Posts Tagged ‘Power’

18 Apr

HALLELUJAH CHRIST IS RISEN!

Posted by AgapeFocus in Hallelujah Christ Is Risen.. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , .

We shall continually rejoice in his great love. The Holy Ghost who was responsible for the birth of Jesus, also took active part in raising him up from the grave! Glory be to God!

But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
Romans 8:11.
May we continually experience the transforming power of the Resurrection of Christ. Amen. Rejoice in the LORD always. Shalom.

24 May

DAILY NUGGETS

Posted by AgapeFocus in AGAPE NUGGETS, DAILY NUGGETS. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

The sick needs healing. The bereaved or lonely needs comfort, support and encouragement. The fearful and the oppressed need deliverance, courage and faith in God. Jesus Christ is strong and able to meet all of these needs, and much more.

When you and your family wonder why your loved one should die or become bedfast as a result of the COVID-19 Pandemic or get agitated because of the lockdown; Stop. Look up to God. Call upon Him. Tell Him all of your problems. The LORD God, who is rich in mercies shall answer you and come to the rescue. There is healing in the blood of Jesus. There is healing in the mighty name of Jesus. The bereaved needs comfort: Jesus said: Let not your heart be troubled: You believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house there are many mansions. If it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you; I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there you may be also. John 14:1-3.

For the Christians who have physically lost relations or friends, be comforted in the words of Jesus. He said further: I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me, though he dies, yet shall he live. And whosoever lives and believes in me, shall never die. Do you believe this? John 11: 25-26. Jesus said these words at Bethany, where he responded to the call of Mary and Martha, who earlier sent for Him while their brother Lazarus was very sick. Lazarus had died before Jesus arrived in the town. Jesus went ahead to the tomb of Lazarus and called him from the dead; on his fourth day in the tomb, already decomposing and stinking! Remarkably, Lazarus came out alive, walking, with the grave clothing wrapped around him. Jesus commanded that the men around should loose him, free to go; fully restored back to life. What a miracle!

Nothing is too hard for Jesus, who is the Author and the Prince of life. Jesus said: I am the way, the truth and the life. No man comes to the Father except by me. John 14:6. When a Christian dies, it is not over or finished for him or her. The spirit goes to God the Maker. His body which housed the spirit and soul had died and gets buried or cremated. In addition, believers who die have only gone to rest in anticipation of the glorious Resurrection morning. That is when we who are alive shall be transformed with new bodies to meet those saints who died recently and long time ago, in the air; as Jesus Christ shows up in the skies to gather us to Himself. Thenceforth, we shall be with Jesus and be also reunited with our departed ones. Therefore, we should not be sad and discouraged like the hopeless ones. Let this great assurance comfort us. 1 Thess. 4: 13-18. Cheer up! Look at these comforting words in 1Corinthians 15:51-53: Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, vs 52 – In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. vs 53 – For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal [must] put on immortality.

At the resurrection, our new bodies, our sanctified souls and our saved spirits shall unite. And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and [I pray God] your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1Thess. 5:23. At the first Resurrection; the body is raised from the dead or renewed or shall we say, transformed.

The living Christian would not taste physical death. The body shall be united with the spirit and soul. Brethren, please cheer up and be comforted. The weary, hungry, thirsty, oppressed, cheated, harassed or lost have hope and deliverance through Jesus. He also said: Come unto me all you who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11: 28. This is a great exchange. You drop your burdens with Jesus, while Jesus gives you his peace and solutions in exchange. He offers relief and solution to your heartfelt problems and needs. Come, just as you are. Come trusting. Come believing. Come now. Call upon Him. He shall answer you. Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Romans 10:13.

28 Aug

FLEE TO SAFETY

Posted by AgapeFocus in Christian Living, Resisting Sin. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

The following verses of the Bible are a few of many of such that are helpful in emphasising purity and sexual fidelity. We should empasise this more during these days of laxity and permissiveness, under the pretentious guise of political correctness.

1 Corinthians 6:20 – For you have been bought with a price, therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, both of which belong to God.

Ephesians 5:3 – But fornication, and all uncleaness, with covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as befitting and expected of saints.

Colossians 3:5 – Mortify (That is put to death and think and regard as dead) therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleaness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence and covetousness which is idolatry;
1 Corinthians 6: 18 – Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is outside the body, but he who commits fornication sinneth against his own body.             Joseph said to the wife of his master Portiphar, who persistently tempted him with sexual immorality: 

“There is no one greater in this house than I; neither has he kept anything from me except you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?” – Genesis 39: 9.

There is the need to stand our grounds and refuse to yield to the pressure of sin. You should avoid any pleasure that leads to sin. A minimum of five minutes of wrongful enjoyment of sexual intimacy would have led to an everlasting sorrow of loss and condemnation. When the evil woman persisted and tried to force herself physically upon Joseph, the young man released his clothe to her and fled from her presence. The clothe was used shortly after as an exhibit to bring false accusation of rape against Joseph. However, it was good that Joseph fled, leaving his clothe with her. Joseph was wrongly jailed. However, the truth prevailed eventually and in a miraculous turn of events, the divine giftings in the life of Joseph made a way for him. That led to Joseph’s vindication by the king of Egypt, Pharaoh. Joseph had interpreted dreams in the prison for two of Pharaoh’s senior officers who were temporarily jailed while being investigated for alleged offences. Accurately, in line with Joseph’s interpretation of their dreams, one, the King’s cup bearer was pardoned and restored to his office. The second officer, the butler, was found guilty and executed, just as Joseph interpreted  his dream. A time came that Pharaoh dreamt twice and nobody could interprete his dreams. The king was so much troubled that the restored cup bearer was forced to remember his experience with Joseph in the prison. Joseph was promptly cleaned up and ushered into the king’s presence. For interpreting Pharaoh’s dreams, Joseph was elevated from being a prisoner to become the Prime Minister of Egypt. It surely pays to uphold fidelity and integrity. It is important to resist sin. God rewarded him for his stand. Joseph did not stand up once, but he persisted in upholding fidelity and purity in the face of mounting pressure from the mistress of his boss. Ease and temporary pleasure of sin were not permitted to block his reasoning of the eternal blessing that godliness gives. He focussed on God. Each time Joseph resisted the evil woman, he acquired inward strength to fight future battles. When the pressure became too much, he fled, leaving his clothing. He fled in order to be able to fight another day. His fleeing was not an act of cowardice, but a wise military strategy. Staying on in front of the evil woman would have made him fall! He gained a new level of stability to fight the moral battle. In the same way, each ground or level of victory gained helps us to have future victories in life. There is a time to stand up to fight. There is a time to stand still and trust God to fight for you. When Joseph was jailed, he trusted God to fight for him. He stood still and looked up to God. There is a time to flee from sin, when the pressure becomes too much. Flee and replan. Do not become a foolish victim. The truth always prevails. Portiphar’s wife was ready to pollute her matrimonial bed at all costs; even with a slave! Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled, but whoremongers and adulterers God would judge. Hebrews 13:4. It is important for every man to have his own wife and every woman to have her own husband. 1 Corithians 7: 1-5. Grace be with you.

28 Aug

FLEE TO SAFETY

Posted by AgapeFocus in Christian Living, Resisting Sin. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

The following verses of the Bible are a few of many of such that are helpful in emphasising purity and sexual fidelity. We should empasise this more during these days of laxity and permissiveness, under the pretentious guise of political correctness.

1 Corinthians 6:20 – For you have been bought with a price, therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, both of which belong to God.

Ephesians 5:3 – But fornication, and all uncleaness, with covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as befitting and expected of saints.

Colossians 3:5 – Mortify (That is put to death and think and regard as dead) therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleaness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence and covetousness which is idolatry;
1 Corinthians 6: 18 – Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is outside the body, but he who commits fornication sinneth against his own body.             Joseph said to the wife of his master Portiphar, who persistently tempted him with sexual immorality: 

“There is no one greater in this house than I; neither has he kept anything from me except you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?” – Genesis 39: 9.

There is the need to stand our grounds and refuse to yield to the pressure of sin. You should avoid any pleasure that leads to sin. A minimum of five minutes of wrongful enjoyment of sexual intimacy would have led to an everlasting sorrow of loss and condemnation. When the evil woman persisted and tried to force herself physically upon Joseph, the young man released his clothe to her and fled from her presence. The clothe was used shortly after as an exhibit to bring false accusation of rape against Joseph. However, it was good that Joseph fled, leaving his clothe with her. Joseph was wrongly jailed. However, the truth prevailed eventually and in a miraculous turn of events, the divine giftings in the life of Joseph made a way for him. That led to Joseph’s vindication by the king of Egypt, Pharaoh. Joseph had interpreted dreams in the prison for two of Pharaoh’s senior officers who were temporarily jailed while being investigated for alleged offences. Accurately, in line with Joseph’s interpretation of their dreams, one, the King’s cup bearer was pardoned and restored to his office. The second officer, the butler, was found guilty and executed, just as Joseph interpreted  his dream. A time came that Pharaoh dreamt twice and nobody could interprete his dreams. The king was so much troubled that the restored cup bearer was forced to remember his experience with Joseph in the prison. Joseph was promptly cleaned up and ushered into the king’s presence. For interpreting Pharaoh’s dreams, Joseph was elevated from being a prisoner to become the Prime Minister of Egypt. It surely pays to uphold fidelity and integrity. It is important to resist sin. God rewarded him for his stand. Joseph did not stand up once, but he persisted in upholding fidelity and purity in the face of mounting pressure from the mistress of his boss. Ease and temporary pleasure of sin were not permitted to block his reasoning of the eternal blessing that godliness gives. He focussed on God. Each time Joseph resisted the evil woman, he acquired inward strength to fight future battles. When the pressure became too much, he fled, leaving his clothing. He fled in order to be able to fight another day. His fleeing was not an act of cowardice, but a wise military strategy. Staying on in front of the evil woman would have made him fall! He gained a new level of stability to fight the moral battle. In the same way, each ground or level of victory gained helps us to have future victories in life. There is a time to stand up to fight. There is a time to stand still and trust God to fight for you. When Joseph was jailed, he trusted God to fight for him. He stood still and looked up to God. There is a time to flee from sin, when the pressure becomes too much. Flee and replan. Do not become a foolish victim. The truth always prevails. Portiphar’s wife was ready to pollute her matrimonial bed at all costs; even with a slave! Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled, but whoremongers and adulterers God would judge. Hebrews 13:4. It is important for every man to have his own wife and every woman to have her own husband. 1 Corithians 7: 1-5. Grace be with you.

4 Jul

THE POWER IN THE NAME OF JESUS

Posted by AgapeFocus in Jesus Died For Everybody, The Power in the Name of Jesus. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , .

Before Jesus was born as a baby in Bethlehem he pre-existed with his Father, the Almighty God. Part of this is revealed in the Intercessory prayers he made as recorded by John(John 17: 1-5). Jesus speaks of his pre-incarnation glory before the world was made! His birth in human form was prophesied and fulfilled. His ministry, betrayal, trial, flogging with stripes, the mockery of a trial given to him by the Jewish leaders and the Roman governor called Pilate; his crucifixion, death, burial, resurrection and ascension into heaven were all prophesied and literally fulfilled. Jesus Christ died for every human being, without exception. His coming back again into this world has been prophesied. My friend, only a fool would wish away the literal fulfilment of the second coming of Jesus Christ! I advice you; please do not be foolish. By written records, by traditional narratives, through authentic archaeological discoveries, the historical, scholarly, legal and factual reality of the imposing presence of Jesus Christ in human and world history cannot be denied! The only empty tomb(not a cenotaph) in history is that of Jesus of Nazareth! The other similitude of an empty tomb is that of Joseph. In Egypt, the tomb of Joseph, the Hebrew Governor of all Egypt, became empty because by his special, prophetic instruction and request. His bones were removed for reburial when the Hebrew nation was set free from Egyptian slavery through the ministry of Moses and Aaron! Those bones were reburied in the Cave of Machpelah. It is the same tomb which houses the remains of Jewish Patriarchs and Matriarchs as Abraham, Isaac, Jacob(called Israel), other sons of Jacob, Sarah, Rebekah and Leah. Therefore, in reality, the only empty tomb is that of Jesus Christ! Jesus Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures. He rose again the third day according to the scriptures. He was seen by Mary of Magdala, Peter, the 11 remaining disciples and by over 500 brethren at once. Paul saw the risen Christ later. Some Christians in modern times have testified to seeing Jesus Christ. These are true witnesses, because the testimonies of the lives of these men and women ring true and powerful; bring glory to God and were and still are blessings to their generations! Jesus Christ commanded and commissioned his followers to preach and teach the good news of salvation to all the people of the world. The Holy Spirit was promised to come upon the followers and help them to fulfil the great commission. Truly the Holy Spirit came 50 days after on the Jewish festival of Pentecost. All these were literally fulfilled. Jesus Christ humbled himself to the lowest depth. As the Son of God, he emptied himself of all glory of his divinity. He left heaven and came to the earth. He became a man in order to rescue all human beings from eternal ruin! He subjected himself to human control under his mother Mary and Joseph, his adopted earthly father. He was obedient to his parents as well as to the laws of the land where he lived. He paid tax. He subjected himself to inhumane treatment,insults,beating with stripes and unjust trials. He was crucified; he died and was buried. The death on the cross was the worst way to die in those days! It was meant for great criminals! It was and still is a curse for anyone to die on the cross! By his death on the cross, Jesus Christ fulfilled the demands of the law of God! The law was given in order to expose the sinfulness and wickedness of sin. Without the law, there would have been no sin! No man was able to meet up to the expectations of the law. If a man complied with nine out of the Ten Commandments, but failed in one; he was still guilty of death! Who then could satisfy the Holy Almighty God? Nobody! God himself had to come down to this earth on the mission to rescue man from sin and eternal death! God came in the person of Jesus Christ, who did fulfil the demands of the law and pacified the offended God! The Bible states that Abraham believed God and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Anyone; whether Jew or Gentile who trusts and obeys God is counted along as children of Abraham. Anyone who depends on his ability to keep the law or on his own self righteousness is under the curse. The reason for the curse is that no one is able to keep the whole law; since its partial fulfilment was and still is unacceptable to God. The good news is that Christ has done it for all of mankind! It is written: For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for The just shall live by faith. And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them. Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree. That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.(Galatians 3:6-14). As a result of what Jesus did, the Almighty God gave all the powers in heaven, on earth and under the earth to be under the authority of that name. God gave Jesus a name that is above every name. Jesus stooped down to the lowest level, but God in return raised Jesus to the highest heights! God highly exalted Jesus Christ and gave him that highly honoured, respected and respectable name! God Almighty wills it and commands it that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE should bow, of THINGS IN HEAVEN AND THINGS IN EARTH; And that EVERY TONGUE should confess that JESUS IS LORD TO THE GLORY OF GOD THE FATHER. (Emphasis is ours). Before his ascension into heaven Jesus Christ emphasised the power and authority in his name. He said: Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believes shall be saved; but he that believes not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; IN MY NAME shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. In obedience to our Lord’s command, the early disciples went out to preach the gospel. The Lord worked with them. They were proof producers, because The Lord confirmed their words with signs following. Today the name of Jesus has not lost the power. Every Christian is called, cleansed,commissioned,empowered and authorised. Perhaps you are not sure of your relationship with Jesus Christ yet. There is present grace for you if you would call upon the name of Jesus; that wonderful and powerful name. The Bible states: “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth The Lord Jesus, and shall believe in thine heart that God raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” My friend, there is no discrimination. Both Jews and Gentiles are welcome by God Almighty. Anyone who comes to God, trusting and obeying God shall not be ashamed. “Whosoever shall call upon the name of The Lord shall be saved.” For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him shall nor perish, but have everlasting life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. The blood of Jesus was shed on the cross. That was the giving of the life of Jesus; because the life of the soul is in the blood! There is power in the blood of Jesus! There is power in the name of Jesus. There is healing in the name of Jesus. There is restoration of relationships and marriages in the name of Jesus. There is salvation in the name of Jesus! Jesus said that he is in union with his Father God. Both his words and works originate from God the Father. He then said these words: Verily, verily I say unto you; He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask anything in my name, I will do it. Call upon Jesus now. Have you done your asking? Please do. (Please read Genesis 1: 26-31; 3:15; Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 2:19-25; 23:1-20; 25: 7-10; Numbers 21:5-9; John 3:14-17; Genesis 49:10; Isaiah 53:1-12; Psalms 22:1,18, 69:21; Matthew 27:34,35,46,48; Matthew 28: 1-20; 1 Corinthians 15: 1-58; Philippians 2:5-11; Mark 16:15-20; Romans 10:9-13; John 14: 10-14).