Question: What makes us cry?

Answer:

Question: Why should I not be afraid?

Answer: “Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” 2 Kings 6:16

Story: The king of Aram was furious since Elisha was telling the king of Israel every battle plan of King Aram, even though they were speaking in Aram’s palace.” Hearing this the king said, “Go and find out where he is. I’ll send someone and capture him.” The report came back, “He’s in Dothan.” Then he dispatched horses and chariots, an impressive fighting force. They came by night and surrounded the city. Early in the morning a servant of the Holy Man got up and went out. Surprise! Horses and chariots surrounding the city! The young man exclaimed, “Oh, master! What shall we do?” He said, “Don’t worry about it—there are more on our side than on their side.” Then Elisha prayed, “O God, open his eyes and let him see. The eyes of the young man were opened and he saw. A wonder! The whole mountain side full of horses and chariots of fire surrounding Elisha! When the Arameans attacked, Elisha prayed to God, “Strike these people blind!” And God struck them blind, just as Elisha said.

Lesson: Elisha was surrounded by a powerful army, it was seen by Elisha and his servant, servant panicked but Elisha was very calm. Same mountain and the same situation. The reason we know Elisha saw something that his servant did not see. Elisha saw the army of the Lord, in our challenges, we should see the presence of the Lord. Nahum 1:3 “The LORD hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm” The Lord has His way even in the valley of death, and David could experience it. So it is not where we are, the question is, are we seeing the ways of the Lord? That’s why Moses was different Psalm 103:7 “He made known his ways to Moses, his acts to the people of Israel.”

Prayer: Lord, like Elisha, Moses, and David, help us to see your army, your way, and hear your voice in our storms. Amen.

Question: What is it really to be saved?

Answer:

Paul’s final instruction to Timothy – Do not be ashamed, then, of witnessing for our Lord; neither be ashamed of me, a prisoner for Christ’s sake. Instead, take your part in suffering for the Good News, as God gives you the strength for it. He saved us and called us to be his own people, not because of what we have done, but because of his own purpose and grace. He gave us this grace by means of Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but now it has been revealed to us through the coming of our Savior, Christ Jesus. He has ended the power of death and through the gospel has revealed immortal life.

I want to meditate on 2 Tim 1:9 – The word of God “He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time”  Paul wrote this letter to Timothy from prison and he was beheaded by Nero after this letter, the last letter Paul wrote, that to Timothy his dear son in Christ.

Here Paul gives an insight into how and why we are saved, how is; by the grace and God’s great purpose, we received it as a gift when we accepted it by faith. Now why; The Lord called us to a Holy life, so grace that was sufficient for salvation is transforming too. There will be a true earnest desire to live Holy. Careless lifestyle after being saved, surely the person should examine and see if it was genuine repentance. I want to read a few verses where the New Testament emphasizes on U-turn in lifestyle.

• 1 Corinthians 10:12, “Let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.”
• 2 Corinthians 13:5, “Examine yourself to see whether you are holding to your faith. Test yourselves.
• Philippians 2:12, “Work out your salvation with fear and trembling.”
• Hebrews 12:14, “Strive for peace and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.”
• 1 Peter 1:17, “If you invoke as Father him who judges each one impartially according to his deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile.”
• Revelation 2:10, “Be faithful unto death and I will give you the crown of life.”

Final thought: Are you intentionally and earnestly standing for Holy Life by the strength of the Holy Spirit

Question: What does it mean to take guard?

Answer:

Praise the Lord, I want to meditate on Mat 16:12 – The word of God ” Then they understood that he was not telling them to guard against the yeast used in bread, but against the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees”

When the disciples crossed over to the other side of the lake, they forgot to take any bread. Jesus said to them, “Take care; be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” They started discussing among themselves, “He says this because we didn’t bring any bread.”Jesus knew what they were saying, so he asked them, “Why are you discussing among yourselves about not having any bread? What little faith you have! Don’t you understand yet? Don’t you remember when I broke the five loaves for the five thousand men? How many baskets did you fill? And what about the seven loaves for the four thousand men? How many baskets did you fill? How is it that you don’t understand that I was not talking to you about bread? Guard yourselves from the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees!” Then the disciples understood that he was not warning them to guard themselves from the yeast used in bread but from the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

Jesus and his disciples were going across a lake, but they forgot to take bread. On this Jesus said “Be careful,” Jesus said to them. “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” Mat 16:6, Jesus meant to be careful of false teaching, but Mat 16:7 “They discussed this among themselves and said, “It is because we didn’t bring any bread.”, they were burdened of worldly need when Jesus was speaking of spiritual need

Mat 16:8 “Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked, “You of little faith, why are you talking among yourselves about having no bread?”  When we are burdened, worried about our lack of resources, Jesus says we have little faith in the provider. In tough times remember what the Lord had done for us, “Do you still not understand? Don’t you remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? Mat 16:9

The lessons, are we investing our time about lost souls, our prayer life, blameless life or like the world we are running behind things of the world [promotion, possession, praise from men]. Remember our priorities define our citizenship. Heavenly citizen guards things for eternity. Five minutes into eternity we will regret and think I wished I prayer more.

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Question: What is the solid foundation of God?

Answer: What comes to our mind when we think of this question, what does the Bible say?

Introduction: Good Morning, Praise the Lord! Today wanted to meditate on 2 Tim 2:19 “Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.”

Background: Paul’s last letter was to his dear son in the Lord, Timothy. Just after writing this letter, Paul was beheaded by Nero. It is a very personal letter to Timothy reminding and encouraging him about the walk with the Lord

Teaching: Paul tells Timothy, about two aspects of God’s solid foundation, one is our hope “Lord knows those who are his” This is our great confidence, we have a Father who is personal and knows us. But how do we know we truly belong to Him, Paul explains it by saying “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.”

Remember the words of Jesus

• John 14:15 If you love me, keep my commands.
• Luke 6:46 “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?
• Math 7:21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

Application: If we are not intentional of obeying and living a holy life, then we should question if we are actually saved. When we are fully consecrated to live a Holy life, Jesus promised in John 14:16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever

Final Thought: The Holy Father gave us the Holy Spirit as per the promise, given to us by His Holy Son Jesus through the Holy Scriptures to help us live a Holy life