and clothing, and went and hid them; then they came back and entered another tent, and carried some from there also, and went and hid it.The devil always looks for ways to hamper your relationship with God. The devil didn't like the fellowship Adam had with God and he did all he could to ensure the relationship was broken. After Adam fell, mankind resorted to the shedding of animal blood to reconnect man to God temporarily. Hebrews 9: 21.
From the passage above, the leaprous men had totally lost all their faith due to the famine in the land. Everyday they sit at the entrance of the gate and go through the motions, the devil probably keeps reminding them that they will eventually die and pretty soon too. The devil made them lose their faith and strong will. But suddenly, they realized that their sitting there at the gate entrance was not doing them any good. They finally tapped back into their faith, they reconnected with God once again. They made a conscious effort to go into the land of the syrians throwing all caution to the wind and hoping they might get some respite from the famine. And we read that God made a way for the men when they went into syria, God made the syrian army disperse leaving behind lots of food and loot. Their faith and reconnection to God caused God himself to bring the things their hearts desired to them.
We can see from the scriptures that our faith is what God desires and it makes much things availeth much. Romans 1: 17 talks about living by faith in connecting with God.
Hebrews 11: 6 - There is no pleasing God without faith.
Ephesians 2: 8 - We are not saved only by Grace, but by Faith also.
Romans 10: 9 - We confess by faith to accept the Lord Jesus Christ.
In conclusion: Grace is made available by Christ but you need to activate your faith to receive all you are trusting for. The devil understands how powerful your faith is, and the principles behind having faith. The devil is not after you afterall, he is after your Faith!
Friday, 2 September 2011
I Didn't Wait For Nothing.
Bible passages for the sermon Mark 11: 1-11, 2 Timothy 2: 20-21
Mark 11- 1 Now when they drew near Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, He sent two of His disciples; 2 and He said to them, “Go into the village opposite you; and as soon as you have entered it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has sat. Loose it and bring it. 3 And if anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord has need of it,’ and immediately he will send it here.” 4 So they went their way, and found the colt tied by the door outside on the street, and they loosed it. 5 But some of those who stood there said to them, “What are you doing, loosing the colt?” 6 And they spoke to them just as Jesus had commanded. So they let them go. 7 Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their clothes on it, and He sat on it. 8 And many spread their clothes on the road, and others cut down leafy branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 Then those who went before and those who followed cried out, saying:
“ Hosanna!
‘ Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!’
10 Blessed is the kingdom of our father David
That comes in the name of the Lord!
Hosanna in the highest!”
11 And Jesus went into Jerusalem and into the temple. So when He had looked around at all things, as the hour was already late, He went out to Bethany with the twelve.
This life is a cycle. There is a process that defines your purpose. The trainings you get determines what you will be used for. We are vessels, carriers of Gods word and works.
2 Tim 2 - 20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. 21 Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.
According to the text in Mark 11, the colt that Jesus asked the disciples to get had been tied at one spot for a long time. The colt was at a place where it couldn't go anywhere apart from round in circles. Other colts came and went by and this colt was always at the same spot. A colts normal lifespan is about 25yrs and this particular colt has not been used for anything or for what it's purpose is. This can be likened to our lives, our gifts sometimes need to be tamed in preparation for it's maturation, so as to fulfil it's full purpose.
Proverbs 22 - 29 Do you see a man who excels in his work? He will stand before kings; He will not stand before unknown men.
For Jesus who is the King of Kings to enter into Jerusalem, he had a enter in a unique way. He ordered the disciples to go and get the colt which everyone else had looked down upon as useless. Jesus stated the colts exact position, it's location, and it's exact coordinates.
Even though it seemed that the colt was good for nothing and tied down for years, when it's purpose was at hand, the cycle it had been known to was broken. It was used to transfer the King of all Kings into Jerusalem. Whichever way you look at it, the colt was in the picture with Jesus. The colt was not tied there for nothing.
In conclusion, for God to place his glory upon you, you need to go through the process to achieve your purpose. Delays is not denial.
Mark 11- 1 Now when they drew near Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, He sent two of His disciples; 2 and He said to them, “Go into the village opposite you; and as soon as you have entered it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has sat. Loose it and bring it. 3 And if anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord has need of it,’ and immediately he will send it here.” 4 So they went their way, and found the colt tied by the door outside on the street, and they loosed it. 5 But some of those who stood there said to them, “What are you doing, loosing the colt?” 6 And they spoke to them just as Jesus had commanded. So they let them go. 7 Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their clothes on it, and He sat on it. 8 And many spread their clothes on the road, and others cut down leafy branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 Then those who went before and those who followed cried out, saying:
“ Hosanna!
‘ Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!’
10 Blessed is the kingdom of our father David
That comes in the name of the Lord!
Hosanna in the highest!”
11 And Jesus went into Jerusalem and into the temple. So when He had looked around at all things, as the hour was already late, He went out to Bethany with the twelve.
This life is a cycle. There is a process that defines your purpose. The trainings you get determines what you will be used for. We are vessels, carriers of Gods word and works.
2 Tim 2 - 20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. 21 Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.
According to the text in Mark 11, the colt that Jesus asked the disciples to get had been tied at one spot for a long time. The colt was at a place where it couldn't go anywhere apart from round in circles. Other colts came and went by and this colt was always at the same spot. A colts normal lifespan is about 25yrs and this particular colt has not been used for anything or for what it's purpose is. This can be likened to our lives, our gifts sometimes need to be tamed in preparation for it's maturation, so as to fulfil it's full purpose.
Proverbs 22 - 29 Do you see a man who excels in his work? He will stand before kings; He will not stand before unknown men.
For Jesus who is the King of Kings to enter into Jerusalem, he had a enter in a unique way. He ordered the disciples to go and get the colt which everyone else had looked down upon as useless. Jesus stated the colts exact position, it's location, and it's exact coordinates.
Even though it seemed that the colt was good for nothing and tied down for years, when it's purpose was at hand, the cycle it had been known to was broken. It was used to transfer the King of all Kings into Jerusalem. Whichever way you look at it, the colt was in the picture with Jesus. The colt was not tied there for nothing.
In conclusion, for God to place his glory upon you, you need to go through the process to achieve your purpose. Delays is not denial.
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