March 22nd

"But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written:

"Be holy, because I am holy."

 (1 Peter 1:15-16)
 

Many believers when they hear about holiness seem to be reluctant, or not caring, as if it was something for someone else and not to them. They tend to think "Oh how nice! Amazing! But that's not for me! This is for the levites, the pastors… This is for anyone who is a step above! Who am I? "And then, they rest in this miserable excuse. In addition, we have news of Christian churches where believers are deceived by false doctrines, heresies and scandals that want to sanctify only a few within the church - creating leaders who consider themselves gods.

 

These believers are sure that it would be great to be a better person, and they do hope to avoid the really big sins. But they figure, since they’re saved by grace, holiness is not required from them, and frankly, life seems fine without it. The pursuit of holiness feels like one more thing to worry about in their impossible things to do list

And thinking this way they open a hole, a gap, in their spiritual wall.  When they don´t care about holiness they forget that this was one grand end and purpose for which Jesus came. 

 

There are people forgetting to observe the simplest ordinances. For example, dedicate one day a week to the Lord. With some frequency I hear people say "I have come to the service this morning to enjoy the rest of the sunday". Put yourself in the place of God by hearing it. It's like saying to your best  friend: “- I appreciate your company but for real I prefer other things!”

 

There is something missing in the contemporary church scene.

 

How valuable is  holiness for you? Follow the next steps and help yourself to find a diagnosis.

 

1.Is Your Obedience Known to All?

In most of Paul’s letters he gives his churches a lot of encouragement. He usually begins by saying something like, “I’m so thankful for you. You guys are awesome." He is very proud! And he didn´t had to wear a t-shirt or affix an sticker on his car to announce it. In Romans 16:19, for example, Paul says, “your obedience is known to all.”  Is obedience what your church is known for? Is it what other Christians think of when they look at your life? Is this even what you would want to be known for? The passion and prayer of the first Christians was for holiness. Can we honestly say our lives and our churches are marked by the same pursuit?

 

2. Is Your Heaven a Holy Place?

In Revelation 21 we see that the new Jerusalem is glorious—it shines with the radiance of God’s presence. The new Jerusalem is safe—there is no more suffering, no more chaos, no more enemies, and it is holy! 

Revelation 21:8 goes on to say, “as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.” No matter what you profess, if you show disregard for Christ by giving yourself over to sin—impenitently and habitually— then heaven is not your home.

It’s hard to imagine how we could enjoy heaven without holiness: if everything there is holy and nothing unholy can enter, even if you could enter heaven without holiness, what would you do? What joy would you feel there? What holy man or woman of God would you sit down with to have fellowship? Their pleasures are not your pleasures.  If worship does not capture your attention at present, what makes you think it will do it there? 

 

  “Sooner could a fish live upon a tree than the wicked in Paradise.”

Charles Spurgeon

 

3. Are You a Great Commission Christian?

Think about the Great Comisson! Now check the text  in Mattew 28:19–20. These verses are not just about making disciples but is also commands us to help each other to grow in obedience. 

 

We need to be Christians who will say with Paul, “Look carefully then how you walk” (Eph. 5:15).

 

If you think being a Christian is nothing more than saying a prayer or joining a church, then you’ve confused real grace with cheap grace. We are commanded to be holy, saved to be holy, and, in fact, we must be holy if we are to inherit eternal life.

 Shared by Ana

 



March 15

I need to be changed!

 

"That, however, is not the way of life you learned when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." (Ephesians 4:20-32)

 

Are you a believer? Or are you a born again?

There´s a difference between being a believer and being a born again…

 

Becoming a born again brings transformation!  Being a born again is much more than being a member of a church, to attend the services… You no longer have the same thoughts…  You don´t behave the same way…

You are supposed to be like Christ!

Have your faith led you to a new behave?

People will pay attention to you as long as you are a child of the light!

John 8:4-11: People will try to accuse you considering your past. But Jesus forgives us and gets us rid from our past sins.

Luke 19:1-10: Zacchaeus had his mind changed.

Acts 9: 1,3,13,17-22: Saul met God. He was filled the Holy Spirit and was transformed. And the transformartion reached people around him.

 

Matthew 26:69-75: Peter was not changed enough. But in John 21:15-17 we find that Peter had his chance. From this moment on he was changed. He denied Jesus but after he affirmed his love for Him. And in the book of Acts we see how many people this transformed Peter brought to God.

 

And you?

How much were you transformed?

How much do you love God?

 

Free briefing of Pastor Poliana de Carvalho´s preaching

 



 

 

 

 



March 8th

"Listen to me, you descendants of Jacob, all the remnant of the people of Israel, you whom I have upheld since your birth, and have carried since you were born.  Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you."

(Isaiah 46:3-4)

 

• God never changes
• People may disappoint you, because people change
• But the Lord is Lord before you were conceived. That´s why He never disappoints you
• There are situations you are passing or passed through, that only you and the Lord know

"This is what the Lord says— your Redeemer, who formed you in the womb:

I am the Lord, the Maker of all things, who stretches out the heavens, 

who spreads out the earth by  myself" (Isaiah 44:24)

• If we keep this in mind, it will be easier to leave anxiety behind
• If we live is for Him. If we die is with Him
• When you are under His hands, believe He is taking care

"Woe to those who quarrel with their Maker, those who are nothing but potsherds
    among the potsherds on the ground. Does the clay say to the potter,
    ‘What are you making?’ Does your work say, ‘The potter has no hands’?"

(Isaiah 45:9)

• Imagine a child complaining with his pediatrician: -I don´t agree with my treatment

 

• When you complain to God means that you don´t trust in God. Sounds that you don´t believe in Him for real
• Sounds also that you don´t believe that He knows you
• But the Lord formed you!

"I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you."

(Isaiah 46:4b)

"As He went along, He saw a man blind from birth.

 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him." (John 9:1-3)

• So don´t worry!
• Know the God you serve! It will be easier to serve Him!

Pr. Poliana de Carvalho

 



March 1st

Learning with them

 

 ^"The king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, whose names were Shiphrah and Puah, 

“When you are helping the Hebrew women during childbirth on the delivery stool, if you see that the baby is a boy, kill him; but if it is a girl, let her live.”

The midwives, however, feared God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them to do; they let the boys live. Then the king of Egypt summoned the midwives and asked them, “Why have you done this? Why have you let the boys live?”

The midwives answered Pharaoh, “Hebrew women are not like Egyptian women; they are vigorous and give birth before the midwives arrive.”

So God was kind to the midwives and the people increased and became even more numerous. And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families of their own."

(Exodus 1:15-21)

 

The midwife is the woman who watches a mother giving birth . Often the midwife is a friend, a neighbor, a member of the family. Generally, a woman who was particularly experienced in assisting in childbirth. Sometimes, these women were also mothers, they had learned from her own experience. Some midwives are professionals, performing this service as a full-time occupation. They are always ready to serve!

How were the midwives at that time?

     In the Bible we find as duties of the midwives:

• to cut the umbilical cord, to clean the baby, rub with salt and wrap it in strips , and then submit it to the father ( Ezekiel 16:4 )
•  to suggest a name for the child (Ruth 4:17)
• to advise and encourage the mother. to give tranquility and comfort (Genesis 35:17 , 1 Samuel 4:20 )
• if twins were born, the midwife had the responsibility of making the distinction between the first and second birth ( Genesis 38:28 ) .

Not always the mother had the benefit of a midwife . Mary , mother of Jesus , was alone with her husband when she gave birth to Jesus (Luke 2:7 ). And Mary gave birth in a stable, sharing the place with animals. In biblical times, the child did not begin life in a sterile hospital environment .

The two most famous midwives mentioned in the Bible are Shiphrah and Puah . They were the main midwives who attended the Hebrew women during the captivity in Egypt . They were extraordinarily courageous midwives .

Now imagine the situation of those midwives. They received and order from Pharaoh, but fearing God did not do what they were commanded . Obedience to God is always better than obedience to man . Those midwives could assign the death of the babies as accidents of birth. But to save the innocent children , they disobeyed Pharaoh with the excuse that the Hebrew women were more healthy and vigorous than the Egyptians. And the Bible says that because of their faithfulness to God, God was faithful and those midwives had their own families.

We can learn a lot with Shiprah and Puah!

A midwife helps a baby to be born. In the Bible, the new converted are compared to babies (1Corinthians 3:2).  So as we are evangelists, we are also midwives. We also help children to be born. Bringing to life reminds us of salvation.

At birth , there may be born more than one baby. But all babies are different , even twins have different characteristics and will require  specific knowledge. You can help four babies to be born at the same accoucher, but you will take one at time. Spritual babies too: everyone will demand a lot of attention, individually  and sometimes special attention .

How prepared are you? How many children are you planning on bringing to life?

The fear of God produced a blessing: God gave those midwives their own families. What does "Family" mean to you?

1. A husband, a wife, children?
2. The church you belong - God´s Family?
3. Spiritual babies?
4. Your particular ministry?

One way or another, considering all these meanings "family" can assume, in a birth different things can happen: a baby who was about to be born and stops; a baby can be born dead; a baby can be born as if it was dead; some babies scream a lot, some don´t; some babies are born with the cord wrapped on their necks - how many people come to us these days in this situation, with a "rope to their necks"; some chilbirths happen fast, some will need more time; some babies are healthy, some will need intensive care.

To be born hurts . When the baby's little lungs are filled with air, the first time, it hurts a lot, so they scream , cry loudly. Keep in mind that every change brings some pain! Realize that humans you will take care are limited ans sensitive!

We also need to understand that babies can not be brought into the world and left alone . Babies require care . So if your job is only to be a "midwife" know a good "baby-sitter" . A nanny with whom you can establish a partnership . Do not walk alone ! In the churches we have the evangelists and the consolidators! Know these ministries!

But, after Reading this text you may think: how could God bless the Hebrew midwives if they were disobedient to authority and lied?

The Bible declares that the authority is given by God (Rom. 1.3:1 ) and also that : " Lying lips are abomination to the Lord " (Prov. 12:22) . But Pharaoh ( king) of Egypt had given a direct order to the Hebrew midwives to kill the newborn Hebrew boys, but the midwives feared God and let the boys live. 

How then could God bless the midwives ?

God commands us to obey the government authority , but He also commands us not to kill anyone. The midwives had to choose between lying and disobeying or being compelled to kill innocent babies. They decided to obey the higher moral law . Obedience to parents is part of the moral law ( Ephesians 6:1 ) . But if a father or a mother gives orders to his son to murder a person or to worship an idol , he must refuse to obey. Jesus emphasized the need to obey the higher moral law when he said : " Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me " ( Mt 10:37) . Ask the Holy Spirit if you face a situation like this and He will instruct you! Everything that is done at home, at work, in secular life , or leisure must be done to glorify the name of God! 

 

 By Ana