Category Archives: Community
Together
Ecclesiastes 4:9 &12 “Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed… A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.”
God creates people and puts them in community because we are designed for community. Do you know that the number one problem of man was not sin? The number one problem of man was isolation. Genesis 2:18 “Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him.” Read the rest of this entry
What’s Next?
Acts 8:36-38 “As they rode along, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “Look! There’s some water! Why can’t I be baptized?” He ordered the carriage to stop, and they went down into the water, and Philip baptized him.”
Everyone has a next step because growth requires movement. You have a next step in your business, in your career, and even in your spiritual life. Your next step could be to get baptized, or your next step could be to go through a spiritual growth class. Read the rest of this entry
Sustainer
Isaiah 43:2 “When you pass through the deep, stormy sea, you can count on me to be there with you. When you pass through raging rivers, you will not drown. When you walk through persecution like fiery flames, you will not be burned; the flames will not harm you” (TPT)
What an assurance! Mark 8:25 “Jesus put his hands over the man’s eyes a second time and made him look up. The man opened his eyes wide and he could see everything perfectly. His eyesight was completely restored!” (TPT). Read the rest of this entry
His Plan, His People II
Ex.5:1 “Afterward Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘Let my people go, so that they may celebrate a festival to me in the wilderness.’” (NRSV, emphasis added).
The centre of that great vision that God has planted in your heart has to be God and people. Do not assume that because God has spoken to you it means you can achieve your purpose alone. Moses tried to do it alone and it landed him forty years in the wilderness. Read the rest of this entry
His Plan, His People
Neh.2:17-18 “But now I said to them… Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire. Let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem and end this disgrace!” Then I told them about how the gracious hand of God had been on me… They replied at once, “Yes, let’s rebuild the wall…”
It is a miracle and a total privilege to be able to worship God, the Maker of the heavens and the earth. God did not tell Moses to say to Pharaoh ‘let my people go’. That was not what God told Moses. It was more than that. Read the rest of this entry
The Anchor
Col.2:7 “Let your roots grow down into him, and let your lives be built on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.”
To occupy until Jesus comes, you first have to take the territory and secondly, be planted. Every Christian should be planted in a local church. There is nothing like a floating or a roving Christian. It does not exist, check the Bible. Read the rest of this entry
The Celebration
Mark 2:12 “And the man jumped up, grabbed his mat, and walked out through the stunned onlookers. They were all amazed and praised God, exclaiming, “We’ve never seen anything like this before!” [emphasis added].
Jesus was still there teaching, so why was the man who had just been healed going home or where was he going? His friends were on the roof throughout, they did not climb down the ropes they used to lower their friend. Read the rest of this entry
Persistent Action
2 Cor. 5:20 “So we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making His appeal through us; we [as Christ’s representatives] plead with you on behalf of Christ to be reconciled to God. (AMP)
From the story of the four men in Mark 2:1-12 [please read], we have learnt we must have compassion on others, we need to have faith and we need to act. Luke 14:23 “Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.” (KJV, emphasis added). Read the rest of this entry
Compassion, Faith & Action
Acts 3:6-7 “But Peter said, “I don’t have any silver or gold for you. But I’ll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get up and walk!” Then Peter took the lame man by the right hand and helped him up. And as he did, the man’s feet and ankles were instantly healed…”
Yesterday, we looked at our first lesson, compassion, from the four friends in the story in Mark 2:1-12 [please read]. 1 Cor. 10:24 “People should be concerned about others and not just about themselves.” (GW, emphasis added). Read the rest of this entry
Compassion
Rom. 15:2 “We should all be concerned about our neighbor and the good things that will build his faith.” (GW, emphasis added)
Our first lesson from the friends of the paralytic man in Mark 2:1-12 [please read] is they had compassion. These four friends became concerned for a hurting friend. Most times, people are just not concerned. Read the rest of this entry
