TEN GREAT THANK YOUs – A Reflection Exercise
By Rev. Hepsi
This reflection exercise invites you to express gratitude by identifying ten aspects of our faith for which we should be thankful as Christian believers. Take a moment to reflect deeply on each one and consider its impact on your life.
There are harvest festivals worldwide, in every culture. Thankfulness and gratitude are essential aspects of human nature and can be found in all cultures.
Celebrating is important. Jesus celebrated or observed all the Jewish feasts. Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” A life abundant is God’s desire for people. Irenaeus of Antioch, a theologian of the 2nd century, said, 'The glory of God is a human being fully alive.' Our God is about joy.
The Bible is rich in celebrations and giving thanks to God. Throughout the Book of Psalms, prayers and expressions of gratitude are offered to God. 'Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.' Psalm 118:1. Celebrations, including harvest festivals, thanksgiving offerings, and feasts, are mentioned. In the Book of Exodus, God instructs His people to celebrate feasts, “Celebrate the Festival of Harvest with the first fruits of the crops you sow in your field” Exodus 23:16. The concept of thanksgiving originates from the Bible.
Each year, when October and November come around, we enter the joyous season of Thanksgiving in North America. Everyone is welcome to join in the celebration of the Thanksgiving feast.
Many families encourage their members to write a list of things they are grateful for and to read it out during the feast. This practice fosters a deep sense of gratitude and appreciation for both our blessings and for one another. I believe that cultivating gratitude is essential for a fulfilling life. It enhances our well-being. Thankfulness and appreciation contribute to a healthy mind and body.
Let’s take a few minutes to reflect and thank God for the foundations of our faith. Our Christian belief is more than a religion; it is based on a personal relationship. Let us strive to know and understand God better as our relationship grows.
No.1: God made us in His image
God created the towering mountains, deep valleys, vast oceans, gentle breezes, and countless beautiful creatures that inhabit the land, water, and air. However, God made humanity in His image—body, soul, and spirit—with the ability to create and the responsibility to care for the earth, just as God does. Isn't it special to be created in the likeness of God?
Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals,[a]and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”
So God created mankind in his own image,
in the image of God he created them;
male and female he created them. Genesis 1: 26-27 NIV
Then God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it.
Genesis 1: 28 NLT
Adam and Eve had beautiful fellowship or communion with God. They walked and talked with God in Eden until rebellion separated them from Him.
Now each of us is unique, like the various colors of coats in our closet—black, white, red, and beige. We have both a physical (outer) and a spiritual body within. When we die, we set aside our physical bodies, similar to removing a coat, and ascend to heaven as spirit beings. Our minds and emotions remain intact, connected to the spirit body. God has done a wonderful job of creating each of us in His image. God is Spirit. One can easily grasp such biblical truths with the supernatural gift of faith. The Christian life is a life of faith. ‘We walk by faith, not by sight.’
God has given us the ability to create, govern, and take responsibility. He also designed us to have a close relationship with Him. The cycle of life continues year after year, without end. The Creator loves to create and longs for communion with us!
Let us say, "Lord, we thank You for making us in Your image!"
No. 2: God Grants Humans Wisdom and Understanding
To illustrate this, let’s consider the story of Job, a wise and upright man, who struggled to understand his suffering when calamity struck. The fascinating book of Job comprises many conversations, at the climax God speaks to Job and restores him.
“Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation?
Tell me, if you understand.
Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know!
Who stretched a measuring line across it?
On what were its footings set,
or who laid its cornerstone—
while the morning stars sang together
and all the angels[a]shouted for joy? Job 38: 4-7 NIV
Job responds to God:
My ears had heard of you
but now my eyes have seen you.
Therefore I despise myself
and repent in dust and ashes.” Job 42: 5-6 NIV
God’s greatness is beyond our understanding. However, God is relational. Like the wise old Job, it is important to remember that the Lord is God and we are not. God is the Creator, and we are His creation. He is the original, while we are merely reflections of Him. Job recognized his mistake of speaking too much and acknowledged the sovereignty of God in his life. In response to Job’s humility, God restored him completely and blessed him greater than before. As we go through the battles of life, we are perfected. We learn to know and trust God, and come to know ourselves.
Say: Lord, Thank You for giving us wisdom and understanding.
No. 3. God Is the Provider
Throughout Scripture, God revealed Himself as the provider of all good things. Both spiritual nourishment and the physical come from God. Let us examine the New Testament passage:
Then Jesus declared,“ I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty." John 6:35 NIV
In the Old Testament book of Exodus, God provides physical food for His people:
When the dew was gone, thin flakes like frost on the ground appeared on the desert floor. When the Israelites saw it, they said to each other, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was.
Moses said to them, “It is the bread the Lord has given you to eat. Exodus 16: 14-15 NIV
Later, Jesus offered Himself as a sacrifice on the cross for our redemption. He became the bread of life, the living water, and the light of life for all who believe. God restored communion with Him through Jesus’s blood.
In Scripture, God reveals Himself as our heavenly Father, demonstrating His love by providing for us and meeting our needs. He also embodies nurturing qualities often associated with a mother, reflecting both fatherly and motherly traits in His character.
Say: Lord, thank you for providing spiritual and physical nourishment and for being our divine parent who nurtures us.
No. 4: From Spiritual Darkness to the Eternal Light of Christ
When the world was enveloped in spiritual darkness, God sent His Son, Jesus. To deliver us from unawareness and bring us into the radiant light of Christ. Light signifies God's presence and favor (Psalm 27:1; Isaiah 9:2). It is associated with God, His Word, salvation, goodness, truth, and life.
Apostle Paul enunciates:
For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,”[a]made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:6.
For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Colossians 1: 13-14 NIV
Through His death, burial, and resurrection, Jesus destroyed the works of the devil. As a result, the dangerous powers of darkness—those of Satan, our enemy—have no power over those who are in Jesus Christ. God sent Jesus to break Satan's hold over us. Jesus broke the power of Satan and overcame all the demon forces of darkness. As Jesus ascended into Heaven, He led captivity captive. He spoiled principalities and powers and disarmed and stripped them of their power over us. (Colossians 2:15)
Christ brings us into His light and offers us a life of freedom in Him, so we have no reason to fear the dominion of darkness. Therefore, let us express our gratitude.
Say: Thank you, Lord, for delivering us from spiritual darkness into Your eternal light and truth.
No. 5: A Life that Is Abundant and Eternal
God is the author of life, the source of every good thing, yes, God is good. Notice Jesus’ words of life:
I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.
John 10: 28 NIV
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 NIV
The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. John 10:10 NKJV
When people believe and receive Jesus into their hearts, their names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. (Revelation 21:27) Some individuals may feel uncertain about it, but if you believe with your heart and confess Jesus as Lord with your mouth, there is no need for fear. Faith in God makes you confident. God is not an impersonal force; He is trustworthy and faithful. Jesus is our personal Savior so we can communicate with Him. To live the abundant Christian life, however, we must allow Jesus to live his life through us. We let Christ reign in us. God’s love motivates and empowers.
Say: Lord Jesus, we thank You, for You are the giver of life.
No. 6: The Gift of Forgiveness
Forgiveness is key in relationships. In life we all make mistakes, but there is hope. Jesus offers us forgiveness for our sins and teaches us to forgive others. Let us look at some passages in Scripture that shed light on this topic.
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23 NIV
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1: 9 NIV
...and forgive us our sins,
as we have forgiven those who sin against us. Matthew 6: 12 NLT
Just as a lifeguard rescues a drowning child from the waves at the beach, Jesus came to rescue us from eternal death and the devil. We have all sinned against God by living in rebellion until we meet our Savior, Jesus. He alone lived a sinless life and paid our sin debt in full. The blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin.
Offering forgiveness to someone is a sacred act. The Lord’s Prayer that Jesus taught His disciples is one of the most powerful prayers that we can say, through which, we can forgive those who have hurt us and pray for those who need forgiveness.
Say: Lord, we thank You for the incredible gift of forgiveness.
No. 7: Our Divine Teacher
Immanuel means God with us. We are not alone; Jesus is always with us. How is this possible? After Jesus finished his work of redemption, before ascending to Heaven, he promised to send another helper, the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is our guide to help us in our faith journey and who intercedes for us.
And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be[a]in you. John 14: 16-17 NIV
But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. John 16: 13 NIV
The Holy Spirit, our divine teacher, is present in the world today. Jesus, our resurrected Lord, however, is seated on the throne at the right hand of God the Father in heaven. The Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, is here on earth to guide, empower, and sanctify the body of Christ and indwell every believer. The Holy Spirit sees everything, knows everything, and reveals the future (prophecy) to those in close relationship with Jesus. This mysterious connection is called communion with God.
Say: "Lord, thank you for the Holy Spirit, our guide, and Divine teacher!"
No. 8: Jesus Brought Peace and Reconciliation to Humanity
The first Adam, who received life, rebelled and brought death into the world. In contrast, the Last Adam, Jesus, who is the Source of life, gave up His own life so that we might have life (1 Corinthians 15:22, 45). When Jesus walked alongside His disciples, it symbolized the beginning of the restoration of full communion with God. Jesus, God’s Son incarnated in the flesh, reconciled humanity to God and restored the relationship that existed between God and humans before the rebellion and fall of Adam and Eve.
He was wounded for our rebellious acts.
He was crushed for our sins.
He was punished so that we could have peace,
and we received healing from his wounds. Isaiah 53: 5 GW
“Their sins and lawless acts
I will remember no more.”Hebrews 10: 17 NIV
Although humans have grieved God through sin and rebellion, He has graciously reconciled us to Himself through the sacrifice of Jesus. This act was costly for God, but He did it out of His amazing love. Thanks be to our loving God!
Say: Lord Jesus, we thank you for re-uniting us to God.
No. 9. You Must Be Born Again
We are born naturally once, but we need to be born again, a second time, spiritually! Jesus said it. (John 3:3) Paul calls this new birth experience, “a new creation” in Christ.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 2 Corinthians 5: 17 NIV
How does it happen? When you pray and read God’s Word enthusiastically, you fall in love with God and His Word. Something awesome happens within you. The Holy Spirit transforms you! As a born-again person, you become spiritually minded. The carnal nature is discarded and we will walk by the Spirit instead of the flesh. We will also receive the many "Fruits of the Spirit." These fruits contribute to our spiritual maturity like how a healthy tree bears delicious fruit. Isn’t it wonderful? Moreover, faith is a remarkable supernatural gift we receive the moment we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5: 22-23 NIV
About faith:
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—Ephesians 2:8 NIV
Say: Lord Jesus, we thank you for the fruits of the Spirit and the gift of faith!
No. 10. God Rewards His Children
Did you know that God is a Rewarder? God is just, compassionate, and faithful. He keeps His Word. If you are holding on to his promises/prophecies, they will be fulfilled. But God does it His way, not our way and it all turns out for our good. When we look to Him as our only source, we can experience miracles. God can move heaven and earth to fulfill His will and plan for you. However, God expects something from us – to release our faith and trust Him. We are called the children and seed of Abraham for a significant reason. Just as Abraham left everything behind to follow God, we are also called to trust and follow Jesus. From one man, God created a nation. Abraham’s faith in God’s trustworthiness is a model for us today.
Similar to earthly compensation received for hard work, God rewards those who serve Him both on the earth and in eternity. Let’s explore the ways God rewards his people:
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 NIV
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:33 NIV
For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done. Matthew 16: 27 NIV
He will swallow up death forever.
The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears
from all faces;
he will remove his people’s disgrace
from all the earth.
The Lord has spoken. Isaiah 25: 8 NIV
Since God records all our deeds, we need to be diligent and intentional in doing good. Our compassionate Lord Jesus, promises to wipe away our tears, just like a loving mother comforts her child. God watches over us intimately and assures us that He will make things right.
Say: Lord, we thank You for your great compassion and the many rewards you have for us.
I hope you feel energized by reflecting on these ten aspects of our faith and thanking God for His goodness.
God bless you! Happy Thanksgiving!
© Hepsimp
November 2024
Latest comments
12.10 | 03:37
Thanks Pastor for the beautiful reflections. God bless you!
12.10 | 00:55
Thanks Hepsi for the beautiful Thanksgiving sermon and the reminder that God is loving, good and just. Blessings, Bill
09.09 | 03:57
Beautifully written Pastor. The quest to know one's purpose is the notion of 'teleology' belief in the purposeful development toward an end through "intentionality." A powerful hunger to discover God.
06.09 | 02:04
I really enjoyed your poem: First Love
Thank you!
Share this page
Our Spiritual protection – the Armor of God – Message by Rev. Hepsi
Hello everyone, I’m Rev. Hepsi.
I hope you are enjoying a great summer!
The topic of my message today is, ‘Our Spiritual Protection – the Armor of God.’ This is a significant topic. Jesus won the victory for us, but it’s not automatic.
Every time we go out, we dress for the weather, right? If it’s pouring rain, we carry an umbrella and wear a rain jacket. If it’s snowing, we wear a warm jacket, a hat, gloves, and winter boots. Sometimes believers are not aware that we need to have spiritual protection as well. Whether you are aware or not, as believers we need to arm ourselves with spiritual armor before we begin our day. The Lord has graciously provided us with the perfect equipment needed for our daily challenges.
First, let’s find out what is the armor of God? Second, why do we need to wear the armor of God?
The Scripture passage for today is taken from Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. Ephesians 6:10-18.
In the above passage, Paul exhorts us to put on the full armor of God. We see that there are 6 pieces of armor.
1. Belt of truth 2. Breastplate of His righteousness 3. The shoes of the gospel of peace 4. Shield of Faith 5. Helmet of Salvation 6. Sword of the Spirit.
In order to wage spiritual warfare, we need spiritual weapons. Human strength won’t work. So, apostle Paul advises us to put on the full armor of God to fight the enemy. And the most wonderful news is that Jesus already defeated Satan. Jesus won the war!
We need to know the truth. The Bible says, 'then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.' John 8:32. We should not be ignorant of Scripture. We should know the truth. Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life.” John 14: 6.
God sent Jesus to pay the price, destroy the works of the devil, take our sins, and bear our sicknesses upon His own body. Jesus through his death, burial, and resurrection, destroyed the works of the devil. 1 John 3:8 says, ‘The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.’
The enemy of our souls has been defeated, we should be aware of this and not give him any power.
For instance, we do know we shouldn’t speak negative words, not to dwell on the past, and not complain. But we keep doing it. The children of Israel longed for the food they ate in Egypt while they were in bondage. They complained a lot. Consequently, it took them forty years to enter the promised land. You may think, how do I not complain when there are bad things happening around us. Well, this is exactly why we must wear the full armor of God every day.
The first piece of armor is the belt of truth:
The Bible uses Roman armor of the ancient world to symbolize spiritual armor. Just as a leather apron protected the Roman soldier’s abdomen or stomach. In the same way, the belt of truth protects us. We need to wear ‘truth’ like a belt around the waist. We need to live in the truth. Since the devil is a liar, he cannot function in an atmosphere of integrity.
The second piece of armor is the breastplate of righteousness:
Physically, in early Roman times, a breastplate was a solid piece of metal in the shape of a man's chest that fitted well to protect both the front and back of the soldier. Now, what is the spiritual breastplate of righteousness we are asked to wear? When you received Christ by faith and “put on” the breastplate of righteousness, you received Christ’s righteousness. Not ours. It is His righteousness. God attributed Christ’s perfect righteousness to us. In 2 Corinthians 5:21 we read, ‘God made him who had no sin to be sin for us so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.’
Since we cannot save ourselves. God sent his son, Jesus, who gave his pure, sinless life for everyone. He died on the cross to declare us no longer guilty of our sin. Because of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, we are made right with God. When God looks at us, he sees Jesus and his precious blood shed for us.
Say out loud, Jesus made us right with God.
Therefore, when we wear the breastplate of Jesus’ righteousness, we can resist the temptation to sin. We can stop living by our emotions such as anger, unforgiveness, bitterness, and frustration. We can walk by faith.
The third piece of armor – the shoes of the gospel of peace:
It helps us stand firm in our faith. Roman soldiers had sturdy and spiked sandals that protected their feet, and helped them remain steady, they had a good grip on the ground.
By wearing the shoes of the gospel of peace, you will remain firmly planted in the knowledge of who you are in Jesus Christ. You can face whatever fiery trials come your way. It says in verse 13, ‘After you have done everything, to stand.’ Your identity is in Christ, the risen Lord.
Say, my identity is in the risen Christ.
The fourth piece of armor is the shield of faith:
The shield of faith is not a small piece of armor. Like the Roman shield, it is a full-length one, covering and protecting your entire body. This represents Christ’s protection against anything the enemy throws at us.
We live in full confidence that Christ will give us victory in every situation. God has not planned any defeats for us. Only victory. The more we read the Bible, the more we discover his mighty promises and are firmly assured of them.
The fifth piece of armor is the helmet of salvation:
Just like wearing a helmet when you ride a bike, we also need to wear a spiritual helmet called, ‘the helmet of salvation.’
The mind is the control center of the body. It includes our thoughts, imaginations, will, and emotions. The helmet of salvation protects our minds. When we wear it, we also put on the mind of Christ and receive his discernment and wisdom.
Therefore, you need to wear the ‘helmet of salvation.’ If you have not received Christ yet and would love to, please say this simple prayer with all your heart:
Lord Jesus, I accept you as my Lord and Savior. I believe you are the Son of God and died on the cross for me. I believe you arose from the dead – and destroyed the power of Satan over my life. Please forgive me of all my sins and fill me with your Holy Spirit. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
The sixth piece of armor is the Sword of the Spirit:
Finally, the sixth piece of armor is the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. The previous five pieces are defensive (for your protection) while the sixth piece of armor is offensive.
The sword of the Spirit is an offensive weapon and a very powerful one. It means you either resist or you attack the devil with the weapon. So then, what is the sword of the spirit? Apostle Paul is talking about the spoken Word of God. For example: when Jesus was tempted by the devil he declared, “It is written.”
The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” (At the time Jesus was fasting). Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ " Matthew 4: 3-4. Just as Jesus did when tempted in the wilderness, we must use the promises in the Word of God against the devil.
The devil is allergic to the Word of God so he will flee from you. Consequently, we need to know the Word of God and use the sword of the Spirit whenever tempted.
Why Do We Need to Put on the Whole Armor of God?
Next, we will find out why we need to put on the whole armor of God.
Now we need to wear God’s armor all the time. Because we cannot rely on our own strength to resist the lies and schemes of the enemy. We need Jesus. Jesus already defeated Satan. So, in Jesus you are safe, he protects and shields us.
Say, I am safe in Jesus.
Whatever affliction you are going through right now, whether it is depression, addiction, sickness, or any other, if you put your faith in the risen Lord Jesus, you can live in victory. The promises of God are true and trustworthy. Romans 8: 37 says, ‘We are more than conquerors through him who loved us.’ By this, we know that we are overcomers in Jesus. We program our minds for victory always.
Say, I’m an overcomer in Jesus.
Please note that you have to take hold of the promises of God and claim them in prayer. It does not happen automatically. First, we get to know Scripture. Then we need to prayerfully put on the full armor of God every day to walk and live in victory as an overcomer. I suggest you memorize Ephesians 6: 10-17 and pray through it. The Holy Spirit will lead and guide as we read God’s Word daily.
Praying through Scripture is powerful. Your petitions in prayer should be based on the promises God has already made to you in the Bible. Whatever your situation may be, please find promises from God’s Word for protection, provision, etc., that you can claim in prayer. God keeps His promises.
It also requires releasing your faith in God. “And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.” Mark 11:22. This is crucial. Faith is key. The Lord himself told his disciples to have faith in God always.
Remember, you must believe in God and his Word. The Bible says, ‘If you believe you will receive.’ Say, I believe, I receive.
And also, believe in yourself, and believe in people.
Paul told the Ephesian believers to “put on” or “be clothed” in the whole armor of God. In fact, he is saying “Be clothed in Jesus Christ.” This is meant for all Jesus’ followers. This means we are now in spiritual union with Christ; we are one with him. The devil fears us because we are united to Christ.
Dear child of God, get to know the power of Almighty God through Scripture, pray at all times, put on the full armor of God, and walk daily in victory. What do I mean by this? Perhaps all hell is breaking loose around you – instead of panicking, you boldly confront the enemy. You say, ‘devil, you are not in control of my life.’ I’m not focussing on the circumstances around me. I’m focussing on the bigness of Almighty God. I’m an overcomer. I’m more than a conqueror. The enemy flees instantly. Understand that you are the child of the Almighty God. You have been given authority to trample upon the works of the enemy. See Luke 10: 19. Be aware that you have benefits and rewards when you diligently seek God. Jesus loves you very much.
In closing, please note this carefully. Being clothed with Christ means the following: Jesus is the truth. (John 14:6) Jesus is our righteousness. (2 Cor 5: 21) Jesus is our peace. (John 14: 27) Jesus is our faith. (Hebrews 12:2) Jesus is our Salvation. (Acts 4:12) and, Jesus is the Living Word. (John 1:1,14).
Isn’t that so powerful? Say, I have Jesus, I have everything.
Let us pray:
Father,
We thank you for making the provision to wear the full armor of God for our spiritual protection. Today we put on the belt of truth, the breastplate of Your righteousness, and wear the shoes of the gospel of peace. We lift up high the shield of faith to quench the fiery darts of the enemy. By wearing the helmet of salvation, we put on the mind of Christ. Finally, we hold and use the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God to resist the enemy. Wearing the whole armor of God, we march forward to ever greater victories in Jesus’ name. Amen.
God bless you! Thanks for reading.
Posted July 2022
A Meditation of Love - By Hepsi
God is Love
One of the central themes in the Bible is love. God is love. He is the source of all Love. The Bible is a love story, and we find a number of stories on the theme. Yet the greatest love story is that of God reaching out to broken humanity by sending his Son, Jesus. He came with the specific purpose of dying on the cross and rising from the dead to rescue us from Satan, sin and death. Have you ever wondered why we are incapable of redeeming ourselves? Jesus came to liberate us. The Bible says,
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13 KJV.
God’s love (Agape) is the highest form of love. God loves you because it's His character. He loves you not because of an obligation, but because ‘it's who He is and what He does.’ God wants an intimate relationship with you and wishes to give you the free gift of His everlasting love. His everlasting love is depicted in these immortal words:
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3: 16. NKJV
Therefore, God’s love for you is greater and nobler than human love. To place your faith in Jesus means to believe that He is God. You need to rely on God’s love throughout your life journey. His love is unfailing.
What does love stand for?
Love stands for truth, respect, trust, obedience, mercy, faithfulness, humility, and kindness. Our loving God is all of these and more, therefore, in our relationship with him, we need to live in reverence, obedience, trust and humility.
King David for example, experiences God’s love profoundly. David seeks after God, extolling his attributes in the Psalms.
All the ways of the LORD are loving and faithful toward those who keep the demands of his covenant. Psalm 25: 10 NIV
Do not withhold Your tender mercies from me, O LORD; Let Your lovingkindness and Your truth continually preserve me. Psalm 40: 11 NKJV
Loving Others
God is relational, he loves us and expects us to love him in response. Like a mother and her child. He also requires that we love one another. Jesus distinctly teaches that love is the most important commandment:
Jesus answered him, “The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is one. And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these. Mark 12: 29-31. (NKJV)
Love cares more for others than for self. That’s something we all need to work on as its counter-cultural. However, God says it, so we must follow it. According to the Bible, love doesn’t keep score of the sins of others but forgives people easily. Several Scripture passages exhort us to practise loving one another unconditionally.
Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. —1 Peter 4:8 NIV
How does love cover a multitude of sins?
For example, if someone wrongs you, you may be tempted to react in anger or revenge in which case the iniquity reproduces itself. However, if you respond with God’s love and forgive the person, you stop the sin from going any further. You might also lead the offender to the healing they need.
And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister. 1 John 4: 21 NIV
We don’t serve the Lord because we are perfect. But we do it because we are thankful for what He has done for us on the cross. Every time we show His love to another person, it multiplies and grows. How wonderful! God has also blessed us with other gifts, such as faith and hope besides love. However, of all the three gifts, love is considered the greatest. God’s holy love is within us. We must be a channel of God’s unconditional love, flowing freely through us.
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
1 Corinthians 13:13. NIV
Love is Unity
God is Trinity. One God in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. “God is said to be trinity in unity.” The triune God expects His people to remain united.
Love is also unity. When we love one another, we don’t look at the outward aspects, but inward, at the person created in God’s image. We are happy to build one another up and make time for each other. We are one in Christ. These qualities flow from God’s love within us. Take a look at the Scriptures below:
And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Colossians 3:14 NIV
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
Ephesians 4:2-3 NIV
Unity should be a characteristic of the Christian community. To love our neighbour is a command, not an option. To love those who are different from us in outward appearance, economic or social status. Throughout the Bible, God’s love for the foreigner, the outcast, the needy, the forgotten, and the lonely is evident. God expects the same from us. Jesus touched the lepers and healed them. Jesus displayed extravagant love for all people, he reached out to the marginalized in society. When everyone seeks God’s will, we will all have the same goal.
The Old Testament Scriptures below indicate God’s heart for the needy:
He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow and loves the foreigner residing among you, giving them food and clothing. Deuteronomy 10: 18 NIV
For the LORD is righteous, he loves justice; the upright will see his face. Psalm 11: 7 NIV
Since God is holy and just, he wants us to reflect on his righteous ways and practice fairness in the world we live in. We are ambassadors of Christ. May God bless you!
Dear friend, please pray this simple prayer:
Father God, Thank you for loving me so dearly. Your Word says,
Such hope [in God’s promises] never disappoints us, because God’s love has been abundantly poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. (Romans 5:5)
Help me lead a fruitful life of love and make me a channel of Your peace.
In the name of your dear Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Image source:Pinterest
Celebrating Thanksgiving 2020 – by Hepsi
Ever since the pandemic hit the world early this year, people have been gripped by fear, anxiety and uncertainty. Jobs, the future and the quality of life, in general, have been affected. Will I stay healthy? Will I go to school? Will I enjoy travelling again? Fear paralyzes us.
While on the contrary, faith is life-giving. It is the opposite of fear; faith works with hope. When we fall back on our faith, we find the courage to move forward.
Since the pandemic, we have been witnessing agony after agony – physical distancing, unemployment, racial tensions, and political unrest. The world has been shaken up.
However, as we celebrate Thanksgiving this year, let us refrain from the complaints and lean on Jesus, our solid Rock. Jesus said, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16: 33. Don’t you remember that you are an overcomer in Jesus?
Never forget that God is in total control. The psalmist who had a close relationship with God understood his Sovereignty when he wrote, “The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it.’ Psalm 24: 1. So as you develop a relationship with Jesus, getting to know Him through His Word and prayer, you will receive the quiet assurance that all will be well no matter what the circumstances are.
God has a plan and a purpose in everything. The ancient writers of the Bible knew God was mighty to save His people at all times. The psalmist confidently says,
‘God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea.’ Psalm 46: 1,2.
As the psalmist rightly points out, one should not fear the circumstances in their lives or the chaos happening in the world, but turn to God who is our refuge. He has the power to deliver us from any affliction and help us emerge stronger.
This Thanksgiving weekend, we remember with gratitude God’s hand of protection over us since the start of 2020 and we hold on to the hope that He will carry us through the rest of the year. We are assured of a lifetime of energy. Scripture declares, ‘…and as your days, so is your strength.’ Deuteronomy 33: 25.
You would be amazed at the things you can do during these challenging times. Here are some good ways to stay healthy and lead a purposeful life.
· Go on prayer walks. Believe in the power of prayer. Your neighbourhood and your soul will both prosper
· Meditation. Meditate on God’s Word daily, simply a passage or a few verses even – God’s Word directs, guides, comforts us. Meditation is simply reading, believing, absorbing, understanding and obeying God’s Word. Try a psalm or a gospel passage.
· In illness, read the gospel passages on healing regularly. Ex. Jesus heals a paralyzed man (Luke 5:17-26); Jesus heals the sick woman (Mark 5:25-34). I can personally testify that it works.
· Plead the blood of Jesus over yourself and your family members – There is power in the blood of Jesus. There is also resurrection power in Jesus’ name.
· There is power in praise – God heals the body, mind and soul when you sing/ listen to worship songs (check out my song links)
· Music is therapy – learn to play an instrument you love– music heals – it is good to make a joyful noise unto the Lord!
· Dance –get up and dance to your favourite worship music!
· Stop the negativity– Are you angry with God? Did you stop attending church because you were upset with him? Remember Jesus created us, He also shed His blood to redeem us. He has forgiven all your sins past, present and future. We need to live His way, not our way.
· Eliminate stress – stop worrying about the future. Take one day at a time – live fully each day. Every day is a priceless gift from God.
· Cultivate thankfulness – the Bible encourages us to remember what the Lord has done for us; there is plenty. Please don’t forget to tell your children and grandchildren this as well. Read a Children’s Bible out loud to kids at bedtime. These powerful stories bless both the reader and the listener!
· De-clutter your mind. Fill it with the right things. Don’t let the age of technology and media rob us of our humanity and sanity. The Bible says to fill your mind with the things of God, there is great wisdom to it.
· Journal every day- (I started journaling at the age of 10), it’s a great habit!
· Gardening. Grow herbs and flower plants indoors or outdoors. Watch things grow, bud and blossom. We learn from nature.
· Although many follow the adage, birds of the same feather flock together, developing friendships with other cultures is enriching. We are all heading to the same Heavenly home!
· Practice generosity and kindness.
HAVE A GREAT THANKSGIVING!
A Christian Response to the International Epidemic
-An Article by Hepsi
With a deadly virus sweeping the world, putting nations in turmoil, crippling businesses and causing massive panic, what is our response as believers in Jesus Christ?
First of all, as believers we are not motivated by fear. We must move by our rich faith in Jesus Christ, who conquered the grave and won victory over Satan. We are the followers of the Living Christ.
It is not a myth that the Bible has solutions to life’s problems, it is a fact. Please reach out for the Bible that is catching dust on top of your table, or at the bottom of your bookshelf. Dust it thoroughly and flip to Psalm 91. It is a well-beloved Psalm that has been read by believers for centuries. As you read it, pause at verses 5-7. It says,
‘You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.’ (NIV)
These words of comfort and assurance you definitely need to hear at this hour. Place your faith and trust in God. The best way to avail the benefits of Psalm 91 is to dwell in the shelter of the Most High God. A daily dose of Psalm 91 is highly recommended. You can personalize it as well.
Jump a few Psalms prior to, and you will find Psalm 46, which says,
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
Therefore, we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
We are comforted by these reassuring words of God’s protection and help. Of course, you need to believe what you read. Faith works by believing, you have to believe. In verse 10,
He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” Psalm 46:10 (NIV)
How often we forget the fact that God is in control! It’s actually a command, like a mother calming down her frightened child, saying it’s going to be alright, she will keep them safe. We need to stay calm and know that God is in control. It’s crucial to do so during difficult times and to know that God is in control of the situation. No matter how difficult the situation might seem, God is more powerful than the problems in the world. When fear attacks you, say, “I have faith in God and know that God is in control.”
Further ahead, you will find the all-time favorite, Psalm 23. Some of you might have memorized it as kids, this is the time to exercise it. These faith declarations help us tremendously. Particularly in verse 4 we read,
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me. Psalm 23:4 (ESV)
Therefore, when you are walking through the valley of deep darkness, be assured God is with you. After all, Immanuel means, “God is with us.” The risen Christ is with us. Just as a child is confident in the presence of their parents, we stay confident with God, who is both our Father and Mother. We are safe in God’s Hands. Lift up your eyes beyond your circumstances and place your trust in God, who is the Almighty.
In the gospels, our Lord Jesus gave his disciples power to walk in victory over the enemy. Jesus said, ‘Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.’ Luke 10:19 (KJV).
The believer of Jesus Christ therefore has the power to take authority over any sickness, fear, or infirmity and cast it out in Jesus’ name. You have the power to raise a prayer covering over your household, neighborhood, city, country, and other. If every Christian believer everywhere prayed over their household and land, God will answer your prayers to save and deliver them from the epidemic.
In the book of Exodus in the Old Testament, we read the story of how God protected the children of Israel from many plagues and even death. Lamb’s blood was sprinkled on the door posts of their homes, so that the angel of death would not enter. ‘The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are, and when I see the blood, I will pass over you.’ Exodus 12:13 (NIV). In recent times, Jesus became the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
Jesus’ precious blood shed on the cross cleanses us from our sins and ‘by His wounds’ we are healed of our sicknesses. Therefore, we need to plead the blood of Jesus on ourselves and our dear ones. In a time of an international epidemic like the coronavirus, every believer of every land must pray in the lines of 2 Chronicles 7: 14, 'if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.’(ESV)
As followers of the Living Christ, we can call on Him anytime and know He hears us when we call. Jesus says, “And I will do whatever you ask in My name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask Me for anything in My Name, and I will do it.” John 14: 13-14. (NIV) If every Christian believer asks Jesus to shield their land from the epidemic by raising a prayer covering over it, the epidemic will cease.
The Word of God declares: ‘and call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me.’ Psalm. 50:15.
May our Lord Jesus help us to raise a prayer covering over our home and land to stop the virus causing havoc in the world, and may God’s mighty name be glorified once again. May God bless you and fill you with the peace of Christ.
[Read and meditate on Psalm 91 in the TOOLS page]
Comments
Peter
09.08.2022 05:50
Beautifully written with corresponding scriptures and prayers. All praise an honor be to Almighty God. Thank you Pastor. Blessings.
Nana
15.10.2020 13:00
Thanks for helping these deep reflections. moments to pause and ponder. God bless you, Hepsi
GJ
12.10.2020 17:49
Great article! Thanks! :)