*************************************************************
Devotional of the Week: Jeremiah 7:23 "But this is what I commanded them, saying, Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be My people. And walk in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well with you."
God speaks to us daily. He shows us his presence in so many ways. If we listen closely however we will hear the still small voice of a holy God. His call to us is one of obedience. It is the way we can show our undying love and devotion to him. Obeying God in all things may be a challenge sometimes, but in this verse from Jeremiah, we see what the fruit of an obedient walk can be. Our Lord says to us that things will be well with us.
Nowhere is this submission to God's will evident than in the story of hymn writer Horatio Gates Spafford. In 1871, tragedy struck Chicago as fire ravaged the city. When it was all over, 300 people were dead and 100,000 were homeless. Horatio Gates Spafford was one of those who tried to help the people of the city get back on their feet. A lawyer who had invested much of his money into the downtown Chicago real estate, he'd lost a great deal to the fire. And his one son (he had four daughters) had died about the same time.
Still, for two years Spafford--who was a friend of evangelist Dwight Moody--assisted the homeless, impoverished, and grief-stricken ruined by the fire.After about two years of such work, Spafford and his family decided to take a vacation. They were to go to England to join Moody and Ira Sankey on one of their evangelistic crusades, then travel in Europe. Horatio Spafford was delayed by some business, but sent his family on ahead. He would catch up to them on the other side of the Atlantic.Their ship, the Ville de Havre, never made it. Off Newfoundland, it collided with an English sailing ship, the Loch Earn, and sank within 20 minutes.
Though Horatio's wife, Anna, was able to cling to a piece of floating wreckage (one of only 47 survivors among hundreds), their four daughters--Maggie, Tanetta, Annie, and Bessie--were killed. Horatio received a horrible telegram from his wife, only two words long: "saved alone."Spafford boarded the next available ship to be near his grieving wife, and the two finally met up with Dwight Moody. "It is well," Spafford told him quietly. "The will of God be done."
This experience led Spafford to write one of the iconic hymns of our day. "It Is Well With My Soul" is a heart healing song that reminds us that God is faithful to those who heed His voice and trust His plan. May we have the strength of Horatio Spafford when we face lifes hardships, may we in turn tell someone, "It is well..." and give it all to God.
Prayer: Father God, help us to hear your voice. Help us to heed it, trust it and take solace in it. You are a faithful and loving God and we know that you have only our best interests in mind. Help us to focus then on Your will for our lives and to walk with confidence knowing that all is well. In Jesus' name, Amen.
*************************************************************
Mini-Study of the Week: Read 1 Samuel Chapter 3
As we look at the entirety of chapter 3 today, we see several significant things. First, we see that God has been silent for a long while. Verse 1 tells us that "the word of the Lord was rare in those days; there was no widespread revelation". We also see that the Lord and His word was not yet known to Samuel. Yes, Samuel had ministered to the Lord to this point, but still did not have an intimate relationship with Him. Soon though, as in the lives of all believers, God will come knocking. The third thing we see is that God's message is not to be kept silent.
In the beginning of this chapter we learn that God's voice has been silent. God however is in the midst of training up Samuel to be that voice. Three times He calls to Samuel, and each time Samuel mistakes that voice to be Eli his teacher. Finally Eli shares with Samuel what his response to God should be. It is the response that he gives that we should be ready to give. We should be ready to say "Here I am, for you did call me."
Samuel's readiness is what we should be prepared for. We should all have a willingness to respond positively to the Lord and do what He asks. Even if the task given us is a difficult one, we should trust in our heavenly Father. Samuel experiences this first hand when God reveals that He will carry out his judgment on Eli and his sons. At first Samuel is reluctant to share with Eli what the Lord had shared. He is afraid to hurt or anger Eli. Eli's response is a submissive one. When he states "It is the Lord. Let Him do what seems good to Him" he is resigning himself to his fate knowing that God is fair and just.
In this chapter we see the beginnings of a relationship with God. We see that it is God who comes after us, and our responsibility is simply to say "Here I am." Samuel is in pretty heavy company when you consider that response. Here are some others who said, "Here I am" when the Lord spoke to them: Abraham (Genesis 22:1), Jacob (Genesis 46:2), Moses (Exodus 3:4), Isaiah (Isaiah 6:8), and Ananias (Acts 9:10). God seeks us and when we make ourselves available He will do many things through us.
Samuel would speak his first prophecy this way, and as the chapter concludes, we see that he would become well known as the voice of the Lord. The verses say "So Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground. And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel had been established as a prophet of the Lord." Each of Samuel's prophecies would come to pass and the whole of Israel would know who he was. God's voice was about to return in a powerful way, and Samuel would be the vessel used by a Holy God!
*************************************************************
Video of the Week:
God's will for our lives will never be fully understood. Our submission to it will bring peace to our lives even in the darkest circumstances. His voice is our comfort. May this week's video bless you.
"It Is Well With My Soul" written by Horatio Gates Spafford
Love each other, share His love and share His gospel...
See you next week!
In His Service,
Sergio
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Sunday, October 19, 2008
The Power of God
**************************************************************************
Devotional of the Week: Hebrews 11:1 - Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
This familiar verse is not really a formal definition of faith; rather it is a description of what faith does for us. It makes things hoped for as real as if we already had them, and it provides unshakable evidence that the unseen, spiritual blessings of Christianity are absolutely certain and real.
Faith is confidence in the trustworthiness of God. It is the conviction that what God says is true and that what He promises will come to pass. How awesome to have a God that is present enough in our lives, that we believe He is there without seeing Him. The fruit of a life well lived is that the blessings God promises will come to pass. Our life should be lived as Jesus lived, and in striving to do that our faith will see us through.
Prayer: Father God, thank you that we have ben given the eyes of faith. We see that you are present in our lives daily when we are in tune with Your will for us. Help us to always believe that the only evidence of You that we need, is the change we have seen in our own lives. We trust You Lord and we believe that all things that come to pass are Your perfect will for us. Help us to be content and to press on in service to You! In Jesus name, Amen!
**************************************************************************
Mini-Study of the Week: Read 1 Samuel 2:22-36
In this passage we see a life devoted to God, a life devoted to family, and two lives devoted to self. Only one of these lives receives God’s favor. The message of the prophet is a message of love for God, abandonment of the world, mortification of self, judgment upon sin, and the good news of a coming priest. The sins of Eli's sons were literally that they perverted the worship of God through their selfish actions. They also lived immoral lives in that they gave into worldly pleasures and lusts as is seen verses 22-25 and 29.
Eli's sins were that he did not recognize the urgency of dealing with his son's sin. The Lord's rebuke of Eli was as harsh as Eli's rebuke of his sons had been soft. He seems to give them a warning but stops short of rebuking them and chastising them and calling for them to change. In this he is hypocritical in his service to God and his worship as well.
In Samuel, who appears in these 15 verses courtesy of only one verse (26) we see his life start to take shape as he "grows in stature and in favor both with the Lord and men.". Eli is given an opportunity to lead his son's to repentance but fails to do so. Even when an unnamed man of God comes to warn him, nothing is done. So judgment comes as Eli is told that his family line will not survive. Eli did not receive this message of impending judgment with repentance. Instead his sons Hophni and Phinehas are hardened and Eli is ambivalent, knowing the message to be true, yet he puts the vision in a category of ’someday’. But today should have been the day of repentance.
What we learn from this is that in Christ is the favorable time, and in Him is our salvation. Turn from your sins to Christ or face the judgment of Almighty God. The day of His judgment is only a heartbeat away. Christ is the Priest who has offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for sins forever. This message is for believers as well. Show your faith in Christ by living a life devoted to the worship of God. Love Him, and love others enough to share Him.
**************************************************************************
Video of the Week:
"With Everything" - Hillsong United
Jesus is our Hope, He is our Strength, He is our Salvation...
He is KING of KINGS and LORD of LORDS...
All praise and honor to Him who sits on the throne!
Love each other, share His love and share His gospel...
See you next week!
In His Service,
Sergio
Devotional of the Week: Hebrews 11:1 - Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
This familiar verse is not really a formal definition of faith; rather it is a description of what faith does for us. It makes things hoped for as real as if we already had them, and it provides unshakable evidence that the unseen, spiritual blessings of Christianity are absolutely certain and real.
Faith is confidence in the trustworthiness of God. It is the conviction that what God says is true and that what He promises will come to pass. How awesome to have a God that is present enough in our lives, that we believe He is there without seeing Him. The fruit of a life well lived is that the blessings God promises will come to pass. Our life should be lived as Jesus lived, and in striving to do that our faith will see us through.
Prayer: Father God, thank you that we have ben given the eyes of faith. We see that you are present in our lives daily when we are in tune with Your will for us. Help us to always believe that the only evidence of You that we need, is the change we have seen in our own lives. We trust You Lord and we believe that all things that come to pass are Your perfect will for us. Help us to be content and to press on in service to You! In Jesus name, Amen!
**************************************************************************
Mini-Study of the Week: Read 1 Samuel 2:22-36
In this passage we see a life devoted to God, a life devoted to family, and two lives devoted to self. Only one of these lives receives God’s favor. The message of the prophet is a message of love for God, abandonment of the world, mortification of self, judgment upon sin, and the good news of a coming priest. The sins of Eli's sons were literally that they perverted the worship of God through their selfish actions. They also lived immoral lives in that they gave into worldly pleasures and lusts as is seen verses 22-25 and 29.
Eli's sins were that he did not recognize the urgency of dealing with his son's sin. The Lord's rebuke of Eli was as harsh as Eli's rebuke of his sons had been soft. He seems to give them a warning but stops short of rebuking them and chastising them and calling for them to change. In this he is hypocritical in his service to God and his worship as well.
In Samuel, who appears in these 15 verses courtesy of only one verse (26) we see his life start to take shape as he "grows in stature and in favor both with the Lord and men.". Eli is given an opportunity to lead his son's to repentance but fails to do so. Even when an unnamed man of God comes to warn him, nothing is done. So judgment comes as Eli is told that his family line will not survive. Eli did not receive this message of impending judgment with repentance. Instead his sons Hophni and Phinehas are hardened and Eli is ambivalent, knowing the message to be true, yet he puts the vision in a category of ’someday’. But today should have been the day of repentance.
What we learn from this is that in Christ is the favorable time, and in Him is our salvation. Turn from your sins to Christ or face the judgment of Almighty God. The day of His judgment is only a heartbeat away. Christ is the Priest who has offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for sins forever. This message is for believers as well. Show your faith in Christ by living a life devoted to the worship of God. Love Him, and love others enough to share Him.
**************************************************************************
Video of the Week:
"With Everything" - Hillsong United
Jesus is our Hope, He is our Strength, He is our Salvation...
He is KING of KINGS and LORD of LORDS...
All praise and honor to Him who sits on the throne!
Love each other, share His love and share His gospel...
See you next week!
In His Service,
Sergio
Saturday, October 11, 2008
He Reigns!
Praise God I am back safe in San Antonio! I did have a major lost luggage mishap, but God be praised, after 13 hours I am home! Please pray for all of the brethren I met in North Carolina! I welcome them to the "His Way, His Will, His Word" family as they will now be joining us in this weekly journey! Prayers and greetings to our brothers Lawrence and Marcus and sisters Melissa and Tonya and so many more! Thank you all for your hospitality and may God bless you all!
**************************************************************************
Devotional of the Week: Psalm 47:8 God reigns over the nations; God sits on His holy throne.
In these days of uncertainty, with global economic crises and suffering caused by tragic storms and hurricanes, fuel prices rising out of control and wars raging it is easy for many to give in to despair. Our hope as Christians lies in one immutable truth. God is sovereign. Webster's Dictionary defines sovereign as "supreme and highest in power, superior to all others". Does this not adequately define our God? When chaos seems to reign, we know and believe that God does not budge from His throne, that he is not moved nor shaken by any event that causes most to fear and tremble. He is the Author of all things, the Creator and Sustainer of life, and he is a mighty King who rules over all. For that we rejoice, and for that we praise!
Prayer: Father God, Sovereign ruler of the universe, Creator of all, we praise you and honor you for you are worthy to be praised! We lift You up Lord and we adore you. May we have peace knowing that in any circumstance we encounter, You have already been there, and may we trust that the outcome of any situation we struggle with is already known to You and thus Your perfect plan will prevail in our lives. Praise you Lord and may You reign in our lives forever! We pray this in Jesus MIGHTY name, Amen!
**************************************************************************
Mini-Study of the Week: Read 1 Samuel 2:12-21
As we continue or look at 1 Samuel we encounter what appears to be a random description of events. Following Hannah's powerful prayer we come upon the sons of Eli. They are descendants of Aaron and thus are Levitical priests. We learn quickly though that they are corrupt in that they take more than what is allotted for them from the sacrifices meant for God.
They mocked the Lord in that they not only took the better portions of the sacrifice, but more shockingly they took them before the sacrifice was even made. What stunning blasphemy from men who were supposed to be the worship leaders of their day. The words of verse 12 sum it up best when they say "Now the sons of Eli were corrupt; they did not know the Lord." They served as priests yet they did not know God. What a heartbreaking thing to know that even today there are those who work to serve the Lord, but yet they do not know Him in their hearts.
Verses 12-17 stand in stark contrast to Verses 18-21 where again we see a young Samuel. In a beautiful bookend to the story of the wickedness of Eli's sons we once again see Hannah and the love she has for God's gift to her. We see her love in the little robe she makes for him every year, bringing it to him knowing that she could only visit him on rare occasions. We see at the conclusion of these verses that like so many times in our Christian lives, God more than answers our prayers!
Eli prayed that the Lord would bless Hannah and Elkanah with more descendants "from this woman for the loan that was given to the Lord." Despite His anger toward the sons of Eli, the Lord answers Eli's prayer and we learn that Hannah gave birth to 3 more sons and two daughters. What a long way she has come from the mocking she suffered at the hands of Peninnah for being barren, to now having a large family! God is great!
At the end of this section we see that Samuel continues to serve the Lord and that he grew with His guidance. His path was now set and both he and his family accepted that his life was now the Lord's and soon enough we will see great things from Samuel as a result!
**************************************************************************
Video of the Week:
"You Reign" - MercyMe
Revelation 19:6 - "And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, “Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns!"
He is sovereign, He is holy and He is worthy to be praised!
Love each other, share His love and share His gospel...
See you next week!
In His Service,
Sergio
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Worship, Praise, Dance, For He is our Joy!
Before we get started this week I would like to say thank you to my church family from Mustard Seed Christian Fellowship and to everyone else who reads this for all of your prayers as I am away this week and writing this from the beautiful state of North Carolina. See you very soon, Lord willing. Press on and serve Jesus our righteous KING!
**************************************************************************
Devotional of the Week: Isaiah 60:1 - "Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you."
With the occurence of the Yamim Noraim or "Days of Awe", which are started with Rosh Hashanah and ended with Yom Kippur our attention turns to Israel. Isaiah Chapter 60 begins a beautiful picture of Jerusalem and of Israel, a prophetic set of verses that talks of the coming Messiah, whom we know as Jesus. Verse 1 is a call to the nation of Israel, but it can serve as a call to us today. Our Light, Jesus has come into our lives and His glory is now our guide. In this time of reflection for the Jewish people we pray for those of them who have not yet accepted Yeshua as their Messiah. We rejoice with those who have called Him Savior. Psalm 122:6 states "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem, may they prosper who love you." Today we pray for those Jewish people who still do not see their Light, that they may soon receive Jesus as their Savior, that the Glory of the Lord will rise upon them.
Prayer: Father God, we pray that you quicken the souls of those who do not receive your Son as Savior. We pray for our friends and families who have not yet repented and accepted Jesus as their Messiah. Today though we pray for Israel and for the Jewish nation who has yet to recognize that Jesus is the Messiah. Their rejection of Christ opened the door of salvation to us, the Gentiles, let us take nothing for granted Father, lest we grow boastful. Instead we intensify our prayers for Israel and for your Jewish people, that they open their eyes, and receive life everlasting. We pray this B'Shem Yeshua, in Jesus MIGHTY name, Amen.
************************************************************************
Mini-Study of the Week:1 Samuel Part 2> 1 Samuel 2:1-10
While I am not one to cut corners on a study of this type, there comes a time when God's instructions to the teacher are merely "Let My words speak to their hearts". To honor the instructions of my Father in heaven, I leave you the verses of 1 Samuel 2:1-10, a prayer of God's power, of His triumph, and of His love. The prayer of our beloved Hannah, who worships for us all. May we join her in these words of worship... I love you all...
1 Then Hannah prayed and said:
"My heart rejoices in the LORD; in the LORD my horn is lifted high.
My mouth boasts over my enemies, for I delight in your deliverance.
2 "There is no one holy like the LORD; there is no one besides you;
there is no Rock like our God.
3 "Do not keep talking so proudly or let your mouth speak such arrogance,
for the LORD is a God who knows, and by him deeds are weighed.
4 "The bows of the warriors are broken, but those who stumbled are armed with strength.
5 Those who were full hire themselves out for food, but those who were hungry hunger no more. She who was barren has borne seven children, but she who has had many sons pines away.
6 "The LORD brings death and makes alive; he brings down to the grave and raises up.
7 The LORD sends poverty and wealth; he humbles and he exalts.
8 He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; he seats them with princes and has them inherit a throne of honor. "For the foundations of the earth are the LORD's; upon them he has set the world.
9 He will guard the feet of his saints, but the wicked will be silenced in darkness. "It is not by strength that one prevails;
10 those who oppose the LORD will be shattered. He will thunder against them from heaven; the LORD will judge the ends of the earth. "He will give strength to his king and exalt the horn of his anointed."
*************************************************************************
Video of the Week:
"Break Free" - Hillsong United
Psalm 30:11 - "You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness"
May we dance for joy, my beloved brothers and sisters, for we are saved. We are God's. May this song bring you joy and remind us that the feet that God gave us to walk and serve Him with, the voice that He gave us to proclaim and share Him with, the heart that He gave us to love with, are all to be used to praise Him with song, with dance and with JOY.
Love each other, share His love and share His gospel...See you next week!
In His Service,
Sergio
**************************************************************************
Devotional of the Week: Isaiah 60:1 - "Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you."
With the occurence of the Yamim Noraim or "Days of Awe", which are started with Rosh Hashanah and ended with Yom Kippur our attention turns to Israel. Isaiah Chapter 60 begins a beautiful picture of Jerusalem and of Israel, a prophetic set of verses that talks of the coming Messiah, whom we know as Jesus. Verse 1 is a call to the nation of Israel, but it can serve as a call to us today. Our Light, Jesus has come into our lives and His glory is now our guide. In this time of reflection for the Jewish people we pray for those of them who have not yet accepted Yeshua as their Messiah. We rejoice with those who have called Him Savior. Psalm 122:6 states "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem, may they prosper who love you." Today we pray for those Jewish people who still do not see their Light, that they may soon receive Jesus as their Savior, that the Glory of the Lord will rise upon them.
Prayer: Father God, we pray that you quicken the souls of those who do not receive your Son as Savior. We pray for our friends and families who have not yet repented and accepted Jesus as their Messiah. Today though we pray for Israel and for the Jewish nation who has yet to recognize that Jesus is the Messiah. Their rejection of Christ opened the door of salvation to us, the Gentiles, let us take nothing for granted Father, lest we grow boastful. Instead we intensify our prayers for Israel and for your Jewish people, that they open their eyes, and receive life everlasting. We pray this B'Shem Yeshua, in Jesus MIGHTY name, Amen.
************************************************************************
Mini-Study of the Week:1 Samuel Part 2> 1 Samuel 2:1-10
While I am not one to cut corners on a study of this type, there comes a time when God's instructions to the teacher are merely "Let My words speak to their hearts". To honor the instructions of my Father in heaven, I leave you the verses of 1 Samuel 2:1-10, a prayer of God's power, of His triumph, and of His love. The prayer of our beloved Hannah, who worships for us all. May we join her in these words of worship... I love you all...
1 Then Hannah prayed and said:
"My heart rejoices in the LORD; in the LORD my horn is lifted high.
My mouth boasts over my enemies, for I delight in your deliverance.
2 "There is no one holy like the LORD; there is no one besides you;
there is no Rock like our God.
3 "Do not keep talking so proudly or let your mouth speak such arrogance,
for the LORD is a God who knows, and by him deeds are weighed.
4 "The bows of the warriors are broken, but those who stumbled are armed with strength.
5 Those who were full hire themselves out for food, but those who were hungry hunger no more. She who was barren has borne seven children, but she who has had many sons pines away.
6 "The LORD brings death and makes alive; he brings down to the grave and raises up.
7 The LORD sends poverty and wealth; he humbles and he exalts.
8 He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; he seats them with princes and has them inherit a throne of honor. "For the foundations of the earth are the LORD's; upon them he has set the world.
9 He will guard the feet of his saints, but the wicked will be silenced in darkness. "It is not by strength that one prevails;
10 those who oppose the LORD will be shattered. He will thunder against them from heaven; the LORD will judge the ends of the earth. "He will give strength to his king and exalt the horn of his anointed."
*************************************************************************
Video of the Week:
"Break Free" - Hillsong United
Psalm 30:11 - "You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness"
May we dance for joy, my beloved brothers and sisters, for we are saved. We are God's. May this song bring you joy and remind us that the feet that God gave us to walk and serve Him with, the voice that He gave us to proclaim and share Him with, the heart that He gave us to love with, are all to be used to praise Him with song, with dance and with JOY.
Love each other, share His love and share His gospel...See you next week!
In His Service,
Sergio
Saturday, September 27, 2008
For His Glory - 9/27/08
**************************************************************************
Devotional of the Week:
Romans 12:9 - Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.
Our lives in Christ are rooted in doing all we can to emulate the life He lived. As the apostle Paul writes in this verse from the book of Romans, we have no mask to wear. We are to be sincere in our dealings with others and hide nothing. We are also called to "abhor evil". We are to avoid malice, hatred and bitterness because in none of these things is the love of Christ found. Our model for this is God the father who hates evil with a passion. In contrast we are to take hold of all that reflects and manifests the goodness and love of a holy God. We are to hold fast to it as if it were the most precious of possesions. We can love with the love of Christ and avoid evil as He did and above all, we are capable of clinging to all that is good in our world both physically and spiritually. We do this through the power of Christ and through the love and strength He gives us!
Prayer: Lord walk with us in this life You have given us. Protect us from that which is evil. Help us to love like You and to hate what You hate. Help us to cling tightly to that which is good, beginning with you Lord Jesus. Help us to rest in the promise You made, that You are with us always, even to the end of the age.
*************************************************************************
Mini-Study of the Week:
1 Samuel Part 2> 1 Samuel 1:19-28
Last week, we met Hannah, a woman who prayed a devoted and sincere prayer. God would see to it that the prayer would be answered and through answering that prayer He would prepare for Himself a prophet to proclaim His word during a time of great development and progress for His people Israel.
In this week's verses we see the manifestation of that prayer. We see that Hannah gives birth to her son Samuel. His name is a basic but loving proclamation of the glory of God. Samuel, which means "Because I have asked for Him from the Lord" was a gift. A child where no child was possible. A promise both from God and to God as Hannah had committed the child before he was even conceived to a lifetime of serving the Lord God of Israel.
In fact in these verses we also see a loving and merciful God. When Elkanah, Hannah's husband goes up to give the yearly sacrifice she opts to not go. She states "Not until the child is weaned; then I will take him, that he may appear before the Lord and remain there forever." Hannah dedicated the first 3 years of Samuel's life to teaching him, loving him and guiding him to know, love and understand God. For three years she raised her child and when the time came she kept her promise, taking Samuel to Shiloh along with with her offerings knowing that the path he was about to begin would be a lifelong journey and one that would limit how often she would see him.
We see in the last line of Chapter 1 though that Samuel's guidance from Hannah bore fruit. In verses 27-28 she states "For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition which I asked of Him. "Therefore I also have lent him to the Lord; as long as he lives he shall be lent to the Lord." At the age of roughly three, Samuel is brought to Eli, the priest who years before had thought Hannah was intoxicated while praying. Now the child Hannah had prayed for was before him ready to serve God. We know this because the last line of chapter 1 states "So they worshiped the Lord there." "They" includes Samuel, who at the tender age of about 3 was already worshiping the Lord.
When we pray to God for anything, we must be ready to do as Hannah did and give it right back to the Lord, from whom all good things come. In spending the "weaning" years preparing Samuel for his eventual service to God, Hannah shows a faith and willingness to obey God. May that be our attitude when it comes to the things of God.
Next week we will take a look at one of the most beautiful moments in all of Scripture. In preparation for that, please read 1Samuel 2:1-10. I promise you will be blessed!
*************************************************************************
Video of The Week:
"Stronger" - Hillsong
He is stronger than any of our struggles, He is stronger for we are weaker, He is stronger for He IS God...
Love each other, share His love and share His gospel...
See you next week!
In His Service,
Sergio
Devotional of the Week:
Romans 12:9 - Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.
Our lives in Christ are rooted in doing all we can to emulate the life He lived. As the apostle Paul writes in this verse from the book of Romans, we have no mask to wear. We are to be sincere in our dealings with others and hide nothing. We are also called to "abhor evil". We are to avoid malice, hatred and bitterness because in none of these things is the love of Christ found. Our model for this is God the father who hates evil with a passion. In contrast we are to take hold of all that reflects and manifests the goodness and love of a holy God. We are to hold fast to it as if it were the most precious of possesions. We can love with the love of Christ and avoid evil as He did and above all, we are capable of clinging to all that is good in our world both physically and spiritually. We do this through the power of Christ and through the love and strength He gives us!
Prayer: Lord walk with us in this life You have given us. Protect us from that which is evil. Help us to love like You and to hate what You hate. Help us to cling tightly to that which is good, beginning with you Lord Jesus. Help us to rest in the promise You made, that You are with us always, even to the end of the age.
*************************************************************************
Mini-Study of the Week:
1 Samuel Part 2> 1 Samuel 1:19-28
Last week, we met Hannah, a woman who prayed a devoted and sincere prayer. God would see to it that the prayer would be answered and through answering that prayer He would prepare for Himself a prophet to proclaim His word during a time of great development and progress for His people Israel.
In this week's verses we see the manifestation of that prayer. We see that Hannah gives birth to her son Samuel. His name is a basic but loving proclamation of the glory of God. Samuel, which means "Because I have asked for Him from the Lord" was a gift. A child where no child was possible. A promise both from God and to God as Hannah had committed the child before he was even conceived to a lifetime of serving the Lord God of Israel.
In fact in these verses we also see a loving and merciful God. When Elkanah, Hannah's husband goes up to give the yearly sacrifice she opts to not go. She states "Not until the child is weaned; then I will take him, that he may appear before the Lord and remain there forever." Hannah dedicated the first 3 years of Samuel's life to teaching him, loving him and guiding him to know, love and understand God. For three years she raised her child and when the time came she kept her promise, taking Samuel to Shiloh along with with her offerings knowing that the path he was about to begin would be a lifelong journey and one that would limit how often she would see him.
We see in the last line of Chapter 1 though that Samuel's guidance from Hannah bore fruit. In verses 27-28 she states "For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition which I asked of Him. "Therefore I also have lent him to the Lord; as long as he lives he shall be lent to the Lord." At the age of roughly three, Samuel is brought to Eli, the priest who years before had thought Hannah was intoxicated while praying. Now the child Hannah had prayed for was before him ready to serve God. We know this because the last line of chapter 1 states "So they worshiped the Lord there." "They" includes Samuel, who at the tender age of about 3 was already worshiping the Lord.
When we pray to God for anything, we must be ready to do as Hannah did and give it right back to the Lord, from whom all good things come. In spending the "weaning" years preparing Samuel for his eventual service to God, Hannah shows a faith and willingness to obey God. May that be our attitude when it comes to the things of God.
Next week we will take a look at one of the most beautiful moments in all of Scripture. In preparation for that, please read 1Samuel 2:1-10. I promise you will be blessed!
*************************************************************************
Video of The Week:
"Stronger" - Hillsong
He is stronger than any of our struggles, He is stronger for we are weaker, He is stronger for He IS God...
Love each other, share His love and share His gospel...
See you next week!
In His Service,
Sergio
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Welcome to The Beginning...
Welcome to His Way, His Will, His Word, a weekly blog focused on bringing you God's Word. My motive behind writing this blog is to exercise the gift of writing that the Lord has given me in a way that honors and glorifies Him. I am a food blogger as well and have spent several weeks writing a weekly blog called "Food Is Love" (http://chefserg.blogspot.com/) but it's time now to also write about the fact that God is Love.
So what will you find here? Well it will initially be a 3 part format. Part one will be a weekly devotional, some written by me, others from sources outside of myself, all designed to edify and bless the reader, focusing them on God's amazing power in our lives.
Part two will be a a mini-study that will build weekly, sometimes on a book of the Bible, sometimes about a person in Scripture or an event or doctrine or maybe even a Q&A now and then. However the Lord leads.
Part three will be a "Video of the Week". Music, Sermon clips, interviews, whatever the Lord has for us during each week. I ask for your prayers for this endeavor. That God be honored by this effort, that people be blessed and that many may be brought to saving grace.
My prayers are with you, all Glory and Honor to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!
Love one another and spread Christ's love and His gospel...
Sergio Barrera
**************************************************************************
Devotional of the Week:
James 1:27 - "Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world."
The true measure of our Christian walk is how we serve others. In today's verse we see James comment on the fact that our commitment to God as Christians is directly linked to how we act, who we serve and what we avoid. When you see James use the example of visiting widows and orphans we must remember that in his time, widows and orphans were in the most need of compassion. When one visited them, prayed with them and ministered to them, one knew that to expect anything in return was unnecessary. This is the true essence of Christian faith. Giving unconditional, sacrificial love to whomever God puts in our path. This commitment to the needs of others goes a long way in keeping ourselves focused on staying the path and staying God's will.
Prayer: Lord focus me on Your plan for my life. Use me to be Your hands and feet to minister to those in need. To run the race for the least of these and to do it only for YOUR honor and glory.
*************************************************************************
Mini-Study of the Week:
1 Samuel
Part 1> 1 Samuel 1:1-18
Adventure movies are some of my favorites. The action, suspense and thrills are enough to keep you at the edge of your seat. The Bible has books like that. While some of these books have been turned into movies, none ever come close to matching what is in the Bible we love. 1 Samuel is a book that has been made into a movie more than once. It is ripe with vivid characters, love, deceit, betrayal and ultimately redemption. The people in this book are some of the most recognizable in the Scriptures. Samuel a devoted prophet of God, Saul, a man committed to his own path, and David, seeking to do God's will. As we begin our look at this book we meet another person who teaches us a very valuable lesson. Go read 1 Samuel 1:1-18... Go, get your Bible, read it... Go ahead, I'll wait...
OK, good, welcome back... Hannah is a person in Scripture who almost gets forgotten by us due to the magnitude of the other characters who appear in this book.
Hannah, loved most by Elkanah is nonetheless torn by her inability to conceive. Compounding this is the torment heaped upon her by Peninnah, Elkanah's other wife. Grieved by her barrenness Hannah turns to the Lord. She prays fervently to God "O Lord of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head."
So distressed is she, and so intense is her prayer that Eli the priest thinks her to be drunk. When she explains her plight and that she was not in anyway intoxicated, Eli is moved and says to her "Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition which you have asked of Him."
Hannah's prayer is one that teaches us the value of praying for personal petitions. What is critical to learn from this passage is that in praying for our personal needs and desires we need to be willing to give back to the Lord. Hannah desired a son. Her inability to conceive, while a hindrance, was not the issue for she believed that God could make the impossible possible. Her prayer was for a male child, and her commitment was that she would give that child to the Lord. He was to be a Nazirite. Surely she knew that this would mean that he would soon be taken from her to be trained and prepared for the work he was to do. She was willing to give back to God, what she prayed to God for.
Had her prayer not been answered, this would be a very short book. God answered her faithful committed prayer by giving her a son. Her son would play a vital role in the furtherance of the people of Israel, and he would grow to be one of the most influential and beloved prophets in the Bible.
We will learn more about him, next week.
*************************************************************************
Video of The Week:
Til I See You - Hillsong United
May your week be blessed! See you next week!
In His Service,
Sergio
So what will you find here? Well it will initially be a 3 part format. Part one will be a weekly devotional, some written by me, others from sources outside of myself, all designed to edify and bless the reader, focusing them on God's amazing power in our lives.
Part two will be a a mini-study that will build weekly, sometimes on a book of the Bible, sometimes about a person in Scripture or an event or doctrine or maybe even a Q&A now and then. However the Lord leads.
Part three will be a "Video of the Week". Music, Sermon clips, interviews, whatever the Lord has for us during each week. I ask for your prayers for this endeavor. That God be honored by this effort, that people be blessed and that many may be brought to saving grace.
My prayers are with you, all Glory and Honor to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!
Love one another and spread Christ's love and His gospel...
Sergio Barrera
**************************************************************************
Devotional of the Week:
James 1:27 - "Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world."
The true measure of our Christian walk is how we serve others. In today's verse we see James comment on the fact that our commitment to God as Christians is directly linked to how we act, who we serve and what we avoid. When you see James use the example of visiting widows and orphans we must remember that in his time, widows and orphans were in the most need of compassion. When one visited them, prayed with them and ministered to them, one knew that to expect anything in return was unnecessary. This is the true essence of Christian faith. Giving unconditional, sacrificial love to whomever God puts in our path. This commitment to the needs of others goes a long way in keeping ourselves focused on staying the path and staying God's will.
Prayer: Lord focus me on Your plan for my life. Use me to be Your hands and feet to minister to those in need. To run the race for the least of these and to do it only for YOUR honor and glory.
*************************************************************************
Mini-Study of the Week:
1 Samuel
Part 1> 1 Samuel 1:1-18
Adventure movies are some of my favorites. The action, suspense and thrills are enough to keep you at the edge of your seat. The Bible has books like that. While some of these books have been turned into movies, none ever come close to matching what is in the Bible we love. 1 Samuel is a book that has been made into a movie more than once. It is ripe with vivid characters, love, deceit, betrayal and ultimately redemption. The people in this book are some of the most recognizable in the Scriptures. Samuel a devoted prophet of God, Saul, a man committed to his own path, and David, seeking to do God's will. As we begin our look at this book we meet another person who teaches us a very valuable lesson. Go read 1 Samuel 1:1-18... Go, get your Bible, read it... Go ahead, I'll wait...
OK, good, welcome back... Hannah is a person in Scripture who almost gets forgotten by us due to the magnitude of the other characters who appear in this book.
Hannah, loved most by Elkanah is nonetheless torn by her inability to conceive. Compounding this is the torment heaped upon her by Peninnah, Elkanah's other wife. Grieved by her barrenness Hannah turns to the Lord. She prays fervently to God "O Lord of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head."
So distressed is she, and so intense is her prayer that Eli the priest thinks her to be drunk. When she explains her plight and that she was not in anyway intoxicated, Eli is moved and says to her "Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition which you have asked of Him."
Hannah's prayer is one that teaches us the value of praying for personal petitions. What is critical to learn from this passage is that in praying for our personal needs and desires we need to be willing to give back to the Lord. Hannah desired a son. Her inability to conceive, while a hindrance, was not the issue for she believed that God could make the impossible possible. Her prayer was for a male child, and her commitment was that she would give that child to the Lord. He was to be a Nazirite. Surely she knew that this would mean that he would soon be taken from her to be trained and prepared for the work he was to do. She was willing to give back to God, what she prayed to God for.
Had her prayer not been answered, this would be a very short book. God answered her faithful committed prayer by giving her a son. Her son would play a vital role in the furtherance of the people of Israel, and he would grow to be one of the most influential and beloved prophets in the Bible.
We will learn more about him, next week.
*************************************************************************
Video of The Week:
Til I See You - Hillsong United
May your week be blessed! See you next week!
In His Service,
Sergio
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)