Praying with Power : Pastor Rajiv's Mid-week Message

 

Meet Jesus's Great Grandma

One story that has completely baffled us as we read the Bible was the story of Rahab. You can find it in the book of Joshua in chapter 2 and 6:22-27. She is also one of five women mentioned in Matthew’s genealogy of #Christ. 

How could Rahab be used so strategically by God when she was a prostitute? Doesn't #God expect people to clean house before he works through them? How can the writers of the #Bible offer her story as an example to later generations without saying her profession was wrong? Without pointing fingers?  

Our finding?

If you’re going to read the Bible, you have to be ready for a God you don’t expect. Expect the unexpected at every expected turn!

Alli Patterson says - "This God may violate your traditions and your theology (you’ve got one; trust me). He doesn’t always reward the “good” and punish the “bad.” The God of the Bible is most interested in the concept of faith (faith = our belief in him and willingness to risk something because of that belief). He’s not so much interested in correct behavior as he is faith. If you read the Bible, you will meet a God who rewards faith even when it comes in a very messy package".

Case in point: Meet Rahab.

Now consider the facts.

Fact 1. Rahab is mentioned in Jesus geology! She was the grandmother of Boaz, and mentioned in the lineage of Jesus.

Fact 2: Rahab, at the peril of her own life, helped God in His plan.

Fact 3: Rahab lied. Rahab is actually celebrated in the New Testament by the authors of the books of Hebrews and James. She apparently pleased God with these lies!( Alli Patterson)

Fact 4 : Rahab was a prostitute!

Perplexed? Why would God and the writers of the Bible seem to honor Rahab? When her character offends our sensibilities, how did God tolerate this?

One simple reason: The God of the Bible is not a God who always rewards morality and always punishes evil. The God of the Bible is moved to love and reward when he sees real faith.

Rahab’s story displays the few critical ingredients of real faith.

Firstly, Rahab recognized and believed God as God! She said “…for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below.” her recognition of God was not heresy.

Second, she risked her life for God in faith. Even her lies were in faith.

Third, she seized the opportunity to serve her God.

She served and asked for salvation in return.

"The God of Israel doesn’t deal with us in high expectations of proper external behavior (phew) so much as he’s interested in the motives of our hearts. So if/as you read the Bible, be open to who the pages actually reveal Him to be". (Alli Patterson)

In conclusion, before we are tempted to pass judgement on someone for the way they dress, or behave, or their lifestyle, let us remember that God does not judge people by all of that. We do.

God looks at motivation and faith and if someone has that, they will have Gods attention for sure.

How to Corrupt Blessings from #God

This is a "how to" message. How to corrupt blessings. Because, dictated by a selfish nature, that is what we do.

The #Bibleverse in Jeremiah 5:7 "How shall I pardon thee for this? thy children have forsaken me and sworn by them that are no gods: when I had fed them to the full, they then committed adultery, and assembled themselves by troops in the harlots' houses".

It happened then. It happens now. We do it possibly unaware we are doing it. For example - when we have excess food, what do we do with it? Do we feed the hungry? When we have excess money what do we do? Feed our desires or use it for Gods work.

Gluttony, hoarding, envy etc. are all signs of misused blessings. Our thought process: "We have ours but we want theirs".

The depth of this problem can be seen in the fact that we don't even know, are not even aware, we do it. We do all the right things, thanking God, going to church, tithing etc. But nonetheless, sometimes subconsciously, sometimes unconsciously and sometime with full intent, we do exactly what Jeremiah said! So in answer to the question of how to corrupt blessings - we don't have to do anything. Just be human. 

The good news is something called awareness. If we become conscious of our own behaviors, become self-aware, we can overcome. Correction is a 2-step process: self-awareness and a desire to change and follow #Jesus and His teachings.

In case you missed....

                                                        

In case you missed we bring to you, as we do every Monday, some older posts which make sense in the current world situation. (Just click on the highlighted heading)

#Grace

Our society’s broad assumption is that religious exercise belongs in our hearts, in our homes, or in our churches. It doesn’t belong in a booth at McDonald’s. Do you think that is true? Here is a post of someone’s personal experience on this topic.

The Farmers Prayer

A very short story by #CrystalRoss with a farmers #godly #wisdom about the good and bad times we all have faced or will face.

#Humanity & Computers

                         
Computers and computing are integral to our lives. But how do computers operate? In simple terms, computers require an input, which is processed by the computer's brain, known as the processor, resulting in an output. It goes without saying that the quality of the output depends on the quality of the input.

Computers are like humans. Our output largely depends on our input, and our brain acts as the processor.

This is why it's crucial to be conscious of what we feed our minds. Our thoughts and beliefs are shaped by these inputs. If we consume negative content, it can lead to harmful behavior towards others. Conversely, if we nourish our minds with positive, life-affirming material, we will likely express life-giving words to those we meet.

However, dwelling on unproductive things like gossip and foul language leads to words that are not beneficial to anyone, including ourselves. Allowing foolishness to guide our lives can result in many adverse situations.

This is why many #Bible figures prayed and meditated daily, some multiple times a day. It kept them focused on #God, provided vision, and enabled them to impart wisdom that is still followed today. They could comprehend God, follow God, and guide others towards God.

We too can achieve this today if we choose to. It requires dedicating time and adhering to discipline. Establishing a routine of #dailydevotions or #meditation can be beneficial. With the vast number of resources available for our daily study, including the knowledge found within and beyond the Bible, there is more than enough for a lifetime. 

Regular devotions can help us control the input to our minds, allowing us to produce high-quality output that aligns with God's expectations. It helps us to understand Him, and His will for us, and work according to that will and not our own. 

Most importantly, it enhances our own peace through a deeper understanding of His word and His will.  

The Audacity of #Divine Interventions

                                                        
Droughts are the second most devastating and costly weather events, after hurricanes.

Lack of sufficient precipitation, whether rain or snow, can result in lessened stream flow, crop damage, decreased soil moisture or groundwater, as well as general water scarcity.

Today's post is about this miracle mentioned in 2 Kings and is based on the KJV #Biblestudy, and teaches us an important truth: What do we need to do to receive a blessing of a miracle. 

The verse says, "Thus saith the Lord, Make this valley full of ditches. For thus saith the Lord, Ye shall not see wind, neither shall ye see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, that ye may drink, both ye and your cattle, and your beasts". — 2 Kings 3:16,17. Can you imagine such a scenario, where out of nothing, water will magically fill the trenches? 

The armies of the three kings were famishing for want of water: #God was about to send it, and in these words the prophet announced the coming blessing. Here was complete human helplessness: not a drop of water could all the valiant men procure from the skies or find in the wells of earth. Still the people were to make a believing preparation for the divine blessing; there was no sign of water, but they were to dig the trenches for the water! What audacity!

They needed to get "ready" to be blessed. A similar miracle is recorded in 2 Kings 4, Ver 1-7, about Elisha and the oil jars of the widow. 

In both examples, while God would perform the miracle the beneficiaries needed to do things to receive them. If water could be produced out of nothing, so could the ditches and trenches. If Oil had to magically appear, why could not the oil jars? But they people needed to demonstrate their own #Faith. 

We must, by our varied agencies, efforts, and #prayers, make ourselves ready to be blessed; In an outward expression of faith, we must make the pools, and the Lord will fill them. This must be done in the full assurance that the blessing is about to descend. The problem is when we ask for a cure (of a problem) we do not leave the solution to God. 

The #Lord has his own sovereign modes of action: he is not tied to manner and time as we are but does as he pleases among us. It is ours thankfully to receive from him, and not to dictate to him the form, manner and time. In the quoted verse, we must also notice the remarkable abundance of the supply—there was enough for the need of all. 

If you are waiting for a blessing today, stop telling God what to do but   ask Him: What are the trenches He wants you to dig? 

#CountYourBlessings

All too often, in this great world, we seem to lapse into a state of ingratitude, taking for granted all of the blessings and comforts we enjoy or have enjoyed. We either revert into an attitude of self-satisfaction, expecting that peace and bliss will always follow us, or, become despondent and depressed and totally hopeless when face with adversity and think that our desperate situation is forever.

During these times we should, with sincerity of heart, count our blessings! Maybe even write them down to keep reminding us.

There is a song too, by the same name which has a history which demonstrates the reality and truth of this song. We may have heard this song in school or #Sundayschool, because maybe adults think it is childish to thank #God so simply. 

Gipsy Smith, a famous evangelist of yesteryear, said of this song, "Men sing it, boys whistle it and women rock their babies to sleep to it."

How did this song come about? 

Johnson Oatman, Jr., born April 21, 1856, was a citizen of Lumberton, N.J. His dad was a local merchant and just happened to be the best singer in town, with a rich, powerful voice. Young Johnson could not sing as well as his father, yet he grew up wanting to make some musical contributions of his own. However, for a time he worked in the family business, but soon gave up those opportunities and began to study for the ministry. After finishing school and ministering in the Methodist Episcopal churches for a time, Johnson continued to hope that life surely held some other plans for him.

At 36, he realized that he did, without question, have a musical talent after all. While he could not sing, he could write songs for other Christians to sing. So, every year some 200 songs flowed from his pen. He eventually had written 5,000 songs and was happy that in his musical compositions he had found a way to "preach the Gospel."

"Count Your Blessings," was written in 1897. Almost immediately it began its meteoric journey.

Like Johnson, each one of us too is blessed with something which can be used for Gods message of hope, love and peace to the world. We need to find it and use it.  

Listen to this great song once again and get inspired. For old times' sake.

Count Your Blessings sung by Guy Penrod

#graceupongrace