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The Love of God

Bible & prayer Nuggets 0318

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Love above Reproach

 

Bible Nugget 0318 [Rom 12:9-10, 16-21 KJV]

9Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.

 10Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;

  16Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.

 17Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.

 18If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.

 19Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.

 20Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.

 21Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

 

The message of this nugget is directed mostly to believers but unbelievers will benefit as well. The above verses instruct us how to live a life above reproach so that believers can maintain healthy relationships with one another and with the world.  The fact is that a spirit different from the world’s spirit governs a child of God. The Spirit of God dwells inside our hearts and is the best guide to handle everyday challenges the world throws at you, either from believers or unbelievers. Just as love is the key to pleasing God, love should be the overriding motive in our relationships with one another as brethren and with the world. A child of God ought to be driven by love; true love that can cover the sins of the offender. The offended is superior in character than the offender as long as he does not behave as the offender. A heart full of love does not defame, strife, bear grudges, keep malice, backbite or slander another person. These are things people in the world do to gain control of one another.

Even in our relationship with the world, true love beyond what the other person expects is a better way to relate because as v19-21 says, it is better to trust God to vindicate you from your enemies or persecutors. Just show love and let God do the rest.  Place the thought of the sacrifice of Christ in your mind, and you see that your love to the person who is or has offended you is small. Such type of love is in the sight of God judgment if the other person does not repent. You can show love without compromising your faith. Jesus in his earthly ministry showed the love of God to those who did not deserve it. The Vice Chancellor of the University I attended used to say, “Jesus ate with sinners but was not mistaken for one”. The person may think you are foolish or mad, but he or she is wrong. The Apostle Paul speaking to the Corinthian Christians said:

2 Corinthians 5:13-15

13For whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God: or whether we be sober, it is for your cause.

 14For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:

 15And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.

Has anyone offended you and you find it difficult to forgive? Or are you tired of showing love because the other person does not reciprocate. I am not saying be blind to the evil that people do to you. Take the issue to the Lord in prayer if it is very difficult to forgive the person. He will remove the pain from your heart. The act of forgiveness is love itself, so if you have forgiven and the person does not change, then coals of fire from the Lord is what the person deserves. Also remember, after taking these right steps, that you need to forgive yourself and do not allow the burden to linger on because it is an avenue of Satan taking advantage of your joy and peace.

 

Prayer Nugget 0318

1.      Chose to forgive and confess your sins to God. Ask God to give you the ability to forgive even the most tormenter of persons who has hurt you.

2.      Pray as follows: “Oh Lord, I forgive _________ (mention the person’s name) who hurt me.  I release them totally from my spirit in Jesus name.

3.      I receive divine ability to love beyond measure. Grant me a life of love, peace and joy in Jesus Name.

4.  Oh Lord, let the love of Christ constrain me in every aspect of my Christian conduct. Beautify my heart with divine love even against those who do not deserve it in Jesus Name. Amen.

Bible Nuggets 0315

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Bible Nugget 0315

 

Bible Trivia 2

Q1. What are the nine fruits of the Spirit

A. The nine fruits of the Spirit which should be evident in the lives of believers are as follows:

1.      Love

2.      Joy

3.      Peace

4.      Longsuffering

5.      Gentleness

6.      Goodness

7.      Faith

8.      Meekness

9.      Temperance

Q2. Place the nine fruits of the Spirit in fruit triangles

A2. The 9 fruits can be classified into 3 groups which are as follows

Fruit Triangles

1.      Love, Joy and Peace

2.      Longsuffering, gentleness and goodness

3.      Faith, Meekness and Temperance

Scriptural References

Galatians 5:22-23 [KJV]

22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

 23Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

 

Eph 5: 9-10 [KJV]

9(For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)

 10Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.

 

Phil 4:8 [KJV]

8Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

 

Read what Jesus said about love, joy and peace in John 14:25-31 and John 15: 1-17

 

Prayer Nugget 0315

  1. Oh Lord let the fruits of your Holy Spirit blossom in my life in Jesus Name.
  2. Oh Lord, my life will not be barren of the fruits of your Holy Spirit in the Name of Jesus.
  3. I reject all the works of the flesh that will try to hinder my spirit bearing the fruits of your Holy Spirit in Jesus Name.
  4. Lord Jesus give me your gift of peace, perfect my live and cause my joy to be full and overflowing in Jesus Name (spend time to pray on these 3 fruits, and you begin to feel the presence of the Holy Spirit saturating your heart with these fruits).

 

 

 

Bible & Prayer Nuggets 0314

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Bible Nugget 0314

 

 

Bible Trivia 1.

Q1. Shortest verse in the bible

A1.  John 11:35      35Jesus wept.                      [at the grave of Lazarus, his friend, see John 11 for details]

 

Q2. Shortest chapter

 

A2. Psalm 117:1-2 [KJV]

1O praise the LORD, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people.

 2For his merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the LORD endureth for ever. Praise ye the LORD.

 

 

Q3. Longest chapter

 

A3. Psalm 119:1-176 [KJV]

 

1Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD.

 2Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.

 3They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways.

 4Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently.

 5O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes!

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174I have longed for thy salvation, O LORD; and thy law is my delight.

 175Let my soul live, and it shall praise thee; and let thy judgments help me.

 176I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek thy servant; for I do not forget thy commandments.

 

 

Q4. 12 disciples of Jesus

 

A4. Luke 6:12-16

12And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.

 13And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles;

 14Simon, (whom he also named Peter,) and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew,

 15Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called Zelotes,

 16And Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, which also was the traitor.

 

Prayer  0314

  1. Lord Jesus, you are the resurrection and the life. Thank you for the hope of my resurrection in Jesus Name.
  2. Lord I praise you for your excellent greatness. Show your mercy to me continually in Jesus Name.
  3. Lord, let your blessings be my portion. I shall walk with you an keep your testimonies. Iniquity will not be my lot in Jesus Name.
  4. Lord Jesus, number me amongst the saints on the resurrection morning in Jesus Name.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

Bible & Prayer Nuggets 0313

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Adorned with Majesty Light

Bible Nugget 0313 [Psalm 93 v 1-2 NKJV]
1 The LORD reigns, He is clothed with majesty;
         The LORD is clothed,
         He has girded Himself with strength.
         Surely the world is established, so that it cannot be moved.
 2 Your throne is established from of old;
         You are from everlasting.

The beauty and splendour of God is majestic. Two characteristics of his majesty which God wants to pass to every person is his light and holiness. God is light and in him is not a shade of darkness (1 John 1:5). His light is both a purifier and destroyer. His light no man can break through.  However as we gaze at him in prayer, his light rubs on us and our inner man begin to radiate his glory and beauty, which invariably translates to holiness. This inner spiritual beauty should be the desire of everyone,  men and women  alike [ See  1 Timothy 2:8-9, 1 Peter 3:3-4.]

1 Tim 2: 8-9

 8I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.

 9In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;

1 Peter 3:3-4

3Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;

 4But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

Imagine staying under the sun for a long time. You become thoroughly tanned and that is the good effect the sun leaves on you, and you carry that skin all around. So is the glory of God. Moses stayed long enough under the direct light of God, such that he himself began to reflect in minuscule lumens the glory of God (2 Corinthians 3:13), and had to veil his face to prevent people gazing at him and falling down dead.  If this was the case with Moses, that people approached him with great caution, the radiance of God’s light can only be imagined.

1 Timothy 6:16

16Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.

Another lesson to learn from the above is that God is absolutely holy and nothing unholy can approach him except in repentance. Isaiah saw God in an open vision and was absolutely awed by the glory, power and majesty. The light of God exposed Isaiah’s unholy state and he had to be cleansed by an angel to continue to remain in God’s presence. 

Isaiah 6: 1, 5-7

1In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the LORD sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.

 5Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.

 6Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar:

 7And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.

My desire is to be filled with his majestic presence on the inside and outside, so my walk with God will be in total holiness. What about you?

 

Prayer Nugget 0313

  1. Worship prayer: Lord I worship you in the beauty of your holiness. You are full of light and in you there is no darkness at all. Blessed be your holy name. Your throne is established forever. I bow down my knees in reverence of your holy name in Jesus name.
  2. Oh Lord, let your glorious light shine into my heart and overshadow every trace of darkness in Jesus Name.
  3. I envelope my self under your majestic light. Fill my heart with your spirit of holiness in Jesus name.
  4. Lord, adorn my heart with the spirit of meekness, quietness and holiness in Jesus name. Amen.

Bible & Prayer Nuggets 0312

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Victory over Afflictions

Bible Nugget 0312 [Psalm 34 v 19-20 KJV]

19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.

 20 He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.

 Take a time to reflect on this question; “who do you run to in the times of trouble”.  Do you run to man or resign yourself to fate and say whatever happens should happen or do you simply give up and become overwhelmed by the problem. If you do that you will always live in defeat instead of victory, because another problem or a replica of the first problem will arise. It is like an infection that needs a strong dose of penicillin to cure it; if you keep treating the problem with kid’s gloves it will keep repeating itself.  No matter the degree of difficulty of the problem you may have or be facing at this time, there is one solution; God himself. He is faithful. He promised deliverance from all types of trouble which has ever been registered on the face of the earth. There was a friend of mine who was told by his teacher that he will face all kinds of trouble and that there will be no help for him. The friend indeed faced all types of troubles but when he sits to reflect on the victories achieved over the troubles as they arose, he  sees only one hand in his deliverance; God himself. The scripture is very instructive on trusting God for help:

1 Corinthians 10:13 (KJV)

13There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

No one is immune from troubles. Even, the very spiritual faces troubles. However, no matter the level of affliction you are in, God promised a way of escape. That is the good news to your troubles. David as a Sheppard boy before he became king faced all types of trouble, plots and schemes from King Saul who tried to prevent him from reaching the throne. He may have counted some of the troubles when he wrote the verses of our beginning nugget.

The Lord Jesus himself was faced with many troubles and temptations, yet without sin. Heb 4:15

15For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

From birth, Herod plotted to kill the young child. God sent protection and deliverance, keeping the young child. By all bible account it must have been very special divine protection Jesus received until he was 30 years of age when he began his ministry, because the devil through King Herod and the Jews of that age would have exterminated him before his public ministry. When he first revealed himself to Israel as their Messiah in Luke 4:15-30, they were filled with wrath and took him to the edge of a cliff to throw him down. How special was his deliverance, or how do you think it was possible without divine help? Read the account for yourself in Luke 4:28-30.

 

28And all they in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath,

 29And rose up, and thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast him down headlong.

 30But he passing through the midst of them went his way,

 

After this incident, the trials any temptations only multiplied, but he overcame them all. His word to the disciples was not that they will be immune from problems as Christians but they should be encouraged because he as our forerunner overcame all types of tribulations.

John 16:33

 33These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

So next time you are faced with a fresh trouble, do not resign yourself to fate or give up. Be as bold as a lion, and let the king of kings sort it out for you.  No problem is insurmountable in the name of the Lord Jesus. Cast all your cares on him for he cares for you. Ask God to send divine help. He can navigate all troubled waters surrounding you and bring you safely to shore. If it means sending angels to help you, God will do it. Recall the story of the children of Israel before the red sea. The red sea was before them and Pharaoh and his army were behind them. Moses said to the children of Israel; fear not and you shall see the salvation of the Lord. God sent a strong wind that divided the red sea into two, so that the children of Israel walked through the dry land in the sea which the Egyptians trying to do, were drowned. The Lord will break the cycle of troubles you are facing and bring divine solution to all your problems in Jesus Name.   The desire of God is to bring every problem you are facing to an end. Be encouraged by this scripture:  Nahum 1: 7, 9 (NIV)

7 The LORD is good,
       a refuge in times of trouble.
       He cares for those who trust in him,

9 Whatever they plot against the LORD
       he will bring to an end;
       trouble will not come a second time.

Prayer Nugget 0312

Thank God for victory you have enjoyed so far in every area of your life as follows:

1.       Lord thank you for the victory over every affliction that I have encountered in my life. Thank for raising a standard against the raging forces of the enemy in my spiritual, marital, financial and secular life in Jesus Name.

2.       Thank you for proclaiming your peace over the raging storms and granting me success and favour in the works of my hand.

3.       Thank you for my wife and children for blessing them extremely and disgracing the works of the enemy over their life.

4.       Thank you for your divine wisdom to deal with every affliction and making a way out when the enemy says there is no way.

5.       Thank you for deploying your angelic forces to destroy the sources and stronghold of affliction in Jesus name. Amen.

Address every affliction against you and command them to bow in Jesus Name.

6.       You affliction sent to trouble me, be troubled and return to the sender in Jesus Name.

7.     My life will not be an attraction to the evil insects of affliction. Every evil insect of affliction trying to deposit affliction on me in whatever shape or form be roasted by the fire of the Holy Ghost in Jesus Name.

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.