Ps 93:3 “The floods have lifted up, O Lord,The floods have lifted up their voice;The floods lift up their waves.”
Ps93:1”The Lord reigns”.from these verses we see that, because The Lord reigns, the floods are lifted.How are they lifted? Lifted with their voices .
Character of Lifted: God’s natural objective character for His creation is to Rise.Therefore,We who are created by God in His image also ought to Rise up.
Isaiah 52:1”Awake, awake!
Put on your strength, O Zion,thus says the Lord to us,to dust off and to rise up.Whatever situation we might be stuck in ,God looks at us and says ‘Arise and Shine for The Lord.’Rivers are lifted with noise,Joy,Merry,praise.
Therefore, we also ought to rise up with shouts of joy,praise,merry declares the Lord. We also have to arise and shine along with the brothers and sisters whom we connect, lift each other up in times of trouble and forgive one another in times of weakness and run together towards Our God. We ought to be united together spiritually in one mind to build God’s kingdom and fulfill God’s will.
Testimony
I had to relocate to a different place for my job and was forced to leave my family behind, when I was weary in my new workplace God comforted me through these Words and they ‘Lifted me up’.God helped me meet a family for my spiritual fellowship and this not only comforted me but also helped me sing praises .I realised that the reason God brought me here was to fulfill His purpose in my life.
Prayer
Loving Father since you reign, your creation rejoices.In the same way God,it is your desire that,we who are made in your image,may rise and shine and praise you,have spiritual oneness,bear each other,forgive one another’s shortcomings and lead all towards God.So Lord,Give each of us this Grace and help us live according to your expectation.Thankyou for hearing our prayer and blessing us with this Grace.In The Precious Name of Our Lord Jesus Christ,Amen.
For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 3:11
The Lord is repairing foundations in this hour. He is restoring personal foundations & the foundation of His Church throughout the world.
Have you ever seen a once solid & firm foundation that was cracked & breaking up—like what you see when a sidewalk breaks up due to overgrown tree roots? The Lord is saying that this represented a Believer’s foundation in Christ—even their identity in Christ. But why was the foundation seen as cracked and broken? What were the roots that were breaking it?
The Spirit of the Lord wants us to see these huge roots, like those of a large tree. The roots that had grown off of things planted on the original foundation and had then spread under it. They were now usurping or encroaching (even trespassing) upon the solid foundation of Christ and His original intent for His Church, and for the houses built upon it.
These roots were attached to things originally planted or built upon the foundation of Christ, but over time they began to grow roots and offshoots that were independent of Jesus. They grew out to the left and to the right and then went underground, disrupting the righteous foundation that was set in place to hold them up. The independent roots of these structures had taken over, and now they had become destructive and needed to be cut in order to restore the foundation and secure the God-given structures.
Our heavenly Father is digging up these independent roots that are destroying the foundation of His Son in the lives of His people. As each wild root is removed, the foundation is repaired & identity in Christ is restored. The removal of the destructive roots caused the things planted upon the foundation to become unshakable once again, for they were being restored to their rightful place and His original purpose. Yet, in some cases, the roots had grown so large and thick (so intertwined with other things) that the whole structure had to be removed to save the foundation.
In His mercy, the Father is removing everything that has been damaging or destroying the foundation of Christ in our lives and in His Church. In some cases, this means that structures which have become so independent from the original foundation will have to come down in order to bring restoration.
We must allow His pruning to happen. Anything that is not rooted in the original foundation of Christ must be cut away, or that structure will find that it is no longer on its original foundation and will begin to crumble, or it will begin to grow independent of Christ and His truth.
This “cutting away” of destructive roots has been causing disturbances in things we’ve grown and even in how we’ve functioned. But we must let this “cutting away” happen, individually and corporately. This is His mercy and His love for us being made manifest. It is required for a pure outpouring to occur.
God is not only restoring the foundation of structures, but He is restoring the purity of our identities. Our identities are not to be in structures (even ministries), but in Christ alone. If we don’t allow this work, we will begin expecting people to serve a structure rather than Christ. We won’t be able to faithfully steward the structure according to His plans and principles, or from the place of His firm foundation.
Structures are NOT bad; they are needed. However, they cannot be allowed to grow roots that leave the foundation and create a spiritual ecosystem that is independent from Christ. We are being restored to our original and firm foundation. Being yielded and surrendered is vitally necessary during this time. Do not try to hold onto things that are being cut away or secure things that are being removed. Ask the Holy Spirit for discernment and understanding so that you can cooperate and partner with God in this work.Amen
We are having the same spirit of faith, (according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak). 2 Corinthians 4:13.
It has been established that without faith, it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6). The operation of faith in the life of a child of God is evidenced by the visibility of practical and substantial profit in his life. Faith without works is a dead faith. Anywhere faith is in place, there must be works.
The Word of God is key to operate in great faith. Nevertheless, there must be what a person must do with the Word of God in order to operate in faith.
One thing a person must do with the Word of God in order to walk in faith is to align his talk with Scripture.
This means, do not speak carelessly, speak calculatedly. Do not speak your situation, speak your revelation. Do not speak your frustration; speak your conviction. Do not speak what you feel, speak what He wills. That is the law of faith.
2 Corinthians 4:13 says,
We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak.
So, do not speak what is happening but what is written.
Isaiah 8:20 says,
To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.
If you hear someone speaking and amplifying the diagnosis given to him, it is because there is no light in him. When you see somebody speaking calamity or tragedy all the time; he may say ‘Ah, this country, it shall never be well. It is struggle and survival of the fittest. In fact, I am struggling like others’; it is because there is no light in him.
Therefore, you must decide to speak what is written and not what is happening. This is faith. Speak accurately and calculatedly regardless of your situation and challenges. Change your situation by speaking the Word.
PRAYER
Thank You O LORD for showing me how to speak. I receive Your Help to speak accurately and by the revelation of Your Word, O LORD, in Jesus’ Name.Amen
Paul was somebody who understood prayer and its power. Prayer was a part of Paul’s life, and he took it for granted that it would be a part of the life of every Christian. You cannot really be a good Christian and not pray, just like you cannot have a good marriage if you don’t talk to your wife. You can be a Christian and not pray, just like you can be married and not talk to your wife. But in both circumstances you will be miserable. Prayer is the pipeline of communication between God and His people, between God and those who love Him.
I. Pray with persistence
Paul begins by saying, “Continue earnestly in prayer,” . In the original language it says, “continue steadfastly in prayer.” It caries with it the idea of dedication. Of the ten times it is used in the New Testament four of them have to do with being devoted to prayer. It is a very powerful word and in this verse is given as an imperative, or a command. In other words, persistence in prayer is not an option for the Christian it is an order from the Lord Himself.
Two of the most instructive parables Jesus ever told on prayer, one in Luke 18 and the other in Luke 11, both have to do with being persistent and not giving up in prayer.
Luke 18:1 says, “Now He was telling them a parable to show them that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart.”
Luke 11:9 is where we find the promise that says, “ask and it shall be given to you; seek and you shall find; knock and it shall be opened to you.”
Each of those verbs are in the present tense, active voice and could be translated, “keep on asking, keep on seeking, keep on knocking.” Jesus does not want us to give up in prayer, He instructs us to be persistent.
Now there is a difference between a persistent prayer and a long prayer. A person who is persistent in prayer does not necessarily have to pray for a long time. Persistence means not giving up.
“It is a common temptation of Satan to make us give up the reading of the Word and prayer when our enjoyment is gone; as if it were of no use to read the scriptures when we do not enjoy them, and as if it were no use to pray when we have no spirit of prayer. The truth is that, in order to enjoy the Word, we ought to continue to read it, and the way to obtain a spirit of prayer is to continue praying. The less we read the Word of God, the less we desire to read it, and the less we pray, the less we desire to pray.”
II. Pray with passion.
If you are persistent in something, it stands to reason that you are to be passionate about it. In fact, Paul says we should be vigilant or be watchful; it is the opposite of slothfulness. This describes passionate prayer.
Jesus was passionate about His prayer life, it was something He was always doing. It was not only his regular habit, but his resort in every emergency, however slight or serious. When perplexed he prayed. When hard pressed by work he prayed. When hungry for fellowship he found it in prayer. He chose his associates and received his messages upon his knees. If tempted, he prayed. If criticized, he prayed. If fatigued in body or wearied in spirit, he had recourse to his one unfailing habit of prayer. Prayer brought him unmeasured power at the beginning, and kept the flow unbroken and undiminished. There was no emergency, no difficulty, no necessity, no temptation that would not yield to prayer. And every time we see Jesus praying He was praying with passion.
In Luke 3:1 at His Baptism – while He was praying the heaven was opened. Passionate prayer opens Heaven.
In Luke 6:12 before He called His disciples – He spent the whole night in prayer. Passionate prayer gives direction.
In Luke 9:29 at His transfiguration – And while He was praying, the appearance of His face became different, and His clothing became white and gleaming. Passionate prayer enables us to experience the glory of the Father.
In John 17 in His high priestly prayer – Passionate prayer impacts the lives of others.
In Matthew 26:39 in the Garden of Gethsemane – It is only through passionate prayer that we can pour out our hearts to God.
In Luke 23:24 as He hung on the cross – a life that is lived in passionate prayer will enable us to maintain that spirit, even in the most difficult of circumstances.
Jesus always prayed with passion, because He knew Who it was He was talking to and He knew that prayer to the Father is a powerful thing and not something to take lightly and glibly.
Prayer from the heart, that’s what passionate prayer is, it is prayer from the heart not just from the head.
That is how He taught us to pray, not only through His example, but specifically through His teaching Look in Matthew 6:7, in the Sermon on the Mount as Jesus instructs on prayer. It is here that we find the Lord’s prayer. But just before the Lord’s prayer what does He say?
“When you pray, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do.
What has happened to the Lord’s Prayer? People repeat it as if it were some kind of magic mantra that will bless them or move God to hear them. They are doing with it is exactly what He was instructing us not to do with it. The gentiles, when they prayed tried, through their religious repetitions, with their chants and their mantras to call forth or impress their Gods. That is not what you do when you are in a relationship.
James 5:16 says, “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.”
III. Pray with thankfulness.
Paul never fails to mention it.
Ephesians 5:20 tells us that thanksgiving is the natural result of being filled with and walking under the influence of the Holy Spirit.
Philippians 4:6 tells us to be anxious for nothing but in everything we should pray, giving thanks as we make our petitions known to God.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 tells us that giving thanks at all times is God’s will for us in Christ Jesus.
Colossians 3:17 says that as believers everything we say or do should be done in the name of the Lord Jesus as we give thanks to Him.
1 Timothy 4:4 – says that food and marriage are good things given to us by God and are to be received with thanksgiving and gratitude.
Expressing gratitude does several things:
It articulates dependence
It demonstrates relationship
It communicates gratitude – proper attitudes
It generates humility
IV. Pray, making intercession
Intercessory prayer is basically praying for others, it is praying for God’s will to be done in the lives of other people.
Intercessory prayers characterized the prayer life of Jesus.
In Isaiah 53:12 the Bible says, He Himself bore the sins of many and, interceded for the transgressors.”
Luke 22:23 Jesus tells Peter, “I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail;”
Luke 23:34 on the cross, Jesus was praying for others when He said, “Father forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.”
John 14:15 Jesus interceded for us, asking the Father to send the Holy Spirit
John 17:19 He prayed for us, the church, in His High Priestly prayer. Listen to the intercessory nature of this prayer, “I ask on their behalf; I do not ask on behalf of the world, but of those whom Thou has given Me . . . “
Romans 8:34 tells us that Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father, making intercession for us.
And Hebrews 7:25 says, “Hence, also, He is able to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.”
Jesus prayed intercessory prayers, He was ever praying for others.
It is instructive to note that Paul is not asking them to pray for his legal situation or that he would be released from prison. He is asking them to pray that he will have the opportunity to lead someone to Christ.
Paul wanted their prayers to be in accordance with God’s will not simply after the greedy desires of someone living for this world.
Paul was always concerned with doing the will of God. How many of our prayers are directed at the expansion of His eternal kingdom rather than the expansion of our petty kingdoms? compare how much time you were praying for the lost who are headed to hell and how much you prayed for yourself and your family.
Intercessory prayer changes things.
You see, when you pray for others, when you pray for God's work to be done, for His will to be accomplished, He will begin to use you and grow you in ways that will astonish those around you. Sometimes I think we do not become what God wants us to become, because we are too focused on ourselves and not on others. It is when we pray for others that we will become more like Jesus, and as we become more like Jesus God will grow us more, show us more, and use us more.
“The Lord will fight for you. You just keep still” – Exodus 14:14
Such a powerful promise verse the Lord has given us in Exodus 14:14, it talks about God’s promise of help and our reliance and trust in Him. But it ever so happens so often that in our day to life we try to do thing according to our human intellect and not rely on God’s infinite support.
A couple of months ago Mira Aunty fell sick and during the doctor visit was asked to do many tests and informed that recovery would be long drawn and expensive. It was time of great turmoil and pain for the entire family. Being bed ridden made things hard and family members cared for her but after few days they had to go back to their office.
Mira aunty had always tirelessly prayed for healing of others and now it was she who needed it urgently. This can be a time of great anguish and grief, knowing that for God it’s possible to give complete healing in a moment. It can make us vulnerable to the lies of the enemies that we did God’s work and yet He has now forsaken us, but we need to then remember and claim the promise God made to us in Joshua 1:5 “I will never leave you or forsake you “. Though people can abandon us, but God will never leave or forsake us.
Lying on bed the only solace at that time was listening to worship songs and praying. It is very easy to thank the Lord and be grateful when things are good but extremely difficult when situation is tough. But in the book of Job, we are told that as Job’s test intensifies and his life belittles him, he answers “will we receive good from God but not also receive bad?”
Mira Aunty held on to her faith and thanked God for His immense blessings in her life as the Lord directs us in Philippians 4:4, 6-7 and the peace of the Lord which surpasses all human understanding came upon her and guarded her mind and heart in Christ Jesus. For we know that without faith we cannot please God, when we seek God with all our heart, we find him. Mira aunty received her miraculous healing after couple months of agony and pain for we know that with God everything is possible – Matthew 19:26. Therefore, God is Jehovah Rapha, the Lord who heals you – Exodus 15:26
Prayer
Abba Father, Help us to trust in you Lord even though the situation, feelings, people tell us otherwise because you are Jehovah Rapha, the Lord who heals us. Amen
Paul writes to Romans; how we can be at peace with God and be under His grace and remain in His grace that causes us to receive ten blessings from God. Grace: usually defined as unmerited favour. Grace cannot be earned by us: it is given freely. We count on God’s grace that helps us to bridge our relationship with Him.
Romans 5:1 – Therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. This is a blessing. Romans 5:9, says Much more than, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. Romans 5:2 – Through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. We enter this grace of God or forgiveness, by faith in what Christ did. We enter His grace and remain in grace. Romans 5:4 – And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance, perseverance, character; and character hope. What is hope: a feeling/anxiety expecting and desiring for things to happen.
Romans 5:5 – Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. Romans 5:6 – For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for us, for the ungodly. Peter gives Christ’s, example of suffering, in a poignant way: I Peter 3:18 – For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Sprit.
Peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ causes us to receive.
Using our Gifts, Blessings, and Talents for God’s Kingdom
Luke 12:48 For everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded from him.
God has given each of us different gifts and talents, such as healing, prophesying, delivering, preaching, teaching, leading, administering, singing, playing musical instruments, and other advantages like wealth, influence, education, and artistic skills.
These gifts are given according to our abilities, as per Matthew 25:15.
We are also expected to use and develop the gifts we have received, as 1 Peter 4:10 and Romans 12:6 teach us. We need to make the most of the blessings that God has given us, according to our capacities.
Luke 19:13 tells us that God wants us to be faithful and diligent with our talents, as the parable of the minas shows. God wants us to work, trade, and use our gifts/talents for his kingdom.
God will reward us according to what we have done with what he has given us, as per Matthew 25:19. God praised the one who multiplied his talents. Luke 19:17 Well done. You have been faithful with little. Have authority over 10 cities.
Luke 16:10 Whoever is faithful with little will also be faithful with much.
But if we are lazy or neglectful with our gifts/talents, we will lose them and face God’s judgment. The master said to the one who received one talent and did nothing with it, “why didn’t you put my money in the bank, so that I could have earned some interest when I came back?” as per Luke 19:23.
Luke 19:26 Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken away from them.
And he will be punished for not using/trading/working with the gifts/talents he received.
Giving Account to God for Our Gifts, Blessings, and Talents – Romans 14:12 We will all stand before God’s judgment seat to give account for what all the blessings/gifts that has been given to us.
Acts 10:34 God does not favour anyone. He is a fair judge.
God has given us different talents, gifts, advantages, and blessings. We need to use them, work with them, and grow them. If we don’t, we will lose them and face God’s wrath.
God expects more from us if we are given more, as per Luke 12:48.
Testimony:
God has given me the gift of worship to sing and play musical instruments. I have been using and improving my skills to honour his name.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, help us to use the gifts/talents you have given us and multiply them for your kingdom. Help us to hear you say, Well done, good and faithful servant. We ask for this grace in Jesus’ name, Amen.
“Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Mathew 11:29).
The second way to restfulness is through gentleness. We should learn and try to imbibe the divine nature and characteristics of our Lord Jesus. Christ Jesus said: “I am gentle and lowly in heart”.
You should certainly learn gentleness and humility from Him.The world thinks of the meek as cowards. But meekness, actually shows the strength of character and determination. It reflects their humility, patience and peace.
When India was ruled by the English, people were restless and agitated as they did not know how to secure their freedom. Netaji Subash Chandra Bose believed in arms and weapons to chase the British away.
But Gandhiji had a completely different approach. He always used to quote a Bible verse, which says: “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth”. He used to question, if meekness could inherit the whole earth, why can it not secure freedom for India? He employed the concept of Ahimsa, and took up Satyagraha, which were non-violent means of mass agitations against the British rule.
Through his gentleness and non-violent approach, he was able to secure freedom for India.In the Old Testament, it is amazing to see the extra-ordinary humility of Moses. The Scripture says, “Moses was very humble, more than all men who were on the face of the earth” (Numbers 12:3). And because of his humility, he could lead around two million Israelites through the wilderness, with love and patience for forty long years.
Even when his own sister Miriam grumbled and spoke against him, Moses tolerated and dealt with her graciously. When Miriam was inflicted with leprosy, he pleaded with the Lord and obtained divine healing for her.
In the New Testament, the meekness and humility of Lord Jesus is so compelling. He appeared as a lamb that is about to be slaughtered, when He walked on the way to Calvary.
“He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth” (Isaiah 53:7).
A lamb will never harm anyone, but will always be silent and meek. Lord Jesus became as a lamb to bear your sin and to be slaughtered as a living sacrifice on your behalf.
Verse for further meditation: “Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand” (Philippians 4:5).
Psalm 34:19 “Many are the afflictions of the righteous,But the Lord delivers him out of them all”.
Beloved In Christ,from this verse we see that the righteous who were recovered In Christ will indeed face many trials but God will stand for him and save him from all.For example,when we look at Job,inspite of being a righteous person he faced many difficulties but God did not allow him to perish in those trials rather saved him and gave him double-fold blessings.
When we look at Joseph,his own brothers gave him difficulties,he had difficulty even at his workplace but God stood for him in all those situations and saved him and exalted him as a saviour to the whole of Egypt.The Jewish community were also saved on his behalf.Due to his daily prayers,offered in the Name,to ,The God of Israel,Daniel was thrown into the lions cave but God was with Daniel and saved him.Likewise we can see many other examples from the Bible.
Beloved,Are you facing any difficult situation where there is no way out?Are you in any trouble?Do not worry.Jesus Christ is Mighty and all able to deliver you from all your troubled situations.
John 16:33”In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”Therefore hold on to the Name of Jesus and be blessed bountifully by his Mercy and Grace.
May the Lord Jesus deliver you from all the persecution and count you into His Heavenly Kingdom,Amen.
“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly”. John 10:10
Above verse spoken by Jesus to his disciples while He was introducing himself as true shepherd. In this verse Lord speak about 2 characters
1) thief and
2) Jesus Himself
He explains why they come into our life. Thief comes to steal everything we have, kill everything, and destroy all we have on the contrary Jesus our Lord comes to us to give us meaningful life. Yes, Jesus wants us to surrender all areas of our life so that Jesus can bless us with everlasting and abundant life.
As the thief / Satan aware of our future that we are going to reign over this earth along with our Lord Jesus Christ and we all live with Him ever and ever, he is very jealous and angry with every human being living on this earth. As he doesn’t want us to reach heaven, he does all sort of things to distract us from reaching heaven.
Our heavenly Father and Lord Jesus out of abundant love, grace and mercy has redeemed us from all sins and sealed us with his blood and Holy Spirit. But when we sin again, we are giving place to the thief to enter our life. His main target is to steal our joy, peace, happiness, money and loved ones from us. Once he has stolen these, we become very vulnerable and he try to destroy us by bringing different kinds of disasters into our life like sickness, fear, depression, poverty, curse, debt etc. In the end we live but dead inside. His main target is to destroy our soul.
But whatever be the situation when we (child of our Lord) cry out to our Father in the name of Jesus Christ, He immediately comes to rescue us from the situation where we are in, and we can start to feel the peace that passes all understanding that just guard our heart mind and soul. Jesus helps us to restore all the things we lost as He restored the things in Job’s life.
Testimony:
My daughter doesn’t study well in her school days, while she was studying 3rd standard her teacher asked us to do IQ test for her. When we conducted the test, the report said that she is a very slow learner. With that report she got promoted in school and reached 10th standard. She has PCOD issue because of which she couldn’t attend school regularly. During parents’ teacher meeting, teachers complained about her so much I cried out to the Lord and surrendered her life into His hand. Lord started to work in her life. Today she has done two Master degree and one in Actuarial science which is one of the toughest course like CA and working in well know company in UK. Yes, when Jesus comes into one’s life, He gives us life and life in abundance.
Prayer:
My dear Loving Father, I surrender all who reads this message and testimony, please help them to surrender all the areas of their life, as they surrender please reign over them with love, joy, peace, mercy and grace and help them to inherit abundant life and always rejoice in your presence. May their life speak about you. Help us to be sober and be vigilant always in Lord Jesus name I pray Amen
