Imagine two young girls - Sade and Jenny. Sade is new to the neighborhood and Jenny takes it upon herself to welcome her. They become fast friends over the summer break, going to the mall together, having sleepovers, and staying up late to watch cheesy 80s movies.
Summer comes to an end and the first day of school arrives. Sade somehow spends lunch with the popular girls, ignoring Jenny. This hurts Jenny deeply as she'd looked forward to hanging out with her new bestie. The weeks go by and the friendship they had evaporates almost as if it never existed.
As Christians, we don't realize how easy it is to be a 'Sade' when it comes to our relationship with the Lord. Keep in mind the word as stated in Titus 1:16 - They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good. Could you fall under this category? A person whose actions deny the God they claim to know?
It is not enough to proclaim that we know or love the Lord. Many of us do this on our social media handles, for instance. Calling ourselves Proverbs 31 women or distinguishing ourselves with some scripture or another. However, does our behavior reflect a knowledge of the Lord? Do the choices we make display the fruits of the Spirit? Can others look at us and see God at work?
Or, do we deny God through our actions? Do we fail to reflect our Kingdom Identities? Do we neglect our call to be ambassadors for the Kingdom through the things we say and do when we think nobody is watching?
We don't want to be like those who say they are Christians but don't live like it. They don't allow the Holy Spirit to change them and thereby squander the grace that is available to them. It doesn't matter if you're the first one at church and the last one out if you are always fighting with your neighbors. And if you don't pull your weight at work but claim to believe in Christ, you jeopardize your role as an ambassador of God's Kingdom and put Him to shame.
Peter made the mistake of denying Christ. He did so three times, pretending that he never knew the Savior (John 18:15-18; 25-27). Praise God that upon His resurrection, Jesus redeemed Peter by having him acknowledge his love for Him three times (John 21:15-25).
Christ wants to do the same for anyone who has denied God through their behavior. Have you denied God through disbelief? Or maybe you've spoken falsely about Him? Have you forgotten to represent the Kingdom in a heated moment and lashed out in a way that wouldn't please the Lord? Whatever the shortcoming was, the Son of God is ready to wash us clean and set us on the right path so we walk stronger and able to resist the tactics satan has used to make us fall short in the past.
If you are unsure how you have denied the Lord through your actions, prayerfully ask Him to reveal this to you. Then beg for His forgiveness and repent, choosing to not repeat the misstep. God is in the business of helping all who cry out to Him (Joel 2:32). You are no different, so cry out to Him for mercy. Remember that Titus 1:16 speaks of those who deny God as being "detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good." We never want to be in that category and must be mindful that satan lays traps to ensnare God's children. But God's grace will help us. His mercy shall speak for us. And as we strive to be consistent in what we proclaim about God and how we behave when others aren't necessarily watching, He will help us to be consistent and pleasing to Him.
From M22 - May God continue to order our steps as we go through this week! Amen.
CLOSING PRAYER
Father, thank You for pointing out to us that it isn't enough to say we know or love You but that our actions must reflect the same. Lord, thank You for this lesson because we know You will help each of us to be more conscious of how not to make such mistakes.
God, help us to be better and to honor You with every aspect of our lives.
I pray over all who participated in today's fellowship that they will experience You in a new way. That they will see You differently and rejoice in Your closeness.
Take all the glory, Lord. IJMN, I pray, Amen.
From T93 - May I ask you who read this for prayers regarding my foot which I fractured recently. I have been praying myself but please help me pray for full recovery. Thank You all for this fellowship and your lovely words today.
From T93 - Father God, I pray to You for those in need of mercy, grace, perseverance, strength, and guidance through their trying times. I pray for those who need homes, who are trying to get new careers, job promotions, those who are unemployed and doing the necessary and righteous works to get a job with enough income to live comfortably, Lord.
Father, I pray that this economy has a necessary transition to make the wages more live-able because there are many sleeping outside in these days. I pray for those who are lost Father...many have turned to drinking, drugs, many ungodly acts, because they needed You and didn't feel they had the strength to persevere and to stay true to Your word until you delivered.
I pray You bring 'JR' out of his current situation, bring him to You Lord. He needs You and he is running from You and hurting many who love him in the process. Father, I pray you bring "SR" back to his health. I pray they both receive You and turn to You in this time and do the righteous thing.
Father, may we all turn to you and not believe the wickedness the enemy spews at us to make us turn away when only You can bring us out of our worst days. Amen.
From M22 - Father I commit couples waiting on the fruit of womb to you. I pray that you will turn their waiting into fruitfulness. Father I pray that you will answer their cries and the wait will be worth it. Lord you remembered Rachel, Hannah and Manoah's wife. I trust you to bless them at the right timing. Father please put an end to negative cycles of failed IVFs, miscarriages and difficult adoption processes IjMN Amen.
From M22 - Isaiah 43:2 NLT
When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.
Thank you Lord for your assurance and that we can depend on you to navigate the storms of life. We bless you Father! Amen
LAST 10 MINUTES
God despises hypocrites and it is crucial for each of us to not be hypocritical when it comes to Him. Hypocrites can't enter His presence and thus, don't have their prayers answered according to Job 13:16 - He also shall be my salvation, For a hypocrite could not come before Him (NKJV).
No true believer wants that for themselves. Therefore, we need to let Him train us to be consistent in our relationship with Him. It won't happen overnight, but the more we cooperate with the Lord, the easier it will be to have our words about Him match our behavior. That way our actions don't serve to deny or break faith with Him.
Let us pray -
Lord, You are our Shepherd and so we trust You to lead us and we will follow. Thank You for alerting us to the sin of denying through our actions. Please forgive us for when we have committed this grievous error. We receive Your mercy by faith and the knowledge that Your mercy endureth for ever. Help us, Lord, that we may be consistent. That our words and actions will serve to honor and exalt You. Thank You for we know You have heard this prayer and will indeed help us, because You are the God who loves us and has great plans for us. IJMN, Amen.
From M22 - Father Lord please continue to hold us by your mighty right hand through the storms of life. Even when we feel like giving up, please give us reasons to keep going. I pray that when we finally overcome and attain victory, we won't forget the lessons you have taught us during those storms. Thank you Ebenezer! Amen
From M22 - Father I thank you for our dear sis @FFJ . Thank you Lord for spreading your word through her, thank you Father for increasing her in supernatural wisdom and understanding. Thank you for helping her direct this community forward. Father I pray that you will continue to bless her , her family, her loved ones, her businesses and more. I pray that you will continue to increase her on all sides IjMN amen.
From CD - Heavenly Father, I thank you for this circle of Christ-minded believers who I can join my faith with and praise Your Holy Name with. Thank You for surrounding us and our loved ones with Your warring angels as we lift others in prayer because we know it sets the enemy's target squarely on us to try to distract and discourage us from praying for others. Thank You for strengthening us when we are weak and realigning us when we need it. Thank You Lord for being the Good Shepard who leaves the 99 to gather the 1!! Thank You lord for not allowing me to go to sleep in my sin. Thank You Lord for your correction, direction and protection. Thank You for keeping me, guiding me, and trusting me with Your assignments to spread Your love and word to all I encounter. Thank You for being my refuge and my deliverer. Thank You Lord that the battle is not mine, but Yours because I am nothing without you, but I can do all things with You!!!
IJMN Amen
From M22 - Abba Father I commit my siblings to your loving arms. I pray that you will continue to transform, renew and prune them for your glory! Father Lord help them depend on you and not their own understanding. Father Lord I pray that you have mercy on them. Father, I pray that you supply all of their needs IjMN. Father, I commit my baby sister to you, please increase her in supernatural wisdom, knowledge, understanding and retentive memory as she starts her first semester exams tommorow. Father Lord may my siblings have every reason to praise and glorify you every single day. IjMN amen.
From M22 - Father Lord I pray for children across the world! I pray that you will continue to shield and preserve them from harm, violence, bullying, intimidation and abuse. I pray Father that you will continue to guide and direct their parents and caregivers to nourish and nurture them in your ways! Father I pray that you develop their character and faith. I pray that you will increase them in supernatural wisdom, knowledge and understanding IjMN Amen!
From M22 - Father I pray for people seeking employment. I pray that you direct them to wonderful companies whether remote or physical that will prioritize their mental health and physical health. Father please direct them to companies that will not enslave them or allow them prioritize you in second place. Thank you Father for their incoming testimonies IjMN amen!!!
From M22 - Father Lord I pray for people grieving the loss of their loved ones. I pray for strength for the Robinson family and other families grieving the loss of their loved ones. Father please give them immeasurable strength to process their grief. I pray that you will calm their hearts and minds. I pray that you will be by their side always and accept their loved ones in your bosom IjMN Amen!
Lord, the Centurion asked Jesus to heal his servant and in Matthew 8:7 - Jesus said to him, “Shall I come and heal him?”
The Centurion responded that Jesus need only speak a word and the servant, who was nowhere near by, would receive his healing.
Matthew 8:13 - Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would.” And his servant was healed at that moment.
Father, today, I am relying upon this miracle and calling on You to speak a word that people be healed. I believe and trust in You Lord. I know a mere word from You will do.
Therefore, Jehovah Ropheka, thank You for Your healing word for my prayer subjects. Thank You for being the God who need not come to heal. The God whose word is enough. Hallelujah!!
From M22 - Father Lord I pray for people grieving the loss of their loved ones. I pray for strength for the Robinson family and other families grieving the loss of their loved ones. Father please give them immeasurable strength to process their grief. I pray that you will calm their hearts and minds. I pray that you will be by their side always and accept their loved ones in your bosom IjMN Amen!
From M22 - Abba Father I pray for people struggling mentally. I pray that your peace will surpasses all understanding will continue to guard their hearts and minds. I pray Abba that you remove every source of unrest and disequilibrium in their hearts and minds. Father Lord help them find their comfort in you IjMN amen. Father Lord I pray that they will continue to enjoy the privilege of you being the most amazing therapist to them! Amen.
From M22 - Father I pray that you put an end to disasters occuring across tht world!! Father Lord please preserve the lives of people across the world. I pray that people will no longer be in the oath of danger moving forward. Father I pray that you aveet accidents, floods, tsunamis and hurricanes. IjMN amen
Father, I want to thank You for my neighborhood. You are the God who places us where You want us to be and You guide and protect Your servants whenever they go as You have instructed. Hallelujah!
Lord, Matthew 7:7 tells us to ask that we receive, seek that we shall find and knock, that the door be opened.
Dear King, the enemy is on a rampage seeking to negatively impact this neighborhood by inflicting confusion, disease, financial lack, and other challenges in the community.
But, I serve a living God. The God who is eternal. He who is the I Am that I am. The God who never fails and who answers when we call!
Thus, Lord, I lift up my neighbors. I place each before You committing their lives and families and concerns unto You. Great and Mighty God, You who possess Your possessions. Come into the homes, bringing peace and Your blessed presence. You who satisfy the needs of people, Lord, satisfy their needs, to Your glory and by Your grace, IJMN, Amen.
From M22 - Thank you Father for bringing us together again to praise and intercede. To you be all the Glory! Father, I commit every Pepper online and offline, I pray that you will continue to Supernaturally deliver and restore us in every areas of our lives!! Father I pray that you will contend with those contending against us. Abba father I pray that you will help surpass and overtake our enemies by your strength! Father I pray that you open doors of success, promotion, breakthrough and blessings in our lives IJMN amen!