Today we are going to learn the Word of God with the topic “Gold Mine in our being” so we are able to dig deep the very valuable gold mine. 1. There is a gold mine in our being.
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We are created amazingly more than other creation on Earth (Genesis 1:26-27)
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For us who have received Jesus as the Lord and the Saviour, the Spirit of God lives in us as a Helper (John 7:38-39)
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We live in a country blessed incredibly by God with natural wealth.
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Our condition is like a gold mine abundant with the wealth which God provides for us.2. However, there are a lot among us live in poverty and sufferings.
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A widow who was very poor although she was the wife of a prophet (2 kings 4:1)
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Our nation Indonesia is always gripped by crisis even though already given abundant natural resources.
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A lot among us, God’s children, still live in poverty.3. Why something like this can happen?
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Because of living in sin (Genesis 3:16-17)
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Being processed by God;
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Because we do not realise that there is a gold mine God has given into us. ~ The widow of the prophet (2 Kings 4:2-7)
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Because we do not have the attitude to dig deep and develop it wholeheartedly4. Let us dig deep and develop wholeheartedly the gold mine in our being.
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Slaves trusted with 5-2-1 talents
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This moment God wants to do great things. If we dig deep and develop the gold mine in us wholeheartedly, then we will truly do great things in our being.
Let us realise, dig deep and develop wholeheartedly the gold mine in us, so that in the year 2007 we truly experience very great things in God.
Friday, May 11, 2007
The Power of A Name
Today we are going to learn the Word of God with the topic: the power of a name, so that we may receive great blessings because of a good name.
1. Every time God wants to do great things in someone. God often change the name of that person.
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Abram (majestic father) was changed into Abraham (father of many nations) Genesis 17:1-5.
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Jacob (liar) was changed into Israel (prince) Genesis 25:26 -- >27:36 --> 32:28
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Simon (weeds) was changed into Peter (rock) Matthew 16:18
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Saul (having desire/want) was changed into Paul (small/little)2. Because there is power in words and vision.
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Words and vision affect many things in this world.
The message of the Word transforms our hearts (Romans 10:17)
Tongue is small but can affect the whole body (James 3:3-5)
Life and death is controlled by tongue (Proverbs 18:21)
Our eyes affect our body (Matthew 6:22).
For examples:
The influence of advertisement.
The influence of packaging, orderliness, decoration.
The influence of welcoming by worker/ servant of God.
The influence to stars.
The influence to the air atmosphere.
The influence to water.
The influence of rice.
The influence to health.
The influence to someone’s situation.
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God use words and vision to transform something.
God transform a not good world into a good world with His Words (Genesis 1:1-3).
Abraham was ordered to see the stars in the sky to describe the very great God’s Good News for his future (Genesis 15:5).
God changed someone’s names to change his/her condition.
Abram (majestic father) was changed into Abraham (father of many nations) --> in order to have a strong faith.
Jacob (liar) was changed into Israel (prince) --> in order to have a good character.
Simon (weeds) was changed into Peter (rock) --> in order to have a strong character like a rock.
Saul (having desire/want) was changed into Paul (small/little) --> in order not to be arrogant but keep a low profile.
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When our names are called out, the meaning of the names will influence our thoughts, hearts, and actions.
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If our thoughts, hearts and actions transformed, then our condition will also be changed!!!3. Give a good name.
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Give good names to create good things in our lives.
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Give good names to our children.
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Give good christened names to ourselves.
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Give good nicknames to ourselves.
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Give our studies, our companies, our cell groups, our church very good names.
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Give this year and our future good names.
If it happened that we gave bad names in our life, let us change them with good names, so that we may experience very good things in the year 2007 and so on.
1. Every time God wants to do great things in someone. God often change the name of that person.
•
Abram (majestic father) was changed into Abraham (father of many nations) Genesis 17:1-5.
•
Jacob (liar) was changed into Israel (prince) Genesis 25:26 -- >27:36 --> 32:28
•
Simon (weeds) was changed into Peter (rock) Matthew 16:18
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Saul (having desire/want) was changed into Paul (small/little)2. Because there is power in words and vision.
•
Words and vision affect many things in this world.
The message of the Word transforms our hearts (Romans 10:17)
Tongue is small but can affect the whole body (James 3:3-5)
Life and death is controlled by tongue (Proverbs 18:21)
Our eyes affect our body (Matthew 6:22).
For examples:
The influence of advertisement.
The influence of packaging, orderliness, decoration.
The influence of welcoming by worker/ servant of God.
The influence to stars.
The influence to the air atmosphere.
The influence to water.
The influence of rice.
The influence to health.
The influence to someone’s situation.
•
God use words and vision to transform something.
God transform a not good world into a good world with His Words (Genesis 1:1-3).
Abraham was ordered to see the stars in the sky to describe the very great God’s Good News for his future (Genesis 15:5).
God changed someone’s names to change his/her condition.
Abram (majestic father) was changed into Abraham (father of many nations) --> in order to have a strong faith.
Jacob (liar) was changed into Israel (prince) --> in order to have a good character.
Simon (weeds) was changed into Peter (rock) --> in order to have a strong character like a rock.
Saul (having desire/want) was changed into Paul (small/little) --> in order not to be arrogant but keep a low profile.
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When our names are called out, the meaning of the names will influence our thoughts, hearts, and actions.
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If our thoughts, hearts and actions transformed, then our condition will also be changed!!!3. Give a good name.
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Give good names to create good things in our lives.
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Give good names to our children.
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Give good christened names to ourselves.
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Give good nicknames to ourselves.
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Give our studies, our companies, our cell groups, our church very good names.
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Give this year and our future good names.
If it happened that we gave bad names in our life, let us change them with good names, so that we may experience very good things in the year 2007 and so on.
Can These Bones be Made Alive Again ?
Today we are going to study the Word of GOD with the theme, “Can these bones be made alive again?”, with the purpose for us to understand that whatever condition in our life may be, it can still be restored again.
1. Can these bones be made alive again?
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The Lord asked Ezekiel can these bones live again ? (Verse 3)
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Many people also ask, can this condition be fixed/ restored again?
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Example: Can we, in the year 2007, experience very great things in the Lord?
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Maybe some of you are also asking, can your condition/ your family/ your study/ your ministry/ your nation, be restored again?2. Many things in our life are like cassettes
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If we record into it rock songs, it will be a rock song cassette. However if we record into it spiritual songs, then it will be a spiritual song cassette.
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The Israelites filled themselves with negative thoughts and words, so they became very negative (verse 11)
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If the Israelites were filled with positive thoughts and words, then they became positive (verse 4-8)
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If we often fill ourselves with knowledge, then we will be full of knowledge
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If we often fill ourselves with negative things, then we will be full of negative things.
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If we often fill ourselves with dirty things, then we will be full of adultery.3. A condition is the result of what is often given/ done into it.
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The Israelites became like the dry bones was because of the consequence of the negative thoughts and negative words they often said.
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Our conditions are often the result of what we often see, think and say.
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The condition of our surrounding is also often the result of what we often give to them. Example: our attitude, our words, our actions.4. We can change our condition
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Even though the Israelites was already like dry bones, however they could be made alive again
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Even though our condition has already been bad, however we still can change our condition to be well again.
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Even though the condition of our surrounding may have not been good, however we can still change the condition of our surrounding to be good again.5. GOD wants us to give the good things
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GOD wanted Ezekiel to say the words of good prophesy to change the condition of the Israelites which was like the dry bones to be an exceedingly great army (verse 12-14)
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GOD also wants us to fill our life with good things so we will also experience good things in our life. Example. Testimony
Let’s give to ourselves and to others good things so we also experience the good things in our life.
1. Can these bones be made alive again?
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The Lord asked Ezekiel can these bones live again ? (Verse 3)
•
Many people also ask, can this condition be fixed/ restored again?
•
Example: Can we, in the year 2007, experience very great things in the Lord?
•
Maybe some of you are also asking, can your condition/ your family/ your study/ your ministry/ your nation, be restored again?2. Many things in our life are like cassettes
•
If we record into it rock songs, it will be a rock song cassette. However if we record into it spiritual songs, then it will be a spiritual song cassette.
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The Israelites filled themselves with negative thoughts and words, so they became very negative (verse 11)
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If the Israelites were filled with positive thoughts and words, then they became positive (verse 4-8)
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If we often fill ourselves with knowledge, then we will be full of knowledge
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If we often fill ourselves with negative things, then we will be full of negative things.
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If we often fill ourselves with dirty things, then we will be full of adultery.3. A condition is the result of what is often given/ done into it.
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The Israelites became like the dry bones was because of the consequence of the negative thoughts and negative words they often said.
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Our conditions are often the result of what we often see, think and say.
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The condition of our surrounding is also often the result of what we often give to them. Example: our attitude, our words, our actions.4. We can change our condition
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Even though the Israelites was already like dry bones, however they could be made alive again
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Even though our condition has already been bad, however we still can change our condition to be well again.
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Even though the condition of our surrounding may have not been good, however we can still change the condition of our surrounding to be good again.5. GOD wants us to give the good things
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GOD wanted Ezekiel to say the words of good prophesy to change the condition of the Israelites which was like the dry bones to be an exceedingly great army (verse 12-14)
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GOD also wants us to fill our life with good things so we will also experience good things in our life. Example. Testimony
Let’s give to ourselves and to others good things so we also experience the good things in our life.
Tithing Brings Blessing
Today we are going to learn about the Word of GOD which brings blessing from GOD for HIS people through tithe. Tithe does not make GOD’s people lacking, but it actually brings great blessing for GOD’s people who obey HIS decrees/commandments. Let us study this matter!!!
1. GOD loves His people, but HIS people do not obey HIM.
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It is shown in verse 6 how GOD’s love to HIS people and HIS promise that the descendants of Jacob will not be destroyed. It is an expression of GOD’s love to care for HIS chosen people.
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However, in verse 7a they have turned away from GOD’s commandment and have not kept them.
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That is why they live in all kinds of suffering. For example: Adam and Eve turned away from GOD’s commandment so that they lived in suffering.2.. Return to GOD is the key for restoration (v. 7b).
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“Return to ME, and I will return to you, says the LORD Almighty”. This is GOD’s promise to HIS people who want to return to GOD, so that their situation/life/being will be restored by GOD.
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It is the same with us who want GOD to restore our situation/problem/family/ business ? return to GOD. For example: The prodigal son.3. How do we return to GOD?
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Many people do not realize that they have turned away from GOD’s commandments, in what way and how they could turn away from GOD’s commandments. So they also do not know how to return to GOD’s commandments. Just as GOD’s people asked in verse 7c: “How are we to return?”
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The Israelites (GOD’s people) was wrong in front of GOD in tithe and special offerings.
Tithe is 10% offering from all of our income which we must return to GOD (90% is given to us to manage and 10% must be returned for GOD’s work). For example: businessman, employee, etc.
While special offering is an offering for special need outside tithing. For example: special offerings for church building, sponsor children in need, the establishment of “Pelita Nusantara Kasih” Christian School, etc.
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Which caused the Israelites (GOD’s people) to be under a curse (verse 9).
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A person who is under a curse is like being shadowed by failure/diseases/repeated divorces, etc. For example: Like Adam who was under the curse of poverty and Eve who was under the curse of diseases.4. Why do we have to bring the tithe into the House of the LORD (church)?
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The sign of acknowledgement of GOD’s authority over ourselves.
Every year when the governors and prince come before the King, they have to bring gifts to the King as a sign that they acknowledge the authority of the King over them.
All fruits in the Garden of Eden were allowed to be eaten by Adam and Eve, but the fruit of the knowledge of good and bad was not allowed to be taken and eaten by them, because it symbolizes the authority of GOD.
All of the authority in Egypt was given to Joseph, except for Pharaoh’s throne, because it symbolizes the authority of Pharaoh over Joseph.
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The sign of our acknowledgement that all blessing is from GOD and belongs to GOD.
When we feel that the blessing we get is the result of our struggle and belongs to us alone, we will feel difficult to give it back to the Lord.
However, when we truly acknowledge that all blessing we receive is from GOD and belongs to GOD, we will not find it difficult to do the GOD’s commandment to give our tithe to GOD.
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The sign that we love GOD.
Matthew 6:21, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also”.
What GOD requires of us is not our wealth but our heart.
Explanation: If we place much of our wealth in our car, then in fact our heart is in that car. And the same if we dare to place much of our wealth in GOD/ the work of GOD, then our heart is in GOD/ the work of GOD.
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So that there is food in the house of the Lord (verse 10a).
If we don’t bring our tithe to the House of the Lord, then there will be no fund to meet all the needs in the House of the LORD. So in the end there will be no spiritual food in the House of the Lord.
If the tithe is not brought to the House of the LORD but somewhere else, then there will be no fund to meet the needs in the House of the LORD. So finally there will be no spiritual food in the House of the LORD.
We have to bring our tithe to the House of the LORD as members of the church where we receive the spiritual food. So there will be sufficient spiritual food for us, and the church where we worship the LORD can save many souls.
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So that the blessing from the Lord can be poured into abundance (verse 10b).
The blessing from GOD means: health, unity, happiness, wealth, etc.
Tithe offering will not make the congregation lacking. On the other hand, it will make the congregation in abundance because the blessing GOD will be poured abundantly.
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So that every locust/ pest will be stopped and destroyed (verse 11).
Every locust describes the sickness, theft, deceit, that always eating the blessing of GOD in our life. Example/testimony.
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So that our life will be a testimony for many people (verse 12).
By obeying the Word of GOD, the promise of GOD will be realized in our life. Testimony: The finance of the church was provided by GOD when the senior pastor started to give back the tithe; Seller of fried bananas who gives back tithe.
Let us return to GOD by bringing back our tithe, so that GOD’s blessing will be poured upon our life.
1. GOD loves His people, but HIS people do not obey HIM.
•
It is shown in verse 6 how GOD’s love to HIS people and HIS promise that the descendants of Jacob will not be destroyed. It is an expression of GOD’s love to care for HIS chosen people.
•
However, in verse 7a they have turned away from GOD’s commandment and have not kept them.
•
That is why they live in all kinds of suffering. For example: Adam and Eve turned away from GOD’s commandment so that they lived in suffering.2.. Return to GOD is the key for restoration (v. 7b).
•
“Return to ME, and I will return to you, says the LORD Almighty”. This is GOD’s promise to HIS people who want to return to GOD, so that their situation/life/being will be restored by GOD.
•
It is the same with us who want GOD to restore our situation/problem/family/ business ? return to GOD. For example: The prodigal son.3. How do we return to GOD?
•
Many people do not realize that they have turned away from GOD’s commandments, in what way and how they could turn away from GOD’s commandments. So they also do not know how to return to GOD’s commandments. Just as GOD’s people asked in verse 7c: “How are we to return?”
•
The Israelites (GOD’s people) was wrong in front of GOD in tithe and special offerings.
Tithe is 10% offering from all of our income which we must return to GOD (90% is given to us to manage and 10% must be returned for GOD’s work). For example: businessman, employee, etc.
While special offering is an offering for special need outside tithing. For example: special offerings for church building, sponsor children in need, the establishment of “Pelita Nusantara Kasih” Christian School, etc.
•
Which caused the Israelites (GOD’s people) to be under a curse (verse 9).
•
A person who is under a curse is like being shadowed by failure/diseases/repeated divorces, etc. For example: Like Adam who was under the curse of poverty and Eve who was under the curse of diseases.4. Why do we have to bring the tithe into the House of the LORD (church)?
•
The sign of acknowledgement of GOD’s authority over ourselves.
Every year when the governors and prince come before the King, they have to bring gifts to the King as a sign that they acknowledge the authority of the King over them.
All fruits in the Garden of Eden were allowed to be eaten by Adam and Eve, but the fruit of the knowledge of good and bad was not allowed to be taken and eaten by them, because it symbolizes the authority of GOD.
All of the authority in Egypt was given to Joseph, except for Pharaoh’s throne, because it symbolizes the authority of Pharaoh over Joseph.
•
The sign of our acknowledgement that all blessing is from GOD and belongs to GOD.
When we feel that the blessing we get is the result of our struggle and belongs to us alone, we will feel difficult to give it back to the Lord.
However, when we truly acknowledge that all blessing we receive is from GOD and belongs to GOD, we will not find it difficult to do the GOD’s commandment to give our tithe to GOD.
•
The sign that we love GOD.
Matthew 6:21, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also”.
What GOD requires of us is not our wealth but our heart.
Explanation: If we place much of our wealth in our car, then in fact our heart is in that car. And the same if we dare to place much of our wealth in GOD/ the work of GOD, then our heart is in GOD/ the work of GOD.
•
So that there is food in the house of the Lord (verse 10a).
If we don’t bring our tithe to the House of the Lord, then there will be no fund to meet all the needs in the House of the LORD. So in the end there will be no spiritual food in the House of the Lord.
If the tithe is not brought to the House of the LORD but somewhere else, then there will be no fund to meet the needs in the House of the LORD. So finally there will be no spiritual food in the House of the LORD.
We have to bring our tithe to the House of the LORD as members of the church where we receive the spiritual food. So there will be sufficient spiritual food for us, and the church where we worship the LORD can save many souls.
•
So that the blessing from the Lord can be poured into abundance (verse 10b).
The blessing from GOD means: health, unity, happiness, wealth, etc.
Tithe offering will not make the congregation lacking. On the other hand, it will make the congregation in abundance because the blessing GOD will be poured abundantly.
•
So that every locust/ pest will be stopped and destroyed (verse 11).
Every locust describes the sickness, theft, deceit, that always eating the blessing of GOD in our life. Example/testimony.
•
So that our life will be a testimony for many people (verse 12).
By obeying the Word of GOD, the promise of GOD will be realized in our life. Testimony: The finance of the church was provided by GOD when the senior pastor started to give back the tithe; Seller of fried bananas who gives back tithe.
Let us return to GOD by bringing back our tithe, so that GOD’s blessing will be poured upon our life.
Being Used by God
Today we will learn from a very poor widow & Elijah, a great Prophet who were used by GOD mightily, so that every one of us can be used by God for miraculous way! How did this widow and Elijah could be used by GOD miraculously?
1. Difficult situations give us the chance to be used by GOD.
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The long drought had made Elijah being used by GOD to make His people to come to realization (verse 1).
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Our nation’s crisis actually gives us the opportunity to be used by GOD to save many souls!
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The chaos that happens in the families gives us the opportunity to be used by GOD to save families!2. GOD is taking care of the people who want to be used as His tools.
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GOD’s care is sometime abundant like the great Jordan River, but it is sometime limited like the small Cherith River (v. 2-4).
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GOD’s care is right on time, just like the raven that came on time as GOD told them to do so (v. 6).
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GOD’s care could be from rich people, but could also be from poor people as this widow in Zarephath (v. 7-9).
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But surely GOD will take care of the people who want to be used by Him!3. To put GOD first will make us able to be used by Him.
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They needed bread that they made for their own purposes (v. 11-12).
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For this widow in Zarephath to be used by Him, she had to put GOD first (v. 13).
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For Elijah to be used by GOD, he had to put Him first. Otherwise, Elijah would not be able to be used by GOD because at that time many prophets were caught, even being killed!
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For us to be used by GOD, we have to put Him first. Otherwise, we will always say: there is no time, there is no fund, etc.4. Obedience bring us to experience miracles and GOD’s grace! Dare to obey GOD actually brings us great blessings!
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Because Elijah was obedient in putting GOD first, he were saved and experienced great miracles in his life.
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Because the widow in Zarephath was obedient in putting GOD first, she experienced miracles and her life was always being fulfilled.
GOD promised if this widow dare to put GOD’s need first, then the miracle will happen (v. 3-14).
When the widow dare to obey in putting GOD first, then GOD fulfilled His promise (v. 15-16).
That was not the only time the widow’s need were fulfilled, but also when there was a great problem she was helped by GOD! (v. 17-24)
The death of this widow’s son could also talk to us about the death of his spirituality, finance and business, family relationship, etc.
•
Last week we learned that GOD had commanded the Israelites to bring tithes into the house of the Lord.
If the Israelites obey GOD’s command, then there would be food and the flood gates of heaven would be opened and GOD’s people would be blessed abundantly in the House of the Lord.
It is the same with us. When we obey to bring tithes to our church, then all the church’s financial for our ministry, the lack of church building fund, and the opening of new school will be fulfilled. The congregations will also receive great blessings.
•
Sometime, GOD uses something that we really need!!!
For example:
The widow in Zarephath.
The Israelites were desperate for water, but were commanded to pour plenty of water (1Kings 18:34-35).
Abraham need a son/an offspring, however he was commanded by GOD to give his only son as a burning sacrifice for GOD.
•
Moreover with the things we do not need, yet!!! For example:
Joseph from Arimathea with his position and new tomb.
David with his wealth and position, etc.
Let us do the Word of GOD so that we could become useful tool for GOD and experience great miracles in our life as this widow in Zarephath.
1. Difficult situations give us the chance to be used by GOD.
•
The long drought had made Elijah being used by GOD to make His people to come to realization (verse 1).
•
Our nation’s crisis actually gives us the opportunity to be used by GOD to save many souls!
•
The chaos that happens in the families gives us the opportunity to be used by GOD to save families!2. GOD is taking care of the people who want to be used as His tools.
•
GOD’s care is sometime abundant like the great Jordan River, but it is sometime limited like the small Cherith River (v. 2-4).
•
GOD’s care is right on time, just like the raven that came on time as GOD told them to do so (v. 6).
•
GOD’s care could be from rich people, but could also be from poor people as this widow in Zarephath (v. 7-9).
•
But surely GOD will take care of the people who want to be used by Him!3. To put GOD first will make us able to be used by Him.
•
They needed bread that they made for their own purposes (v. 11-12).
•
For this widow in Zarephath to be used by Him, she had to put GOD first (v. 13).
•
For Elijah to be used by GOD, he had to put Him first. Otherwise, Elijah would not be able to be used by GOD because at that time many prophets were caught, even being killed!
•
For us to be used by GOD, we have to put Him first. Otherwise, we will always say: there is no time, there is no fund, etc.4. Obedience bring us to experience miracles and GOD’s grace! Dare to obey GOD actually brings us great blessings!
•
Because Elijah was obedient in putting GOD first, he were saved and experienced great miracles in his life.
•
Because the widow in Zarephath was obedient in putting GOD first, she experienced miracles and her life was always being fulfilled.
GOD promised if this widow dare to put GOD’s need first, then the miracle will happen (v. 3-14).
When the widow dare to obey in putting GOD first, then GOD fulfilled His promise (v. 15-16).
That was not the only time the widow’s need were fulfilled, but also when there was a great problem she was helped by GOD! (v. 17-24)
The death of this widow’s son could also talk to us about the death of his spirituality, finance and business, family relationship, etc.
•
Last week we learned that GOD had commanded the Israelites to bring tithes into the house of the Lord.
If the Israelites obey GOD’s command, then there would be food and the flood gates of heaven would be opened and GOD’s people would be blessed abundantly in the House of the Lord.
It is the same with us. When we obey to bring tithes to our church, then all the church’s financial for our ministry, the lack of church building fund, and the opening of new school will be fulfilled. The congregations will also receive great blessings.
•
Sometime, GOD uses something that we really need!!!
For example:
The widow in Zarephath.
The Israelites were desperate for water, but were commanded to pour plenty of water (1Kings 18:34-35).
Abraham need a son/an offspring, however he was commanded by GOD to give his only son as a burning sacrifice for GOD.
•
Moreover with the things we do not need, yet!!! For example:
Joseph from Arimathea with his position and new tomb.
David with his wealth and position, etc.
Let us do the Word of GOD so that we could become useful tool for GOD and experience great miracles in our life as this widow in Zarephath.
Wednesday, May 9, 2007
God Wants Us To Be Healthy
Starting today we will learn the Word of God about healthy life, so that we will have a healthy body and we are able to use healthy body in order to do the work of God well
I. God wants us to live healthy.
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God wants our body to be healthy, same as our soul is healthy (3 John 1:2) Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.
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Often we only think about spiritual things, but actually God also commands us to think about our body health.II. For our body can be healthy, we have to take care of it well.
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God wants our soul, mind and body to be healthy but in order for our body to be healthy we have to care our body well (1 Thessalonians 5:23) May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
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Everything which is not taken care will be broken, but things that are taken care well will become even better.
For example: Buildings/plants/vehicles etc if they are not taken care well will be broken rapidly.
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Likewise with our body, if it is not taken care well will be rapidly broken. However if it is taken care of well, it will remain healthy or even healthier.
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We have to take care and conserve our body well since the beginning, because everything we do will not show result immediately, but from time to time will show the result/consequence.
People who study, day after day become smarter.
People who trained, day after day become more expert.Likewise people who ignore health, day after day his body become more fragile.
III. If our body is broken, the consequences are:
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We cannot enjoy the blessing God has prepared for us.
Someone who works beyond the body limit and causing him/her to fall ill. Therefore, although he/she owns a lot of money, he/she cannot enjoy life with the money.
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Bring suffering for ourselves and others.
If we are sick, we will suffer and also bring suffering to our family and many others.
•
Unable to glorify God (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
1 Corinthians 6:19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 1 Corinthians 6:20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.
The Word of God commands us to glorify God with our body.If we are often fall ill, then we will not be able to glorify God by testify that God is the God who gives health.Except the disease when God is testing us, or God wants to do great things in our lives (John 9:1-3; 2 Corinthians 12:7-9).
•
Unable to do many things
If we are sick, then we will not be able to work well causing our finance to be ruined and our family also suffers.
If we are sick, then we will not be able to serve well causing God’s plan difficult to be achieved in our lives.
•
Therefore we have to speak our words with God’s wisdom, so that we experience good things in our lives (Ecclesiastes 10:12).
IV. There are 3 patterns which very influential to health.
•
Eating pattern
a.
There is food that destruct/not good for body. For examples:
Food containing formalin.
Rotten food.
1 Timothy 5:23 Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.
b.
Eating pattern affect our health.
If we like to eat unhealthy food then our body become damaged
c.
Have a correct eating pattern so that our body become healthy
•
Mind and heart pattern
a.
Mind and heart are very influential to body health. For examples:
Always anxious/afraid
Keep bitterness
Proverbs 17:22 A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
b.
Mind and heart pattern decides our body health.
If we always think of negative things, then our body slowly deteriorated.
c.
Have a correct mind and heart pattern so that our body is healthy.
•
Lifestyle pattern
a.
Lifestyle pattern is very influential to health. For examples:
Psalms 107:17 Some became fools through their rebellious ways and suffered affliction because of their iniquities.
Like to sleep late night and lack of sleep causing fall to ill.
Time to sleep, eat and rest is not in order.
Work beyond body limit.
b.
Our lifestyle pattern decides our health.
If we have incorrect lifestyle, then our body slowly deteriorated.
c.
Have a correct lifestyle so that our body is healthy.
V. God gives power for divine healing.
•
Everywhere Lord Jesus healed diseases
•
God also gives power to believers for divine healing (Mark 16:17-18).
•
Mark 16:17-18 . 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”
•
Lord Jesus’ apostles also did divine healing (Acts 3:1-10; 2:43; 5:12).
Acts 3:1-10
Acts 2:43 Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.
Acts 5:12 The apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon's Colonnade.
•
In our church, there are even many divine healing happened in cell groups. Testify:
•
Therefore, for us who already sick we do not to be worried or lost faith because God can grant divine healing.
•
However, God wants us to take care of our health, do not do the wrong thing/sin so that we do not experience even worse things (John 5:14).
John 5:14 Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, “See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.”
•
This is why this month we will learn about healthy living in God so that we may live healthily and use our body to do God’s work well.
We believe this lesson will become an important lesson for every of us.
Therefore, pay attention to all the lessons and wholeheartedly do it!!!
Let us learn this lesson wholeheartedly and take care our body well so that we have a healthy body according to God’s will in our lives.
I. God wants us to live healthy.
•
God wants our body to be healthy, same as our soul is healthy (3 John 1:2) Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.
•
Often we only think about spiritual things, but actually God also commands us to think about our body health.II. For our body can be healthy, we have to take care of it well.
•
God wants our soul, mind and body to be healthy but in order for our body to be healthy we have to care our body well (1 Thessalonians 5:23) May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
•
Everything which is not taken care will be broken, but things that are taken care well will become even better.
For example: Buildings/plants/vehicles etc if they are not taken care well will be broken rapidly.
•
Likewise with our body, if it is not taken care well will be rapidly broken. However if it is taken care of well, it will remain healthy or even healthier.
•
We have to take care and conserve our body well since the beginning, because everything we do will not show result immediately, but from time to time will show the result/consequence.
People who study, day after day become smarter.
People who trained, day after day become more expert.Likewise people who ignore health, day after day his body become more fragile.
III. If our body is broken, the consequences are:
•
We cannot enjoy the blessing God has prepared for us.
Someone who works beyond the body limit and causing him/her to fall ill. Therefore, although he/she owns a lot of money, he/she cannot enjoy life with the money.
•
Bring suffering for ourselves and others.
If we are sick, we will suffer and also bring suffering to our family and many others.
•
Unable to glorify God (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
1 Corinthians 6:19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 1 Corinthians 6:20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.
The Word of God commands us to glorify God with our body.If we are often fall ill, then we will not be able to glorify God by testify that God is the God who gives health.Except the disease when God is testing us, or God wants to do great things in our lives (John 9:1-3; 2 Corinthians 12:7-9).
•
Unable to do many things
If we are sick, then we will not be able to work well causing our finance to be ruined and our family also suffers.
If we are sick, then we will not be able to serve well causing God’s plan difficult to be achieved in our lives.
•
Therefore we have to speak our words with God’s wisdom, so that we experience good things in our lives (Ecclesiastes 10:12).
IV. There are 3 patterns which very influential to health.
•
Eating pattern
a.
There is food that destruct/not good for body. For examples:
Food containing formalin.
Rotten food.
1 Timothy 5:23 Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.
b.
Eating pattern affect our health.
If we like to eat unhealthy food then our body become damaged
c.
Have a correct eating pattern so that our body become healthy
•
Mind and heart pattern
a.
Mind and heart are very influential to body health. For examples:
Always anxious/afraid
Keep bitterness
Proverbs 17:22 A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
b.
Mind and heart pattern decides our body health.
If we always think of negative things, then our body slowly deteriorated.
c.
Have a correct mind and heart pattern so that our body is healthy.
•
Lifestyle pattern
a.
Lifestyle pattern is very influential to health. For examples:
Psalms 107:17 Some became fools through their rebellious ways and suffered affliction because of their iniquities.
Like to sleep late night and lack of sleep causing fall to ill.
Time to sleep, eat and rest is not in order.
Work beyond body limit.
b.
Our lifestyle pattern decides our health.
If we have incorrect lifestyle, then our body slowly deteriorated.
c.
Have a correct lifestyle so that our body is healthy.
V. God gives power for divine healing.
•
Everywhere Lord Jesus healed diseases
•
God also gives power to believers for divine healing (Mark 16:17-18).
•
Mark 16:17-18 . 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”
•
Lord Jesus’ apostles also did divine healing (Acts 3:1-10; 2:43; 5:12).
Acts 3:1-10
Acts 2:43 Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles.
Acts 5:12 The apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon's Colonnade.
•
In our church, there are even many divine healing happened in cell groups. Testify:
•
Therefore, for us who already sick we do not to be worried or lost faith because God can grant divine healing.
•
However, God wants us to take care of our health, do not do the wrong thing/sin so that we do not experience even worse things (John 5:14).
John 5:14 Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, “See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.”
•
This is why this month we will learn about healthy living in God so that we may live healthily and use our body to do God’s work well.
We believe this lesson will become an important lesson for every of us.
Therefore, pay attention to all the lessons and wholeheartedly do it!!!
Let us learn this lesson wholeheartedly and take care our body well so that we have a healthy body according to God’s will in our lives.
Eating Pattern
The purpose of this lesson is for every member of the congregation and every servant of GOD will have a healthy body, so we can do many things for the kingdom of GOD, family, society and for ourselves.
1) Health is one of the most important things in our life
•
GOD, our family and we ourselves would like us to live healthy
•
In order for us to live healthy, we have to look after/ to take care our body well
•
There are 3 patterns which are very influential for our health
Eating pattern
Mind and heart pattern
Lifestyle pattern
•
GOD gives healing miracles, however GOD also gives guidance on how we can keep on living healthy
If we understand how important is health, then we will be joyfully and willingly to learn and guard our body health!!2) Good eating pattern
•
Choose foods that are created or suggested by GOD to eat
There are foods that is created for us human, God created that food which already been suited with the condition of our body, so if we eat it our body will become healthy.
Foods that are recommended by GOD in the times of Adam and Eve ( Genesis 1:2929Then God said, "I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.)
Foods that are recommended by GOD after human fell into sins ( Genesis 3:18. 18It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field)
Foods that are recommended by GOD after the great flood ( Genesis 9:3 . 3Everything that lives and moves will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything.
Foods that are recommended by GOD in the times of Moses (Leviticus 11:1-10; Deuteronomy 34:7 . 7Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died, yet his eyes were not weak nor his strength gone)
Do not eat fat and blood (Leviticus 3:17 17" `This is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come, wherever you live: You must not eat any fat or any blood)
About foods as explained by JESUS (Mark 7:18-23 . 18"Are you so dull?" he asked. "Don't you see that nothing that enters a man from the outside can make him `unclean'? 19For it doesn't go into his heart but into his stomach, and then out of his body." (In saying this, Jesus declared all foods "clean.") 20He went on: "What comes out of a man is what makes him `unclean.' 21For from within, out of men's hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, 22greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. 23All these evils come from inside and make a man `unclean.' ")
The guidance from the Word of GOD as explained by apostles Paul (1 Cor 6:12 -12"Everything is permissible for me"--but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible for me"--but I will not be mastered by anything)
Medical sciences at the moment prove that many of what were written in the Bible is true. Animals that are said as “clean” are healthy for us to eat, and those that are said as “unclean” are not healthy for us to eat ( Genesis 7:2 . 2Take with you sevenA of every kind of clean animal, a male and its mate, and two of every kind of unclean animal, a male and its mate.)
•
Choose foods that have not been changed by human so it will not be good foods for our health.
Foods that are preserved with formalin
Animals injected with growth hormone
Foods added with bleaching
Foods added with seasoning, example : MSG
Foods added with flavor. Example: orange flavored syrup, banana flavored syrup, and guava flavored syrup.
Canned food
Vegetarian food flavored with meat flavor, egg flavor etc.
•
Choose foods that are suited with the condition of our body.
The condition of our body is different from one another.
So the foods that are suited with our body are also different, example diabetic people, high blood pressure, low blood pressure, etc
•
Choose foods that will not make us addicted/in bondage.
Some foods will make us addicted when we eat them.
Drugs
Cigarettes
Alcohol
Sugar
Coffee/ tea
•
Drink a lot of clean water
Water is a very good cleaner for our body
If we drink a lot of clean water, our body will be clean and healthy. Example: kidney, etc will be healthy
•
Eat moderately
Do not eat too much (Proverb 23:2-3 2and put a knife to your throat ,if you are given to gluttony.3Do not crave his delicacies, for that food is deceptive.; Proverb 25:16 -16If you find honey, eat just enough--too much of it, and you will vomit.)
Any food if we eat too much will make our body sick. Example: attending wedding party.etc
•
Do not eat in a hurry
Eat calmly
Chew well, so our digestion will not be too heavy in digesting it.
•
Have a regular eating time
If we don’t eat regularly, then our digestion will be easily sick
Our body will also feel tired because our digestion is not given time to rest.
•
Don’t follow the urge to keep on eating while we are under stress.
If somebody is under stress then there will be the urge to eat
If we follow the urge to eat while under stress we will be overweight which is not healthy?
•
Give thanks and bless the food we will eat.
Give thanks will please God’s heart
Bless the food we are eating because there is power in our words.
3) What have we eaten in the last 24 hours?
•
Make a list and write down all we have eaten in the last 24 hr
•
Examine, if we have had a good eating pattern, so we will be healthy.
•
If there is any wrong eating pattern, let’s fix it so we will have a healthy body according to GOD’s desire, our senior pastor‘s desire, and our family’s desire and our own desire!
Let’s learn and do the Word of GOD so we will have a healthy body and can use our body to do many things in our life!
1) Health is one of the most important things in our life
•
GOD, our family and we ourselves would like us to live healthy
•
In order for us to live healthy, we have to look after/ to take care our body well
•
There are 3 patterns which are very influential for our health
Eating pattern
Mind and heart pattern
Lifestyle pattern
•
GOD gives healing miracles, however GOD also gives guidance on how we can keep on living healthy
If we understand how important is health, then we will be joyfully and willingly to learn and guard our body health!!2) Good eating pattern
•
Choose foods that are created or suggested by GOD to eat
There are foods that is created for us human, God created that food which already been suited with the condition of our body, so if we eat it our body will become healthy.
Foods that are recommended by GOD in the times of Adam and Eve ( Genesis 1:2929Then God said, "I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.)
Foods that are recommended by GOD after human fell into sins ( Genesis 3:18. 18It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field)
Foods that are recommended by GOD after the great flood ( Genesis 9:3 . 3Everything that lives and moves will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything.
Foods that are recommended by GOD in the times of Moses (Leviticus 11:1-10; Deuteronomy 34:7 . 7Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died, yet his eyes were not weak nor his strength gone)
Do not eat fat and blood (Leviticus 3:17 17" `This is a lasting ordinance for the generations to come, wherever you live: You must not eat any fat or any blood)
About foods as explained by JESUS (Mark 7:18-23 . 18"Are you so dull?" he asked. "Don't you see that nothing that enters a man from the outside can make him `unclean'? 19For it doesn't go into his heart but into his stomach, and then out of his body." (In saying this, Jesus declared all foods "clean.") 20He went on: "What comes out of a man is what makes him `unclean.' 21For from within, out of men's hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, 22greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. 23All these evils come from inside and make a man `unclean.' ")
The guidance from the Word of GOD as explained by apostles Paul (1 Cor 6:12 -12"Everything is permissible for me"--but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible for me"--but I will not be mastered by anything)
Medical sciences at the moment prove that many of what were written in the Bible is true. Animals that are said as “clean” are healthy for us to eat, and those that are said as “unclean” are not healthy for us to eat ( Genesis 7:2 . 2Take with you sevenA of every kind of clean animal, a male and its mate, and two of every kind of unclean animal, a male and its mate.)
•
Choose foods that have not been changed by human so it will not be good foods for our health.
Foods that are preserved with formalin
Animals injected with growth hormone
Foods added with bleaching
Foods added with seasoning, example : MSG
Foods added with flavor. Example: orange flavored syrup, banana flavored syrup, and guava flavored syrup.
Canned food
Vegetarian food flavored with meat flavor, egg flavor etc.
•
Choose foods that are suited with the condition of our body.
The condition of our body is different from one another.
So the foods that are suited with our body are also different, example diabetic people, high blood pressure, low blood pressure, etc
•
Choose foods that will not make us addicted/in bondage.
Some foods will make us addicted when we eat them.
Drugs
Cigarettes
Alcohol
Sugar
Coffee/ tea
•
Drink a lot of clean water
Water is a very good cleaner for our body
If we drink a lot of clean water, our body will be clean and healthy. Example: kidney, etc will be healthy
•
Eat moderately
Do not eat too much (Proverb 23:2-3 2and put a knife to your throat ,if you are given to gluttony.3Do not crave his delicacies, for that food is deceptive.; Proverb 25:16 -16If you find honey, eat just enough--too much of it, and you will vomit.)
Any food if we eat too much will make our body sick. Example: attending wedding party.etc
•
Do not eat in a hurry
Eat calmly
Chew well, so our digestion will not be too heavy in digesting it.
•
Have a regular eating time
If we don’t eat regularly, then our digestion will be easily sick
Our body will also feel tired because our digestion is not given time to rest.
•
Don’t follow the urge to keep on eating while we are under stress.
If somebody is under stress then there will be the urge to eat
If we follow the urge to eat while under stress we will be overweight which is not healthy?
•
Give thanks and bless the food we will eat.
Give thanks will please God’s heart
Bless the food we are eating because there is power in our words.
3) What have we eaten in the last 24 hours?
•
Make a list and write down all we have eaten in the last 24 hr
•
Examine, if we have had a good eating pattern, so we will be healthy.
•
If there is any wrong eating pattern, let’s fix it so we will have a healthy body according to GOD’s desire, our senior pastor‘s desire, and our family’s desire and our own desire!
Let’s learn and do the Word of GOD so we will have a healthy body and can use our body to do many things in our life!
HEALTHY LIFE PATTERN
we are going to continue the third lesson about health with the theme: “Healthy Life Pattern”. We are going to study a few life patterns that will make us have healthy body.
1) To live according to the Word of GOD
•
The first time sickness/pain came in the life of human was due to human broke the Word of GOD ( Genesis 3:16 - 16To the woman he said, "I will greatly increase your pains in childbearing; with pain you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you."
•
If we don’t live according to the Word of GOD, then GOD will allow sickness to come in our life. Leviticus 26:14-16 14" `But if you will not listen to me and carry out all these commands, 15and if you reject my decrees and abhor my laws and fail to carry out all my commands and so violate my covenant, 16then I will do this to you: I will bring upon you sudden terror, wasting diseases and fever that will destroy your sight and drain away your life. You will plant seed in vain, because your enemies will eat it.
•
So we may fall into sickness because we live in sins/ we do not live according to the Word of GOD.
Psalm 107:17 17Some became fools through their rebellious ways and suffered affliction because of their iniquities.
Example: King Jehoram lived in sins so he suffered a very severe disease (2 Chronicles 21:12-15-12Jehoram received a letter from Elijah the prophet, which said: "This is what the LORD, the God of your father David, says: `You have not walked in the ways of your father Jehoshaphat or of Asa king of Judah. 13But you have walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and you have led Judah and the people of Jerusalem to prostitute themselves, just as the house of Ahab did. You have also murdered your own brothers, members of your father's house, men who were better than you. 14So now the LORD is about to strike your people, your sons, your wives and everything that is yours, with a heavy blow. 15You yourself will be very ill with a lingering disease of the bowels, until the disease causes your bowels to come out.' "
Gehazi (2 Kings 5:20-27- 20Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said to himself, "My master was too easy on Naaman, this Aramean, by not accepting from him what he brought. As surely as the LORD lives, I will run after him and get something from him." 21So Gehazi hurried after Naaman. When Naaman saw him running toward him, he got down from the chariot to meet him. "Is everything all right?" he asked. 22"Everything is all right," Gehazi answered. "My master sent me to say, `Two young men from the company of the prophets have just come to me from the hill country of Ephraim. Please give them a talentD of silver and two sets of clothing.' " 23"By all means, take two talents," said Naaman. He urged Gehazi to accept them, and then tied up the two talents of silver in two bags, with two sets of clothing. He gave them to two of his servants, and they carried them ahead of Gehazi. 24When Gehazi came to the hill; he took the things from the servants and put them away in the house. He sent the men away and they left. 25Then he went in and stood before his master Elisha. "Where have you been, Gehazi?" Elisha asked. "Your servant didn't go anywhere," Gehazi answered. 26But Elisha said to him, "Was not my spirit with you when the man got down from his chariot to meet you? Is this the time to take money, or to accept clothes, olive groves, vineyards, flocks, herds, or menservants and maidservants? 27Naaman's leprosy will cling to you and to your descendants forever." Then Gehazi went from Elisha's presence and he was leprous, as white as snow.
Not all disease/sickness are because of sins however sins can bring disease/sickness.
•
In the New Testament Lord JESUS explains there are diseases caused by the evil spirit. So if someone likes to associate himself with evil spirits, then the evil spirits can destroy his health. Mark 9:25 25When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the evilA spirit. "You deaf and mute spirit," he said, "I command you, come out of him and never enter him again."
•
We can receive healing from Lord JESUS from all sickness however after that we must not sin again. John 5:14. 14Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, "See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you."
•
Let’s leave all sins and live according to the Word of GOD so we will have a healthy body from the Lord
2) Do not work beyond our body strength.
•
Our body has its limit in its abilities
•
If we work beyond our body abilities then our body will be easily become weary and in sickness.
•
It is better we use our body according to its abilities, then our body will be in healthy condition
Example Vehicle that is used continuously without rest will be easily broken
A Person who is lack in rest/ sleep will be easily sick
An electric fuse which is used beyond its capacities.
•
So we have to work to our maximum, but we must also have time to rest so we will not easily get sick.
3) To maintain cleanliness/ hygiene
•
Tempat yang kotor adalah sarang sakit penyakit.
•
Kalau kita hidup di tempat yang kotor, maka kita akan mudah terkena berbagai macam penyakit.
Rumah yang banyak genangan air akan menjadi tempat nyamuk bertelur sehingga mudah terjangkit demam berdarah.
Makanan yang banyak dihinggapi lalat bisa membuat perut jadi sakit.
Orang yang jarang mandi akan mudah terkena penyakit kulit.
Meludah disembarangan tempat membuat tempat menjadi kotor dan sarang penyakit.
Membuang tikus mati di tengah jalan membuat jalanan menjadi kotor dan sarang penyakit.
•
Jagalah kebersihan tempat tinggal, tempat kerja dan diri kita sendiri sehingga kita menjauhi sakit penyakit.
4) To Exercise
•
Exercise is one of the important things in today’s modern life because we live in this modern era, we seldom move around. Example
For the have, wherever they go they always ride on vehicle
Many high rise buildings are equipped with lift/escalator.
With the advancement of technology, many things which should have been done by our hands, have been replaced by machinery, example : washing machine, water pump etc
•
Many benefits we can get from having exercise
To make the blood flow better.
To increase the oxygen in our body
To release the toxin out of our body
Now there are many tools to release the toxin from inside the body: Detox tools, plaster
GOD has already designed our body to be able to neutralize toxin through : our sweat being released, our urine, our feaces, release gas through fart.
To destroy the fat/ sugar in our body
By running / walking on spot will make the fat/sugar in our body burnt
To increase our body resistance towards diseases.
To decrease the stress hormone.
To sleep more soundly
•
Let’s do some exercise or do many movement in our daily activity, etc, example
When we are not in a hurry, we purposely walk using the stairs even though there are lifts/ escalator.
When we have spare time in between our activities, we can do light gymnastic movement
Run on the spot while listening to El Shadday radio/cassette/TV/ MP3
HAVING SICKNESS IS EXPENSIVE, BEING HEALTHY IS CHEAP!!
5) Do not keep habits that will destroy our health
•
Some bad habits that can destroy our health, example
Smoking
Staying up late at night
Riding motorcycle without proper clothing
•
Let’s leave all bad habits that can destroy our health so we can have a healthy body because GOD wants our soul, spirit, and body are all well maintain. 1 Thessalonians 5:23 23May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ
6) Seek the advice of doctors/ health experts
•
Doctors and health experts have learnt and have been given a lot of information about health by GOD (Proverb 1:7 - 7The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but foolsA despise wisdom and discipline, Proverb 2:6 6For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. )
•
Luke, who was used by GOD to write one of the Gospels, was also a doctor.
•
To ask the advice of doctors and those experts in health is a very wise action to maintain our health.
Let’s build a healthy life pattern so we will have a healthy body which is very useful for our life.
1) To live according to the Word of GOD
•
The first time sickness/pain came in the life of human was due to human broke the Word of GOD ( Genesis 3:16 - 16To the woman he said, "I will greatly increase your pains in childbearing; with pain you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you."
•
If we don’t live according to the Word of GOD, then GOD will allow sickness to come in our life. Leviticus 26:14-16 14" `But if you will not listen to me and carry out all these commands, 15and if you reject my decrees and abhor my laws and fail to carry out all my commands and so violate my covenant, 16then I will do this to you: I will bring upon you sudden terror, wasting diseases and fever that will destroy your sight and drain away your life. You will plant seed in vain, because your enemies will eat it.
•
So we may fall into sickness because we live in sins/ we do not live according to the Word of GOD.
Psalm 107:17 17Some became fools through their rebellious ways and suffered affliction because of their iniquities.
Example: King Jehoram lived in sins so he suffered a very severe disease (2 Chronicles 21:12-15-12Jehoram received a letter from Elijah the prophet, which said: "This is what the LORD, the God of your father David, says: `You have not walked in the ways of your father Jehoshaphat or of Asa king of Judah. 13But you have walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and you have led Judah and the people of Jerusalem to prostitute themselves, just as the house of Ahab did. You have also murdered your own brothers, members of your father's house, men who were better than you. 14So now the LORD is about to strike your people, your sons, your wives and everything that is yours, with a heavy blow. 15You yourself will be very ill with a lingering disease of the bowels, until the disease causes your bowels to come out.' "
Gehazi (2 Kings 5:20-27- 20Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said to himself, "My master was too easy on Naaman, this Aramean, by not accepting from him what he brought. As surely as the LORD lives, I will run after him and get something from him." 21So Gehazi hurried after Naaman. When Naaman saw him running toward him, he got down from the chariot to meet him. "Is everything all right?" he asked. 22"Everything is all right," Gehazi answered. "My master sent me to say, `Two young men from the company of the prophets have just come to me from the hill country of Ephraim. Please give them a talentD of silver and two sets of clothing.' " 23"By all means, take two talents," said Naaman. He urged Gehazi to accept them, and then tied up the two talents of silver in two bags, with two sets of clothing. He gave them to two of his servants, and they carried them ahead of Gehazi. 24When Gehazi came to the hill; he took the things from the servants and put them away in the house. He sent the men away and they left. 25Then he went in and stood before his master Elisha. "Where have you been, Gehazi?" Elisha asked. "Your servant didn't go anywhere," Gehazi answered. 26But Elisha said to him, "Was not my spirit with you when the man got down from his chariot to meet you? Is this the time to take money, or to accept clothes, olive groves, vineyards, flocks, herds, or menservants and maidservants? 27Naaman's leprosy will cling to you and to your descendants forever." Then Gehazi went from Elisha's presence and he was leprous, as white as snow.
Not all disease/sickness are because of sins however sins can bring disease/sickness.
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In the New Testament Lord JESUS explains there are diseases caused by the evil spirit. So if someone likes to associate himself with evil spirits, then the evil spirits can destroy his health. Mark 9:25 25When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the evilA spirit. "You deaf and mute spirit," he said, "I command you, come out of him and never enter him again."
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We can receive healing from Lord JESUS from all sickness however after that we must not sin again. John 5:14. 14Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, "See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you."
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Let’s leave all sins and live according to the Word of GOD so we will have a healthy body from the Lord
2) Do not work beyond our body strength.
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Our body has its limit in its abilities
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If we work beyond our body abilities then our body will be easily become weary and in sickness.
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It is better we use our body according to its abilities, then our body will be in healthy condition
Example Vehicle that is used continuously without rest will be easily broken
A Person who is lack in rest/ sleep will be easily sick
An electric fuse which is used beyond its capacities.
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So we have to work to our maximum, but we must also have time to rest so we will not easily get sick.
3) To maintain cleanliness/ hygiene
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Tempat yang kotor adalah sarang sakit penyakit.
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Kalau kita hidup di tempat yang kotor, maka kita akan mudah terkena berbagai macam penyakit.
Rumah yang banyak genangan air akan menjadi tempat nyamuk bertelur sehingga mudah terjangkit demam berdarah.
Makanan yang banyak dihinggapi lalat bisa membuat perut jadi sakit.
Orang yang jarang mandi akan mudah terkena penyakit kulit.
Meludah disembarangan tempat membuat tempat menjadi kotor dan sarang penyakit.
Membuang tikus mati di tengah jalan membuat jalanan menjadi kotor dan sarang penyakit.
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Jagalah kebersihan tempat tinggal, tempat kerja dan diri kita sendiri sehingga kita menjauhi sakit penyakit.
4) To Exercise
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Exercise is one of the important things in today’s modern life because we live in this modern era, we seldom move around. Example
For the have, wherever they go they always ride on vehicle
Many high rise buildings are equipped with lift/escalator.
With the advancement of technology, many things which should have been done by our hands, have been replaced by machinery, example : washing machine, water pump etc
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Many benefits we can get from having exercise
To make the blood flow better.
To increase the oxygen in our body
To release the toxin out of our body
Now there are many tools to release the toxin from inside the body: Detox tools, plaster
GOD has already designed our body to be able to neutralize toxin through : our sweat being released, our urine, our feaces, release gas through fart.
To destroy the fat/ sugar in our body
By running / walking on spot will make the fat/sugar in our body burnt
To increase our body resistance towards diseases.
To decrease the stress hormone.
To sleep more soundly
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Let’s do some exercise or do many movement in our daily activity, etc, example
When we are not in a hurry, we purposely walk using the stairs even though there are lifts/ escalator.
When we have spare time in between our activities, we can do light gymnastic movement
Run on the spot while listening to El Shadday radio/cassette/TV/ MP3
HAVING SICKNESS IS EXPENSIVE, BEING HEALTHY IS CHEAP!!
5) Do not keep habits that will destroy our health
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Some bad habits that can destroy our health, example
Smoking
Staying up late at night
Riding motorcycle without proper clothing
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Let’s leave all bad habits that can destroy our health so we can have a healthy body because GOD wants our soul, spirit, and body are all well maintain. 1 Thessalonians 5:23 23May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ
6) Seek the advice of doctors/ health experts
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Doctors and health experts have learnt and have been given a lot of information about health by GOD (Proverb 1:7 - 7The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but foolsA despise wisdom and discipline, Proverb 2:6 6For the LORD gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. )
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Luke, who was used by GOD to write one of the Gospels, was also a doctor.
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To ask the advice of doctors and those experts in health is a very wise action to maintain our health.
Let’s build a healthy life pattern so we will have a healthy body which is very useful for our life.
The Resurrection
Right now we are going to learn from the resurrection of Lord JESUS in Matthew 28:1-10 about 6 points relating to the resurrection of Lord JESUS. Let’s study these six events together!
1. The resurrection of Lord JESUS becomes the foundation for Sunday Service
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The resurrection of Lord JESUS happened after the Sabbath day had passed, on the first day of the week (v1). 281After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.
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John 20:19, 19On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!"
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1 Cor 16:2. 2On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made
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The word Sunday, in its original language is “Domenggus” = the day of the LORD – in English “the Lord’s day.
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So every Sunday, the song leader, the singers, background singers, musicians and all congregations must worship with joy to celebrate the resurrection and the victory of Lord JESUS.
2) Do not work beyond our body strength.
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V2-42There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.
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Not only were the guards so afraid, the kingdom of the devils was also afraid and trembling, because when JESUS died on the cross, the devil thought Lord JESUS had already been defeated, but when Lord JESUS rose up from death then truly Lord JESUS had won and the devils had been defeated.
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This also means we have the Lord who has defeated the devils and its kingdom
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Lord JESUS ha also given us the power to defeat the power of the wicked. So let’s not live in fear, we on contrary should be courageous to cast away the devil in the name of our Lord JESUS! (Luke 10:19 - . 19I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.)
3. The resurrection of Lord JESUS proved JESUS is LORD
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JESUS could not be conquered by death because HE is the LORD (v5-6)
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JESUS has the power to give HIS life and to take it back because HE is the Lord. John 10:17-18- . 17The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life--only to take it up again. 18No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father."
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Even in his ministry on earth, JESUS raised the dead to life again, example Lazarus, the daughter of Jairus (John 11:43-44 43When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!" 44The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.
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Jesus said to them, "Take off the grave clothes and let him go." , 43When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!" 44The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, "Take off the grave clothes and let him go." Luke 8:55- !" 55Her spirit returned, and at once she stood up. Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat. )
4. The resurrection of Lord JESUS proved that every Word of the Lord will come to pass
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V6b- It was the time of the fulfillment of what JESUS had said that he would rise again on the third day (Mat 16:21- 21From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. ; Mat 17:22-23, 22When they came together in Galilee, he said to them, "The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men. 23They will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised to life." And the disciples were filled with grief. ; Mat 20:17-19 17Now as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside and said to them, 18"We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death 19and will turn him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!”)
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There are people at this end time who doubted the resurrection of Lord JESUS, some say the dead body was stolen by JESUS ‘ disciples, etc, however the Bible had already explained that even since the time JESUS rose from the dead, there were already people setting up false stories for their own self interest (Matthew 28:11-15-11While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. 12When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, 13telling them, "You are to say, `His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.' 14If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble." 15So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day. )
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False stories being created about the false “Jesus”
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The Gospel of Barnabas, the Gospel of Jude, Da Vinci Code, The tomb of Jesus.
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So we need to take the courage to believe in the Word of GOD, which will lead us into happiness.
5. The resurrection of Lord JESUS must be spread.
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Not only the women who were commanded to spread the good news to the disciples, but the disciples were also commanded to spread the good news/ Gospel (Mat 28:19-20 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.")
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This also means that the resurrection of JESUS, calls us to spread the Gospel which is the Good News.
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Let us share, whether we like to give our testimonies and share the Gospel with other people.
6. The resurrection of Lord JESUS proved that JESUS still lives so there is hope in JESUS.
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V9-10,. 9Suddenly Jesus met them. "Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. 10Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me."
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If JESUS were dead and did not raise from death, then the disciples could not hope for anything from Lord JESUS anymore, no more hope for healing, anointing, help,etc
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However JESUS rose from the death, and HE lives so HE can always be our hope at all times for all of us. Even until now, we can always hope for HIS help for JESUS lives forever.
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Because HE is risen so the preaching of the GOSPEL and our belief will not be in vain (1 Cor 15:14 -14And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.)
May the resurrection of Lord JESUS, will also make our faith rise again because there is a sure hope in the resurrection of Lord JESUS for our life. Amen
1. The resurrection of Lord JESUS becomes the foundation for Sunday Service
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The resurrection of Lord JESUS happened after the Sabbath day had passed, on the first day of the week (v1). 281After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.
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John 20:19, 19On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!"
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1 Cor 16:2. 2On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made
•
The word Sunday, in its original language is “Domenggus” = the day of the LORD – in English “the Lord’s day.
•
So every Sunday, the song leader, the singers, background singers, musicians and all congregations must worship with joy to celebrate the resurrection and the victory of Lord JESUS.
2) Do not work beyond our body strength.
•
V2-42There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.
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Not only were the guards so afraid, the kingdom of the devils was also afraid and trembling, because when JESUS died on the cross, the devil thought Lord JESUS had already been defeated, but when Lord JESUS rose up from death then truly Lord JESUS had won and the devils had been defeated.
•
This also means we have the Lord who has defeated the devils and its kingdom
•
Lord JESUS ha also given us the power to defeat the power of the wicked. So let’s not live in fear, we on contrary should be courageous to cast away the devil in the name of our Lord JESUS! (Luke 10:19 - . 19I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.)
3. The resurrection of Lord JESUS proved JESUS is LORD
•
JESUS could not be conquered by death because HE is the LORD (v5-6)
•
JESUS has the power to give HIS life and to take it back because HE is the Lord. John 10:17-18- . 17The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life--only to take it up again. 18No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father."
•
Even in his ministry on earth, JESUS raised the dead to life again, example Lazarus, the daughter of Jairus (John 11:43-44 43When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!" 44The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.
•
Jesus said to them, "Take off the grave clothes and let him go." , 43When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!" 44The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face. Jesus said to them, "Take off the grave clothes and let him go." Luke 8:55- !" 55Her spirit returned, and at once she stood up. Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat. )
4. The resurrection of Lord JESUS proved that every Word of the Lord will come to pass
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V6b- It was the time of the fulfillment of what JESUS had said that he would rise again on the third day (Mat 16:21- 21From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. ; Mat 17:22-23, 22When they came together in Galilee, he said to them, "The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men. 23They will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised to life." And the disciples were filled with grief. ; Mat 20:17-19 17Now as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside and said to them, 18"We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death 19and will turn him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!”)
•
There are people at this end time who doubted the resurrection of Lord JESUS, some say the dead body was stolen by JESUS ‘ disciples, etc, however the Bible had already explained that even since the time JESUS rose from the dead, there were already people setting up false stories for their own self interest (Matthew 28:11-15-11While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. 12When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, 13telling them, "You are to say, `His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.' 14If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble." 15So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day. )
•
False stories being created about the false “Jesus”
•
The Gospel of Barnabas, the Gospel of Jude, Da Vinci Code, The tomb of Jesus.
•
So we need to take the courage to believe in the Word of GOD, which will lead us into happiness.
5. The resurrection of Lord JESUS must be spread.
•
Not only the women who were commanded to spread the good news to the disciples, but the disciples were also commanded to spread the good news/ Gospel (Mat 28:19-20 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.")
•
This also means that the resurrection of JESUS, calls us to spread the Gospel which is the Good News.
•
Let us share, whether we like to give our testimonies and share the Gospel with other people.
6. The resurrection of Lord JESUS proved that JESUS still lives so there is hope in JESUS.
•
V9-10,. 9Suddenly Jesus met them. "Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. 10Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me."
•
If JESUS were dead and did not raise from death, then the disciples could not hope for anything from Lord JESUS anymore, no more hope for healing, anointing, help,etc
•
However JESUS rose from the death, and HE lives so HE can always be our hope at all times for all of us. Even until now, we can always hope for HIS help for JESUS lives forever.
•
Because HE is risen so the preaching of the GOSPEL and our belief will not be in vain (1 Cor 15:14 -14And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.)
May the resurrection of Lord JESUS, will also make our faith rise again because there is a sure hope in the resurrection of Lord JESUS for our life. Amen
When I Lift Up Hand, God Lays Hand
On December 30th 2005 one of my soft lenses was gone when I took it off. Meanwhile on the night of the 31st I had to serve with tambourine for the Closing Year in church. Therefore, in the afternoon of the 31st I had to buy new lens.
After being checked, I was given soft lens with suitable size and I immediately wore it. Before use soft lens had to be washed with cleansing liquid, but the one available in the shop was the different brand with the one I usually used at home. However, my eye was very sensitive and could not accept the liquid. When it touched my eye, it felt so painful like soap got into my eye. I screamed painfully and took off the soft lens, I rinse my eye with water, but my eye still hurt and very red. I tried to cure it with eye drop for light irritation but my eye could not stop tearing instead. After a few hours, the left part of my face became numb because of horrible pain. At 8 pm I almost decided to cancel serving with tambourine, but I remembered for the last few days my parents kept saying, “If you are loyal in serving God, your life is guaranteed” and at last I was strengthened to keep serving. I prayed that God would heal me and I could serve and give the best. But the pain became even more.
A moment before performed on stage I cried, I remembered this 1 year I was indeed lack of commitment in the ministry, often got careless and not being discipline. But why when I repent and wholeheartedly serve, my eye is this painful? Then I asked begged for forgiveness. After the serving, my eye became more painful. My friends advised me to go to UGD (Emergency Care) at nearby hospital but I kept hoping that God would be the one to heal me, then I joined the Closing Year sermon.
The next day when woke up, I was shocked and the first thing I did hysterically screamed calling my parents because my left eyelid could not be opened (a bump), I thought I was blind. But after being calmed down by my parents, we prayed together. Unfortunately that day was a day-off, no eye specialist opened. In the end I just closed my left eye with cloth bandage to avoid bacteria and close the bump.
God permitted that day for me to take a lot of rest and meditate, fully hoping to God. On the evening of the 1st, I removed the bandage. My eye could be slightly opened because the bump had gotten smaller. But my eyen still felt painful. When my little brother/sister saw it and said, “Last night I had a dream that your eye is healed up.” I catch that word, I said amen.
On the morning of the 2nd when I woke up, miracle happened. My left eye is perfectly healed. No pain, even the eye is clear and the bump was gone. I praise the Lord and I promised to testify for God’s greatness. Previously I have experienced irritation because of soft lens too, just lightly and no pain at all but required 4 days to healed up. Now God show His miracle with a worse irritation but healed up faster and without any medicine.
When we are willing to be loyal and fully submit to God, God never put us in shame. He has already served us, let us serve God as a gratitude to repay His love, not as a burden.
After being checked, I was given soft lens with suitable size and I immediately wore it. Before use soft lens had to be washed with cleansing liquid, but the one available in the shop was the different brand with the one I usually used at home. However, my eye was very sensitive and could not accept the liquid. When it touched my eye, it felt so painful like soap got into my eye. I screamed painfully and took off the soft lens, I rinse my eye with water, but my eye still hurt and very red. I tried to cure it with eye drop for light irritation but my eye could not stop tearing instead. After a few hours, the left part of my face became numb because of horrible pain. At 8 pm I almost decided to cancel serving with tambourine, but I remembered for the last few days my parents kept saying, “If you are loyal in serving God, your life is guaranteed” and at last I was strengthened to keep serving. I prayed that God would heal me and I could serve and give the best. But the pain became even more.
A moment before performed on stage I cried, I remembered this 1 year I was indeed lack of commitment in the ministry, often got careless and not being discipline. But why when I repent and wholeheartedly serve, my eye is this painful? Then I asked begged for forgiveness. After the serving, my eye became more painful. My friends advised me to go to UGD (Emergency Care) at nearby hospital but I kept hoping that God would be the one to heal me, then I joined the Closing Year sermon.
The next day when woke up, I was shocked and the first thing I did hysterically screamed calling my parents because my left eyelid could not be opened (a bump), I thought I was blind. But after being calmed down by my parents, we prayed together. Unfortunately that day was a day-off, no eye specialist opened. In the end I just closed my left eye with cloth bandage to avoid bacteria and close the bump.
God permitted that day for me to take a lot of rest and meditate, fully hoping to God. On the evening of the 1st, I removed the bandage. My eye could be slightly opened because the bump had gotten smaller. But my eyen still felt painful. When my little brother/sister saw it and said, “Last night I had a dream that your eye is healed up.” I catch that word, I said amen.
On the morning of the 2nd when I woke up, miracle happened. My left eye is perfectly healed. No pain, even the eye is clear and the bump was gone. I praise the Lord and I promised to testify for God’s greatness. Previously I have experienced irritation because of soft lens too, just lightly and no pain at all but required 4 days to healed up. Now God show His miracle with a worse irritation but healed up faster and without any medicine.
When we are willing to be loyal and fully submit to God, God never put us in shame. He has already served us, let us serve God as a gratitude to repay His love, not as a burden.
To Experience Restoration
The resurrection of Lord JESUS is the resurrection for each and every one of us, so now let’s learn how we can always experience restoration at the times when we experience weak in our faith, disappointment, when we are down.
1. Every one will experience times when we feel strong and times when we feel weak.
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These two people when they first followed JESUS, they had a fervent spirit however at that time they were experiencing weak in their faith, disappointed, slack, and despair.
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When their spirit was down, then all their potential seemed to vanish, and they could be useless people.
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But when their spirits were strong, they would be very potential and successful people.
2. How we can experience restoration when we are weak in the spirit?
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To take off everything that hinders us to be able to see GOD
The two disciples’ hearts were filled with bad thoughts so they could not see the presence of JESUS well (v15-16).
If they could see it was LORD JESUS who has risen from death, then their spirits would be restored and they would be enthusiastic again.
If our hearts are filled with dirty things then the eyes of our hearts would be covered by those things so we won’t be able to see clearly anymore.
Take off all those things that hinder us from seeing the presence, the power, the love of GOD, the way GOD works, so we will be restored and our spirit will once again be fervent. Testimony/ Example
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Never feel that we understand more than GOD
After the two disciples ‘ eyes were covered with disappointment they felt they understood more than the LORD (v17-18)
If only they realized that GOD understood more and was more true than what they had thought, then they would always be joyful even though they experience something they did not understand.(Rome 8:28 , 28And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose)
We, also at times, feel that we understand more than the Lord, so we blame GOD and finally we experience disappointment and spiritually weak.
Admit that GOD understands more and is more righteous than anything, so we will receive restoration (Job 42: 1-6 2"I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted. 3You asked, `Who is this that obscures my counsel without knowledge?' Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know. 4"You said, `Listen now and I will speak; I will question you, and you shall answer me.' 5My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. 6Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes." / Job 42:10 10After Job had prayed for his friends, the LORD made him prosperous again and gave him twice as much as he had before)
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Do not have the wrong hope to GOD
They were disappointed because they had the wrong hope to GOD (V 19-21)
If they had the right hope in GOD, then their faith would be strong and they would not be easily shaken and even if they were once weak, they would be easily restored.
Let’s not have the wrong motivation in following GOD, in sowing, in serving because if we have the wrong motivation, then we will be disappointed and we will be weak spiritually.
Have the correct hope and motivation in the Lord, then our faith will be strong and we will not be easily shaken. Whenever we are weak, we will be easily restored again!
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Don’t be slow to believe !
They were slow to believe (v22-26)
At that time the disciples were experiencing slack in the spiritual life because they were slow to believe.
JESUS had many times said, that HE would rise on the third day, but the disciples did not believe.
Some women who saw the resurrection of Lord JESUS also spread the story to them, however they still wouldn’t believe.
JESUS criticized the disciples for being slow to believe (Mark 16:9-14 - 9When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons. 10She went and told those who had been with him and who were mourning and weeping. 11When they heard that Jesus was alive and that she had seen him, they did not believe it. 12Afterward Jesus appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking in the country. 13These returned and reported it to the rest; but they did not believe them either. 14Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen. )
If they were quick to believe in JESUS’ words, then their faith would not be shaken or if they had believed the women’s story, they would be easier to receive restoration.
We are called believers, however many times we don’t believe/ lack in our faith. > so we get easily despair, disappointed, slack.
Now, when we listen to the Word of GOD, let’s learn to be quick in believing it so our faith would be easily restored.
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Be persistent in our struggle in the LORD!
They were making serious efforts to make JESUS stayed with them, so they received the grace that made them rejoice again ( V27-29)
Lord JESUS may act as if HE doesn’t know, or as if that HE is leaving us, or as if HE is not answering our prayer because HE want to know our persistence.
If they were not persistent then they might have not received the grace from GOD
Example : The Canaanite woman who sought for her daughter to be healed.
Two blind men who kept on shouting asking JESUS to heal them (Mat 20 : 30-34 – . 30Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was going by, they shouted, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!"
31The crowd rebuked them and told them to be quiet, but they shouted all the louder, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!"
32Jesus stopped and called them. "What do you want me to do for you?" he asked. 33"Lord," they answered, "we want our sight."
34Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him.)
Persistent prayer (Luke 18:1-8 - 1Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. 2He said: "In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. 3And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, `Grant me justice against my adversary.'
4"For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, `Even though I don't fear God or care about men, 5yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won't eventually wear me out with her coming!' “6And the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?" )
We have to be persistent in our struggle in the LORD !
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Let’s rise up as soon as we realize GOD is speaking to us/ GOD is reminding us!
When they realized JESUS was speaking to them, they immediately rise up again !( v 32-33)
If they did not arise immediately and went to Jerusalem, then they would always be people in despair and they would lose the great grace from the LORD. Praise the Lord, they believed and immediately went back to the LORD, and they received the great grace from the LORD, because that was the time GOD was showing HIS glory!
Right now if our hearts realize GOD is speaking to us, reminding us, while we listen to the WORD of GOD, let’s rise up and go back to the LORD, then we shall experience restoration!
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To testify with faith (v 33-35)
They testified with enthusiasm ( v 34-35)
GOD wants us who have been saved to be HIS witness( Acts 1:8 . 8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth)
The more we dare to testify with faith, the more our faith will be restored and strengthened!
Let’s respond to these 7 things in the WORD of GOD, so we, who are weak, can be restored by the LORD, and we can even be the witness of GOD!
1. Every one will experience times when we feel strong and times when we feel weak.
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These two people when they first followed JESUS, they had a fervent spirit however at that time they were experiencing weak in their faith, disappointed, slack, and despair.
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When their spirit was down, then all their potential seemed to vanish, and they could be useless people.
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But when their spirits were strong, they would be very potential and successful people.
2. How we can experience restoration when we are weak in the spirit?
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To take off everything that hinders us to be able to see GOD
The two disciples’ hearts were filled with bad thoughts so they could not see the presence of JESUS well (v15-16).
If they could see it was LORD JESUS who has risen from death, then their spirits would be restored and they would be enthusiastic again.
If our hearts are filled with dirty things then the eyes of our hearts would be covered by those things so we won’t be able to see clearly anymore.
Take off all those things that hinder us from seeing the presence, the power, the love of GOD, the way GOD works, so we will be restored and our spirit will once again be fervent. Testimony/ Example
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Never feel that we understand more than GOD
After the two disciples ‘ eyes were covered with disappointment they felt they understood more than the LORD (v17-18)
If only they realized that GOD understood more and was more true than what they had thought, then they would always be joyful even though they experience something they did not understand.(Rome 8:28 , 28And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose)
We, also at times, feel that we understand more than the Lord, so we blame GOD and finally we experience disappointment and spiritually weak.
Admit that GOD understands more and is more righteous than anything, so we will receive restoration (Job 42: 1-6 2"I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted. 3You asked, `Who is this that obscures my counsel without knowledge?' Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know. 4"You said, `Listen now and I will speak; I will question you, and you shall answer me.' 5My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. 6Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes." / Job 42:10 10After Job had prayed for his friends, the LORD made him prosperous again and gave him twice as much as he had before)
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Do not have the wrong hope to GOD
They were disappointed because they had the wrong hope to GOD (V 19-21)
If they had the right hope in GOD, then their faith would be strong and they would not be easily shaken and even if they were once weak, they would be easily restored.
Let’s not have the wrong motivation in following GOD, in sowing, in serving because if we have the wrong motivation, then we will be disappointed and we will be weak spiritually.
Have the correct hope and motivation in the Lord, then our faith will be strong and we will not be easily shaken. Whenever we are weak, we will be easily restored again!
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Don’t be slow to believe !
They were slow to believe (v22-26)
At that time the disciples were experiencing slack in the spiritual life because they were slow to believe.
JESUS had many times said, that HE would rise on the third day, but the disciples did not believe.
Some women who saw the resurrection of Lord JESUS also spread the story to them, however they still wouldn’t believe.
JESUS criticized the disciples for being slow to believe (Mark 16:9-14 - 9When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons. 10She went and told those who had been with him and who were mourning and weeping. 11When they heard that Jesus was alive and that she had seen him, they did not believe it. 12Afterward Jesus appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking in the country. 13These returned and reported it to the rest; but they did not believe them either. 14Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen. )
If they were quick to believe in JESUS’ words, then their faith would not be shaken or if they had believed the women’s story, they would be easier to receive restoration.
We are called believers, however many times we don’t believe/ lack in our faith. > so we get easily despair, disappointed, slack.
Now, when we listen to the Word of GOD, let’s learn to be quick in believing it so our faith would be easily restored.
•
Be persistent in our struggle in the LORD!
They were making serious efforts to make JESUS stayed with them, so they received the grace that made them rejoice again ( V27-29)
Lord JESUS may act as if HE doesn’t know, or as if that HE is leaving us, or as if HE is not answering our prayer because HE want to know our persistence.
If they were not persistent then they might have not received the grace from GOD
Example : The Canaanite woman who sought for her daughter to be healed.
Two blind men who kept on shouting asking JESUS to heal them (Mat 20 : 30-34 – . 30Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was going by, they shouted, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!"
31The crowd rebuked them and told them to be quiet, but they shouted all the louder, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!"
32Jesus stopped and called them. "What do you want me to do for you?" he asked. 33"Lord," they answered, "we want our sight."
34Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him.)
Persistent prayer (Luke 18:1-8 - 1Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. 2He said: "In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. 3And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, `Grant me justice against my adversary.'
4"For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, `Even though I don't fear God or care about men, 5yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won't eventually wear me out with her coming!' “6And the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?" )
We have to be persistent in our struggle in the LORD !
•
Let’s rise up as soon as we realize GOD is speaking to us/ GOD is reminding us!
When they realized JESUS was speaking to them, they immediately rise up again !( v 32-33)
If they did not arise immediately and went to Jerusalem, then they would always be people in despair and they would lose the great grace from the LORD. Praise the Lord, they believed and immediately went back to the LORD, and they received the great grace from the LORD, because that was the time GOD was showing HIS glory!
Right now if our hearts realize GOD is speaking to us, reminding us, while we listen to the WORD of GOD, let’s rise up and go back to the LORD, then we shall experience restoration!
•
To testify with faith (v 33-35)
They testified with enthusiasm ( v 34-35)
GOD wants us who have been saved to be HIS witness( Acts 1:8 . 8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth)
The more we dare to testify with faith, the more our faith will be restored and strengthened!
Let’s respond to these 7 things in the WORD of GOD, so we, who are weak, can be restored by the LORD, and we can even be the witness of GOD!
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