Scriptures of Faith

Nothing is Impossible with God: -Thoko-J. Chilenga

1. Why have Faith?

According to Ecclesiastes 3:14"I know that whatever God does it shall be forever. Nothing can be added to it, nothing taken from it, that men should fear before Him" This means that what God said then, will still stand and apply to all of us today. This takes time to sink into your spirit, but you have to allow it that time, because when it does, you'll realize how much God thinks of you and loves you, and has thoughts of good towards you.

2. Does God understand?

Sometimes we are running from things, or trying to face up to other things. Sometimes we just don't think that God is able to identify with what we are going through, and withdraw from His presence. But he isn't the friend that is there in good times only, or that can only be with you until a certain point.

According to Hebrews 4:16"For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathies with our weaknesses, but in all points was tempted as we are, yet without sin.

Let us therefore come BOLDLY to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in the time of need"... ... don't let sin and mistakes hold you back from seeking comfort from God whatever the situation. Whatever the consequences of those actions in the flesh, allow God to guide you to a better place. Remember that when you doubt God and turn away from Him, you hinder his ability and His want to help you.

3. There ARE benefits to staying in the Word!

This doesn't need to be emphasized anymore than it has been in the Word. Take it as it is. According to Luke 8:8"But others fell on good ground, sprang up and yielded a crop a hundredfold."

... ...Stay rooted in the Word, wait for that harvest. And if the devil tries to steal the Word from you (as the preceding verses in Luke 8 'The Parable of the Sower' show), remember that your job is to stay faithful to God's Word and keep watering yourself with it, to the point that the devil can't lie to you about anything.

Also, confess: 'According to Luke 8:8, I am good ground for the Word, and will reap a hundredfold.'

4. Ask, believe and take God at His Word, NOT AT YOUR INTERPRETATION!

As Christians we like to analyze and 'see' what God means, and there is scope for that with the Word. But sometimes we need to just read it and believe it exactly how it is set out, not with any logistics/technicalities.

According to Matthew 21:22"And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive"Also, according to Mark 9:23"If you can believe, all things are possible to Him who believes."

5. Receive.

This is one of the hardest things to do sometimes, because we live in a physical and materialistic world where we have to see to believe. But imagine living in Biblical times where Jesus was looking you in the eye saying 'You are healed, go on your way' when you haven't physically felt the healing. And this was a pattern when Jesus performed miracles, He would tell the healed to GO and they would receive on their way.

Like the blind men who had to wash the mud off their eyes before they could see, Jesus had told them they were healed and gave them an instruction to manifest that healing. We need to receive what the Word says in the same way.

E.g. Luke 8:48"Daughter, be of good cheer [despite your mood or feelings], your faith [i.e. receiving of what you have asked/taken from the Word] has made you well. GO in peace."These scriptures have helped me to know how God operates more and in so doing, trust Him always.

Just like how when you learn how a formula or theory works, you have absolute faith in applying it every time. But it takes practice!

3 THINGS YOU (WE) NEED TO KNOW ABOUT YOURSELF (OURSELVES)…… PART 2

The Second part is titled......

2, YOU CANNOT SAVE YOURSELF.

Man has always loved doing something for himself. Because of his ego, he never wants to be indebted to anybody. On the other hand, God has always loved to do things for man. He never wants man to glory in the things that he could do for himself.

This has been the fundamental area of disagreement between God and man.Adam was created by God. All that he has was at the pleasure of the Lord God.

When he sinned; the glory of God left and he saw his nakedness. One would have expected him to humbly go back to his former glory. No, Adam never did that. He decided to do something for himself.

They covered themselves with leaves to hide their nakedness.
“And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons”….gen3:7.

You see, they wanted to help themselves together

3 THINGS YOU ( WE ) NEED TO KNOW ABOUT YOURSELF ( OURSELVES ) ……

Hi every one.
Emm hope we are all enjoying our summer apart from the flood here and there but am sure you'll all agree with me in prayer that God Almighty knows all and He alone is surely in control.

I was going through an article few days ago and it was every powerful. I’d meditate on it and the Holy Spirit gave me a verse in the bible a day later when I was reading my bible.

I'll be sharing my views and what I learnt from this article in 3 parts over the coming week - NB contributions and thoughts are welcome please.

The first part is titled......

YOU ( WE ) ARE A SINNER

The Holy Spirit led me to ROMANS 5 vs 12..... and ROMANS 3 vs 9 - 12. However, you can read further for better understanding. I pray you'll be touched and bless as you read. ( AMEN )

You are a sinner. Please, do not be angry at this statement. I did not say it. These are the very words of God. “All - including you - have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God”…..Romans 3:33. Whatever cosmetic efforts you have made do not change this truth of God.

You may be a good - mannered sinner: you mat be an educated or civilized sinner; you may be a church-going sinner; some are baptized - wet - sinners; it does not change your state in the sight of God. You may be a pastor, Prophet, Evangelist, Superior WO-leader, Bishop or Archbishop, the word of God said “All have sinned”.

The bible makes it clear that you are a sinner not because of what you do, but because of who you are as a child of Adam. “Wherefore, as by one man -Adam - sin entered into the World, and - Spiritual - death by sin; and so - Spiritual - death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned”……
Roman5:12.

After the fall of Adam, every descendent of Adam was born in the image of fallen Adam. “And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, after his image, and called his name Seth.”…….
Genesis 5:3

GET RID OF THOSE OLD CLOTHS!!!

'...PUT OFF YOUR OLD SELF...PUT ON THE NEW SELF...'

EPHESIANS 4:22-24

When you entertain certain thoughts in the privacy of your own mind you may be tempted to excuse yourself by saying, 'What harm will it do?' What harm? More than you know! Ultimately you become whatever you dwell on. Paul writes; '...take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ' (2 Corinthians 10:5 NIV).

Take control of your thoughts or they'll take you places you don't want to go! Again Paul writes, '...put off your old self...put on the new self...' Now you may not want to admit that you're still wearing some of those old clothes.

But the truth is, you can't put on the new man until you first take off the old one. Furthermore, you can't hang those old clothes in the closet for a rainy day, or leave them on the floor to be tripped over. You've got to get rid of them! Read these words carefully:
'Put away all falsehood..."tell your neighbours the truth"...

Don't let the sun go down while you are still angry, for anger gives a mighty foothold to the devil. If you are a thief, stop stealing...using your hands for honest work...give generously to others in need. Don't use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be...helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them' (Ephesians 4:25-29 NLT).

Because God's Spirit lives within you, you don't have to

a) lie in order to advance your position
b) cheat to be prosperous
c) deceive to achieve
d) use your anger and your moods to control others;
e) engage in foul talk.

Those are old clothes - get rid of them!!!

Soul Food Reading:

Jer 1- 3;

Matt 22:1- 14;

Ps 21;

Pr 14:17-20

N / B FROM WORD FOR TODAY.....UCB JUNE 2007
N / B FROM WORD FOR TODAY.....UCB JUNE 2007
N / B FROM WORD FOR TODAY.....UCB JUNE 2007

DISCOURAGEMENT ???

Hello everyone, hope we all had a wonderful weekend – I did – infact on Monday night was awesome (It was the annual youth Ball from my church for anyone who is in wonder land) and all glory be to God.

Emm I’m here today to enlighten us on the word Discouragement. This word in contest = means = depression, dejection, hopelessness, deterrent, damper, impediment, obstacle or even an obstruction.

In on word, Discouragement is said to be the feeling of despair in the face of obstacles, The expression of opposition and disapproval.

For better understanding I would like to share a story of a young adult with us all. Let’s call him ROY.

Roy sat on the step in misery. He watched his classmate passing by him as if he were invisible. The school magazine committee rejection note in his hands branded him “FISRT CLASS LOSER” - a label he had worn many times. He had hoped this time would be different.

He had hoped that this one ability, cartooning, would help to promote him from his self-imposed “LOSER” status. But the note unceremoniously crushed his hopes.

“The magazine committee has decided nor to use your submission. Thanks you for your submitting your material.”

Why should he be surprised??? Failure haunted him.
He listed his blunders in his mind:

• • An F in Latin
• • An f in Algebra
• • Failured every class in the eight grade
• • Useless at sports
• • Too scared to ask any girl out on a date

With a resigned sigh, Roy turned towards home. He believed that nothing was ever going to change for him.He continued to create imaginary worlds on paper, unable to stop drawing. Repeatedly, through the years, his cartoons were rejected.

Then one day he created a character like himself – “A HABITUAL FAILURE”

DISCUSSION & CONTRIBUTION please

• • If you were in Roy shoes. What would you do??? or
• • If you know any one in Roy shoes what would you advise / have done????
• • Maybe what should Roy as done???
• • Why his Roy in this hopelessness situation???
• • Why his He so depressed and never said anything good to himself???
• • Other contributions and suggestions are welcome.

MKE YOUR LIFE COUNT !!!!!

Hello people its been a busy month for most of us in university a we have exams, course work e.t.c.
On one hand, we thank God for all our exams and pray for success because the bible said we shall be the head and not the tail.

On the other hand, lets take i look at the word for told 05-06-2007 which is tittled MAKE YOUR LIFE YOUR LIFE COUNT. it made a lot of meaning to me so i decided sare with people who dont have the book or maybe they do but did not read it today. Bless'

...THIS ONE THING I DO...' PHILIPPIANS 3:13

Edgar W Work said, 'The real tragedy is not in being limited to one talent, but in the failure to use that one talent.' To make the most of your life:

1) Maximise what God has given you. Edison set himself an ambitious goal: to come up with a major new invention every six months and a minor one every ten days. When he died he had 1,093 patents. Edison made his dreams a reality by sticking to what he did best. Are you doing that?

2) Start where God put you. After losing a baseball game, cartoon character Charlie Brown pours out his heart to his friend Lucy: 'All my life I've dreamed of pitching in the big leagues, but I'll never make it!' Lucy replies 'You're thinking too far ahead, Charlie Brown. Set yourself more immediate goals. Start with the next inning, for example. When you go out to pitch, see if you can walk to the mound...without falling down.' Success starts with one step. Exercise your faith and take it.

3) Focus on what God called you to do. Music was everything to Brahms. He collected music and studied compositions going back to the 15th century. He worked day and night to perfect his craft, refusing to publish anything that didn't meet his exacting standards. That's why he didn't publish his first symphony until he was 40.

And he never married, saying it would distract him: 'I am in love with music, I think of nothing but, and of other things only when they make music more beautiful.' Is that fanaticism? No, it's focus; it's what makes your life count! It's why Paul said, '...this one thing I do...'

Soul Food Reading: 1 Kings 21- 22;

Matt 15:1- 14;

Ps 124;

Pr 12: 26

NB - FROM U.C.B. - ( WORD FOR TODAY - 06TH OF JUNE 2007 )

INFLUENCING THE NEXT GENERATION

I was reading my word for today and i was inspired by this particular massage so i decided to share it with everyone. By blessed as you read. (AMEN)

INFLUENCING THE NEXT GENERATION

“You have stayed long enough at this mountain” Deuteronomy 1:6

A teenager was telling a senior why the older generation doesn’t understand the younger. ‘You grew up in a primitive world’, ’You’re right, we didn’t have those things; that’s why we invented them!’ So, what are you doing to bless future generations? God said, ’”… I will pour my spirit into your descendants and My blessing on your children’” (Isaiah 44:3).

God wants the next generation not just to follow, but to overtake this one! And He wants you to be one of those who raise the bar. Don’t use the comfort of the status quo as an excuse for not challenging old thinking. To get beyond your mental barriers you must stop saying things like, ‘That’s just the way I am,’ or ‘My family never amounted to much, so I won’t either.’ No you are contradicting God!

When God delivered Israel and they headed for the promised Land, a journey that should have taken 11 days took 40years. They ended up circling the same mountain repeatedly because they’d been oppressed so long that mentally they couldn’t grasp what God had prepared for them. Finally He told them, “you have stayed longed enough at this mountain…take possession of the land…the Lord swore He would give to your…descendents…” (Deuteronomy 1:6-8).

If your history is one of failure and despair, rise up and say, ‘Enough is enough! I’m going to trust God for bigger and better things!’ It’s in such moments that your destiny is shaped. Think: the decisions you make today will affect not only your future generations-so make sure they’re the right ones!

• Soul Food Reading:
  Num. 32:25-33
  Matt. 10:11-20
  Pslm. 72:1-11
  Prov. 11:19-21
  

NB - FROM U.C.B. - ( WORD FOR TODAY - 16TH OF MAY 2007 )