quinta-feira, 31 de março de 2016

March 26, 2016




 "So she said to Abram, 'The Lord has kept me from having children.
Go, sleep with my slave; perhaps I can build a family through her.' "
(Genesis 16:2)
 
Sarah and Abraham received the revelation of a son. God promised them a seed.  God also promised them descendants that would be difficult to count. And what Sarah and Abraham did with this promise?

Revelations, promises and prophecies are different words with a very strong link. All of them have to do with God trying to explain men an attitude or wanting to advance in something that will be done. But, what for?
For men to be ahead!!!
To be ahead of the enemy!
To prepare men!

Sarah for instance, knowing she would be a mother should stop praying fpr a baby, but start praying to be a good mother... As for us: if God promised you an "opened door", stop praying for the door, and start praying to be prepared to go through the door! 
Sometimes we  pray wrong...

Where else do we fail concerning promises, revelations and  prophecies?
- In our haste! 
Promises, revelations and prophecies are made to give us security. Know God and expect them to be fulfilled. (Psalm 40.1) The Lord is very interested in fulfilling His words. (Jeremiah 1:12). Keep in mind that God counts time in a different way. (2Peter 3:8b)
-Try to "help" God
Sarah planned to be betrayed! And surely felt a lot of pain! 
-Succumb to worldly offerings 
There are many ooportunities, considered attractives, that consume our lives and take us a step away from the Lord and delaying our promises to happen. (II Corinthians 7:1). Search for a holy life.
-A heart not aligned with God´s heart God said to Abram, "Walk before me and be blameless" Genesis 17:1. w$hat God has for you has to do with a higher purpose. To be multiplied! To be testified! For the mae of God to be glorified! It goes beyond of just blessing you!
-Having a natural view, forgetting to see with spiritual eyes 
This may postpone the fullfilment of God´s plans. Why did Sarah wanted to be a mother? Maybe just to shut up her neighbors. Maybe just because of vanity. This way the motivation was wrong! If she knew the importance of her offsrping, she would probably have suffered less and caused less trouble for those around her. Imagine the pressure she made over Abraham... And the Word says: "All things work together for good to them that love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28)  
-Letting unbelief contaminate you 
Believe in God´s dreams! Sarah doubted so much that put the blame for not getting pregnant in God. Genesis 16:2:
New International Version (NIV): "so she said to Abram, "The LORD has kept me from having children. Go, sleep with my slave; perhaps I can build a family through her. "
Abram agreed to what Sarai said."
King James Version (KJV): "Sarai said unto Abram, Behold now, the LORD hath restrained me from bearing: I pray thee, go in unto my maid; it may be que I may obtain infor- children by her. And Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai."
Easy-to-Read Version (ERV): "Sarai Told Abram, "The LORD has not allowed me to have children, so sleep with my slave. Maybe she can have a son, and I will accept him to my own. "Abram did what Sarai said."
Amplified Bible (AMP): "So Sarai said to Abram, "See here, the LORD has Prevented me from bearing children. I am asking you to go in to [the bed of] my maid [so que she may bear you a child]; perhaps I will [a] Obtain children by her. "And Abram listened to Sarai and did the she said."
Contemporary Inglês Version (CEV): "and Sarai said to Abram, "The LORD has not given me any children. Sleep with my slave, and if she has a child, it will be mine. "[A] Abram agreed,"
But God spoke so many times to Abraham... 
Stay away from people who feed unbelief!
-Do not settle! Don´t give up! 
Don´t be lazy! Leave self-indulgence! Get out of your comfort zone. Keep on praying, fasting and worshiping God!
Ana

March 19, 2016

Jesus being present in difficult times
Matthew 24:22-33

Maybe you´re going through a particular storm...
You may be facing a turmoil on your marriage, ou your job...

It is amazing counting on Jesus in difficult times.
Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of Him to the other side, while  He dismissed the crowd.

Where was Jesus?
He was up in the mountains overlooking that sea.  He was there praying for them not fail the test He knew they must go through.

The boat trip, the storm, the tossing waves, the wind were all a part of a trial the Father had planned.

They were about to learn the greatest lesson they would ever learn - how to  recognize Jesus in the storm.

We have here many lessons we need to learn:
  1. Sometimes we don´t recognize Jesus (being present in difficult). Peter didn´t recognize Him at first. "When the disciples saw Him walking on the lake, they were terrified. 'It´s a ghost,' they said and cried out in fear."v.26
  2. Jesus made known to them by His Word. We can recognize Jesus walking over the water troubles through the Bible. "But Jesus immediately said to them: 'take courage! It is I. Don´t be afraid.' "v.27
  3. When Peter recognized that was Jesus at that moment walked toward Him on the water. " ' Come,' He said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus." v.29
  4. During difficult times the only thing we can do is cry out to the Lord: Lord save me!!! "But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and beginning to sink, cried out, 'Lord, save me!' "v.30 
  5. God shows mercy to us holding our hand. "Immediately Jesus reached out His hand and caught him. 'You of little faith,' He said, 'why did you doubt?"v.31
  6. Jesus ceased the storm. The Lord with His ever presence never fail. "And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down." v.32

Pr. Eduardo Gomes





quinta-feira, 17 de março de 2016

March 12, 2016

God of Chances
"for though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again, but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes." Proverbs 24: 16
 
Why do we have many chances?

1. Because God knows we are not perfect: We are not but God is perfect and He is interested in helping us to be perfect.
" Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect."
Matthew 5:48 

                                                                              
2. Because God knows there is a war between flesh and spirit: our flesh desires evil but out spirit desires the Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). We must fight against flesh! Keep your mind full of God!
"Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set 
on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance
 with the Spirit have their minds set 
on what the Spirit desires." Romans 8:5

3. Because God knows we are selfish: value others! Share God´s love! Share your testimonies and rejoice with others´ testimonies!
 "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,"(Phillipians 2:3)

4. Because God knows sometimes our faith is down
"And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." Hebrews 11:6


Examples of men who had a second chance in the Bible
1. Jonah (1:2,10;  2:9-10)
2. The woman caught in adultery (John 8:3-11)
3. Peter betrayed his very great friend (Luke 22:34)

Who among us has not needed at one time 
or another, a new chance from God?
  • A second chance to do right for our parents
  • A second chance at marriage
  • A second chance after wasting our youth
  • A second chance after wasting our money
  • A second chance after wasting our talents
  • A second chance after wasting our promise
  • A second chance after wastinf our opportunities

From the message shared by Gustavo