Precious Words

In the Book of Matthew, chapter 21 and verse 22, the Bible says: “And whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer believing, ye shall receive.” Hebrews 11:6 says, “But without faith, it is impossible to please Him, for he that cometh to God”—and that’s what we’re doing when we pray—”must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.” Many people have struggled with this question: How can I pray in faith if I’m not absolutely certain that what I’m asking for is in accordance to the will of God? The reason we struggle is that our faith is misplaced. We think that we somehow have to work our faith up to the place where God will answer a particular prayer. But that is not the case. The object of our faith is the person of God Himself; not our faith. When I do not have faith, I’m saying one of two things: either God cannot answer this prayer or God will not answer this prayer. If I say He cannot, I’m questioning His sovereignty and His power. If I sa...

The word of the well-known Psalm 23 have brought comfort to million the world over. The psalm tells us of our sovereign God’s desire to refresh His precious children – chosen before the foundations o the world, before time began – of His faithfulness to guide them safely through all life’s trials to His heavenly home. The psalm beautifully describes our Lord Jesus as the Shepherd. He said, “I am the good Shepherd and know my sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.” John 10:14-15. Truly our Lord gave His life for you and me, to pay for our sins that we maybe considered back to our Holy Father. The eternal Word of God makes it clear that we are all like sheep that have gone astray, each one turning to his own way and our Father God laid on Jesus the iniquity of all of us. But the Lord Jesus calls us back to Him. “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavily laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew ...

Psalm 119:105-106 Life involves both small daily choices and large consequential ones. Including God in our decision-making is always the wisest course of action. The Scripture that we have memorized is something the Holy Spirit uses to help us discover God’s will. The pattern I have found beneficial in making decisions can also help you with choices regarding relationships, finances, health, employment, or other important areas. The first step involves assessing the heart, mind, and will. To receive the Lord’s direction, we need a clean heart, a clear mind, and a surrendered will. Sinful habits can cloud thinking and keep us from understanding His plan. Confessing our sins and turning from them brings cleansing and clarity (1 John 1:9). A stubborn will that says, “I want my way” prevents us from heeding God’s instruction. Instead, we need to surrender our desires and commit ourselves to saying yes to His plan. The second step is to wait patiently on the Lord for His an...

Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils. Mark 16:9 KJV The apostle Paul went from throwing Christians into prison to leading non-Christians into the kingdom of God. John Newton went from being a slave trader to being a pastor and hymn-writer. Nicky Cruz went from being a New York City gang member to being a street evangelist for Christ. The late Chuck Colson went from White House "Hatchet Man" to prison evangelist and apologist. Meeting Christ always results in life-change, but sometimes the change is  radical . Take a woman named Mary, from the Galilee town of Magdala, for example. We know little about her pre-Christian life except that she was possessed by seven demonic spirits, from which Jesus delivered her. We can only assume that being possessed by seven demons created a chaotic life. By comparison, after being freed from them, Mary became a faithful follower o...

John Bunyan was converted to Christ from a vile and profane life, and he wanted to tell everyone about it. When he started preaching in his little town of Bedford, England, he was arrested and imprisoned. This was in the days when only ministers for the Church of England could freely preach. Though Bunyan spent years in prison, his voice was never silenced. In fact, during his imprisonment he wrote his great classic  Pilgrim's Progress  and his autobiography, which he entitled  Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners . According to Bunyan, had it not been for "a miracle of precious grace," he would have perished by the stroke of eternal justice.1 The word "grace" means: God's Riches At Christ's Expense. It's God's favor freely bestowed on us in Christ. As we share the Gospel with others, grace should be among the first words on our lips--abounding grace, amazing grace. How sweet the sound! His whole gospel is a gospel of g...

In 1934, Adolf Hitler summoned German church leaders to his Berlin office to berate them for insufficiently supporting his programs. Pastor Martin Niemöller explained that he was concerned only for the welfare of the church and of the German people. Hitler snapped, "You confine yourself to the church. I'll take care of the German people." Niemöller replied, "You said that ‘I will take care of the German people.' But we too, as Christians and churchmen, have a responsibility toward the German people. That responsibility was entrusted to us by God, and neither you nor anyone in this world has the power to take it from us."  It's easy to be intimidated today, for Christian values and convictions are the laughingstock of a godless society. But this is no time to be on the defensive. Christ overturned the moneychangers in the temple without flinching. If Jesus stood firm in His day and Niemöller in his, we can stand for Christ today--as bold as a lion. T...

By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; "and was not found, because God had translated him": for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.  Hebrews 11:5 In today's world, the "centenarian club"--those living to age 100 or more--is a select group. Thousands of years ago, prior to the great flood, the goal was not living to 100 but living to 1,000! No one made it, but Methuselah came closest, dying at age 969 years (Genesis 5:27). Methuselah's father, Enoch, was a rarity in those days--he lived only 365 years. But there was a special reason why his lifespan on earth was cut short.  Enoch's life on earth ended unexpectedly because God removed him from earth, presumably to heaven. We are not told why God took Enoch, but we are given two clues. First, Enoch "walked with God" (Genesis 5:22). Noah is the only other person in the Bible who "walked with God" (Genesis 6:9). Second, we are ...

You can change. None of us is the same person we were a year ago or a decade ago. Our bodies are changing--there's no denying that. But our minds, hearts, habits, personalities, and relationships are changing too. We just need to make sure we are changing for the better, that we're being transformed from glory to glory, that we're growing in the grace and knowledge of Christ. Those who refuse to change are not God-fearers, because those who love Him are changing every day. Don't be afraid to make some changes in your life, and don't be afraid to let Christ change you from within. I'll go anywhere as long as it's forward. -David Livingstone Because they have no changes, therefore they fear not God. Psalm 55:19b KJV

The word "procrastinate" comes from a Latin compound word: pro meaning "forward," and crastinus indicating "of tomorrow"--from cras , meaning "tomorrow." So, "procrastinate" means to move or put something from today until tomorrow (or the day after tomorrow, ad infinitum ). Most things in life that need to be done--pay the bills, paint the house, change the oil in the car--will allow for a few "tomorrows" before they absolutely have to be done. Why? Because if you die before you get the house painted, it will be an inconvenience for someone else, but not the end of the world. But there are other things in life that don't allow for such putting off since they have eternal ramifications. Most importantly is one's own decision regarding Christ. Hebrews 9:27 says we die and then comes the judgment--there are no tomorrows, do-overs, mulligans, or second chances when it comes to salvation. You can survive if you procra...

Evangelist D. L. Moody had just started preaching a sermon on Galatians 6:7 when a man in the audience stood up and shouted, "I don't believe it." In 2005 scientists germinated a date palm seed that was recovered from Herod the Great's palace atop Masada in the Judean wilderness--making it around 2,000 years old. And a 1,300-year-old lotus seed recovered from China was germinated in 1995.* These remarkable examples of preservation, however, are more the exception than the rule. Seed companies today don't normally guarantee the viability of their seed for more than a few years. Lots of things determine the quality of a harvest: the quality of the seed, the number of seeds sown, the quality of the soil, and the amounts of moisture and nutrients provided. And the same is true with spiritual harvest. God's laws of the harvest apply to the sowing we perform. If our seeds are our good works, our financial investments, our prayers, our study, and our service and wor...

There's an ancient parable, "The Monkey's Fist," that teaches a profound lesson. Native tribes would catch monkeys by hollowing out coconuts, filling them with bait, then tethering them to trees to lure the monkeys. When the monkey reached into the small opening in the coconut, his hand fit. But once his fist was full of the bait, he couldn't retrieve it--the monkey was trapped. The lesson for all of us is that the coconut was not the monkey's undoing, but rather his greedy unwillingness to let go of the bait. I know a lot of people like that. They clutch their material possessions so tightly in the attitude of their hearts that worry handicaps them, negatively impacting their faith, their family and friends, and their future. If only they would put God first, giving Him what belongs to Him--their time, talents, and treasures--then they could quit worrying about their future. If you are grasping something tightly right now, you're in a trap and need to rel...

British researchers analyzed speed dating--meeting people by evaluating prospects at an event through a series of brief one-on-one meetings--to see if singles with a wide variety of potential dates had a higher chance of meeting a partner. The verdict: They didn't.1 Catering to singles has opened up new multi-million-dollar enterprises from single bars to computerized dating. But we're mistaken if we take our cues from society on singleness. God doesn't think we need to spend time and money trying to "fix" it. Three times in 1 Corinthians 7, the apostle Paul talks about the unmarried, and he uses the phrase: "It is good." If you're single, God wants you to accept it as one of His gifts to you. Use your singleness to grow and become content with His plan. Perhaps you've heard--or even made--thoughtless comments like: "What's a sweet girl/guy like you doing single? Maybe your standards are too high for a mate. I prayed for my husband/wife....

The word "disappoint" comes from an old French word meaning to remove someone from office--to dis–appoint one who had been previously appointed to a position. Those who are fired or "dis-appointed" suffer crestfallen feelings of discouragement. Hence our English word disappointment. This is one of the most difficult emotions to reconcile. We all know how it feels to lose a game, fail at a task, be rejected in a relationship, miss an opportunity, or lose a job. The Bible says that hope deferred (disappointment) makes the heart sick (Proverbs 13:12). But we're also told God will never disappoint us and that His love never fails. According to Romans 5, we can glory in tribulation because tribulation produces perseverance, which leads to character, which develops hope--and God's hope never disappointments because the Holy Spirit sheds His love abroad in our hearts. Someone once said "disappointments" are "His appointments." He has a way of wo...

You and your friend have been close for years--never a cross word between you. But suddenly, you find yourself reacting with harsh, impatient words. Where did that come from? And your friend looks at you with a puzzled expression as if asking the same thing. If you will look beneath the problem, you will find a new perspective. Perhaps there's a wound that needs healing, a jealousy that needs confessing, or a resentment in need of repentance. Problems in life are tools in the Holy Spirit's hands to reveal things to us we might never have otherwise considered--truth about God, about others, and especially about ourselves. If we respond to the perspective God allows us to see, we can come out the other side more mature. Remember the problem Paul had that he asked God to take away--and God said "No"? Paul saw something new: God's grace is sufficient--so much so that he began opening his arms to problems in order to experience more grace (2 Corinthians 12:7-10). The n...

I got this from CBN.com and it's really very encouraging especially if you are going through trials in life. When I was in the states, I've been a faithful partner of CBN for three years until we came here in the Philippines. I always watch their tv show 700 Club and I was always inspired and learned a lot of lessons by watching their program. Five Faith-Building Steps To A Powerful Prayer Life 1. Endure: Don't lose heart. Keep praising God for His goodness. (James 1:1-4) James encourages us to "consider it all joy" when we encounter trials that test our faith. That may sound difficult. But as we endure these trials, pressing on in faith and believing God has our best interests at heart, we will emerge from the experience "perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." Often, God allows us to go through difficult challenges because those very experiences shape us to receive the answer He has already prepared. Even in the midst of pain, if we can pres...

READ | John 14:12-14 Jesus taught many things about prayer and its central role in a believer’s life. He also promised that our petitions will be answered when we meet certain requirements. One condition is mentioned in John 14:14: after receiving Christ as our personal Savior, we have the right to present requests in Jesus’ name, which means praying something that the Lord Himself might pray. Whenever we exercise this privilege, we must come to the Father, depending not on our own good works or character but on the merits of Christ alone. Jesus’ atoning death on the cross is the only basis for approaching God and being assured of receiving an answer to our petitions. A second requirement is separation from all known sin. Psalm 66:18 says, “If I regard wickedness in my heart, the Lord will not hear.” This refers to ungodly behaviors and thought patterns which we know are wrong but refuse to give up. Remember, God looks at our heart attitude. If we struggle against our sinful ways, gri...

READ | Ephesians 3:14-21 A modern tragedy in the church is that so few Christians are aware of the Lord's work in their daily life. Most believers rejoice when God answers prayer and marvel when He reveals a new scriptural concept. Yet too few of us expect Him to have any interest in our relationships or workday. We must remember that the Lord is involved in all aspects of our life, and we can see Him move if we look at things with His perspective. First, we must have a right relationship with God. We will be blind to His work until we trust His Son as our personal Savior. At the moment of salvation, we're each given an amazing gift, the Holy Spirit, who provides spiritual discernment. He helps us see how situations that may appear insignificant or negative are actually part of the Father's plan to conform us to the image of Jesus Christ. Second, we ought to be characterized by prayerfulness. Talking to God places Him at the center of our focus and makes us attentive to His...

Does this sound familiar? Determined to spend more time in prayer, you come to the appointed hour, drop to your knees, open your mouth and draw a blank. Sure, you manage a few words about what you need the Lord to do for you and your family, but you should be praying for more than that, shouldn't you? Yes, you should. The Christian's needs are indeed God's concern; not even the smallest detail escapes His notice. However, He tells His people to imitate Jesus: "they should not merely look out for [their] own personal interests, but also for the interests of others." (Philippians 2:4). Selfless prayer, though, isn't natural to us. We too easily think of God as a "genie", someone to do our bidding as we live life our own way. Thankfully, God has supplied a Helper. The Holy Spirit, our willing and able partner in praying effectively, intercedes for us when we can't pray as we should. (Romans 8:26). How should we cooperate with the Spirit's interc...

READ | Psalm 100:1-5 Think about the husband who doesn't communicate with his wife unless he needs something. If the only time he interacts with her is when he has a need, then she's not being loved. She's being used. But don't we sometimes treat God the same way? We lift prayer request after prayer request. And yet we fail to give Him admiration and praise. How frequently do we attempt to use the Lord to fill our selfish needs? First Peter 2:9 says we exist to praise God. Our worries and concerns are of great importance to Him. But He also wants us to come to Him with a worshipful heart, not an attitude of self-centeredness. You may ask, "What's the point of praise?" When you begin to worship the Lord, your focus shifts to Him. Then you'll begin to recall the ways in which He's impacted your life. As Psalm 105:5 says, "Remember His wonders which He has done, His marvels and the judgments uttered by His mouth." Praising the Lord is one of...

READ | Psalm 37:1-8 You may have heard God's promise to give you "the desires of your heart." But too quick a glance at Psalm 37:4 will lead only to frustration and disappointment. To understand the scope of God's awesome promise, we must explore the conditions He placed around this passage. First, Psalm 37:1-2 tells us not to fret about or envy "evildoers." In other words, we shouldn't be consumed with the success of unrighteous people. God will deal with them. Your responsibility is to watch your own actions. Next, verse three instructs us to "trust in the LORD," "do good," and "cultivate faithfulness." God is interested in our maturity. He wants to be able to trust us with life's major decisions, which usually relate to our deepest desires. In verse four, we are clearly told to "delight… in the LORD." We should seek His desires. If we truly pursue God's good pleasure, our desires will fall right into pla...