Previous Posts

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God of the Impossible

21st September

“Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.””
Mark 9:23

The word impossible occurs nine times in the New King James Version of the Bible, and most of the references tell us that this word doesn’t appear in God’s regular vocabulary.

Matthew 17:20: “Nothing will be impossible.”
Matthew 19:26: “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Mark 10:27: “With men it is impossible, but not with God.”
Luke 1:37: “With God nothing will be impossible.”
Luke 18:27: “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.”


Hebrews 6:18 tells us it is impossible for God to lie, and Hebrews 11:6 adds that without faith it is impossible for us to please Him. How important to cast our impossibilities in God’s hands. Just as He parted the sea for Israel, reversed the events in Esther, raised Jesus from the dead, and converted Saul of Tarsus, God is capable of reversing our irreversible problems.

There is nothing too big for Jesus. He is the God of the impossible. He makes what seems impossible possible. No mountain is too high and no problem too big. Whatever you may be facing today, cast it to Jesus…. He is bigger than your problems.

You cannot bring a burden too heavy for God to lift or a problem too hard for Him to solve or a request too big for Him to answer. God does things no one else can do.
Michael Guido

  • Taken from David Jeremiah’s turning point with last paragraph added.
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With The Lions

19th & 20th September

Weekend Edition

“So at last the King gave his orders for Daniel to be arrested and thrown into the den of lions. The king said to him, “May your God whom you serve so faithfully, rescue you.” A stone was brought and placed over the mouth of the den. The king sealed the stone with his own royal seal and the seals of his nobles, so that no one could rescue Daniel.”

Daniel 6:16-17

Sadly, King Darius, seemed to have missed hearing the stories about God’s faithfulness towards Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. He also ordered a decree that anyone found guilty of praying to any other god beside himself, must be arrested and thrown into the lion’s den.

Daniel, fell into that category. As he did everyday, he went up to his room, opened his windows towards Jerusalem and prayed to God, giving thanks. However, little did he know that he was being trapped by the high officials and rulers who were jealous of Daniel’s influence over the king. At once the high officials reported Daniel’s law breaking actions to the King. Reluctantly, King Darius ordered Daniel’s arrest and threw him into a den full of hungry lions.

The next day as King Darius went to check on what had happened to Daniel, and he was astonished to see the him completely un-harmed with not even a scratch on his body.

Daniels trust in the one true God and his willingness to not to compromise, not only saved his life, but led King Darius to proclaim that not himself, or his pagan gods but Daniel’s God, is the one true God whose Kingdom and rule will never end.

King Darius was completely right. We still serve that same God today; the God was rescued Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego from the fiery furnace and rescued Daniel from the lion’s den. All four had one thing in common. A desire to honour and worship the one true God, despite the consequences. We too should strive to honour God in our daily lives whether at work or in our schools and homes, wherever it may be, let us always worship God faithfully. Let our witness be so great that people will also proclaim that our God is the one true God, whose kingdom will never end.

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In The Fire

18th September

 

“So they tied them up and threw them into the furnace, fully dressed in their pants (trousers), turbans, robes, and other garments. And because the king in his anger, had demanded such a hot fire in the furnace, the flames killed the soldiers as they threw the three men in.”

Daniel 3:21-22

Daniel was one of the most noble and God-fearing men to ever live in the Old Testament. He was faithful, a man of integrity but more than anything, he loved God and refused to compromise God’s holy standards. His God-fearing attitude was contagious. In fact so great was his contagious characteristics, that even pagan Kings came to recognise God’s greatness through his life. Furthermore, even his own friends were encouraged by his faith and persevering attitude, which almost caused their death.

King Nebuchadnezzar, was one of the most powerful kings to ever rule over the Babylonian Empire, yet his infatuation with power and wealth blinded his eyes to see who the ONE true God was. He foolishly built a statue out of pure gold, (that measured 90 feet tall and 9 feet wide), and ordered everyone to bow down and worship it. He issued an oath that anyone who refused to do so would be thrown into a fiery furnace. Of course, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were three men who refused to compromise.

Nebuchadnezzar anger was so great that his face became distorted with rage. So much so that he ordered the furnace to be heated seven times hotter than it normally was. Even the guards who threw them into the furnace died because of the intense heat. Yet God had other plans for His servants who refused to compromise. Not only did God save them from the fire, but He also sent a divine being to stand in the fire with them, to comfort and protect them. In fact so great was their protection that when they left the fire, no hair on their head was singed and they didn’t even smell of smoke.

When we refuse to compromise God’s holy standards, sometimes danger awaits us. However, we danger does come, we can be sure that God will never leave us. Even in the midst of a fiery furnace, God still can send His comforting presence. He promised to never leave us nor forsake us. Although we may face great danger for living lives of integrity, the blessings that await, far out weigh the pain of suffering.

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Slow To Anger

17th September

 

“He revealed His character to Moses and His deeds to the people of Israel. The Lord is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with un-failing love.”

Psalm 103:7-8

During the Israelites trip to the promised land, after God had graciously set them free from their bondage at the hands of the Egyptians under the leadership of Moses, time and time again the people dis-honoured God, did not trust Him for their daily provisions or feared the worst when confronted with troubles. Yet what they didn’t realise or at least didn’t appreciate, is that for 40 years their shoes never got worn out and they were daily provided with manna and quail to feed them. Moreover, God was ever merciful with them and kept pouring His love over them, even when they didn’t deserve it. God truly revealed His character to Moses and His deeds of love and kindness to the people of Israel.

God hasn’t changed. He is still that same compassionate and merciful God that we saw in the Israelites Exodus. He is still slow to anger and is still full of un-failing love; even when we don’t deserve it. God is for us and not against us. He lives to be spur us on, not to trip us up. He is our God and worthy to be praised.

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Enter His Gates

16th September

“Acknowledge the Lord is God! He made us, and we are His……Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him and praise His Name. For the Lord is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and His faithfulness continues to each generation.”

Psalm 100:3a,4-5

Praise God that we are not only His but that through Jesus Christ, we have a way to literally enter into His very throne room and to worship Him freely. We are now seated with Christ in Heavenly place. God’s presence is no longer confined to a building with four walls, or a High priest who mediates for us, but rather He lives in us.

So often places of worship are seen as sanctuary’s to escape lives difficulties, places to find refuge and peace, places of security and sources of hope and joy. Yet what we now know because of Jesus’ resurrection, is that His very presence has made a home in our hearts. God’s presence is no longer confined to a building, but is found in us, His children.

When we enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise, it is an attitude of prayerful worship, thankfulness for His goodness, rejoicing in song and praising His Name. Why? Because the Lord is good and His unfailing love continues forever. When we wake, thankfulness should be on hearts. When we sleep praise should be on lips. The Lord is good and deserves to be praised.

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God Was and Is and Is To Come

15th September

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth!”

Genesis 1:1

There is no greater truth than knowing who created you and I and the world we are in. Genesis 1:1 boldly and plainly tells us that it was God, Elohim; the Hebrew name for the God-Head, symbolising the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Yet God did not labour day and night to create the world we live in, but simply spoke it into being by the very words of His mouth; light, darkness, the sun and moon, waters and mountains, creatures that fly and those that swim. Yet His greatest creation was mankind, whom He made in His own image. He breathed His own breath into us and gave us all a plan and a purpose.

This morning, take a reality check. Not only were you hand-made by the God who created the entire universe we live in, but you have the very breath of God inside you. You have been anointed to walk in God’s eternal plan for your life, written even before you were in your mother’s womb. You are completely loved by the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, as they work in perfect union as One, through you and in you. God thought about YOU… Even before time began, He had a plan to make you. Even when He knew that sometimes you would disobey Him, He still wanted to create you so He could shower His love over you. You are loved and created by the God of the universe. You were planned and you are part of God’s plan to show His love to the rest of the world.

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The Joy Of A Forgiven Heart

14th September

“Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight! Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of guilt, whose lives are lived in complete honesty!”

Psalm 32:1-2

Every human has a desire and longing to be loved. Many try to satisfy that longing with drugs, drinking, womanising, and the like. Yet there is no greater joy than knowing you have been forgiven and accepted by your Creator; knowing that you have a purpose, a destiny and that God has a plan for your personally.

In 1678, John Bunyan released one of the most famous pieces of English Christian literature, the Pilgrim Progress. In his book, we follow the story of a man name Christian, who makes his perilous journey to Celestial city (Heaven). However, he carries on his back a huge bag like burden, which represent his sins. These burdens are finally relieved when he reaches the ‘place of deliverance’, a representation of Calvary’s cross. Although this story may be mostly allegorical, the truth remains that we are all on a journey. In life’s journey we may face dangers and temptations, yet the most liberating and life giving stage of our journey is when Jesus Christ sets us free from our sins. It truly is like a burden being lifted from our backs.

In today’s psalm, David also speaks of this joy, freedom and liberty that await a forgiven soul. Sin can so easily hold us down and feel like a huge weight on our lives. Yet when we are set free by the power of Jesus’ love, those chains are broken and we can walk upright in the power of His might and in the purpose and plan He has ordained for our life.

What joy awaits a forgiven soul, and those whose record the Lord has cleared of guilt!!

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Mary And Martha: A Prophetic Anointing

10th September

“Jesus replied, “Leave her alone. She did this in preparation for my burial. You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.””

John 12:7

The anointing of Mary’s expensive perfume over Jesus’ feet may have seemed a waste to the likes of Judas (who wanted to profit for his own gain, v6), but it actually represented a greater purpose. This event actually took place only a few days before Jesus’ crucifixion. Although the text does not state that Mary’s intentions had anything to do with Jesus’ death, it is alluded to by Jesus Himself. He knew that in a few days He would sacrifice Himself for mankind. As was the tradition, after the person had been declared deceased, they poured anointing oil to avoid a bad smell until their burial. What Mary may not have realised, was that anointing Jesus was a prophetic act of preparing Jesus for His imminent death. Jesus knew that His hour would soon come.

Yet that was not the end. The fact that Lazarus, whom Jesus recently raised from the dead, was sitting with them at the table, highlights Jesus’ victory over sin and death. Jesus’ death was not the end, but the beginning of new life.

Let us remember today that our God is alive. His grace a sweet smelling aroma that flows through our own lives. Our priority should always be to put Jesus at the center of our lives, even it means that there is a great cost to pay. In truth, no cost can out-weigh the greatness of what awaits His beloved children. Jesus is not dead, He is alive. He love and grace in us is a sweet fragrance that should be smelt wherever we are. Let us put our lives back into perspective and re-align our selves with Christ at the center.

The relationship of Mary and Judas with Jesus provides two contrasts of true and false relationships. Mary completely sold out for Jesus, and Judas a liar and deceiver. Let us chose truth and give our lives completely to Jesus, running away from falsehood and deceit.

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Don’t Forget To Say Thank You

5th & 6th September

Weekend Edition

“One of them, when he saw that he was healed, came back to Jesus, shouting, “Praise God!” He fell to the ground at Jesus’ feet thanking Him for what He had done. This man was a Samaritan.”

Luke 17:15-16

The Lord is gracious, kind and compassionate. His love for the lost runs deep and wide. He showed that when He came to the earth in human form. Yet how often do we thank God for the kindness, grace and compassion He shows? Furthermore, is thanks on our lips when He so lovingly answers our prayers? Is our thankfulness ‘shout’ louder than our cries for help?

As we return to this passage in Luke 17 we read that unfortunately, only one of the 10 lepers that were healed in this passage took the time to thank Jesus for His healing. The one man’s response is of someone who knew that Jesus was more than just a healer. As the man approached Jesus, He fell to the floor at His feet, shouting “Praise God!!!” What a response. A healed man, recognising his healing was from God and falling at the feet of Jesus in gratitude.

Yet Luke includes an important piece of information. This man was a Samaritan! Not only was he an outcast because of his disease but also because of his race. A Samaritan leper was surely the biggest outcast in Jesus’ time. Yet Jesus saw straight through his earthly identity and saw the man how He created him to be and in response to Jesus’ loving and kind heart towards him, he returned and gave thanks to Jesus for all that He had done.

Jesus, is as alive today as He was when this story happened 2000 years ago. His healing power is a true today and it was then. Let us believe God for His healing and remember to thank Him. For in thanks, even more blessing are received. Thankfulness enables our heart to recognise God’s goodness. Let us cry out to God in thanksgiving; not just in our requests. God answers our prayers and deserves our thankfulness.

Sometimes thankfulness means you need to stand out from the crowd!

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The Ten Lepers

4th September

“As He entered a village there, ten lepers stood at a distance, crying out, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” He looked at them and said, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed of their leprosy.”

Luke 17:12-14

In the Bible, leprosy was a disease that led to insolation, loneliness, and severe pain. Due to its title of being an ‘unclean’ disease, those who had it, could not associate with anyone else. This is why the lepers could only stand at a distance and shout out to Jesus for their healing.

However, as soon as they saw Jesus, they acknowledged straight away that He was no ordinary man, hence why they called Him Master. They knew that Jesus could heal them. They knew He had the power as they cried out to Him for mercy. So Jesus in His mercy, healed all ten of them. Yet interestingly Jesus’ healing required a step of obedience and faith from the lepers too.

The law requires that after you are healed from leprosy you must present yourselves to the Pharisees, so you can be given the all clear to interact with society again. It was only the Pharisees that could say you are completely healed. So in asking them to go to the Pharisees, it was like Jesus had already healed them. It needed a huge step of faith though. They knew they could not associate with ‘clean’ people, especially those who thought they were the cleanest of all, the Pharisees. Yet, they had nothing to lose. They had to trust Jesus; and because of their trust, they were all healed as they walked to meet the Pharisees.

Sometimes, Jesus’ healing comes in ways and forms that we don’t expect. However, what we can expect is that Jesus is a healer. He graciously and merciful healed the lepers. Yet again Jesus showed His compassion for the marginalised and His grace to heal to sick. May we too live as Jesus lived, imitating His heart for the lost and praying in His Name for healing for the sick. God is alive!