Do you know that on at least two occasions, messengers attempted to discourage Jesus from going to do a miracle for someone? Fear was at play in one instance while faith was at work in the other.
In the case of Jairus, messengers came from his house to tell him the Savior's services were no longer needed because his daughter was already dead. These messengers even seemed to be trying to 'help' Jesus and spare Him wasted time, saying, ... “Do not bother the Teacher anymore” (Luke 8:49).
The truth is that these messengers of the devil sought to instill fear so that Jairus's faith would evaporate like a flame doused with water. If they'd achieved their purpose, Jairus would have accepted that his child no longer needed Christ's help and would have missed the miracle on the way. Thank God Jesus didn't allow him to accept that bad report, telling him, "Do not be afraid; just believe..." (Luke 8:50). Indeed, Jairus rejected fear, and his 'dead' child rose from her sick bed to the glory of God.
Similarly, the Centurion called for Jesus to come heal his sick servant. While the Savior was on the way, the man sent another messenger to tell Him not to bother coming. However, in this instance, the Roman was not acting as an agent of satan. Instead, he expressed the Centurion's Confidence - great faith that stemmed from his worldview as a commander of men.
He said he didn't expect Jesus to show up but believed He need only issue the command from where He was to heal the servant. He explained in Luke 7:8 - For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” This man's understanding of power, based on his worldview, fueled his belief in what Jesus could do. Not surprisingly, his servant was fully healed.
In life, we too can behave like the messenger who tries to stop Jesus from going to perform a miracle. The only question is whether we will decide to speak from a place of fear or a place of faith. This is a crucial choice that will impact what happens next to us and potentially, many others.
We must never forget that Jesus responds to faith and not fear. The Bible teaches that an absence of faith prevented Him from performing many miracles in His hometown. Matthew 13:58 - And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith. Therefore, our faith is key and it makes us active participants in the miracles God has planned for us. Without it, we become subject to the devil's desire to bring failure and loss into our lives
Our God has promised to bless all who love and serve Him. Thus, let us continue to obey His word and display our trust in Him, walking by faith and not by sight. He will help His children to stand firm and speak confidently from a place of faith just as the Centurion did through his messenger.
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From JIR - Have a blessed weekend everyone. See you all back here next Tuesday, God willing. IJMN.
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From M22 - Happy Weekend Fam!!! God bless you all.
CLOSING PRAYER
Lord, Your children have honored You with praise and have made a sacrifice in further honor of You by praying for the needs of others. Heavenly Father, bless them for in so doing, they sought Your face and did not give You their backs.
Your word is clear as to the rewards for those who do so. You are a God of covenant so we thank You for the blessings You have heaped on those who obeyed You.
Praise be to Your Holy Name
Lord, bless @QueenAquariB, @Mimzy22, @elgenia carter, @Jesus Is Real, @Cookie Doe, @Lovely11, @petitepyt, @no1knowsme28, @Lucky Birdie, @Tha Peach, sis Fj, sis OD, bro F, bro S, sis BW, sis ML and everyone else who will click into this thread to participate in this Praise and Pray (for others).and it is IJN I have prayed, Amen.
I hope to see you all next time and may God bless you.
LAST 10 MINUTES
We need to be careful what message we choose to carry.
Is it a message steeped in fear? Or one founded on faith?
I rather be a messenger who speaks with Centurion Confidence than evangelize fear with the serpent's forked tongue.
What about you?
Let us pray...
Thank You Father God for another opportunity to learn about the issue of faith. I pray to always stand, sit, think, and speak with the confidence and worldview of the Centurion. I pray for grace to never forget that You are more than able to do what the small-minded think is impossible. Help me to be a messenger of faith that sparks incredible miracles and blessings that others will see and acknowledge You for. Take all the glory, now and forever more where it comes to me and all that concerns me, IJMN Amen.
From M22 - Father Lord I pray for sis @FFJ that you continue to expand her in every aspect of her life. I pray that you will continue to bless her and her loved ones. I pray that you will continue to guide and direct her as she continues to steer this community forward IJMN Amen
From M22 - Father Lord I pray for people that have just come to know you. I rosy that you lead them with your spirit. I pray that your Spirit is at home in their hearts and minds. I pray that you surround them with wonderful people and communities that will draw them closer to you and help them grow in their faith in you. IJMN Amen
From M22 - Father I pray for myself and my siblings that you continue to work within us. I pray that your Spirit will continue to lead us. I pray that you will continue to guide and direct and help us to walk in your will for us IJMN Amen
Father, help Your people to be more like Jairus in their waiting season. Help them to hold onto Your word. Help each one to remember the words Jesus said to Jairus - Do not be afraid; just believe. Enable Your people, dear Jehovah, to hold onto their faith and not tremble in the face of the bad report that is contrary to Your word. Help Your children to not be ignorant of the devil's schemes to steal their victory from out under them. Lord, help the Body of Christ to see that every Goliath in the way is nothing but a paper mountain that will surely fall flat. All because You have gone ahead to do the hard work already. Thank You, Father. IJMN, Amen
From M22 - Father Lord I pray for countries ravaged by war, famine and natural disasters. I pray Father Lord that you help the citizens rebuild and restore everything they have lost. I pray Father that you will touch the hearts and minds of the governments, leaders, aid agencies to help the citizens move forward and rebuild. I pray for those mourning the loss of their loved ones, I pray that you strengthen them as they process their grief IjMN Amen
From JIR - I pray for those in the waiting season. I pray that You give them the strength they need to carry on. Please recharge them Lord so that they continue to seek You, depend on You and hold on to Your promises with zeal. Please protect them from the enemy’s conniving, sly ways and bless them to be spiritually aware of its tactics. Lord please guide them and place them under Your wings and protect them from the worries of this world. IJMN. Amen.
Your Bible says in 1 Samuel 2:10 - Those who oppose the LORD will be broken. The Most High will thunder from heaven; the LORD will judge the ends of the earth. "He will give strength to his king and exalt the horn of his anointed."
Break all who oppose You, Father. Let them realize that they do not and can never compare to You. You and You alone hold the earth in Your hand. Strengthen Your children and exalt Your anointed. The word does say in Daniel 11:32, that those who know their God shall be strong and do great exploits.
Come through, my God! Glory to You, IJMN, Amen!
From M22 - Abba Father I pray for children and people in underprivileged communities. I pray that you touch the hearts abd minds of individuals, churches, communities and government to invest in improving the lives of these people. I pray that you you will be their voice as they speak up for their rights to equality and provision. I pray Abba father that you will touch the hearts of everyone responsible for them to assist them IJMN Amen
From JIR - God, please bless those who are sick in the hospital right now to recover from their ailments. Please bless them with the strength, love, comfort and hope to keep on holding on. Please bless those who are able to reach out to You and seek You to call upon Your name and keep praying, steadfast. Please bless the sick in the hospital with Your healing powers Lord. IJMN. Amen.
I pray for pregnant mothers. Lord, the enemy knows the glorious plans You have for these babies. You are the Lord who sends children into families so that they can become Godly offspring and we know the devil wants to stop that.
Father, I reject every and all plans by the enemy to strike pregnancies with miscarriage. Every attempt to plant diseases or issues on children. For Your word tells us You've known us since before we were in our mother's womb which means You are in control of these pregnancies and the lives of these children.
Have Your way, Redeemer!!!! Bless your daughters and sons with blissful pregnancies, beautiful babies and the grace and protection that only comes from you, IJMN, Amen!
From M22 - Abba Father I pray for children across the world that you will help them fulfil destiny. I pray that you will continue to shield and preserve them from harm, violence and abuse. I pray that you touch the hearts and minds of parents, caregivers, teachers and guardians to nourish and nurture them in your ways. IJMN Amen
From M22 - Father Lord I pray for people that have just come to know you. I rosy that you lead them with your spirit. I pray that your Spirit is at home in their hearts and minds. I pray that you surround them with wonderful people and communities that will draw them closer to you and help them grow in their faith in you. IJMN Amen
Great El Shaddai. You are the Covenant-Keeping God and I come to You today on behalf of those waiting on Your promises in their lives and the lives of their loved ones.
Your servant boasted of You in Joshua 21:45 - Not one of all the LORD’s good promises to Israel failed; every one was fulfilled.
Today, Lord, I also boast in You. You are the God who has never failed and can never fail. You are He who cannot lie. In fact, 2 Timothy 2:13 tells us, If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny who he is (NLT). God, You are He who watches over His word to ensure that it is fulfilled and so I confidently say, I am also watching to see Your word fulfilled in the lives of my fellow Peppers and their loved ones, IJN, Amen. You who are faithful, You who called these ones unto Yourself, You will surely do what You have said. Just as You fulfilled every last word over the children of Jacob, so shall You fulfill Your promises over Your children, grafted through Christ to become children of Abraham. All by Your grace and to Your glory, IJMN, Amen.
From M22 - Father Lord I want to thank you for this wonderful community of Christ. I thank you for how you are helping us grow as we walk with you everyday. I pray Father that you continue to strengthen, transform, renew and prune us for your purpose and glory. Father Lord I pray that you continue to speak for us where we have no voice. I pray that your Spirit will continually lead us every day IjMN Amen
from M22 - Thank you Mighty Father that your life is in us. That your Spirit is at home in us. We thank you for your faithfulness, grace, mercy and love over us. We thank you for being with us every step of the way. We thank you for fighting our battles and taking care of us in every way possible. We bless you Abba Father. IJMN Amen