Great reward from dependency on God versus total loss on my own way (Continuation of yesterday’s devotional)

 An Emoji Devotional for Thu 17 November, 2022

Topic: Great reward from dependency on God versus total loss on my own way (Continuation of yesterday’s devotional) 

By Hans Wenger

Highlights:‘Watch out that no-one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, “I am the Messiah,” and will deceive many.’ (Matthew 24:4 – 5) 

‘No-one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light. Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are healthy,[generous] your whole body also is full of light. But when they are unhealthy,[stingy] your body also is full of darkness. See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness. Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be just as full of light as when a lamp shines its light on you.’ (Luke 11:33 – 36) 

And if your eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell. (Matthew 18:9) 

‘The King will reply, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” (Matthew 25:40)‘He will reply, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.” ‘Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.’ Matthew 25:45 – 46) 

When the disciples asked Jesus about the end times, he foremost warned them not to be deceived. They are to cling to the written word of God and to be filled with the Holy Spirit to have the right discernment. Our eyes can easily deceive us. Satan can be camouflaged as an Angel of light and we are in danger to fall for it, if we do not stay with what the scriptures tell us and what the Holy Spirit reveals to us out of the word of God. Even for many people, who call themselves Christians it is more important, how they look at the word of God in their own understanding, than to ask what God meant with it. For example many think that perfect love allows everybody to live according to their own will. True love, however, warns against reckless living without observing God’s rules for fruitful living. The light we mean to have can therefore be darkness before God. If so, we need to repent and to radically turn around. Not my point of view is the measuring stick, but God’s point of view. Often times we would rather follow our opinion, because it may sound much less radical than what the Bible is telling us. “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world – the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life – comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives for ever.” (1. John 2: 15 – 17) Jesus is therefore very clear in Matthew 18. If you can’t avert your eye from the deception, throw it away. It is much better to be saved with only one eye than losing your reward or even your eternal life. In Matthew 25 Jesus makes it very clear that missing from action leads as well to the loss of eternal live. Jesus acknowledges that the people to his right have fed him, visited him and so on. Only these people do not remember such incidents and so they ask him, when that was. They did it to one of the least of his brothers and sisters and so they did it for him. Those who are sent away, they did not do it at all and so they get condemned. They were concentrated on themselves only. Whoever lives to please Jesus in the present body tent will be richly rewarded. Matthew 10:42 teaches us: “And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.’ On the other hand people who do not search to live according to the word of God, will be in for big losses and may even miss life eternal. 

Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, lead me to walk in your light and reveal every dark spot to me. Keep me from sinning against your love and help me to let my little light shine under you, as you shine as the light of the world. Thank you, that you even promise reward for what I am only able to do through you. Amen

Expecting The Glorified Body And The Reward

 An Emoji Devotional for Wed, 16 November 2022

Topic: Expecting the glorified body and the reward 

By Pastor Hans Wenger

Highlights: Listen, I tell you a mystery: we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed – in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: ‘Death has been swallowed up in victory.’ (1. Corinthians 15:51 – 54) 

For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. For we live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due to us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. (2. Corinthians 5:1–10) 

Paul is very committed to deliver us the hard facts. We are living in a tent that will be destroyed, but in Christ we will have an eternal home which will be imperishable. He reminds us that by living in the tent, we should please God with our deeds, because there will be a day of accountability for what we have done and all our deeds will be rewarded. The word of God makes clear that this appearance before the judgment seat of Christ is not a question of life or death, but a test on how well we have built our lives on the only foundation, which is Christ. To live according to his word in his footsteps means to build with gold, silver and costly stones, to live as Christian with our own ideas on how things should be means to build with wood, hay and straw. Compare 1. Corinthians 3:11–15. Who has built with strong material will receive reward and who has built with material that burns will suffer damage, but will be saved as one escaping through the flames. The Corinthians did not go to the foundation, which is Christ alone, but clung to words of impressive men of their time. We are deceived and build wrongly whenever we trust on what men tell us and not on the inspired word of God. Jesus warns us in Luke 11:35 to watch over the light within us: “See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness”. Our eyes need to be enlightened by the light of the world, which is Jesus alone. If they draw light from another source, we fill our body with darkness and are set up for building with wood, hay and straw. Paul knows that Christ alone is his life and has therefore the freedom to speak in very encouraging terms of death. It is the reward for sin and is the last enemy that will be swallowed up in the resurrection and in the swallowing up from the mortal through the immortal. He knows that the destruction of the tent-body needs to give him more than it can take away from him, so much so that he even longs to leave his body and to be at home with the Lord. Allowing darkness in our life will lead us to great loss whereas orientation on Jesus alone will bring us great reward. The choice is ours.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, please flood me with your light, fill me with your spirit so that I will avoid any false light that can distract me from clear sight. Thank you that death is only a change from the perishable tent to the eternal building you have prepared for me in heaven. I long to be with you and I long to live in your glory. Amen.

The Great Channel

 An Emoji Devotional for Fri 11, November, 2022

Topic: The Great Channel

Highlights:

God’s Love in Christ Jesus
What then shall we say to this? If God is for us, who is against us? Romans 8:31

When it comes to comparing God's wisdom, No one can outsmart it. God's wisdom is fast, securely design and accurate and God has all the resources to back His decision. He is the most advanced in creative super-works of life. Someone somewhere created an artificial atomic missile bomb with the aim of destroying the world which God had created. If God did not approve the destruction of the world, no one will destroy it.

God is multilateral in His ways. God can create and defend His creation. Though He can destroy when necessary, but It's not in His will to destroy His us (Genesis 9:11)

And When God be for us, no one can be against us. It sounds like play but it's the reality. Jesus Christ came to save the world, and I doubt if anyone or any organization can sabotage His plans. All the exaggerated bragging are just rumours as only Heaven has got the main authority to decide what happens to the earth. Matthew 24:6

What about your life? Is it written in Christ scroll among the names that Jesus would save? Have you surrendered your life to Jesus Christ to save you and be your shepherd? John 6:39 "And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day."

Tune to the great channel of Christ, read your Bible, listen to should lifting messages from anointed preachers of the gospel, sing and worship God, pray to Him, attune your heart to the great channel. Work for Him (in His vineyard). Get trained to be His servant and tell others about how wonderful your Jesus is.  This is what will save your soul from the tension going on around the world now. Join the Great Channel of Heaven today. Leave the world with the noise so you can have peace and joy. 1John 2:15

Now you know. Psalms 16:11 Thou dost show me the path of life;
in thy presence there is fulness of joy,
in thy right hand are pleasures for evermore. Create God's presence around you where you will worship and attune to your maker. The world itself is full of troubles. Thank you Holy Spirit for the message.

Prayer: Father, I understand that it's not me that has to fight, but you will fight for me to give me maximum security in life. Today, I can The great channel of heaven in Jesus name. Amen

Magical Enemy

 An Emoji Devotions for Tue 23 February, 2021

Topic: Magical Enemy

There is an evil I have seen under the sun, the sort of error that arises from a ruler: Fools are put in many high positions, while the rich occupy the low ones. I have seen slaves on horseback,
    while princes go on foot like slaves.
Whoever digs a pit may fall into it;
    whoever breaks through a wall may be bitten by a snake. Whoever quarries stones may be injured by them;
    whoever splits logs may be endangered by them.  If the ax is dull
    and its edge unsharpened, more strength is needed, but skill will bring success. Ecclesiastes 7: 5-10

From the Bible reading above. It is very clear that humans create errors with their imaginations and these imaginations lands them into the pit or to the venomous spits of snakes. The pit did not force you to come but you dug a pit and yet fell into it. Also the snake was lying gently on its own but you went to break into its home and found that a snake spitting at you. All these things started from imagination.

Consider why wise people are lying waste in the city while the unlearned are ruling in the government. 1Cor 10:23 CEV says "Some of you say, “We can do whatever we want to!” But I tell you that not everything may be good or helpful." Fools are placed in many positions and slaves riding on horseback but the rich occupy low ones and princes go on foot like slaves.

1 Samuel 13 Amon was so in love with his half-sister Tamar , a virgin who happend to be Absalom's sister. Amon was advised by his friend called Jonadab to act like he was sick and ask the king to send his half-sister Tamar to nurse him. He raped Tamar and he lost his life to the same course. In verse 32 it was same Jonadab his friend that announced to his father about his death. You see that Amon was just a short-sighted wise man who lost his life to self conceited wisdom of getting what he wants by all means because they look good in his eyes. He believes in short term achievements and refused to recognise that he is digging pits for venomous snakes in his imagination. When he imagined the whole thing, he really wished he could have his wish come through. What a spoilt brat! His friend helped him more into early grave with wrong advise.

Your magical enemy is hidden in your imaginations and they will bring you to bad advise and decisions. Whenever these imaginations come to you, you must sight the pit and snakes immediately and use your skill to drop the dull ax with unsharpened edge. Afterall our Lord Jesus Christ said "whoever wants to become great among you must be * servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be * slave— which means beware of the traps lying as magical enemies in your imaginations to be great. In this way you will be able to map out your way into breakthrough.

Prayer: God, please be good to me. Help me fix my mind on eternal blessings and fruitfulness in Jesus name. Amen.

Know Your God

 

An Emoji Devotional for Tue 1st, Nov 2022

Topic: Know Your God

Highlights:

Let all the earth fear the Lord, let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him! For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood forth. Psalms 33:8 - 9

Our God is great and does not use authority like men. Men use authority rashly and severely in order to gain their own ends and purpose. God does not need power to achieve anything as All power in heaven and earth already belongs to God. Matthew 28:18 shows us this "And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me."

People aspire to superiority only with mindset of gaining preeminence, that is how some have initiated into magic and occultism because their ambitions is essentially a passion to possess special power.

As for God, He already has the authority, and he doesn't need to aspire or force to use it. That is why, only a word from God, everything align and obey.

In Genesis 1:3 And God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light.

You must know your God does not need force to use His power like men. An ambitious man could do anything like screening or displaying drama for power to be forcibly used but God owns power and he just spqy it simply to existence and instantly they are established.

How big then should your God be if you surrender your life to him to guide you?

Prayer: Some boast of chariots, and some of horses; but I boast of the name of the Lord My God. In Jesus name I am victorious. Amen.

Fight to Finish in the Lord

 An Emoji Devotional for This Oct 20, 2022

Topic: Fight to Finish in the Lord

Highlight:

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

1 Corinthians 15:58 RSV

You have become inseparable from the Lord. Everyone who enters an athletic contest goes into strict training. They do it to win a temporary crown, but we do it to win one that will be permanent.

I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love which Christ Jesus our Lord shows us. We can’t be separated by death or life, by angels or rulers, by anything in the present or anything in the future, by forces.... Now this is a matter of striving and fighting to finish. 

This is the time true children of God will be known. It's a challenging time the world is facing right now and it's tolling on everyone. As you are in the Lord, you need to be indivisible and indestructible to your goals. The Bible made us to understand in Joshua 6:20, that The children of Israel faced a fierce battle with an inanimate Wall of Jericho and it collapsed(never to rebuilt). Are you facing a wall-like situation which is making you think it is a dead end? Remember that God will move mountains for His own. Matthew 21:21 says your faith in God will move mountains out of the way for you if you don't doubt. So you must not doubt yourself in the Lord as your life must end in a beautiful story to build others facing similar situations. 

It wasn't easy for our past heroes, but achievable in the Lord. Continue steadfastly unmovable in the foundation of your faith in the Lord forasmuch you know that your labour will not be in vain. 1Corinthians 16:58. 

"The Lord advises those who fear him. He reveals to them the intent of his promise."

Psalms 25:14 so pray this prayer.

Prayer: Father in heaven, please advise me through the Holy Spirit and reveal to me the intent of your promise. My eyes is always on you. I am grateful for your help. In Jesus name. Amen

God, my refuge at all times in all events

 An Emoji Devotional for Mon 17 Oct ,2022

By H. U. Wenger

Topic: 

"God, my refuge at all times in all events"

The Prophet Micah lived in the 8th century before Christ in the same time as Isaiah. At the beginning of Chapter 7 he depicts how rotten his contemporary society was. Let us speak him in his own words:

“What misery is mine! I am like one who gathers summer fruit at the gleaning of the vineyard; there is no cluster of grapes to eat, none of the early figs that I crave. The faithful have been swept from the land; not one upright person remains. Everyone lies in wait to shed blood; they hunt each other with nets. Both hands are skilled in doing evil; the ruler demands gifts, the judge accepts bribes, the powerful dictate what they desire – they all conspire together. The best of them is like a brier, the most upright worse than a thorn hedge. The day God visits you has come, the day your watchmen sound the alarm. Now is the time of your confusion. Do not trust a neighbor; put no confidence in a friend. Even with the woman who lies in your embrace guard the words of your lips. For a son dishonors his father, a daughter rises up against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law – a man’s enemies are the members of his own household.” In the midst of that truly deplorable situation he sets the contra point for himself: “But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord” and he is certain that the Lord will hear him.

 The verses from Proverbs 3 give us the same recipe by telling us that we are not to trust our own reasoning, but set our trust wholeheartedly on the Lord and he will direct our path. We all are in the danger to trust our own wisdom and experiences, which lead us to developing ungodly defense strategies that hinder us to live God’s message of love. Christ Jesus came into the very rotten society Micah depicts to us and spread the love of God among the evil people and many turned around, experienced his salvation and began to follow him. 

The Apostel Paul reminds the Colossian congregation and with them all of us to do the same thing. Our orientation has not to be on our rotten society, not on material things, not on what is happening in our world, but only on the word of God and on the love of God that has appeared among us in Christ Jesus. In him our live is hidden and with him it will be revealed in his glorious appearing. 

The old hymn, “Like a river glorious, is God’s perfect peace” says in the third verse: 

“Every joy and trial, falleth from above, 

traced upon our dial by the Sun of Love.

We may trust Him fully all for us to do;

Those who trust Him wholly find him wholly true.

Stayed upon Jehova, hearts are fully blest; 

Finding as he promised, perfect peace and rest.

 Dear Jesus, help me to subdue my thinking and my experience under the obedience to your word. Keep me in an intimate relationship with you and help me to trust you fully in all the givens and in all the changing situations of my life. Help me to have my eyes always upon you, so that my love for you does not grow cold because of the injustices and evils in my surroundings. Let me be fruitful for your kingdom. Amen