The Revelation of The mother of James and John

An Emoji Devotional for Fri, March 31 2023.

Topic: The Revelation of The mother of James and John

Highlights:

Then the mother of James and John took them to see Jesus. (Their father was Zebedee.) She went down on her knees in front of Jesus. She asked him to do something good for her. ‘What do you want me to do?’ Jesus asked her.

 She said, ‘One day, you will be king. Then I want my two sons to rule with you. One may sit at your right side and the other one at your left side. Please will you do this?’ Jesus said to them, ‘You do not understand what you are asking for. I will have much pain and trouble. Are you ready to have the same pain?’ James and John replied, ‘Yes, we can do that.’ Jesus said to them, ‘Yes, that is true. You will have pain and trouble like mine. 

But I cannot promise that you will sit at my right side or at my left side. My Father God has chosen the people who will sit there. He has prepared the places for those people.’

Matthew 20:20‭-‬23 EASY

So there is a revelation from this passage that signified that Our Father God has special places for some people in heaven. We do not know yet who those personalities will be. This is a VIP, VVIP and VVVIPs to sit on the right and left side of Our Lord Jesus. 

So this revelation was not denied by Christ as an error. It plainly shows that Christ reign on earth will truly happen, however it may not be an immediate event as mother of the apostles James and John was thinking. But her revelation was realest one. This was over two thousand years ago. 

The vision will still happen at the appointed time. It hurries toward its goal. It won’t be a lie. If it’s delayed, wait for it. It will certainly happen. It won’t be late.

Habakkuk 2:3 GW

If you are waiting for the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ and His eternal reign as King. Continue to hold on to your believe as it is true.

Prayer: Almighty God I believe that Jesus Christ the savior will return to this world again. When He comes, may I be counted worthy to be there among the saints. In Jesus name. Amen

The Majestic Voice

An Emoji Devotional Wed, March 29 2023

Topic: The Majestic Voice 

Highlights: 

The voice of the Lord is powerful. The voice of the Lord is majestic.

Psalms 29:4 GW

It is like "Give that man ten thousand Chinese Yen and Give that one five thousand Rupees and the next one a thousand Dirham" and voila! it's done!. Matthew 25:14-30. 

God commands everything He wants into being. Then God said, “Let the water swarm with swimming creatures, and let birds fly through the sky over the earth.”

Genesis 1:20 GW

A military man who understands the degree of Jesus highest hierarchical position once said this the first time they met;....“Sir, I don’t deserve to have you come into my house. But just give a command, and my servant will be healed.

Matthew 8:8 GW

what was Jesus response? Jesus was amazed when he heard this. He said to those who were following him, “I can guarantee this truth: I haven’t found faith as great as this in anyone in Israel.

Matthew 8:10 GW

It is called "Great Faith" When you recognize God's voice, and you are completely pleased with what He says to you. At the voice of God, you find your identity and purpose for your being. Anything you wish to have in this life is in the voice of God. This is why Holy Mother of Our Lord Jesus gave us the first rule in John 2:5; ...“Do whatever he tells you.”

Even when His time is not ripe, God's voice can take you into the times of your destiny.

Proverbs 8:17‭-‬18

I love those who love me. Those eagerly looking for me will find me. I have riches and honor, lasting wealth and righteousness.

This is a big secret for all who wants to break the barricade of spiritual impediment into the deal of destiny. Ask God with humility to 'give order that comes with your abundant grace to us!'

And ask the Holy Spirit for help to accomplish God's order successfully.

Most of God's order are already written for me in the Bible. I must read my Bible no matter how it feels. Because God have an assignment and words for me.

The voice of the Lord splits the oaks and strips ⌞the trees of⌟ the forests bare. Everyone in his temple is saying, “Glory!” The Lord sat enthroned over the flood. The Lord sits enthroned as king forever. The Lord will give power to his people. The Lord will bless his people with peace.

Psalms 29:9-11

Prayer: Oh God my strength, my hope and confidence is in your voice. Be thou my guide while life shall last in Jesus name. Amen

Who could have stopped Biblical Terror?

 

An Emoji Devotional for Fri March 24 2023

Topic: Who could have stopped Biblical Terror?

Highlights: 

The Philistines had a strong, brave soldier. His name was Goliath and he came from a town called Gath. He was nearly three metres tall! He wore a helmet and armour that were made of bronze. The armour for his body weighed about 57 kilograms. He had pieces of bronze to protect his legs. He had a bronze sword that he tied on his back. He also carried a heavy spear. It was as thick as a tree. The iron point on the spear weighed about seven kilograms. A man who carried Goliath's shield walked in front of him.

1 Samuel 17:4‭-‬7 EASY

https://bible.com/bible/2079/1sa.17.4-7.EASY

Goliath of Gath was the best of the mighty men in Philistine, his spear alone was as thick as a tree and even its metal tip weighed 15 pounds alone. His terrifying look alone kept the Israelites mute for forty days and forty night. The game plan was unique for the Philistines at that time, to enslave the Israelites if no one could challenge Goliath the big terror. The lesson learned is that, no matter how terrifying the challenge is, those who lean on God for support shall not surrender to threats to become slave under terror. 

"But people who wait for the Lord to help them will receive new strength. They will rise up high, as if they have the wings of eagles. They will run and they will not become tired. They will walk and they will not become weak."

Isaiah 40:31 EASY

David was a kind of joke to everyone in the battlefield but God had decided to use him to surmount the unimaginable terror. This shows that with God there is no indomitable challenge that God cannot put down no matter how terrifying it is, it may only take the waiting time on God to justify the truth. The truth is; God cannot be defeated if we hang in there to wait on him for answers to our demand. The truth also shows that David's approach of fighting does not require an armor or a huge sword to fight with the big terror. All David chose was his skills in using a sling and five pieces of stones. This could be like an impossible insult to that terror you have to deal with but who cares? What matters is the Victory from God and in the end we should shout Hallelujah as our God has won the battle. So shall your enemies be defeated in Jesus name. 

There is an extraordinary God in Israel – one who doesn’t need a sword or a spear to defeat his enemies no matter how furious they were. Our God will give us victory”.

David trusted in God to use the little things do defeat enemies with superior power. He ended us using the enemy's sword to hack off his selfsame head.

As individual Christians too, we all face “giants” in our lives – difficulties, troubles, temptations, trials. Like David we must trust in God, rather than in our own human strength, to overcome these difficulties.

Prayer:

Lord please save me now, Lord please help me to do well. Please give me new strength. help me to rise up high, as if I have the wings of eagles. When I run, May I not become tired. Then when I walk may I not become weak in Jesus name. Amen

Some of this was collaboratively culled from sermon of Rev DHJ The downfall of Go... https://revdhj.wordpress.com/2008/06/19/the-downfall-of-goliath/

In Line With The Good Samaritan

An Emoji Devotional for Sun, March 14 2023

Topic: In Line With The Good Samaritan

Highlights: 

Jesus answered him with a story: ‘A man was going down the road from Jerusalem to Jericho town. On the way, some men attacked him. They took away all his clothes and they hit him with sticks. 

He was almost dead when they left him. But it happened that a priest from the temple was going down that road. He saw the man, who was lying there. But he walked past him on the other side of the road. 

A Levite was also going down the road. He came to the place where the man was lying. He saw him. But he also walked past on the other side of the road. 

But then a man from Samaria was also travelling along the road. And he came to the place where the man was lying. When he saw him, he felt very sorry for him. He went across to him. He poured oil and wine on the places where he was bleeding. Then he tied those places with clean cloths. After that, he put the man on his own donkey to carry him. They arrived at a small hotel. He took the man in there and he was kind to him.

 The next day, the man from Samaria took out two silver coins from his purse. He gave the money to the man that was taking care of the hotel. “Be kind to this man for me,” he said. “This money may not be enough. When I return, I will pay you for any more that you have spent on him.” ’ Luke 10:30‭-‬35 EASY

I may be able to speak many different languages that people or angels speak. But it's worth nothing if I don't love others. I would only make a loud noise, like someone hitting a piece of metal. I may be able to talk about messages from God. I can understand all the secret things of God and know all the facts. I can have great faith to trust God enough to move mountains. But I'm nothing if I don't love others. 

I can donate all my stuff to help the poor. I can let other people take my body to burn it. But it wouldn't help me if I didn't like other people. If I like people, I will be patient. I will be nice. I will not be jealous of others. I'm not going to be proud and say I'm awesome. If I like people, I'll be polite. I don't just want to have fun. I won't get angry anytime soon. If someone does something bad against me, I won't keep it in my thoughts. 

If I love people, I won't be happy when bad things happen. Instead, I will be happy when things happen that are right and true. If I love people, I will always accept their problems. I will always believe them. I always hope for the best. I will always be patient in trouble. Love will always continue. 

The gift of speaking God's messages will not always be necessary. The gift of speaking in different languages will one day stop. The gift of knowing special things will not always be necessary. The love you have like the good Samaritan will speak forever as a good example to those who listen to your story.

"The teacher answered, ‘It was the man who was kind to him.’ Then Jesus said to him, ‘Yes. So you should go and do the same for other people.’ "

Luke 10:37 EASY

Prayer: Lord, please help me! All the good people have gone away! No kind or faithful people remain. Please surround me with kind heart people in Jesus name. 

In Your Space

 

An Emoji Devotional for Sat, March 18, 2023

Topic: In Your Space

Highlights: 

While Jesus was teaching in the Temple, he called out, “Yes, you know me, and you know where I come from. But I’m not here on my own. The one who sent me is true, and you don’t know him. But I know him because I come from him, and he sent me to you.”

John 7:28‭-‬29 NLT

This message is true, God sent all His children who has dedicated their lives to Jesus Christ on assignment here on earth. As soon as we are born again, we have all embarked on a mission. Do not doubt your mission if you are already a child of God because while you were on that spot thinking if you are true to your calling, God is already fulfilling His plans although you may not know it. God is the Biggest God, The Master Planner, making things happen without informing the messenger the purpose of His decision. You are playing a role in God's big plan. Be happy about it. 

Jesus understood in John 7:28 that He was not here  on His own and acknowledged that God sent Him. This is a consolation for us all that once you are believer, you are not there on your own. God sent you and whatever you today remains in the mystery of His master plan. 

“The beasts of the field will glorify Me, The jackals and the ostriches, Because I have given waters in the wilderness And rivers in the wasteland, To give drink to My chosen people.

Isaiah 43:20 LSB

You did not choose me, but I chose you. I chose you to go and to make plenty of fruit. That kind of fruit will continue always. For that reason, the Father will help you with anything that you ask him. If you ask him in my name, he will do it for you.

John 15:16 EASY

The way God thinks is different. Being chosen by God to be His child must first be acknowledged by every child of God as a consolation that you have His seal on you as His own and that if you need any help in your journey, all you need is to ask and it will be done. But remember, that you are on a mission from the superior one and when you have a request, do not ask amiss. Secondly, you must not be afraid to accomplish your mission, even though you do not know fully in print what it is because you are God's ambassador. The one who sent you has already prepared you for the journey.

In your space, remember who you are and acknowledge the one who you represent. Do not be afraid and do not speak like a frail heart, knowing fully well that you must deliver the message of the sender (Luke 22:42). Do not carry out the mission in your plans, always seek God's approval on the right thing to do Matthew 6:33, Philippians 4:8. It is time to rejoice and console yourself that you know who you are and you are not doing it all alone. The Holy Spirit of God who designed the plan is already there with you in your space to accompany you to fulfill this mission. Joshua 1:9, John 16:14.

Wherever you are now in the stage of life's journey. Encourage yourself that God did sent you indeed and He will defend you at all cost. 

"And David was greatly distressed;.... but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.

1 Samuel 30:6 KJV

Trust in the Lord your God to make you strong in your space today.

Prayer: Dear God, By the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, I am still carrying out the mission you sent me. Please Guide me and make me strong. In Jesus name. 

No Power of Hell Can stand Jesus

An Emoji Devotional for Fri, March 17 2023

Topic: No Power of Hell Can stand Jesus

Highlights: 

Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. Matthew 16:17

Looking to the reality of our Lord's human nature, its capacity for wonder- Peter was highly favoured by a special revelation from God. “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Matt 16:16. Flesh and blood cannot reveal Jesus the way God in heaven reveals to us through the Holy Ghost. For he says, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation. 2 Cor 16:2

Jesus is the favor of God given to us from God to protect us from hell that the devil plans to unleash upon humanity. Jesus stood as the force that crushes the power of hell. "But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death." Revelation 21:8

Right here on earth, fear is already unleashing hell on humanity, same as unbelief, people do abominable things, whoring amongst themselves, they are approving sorcery and idolatry with lies to the general public presenting it as truth. But Jesus is there to save a straying soul. Those who have gone to the path of inequities will return to the most high with repentance to salvation. The power of hell will come to surrender to Jesus Christ in humanity and every tongue shall confess with the knees bowed that Jesus is the true Lord. Praise the Lord, revival has arrived and we are seeing what has happened in Brazil with our very own eyes. It's time for the unbeliever who doubt Christ power to save to repent now and turn unto Him. Matthew 11:28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest"

Prayer: I confess Jesus Christ is The Savior of the world by the Power of the Holy Ghost. Amen

Time and Chance

 

An Emoji Devotional for Thursday, March 16, 2023

Topic: Time and Chance

Highlights: Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. 1 Corinthians 9:26

I have observed something else under the sun. The fastest runner doesn’t always win the race, and the strongest warrior doesn’t always win the battle. The wise sometimes go hungry, and the skillful are not necessarily wealthy. And those who are educated don’t always lead successful lives. It is all decided by chance, by being in the right place at the right time. Ecclesiastes 9:11 NLT

Don’t count on your warhorse to give you victory— for all its strength, it cannot save you. But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love, Psalms 33:17-18 NLT+NIV

The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the LORD. Proverbs 21:31

Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. in all your ways submit to him, and he will show you which path to take. Proverbs 3:5-6 NLT + NIV

Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. Matthew 6:33 NLT

One everything we do, Let us remember that We need God to accomplish our goals. We need God to achieve breakthroughs. We need God in everything we do. Please Let us not be weary to seek His plans because time and chances of success are in His hands. Howbeit, if only we can put our confidence in Him for our success and Believe. Nothing is impossible to those who Believe. Believe in God today!

Prayer: Prevail oh Lord and build me on the solid rock of faith to prosper in your riches and in your glory. I rely on you Father God in heaven in Jesus name.

Tarry Ye Till I come

 

An Emoji Devotional for Tue March 14, 2023

Topic: Tarry Ye Till I come

Highlights: 

And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high. Luke 24:49

Someone who is called God's child must have said to himself "I understand God's way by my ability to obey and to do what God says in details". At the brim of staggering in our walks with Him we all need power to follow His instructions. David wrote the Psalms to encourage and to remind and to propel, inspire and sometimes invite God to guide Him in His walks with God. Abraham is a very strong man in His prime time for His ability to obey and to do according to what God had command. Most time we wonder why the Children of Israel could not just stay put in their loyalty and respect to God's command. After another king they go back and walk in their evil ways. It's because we need power from on high to understand, obey and do God's will. Genesis 17:19, 2Kings 17:22

James 1:23 "Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror"

Elisha knew He might got Carried away if he was not careful. So He kept following his master until the chariot of fire came to pick Him up. As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind. Elisha saw this and cried out, "My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!" And Elisha saw him no more. 2Kings 2:11-12

Tarrying means to continue shield your Spiritual engine that has he ability to obey and do God's will. Because the more we do so, we will continue to have joy of salvation and positioning for the power of the Holy Ghost. 

The tongue of fire has a position for those who can Tarry at the spot of it's whirlwind will receive it as glory on their head and be endued with power. God is the giver of Power and whatever He says do: Tarry Ye Till I come - What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’” Mark 13:37

Prayer: Not my will but let your Will be done Oh Lord in my life in Jesus name. Amen

March Forward

 An Emoji Devotional for Mon, 13 March 2023

Topic: March Forward

Highlights: 

The righteous keep moving forward, and those with clean hands become stronger and stronger. Job 17:9 NLT

Come, let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come to him with thanksgiving. Let us sing psalms of praise to him. For the Lord is a great God, a great King above all gods. He holds in his hands the depths of the earth and the mightiest mountains. The sea belongs to him, for he made it. His hands formed the dry land, too. Come, let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before the Lord our maker, for he is our God. We are the people he watches over, the flock under his care. If only you would listen to his voice today! The Lord says, “Don’t harden your hearts as Israel did at Meribah, as they did at Massah in the wilderness. For there your ancestors tested and tried my patience, even though they saw everything I did. For forty years I was angry with them, and I said, ‘They are a people whose hearts turn away from me. They refuse to do what I tell them.’ So in my anger I took an oath: ‘They will never enter my place of rest.’”

Psalms 95:1‭-‬11 NLT

Prayer: Father, Give us grace to do what you tell us so we can have peace and rest. 

Urge to Succumb

 

An Emoji Devotional for Sat, March 11 2023

Topic: Urge to Succumb

Highlights: 

“Yahweh our God spoke to us at Horeb, saying, ‘You have stayed long enough at this mountain. Deuteronomy 1:6 LSB

I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. John 4:18

There may be some burden in your heart but you should not feel that God is not concerned. God knows you weep and why you do not eat and why your heart is sad? He said Am I not better to you than everything in this world? “For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?

Matthew 6:25-26 LSB

God knows your struggles and know what you need. You have stayed long enough at this mountain. That urge to murmur or groan is on you but do not let it come out of your mouth to report that urge. 

Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” John 11:40

An instruction from God will precede the victory over that urge to retreat into wrong decision that surrender to defeat. Do not stay too long on the urge but rather bless the Lord at all times and Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, i say, on the LORD.

Turn and set out, and go to the hill country..... as far as the great river, the river Euphrates. See, I have given over the land before you; go in and possess the land which Yahweh swore to give to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to them and to their seed after them.’

 Deuteronomy 1:7‭-‬8

Trust in the promise. Release the urge and do not let it injure your progress no matter what. 

Prayer: God of Isreal give me peace; and grant your petitions that I have asked of you according to your riches in glory in Jesus name. Amen 

How can I come to spiritual maturity and be ready to enter the kingdom of God?

An Emoji Devotional for Thursday, March 9 2023

Topic: How can I come to spiritual maturity and be ready to enter the kingdom of God?

By Pastor Hans Wenger

Growth takes time, but the good news is that the moment you got saved by the grace of God, you became a citizen of the kingdom of God and you will be admitted to this glorious but still invisible land, if only you remain a true disciple of Christ. 

The big danger we are facing is the problem of back-sliding. We read the gospel and we are touched by God’s grace. We read the Sermon on the Mount and we tremble over the seriousness of God’s demand for a holy life. We realize that none of us can remain clean before God and that everybody is totally dependent on God’s grace and mercy. Considering what Jesus adds to the law of old, it is very clear that we all are haughty, hypocritical and corrupt, we all are murderers, adulterers, perjurers, revenge seekers and evil judges of others. In contrast to this Jesus demands: “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Matthew 5, 44 – 48)

Even teachers of the Holy Scripture have succumbed to the theory that the Sermon of the Mount is an unreachable ideal, nobody can live out and therefore it would not make any sense to aspire toward it. Men and women found many interpretations to circumvent the Sermon of the Mount and other parts of the biblical teaching. Did Scripture not tell us, that we only have to confess to Jesus our transgressions and that he would forgive and cleanse us? With that people are encouraged to live as they please and it is enough to repent once in a while and demand forgiveness. This is exactly what Bonhoeffer called cheap grace. He illustrated that with a short story. The children did not want to go to bed in the evening. Then the father entered their room and commanded: “Children, you have to go to bed now. I do not want you to be tired in the morning. You need your sleep.” The father left the room and the children gathered together and praised the goodness of the father, who does not want them tired. “But”, they said, “Because we can relax by playing as well as we could by sleeping, our good father really meant, that we should continue with our play.” Which earthly father would tolerate that? Why should or heavenly Father be content with it? There is no cheap grace. Hebrew 12:14 tells us: “Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no-one will see the Lord.”

God wants us to aspire towards a holy and perfect life. Scripture encourages us time and again to lay down the works of our flesh and to put on the newness of life. “Liberalism has awakened a tendency to adapt scripture to a fleshly pagan lifestyle, whereas scripture tells us: “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” (Ephesians 4:22 – 24; compare, Ephesians 5:1 – 20; Philippians 2:1 – 16:3, 13 – 21; Colossians 3:1 – 17; 1. Corinthians 6:1 – 20; Galatians 5:13 – 26 and many more) 

Flee liberalism and the ideas of the falsely so called enlightenment, which teaches that man has to free himself from moral and religious boundaries. He has to exit out of his self-inflicted immaturity by setting his own logical law and rule. God’s rules, standards and laws are not needed anymore. Through his own reasoning, man has outgrown his dependence or a law, given by a higher authority. The present chaos and lawlessness among people shows us, especially in the western world, what such a theory leads to. John 1 makes us clear that God’s word is Jesus in written form and the same word has created everything and is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore stay close to the word of God and submerse yourself into it and follow it in obedience!

On the same token flee legalism, because it destroys love and relationship. Often times, legalism is a counter reaction to liberalism, but it divides and paralyzes the body of Christ. The body of Christ has many members and many tasks. Before anything else, we are called to love and appreciate each other in high esteem; even if we may differ here and there in our understanding of scripture. If we are born-again and can wholeheartedly agree to the Apostolic confession of faith, we are brothers and sisters and should do our best to love each other with the love Christ has commanded us in John 13, 34 – 35; 14, 23; 15, 9 – 16 and in many other references trough out the bible, especially in the Epistels of the apostle John.

Knowledge of God’s word connected with the love of Christ Jesus is the only real way for spiritual maturity and spiritual maturity means intimate knowledge of God. In John 17, 3 Jesus tells us: “Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.“

In Hosea, Chapter 4 the Lord laments: “There is no faithfulness, no love, no acknowledgment of God in the land. There is only cursing, lying and murder, stealing and adultery; they break all bounds, and bloodshed follows bloodshed. Because of this the land dries up, and all who live in it waste away; the beasts of the field, the birds in the sky and the fish in the sea are swept away.” It is very interesting what the Lord says here, especially, if we take verse 6 with it. “My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. ‘Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you as my priests; because you have ignored the law of your God, I also will ignore your children“.   Just think for a moment what this could mean concerning our daily complaints about the climate change and the dangers of it? 

Our faith needs to be rooted in the word of God for being deep and stable. 

The question in that stage is not any more whether we will enter the kingdom of God or not. We are already living in the kingdom of God because we have it in us. Remember, Father and Son entered our heart and made a dwelling within us and we became a temple of the Holy Spirit. The more we trust and live with the Christ in us, the more we are already living in the kingdom of God and we only wait that our life, Christ, gets revealed and we with him in glory. 

We are never to forget, what 1. John 4, 4 – 6 tell us: „You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood.”

In Ephesians 4, 11 – 16   Paul tells us the aim of growth: “So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed to and fro by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus let me be a faithful student of your word and reveal your knowledge and your wonders to me. Let me grow to a perfectly functioning member of your body, guided by you as the loving and caring head of the body. Amen

How can I live a God pleasing life?

An Emoji Devotional for Monday, March 6 2023

Topic: How can I live a God pleasing life?

By Pastor Hans Wenger

After having surrendered to God and dedicated my future life to his guidance, I need to look back and see what has really happened. I have left the rule of darkness, sin and death. Through the blood of Jesus, he shed for me on the cross, I got cleansed from all of my sins and I have been legally admitted into the kingdom of God. I have Jesus Christ accepted as my Lord and Redeemer and he has entered my heart and dwells now within me. This makes me to his follower and disciple. 

Before Jesus went back to the Father, he commissioned his disciples as follows: ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’

The next step now is learning to obey God’s commandments and to get baptized. Baptism is a visual depiction of what happened in the spirit. By getting immersed into the water, I am dying with Christ to this present world, and by emerging from the water I am re-birthed into a new life in the kingdom of God. I am now born-again out of water and spirit. The Holy Spirit has entered me when I invited Jesus into my heart. With the Holy Spirit I received eternal life and that means that I have regained the life Adam and Eve and all of mankind have lost in their fall in Paradise. The eternal life and the glory of it are not yet fully visible. They remain hidden in God until Jesus Christ will be revealed as the King of the kingdom of God in the latter days. (Colossians 3:1 – 4) 

It is very helpful to read Chapter 3:1 - 21 in the Gospel of John at this juncture. As I am now born again and have received the Holy Spirit, I am now equipped for the understanding of the word of God. “The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.” (1. Corinthians 2:14)

In order to obey God’s commandments, I need to know them and that is the reason I need to immerse myself now into the word of God. I recommend starting with the Gospel of John. It depicts best that following Christ has nothing to do with religion, but everything with relationship with God and with people.  Also Matthew Chapter 3 to 7 can be very helpful to understand that there is no way for us to reach salvation through keeping the law. We will always fall short and therefore need God’s grace and mercy. On the same token it is very important that you surround yourself with a group of followers of Christ with whom you can exchange your thoughts and experiences. I do not need to figure out everything myself. It can be very helpful to ask and to discuss the meaning and understanding of different topics. 

I am now trying to just give you some guidelines that may be helpful in your walk with the Lord.

Faith and trust 

“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.“ (Hebrew 11:1) We all live in this present world, but we are Aliens, we are citizens of the kingdom of God. That means that between what we know to be true and our daily experience is a gap. As we begin to walk with the Lord, this can irritate us. We know we have eternal life, but we experience dividing death. We are therefore in danger to somehow weaken the assurance about what we do not see. I hold it for true that Jesus will come again and rapture his church, but I do not much to be ready for encountering him. To hold something for true and to have faith are two different things. Faith knows that what is promised will come into existence, no matter what and it fully and literally trusts every word of God. 

An artist had a rope stretched over a big waterfall and balanced back and forth over the roaring waters. He then took a wheelbarrow and pushed it over the waters. As he was back again he addressed the crowd by asking: “Do you trust me that I can sit a man into the wheelbarrow and cross the chasm again?” The crowd jeered and scanted: “We trust you, we trust you,” but got very quiet when he asked: “Who volunteers?” Suddenly a young man stepped forward and said: “I do!” He safely crossed the waters with the artist and the crowd jeered again. The young man had faith and trust. The crowd only held it for true, but doubted in the heart. 

Have faith in the word and take it literally for you and you will make wonderful experiences with God.

Surrender and dedication.

In my conversion, I have surrendered to God, received the Holy Spirit and became a child of God. I do not need to repeat that. However, by trying to be a sincere follower of Christ, I will catch myself time and again with mistakes and sins. This can discourage me and I may hold myself for a failure or just pretend that my behavior is not sinful and flawed at all. Both reactions are wrong. The apostle John teaches us in his first Epistle about the subject. I will just quote the main verses from the first chapter, but it is very helpful to read chapter 2 as well.

“This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.” (1. John 1:5 – 10)

This is not a new conversion; it is much more a means of sanctification and growth. 

We need to dedicate ourselves to discipline, to prayer and to the study of the bible. If I struggle time and again with the same sin, it may be helpful to talk about it with a friend or to go for counseling. I need to force myself to reserve a certain time of the day for my audience with God and for my prayers. If we do not fix a prayer time, we may have not time for prayer. The devil does not want us to study the word and to pray.    

Obedience

Follow the word of God in your heart. Recently I had to give my opinion about a man, who does some questionable teaching and I judged him rather harshly. On the same day I searched for the parable of the speck and the plank. The bible server guided me to Mathew 7. I opened it and the first thing I saw were the following verses: “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way as you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. These are the verses 1 and 2 of Matthew 7 and with verse 3 the parable of the speck and the plank begins. I was caught cold. I had grossly violated respect and love for the brother in question. Nevertheless my ego searched for justification and a way out. Well, I was concerned about missing clarity and truth was kind of an excuse, but in my heart I was fully convicted that I had sinned against God and a brother. I had to repent according to first John 1:9.

Do not try to justify yourself, as I did, when you feel in your heart that you are guilty. Come to Christ and confess in obedience to his word. If you try to escape, you are saddening the Holy Spirit.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me to follow you as your diligent disciple. Help me to grow and to be changed into your example. Thank you for helping me and for being with me at all times. I love you and I want to learn from you. Amen

 

How can I come to spiritual maturity and be ready to enter the kingdom of God?

My future as a follower of Christ Jesus

How can I become a disciple, a follower of Jesus Christ?

 An Emoji Devotional for Fri, March 3 2023

Topic: How can I become a disciple, a follower of Jesus Christ?

By Pastor Hans Wenger

Do you know Jesus Christ? Before following somebody and even much more important, allowing to be educated and thought by somebody, we should certainly know, who that person really is. Let us check out, what we know about him. Talking about him, we need to forget about religion or about a religious system. Although Christianity as we know it has built such e system, it is never what he meant. His life on earth was much more geared to destroy the religious system of the Scribes, the Pharisees and the Sadducees. Jesus Christ was strictly and thoroughly relational concerning the divine and the profane. He did not introduce a new religious cult, but made clear that everything is dependent on the personal relationship between God and man as well as between man and man. One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: ‘Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?’ Jesus replied: ‘“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.’ (Matthew 22:35 – 40) 

Let us hear what the Apostle Paul says about Jesus Christ in his Epistle to the Colossians: “For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation – if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant. (Colossians 1:13 – 23)

Jesus Christ is fully God and fully man and therefore the mediator between God and man. “I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people – for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time.” (Apostle Paul, in 1. Timothy 2:1 – 6)

Now, as we know just a little of who, Jesus Christ is, we will look how he invited people to follow him. He began his preaching by telling: “Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 4:17b) “As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen.‘ Come, follow me,’ Jesus said, ‘and I will send you out to fish for people.’ At once they left their nets and followed him. Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.” (Matthew 4:18 – 21) 

It is today exactly the same as it has been then. Jesus calls people to follow him and he will give them rest and life eternal. He is man’s only chance to get saved from certain death and condemnation. The story of Peter and Andrew, James and John make us clear that following Jesus is not only a decision, but a turn around, a change of direction. They turn away from what has been determined their lives till now and submit now to a new direction. Jesus taught: ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?’ 

The same way it has not been cheap for God to reconcile us – it has cost him his beloved son – it is not cheap for us to surrender our lives to God. It costs us our phantasies about life and accepting that true life cannot be found but in God. Even though our walk with God is likely to begin with a prayer of surrender, it is much more than just a prayer of surrender. In Luke 15 Jesus tells us the parable of the two lost sons. The younger one has searched his life in worldly pleasures. He went away from the father. His repentance was not so the prayer (Luke 15, : “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants,” but much more in the humility to turn back to the Father and the acknowledgment that his own way has brought him almost to his demise. His return triggered the Father’s mercy and grace and he was accepted as a “new-born” son. “‘But the father said to his servants, “Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.” So they began to celebrate.

The Father waits for you too! Make the decision to go back to him and be a follower of Christ Jesus. You will not be rejected. John tells us about Jesus: “He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God – children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.” (John 1:11 – 13) Moreover, Jesus said in Luke 15:7: “I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who do not need to repent.”

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father. I acknowledge that I have lived my life without you. I have searched my own way and I have sinned against you by searching for fulfillment outside of you. I am guilty before you and I pray for your mercy and grace. I truly repent from all my crooked ways. Thank you that your son, Jesus Christ, has paid for me with his blood and that I therefore can be clean before you through your grace. Please come into my heart and guide me in your ways through your Holy Spirit. Renew me from the inside out. Thank you that you accept me as your born again son / daughter. Amen. 

Tell somebody your decision today and look for a community of true followers of Christ, with whom you can share life. The blessings of the Almighty God be with you!

 

 

How can I live a God pleasing life?

How can I come to spiritual maturity and be ready to enter the kingdom of God?

My future as a follower of Christ Jesus