Morning with Ebenezer

FAMILY FIRST

But those who won’t care for their relatives, especially those in their own household, have denied the true faith. Such people are worse than unbelievers.

1 Timothy 5:8 NLT

There is a famous saying which says, ''Charity starts at home''. The first ministry of any Christian is his family, before going to minister to others outside you need to lean to minister to your family first. When Satan wants to destroy any nation, he always start in the family level. He will plant hatred between family members, family to another family and final to the whole nation.

Frank Hammond, in his Book Pigs in the Parlor (The Practical Guide To Deliverance) says the following,''The first test for Christian living come at home.If the love, joy and peace of the Holy Spirit does not issue from our lives in relationship with members of our own household, then Satan has gained a victory over us.

Then he continued saying,''Defeat the devil in your own life and in your family and then you will be able to carry the welfare on into the other ares of life''.There are some of us who are generally known for our kindness in others people outside but inside our own families we are the meanest people ever lived. We pretend to be good to our friends husbands or wives while we abuse our own spouses in our houses.

This morning, God wants you to start showing the fruits of your salvation first in your household. He wants you to start showing love to your own, before giving it to any other people out there. If you are in discord with any family member, you need to reconcile with him first before anyone outside.

Build a strong fellowship with your family, if you know the Word start by teaching your family. If you are good at giving, don't hesitate giving your family the good of the land. Pray for them, love them, forgive them and always treasure them regardless of their faults and weaknesses. If you will defeat devil at home, you will defeat him even at your neighbor's house.

****Morning Prayer****

Pray this prayer with me by faith and God is going to answer your prayer....

Heavenly Father, I thank You for your Word. Lord I'm asking that You may help me to love and take care the members of my family. Knowing that my victory in my spiritual walk with You starts under my own roof. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Morning with Ebenezer

CLEANSE YOURSELF

In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble. If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.

1 Timothy 2:20-21 NIV84

In a large house which is the church of Christ, there are many vessels not only gold and silver, but also of wood and clay. There many members some who are genuine to the Lord and some who are just false Christians. Some are true teachers of the Gospel and are honored by the Lord; while others are false teachers which spread division in the Body of Christ.

If a man cleanses himself from ignoble vessels, meaning if a man will set apart himself from false Christians and teachers. He will be a noble vessel, consecrated and profitable to the Master, fit and ready for any good work.

We are living in the world where many teachings which are against the Bible are being taught. Many false teachers who call themselves Ministries of the Gospel, who acknowledge Him by their words but deny Him through their actions. Who interpret the Bible to benefit their selfish ambitions that they may accumulate worldly wealthy and care less about the welfare of the flock in the Church.

This morning, God wants you to cleanse yourself from dishonorable vessels. God wants you to stay from all evil, and every false teaching which is according to the common of men but not God's. God wants you to make sure that you are holy in all of your conducts that you may be a special vessel prepared to do any good work.

****Morning Prayer****

Pray this prayer with me by faith and God is going to answer your prayer....

Heavenly Father, I thank You for your Word. Lord I'm asking that You may give me the eyes of the Spirit, that I may be able to discern between true and false teachings. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Morning with Ebenezer

ROOT OF BITTERNESS

Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled; 

Hebrews 12:14-15 NKJV

Things do happen and words are spoken that require the an attitude of forgiveness.There are those things which happened thirty years ago are just as alive as they were the minute they happened in our hearts. This bitterness led to unforgiving spirit to continue taking control in our loves as the result the root of bitterness springing up and cause trouble to many.

The Bible teaches us to look carefully which means to pay close attention, that we may not fall short of the grace of God.Every man is in danger, it is his personal duty to see that his salvation is secure.Lest the root of bitterness springing up- A root of bitterness signifies a poisonous plant, or in other words or a man holding unsound doctrines, and endeavoring to spread them in the Church.

In a course of life, there are those people who hurt you, rejected, laugh at you and sometimes even abused you in one way or another. We tend to hold these people inside of us, and every time we remember what they did to us, the root of bitterness springing up and cause a lot to us and to our loved ones. There are some women who hate all men, because once in their lives came a man who lied to them and took them for granted.

This morning, God wants you to let go any kind of bitterness which you have been keeping inside of you. You may be asking yourself that where was God when someone abused you, or when life treated you unfairly? God was still with you that's why, through it all you made alive to the shore! Living with unforgiveness is like locking yourself in a cell, there are many things which you won't be able to see out there because you locked yourself in a small dark room inside of your heart.

If you have bitterness and unforgiving attitude, you will not be able to see love. You will not be able to receive love from anyone because you will fear to be hurt again and hence you will close doors. God loves is able to reach and heal every wound in you, to restore peace inside which the devil has taken away from you. Choose to forgive today, let go of that bitterness that God loves may take control.

****Morning Prayer****

Pray this prayer with me by faith and God is going to answer your prayer....

Heavenly Father, I thank You for your Word. Lord I forgive everyone and every situation which hurt me in the past, help me to let go the bitterness which has built a strong inside of me in the Name of Jesus. Restore my healthy and the peace inside of me, that I may serve you with gladness.In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Morning with Ebenezer

THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN

 “Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away.This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Matthew 13:47-50 NIV

This portion of scriptures is called the parable of the Net. The Bible says that, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. Here the meaning of a net is The Gospel of the kingdom and the ministry of it. The sea here represents the world which we are living right now.

This Gospel is being preached in this world now as ever before. Many people are coming to Christ, some who are genuine and others who are only hypocrites: profess in words, and deny in works; have nothing more than a form of godliness, and name to live, and are dead. The day will come when these group of people in the Church of Christ will face judgement.

The Bible says at the end of age, the angels will separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth for the wicked.Unfortunately it did not happen as many people predicted on 21st of Dec, 2012; because Jesus said that no one knows the day or the hour,not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son [Jesus] but only the Father, Mark 13:32.

This morning, I have a question for you. Do you have the truth of grace in your heart or you are just a Christian by name? Do you live a godly life or you are just like any other people who don't know God out there?. The day of judgement is coming, you better be prepared! Jesus is coming to take his bride, and  you need to make sure to be among those who will be caught in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air [1 Thessalonians 4:16-18].

This world will pass and everything in it. I challenge you to reconsider your ways, don't be in the group of hypocrites who heard the Gospel but they still chose their own way but not God's. But when the day comes you need  to be among of those who will say this: “Surely this is our God;we trusted in him, and he saved us.This is the Lord, we trusted in him; let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation.”[Isaiah 25:9]

****Morning Prayer****

Pray this prayer with me by faith and God is going to answer your prayer....

Heavenly Father, I thank You for your Word. Lord I'm asking for forgiveness where I failed to live according to your Word. I'm asking that You may give me strength that I may live according to your laws and statutes in all the days of my life.In Jesus' Name, Amen. 

Morning with Ebenezer

BOUNDLESS LOVE

When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Mark 2:16-17 NIV

In one way or another each one of us have heard about the word love. We know in life we need to love and to be loved. Love is the tool which has been proven in centuries since the creation of first man, Adam 6000 years ago; that it can change any human being from the point of zero to hero.

People of all generations, color, tribes and languages have said or written something about love. The love of a human is limited, it is bound by different factors, environment, history and personal preferences. The love of God is boundless, it has no limits and it can reach anyone, touch everyone and be in each one of us.

St.Augustine of Hippo who lived between 354-430 AD, one day he said,''God loves each of us as if there were only one of us''. God did not only love religious people in the days of Jesus but also He loved sinners. It was not a big deal for Jesus to hangout with those who were outcasted in the the society of that time. Jesus love cause healing to people, it lead miracles to happen, demons run away from His presence because He was full of love, and sinners changed to saints.

This morning, the same boundless love of God is still operating in this world. The love which can change sinners into saints, rejected to beloved, weak to strong, sick people to healthy ones, gossipers to preachers, and heavy heartened to joy bringers.  

This love wants to come in your life and bring the permanent changes in you. It is the love of God, it can heal your wounds and set you free from oppression. It can lift you up and make you great! Just open your heart, and receive it by faith and all things are going to be alright.

****Morning Prayer*****

Pray this prayer with me by faith and God is going to answer your prayer....

Heavenly Father, I thank You for your Word. Lord I'm asking that You may touch me by your love, change me ooh Lord. I want to see you in very different way in 2013, help me to be obedient to your Word. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Morning with Ebenezer

LEARN TO SAY NO

For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Titus 2:11-13 NIV

Jesus is seen in the Book of Titus, as the Faithful Pastor. He is the one who instructs Titus through the hand of Paul on how he should be a faithful leader to all groups of people in his church. Then He talks about the grace of God, the unmerited favor of God which has appeared to all people through the personal of  Jesus Christ our Lord.

This grace teaches us to say'' No'' to all sinful acts and pleasures of this world. This grace offers salvation to every one who believes in the finished work of Jesus on the cross. Before Jesus came in this world, people had no power to resist sin, the whole world was under the slavery of sin. 

Jesus came and set us free. He broke the power of sin in our lives and gave us power to overcome it through the Holy Ghost. He gave us a freedom to say No to all sinful acts in our lives. To refuse living in generational sin, to resist every temptation which comes along the way. To say No to every act of disobedient in our hearts, and to choose to live the victorious life in Christ.

This morning, God wants you to learn to say No. God wants you to stop compromising with sin and to give yourself a time to let it go; but instead to confess it and stay away with every environment,people or media which makes you to commit certain sins in your life. He wants you to say No, to friends who will convince you to take their path of disobedient and rebellion against God.

Jesus is coming soon, He wants you to prepare yourself like the way a bride who prepare to meet the bridegroom. This is the time of preparation, today is the day of saying No to every sin and act of disobedient in your life. We have been given today and we are not promised tomorrow, so make a good use of your day by choosing a good portion[Jesus] which will not be taken from you.

****Morning Prayer****

Pray this prayer with me by faith and God is going to answer your prayer....

Heavenly Father, I thank You for your Word. Lord I'm asking that You may teach me to say No to sin and Yes to your eternal plan in my life. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Morning with Ebenezer

JESUS THE SON OF GOD

 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

John 3:16 NKJV

According to the Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia,John 3:16 (chapter 3, verse 16 of the (Gospel of John) is one of the most widely quoted verses from the  Christian Bible and has been called the most famous Bible verse.This verse has been the benchmark of God love towards a lost man. It shows how God did not settle to see a man perish in sin, but He did something amazing which changed the whole history of human race.

Jesus was the Son of God before He came to be a Son of man. He is the only person who chose to be born, no other person in the history of this world did that and there will be no one who will be able to do that even in the world to come. Jesus was the climax of human history, all the creation waited for his arrival for centuries. Angels rejoiced when He was born, the whole galaxy cheered up when He was born in that small town of Bethlehem, 5.52 miles( 8.89 km) from South of Jerusalem.

This Son of God came with one mission of saving a lost man from his sins.Man and the world which he lived on it, was ruin and exposed to wrath of God. All people where in hopeless condition, then God gave His Son. Man had no claim on him; it was a gift - an undeserved gift. Jesus brought back the lost fellowship between man and His creator, He restored the joy which man lost for thousands of years since the fall of Adam. This made to seek joy in earthly things like alcohol, sexual immorality and all kind of Satanic music out there.

This morning, I have a word for you. I want to tell you that Jesus is the Son of the Living God, and is also God. He is the only way to the Father, and no one will see the Father without Him. I want to shout to the whole world that they may know that without Jesus, there is no life. Without Jesus there is no resting in the afterlife too! 

We need Him now, and if we will deny Him in this life; we won't be able to start before Him in afterlife when He will be in the Kingdom of His Father, who is the Creator of Heaven and earth and all things which is in it.If you are reading this now, it's God talking to you and challenging you to commit your life in His Son because through Him alone you will be safe.

****Morning Prayer****

Pray this prayer with me by faith and God is going to answer your prayer....

Heavenly Father, I thank You for your Word. Lord I'm asking that You may help me to believe in the finished work of Jesus on the Cross. To have faith in your Son that with Him all my little things in life will be alright.In Jesus' Name, Amen.

REFERENCE

http://www.godvine.com/bible/John/3-16

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR.

Morning with Ebenezer

JESUS THE SON OF MAN

Therefore, it was necessary 

for him to be made in every respect like us, his brothers and sisters, so that he could be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God. Then he could offer a sacrifice that would take away the sins of the people. Since he himself has gone through suffering and testing, he is able to help us when we are being tested.

Hebrews 2:17-18 NLT

Jesus was born by a virgin called Mary, who got the pregnancy through the power of Holy Ghost.He had his earthly father who was called Joseph and they all lived in the certain village out side the City of Jerusalem called Nazareth.

Jesus was called Nazarene because He lived in Nazareth. He ate the food which we eat, He was a carpenter by professional, He was raised in a poor family and He lived a normal life. He had all human emotions, we see He cried after they told Him Lazarus is dead. When He fasted forty days and night in the wilderness the Bible says He felt very hungry.

He was tempted in every way that we are, but He did not sin. He came and live among us, He shared our sorrow,pain, loss, suffering and grief. God allowed Him to become the Son of Man that He could be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God. He is able to understand us because He lived among us! He knew our weaknesses and yet He agreed to die for us, what a great love Jesus had for us!

This morning, God wants you to know that His Son Jesus also was a human just like you and me. He was filled with the Holy Ghost and that's why He lived a sinless life. God wants you to know that if the Holy Ghost who was in Jesus, is in you. He will help you to overcome sin, to live a sinless life where He will convict you to repent every-time you sinned against our Heavenly Father.

Jesus was a Son of God and also of a man. You are a son of man but through believing in Jesus Christ you have become a child of God. Jesus is our older brother, is the first born among many who believed in the His work of the Cross and His Resurrection.If you go to Jesus today just go with confidence, knowing that Jesus is not only one of the ways but is a only way to the Father. And when you tell Him about anything of this life, be sure He understands it and He will help you just in time.

****Morning Prayer****

 Pray this prayer with me by faith and God is going to answer your prayer....

Heavenly Father, I thank You for the Word. Lord I'm asking that You may help me to know You more in all the days of my life. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Morning with Ebenezer

WAITING AND TRUST

This is what the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel , says:“If you come back to me [repent] and trust [rest in] me, you will be saved.If you will be calm and trust me, you will be strong.”   But you don’t want to do that [refused; would not].

Isaiah 30:15 EXB

The word Trust in Hebrew can be translated in more than one meanings: The first meaning is,'' to lean on someone or something''. The second meaning is ,''to cling''. The third meaning is,''hope'', here hope does not mean to wonder if something will happen and "hope" it does but, to "know" that something will happen in the future.The fourth meaning is ''firm, sure or amen''.

When we learn to trust in God, He will reveal Himself as a person who we can lean on when things get tough. As the way melon clings to the vine and get all nourishment from it.It will be the same to us, God his is our strength, the one who nourishes us just as the vine nourishes the melon. We do not hope that God will protect us,we ''know'' He will.When we pray we say ''amen'',we are literally saying I stand firm on this prayer.

The Bible says if we will be calm(wait in quietness) and trust, we will be strong. Our strength will come when we learn to wait on the Lord for the things which we can't do them by our own efforts. The prophet Isaiah says, ''But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, Isaiah 40:31a.

This morning, God wants you to learn to wait and trust in Him. To trust that He is the God who created you and when He made you, He did not created you in vain. He had a specific purpose for your life; and He will reveal it to you through His Spirit if you will continue to be faithful to Him.

God wants you to wait on Him, to wait for His plan in your life. To wait Him to promote you in his time! He wants you to wait for him to give you a man or a woman who He intended for you since the foundation of this world. I challenge you to adapt a new life style of waiting and trusting God, and your life will never be the same again!

****Morning Prayer****

Pray this prayer with me by faith and God is going to answer your prayer....

Heavenly Father, I thank You for your Word. Lord I'm asking that You may teach my heart to wait and trust in You in all the days of my life. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Morning with Ebenezer

NOT OF US

They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us.

1 John 2:19 NKJV

There were people in the days of John the Apostle of love, who used to be in the church of those days. But after a while they left the church and leave the whole Christianity concept. Later John wrote to the believers in western Asia Minor to tell them the reasons why these people went out their midst.

He said,''These people left our churches, but they never really belonged with us; otherwise they would have stayed with us. When they left, it proved that they did not belong with us. He taught them that they should let go those who came in their churches, shared many things with them but later they left them. He wanted them to understand, those people left them because they were not for what these precious Christian believed and stand for.

In a certain point in life, there are some people who came in our lives. These people brought great impact in our lives since they were a daily part of it. When our friendship grew to the point were we even shared our secrets with them; these people left us. They left strong mark inside of us and pain which rises every time we remember the time we shared with them.

This morning, God wants you to understand that whosoever left from your life, it was not intended for him to continue to be a part of it. He came for a purpose, and when that purpose was fulfilled that's why he left. God wants you to stop leaving in the past, because He has prepared a bright future ahead of you.

He has prepared people for your life. If those who left used to help you in some things which maybe now no one is there to do them for you. Don't be afraid, God is going to bring the right people in your life, in a right time! So may the peace of the Lord Jesus Christ be still in you.

****Morning Prayer****

Pray this prayer with by faith and God is going to answer your prayer....

Heavenly Father, I thank You for your Word. Lord I thank You for all the people who came i my life. Thank You for those who left and those who are still with me. Thank You for those who You will allow to come to me in the future, Praise be your name. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Morning with Ebenezer

BLAMING GOD

He said,“I came naked from my mother’s womb, and I will be naked when I leave.The Lord gave me what I had, and the Lord has taken it away.Praise the name of the Lord!” In all of this, Job did not sin by blaming God.

Job 1:21-22 NLT

Have you ever thought about the words which you say when you are being tempted? Who is the first person to blame? Which kind of words are you speaking when all things seems to be against you? Do you praise God in the midst of your dark hours? or just blaming Him for everything around you?

Job found himself loosing everything! He lost his sons and daughters, cattles, all his wealth including his servants.When Job heard all about what happened, he tore his robe in grief, and he shaved his head and fell down to worship God.Job did not blame God for anything but He praised Him for giving him what He had and leave all matters to Him.

This attitude which Job had when he was tested, is the attitude which all people who called by the name of God need to have. There is a time which some things happen in our lives which no man can explain to us why they happened. Most of the time we find ourselves putting all blame to God, and some of us we even leave God behind and try to find our own ways to get out of those problems.

This morning, you may be suffering loss in some areas of your life. May be you are not even sure what tomorrow is holding for you. When you overcome one temptation, the other one rises. I have a good news for you, that God is still in control. God is still in saving and rescuing business!

Stop blaming God for everything which has happened in your life. God has allowed all of it because He knew whatever the enemy will bring forth to you,  you will be able to bear. Behold when he has tested you, you shall come forth as pure gold. Have faith in God, He is in control!

****Morning Prayer****

Pray this prayer with me by faith and God is going to answer your prayer....

Heavenly Father, I thank You for your Word. Lord please forgive me where I have blamed you for things which happened to my life. Lord I'm asking that You may help me to have the same attitude which Job had, every time I find myself being tempted. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Morning with Ebenezer

CHRISTIAN LIFE

 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 NIV

Paul uses the example of athletics who leave everything behind so that they can get the prize. He said that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize. But before getting this prize, anyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. All of this are done in order they can get a perishable crown, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.

Paul continued that in his side, he was not doing it like someone who doesn't have a goal.He was fighting like the boxer who was hitting something but no just a air! Paul uses the figure of boxing to represent the Christian life. He does not aimlessly beat the air, but he severely disciplines his own body is serving Christ.

Paul realizes that he must with rigor serve the Lord and battle against sin. If he fails in this, he may be excluded from the reward. Paul knew that Christian life is a fight, fighting against sin and the wiles of the devil. He prepared everyday that at the end of the day he may come forth as the winner! He wanted to get a crown which will last forever in that day of accountability.[ 1 Cor 3:10-15, Matthew 12:36]

This morning, God wants you to know that there is a race which you must run and the victories to be won! He wants you to know that Christian life is a battle against sin. God wants you to start disciplines your own body that you may be able to serve Christ. 

You need to focus on your goal of inheriting the kingdom of God; God is able to help you through His Spirit to attain that goal. Always remember Christian is a battle against sin, and God has given you a victory through Jesus! You need to continue walking in that victory, that you may get imperishable crown when that great day comes. 

****Morning Prayer****

Pray this prayer with me by faith and God is going to answer your prayer....

Heavenly Father, I thank You for your Word. Lord I'm asking that You may give me strength to fight the good fight of faith. To take hold of eternal life to which I was called when I made a confession of my faith to Jesus before many witness the day which I received you. In Jesus' Name, Amen.