July 28th

Psalm 32.8
Pr. Silvana

}  “I will instruct  you and teach  you in the way you should go; I will counsel  you and watch over  you.”

We have four wonderful promises of God in this single verse. Let’s see each one of them:

First = “I will instruct  you…”

}  Instruct = to officially tell someone what to do or how to do something; to provide knowledge in a methodical way; to direct; to prescribe.

}  Examples of people who received specific instructions from the Lord:

}  Noah x the ark (Gn. 6.14-16); God gave Noah all the instructions, the details, to build the ark.

}  Joshua x the fall of Jericho (Joshua 6.3-5); God gave Joshua and the Israelites all the instructions to conquer Jericho.

}  Naaman healed of leprosy (II Kings 5.10); Naaman received specific instructions from the prophet to be healed.

}  GOD IS OUR PERFECT INSTRUCTOR! He has different instructions for each situation, each problem we are facing in life.

Second = “…and  teach  you in the way you should go…”

}  Teach = to cause to learn by example or experience; to train; to show; to discipline; to educate.

}  Proverbs  14.12 (“There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.”)

}   GOD IS OUR PERFECT TEACHER!

We should be like children and let our heavenly father teach us the way we should go. He knows the right way and He wants to take us by the hand and teach us how to walk on the right way…

Unfortunately we grow up and think we don’t need anyone to teach us the way. We tend to think that we know the right way and we choose where to go by ourselves instead of letting God pointing us the way.

Third = “… I will counsel you…”

}  Counsel = to advice; to recommend; to guide; to give support to someone with problems.

}  GOD IS OUR PERFECT COUNSELOR!

}  Proverbs 19.20 (“Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise.”)

Fourth = “…I will watch over you.”

}  Watch over = to take care; to look after; to care for; to guard; to provide protection.

}  GOD IS OUR PERFECT PROTECTOR!

}  I Peter 5.7 (“Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.”)

Again, we should be like children and trust God always, especially when we are in danger, in difficult situations. He’s around us and watches over us.

Relax, rejoice, enjoy the Father’s company. He cares for us…

Say to yourself, with all your heart: “God will instruct  me and teach  me in the way I should go; He will counsel  me and watch over  me.”

Listen to this song and sing along…

GET English Immersion

YOU ARE INVITED TO THE

 GET ENGLISH IMMERSION

DATE: August 15, 2012 (Wednesday / municipal holiday)

PLACE: Sítio Gênesis (across from Sede Campestre Getsêmani)

TIME:  8 am -   5 pm

REGISTRATION FEE: R$30 (breakfast, lunch, coffee break) – transportation IS NOT included.

INF.: Silvana: 88414809 (OI), 94699501 (TIM), Gustavo: 91571910 (TIM), Ana: 91487315 (TIM)

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IT’LL BE A TIME TO HAVE FELLOWSHIP, TO MAKE NEW FRIENDS, TO PRACTICE AND IMPROVE THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE IN A VERY BLESSED ENVIRONMENT, TOGETHER WITH FRIENDS, SISTERS AND BROTHERS, IN GOD’S PRESENCE! YOU CAN’T MISS IT!!!

MAKE YOUR REGISTRATION SOON!

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July 21st

“Dealing  with  Authorities”

Pr.Silvana

“Authority” = “A person or organization having political or administrative power and control; the power or right to give orders, make decisions, and enforce obedience.” (Oxford Dictionary)

} Examples of authorities

Parents/husband                  Teacher/Coordinator        Pastor/Spritual Leader               Policeman

                                     (politician / governor / ruler)    (boss / supervisor / director)

}  John 19.11a – “Jesus answered, You would have no power (authority) over me if it were not given to you from above.” – It’s what Jesus said to Pilate before being sentenced to death.

}  Ephesians 5.22-24 (Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, His body, of which He is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.) – authority of the husband over the wife; 6.1-3 (Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother —which is the first commandment with a promise — that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.) - authority of the parents over the children; 6.5-8 (Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free.) - authority of the boss/leader over the employee/servant.

}  I Timothy 2.1-4 (I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.) – praying for the authorities.

} Titus 3.1 (Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good.)

} I Peter 2.13-15, 18-19 ( Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every authority instituted among men: whether to the king, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish men.)

}  Romans 13.1-6 (Submission to the Authorities) “Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. For he is God’s servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God’s servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing.”

}  1 Samuel 15.23 – “For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry.
Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He has rejected you as king.” – King Saul was rejected by God because of his disobedience / rebellion.

}  Numbers 12.1-15 = Aaron (Moses' brother) and Miriam (Moses’ sister) opposed (rebelled, criticized, despised) Moses and, because of that, God rebuked them and punished them.

}  - God doesn’t accept any rebellion. He doesn’t tolerate anyone who raises up against authority.

TO REFLECT…

}  God takes this subject very seriously.

}  It’s something that God never negotiates (it’s non-negotiable).

}  It’s one of God’s principles and we cannot change His principles or negotiate them.

}  The way we deal with this subject determines our “success” in life. If we find difficult to submit ourselves to authorities, to respect, obey and acknowledge authorities, for sure, we will not succeed or prosper in life. It will become an obstacle, a barrier, a hindrance on our way, preventing us to go ahead.

July 14th

“Life on earth”

Pr. Silvana

-         Life on earth is temporary, extremely brief.

-         “I am a stranger on earth; do not hide your commands from me.” (Psalm 119.19)

-         Earth is not our permanent home or final destination.  It’s like a “foreign country”.  We are just passing through… we are like “aliens, pilgrims, foreigners, strangers, visitors, travelers” on earth.

-         Our homeland is heaven. This world is not our home.

—  2 Corinthians 5:20 – “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.^”

—  Ambassador = A diplomatic official of the highest rank appointed and accredited as representative in residence by one government or sovereign to another, usually for a specific length of time (from American Heritage Talking Dictionary.)

—  When we understand that we are ambassadors of Christ here on earth, we stop worrying about material prosperity, “having it all”, or popular success as the world wants – our values and our priorities change. We are representing God on earth (His desires, His plans, not ours). We should speak, see and behave like Him.

—  Philippians 3:19-20 – “Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame (talking about the enemies of the cross of Christ). Their mind is on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.”

—  Hebrews 11:13 – (talking about the “heroes of faith”) “All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth.”

—  1 Peter 1:17 – “Since you call on a Father who judges each man’s work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear.^”

1 Peter 2:11 – “Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.^”

As ambassadors, envoys, we have a mission to accomplish - we are “in mission”. Our temporary life here on earth has a specific purpose – we were assigned to fulfill God’s purpose.

Our job/career, relationships, family, ministry, etc… must have a purpose and be in accordance with the will of God.

Read the words of the song below and check if you 

are also “not of this world”:

Not Of This World  (PETRA)

  

We are pilgrims in a strange land

We are so far from our homeland
With each passing day it seems so clear

This world will never want us here
We're not welcome in this world of wrong

We are foreigners who don't belong

We are strangers, we are aliens , we are not of this world

We are envoys, we must tarry

With this message we must carry
There's so much to do before we leave

With so many more who may believe
Our mission here can never fail

And the gates of hell will not prevail

Jesus told us men would hate us

but we must be of good cheer
He has overcome this world of darkness

and soon we’ll depart from here

Now, you can sing along:

July 7th

WHAT CAN CHRISTIANS DO?

FASTING

  

FAST, a blessing!
Definition:  Abstinence or abstention, total or partial, on certain days, for penance or religious or medical prescription. (Aurelio Dictionary)


But what is fasting for Christians? Is it starving?

In Isaiah 58.6,7 is written:

“ Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and  break every yoke?  Is it not to share your food with the hungry  and to provide the poor  wanderer with shelter — when you see the  naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?"

Examples of the practice of fasting:

1. In difficult situations, in which the divine help was indispensable. 2 Samuel 12:16

2. In times when we had to refuel, renew our strength for the difficult battles that lay ahead in their ministries and even in everyday life. Jesus: Matthew 4:2; Paul: 2 Corinthians 11:27, Esther 4:16 Et; Daniel: Dn 9.3
3. Fasting was also done collectively, done both by the nation, a city, the church etc... Israel Judges 20:26, City: Ninevites Jn 3:5-8, Leaders: the apostles 2 Corinthians 6:5.

How to make a fast? Matthew 6:16-18

Dictate rules and forms of sacrifice to the Lord is placing heavy burdens on people and many are led astray.

X

Do according to your heart with the main 

purpose of honoring the Lord.

Romans 14: 6-9 

"Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord. Whoever eats meat does so to the Lord, for they give thanks to God; and whoever abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone. If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living. "

In the practice of fasting is essential:
A) Reading the Word
B) Prayer

PRAYER

What is a prayer? When/where can you pray?

 

 

Why must we pray?

1.Because  the Bible tells us to pray – 1 Thessalonians 5:17

2.Because of our needs, family´s needs, church´s needs, world missions… 1 Thessalonians 4:1

3.God acts When we pray.

How to pray? 

“Prayer is the pouring out of sincere, conscious and warm the heart or soul to God, through Christ, in power and help of the Holy Spirit, those things that God has promised, or according to the Word, for the good of the church , with submission in faith to God's will.” 

John Bunyan

Get Started!
1. Understand what prayer is
2.Schedule yourself for (Genesis 24:36, Psalms 5:3, Psalms 42:8, Psalm 119:63, Daniel 6:10, Matthew 26:36, Acts 16:25)
3.Establish a location (Genesis 24:63, Matthew 14:23, John 11:41-42, Acts 21:5, Acts 22:16, Jonah 2:1, Matthew 6:6, Acts 16:25)
4.Keep the focus
5.Silent or aloud or written prayers
6.See how much time spent talking to God
7.Learn a method of prayer


Method of prayer, an example?
1. Start by reserving 15 minutes, in the morning
2. At first, pray thanking God for the opportunity to be in His presence and ask for that quiet time is a real experience of dialogue with God
3. Read a Bible text of your choice, with an average of 5 to 10 verses. If you do not understand it at first, do a second reading, getting to know the words or difficult to interpret the main idea of the text
4. After reading this carefully, meditate a little bit about what you read, asking the following questions: "What God wants to speak to me with this text?" and "How to apply the truths in my life learned?"
5. Return to pray to the Lord, but this time of intercession, following a simple structure in your prayer:
- Glorify God for what He means to you
- Thank God for blessings received
- Confess your sins to Him and attitudes of weakness
- Intercede for others
6. Finish with an "Amen".

John Piper´s F-A-D-E-S prayers

F- Free and Formed

- The difference between structured and unstructured prayer

- Being devoted to prayer will mean that what you say in your times or prayer will often be free and unstructured, and often be formed and structured

A - Alone and Assembled

- Pray alone or in the assembly

- Pray with God´s people. How are you doing this?

D- Desperate and Delighted

- Prayer is a place for meeting God with your deepest heartaches and fears

- And prayer is a place for meeting God with your highest joys and thanks

E- Explosive and Extended

- Short and long

- If you are devoted to prayer you will explode regularly with prayers of praise and thanks and need and they will not last more than a few seconds

- And also if you are devoted to prayer you will have times when you linger for a long time in prayer to the Lord

S- Spontaneous and Scheduled

- If we are devoted to prayer we will pray spontaneously through the day

- But we need the discipline of schedule.

As soon as you can, remember to pray

-Like children - pure, simple

-Like it was the first time - passionate, hungry, thirsty 

- Like it was the last time - you will never know...