FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Finding Our Strength

Quoted Verse: “It is God who arms me with strength and makes my way perfect. " 2 Samuel 22:33 .

Message: Years ago, there was an advert for a cassette tape series that promised to dramatically improve one's memory in just a few hours; it sounded intriguing. Our mailboxes are filled with ads like that because people are interested in quick fixes and overnight miracles. The Israelites were no exception. Many times in the history of ancient Israel, we see them turning to Egypt for security instead of trusting God. But through the prophet Ezekiel, the Lord clearly declared just where the power lay. In Ezekiel 29:6-7, God said to Egypt: " All the people of Egypt will discover that I am the Lord, for you collapsed like a reed when Israel looked to you for help. Israel leaned on you, but like a cracked staff, you splintered and stabbed her in the armpit. When she put her weight on you, you gave way, and her back was thrown out of joint."

 The Lord was telling them that if God's people were looking for a strong ally to protect them from their enemies, they should look to God Himself. Brother or sister, man or woman of God, you and i need the same warning today. All too often we are attracted to the promise of gimmicks, programs and schemes. We need to be reminded that the latest book, tape, CD,DVD or method will not equipp us to witness for Christ.

Salvation from Coca-cola and Fanta, By Femi Aribisala

At the Feast of Tabernacles, Jesus stood and cried out, saying: “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. He who believes in me, as the scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” (John 7:37-39). However, no one seemed to be interested in what Jesus was offering. No one asked him for a drink of this so-called living water.

Unwanted water

“Clarus, which water was he talking about?” “He said living water.” “What kind of water is that?” “Frankly, Gringory, I don’t know.” “Is it as good as Coca-cola?” “Actually, I think he was talking about spiritual water.” “What do you do with spiritual water? Can you serve it to your friends at a party?” “I doubt it.” “I don’t think Jerusalem is ready for that kind of water. Of what consequence is living water when what you want is Coca-Cola?”

God says: “My people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewn themselves cisterns- broken cisterns that can hold no water.” (Jeremiah 2:13).

According to Jesus, there are two types of water: natural water and living water. Of the two, the prescribed choice is living water. Jesus says: “Everyone who drinks of (natural) water shall thirst again; but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.” (John 4:14). What precisely is Jesus’ living water? It is the Holy Spirit.

Hard choices

GOFAMINT VICTORY MONTH PRAYER POINTS; ENJOYING THE GUIDANCE AND THE LEADING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT ON DAILY BASIS

THE GOSPEL FAITH MISSION INTERNATIONAL (GOFAMINT)

DAY 20:  TUESDAY 21ST JANUARY 2014 TEXT: Romans 8:1-16

FOCUS: ENJOYING THE GUIDANCE AND THE LEADING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT ON DAILY BASIS

INSIGHT FOR EFFECTIVE PRAYING

Human knowledge and perception in life are limited in scope and operation. With that, what one can achieve or attain is limited.

God knows this and that is why He made a provision for a Counsellor. “And I will pray the Father and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you forever. Even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know Him; for hedwelleth with you, and shall be in you”  (John 14:16-17).

The Comforter is no other but the Holy Spirit. His purpose of coming to this world was to represent the God-head and assist the believer to fulfill their mandate on earth. With Him, the era of failure is gone. There is no room for excuse of failure in Christian life. Every failure in any area of Christian life can be attributed to the absence of the Holy Spirit. At a point in time in Paul Apostles life, it was failure galore as he expressed it in Romans 7:14-24. The story however changed in his life in the next chapter, Romans chapter 8 which is our Scripture reading today. The more of the Holy Spirit we have in our lives the better. That is what makes our prayer today crucial and pertinent. However, it all depends on how hungry we are.

Let us pray:

1.      Holy spirit of God, we are hungry and eagerly waiting for You today. Manifest Yourself in our midst and fill us to the brim in Jesus’ name.

2.   We confess that we are weak, come and fill us with Your power and turn our lives around  positively in Jesus’ name.

3.   Without You we can do but nothing, meet us and fill our lives with Your power, Holy Spirit, that we may be able to do what we are supposed to do in life in Jesus’ name.

4.   Open our eyes to see Your glory and to walk in the consciousness of Your presence all the days of our lives in Jesus’ name.

5.   Help us to know the way and the will of the Lord more and be committed oh blessed Holy Spirit.

6.   Holy Spirit, we desire a more intimate relationship with You, keep us closer to Yourself in Jesus’ name.

7.   Give us hearing ear and seeing eyes that we may hear You clearly and follow You closely in Jesus’ name.

8.   We dont want to walk alone in the wilderness of this world, guide and lead us as You did to Israelites in the wilderness in those days through the pillar of fire and cloud, dear Holy Spirit.

9.   Help us not to rely on our human wisdom or the arm of the flesh to run the affairs of our lives in Jesus’ name.

10.   Holy Spirit, we need You as the vicar of our Church, work through our ministers that divine will and purpose shall be fulfilled in our Church.

11.    Work in the lives of  all our members and workers that they may be preaching and witnessing wherever and whenever they expected to do so.

12. Help us not to disobey You in important areas of our lives any longer and turn our failures to success in Jesus’ name.

13.    Whatever You want each of us to do, help us to understand and do likewise.

14. Wherever You want each of us to go for You, help us to hear and heed in Jesus’ name.

15.    What is my “Isaac” that You want me to give to You sacrificially? Tell me and help me to give it to You.

16.    Wherever there is any short-coming and short-fall in our lives, Holy Spirit, fill the vacuums with Your fullness.

17. Help me and every member of my family not to grieve You all the days of our lives in Jesus’ name.

18. Grant us the power to fulfil our destiny and our mandates in life in Jesus’ name.