Month: January 2017

Reflection on 1 Corinthians 2:1-6

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Passage: https://www.biblegateway.com/search?%25s=1+Corinthians+1.2-16

Scripture

What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us.

Observation

When Paul came to Corinth, he didn’t come with fancy words. He resolved to know nothing but Christ crucified. He came in fear and trembling, not using persuasive words but allowing the power of the Spirit to demonstrate the truth.

The wisdom that Paul teaches amongst the mature in faith is not the world’s wisdom, but God’s wisdom. This wisdom is a mystery that is only now being revealed. The powers of the world did not understand this or else they would not have had Christ crucified.

We have received the Spirit of God, not the spirit of the age. Therefore Paul is able to explain spiritual truths with spiritual words. The person without the Spirit is not able to understand the things that come from the Spirit, but the person with the Spirit makes all kinds of judgements by the Spirit.

Application

We have the Spirit of God. Later Paul says the same thing in different words; we have the mind of Christ.

The difference between mature christians and baby christians is that the former have learned to listen to the Spirit of God and to obey Him. The Spirit of God is available to every born-again Christian, and the Spirit leads us into all of God’s wisdom.

That is not to say that we are all independent believers. We need the body. We need correction and encouragement from others. We need the means of grace- Scripture, worship, sacraments.

The Spirit of God is able to lead us into deeper revelations through the various prophetic gifts.

The Spirit of God is able to give us deeper understanding of the word than we might get from studying at Bible College.

The Spirit of God can give us deeper insight into ourselves and the people to whom we are ministering.

The Spirit of God is like a river powerfully surging through our soul.

But we must listen to the voice of the Spirit. We must obey the voice of the Spirit. We must allow our conscience to be enlivened by the Spirit.

When we do this, God can use us mightily,

Prayer

What a mystery it is, Lord, to think that I have your Spirit, your mind, in me. Please let me hear the voice of the Spirit in every minute of my day. Teach me to hear, to listen and to obey. Amen.

Reflection on Isaiah 58:1-12

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Passage: https://www.biblegatesway.com/search?%s=Isaiah+58.1-12

Scripture

“Is this not the kind of fasting I have chosen:

to loose the chain of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke

to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?”

Observation

The Lord calls for a proclamation against His people for their rebellion and sins. They seek the Lord for answers and seem eager for God to come near. They fast and humble themselves but the Lord seems to not notice.

The Lord tells them that even on their fast days, they exploit their workers. Their fasts end in quarrels and fights. The Lord says they can’t expect their prayers to be heard when they fast like that. He isn’t interested in that kind of fast. The fast he honours is the one that results in oppression being lifted and yokes of bondage being removed.

Application

God is opposed to religion. He hates practices which we use in order to avoid Him getting under our skin and changing our hearts. Religion seeks to change God’s mind; true faith is when God changes our heart.

In the passage, the Lord through Isaiah is taking Israel to task for going through religious fasting but still exploiting others and engaging in quarrels. They were claiming to love God, but failed to love their neighbour who is made in the image of God.

We can think that this is a matter for Government. If we vote for the right party , then the right regulations get passed and social justice will reign. This isn’t true of course- daily we hear of employers who rip off their workers even though they know what the mandated pay rates and superannuation requirements are.

The Lord does not want us to contract our consciences out to the political leaders. We are required to love our neighbour where we are. This passage is about my attitude to my neighbour, to the oppressed people in my town.

When I fast, when I pray, when I worship, it is not just me and Jesus. It is allowing the grace of God to fill me, set me free and empower me to pass on that same grace to others.

Prayer

Lord I confess that I am often unaware of the problems and sufferings of the people around me. I too easily accept the way things are as being the natural order. Help me to see my neighbour as you see them and to let your love flow through me to them. Amen.

Jodie Hughes: “God is releasing guardians of the Bride.”

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God is releasing GUARDIANS OF THE BRIDE

God is releasing GUARDIANS OF THE BRIDE

There is a cry coming from the heart of the Father…. “Where are the guardians of My bride?”
Jesus has seen and He has heard, and He is releasing those marked by FIRECE LOVE AND HONOUR to turn the tide of this wave of dishonour seeking to divide & destroy His bride.

New love and honour is arising for the bride and a new breed of worship warriors who will guard the heart of the new wine skin is emerging. The church is being transformed but not to demise, but upgrade. She will birth unprecedented revival and receive and steward the end time harvest, but the bride herself is in need of guardians in this hour. Honour is being restored.

Intercessors are being called in now to pray for the bride that she may not just survive but thrive. There has been much onslaught of dishonour and attack, and Gods heart is for his bride and to heal her heart. Those marked by Honour for the King & His bride are arising.

God is calling in His intercessors to not just pray for the Harvest but pray for the Harvesters. Many of the harvesters hearts are tired and weary from the constant battle, not just from the enemy but from within its own borders. There is a call to cease the civil war within the borders of the church itself……. a new sound of honour is arising…. a new love of the church is being restored…. a new grace to serve is being released.

God is pouring out new wine that will bring hope & childlike joy. It will heal the disappointments and the hurts, the offence and the bitterness, but this must be actively received. Many desire an end time harvest… few will love the Harvester as much as the Harvest. The bride needs your prayers and honour in this hour. Her greatest days are upon her….. Jesus loves her and he is calling in those who will pray for her & love her & guard her.

She is not perfect and nor will she ever be. Her imperfections are what make her authentic. She will carry a new grace in this season for restoration as she is a reflection of every heart and every person who desires more and yet discovers an authentic hunger after more finds us each in need of grace. As honour arises, so will grace.

The bride is NOT the enemy, or where the shots should be directed. The enemy of our soul and the harvest is Satan, and always has been. The many misdirected shots are about to be highlighted and redirected to the source of the attack which will bring GREAT VICTORIES AND NEW STRENGTH. Intercessors, this is awakening hour! Arise!

HONOUR IS ARISING. GUARDIANS OF THE BRIDE ARE ARISING who BURN with love for Jesus & His people. This new move is precious and it must be guarded and life spoken over it. Dishonour will be seen for where it comes from, the heart of the enemy, and not the heart of the Father.

Pray for the harvest as it is Harvest Time. But pray for the harvesters too. Release words of life over the bride. The church is arising into her greatest hour. Speak life and honour over the bride as Jesus’ heart is to see her thrive and flourish. Jesus loves His bride and guardians who carry this love and honour as a weapon of breakthrough are arising as Jesus asks, “Where are the guardians of My bride”?

Arise and shine. We, the bride, are entering our greatest days. Let’s walk in greatness and honour that is befitting of our royalty.

Jodie Hughes
Pour It Out Ministries

 

Full article here

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From The Babylon Bee

Presbyterian Man Asks Apple Genius To Remove ‘Praise Hands’ Emoji From His iPhone

January 25, 2017

GERMANTOWN, TN—Walking calmly into his scheduled Genius Bar appointment at exactly 10:00 a.m. Wednesday morning, local Presbyterian believer John Garner stoically greeted the Apple employee assigned to assist him before asking how he could remove the “Praise Hands Emojis” from his new iPhone, sources confirmed.

“There’s a problem with my phone,” Garner began. “See, there are these hands raised up in the air when I pull up the emojis on my keyboard, and I’d like to get them taken off—or if we could at least replace them with hands being placed in pockets where they belong, that’d work too.”

The confused Apple employee, unsure exactly what Garner was asking, launched into a demonstration of how to use the emojis, according to witnesses, but was interrupted by Garner.

“Whoa! Did I just see clapping hands on there? Those are going to need to be removed right away,” Garner said. “Please and thank you.”

“I’m not sure what it is you want, sir. These are installed by default on every iPhone we sell. It’s not a glitch, it’s a feature,” the bewildered Genius Bar worker reportedly replied.

“It’s pretty simple—I want you to remove all these emoji fellows showing various emotions. You can keep the expressionless guy, but the rest have to go,” Garner noted as the worker continued flipping through the pages of emojis on his iPhone.

At publishing time, Garner had run from the store in terror after seeing the wide array of diverse emojis from various cultures.

Reflection on 1 Corinthians 1:18-31

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1corinthians

Passage: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+1.18-31

Scripture

For God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.

Observation

The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to those who are being saved it is the power of God.

God makes foolish the wisdom of men. We don’t come to know God through wisdom, so He gives us a cross. Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, but all God offers is the folly of Christ crucified.

We were not wise by human standards nor powerful. But God chose the lowly and insignificant to challenge the standards of this world.

Application

God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom and His weakness is stronger than human strength. Even on His worst day, God is smarter and stronger than any human being- and God doesn’t have bad days!

Some people, even some Christians have problems with considering Jesus as a baby. Often the same people have problems with imagining the Son of God on the cross. They want God to be seen to be all-powerful, stomping on His enemies.

This “stomping” approach is how human beings, fallen and led by the flesh, deal with conflict.

God is bigger, smarter and stronger than that. He shows His power in becoming weak and inviting us to worship Him and to receive His love.

What is the greater victory- to defeat your enemy with weapons or with love? To make your enemy your friend is the greater victory.

When Jesus laid down His life on the cross, He turned many enemies into friends and disciples. The cross is still drawing people into God’s kingdom.

God’s folly is smarter than our wisdom.

Prayer

Father, you have shown your great power and might by laying it down on the cross. Help me Lord to live my life in your wisdom not my own. Amen.

Reflection on Micah 6:1-8

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micah

Passage: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Micah+6.1-8

Scripture

What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God.

Observation

The Lord calls the mountains and the hills to bear witness to the argument that He has with His people. The Lord asks His people what has He done to burden them? In fact He has intervened to save them on many occasions.

Micah then asks what can people bring to the Lord. Will He be pleased with offerings or rivers of oil or even human sacrifices? No. The Lord has shown what it good- to do justice, to love mercy and to walk humbly with God.

Application

God is not interested in our sacrifices, no matter how costly. He doesn’t care about what I give up for Him or what I do for Him. He is more concerned with a heart that is surrendered to Him in such a way that religion transforms relationship.

In particular there are three things mentioned here:

1. Do justice. God’s people are to be fair in all their dealings. We need to ensure that we do not rip others off, that we build others up, that we are honest and that we give more than we take.

Doing justice also means standing up for the poor and oppressed, for everyone whom the governing powers trample over.

2. Love kindness. The word translated as kindness is the Hebrew word hesed which means God’s covenant loving-kindness. We are to treat people with the same kind of love that God has shown us.

We are to love hesed so that doing deeds which lift others up is to become the grand passion in life.

3. To walk humbly with our God. We are to be obedient to God in everything. We mustn’t allow this walk with God to become a source of pride or self-righteousness, but to relate to God and to other people in humility.

This means listening rather than talking, welcoming and valuing both God and others. It also means listening to God’s perspective on our life, listening to His directions for us and obeying Him gladly.

Prayer

Thank you Lord for this simple expression of what it means to honour you. Please help me to do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with you my God. Amen.

Reflection on 1 Corinthians 1:10-18

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1corinthians.jpg

Passage: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+1.10-18

Scripture

The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to those who are being saved, it is the power of God.

Observation

Paul appeals to the Corinthians to be in agreement and be united in one mind and purpose. He is shocked by reports of divisions in the church with people claiming to follow Paul, Peter, Apollos or Christ.

Paul wasn’t crucified for their sins so they shouldn’t be following him. They were not baptised into the name of Paul. His role was not to baptise but to proclaim the gospel. The gospel is the power of God to those who believe, but to those who are perishing it is folly.

Application

The gospel is grace- the grace of God. We don’t have to pay the price of our sin because Christ did that for us,

It offends people who think they are good enough for God and therefore do not need a saviour.

It offends those who see religion as a way of controlling God. How do you appease a God who gives up His right to be angry?

It offends those who refuse to believe in the concepts of sin, holiness and judgement.

It offends those who want a life that is tidy, not a saviour who is covered in blood.

It offends those who recognise the implications of the cross. If God has given all for me, then I must give all for Him.

For those who are being saved, the gospel is the power of God. “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me.”

Blessed are those who recognise their sin and receive God’s forgiveness.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, thank you for enduring the cross for my salvation. Thank you for coming into my life and setting me free from sin. Amen.

Reflection on Isaiah 9:1-4

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Passage: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+9.1-4

Scripture

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light-

those who lived in a land of deep darkness on them the light has shone.

Observation

The king is coming who will remove the gloom and anguish from the nation; specifically from those in Galilee and the other side of the Jordan.

People who walked in deep darkness have seen a great light. God is going to multiply the nation and make it great again. Joy will flow like the joy of the harvest or the excitement of a victorious army dividing the plunder.

Application

The darkness over the land is deep. We have turned our backs on God, and the darkness is descending and becoming deeper.

We have people promoting every sexual deviancy as special and worthy of honour. Those who disagree are vilified. Marriages break down as people prefer pleasure and convenience to the hard work of valuing and loving another person. Celebrities are accused of abusing their positions, and politicians from every party seem determined to gain advantage for themselves.

The darkness is here. Even parts of the church prefer the world to the word, the darkness to the light.

As deep as the darkness is, the light is greater. As evil as people are, Jesus is able to overcome.

As a distant headlight seems dim but grows into a blinding intensity as it draws near, so the light of Jesus is drawing closer.

When christians pray and speak out the gospel, the light will overcome the darkness, and people will be set free.

Australia will be set free one person at a time. Revival will come, and the light will bring salvation, joy and transformation.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, as I look at our nation I see so much darkness. You are the light that overcomes the darkness. Shine through me, Lord, and let the people around me see your grace and your unfailing love. Amen.