Month: August 2014

As ‘diamond’ means invincible or unconquerable, so Christians should be invincible and unconquerable by sin and unrighteousness. Ralph Gaunt

Refined By The Lord

Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Psalm 139:23-24

The most expensive gem ever purchased at auction is a 25 carat pink, emerald-cut diamond bought by a London jewellery dealer for 46 million dollars. The intensive and continuous process of cutting and polishing a diamond is the secret behind the sparkle that adds value to its beauty.

Just as the cutting and polishing process affects the brilliance and sparkle of a diamond, so a Christian’s character is moulded and refined by the tests and trials that God places throughout his walk. It is through these trials that the foundation and strength of our faith is tested. It may be painful when we go through situations of grinding and polishing, but if our faith remains strong and we learn the valuable lessons that the Lord wishes to teach us, we will stand before the Lord as a purer vessel, reflecting His glory on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed.

In the above verse, David was asking God to search and try his innermost heart. He wanted to surrender his will to God, to be placed in the fiery furnace so that his heart could be tested and the impurities burnt away. David wanted his heart to be soft, workable and pure before God and knew that the Holy Lord was the only One who could purge his heart of any hidden sin, offense or unrighteousness.

Today, this should also be our prayer. May the God of all goodness search our hearts and grind away the rough edges of our character so that we will sparkle with the beauty and goodness of His nature in every facet of our life.

Dear Lord,
I come to You in Jesus’ name. Please search my heart today and reveal to me any hidden areas of sin and unrighteousness. Take away my selfish and stubborn ambition and refine me to become more like You. Help me to live in complete dependence of Your Spirit. Amen.

God bless you,
Theo and Manju

When wealth is lost, nothing is lost; when health is lost, something is lost; when character is lost, all is lost. Billy Graham

Pride Goes Before Destruction

Samuel said, “Although you were once small in your own eyes, did you not become the head of the tribes of Israel? The Lord anointed you king over Israel. And he sent you on a mission, saying, ‘Go and completely destroy those wicked people, the Amalekites; wage war against them until you have wiped them out.’ Why did you not obey the Lord? Why did you pounce on the plunder and do evil in the eyes of the Lord?”
1Samuel 15:17-19

Lucifer was one of the archangels and was appointed by God to be an angel of worship but he fell because of pride when he sought to exalt himself above all others. As children of the living God, we have been given different gifts and talents to serve Him who called us. As we see His grace and power move in our lives, we must not forget that God is the source from whom all blessings flow and nothing of eternal value is ever achieved in our own strength.
When the prophet Samuel sought out Saul to be king, he said, “But am I not a Benjamite, from the smallest tribe of Israel, and is not my clan the least of all the clans of the tribe of Benjamin?” (1 Samuel 9:21) At that time, Saul had no pride and did not count himself worthy to be a king.

However, as time progressed, the Lord enabled him to win battles against the enemy and Saul became popular with the people. He grew proud, attributing his success to his own abilities and forgetting to give God the glory.
Pride inevitably leads to a fall and in Saul’s case, his arrogance led to disobedience. He had been commanded by God to destroy all the Amalekites, not sparing even the livestock, but Saul disobeyed and kept back the best of the enemy’s animals. When challenged by Samuel, Saul tried to cover his fault by saying that he had kept the best for sacrificing to the Lord but Samuel replied, “Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.” 1 Samuel 15:22

 

We need to remember that God is more concerned with our obedience to His Word than an outward show of sacrifice. When God bestows His blessings upon us, let us not be boastful and proud but humbly acknowledge that He alone is our Provider and without Him, we can do nothing.
Dear Lord,

Thank You that I can depend on You to provide for all my needs. All that I have comes from Your mighty hand and belongs to You. Please guard my heart against pride and rebellion as I rely on Your grace to clothe me with Your love and humility. Amen.

God bless you,
Theo and Manju

The Christian life is not a constant high. I have my moments of deep discouragement. I have to go to God in prayer with tears in my eyes, and say, ‘O God, forgive me,’ or ‘Help me.’ Billy Graham

God Is Our Strength

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.  

Psalm 46:1-3

Elijah was a great prophet and one of the greatest miracles that God performed through him was to bring fire down from heaven to burn up the sacrifice before the prophets of Baal, in order to prove that the God of Israel was the true God. Furthermore, he killed all the prophets of Baal which would have taken a lot of courage and strength, an act of obedience he would not have accomplished unless the Lord was with him.

He saw and experienced the power of God but when Jezebel, the wife of Ahab, threatened to kill him, he lost his focus and became disappointed that the victory at Mount Carmel had no effect in changing the evil ways of Jezebel. He was so disheartened and discouraged that he ran away, praying that God would take his life rather than staying to be killed by Jezebel.

 

“But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he prayed that he might die, and said, “It is enough! Now, Lord, take my life for I am no better than my fathers. Then as he lay and slept under a broom tree, suddenly an angel touched him, and said to him, “Arise and eat.” 1 Kings 19:4-5

We may go through similar situations, experiencing great spiritual victories, only to be let down by sudden set backs and attacks from the enemy. The good news is that the Lord will send His angel to strengthen us. He will encourage us and restore our faith so that we may continue along the path that He has chosen for us.

 

Elijah received supernatural food from the angel, food that gave him strength for forty days and forty nights until he reached Mount Sinai. Likewise, we need to seek His supernatural healing and strength which will sustain us as we journey towards the Lord, seeking His revelation, not in mighty signs and wonders but in the still, small voice of His Holy Spirit.
Today if we are going through a difficult situation, we can be assured that He is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in our times of trouble.

Dear Lord,
I thank You that I can come to You in the name of Jesus and say that I am weak and tired and I need Your strength. Please strengthen me so that I can do Your will to bring You glory. Amen.

God bless you,
Theo and Manju

God’s mercy and grace give me hope – for myself, and for our world. Billy Graham

Fearfully And Wonderfully Made

For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvellous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well.
Psalm 139:13-14

When God created man, He took dust from the ground and moulded it in His own image, giving life to His creation by breathing into man. It is hard to comprehend the humility of the Lord, bending down to impart His life into a lifeless form of clay, but because He longed for fellowship with His creation, He poured out His love unconditionally and we are here today because He chose us to be His own.

God shows His love and concern for us from the time that we are conceived. He covers us with the precious blood of His Son so that we can stand righteous before His holiness and cry, “Abba, Father!”

 

So great is His love and humility that He has redeemed us from the curse of the law and set the seal of His Holy Spirit upon His children. Therefore, let us not forget to give Him the glory and praise that He deserves; may we never cease to thank Him for His grace that created us and His mercy that sacrificed His only Son, so that we may be temples of His Holy Spirit, enjoying the beauty of His presence.

 

As we contemplate the miraculous, creative power of God, let us not belittle or look down on ourselves or others, for we are all created in His own image. Rather, let us draw near to our Maker, fellowshipping with Him as He desires, so that our lives may reflect His love and glory to others.

Dear Lord,
I come to You in Jesus’ name and thank You that I am fearfully and wonderfully made. My heart acknowledges Your love and mercy and I give You all the praise and glory. Amen.

God bless you,
Theo and Manju

The Christian life is not a constant high. I have my moments of deep discouragement. I have to go to God in prayer with tears in my eyes, and say, ‘O God, forgive me,’ or ‘Help me.’ Billy Graham

Prayer and Thanksgiving

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7

We live in a fallen world but because we have been redeemed by the precious blood of Jesus, we are able to live righteously as His children. This, however, does not stop us from making wrong choices because of our immaturity or lack of wisdom. The consequences of these bad choices can often rob us of our joy and peace.

The Word says that the enemy comes to steal, kill and destroy – he seeks to steal our joy, kill our hope and destroy our faith in Jesus. In order to stand firm against his attacks, we need to be vigilant and know how to fight with the sword the Spirit, the Word of God, not allowing Satan to rob us of our peace.

 

Being anxious does not change the situation, but rather, produces more turmoil in the mind. We need the peace of God to guard our minds so that we can think and hear clearly from Him as He guides and directs us according to His will. As we commit all our problems to Him, He will not fail to cover our hearts with His supernatural peace. As we give Him continual praise and thanksgiving for His faithfulness, His peace will be our strength as He carries us through the storm to calmer waters.
So let us take captive every anxious thought today and commit it to God in prayer, giving Him thanks for His peace that stands guard over our hearts and minds.
Dear Lord,
I come to You in Jesus name and thank You for all that You have done for me. You picked me up from the miry clay, patiently moulding me to become a vessel that is worthy of Your calling. Thank You that I can find perfect peace when my mind is stayed on You. Amen.

God bless you,
Theo and Manju

When God puts you in circumstances where you feel trapped and alone, cry out to Him in believing prayer. Steven J. Cole

Cave Situations

Listen to my cry, for I am in desperate need; rescue me from those who pursue me, for they are too strong for me.
Psalm 142:6

When David was being pursued by Saul, he often took shelter in a cave, praying to God for deliverance from his enemies. David’s spirit was overwhelmed and his heart was full of grief but as he cried out to God, pouring out his heart’s burdens to the Lord, he received comfort from the Lord Almighty who was always his anchor and refuge.

David was pursued by enemies who were too powerful for him but when he prayed to God, he had the assurance that although his situation seemed hopeless and desperate, the Lord was his strength and David could praise Him, trusting in God’s faithfulness to protect him. (Psalm 142:7)

Today, we may not be hiding in caves but our life situations can be just as desperate as the trials that David faced. We may have a burden for a backslidden daughter or son, or a family member who needs salvation. There might be a continuous struggle with a family situation, or suffering caused by a progressive illness. Maybe a conflict or false accusation made in our work place is causing us emotional stress. Whatever the situation may be, we can cast our burdens onto God as we cry out to Him for help against the attacks of the enemy. We need to know that God always hears our cries, that He knows our situation and He is our refuge.

Today, whatever may be causing you stress and strife, take it to God and cry out to Him. As you lean on Him completely, He will guide you along the narrow path, giving you wisdom and power to overcome the work of the enemy, so that you will be able to sing like David,“Praise be to the Lord my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle.” Psalm 144:1

Dear Lord,
I come to You in Jesus name. When I cry out to You in despair, I thank You for being my ever-present help. You are my fortress, my stronghold, my deliverer and my shield, in whom I take refuge. Amen.

God bless you,
Theo and Manju

The Bible says today is the accepted time, today is the day of salvation. But there will come a time when it will be too late for you. Billy Graham

Busy Schedules

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.
2 Timothy 3:16

 

Ignorance of Scripture is one of the greatest tools that the enemy uses to hinder our walk with God. One commonly used tactic is that he keeps us busy doing things which are not actually very productive or fruitful. Our time is wasted and we become too tired to give quality time to God’s Word.

 

Procrastination is another common excuse, when we consistently put off spending time studying the Word. It is good to be disciplined and develop a daily habit of reading because as we commit our time to the Word, we are coming before the Lord, seeking His voice and His guidance through the Scriptures. The importance we place on the Word of God will determine how we organize our time and set our priorities.

 

Laziness can also be a factor that prevents us from reading the Bible but if we truly understand the importance of knowing God’s Word, we will make the effort to create time for it.

 

In Luke chapter 4, Satan tried to tempt Jesus in the wilderness for forty days. Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, overcame the devil by proclaiming the Word of God. How much more, then, do we need to know the Word, if we want to be true disciples of Jesus and walk in the power and might of His Holy Spirit?

 

The Word of God is able to teach us how we should live, it can also correct our errors and misunderstandings and above all, “it is living and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing event to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12)

 

So let us be diligent to give God’s Word priority in our busy schedules, so that we may be washed clean every day by the power of His Word and able to stand righteous in His sight.

 

Dear Lord,

May Your Word always be a lamp unto my feet so that I may dwell in your path and be like a tree planted by the waters. Amen.
God bless you,
Theo and Manju

God knows what we are going through when we grieve, and He wants to assure us of His love and concern. He also wants us to turn to Him and bring our heartaches and burdens to Him. Billy Graham

Discouragement

Fear not, for I am with you. Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand..
Isaiah 41:10

 

In 539 BC, when Cyrus of Persia defeated the Babylonian Empire, he allowed the Jewish captives to return to their own land but some of them remained and played an integral part in the Persian Empire.

 

It was during this time that Nehemiah heard that the walls of Jerusalem were broken down and the gates were burned with fire. He was greatly discouraged and wept and prayed before the God of heaven.

 

All of us experience discouragement at different times of our lives. We may be going through a serious health issue, or trying to deal with a work related problem. Sometimes a difficult family situation or the death of a loved one can also cause us to be discouraged.

 

In times like these, we need to remember to turn to God for guidance and strength. Like Nehemiah, we need to voice our feelings and cry out to Him, trusting Him to meet our every need.

 

It may also be beneficial to seek the advice and counsel of a trusted brother or sister. Nehemiah was able to tell the king about his sorrow and God used the king’s power to pave the way for Nehemiah to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the city’s walls.

 

In dealing with discouragement, it is also important to identify its source or cause. It may be an attack from the enemy or perhaps we have  fallen because we have been too proud and over confident of our own abilities. In other instances, we may not have enough confidence, being too fearful to take the first step.

 

Whatever the reason is that we are feeling discouraged, let us turn our eyes and focus back on Jesus, moving forward with the assurance of His Word. Let us confess and proclaim the promises that God has given us, trusting that He will fulfil His every word and bring to pass all that He has promised.

 

Dear Lord,

I thank You that I can come to You because You are close to the broken hearted. I cast all my burdens on You and trust in Your strength alone to uphold me. May Your peace and joy surround me as I seek to walk in Your presence. Amen.
God bless you,
Theo and Manju

The Bible will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from the Bible. Dwight L. Moody

Blaming Others

When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
James 1:13-15

 

We can trace the root of blaming others right back to the beginning of creation. God provided everything for Adam and Eve within the garden of Eden and nothing was withheld from them except for the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Human nature has not changed, for whenever a rule or boundary is put in place, there also lies a desire or temptation to test or overstep the mark and that is exactly where the evil one tempted Eve. Not only did she succumb to the serpent’s enticement but she also caused Adam to join in her sin. When God called Adam and asked him whether he had eaten of the fruit, he blamed Eve and when Eve was questioned, she blamed the serpent.

By blaming another person, there is an attempt to pass the sin and judgement on to the other person. We need to recognise that we are led into temptation when we yield to the desires of our fleshly nature and once the desire is conceived, sin is birthed, which can only produce death.
In Romans 7:15-17, Paul says “For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. If , then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.” The real problem, therefore, is not external but internal. We need to stop blaming external factors and deal with our inner sinful nature that leads us to temptations.

It is in our carnal nature to be selfish, unrepentant, seeking pleasure, proud and blind to our own faults. However, our victory and hope lies in the cross of Jesus who, through the power of the Holy Spirit, can deliver us from our sinful bodies and change us into new creations, renewing our minds to become more like Him.
Let us, therefore, not blame others for our sin but be quick to repent, putting off the old man and putting on the new man “which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.” Ephesians 4:24

 

Dear Lord,
I thank You for this day and submit all my ways to You so that, in Your Name, I may resist the devil and he will flee from me. Amen.

God bless you,
Theo and Manju

The Bible says today is the accepted time, today is the day of salvation… But there will come a time when it will be too late for you. Billy Graham

The River

Then he brought me back to the door of the temple; and there was water, flowing from under the threshold of the temple toward the east, for the front of the temple faced east; the water was flowing from under the right side of the temple, south of the altar. He brought me out by way of the north gate, and led me around on the outside to the outer gateway that faces east; and there was water, running out on the right side.

Ezekiel 47:1-2

Ezekiel was a prophet who lived in Babylon, near the Chebar River which is the southeast area of modern Iraq. Around 593-571 BC, he was given prophetic revelations from God and had the task of warning the other exiles in Babylon of God’s impending judgement on His people.
The Bible says the word of God is the same yesterday, today and will forever continue to be the same. Throughout the Word, prophecies are made concerning the birth, sacrificial death and miraculous resurrection of Jesus. He is the door through which we can enter in to salvation.

 

Today’s scripture talks about water flowing from under the right side of the temple, towards the east. We can see the symbolism of this when we realise that Jesus was crucified outside the outer gate on the east side of the Temple Mount and after His resurrection, He ascended to heaven to be seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
Jesus is the door through which we must enter to obtain eternal life. He is also the source by which we can live an abundant life here on earth, having given us access to the Holy Spirit when he returned to His Father in heaven. John 7:37-38 says, “On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”
In Revelation 22:1, we see that the apostle John is shown the river of life which is clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb. Let us seek to drink from this river of life, to be immersed in its purity as it rejuvenates our lives and revives our spirits, transforming our hearts and minds to be more like Jesus.

Dear Lord,
Help me to swim freely in Your river, to let go of my selfish desires so that I can enjoy the fullness of Your blessings. Amen.

God bless you,
Theo and Manju