If you want faith then hear by the Word of God

If you want faith then hear by the Word of God. Yes don’t bother to increase your faith by worldly ways and neither by vain traditions of man.

The Holy Bible teaches us ; ‘So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.’ (Romans 10:17)

Dear believer in Christ, do not trust everything blindly. Not everything can bring up faith. You need to take that time out to listen to the Word of God. Here a few things that you can try out in this regard:

1) Read the Bible for yourself, especially the Psalms and the book of Proverbs and the Gospels and the book of the Revelation. You may even read the other books of the Bible but make sure that you don’t miss out on reading the one’s I mentioned especially never miss out on the Gospel.

2) Read the Bible aloud when in a private place such as your home. This will give you the opportunity to both hear and memorize the Word of God to increase your faith

3) If you can use Bible apps such this one (click here) given on this blog, it has no charge for usage on Android based phones. Or you can use any other Bible app similar to this, which has the feature of text to speech by which you can hear the verses of the Bible being automatically read out to you at the touch of a button. This comes in handy, especially if you are having earphones to maintain your focus as you hear the Word of God.

4) There are various Christian podcasts available online or for download that preach the Word of God. Pray to the Lord God for discernment and hear them out whenever you get the chance.

5) Most importantly, you can visit your local church / preaching center where the Word of God is preached so that your faith in God increases and also that it brings edification to you as the people of God encourage you in the Word of God.

Verses for Reflection:

• What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up. (1 Corinthians 14:26)
• Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. (Colossians 3:16)
• How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? (Romans 10:14)

Lessons from the instance of Jesus and the woman at the well of Samaria

 

Jesus and the woman at the well of Samaria Image: Henryk Siemiradzki

 

Jesus was aware of the thoughts of the people around him. He knew that he needed to be in Samaria to preach the Gospel. Now, there was a woman living in sin, she lived an adulterous life at large and by the the time she met Jesus Christ at the well at Samaria, she was living in fornication which today is sometimes called as a live in relationship. If you read the above text  it was about the sixth hour that Jesus was at the well around which the Samaritan woman came to draw the water from the well. She came at time where she could go alone to draw water from the well. Jesus gently convicted her of her sinful living by offering the living waters, so much so that she accepted that she sinned and then confessed Him as the Messiah. She then gave her testimony to the people of the town of Sychar in Samaria where she lived. These people then encountered Jesus and believed in the Word of God and confessed Jesus as their Messiah and Savior, despite the fact that the Jews and Samaritans of those times didn’t have much dealings with each other. Please do go through the Gospel account of this instance as mentioned below, in a prayerful manner so that your soul will benefit from this.

Gospel of John 4:1-42:

Now when Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John ² (although Jesus himself did not baptize, but only his disciples), ³ he left Judea and departed again for Galilee. ⁴ And he had to pass through Samaria. ⁵ So he came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the field that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. ⁶ Jacob’s well was there; so Jesus, wearied as he was from his journey, was sitting beside the well. It was about the sixth hour.

⁷ A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” ⁸ (For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.) ⁹ The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?” (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.) ¹⁰ Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” ¹¹ The woman said to him, “Sir, you have nothing to draw water with, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? ¹² Are you greater than our father Jacob? He gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and his livestock.” ¹³ Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, ¹⁴ but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” ¹⁵ The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I will not be thirsty or have to come here to draw water.”

¹⁶ Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come here.” ¹⁷ The woman answered him, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You are right in saying, ‘I have no husband’; ¹⁸ for you have had five husbands, and the one you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true.” ¹⁹ The woman said to him, “Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet. ²⁰ Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you say that in Jerusalem is the place where people ought to worship.” ²¹ Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. ²² You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. ²³ But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. ²⁴ God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” ²⁵ The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things.” ²⁶ Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am he.”

²⁷ Just then his disciples came back. They marveled that he was talking with a woman, but no one said, “What do you seek?” or, “Why are you talking with her?” ²⁸ So the woman left her water jar and went away into town and said to the people, ²⁹ “Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?” ³⁰ They went out of the town and were coming to him.

³¹ Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, saying, “Rabbi, eat.” ³² But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.” ³³ So the disciples said to one another, “Has anyone brought him something to eat?” ³⁴ Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work. ³⁵ Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, then comes the harvest’? Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest. ³⁶ Already the one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. ³⁷ For here the saying holds true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’ ³⁸ I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor.”

³⁹ Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me all that I ever did.” ⁴⁰ So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there two days. ⁴¹ And many more believed because of his word. ⁴² They said to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world.”

⁴³ After the two days he departed for Galilee. ⁴⁴ (For Jesus himself had testified that a prophet has no honor in his own hometown.) ⁴⁵ So when he came to Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him, having seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the feast. For they too had gone to the feast.

 

Here are a few lessons we can learn from the instance of Jesus and the woman at the well of Samaria:

1. The Words of Jesus which were said to the woman at the well are true for us even today –  Refer John 4:13-14 “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” And also refer to Revelation 21:6 which mentions ; And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the fountain of the water of life without payment.”
2. But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth. (John 4:23-24)
3. Let the Word of God be preached to people of all backgrounds because Jesus reached to both Jews and non Jews.
4. Reach out to the lost and preach the Gospel to them that they repent and believe in the Gospel.
5. Preach the Gospel for the glory of the Lord God always and be willing to spend time with those who receive the Gospel so they build up their faith.
6. Worshiping the Lord God is our privilege and we must honor God our father who is seeking such people for himself.
7. A prophet has no honor in his own hometown (John 4:44)

The Descent of the Holy Spirit

 

The Descent of the Holy Spirit is the birthday of the Church!

Jesus promised to his Disciples that He would send them the Holy Spirit. Until the Holy Spirit’s arrival the Disciples of Jesus Christ were all gathered up in Jerusalem waiting upon the Word God and trusting in promise of Jesus. And when the Holy Spirit descended upon them on the day of Pentecost, they were emboldened to preach the Gospel to all. The Holy Spirit gave them the gift of tongues so that people of all nations hear the Good News of Jesus Christ, so that they repent and believe in the Gospel and be saved. Today we the Church owe all it to the Holy Spirit that the grace of God dwells in us as we trust in the Word of God!

Romans 2 :1-22

2 When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. ² And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. ³ And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. ⁴ And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

⁵ Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. ⁶ And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. ⁷ And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? ⁸ And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? ⁹ Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, ¹⁰ Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, ¹¹ both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.” ¹² And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” ¹³ But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.”

¹⁴ But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. ¹⁵ For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. ¹⁶ But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel:

¹⁷ “‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares,
that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh,
and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
    and your young men shall see visions,
    and your old men shall dream dreams;
¹⁸ even on my male servants and female servants
    in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.
¹⁹ And I will show wonders in the heavens above
    and signs on the earth below,
    blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke;
²⁰ the sun shall be turned to darkness
    and the moon to blood,
    before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day.
²¹ And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’

Do you have room for Jesus Christ?

Many score years ago in Bethlehem town,
Mary and Joseph went all around.
For the Son of God was to be born,
The Redeemer of the world as God sworn.

They went to seek room for his birth,
So the Savior be manifest on earth,
But no room in any inn they could find,
Due to the Roman census decree assigned.

So, in a humble stable, they stayed,
And there, the darkness began to fade.
For Jesus, the son of God, was born,
Destined to overcome every sinful horn.

Christ Jesus, fully God and fully man,
Went to fulfill God’s holy plan.
Those who trust in him will be saved,
If they repent from each path depraved.

So, for Jesus in faith, open up your heart,
Make room for Christ and never go apart.
Be humble living with Christ each day,
Let him be in your heart each time you pray.

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Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. (Revelation 3:20)

Fear no demon

Call upon Jesus for he is mighty to save,
Against all evil spirits who try to enslave.
Fear no demon and their vile lot,
Call upon God to untangle their knot.

Build up your faith by prayer and fasting,
And believing the Scriptures everlasting.
Claim your authority in courageous prayer,
And against all ungodliness beware.

Cast out all spirits that are malicious,
Banish all spirits that are vicious.
Rescue those who call for deliverance,
Preach to them true worship observance.

Rebuke the demons let them flee,
But in such things don’t take glee.
That your names are written in heaven,
For this let your joy within leaven.

Let the light of Jesus shine

When darkness is all around,
And sin has people bound.
Then don’t be dismayed,
But make sure you have prayed.

Let the light of Jesus shine,
When your faith does align.
Let the light of Jesus shine,
When your good works combine.

Pray for deliverance for others,
In Christ your sisters and brothers.
Pray for those who have nothing,
So that in good things they be abounding.

Let the light of Jesus shine,
Feed the poor and let them dine.
Not just only food and water,
But save them from spiritual slaughter.

Work out your faith in thought and action,
So that it gives a wise and holy reaction.
Let the light of Jesus shine,
Continue to bear fruit like a good vine.

A poor Christmas, A rich Christmas

A poor Christmas where you have faith in God is better than a rich Christmas where you put trust in people.

A poor Christmas as you read the Holy Scriptures is better than a rich Christmas listening to worldly music.

A poor Christmas with believers in Christ Jesus is better than a rich Christmas with those who do not honour Him.

A poor Christmas with Christ is better that a million rich Christmases without Christ.

A poor Christmas where you surrender yourself fully to Jesus Christ is better than a rich Christmas when you are full of yourself.

A poor Christmas where you pray humbly is better than a rich Christmas where you dance proudly.

A poor Christmas when you share bread with the poor is better than a rich Christmas when you eat with the impious.

A poor Christmas where you realize that only Jesus Christ can save you is better than a rich Christmas filled with the vanities of life.

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“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”  -Matthew 5:3

Beware of which preaching which is defective?

Do not hesitate to rebuke a sinner!

We are to rebuke a sinner so that he or she turns to the Lord Jesus in the way of righteousness. Now a rebuke does not have to be a loud rant. One can be calm but et bold in rebuking a sinner so that he or she sins no more. You should never be so scared to rebuke someone that you altogether don’t rebuke at all. Now all those who hear rebuke may not every time repent. However that shouldn’t worry you because it will serve as a warning to others. Also pray for the one who you are rebuking so that they receive it with true understanding.

• A rebuke goes deeper into one who has understanding than a hundred blows into a fool. (Proverbs 17:10)
• If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. (Matthew 18:15)
• Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. (Luke 17:3)
• Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted. (Galatians 6:1)
• Those who continue in sin, rebuke in the presence of all, so that the rest also will be fearful of sinning. (1 Timothy 5:20)
• All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness (2 Timothy 3:16)
• My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth and one turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins. (James 5:19-20)

Be at peace as you repent

Be at peace as you repent,
From sinning as your truly relent.
For the wages of sin is death,
So repent before your last breath.

Don’t be envious of all sorts of sinners,
As at the Final judgement they won’t be winners.
Be joyful inside as your crucify the flesh,
And in the Holy Spirit your soul refresh.

Reconcile yourself to Jesus the Prince of Peace,
And let your faithfulness to God increase.
Don’t live in sin each new morrow,
And by the Gospel escape Eternal Sorrow.