Promise

Definition of Promise – Merriam-Webster Dictionary
1a:  a declaration that one will do or refrain from doing something specified
b:  a legally binding declaration that gives the person to whom it is made a right to expect or to claim the performance or forbearance of a specified act

When God gives a promise, He fulfills it. It may not happen when we expect but He is always on time. The promise of a Saviour was made long before Jesus was born and even after the children of Israel went into captivity, that bloodline was preserved.

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To see the promise of God fulfilled in our lives, we have to pray, yes God had promised to send the Saviour, yet He raised Simeon and Anna who prayed in the temple day and night until the fulfillment.

Luke 2:25 (NKJV) And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 

36 Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity; 37 and this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. 38 And coming in that instant she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem.

Daniel prayed when he discovered that it was about time for the children of Israel to be liberated from captivity and the fulfillment began during the reign of Cyrus.

We can identify with some people around us whose word is bond and we believe them when they make promises to us. How much more our Heavenly Father. God wants us to trust Him to fulfill His promises in our lives. 

Have you received a promise from the Lord that seems impossible or doesn't look like it will ever come to pass? Hang in there! Do not lose hope, we see the life of Abraham, how God fulfilled the promise of a son to Him even when it appeared impossible.

2 Corinthians 1:20 (NKJV)
20 For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us

Seek out the promises of God for your life in the scriptures and pray them into manifestation. Don’t give up, do not lose faith. He fulfills His promises!

Our walk with God – Not a 100m dash

Last night I was thinking about my daily walk with the Lord and I came to realise that it’s not a 100m dash. The Spirit of the Lord directed me to:

Hebrews 12:1-2 (NKJV)

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

I used to be a sprinter in secondary school and it was fun. For sprinters in a matter of seconds we are already at the finishing line. But for marathoners or long distance runners, they have a capacity to endure and keep on trudging on until they get to the finishing line.

In this life we would have challenges, trials and temptations that would want to hinder us from walking in pace with our Father. As Jesus told His disciples who were concerned about the signs of the end times.

Matthew 24:13 (NKJV)

9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. 10 And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. 11 Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. 12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But he who endures to the end shall be saved.

To run this race, we have to understand that

•        It is not a 100m dash
•        We have the Holy Spirit always with us to empower us
•        Remain focused on Jesus, who is the author and finisher of our Faith
•        When we fall, we rise up and keep moving
•        There will be trials and temptations on the way to overcome
•        Lay aside every weight and the sin that easily beset us
•        God loves us

Prayer

Father I thank you for your love towards me. I pray that you will grant me the grace to finish the race you’ve set before me and to finish strong. In Jesus Name. Amen

Do not lose hope!

I feel led to share the song below, HOPE it blesses someone☺

Romans 15:13 NIV
13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

O God, our help in ages past,
our hope for years to come,
our shelter from the stormy blast,
and our eternal home:
Under the shadow of thy throne,
thy saints have dwelt secure;
sufficient is thine arm alone,
and our defense is sure.

Before the hills in order stood,
or earth received her frame,
from everlasting thou art God,
to endless years the same.

A thousand ages in thy sight
are like an evening gone;
short as the watch that ends the night
before the rising sun.

Time, like an ever-rolling stream,
bears all its sons away;
they fly, forgotten, as a dream
dies at the opening day.

O God, our help in ages past,
our hope for years to come,
be thou our guide while troubles last,
and our eternal home!

Source: http://www.oremus.org/hymnal
Words: Isaac Watts (1674-1748), 1719

Your Words were Found

Jeremiah 15:16 (NKJV) - Your words were found, and I ate them, And Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; For I am called by Your name, O LORD God of hosts.

It’s a New Year and we’ve got several messages going forth about God’s mind for His people this year.

However one thing that will not change is His Word. 

1. I strongly believe that this year is one which we must choose, to live by God’s word. 
Matthew 4:4 (KJV) But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.

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2. We must purpose that this year our faith in Him would grow. 
Romans 10:17 (NKJV) - So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. 

3. Through faith and patience, we inherit His promises.
Hebrews 6:12 - That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises

4. We choose to study and meditate on His word; His word becomes the source of our joy and rejoicing.

Joshua 1:8 (KJV) - This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

2 Timothy 2:15 (KJV) - Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, I ask that you give me a fresh hunger and passion for your Word, grant me grace to be a student of the word this year and to apply the truths I learn daily. In Jesus Name. Amen

Fulfilling Purpose

Ephesians 2:10 (NKJV)

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Purpose: 1. the reason for which something is done or created or for which something exists. (Dictionary.com)

Everyone created by God has a purpose to fulfill, some have discovered theirs and are fulfilling it already, while many are not even aware they have a purpose to fulfill and some have deviated or are doing something else they were not designed to do.

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In the parable of the the talents, the Master was pleased with the profitable servants. God has invested a lot in us and expects return.

I believe that everyday, we should seek the Lord to fulfill His purpose on earth, it will help us remain focused on the plan irrespective of the distractions around us.

Jesus was so focused on the assignment, He knew the purpose for which the Father sent Him to earth and was not distracted by the events happening around Him, His disciples actually thought that He had come to restore the kingdom back to Israel, yes but not in the way they thought it would be.

John 20:21 (NKJV) So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.”

As the Father sent Jesus, so also has Jesus sent us, would we fulfill purpose?

Prayer
Heavenly Father, I thank you for creating me, I thank you for sending me into this world with a purpose, please help me to understand it and fulfill it, thereby bringing you pleasure.
Thank you Lord. In Jesus Name. Amen.

Blessed Assurance

Today I want to share a song that's been brewing in my heart for the past one week.
I trust it will bless you.

It reminds me of what my Saviour our Lord Jesus Christ has done for me, the finished work of 
Christ, O! the wonders of His love. I have a blessed assurance!

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine;
Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.

This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long.
This is my story, this is my song,
Praising my Savior all the day long.

Perfect submission, perfect delight,
Visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
Angels descending, bring from above
Echoes of mercy, whispers of love.

Perfect submission, all is at rest,
I in my Savior am happy and blest;
Watching and waiting, looking above,
Filled with His goodness, lost in His love

He is Coming Back Very Soon - Are We Ready?

How do we make ourselves ready?

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Being fruitful
Occupy till I come Luke 19:13 – 27; 
While waiting for His return, we get busy with the investments He has deposited in us and be profitable. Our giftings and capacities, our resources – time and money; and earthly possessions, positions in life are all to be used for His glory. Influencing others for the Kingdom. 

Isa 60:1 (NKJV) Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you.

We are to "let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works; 

Isaiah 2:2 (NKJV) Now it shall come to pass in the latter days; That the mountain of the Lord’s house, Shall be established on the top of the mountains, And shall be exalted above the hills; And all nations shall flow to it.

Being full of the Spirit
The ten virgins; Matthew 25:1-13

Oil is a symbol of the Holy Spirit; the presence of God, we are to keep the fire burning on the altar of our lives. In this parable we see that all ten were virgins, but only five were wise. We need to continually stay full of the Holy Spirit. He is the one who preserves us and guides us, He is the seal of God upon our lives. 

It is mentioned in the parable that the oil is to be purchased. Which means that a price is to be paid to obtain the oil. To have a continual presence of God in our life, we are to pay a price, by spending time at the feet of Jesus. Only a substantial presence of God in our life can keep the fire burning through the dark nights. Such a person who has the fire burning in him at the time of the Bride Grooms return, will go in with Him. (Culled from http://hermeneutics.stackexchange.com)

Eph 5:18 NKJV
And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit

Touching lives

Matthew 25:34-36 NKJV
34 Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; 36 I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’

Daily we meet people in our communities, social circles, etc, we have to be a blessing to others. God told Abraham I will bless you and make you a blessing. As children of Abraham, I believe this applies to us as well. Reach out and touch someone’s life today.

Preaching the gospel and discipling (Helping others follow Jesus)
This gospel of the kingdom must be preached Matthew 24:14; as Christ’s ambassadors on earth, we must continue that which He began in our lives, reaching out to others. There are unsaved people in the world today, and the Lord does not delight in the soul of a sinner. Preaching the gospel is one of the commands Jesus gave us before left the earth. 

Matthew 28:19 (NKJV)
19 Go therefore[a] and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

2 Tim 4:5 (NKJV)
But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

Be Steadfast
2 Peter 3:14 (NKJV)
14 Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless.

We must also remain prayerful

Prayer
Re-ignite our passion for you and give us a fresh desire to see lost souls saved.