This love that surpasses knowledge!

Welcome!

Today: This love that surpasses knowledge!

Passage: Eph 3

And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, ¹⁸ may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, ¹⁹ and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. (Eph 3, NIV ⁸⁴)-emphasis added

The true knowledge of God will fill us with the love of God

Speaking truth without love does not convey the message of Christ. Jesus loved us and He became the wisdom of God for us. Knowledge is theoretical but it is through love that we practice our knowledge of Christ

Faith and hope go along with it, but Love is the basis of all that is Christian

God is Love, just as God is Spirit

The major reason why Church is not effective today is not because it doesn’t have faith or hope, not because it doesn’t have great preaching, but because it has lost true love. When Church focuses onlyon getting bigger, it ceases to get any better

We simply need a bigger Church or a better one? We need to answer that first

People don’t  feel “at home” in many Churches. They come there, sing some songs, watch what’s going on, and go home. Many a time, they don’t even find  real love or fellowship

More than miracles or high-tech messages, people are looking for real, sincere love, which is selfless and meaningful

The message of Christ has healed so many people from sin and grief. So many have found meaning for their life and existence, in Christ

If our messages are just a demonstration of our knowledge and skills, they don’t get into anyone’s heart. Jesus had great compassion on the people, which came from His heart. The language of love speaks better than the language of knowledge

Paul encourages the Ephesians to be rooted and established in love, not in knowledge. He compares the Christian to a tree that is deep rooted, and to a building with strong foundations-in the strong soil of the love of Christ

May be we need to take a turn and come back

Instead of competing for better Church buildings and better Pastor(s), we need to know Christ more personally

I see many Churches looking for Pastors, with various qualifications listed. But, if people in the Church can get together in love and prayer in small groups or whatever, then God will open the eyes to see things better.

When Church gets right with God, God will get right with the Church.

The 120 disciples became “one” in those ten days after Jesus ascended to heaven. When their love and unity was full, God came upon them, and dwelt

God bless your day and fill you with His love, which is what we need more than anything else

Amen

BG

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I need a baptism, a filling of your love, more than anything else. More than miracles and wonders, I want to see the miracle of love in myself, my family, my Church and in my work. Thank you Jesus for your love, which is the most needed thing in the world today. Help us to give it out to others. Amen

Such a great name!

Welcome!

Today: Such a great name!

Passage: Eph 3

¹⁴ For this reason I kneel before the Father, ¹⁵ from whom his whole family^[a] in heaven and on earth derives its name. (Eph 3, NIV ⁸⁴)

When Moses asked God about His name, God told Moses that His name was “I AM”. God told Moses, “I AM WHO I AM”

¹³ Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?” ¹⁴ God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.^[b] This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” (Ex 3, NIV ⁸⁴)

But in the next moment, God also told Moses that He was the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. God, who is the “I AM” was now relating Himself to His people

In Egypt, Israelites came across the names of so many “gods”. So Moses wanted to tell them the name of the God who spoke to Moses.

Moses tried to somehow get out of that responsibility, but God made it clear that Moses was the man whom God had chosen for this special assignment

Being sure that God has chosen them for a specific assignment, is what is lacking for most leaders today. When God puts a person in a certain position, nobody can challenge it. Instead, if we get it on our own, it will always be shaky…!

The twelve sons of Jacob became the heads of the twelve tribes of Israel.

The twelve disciples whom Jesus selected, became the twelve disciples of Jesus (Iscariot was certainly replaced by another one)

What God does is final. When our turn comes, we will get it; it will be firm.

All that we need to understand is that God’s work is God’s work, and not “mine”

So, we just do it with all earnestness and sincerity. All decisions come from God

When we come under the umbrella of God’s family, we better let the world and the devil know, “I have my father in heaven”. Devil knows Him!

The name of the Almighty God, the name of Jesus – scares devil like hell!

There is POWER in that name. When we lift our name up, we put God’s name down

We are given the authority to use the name of Jesus-responsibly

¹⁷ And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; ¹⁸ they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.” (Mk 16, NIV ⁸⁴)

May that name-the name of the Almighty God-the name of Jesus- be glorified!

Amen!

Have a blessed day

BG

Prayer: Father, thank you for letting us become part of your family and for letting us use your name. Help us to understand you and the power of your name more and more. Thank you, in Jesus’ name. Amen

God is one; so are we!

Welcome!

Today: God is one; so are we!

Passage: Eph 4

⁴ There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called— ⁵ one Lord, one faith, one baptism; ⁶ one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. (Eph 4, NIV 84)-emphasis added

We see seven “ones” in the verse above, out of which three are about God

One Spirit, One Lord, One God and father of all – speaks about the God head

And then there is one body, one hope, one faith and one baptism

The underlying factor of all these is Love

Within the “one body”, which is the Church, we see a visible Church and an invisible Church

There may be many denominations, but there is only one body

There is no reason for churches to fight with each other; “let my church grow; let the other church also grow”, as long as they are part of the body of Christ

The attitude “my church should grow and let the other church fail” is not a Christian attitude; but that is what many Churches have!

Just as we feel we belong to Christ, there are millions who belong to Christ

Then, there is one faith; all roads don’t lead to Rome. Today, there are so many teachings including the one that says, there is no need to be born again! These are taught by some Church leaders. As days pass by, we will see a “dilution” and deviation of the gospel, which is on the increase

One baptism: The baptism that makes us part of the body of Christ. Jesus told Nicodemus that unless a person is born again, that person cannot enter God’s kingdom. Jesus told disciples to preach the gospel and to baptize those who believe. We do not see any baptism in the Bible that does not involve the faith and confession of the person getting baptized. With all love, let me say this: baptizing a baby has no support from the Bible. Jesus is more gracious than us, to care for the soul of a child who is not able to discern between right and wrong

There is one hope- hope in God – the hope in the coming of Jesus Christ

The whole world is anxiously waiting for redemption

Even scientists who are atheists agree to the fact that some major change is going to happen to the earth

Our model is God- the oneness and unity in the trinity

There is no conflict in the trinity because God is Love

May God give us the Spirit of love, to ourselves, to God, within the family, Church, work, everywhere we go

Amen

BG

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I thank you for loving and choosing me to be yours. Thank you for being a model within the God head, so that I can be proud that you are my God. Help me love others with same love as in 1 Corinthians 13. Amen

Make an effort for peace!

Welcome!

Today: Make an effort for peace!

Passage: Eph 4

³ Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. ⁴ There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called— ⁵ one Lord, one faith, one baptism; ⁶ one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. (Eph 4, NIV 84)-emphasis added

Peace can be maintained only through an effort

When we make no effort, peace does not happen

Many people don’t want to take the responsibility to create peace; we need peace with God, peace within ourselves, peace within the family, Church, work, etc

In all these cases, there must be a conscious effort from within

When anything comes between us and God, we must be willing to get rid of that. When we see things within us that steal our peace, we must “isolate” those things and deal with it. They will lie “mixed” with everything else

For example, if we are concerned about our children and that issue steals our peace, just bring that issue up – to God and deal with it

If there are habits in us that kills the peace within the family, find out specifically what those trends are, and deal with it

Same way, we can deal with the peace-killing culprits everywhere

Jesus shed his blood, to create peace between us and God, us and others

¹⁴ For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, ¹⁵ by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, ¹⁶ and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. ¹⁷He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. ¹⁸ For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. (Eph 2, NIV)

Jesus made a conscious effort to create and maintain peace

He preached peace; He lived (for) peace

Today, “peace” is the one thing that is in most demand in the world- more than Gold! God’s peace is different from the one the world talks about

We know where to get it; so why not be peace-creators and peace keepers?

I remember  talking to a brother who is in a top position in a company

He shared with me how he was able to create peace between two of his bosses, which avoided a big trouble in that place

God has put you and me in specific places with such responsibilities

But first, we need to have peace within, with God and with others

¹ Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we^[a] have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, ² through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we^[b]rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. (Rom 5, NIV)

God’s peace to you!

BG

SAY THE WORD ONLY

SAY THE WORD ONLY

Luke 7:7 (NKJV) Therefore I did not even think myself worthy to come to You. But say the Word, and my servant will be healed.

The centurion had faith in the power of the Word of Jesus.  Jesus even marveled at this Gentile who believed for healing for his servant through the Word of God.

God wants us to have this same kind of faith: a faith that will trust Him for what His Word states. As we saw yesterday, the Word of God is living and powerful, and when we say, “Father, I believe You because your Word declares it!” that faith moves mountains and removes things that have tried to harm us. Let God be true and every man a liar!

God is truth, so His Word is truth.  God cannot lie, so His Word cannot lie.  As we find the truth (which is His Word) and speak it out in faith, look out!  Mountains are coming down!  Many times, though, people do not see the situation change immediately, and they start to lose heart.  Do not give up!  The mountain will move, or will change, when you do not let go of the promise that God, your Heavenly Father, has given you through His Word.

So take some time today to find His Word on the matter that is coming against you, speak it, and then praise Him until the answer comes.  If you need healing for your body or a loved one’s body, go to the treasure of the Scripture and pull out a gem, and watch the sickness disappear.  If you are in need of a financial breakthrough, go to the Bible and find out what God says on the subject, and then release the answer through your mouth.

This goes for any area of your life.  If you need peace, joy, contentment, friends, a mate, or a better lifestyle, whatever it is, as long as it is in the will of God (and we know that the will of God is His Word) then believe Him, speak His Word, give the seed time to mature, and watch it come to pass!

Confession:  The Word of God cannot change, but situations are subject to change.  Today, I make a quality decision to speak the Word, and to hold onto the promise of it, and these mountains will have to move!

Today’s Bible Reading

2 Chronicles 19 – 20

Romans 10:14 –  11:12

Psalms 21

Proverbs 20:4-6

PUT YOUR TRUST IN GOD

Psalms 20:7 (NKJV) Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will remember the Name of the Lord our God.

Too many times, we put our trust in the arm of flesh, but God is looking for us to put our trust in Him.  It is easy to do this, because we can see people and things, but we cannot see God.  Yet the Bible, and even past experiences in our lives, proves to us that when we put our trust in the Word of the Lord, He never lets us down.

In Hebrews 13:5 it says, “…for He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’”  This verse does not say, “I will not leave you unless what you are going through is just too big for Me,” or, “I will not leave you unless you get yourself into a mess.”  No!  It says that He will not leave us or forsake us.

I do not know about you, but I have gotten myself into many jams, and if it had been left up to my ability to get out of them, it never would have worked.  But God, our Father, is full of grace and mercy.  He knows us.  When we mess up, we need to “fess up,” and He will always come through. 

I think that one of the greatest things we can learn in life is that God is for us.  He is on our side, and we should be on His side.  When we make a decision to trust in the name of our God (the name of Jesus), we see great deliverance and manifestation of the answers to prayers.

So today, do not trust in the strength of man, but in the strength of our God.  Do not look to others for answers.  Look to your Father!  Ask Him, share with Him what you are going through, and watch and see Him come through.  Take some time to start developing your relationship with Him, and then when others are trusting in the arm of flesh, your trust will be in the Mighty God, your Father!

Confession:  My Father God is for me and not against me.  If He is on my side, then I know that I will get through whatever comes against me.  Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world!

Today’s Bible Reading

2 Chronicles 21 – 23

Romans 11:13-36

Psalms 22:1-18

Proverbs 20:7