The Lamp, The Light, And You - Tuesday Praise & Pray (for others) December 2, 2025

Revelation 21:23 - The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.

This verse provides a wonderful description of the relationship between the Lord and His Son. While on earth, Jesus put God on display, consistently doing and saying things that reminded people of the Lord's greatness in an intimate way. He was the lamp that shone the light of God into the darkness of the world.

All the prophets before Him had done much of the same. Remember how Elijah healed Naaman of leprosy? The Syrian war commander was humbled and healed of his pride and stubbornness. He was so changed by God's healing mercy that he committed his life to God on the spot. He'd seen the light of the Lord.

The apostles and other servants who spread the gospel also did the same thing. They went about preaching and displaying God's power in places that had never experienced Him that way. When Philip proclaimed the gospel in Samaria, the people believed in Jesus, including Simon the Sorcerer, a man who'd controlled the populace with sorcery (Acts 8:9-13).

Similarly, the proconsul of Paphos, a Roman, came to believe in God and Jesus after watching Paul temporarily blind another sorcerer known as Bar Jesus or Elymas (Acts 13:6-12). Through the name of Jesus, Paul shone the light of God brightly, and many turned to the Lord.

This is the pattern believers in Christ are to follow. We, too, are to act as lamps that shine the light of God across the land. We achieve this goal by submitting our actions and our words to the Word and by letting God's Spirit have His way in our lives. Our thoughts are equally crucial because what we think becomes what we say and do. After all, as a man thinketh, so he is (Proverbs 23:7)

We therefore must put God's Word into practice and not ignore what is in the Bible. When we do this, intentional sin diminishes, and we will stop lying, stealing, and practicing idolatry, to name but a few things. We'll submit to God's grace and let it change us. Soon, we will start to fast according to scripture, all while we increasingly show compassion and love to others, just as Jesus taught with the Royal Law.

It is also crucial to apply Mark 12:29-30 - “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. /Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ This means loving the Lord by obeying His commands.

God has empowered us to do these things and much more as His children. All it takes is the choice to live for the Lord. He knows we'll mess up because you're human. However, as long as we repent, change our ways, and keep trusting Him to help, He will lift us when we stumble, so continue walking the journey of life with Him.

And with each passing day, the transformations He makes in us will shine the light of God upon the world, just as Jesus did. May the good Lord help us to honor His word with zeal. May we each choose to obey Him and be like Jesus, a lamp shining God's light wherever we go. IJMN Amen.

As you wait for fellowship at 12 Noon EST, consider reading the Altar Call below and the following previous P&P messages:

1. Stubbornness

2. Pay your 'taxes'

3. Standing in the way

4. Don't Cause Others To Sin

5. Exploring the Role of the Five-Fold Ministry in the Christian Faith: How Do You Fit In? (The Five-fold Ministry 1)

6. Unveiling the Crucial Role of the Five-Fold Ministry: How Do You Contribute to the Body of Christ (The Five-fold Ministry 2)

7. Embracing the Five-Fold Ministry: Unlocking Personal Benefits of Serving God (The Five-fold Ministry 3)

8. Wear Your Kingdom Identity

9. Practical Ways To Wear Your Kingdom Identity

10. Have You Changed?

11. A Proud Father

12. Put God's Concerns First

Be Someone People Will Support - Friday Praise & Pray (for others) November 28, 2025

The stories of the Centurion and Dorcas teach us a lot about the type of Christians we are to be. And if we apply the lessons conveyed, the Lord is sure to do much more than could have even imagined or asked for. He will certainly exceed expectations.

The Centurion had a servant who needed healing from Jesus. And so, he sent some Jewish elders to speak to Jesus on his behalf and they insisted the Savior go and heal the servant. Their basis was that the Centurion had built a synagogue for the Jews and was therefore deserving of the miraculous power of God that He wielded (Luke 7:4-5).

In Acts 9, we learned about Tabitha, who was also known by her Greek name, Dorcas. A believer in Jesus, she'd supported widows by sewing them clothes and helping them in other ways. She passed away and those she'd helped would not take death for an answer. When they learned Peter was in a nearby town they urged him to raise her from the dead.

What do these two individuals have in common? They were people whose kindness and love drew the support and dedication of others. The Centurion was not a Jew and yet he had elders running around to find a solution to his problem. This was a rarity in those times for many reasons. They not only spoke up for someone who served multiple gods, but they also ignored the position of the religious leaders who despised Jesus. They instead pleaded with Him for help.

Similarly, Dorcas was an ordinary woman but her death stirred a community to move in faith for a miracle. They sent messengers to Apostle Peter to urge that the supernatural hand of God move so a dead person was resurrected. All because that woman took care of them. From their perspective, Dorcas deserved another shot at life. If for nothing else, then so that she could keep helping them

The Centurion and Dorcas likely had no idea that their acts of kindness and service would produce the dedication and commitment it did in their time of trouble. Nor did they realize that their actions would move God Himself to act on their behalf. Notice, Jesus healed the Centurion's servant and Dorcas was raised from the dead. The supporters of the Centurion and Dorcas displayed insistence coupled with respect for the Lord and their approach was well rewarded.

We Christians need to be like the Centurion and Dorcas - people whose acts of genuine  kindness and love garnered support and dedication. We need to be the type of people whose godly works drive people to God in faith, even if it is just to help us. After all, Jesus taught us the Royal Law and told us to treat others as we would like to be treated. Wouldn't we want to be helped when we are struggling? He also told us to care for others and give to those in need (Luke 6:30).

The Centurion, Dorcas, and indeed others in the Bible, show that those who give with a pure heart will be rewarded by God. These people didn't gather support because they were committing sin or encouraging others to satisfy their flesh. And to be like them, neither should we. We should remember, however, that when His children call on Him to move for a godly person, a miracle takes place. May we be the sort whose God-fearing behavior and acts of service to others not only brings people closer to the Lord but also brings us help and support in our time of need. IJMN, Amen.

As you wait for fellowship at 12 Noon EST, consider reading the Altar Call below and the following previous P&P messages:

1. To want or to give? That is the question

2. The Cornelius Blessing

3. The Answered Prayers You Don't See

4. Don't Grumble & Don't Complain

5. The Promises You Won't See

6. Our Responsibility To The Future

7. The Impact of Your Relationship With God

8. Faith and The Centurion Worldview

9. The Children's Bread

10. Are You Bitter?

11. How To Approach God

12. Pray, Don't Rant

13. Shameless Audacity

14. Topic: Righteousness

15. Topic: Fear of the Lord

Jesus Didn’t Trust Them - Tuesday Praise & Pray (for others) November 25, 2025

When Jesus went to Jerusalem, He cleared the Temple courts of sellers whom He chided for turning the place into a marketplace (John 2:14-16). Ordinary people were impressed by His courage and watched Him perform signs and wonders. John 2:24-25 - But Jesus didn’t trust them, because he knew all about people. /No one needed to tell him about human nature, for he knew what was in each person’s heart (NLT).

Why didn't He trust these people? Weren't they the same ones who welcomed Him into Jerusalem with palm fronds and praises as He arrived on a donkey? The scriptures even tell us that they "believed in his name" (John 2:23). What was it that made them untrustworthy?

He knew their opinions were fickle and that their hearts did not yield to the One who gave Him the power to do what attracted their attention. The fact that He healed people did not change their hearts. They weren't moved to learn how He'd done what He did and honor the God behind it all. How could He trust such people?

John 6:64 -  Yet there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him.

Instead, these same people who believed in Him turned against Him when a false rumor arose. They followed the lead of their religious leaders to attack and slander Him. Just like that, His 'fans' became His most vocal enemies. They chose a rebel and murderer to go free instead of the man who'd helped their neighbors and displayed the power of the Lord in their midst.

There are many lessons to learn from this. First, pray for godly wisdom on who is trustworthy. Jesus had supernatural insight into the hearts of the people He didn't trust. We need that same understanding as it can save us a lot of time and trouble.

Second, don't be the sort of person Jesus can't trust. This sort of person is fickle-minded and that happens when we allow the world to guide our opinions instead of the Word. Instead, seek out God and learn about His power. Believe in Him and His Son. Open the Bible to achieve this. Prayerfully study it, apply what it teaches, and let God transform you.

Third, don't let the applause distract you. Jesus didn't bask in the attention He received. He could have leveraged His fame to build a fan base that would have protected Him from what was to come. Instead, He kept His head down and kept moving toward God's purpose. He prioritized the Lord's concern that He be the Lamb who takes away the sins of the world on the cross. We too were placed on earth to serve God and that must be our priority.

Fourth (and the most important point), give your life to Jesus. Ask Him to be your Lord and Savior. I say this because the very people Jesus didn't trust succumbed to an antichrist spirit when He was put on trial. They didn't know God and couldn't see His light in Jesus. To avoid this, we need the help of God's Holy Spirit and only those who give their lives to Jesus qualify to receive this gift.

What other lessons jump out at you from this part of the Bible. Share your thoughts so iron can sharpen iron (Proverbs 27:17). By the Lord's grace we won't be like those Jesus couldn't trust. Instead, we will be those whom the Lord selects to do His bidding because we are trustworthy, we stand firm in faith, and are not fickle or stiff-necked, IJN Amen.

As you wait for fellowship at 12 Noon EST, consider reading the Altar Call below and the following previous P&P messages:

1. Trust God

2. Will He Know You?

3. The Royal Law: Liars & False Witnesses

4. Show God You Trust Him

5. Don't Fake It Till You Make It

6. Enemies of the Cross

7. Give Your Life To Christ

8. The Threshing Tool

9. Did You Ask God First?

10. What Would God See When He Looks At Your Heart?

11. Put God's Concerns First

12. Mockers of Jesus

13. Secrets Always Come Out

14. Are You Trustworthy?

15. Topic: Faith, Trust, Belief in God

16. Topic: Fruitfulness, Fruit