LOOKING TO GOD. GOD CENTRED LIVING:: Shared By Blessed

What is this faith we believe in? Now starting from Genesis, we see how God began to establish His Purpose through mankind. Let’s pick Genesis 12:1-3

The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”

God tells Abram.. "Boss... Hebu toka kwa fathe!” Na ndo Abram asikatae he throws in a carrot "I will bless you..." Because angeamshwa tu hivyo vikavu kavu angekataa huyu. Abram might have pulled a Jonah. Anyway. In the bigger picture, God is not here focusing on Abraham.. God is God and is focusing on accomplishing His purpose. The focus of the Bible is God. The essence of man... and sin is a shift from God centeredness to self centeredness.

All through the Bible we learn/read of great men. We even name ourselves after them.. Moses, Joseph, Jesus etc.. but the entire Bible and all its meaning is on God. God doing his thing. His purpose, His way. But since we sort of kinda understand that. We have relegated that to the back of our consiences and slowly ebbed into self centeredness.

I dont know about you guys.. but mimi nikiomba i start by acknowledging God.. ile ya haraka haraka . "You are God you are Almighty.. Jireh.. etc etc.. then when i feel nimemchangamsha.. i pull my kalist. I so often move from God and what he needs from me.. to squeezing in my needs as 'what he needs for me' and brand it 'his will'.

What are some of the God Centered traits?

•          Confidence in God
•          Dependance on God
•          Life focused on God and his activity
•          Denying to self
•         Seeking Gods perspective

What about Self centered Traits?

• Life focused on self
• Pride in self accomplishments
• Self confidence
• Selfish ordinary living
• Looking at circumstances from a human perspective
• Seeking acceptability in the World.

Now as Christians we are very aware of all these things. What it means to be God Centric vis a vis Self Centric. The question is can we look at the list and identify those things we have picked up from our self centered list and squeezed into Gods list and convinced ourselves they are 'Gods will' for us?

I tend to feel sometimes. As christians, learned and bright. We in the same human wisdom pick our self centeredness needs and squeeze them into Gods and imagine/convince ourselves as being Abrahams, Joshuas, Pauls. It may not be to change the world or community. It might be needs we have as individuals. In career, in our families, businesses etc. And we have inundated God with all these prayer requests. Sadly believing they are part of God's will or what God would love us to have.

So I urge us to look at that kaprayer list we chomoa before God again.. What is genuinely Gods will and what have we convinced ourselves is God's will? Then maybe somebody else some mwaibada can teach us on how to identify God's will vs Our 'God's will'.

Ahsanteni Sana for reading

HALF WAY THROUGH THE YEAR:: Shared By Joanne Pappa

We are now half way through the year and as individuals we may want to evaluate ourselves. Probably we have achieved what we wanted to, or maybe we haven’t. May be circumstances made us change course.

Halfway through gives us a chance to step back, evaluate our year so far with your goals and objectives (never mind the new year’s resolutions which likely didn’t last until February…) and to take action to get back on track if necessary. It’s a great opportunity to do some hard thinking over our finances, our diet, our career and other aspects of your life that you might want to improve. Make the second half of the year count!

As the pic says we may want to adopt New attitudes, New intentions, New goals, New battles, New Successes – be it if we have achieved, not achieved, been sidetracked or whatever else.

Genesis 11.31:

Terah took his son Abram, his grandson Lot son of Haran, and his daughter-in-law Sarai, the wife of his son Abram, and together they set out from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to Canaan. But when they came to Haran, they settled there. 

Terah was Abraham’s dad. He apparently embraced the call of his son, Abraham, and started heading to Canaan. But he stopped half-way.

How often we do that? We stop half-way. The people of Israel stopped half-way at Kadesh-Barnea where they saw themselves as grasshoppers. (Don’t ever think of yourself as a grasshopper.) The Christians at Laodicea were half-way Christians. They were neither hot nor cold. They made God want to throw up. Don’t do that.

Supposing we have achieved that we set out to do, or have surpassed, we should not just sit back and relax. Start a new exciting thing – maybe pick a hobby you had put aside for a while.

As we do Lord this, let us not forget that we profess Christ and as such our success is tied to the Lord being with us. When we have the Lord with us then we will prosper. That does not mean that everything will go perfectly but we must remain faithful to God.

In Trying to Achieve or Accomplish what is left of this year Let us do so with Optimism, Trust, Faith & Love – Not Fear. And pray that God’s perfect will be done. All things will always work together for our good.

THE WAITING SAFARI :: Shared By Pappa

I know each one of us has at some point had to wait! Wait for something, someone, sometime. Even now, wengine wanangoja. Na wamekua wakingoja kwa muda.

We are waiting for healing (for ourselves or for loved ones), we are waiting for new jobs or promotions, we are waiting for that breakthrough in business or that helicopter ride to some mountain lake! Waiting!

What is your earliest memory of a road trip, when's you was a toi? Let’s assume it was to Mombasa!!! Few days to the day, the air is thick with anticipation. Then finally the day. Kulala hata ni shida – asubuhi haifiki!

Donno if your folks were like mine but they never seemed to be in a hurry to set off. Umesha pack, umeshavaa na hamtoki. Hautaki kucheza ndo nguo zisichafuke. It could get frustrating at some point - kwanza watoto wa majirani wakipitia na hamjatoka. So much for that.

Sasa tuanze safari ... this is a trip you aint taken before. Shika Mombasa Road ... by the time mnapita Athi River unauliza swali ya kwanza ---

Tumefika? Answer 'ahh ngoja... bado! utajua tukifika'. Machakos turn off, 'tumefika?'. Answer 'ndakwambia tukikaribia'. Salama, 'tumekaribia?'. You catch the drift, right?

We'll come back to that momentarily.

You see, in our season of waiting we may tend to get irritated and or  impatient. In deed, we have an idea of our destination, we are looking forward to getting there, but we are not getting there soon enough. Or whoever is supposed to get us through does not seem to understand the urgency, so we ask God - 'tuko karibu?'.

Back to our trip: Voi, pit stop! Kid could have several choices:

1. He can believe to himself that that is Mombasa, the bus / car stopped anyway. Depending on his expectations he might end up pretty disappointed.
2. If he has a clear picture of how Mombasa looks, he might as well decide enough is enough and decide to walk til he sees a beach!

How many times do we set out on a journey with the Lord and are irritated and impatient? We get to Voi and instead of releasing and replenishing for the rest of the journey we turn back, turn off or turn away.

You have been seeking a job for soooo long and instead of releasing and replenishing you succumb to lying or bribing! Or, you know of a paradise called honeymoon but have not be patient enough to wait on God til then! Whatever became to the principle of the farmer ...

See what the Lord says:

James 5:7-8 “Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains.  You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.”

The farmer prepares the land in due time, plants at the right time, goes through the rigors of weeding and through the entire cycle until its time for the harvest. He cannot watch as the rains come and go. Weeding season comes and he does nothing but shows up at harvest time and expect anything!

Back to the trip! Now that you're older and with hindsight, what do you think the kid needed besides knowing that it'll be a pretty long trip? A book to doodle perhaps? A few games to play along? Some few things to bite on?

The more you get to working out your faith in your wait, it ceases to be a wait but an experience in itself. Two kids on the same trip, one writes a beautiful composition not just about sun and sand but also the images and experiences along the way.

Jane shared with us a message on Why Me a fortnight ago, a perfect example of how engaged we need to be during our wait.
Psalm 37:7 “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices.”

Work out your salvation, grow your faith, commune with God, praise Him!! Strengthen your relationship with Him. BUT ALSO ... believe HIM!

Back to the trip! By focusing on the prize the wait will be worth it. If you could just picture how you'll have fun with your cousins and friends when you get there the wait will be nothing compared to that. MORAL? Be certain about the promise of God in eternity and the wait for every other thing on earth will be worth it!

Heb 11:13-16
13 All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. 14 People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. 15 If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 Instead, they were longing for a better country--a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

Usichoke / jitie nguvu / Bwana akujali

Wakati wako / utakapo fika / hakuna atakae zuia baraka zako

Subiri subiri wewe ... usichoke

THE LORD BLESS HIS WORD!

OUR IDENTITY IN CHRIST :: Shared By Salf

I will start with a short testimony. Somehow God has been reviving my prayer life. So last week on one of the weekdays I woke up asubuhi to pray. And as I prayed, I felt quite a conviction that without God I don't have any strength to carry on in his assignment over my life. As I prayed, it's like God was telling me that he's my strength. So I kept confessing that God you are my strength. Then, in just a bit I opened the scriptures, opened the verse psalms 27 which I have always known to be "The Lord is my light and my salvation. Well, the second bit of that verse is what amazed me. Coz it goes "The Lord is the Strength of my life, of whom shall I be afraid?"

Immediately I knew God was confirming that he's my/our strength. The testimony here is that, He will speak to you a Word in season. And I have been encouraged as a result to pray forth the scriptures. Because God will follow his Word to perform and confirm it.

Number 2: As in second thing I want to share before we read the scriptures

Pambio yenye I have been singing is; - Just the chorus. Every praise, is to our God. Every word of worship in one accord, every praise, every praise, is to our God. Amen. Now today i wish to share with us a message" Our identity in Christ"

Our verse for the day is 1 Peter 2:10: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.[King James Version]
What makes us different from our friends, family members and colleagues who are not yet born again?

It's not that we are better, but God's mercy has rescued us. The bible says that it's Him who chose us. And he knew us even before the foundations of the world. Now, our identity in Christ is that we are here on earth with a divine assignment, chief of which is to worship and glorify God.

God has quickened us by his Spirit, so that even as we live, we bear in mind that we are sons and daughters of the Most High. Does it mean we are perfect? By no means. But God has taught us to always call on Him and he will be our help in time of need. We are in this world and God has promised us victory in every area of our lives, yet the chief victory is that our names are in the book of heaven.

It reminds me of when disciples were excited that they could do miracles and cast out devils but Jesus told them to rejoice not in that the spirits are subject to them but that their names are in the book of life. And this identity in Christ is irrevocable. So we are in this permanently. Even though the enemy seeks around like a roaring lion to seek saints he may devour, we have the victory in Christ. It's God who preserves us.

In conclusion, I wish to say: That the place where we are with Christ is: A place of hope, a place of forgiveness of sins, a place of healing, a place of restoration. The righteous are as bold as a lion, and knowing that Christ in us has made us righteous, let us go forth boldly and live as God intended us to. We are a peculiar people, lets have our joy full. We are kingdom people, God is the bishop of our souls. We know who we are and him who has called us. So may he be glorified in our lives, now and forever more.

Amen.

WHY ME? :: Shared By Jane L

I’ll share today about sailing through tough and painful times by God's grace!

We all have at one time or another gone through a difficult or painful season where it just didn’t make sense as to why all this pain Or maybe you have struggled with something n keep asking God to help you stop but it’s just hard n doesn’t happen as fast as you want and wonder isn’t God listening. Addictions, Sickness, Loss of a job, Financial issues, Loss of a loved one and many others.

How do we get through these tough painful seasons without blaming God or feeling sorry for ourselves? And asking why me?

From the above verses we take perfect examples of Paul and Jesus. Jesus knew he was going to die when faced with tough painful times. Instead of feeling sorry for ourselves n asking why me? We can by God's grace embrace the season and focus our prayer n life on the end result which is glorifying God and growing in our faith. When God doesn’t seem to take it away....hang in there pray for grace n strength n wen u look back.....you can only say LOOK WAT THE LORD HAS DONE! It will be almost impossible to fathom how you got thru it but you will have coz God is faithful to the end. Personally i have learnt n still learning to look unto God for tough times n the amazing thing is he gives grace and peace beyond our understanding if we look at the tough times with the right attitude and faith.

Be blessed.

RELAX! God's Got You :: Shared By Kasherry

So in today's sharing just thought I’d encourage us. Hebrews 3:13 reminds us to encourage one another daily, as long as it’s called today.

For the past couple of months, life has been quite a roller-coaster emotionally and had left me feeling like God was so far from me. Things weren't working out the way I wanted and I kept hitting a dead end time and time again.

It was in the process of feeling so down & out that God reminded me that He knows I exist, in fact He knows my name. He knew me before I was even born and whatever direction my life is going, He set it that way.

Ephesians 1:11

Jeremiah 1:5

Nothing that I am facing takes Him by surprise....even the tantrums I throw once in a while He knew they would come.

Through this season God has taught me to let go and let Him. Align myself with His will. Tough lesson but worth it. Maybe there are some of us here going through this typa season...where nothing is making sense and God seems so far away.

Read through Psalms 139: 1-18 Encourages me all the time.

So just as a reminder, God knows your name He has you engraved on the palm His hand. You are the apple of His eye! No matter what it is we face, He has promised to carry us through.

Closing the message with Isaiah 46:4 Even to your old age and gray hairs I am He, I am He who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you: I will sustain you and rescue you.

May we all be encouraged that even through those dark and tough times, God has us.

WHO DID YOU GET SAVED FOR:: Shared By Shish

Do you remember when you gave your life to Christ?  Were you excited? Were you scared? Did you cry at the convictions of your sins? Did you shout in joy at the realization that you have been freed?

I remember my day of salvation but will save that story for another day, but you can be assured that at 13 years of age I welcomed salvation  with  waterworks.

So years later you and I are all saved, sanctified, Holy ghost filled, some of us are certified tongue speakers, demon chasers, redeemed, we have done Mizizi, we even went for a retreat J…….. the list goes on.

Today I want to take us back to the beginning of the church and to remind us of our core mandate.

Lets look at Matthew 5: 13 You are the salt of the earth……..

Matthew 5: 14 You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden

This was Jesus  teaching his disciples, he was defining to them the nature bestowed on them. The disciples were young men who had heeded the call just like us, to leave their fishing nets to stop going by the name fishers of fish but fishers of men.  They were young men who Jesus ‘saved’.

So this is what Christ is saying to us. “I have saved you,” and this is how I am defining you:  you are the salt. You are the light.

Let’s fast forward to today: we are saved, we are the salt and we are the light. I would like to ask us to reflect deeply on those things. Let’s each think of all the qualities of salt and light, let us look at our individual qualities? Is Shish salt at her office? Is she a light in the youth ministry where she serves, can her sisters testify to those qualities? Can Jesus who saved her call her my salt, my light in the world?

Lets read the text together with the consequences
Matthew 5: 13-15  You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. 14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.

There is a warning that if we lose our saltiness, we will be thrown out and trampled underfoot.

Let me take this home;

Christ in the same Matthew 5 in verse 16 encourages the disciples to let their light shine before others, that others may see their good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Christ before leaving the first church commissioned it in Matthew 28: 9 to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

It is for this reason that we got saved. To draw others to Christ, to witness with our actions and deeds.

Today is the 28th Day of May 2016 and I would like to ask you and I, have you been letting your light shine or are you hiding it? Have you intentionally shared Christ or do you want to keep your saltiness to yourself? Have you ever led anyone to Christ?

We may not all go preach in church but our offices give us great pulpits, our families are great places to plant the seed.

Christ promised to be with us to the very end of the age.

FAMILY, FRIENDS & GOD'S FAITHFULNESS:: Shared By Tattu At The Relaunch Of Mwaibada On WhatsApp

I'm really honoured to be sharing on this very 1st Mwaibada in a looong time. And it is a privilege because I am going to share what God has put in my heart. Family, Friends, and above all Gods faithfulness.

This is going to be interactive so walio hapa... Ecc 4:9-12 9 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. 10 For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! 11 Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? 12 And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

A little history of where we have been with the Lord ndio tufikishane Ecc 4:9-12

I've been going through a phase of questioning my relationships Family, Friends even Him. At some point I had chujad peeps from my life. There are those who didn't go, including Him. They just refused to let me go. And a majority of these resilient peeps are here and PBN - Peeps I met online.

While I had one foot in depression, they had me. If it wasn't for them and Him, I'd probably have stuck the other foot in – My friends who are my family. Two are better than one.

My roho juuness said I can do it on my own. The Lord said no you can't! 'That is why you have me and I have placed people in your life'. He promised to never leave nor forsake me. He kept that promise.

'Woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up'. A three fold cord is not quickly broken.

I joined Mwafrika in 2009 - What I didn't know is that God had a family for me in you guys! You may not know this but you peeps keep me strong, straight. Some here have literally stayed up ALL night to listen to me - Family, Friends! 2015 and we are still here. ALL of us.

We have been there for each other - God has held us together! And all I can see is His faithfulness. So my peeps I wanna thank you all for being here and being you. and as we revive Mwaibada, I would like us each to say a kind word to your family member and your entire family - we can't wait for Christmas to do this.

We'll start by appreciating each other and being nice to each other like we always are ... HAYA ...

-----------> and on to the interactive part!

THE POWER OF PRAYER:: Shared By Arms

Matthew 6:6

The bible says.....When you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

What is Prayer?

To a Christian, the meaning of prayer is to communicate to the Lord about everything. It is a daily part of life, just like breathing or walking. It's not a necessity, but a desire to talk to the Lord, praise Him, thank Him, and ask His Blessing on us or others. There are many ways one can pray - silently, publicly, privately, and in meditation. Each of them has their own purpose, whether it be for rejoicing, praising, asking blessing, or confessing.

A Christian looks to the Lord as a friend who is there for them day or night. The belief is that He is their companion and therefore involved in every aspect of their life, good or bad. A Christian also then has the desire to please God in their service to Him, whether it be in helping others physically or spiritually, or asking God to help them through prayer.

Prayer is like talking to your best friend, someone whom you trust and can tell anything in confidence without the fear of it being repeated to anyone else.

A true friend is one you don’t fear to face day or night….

It is the ability to honestly let go off your inhibitions and feel comfort, knowing that no matter what, God is listening and will be there for you. Therefore prayer is many things, including peace, security, fellowship, guidance, worship and love.

I requested several people to engage into a midnight prayer for Kenya n the President from
yesterday night btwn 12 and 3am.

I personally set my alarm for 1.30am and i was up in prayer...

God never sleeps so anytime u can knock and enter.

Jesus did not say, "Dream about your Father who is in the secret place," but He said, ". . . pray to your Father who is in the secret place. . . .
Prayer is an effort of the will, and we must be willing to pray.
After we have entered our secret place and shut the door, the most difficult thing to do is to pray.

We cannot seem to get our minds into good praying order, and the first thing we have to fight is wandering thoughts.

The great battle in private prayer is overcoming this problem of our idle and wandering thinking.

We have to learn to discipline our minds and concentrate on willful, deliberate prayer.

We must have a specially selected place for prayer, but once we get there this plague of wandering thoughts begins, as we begin to think to ourselves, "This needs to be done, and I have to do that today. ....wandering.

" Jesus says to "shut your door.

" Having a secret stillness before God means deliberately shutting the door on our emotions and remembering Him.

God is in secret, and He sees us from "the secret place"

He does not see us as other people do, or as we see ourselves.

When we truly live in "the secret place," it becomes impossible for us to doubt God.

The bible says "All things are Possible to them that believe"
Believe what? That God is able to perform a miracle.

We become more sure of Him than of anyone or anything else.

Enter into "the secret place," and you will find that God was right in the middle of your everyday circumstances all the time.

Get into the habit of dealing with God about everything.

Unless you learn to open the door of your life completely and let God in from your first waking moment of each new day, you will be working on the wrong level throughout the day.

But if you will swing the door of your life fully open and "pray to your Father who is in the secret place," every public thing in your life will be marked with the lasting imprint of the presence of God.

Remember that every day we are praying between 12midnight and 3am.

Schedule your sleep and set time in btwn to pray for PBN, Kenya, Family n church in the world.

May God bless His word today...

Shared by Arms At the Mwafrika chatroom on Friday Mar 19, 2010

GOD IS IN CONTROL:: Shared By Arms

Rev 12:17 And the dragon was enraged with the woman,and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Note: The woman here stands for the church...

The other day the Lord spoke to me...
He said, His bride the Church has been tried and tested in these last days..
Disunity amongst the church leadership, Compromise of faith and believe with the political waves…

God said….

There is the next well planned tactic from the enemy’s camp to bring about if the church continue sleeping. Satan will cause a spiritual dust n smoke to blow that will bring blindness in the body of Christ.
The same spirit mentioned in the book of Samuel.....About Eli the High Priest
That things may happen and the church fails to see..
He became old and blind..

There is a reason -- a very good reason -- why the devil is angered at the Church. He wanted to destroy Israel, but he couldn't. He thought he had destroyed Israel when he sent them into exile, but Israel survived and returned to their promised land. He thought he had finished them off with the death of the last prophet of God about 400 BC. He was sure he had done it when he killed their Messiah in 33 AD. Having failed in all those attempts, he left little doubt when Titus over ran Jerusalem in 70 AD.

But God had other plans. He sent Israel into exile again -- and this was a protection plan for them. Not that it was pleasant.

Notice something in life, when satan plans for your destruction, God plans for ur prosperity.

The chosen of God were so scattered that satan had no focal point to attack. He could never destroy them all. They were too numerous and too scattered.

Satan chose to war with those of Israel's offspring who not only kept God's commandments, but clung tightly to their faith in Jesus, the Christ, their Redeemer and Savior -- that's the Church -- you and me.
Our believing family members and fellow saints around the world.

I honestly don't believe satan thinks he can destroy the Church. If God protected Israel by
Scattering, the Church is even more so. No, he may make war against the saints, but he does not expect victory there. He still has his sights set on Israel -- the new Israel -- the reborn Israel (The Church)

The Israelites were inhabiting the land given to them by God through Abraham many centuries ago.

Church, Kenya is our land.........

Satan thought he would marshal all of his efforts on their destruction.
The Palestinians can't do it.
All of Islam can't do it.
But he thinks all the forces of the East can.
It's a shame that satan can't read, because the end of the book says that God wins, he loses, and Israel and the Church live on forever!

In all of this, whether peace for you and me, or persecution, or rapture, or suffering, remember that GOD IS IN CONTROL!

There is no doubt about it.
You can read! Read the end of the Book!
All is well as long as we are in the palm of God's hand!

Amen

God bless you all.

Shared by Arms At the Mwafrika chatroom on Friday Mar 12, 2010

FORGIVENESS IN LOVE:: Shared By Arms

Scripture Reading - Luke 15:11-32

Introduction.
Forgiveness is a choice we make through a decision of our will, motivated by obedience to God and his command to forgive.

Forgiveness does not come easy for most of us.

The Scripture says in Colossians 3:13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. (NIV)

How do we forgive when we don't feel like it?
This is how we do it............We forgive by faith, out of obedience. Since forgiveness goes against our nature, we must forgive by faith, whether we feel like it or not.

Matthew 18:21-22 says...........Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?" Jesus answered, "I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times. (NIV)

Many times we get worked up if we forgive someone then they repeat same mistakes again and again. This is what breaks friendships, relationships etc.

Jesus said……..Seventy-Seven times! It does not sound practical..Does it?

This answer by Jesus makes it clear that forgiveness is not easy for us. It's not a one-time choice and then we automatically live in a state of forgiveness. Forgiveness may require a lifetime of forgiving, but it is important to the Lord. We must continue forgiving until the matter is settled in our heart.

Why must we forgive?
The best reason to forgive is because Jesus commanded us to forgive. We learn from Scripture, if we don't forgive, neither will we be forgiven:
Now Forgiveness brings a condition....if we don't forgive, neither will we be forgiven.

Matthew 6:14-16……………………………… For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins. (NIV)

We also forgive so that our prayers will not be hindered: Mark 11:25 …………………….And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins. (NIV)

Now we understand what hinders answers prayer!


BACK TO OUR SERMON Luke 15:11-32

Jesus tells the story of a man who has two sons. The younger son asks his father to give him his portion of the family estate as an early inheritance.

We love asking.........

NB: Once received, the son promptly sets off on a long journey to a distant land (Away from the Father) and begins to waste his fortune on wild living.

My dear friends….be careful on the action u take after God blesses you.
Be careful on the life you lead after the miracle..
Watch over the world and generation of fun and merry..

The bible records…….he went to a distant land.

After the job, business, money, family, friends that God gave you, do you find time for fellowship?
Do you consistently attend church?
Is your faith walk in order?
How is your testimony?

The Prodigal son went away….

My bible records…..When the money runs out, a severe famine hits the country and the son finds himself in dire circumstances…..He takes a job feeding pigs. He is so destitute that he even longs to eat the food assigned to the pigs. (Desperate situation).

When the money runs out,.....................The young man finally comes to his senses, remembering
his father.
When the job, the contract, the internship comes to an end…
When the girl/man you loved so much walks away…
When your health deteriorates….
When your bank account reads negative……..

How are your senses concerning your relationship with God… The young man finally came to his senses, remembering his father…..he decided to go back.

In humility, he recognizes his foolishness.

Money n wealth has made people lose senses for the father......

NB: The father had been watching and waiting……….just like our God will do for a sinner.

The Son comes back and asks for forgiveness.

Forgiveness is born out of mercy, Mercy is provoked by love.

You cannot forgive when you don’t love….John 3:16…For God so loved the world…

God Loved, then Sent the Son. The son was to come, die n buy forgiveness of our sins with blood……..

If u can’t recognize the Love, you can’t ask for forgiveness.

The Son knew that the father loved him, and was ready to receive him.

Are you ready for God? Do you care about your life? Are you tired with your life?

God is ready to forgive us.

Think abt your life for a moment..............Is it in order?

Are you worth forgiveness?

Lessons

- A son would receive his inheritance at the time of his father's death.
- For the Prodigal son to ask early, shows his rebellious and proud disregard for his father's authority,
- Selfish and immature attitude.
- Pigs were unclean animals.
- Jews were not even allowed to touch pigs.
- It reveals that he had fallen as low as he could possibly go.
- This son represents a person living in rebellion to God.
- The father is a picture of the Heavenly Father.
- God is patient, loving and full of compassion to restore us when we return to him with humble hearts.
- He offers us everything in his kingdom, restoring full relationship with joyful celebration. As this father ordered for a fatted calf to be slaughtered…..Calves have soft meat….I miss their meat.
- Once we come back to Him, He doesn't even dwell on our past waywardness..

Forgiveness in Love.

Shared by Arms At the Mwafrika chatroom on Friday Feb 5, 2010

WHO I AM I THAT I SHOULD GO:: Shared By Niceness

And now the cry of the Israelites has reached me, and I have seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them. So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt. But Moses said to God, "Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt (EXODUS.3)

I thank God for the book of Exodus, I hope we all know the story of Moses, born from house of Levi brought up by pharaohs daughter, killed an Egyptian, fled to Midian where he met and married Zipporah, met with God at Horeb where he was sent back to Egypt to deliver the Israelites.

Mhhh! “Who am I that I should go”. Moses conversation with God in the mountain was all about him arguing the reasons why he should not be the one, however like always Gods word was final; I wonder how many times we have argued with God? I have, but he always wins.

Exodus reveals how God knows us from our mother’s womb and plans our lives a head of us. In Midian, it was planned by God that he will go there and be taught Gods way by Jethro his father in law. He needed to know his God first before introducing him to the world, to pharaoh. But in this place had become so comfortable, even had a family of his own such that he dint want to take the next step of faith towards his destiny, resulting to the argument with God (But Moses said to God, "Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?)

What does this mean? He may have being looking after goats at the time, but his call was not to be a shepherd in that town, he had being called to be a deliverer, but shepherding was part of the journey.

Church of God, some people are in their location of their assignment, they have gone to Jethro and being taught and has now gone back to deliver that assignment and I thank God for you. But on the other hand, many are in Moses shoes at the time, comfortable with where we are and actually have been fooled into thinking that is all there is. Shepherding and going back to the family is not all God had fro Moses, NO! More fun was to follow, like dividing the sea among others.

I want to encourage some one today, wherever you are at the moment is path best days, and the shaking and sending few drops of tears is part of it, for on our way we get attached to places and things, but in order to go to the next level we have to leave them behind. Most of the time we even argue like Moses, BUT please may we not delay our blessing knowing that at the end of our resistance to his voice, Our awesome God always get it his own away! AMEN.

He says “Am not a man that I should lie”. Therefore, every thing that he has spoken concerning you, it shall happen. Most of the time, prophesy and the current situation always looks so different. Moses is to deliver Israel from Egypt, but he is on asylum in a foreign country. Do not let what you are going through determine the result, stand in faith and let God do his work. DO NOT GIVE UP!The massage is don’t argue with God, if he wants you in that place, stay there. If he decides that your time is up, you need to pack and move in a foreign land or back to the previous one, do it because that’s where your assignment is. He don’t always reveal the full picture, we might be so excited or too afraid to act, so he needs us to TRUST in him, and walk the walk until we find our selves there and mature enough to handle the blessings.

There are people out there in captivity, there are situation out there that need to be confronted, Justice that need to prevail, Poverty that have to be abolished, sins in the society such as abortion and homosexuality that need to bow down to righteousness. God is preparing you “for these pharaohs”, that’s why you are on the run, that’s why you are in a foreign environment to learn, that’s why God has placed some Jethros in your life to teach you , that’s why you feel inadequate, (Moses and his speech problem) so that Gods power can be manifested you. So do not ask “who am I that I should go?” You are the one that has being set apart for that purpose. AMEN!!

who has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, (2timothy 1:9)

BE BLESSED

Shared by Niceness At the Mwafrika chatroom on Friday Nov. 6, 2009

His Temptation Our Temptation :: From "My Utmost For His Highest"

Hebrews 4:14therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, jesus the son of god, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15for we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. 16let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Until we are born again, the only kind of temptation we understand is the kind mentioned in james 1:14, "each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed." but through regeneration we are lifted into another realm where there are other temptations to face, namely, the kind of temptations our lord faced. The temptations of jesus had no appeal to us as unbelievers because they were not at home in our human nature. Our lord’s temptations and ours are in different realms until we are born again and become his brothers. The temptations of jesus are not those of a mere man, but the temptations of god as man.

Through regeneration, the son of god is formed in us (see galatians 4:19 ), and in our physical life he has the same setting that he had on earth. Satan does not tempt us just to make us do wrong things— he tempts us to make us lose what god has put into us through regeneration, namely, the possibility of being of value to god. He does not come to us on the premise of tempting us to sin, but on the premise of shifting our point of view, and only the spirit of god can detect this as a temptation of the devil.

Temptation means a test of the possessions held within the inner, spiritual part of our being by a power outside us and foreign to us. This makes the temptation of our lord explainable. After jesus’ baptism, having accepted his mission of being the one "who takes away the sin of the world" ( john 1:29 ) he "was led up by the spirit into the wilderness" ( matthew 4:1 ) and into the testing devices of the devil. Yet he did not become weary or exhausted. He went through the temptation "without sin," and he retained all the possessions of his spiritual nature completely intact.

For Similar Resources... read.

Shared at the Mwafrika Chatroom on October 30, 2009.

ACCEPTING YOUR ASSIGNMENT :: Shared By Sharniz

The sermon is mainly derived from Rick Warrens book Purpose Driven Life ….

I will start by asking why are u here on earth for? Just ask yourself that question.

In the book of Ephesians :
Tells us that for we are God’s workmanship .created in Jesus Christ to do good works which God prepared in advance for us to do.

We were put on earth to make a contribution but not to consume resources. God designed you to make a difference with your life were created to add to life on earth, not just take from it.God wants to you to give something back.

This is one of God’s purposes for your life, and it is called your Ministry’ or servic.The bible gives us the details

1) u were created to serve God
the bible says God had created us for life of good deeds, which he has already prepared for us to do” these good deed are your service. Whenever u serve others in any way you are actually serving God. and fulfilling one of your purpose.

What God told Jeremiah is also true for us all.. ‘Before u were born, i set you apart in your mothers womb, I chose you, before u were born iet you apart for a special work” you were’
You were placed on this planet for a special assignment.

II) you were saved to serve God
The bible sys, it he who saved us and chose us for his holy work not that was this plan.
God redeemed you so you could do his ‘holy works’ you are not saved by service, but you are saved for service. In God’s kingdom you have a place, a purpose, a role and a function to fulfill. This gives your life great significance and value.

It cost Jesus his own life to purchase your salvation. We don’t serve God out of quilt or fear or even duty, but out of joy, and deep gratitude for what he’s done for us. We owe him our lives. Through salvation our past has been forgiven, our present is given meaning and our future is secured. In light of these incredible benefits Paul concluded because of God’s great mercy.. Offering yourselves as a living sacrifice to God, dedicated to his services”

Have u ever wondered why God doesn’t just immediately take us to heaven the moment we accept his grace? Why does he leave us in a fallen word? He leaves us to here to fulfill his purpose. Once you are saved, God intends to use you for his goal. God has a ministry for you in his church and a mission for u in the world.

III) you were called to serve God

Growing up you may have thought that being ‘called by God was something ony missionaries, pastors, us and others ‘full fill’

Some people may try to serve God in hopes that this will either earn them eternal salvation or help them hang on to it. Of course, this is contrary to the grace of God in salvation and in sanctification (Eph. 2:8-9; Gal. 3:1-9).

Serving God – Making it PersonalReflect: I would encourage you to spend some time reflecting on your own spiritual walk to this moment in time. We have much to learn from the circumstances of our past. These situations have molded us into the people we are today. We need to be able to recognize God’s involvement along that path with grateful hearts. I challenge you to recognize that you are learning from the Master Himself every day as He personally takes you by the hand and points your way. Take a look at all the “coincidences” of your life and you will soon see God’s pattern. Be sure to journal your findings, as one day they will all make perfect sense.

Point to ponder: service is not optional

Shared by Sharniz At the Mwafrika chatroom on Friday Oct 23, 2009

SERMON: ARE YOU BLINDED & BEGGING, CALL THE MORE! :: Shared By Pappa

Read Mark 10:46-52

The story is straight forward, the man had been blind (probably all his life). His life must have been one long routine, sitting by the roadside and begging. On this day he heard a crowd… he must have initially told himself … leo nime angukia, nitapata kitu ya kishua!! However as information filtered through he had that it was Jesus and immediately started calling out for Him. He did not just call out but also placed his request to Jesus as well. Verse 47, When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"

However, it is recorded that many rebuked the blind beggar telling him to keep quiet, BUT… he shouted all the more… Son of David, have mercy on me!

As candid as the blind man was with his request to Jesus, so was Jesus with His request from the blind beggar, verse 51"What do you want me to do for you?" Jesus asked him. And the man was clear in his mind about what he wanted, his immediate reply?? Rabbi, I want to see.

Lets stop for a moment and think about this situation and our lives. Many of us have ‘issues’. We may not be blind but we have struggled or are struggling with some darkness in our lives. Probably its your relationships, your financial status may be health or just your walk with Christ.You know that Jesus is always available to you and have been calling out to Him to have mercy on you!! But the crowd has kept us at bay. The crowd could be your brethren, your parents, your siblings… indeed the crowd could also be inside you, your doubts, your lack of faith, you logic or your impatience. Lets learn a quick lesson from the beggar!! When the crowd tried to bring him down, he shouted all the more… have you done that? What do you do when things seem not to be going your way? What do you do when you seem to trapped in one long routine? Do you shout the more or do you look for your ‘own’ solutions? Do you reason out with yourself and the world, sometimes even compromising your faith? Hear me out my brothers and sisters calling out the more is not just a matter of repeating your selfish prayers (prayers based on what you want rather than what you need, prayers based on mere prosperity rather than the will of God) calling out the more is seeking God earnestly, developing your relationship with Him, engaging with Him through out, involving Him in all that we do, knowing His purpose in you … in so doing your faith in Him grows and it is recorded that without faith you cannot please God (Heb 11:6)… that’s a sermon for another day.

That’s not the only lesson from the blind man… after calling out and Jesus seeking Him out Jesus asked him what he wanted… and the blind beggar was quick with His answer!! My dear brothers, after calling out to God in the right way and pleasing God by your growing faith well then Jesus turns to you and asks what you want done for you!! How many of us have reached this level of relationship with JC hadi anatuuliza, naweza ka kuduia what? And yet because of our spiritual insensitivity have ended up missing out on the question… or may be we jusy get caught up with the crowd and just do not hear Jesus ask.

Brethren, lets call out to Jesus all the more (through prayer, bible reading, study of the bible, continued meditation on the Word of God and through fellowship with believers) and also lets build up our spiritual sensitivity to hear Jesus speak to us and we answer appropriately.

For further study, check out the story of the Israelites exploring the promised land and the reaction of different people to what they saw and further, the CROWDS reaction to the report that was given in Numbers 13:1 to Numbers 14:4

Are you blinded and begging? Call on Jesus!!

Is the crowd putting you off? Call the more!!

Shared by Pappa At the Mwafrika chatroom on Friday Oct 16, 2009

SERMON: UNTIL I TOUCH THE HEM :: Shared By Arms

Text
Luke 8:40 – 48

[40] Now when Jesus returned, a crowd welcomed him, for they were all expecting him. [41] Then a man named Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, came and fell at Jesus' feet, pleading with him to come to his house [42] because his only daughter, a girl of about twelve, was dying.

As Jesus was on his way, the crowds almost crushed him. [43] And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years, but no one could heal her. [44] She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped.

[45] "Who touched me?" Jesus asked.

When they all denied it, Peter said, "Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you."

[46] But Jesus said, "Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me."

[47] Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed. [48] Then he said to her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace."


Exposition

Jesus and his disciples have returned to Galilee from the land of the Garasenes, and as their boat lands on the shore of lake Capernaum, a crowd is waiting (me and you). They have seen his boat from afar and have massed on the beach to welcome him.
The Press of the Crowd (8:40-42)

These pple are at the beach, Jesus's boat is coming just as he is riding in this word to the Mwafrika chatters this hour.

The bible says...there was this press of the Crowd (8:40-42). Pressing of a people in need.Jairus, is also there. He has a need for his daughter....he is pressing! The woman with the issue of blood is there....she is pressing! Me and you we are here...we are pressing!! Rent, power n water bills is the multitude today, pressing!! Joblessness, financial strains.....pressure! Broken n shaken relationships.....pressure!

Let me leave the mention of Jairus, the synagogue ruler, for now and consider him in the next lesson.
But as Jesus heads for Jairus' house to heal his daughter, the crowd is especially thick. The NIV says "As Jesus was on his way, the crowds almost crushed him" (8:42).
NB: The world we live in has a need to see Jesus!
The word "crushed" or "thronged" translated (KJV) is Greek sumpnigo, "as a hyperbolic expression for 'crowd around, press upon,' something like 'almost crush.' "[1] It is the same word used by the Gospel writers in the Parable of the Soils (8:14) to describe the thorns "choking" the wheat and making it unfruitful.

As Jesus moves toward Jairus' house, the streets are utterly jammed.
I imagine it like the crowd moving out of Kasarani Stadium at the end of a game.

Capernaum's streets are not designed to handle these kinds of crowds.
Jesus is able to push forward only with difficulty and progress is slow.
Jairus is at his side and ever-mindful that his daughter's life is slipping away every moment that is wasted.
The Woman with the Hemorrhage (8:43) ………….Issue of blood.
"And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years, but no one could heal her." (8:43)

Among the pushing, shoving, elbowing crowd this day is a pale woman.
- Pale due to bleeding,
- Pale due to Joblessness
- Pale due to financial strains……………Pale
For twelve years she has suffered from uterine bleeding and she is weak.
Mark records, "She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse" (Mark 5:26).

Have you been sick for an extended period of time? Like the Tom’s case I posted today,
Have you experienced the hopelessness of having physicians do all sorts of tests, put you through all sorts of treatments, charge huge medical bills, and leave you worse for all their doings? Occasionally this lady's friends would tell her of some doctor they had heard of in another town. When she was younger, she might make the journey to consult with them, but no longer.

She is broke and hopeless.
Why go to a doctor when nothing helps?
Her faith in doctors' remedies is long since gone.
There is no hope for her.

According to the Jewish law – she is ceremonially unclean.
Women were normally considered unclean during their period.
"When a woman has a discharge of blood for many days at a time other than her monthly period or has a discharge that continues beyond her period, she will be unclean as long as she has the discharge, just as in the days of her period.
Any bed she lies on while her discharge continues will be unclean, as is her bed during her monthly period, and anything she sits on will be unclean, as during her period.

Whoever touches them will be unclean; he must wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he will be unclean till evening." (Leviticus 15:25-27)

Anyone who knew about her illness would shun her. She couldn't go about in society and mingle in the marketplace with the other women, since a touch from her would make someone unclean. She couldn't attend ceremonial occasions, or synagogue worship. And so she resorts to secrecy. Probably she isn't even known in Capernaum.

She comes incognito, her condition carefully concealed. But she comes with determination.
Elbowing Her Way to Touch the Master's Clothing (8:44)
"She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped" (Luke 8:44).
Friends………it does not matter if the church recognizes u or not, the point is….Elbow ur way into the master, whether people enter Mwafrika or Facebook to “see” other people…..elbow to touch His garment.

She determines to find him and be healed.
When his boat is spotted coming towards shore she is among the crowd waiting.
When Jairus prostrates himself before Jesus begging for his daughter's life, she is not far away.
- It does not matter whether someone else want to touch Jesus
- It does not matter if you can hear other people praying,
- Go for your miracle………Leave Jairus to plead his case.
- Jesus is able
And when Jesus begins to move through the crowd toward Jairus' housethis woman is not far behind.

To reach Jesus she must push and shove and elbow her way between people when tiny openings occur. She is weak; her strength is drained, and yet she will not give up.
- Never give up when you need a miracle
- Don’t listen to pressures
- Pursue your mission
She must reach Jesus, and so she continues to wedge her body through the crowd until she comes up behind him.

She has decided in her heart, "If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed" (Mark 5:28). She doesn't want to confront him in public.

She is too ashamed to admit the nature of her illness,
- No one has a right to stop you from touching Jesus
- As long as you can see Him….push on.
This woman had to do this without revealing anything.
But she must touch him.
She must.

We too must touch Him for our issues………..
Don’t give me an attitude…..i must touch Him.

Touch the hem (His Word)
For that is where the power is.

Amen

Shared by Arms At the Mwafrika chatroom on Friday Oct 9, 2009

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF BEING A CHRISTIAN - Saved To Serve :: Shared By Tatuu

Romans 6:16 (NIV) Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?

1. As Christians we are Truly blessed…
· "A person reborn", he is provided the opportunity to live a new life
· "Belonging to the Lord", he is God's special child
· "Living by faith", he walks with God
· "Consecrated to God", he has been set apart to live a holy life
· "Guarded by the power of God", he is not alone in his struggle against the powers of Satan and the evil world in which we live

2. But with blessings come responsibilities...
a. There are obligations that come with our new opportunities
b. There are duties that come with our new calling

3. Indeed, the Christian has been called to serve God...
a. We have been "Saved To Serve" - cf. He 9:14; 12:28
b. It is only "reasonable" we be expected to serve God - Ro 12:1
c. Each person has a ministry (service) we are expected to fulfill - Col 4:17; 2Ti 4:5

[Thus the concept of "servitude" or "servanthood" is a significant partof what it means to be a Christian. That our service to God might bemore acceptable and fruitful, consider...]

I. THE GREATNESS OF SERVANTHOOD

A. BEING A SERVANT OF GOD IS A GREAT HONOR...
1. The title of "servant" was what many great men in the O.T. were called
a. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob - Deut 9:27 ("Thy servants")
b. Moses - 1Ki 8:53 ("Thy servant")
c. Joshua - Josh 24:29 ("Servant of the Lord")
d. Caleb - Num 14:24 ("My servant")
e. Job - Job 1:8 ("My servant")
f. Isaiah - Isa 20:3 ("My servant")
g. The prophets - Jer 7:25 ("My servants")

2. New Testament writers referred to themselves as "servants"...
a. James - Jm 1:1
b. Paul - Ro 1:1; Php 1:1
c. Peter - 2Pe 1:1
d. Jude - Jude 1
e. John - Re 1:1

B. JESUS CAME TO SERVE...
1. He was foretold to come as the "Suffering Servant" - Isa 52:13-53:12
2. He "did not come to be served, but to serve" - Mt 20:28; Php 2:7
3. Even as our Lord and Master, He exemplified the servitude He desires of His disciples - Jn 13:12-17

[What an honor, if God were to look upon us as "His servants" as He didthese great men, including His own Son, Jesus Christ! He will, if weput into practice...]

II. THE CONCEPTS OF SERVANTHOOD

A. IT INVOLVES ABSOLUTE OBEDIENCE...
1. In a slave-master relationship...
a. The slave knows no law but his master's word
b. He has no rights of his own
c. He is the absolute possession of his master
d. He is bound to give his master unquestioning obedience

2. Does this describe our relationship to Christ?
a. It should, especially in light of 1Co 6:19-20
b. We have to come to Jesus on HIS terms, not our own - Lk 6: 46; Mt 7:21

B. IT INVOLVES ABSOLUTE HUMILITY...
1. Otherwise, absolute obedience is not possible
a. When we have a humble opinion of ourselves, we are receptive to the idea of complete obedience
b. For example, consider Paul's self-estimation - 1Co 15:9-10; Ep 3:8; 1Ti 1:15

2. Does this describe our relationship to Christ and His Will?
a. Jesus said it should! - Lk 17:10
b. But if we murmur or complain about what Jesus tells us to do, can we really be considered "servants"?

C. IT INVOLVES ABSOLUTE LOYALTY...

1. Since we become servants FREELY, it should be expected that we:
a. Are to be loyal to Him first - cf. Ga 1:10
b. Do not consider our own profit or preference important, but that of the One we freely serve!

2. It is amazing how any can claim to be servants of the Lord Jesus Christ, while:
a. Complaining about having to do the will of God, OR...
b. Being negligent or slothful in carrying out His will

3. Yet some act as though they are being forced against their own will!
a. They don't "have to" serve the Lord Jesus...
1) Of course, the alternative is not very inviting
2) If we don't serve Jesus, by default we serve Satan, and are destined for hell!
b. But God by His grace has offered salvation, and how dare we ever grumble or complain that He calls us to life of service in grateful appreciation!

[That we not be negligent in our service, be aware of some...]

III. HINDRANCES TO SERVANTHOOD

A. SERVICE TO THE WRONG MASTER...

1. Jesus warned we cannot serve both God and Mammon - Mt 6:24
2. Serving the wrong things will render us fruitless - Lk 8:14
2. Paul illustrated we can only serve the one we obey - Ro 6:16

B. PLACING LIMITATIONS ON OUR SERVICE...

1. Some limit how, where, and when they will serve
a. As Moses tried to do - Exo 3:10,11
b. Many will serve God, but only when convenient

2. Some limit who they will serve
a. As Jonah tried to do - Jon 1:1-3
b. Many will serve God, but not when it means serving others (especially people we don't like)

C. POSSESSING CERTAIN ATTITUDES...

1. Such as sluggishness and laziness - cf. He 6:11,12; Mt 25:26

2. Such as ingratitude - cf. 2Co 8:9; Php 2:5-7
a. Which often comes when we forget how graciously we have been served
b. We like service with a smile; are we willing to give service with a smile?

3. Such as pride or self-centeredness
a. As when self-pity affected Elijah - 1Ki 19:13-18
b. As when some preached Christ out of envy - Php 1:15-18
c. As when some seek for recognition, praise - Mt 6:1-4 - Humility and unselfishness are basic prerequisites for servanthood - Ac 20:19; Php 2:3-4

CONCLUSION

1. The Christian has been "Saved To Serve"...
a. Called to serve God and the Lord Jesus Christ
b. Called to serve his brethren and those in the world -- It is a noble calling, one that we should accept with humility and gratitude

2. If one chooses not to serve God...
a. Then they remain a slave to sin - Ro 16:16a
b. And the end of such slavery is eternal death - Ro 6:16b

3. But when one chooses to serve God...
a. Their servitude leads to righteousness - Ro 16:16c
b. And the end of such service is eternal life

- Ro 6:22 May what the apostle Paul wrote of the brethren in Rome be true of allof us today... "But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness." (Ro 6:17-18)

Have you been set free from sin, that you might serve Jesus Christ? - cf. Ro 6:1-7

Shared by Tatuu At the Mwafrika chatroom on Friday Oct 2, 2009

Our Inner Spirit & How It Grows :: Shared By Pappa

Our lesson today will address generally the feeding of OUR spirit.We shall just share briefly on this...
The basic text is Phil 4:8
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

That verse transformed my life and my perspective to it.

At creation God's intention for creating man was worship and fellowship with Him. We were to tend His creation. God's perfect plan!!
However, man fell ... We know the story

The general drift of my message is about the spirit that indwells us.

When we are born, we all have the "worldly spirit" (for the lack of a better expression), roho ya Adam - for our purposes today lets call this the wordly spirit.

When we are born again, God's spirit is reawakened in us, that does not mean the worldly spirit disappears. After all we are still in the world (but not of the world). Again for our purposes today we'll call that the Godly Spirit.

I put it to you that how we live our lives, every second, every minute dictates how our walk with Christ will be. Essentially how our inner spirit will evolve.

Now these two 'spirits' are 'feed' by matters about us. Recall the scripture - Phil 4:8? This is a call about what to set our mind on. The other day as we were at the Mwaombi, we were reminded to set our minds on things above.

COL 3: 1Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

So that begs the question, if these two 'spirits' are 'feed' by matters about us, then how are they feed?

By the same senses that God has given us! The same way He gave Adam a choice to obey i.e. “you may eat of all the fruit in the garden except from the tree in the middle of the garden”, is the same way these senses are for us and we have been called to obey.

What we see, hear, taste, touch na pia smell contributes alot to the feeding of these 'spirits'. Indeed, what we set our minds on!!!

Hebu toune:
If you spend your entire evening watching TV and five minutes in prayer, what would you believe the effect would be? 0r spend the entire morning reading the newspaper and two minutes reading the bible?

Let me put it this way, these 'spirits' do not grow in unison - they are inversely related!!! When one is fed it grows while the other is malnourished!

See, instead of struggling to deal with the worldly spirit, the important thing is to allow God's spirit to grow. When that happens the worldly spirit is malnourished!! What do we usually pray, as Jesus said … that Lord may you increase as we?

One thing that we ought to know and really learn is that right now we are in the world. What that means is that our environment is only fertile for the worldly spirit to grow. Indeed it takes no effort for the wordly spirit to grow. Uki kaa tuu, ita grow bila effort. We are bombarded from kila side. I bet you thats why its easier mse kukuambia "go to hell" than it is to say "God bless"

What’s the point? Let’s not spend too much effort running away from the world, all the effort should be based on embracing God.

The more we read about Him, the more we talk to Him, the more we use all our senses in running to Him - the more He will "run" to us.

When the bible says in James 4:8

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

It does not mean that God yuko away! It means that we set our hearts on Him, that we strengthen hio bond, that tuwache kuwa double minded.

As we draw near to Him, our eyes will be opened wider of His very presence with us!!! His spirit in us will grow soooooo big, we shall be a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to Him - after all He cannot deny Himself!!!!!

Yaani, the wordly spirit will be soo malnourished: utakuwa na issues all around you – ndio; utakuwa na shida za kidunia – ndio; lakini they will have no hold on you!! Utabaki ka Paul, I know what it is to have much, and I know what it is to lack. Uta kuwa ukisema with authority: greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world! You will be walking with God.

So ndugu na dada zangu:
Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Ule mse aliandika hizo words alikuwa amefungwa jela, ame chapwa, amepitia all manner of storms! What made him strong? He set his mind on things above! He who was in him was sooooooooo much greater than he who was in the world.

So today, I am encouraging you so greatly, review how you are feeding your 'spirit'. Which is growing at the others expense? Take a spiritual health check and see how you are doing.

And like Paul said ... I say to you:
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

God richly bless you as you grow in Him.

Shared by Pappa At the Mwafrika chatroom on Friday Sept 25, 2009

PS: For spiritual health check tool, get in touch with Pappa.

FAITH In God:: Shared By Arms ...

SERMON: Romans 10:17 (NKJV) So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

How does Faith work?

It is important to understand that faith is foundational to a good relationship between us and God.It does not usually operate along a predictable path. If we wish to follow it, faith requires our attention to the leading of the Holy Spirit.True Christian faith is not static. It should be dynamic and ever expanding.Faith must be exercised to gain a workable knowledge of it.Christian faith is not easy to comprehend.

Hebrews chapter 11, verse 6 begins, “Without faith it is impossible to please God.”

Example:- Prayer. We pray because we have an assurance that God exists, that He is willing to listen to us, and that there is a possibility that He will answer the request. We have this assurance because we have read about God answering prayer in the Bible or we because have seen Him answer prayers.

Different Levels of Christian Faith

1. Intellectual faith – Our Intellectual faith is the starting point. It is the mental act of believing Biblical truths that cannot be proved by man.
Example:- Intellectual faith is based on the truths we have read or have been taught.

2. Saving faith – A revelation from the Holy Spirit that convinces us that God alone is able to redeem us from the condemnation of original sin. At some time in our lives the Holy Spirit will bring us to a point where we realize that we are a sinners in desperate need of redemption. Saving faith is when we act upon the Gospel of Christ that we have intellectually accepted as truth. At that point we are born again. We are now a new creature in Christ. The Holy Spirit enters us and dwells in us. He opens our eyes to receive spiritual truth that we were previously blind to. We can now experience God first hand. The Holy Spirit is the part of God that actually touches us. John 14:15 – 17 (NLT) “If you love me, obey my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.

Saving faith opens the door to our relationship with God. It is as significant to that relationship as a wedding is to marriage. This is where He changes us to become more and more like Him. It is important that we go on with Him. It is not good to remain at the wedding altar.

3. Working faith – The trust that we have in God as the answer to all the challenges that face us in our walk with Him. We never become truly spiritual by sitting down and wishing to become so. People who exercise to build their bodies often use the expression “no pain – no gain.” The same is true in the faith building process. God wants us to be successful in this. He will call us do things that we are capable of doing. As we succeed He will develop and stretch us to have faith in greater things. All along He will supply us with all we need. Just as importantly He will be there to help us.

Many people go to the gym regularly. They invest time and energy to condition and strengthen their bodies. It is a good thing to do. It improves health and raises energy levels so that they can function better.God leads us to exercise faith to develop us and to prove His love and faithfulness to us. Following His leading can at times be difficult and challenging.

Seeing God respond to our faith has an impact on others. How would Daniel have felt going into the lion's den if Shadrach and Abednego were consumed in the fiery furnace?

Who Benefits from Working Faith?

- God benefits. Exercising our faith provides God with an opportunity to be glorified. As God works through us He stretches our faith and is able to do greater and greater things. This, in turn, makes His power more visible to the world that so desperately needs Him.Those around us benefit.

- Unbelievers see God's love and power in a tangible way that gets their attention.

- Other believers are encouraged by how they observe God responding to our faith.

- We benefit. Experiencing His love and faithfulness first hand brings greater peace and joy into our lives. Seeing the benefit it has on those around us brings a greater sense of purpose to our lives.

It is rewarding to see God transform lives, restore relationships, heal the sick, and save the lost. We must exercise Faith as a Service to God.

It is important that all that we do for God is done with a humble heart. Any act of obedience should be done as a demonstration of love for our benevolent Master. We should always keep our place as a blessed servant of the creator of all things.

He is God and we are not!

The exercising of faith is an important part of our service to Him. As His servant, we must remember that it is our duty to respond to His commands. Our ability to hear Him grows as we spend time in His Word, in prayer, praising Him, and giving Him our attention.

Keep in mind that nothing we hear should ever be contrary to His Word or to His nature.

Also consider that it would be unfair of a just God to demand our obedience without telling us what to do.

LESSON: Faith must teach us how to discern His voice.

The End.

Shared by Arms At the Mwafrika chatroom on Friday Sept 18, 2009