God's System, it Works always
Isaiah 30:18 -Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; He rises to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for Him!
Have you ever noticed that God is not in a hurry? It took 40 years for Moses to receive his commission to lead the people out of Egypt . It took 17 years of preparation before Joseph was delivered from slavery and imprisonment. It took 20 years before Jacob was released from Laban's control. Abraham and Sarah were in their old age when they finally received the son of promise, Isaac. So why isn't God in a hurry?
In another context, Daniel 10:13 says as -But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia . He was in struggle and waited with faith and uncounted that experience.
God called each of these servants to accomplish a certain task in His Kingdom, yet He was in no hurry to bring their mission into fulfillment. First, He accomplished what He wanted in them. Praise God. God is always in first place in their life. HE must be. We need to bring a habit of putting HIM in the center of life and allowing HIM to execute all the things in our life.
The Lord owns a system which has got marvelous things to observe. The system operates in HIS own time. The system yields the result with no fail. The system operates in success mode always. The system expects the individual to do our part and rest to believe on HIM- The system will not do the magic by itself as we can clearly see that HIS purpose and plan is always different from the world.
Any System will have three components:-
>> Inputs – We need to our part too.
>> Process – transformation to get mature in HIM. This is the part we need to focus much. To change ourselves in HIM, into HIS ways, for HIS glory, by HIS grace.
>> Outcome – fulfillment of mission.
The same is holds good for the God’s System too- HE will set the stage for us. HE allows us difficult moments. HE Shows paths and ways to make use of it/ to escape from it- The only prerequisite is we need to be in sink with GOD to understand those situations and circumstances to make use of it. If we sail in HIS path by understanding the God’s leading and presence- the journey will be very much enrichment in all ways- That is the journey everyone wanted and God too expects. We often fail to experience that journey, because of pride, lust, selfish thoughts, prayer less life, immersed in unnecessary thoughts. Let us examine and remove what is not required and retain what is needed at this hour?! Let us do self analysis and keep HIM in our first priority- This is the secret to bring more Glory to HIM- HIS system works in us!
If God is for us, who can be against us. God says that I am putting my right hand on you and stand besides you- that means HE Stands in our left side and watches our every moment whether we are getting success in the system where HE put us to get victory- HE is the Lord of Victory. Amen.
Psalm 109:31 - For he shall stand at the right hand of the poor, to save him from those that condemn his soul-
We are often more focused on outcome than the process that He is accomplishing in our lives each day. When we experience His presence daily, one day we wake up and realize that God has done something special in and through our lives. However, the accomplishment is no longer what excites us. Instead, what excites us to knowing Him. Through those times, we become more acquainted with His love, grace, and power in our lives. When this happens, we are no longer focused on the outcome because the outcome is a result of our walk with Him. It is not the goal of our walk, but the by-product. Hence, when Joseph came to power in Egypt , he probably couldn't have cared less. He had come to a place of complete surrender so that he was not anxious about tomorrow or his circumstances.
This is the lesson for us. We must wait for God's timing and embrace wherever we are in the process. When we find contentment in that place, we begin to experience God in ways we never thought possible.
Tired of doing Good?
How many times have you prayerfully invited your friend, colleague or neighbor to a Gospel programme? Countless times?
How many times has she/he responded and come to the Gospel meeting? Never did come? Came only once and then avoids you or speaks ill of you?
Do not worry! Cheer up! Let us see what happens beneath the covers…
The ball starts rolling once a sincere attempt is made to share the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ to the needy. The work has begun. Results may not be evident immediately; but the Holy Spirit of God is at work from the inside.
What happens when you use a hammer initially on a rock?It seems to only cause pain in your hand but stays intact.However, as you repeat the hammering, cracks begin to appear and finally the rock is shattered.
Even so, God is at work along with you as you prayerfully reach out to the needy and oppressed. He will confirm His word with His works.
And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen. (Mark 16:20)
He does not want anyone to perish. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. (II Peter 3:9)
So take heart and keep up the good work. Do not be discouraged. The rock will be shattered by your consistent attempts in the Holy Ghost!
…let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. (Gal.6:9)
Is not My word like a fire? says the LORD, and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces? (Jer.23:29)
BLOOD
One night in a church service a young woman felt the tug of God at her heart. She responded to God’s call and accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior.
The young woman had a very rough past, involving alcohol, drugs, and prostitution. But, the change in her was evident. As time went on she became a faithful member of the church. She eventually became involved in the ministry, teaching young children. It was not very long until this faithful young woman had caught the eye and heart of the pastor’s son.
The relationship grew and they began to make wedding plans. This is when the problems began. You see, about one half of the church did not think that a woman with a past such as hers was suitable for a pastor’s son. The church began to argue and fight about the matter. So they decided to have a meeting.
As the people made their arguments and tensions increased, the meeting was getting completely out of hand. The young woman became very upset about all the things being brought up about her past. As she began to cry the pastor’s son stood to speak. He could not bear the pain it was causing his wife to be. He began to speak and his statement was this: “My fiancée’s past is not what is on trial here. What you are questioning is the ability of the blood of Jesus to wash away sin. Today you have put the blood of Jesus on trial. So, does it wash away sin or not?”
The whole church began to weep as they realized that they had been slandering the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. Too often, even as Christians, we bring up the past and use it as a weapon against our brothers and sisters. Forgiveness is a very foundational part of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. If the blood of Jesus does not cleanse the other person completely then it cannot cleanse us completely. If that is the case, then we are all in a lot of trouble.
What can wash away my sins?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus! End of case!!!!
One day at a time
Many a times, we are overwhelmed as we consider, “How am I to be consistent in my walk with the LORD?” Today, it seems okay; but how about next week, when I travel to onsite? New contacts and new surroundings pose threateningly. How do I survive among my colleagues, who do not share my beliefs?
When I go to my home town and meet my old friends, how do I manage? How do I survive from being unspotted by the world, when I go on a vacation? Today, I feel strong in the LORD and serve the LORD – I preach, sing & pray; but how about tomorrow? Will I be able to stand till the end?
Many of us are stumped when we consider the deliverables and deadlines we have to meet. It seems so paramount and unreachable! We spend our time worrying about our goals and targets. We wonder if we will come up against some obstacle that has not been foreseen or estimated, during the project planning phase.
Yet others worry about their family – wife and children. My wife pesters me about her career growth – she had a break when we had a baby this year. She also raises concern about my ‘peanut’ salary increments, in spite of having put in many a long ‘n stretched working hours. My kids are getting ill often; how will they fare in the exam?
Dear friends, be it our personal spiritual life, our family life or our work life; we tend to worry and waste today as we think about tomorrow!
Shall we listen to what the Lord Jesus Christ has to say about this?
- Consider the following logic – to discourage ourselves from worrying about tomorrow:
Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? (Matthew 6:27)
On the contrary, by worrying we loose many a single hour! As we gain nothing by worrying, why worry?
The secret to ‘Quit Worrying’ is to know the nature and mind of God, our Creator towards us concerning our diverse needs.
- Know that God, your heavenly Father knows your needs!
…your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. (Matthew 6:8)
…your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. (Matthew 6:32)
Now, hear the counsel of God on what we need to do after we quit worrying and know the nature of God!
- Aim at and strive after maintaining at first, a right relationship with the LORD God your Savior and then, at also spreading the Good News about the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ to the needy around you.
…seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. (Matthew 6:33)
Bonus! You get a bonus when you are right with God and are involved in the extension of His kingdom! All things that you were worried about initially are sorted out. When God takes the rightful place in your life, everything else falls into place – like a jigsaw puzzle.
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. (Mathew 6:34)
Remember, the good old song ‘One day at a time’?
I’m only human – I’m just a man
Help me to believe in all I could be
And all that I am
Show me the stairway I have to climb
Lord for my sake, teach me to take
One day at a time
One day at a time, sweet Jesus
That’s all I’m asking from You
Just give me the strength to do everyday
What You’d have me do
Yesterday’s gone, sweet Jesus
And tomorrow may never be mine
Lord help me today, show me the way
One day at a time
Do you remember when You walked among men
Well Jesus You know, looking below
It’s worse now than then
Pushing and shoving, crowding my mind
So for my sake, teach me to take
One day at a time
Let us ask God each day to give you grace to take ‘One day at a time’.
Prayer: Thank You Father God for You know all my needs! I realize that I cannot achieve anything by worrying. Help me as I decide to quit worrying today and seek a right and living relationship with You. Lead me and guide me; as I strive to help the needy around me with the good news of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Help me take ‘One day at a time’. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I pray. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer.
Prayer
A voyaging ship was wrecked during a storm at sea and only two of the men on it were able to swim to a small, desert like island. The two survivors, not knowing what else to do, agree that they had no other recourse but to pray to God. However, to find out whose prayer was more powerful, they agreed to divide the territory between them and stay on opposite sides of the island.
The first thing the first man prayed for was food. The next morning, the first man saw a fruit-bearing tree on his side of the land, and he was able to eat its fruit. The other man’s parcel of land remained barren.
After a week, the first man was lonely and he decided to pray for a wife. The next day, another ship was wrecked, and the only survivor was a woman who swam to his side of the land. On the other side of the island, there was nothing.
Soon the first man prayed for a house, clothes, more food. The next day, like magic, all of these were given to him. However, the second man still had nothing.
Finally, the first man prayed for a ship, so that his wife and he could leave the island. In the morning, he found a ship docked at his side of the island. The first man boarded the ship with his wife and decided to leave the second man on the island. He considered the other man unworthy to receive God’s blessings, since none of his prayers had been answered.
As the ship was about to leave, the first man heard a voice from Heaven booming,
“Why are you leaving your companion on the island?”
“My blessings are mine alone, since I was the one who prayed for them,” the first man answered.
“His prayers were all unanswered, and so he does not deserve anything.”
“You are mistaken!” the voice rebuked him. “He had only one prayer, which I answered. If not for that, you would not have received any of my blessings.”
“Tell me,” the first man asked the voice, “what did he pray for that I should owe him anything?”
“He prayed that all your prayers be answered.”
For all we know, our blessings are not the fruits of our prayers alone, but those of another praying for us.
When Jesus died on the cross he was thinking of you!