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Bible & Prayer Nuggets 0311

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First and fourth Beatitudes of Godly Character

 

Bible Nugget  0311 [Matthew 5 v 3 & 6 KJV]

 

3Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. …

6Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled..

 

Or as narrated in New Living Translation Bible version

 

3 “God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him,
      for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.

 

6 God blesses those who hunger and thirst for justice,
      for they will be satisfied.

 

A. Poor in Spirit

 

I like to share these two verses amongst the series of verses on blessedness in the sermon by Jesus in Matthew 5. The bible makes us understand that the kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost [Rom 14:17]. God blesses or is ready to bless those who realize they are truly spiritually wrenched, naked and blind. These are the poor in spirit. For these people, they want to please God and are heaven’s candidates because they realize their utter dependence on God. They reverence God and take his word to heart, have a broken spirit, and a contrite heart and will not hide in their sins but rather humble themselves in repentance Isaiah 66:2 b.

 ………, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.

An example of someone poor in the spirit was King David, who said  in his prayer of repentance in Psalm 51:16-17:

16For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.

 17The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

 

The poor in spirit will receive the things of God like a little child and will totally empty themselves of pride, arrogance and have no affinity for worldliness. They are ready for personal discipleship with Jesus. Matthew 11:28-30

28Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

 29Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

 30For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

They are not lukewarm and want to make heaven no matter what they have to forsake to achieve this. Jesus in his wakeup call to the Laodecian church in Rev 3:15-21 said:

15I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.

 16So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

 17Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

  21To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

 

B. Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness

Another group God wants to bless are those who hunger and thirst for his righteousness or justice. These are people who want and keep their garments as white as snow until the second coming of Jesus or rapture. They are filled with the spirit of holiness.  They are unsatisfied with their present state and want more of the character of God in their lives. They pant after God. Psalm 42:1-2

 

1As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.

 2My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?

 

Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness will not compromise their salvation for a morsel of meat or the pleasure of sin; they will not see evil and call it good. They are not self-righteous. Jesus gave an example of two men who prayed to God and God’s assessment of each person. Luke 18:9-14

9And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:

 10Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.

 11The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.

 12I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

 13And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.

 14I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

 

They love personal fellowship with God and other believers: Psalm 84:1-2

 

 1How amiable are thy tabernacles, O LORD of hosts!

 2My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God.

 

Finally, they will not seek for revenge but rather wait for God to promote and honour them. Even before Pontius Pilate Jesus, Jesus showed great piety and restraint. He could have called for a multitude of angels (his servants) to deliver him from death which would be disobedience to the absolute will of God to save mankind by his death and resurrection. His character before Pilate is worth emulating.

 

Let’s read the account in John 18:36-37

 36Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.

 

 

 

 37Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.

 

 No wonder King David in worship prophesied  of Jesus in Psalm 45:6-7:

 6Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre.

 7Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

 

Do you want to see these two godly characters in your life.  Hunger and thirst more for the character of Jesus.  The Holy Spirit will help you as you seek these godly virtues and he will fill you with his power. John 7: 37-39

37In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.

 38He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

 39(But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)

 

Prayer Nugget 0311

 

Holy Spirit infilling Prayer:

  1. Oh Lord fill me with your Holy Spirit. Soak me, drench me, and saturate me with your presence and power in Jesus Name.
  2. Oh LORD give me a broken heart and a contrite spirit. Let my soul pant for your righteousness like the deer pants for streams of water in Jesus Name.
  3. Purge my heart with your precious blood Lord Jesus. I empty myself of every form of pride. I embrace you with my whole heart. I cast all my burdens on you in Jesus name.
  4. Lord, make your righteousness to run deep in my heart. Holiness and godliness will be my desire all the days of my life in Jesus Name.
  5. Lord, let your kingdom reign in every area of my life. Make me a model Christian and form the character of Jesus in my life in  Jesus Name. Amen.

Bible & Prayer Nuggets 0310

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NOT HIDE AND SEEK

Bible Nugget 0310 [Isaiah 55 v 6 & 7 New American Standard]

6Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon Him while He is near.7Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return to the LORD, and He will have compassion on him; And to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.

 

Children love hide and seek game in which they tag their playmate, one of them runs and hide while the other child seek the hiding. When the person who is seeking finds out the hiding, there is a lot of excitement and they hug each other and the play resumes again.

Unlike, the children’s game, God is not deliberately hiding from man. What drives man from the presence of God is sin. This has been the case since the fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.

Sin is in man’s nature, an adamic nature programmed into every cell by the fall of Adam and Eve. A child inherits it from the womb,and in due course after birth becomes evident.  It falls the high and mighty, and the common man. King David after the sin with Uriah’s wife acknowledged the power of sin in repentance to God and said in Psalm 51:1-5

1Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

 2Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

 3For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.

 4Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.

 5Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

The great apostle Paul, gave a great discuss on sin in Rom 7:1-25 (please read the whole chapter at your convenience). Paul, chiding about sin spoke of its captivating power during the darkest moments in his life at conversion. [Many bible scholars agree that  it was during the 3 days he was blind after his encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus in Acts 9]. In his treatise, Paul speaking in Rom 7:18-19 revealed the adamic nature of every person still struggling with sin:

18For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.

 19For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do

 

The master of sin is the devil. Jesus speaking said the mission of the devil is to steal to kill and to destroy (John 10:10). Contrary to the devil’s mission, Jesus came so you can receive salvation, healing deliverance and so he can use you to the glory of God. Sin, no matter it’s gravity can be remedied. The remedy of sin is the blood of Jesus.

God loves you but hates your sin. Our nugget in Isaiah 55 says he will have compassion and will abundantly pardon. He is full of grace. When sin is abounding, the grace of God much more abounds (Rom 5:20). Thank God the wheel of God grinds slowly. He gives every man an opportunity to repent. You cannot take the grace of God for granted and continue in your sin (Rom 6:1). There is a penalty which continued living in sin brings which you need to avoid (Rom 6:23).

 

23For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 Why not accept the gift of God today? Repent of you sin and come back to the open arms of God. God is not lost, you are. Come to the loving care of God, like the prodigal son did to his rich  father and you will be amazed at the peace that will  fill your heart concerning your reconciliation with your maker.

  

Prayer Nugget 0310

 

Pray the following Prayer of Repentance:

  1. Oh Lord forgive me of all my sins.  Let your mercy overshadow every act of wickedness and unrighteousness in my life in Jesus Name.
  2. Blood of Jesus, wash me thoroughly. Wash my innermost heart from every sin and remove the guilt of past sins from my heart in Jesus Name.
  3. I challenge every power of darkness with the blood of Jesus. Every act of wickedness peddled against me in the kingdom of darkness be exposed by the blood of Jesus.
  4. Let your loving kindness to me be renewed everyday of my life. I stand on your righteousness alone in Jesus Name. Amen.
  5. My name is written in the Lamb’s book of Life. I am fully reconciled to God. Power of Sin be broken from my life forever in Jesus Name.
  6. I release myself from the grip of addicting power of sin. Every demon seeking my downfall receive the stones of fire in Jesus Name.
  7. Begin to thank God for your salvation. Ask God to send the Holy Spirit to fill every vacuum in your heart with his presence and power in Jesus Name.

 

 

 

Bible & Prayer Nuggets 0309

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Divine Authority to carry out the Great Commission

 

Bible Nuggets 0309 [Luke 10 v 17-20 KJV]

17And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.

 18And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.

 19Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

 20Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

Every product is tested by the manufacturer before sale with a small sample. For example, vehicles are test-run to ensure they withstand the ruggedness of roads and mountains, very cold winter months or heat as required. 

Similarly, the products of Jesus are believers and Jesus has delegated to all believers his authority, against all challenges they would face as individuals or as a group aexternal forces, that is, the manifestations of the powers of darkness. Whether in your life or the lives of your loved ones and those whom you come in contact with, you have the authority of Jesus to send the enemy packing.  In his earthly ministry, Jesus test-run this assignment with his 12 disciples (core group, whom today could be compared to pastors and preachers) and also with a group of 70 other persons whom we can compare to today’s every other believer. Luke 10:1

1After these things the LORD appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come.

Their mission was simple, preach the word; heal the sick and do not be distracted. Having received the mantle of authority form Jesus, these 70 believers obeyed and wrought wonders in the name of Jesus. It was no surprise to Jesus that their mission would work because Jesus, I believe was praying of them and held satan bound so the devil could not disturb their mission.

Before final departure back to heaven, that is, before Jesus’ ascension, he proclaimed the great commission in which he told every believer to preach the  word of God  to every creature ( Mark 16:15-18).

15And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

 16He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

 17And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;

 18They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

 

Today, Jesus is seated at the right hand of God, praying for every believer. Every believer has the authority to preach the gospel with signs and wonders in his name. Sickness and disease cannot dominate or control you because the Holy Ghost lives on the inside of you. No matter how powerful Satan’s forces are, at the name of Jesus they must bow. You have the authority of Jesus. Go forth and use it in Jesus Name. Amen.

  Prayer Nugget 0309

Pray the following prayer’s fervently.

  1. Oh Lord, thank you because I am a product of Jesus. I pray I become like Jesus in words and deeds in Jesus Name.
  2. Thank you Lord for the divine authority granted to me as a believers over the powers of darkness. I exercise rule over them with your rod of iron according to your word in Jesus Name.
  3. Let your power be evident in destroying the yoke of bondages that have held me bound in the past. I release myself from every grip and oppression of the enemy in Jesus name.
  4. Oh Lord thank you for writing my name in the lamb’s book of Life in Jesus Name.Amen.

 

 

Bible & Prayer Nuggets 0308

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Guaranteed Unending Returns

Bible Nugget 0308 [Luke 18 V 28 – 30, KJV]

28Then Peter said, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee.

 29And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God’s sake,

 30Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting.

God is a giver; he does not owe any man or woman. He gave his very best, His only begotten Son.  The desire of God is for us to give back to him. First of ourselves and then our substance. Returns in the investment of anything good into the kingdom of God are very rewarding. Investments are guaranteed because God’s storehouses are inexhaustible. Psalm 50: 9-12 reads:

9I will take no bullock out of thy house, nor he goats out of thy folds.

 10For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills.

 11I know all the fowls of the mountains: and the wild beasts of the field are mine.

 12If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fulness thereof.

From v12, it is clear that that, the world is an entire estate owned by God. So the challenge thrown to Peter and to every person by Jesus is; if you invest in God’s estate of reconciling the lost world back to God, you get manifold returns. It is a totally risk-free investment, with only one requirement; faith.

Peter’s question in v28 was a result of the discuss Jesus ha with a rich, young ruler. The story is told in Luke 18:18-24 but lets look at the same record in Mark 10: 17

17And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?

 18And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.

 19Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother.

 20And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.

 21Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.

 22And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.

 v21 says Jesus loved this man. He saw the great potential the man had. He looked at him and saw in him a Matthew, who wrote the first book in the New Testament. Matthew was also very rich, but had acquired his wealth by illegal tax collection. Matthew left all to follow Jesus. The constraint the young rich ruler had was the inability to part with his possessions. The rich young ruler was unaware that both himself and possessions belong to God (psalm 50 v12).  Today, we have many philanthropic persons and organizations promoting one good course or the other. My prayer is that God will continue to bless them in Jesus Name.

The returns in the life hereafter is even more rewarding: Eternal life. The perks include living forever, having eaten of the tree of life (Rev 22: 1-5); seeing God face to face (which no person can do now because of the nature of sin); a mansion in heaven (John 14:1-3); seating with Christ in the heaven lies and ruling over principalities and powers and over all those who died in their sins (all who will be in hell); and living in absolute bliss. No more sin, no more sorrow. The whole world would then be reconciled to God after the creation of a new heaven and a new earth during the millennial reign of Christ and the Saints. A wolf will lie down side by side with a lamb (Isaiah 65:17-25). Would you not prefer this unquantifiable returns?

 
 
 
 

 

Prayer Nugget 0308

1.        Pray a prayer of consecration. “Lord, I give my self to you. I consecrate my heart, soul body, mind and intellect to you. Let me be a faithful servant who is only interested in his master’s business in Jesus name. You first Jesus. I will not abandon my responsibility to my family in Jesus Name. Lord give me the wisdom to discern, please you and engage in the work of your kingdom at all times in Jesus Name.”

2.        Lord fill my heart with the glories of heaven. I become more and more heavenly minded in Jesus Name.

3.        Lord let my dreams be dreams of your kingdom. Let me have open visions of heaven in Jesus  name.

4.     Lord help me to be fisher of men. Use me as a vessel to lead others to Christ and promote the work of the gospel. Let me be  a channel of blessing to people; the rich and the poor, the saint and the sinner and use me to reconcile the world back to you, Almighty God in Jesus Name. Amen.

 

 

 

 

 

Bible & Prayer Nuggets 0307

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The Borrowed Life

Bible Nugget 0307 [Galatians 2 v 20-21 (KJV)]

20I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

 21I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

The crucified Christian lives a borrowed life. A life totally submissive to the will of God. Jesus, in the garden of Gethsemane before going to the cross said, not my will but God The Father’s will be done. Although he had set his face steadfastly to die for mankind, he had to conquer the fear of death by submitting to the absolute will of God.

Matthew 26:39

39And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.

 

John the Baptist, the forerunner of Christ in John 3:30, said of Jesus, “he must increase and I must decrease”. And Jesus said in John 12:24

 24Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.

A disciple of Christ must be willing to give up everything to win Christ. As you journey in your Christian race, remove every weight that slows you down in your service to the Lord. Focus on Jesus. Let it weigh on your mind constantly, the great sacrifice Jesus had to pay to redeem you. He left all the glories of heaven. As you allow the character of Christ to grow in your life, you become deadened to sin and its affection, the love of God will replace the love of the world and you set your affections on things above, not earthly things.

On the contrary, to live an uncrucified life is frustrating the grace of God. It means, allowing other things to increase at the expense of Christ.  It means allowing the spirit of pride to dominate you and it means resisting the will of God. That is not my portion and that will not be your portion in Jesus Name. Amen.

 Prayer Nugget 0307

1.      First, thank God for your salvation. “Lord thank you for my salvation and your measureless love towards me. Thank you for the finished work of Christ on the cross of Calvary. I am set free from the law of sin and death and now I have a new identity in Christ. I am crucified with Christ. Thank you for my new life. I will live for Jesus day by day. My life has purpose and meaning in Jesus name.”

2.      I put on the righteousness of Christ and cast away every shadow of darkness in my life. I release myself from every form of bondage to Satan. I entrust my life to Christ and devotedly serve him in Jesus Name. Amen.

3.      The death of Christ will not be in vain in my life. I will not frustrate the grace of God in my life in Jesus name.

4.        Oh Lord, I overcome every temptation trying to rob me of my salvation. I refuse to submit to the works of the flesh. Nothing will separate me from the love of God in Jesus Name. Amen.

 

 

 

Bible & Prayer Nuggets 0306

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You can climb up to the Top of that Higher Mountain

 Bible Nugget 0306 [Isaiah 40:27-31, NIV]

27 Why do you say, O Jacob,
       and complain, O Israel,
       “My way is hidden from the LORD;
       my cause is disregarded by my God”?

 28 Do you not know?
       Have you not heard?
       The LORD is the everlasting God,
       the Creator of the ends of the earth.
       He will not grow tired or weary,
       and his understanding no one can fathom.

 29 He gives strength to the weary
       and increases the power of the weak.

 30 Even youths grow tired and weary,
       and young men stumble and fall;

 31 but those who hope in the LORD
       will renew their strength.
       They will soar on wings like eagles;
       they will run and not grow weary,
       they will walk and not be faint.

Are you wearied with the challenges of life? Or are you easily discouraged when confronted with a problem? It is natural to feel weak during a marathon race. But to faint in the race is another ball game. The umpires will carry the athlete to the sideline and revive the athlete.  There are days of adversity and the bible warns us not to fail in those days of adversity.

 

Proverbs 24:10

10If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.

 

A lifetime is like a marathon race and is full of moments of weakness or discouragement. Everyone will have different doses of these moments– the loss of a job, the loss of a loved one, marital difficulties, chronic sickness, spiritual weakness or dryness and so on. Thank God, He watches over his creation. He is a fountain of renewal of energy to go on when you are discouraged.  The hymn writer says “oh what needless pain we bear?  All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer”. God promises to revive us when we are weak. His word is the energy booster you need  for living. Place your faith in him. Wait on the Lord. If it means prayer and fasting for you to get back your spiritual energy level, do it. God will energize and reinvigorate you. You can then confront that problem head-on and overcome it. Every mountain will become small as you learn to wait on him. He will bear you on eagle’s wings to soar over any mountain.

Prayer Nugget 0306

 

Pray with confidence and claim the divine strength of God using today’s Bible Text:

  1. Oh Lord, look at my ways. Let my ways please you at all times in Jesus Name.
  2. Thank you Father LORD for your word that gives me inner strength. Lead me to the Rock that is higher than I, and make me soar like the eagle in Jesus Name.
  3. Fortify my defences with your Holy Angels against all the devices of the enemy in Jesus Name.
  4. Every challenge (mention them by name …..), I command you to bow; I overcome you in the Name of Jesus.
  5. Oh Lord, I place my hope on you. You know the route draining my strength. Plug it with your power and seal it with your Holy Ghost fire in Jesus Name.
  6. Lord grant me extra energy, I shall run and run and not be wearied. I overtake footmen and horses in Jesus Name.
  7. Lord let my life be bundles of testimonies, as I climb and overcome every mountain by your divine strength in Jesus Name.