The Bible makes it clear in Titus 1:2 that God cannot lie, so why do we have such a hard time believing what He has said about us and the situations we're in?
If we are to be frank, we struggle to believe the Lord's word because we've been conditioned to not believe what we hear, read, see, and think. All around us are liars and we ourselves have participated in the deception of others. How can we then believe what someone says to us? What more a God we've never seen? Plus, having listened to the wrong voices, we've experienced disappointments and broken heartedness. Believing that someone, anyone is telling us the truth is a tall order.
And that inability to trust what we hear translates to our relationship with the Lord. As a result, we struggle to believe what He's said to us about our very selves, talk less of the things we are going through.
Yet, a lot of us are struggling with issues that we no longer need to be burdened by. And one key reason is that we have failed to believe God's word to us on the issue. Many of us are trapped in cycles of insecurity, forgetting Psalm 139:14, which tells us that we are "fearfully and wonderfully made." Before we started walking with the Lord, we were rejected by human beings and expect to be treated that way by Him. Meanwhile, God made us in His own image (Genesis 1:27). And for those who submit to His Son, He placed His very Spirit in them (2 Corinthians 1:22). We don't understand that He has made us the very symbol of might that is why we are called the royal diadem He holds in His hand in Isaiah 62:3.
When we face troubles, His word on the issue has already been spoken from the beginning and will not change. This is why He has said that even if a nursing mother would forget the baby suckling at her breast, He will never forget us (Isaiah 49:15). He reassures us in the scriptures that everything we are going through will surely work out for our good, no matter how it seems or what it looks like (Romans 8:28). We can look at the Bible and how the Lord rescued people from their challenges. Jehoshaphat and his people believed and praised the Lord, and their enemies attacked each other (2 Chronicles 20). When Sennacherib threatened, King Hezekiah didn't create His own solution and God systematically eradicated his enemy (2 Kings 18-19). Paul and Silas worshiped and the prison doors opened (Acts 16).
God is still in the business of doing great things. The issue is that we have to choose to believe His word on every thing we are going through. For that to happen, we have to put our distrusting nature to the side. We have to be vulnerable with God and accept that He might not do things how and when we expect. He might even surprise us. We have to remember that whenever He decides to act is the right time. After all, He is the God who can be 'late' and yet be on time. And we have to ignore the reality around us, just as Jairus did, not allowing fear and disbelief to settle into our hearts so we don't miss the miracle on the way. We have to put our faith to work, knowing that we do not walk by sight as followers of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:7).
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CLOSING PRAYER
Father, thank You for another opportunity to gather in Your name and presence. To You be all the glory.
Thank you for teaching us this day and enabling us to learn from the Bible. May your teachings take root in us and glorify your name.
I pray for today's participants the blessing contained in Psalm 121:5-8 - The LORD watches over you— the LORD is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD will keep you from all harm— he will watch over your life; the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.
IJMN, AMEN.
God I thank You for believing in us enough to prophesy such good things over us. Lord I commit the destinies of my brethren into Your hands. Let them become great in You Lord. For the sake of Your name upon them, do not let them be put to shame. Let all who hate them be like nothing and perish. Lord, remember that if You fulfil Your will through them, the world will experience more of your goodness and less of satan's curses. Have mercy oh God, in Jesus name, amen.
From JIR - Thank You Lord for Your faithfulness. You are the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. Your power knows no bounds. I stand in awe of You and in awe of the love You grace all of whom You created with. You make life so beautiful and give us all hope. Thank You Lord for remembering us and not doing away with the human race, Genesis 8:1.
You are truly magnificent. All praises to my Lord, my God, my Saviour. I worship You. IJMN. Amen.
LAST 10 MINUTES
Let us pray about today's message asking God for His word and the capacity to believe in it. King Jehoshaphat told his people to believe in God so that they would be established - standing firm and unmovable (2 Chronicles 20:20). That message is equally for those of us who believe in God in this era. We also have to trust Him and what he has said. It is a choice each of us must make in every situation we find ourselves in.
Lord, help us. Open our eyes and our hearts to the truth of who You have always been and will always be, IJMN, Amen. Your word states in Luke 1:37 - For no word from God will ever fail (NIV). And so we turn to Your word and place our trust in it. You, the God who exalts His word above His very name (Psalm 138:2). You whose word will not be delayed. The God who said His word goes out and will not return to Him void. We have faith in You, the God who cannot lie. Your word shall surely come to pass in our lives and generations, IJMN, Amen.
God, I call upon You to kindly show Your might in the lives of Your children. Let testimonies overflow, Jehovah because of Your blessed miracles. Father, provide Your never-ending manna and water in the lives of many. Jireh - the Provider.
Isaiah 64:2 - As when fire sets twigs ablaze and causes water to boil, come down to make your name known to your enemies and cause the nations to quake before you!
Thank You, heavenly Father, IJMN, Amen.
from M22 - Abba Father I thank you for sis @FFJ . I pray that you will continue your work within her. I pray that you will continue to bless her, her loved ones and everything that concerns her. I pray that you will continue to strengthen an renew her in every aspect of her life IJMN Amen
From M22 - Abba Father I submit and surrender myself to you this day. I pray that you help me to grow in faith and stand firm in you. I pray that you help me to move from past setbacks and focus on the present. I pray that you help me walk stronger than ever with you and to trust you in every circumstances. Thank you Abba Father. Amen.
From M22 - Abba Father I pray for myself and my siblings that you will continue to work within us. I pray that you will continue to transform, strengthen, renew and prune us for your glory. I pray Father that you strip us of whatever is hindering us from truly experiencing you in our lives. I thank you for taking care of us and watching over us. Thank you Abba Father for being our safe space and sanctuary. I pray as the year goes to an end that you will continue to manifest yourself in our lives IJMN Amen
Father, we come before You in great humility and call on You to silence the enemy trying to slander and accuse Your children. Give Your children rest on all sides as You gave King David.
God as Your children, we speak Your words in Isaiah 41:1 - "Be silent before me..." Father, You have given us "authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy" and you declared over us that "nothing will harm you" (Luke 10:19).
As such, we speak with confidence and cry out to You to silence the destroyer for the sake of Your great name. Silence the distraction it sends and the chaos it creates. Strengthen and empower Your children against the thief which "comes only to steal and kill and destroy" for You Lord "have come that they may have life, and have it to the full" (John 10:10).
You, oh Lord, have the final say. Amen.
From JIR - I pray for those in the waiting season. I pray that You may bless them with the strength and endurance they need to keep waiting on You. You are faithful, You are true, You are righteous. I pray that they see this and continue praying to You steadfast. Please take them under Your wings Lord and protect them from anything trying to bring them down during this season. You are in control and I pray for victory for those who wait and don’t give up. IJMN.
From M22 - Father Lord I pray for people struggling in their walk with you. That you will grant them supernatural clarity and discernment they need to keep walking with you in spirit and in truth. I pray that you will strengthen their faith and trust in you beyond measure and silence the voice of the accuser in their lives. I pray that you will open up their eyes, hearts and minds to receive what you have in store for them IJMN Amen
Lord Almighty, we call on You for Your healing in the lives of Your children. Father, Your word tells us in Jeremiah 30:17 - But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds,' declares the LORD, 'because you are called an outcast, Zion for whom no one cares.'
Father, remember, Isaiah 53:5 - But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.
Our Father, You whose name is hallowed and esteemed. Please, bring healing to those we cover in this prayer. You know who they are. You are their Maker and know where they need to be healed. We trust You for them, IJMN, Amen.
From M22 - Father Lord I want to thank you for children across the world. I pray that you continue to watch over them and preserve them. I pray that you touch the hearts and minds of their parents, caregivers and guardians to nourish and nurture them in your ways. I pray Father that you help them to grow in faith and to follow you in spirit and truth. I pray that you will help them fulfil destiny and excel in their endeavors IJMN Amen
From JIR - I pray that all people who are seeking You are led to dedicate time everyday to reading the Word of God. I pray that they read it with full understanding and clarity without a veil over their eyes. I pray that You move their hearts to understand and apply what they learn to their lives. I pray that they grow in their faith and understanding and the more they read the Bible the more it becomes alive to them. I pray that You open their hearts to receive the truth and they turn away from their ungodly ways and are changed to live their lives for You, Lord. IJMN. Amen.
Thank You God for bringing the elections to a peaceful conclusion. Thank You for Your grace and mercy.
Lord, we prayed that You would choose who You wanted to be in positions of leadership and we thank You for Your decision.
Father, stir up the hearts of leaders to honor and serve You. May they submit themselves to You and glorify You in the positions You allowed them to enter.
It is You who lifts one up and pulls down another and it is You alone who has everlasting dominion over the things we see and don't see. To You be all the glory, IJMN Amen.
PRAYER TIME
From JIR - “In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”
1 John 4:9-10 KJV
Thank You Lord. We worship You and praise Your everlasting, glorious name! IJMN. Amen.
Praise and adoration are yours and yours alone, dear Father. Thank You for watching over Your children and keeping them. Thank You, for even when we stray from You, You never walk away from us. You are always there, standing close, ready to take us by the hand.
Thank You for being He who sustains and rescues us (Isaiah 46:4). You are steadfast and keep us from destruction, all because of Your wonderful name (Malachi 3:6). Thank You, Lord God on High!
From JIR - Thank You Lord for continuing to show me what love truly is. I can always rely on You. Your unfailing, unwavering love is endless. You are the reason I exist and everything around me exists. Thank You Lord, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made, Psalm 139:14. I praise You, my God. IJMN. Amen.
Thank You for being my God. Thank You that I have You. Thank You that forever You are mine and I am Yours. Thank You for having control of my life and everything around me. Thank You for taking responsibility for me.