Since the beginning of time, humans have tried to move beyond their limitations. Adam and Eve tried this, believing the lie that they could have wisdom outside of God and all of humanity lost their access to the Garden of Eden.
People continue down this trajectory seeking the scientific answers that will allow people to become more than just human. What they ignore is that God wants us to be more like Him and has called us to enjoy what He has (2 Peter 1:4). The issue is that He wants us to achieve this through Him and what He has to offer. If we let Him influence our thinking, for instance, we will surely find success. After all, His thoughts and His ways are much higher and therefore better than ours (Isaiah 55:8-9).
More than anyone, God wants us to do things that seem improbable to others. Those who believe in Christ can heal the sick, drink poison, and not die, and drive out demons (Mark 16: 17-18). God knows that in Him and with Him, all things are possible, and as scripture states in Daniel 11:32, "those who know their God will be strong and do great exploits."
Now, consider what we are to take away from 1 Peter 2:18 - You servants must submit yourselves to your masters and show them complete respect, not only to those who are kind and considerate, but also to those who are harsh (GNT).
The scripture teaches Christians to treat those who are kind as well as those who are unkind with complete respect. It seems like an unattainable task but as He has called us to do it, we must trust Him to make us capable. We therefore cannot claim a right to disrespect those who disrespect us. Nor can we opt to be petty to those whom we determine - with our human logic - deserve a dose.
This verse doesn't just speak to how we deal with our fellow humans, but it also highlights how we are to treat God the Father. It is easy to get frustrated with Him when things are not going well. In those situations, we could quickly forget our Jericho Moments and all the good He's done for us in the past, only seeing the storm raging around our boat.
However, 1 Peter 2:18 instructs us to not disregard or disrespect God even when things aren't as we would like. We cannot thus say, "Well, God isn't helping me" or "God isn't doing what I want/need" and so, "I'm done with God!" If we are genuine Christians, people who truly believe in Christ and God the Father, then we have to continue honoring and serving Him even when things are tough.
It is during those rough seasons we need to remember Job who didn't curse God at His lowest moment. We have to focus on David who honored God even while being chased by a murderous king, leaving it to God to avenge him against his enemies. We have to look to Hannah who was mocked as barren while she waited for God to make her the mother of many children. In the fear of the Lord, she never retaliated. We have to hold on, knowing that God has promised to work everything out for our good and that includes the embarrassing and painful events of our lives (Romans 8:28).
We cannot turn away from Him and become those spoken of in 1 John 2:19 - They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us. Christ died so each of us could accept and acknowledge His sacrifice and become bona-fide children of God forever. Children who give Him complete respect at all times and not just when things are going well for us.
This is not to say we will not struggle in our wilderness seasons. Anyone who has been through a period of suffering knows how difficult it can be. Nevertheless, the Lord will help us to go past our mere human capacity by reassuring us and strengthening our faith in those seasons. All while affording Him the respect He deserves even as we lay our fears and worries at His feet. May we never squander the great privilege we have received. May we keep our eyes on God in the good and the bad times, knowing He will never forget us and will never forsake us. May we always give Him the complete respect He deserves, IJMN Amen.
Come back at Noon EST to join the rest of us for today's fellowship. God bless you as you do.
CLOSING PRAYER
Oh Lord our Redeemer, You are all we need in every season of our lives. Thank You for introducing yourself to us. Thank You for loving us. Thank You for allowing us to tap into heavenly benefits despite being mere flesh. We are grateful for Your grace and mercy upon us all.
Father, we appreciate the opportunity to gather in faith to invest into Your kingdom with our praise and prayers. Remember us for having done so and when we come calling, help us to seek according to Your will so that You will grant entitlements to us for Your glory and by Your grace, IJMN Amen.
Hallelujah to the Sovereign Lord!
Abba Father I commit my siblings to your hands. I pray that you will continue to teach, transform, Renew and prune them for your glory. I pray that you will continue to prosper them. Father Lord help them fix their eyes on you no matter the circumstances. Thank you for the wonders f you are continually performing in their lives. I worship your name. Abba Father I pray for my brother, please help him settle the last part of his debt. You are Jehovah Jireh and you provide beyond our expectations. I pray Father that you will show up for my brother like you have always done. Thank you Abba Father! Amen.
From M22 - I want to appreciate this community for keeping me accountable in fellowship and interceding for others. Even times when I feel like I am falling apart, I remind myself that I can channel my strength into praying for others. It's not been easy mentally but I thank God nevertheless. I pray to overcome this phase and just live better IJMN Amen
From M22 - Abba Father I thank you for today's fellowship. I pray that you will teach us to treat everyone we come across with respect. I pray that in everything we do Lord we will never take you for granted IJMN Amen
I need You, Lord.
Please don't let me go...
from M22 - Father I thank you for sis @FFJ . I pray that you will continue to increase her in supernatural wisdom, favour knowledge and strength. I pray that you bless her, her family, her loved ones and her interests. I pray that you will strengthen her beyond her expectations as she steers this community forward IJMN Amen
From CD - Father,
Thank You that when I look in the mirror, I see You
Thank You that when I look back over my life, I see Your footsteps along my path
Thank You that when I speak, it is Your voice that is heard
Thank You that when others look at me, it is Your image they see
Thank You Father because less of me means more of You every day and love that for me because I trust You at all times, in all things and doubt You for absolutely nothing ❤️❤️
From AC - The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, he is patient, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance - 2 Peter 3:9
I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the Lord. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart - Jeremiah 24:7
Lord, I hold on to these promises in prayer for Sy'sdad, that they will manifest his life and that You the Lord of the impossible will soften his heart.
Abba, please wrap Your loving arms around Sy, and bring comfort to her troubled heart and peace to her worried mind. Strengthen her with Your presence and grant healing to her father according to Your will. Lord Jesus, please hear her cries and give her father the desire for You, open up his heart towards You, and pour out Your Spirit upon him, so that he may come know to You and receive Your salvation. In Your precious name and faith, I pray, Amen.
From AC - Thank You @FFJ for sharing today's message. It's a powerful one.
Abba, I know this Word was meant for me today. Nothing is by happenstance. Please forgive me, Father. Thank You for Your undeserved mercy and Your grace that is sufficient. Thank You for the renewed hope I received today. May Your will be magnified in all things. In Jesus' name Amen.
LAST 10 MINUTES
Guys, if we are called to treat other humans with complete respect, what more God?
That's the takeaway from today's message and I pray that you are seeing how you can deal with not only your fellow man but the Lord a little differently. If not, the time has come.
Dear Father, life is not easy but I thank You for You have kindly given me everything I need for godly living and You did this the moment I accepted Christ as my Savior. Therefore, Lord, I am trusting You to help me move through my interactions with people while giving them complete respect. I trust You to also help me to give You complete respect because Your word says not by might, not by power, but by the Spirit of the living Lord. So I lean into You to help me grow and to build me up day by day by Your grace and all to Your glory, IJMN, Amen.
You've placed yourself in His hands. Now give Him praise because He will help you. You might not always like how He helps you, but it will be for your good and one day, you will look back at the path He took you through and thank Him for it all.
From CMC - “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
Psalms 23:5-6 NIV
I was told to start my days with Psalms 23.. and this verse is so comforting to me.
Thank you God
You've been faithful Lord, from the ages past. That is why Your name is forever more. Glory be to You El Shaddai!
Isaiah 38:16 - Your words and your deeds bring life to everyone, including me. Please make me healthy and strong again. (CEV)
Father, the enemy enjoys seeing people sick and dying. However, You pleasure in healing the sick and raising the dead. You have proved this through Your servants who came before and after Jesus, including Christ the Lamb of God Himself.
And so, it is with this knowledge that I lift up my prayer subjects who are in need of healing. Jehovah Rapha. Jehovah Ropheka. The Great Balm of Gilead. The Mighty Physician. I lift up the words of King Hezekiah, a king You lived so much that You heard his anguish and not only healed him but extended His life.
Lord, work that miracle in the lives of my prayer subjects. Please make them healthy and strong again. And restore to them the good health they've lost and need. Remember You are He who has promised fullness of life, good health is an intrinsic part of that promise Messiah. And so it is to You I come with this request in gratitude that You would indeed hear and answer.
Strong and Mighty God, I give You praise because I will hear word of miracles and the bedridden rising from their beds. Miraculous healing that stupefies science, doctors and naysayers. Testimony that acknowledges that my God is the only God. IJMN Amen.
From JIR - Please place Your hands over the baby from GoFundMe with an aggressive form of cancer. Please bless him with a miracle and remove the cancer from his body. His parents mentioned the surgery he will need not having a good survival rate.
We know that all things are possible through You, Lord. Please bless the doctor performing the surgery with the knowledge and wisdom. Please bless the surgeon with sharp eyes, steady hands and support from his team to be successful in surgery. Please bless the baby to pull through and be able to live a full life on earth. Nothing is out of the realm when You are in the mix, Lord. IJMN! Amen.
From M22 - Abba Father I pray for people struggling with their mental health. Lord you see their struggles, fears, doubts. You see them at their most vulnerable and even when they are close to giving up. Father I pray that you surround them with your presence and grant them peace beyond their understanding. I pray you surround them with people that actually understand them and are empathic towards them. IjMN Amen
Good God, I pray for Your restorative grace upon Your people.
At Ziklag, David and His men lost everything. But You told David to pursue that He would get everything back and that He did.
God of restoration. Restore to Your people what the locust worm and every other worm has eaten. See Your people. See their heart. Declare that the time of their suffering has come to an end. Remember that You are the God who will show mercy and compassion to whom He chooses.
May Your people here be among that number. May they experience Your restoration in every area where they lost, or where Your blessings were stolen. Even that which was not retrieved by their ancestors. Those things the enemy has gotten its hands on. I decree in Jesus' name that Your children's blessings and anointing are off limits to the devil. Satan, let go now, IJN, Amen. I declare and establish here on earth as in heaven that satan can no longer sit on what it has stolen. The thief must return seven times what was stolen and I decree that this is the case for all who are recipients of Your restoration.
All by Your grace and to Your glory, IJMN, Amen.
From M22 - Abba Father I pray for couples seeking the fruit of the womb. I pray that you turn their waiting into fruitfulness. As they wait Father, help them keep their eyes on you not the difficulties they are. experiencing. Help them wait on your timing Abba. Please put an end to miscarriages, failed IVFs and difficult adoption processes IjMN Amen
From sis FJ - Thank You Jesus!! I want to praise God for getting me through final exams with all As
From CMC - I want to pray for a friend who has been struggling to pass her state exam for licensing. It’s taking a toll on her mentally. She is a beautiful soul and deserves all good things. Please bring her peace and comfort in knowing that her time will come.
From M22 - Abba Father I pray for people struggling spiritually. I pray that you grant them supernatural discernment and clarity as the progress in their walk with you. Help them not to compare themselves to anyone but to know you for themselves. I pray that your mercy will never depart from their lives. I pray that you will support every spirit of confusion from their lives and they will continually experience your peace that surpasses all understanding IJMN Amen
From M22 - Abba Father I pray for regions affected by war and natural disasters. I pray that you restore this regions to normalcy and order. I pray that you restore everything the citizens have lost beyond their expectations. I pray you put an end to the conflict and disasters affecting the regions. I pray that you accept the souls of the departed in your bosom. I pray that you help citizens process their grief and everything that has happened to them and grant them your everlasting peace IJMN Amen