Justice and Mercy

Romans 3:21-26

The sinful condition of mankind presents us with a dilemma: How can a holy, righteous God forgive our sins? If He deals with us only on the basis of His justice, every human being would suffer the eternal punishment of His wrath, which their sins deserve. But if He extends mercy instead of justice, no one would pay the penalty for sin, and God would then cease to be just. There was only one way the Lord could stay true to His nature and at the same time forgive our sins. The solution was to satisfy His justice by pouring out His wrath on a substitute. Then the penalty for sin would be paid, and He would be free to extend mercy to sinners. This is the only plan that accommodates both aspects of His divine nature. So Christ came as our substitute; He took the punishment for our sin, enabling us to experience the Father’s mercy. Now, by placing faith in Jesus, anyone can be justified—that is, declared legally righteous. God’s plan of salvation is simple enough for a child to understand. Yet at the same time, the complexities of the transaction that occurred at Calvary are far beyond human comprehension. Although we may not fully grasp what transpired there, we can know that the cross is the greatest possible display of the Lord’s love for us.  Can you even imagine the cost of your salvation? The magnificent plan of the Father and the willing cooperation of the Son prove your tremendous value in God’s eyes. From His perspective, you are worth all the pain and suffering that was necessary to secure your eternal presence with Him in heaven.

Message by Dr. Charles Stanley

Hard Heart

Key Verse: “Blessed is the man who always fears the Lord, but he who hardens his heart falls into trouble.” - Proverbs 28:14

To fear the Lord is to care about God, show Him ultimate respect, and aim to please Him. This proverb says to hold that posture always and you will be blessed. Many choose to rebel when life becomes difficult. A dating relationship ends, rejection when applying to a desired job, a partner is unfaithful, financial pressures mount, serious health challenges arrive, persecution for your faith can be surprising and massively disappointing. Pay attention to the condition of your heart and faith. A hard heart begins to withdraw from going to church, Bible study, and fellowship. A hard heart begins to give itself permission to have a raging temper and start cursing. A hard heart justifies sin and refuses to take responsibility for actions. A hard heart distances from people trying to help. What helps you avoid having a hard heart? Who can you pray for now that has been developing a hard heart?

For more from Pastor Jesse Bradley and Activate Media Ministries, visit www.activatelife.org

Got a Dream? Now Make a Decision.

“If you are like that, unable to make up your mind and undecided in all you do, you must not think that you will receive anything from the Lord”(James 1:7-8 GNT).

When God gives you a dream for your life, your eyes suddenly open up to see what he wants to do in and through you. You begin to understand that you’re not just here on Earth by accident. You begin to see his plan, his purpose. But a dream is worthless unless you wake up and go to work on it. You have to take the next step of faith: decision-making. In America, we love decisive leaders who can make quick decisions. But quickness is not the most important thing. It’s easier to make a fast decision than a good decision. It takes nothing at all to make a quick decision. It takes a lot of wisdom to make a right decision. The Bible has a lot to say about decision-making. James 1:7-8, for example, says, “If you are like that, unable to make up your mind and undecided in all you do, you must not think that you will receive anything from the Lord” (GNT). The Bible says double mindedness is disastrous and indecision keeps you from God’s best. Someone whose decision-making is marked by those traits will struggle to make wise choices.  If you can’t make up your mind about what’s really important in life, then you are courting disaster. You will miss God’s best for your life, and you will never grow in character. Our decisions determine our destiny. Our choices determine whether our character is developed or destroyed. God gave Moses the dream of leading the children of Israel out of 400 years of slavery. But Moses had to make the decision to confront Pharaoh. God gave Abraham the dream of building a new nation. Abraham had to make the decision to leave his comfort and security and go out into the unknown. You will never face God’s true dream for your life until you conquer this stage of decision-making.

Message by Rick Warren

Good Wound

Key Verse: “Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.” - Proverbs 27:6

An enemy makes very destructive comments: you are worthless, you will never succeed, you are not talented, there is no hope for you, you are not smart, God is not real, God will not help you, the Bible is not reliable, you are all alone, no one cares about you, etc. Have you heard any of these statements? The other approach of an enemy is to bring flattery, be nice to you in person but slam you behind your back, and exaggerate compliments so you will falsely trust them. Be aware of both destructive approaches. A true friend will be honest and supportive. There will be a combination of affirmations that are accurate and heartfelt and some comments which exhort you to grow. When a friend rebukes you, it does hurt initially, but ultimately it is a gift because it is spoken in love and helps you change. A coach challenges his player to go to the next level, a person guides their spouse towards a healthier way to handle stress, a friend does not let another friend isolate themselves and dwell on past mistakes-these are all gifts that can be trusted!

For more from Pastor Jesse Bradley and Activate Media Ministries, visit www.activatelife.org

God Blesses Those Who Share Their Faith

“I pray you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ”(Philemon 1:6 NIV).

If I had the cure for cancer and didn’t tell anyone about it, I’d be a criminal. If I had the cure for HIV/AIDS and didn’t share it with anyone, I’d deserve to be in jail. But those of us who follow Jesus have something even more important. We know how people can have their past forgiven, get a purpose for living, and have a home in heaven. God says if we want his blessing, we need to share that message. Paul writes in Philemon 1:6: “I pray you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ” (NIV). In other words, don’t keep your faith in Jesus a secret. Tell other people about it. Invite them to church. Give them a Bible. Hand them a book or resource about what it means to follow Jesus. God will bless you when you do. We all have different roles. You may not be a preacher. You may not be a missionary. But you can play a part in sharing the Good News—and you’ll be rewarded no matter what part that is. The Bible says,“The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor” (1 Corinthians 3:8 NIV). Think of it like this. If you faithfully share the message of Jesus with other people, you’re preparing for an amazing day when you get to heaven. Can you imagine what it will be like when you see people who are in heaven because you shared your faith? That’s a blessing you can’t compare to anything else!

Message By Rick Warren

Men of Faith

[Jesus] saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said unto him, Follow me. And he left all, rose up, and followed him– Luke 5:27-28

As we read the Bible, it seems that one of God’s attributes, along with being immutable and impeccable, is that He is unpredictable… and never more so than in His choice of the man to write the first book of the New Testament. Of the twelve apostles, none was a more notorious sinner than Matthew (Levi). Publicans (tax collectors) are classified with harlots (21:31) and heathen (18:17) by Matthew himself. Yet, Jesus saw Levi sitting at the receipt of custom, performing his notorious job, and called him then and there to His service! And see with what simple, deep faith Matthew responds: he left all. That says it all, doesn’t it? Here was a man who forsook a lucrative position for a lowly person named Jesus. He not only left behind his livelihood, but his former lifestyle as well, for Jesus.   He left everything connected with his sinful past and followed him. Jesus says, in John 10:27, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” What a clear exhibition of this truth we see in the life of faithful Matthew! This man went from sitting at the seat of custom to sitting at a feast (at his own expense) in honor of Jesus (Luke 5:29); from grasping at everything to leaving it all; from self-promoter to self-effacing; from publican of Herod to publisher of the gospel. In Matthew we see the life-transforming power of faith in Jesus Christ. True faith leaves all in order to follow the Savior. Have you heard Jesus’ call? Will you follow?

Peace with God

Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Romans 5:1-2

One day I posed a question to the waitress at my table: “If you could ask God for anything, what would your request be?” Her answer was immediate. “I want to feel at peace.” She tearfully explained that her grandmother had died and emotional turmoil resulted. Many in our world are like this young woman, in that they desire inner calmness but have no relationship with the Lord. People often seek contentment by trying to improve their appearance, physical fitness, financial situation, or social status or by abusing substances. But such things can’t bring tranquility of heart or mind. Only a relationship with Jesus leads to true peace. Prior to salvation, we were slaves to sin and living in opposition to God (Col. 1:21). Our transgressions had formed a barrier of hostility between Him and us, which we were helpless to cross on our own. Without God’s intervention, we could not have found the way of peace. But our heavenly Father provided the perfect solution to our sin problem. He sent His Son to pay for our iniquities and remove the separation that existed between us and Him. When we trusted Jesus as our Savior, we were reconciled to the Lord (Rom. 5:10) and no longer at odds with Him. In Christ, we have peace with the Father.
Our triune God has provided everything we need for inner tranquility. The Father opened the way for us to be in His family. Jesus continually offers His peace so we can experience serenity of mind and heart (John 14:27). And the Holy Spirit cultivates the fruit of peace in our lives (Gal. 5:22).

Message by Dr. Charles Stanley

Death and Dying

Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory– Psalms 73:24

All of life is here summed up in one verse. While I am here on this earth, the psalmist gloats to the Lord, You will guide me. You will give me the direction I need for each step of the way. You will never leave me or forsake me. You will help me when I stumble, and you will steer me when I lose my way. What’s more is you will guide me with thy counsel. This is no mere human, fallible leader. You are an all-knowing, all-wise escort. You will never give me wrong advice or send me in a wrong direction. I will never meet a problem to which you do not know the solution, and I will never get so off course that you cannot guide me back to safety.   But that is all just life on earth! Afterward, you will receive me to glory. After you have carefully and lovingly directed my way here, you will usher me into your glorious presence in heaven. There is no intermediary state — death is not a tunnel, it is a door. And when you release my hand in this world, you will receive me into the next. There is no “sending”; there is only guiding and then receiving — no time apart from you. Death, where is your sting; Grave, where is your victory; Devil, where is your terror? My God will guide me with His counsel, and then receive me to His glory.

The Proven Truth

Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass. 
1 Thessalonians 5:23-24
 
The human spirit enables God-consciousness, the soul self-consciousness, and the body world-consciousness. However, God’s design is for us to function as whole beings, not fragmented. Sin shatters the wholeness. Paul’s lament in Romans 7 and Galatians 4 is the warfare this fragmentation produces between the “flesh” and the “spirit.”  Christ’s salvation restores wholeness to the human being. He does the work, and brings it to fruition. Through Christ, we are brought back to God’s perfect design.

Message by Dr. Ed Young

Youth and Age

The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing– Psalm 34:10

Why do you think the psalmist specifies “young” lions? It is for the same reason that Isaiah writes, “even the youths shall faint and be weary” (40:30). There is a vitality and strength that usually comes with youth. Your mind is flexible and fresh, you body is energetic and resilient, and your spirit is confident and daring. These are wonderful resources that God gives to you while you are still learning, growing, and maturing. But even all these advantages will not save you from disappointment or pain in life. Even the young lions, the psalmist writes, with all their physical prowess and boundless energy, suffer hunger. The strongest, most talented person on earth will not find lasting satisfaction, or avoid painful injury, by virtue of their strength or talent alone.   But they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing.Even the strongest youth will lack fulfillment and suffer disappointment, but anyone—young or old—will find success when they seek the Lord. God is able to provide what youth alone cannot achieve; God is able to give what strength alone cannot obtain. What about you? Are you still relying on your own decisions, your own strength, your own assets to deliver you from defeat and dissatisfaction? Those who seek the Lord—and they alone—will find ever good thing that life has to offer.

God’s Path to Blessing: Study His Word

“Blessed is the one . . . whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers”  (Psalm 1:1-3 NIV).

The Bible is more than just a book you put on your shelf. It’s a pathway to God’s blessing. Over and over in God’s Word, we’re told that studying and applying the Bible leads to blessing. For example, the Bible says, “Blessed is the one . . . whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers”  (Psalm 1:1-3 NIV). What does it mean to meditate? Some people think it means to put your mind in neutral and contemplate the lint on your navel as you say, “Ommmmmm.” But that’s not what meditation is! Meditation is seriously thinking about something. You meditate on God’s Word when you read a verse, think about what it means, and ask yourself how you could apply it to your life. Doing this, Psalm 1:1-3 says, is like planting deep roots into the ground. It means you won’t get blown over when troubles come. God won’t bless you if you’re not digging in and studying the Bible. I want whatever you do to prosper. I want your life to be filled with meaning and purpose. But for God’s blessing, the Bible says you must not only read God’s Word but also study it. I want whatever you do to prosper in the years ahead. But God makes the condition clear. If you want his blessing, you must study his Word. James 1:25 tells us how: “But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.” (NIV). If you want God to bless you, commit to looking intently at the Word, continuing to examine Scripture, remembering what you’ve read, and obeying what it teaches you to do.
It’s not complicated.

Message by Rick Warren

Message from Parents

Satan knows if you endure the pit and you get to the palace you are going to shake the world as Joseph did. That is why he is trying to fight and destroy you. Hold fast to your faith in God!" Pastor John Hagee
(https://twitter.com/PastorJohnHagee/status/1061623852738973696?s=17)

Message from Parents

Jeremiah Orji (@JSOrji) Tweeted: RT @ReinhardBonnke: “I HAVE ORDAINED YOU…” Jesus said, "I have ordained you that you should go." (John 15,16) The operative word is "I".… (https://twitter.com/ReinhardBonnke/status/1060697855650881536?s=17)

Quotes

Jeremiah Orji (@JSOrji) Tweeted: @JSOrji: What you are to yourself will determined, what will manifest in your daily life,are you a closed door or open door? ask yourself. (https://twitter.com/JSOrji/status/551624953679077376?s=17)

Carry your cross (2)

Text: Matthew 16:24 KJV
Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

Happy Jesus said, for you to be His follower, you must carry your cross. This means that you must be willing to give up yourself for the Lord's purpose.
I remembered the day I said "yes" to the call of God, I was filled with tears on my eyes knowing what lies ahead of me. Brethren, you have to carry your cross.
The way may be rough, there may be many mountains ahead, but you must carry your cross and go through the journey. The Lord is going with you, carrying you and the cross on His shoulder.
We must deny ourselves of the pleasure and luxury and stay focused on the works of the Lord. We will never be afraid of persecution neither are we afraid of being a martyr, we must be willing to do anything for the Lord.
Paul said, "I'm not only ready to be imprisoned in Jerusalem, but am also ready to die for the Name of Jesus". Are we going to the same heaven with that same man who takes the gospel of Jesus so dearly? Then we must work tirelessly.
For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. [26] For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Matthew 16:25-26.
Don't try to keep your life when there are more to do for the Lord, don't stay in your comfort zone, get out to do the works of the Lord. There's no profit for a man that lives in luxury alone, the man that joins in the harvest has the reward. Carry your cross---fulfill your purpose.

Prayer
 I take up my assignment and I am doing it. With all joy and confidence and proclaim the gospel of Jesus, I fulfill my mandate and I will never miss my reward. Amen!

One year Bible reading plan
Luke 5-8

Carry your cross (1)

Text: Matthew 16:24 KJV
Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.


Everybody have a cross to carry. I know lot will say that Jesus has carried the cross and there's no cross to carry, but God has specific tasks for all of us as believers. This task, we must carry. We must fulfil His mandate for our lives.
Many times, God will ask you to do something you're not really willing to do. He will give you a task that looks difficult, hence, you must obey this call.
Jesus had a cross to carry, but he wished it could pass him by. He asked the Lord to let the cup pass over him, but Jesus being a spiritual man knew that the will of the Lord must be done.
What are you ready to let go for the Lord? What if God calls you as a missionary to a village? What if you have to quit your job and stay with the Lord's work? What if you have to forfeit that traveling only for the sake of the gospel of Jesus, will you? We must be ready to say yes to the Lord whenever He calls.
Just like Jesus, if you will Cary your cross, it will result in glory for you. Your cross is not to go and die at calvary, but you have a lot to fulfil for the Lord. Just release yourself and say yes to the Lord.
What do you see? It could be God's plan, God may be involved in that trial or challenge, carry your cross and follow the Lord.

Prayer
 I take up my cross and I follow you. I will love and follow you till the end. I will be glorified together with you eternally. Amen!

One year Bible reading plan
Luke 1-4

Pst. Adedeji

The power of two

Matthew 18:19 KJV
Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.


My heart goes out this morning to those who have prayed about something for a long time and it seems its not coming forth. You know what? May be, just may be, all that you need to do is to get someone more to agree with you in prayers.
God said "just in case you have been praying for something and the situation looks to be the same, agree with someone".
He said "if the two of you shall agree on a thing that you will ask, He said it is done". Don't die in silence, don't keep the issues for too long. May be you just have to tell your pastor, may be a brother in church to agree with you.
Victory is guaranteed when we agree with someone in prayer. In case you see someone struggling with something, be good enough to agree with them in prayer.
May be another brother's faith can strengthen yours too if you pray together. Agree with someone, let someone agree with you.
You know how much God honors the prayer of agreement, its so much that He said "whatever they ask is done". God has said "two are far better than one..." Ecclesiastes 4:9. Why? There is more to what two people can achieve than just one person's effort.
Wife, husband, do you want to make progress in your life and marriage? You must always agree together and pray. Don't always come up with different opinions that causes confusions, agree, pray and you will see how great your reward will be.

Prayer
 Dear Lord, I agree today with those who are going through one challenge or the other, I pray that you come through for them in the Name of Jesus. Mentions names as you remember them.

One year Bible reading plan
Mark 13-16

Pst. Adedeji David