Glad you could join us for some coffee with Jesus. I hope and pray that today's "coffee" is a blessing to you. May the good Lord provide you with the much needed grace for the day. Amen!
But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them--yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. 1 Corinthians 15:10
Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. Romans 12:3
Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. 2 Corinthians 3:5
What we read in these Scriptures is the exact opposite of what we see and hear around us. The world defines self confidence as confidence in oneself or one's own abilities. But for us - the believers - the Lord must be our confidence!
Paul has set a very good example for us in his statements. Great King Solomon - the wisest ever lived has said: The Lord Is My Confidence. Proverbs 3:26. My favorite King David has sang, It is better to trust in the LORD Than to put confidence in man. Psalm 118:8
The Lord has spoken through Prophet Isaiah: "Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10
Can we too confirm the Lord indeed is our confidence?!
Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind> man, Bartimaeus (that is, the Son of Timaeus), was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.”
So they called to the blind man, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.” Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped (leaped) to his feet and came to Jesus.
“What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him.
The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.”
“Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road. Mark 10:46-52
What do you want Him to do for you today? Have your answer ready; He will do it!
* I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. Revelation 3:11 * Only hold on to what you have until I come. Revelation 2:25
The message for today is: Hold on to what you have!
Hold on to what we have? What do we have? Let's see what the Scripture tells us:
* Hold on to the good. 1 Thessalonians 5:21 * Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. Hebrews 10:23 *Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called. 1 Timothy 6:12 * She (wisdom) is a tree of life to those who embrace her; those who lay hold of her will be blessed. Proverbs 3:18 * Let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. Hebrews 4:14 * Stand firm and hold to the teachings we passed on to you. 2 Thessalonians 2:15 * Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life. Proverbs 4:13
As born again believers we must therefore hold on to the good, our hope, eternal life, wisdom, our faith, what the Scripture teaches us and the instructions given in the Bible till He comes. That's all is expected of us.
With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation. Psalm 91:16 Who is the man who desires life and loves length of days that he may see good? Keep your tongue from evil And your lips from speaking deceit. Psalm 34:12
“Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.” Psalm 91:14-16
A long healthy life is a true blessing from the Lord. There are plenty of Scriptures with instructions on what it takes to receive this blessing.
The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. Proverbs 18:21
My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you peace and prosperity. Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. Proverbs 3:1-4
May God satisfy each one of you at this coffee table, with a long life and show you His salvation. Have a blessed Thursday!
These are the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand and walks among the seven golden lampstands: I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.
Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place. But you have this in your favor: You hate the practices of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.
Revelation 2:1-7
Let us be sensitive to what the Holy Spirit instructs us this morning: Repent and do the things you did at first. Each of us know when and where we have fallen short; we know very well how we have forsaken the Lord - our first love.
Let us think for a moment of the generous, overflowing, head-over-heels love we had felt in the beginning - when we had experienced the joy of salvation for the very first time. How sure we were of His unconditional, overwhelming love for us! How sensitive we were to His whispers!
Can we honestly say that's the way we feel about godly matters now? Are we as happy? Are we as carefree? Are we still holy?
Let us make an effort this morning to refocus our priorities to God Almighty. Repent and do the things you did at first. Let us increase daily in our love for Him! Amen!
"If you will give earnest heed to the voice of the LORD your God, and do what is right in His sight, and give ear to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have put on the Egyptians; for I, the LORD, am your healer." Exodus 15:26
We are often worried and troubled by the news of sickness among our friends, family, church members, colleagues, community etc. Our hearts melt in fear when we have to wait for certain test results at the doctor's office. But these are unnecessary worries. If we worry the same way as a non-believers what difference does our faith make in us?
Instead of worrying over things beyond our control let us praise God for what we have - the joy of salvation, the hope of eternal life, that we still have breath, that we are able to move around and for everything that works fine in us that we often take for granted.
Even when we are diagnosed with some sickness, however life threatening it is, it does not help to worry. I am sorry if that sounds insensitive. But that is what the Scripture tells us.
Jesus said in Luke 12:25,26: "Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?"
Only as long as we have the breath in our nostrils we can praise the Lord; so like King David let us make the most of our life praising the Lord: In Psalm 115:17,18 he says,"The dead do not praise the LORD, Nor do any who go down into silence; But as for us, we will bless the LORD From this time forth and forever. Praise the LORD!
He is our Healer! Whether He heals us for life or decides to take us home, no denying that He is our Healer. He paid the price for our sickness too on the cross along with our sins. Let us rebuke all fear, doubt, worry and sickness away from our dear ones and get protection under His wings. Let us not take things for granted but remember to praise Him for the countless blessings in our lives.
If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. Romans 14:8
Behold, he comes with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. Revelation 1:7
Amen! Our King is coming soon! Here's a beautiful song about it... The lyrics are given below the video so that you can join the singing too!
These are the days of Elijah,
Declaring the word of the Lord:
And these are the days of Your servant Moses,
Righteousness being restored.
And though these are days of great trial,
Of famine and darkness and sword,
Still, we are the voice in the desert crying
'Prepare ye the way of the Lord!'
Behold He comes riding on the clouds,
Shining like the sun at the trumpet call;
Lift your voice, it's the year of jubilee,
And out of Zion's hill salvation comes.
These are the days of Ezekiel,
The dry bones becoming as flesh;
And these are the days of Your servant David,
Rebuilding a temple of praise.
These are the days of the harvest,
The fields are as white in Your world,
And we are the labourers in Your vineyard,
Declaring the word of the Lord!
There's no God like Jehovah.
There's no God like Jehovah!
As God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Colossians 3:12
We all like hearing things like we are loved, dearly loved, His own , His chosen people etc. Good! However sometimes we fail to realize what it really means to be His chosen people, His dearly beloved...
The Scripture is very clear on the roles a dearly beloved of the Lord ought to play. There is a dress code if you will for His chosen people. We are expected to wear compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Now, let's pause there and analyze ourselves.
How compassionate are we? When we came across someone in need did we walk past them or stopped to help? Are we kind to one another or rude always? Humble or proud? Gentle or harsh? Patient or hurried? Those who can say for sure you have mastered it all, you are obviously His chosen people, holy & dearly loved!
Others who have some doubt, let us work towards improving in that area. Doesn't mean we are loved any less. You are also His chosen people, holy and dearly loved. Remember He first loved us even while we were sinners? So let us work to fit in to His perception of us.
As God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, let us clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Amen!
Have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son?
It says,
“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline,
and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,
because the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”
Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father?
If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all.
Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live!
They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. “Make level paths for your feet,” so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.
O God, do not remain silent;
do not turn a deaf ear,
do not stand aloof, O God.
See how your enemies growl,
how your foes rear their heads.
With cunning they conspire against your people;
they plot against those you cherish.
“Come,” they say, “let us destroy them as a nation,
so that Israel’s name is remembered no more.”
With one mind they plot together;
they form an alliance against you— ...
Let them know that you, whose name is the Lord—
that you alone are the Most High over all the earth. (Amen!)
~ Psalm 83
This is a prayer of Asaph. We too pray in anguish these days hearing the news of persecution of believers around the world. There are questions and doubts that surface which get no answer. We feel helpless to help out as these things are beyond our control.
However we as believers have our Eternal Hope that we will see Him face to face someday and live forever and ever in His presence - where there will be no crying, no death, no darkness, no fear, no enemies against us - His treasured Bride - the Church! Praise the Lord!
In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. John 16:33
We too shall overcome. Praise the Lord! Let us therefore fear not, take heart & praise the Lord!
"Put away perversity from your mouth;keep corrupt talk far from your lips. " Proverbs: 4:24
Okay, before we go on to discuss this verse, we need to know what is 'perversity'. A quick look up in the Thesaurus lists the following synonyms: wicked, bad, mean, vicious, stubborn, obstinate, headstrong...
We all can immediately relate these words to some people we might know. But that is only secondary. First, let us look at our selves. Do we identify any of these characteristics as part of our talk?
Perverse talk comes from perverse tongue and the Bible says, "A man of perverse heart does not prosper; he whose tongue is deceitful falls into trouble." Proverbs 17:20 and in Proverbs 10:31 we read, "...a perverse tongue will be cut out"
It is a serious matter - the perverse mouth which results from a perverse heart - and has to be handled at once.
Let us at once put away perversity from our mouth & keep corrupt talk far from our lips.
With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water. James 3:9-12
"Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy." Luke 12:1
What is hypocrisy? A quick look up in the dictionary explains hypocrisy as "the practice of professing standards, beliefs, etc., contrary to one's real character or actual behaviour, esp the pretence of virtue and piety".
Hypocrisy or duplicity is the opposite of integrity. It could be unintentional at times but hypocrisy is something that will never go unnoticed in the sight of God who knows the depths of our hearts.
In today's Scripture hypocrisy is compared to yeast. Why so? Barnes's Notes on the Bible has a very good explanation which I would like to share with you:
1. Hypocrisy may exist without being immediately detected. Leaven mixed in flour is not known until it produces its effects.
2. Hypocrisy is insinuating. Leaven will soon pervade the whole mass. So hypocrisy will, if undetected and unremoved, soon pervade all our exercises and feelings.
3. It is swelling. It puffs us up, and fills us with pride and vanity. No man is more proud than the hypocrite, and none is more odious to God.
Barnes goes on to explain, "When Jesus cautions us to beware of 'the leaven of the Pharisees', He means that we should be cautious about imbibing their spirit and becoming like them."
Today let us take a moment to analyze our thoughts and actions and see if we have any "leaven" or "yeast" in us. If we do, let us work to get rid off it lest it fully leavens us...
"The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing." Zephania: 3:17
Today's reminder for us is "He is Mighty to Save". Whatever is your care and concern for the day, whatever you are worrying about, whatever was going through your mind all night long keeping you wide awake, however bad the situation is, please remember "He is Mighty to Save". Indeed He is.
How powerful these words are! What an assurance we as believers have! Let me repeat the verse once again: "The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing."
Now let us all say it together:"The LORD my God is with me, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in me, he will quiet my with his love, he will rejoice over me with singing."
Let us say it all through the day - loud and clear: "He is Mighty to Save!" Amen! Have a blessed Tuesday! God be with you!
Verse of the day: "A man's pride brings him low, but a man of lowly spirit gains honor." 29:23
Few other scriptures here in similar lines:
*"Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted." Matthew 23:12 *"Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up." James 4:10 *"God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." Proverbs 3:34
If there is one person who had all the reasons to have pride - it would be King Solomon! Why? Because the Bible says there was no one before him or no one after him who was as wise as him!
But, King Solomon himself stays away from pride as carefully as possible. We can repeatedly see many references in Proverbs where he shuns away from pride and warns us to the consequences pride can lead us into. I am sure he had found it out to be true that being humble at heart would help receive the grace of the Lord.
Pride is a trap. Once we fall for it, it is very difficult to come out. These verses are here to warn us. Let us avoid pride at any cost!
*Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Psalms 100:2 *Rejoice before the LORD your God, you, your sons and daughters... Deuteronomy 12:12
It is a beautiful new day, a brand new week! As we get ready to go worship the Lord in the congregation of fellow believers, let us remember these verses and the emphasis today is on gladness.
In Isaiah 35:10 we read, "...the ransomed of the LORD will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away."
Aren't we the "ransomed of the Lord"? Are we glad this morning? In spite of everything going on in our lives, we are still breathing - which alone is enough to be singing joyful songs at His presence.
For the rest of the day let us cast away our cares and go before Him with joyful singing... shall we?
Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. I Peter 5:6-7
For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10 (NIV)
For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)
We all have heard the verse many times but may not have paused longer to think what it really means. Here's a beautiful skit that explains the whole "Christian thing" in a meaningful way. Please sit back, relax and enjoy!
Don't you love that you are the Masterpiece?! I do.
* It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man. Psalm 118:8 * Do not put your trust in princes, in mortal men, who cannot save. Psalm 146:3 * Stop trusting in man, who has but a breath in his nostrils. Isaiah 2:22 * Look now, you are depending on Egypt, that splintered reed of a staff, which pierces a man's hand and wounds him if he leans on it! Isaiah 36:6 * Those who trusted in Cush and boasted in Egypt will be afraid and put to shame.Isaiah 20:5 * This is what the LORD says: "Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the LORD. Jeremiah 17:5
I am sure you noticed how the verses got stronger and stronger as we read through the list above. It starts as a suggestion, became a command and ends in a warning.
This is a good reason to analyze our selves if we trust in any men. How about our bosses? Husbands? Neighbors? Parents? Or even your own hands? Are we clinging on to mere men or our ability as our "source" forgetting that the ultimate Source is the Lord God Almighty? This can't be.
Today's take away is from Isaiah 26:4 which once again re insists the importance of trusting in the Lord: Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD, is the Rock eternal.
I am the LORD, who brought you up out of Egypt to be your God; therefore be holy, because I am holy. Leviticus 11:45
In order to follow this commandment we need to clearly understand what holiness means.
What does it mean that the Lord our God is Holy? Holiness is the absence of even a trace of sin. Holiness is the devoid of even a glimpse of darkness. Holiness is the perfection of all things good - perfect love, perfect mercy, perfect forgiveness, perfect deliverance, perfect healing - that our God alone can offer.
I always find it interesting how people of most other belief systems take pride in sharing stories of their "gods" who do mean things to one another, who lust the women, envy their brother, cheat, lie, steal, kill, destroy, the list goes on. Clearly these "gods" are not holy and hence they cannot impose such a commandment on their followers.
On the other hand the only true and living God - the Lord God Almighty - the Maker of heaven and earth is pure and just in all His dealings. He sets the best example of being holy for us believers to follow. He insists we too can live our lives in a holy fashion. He demands we be set apart from the rest of the crowd - be known as His chosen generation, His royal priesthood, His holy nation. Praise the Lord!
Rest of the day, let us ponder over the commandment, "Be holy as I am holy" and ask the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us through.
God bless you all. Have a blessed Thursday!
Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. Hebrews 12:14
The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. 1 Peter 4:7
Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. 1 Peter 1:13
You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord's coming is near. James 5:8
Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour...
But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth.
I do not write to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it and because no lie comes from the truth. Who is the liar? It is whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a person is the antichrist—denying the Father and the Son. No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also.
As for you, see that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father. And this is what he promised us—eternal life.
I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray. As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him.
And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming.
If you know that he is righteous, you know that everyone who does what is right has been born of him. 1 John 2:18~29
I think the Scriptures above are self explanatory. Surely, the end is near. Let us be alert and of sober mind.
In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. John 16:33
Today's Scripture is an excerpt from Jesus's final address to His disciples - before His death & resurrection that is.
Soon after these words, Jesus prays for Him to be glorified, prays for His disciples, prays for all believers and then they cross over the Kidron Valley, into the Garden of Gethsemane where He gets arrested; the crucifixion follows..
The passage starts with these words: Jesus went on to say, “In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me.”
The disciples were totally confused. What was He talking about? They had left everything to follow Him and now what?
Jesus clarifies their doubts in the preceding portion of the Scriptures in the same chapter, the highlights of which I wish to share:
* Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. (verse 20)
* Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. (verse 23)
* Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete. (verse 24)
What is in these portions for us today? That we will have trouble. Yet we will rejoice. In Him. Because of Him. I know for some these words are vague, just plain words. But for those of us who believe these are great promises. It ascertains our future. It confirms our faith. Let us take heart!
Then Samuel brought Saul and his servant into the hall and seated them at the head of those who were invited—about thirty in number. Samuel said to the cook, “Bring the piece of meat I gave you, the one I told you to lay aside.”
So the cook took up the leg with what was on it and set it in front of Saul. Samuel said, “Here is what has been kept for you. Eat, because it was set aside for you for this occasion, from the time I said, ‘I have invited guests.’” And Saul dined with Samuel that day. 1 Samuel 9:22-24
It is an interesting incident how Saul comes to Prophet Samuel looking for his father's donkeys and gets to know that he is to be king over all Israelites. The Lord had already revealed it to Samuel that Saul would be coming to meet him.
What amazes me most is that Saul had no clue of what was going on about his matters to the very last minute. All that time he was looking for the lost donkeys, preparations were going on at the town of Zuph where Samuel was preparing the festive meal for Saul - a choice portion of the sacrifice!
These very thoughts had encouraged me many years ago while I was looking for a job. The Holy Spirit had assured me that my choice portion was awaiting me, while I was worried looking for "some lost donkeys"!
I used these very verses in my prayers asking God to bless me with my choice meat that was already set aside for me. Within days I had received my blessing!
Today the Holy Spirit is sharing the very same message to all of you joined here at the coffee table. Your portion awaits you this morning. It is a great feast and you are among the invited! Stop worrying about the lost donkeys and start praising the Lord for His mercies. Amen!
You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. Isaiah 26:3
Do we trust in the Lord? Do we have a steadfast mind? Then God will keep us in perfect peace!
There is peace; then there is perfect peace.
I believe this is the peace God promised us, peace as defined in John 14:27: Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
There is a trick to earn this peace, which is explained in Philippians 4:6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7
Here's wishing you all this perfect peace from above! Happy 'Son'day!
When completeness comes, what is in part disappears. I Corinthians 13:10
The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing. Psalm 34:10
The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing. Psalm 23:1
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10
Praise the Lord! For those who are gathered around this virtual coffee table, there are beautiful promises shared this morning. These are promises from the Lord God Almighty, delivered to us by the Holy Spirit. They are yeah and amen!
Anyone lacking anything among us, having only in part or incomplete, be assured the Lord is promising us fullness, completeness, an abundant life! Amen!
Keep repeating these Scriptures to yourself rest of the day in all areas of incompleteness. Gain victory by claiming His words!
Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you. Proverbs 4:25
Many non believers have a disregard for Christ by seeing the activities of some so called "Christians". This is sad. Some Christians too always find fault at the pastors, evangelists, fellow believers and other servants of God and stop following Christ. This is even sadder.
Many do not realize that following Christ is not a one time commitment but a continuous one. Every day, every hour, every minute one has to commit to follow Christ. Looking at a flawed man one can not determine what Jesus is like. Only by looking at Him directly one can experience Him.
Let us not get distracted looking hear and there and losing focus on the Lord. Let us not get trapped into false preachings that are not in accordance with the Bible. Let us not come to our own conclusions on Spiritual matters based on our own reasoning. Let us be determined to look straight ahead always going back to the Scriptures for our answers on things unclear.
In his letter to the Philippians Apostle Paul insists on Pressing towards the goal. He writes: "Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."
Amen! That's exactly what we ought to do - pressing on towards the goal to win the prize for which God has called us heavenward in Christ Jesus!
Forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:13-14
"One running to secure the prize would not stop to look behind him to see how much ground he had run over, or who of his competitors had fallen or lingered in the way. He would keep his eye steadily on the prize, and strain every nerve that he might obtain it. If his attention was diverted for a moment from that, it would hinder his flight, and might be the means of his losing the crown", explains Barne's Notes on the Bible.
Apostle Paul says it was so with him. He looked onward to the prize - Jesus Christ. He fixed the eye intently on that. It was the single object in his view, and he did not allow his mind to be diverted from that by anything - not even by the contemplation of the past.
He did not stop to think of the difficulties which he had overcome, or the troubles which he had met, but he thought of what was yet to be accomplished."
It is easy to lose track of our goal with the overwhelming demands of the day to day life. It takes extra efforts on our part to refocus on the goal and continue the race. So...
Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem. Isaiah 52:1
In order to understand the urgency in this verse, we need to read the last verse of the previous chapter: But I will put it into the hand of them that afflict thee; which have said to thy soul, Bow down, that we may go over: and thou hast laid thy body as the ground, and as the street, to them that went over. Isaiah 51:23
Jerusalem or Zion was in captive and depicted as a woman in mourning, most likely wearing sack clothes and sitting in the dust and dozed off with crying.
A message is sent for her to awake from her sleep from the dust and to put on her strength and go change into beautiful garments. Which means her period of mourning is over and singing and dancing has returned for her.
If any of us feel like we are in the dust mourning, be assured this message is for you: Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem.
In Habakkuk 3:19 we read, "The Lord is our Strength" and in Isaiah 61:10 we read, "I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels."
When adored in the Lord who is our strength and in the garments of salvation there is no doubt our singing and dancing would return. Amen!
Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?” “From childhood,” he answered. “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.”
“‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for him who believes.”
Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” Mark 9:21-24
In the Gospel of Mark we read an account of Jesus healing an evil possessed boy. Here's the link to the passage if you are interested.
Our focus today is on the conversation between the boy's father and Jesus. It is evident that the father was not fully convinced that Jesus could heal his son. True, he had some hope otherwise he wouldn't have brought his son to Jesus. But he was not very sure if Jesus could indeed help him. His doubt came out in the words he used like 'if', 'but', 'anything' etc. and Jesus did not miss noticing it.
So, He asks the father, "(What do you mean) 'if you can' ?" and goes on to assure, “Everything is possible for him who believes.”
The boy's father admits the slightest doubt he still has and pleads Jesus to help him overcome his unbelief. Jesus performs the miracle rebuking and chasing out the evil spirit from the boy, thus proving to the father, "Yes, I can!".
In our lives also, though we are steadfast believers, we do struggle with some trace of doubt from time to time. We can't deny that. We look at the statistics and fear the worst. To us Jesus gives the same answer He gave to the boy's father: “(Why doubt?) Everything is possible for him who believes.”
Amen! Everything! All things! Nothing is impossible for our Lord Jesus Christ, to heal, to deliver, to touch, to save. He is mighty to save.
Are we ready to admit our unbelief and pray to overcome it? When we do, our help will be near. Praise the Lord!
This is what the LORD says: "If you repent, I will restore you that you may serve me..." Jeremiah 15:19
"I will restore you that you may serve me"! You will notice that it is a conditional blessing. True, He will restore us to serve Him, but only on the condition that we repent.
The fact that He will restore us to serve Him implies that we 'used to' serve Him once but not anymore. Something came between God and us downgrading us from the honor of serving Him.
We see that all around us - don't we? People are on fire for the Lord one minute, and fall back cold the next. Why even us! Our stronghold on God is stronger only when things seem a little shaky for us; normal days we are normal self - neither cold nor warm - don't you agree?
It is our pride, doubt, fear, unbelief, diffidence (shyness), and impenitence (not feeling regret for sin) that come between us and our Lord. God's promise is that the minute we realize our wrong doings and repent of it, He will restore us to serve Him. Amen! That is the highest honor one can enjoy here on earth - serving the Lord!
So, let's not delay our repenting. Let us this very minute close our eyes, open our hearts and repent of our wrong doings. Let us start serving the Lord. Have a blessed day!
'I will restore you to health and heal your wounds,' declares the LORD Jeremiah 30:17
We have the promise of healing this morning. Please be encouraged our Lord will restore your health and heal your wounds. Prophet Isaiah foretold about Christ the Lord that, "He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed." Isaiah 53:5
By His wounds we are healed. Amen! His blood is a healing balm. Let us apply it over us, over our children over our friends and family on a regular basis.
What good is the Christian faith if we only talk about healing but do not actually believe it for our selves? What benefit it is if we proclaim that the blood of Jesus Christ heals our diseases but do not really apply it over us? If we know of a new ointment that could heal the skin condition would we not go buy it and start using it religiously? Then what is preventing us from giving the same seriousness if not more to the healing powers of Christ our Lord?
We are indeed healed! Let us proclaim health over us and our friends and family and diligently apply His protection over us and ours. There is no doubt He will restore us to health and heal our wounds. Let us claim healing this very morning. Let us believe in restored health for the sick among us. Our Lord is mighty to save. Praise be to His Holy Name!
Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. Psalm 90:12 Show me, LORD, my life's end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting my life is. Psalm 39:4 My days are swifter than a runner; they fly away without a glimpse of joy. Job 9:25 My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle, and they come to an end without hope. Job 7:6
We don't need much proof that our days run faster than ever. We see signs of it everywhere. The mirror gives it away every time we see our reflection in it.
Didn't we just begin the year? Already we are in August and before we know it, it will be year end. Even this past week went by in a blink. The days and weeks and months and years seem to roll one into another seamlessly.
Job and King David felt the same from time to time. We see them mentioning it repeatedly in Scriptures. It is interesting how they both focus their attention back to the Lord amidst their panic.
Let us too do the same. As we become more cautious of our fleeting days let us become more appreciative of the Lord's providence and more aware of His favor on us.
His favor would be a full fountain of our future joys. It would be a sufficient balance to our former griefs. Instead of wasting our precious, fleeting days in pursuing fancies, let us seek the forgiveness of sins, and an inheritance in heaven. Let us pray that the work of the Holy Spirit may appear in converting our hearts, and that the beauty of holiness may be seen in our conduct. (Ref: Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary)
You may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. James 1:4
The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing. Psalm 23:1
Those who fear him lack nothing Psalm 34:9
Those who give to the poor will lack nothing. Proverbs 28:27
The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing. Psalm 34:10
Happy August everyone! And happy Friday too!
Glad you could join for some Coffee with Jesus. We have a promise given us for this month and the months to come, that we will lack nothing, that is we will lack no good thing. Praise the Lord!
Let us cherish this promise holding on to the Scriptures shared over the coffee table this morning.
May God bless you! Enjoy the weekend! Have a blessed month!
Welcome!As you sit down to enjoy your steaming cup of coffee or tea or chocolate or whatever, let us also enjoy the communion with Jesus one-on-one. Imagine He has joined you across your kitchen table and having a little chit-chat with you...
Remember more than you, Jesus is looking forward to this time alone with you... My prayer is that each one of you find your moment enjoyable with the Lord.
It's not just coffee time; It's coffee with Jesus time! Enjoy and God bless!
