Posts with the category “21-days-of-prayer”

Paul’s words in this verse inspire us to expand our expectations of what God can do through us. Take a moment to reflect on this promise: “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us.” This is a profound promise!Paul encourages us to envision all that God could accomplish through us and then multiply that by infinity. Thi...  Read More

In this text, Paul is referring to the Macedonians who had been through a devastating war that left everyone penniless. The economy was shot. Nobody has anything, yet in this desperate setting they explode the modern notion of generosity. Out of “affliction, extreme poverty, beyond their means” they overflow in a wealth of generosity. They beg to take part. This is a radical notion of generosity t...  Read More

Do you remember learning multiplication in school? The beauty of multiplication is how it allows you to solve problems faster than simple addition. In Matthew 14, Jesus performs a miracle of multiplication that shows both His power and God’s desire to provide beyond what anyone expected. When a crowd of thousands followed Jesus and His disciples to a remote area, the disciples suggested sending th...  Read More

Boldness. It’s not a normal behavior for most of us. And although Peter had demonstrated some boldness in the past, his most recent acts involved fear, denying, abandoning Jesus at his lowest moment. And in this particular moment, he is standing before the same council that had Jesus crucified just weeks before, yet all the fear has drained out of him. This “uneducated, common man” has become bold...  Read More

“It's Personal.”  This text is famously known as The Great Commission. Jesus says here that He has given us “all authority in heaven and earth.” A “commission” in the armed forces is delegated by the Commander in Chief for a soldier to act on his behalf.  Based upon the resurrection, Jesus has become our Commander in Chief, and these are his marching orders.  But the question that we must all ask ...  Read More

“LOVE ONE ANOTHER.” Jesus called it a “new commandment.” The second part of the sentence defines just how completely we are to love one another: the way Jesus loved us. And how much did he love us? He laid down his very life for us!” “BY THIS, ALL PEOPLE WILL KNOW.”  People often ask, “what is the most important thing the church must do right now to help our neighbors trust Jesus for their salvati...  Read More

This text is famously known as THE SCHEMA, “The Hear”. SCHEMA is a mashing together of two significant ideas: Hear and Obey. There is no word for just “Hearing” alone. So, when Jesus said, “If you love me, you will obey me, he was implying SCHEMA.” It is interesting to note that in chapter 5, immediately before the SCHEMA was the giving of the Ten Commandments. For thousands of years, Jewish peopl...  Read More

Has it ever occurred to you that our God never gets tired? Ever? But sometimes we do! We sometimes find ourselves worn down by the “worries of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desire for other things”. One writer has called it “hurry sickness.” Another has called hurry as the “pain that people applaud.”And yet in this passage, God’s Word promises us the capacity to soar like an ea...  Read More

“More than conquerors.” This section of scripture is all about God’s Everlasting Love. Paul makes it abundantly clear: “If God is for us, who can be against us?” Have you ever considered the gospel fact that God is for you? So when you are suffering under the suffocating fear of failure, remember who is in your corner: the King of the Universe. Thank God for the victory you have in Christ. LORD, ...  Read More

If we wish to experience the breakthrough of freedom, and if we wish to never again place ourselves under the “yoke of slavery,” the apostle Paul says in this text, “STAND FIRM.” This is not a suggestion; it is an imperative! And it is not an isolated command in scripture. In I Corinthians 16:13 Paul says, “Be watchful, STAND FIRM in the faith, act like men, be strong.” In Philippians 1:27 he says...  Read More

In this text, Jesus is in the midst of the Sermon on the Mount, filled with the radical beliefs of kingdom living which often times feel “upside down” — You die in order to live. You become humble to become great. You turn the other cheek to the one who has hit you. Here, Jesus is saying something radical about the nature of forgiveness. Forgiveness is taking someone off the hook of your hurt! For...  Read More

Our text describes in detail a Spiritual Armor. Every day we need to put it on as we head out the door, because there is an enemy that wants to assault your heart with lies about who you are.  One interesting word in the text is this: SCHEMES. The devil has an elaborate SCHEMATA, a detailed battle plan with your name written in the heading. He has a plan to attack your flank or to ambush you at a ...  Read More

Temptation. The idea of it begins in Genesis and ends in Revelation. It is a persistent problem in scripture. Eve was its first victim. She had to decide who was telling her the truth: God or The Serpent. She saw that the forbidden fruit was pleasing to the eyes and the serpent said it would make her like God; on the one hand, God had told her that she would surely die if she ate it. Was God holdi...  Read More

In scripture the term “stronghold” referred to that place in the city that was the most secure. It was virtually impossible to break into it – thick-walled, impenetrable, the safehouse of the city. In this morning’s text, stronghold refers to the Evil One’s stronghold: that place in our life where we have allowed him to raise up — brick by brick — high, thick walls of “speculations and every lofty...  Read More

In the hustle and bustle of daily life, it can be easy to forget the importance of simply being still. We live in a world that values productivity, achievement, and constant motion. Yet, in Psalm 46:10, God invites us to pause and rest in His presence. This verse is not merely a call to cease physical activity, but a profound invitation to quiet our hearts and minds before the Lord, acknowledging ...  Read More

Faith is a journey, not a destination. It’s easy to say we trust God when life is going smoothly, but true faith is tested in the moments when we face uncertainty, disappointment, or fear. Proverbs 3:5-6 calls us to trust in the Lord with all our heart—not just a part of it, but with our whole being. This kind of trust requires us to relinquish our own understanding and submit all our ways to Him....  Read More

In our daily lives, food is essential for our physical well-being. We wouldn’t think of going days without eating, knowing that our bodies need nourishment to function properly. Yet, how often do we neglect our spiritual nourishment, which is equally vital for our souls? Jesus reminds us in Matthew 4:4 that we are not sustained by physical food alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of ...  Read More

In our busy lives, it’s easy to feel distant from God. Distractions, responsibilities, and the pressures of everyday life can make it seem like God is far away. However, James 4:8 reminds us that the distance between us and God is not insurmountable. The promise is clear: if we make the effort to draw near to Him, He will draw near to us.This verse is both an invitation and a promise. God is alway...  Read More

Repentance is more than just a momentary feeling of regret; it’s a powerful turning point in our spiritual journey. When we repent, we acknowledge our sins and our need for God’s grace. Psalm 51 is a beautiful and heartfelt plea from David, who, after being confronted with his sin, turned to God with a broken and contrite heart.In verse 10, David doesn’t just ask for forgiveness—he asks for a comp...  Read More

In Psalm 27:4, David expresses a profound longing to dwell in God’s presence, to gaze upon His beauty, and to seek Him continuously. This verse captures the essence of a heart that truly desires God above all else. David wasn’t asking for material wealth, safety, or success; instead, he sought the presence of God as his greatest treasure. This is a powerful reminder for us today. In a world filled...  Read More

Jesus’ words in Matthew 16:18 reveal a powerful truth: He is building His Church. This statement is a declaration of both intention and authority. Jesus, the cornerstone, assures us that no force, not even the gates of hell, can stand against His Church. This gives us great confidence and hope, knowing that the growth, strength, and future of the Church are in His hands.As believers, we are called...  Read More

We’re asking the Lord for His provision and for Him to use us powerfully in building His church. As we pray and fast together, our relationship with the Lord deepens, opening the door for spiritual breakthroughs. It renews and revives our hearts, quiets the distractions of life, and helps us hear God's voice more clearly when we need His guidance and direction.We are asking the Lord, by faith, to ...  Read More