Travail

Emoji Devotional for Friday 21th November, 2021

Topic: Travail

Highlight Bible Verse:

  

About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?" (which means "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"). Matthew 27:46

Women engage in painful and laborious effort during childbirth is why they need our prayers.

Psalms 48:6 "Fear took hold upon them there, [and] pain, as of a woman in travail."

With travail in context there is pain and there are struggles, there is trial and there maybe tribulation. But travail is a positive thing and it happens to everyone in pursuit of righteousness, freedom and Justice because after travail, good things definitely follow and it's the reward of child bearing. "And it came to pass in the time

of her travail, that, behold, twins [were] in her womb." Genesis 36:27

Are you currently facing a travailing situation in your spiritual, business, health or even mental life? 

In Exodus 18:8 "And Moses told his father in law all that the LORD had done unto Pharaoh and to the Egyptians for Israel's sake, [and] all the travail that had come upon them by the way, and [how] the LORD delivered them."

Are travailing right now, do not give up, your child (reward) is on its way. There is 98% chances that millions of others are travailing on something. It's a normal thing to God and when you trust God, Travail soon will turn to prevail.

"Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all." Psalms 34:19

Remember that "Creation may travail in pain but it cannot escape its destiny."

When you Travail in life, make sure you travail in righteousness and not for vain conceit. Let's conclude with these two Bible verses to ponder on then we'll pray.

 

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:10

And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. 1 John 2:17

Let us Pray: Father Lord change my story to your glory. Strengthen me when I pass through difficult times and stay with me in good times. Please Lord, Do not forsake me in Jesus name. Amen.

The Mystery of Camel and Needle Eye

An Emoji devotions for Sat Nov 20, 2021

Topic: The Mystery of Camel and Needle Eye

Highlights: 

Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” Matthew 19:24

Camel walks, thinks, and lives in the realm of possibilities. The needle has played a major part in the development of our civilization and our standard of living. Its a social thing as the fashion designer would skillfully uses thread and needle to design beautiful attires so does God uses people to shape the society. The world is like robe that God is actually shaping to fit into His body. In order to carve His design, God needs people who will surrender themselves to His will as a "thread" which will pass through His needle's eye. Here is a Bible passage:

Then I heard the Lord asking, “Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?” I said, “Here I am. Send me.” 

Isaiah 6:8

Anyone who surrender themselves to God for his purpose to shape the world for a better place is a thread in God's needles eye. Such person has genuinely become God's messenger who can be referred to as God's Camel. 

How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!” Isaiah 52:7

When God calls anyone His Camel, such person is genuinely His messenger. These special set of people humble themselves to even receive from God. Camels kneel down to take water from their Lord.

But as for rich people! They will not let God use them because they are rich.

"but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful." Mark 4:19

God's Camel do have their places in God's Kingdom. In short they have their food and water specially arranged by God because With His Camel, the Journey and Mission is possible.

Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man [who places his faith in wealth and status] to enter the kingdom of God.”

Prayer: O Lord, Your words are pure. Please help me to keep and preserve them to my next generations. In Jesus name. Amen

The Upward Way

 

An Emoji devotions for Fri November 19, 2021

Topic: The upward way

Highlights: 

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6

But small is the gate and narrow and difficult to travel is the path that leads the way to [everlasting] life, and there are few who find it.

Matthew 7:14 AMP

When a note is missing in music then you try to find it, while you keep on trying to hit the correct note and you can't all you need to do is to leave the song and find someone who could carry the note to take it. No matter how you try to sing, if you are hitting the wrong note people will not enjoy the song. The problem could stem from the instrumentalist and then to the audience. Even loved ones cannot bear the sound of a wrong note being sang by their family or friends. They will rather advice the fellow if everything is okay. 

The way that Jesus is talking about is not like the journey we walk with physical feet. It is just not that type of way. It is the right way - "The right way to do things". Let's revise the verse again fixing the phrase "the right way to do things" in John 14:6

Jesus answered, “I am the (the right way to do things) and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6

Your life depends on doing things right. Schooling ourselves in Jesus academy with the help of the Bible will give us the ability to do things the right way. 

In Matthew 7:14 Jesus Christ affirm that only few knows the right way things are done that pleases God. "But small is the gate and narrow and difficult to travel is the path that leads the way to [everlasting] life, and there are few who find it."

So sometimes or most times we could be wrong because It is difficult to go through the small gate. And it is difficult to walk on the narrow road. But when you do go that way, you will get true life. Not many people find that narrow gate.’ And even some people who find the Narrow gate may not be able to enter into it because it is an upward way. Once you are heavy there is no heaven. It is easier for a Camel to pass through the eye of a Needle and it is even more difficult for a rich person to let God rule in their life. 

Are you hitting the note right? Are you living in the truth? Is this in God's plan? See if you are genuinely born again or you are that big man who has setup a standard of selfrighteousness, who would not let God rule but thinking that God is ruling. 

PRAYER

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting! In Jesus Name. 

My Mind is for Jesus

 An Emoji devotions for Sun 14th Nov, 2021

Topic: My mind is for Jesus

Highlights: 

If we say that we are living in God's true way, then we must live in the way that Jesus lived.

1 John 2:6 

The earth was without shape and it was empty. Deep water covered the earth and everywhere was dark. The Spirit of God moved above the water. God said, ‘There will be light!’ And there was light.  Can our light be like the light of Christ? The love of God is perfected in Him. In John 13:34, Christ commanded us to love one another. We should live in the light as He is in the light. Those who loves Jesus must live as he lives by loving others. 

Show that you love other people. Remember how much Christ loved us. He gave himself as a sacrifice on our behalf. He offered himself in a way that pleased God, like a sacrifice with a lovely smell. You are for Jesus, and your Spirit is for him likewise. Show the world that your mind is for Jesus.

Prayer: Jesus you live forever deep inside of me as my role model and my King. My mind belongs to you. Take control. 

Waking up for the big transition

An Emoji devotions for Fri 12th Nov, 2021

Topic: Waking up for the big transition

All the Prophets of the Old Testament did not only prophecy judgment, but also a peaceful, glorious time to come after the horrors of the wrath of the Lamb. Jesus himself confirmed what the prophets have promised, that the people or Israel would be gathered again in its territory of old and would prosper there. The generation of our fathers and our own generation could watch how the country of Israel was resurrected step by step and developed to one of the leading nations of this world.

 Technically and agriculturally it rose from a barren and deserted and dry land to a wonderful irrigated garden, out of which many goods are exported into the whole world. In Isaiah 51 God says through his prophet: “Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness and who seek the Lord: Look to the rock from which you were cut and to the quarry from which you were hewn; look to Abraham, your father, and to Sarah, who gave you birth. When I called him he was only one man, and I blessed him and made him many. The Lord will surely comfort Zion and will look with compassion on all her ruins; he will make her deserts like Eden, her wastelands like the garden of the Lord. 

Joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and the sound of singing. “Listen to me, my people; hear me, my nation: Instruction will go out from me; my justice will become a light to the nations.” Many of us have witnessed all of the stages, but only few are aware that Jesus prophesied that the generation who is alive for these events will live till all of it has happened: “Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” (Matthew 24:34-35.) 

This means, that our generation will see the snapping away of the church and everybody, who is not ready for the rapture will have to enter into the seven years of judgment that are described in the book of revelation. The big transitions will take place in two very different phases, one very short one and one that will drag on for a total of seven years. 

At the sound of the last trumpet the rapture of the church will take place, which will take away about half of the confessing church of Christ according to the parable of the Ten Virgins in Matthew 25. Lots of people will disappear in the twinkling of an eye and all of those who are left behind will go through the judgments depicted in the book of revelation and one quarter of the world’s population will die in the first half of the seven years, either by sword, famine and plague or by the wild beasts. (Revelation 6, 8) With the disappearance of the church all hell will break lose on earth, because nothing will hinder evil anymore. The only way to be raptured and to escape the wrath of the Lamb is to accept Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior and to live with him.

It is high time all of us, who are believers, went to our friends, neighbors, relatives, to everybody we care for, to the roads and country lines to implore people to sign up for the Great Banquet (Luke 14:15-24). The days of judgment will be terrible and we would not even wish for our enemies to live through it. We have to wake up for a great rescue mission by inviting people into the kingdom of God. Eternity will not have a neutral place. We are going either to heaven or to hell. Both places are real. Naturally we are all on our way to hell and there is no way we can earn heaven on our own. We need the redeemer who has paid for our sins and transgression. He is inviting us to come to him by acknowledging that we are sinners, to give him the Lordship over our lives and to follow him. He then gives us life eternal and a place in heaven due to his mercy and grace. 

 Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, I confess that I have kept your gospel often times for me, instead of urging the people around me to accept you as their Lord and Savior. Please give me the strength and love to implore everybody I am caring for to turn to you and to get saved by you. Let me be your witness and servant in these last days of the world as we know it. Amen.

My life’s pathway before the Lord

An Emoji devotions for Thu, November 11, 2021

Topic: My life’s pathway before the Lord

By Pastor Hans

Highlights:

A person may think their own ways are right, but the Lord weighs the heart. To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice. Haughty eyes and a proud heart— the unplowed field of the wicked —produce sin. (Proverbs 21:2 - 4)

 I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them. For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people. Everyone has heard about your obedience, so I rejoice because of you; but I want you to be wise about what is good, and innocent about what is evil. The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you. (Romans 16:17 – 20)

The New Testament tells us time and again that the King of Kings will return and we are supposed to watch and be ready for his arrival. “Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him.” (Luke 12:35 – 36, just to mention only one reference out of the many). The main cause is the kingdom of God and all our efforts are supposed to let it shine, like it did when Jesus himself has walked the earth. He has sent us into the world, the same way his Father has sent him into the world (John 17, 18 and 20, 21) and he wanted us to win souls for his kingdom with a holy life as he has depicted it in the beatitudes and in all of his teachings. It is his kingdom we are supposed to be building, not our own.

 Exactly here are some dangers for all of us, because we all suffer from an inherent conceit with the tendency to believe that we are quite good people and that our path is quite strait and comparably well. Yes, we readily admit that we too have faults, but they are easily explainable with our deficient circumstances. Therefore we all believe that our own ways are quite right. It is a sacrifice to admit before the Lord that my own ways are crooked and that my conceitedness produces sin. The Lord weighs the heart and only the broken heart that is aware of its own depravity has the right weight. 

After the Apostle Paul has put down the theological concept of the gospel to the church in Rome, he sends many individual greetings to the people he personally knows. The church in Rome is in a good standing and he commends it for the exemplary obedience. Nevertheless he is concerned about the people who cause divisions, who do not serve the kingdom of God, but try to build their own kingdom with deceit. He commands the church to keep away from them as they intertwine good and evil. He wants the church to be wise about what is good and innocent about what is evil. Evil has to be rooted out and that begins in my heart. If my heart is haughty, proud and conceited, I will produce sin, no matter how much truth I may spread. I need to be separated from everything that is evil. There is no other way to serve the good. People who ignore that are serving the evil, even if they may include some truth. Whoever serves evil will be crushed together with Satan under the feet of the church, when the God of peace appears. 

Prayer: Dear heavenly Father, please search my heart. I do want to separate myself from everything that is evil. I am a sinner before you, but through Jesus Christ you have redeemed and accepted me. I praise you for your mercy and grace. Lead me through your Holy Spirit that I am wise in all that is good and innocent in all that is evil. Amen

 

Where do I go to? What is my destiny?

 

An Emoji devotions for Wednesday Nov 10, 2021

Topic: Where do I go to? What is my destiny?

by Pastor Hans

Highlights: Who among you fears the Lord and obeys the word of his servant? Let the one who walks in the dark, who has no light, trust in the name of the Lord and rely on their God. (Isaiah 50:10)

We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. (2 Peter 1: 19)

In Isaiah 50 the Prophet speaks about Israel’s sin and the total obedience of God’s servant. Jesus is sent into a dark place where he gets misunderstood, rejected and mistreated, but he knows one thing for sure: “I offered my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard; I did not hide my face from mocking and spitting. Because the Sovereign Lord helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore have I set my face like flint, and I know I will not be put to shame. He who vindicates me is near. Who then will bring charges against me? Let us face each other! Who is my accuser? Let him confront me!” (Isaiah 50:6 – 8)

 It is in that context that he invites people, who walk in the dark with no light, but fear the Lord and follow the word of his servant, to trust in the name of the Lord and to rely on God. The servant, who is the living word of God himself, knows the future of light: “The sun will no more be your light by day, nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you, for the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory. Your sun will never set again, and your moon will wane no more; the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your days of sorrow will end. (Isaiah 60: 19 – 20)

There are times of darkness in our lives. We may feel trapped and stuck and every way out seems to be blocked. Peter is at the end of his earthly life, but he has two anchors to hold on to. One is his experience with the Lord himself, especially the transfiguration and the second one is the prophetic word, which he knows to be completely reliable. Peter knows that he is going out of the present darkness into the light and this is exactly, what is my and your destiny, if only we are followers of Christ Jesus. The living God told us the end from the beginning. By following him we do not know the details that are coming our way, but we know that we are called back to our creator to live together with him in his radiant light. Your destiny as a child of God is everlasting life in his presence. 

Prayer: Thank you Lord Jesus for being the servant of God, who has set your face like flint and you were not disgraced nor put to shame, but given a name, who is above all names. Give me the strength to trust in you, like you trusted in your father. Help me to put my face like flint by looking only up to your light, as you are my light and the light of the world. Jesus, in your holy name I pray.

Amen.