BLESSED FRIEND.

" Who is your Friend & Whose friend you are "

Proverb 18:24 .

A man of many friends comes to ruin, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother . (NASB) 

I am not a man of many friends.
I am friendly with a number of people and thankful for the people around me.
But I will distinguish between acquaintances and friends.

I will go a distance out of my way for an acquaintance - a student, -
co-worker, or someone I know around town.

These are not unimportant people and the deserve a definite measure of respect and cooperation.
If they ask for prayer or need a suggestion, it is rarely a burden or a problem.

If a student is struggling and needs help, a few extra minutes after class is easily given.

But then there are friends.
These are the people we have invested our lives into and they are invested into ours.

These are the people who know who we are with our flaws,
faults and foibles and still accept us and care about us.

They know when we are up or down, usually without a word being spoken.
Friends apologize when they have hurt us, and, more importantly,
accept our apology when we have hurt them.

They have permission to invade our personal space deeply at times.
They can tell us things we don't want to hear, but need to be told.

They will hear us when we need to bare our souls without judging us,
and chase us when we run to despair and drag us back.

They kneel at the Throne of Grace for us in our joys and our trials.

Jesus' inner circle of friends fell asleep while he prayed for them in the Garden of Gethsemane.
He was facing an agonizing death.

And while would be bad enough, for Him there was more.
Jesus Christ was facing the sins of all mankind through all eternity.

And, He was facing something He had never experienced -
separation from the Father on the cross.

He, who had never known sin, took on the every sin to satisfy the price of sin.
And He rose again to break the power of death over us.

Facing all of this, Jesus prayed for his friends who had promised to pray with Him,
even after they had fallen asleep.

As the omniscient Lord of Creation, He knew that they would.

After his resurrection, Jesus met His Disciples on the beach and had cooked them breakfast.
He ate with them and gently brought them back into His fellowship.

This was even true of Peter who had denied his Lord three times publicly
and was terribly humiliated at his failure to stand with Jesus.

Jesus gave us this as our example.

This is seventy times seven in flesh and bone,
forgiving and restoring important relationships even when they have faltered.

It is a reflection of the love that Jesus Christ has for us,
and it is a light to the world that doesn't understand the love we know.
John 15:15-17

15  "No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing;
but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you.

16  "You did not choose Me, but I chose you, and appointed you, that you should go and bear fruit,
and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask of the Father in My name, He may give to you.

17 "This I command you, that you love one another. (NASB)  

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" God is never wrong !  "

Hi Dear Ones,

I hope this story may strengthen your trust upon the Living God, 

who can moves the mountains……..

A king, who did not believe in the goodness of God, had a slave who, in all circumstances, said: 

My king, do not be discouraged, because everything God does is perfect, no mistakes!

One day they went hunting and along the way a wild animal attacked the king. 

His slave managed to kill the animal, but could not prevent his majesty losing a finger.

Furious and without showing his gratitude for being saved, the nobleman said

“Is God good? If He was good, I would not have been attacked and lost my finger.”

The slave replied: “My king, despite all these things, 

I can only tell you that God is good, 

and he knows “why” of all these things. 

What God does is perfect. He is never wrong!”

Outraged by the response, the king ordered the arrest of his slave. 

Later, he left for another hunt and was captured by savages who made human sacrifices.

In the altar, ready to sacrifice the nobleman, the savages found that the victim 

had not one of his fingers, so he was released. 

According to them, it was not so complete to be offered to the gods.

Upon his return to the palace, he authorized the release of his slave that he received 

very affectionately and said - “My dear, God was really good to me! 

I was almost killed by the wild men, but for lack of a single finger, I was let go!

But I have a question: if God is so good, why did he allow me to put you in jail?” 

The slave replied - “ My King, if I had gone with you in this hunt, 

I would have been sacrificed for you, 

because I have no missing finger, 

therefore remember, everything God does is perfect. 

He is never wrong.”

Often we complain about life, and negative things that happen to us, 

forgetting that nothing is random and that everything has a purpose.

Every morning, offer your day to God, don’t be in a rush.

Ask God to inspire your thoughts, guide your actions, and ease your feelings. 

And do not be afraid. 

God is never wrong!

You know why this message is for you? 

I do not know, but God knows, 

because he never makes mistakes…….

“The path of God and his word is perfect, without impurities. 

He is the way of all those who trust in Him”. 2 Samuel  22: 31

God is never wrong !

BLESSED JOY.

"The joy of the Lord is your strength" (Nehemiah 8:10). At the time these words were proclaimed, the Israelites had just returned from captivity in Babylon. Under the leadership of Ezra and Nehemiah, the people had rebuilt Jerusalem's ruined walls. And now they set their sights on reestablishing the temple and restoring the nation.

At this point, Nehemiah called a special meeting at the city's water gate, within Jerusalem's rebuilt walls. "And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the street that was before the water gate" (Nehemiah 8:1). Some 42,360 Israelite men were on hand for this meeting. Standing alongside them were 7,300 servants, including 245 singers. Altogether, about 50,000 people were gathered.

First came the preaching of God's word. Scripture says the people were hungry to hear it: "They spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses...Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation both of men and women, and all that could hear with understanding" (8:1-2).

These people didn't need to have God's word pushed on them. A consensus of hunger had developed among them. And they were fully prepared to submit to the authority of God's word. They wanted to be governed by it, to make their lives conform to its truth.

Amazingly, Ezra preached to this crowd for five or six hours - "from the morning until midday" (8:3). Yet no one even noticed the time. "The ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law" (8:3). These people were totally captivated by God's word.

What an incredible scene! You simply wouldn't see such an occurrence in any American church today. Yet, I tell you, true revival can never take place without this kind of all-consuming hunger for God's word. Indeed, when God's people grow weary of hearing his word preached, a spiritual death begins - and the joy of the Lord departs.

You may have heard of the phrase "sermon tasters." This term is almost 200 years old, originating in London during the mid-1800s. At that time, the great preacher C.H. Spurgeon delivered sermons to 5,000 people every Sunday at the Metropolitan Tabernacle. Across the city, Joseph Parker also preached anointed messages. And other fiery pastors preached throughout London, delivering deep, revelatory, prophetic words.

It became a popular sport among wealthy Londoners to hop in their carriages and race across the city from one church to another, sampling the preaching of these ministers. Each Monday in Parliament, exclusive meetings were held to discuss which preacher delivered the best sermon and who brought forth the deepest revelation.

These gadabouts were dubbed "sermon tasters." They always wanted to lay claim to some new spiritual truth or revelation. But very few practiced what they heard.

At the water gate in Jerusalem, however, there was no eloquent preaching, no sensational sermon. Ezra preached straight from the scriptures, reading for hours on end. And as the people stood and listened to God's word, they grew excited.

At times Ezra was so overcome by what he read, he stopped to "bless the Lord, the great God" (8:6). The glory of the Lord came down powerfully, and everyone raised his hands in praise to God: "All the people answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands" (8:6). As certain passages were read, "they bowed their heads, and worshipped the Lord with their faces to the ground" (8:6). The people humbled themselves before God, in brokenness and repentance. Then, after a while, they stood up to experience more.

Please note - this meeting didn't include any exciting stories to stir up people's emotions. There was no manipulation from the pulpit, no dramatic testimony. There wasn't even any music as yet. These people simply had an ear to hear everything God said to them.

I believe the Lord desires to move among his people in the same way today. I see his Spirit stirring up churches wherever there's a hunger for his word.

Yet I've also been in churches where people constantly glance at their watches, before the sermon has started. Then, when the pastor says his final "Amen," the people begin a mad race for the parking lot. There is no real joy in such a church. So, how can we expect desperate sinners to ever want a part in it?

The kind of revival we see in Nehemiah 8 requires a pastor who is as excited by the scriptures as Ezra was. Yet it also requires a people who are just as anxious to hear God's word and obey it. Even the most fiery preacher can't stir up a complacent congregation if they're not hungry to hear God's truth.

The Result of This Powerful Preaching
Was a Wave of Brokenness Among the Hearers.

A half-day of preaching wasn't enough for the hungry Israelites. They wanted even more of God's word. So they formed groups, with seventeen elders besides Ezra leading them in Bible studies the rest of the day. "(They) caused the people to understand the law...so they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading" (Nehemiah 8:7-8).

As these people grasped God's law, they began to mourn over their sin. "All the people wept when they heard the words of the law" (8:9). Picture the scene: 50,000 people lay scattered on the ground, mourning their sin in unison. Like a hammer, God's word had broken their pride. And now their weeping echoed over the hills for miles.

I ask you - is this what revival is all about? Is it a word so piercing that people are driven to their knees, weeping and repenting before God?

I have experienced such holy gatherings myself. When I was a child, our family attended "camp meetings" at the Living Waters Camp Ground in Pennsylvania. Jesus' second coming was preached with such power and authority, everyone was convinced Christ would return within the hour. A holy fear fell, and people were driven to their faces. Some cried as if they were hanging over hell by a thread - wailing, broken, sorrowing over sin.

Often, God's word was preached all day and into the night. Early the next morning, people could still be found lying prostrate in the prayer room, grieving over their sin. Some even had to be carried out.

It was on such a night that the Lord called me to preach, at the age of eight. I was in the Spirit for hours, broken and weeping, God's word coming alive in my heart. Christ's soon return burned within me as an imminent reality. I'll never forget that wonderful experience.

Yet, as glorious as all of these manifestations were - whether at Living Waters Camp Ground, or at Jerusalem's water gate centuries ago - none of these things can draw sinners into God's house.

Imagine an unsaved person who's trying to bear up under life's stresses. He has marital problems, he's hurting and confused, he's afraid his life has no meaning. Such a person is joyless, disgusted with life. And nothing he tries can satisfy his thirsting soul. He's convinced he can't make it through the day without medicating himself with alcohol.

If you took this man to a church service where people were lying about prostrate, mourning over sin, he wouldn't understand what was going on. In fact, chances are he would leave more depressed than when he came in.

We have to understand - the water-gate revival in Jerusalem wasn't for sinners. It was strictly for the backslidden children of God. Likewise, few unsaved people ever attended Living Waters camp meetings. In both cases, the Lord was trying to repair his children - to deliver them from corruption, baptize them with joy and make them strong.

God's testimony is never that his people are lying on their faces, crying rivers of tears. No, the testimony he wants to bring forth in his people is joy - genuine, lasting joy. "The joy of the Lord is your strength" (Nehemiah 8:10). This joy - which results from biblical preaching and true repentance - brings true strength to God's people and draws sinners into his house.

Most Christians never associate joy with repentance. But repentance is actually the mother of all joy in Jesus. Without it, there can be no joy. Yet any believer or congregation who walks in repentance will be flooded with the joy of the Lord.

What Is Missing in Multitudes
of Churches Today Is the Thing
Most Needed by The Lost:
Genuine, Soul-Satisfying Joy.

I often hear Christians say, "We prayed down a revival in our church." But I say this cannot happen by prayer alone. There can't be any such awakening unless both the pastor and the people hunger diligently for God's word. And they must wholly commit their lives to being governed by the scriptures. We simply can't obtain heaven's joy until the pure word has convicted us of sin - breaking down all pride, prejudices and false dignity.

When David disobeyed, he lost the joy of the Lord. And that joy could only be restored by true repentance. So he prayed, "Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Purge me" (Psalm 51:2-3, 7). David also prayed to regain what he'd lost: "Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation" (Psalm 51:12).

I believe this explains the death pall that hangs over many churches today. In short, there is sin in the camp. And it's impossible to maintain the joy of the Lord if sin is present. How can the Holy Spirit pour out joy on a people who continue to indulge in adultery, addictions and materialism, living like the unsaved?

The Lord lifted his glory from Shiloh because the high priest, Eli, refused to deal with sin in God's house. Eli had become accustomed to the easy life - and if you're addicted to pleasure, you won't be motivated to expose sin. God finally wrote the word "Ichabod" above the door of the sanctuary - meaning, "The glory has departed." Then he held up Shiloh as an example of what happens to a church when sin is ignored. God's glory - including all gladness and joy - dissipates, in individuals and in the corporate body.

Where God's Word Is
Revered, the Inevitable
Result Is an Outpouring of
Genuine "Jesus Joy."

Ezra told the crowds, "You've been excited about God's word - hungering for it, loving it, allowing it to work in your heart. You've repented, wept and mourned - and God is pleased with you. But now it's time to rejoice. Take out your handkerchiefs, and wipe away your tears. This is a time for great joy and mirth."

The glory of the Lord fell on Israel, and the people spent the next seven days rejoicing: "All the people went their way to eat, and to drink...and to make great mirth, because they had understood the words that were declared unto them" (Nehemiah 8:12).

The Hebrew word for mirth here means "glee, merriment, gladness, happiness." This kind of mirth isn't merely a good feeling - it's an inner joy, a deep exuberance. Its expression may look different in each of us, because such joy takes place deep inside us. But it's clear to everyone around us that our wellspring of joy comes from heaven.

Whenever Israel turned to sin and idolatry, the Lord removed their mirth: "I will also cause all her mirth to cease" (Hosea 2:11). "I will take from them the voice of mirth, and the voice of gladness, and this whole land shall be...an astonishment" (Jeremiah 25:10-11). "All joy is darkened, the mirth of the land is gone" (Isaiah 24:11).

At times, Israel put on a false joy to try to cover their sin. We see this happening as well in many churches today. We may witness singing, dancing, manifestations, loud praising - but those who love God's word can discern whether it's true or false joy.

You may recall Israel's shouts as they danced around the golden calf. When Joshua heard the people, he said, "There is a noise of war in the camp" (Exodus 32:17). But Moses replied, "It is not the voice of them that shout for mastery" (32:18). Moses was saying, "That's the shout of a people still in bondage. They haven't mastered their sin." Gold had become Israel's god, and it brought a shout to the people's lips. Yet it was a shout of false joy - a noise that signaled God's impending judgment.

I once preached in a large church full of this kind of noise. During the worship, the pastor and organist whipped the people into a frenzy. The congregation sang and clapped loudly for an entire hour. After a while, I felt physically sick. I prayed, "Lord, something's wrong here. This isn't the sound of a people who've mastered their sins."

A year later, the pastor and organist were exposed as homosexuals. Yet the people had never discerned this about their leaders, because they weren't grounded in God's word. Instead, they'd followed a noise that appeared to be joyful but that was leading them toward destruction.

When we started Times Square Church in 1987, we quickly realized we were pastoring in a modern-day Corinth. And we had to preach a strong message that would expose all sin.

Our services were attended by many Christians who worked in the entertainment industry - in theater, TV and film. These people shouted loud praises - but, in some cases, their noise wasn't the sound of mastery. Some had chosen to stay in careers that clearly dishonored the Lord, working in plays or shows that blasphemed God.

We wondered whether we could evangelize unsaved show people if our own congregants were still involved in wicked aspects of the business. Finally, we decided we couldn't allow a double standard. So we preached holy separation - and the Lord began to deal with the people. Many of them gave up lucrative careers in entertainment, and God blessed them marvelously. One former actor now pastors a church in Jerusalem, preaching Christ on Mount Carmel.

Cross dressers also came to our services, dressed in drag. We never said anything to put them down, and over time the Holy Ghost dealt with them. Many were saved and began to change their appearance. Some even grew beards as a sign of repentance.

We had to face other significant problems among the people. Practicing gays wanted to sing in the choir. Bar-hopping musicians wanted to play in the orchestra. We had to preach the law to deal with sin, but we always tempered our messages with mercy.

We also had to deal with sin on our own staff. One musician was seen visiting X-rated theaters after our church meetings. And a member of our worship team - a white man - boasted, "Any black guy who tries to clean my windshield for money is going to get a fist sandwich." We released that man immediately.

We also had to deal with deceptions and delusions in our congregation. One married man told me he believed the Lord was going to take his wife from him. He said God had already revealed to him the woman in our church he was going to marry. I told this man bluntly that any such revelation he might have received wasn't from God.

We kept preaching holiness, week after week. And over time, our sermons scared many people away. Yet the Lord had kept a godly remnant for himself, a people who loved his word. In every service, these people sat like hungry little birds, their mouths wide open for food. Afterward, they took home sermon tapes to listen to over and over. We saw in them a spirit of repentance, an eagerness to obey, and a readiness to conform to God's word.

One wealthy couple called our offices and said, "Please send a truck tomorrow, along with some workers. We want to remove our liquor cabinet from our home, as well as our TVs."

As the people came under the power and government of God's word, a joy broke forth. Soon our services were filled with more than tears of repentance. Suddenly, the sanctuary shook with shouts of victory, mirth, glee and gladness. There was great rejoicing - because we'd begun to understand the great truth of God's word.

To Maintain the Joy of the
Lord, God Called for an Even
Deeper Work of the Spirit.

God had heard the Israelites' cry, and he'd shown mercy to them. He had turned their mourning into mirth, allowing them to shout and rejoice. And now he called them to gather for yet another meeting.

If Israel's joy was to be maintained - if it was not to be lost once again - God had to dig a little deeper. Certain areas of people's lives still weren't conformed to his word. Yet the Lord had allowed everyone to rejoice for a season, because he wanted them to know they were secure. Now, during this state of acceptance and joy, he asked them all to commit to a greater separation from the world.

God said to these joyful souls, "I am well pleased with you. You have revered my word - repenting of your sin, rejoicing in my mercy, and promising to obey me. Now, it's time for you to act on my love. I want you to separate yourselves wholly - to break away completely from the worldly influences that have crept into your hearts and homes."

You see, while the Israelites were in captivity, they'd become cozy with the heathen, slowly adopting their language and ways. Israelite men had married heathen wives, and Israelite women had purchased heathen husbands with dowries. The Israelites had also allowed unsanctified things to become a part of the worship in God's house.

Beloved, we can't go on to fullness in Christ if we don't increasingly separate ourselves from this world. If we're not becoming more heavenly minded, and less like the unsaved people surrounding us, we'll slowly lose all the joy of our repentance.

Israel didn't want to lose their great spirit of rejoicing. So they assembled again, to obey God on this matter: "The seed of Israel separated themselves from all strangers, and stood and confessed their sins" (Nehemiah 9:2). "They...entered into a curse, and into an oath, to walk in God's law...and that (they) would not give (their) daughters unto the people of the land, nor take their daughters for (their) sons" (10:29-30).

This Israelite remnant had also neglected to tithe. Now God demanded this of them as well. You may wonder, "Would God really withhold his joy and mirth from a church if the people weren't tithing?" I refer you to Malachi 3:8-10:

"Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse...prove me...if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it."

God was saying to Israel, "Don't continue to rob me. If you'll conform to my command to tithe, I'll pour out a blessing you won't be able to contain." The people pledged "that we should bring the first-fruits...and our offerings...and the tithes...unto the Levites, that the same Levites might have the tithes in all the cities of our tillage" (Nehemiah 10:37).

God's Promise to Pour Out
A Blessing From Heaven
Holds True for Us Today.

When we set our hearts to obey God's word - allowing his Spirit to expose and mortify all sin in our lives - the Lord himself causes us to rejoice. "God had made them rejoice with great joy" (Nehemiah 12:43). I believe this poured-out blessing includes abundant joy, even in the midst of our trials. The Lord opens heaven and baptizes us with "Jesus joy" - with shouting, rejoicing and singing - no matter what our circumstances.

Nehemiah reminded a rejoicing Israel of how God had provided for their forefathers in the wilderness. The Lord had poured out manifold mercies on them. He'd taught them by his Spirit and led them by the cloud and the pillar of fire. He'd supernaturally provided them with manna and water. And, miraculously, he didn't allow their clothes or shoes ever to wear out (see Nehemiah 9:19-21).

How do these kinds of blessings sound to you? Manifold mercies, clear direction, God's Spirit teaching you, all your physical and material needs supplied - these all sound wonderful to me. And, indeed, all of these blessings hold true for us today. The Lord, in his great mercy, has promised to provide them all for his people.

Yet, we can still choose to live in a wilderness, as Israel did. Nehemiah pointed out that their forefathers had rebelled against the Lord, ignoring his law: "Nevertheless they were disobedient, and rebelled against thee, and cast thy law behind their backs...Yet many years didst thou forbear them...yet they would not give ear" (Nehemiah 9:26, 30).

Can you imagine the awful spiritual death these people brought upon themselves? Forty years of sabbaths without any joy or mirth. Forty years of funerals, without ever entering the promised land. These Israelites were rich with blessings, increased with goods, needing nothing - but they were lukewarm in spirit.

This is a picture of Jehovah Jireh - the God who faithfully provides for his people, even when they become hardened to his word. The Israelites had become bored with the things of God. They were just going through the motions. In his mercy, the Lord continued to direct their daily affairs and provide for them. But these people would never enter into his fullness. Is it any wonder their clothes and shoes never wore out? They simply weren't going anywhere.

This is also the sad state of many churches today. God may extend his mercy to a congregation - freeing them of debt, giving them direction for good works, supplying them with finances for new construction. Yet that church may remain in a spiritual wilderness, never going anywhere. They can enjoy a measure of God's blessing - enough to keep from dying of thirst - but they remain weak, weary, ready to die. And it's all because their focus is still on the things of the world. They have no spirit, no life.

Simply put, only the joy of the Lord supplies us with true strength. We can talk all we want to about our ten- or twenty-year walk with Christ. We can show off our robe of righteousness. But if we're not allowing the Holy Spirit to maintain the joy of the Lord in our hearts - if we aren't continually hungering for his word - then we're losing our fire. And we won't be ready for what comes upon the world in these last days.

How do we maintain the joy of the Lord? We do it the same way we obtained his joy in the beginning: First, we love, honor and hunger excitedly for God's word. Second, we continually walk in repentance. And third, we separate ourselves from all worldly influences. This is how a Holy Ghost person or church maintains "Jesus joy" - rejoicing always, full of gladness and mirth.

BLESSED WORK OF GOD.

" God knows how to save "

 

Romans 11:25-27  I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you may not be conceited:
Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in.
And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: "The deliverer will come from Zion;
he will turn godlessness away from Jacob. And this is my covenant with them when I take away their sins." (NIV)
Today's passage contains a puzzle, because Paul writes that "all Israel will be saved".
Clearly, God's ancient people had become hard against Jesus.

As they continued in their resistance against the gospel, God allowed their hardness of heart;
but He also extended His promises so that Gentiles might believe and inherit eternal life.

At the same time, God had pledged Himself to fulfill His covenant to Jews and purge their sins.
How can this be?
 
In the same way that ancient Israel could not understand how God could welcome Gentiles,
some Gentile believers in Rome did not think that He would be gracious to Jews any more.

They could not see the end of the story or how God would fulfill His covenant to His people.
But we cannot apply human reason in order to predict God's activity.

Neither can we exclude what we think is impossible, because God's ways and thoughts are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:7-9).

One thing we do know: only Jesus is the great deliverer, as this passage quotes (Isaiah 59:20).
 
The wonder of the gospel is that God welcomes everybody who puts their trust in Jesus.
The Lord, and not us, is responsible for the content of the message, sending out messengers,
softening people's hearts, giving them faith to believe, and filling them with His Holy Spirit.

It is not for us to determine whose hearts God will soften. Neither is it for us to predict the people
God will not save and transform by His power.

Our task is simply to make the Good News about Jesus
available wherever God sends us,
and trust the Lord to bring His Word to life in people's hearts.

It does not matter who they are: Jews or Gentiles, educated or illiterate,
travellers or settled people, young or old, healthy or sick,
whatever their ethnic or religious background ..all who believe in Jesus will be saved.

Prayer for the day : -

Redeeming God. Thank You that You always keep Your promises.

Thank You that everybody who comes to Jesus will be saved; irrespective of their background.

Forgive me when I have made judgements about who can or cannot be saved;
and when I have failed to spread Your Word because I thought it would be ineffective.

Help me to see people though Christ-like eyes, share the gospel freely and pray for Your Kingdom
to come on earth as it is in heaven.

In Jesus' Name. Amen.

Expect God to Answer Your Prayers “If you want to know what God really wants you to do, ask him ... but if you don’t ask in faith, don’t expect the Lord to give you any solid answer.” (James 1:5-6 TLB) God wants to direct you in life, but two things need to line up: You have to ask the right person, God, and you have to ask with the right attitude — in faith, expecting an answer.  Have you ever asked God for something and didn’t expect to get it? That’s why you didn’t get it. God works in our lives according to faith. So many times we say, “God, please guide me!” and we walk away not even waiting for guidance. We just immediately start to work. We say, “God, I want you to give me wisdom; help me make the right decision.” But we don’t really expect him to do that. We think it all depends on us.  God has promised to give us wisdom, if we will ask. Wisdom is seeing life from God’s point of view. Wisdom is the ability to make decisions the way God makes decisions. Think about this: God never makes a bad decision. He never makes a mistake. He says if we trust him and listen to him, he will guide us. But we must ask in faith. ====================================   You have to be happy to receive the happy versions of other people!  With every single person you come into contact, you are either giving love or you're not. And based on what you give, that is what you receive. Give love to others through kindness,encouragement,support, gratitude,or any good feeling ,  and it comes back to you multiplied in every area of your life. Look for the things you love in a relationship more than you notice negative things  and it will appear as if something incredible has happened to the other person. You have to be happy to receive the happy versions of other people! The force of love presents you with a whole array of Personal Emotional Trainers,  disguised as everyday people, but they are all training you to choose love! Life is presenting every person and circumstance to you so you can  choose what you love and what you don't love. When you react to anything you are reacting with your feelings,  and as you do,you are choosing it! Changing the way you feel is easy compared to running around trying to change  the circumstances of the outside world. Change your feelings and the outside circumstances will change!

BLESSED STEADFASTNESS IN GOD.

" Steadfast in God "

            I was reading the other day about the days of the book of Acts.

It is amazing that the outpouring of God was still going strong two years later, as we find in Acts 2.

I began to think about how they kept their passion for God and His works red hot for that long,

when many today find it hard to persevere for a few weeks.

            I found the answer to my question in Acts 2:42.

The Bible says the people were steadfast in some things;

that is what I want to share with you today.

The word steadfast here means they continued in daily,

they persevered in these things and did not faint or give up,

they were steadfast.

            So what were they steadfast in?

They were steadfast in the teaching of the Apostles, in fellowship,

in the breaking of bread and in prayer.

The scripture says: And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship,

in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.

            Let's take a look at these four things that enabled the people to remain passionate for God and

walk in great power for such a long time.

First of all they were steadfast in the Apostle's doctrine or the teaching of Jesus Christ.

Daily...every single day they listened to the teachings of Jesus.

They were steadfast in the word of God and that was one of the things

to keep revival fires burning.

            Secondly, they were steadfast in fellowship.

The Bible dictionary defines this as joint participation or a joining together of like faith.

This is another thing they did daily, they gathered together with other believers and

fellow shipped  in the presence of God.

There was unity in their group, so much so that they made sure everyone's needs were met even

if that meant they sold all they had and helped to meet those needs,

we certainly don't see that type of unity in the church today...at least not very often.

These folks were concerned about one another and they were as concerned about the needs

of others as they were their own needs, unity.

The Bible says where there is unity there is a commanded blessing of life evermore...

these people were walking in the Zoë life of God.

            Thirdly they were steadfast in the breaking of bread.

They daily had communion.

When they gathered together they broke bread, the Bible calls this the love feast.

They broke bread and remembered Jesus and what He did for them at the cross -

there is great, great power in this practice.

I would recommend you begin to take time to take communion or break bread

on a regular basis - remember it is the Lord's love feast.

            Finally, they were steadfast in prayer.

Every single day they prayed to God, they offered up prayers unto the Lord, every day.

They were powerful for many reasons, but one of the main reasons

was their commitment to daily prayer,

their commitment to daily communion with God through prayer.

            This group, as we all know, was a powerful group, signs and wonders took place

on a daily basis and the Bible says the Lord added to the church DAILY.

Daily increase.

Would you like daily increase in your ministry?

Would you like daily increase in your business?

Would you like daily increase in your finances?

If so, here are four keys to bring you to a place where God will add to you daily.

It will require steadfastness and perseverance, but it can be yours,

if you commit to follow the examples of the book of Acts.

Steadfast in the word,

in fellowship,

in communion

and in prayer -

your key to increase.

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" Confessions for Blessings "

   

I am blessed when I come in and when I go out.

Deuteronomy 28:6

The Lord sends blessings on everything I put my hand to.

The Lord blesses me in the land that He has given me.

Deuteronomy 28:8 

 

The Lord establishes me as a holy people. 

                                                                             Deuteronomy 28:9 

BLESSED ILLUMINATION OF HIS WORD.

" The Illumination of His Word  "

Psalm 119:105 says the word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. 

I was thinking about this scripture today as I was thinking about the many people who aren't sure

of what direction they should be going or what their purpose is in life.
 

As I studied the words in this scripture, it was very insightful...illuminating you might say. 
I would like to share my study with you. 

The word 'lamp' in this scripture was interesting,
it means to break up, to till or to freshly plough. 

The word 'feet' meant to go on foot or spy out on foot -
it reminded me of when God told the children of Israel
to 'spy out the land that He had given them.'

  

As I searched on, I found that 'light' means illuminated or revelation concerning
an illumination of the mind, or understanding.  'Path' means pathway.

Therefore if we look at this now it is literally saying 'the word of God is the thing

that breaks up the fallow ground of my pathway, tills it and gets it ready

to bring forth a harvest AND then that same word brings the illumination,

the revelation, and the understanding of what my pathway actually is. 

That word also lights the way all along the path so that I can continue to walk solidly

in the path that God has prepared for me, prepared by His word.
 

It is the word of God that will reveal the path you are to be on -

it is the word of God that will bring understanding of what way you should go. 

It is the word of God that will cause you to clearly see the way in which you should walk. 

It is even the word of God that will make the path fully tilled to enable you to walk on it without stumbling over stones and debris.  
 

Now it may be the word of God found in the Bible or it may be a word,

a prophetic word spoken over your life. 

It may even be something that God has spoken to you Himself. 

That is your revelation of your path. 

That is the illumination of your pathway. 

Those words are the map to your destination. 

They are your first step and if you will begin to follow those words, they will lead you

all the way to the finish line - the completion of your pathway.

What has God spoken to you? 

What word have you found in the revelation of God's word that jumps in your spirit

and you just know that you know that is what you are destined to do? 

Whatever that is, that is your pathway - begin to walk it.  
  

Continue in that word and allow that word to break up the fallow ground,

allow the word to remove anything and everything that would hinder you

from walking firmly and without stumbling in your pathway. 

Continue in that word and allow it to be the light,

the illumination of where you are going.
  

These days we have GPS systems that tells us every little turn we need to make -

spiritually speaking, we have had a GPS all along, the word of God. 

Psalm 119:133 says 'direct my steps by Your word.' 

Isaiah 30:21 says 'you will hear a word behind you saying

'this is the way, walk in it.'   

God says 'I will lead you and guide you with my eye.'  
  

" All along He is showing us the way,

making it a light and straight path for us -

as long as we follow His word...

how great is our God! "

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                                                                  " Hope in God "

We will always experience suffering during our lives here on our fallen Earth.

When we experience pain, especially the death of a loved one, our natural response is to question,

to ask why, and perhaps even to doubt God.

Because it hurts.

Some people will respond to evil they see by denying that evil exists.

But what is perhaps easy to say is quite difficult to live, or as C S Lewis put it:

“Whenever you find a man who says he does not believe in a real Right and Wrong,

you will find the same man going back on this a moment later.”

There is a name for the person who denies good and evil: a sociopath.

Clearly the proper response to evil is not denial.

Other people will respond to evil by removing God from the equation.

But removing God does not make evil less evil, nor pain less painful.

In fact, removing God also removes ultimate hope.

Without God, our world seems permanently and irredeemably evil.

Without God, there is no ultimate relief from pain, only pain.

With God we cry out to a loving Father who remains with us and comforts us as we hurt and

Himself came to Earth as a human being to suffer and die for us.

But without God we cry out into the empty void of nothingness that neither hears our cry nor cares for our pain.

Removing God results in no gain and much loss.

When we have God in our lives and hearts,

we have hope during difficult times and comfort in the midst of tragedy.

We have hope grounded in the fact of God’s mighty power,

His limitless mercy, and everlasting love.

No matter what happens, God loves us because God is love.

And nothing can separate us from Him.

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39

Question : -  What do you need to say to God today in prayer?

                     What questions do you have to ask God?