LUKE 6:35 LOVE YOUR ENEMIES

S - Luke 6:35 (NIV)

³⁵ But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.

O – 1. Love your enemies

2. Do good to them

3. Lend to them without expecting anything back.

4. Reward will be great

5. Will be children on most high

6. He is Kind to the ungrateful and wicked.

A – We can love the people who are nice to us and treat us well. But can we be equally be nice to the ones who mistreat us, who hates us and make us suffer? No!! our flesh doesn’t allow that. But that is what Christ call us to do. We need to be good to people no matter what they did to us and never expect anything back from them. We need to die to our fleshly nature not to hold the grudge against them. We are the children of the most high and He calls us to transform to His image. He died for us who did not deserve this precious sacrifice. How cruel the people were to the Lord!! And How they crucified Him who did nothing but heal and love people!!! Did He stop then and ask “Why am I doing all this for these unworthy lot?” No, He didn’t!! He died for us, He knows our weakness. When we do in the same manner He will be honored and He will reward us for it.

P – Precious Heavenly Father, How tough it is to forgive and forget what people have done and love them with all our hearts. Yes, When I see the person I can remember the wrong that they had done. Let me able to see them through your eyes, how you see - not the sin in us but your own image. Help me to see them as your children and lead them to you. I know I have the strength of the Holy Spirit within me and I can love just as you have loved each one of us.

In Jesus mighty name,

Amen

PROV 27:17 SHARPEN ONE ANOTHER

S – As Iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.

O – One iron sharpens another

A – We are called to encourage and correct one another. We sometimes overlook the wrongdoings of our friends or loved ones since we feel that by correction we may hurt them. But this is not what the word teaches us. We need to sharpen each other. If we feel that a loved one is back sliding in faith then we should correct them and bring them back. It might be difficult to implement but the end result is very good.

P – Father Lord, Enable me to correct anyone so as to bring them into correct faith and also help to accept the correction when it is done to sharpen me. Enable me to be rooted in the word so that I may be sharpened in knowing your will and in turn sharpen others.

In Jesus name I pray

AMEN

ECC 4:9-10 - TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE

S -  Ecc 4:9-10
9 Two are better than one,
    because they have a good return for their labor:
10 If either of them falls down,
    one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls
    and has no one to help them up.
O - 
1. Two is better than one
2. Good return for their labor
3. One fall – other helps.
A-
  God has created us to be social beings. After He created Adam, God said in Genesis Vs 2:18 "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him." and later He made Eve. In this way God has created in us a need to be loved, to be with each other and to help one another. Nothing should keep us busy so as to miss this companionship. This is also very helpful with spiritual life partners, where when one is down the other can encourage, when one is back sliding the other can bring him back. They can encourage each other to bring back their focus on the Lord. 
                   In my life I have been blessed with a blessed family, good friends, supporting colleagues and encouraging fellow believers. But many a times, the busyness of life has kept me distracted and I took it for granted that I am too busy to have time with them. I would like to make an intentional effort with God’s grace to be in companionship with whomsoever God has placed in my life and extend a helping hand or word of encouragement to any one in need.

P - 
Abba Father,
I realize that I have a lot to grow in this area. I want to love and help all the people that I have in my life. Help me to understand them and to lovingly help them in whatever situation they are in.  Open my eyes to empathize and understand others. In all my words and actions, Let your glory be revealed and let the focus always be upon you.
In Jesus’ precious name I pray
AMEN.

PROVERBS 6:12-15 A TROUBLE MAKER IS ON THE WAY TO HIS DOOM

Scripture:

Proverbs 6:12-15

¹² A troublemaker and a villain,

    who goes about with a corrupt mouth,

¹³     who winks maliciously with his eye,

    signals with his feet

    and motions with his fingers,

¹⁴     who plots evil with deceit in his heart—

    he always stirs up conflict.

¹⁵ Therefore disaster will overtake him in an instant;

    he will suddenly be destroyed—without remedy.

Observations:

1.    Trouble maker’s characteristics

a.    Corrupt Mouth

b.    Winks maliciously with eyes

c.    Signals with his feet

d.    Motions with fingers

e.    Plots evil with heart

f.     Stirs up conflict

2.    Result of Trouble Making

a.    Disaster will overtake him

b.    He will be destroyed without remedy.

Application:

 A trouble maker and a villain always stirs up conflict. A believer should be careful while dealing with such people and also beware of any of these characteristics in the believer’s life. I need to recognize a trouble maker and need to be careful not to be misled into his traps. These might be normal people who I deal with in my daily life, the characteristics listed helps us to recognize such people. They always want to bring a conflict. They create trouble among the people. They have an evil heart which cooks up evil. We need to be alert of such people and make sure that we don’t join in their foolish talks.

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.  (Eph 4:29)

Further, God doesn’t want us to have any of these characteristics. He wants us to be pure as he had made us and does not want any part of our body being involved in evil especially our tongue. We are carriers of Christ and hence the words we speak should glorify Him and encourage others. By letting go of our whole selves for guidance under the Holy Spirit can help us to achieve this. The words and actions of the trouble makers will get them into doom / destruction for their evil doing. He will take on the wrath of God and will be destroyed if he doesn’t turn back from his sins and come back to the father.

Prayer:

Abba father,

I realise how precious we are to you. You don’t want us to me taken over by evil. You want us pure. Help me to grow into your image each day as I deal with the daily matters. Let my mouth never talk evil but only have words which pleases you. I seek your blessings on me to be completely led by your holy spirit so as to have the right actions and words fit for the daughter of the King, My Lord Jesus Christ.  

In your precious name I pray

AMEN

ROMANS 15:7 ACCEPT ONE ANOTHER

S - Romans 15:7New International Version (NIV)

⁷ Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.

O – ACCEPT OTHERS AS CHRIST ACCEPETED YOU

      BRING PRAISE TO GOD

A – God has placed us in a community and has a special purpose for us. It is very easy to accept people of similar background, nationality, interests etc. We can go along with them well. What about the people who are different from us? Do we accept them to our group or do we neglect them? Christ never discriminated us based on how we are- good or bad, rich or poor, young or old. He died for all us equally – believers and Non believers. We, who are called to transform to His image, should do the same. We need to accept all in the same way and in this way we bring glory to God. I will, with the help of the Holy Spirit, treat all alike and love them all in the same way and in this way I bring praise to His precious name.

P – Abba Father, Help me to be like you father. I want to see everyone through you eyes of compassion and love not their outward appearance or behavior. Enable me to never be biased in my behavior but get along with everyone for your glory, Father. Let your glory be revealed in all my relationships.

In Jesus’ Precious name, I pray

AMEN

PHIL 2:3-5 MINDSET OF JESUS - HUMILITY

S - Philippians 2:3-5New International Version (NIV)
3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

O - 
 N O
1. Selfish Ambition
2. Vain Conceit
3. Look at our own interests
YES
1.  Humility
2.  Value others above ourselves
3.  Look at interests of others
4. Have same mindset as Christ Jesus

A – This current world has become a world of selfies where the highlight is on self. It is more about “What About me?” attitude that we have. We want to be happy. What is our rights? How can this benefit me? Etc  But this is not what Christ wants us to be. We are to value others above ourselves. Its quite a difficult task because our flesh find its very difficult to let go of pride and ego. But this not what we as believers are called for. We need to put on the mindset of Christ. We have experience his love and compassion and this is the same we need to give others. My mentor explained about justified anger today in class where she mentioned that justified anger is when we are right and other is for sure not and hence it is very difficult to let go of that anger. But no we need to look upon God and remember that he died for us while we were yet sinners. We did not deserve it but he did because it was the right thing to do and He valued our lives higher to his out of His great love for us, Same way we need to let go of all the pride and value others above us.

P – Father, You portrayed humility, love and compassion at all times and I really don’t deserve it. Help me to pass on the same to people around me.  Enable me to be of service to others and always treat them with humility and keep their interests above mine. Enable me to have a deep relationship with you so that I may produce the fruit of the spirit so that I may be able to serve the community you have placed me in.
In Jesus precious name I pray
AMEN

JOHN 13:14-15 EXAMPLE OF SERVANTHOOD

S - John 13:14-15 (NIV)

14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.

O – 1. Now that I washed ….You also should

2. set you an example.

A - As we continue our life with Christ as the Lord, we are called to transform into His image. This image is not a strange or fictional image but one which was shown by our Lord in His human form while in his flesh. Hence it is not something which is impossible to achieve but requires more dying to self or overcoming fleshly desires of pride, ego etc. If our Lord could bring himself down to such a lower position of washing His disciples feet then how much more should we His mere creations?

   I need to break my comfort zone and bring myself to be more helpful to others. Whether small or Big, I will imbibe service as a regular part of my life. I will lean on the Holy Spirit without whose help I cannot do it.

P – Abba Father, I know that I have a lot to learn in this section of serving others. Enable me to reflect this servant hood mentality of yours and be of support and service to others. Enable me to be fully led by the spirit so as to overcome my fleshly weakness of pride.
In Jesus Name I pray, AMEN

JOHN 15:5 APART FROM HIM WE ARE NOTHING

S - John 15:5 (NIV)

⁵ “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

O – Jesus = Vine, We = Branches

Remain in Him and Him in us

Bear much fruit

Apart from Him we can do nothing

A - We, as branches, need to stay connected to the Vine, Jesus, to be bear abundant fruit. We can abide in him and him in us only through our faith in Him. This faith is derived from the knowledge of Him through the word. By earnestly seeking Him in the word, His commands are hidden in our heart and we learn to walk in a path of Trust and Obedience. This is the process of sanctification where we enter into a process of being transformed into His image. We can try to be  do things by our abilities, strength , power and influences, But it will not yield good results, But when we learn to trust Him and surrender ourselves to His control and yield ourselves to the Holy Spirit then we are operating on His strength and this never run outs.

P – Abba Father, I want to stay connected to you by all means. I know that I am nothing without you. Enable me to seek you in the word and always communicate with you in humble prayers. Let there be no thoughts separating me from you as we need to be in prefect union. I pray to be filled up with your loving presence so that I may live a life according to your will and bear the fruit of the Spirit.

In Jesus name I pray

AMEN

EPHESIANS 3:18-19 IMMEASURABLE LOVE OF GOD

 

S - Ephesians 3:18-19 (NIV)

 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

O – 1. Power to grasp the width / length / height / depth of God’s love

2. Together with Lord’s holy people

3. This is love that surpasses all knowledge

4. filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

 

A – These verses are so beautiful. Just reading it can bring a smile on your face and make you feel the love. How awesome!!!! It highlights that we need His strength and power (which is none other than the Holy Spirit) to feel the fullness of His love. No human brain can comprehend the height, depth, width or length of our heavenly father’s love for us. These verses goes on to explain that we not only have to understand this awesome love but need to experience this love of Christ to be filled with fullness of God.

       I would apply it to me life in this manner. I will never base my happiness on the love of the world or any material aspects. My father’s love for me is beyond measurement and I want to be basked in it. Nothing can take the place of this love.With the help of the Holy Spirit I will understand and fully experience my father’s love. And this love is not only for me to enjoy but together with all Lord’s people which means that I have to share this joy with many others so that they too may understand and experience it themselves. Unless we are rooted in this deep love of the Lord we cannot be filled with His holy presence.

 

P – Abba Father, I am so privileged to be your daughter who is loved to such an extent. Your word promises it and you always keep your promises. You are a faithful God. I know that I can understand and experience this love through your promising word and help me to plunge deep into your word and seek you. Enable me, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to never forget this love and not place my happiness on on anyone or anything. During times of stress let me able to sit down and just simply feel this divine love. Only you Lord can give me this guaranteed love and I simply love you.

In Jesus precious name, AMEN

 

 

JOHN 14:18 GOD MAKES A HOME IN US

S – John 14:18 (NIV) I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.
John 14:23 (NIV) Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.

O - 1. Come to us
     2. Loves Jesus = Obey His teaching
     3. In turn the Father will love us
     4. Come and Make a home in us

A – Once we choose to obey Jesus and accept Him as a savior and Lord of our life, The Holy Spirit comes to dwell in us. We are now a new creation. We are not ruled by sin anymore but by our Lord. The Holy Spirit is the guide and counselor, who will convict me of any wrong doings and lead me to the right path. I will surrender my whole self to be led by the Holy Spirit. This gift of Holy Spirit is out of greatest love of the Lord through Jesus Christ and is given to us until His second coming. In this way we are never alone since He has made a home in us.

P – Abba father, Thank you for providing us with a guide and advocate to remind us of your commands. Enable me to surrender to the guidance of the Holy Spirit so that I may live a life according to your will. I experience your great love at all times as I know that you live in me. Enable me to grow more mature in you each day as I transform into your image.
In Jesus precious name I pray
AMEN

EPHESIANS 2:6-7 INCOMPARABLE RICHES OF HIS GRACE

 

 

S - And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 2:6-7 NIV)

O - 1. God raised us up with Christ.
2. God seated us with Him in Christ.
3. This is to show incomparable riches of His grace
4. It is expressed by kindness to us in Christ Jesus

A - We had fallen into the deep pit of sin. But our father who had created us in His own image didn't want to lose us and he, out of His love, raised us up with Christ and placed us in heavenly places. His incomparable riches can be seen over the ages and this revelation is out of His greatest kindness to us.

P - Dear Lord, help me to understand the greatest privilege I have in you through Lord Jesus Christ. Enable me to understand your grace on my life which is really undeserving. Let me never be distracted by any matters of this world so as to take away my focus on your loving kindness.
In Jesus' precious name I pray, AMEN

MADE FOR COMMUNITY - STUDY

 

Hi Readers,

 

I am doing the Made for Community study from Love God Greatly Blog

http://www.lovegodgreatly.com/2015/01/week-1-made-community-god/#comments

I just love it. See Posts on my Quiet Times in SOAP Format

 

Yours Sincerely

Pri_Ash

 

PROVERBS 5:15-20 MAINTAIN PURITY IN YOUR MARRIAGE

Passage:

Proverbs 5:15-20New International Version (NIV)

¹⁵ Drink water from your own cistern,
    running water from your own well.
¹⁶ Should your springs overflow in the streets,
    your streams of water in the public squares?
¹⁷ Let them be yours alone,
    never to be shared with strangers.
¹⁸ May your fountain be blessed,
    and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth.
¹⁹ A loving doe, a graceful deer—
    may her breasts satisfy you always,
    may you ever be intoxicated with her love.
²⁰ Why, my son, be intoxicated with another man’s wife?
    Why embrace the bosom of a wayward woman?

Truths :

Promises to keep: MAINTAIN THE PURITY IN MARRIAGE.

Application:

How beautifully these verse speak of the purity which God desires in our marriage? The sin of adultery can destroy this pure institution. God has selected a partner for each of us. We are to love and enjoy our spouse. They might not be perfect and may not fulfil all our requirements, but they are our God given partners and we are to love them. Christ loved us in all our weaknesses and we should reflect Christ’s personality in our relationships also. Many people are dissatisfied and search for other means to satisfy their loneliness and sinful desires. But this is highly displeasing as this is not God’s will as is clearly portrayed in these verses.

                          

Prayer :

Abba father,

Thank you for the blessed married life you have given me. I know that we are not perfect and many a times have fallen short of your expectations. But I know you love us and would never condemn us. I submit my marriage into your hands – purify it just as you would want it to be. Never let us allow the devil to enter our loving relationship and create havoc. Help us to be faithful to each other at all times. Help me to be a powerful praying wife who would always uphold my husband into your hands. We seek your presence in our marriage and be a witness of your glory.

In Jesus’ mighty name I pray

Amen.

PROVERBS 5:11-14 HEED TO THE ADVICES OF THE FATHER OR BE SORRY LATER

Passage :

Proverbs 5:11-14

¹¹ and at the end of your life you groan,
    when your flesh and body are consumed,
¹² and you say, “How I hated discipline,
    and my heart despised reproof!
¹³ I did not listen to the voice of my teachers
    or incline my ear to my instructors.
¹⁴ I am at the brink of utter ruin
    in the assembled congregation.”

Truths:

Promise to Keep: Heed to godly wisdom or regret later.

Understanding:

1.       When sin takes over us, our whole flesh and body is consumed.

2.       Once we fall into the deep hole of sin, we will remember the no: of times God disciplined us and corrected us but how we overlooked all the advices and warnings and went into darkness.

3.       We will remember how God had used many people to make us understand His will.

Application:

‘Prevention is better than cure” is a quote which comes to my mind as I read these verses. Before we fall into any sin, Holy Spirit warns us. God may use many mediums to reach us and help us to select the right paths. He is a disciplining father who wants the best for me. I need to heed to His warning and move into that direction. Sin is like a consuming fire which can eat up the body and soul. Even though we may recover from it, the past may haunt us or people would still rebuke us. So it is much better to be lead by the father at all times so as not to fall into the pit of sin.

Prayer:

Abba Father,

     I acknowledge that my flesh is weak and I need to depend on your strength to know the right and wrong. Enable me to seek your will in my life. Enable me to be guided by the counselor, the holy spirit at all instances. I submit my whole self to you father, mold me and make me into your likeness.

In Jesus' powerful name 

AMEN

PROVERBS 5:7-10 PATHS NOT TO TREAD ON

Passage:

Proverbs 5:7-10

⁷ Now then, my sons, listen to me;
    do not turn aside from what I say.
⁸ Keep to a path far from her,
    do not go near the door of her house,
⁹ lest you lose your honor to others
    and your dignity^[a] to one who is cruel,
¹⁰ lest strangers feast on your wealth
    and your toil enrich the house of another.

 

 

 

 

Prov 5:8

Keep to a path far from her, do not go near the door of her house,

 

Understanding

1. Avoid every scene of temptation

2. The respect we have earned so far can be lost.

3. Strangers will gain the wealth.

 

 

Application:

These verses prove how weak the flesh is and how easily we can fall into sin. We need to seek Godly wisdom in places we know that the flesh can be weak. We need to avoid such circumstances to the extent possible. If there are any chances to fall into adultery, we should avoid such places. As a pastor explained in a Marriage Seminar, " It is not the first look which is harmful, but the second look which can lead to sin" Yes , Let us intentionally avoid unwanted jokes, talks and company of friends of opposite gender which might be displeasing to God. Many a times we trust ourselves , but like my mentor, DrS explained in one of the classes " Don't give the devil a chance" These kind of displeasing events can lead us to lose complete respect and bring our whole life at stake.

 

 

Prayer :

Father Lord,

  There are many distractions in the world which can lead us to sin. Help us to seek your godly wisdom and choose the right path. Cover us with your precious blood so that we maintain our purest form. We submit all our relationships and friendships into your hands. Let each relationship give glory and honour to you and be pleasing in your sight. We seek the help of the Holy Spirit wherever we go and who ever we are with.

In you precious name I pray,

Amen