(by pastor Jean)
“Let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us” (Ps 90:17; MEV). Some versions use the word “favour” or “kindness” instead of “beauty” but either way the result is the same. We can spend hours in front of the mirror trying to make ourselves look beautiful but there is nothing to compare with the beauty that radiates from the person who is full of God! The virtuous woman of Proverbs 31 underscores this, “Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised” (Prov 31:30; NKJV). In the New Testament, Peter says that physical beauty will fade away (1 Peter 1:24) and we are not to be overly focused on outward beauty, such as hairstyle, jewelry and clothing (1 Peter 3:3) but, “clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious to God” (1 Peter 3:4; NLT). The question is how do we become beautiful from the inside out? The answer is simple – by spending time with God and His word. If we fill ourselves so full of Him it can’t help but show on the outside in the form of love, kindness, good works and in fact all the fruit of the Spirit will develop in our hearts and make us look beautiful. “And so, we are transformed much like the Messiah, our lives gradually become brighter and more beautiful as God enters our lives and we become like Him” (2 Cor 3:18; MSG).
(by pastor Norman)
How does God see us as individuals or corporately? As Christians, He sees us as forgiven of all our sins past, present and future (Col 1:14). We are justified in His sight, in other words He sees us as if we had never sinned (Rom 4:25), as righteous (2 Cor 5:21). To be righteous is to have right standing with God, no sin separating us from Him. Christ died as a sacrifice to pay the price for our sins and redeem or deliver us form the power of sin in our lives (Gal 3:13-14), we have ben sanctified or set apart for God (1 Cor 6:11). Our loving Father sees us as born again spiritually (John 3:1-7), enjoying renewed fellowship with Him (1 John 1:3). We are His children, “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become Children of God, to those who believe in His name” (John 1:12; NKJV). “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Holy Spirit of God lives in you?” (1 Cor 3:16; NKJV). As individuals and corporately as a church we are, “the temple of the living God” (2 Cor 6:16; NKJV). In 1 Peter 2:5-9, we read that we are all living stones being built into a spiritual house, we are a holy and royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, a chosen generation raised up to praise, worship and honour God. In Ephesians 2:19-22, the apostle Paul wrote that we are, “members of the household of God” whose foundation is Jesus and we are growing into a holy temple, “a dwelling place of God in the Spirit” (V 22b). That’s how God sees us! That’s how God sees you!
(by pastor Jean)
“That the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me” (John 17:23; NLT). That is an amazing verse stating that God loves us as much as He loves Jesus (see also John 17:26). Romans chapter 5, verse 5 further states that the love of God has been given to us by the Holy Spirit. God’s love resides in our hearts! John chapter 16, verse 27 explains to us why God loves us and it is because we love and believe in Jesus (see also John 14:21 where Jesus also added that God the Father will not only love us but reveal Himself to us). The fact that God loves us is reiterated in 1 John 4:16 and the apostle John adds that we must really believe this love. It’s one thing to glibly say, “God loves me” but its by reading about and meditating on His love that we really believe it deep down in our hearts. When we do that and truly get a revelation of God’s love for us, we can then say, “God’s love casts out fear” (1 John 4:18). Once we have a revelation of God’s great love for us (so great that He sent His Son to die for us) then we are in a position to truly love God and others with His love (John 13:34) and Jesus tells us that if we do that it will be a witness to the world (John 13:35). Meditate on God’s love today and then share it with someone else!
((by pastor Norman)
“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matt 6:33; NKJV). As we focus on God and His Kingdom ways as our first priority, He will bless us and take care of all of our needs The word seek in the Bible has a sense of seeking earnestly and diligently and to strive, this is no casual process. In the Old Testament God’s people were frequently exhorted to seek God (Eg Zeph 2:3), to seek Him with their whole heart (Jer 29:13) and continually (Ps 105:4). We have Christ on the inside of us but we need to seek revelation of all He did for us at the cross and the amazing new life and ministry He has for us. We should take our eyes from the things of the world around us (Col 3:1-2). Let’s walk in faith that God rewards us as we earnestly seek Him (Heb 11:6). The apostle Paul wrote that he considered so much of his old life before he met Christ as rubbish and he yearned to, “know Him and the power of His resurrection” (Phil 3:10a; NKJV). Paul said, “I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid whole of me” (Phil 3:12b; NKJV). Paul, even at a stage in life that he was writing epistles, did not think he had complete revelation of God’s promises but he kept pressing and seeking (Phil 3:13-14). How do we seek and press into revelation of all God has for us? We need to be reading, studying, and meditating God’s word, seeking revelation with our whole heart. This takes lots of quality time, discipline and effort, but the results are life changing.
(by pastor Norman)
Have you ever been faced with a situation and fear has risen up on the inside of you? Will I lose my job? Where will the money come from? How can I deal with these symptoms? Is this the end of my marriage? Why do I have no peace in my life? Fear does not come from God. “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Tim 1:7; NKJV). “For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, Abba, Father” (Rom 8:15; NKJV). Now these verses should cheer you up! When you think about it fear is the opposite to faith. We are to walk in faith (2 Cor 5:7) and there is no reason we can’t remove fear from our lives. Faith is a firm trust in God but fear arises when we lack trust in God. How then do we deal with fear? Well, the Bible tells us that faith comes by hearing God’s word (Rom 10:17). In order to build up our faith to resist fear we must meditate on all of the scriptures we can find on fear such as the ones above and other verses like, “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand” (Isa 41:10; NKJV). We need to change our thinking (Rom 12:2), cast our cares on God (1 Peter 5:7), bring our prayer requests to God with thankful hearts and His peace will overwhelm us (Phil 4:6-7). Most importantly, we must walk in love for, “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear (1 John 4:18a; NKJV).