The Daily Word - Power of Love

John 3:16 - For God so Loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life

When thinking of ways of describing the power that love brings, I can only cast my mind back to that moment Jesus died on the cross. That moment was a powerful act of love, one that everyone is synonymous with. You could drop that and let people think on that but I want to describe a relationship where love defeated hate.

In Acts 15 we see the relationship between Paul and Barnabas reach a critical point. They had been everywhere preaching the word. They now want to go back and see how everyone is doing but somewhere along we have an added element, John Mark. He abandoned Paul at Pamphylia and went on his way, up until now we still don't know why that happened but sure you can imagine what was going through Paul's mind.

At Antioch is where things came to a head, Paul told Barnabas that it would be wise for John Mark to not accompany them on this mission. Barnabas and Paul parted due to that disagreement, Silas then joined Paul instead.

Forward onto 2 Timothy, Paul is now in the last moments of his life on earth, he tells Timothy something which I believe is very powerful.
'Only Luke is with me, Bring Mark with you when you come, for he will be helpful for me in my ministry'
Wow, what a significant moment, the love that Paul has for John Mark can now overlook what happened in Pamphylia and now bring him forth into the ministry.

In the world, most people wouldn't give a second chance to someone who had abandoned them but when you have love for someone, what they did is consigned to the history books and remembered no more. It could have been easy for Paul to disregard John Mark but he didn't, he deemed him valuable for the ministry.

Can you think of a time when someone showed you a powerful act of love?

Proverbs 10:12
Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs

1 Peter 4:8 - Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins

Romans 5:7-8 For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Ephesians 5:2
and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Romans 8:39

neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Love, Love is an action. Love is very powerful. Romans 8:39 is a excellent way to describe that. Nothing in this world could separate us from God's love. Before Jesus died, the disciples couldn't be one with God because of the sinful nature that had plagued the generations but when Jesus died, that veil which has covered people's eyes was torn in two. Love was restored, Love defeated hate, Love defeated death. 

Just after Jesus rose again, he appeared to Peter. Now Peter had abandoned Jesus so probably Peter wanted to get away and live a quiet life away from all the commotion but Jesus had other ideas. When they were reunited, Jesus asked Peter whether he loved him three times, the third time Jesus then told Peter 'If you love me, then feed my sheep' 

The love Jesus had for Peter never diminished, it just had to be reinforced. So the love Peter has for Jesus now has to be translated to the people. 

What a responsibility, what a moment. At that point, Peter was forgiven and restored as the rock of the Church. One which Jesus built his church upon. 

All throughout the life of Jesus, he was moved with Love and Compassion

Let us be like that, filled with Love and Compassion so that we can overlook people's faults and carry on loving them. 

Love is Powerful

Love is Caring

Love is Kind

Love is Patient

The Power of Love is displayed through your everyday actions...........................The Power of your Love was displayed on the cross.............

The Power of Love

The Other Side - The Daily Word

John 21:3-7 

Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing. They say unto him, We also go with thee. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.

4 But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.

5 Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No.

6 And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.

The Background to this text is that Jesus had been crucified and now Peter is wondering what to do. He now decides to go fishing and the other disciples also accompany him. At this point it is quite dark and as a result they caught nothing. For Peter, this could be seen as a major block because he is a fisherman by trade and now for him to not catch any fish, it just doesn't make sense. 

Morning came, Jesus approached and asked if they had caught any meat, Peter said no. At that point, Jesus told him to cast his net on the other side, the right side. When Peter did as commanded, he brought in a multitude of fishes. Wow, look at that, a multitude of fish. It was more than he had expected. 

In life, there are going to be times that the things we are doing will stop working, it won't be productive. How will you respond. What do you do when the thing are used to doing doesn't work any more, what will you do when you catch nothing? For too long, we keep doing things our way instead of God's way. 

Our perspective of a situation will be different to God's perspective of our situation, he can see the whole situation and everything around us.  

'Cast your net on the other side' 

It may seem difficult but the answer really is that simple. Listen to God and cast your net on the other side, you will soon bring in multitudes of blessings. 

Peter was in the fishing business, Jesus then stepped in and then told that he will be a fisher of men. He transformed it into a kingdom business

Allow God to step in and use what you currently do and transform it and use it for the kingdom

'Cast you net on the other side'

Bless you all, Step out in Faith and Cast your Net

Look Where you are going - The Daily Word

Carrying on with our Perspective of Focus series, we want to zoom in on a phrase that is normally said at different times in our life

'Look where you are going'
This phrase is said when you either crash into someone or you are lost and need directions. There are times when we will be asked this and we will need to know where we are going. Not knowing where we are going can cause us to be led down a blind alley.
When there is no direction, there is no vision.

Let's look at someone who was in that situation

“And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭14:28-31‬ ‭KJV‬‬
http://bible.com/1/mat.14.28-31.kjv

It's a story that we all know about but we want to have a look at Peter's focus and how it relates to us. When Peter knew that it was Jesus on the shore, Peter stepped out and his focus was on Jesus but as soon as he stopped looking where he was going, his focus became impaired and henceforth he became afraid of the storms that were around him, as a result of that he started to drown.
In life, we can be focused on Jesus, looking to him to guide us and direct us through different stages of journey but as soon as we take our eyes off Jesus you soon find that the things around will start to get in the way and you start to sink or begin to lose faith that you will get to the other side.

It's been well documented that when we focus on something for a while, everything that is surrounding it disappears but as soon as we refocus ourselves, everything becomes clearer.


“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭119:105‬ ‭KJV‬‬
http://bible.com/1/psa.119.105.kjv


“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭12:2‬ ‭KJV‬‬
http://bible.com/1/heb.12.2.kjv

Many have started the journey, looking unto Jesus but have let the storms of life get in the way and as a result they lose their way but we want to encourage you to keep looking towards Jesus, focus on him and your whole situation shall become clearer.

God knows me and you, he planned our life even before we were introduced to the earth so where are now and what we are going through is no surprise to him but he wants us to acknowledge his presence and accept him as our personal saviour.

When you look where you are going, you will reach your destiny.

Be Blessed

Unshakable Faith - The Daily Word

Your response to adversity will show how strong your faith is

Earlier today, people's lives were turned upside down, destinies were cut short, people lives cut short, a nation shook to its very core. As we were pondering on this the spirit said that it's not time for us to run away from terror, it's time for us to stand firm in the midst of terror. The enemy wants you to run, to be scared, to be shaken but it's time to refuse his tactics and show him how strong you are.

Peter couldn't see Jesus but he still climbed out of the boat. Run to Jesus, the enemy will wants to stop you but stay strong and run to him.

After the death of Moses, Joshua was tasked with leading in the children of Egypt into the promise land. Some time before, spies were sent out in order to see what they would need to do to enter the promise land. The rest came back and said there was no way that they could defeat the Giants standing in their way but Joshua and caleb came back and reported that they had every belief that those Giants could be defeated. What sets you apart from others is your faith and belief in God.

So from the perspective of Gods view, do you believe that all things are possible? Are you seeing the same thing as God is seeing. Whenever God sends someone out on a mission, he never leaves you unprepared and lacking support. Knowing this, it is not possible for us to be afraid or even be shaken for it says in Joshua 1 to be strong and of Good courage, for he will never leave us nor forsake us.

“Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”
‭‭Joshua‬ ‭1:9‬ ‭KJV‬‬
http://bible.com/1/jos.1.9.kjv

Keeping your eyes on Jesus will ensure you are focuses on him and him alone. Times will come when things happen to shake your faith and to blind your vision but we have to stay steadfast and strong and focused on Him in order to reach our full potential.

“Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.”
‭‭Colossians‬ ‭3:2-3‬ ‭KJV‬‬
http://bible.com/1/col.3.2-3.kjv

This passage lets me know that because I am hidden in Christ, I must set my mind on heavenly things. Are you doing the same? When you see news of terror, how do you respond?
Being hidden means that no one can find you

Take on the mind of Christ, be steadfast, refuse to be shaken. Build your foundation, operate and respond from a heavenly perspective.

Stay Blessed


#brussels #faith #walkinfaith 

#thefathersword - The Father's Voice

'Train your ears so you can hear the frequencies of heaven, so you can hear what God is saying in the heavenly realm'
I often think of frequencies as something you associate with your TV, radio or even your games console. You will need to find the right frequency in order to view what you want. Tuning into the frequency of heaven is pretty much the same, there must be communication for us to access what's being said in the heavenly realm

In the book of 1 Samuel, we are told that one particular night, a young child named Samuel was laying down, when he heard his name being called. He thought that it was his father Eli calling him, this happened for a further three times but the next time was when he answered God and said 'speak lord, for your servant hears'

Whilst reading the passage, I began to think about the relationship with our own mothers and fathers, how quick do we respond to them? How many times do they have to call us before they get our attention. When God wants to call us, he will keep on calling and calling until we respond just as he did with Samuel.

God is always speaking to us, he always has things to tell us in a number of ways. He can speak to us through people, by his word as evidenced in 1 Samuel 3:21 - 'For the Lord appeared again in Shiloh. For the Lord revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the Lord.'

As we see, God speaks in a number of ways. For us to recognise his voice, we have to spend time with him, have a close intimate relationship with him as its through this, that we will be able to find out what God is saying.

We are all of Sons of God, and many sons are able to identify when the father is speaking because they know him. John 10:2-4 says - 'But he who enters the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls in his sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice'.

You only respond to those who you know. Let's take Children, growing up they will listened to the voices of the people around them and whenever the person calls them, they will instantly respond. They may not see the person but because they know the voice, they will engage in conversation with them. We as Sons of God need to come to the stage where we instantly know the voice of God and that can come by getting to know God and also growing an intimate relationship with him.

Revelation 3:22 says - 'He who has an ear, let him hear what the spirit says to the Churches'.

Isaiah 42:23 says - 'Who among you will give ear to this, will attend and listen for the time to come'

So as can see, the scriptures tell us that hearing the voice of God is so vital in our relationship with him. Many people have heard the voice of God and acted upon it and in due course they were blessed but many heard the voice and didn't act upon it and they were also given what is due.

When God Calls, will you respond. How many times will he have to call you until you respond?
Get to know the Father's Voice

#thefathersword Obedience in the Wilderness

God gave the children of Israel commandments to follow in the wilderness but they refused to obey. They began serving other idols and living a way that angered God.

God can't bless you with his promises if you can't obey through the trials

In the wilderness is where people's endurance, character and their ability to be obedient come to the fore. 

We have learnt that Moses was allowed to see the Promise Land but couldn't enter because of his disobedience and also because of his unbelief. 

It took the Children of Israel 40 years to get to the promise land. For all their murmuring and complaining, it prolonged their stay in the wilderness. 

Everyone is in different stages of their journey, walking through the wilderness. It's very important that we are obedient and hold on to God's word for our lives. 

Let's see what God says about Obedience 

“And now, Israel, listen carefully to these decrees and regulations that I am about to teach you. Obey them so that you may live, so you may enter and occupy the land that the LORD, the God of your ancestors, is giving you. Do not add to or subtract from these commands I am giving you. Just obey the commands of the LORD your God that I am giving you. (Deuteronomy 4:1-2 NLT)

Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it. (James 4:17 NLT)

Be careful that you do not refuse to listen to the One who is speaking. For if the people of Israel did not escape when they refused to listen to Moses, the earthly messenger, we will certainly not escape if we reject the One who speaks to us from heaven! (Hebrews 12:25 NLT)

So we see here that at times, we should do what needs to be done. Moses knew he had to speak to the rock but instead he disobeyed. 

Even though Jesus was God’s Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered. (Hebrews 5:8 NLT)

Jesus, too was in the wilderness for 40 days. It was there that he too learned about 'obedience in the wilderness'

In summary, being disobedient is very dangerous. It could cause you to miss out on the Promise Land, don't suffer the same fate like Moses or the Children of Israel. Let's be like Jesus and learn obedience and how to rely on God. 

#thefathersword - Unwrap Your Blessing

Unwrap Your Blessing (Bring it to Life)

John 11:44 (KJV)

'And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Loose him, and let him go”

John 11:44 (NLT)

And the dead man came out, his hands and feet bound in graveclothes, his face wrapped in a headcloth. Jesus told them, “Unwrap him and let him go”

The context of this passage is that a man called Lazarus, had been dead for four days. His sisters Martha and Mary were weeping and mourning the loss of their brother. They sent Jesus a message saying that Lazarus was very sick. Upon arrival at Bethany, Jesus was informed Lazarus had been in the grave for four days. The sisters insisted that if he had arrived sooner, Lazarus would have been alive. People doubted Jesus and whether he was able to raise Lazarus from the dead but nevertheless Jesus came to the tomb, told Martha and Mary to roll the stone aside. Jesus thanked the Father in advance and called forth Lazarus. Lazarus rose but he was still bound so Jesus told the sisters to unwrap him.

As a people, we can often do the same things. We pray for blessings to come along, when God does actually bring the blessings we don't recognize them because they are not what it looked like. When it arrived, we didn't allow ourselves time to unwrap the blessing and bring it to life. The thing we have been praying for may just be disguised as something else, all we have to do is roll the blockage away, call it forth and unwrap it so we can see the manifestation of God's promise.

Looking at it from a earthly perspective, think of the times when you have received a parcel or a gift but it is wrapped up. Your first instinct would be to unwrap it and then open the box to see the very thing you had been waiting for. Now, think about what could happen if you didn't unwrap the gift, you would have no idea of what was inside because of your inability to believe it was what you had been asking for all along.

Many reasons why we don't receive our blessings is because of our belief and faith. Jesus told the sisters that if they want to see God's Glory all they have to do is believe

John 11:40

Jesus responded, “Didn't I tell you that you would see God's glory if you believe”

Because of our belief and faith, at times we fail to recognise that God will bless us so we don't activate our faith and call forth what it is that we need or asking for. Jesus was troubled when he arrived at the tomb, people were doubting whether he could do it.

When we doubt him, it's the same process, he is troubled by the fact that we don't have faith or the belief that the thing we have been praying and waiting for, God can deliver it to us. God can do it, but we still have a part to play.

For God to bring to life what you have been praying for, believe God and put your faith in him. You also have to play your part.

As you wait for what God has promised you, remove whatever is blocking your access to your blessing and cut it out of your life, let it go.

The thing you have been praying for may just be disguised as something else, all you have to do is roll the blockage away, call it forth and unwrap it so you can see the manifestation of God's promise.

Unwrap the Blessing and bring it to Life