Attention please!

February 22, 2014

Zacchaeus the Tax Collector

 

"Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through.  A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.  When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.” But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham.  For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost"." (Luke 19:1-10)

 

Jericho was a cursed city. The Bible doesn´t talk about many people of Jericho being converted. But the Bible talks about Zacchaeus.

Zacchaeus was a tax collector and the people who work in this profession are not very well seen by others. Even though he was rich, Zacchaeus probably did not have many friends. Anyway, Zacchaeus Drew Jesus´ attention to himself. And Zacchaeus had the privilege of being so close to Jesus. Can you imagine how Zacchaeus felt? Can you imagine how was the heart of Zacchaeus?
Jesus came to save!
There is an urgency about it!

 

"When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately.  I must stay at your house today" (Luke 19:5)

 

"For,  "In just a little while, He who is coming will come and will not delay"."

(Hebrews 10:37)

 

"Do not boast about tomorrow,
    for you do not know what a day may bring." (Proverbs 27:1)

 

"So Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and he was quickly brought from the dungeon. When he had shaved and changed his clothes, he came before Pharaoh."(Genesis 41:14)

 

"As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him.

So Jesus told him, “What you are about to do, do quickly".” (John 13:27)

 

"And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away,

calling on his name.’." (Acts 22:16)

 

 

There is the same urgency these days!

Jesus is waiting for you to reach this generation!

 

 

^{Judgement and The Ten Plagues}

^{God challenges the Egyptians´ gods}

“On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn of both people and animals, and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the Lord." (Exodus 12:12)

 

 

1. The plague of blood - the transformation of the waters dishonored Hapi.
2. Frogs - taken as a symbol of fertility. Dishonored Heqt.
3. Lice - dishonored Thoth who was considered the inventor of magic and secret arts.
4. Flies - Ptath was defeated as he was considered the creator of the universe
5. Death of the oxen and cows - Humiliated Apis (Seraphis) considered the god of Memphis cattle, Hathor, the cow-goddess and Nut, the sky-goddess, imagined as a cow with a star posted on her belly
6. Wounds - Dishonored Neite. Neite was the goddess of sky and was humiliated when Moses threw dust into the sky.
7. Rain of stones - Humiliated Iris, the controller of natural elements and Osíris, the god of fire.
8. Locusts - Dishonored the gods that guaranteed bountiful harvest: Xu (god of air) and Sebeque (god insect)
9. Darkness - God overthrew the chief god Ra, the sun god.
10. Death of the firstborn  - it was the greater humiliation for the rulers of Egypt. They used to call themselves gods, sons of Ra or Amon-Ra.

 

 Pastor Rafael Lopes

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

February 15th

Living Beyond the Test

John 9:1-4

• The Bible says that the disciples saw the man and started judging him.
• Be careful with the way you see and judge things.
• Deep down in your life, only God is able to see.
• Jesus was telleing those man that what happend to that man was for the glory ("doxa") of God to be manifested.
• God is God! The only way for us to understand this is through Him, revealing Himself to us.
• God tests us! He needs to know how faithful you are!
• Matthew 4:1 : Jesus was tempted. So, nobody is free from temptation.
• Isaiah 43:1-2: The Bible says that the God will be with you. The Bible doesn´t say that the Lord will take you out. The Bible instead, affirms that the problems will not overflow, they will pass... So, everything you need to ovecome problems, difficulties, is in you. You don´t need a third person, but God and yourself!
• Tests are very good for us. Testing us is the way God has to trust in us.

The Value of Your Faith

Habakkuk 3

• The most importante power you posses is your Faith. When you loose faith, you´re worthy for nothing.
• Faith is your belief and conviction that creates confidence in life.
• Your faith is manifested by the test it encounters.
• Your faith is as strong as the test it survives.

Free briefing of Pastor Joseph Bainson´s preaching

Prayer Campaign

"Putting all your troubles on Him for He takes care of you."

1 Peter 5:7

 

Join us!

Stay blessed!





February 8th

Pastor Poliana de Carvalho

February 1st

 

"Whoever watches the wind will not plant;

 whoever looks at the clouds will not  reap."

(Ecclesiastes 11:4)

• Look up to the sky and see Jesus, Most High!
• You have seeds to sow... What seeds are in your hands?

 

• Sometimes, you put your eyes on the difficulties. 

• And some people come to talk just about a "storm" (difficulties) that may come over the "seed" ( dream, project, plan) that is in your hand.

 

• Is the sky cloudy? Don´t worry, because God is the Maker of all things! "As you do not know the path of the Wind, or how the body is formed in a mother´s womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things." (Ecclesiastes 11:5)
• Matthew 8:26-27: "He replied, 'You of little Faith, why are you so afraid?' Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. The men were amazed and asked, 'What kind of man is this? Even the winds  and the waves obey Him!'"
• Jesus is powerful to rebuke all storms!
• Try what you have to try because you are a conqueror in His power!
• There are things you will be able to see only with your spiritual eyes.

• II Kings 6: 13-17: "' Go, find out where he is,', the king ordered, 'so I can  send men and capture him.' The report came back: 'He is in Dothan.' Then he sent horses and chariost and a Strong force there. They went by night and surrounded the city. When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. 'Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?' the servant asked. 'Don’t be afraid,' the prophet answered. 'Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.' And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.' Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha."
• When you feel in despair, ask the Lord to open your spiritual eyes and you will be able to see how great is the Lord´s army fighting for you!

 

Pr. Poliana de Carvalho