Thoughts of Our Fathers (TOF)

Memorise: For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: - Job 19:25

Read: Job 19:23-27 (KJV)

19:23 Oh that my words were now written! oh that they were printed in a book!



19:24 That they were graven with an iron pen and lead in the rock for ever!


19:25 For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:


19:26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:

19:27 Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.


Bible in one year: 2nd Samuel 17:18, Ezekiel 12:21-13:7, Hymn: Sing hymn 1

MESSAGE:
Prophecies are great tools that God uses to intervene in the situations His people’s lives. Every prophecy has certain conditions attached to it to trigger its actualisation. Knowing this truth, one particular year, when the Almighty God said that there would be an overflow in that year, I immediately realised that there was some work to be done. Open Heavens 21 July 2017. When He then asked us to fast for 100 days, I was not surprised. Understanding such a task was not an easy one, but obedience to it produced a great harvest in joy, overflowing blessings and much more. This is your season of overflow of God’s blessings in Jesus’ Name!


In 1st King 17:8-16, when Elijah asked the widow of Zarephath to bring him some food, her response is worthy of note. 1st Kings 17:12a says,


“And she said, As the LORD thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse:”


In other words, she took a good look at Elijah and said, “I know your God”. Daniel 11:32 says if you know the Almighty God, you will be empowered to do exploits. ‘ Exploits’ here refers to activities that are way beyond the ordinary. God is in the business of doing exploits. Open Heavens 21 July 2017: Friday daily devotional by Pastor E. A. Adeboye - Do Afflictions Swallow Your God? It takes God to turn the hideout of highway robbers into a beautiful godly city. It takes the God of exploits to construct the present auditorium at the Redemption Camp, even with its staggering cost. If you ever want to see exploits, you must know this God personally.


In addition, not only did this widow know Elijah’s God, she also declared Him to be alive. One of the most profound statements in the Bible was made by Job. In Job 19:25, He said:


“For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth.”


At the time he said this, he was in a most distressing situation. Things were very bad indeed. He had lost all his wealth, property, children and even his health. However, in spite of his ordeal, he still proclaimed that God was alive. Many people tend to believe that God is not alive or that He is not who He says He is, just because of the severe trials of faith they are facing. Problems can never take God away. He doesn’t cease to exist just because He has not answered your prayers. How much faith can you repose in God while going through difficult times? This is a true test of your character.

It’s time to make lasting connections.

To communicate meaningfully with others, we need to speak to them in a way that they find relatable. Without using words and experiences they can understand, those you reach out to will only be confused by the message you’re trying to deliver.

So, what happens if your point of reference becomes dated and no longer resonates with your audience? That’s when it’s time to reinvent your perspective.

It can be difficult adopting new references into your long-held outlook but you don’t have to figure it out alone. Surrounding yourself with people from different backgrounds, generations, and lifestyles can give you a fresh take to incorporate into your delivery.

Interacting with these individuals will give you a first-hand understanding of their concerns, priorities, and needs. These new points of view can then be considered and included in your conversation whenever reaching out to others.

Communication is useless if you can’t form a connection. If your message isn’t being heard, stop and reconsider your approach. You may find that a fresh dialog is all you need to make others hear you loud and clear.

Romans 8:35

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

The pastor of our Hokkien and Mandarin congregations, Pastor Mark, used to suffer from certain health problems before he became a Christian. His doctor told him that he had to be on medication for life. He also had a huge financial debt. But when he caught hold of the teaching that he is God’s beloved, he believed it totally. He also believed that nothing could be greater than God’s love for him.

Today, Pastor Mark is off medication and completely delivered from that debt. God caused him to triumph over his sickness and debt because he cannot be defeated when he knows that he is God’s beloved.

Tribulation, distress or persecution cannot stop your heavenly Father’s love from working on your behalf. His love for you is bigger and stronger than your financial woes, marital problems or health concerns. And when God’s heart of love moves for His beloved, He opens doors that no one can shut and He makes a way when there seems to be none.

Even during lean times, you will never find the righteous forsaken. King David said, “I have been young, and now am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his descendants begging bread.” (Psalm 37:25) Can famine or recession stop God’s love from providing for His beloved? No! So don’t think to yourself, “I must provide for my family. If I don’t, who is going to take care of them? How are they going to survive?” God wants you to know that His love will continue to provide abundantly for you and your family.

What about deadly pestilences such as bird flu and mad cow disease, natural disasters such as tsunamis and earthquakes, or terrorist bombings? My friend, these things cannot devour you because His love protects you. You will enjoy His protection when you know that you are His beloved.

Because God’s love is greater than all the evil put together, we are more than conquerors through Christ who loved us. (Romans 8:37) We always win in the fight of life not because of our love for Him, but because of His love for us!

Whatever may be your task, work at it heartily (from the soul), as [something done] for the Lord and not for men.

—Colossians 3:23

Life wasn’t meant to be dull and boring. We are not created by God to merely do the same thing over and over until it has no meaning at all. God is creative. If you don’t think so, just look around you. Many of the animals, bugs, plants, birds, trees, and other living things are unique, out of the ordinary, and totally amazing.

You were created to be unique, out of the ordinary and totally amazing too. That is why I think it is good to occasionally do something that seems outrageous to people and perhaps even to you. Do something that people won’t expect. It will keep your life interesting and keep other people from thinking they have you tucked away nicely in a little box of their own design.

One great woman who was seventy-six years of age said that her goal was to do at least one outrageous thing per week. Isn’t that a great idea? If you purposefully do something out of the norm on a regular basis, this will keep you from getting stuck in a rut, bored and unenthused about your life.

What outrageous thing will you do today?

Refuse to be bored and just limp along through life. Be creative and add fun to whatever you do.

Except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter
into the kingdom of heaven.

—Matthew 5:20

In a decadent society the will to believe, to resist, to contend, to fight, to struggle, is gone. In place of this will to resist, there is the desire to conform, to drift, to follow, to yield, and to give up. This is what happened in Rome, but it also applies to us. The same conditions that prevailed in Rome prevail in our society. Before Rome fell, her standards were abandoned, the family disintegrated, divorce prevailed, immorality was rampant, and faith was at a low ebb. As Gibbon said, “There was much talk of religion, but few practiced it.”

What does it mean to truly follow Christ? Find out through our free online discipleship course, Know Jesus.
Prayer for the day

May I be worthy to bear the name Christian, Lord Jesus.

READ: Genesis 24: 1-27, 58-67

The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her...She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
Proverbs 31:11-12

Abraham knew how important it was for his son to choose the right woman for his wife. He knew that she would influence him all the days of his life.

Woman, thou shall not make thy husband sin. Some women prevent their husbands from going to church. The man is the head, but the woman is surely the neck. Woman, you have a lot of influence. Use it wisely! Do not use your influence to make your husband stay away from God.

I remember a woman whose husband was willing to donate money to the church for some instruments. When the man raised up his hand during the fund-raising, the woman pulled it down. She stopped him from giving to the Lord. She came up later to lie to the pastors about how stingy her husband was. Woman, do not make your husband sin.

Even if your husband is not saved, you influence him spiritually. Perhaps you are married to an unbeliever; remember what the Scripture says in 1 Corinthians 7:14.

The Bible teaches that the believer sanctifies the unbeliever. Whatever that means, we know that the believing person has a spiritual influence on the unbeliever.

Abraham knew how important it was to have the right kind of wife. This is the reason why he went so far to get a wife for his son.

Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
1 John 3:21-22

You can never get away with disobeying God.

Some people think they can. They think that if no one finds out about it, it won't hurt anything. After all, God is merciful. He's not going to hold it against them, right? And if no one else knows...what's the difference?

What they don't realize is that their own hearts will start giving them problems. Their own hearts will start to condemn them. Everyone else may think they're great. They may be spouting faith talk all over the place, but when they come before God in prayer, they'll be filled with doubts and fears that keep their prayers from being answered.

That's one of the reasons why it's so important to live in obedience to the Lord. A life of obedience will give you a spiritual boldness you've never had before. It will give you a boldness in prayer, a boldness in faith. It will give you a confidence toward God, as the Apostle John says, that those who are trying to get away with sin don't have.

I'm not saying that you have to be perfect—that you should never make a mistake. Just that you should walk in obedience to the light you have. Take the time to listen and be responsive to the Spirit of God. When He tells you to do something, do it.

As you do, that confidence will rise up within you. It won't be something you mentally drummed up or talked yourself into. It will just be there. Instead of being consumed with doubts and feelings that the Word of God isn't going to work for you, you'll find yourself filled with faith that it will. You'll begin to trust God and to flow with Him. You'll come to a place the Bible calls "rest in the Lord."

Remember this: Even though the eternal price for your sins has been paid, a life of disobedience will still cost you dearly. It will cost you the boldness that is rightfully yours in Jesus. It will rob you of faith and rock you with fear.

Don't let the condemnation of your heart cut your confidence short. Do the things that are pleasing in God's sight and walk tall in the kingdom of God.


Scripture Reading:

1 John 3:21-22