Wisdom snippets: Go to church!

 

A few months ago, my church organized a concert. On his way to, one of the guest artists’ car broke down on the motorway. He was now faced with this dilemma: either finding a solution for the car immediately, as he was not going to abandon it there, or prioritizing the concert which he was at risk of missing otherwise. As he contemplated these options, he asked himself: Should I not go to church because my car has broken down; or should I definitely go to church precisely because my car has broken down? If I can tell the story, then you know which decision he made.

This is someone who had the right perspective on things. He understood that the only one who would benefit from the breakdown was the devil; and if Satan did not want him to go to church, then, on the contrary, it was in his best interest to do everything to go.

We tend to let any incident, accident, sickness, quarrel or problem, too easily take us away from the only place where we can find help – that is, the presence of the brethren and GOD, aka the church. Problems are precisely the proof that you need GOD and the church more than ever. They are the proof that you need the LORD and prayers more than your own resourcefulness. Therefore, do not forsake your congregation. Do not say: “I’ll go back when everything is fine” or “I’ll go back when I’ve sorted things out.” The most vulnerable sheep are the lonely ones and the church exists, first and foremost, for those who are sick indeed and not for the healthy (Lk 5:31). Luke 5:18-20 tells us how some people refused to let paralysis and the crowd stop them from meeting with Jesus. They carried their friend on his sickbed and let him down into the midst through the roof, and Jesus healed him. Never allow the devil to triumph. He is the only one who has something to gain from you not fellowshipping with the brethren. At home, you do not expect anyone to just disappear for a few weeks every time that something is going wrong in their lives, do we? So why do it in GOD’s house, the church, our spiritual home? Let NOTHING stop you from running into GOD’s presence. Whether you are disappointed by Him or angry with Him, come to church; sit somewhere and tell Him: “LORD, I don’t really feel like smiling, praising or talking today; but here I am.”

Have a great week thwarting all the plans of the devil and GOD bless you.

Revelation snippets: What do you want?

 

As the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself (Jn 5:26).

As the Father has …. (what you need) in Himself, so has He granted…. (your name) to have…. (what you need) in him or herself. Wow!

Now, pay attention to the word IN. The Prosperity Gospel has often ignored this little word: IN; and yet, it is a keyword. The fact is that GOD gives His sons and daughters what is IN Him. So, according to you, what kind of things are IN Him? Cars? Houses? Money? Jobs? A visa for the U.S?

Delight yourself in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart, the Scripture says (Ps 37:4). We like focusing on the second part of this verse – the granting of all our wishes – putting the first part aside. However, to delight in the LORD is to seek the Kingdom of GOD and His righteousness FIRST (Mat 6:33). To delight in the LORD, is to desire above all things, that GOD’s reign be established first in our lives, and then in the whole universe. When we are consumed by such sentiments, GOD grants us the desires of our hearts and many other wonderful things, which we have not asked, are given to us as a bonus, just like it was the case with Solomon. So, again I ask: what is there IN GOD? How many of your desires are IN Him? What divine virtue do you need?

It is good to use the opportunity of this Easter break to remind ourselves of the reasons why CHRIST died and rose from the dead. Last week, I said it was to give us victory over sin. This week, I will add that He died so that we may have access to the things which are IN GOD; and not to the things which are IN the world. Think about this and once more, Happy Easter!

Wisdom snippets: Seize your healing opportunity!

 

John 5:14, Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, "See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you."

Jesus is talking to a man who had been invalid for 38 years and who had just been healed. The man had been lying on the floor for a very long time, with nobody to help him. He was as if abandoned there. It’s difficult to imagine how someone in such condition would sin. But, as the LORD's remark or rather advice clearly implies, sin was precisely the reason for his predicament. He had done something which had put him in that state; and, maybe, he was still sinning in thoughts and intentions - perhaps he was jealous of those who were healed? Perhaps he was alone because of a bad temper? In any case, Jesus advised him to stop sinning lest he incured a worse fate than 38 years of sickness!

Our suffering and problems are not necessarily always sin-related; even though many -if not most- of them are. As we are about to celebrate Easter, it is worth remembering that this festival is first and foremost, a reminder that Christ died for our SINS; and He is risen so that sin would never have a hold on us again. Are you suffering from any form of spiritual paralysis because of your disobedience and transgressions? Is it sickness, joblessness, broken relationships, barrenness, singleness or debts? How many months or years must still go by before your deliverance? The power of resurrection is fully at work today to help you overcome and forsake any weakness, addiction and sin. Wisdom demands that you do not let this opportunity pass you by. Receive your healing and sin no more. HAPPY EASTER.

Wisdom snippets: Avoid distractions

 

Mat 12:14-15a, “But the Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him. Jesus, aware of this, withdrew from there…”

Anointing is not synonymous with temerity; and temerity is not always synonymous with faith – temerity being a reckless boldness; a fearless daring. It is not every problem that we confront and it is not written anywhere that we have to face very danger. When Herod began to kill all the toddlers, in an attempt to get rid of Jesus and protect his throne, GOD did not advise Joseph to stay in Bethlehem, promising him an angelic protection. No. Instead of this, He told him to take the mother and the child (Mary and Jesus) and flee to Egypt until there was no more threat. Wisdom is knowing when to retreat and avoid problems.

In the passage above, Jesus chose to withdraw. He knew it wasn’t His time to die yet; but remaining in that place; to fight the Pharisees, would have been a serious waste of precious time; the time needed to be about His Father’s business. Learn to spot distractions. Why waste 4h to go from A to B, if you can avoid it and do it in 1h (lawfully)? Avoid distractions. You don’t have to respond to every provocation. When Satan asked Jesus to prove that His divinity by changing stones into bread, Jesus refused (Mat 4). He did not refuse because He could not perform such miracle; but He refused because that demonstration of strength, power and anointing, was not part of GOD’s (His Boss) agenda for Him. It is not all the battles that you CAN fight, that you MUST fight. Avoid distractions. Keep your eyes on the goal. Stay focused.

Have a great week in GOD’s wonderful presence.