Quick Reminder : Always remember this when faced with temptation

In this fallen world do take heed that there are temptations but don’t be dismayed about them. Instead always remember this when faced with temptation:

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. (1 Corinthians 10:13)

 

Verses for reflection:

An evil man is trapped by his rebellious speech, but a righteous man escapes from trouble. (Proverbs 12:13)

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. (Matthew 6:13)

then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment (2 Peter 2:9)

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. (Hebrews 10:23)

Keep your lamp filled with oil

Keep your lamp filled with oil. This King of Kings is coming. Don’t be like the five foolish virgins as mentioned in The Parable of the Ten Virgins who missed out on the wedding. They didn’t take enough supply of oil for themselves, so with the lights dimming out they naturally felt sleepy at night. Only the wise ones took sufficient oil for themselves and could keep awake till the bridegroom came. Let the oil of enthusiasm and diligence in the Gospel always be with you in great measure. Never be shy of holding on to the light of Gospel even all around others love darkness. It’s vain to be jealous of those who hold to darkness. Be true to the Lord Jesus in your faith towards him.

 

Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.(Matthew 24:42)

“And behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.” (Revelation 22:7)

Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” (Revelation 22:12-13)

He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! (Revelation 22:20)

The fortified bronze wall that the Lord has made

Therefore thus says the LORD: “If you return, I will restore you, and you shall stand before me. If you utter what is precious, and not what is worthless, you shall be as my mouth. They shall turn to you, but you shall not turn to them. And I will make you to this people a fortified wall of bronze; they will fight against you, but they shall not prevail over you, for I am with you to save you and deliver you, declares the LORD. I will deliver you out of the hand of the wicked, and redeem you from the grasp of the ruthless.” (Jeremiah 15:19-21)

There are times when the Lord God calls his people to be steadfast in his decrees without having to face others. But then there are certain times in which the believer in Christ is faced with those who oppose the decrees of God. If you are one such believer who’s facing such opposition, then this write up is for you.

The Prophet Jeremiah who served the Lord of Hosts as long as he lived, dwelt in a land that was rebellious to God. For they forsook the Lord and burned incense to false gods, and worshiped the works of their own hands. Rejecting the Living God still remains a sin to this day, make no mistake about this. And the Lord God knows how to deal with those who are unwilling to repent of their sins, in case the grave sin of worshiping false gods.

Here’s what the Lord God spoke to the Prophet Jeremiah:

For behold, am calling all the tribes of the kingdoms of the north, declares the Lord, and they shall come, and every one shall set his throne at the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem, against all its walls all around and against all the cities of Judah.  And I will declare my judgments against them, for all their evil in forsaking me. They have made offerings to other gods and worshiped the works of their own hands. But you, dress yourself for work; arise, and say to them everything that I command you. Do not be dismayed by them, lest I dismay you before them. And I, behold, I make you this day a fortified city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls, against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests, and the people of the land. They will fight against you, but they shall not prevail against you, for I am with you, declares the Lord, to deliver you.” (Jeremiah 1:15-19)

A few lessons to learn here:

• The Lord will declare his judgement against those who forsake Him.
• Worshiping false gods is a grave sin and must be rejected at all costs.
• Your heritage and descent is no excuse for sinning.
• Don’t get dismayed by sinners, lest the Lord dismay you in front of sinners.
• When the Lord God makes you a fortified city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls, trust God, for he plans to deliver you from this evil generation.

Being a fortified bronze wall in the New Testament context is the the same as what told to the Prophet Jeremiah, but now is even about staying true to your calling in Jesus Christ when evil doers entice you sin. The Holy Spirit will teach you what to speak in that time!

Let’s read the following Words of Jesus our Lord:

“And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God, but the one who denies me before men will be denied before the angels of God. And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the one who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious about how you should defend yourself or what you should say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.” (Luke 12:8-12)

Christ be with you!

 

Avoid Spiritual Pride

O you who love Jesus Christ, avoid spiritual pride in all its entirety for this does not please the Lord your God. And what is this spiritual pride; it when you look at all your good works and try to claim the credit for yourself and instead of giving the credit only to the Lord God who made it possible for you to great things in his Holy Name.

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:10)

O believer in Christ Jesus, remember that whatever good works you do, its only for the glory of the Living God who prepared all this beforehand. So when you do works of mercy and goodness and generosity you bear testimony to Grace of God. Do not get carried away by the praises of the people whom you help nor the praises of those who see you helping others, thinking in your heart that it was all you all along. Humble yourself greatly and say in such case that its the Lord your God who has blessed you with the ability to all this and so let all praise go to God alone.

Beware lest you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth.’ You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your fathers, as it is this day (Deuteronomy 8:17-18)

 

 

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient and kind; love is not jealous or boastful. (1 Corinthians 13:1-4)

Keep in mind O you who love Jesus Christ, no matter how much you advance in the gifts of the Holy Spirit or even in the way of good works, never do it out of selfish motives but do it for the love of God. Take to heart that; what started with the love of God must continue to with the love of God and anything else which deviates from the love of God is sin which is not pleasing to the Lord God. Hence, keep away from spiritual pride and dwell in the presence of the Lord!

Verses to reflect upon:

• Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before stumbling. (Proverbs 16:18)
• Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. (Matthew 23:12)
• Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”  Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded…Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. (James 4:5-8,10)

Always be thankful and celebrate all that God has done for you

Always be thankful and celebrate all that God has done for you. Don’t ever forget the good that God has worked in you life, lest you get carried away by the cares and worries of this life and be unfruitful.

Jesus himself spoke about this in the Parable of the Sower as in Mark 4: 18-10 saying “And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.”

 

As an act of continual gratitude speak to others what the Lord God has done in your life.

Jesus himself told the man from whom he expelled the demons to tell other what the Lord had done for him and this man gladly this. And the people marveled at the goodness of the Lord!

And they came to Jesus, and saw the demoniac sitting there, clothed and in his right mind, the man who had had the legion; and they were afraid. ¹⁶ And those who had seen it told what had happened to the demoniac and to the swine. ¹⁷ And they began to beg Jesus to depart from their neighborhood. ¹⁸ And as he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed with demons begged him that he might be with him. ¹⁹ But he refused, and said to him, “Go home to your friends, and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” ²⁰ And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decap′olis how much Jesus had done for him; and all men marveled. (Mark 5:15-20)

Bible verses for reflection:

• With praise and thanksgiving they sang to the Lord: “He is good; his love toward Israel endures forever.” And all the people gave a great shout of praise to the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid. (Ezra 3:11)
• I will give thanks to the Lord because of his righteousness; I will sing the praises of the name of the Lord Most High. (Psalm 7:17)
• I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds. (Psalm 9:1)
• Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations. (Psalm 100:4-5)
• Sing to the Lord with grateful praise; make music to our God on the harp. (Psalm 147:7)
• I thank and praise you, God of my ancestors: You have given me wisdom and power, you have made known to me what we asked of you, you have made known to us the dream of the king. (Daniel 2:23)
• Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 5:18-20)
• Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7)
• Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. ( 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)
• Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our “God is a consuming fire.” (Hebrews 12:28-29)

Biblical advice for those who are in need of healing

If you or any of your loved one’s are unwell, never feel too small to ask help from the elders of the the church in terms of prayers and anointing. The doctors are not to replace the elders of the church and neither are the elders of the church are told to replace the doctors. In short this means ; let the doctors do their part and let the elders do their part as per the Word of God.

The Saviour of the World Jesus Christ himself mentioned the importance of doctors (physician’s) in the following Bible verse:

And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners. (Mark 2:17)

 

If you’re all hale and hearty, praise the Lord God for it. If you are in suffering pray to the Lord for your deliverance.

Also if someone is sick, do call for the elders of the church to pray over the unwell person anointing him or her with oil in the name of the Lord, so that healing and forgiveness come forth for that unwell one. A true elder of the church won’t reject this work which is required of them clearly written in the Holy Scriptures below:

Is any one among you suffering? Let him pray. Is any cheerful? Let him sing praise. ¹⁴ Is any among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; ¹⁵ and the prayer of faith will save the sick man, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. ¹⁶ Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power in its effects. ¹⁷ Elijah was a man of like nature with ourselves and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. ¹⁸ Then he prayed again and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth its fruit. (James 5:13-18)

Also do please take note O you who believe in Jesus Christ, do pray for each other so that you may be healed. Confess your sins as per the Word God.

Finally remember the case of the Prophet Elijah who had a faith that shut down rains and brought back the rains at the command of the Lord God. So can you bring forth miracles of healing if you walk in the holy faith of the Gospel and pray in righteousness.

Christ be with you!

 

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. (James 1:17)

O you who believe in Jesus Christ, give credit where it is due!

For all your talents, skills, wealth which is good has been given to you by the Lord God the Father of Jesus Christ. Do not therefore be proud of yourself but rather give glory to God who created heaven and earth and all that dwell in it.

If you are lacking in anything that is good be it wisdom or healing or wealth which is free from malice, then ask of the Lord God in faith and with purity of heart. And this way the Lord God will surely hear your prayer.

So if you who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! (Matthew 7:11)

It the Lord who will also provide if you till your land. I mean there are certain things in which you have to put in your efforts and pray to God that you succeed. Its his blessing that makes our hard work fruitful.

The LORD will indeed provide what is good, and our land will yield its increase. (Psalm 85:12)

First go to the Courts of Heaven before you go to the Spiritual battlefield

First go to the Courts of Heaven to deal with an issue, before you go to the Spiritual battlefield. Because by the victory in the courts of heaven will you prevail more better against the forces of darkness in the Spiritual battlefield.

The Enemy is the accuser of the brethren and keeps trying to accuse you in the court of God always. You need to stop the accusations so that you do well in the Spiritual battlefield. If you don’t stop the accusations you’ll weaken your chances of winning in the Spiritual world

While you do have the advantage of Jesus Christ being your advocate you too need to do your part of asking Jesus to continue to plead on your behalf. Never miss out on asking Jesus to plead for you in the Courts of Heaven, lest the Evil One have advantage over you because of you not seeking the Lord Jesus.

Verses for reflection:-

And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. (Revelation 12:10)

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. ² He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. (1 John 2:1-2)

Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him. ² And the Lord said to Satan, “The Lord rebuke you, O Satan! The Lord who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is not this a brand plucked from the fire?” ³ Now Joshua was standing before the angel, clothed with filthy garments. ⁴ And the angel said to those who were standing before him, “Remove the filthy garments from him.” And to him he said, “Behold, I have taken your iniquity away from you, and I will clothe you with pure vestments.” ⁵ And I said, “Let them put a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the Lord was standing by.

⁶ And the angel of the Lord solemnly assured Joshua, ⁷ “Thus says the Lord of hosts: If you will walk in my ways and keep my charge, then you shall rule my house and have charge of my courts, and I will give you the right of access among those who are standing here. ⁸ Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, you and your friends who sit before you, for they are men who are a sign: behold, I will bring my servant the Branch. ⁹ For behold, on the stone that I have set before Joshua, on a single stone with seven eyes, I will engrave its inscription, declares the Lord of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of this land in a single day. ¹⁰ In that day, declares the Lord of hosts, every one of you will invite his neighbor to come under his vine and under his fig tree.” (Zechariah 3:1-9)

Bible verses against despair

O those who believe in Jesus Christ, do not live in despair nor live without hope, for Jesus is our good hope in this fallen world. Happy are those who trust in Jesus more than the things of this world.

Meditate on the following Bible verses against despair and you will be filled with hope you wait upon the Lord God. Here we go:

• We are experiencing trouble on every side, but are not crushed; we are perplexed, but not driven to despair; we are persecuted, but not abandoned; we are knocked down, but not destroyed, always carrying around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our body. (2 Corinthians 4:8-9)
• He has rescued us from a terrible death, and he will rescue us in the future. We are confident that he will continue to rescue us. (2 Corinthians 1:10)
• Why are you in despair, my soul? Why are you disturbed within me? Hope in God, because I will praise him once again, since his presence saves me and he is my God. (Psalm 43:5)
• For you are my hope, Lord GOD, my security since I was young. I depended on you since birth, when you brought me from my mother’s womb; I praise you continuously. (Psalm 71:5-6)
• Yet I am confident I will see the Lord’s goodness while I am here in the land of the living. Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord. (Psalm 27:13-14)
• I am counting on the Lord; yes, I am counting on him. I have put my hope in his word. (Psalm 130:5)
• I waited patiently for the LORD to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along. (Psalm 40:1-2)
• Looking unto Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. (Hebrews 12:2-3)
• Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. (1 Peter 5:7)
• LORD, you know the hopes of the helpless. Surely you will hear their cries and comfort them. (Psalm 10:17)
• But my God shall supply all your needs according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19)
• Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows. (Matthew 10:29-31)

 

 

 

 

• The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way; though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the Lord upholds his hand. (Psalm 37:23-24)
• I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
• And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. (Colossians 3:15)
• For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you. (Isaiah 41:13)
• The LORD is my light and my salvation— whom will I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom will I be afraid? (Psalm 27:1)
• And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. (Philippians 1:6)
• The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. (Psalm 18:2)
• No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. (24. 1 Corinthians 10:13)
• So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised. (Hebrews 10:35-36)

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people,  training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. (Titus 2:11-14)


The grace of God has made available salvation for all people of all nations if they repent and believe in the Gospel. If were open to God’s grace, it’ll train us. This training is good, because we need to accept what is holy and reject the evil, in our thoughts, words and deeds.

Being self-controlled is a sign of wisdom when you life a that is both godly and upright. Be of good hope dear believer in Jesus Christ for the glory of God will appear when Jesus returns.

Never forget the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ who loves us. Because of this we redeemed from our sinful nature and are being sanctified. So that we by our faith live a life that gives glory to God by our good deeds, which the Lord God has called us to do.