The Power of Fellowship

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JESUS SPEAKING

“Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” (Matthew 18: 19-20)

INSPIRED THOUGHTS

The word ‘Amen,’ so commonly spoken at the end of most prayers, essentially means ‘I agree.’ Like so many Christian practices, prayer is meant to be exercised in community, as well as in solitude. In order to have a complete relationship with God, we must share Him with others. When two or more gather together to celebrate Christ, His Spirit is made manifest in their hearts; the feeble become strong and the empty are made full. An isolated Christian will eventually grow weak and become more vulnerable to attack.
   Some time ago, I regularly answered the prayer lines at my local church. After gaining some experience, I was able to make some profound observations. Those who were not involved in a church fellowship, or a small group bible study, suffered great difficulties. Many isolators were addicted to drugs or struggling with some other terrible sin; most of these detached souls were stuck in a continual state of crisis. On the contrary, those who expressed a spirit of joy were actively involved in service work; they usually attended a small group fellowship also; and they maintained close friendships with other followers.
   As believers we need to be involved in some form of Christian fellowship. Our experience with Christ must be exercised in community, rather than complete isolation. If you are not actively involved in a fellowship with other believers, find a church near you and get plugged into the body of Christ. Endeavor to make friends with other followers and pray with them regularly; become a part of God’s family and be renewed by the Holy Spirit. Without fellowship, we cannot know the fullness of God’s power in our lives.
   “Lord heavenly Father, we come before You as members of Your body and ask for more of Your Holy Spirit. We desire to continue in fellowship with our eternal brothers and sisters. May we draw near to one another as we all draw near to You. If we have isolated ourselves, give us opportunities to fellowship with others, that we might grow stronger. We love You Father, we praise You, and we thank You, and we ask and pray all of these things, according to Your will, in Jesus Christ’s name. Amen.” God bless all of you!

The Power of Scripture

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JESUS SPEAKING

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was Hungry. Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.” But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4: 1 – 4)

FAITHFUL THOUGHTS

When Jesus was tempted by the Devil in the wilderness, He rebuked Satan by saying “It is written.” He then quoted an old testament scripture; a verse which exemplifies the power of God’s word. Following Christ’s example we are taught to examine the scriptures and use them as a tool to drive out confusion and discern what is right.

Concerning confusion, there is a frightening state of mind that pilots can experience while flying in low visibility. This condition is called spacial disorientation. When a heavy fog creates blindness during a flight, the absence of visual landmarks can cause a cascading spiral of fear and doubt. Many will experience instinctive feelings that seem right but are incorrect. Some pilots will feel as though the plane is flying downward; others will think it’s spinning; some will even express concern that the airplane is inverted. In any event, during spacial disorientation, when the pilots trust their instincts and attempt to correct course they often crash. So what are pilots trained to do when this situation occurs? Simply put, they are reminded to examine their gauges, which are almost always accurate. The airplanes attitude screen and the altimeter usually don’t lie. They are steady instruments that can be trusted when a pilot is disoriented.

Like pilots who must trust their instruments during disorientation, the word of God is a tool for Christians to discern what is right in any given situation. The Scriptures are God’s unbroken truth; and they can always reveal Satan’s lies and drive away any confusion. May we cling to God’s word in times of trouble and fear.

“Lord Heavenly Father, thank you for providing us with Your holy scriptures. They are a great light that directs us in times of darkness. As we face temptation, may we use Your words as a weapon against the lies of the enemy. Guard our hearts and minds. We praise You, we thank You, and we ask and pray all of these things, according to Your will, in Jesus Christ’s amen. Amen.” God bless all of you!

Pray With Expectancy

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JESUS SPEAKING

“Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea, and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore, I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe you receive them, and you will have them” (Mark 11: 22 – 24.)

FAITHFUL THOUGHTS

‘Faith’ is defined as a strong belief or trust in God’s abilities. Only He can move mountains, heal the sick, and raise the dead. Jesus therefore urged every follower to pray with a measure of expectancy. We must truly believe that God is able to provide for each of our individual needs. When we ask in faith, according to God’s will, and do not doubt, we can rightly expect to receive the desires of our heart.

Hudson Taylor was a prominent missionary who lived in the 1800’s. He established the China Inland Mission, an organization that still exists to this day (also known as the OMF.) During his first journey to China, his ship hit a patch of windless ocean and began drifting uncontrollably toward an island known to be inhabited by vicious cannibals. The frantic captain approached Mr. Taylor and asked him to pray for God’s help. “I will” said Taylor, “Provided you set your sails to catch the breeze.” The captain refused; not wanting to appear silly for unfurling in a dead calm. Taylor responded by saying, “I will not undertake to pray for this vessel unless you will prepare the sails.” The captain reluctantly obliged. Soon there was a knock at Hudson’s door; “Who’s there?” “Are you still praying for wind,” inquired the captain? “Yes” responded Taylor. “Well” added the skipper, “you’d better stop praying, we have more wind than we can manage.”

As a genuine believer, Hudson Taylor understood the principle of praying with expectancy. He prayed with confidence; knowing full well that God would answer his prayers. If we pray with that same measure of faith, we too will receive the blessings of the Lord. May our hearts be devoid of doubt; may our requests be brave and bold; and may we fully expect our prayers to be answered according to God’s will, and to the measure of our faith.

“Lord Heavenly Father, You are an amazing and mighty God. Create in us faithful hearts; hearts that are devoid of doubt; hearts that fully trust in Your ability to provide for our needs. May we always pray with confidence, unwavering faith, and genuine expectancy. We love You Father, we praise You, and thank You, and we ask and pray all of these things, according to Your will, in Jesus Christ’s name, Amen.” God bless all of you!