Tag Archive | Christian

Effectual Prayer

Nov18

And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness.And the congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul;            Acts 4:31-32a NASB

Through prayer we are given the power of boldness to speak truth amongst our brothers and sisters to encourage them in the faith.

Through prayer we are given boldness to share the gospel outside the walls of the church.

Through prayer the church is unified as one heart and soul as the body of Christ.

The power of prayer. The Holy Spirit of God desires to work in us to point others to Christ and His saving grace.

🌹Do you speak with boldness the word of God to others for the glory of God and the eternal well being of others?

🌹Are you participating in corporate prayer so God can build the body for His glory and purpose?

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

What Do You Possess?

Nov17

But Peter said, “I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene-walk!” Acts 3:6 NASB

Peter encountered an invalid lying on the ground. He had no real material things to offer him and if he did what benefit would it have been to this man? This man would be satisfied for the moment but the next day he would be right back where he encountered Peter. What do you possess that you can offer to someone in need? Something beyond the physical.

And all the people saw him walking and praising God; and they were taking note of him as being the one who used to sit at the Beautiful Gate of the temple to beg alms, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.                      Acts 3:9‭-‬10 NASB

What Peter gave was far beyond the physical even though it was manifested in the physical. When God transforms a person people take notice. And the gospel can be proclaimed.

And on the basis of faith in His name, it is the name of Jesus which has strengthened this man whom you see and know; and the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect health in the presence of you all.     Acts 3:16 NASB

🌹What do you possess? The Holy Spirit.

🌹What can you offer? Your testimony of faith and of experiencing God.

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

P.S. I am not saying you should not meet the physical but don’t neglect the spiritual for only the physical.

Will You Go?

Nov16

Jesus said to her, “Stop clinging to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God.'” John 20:17 NASB

Jesus sent Mary Magdalene to tell His disciples that He was ascending to His Father, His God who is also their Father and their God. Mary was sent for a purpose. Could it be that God wanted to prepare the disciples so that they would be ready to believe and respond when Jesus appeared before them?

So Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. John 20:21-22 NASB

What a wonderful encounter the disciples had with Jesus. Not only did they get to see His resurrected body but received the promised Holy Spirit. Remember that the Holy Spirit came because Jesus went to the Father. Jesus sent these disciples in different directions under the influence of the Holy Spirit. Jesus had to return to the Father so the Spirit of God could go and work through many disciples in many places at the same time.

If you are a born again disciple of Christ than you possess the power of the Holy Spirit in you just as the disciples had. What is God’s purpose for His disciples?

As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. John 17:18 NASB

Jesus has sent us into the world just as the Father sent Him. Jesus came to bring reconciliation between man and God. Jesus now sends us to reconcile man to God.

🌹 Will you go?

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Power

Nov9

And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment; concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me; and concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father and you no longer see Me; and concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.          John 16:8‭-‬11 NASB

O the power of the Holy Spirit. Do we truly believe that He can convict the world concerning sin? Do we believe the Holy Spirit can draw the unbeliever to Jesus? Do our prayers show that we do as we pray for unbelievers in our lives?

O the power of the Holy Spirit to convict the unbeliever to believe in Jesus, the righteous One, even if He is not seen physically in bodily form.

O the power of the Holy Spirit to assure the believer that the ruler of this world has been judged already. He has no power over the believer because Jesus took care of that when He rose from the dead. We have the power of Almighty God living in us. Hallelujah!! Let us live in such a way to testify to His power and glory.

But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you.                         John 16:13‭-‬14 NASB

🌹 Is the Holy Spirit alive and moving in you? Surrender, listen, obey. Then you will glorify Him.

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

No Fear, Only Hope

Nov9

Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.             John 14:27 NASB

Truly, truly, I say to you, that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; you will grieve, but your grief will be turned into joy.  Therefore you too have grief now; but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you.      John 16:20‭, ‬22 NASB

Even though this word was written at a time when Jesus was talking to His disciples about His leaving to return to the Father, it is still pertinent today. God’s word transcends time to speak to all generations.

We may be facing a time in our lives of personal weeping and lamenting. We also may  be facing a time in history when we will be weeping and lamenting the times we have had freedom from ridicule and persecution as a Christian.

But GOD!!! Hallelujah, but God. . .

He has given us peace that the world cannot comprehend. We have the promise that Jesus “will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you.”

So as the world rejoices while we weep and lament over the depravity in the world, let us hold fast to the promises of God and be at peace.

🌹 No fear, no troubled heart. Only hope.

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Love One Another

Oct29

By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:35 NASB

but so that the world may know that I love the Father, I do exactly as the Father commanded Me. Get up, let us go from here.   John 14:31 NASB

This I command you, that you love one another.   John 15:17 NASB

Jesus kept the commandments of the Father to show the world His love for the Father. He has commanded His disciples to love one another. By this love for one another all mankind will know we are God’s disciples.

🌹 Are you demonstrating God’s love to the world by obeying His command to love your fellow brothers and sisters?

These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.              John 15:11 NASB

Did It or Not To Me

Oct27

The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’
Matthew 25:40 NASB

Then He will answer them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ Matthew 25:45 NASB

These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
Matthew 25:46 NASB

God is all about people. He created them. He pursues a relationship with them. He pours out blessings on those who are His.

Since God is all about people, should we not also be?

During this time of Covid, many people are isolated in their homes with little to no human contact. Have we checked on our brothers and sisters who are not gathering with us for church? Do we take the time to “do for one of these”?

🌹Who has God placed on your heart, in your mind to reach out to? “to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.”

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

In the Know

Oct26

Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away. Mark 13:31, Matthew 24:35, Luke 21:33 NASB

But take heed; behold, I have told you everything in advance. Mark 13:5 NASB

The Word of God: preparation and awareness of what is to come.

And Jesus answered and said to them, “See to it that no one misleads you. Mark 13:23, Matthew 24:4 NASB

The Word of God: truth that keeps you from being misled.

Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold.  But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved.  This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come. Matthew 24:12‭-‬14 NASB

The Word of God: encouragement to endure to the end. Knowledge and motivation to share the gospel. Opportunity .  .  .

It will lead to an opportunity for your testimony. Luke 21:13‭ NASB

But understanding of the Word of God can only come by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you. John 14:26 NASB

🌹Have you received the Holy Spirit? If so, what priority is the Word of God in your life? “behold, I have told you everything in advance.“

Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful. John 14:27 NASB

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Faithful

Oct21

As Jesus was approaching Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the road begging. Now hearing a crowd going by, he began to inquire what this was. They told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. And he called out, saying, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Those who led the way were sternly telling him to be quiet; but he kept crying out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” And Jesus stopped and commanded that he be brought to Him; and when he came near, He questioned him, “What do you want Me to do for you?” And he said, “Lord, I want to regain my sight!” And Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has made you well.”  Immediately he regained his sight and began following Him, glorifying God; and when all the people saw it, they gave praise to God.                          Luke 18:35‭-‬43 NASB

“Lord, I want to regain my sight”.

This man had lost his sight, for you can’t regain something you never had.

Haven’t we all been there? Lost sight of our way? Lost the intimacy we have had with Jesus in the past?

This man was persistent to get the attention of Jesus even while those around him

“were sternly telling him to be quiet; but he kept crying out all the more”. And those trying to keep him quiet were leaders. “Those who led the way”.

By his faithfulness he pursued Jesus. By his faithfulness his eyes were opened. By his faithfulness he followed Jesus. But even greater than all this “when all the people saw it, they gave praise to God.”

Your faithfulness is seen by many.

🌹Are you faithfully following Jesus? Do others see Jesus in you? If not it is time to ask for Jesus to “to regain my sight!” Then be faithful to follow.

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Prayer Connection

Oct16

Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.
Jeremiah 29:12

And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness.
Acts 4:31

What is the connection between prayer and the movement of the Holy Spirit?

Without God we are unable to accomplish His work, will, plan. Without Him we are unable to bring glory to His name. Without Him we are nothing.

Prayer in the Holy Spirit connects us to the One Holy God. In Him we are transformed into the image of Christ. In Him we are revived. In Him we are taught, guided, empowered so that we can speak the word of God, share the gospel, with boldness.

🌹 How is your prayer life?

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon