Welcome!
Date: Friday, October 08, 2010
Today: When God does it all!
Passage: 1 Cor 7: 17, 20, 24 NIV
17Nevertheless, each one should retain the place in life that the Lord assigned to him and to which God has called him. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches.
20Each one should remain in the situation which he was in when God called him.
24Brothers, each man, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation God called him to. (emphasis added)
God’s administration is the best; there is so much to learn from God
Apostle Paul, in writing to the church in Corinth, is addressing a certain situation. But the statement of Paul, “each one should remain in the situation God has called him” is a very important principle, especially in connection with the Church. One of the main issues among the twelve disciples of Jesus was, “who is the greatest?”
It is very important for God, that each person remain in the position where they are placed, and be responsible
At the right time, God is the one who will lift a person; He can also bring a person down
6Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. (1 Peter 5: 5-7, NIV)
We live in a world of competition, where only smart people can make it!
Everyone attaches a “name tag” to every little thing they do
But God is watching every thing small and big; He is looking for those who do things and not looking for any credit; He is in charge/control above every thing
When David was chased by Saul for nearly forty years, God was watching every step of David. David proved to God that he will not do anything against the principles of God. David got many chances to take over Saul or kill him, but David never used it. Instead, he just waited for God’s time and acted God’s way
When you let others pass by, when people ride over your head, it may not look fair. But when all is said and done, you will see the faithfulness of God
People look for immediate result; people want it now!
I have heard the story of a young boy, who was noticed for his patience
There was a famine going on, and the King was distributing the food
Everybody was grabbing the biggest and the best, as the food was being distributed
But someone noticed this boy, who would wait till the end and grab what was left. He would get the smallest bread
So, one day, as the boy went home with what he got, he couldn’t believe what he saw; there was a gold coin inside the bread!
He took it to the people giving away the food and told them what happened
The boy was called top the Palace and the King honored him with so much
That doesn’t work in today’s world, you may say
But I see that happening every day; God is watching
We know the story: the rabbit ran fast, but the tortoise made it to the end!
The word of God goes on to tell us, from Joseph’s experience; Joseph is talking to his brothers, who gave him a real hard time:
19 But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? 20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. 21 So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.(Gen 50:19-21, NIV)
I have seen many people mad and angry at somebody, because of what somebody did to them
There may be “genuine” reasons for many, to do/say what they are doing
But remember: nothing is hidden to God
It is God who vindicates
So, learn to lean upon God so that He will take care of us
God bless
Have a blessed week end
BG
Prayer: Lord, help me to know that you are watching me and every action of me. Help me to remember that you are the one who blesses and has the power to bring one up and one down. I trust in you. Amen
This man by the pool was doing the same thing everyday, for 38 years!
He had the same routine; he was waiting for something
For many of us, waiting period is just idle period; for God, it is not so
Those that wait upon the Lord renew their strength (Isaiah 40: 30, 31)
If we are waiting for something, what are we waiting for?
Some of you may be waiting for a job; some for marriage; some for a raise of salary or a promotion; some, for a new car or house; the list goes on….
Most of us are waiting for the second coming of Jesus Christ
But God does not expect His children to simply sit and do nothing while they wait
There is so much to do, while we are waiting
These days, people have got i-phones and smart phones and stuff like that
Whenever someone is waiting for something, they will be doing something
That is a good thing, not to waste time; lot of good things can be accomplished by using our time right
We can have a book or something with us, to read in times of waiting
But in the case of this man by the pool, Jesus accomplished for him what he has been waiting for, for 38 long years – accomplished in a moment!
Is there something we have been thinking of doing, for the past several years, but never got it done?
Every day, we are thinking, “I will do it today”; but “today” never came!
There is a solution; tell it to Jesus. He will help you
There is always our part that we have to do; but God will help us. He will do His
What was hindered for years, can happen in a moment
When Israelites left Egypt after 400+ years, God told them something
He let them borrow Gold and stuff like that from the Egyptians
They received all that was due to them; all the wages and bonuses and arrears…
When God releases something, he never forgets what we deserved
May be our blessings are blocked today; it may be a person or a situation doing it
But if you will wait upon the Lord, and as He does it, He gives with all the arrears and bonuses
Invite Jesus into your situation; He is willing to come. Don’t try to handle it alone, thinking, “I can do it all myself”
Paul said, ”I can do ALL things through Christ Jesus…….”(Phil 4: 13)
Paul was a very capable, educated man, full of anointing of the Spirit of God
Yet, he is trusting in God
In the US, we see “In God we trust” on the dollar bill
Thank God, it is still there even though every attempt is underway, to remove it!
There is not much trust in God we see; but it reminds people of trusting in God
It would be truer, if it was, “In Gold we trust”
When we loose our trust in God, we are trusting in the world systems or in our own ability. We need to have confidence in ourselves, but not without God
It is because of Him that we live and work and move
He is our provider; He gives us strength to work; He protects us
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. [a]
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil. (Pro 3:5-7, NIV)
Invite Jesus into your situation; He can feed the five thousand, with the five
He will give you the grace to live by; He will tell you what to do
Once He heals you from your situation, don’t lie by the pool any more!
You need to get out and witness to many, what He has done for you
God bless you
BG
Prayer: Lord Jesus, I thank you for all that you have done in me and for me. Now it’s time you to work through me. I submit my heart, my hands, my feet- myself to you. Use me, Oh Lord. Amen