Month: November 2015

by

Aeneas’ Healing: Lydda’s Salvation

7th & 8th November

“Meanwhile, Peter traveled from place to place, and he came down to visit the believers in the town of Lydda. There he met a man named Aeneas, who had been paralysed and bedridden for eight years. Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you! Get up, and roll up your sleeping mat!” And he was healed instantly. Then the whole population of Lydda and Sharon saw Aeneas walking around, and they turned to the Lord.”

‭Acts of the Apostles‬ ‭9‬:‭32-35‬ NLT

Jesus’ Name is powerful. The bible comments that there is no other Name by which men can be saved and on evidence of the things written in it, it is a truth that cannot be denied. In Jesus’ Name many were and are healed, set free and forgiven by the power of His gracious and kind love.

Today’s story in the book of Acts is another fine example of the mighty power of Jesus at work to change lives. Peter, as he traveled to the town of Lydda, saw a man called Aeneas who had been paralysed for 8 years. When Peter saw him he had compassion and spoke boldly in the Name of Jesus, declaring his healing. Aeneas was instantly healed, rolled up his mat and began following Jesus! Furthermore, because of Aeneas’ healing, the whole population of Lydda were saved and turned to the Lord.

How incredible. By the physical healing of one man, many were saved. This highlights an incredible truth that not only does Jesus heal our physical needs but His work of healing runs deeper than just the physical! Our prayer should be that more signs, wonders and miracles happen in our homes, churches and in our everyday lives, yet may they be accompanied by God’s salvation so that many turn to the Lord. Jesus’ Name is as powerful today as it was in this story. Jesus still heals, delivers and saves. May we know the fullness of our identity in Him, the power of His grace, the work of His salvation, and the power of His healing… Let us not be afraid to pray for the impossible.. For there is nothing impossible with Christ Jesus!

by

Paul’s Conversion

6th November

“Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God. Then all who heard were amazed and said, “Is this not he who destroyed those who called on this Name in Jerusalem, and has he come here for that purpose, so that he might bring them bound to the chief priests?” But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who dwelt in Damascus, proving that this Jesus is the Christ.

Acts 9:20-22

God saves. Period. Amazingly God in His grace reaches out to even the most hardened criminals…. Even the likes of Saul. Paul, formerly known as Saul, was the leader of the persecution movement towards all who called upon the Name of Jesus. He was equipped and ready to arrest and imprison all those who followed ‘The Way’. Yet Jesus had other plans for His life and amazingly reached out to him on the road to Damascus.

Ananias, commissioned to baptise and restore Saul, was understandably filled with fear when Jesus told him to meet Saul; After all, Saul was a hater of Christians and an enemy of Jesus. How would you feel if Jesus told you to confront a hardened criminal and tell them Jesus has a plan for their life? However, Ananias was obedient to Jesus, baptising and commissioning Paul to preach the Gospel to Jews and Gentiles alike. Even Saul could not escape the grace and love of Jesus Christ.

Astoundingly, immediately after Paul was saved, he went out to the synagogues, preaching the Good News that Jesus was the Christ and even confounding his own people. Here was Paul, a hater of Christians now preaching God’s grace and love and proving that Jesus really was the Christ. That is the power of God’s grace!

God’s grace is not limited to our human understanding. The story of Paul’s conversion proves this and highlights that Jesus’ love is not limited to people who deserve it. Moreover, His love and grace is so powerful to not only save but to change a persons attitude, life and purpose. Let us be obedient to Christ when He calls us to share His Good News with others, even if they are hardened criminals….!

by

Jesus – The Healer

5th November 

 “Jesus returned to the Sea of Galilee and climbed a hill and sat down. A vast crowd brought to Him people who were lame, blind, crippled, those who couldn’t speak, and many others. They laid them before Jesus, and He healed them all. The crowd was amazed! Those who hadn’t been able to speak were talking, the crippled were made well, the lame were walking and the blind could see again! And they praised the God of Israel. .”

Matthew 15:29-31 

We worship the same Jesus as we read about in the Bible. He hasn’t changed. He is still the same compassionate healer as we read about in today’s passage. He still makes the blind see, the crippled made well and the lame walk again. Yet even more than our physical healing, Jesus saves our souls too.

Let us rejoice today that firstly, Jesus is a Healer. He can heal our sickness no matter how great. Secondly, and more importantly, Jesus heals our souls. He cleanses us from all unrighteousness and leads us into life everlasting.

Let us rejoice that Jesus is our healer. He is the source from where our healing comes from, both physically and spiritually. If you need physical or spiritual healing then just call out to Jesus in faith and trust in His healing to make you whole.

 

by

The Act Of Forgiveness

4th November 

 “Love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends.”

Proverbs 17:9

There is a reason why the Bible encourages us to forgive quickly and to not let the sun go down on our wrath. Hurt, pain and anger only await those who hold on to bitterness. Un-forgiveness separates us from God, separates us from our own rational thinking and even separates us from our most loved ones. Anger does nothing but cause friction and bitterness.

However, the opposite is true when love prevails. A simple sorry can completely diffuse a situation, can heal wounds and release tensions. As this wise proverb states, ‘love prospers when a fault is forgiven’. There is nothing more liberating than knowing that we are forgiven, loved and accepted by Jesus and with that same love, forgiveness and acceptance, loving others too.

It is no easy task to forgive a fault, particularly when the wound is deep and greatly hurts. Indeed, in our strength we cannot. We can make a decision to forgive, however, true forgiveness is something only God can help us put into practice. May we today know the power of a ‘fault forgiven’, the danger of holding onto hurt and the joy of releasing the debt of bitterness. Furthermore, may our Lord Jesus, daily reveal just how much we have been forgiven and help us, with that same love, to love and forgive others. Let us rejoice in forgiven faults and restored friendships.

by

The Right Words

3rd November

“And pray for me, too. Ask God to give me the right words so I can boldly explain God’s mysterious plan that the Good News is for Jews and Gentiles alike. I am in chains now, still preaching this message as God’s ambassador. So pray that I will keep on speaking boldly for him, as I should.”

Ephesians 6:19-20

It is God who in His grace gives us the right words to say at the right time. God has promised us that when we are full of the Spirit, when we are listening to His voice, He will give us the right words to say to defend our faith and to share the gospel with others. Even in prison, even in chains, Paul’s heart was still to share God’s word with others. Yet amazingly, even there, God still was continuing to pour out His grace and give Paul the words to declare the Good News. No matter where he was, he knew that he was an ambassador and a voice for Christ Jesus.

We too may face situations where we feel trapped and chained for the sake of sharing about Christ but let us take courage and not give up. Our chains may not come in the form of physical bondage or long prison stays, it might even be being marginalised at your school or workplace. Nevertheless, whatever persecution we face for standing up for the Good News, let us never give up and fully trust that at the right time God will God us the right words to say. Moreover, let us continue to pray for our persecuted brothers and sisters around the world who are so boldly  standing up for Jesus Christ. May we continue to pray that God will also help them to share the Good News with boldness and that God will continue to give them the right words to say.

by

Praying In The Spirit

2nd November

“Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.”

Ephesians 6:18

‘Praying in the Spirit at all times’ is some of the most important advice given to the believer. Not only can you directly access the very heart of God through your prayers, but as we pray in the Spirit, we begin to pray God’s will into different situations! Praying in the Spirit enables us to hear what God is saying and understand His divine plans and purposes. God in His grace give us the ability to access His plans for our lives and for others. Moreover, as we pray in the Spirit, God begins to open our hearts more for others. Our prayer life starts becoming more of an intercessor focused prayer and less on I and me focused prayers.

Praying in the Spirit is not just limited to those who have the gift of speaking in tongues, although this is helpful and an amazing gift to have, but it is open and accessible to all believers who have been filled with the Holy Spirit. This is why Paul is constantly encouraging believers to be filled with the Spirit daily. It’s a topping up daily of the Spirit of God being poured into our lives, washing the filth out in our lives and purifying our hearts and minds and aligning them for His plans and purposes for our lives.. Be filled with His Spirit, pray on all occasions in the Spirit and be persistent in your prayers.