Archives for September 2019

Moses and Elijah were two of the greatest prophets in the Old Testament, and yet they both faced intense spiritual battles against negativity they both needed to overcome. It was after one of his greatest victories that Elijah then faced one of his toughest challenges. The victory came, the Lord answered his prayer, fire fell from heaven and the false prophets were conquered. He prayed again and God sent the rain, but after that Elijah had to combat the spirit of Jezebel.

‘Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.”

    Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep.

    All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” He looked around, and there by his head was some bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again.

    The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he travelled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. There he went into a cave and spent the night.

    And the word of the Lord came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?” (1 Kings 19:1-9).

God has a way of speaking to us powerfully while we are hiding in a cave. God had not finished with Elijah and nor has He finished with you. The words of Jezebel had made Elijah sad and depressed. Instead of giving in to those words Elijah needed to stand in God’s presence. The devil works through fear, but God works through faith.

Let go of a bad day and praise the Lord. Reject suicidal thoughts. God is still on the throne. Jesus is Lord, no matter how tough your circumstances are. Elijah said, “I have had enough.” He was going to give up. The Christian life needs to be one of perseverance. Never give up.

God bless you as you continue to stand firm in Jesus, Pastor Matthew.

A trap is the hidden trick of an enemy to take you captive or prisoner. To trap wild animals, some have used a spring-like device that usually has a concealed danger with an enticing lure or some type of tempting bait. Many times people would dig a big hole in the ground and cover it with branches and leaves so that others do not recognize the pitfall dangers as they travel in that area. People have walked down this path being unfamiliar with the danger and many have fallen into it and were caught. Whether you realize it or not, you are walking down a figurative trail in life and Satan has placed many concealed traps in your path in order to take you captive. We must learn to recognize these potential traps. In order to do this, I believe that we need to become familiar with the examples found in the Bible of what Satan has used on other people. Only by learning and studying the devices and methods of our spiritual enemy, can we even begin to become familiar with the certain impending traps that will be presented to us. Only when we learn to recognize the traps can we learn how to avoid them.

Job 18:10 The snare is laid for him in the ground, and a trap for him in the way.

While natural traps are hidden dangers to your physical well being, spiritual traps are hidden pitfalls that are intended for your spiritual harm. Since Satan is not physically present in this world (at least until the anti-christ is revealed) and it is illegal for him to be in physical manifestation to harm you, he has adapted and changed up his attack and trap methods. Satan uses physical people in the world to set traps for other people. Satan works very hard to deceive everyone, but many times he concentrates on a select few which are easier to be deceived. These types of easy targets are usually the most ignorant of the truth found in God’s word. Satan then traps them into believing his lies and then uses them to deceive the others through their enticing baited words of partial truths. Let’s go through an example of this in the Bible this morning.
Blessings – Ps Tai

‘And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose….

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord’ (Romans 8:28,35-39).

The apostle Paul knew by personal experience that nothing could separate him from God’s love. There is an old saying, “Why do bad things happen to good people?” In this fallen world good people are not immune from bad things happening to them. Each of us needs to know that the promises of God are true no matter what we go through. In all things God works for the good of those who love Him. “In all things,” meaning that nothing should defeat us. Troubles and hardships cannot separate us from the love of Christ, for in all things we can be more than conquerors through Christ.

In today’s message I will be sharing some heart touching examples of people who have overcome this world. This is the faith that enables us to stand with Christ forever.

‘As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy’ (James 5:11).

    “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord….’ (Jeremiah 29:11-14).

God will bring healing to people’s hearts today as we give every burden to Him. God bless you, Pastor Matthew.

 

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour” (Luke 4:18-19).

Today I’m believing for a mighty move of God here in our church. What I’m seeking God for is a release of the anointing of God through the power and the presence of the Holy Spirit. Jesus knew that the Spirit of the Lord was upon Him, so that He could set people free. ‘Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom’ (2 Corinthians 3:17).

The apostle Peter summarized Christ’s ministry by proclaiming: “You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached—how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him” (Acts 10:37-38).

‘While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God’ (Acts 10:44-45). Like Jesus and the early believers, we are to be anointed with the Holy Spirit and power.

PRAYER FOR A GREATER ANOINTING UPON YOUR LIFE

“Dear Heavenly Father, I come before Your throne of grace in the mighty name of Jesus Christ. I thank You that You give the Holy Spirit to those who ask (Luke 13:11). I ask that I now receive a greater anointing of the Holy Spirit from the top of my head to the soles of my feet. Fill me afresh with the Spirit of God and let Your presence come upon me.

    Release Your mighty power. Empower me and baptize me in who You are. Make me more like Jesus. Thank You, Lord, for Your great love and a greater awareness of Your presence with me at all times. Holy Spirit, I welcome You. I receive more anointing in Jesus’ name. Amen.”

God bless you as you are empowered to live for Jesus, Pastor Matthew.