Discerning The Lord’s Body

1 Corinthians 11:24
24and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”

Have you ever taken a close look at the Matzah bread that the Jews eat during their Passover meal? The bread, which is unleavened, is pierced with rows of little holes forming stripes. It is also slightly burnt. Many churches today use this bread for the Holy Communion.

Do you know why the bread is pierced, striped and burnt?

My friend, the bread that you hold in your hands when you partake of the Lord’s Supper speaks of the body of our Lord Jesus Christ when He bore our sins and sicknesses on the cross.

Like the bread, He was pierced in His brow by the crown of thorns as well as in His hands and feet by the nails. He was also pierced in His side by a soldier’s spear. The prophet Isaiah says, “He was pierced for our transgressions…” (Isaiah 53:5, NIV)

Like the bread, He was scourged on His back until His flesh was all torn and bloody, and His bones were exposed, so that today, you can say, “By His stripes I am healed!” (Isaiah 53:5)

What about the burnt marks on the bread? The full fire of God’s wrath fell on Jesus, burning up our sins into ashes, and at the same time, bringing out the fragrance of the offering of Jesus. Today, your sins and lawless deeds are but ashes, and your Father in heaven remembers them no more! (Hebrews 8:12)

So the next time you partake of the bread during the Holy Communion, know that Jesus was pierced for your sins and scourged for your healing. He bore God’s fiery judgment so that you will never be judged for your sins! He also bore your diseases and carried your pains so that you can walk in divine health!

When you discern these precious truths about our Lord’s body, you are partaking of the Holy Communion in a worthy manner. And you will not be weak and sickly, nor die before your time. (1 Corinthians 11:27–30) No, you will be strong and healthy, and you will live long!

Thought For The Day
Jesus was pierced for your sins and scourged for your healing so that you can walk in divine health!

Credit: Joseph Prince.

Written by Kachi

Faith, Not Feelings, Please God

He said, “I was born with nothing, and I will die with nothing. The LORD gave, and now he has taken away. May his name be praised!”

Job1.21


God's omnipresence and the manifestation of his presence are two different things. One is a fact; the other is often a feeling. God is always present, even when you are unaware of him, and his presence is too profound to be measured by mere emotion.

Yes, he wants you to sense his presence, but he's more concerned that you trust him than that you feel him. Faith, not feelings, pleases God.

The situations that will stretch your faith most will be those times when life falls apart and God is nowhere to be found. This happened to Job. On a single day he lost everything: his family, his business, his health, and everything he owned. Most discouraging - for thirty-seven chapters, God said nothing!

How do you praise God when you don't understand what's happening in your life and God is silent? How do you stay connected in a crisis without communication? How do you keep your eyes on Jesus when they're full of tears? You do what Job did: "Then he fell to the ground in worship and said: "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.'" (Job 1:20-21 NIV)

Tell God exactly how you feel. Pour out your heart to God. Unload every emotion that you're feeling. God can handle your doubt, anger, fear, grief, confusion, and questions..

Credit: Rick Warren

Written By Kachi

God Is a Giver, Not a Taker

Romans 8:32

32: He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?

Some Christians mistakenly believe that God gives and also takes away. At funerals, we sometimes hear the minister say, “The Lord giveth, and the Lord taketh. Blessed be the name of the Lord.”

I remember an occasion when I was looking at a baby who was suffering from cancer. I heard one of his family members comment, “You can’t be sure what God’s will is. He may or may not heal.” What that person meant was that although the Lord had given the parents this baby, He might later take the baby away from them.

Job displayed this very same attitude when he received the news that he had lost his property and children. Thinking that God was the source of his problems and not knowing that it was actually Satan who had come against him, he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return there. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” (Job 1:21) Such a statement seems to honor God, but in reality, it reveals an erroneous view of our heavenly Father.

As children of God, we know what the Father’s will is for us. He is a giver, not a taker! Jesus said, “Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” (Luke 12:32) It is the devil who is the thief. He comes to steal, kill and destroy. But Jesus came to give us life more abundant. (John 10:10)

Jesus met every need and healed every sickness brought before Him, and at the cross, He gave His own life. Never once did He take anything away from the people who came to Him. And the Bible says that whoever has seen Jesus has seen the Father. (John 14:9)

Beloved, your heavenly Father wants you to know today that He is the one who gives you all good things. And if He has already given us heaven’s best — Jesus, “how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things”?

Thought For The Day
If our heavenly Father has already given us heaven’s best — Jesus, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?

Source: Joseph Prince
Written by Uju (Stella)

Watch and Pray!

Luke 21:34-36.“Be careful not to let yourselves become occupied with too much feasting and drinking and with the worries of this life, or that Day may suddenly catch you like a trap. For it will come upon all people everywhere on earth. Be on watch and pray always that you will have the strength to go safely through all those things that will happen and to stand before the Son of Man.”

Luke 23:4-6. "He said to them, "Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you will not fall into temptation."

     All of these we have just read, are sending one direct message, Watch and Pray! While meditating upon this message, I kept on asking my self, how do keep watching till the end, I wouldn't want to start and then stop when I'm faced with certain difficulties, what characters/habits must I have to live a watchful and prayerful life? After studying and discussing with christians alike, here are a few tips to live by:

*Study the word: study your bible, don't just read it, study it like you were preparing for an exam. Why? Because that's where all the answers are. Studying your bible is  equivalent to feeding your spiritual life.
*Separate yourself from carnally minded people: separating yourself means dis associating with carnally minded people. Always remember that you are in the world but not of the world. You're of a higher standard!
*Faith: Always have faith in God! Know your God and His capabilities. Doubt is like cancer to our spiritual life, it will keep eating you up till you are gone.
*Do not forsake the gathering of the children of God.
*Self-examination: when we examine our selves/question ourselves on the decisions we've been making and the thoughts we've been having, we notice areas in our lives where we've compromised. It helps us immediately come to a knowledge of our mistakes and correct ourselves.
*Do not spend time over-grieving: when we spend our time grieving over certain things rather than letting go, we get distracted, we loose focus, what we are grieving over takes centre stage in our lives, it somehow changes our priorities even without us knowing. Its ok to grieve, but when its time to let go, please let go.
*Pray! A prayerless christian is a powerless christian. Prayer strengthens us as children of God, it energizes us, it keeps us going, it brings joy to our lives and it gives us confidence in the Lord.
      Dear believers in Christ, watch and pray

Written by Linda

Christians Do Good

 I had a very interesting conversation with a friend, some time in the past and what he said struck me, he said "our good deeds on this earth elevates our heavenly status." At that time I asked myself "How did I not know this?"
After thinking thoroughly I realised that I did know it but then I didn't hold on to it. This lead me to study my bible on "goodness" and I realised the following:
        In Paul's letter to titus he told him (titus) that people must learn to spend time doing good in order to provide for real needs, they should not live useless lives. Also 2thessalonians 3:13 says you must not get tired of doing good.
        In our society today, I must admit, it sometimes is difficult to do good. When doing good gets you into trouble or even endangers your life and that of your loved ones. We make comments like, "once beaten, twice shy! Never again!...." We decide never to help again, but, we must never forget that our God is a good God, no matter what we do He remains the same to us, Good! As children of God we should learn from Gods unending goodness to always do good too.
        Let us hold on to what paul told the people of Thessalonica. He wrote to them saying "you must not get tired of doing good." Paul knew the importance of doing good, that was why he used the word "Must", Peter then makes us to know that if we endure suffering when we have done right God will bless us for it.(1st peter2:20). Hebrews 13:16 says "Do not forget to do good and to help one another, because, these are sacrifices that please God. 1Peter 2:15 says God wants you to silence the ignorant talk of foolish people by the good you do.
        I hope this encourages you to never get tired or give up on doing good deeds.

*please read: 2peter 1:3-11.

Written By Linda

Just A Groan Will Reach God's Throne

Romans 8:26

26: Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

Once, when my father was hospitalized, I remember driving as fast as I could to the hospital to see him because his condition was deteriorating rapidly. I was just sobbing in my car on the way there. I didn’t know what to pray. So I just cried and prayed in tongues, groaning in my spirit.

I believe that at that very low point, the Holy Spirit was helping me in my weaknesses — “For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered”.

The events that soon unfolded in the hospital convinced me that just a groan or sigh will reach the throne of our Abba Father.

I managed to reach the hospital just in time to clasp my father’s hand before he was wheeled in for surgery. The surgeons came out of the operating theatre some time later to inform my mother that they didn’t need to do anything after they had opened him up because they discovered that “surgery” had already been done on him!

Surprised, my mother answered, “He has never been operated on. I am his wife. I should know.” Not convinced, the surgeons told my father when he regained consciousness, “We opened you up and found that surgery had already been done. Whoever did it did a perfect work.”
Equally surprised, my dad told them, “I have never had surgery done on me.”

“No, you have!” the surgeons insisted.

As my parents and the doctors continued arguing, I found myself thinking, “My goodness, I didn’t even pray for a miracle on my way to the hospital. Yet, a miracle has just happened!”

My friend, when we who are God’s children groan as we pray in the Spirit, the Holy Spirit makes intercession for us with groanings that will reach the throne of our Abba Father, and cause Him to move powerfully on our behalf!

Thought For The Day
Just a groan or sigh will reach the throne of your Abba Father and cause Him to move powerfully on your behalf!

Credits: Joseph Prince
Written by Uju (Stella)

FITNESS: AS VITAL AS OUR NEXT BREATH!

BASIC SCRIPTURES: HEBREWS 5:12-14,TIMOTHY 4:7-11

Women spend billions of money on beauty each year Beauty products factories are getting richer, while people consume drugs worth billions of dollars annually just to keep fit!
Yet, the principal element of glamour which is cheaper than a liptick, more powerful than a blow dryer and as vital to our wellbeing as your next breath is neglected daily.

This neglected beauty and health product given freely by nature to man is exercise! Carrying out regular exercises, not only increase energy muscle tone , bone strength, cardiovascular endurance, ling capacity, flexibility, circulation and metabolism, exercise decreases body fat, blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol levels.
Exercising and keeping fit can also reduce depression. It is an anti-depressant and improves mood and stimulates the production of endorphins in the brain, which gives feeling of wellbeing to you.

The exercise will help you with better sleeping.But ensure you do not exert yourself before going to bed because medically, experts say that it is necessary to avoid doing exercise at least three hours before going to the bed.
New findings also indicate that exercise enhances creativity. So when you are sometimes dry and not inspired, get into exercise to resume the creative system.
Regular exercises and physical activity have been confirmed to reverse the effects of aging and increase life expectancy.For each hour you invest in exercise, you gain an extra two or more in longevity.

 Just as physical activity can prevent early death so constant and regular spiritual activity such as fasting, praise & worship, joining the evangelism unit of your local church, visiting hospitals or orphanages, daily meditation exercises on the Word of God learning to hear the voice of God regularly etc can prolong your level of grace and anointing.

There are times trials and temptations are exercises allowed by God to train your spiritual muscles and tone.( Heb 12:11), 1Timothy 4:7 sums it all that despite the great advantages of physical and mental exercises, “Exercise thyself rather to godliness.”
That means strive to keep it spiritually! Note: Take good care of your body! It is the only place you have to live in on this planet, then make sure that your outside is a good reflection of the inside of you! Shine your inside! Dignify your outside! Peace!

PRAYER POINTS:

-Thousands died last night! Thank God for the gift of life.
-Repent from any laxity or dryness Cancel regrets!
-Any arrow of spiritual death sent into my life and ministry burn in Jesus name. Pray any     other prayer point(s) now!
Note: Do regular physical and spiritual exercises. Keep your life busy

Written by Uju (Stella)

Come As You Are And Receive

Matthew 15:27
27And she said, “ Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.”

Come as you are to the Lord with your need, and lean on His unfailing and unconditional love for you. You don’t have to pretend to be more than what you are to receive the blessing you need from God. You don’t have to pretend to be someone else to appear more deserving to receive from God.

A Canaanite woman desperately seeking healing for her demon-possessed daughter came to Jesus. (Matthew 15:22–28) Knowing that He healed and did miracles among the Jews, she pretended to be a Jew, calling out, “O Lord, Son of David!” (Only the Jews addressed Jesus as the “Son of David”.) Jesus did not answer her. His silence made her drop her pretense and cry out, “Lord, help me!”

Only when her pretenses had melted away did she see the grace of God extended to her. Jesus made a way for her to receive her miracle even though it was not yet time for the Gentiles to receive His blessings. He told her, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.”

Many people might be offended at being called a “dog”. Actually, the Greek word used here by Jesus means “puppy”, and is thus an affectionate rather than offensive term. So this woman was not offended. In fact, she knew then that she could receive healing for her daughter because even puppies get to eat what falls from their masters’ table.

She saw that the crumbs under the Master’s table were enough for a Gentile, a “little dog”, like herself. You must understand that the Jews then considered Gentiles dogs. But what Jesus was trying to say was that He was called to the Jews first, not the Gentiles. Yet, He loved this Gentile woman and her daughter enough to provide a “loophole” for them to receive their miracle.

So when the Canaanite woman took her place by dropping the title “Son of David” and just leaned on Jesus’ compassion for her, her daughter was healed from that very hour.

If God was willing to extend His grace to a Gentile, how much more you, His beloved child! You do not need to depend on pretensions to receive a miracle from Him. Come as you are and lean on His grace. If He has delivered Jesus up for us, “how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things”? (Romans 8:32)

Thought For The Day
Just come as you are to receive all that you need from God.

Credit: Joseph Prince

Written by Kachi

Faith

When I stop to think about the fact that God, the Creator of the entire universe, actually humbled Himself to become like us and walk with us on the earth, it’s hard to even get my head around it.
His humility is staggering.
The Creator of everything that we see (and even the stuff that we have yet to see) came as a man, took on the limits of time and space, and willingly laid down His life so that we could live with Him forever. Amazing.
His love is immeasurable.
All at once I am aware that God cared enough about me that He would “walk in my shoes” so that I would know that He was acquainted with my real-life struggle and pain and joy.
His sacrifice is complete.
And when I realize that Jesus already knew the road that He would walk would end at the cross of Calvary—that He would be betrayed, beaten, ridiculed, humiliated and eventually crucified by those that He made, loved and had come to save—I realize my own need of the Savior.
Jesus walked on earth so that those of us who would receive Him and believe in His name would be given the right to be called children of God. Now that is a priceless gift.


Credit: Jimmy Pena

Written by Kachi