When you think of a pig, what comes to mind? I think of a pinkish creature with a little tail that curls up. Then, I immediately imagine delicious bacon with scrambled eggs and some warm toast.
Someone else might picture pigs playing in the mud. Let's imagine this picture together and consider the following scenario: there's a farm with a caretaker who picks up an excited, little pig. Known as Mr. Piggy, he got so dirty from playing in the mud that it caked in his rolls and hurt. The caretaker picks him up and reminds him that he's been told to stay clean. He nonetheless gets a nice bath and all the dirt is washed away.
Alas, it is in Mr. Piggy's nature to get dirty again. Once it rains and puddles form on the ground, he heads to the muddiest one. He rolls around and splashes mud into the air as he oinks for joy.
But then, there's Ms. Piglet. She used to love the mud but one day, after a scrub down, she saw her reflection and liked how clean she looked. Now, she completely avoids mud. She is so clean that she lives in the caretaker's home. There, she has a bowl for her food and never fights with other pigs for a meal. She also gets regular belly rubs. On rainy mornings, Ms. Piglet enjoys lying by the open door to watch the rain. She doesn't understand why Mr. Piggy always jumps into the mud.
While far from a perfect analogy, this piggly tale illustrates aspects of the Christian life. The Caretaker is Jesus, who keeps coming in to wash off our sins and make us clean whenever we genuinely repent. Yet, some see the next puddle of mud, which represents sin, and dive in without hesitation. That puddle just seems to beckon them. It's all because we humans are prone to sin.
Then there are some like Ms. Piglet who enjoy remaining mud-free. They glow instead of having their shine tarnished by sin and they are well-cared for by the Caretaker in his home instead of in a pig pen. Plus, because they live in the house, they will never end up as bacon on someone's plate someday.
Mr. Piggy doesn't realize that there are consequences to repeatedly submitting to his nature. Because he keeps rejecting that cleansing, someday, the Caretaker will stop washing him and allow him to be who he wants to be - a pig covered in muddy sin. Psalm 81:12 states, "So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts to follow their own devices."
God wants each of us to stay away from sin's muddy puddles and enjoy being cleansed by Jesus. This brings peace, assurance, and more. The cleansing also means we gain eternal life in heaven. This is God's offer to us and it is free of charge. We just have to choose to be clean and the caretaker, Jesus, will consistently scrub us down when we sin and repent.
May we all accept and appreciate the Caretaker's loving cleansing and turn away from the muddy puddles of sin that want to keep us from living comfortably, IJMN, Amen
God bless us all.
CLOSING PRAYER
Heavenly Father, thank You for gathering us this day to honor You and Your word. Thank You for the opportunity to glorify Your name with our praise and worship. Thank You for the privilege of praying for others and lifting their needs up to You.
Thank You for You will not forget those who genuinely thanked You. Nor will You forget those who gave to others in prayer during fellowship today. Praise be to You, oh Lord!
Lord, we echo the people of Jerusalem, when they praised You, saying, 2 Chronicles 20:21 - “Give thanks to the LORD, for His loving devotion endures forever.”
And, I pray over today's participants in accordance with Your word in Isaiah 55:12-13 - You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. Instead of the thornbush will grow the juniper, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow. This will be for the LORD’s renown, for an everlasting sign, that will endure forever.”
IJMN, Amen!!!
From BI - I pray for healing for DK, JO, MM, CL, KL, HL, JL, DL, sis @AC and peppers waiting on the Lord. I pray that yokes of illnesses and afflictions be broken off of their necks. I pray that God’s mercy and divine healing will locate them. Lord, watch over them and their loved ones. May they rejoice in perfect health to the shame of the devil and to the glory of God IJMN Amen.
From M22 - Abba I pray as the holiday season fast approaches, I pray that you provide for every one of us. Food, neccesities and every thing we need to have a memorable holiday. I pray that this season will be a cause for celebration in our lives IJMN amen.
From M22 - Thank you Jehovah Jireh for supplying all of our needs through your glorious riches. Thank you for the requests you have fulfilled and the ones you are yet to fulfil. We pray you continue to bless with much more as the year wraps up IJMN amen
From M22 - I pray Abba for everyone struggling mentally and from trauma. I pray Abba that you hold their hands as you heal them from every hurt, abuse and violence that have faces. I pray that you restore their self esteem, self worth, self image and concept moving forward. Help them rest in their identities as Children of the Most high IJMN amen.
From M22 - Thank you Abba for sis @FFJ we bless you for her life, her family, her business and her interests. Thank you for being her caretaker. Thank you baba for strengthening her to consistently share your word consistently in this community since the year started. I pray that you will renew her strength and I pray that she will never grow weary in being your vessel IJMN amen.
From M22 - Abba I pray for Divine repositioning for each and everyone of us spiritually, physically, emotionally, financially and in every aspect of life. Lift us above higher ground Abba. We bless you Lord for answered prayers! Amen.
From M22 - Abba I thank you for the Church worldwide. Thank you Abba for keeping believers together and stronger than ever. Thank you Abba for the winning of more souls into your kingdom! Thank you for unity, expansion, miracles, wonders and works across churches worldwide. May we continue to represent your kingdom here on earth Abba. IjMN amen.
From M22 - Abba I commit my siblings into your hands. I pray that you perfect their mental health. I pray that the fruits of the spirit continue to take roots in their heart so that it can produce abundant harvest. Helo them rest in your comfort and authority knowing you are working on their behalf IJMN amen.
From M22 - Abba I pray for people job hunting. I pray that you lead them to companies where they are appreciated and valued and most importantly their opinions and mental health are prioritized. I pray that they will not have to face workplace violations and unnecessary labour IJMN amen.
From M22 - Abba I commit children into your hands. I pray that you continue to shield them from violence, abuse and harm. I pray that you continue to nourish and nurture them as the grow. I pray for children struggling with trauma and parental neglect, I pray that you will fill that void in their hearts and remove every negative emotions from their hearts. Amen
From sis FJ - Lord of Hosts, I come before You to pray for ministries and any group that is doing your will. Lord, please remember their "labors of love" and support them as they do works that please You. Please lead them and protect them from the evil one. Thank You Lord. Let leaders have "clean hands and a pure heart" In Jesus name I pray, amen.
LAST 10 MINUTES
We don't like to think of ourselves as piggies but I pray that today's message spoke to you as it did to me.
Human beings are attracted to sin. There's just something very attractive about most sinful behavior. Yet, God wants us free of it all and Jesus died to cleanse us from the effects of our iniquity.
We can choose to be like Mr. Piggy and keep playing in the mud or we can choose to stay clean like Ms. Piglet. The reality is that there is grace and forgiveness available but if we continue to submit to sin and not the Savior, there is a risk of being left behind in our sin.
God will continue to stretch out His arm till He won't. This is not to sadden anyone but to remind us all that we should take His hand now and not later.
Father, thank You for washing me clean. Thank You for continuing to stretch out Your loving hand toward me, even when I have gone astray. Thank You for Your enduring love, mercy and patience. Help me, God, to remain in Your embrace and not make choices that lead me into sin's muddy puddles. Be Thou glorified in my life always, IJMN, Amen.
Great God, You are Jehovah Nissi and Jehovah Shammah. You are the Mighty Man of War. The head of the Heavenly Armies.
Lord, so many are under attack from the devil. Plenty are engaged in spiritual warfare and battles. They may be feeling weak but God, I thank You that since the days of John the Baptist, the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent taketh it by force (Matthew 11:12).
Lord, Your people are strengthened to stand on the heights. Their hands are prepared for war, their arms bend bows of bronze and they have hind legs (Psalm 18). You have outfitted Your people in the armor of God and the cloak of zeal to defeat every evil work set against them.
Thank You, Father. Send them angelic help to clear the battlefield. May the enemy of their souls eat their own flesh and drink their own blood like wine as they suffer a great defeat. IJMN Amen.
From M22 - Abba I pray for resolution for Gaza, Haiti and every other region experiencing conflict. I pray that you eliminate every unscrupulous elements fueling the conflicts . I pray that you restore peace and order to these regions IJMN amen.
From M22 - Abba I commit everyone that is ill into your hands. I pray that your healing power radiates their cells, organs, blood vessels, nerve endings and every inch of their bodies. I pray that you guide the hearts and minds of medical staffs to do what's right for their healing to be permanent IJMN amen.
Abba I pray that you coordinate the eyes and hands of very operating surgeon in theatres across the world. Help them carry out successful surgeries IJMN amen.
From sis FJ - Father I pray for expecting mothers and new mothers. Lord, I ask that You would wash them and their babies in the blood of Jesus. I cover them in the blood of Jesus. Let the fire of God surround them as a shield and keep every evil person or thought away. Lord, remember the promises in Your word. "I will gently lead those with young", and "The Lord will teach your children and great will be their peace". Please support them Lord and give them a capable partner. Surround them with the right people. I declare good health to both mother and baby. In Jesus name I pray, amen
God, I thank You for being the Father of all creation. Thank You for being He who holds all things in His hands.
My Father, You are in control of all things and so it is to You I bring a request for the hungry. Lord, fill their bellies with food. Do not allow them to go hungry.
Father, Your word says that the wicked shall go without and so I cry out on behalf of the righteous that they will not be deprived of good things, including regular and nutritious meals.
I pray also for Your mercy IJMN Amen.
From M22 - Thank you Abba for every single Pepper both online and offline. Thank you Father for being us this far and for 2024 in advance. We bless you for supplying all of our needs from January till date. Despite the challenges, Abba thank you for holding our hands as we navigated each day, weeks, months. We bless you for everything you have done, you are doing and you are yet to do in our lives IJMN amen.
From BI -I pray against gender-based violence. I pray for women and girls being abused, sold and/or at risk of being killed. Lord, I pray that they will be rescued. So many of Your children live with trauma. Lord, heal them in mind, body and spirit. Those that wait on the Lord never wait in vain. Abba, guide them to cast their cares unto You. Place an hedge of protection around them. Surround them with people that will care for them and show them kindness. I pray for more funds for charities tasked with helping these girls and women. Lord, do what only You can do and have mercy on Your children IJMN Amen.