Title: *An Assurance of God’s Love*

*An Assurance of God’s Love*

1. Every Christian needs assurance in their daily walk with Jesus . God's Word includes verses specifically to help us find the assurance we need in both our walk and in life. Please read these Bible verses on Assurance so that you can feel better about your life and live it more confidently.

2. This is where the faith journey starts: understanding that God loves you. If you do not have an assurance of God’s Love , your faith journey will not last long. Don’t know about you, but I’ve tended to have trouble with the concept that God loves me personally.  I always sort of thought he tolerated me, IF I was being good.  The wholly incredible truth that I am personally of value to God Most High has always been difficult for me to grasp.

 3. At the moment of conversion, the Holy Spirit took up residence in the heart of every Christian. When He did that, He also poured out God's love into every Christian's heart so that God's love continuously abides and permeates the heart of the Christian

4. Christians who know only a verse of the Bible here; and there, have a problem when someone starts throwing darts at them concerning what will happen in the latter days. As Jesus would often say, ‘It is written, haven't you read?'. The only way you may claim God's promises is to become familiar with those promises by studying His Word . God wants only what is best for those that love Him. That isn't to say He won't allow you to be tested at times. These tests are a means of proving that God can trust you and count on you when the going gets tough.

5. Sometimes in life, we need to be reminded of God s assurance to His children. The devil does not want us to always remember these assurance most especially during temptations and trails so we should be rest assure that whatever we ask of through Jesus Christ , the Father is ready to do even more than what we expect of Him. Read and be more confident that you are not alone.

6. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

7. Some people lack assurance because of being under strong biblical preaching on God's holy standard. Such preaching forces people to see their sinfulness and acknowledge that the holiness of God calls them to a lofty standard of living. Is that bad? No, the pulpit should be the creator of anxious hearts. How else can it unsettle those who have false assurance ? However, the consistent call to righteousness may unsettle some Christians, particularly those who are frequently succumbing to temptation.

8. John Wesley wrestled with difficult feelings on his journey of faith. Although already an ordained minister in the Church of England, he did not feel he was truly loved and forgiven by God until the famous moment described in his journal for 24 May 1738. (see right)

9. For years Martin Luther, the father of the Reformation, had attempted to earn his salvation by his dedication and good works. When he discovered that great biblical truth "The just shall live by faith," his life was dramatically changed, and he no longer labored for the assurance of his destiny in Christ. He believed what God's Word had to say and had assurance of his salvation

*A Healing Prayer*

     Dear Lord Jesus, obviously You are fully aware of this human weakness, our lack of faith and devotion to You, and our propensity to try to resolve our sense of need with the things of this world. We have not learned that we live by Your Word alone, by Your love for us. Draw us closer to You by teaching us all aspects of Your wondrous love for us, that we may turn to You for all our needs.  Grant us discipline and self-control in the face of our addictions by the power of Your love, that we may exult in all of the blessings You will for us, most importantly the assurance of Your gracious and everlasting embrace, that You have claimed us as Your dear children forever.  Amen.

10. Assurance of salvation is a fruit of our faith in Jesus, and it grows out of our faith . Assurance of salvation in Christ comes out of faith growing up and maturing in our walk with God (notice the goal of biblical teaching and preaching is to grow up in Ephesians 4:11-16 so that a Christian will not be tossed around).  We should remember that all obedience in the Christian Life is in no way meritorious, but it is a concrete manifestation of the faith that we claim to have in Christ (2 Pet. 1:3-11). As both Paul and James teach, we are saved by faith alone, but not a faith that is alone; we are saved by God through faith alone, but it is a faith that works (Eph. 2:8-10; James 2:18ff).

11. So what does this idea have to do with discipleship? The answer is everything . For discipleship to truly be gospel-centred there has to be a foundation of love , joy, peace, and justification. Without a foundation of knowing that you are accepted (even during the times you don t feel accepted) you never feel free of the guilt, shame, and condemnation that plagues you or your ministry.

12. Some of the finest and dearest people struggle with believing that God loves them.   They believe that they are far too sinful, too unlovable, or too unworthy to be loved by God . They have received Jesus as their Saviour but still doubt that His love extends to them. They have no trouble believing that He loves everyone else, but they just can’t fathom the idea that God could possibly love someone like them—someone so undeserving.

13. Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Biblical salvation is God's way of providing his people deliverance from sin and spiritual death through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. The New Testament reveals the source of salvation in Jesus Christ . By faith in Jesus Christ, believers are saved from God's judgment of sin and its consequence eternal death.

14.  John Wesley the Christian teacher believed that all Christians have a faith which implies assurance of God 's forgiving love, and that one would feel that assurance , or the 'witness of the Spirit'. This understanding is grounded in Paul 's affirmation, '...ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry Abba, Father. The same Spirit beareth witness with our spirits, that we are the children of God...' ( Romans 8:15-16,). This experience was mirrored for Wesley in his Aldersgate experience wherein he 'knew' he was loved by God and that his sins were forgiven.

15. This work springboards from *2 Corinthians 13:5*, Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? Byfield covers sixteen infallible signs of a child of God as they appear. Among these signs are poverty of spirit, godly sorrow, the love of God s word, the love of God s children, faith, uprightness of heart, holy desires and many others.

16. This is the eternal work of the Savior, that we are saved by blood and sanctified by water.   And I, an unworthy recipient of this great love, have been given a gift beyond expectation - I can share this same love with you; with anyone; with everyone; with all of creation. I say "unworthy" because I cannot claim to have done any deed worthy of so great a love as the Lord has bestowed upon me. I have failed at some of the simplest of requests MADE of me and my life - yet God still loves me in fullness.

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*Posted by *Rev.Bola - 19 May 2014

Title: *Comfort To Those In Trouble

*Comfort To Those In Trouble*

What does God promise his people? Relief from all troubles in the next world, relief from some troubles in this life. Faithful people throughout the centuries witness to dramatic deliverances from sickness, from financial woes, from all manner of troubles. Flesh-and-blood human beings have testified to miracles.

Sometimes we aren't relieved by God. Sometimes we merely endure. This isn't such a bad thing. We are never nearer to God than when we are troubled. In times of comfort and ease we forget him. In the worst of times, we suddenly remember, "Ah, what if I asked God for help?" Sometimes the answer is the help we pray for. Sometimes the answer is "Lean on me, and you will survive and thrive.".

Whom have I in heaven but you? I desire you more than anything on earth. My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever.

Even when I walk through the dark valley of death, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.

The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the strength of my salvation, and my stronghold.

God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. So we will not fear, even if earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea.

"Don't be afraid, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. I will help you. I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.".

"When you go through deep waters and great trouble, 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. For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.".

"God blesses you when you are mocked and persecuted and lied about because you are my followers. "Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted, too.".

"Not even a sparrow, worth less than a penny, can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are more valuable to him than a whole flock of sparrows.".

Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke fits perfectly, and the burden I give you is light.".

We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed and broken. We are perplexed, but we don't give up and quit.

3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 5 For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ.

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Posted by Rev. Bola - 19.May.2014

Ref :1. *2 CORINTHIANS 1:3"*5. n.p., 19 May. 2014.Web.

Title: *THE GOLDEN RULE*

Spiritual Gift Box - from collection painted by Rev.Bola

 

When I first became a Christian Minister,

the most important lesson I had to learn,

was the practice of loving people unconditionally.

That lesson started first with me learning to love myself unconditionally.

Most times that can only happen when we are loved by someone else...

i.e....by family members - parents, grandparents, siblings, husbands,

wives, children, cousins, uncles, aunties, God parents..etc.

But as a minister, I was keen to know what happens to those

who have never experienced receiving unconditional from any relative?

The answer came to me from my higher power ....God.

God loves each and every one of us unconditionally.

The Bible teaches that Jesus Christ epitomised unconditional love,

in both his life and death. Jesus lived by love, he taught love, and he died by love, to be resurrected in love.

Receiving God's unconditional love in my own life, 

has since helped me learn to love others unconditionally.

Bible Verse*Luke 6:31* states.......
'And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.'

Inspiring Thought: *The Golden Rule*
 

Treat others the way you would want to be treated.
This is the Golden Rule, spoken here among the beatitudes,

 of our Lord Jesus Christ.

In this and previous verses, Jesus was teaching the very essence of unconditional love. This kind of love extends beyond the boundaries of our friends, neighbours and loved ones. We are to love all people, even our enemies, with the same kind of love.....

God's unconditional, all-encompassing love.
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Posted by Rev.Bola
Minister and Organizer

Title: *God is Wide Awake*

 Psalm 121:3–4
 He will not let your foot be moved;
 he who keeps you will not slumber. 
Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. 

Wise Thought
There have been times in my life when I felt like God was ignoring me.
I thought, if God were awake, he'd realize how much I need him to move on my behalf right now.
If this happens, I can always reassure myself that God is wide awake and tuned in to my situation.
 He is watching over me to protect me. 

The above verse is part of the "pilgrim psalms" sung by the people of Israel,
 as they neared Jerusalem for one of the major pilgrimage feasts. 
As they took their final steps toward the temple,
 they celebrated and sang of God's faithful protection from harm.

Yes, I can trust God to keep me safe along every journey of my life. 
I can remember, he never sleeps or slumbers. 
He doesn't require a Red Bull (energy drink) to stay attentive to my needs.
 And he is guarding over my steps,  along every path of my life. 

Luke 1:49
For He that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is His name.

♰ Recovery Prayer ♰
O God,
It is only when I am truly grateful for Your mercy and grace in my life,
 that I find release from life's trials. May I be forever thankful. 
In the name of Jesus I pray. Amen. 

{Ref: Christians in Recovery)
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 Posted by Rev.Bola
Christians Victorious Fellowship - Int

Title: *Personal Power For The Home

*CHRIST'S BUBBLE*L6 /Mm - Visual Prayer Art from collection by Rev.bola

 I have now learned that.....

Every object in my home and your home itself is charged with my thoughts and energy. Every time you look at your house and think, "This is too small; I do not like it," I send that energy into my house. It will be there to help bring me down. Every time I say, "What a wonderful place I live in, how fortunate I am to have this place," I make my home my friend and ally. Then, at times when I am not feeling good, I will find solace and comfort in my home. Hating something ties me to it, and if I want to move to a better place, I can start by loving what I have now.

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Posted by Rev.Bola

Title: *Power for the Faint

 

Title:*CHANGE 34/Mm - Visual Prayer Art from Collection by Rev.Bola

Isaiah 40:29 He gives power to the faint,
 and to him who has no might he increases strength. 

Inspiring Thought: *Power for the Faint

In this verse, Isaiah was speaking to believers who were living in captivity,
yet ones who had remained faithful to God. In spite of our commitment to the Lord,
sometimes we grow weary and powerless as we face difficult circumstances. 
It's usually because we forget that we can never serve and obey God in our own strength.
We must trust and depend fully on him in every situation.
We must wait for his strength to fill us when we become faint.
Daily, hourly, and minute by minute, let God renew your strength.

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Posted by Rev.Bola 

Title: *Hindrances To Prayer* - Section 1

 

Title: *STRESS RELIEVER* Light Orb - from collection painted by Rev.Bola

*Hindrances To Prayer*

The normal Christian life is a life of regular, daily answer to prayer. In the model prayer Jesus taught His disciples to pray daily for bread, and expect to get it, and to ask daily for forgiveness, for deliverance from the evil one, and for other needs, and daily to get the answers they sought.
It is perfectly normal for an obedient child to ask for food every meal time and get it, get all he wants, and eat until he is perfectly satisfied. And using that figure the Saviour said, "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?" (Matt.
When I turn faucets in bathroom or kitchen, I expect water to pour forth every time. If I turned the tap and water did not come, I would be surprised. Also I would know that something radically was wrong and I would immediately set out to find out why the water did not run. If I press a light switch and the light does not shine, or if I plug in an electric motor and there is no power, I know that something is wrong, dead wrong, that the connection with the powerhouse is broken; and I set out to find what is wrong and to remedy it. Just so, every Christian ought to be in daily communion with God and ought to live the joyful life of answered prayer. And when anything hinders his prayers the Christian ought immediately to be able to find out what is wrong and get it remedied.
Often we are painfully conscious that our prayers are not heard. Last night a man said to me as we parted at the close of the service in a great rescue mission, "Preacher, before you sleep I wish you would pray for me. My prayers never get higher than my head. God won't hear me." Is that your case? Do you feel, even as you call on God, that He is not pleased, that He will not hear, that there is no likelihood of your receiving the thing for which you ask? Then, oh, how important it is to clear the line between you and God so He will hear you. How important it is to confess and forsake everything that grieves the dear Holy Spirit and shuts up Heaven to your prayers and stops God's ears!.
A selfish purpose in prayer robs prayer of power. Very many prayers are selfish. These may be prayers for things for which it is perfectly proper to ask, for things which it is the will of God to give, but the motive of the prayer is entirely wrong, and so the prayer falls powerless to the ground. The true purpose in prayer is that God may be glorified in the answer. If we ask any petition merely that we may receive something to use in our pleasures or in our own gratification in one way or another, we “ask amiss” and need not expect to receive what we ask. This explains why many prayers remain unanswered.
For example, many a woman is praying for the conversion of her husband. That certainly is a most proper thing to ask; but many a woman’s motive in asking for the conversion of her husband is entirely improper, it is selfish. She desires that her husband may be converted because it would be so much more pleasant for her to have a husband who sympathized with her; or it is so painful to think that her husband might die and be lost forever. For some such selfish reason as this she desires to have her husband converted. The prayer is purely selfish. Why should a woman desire the conversion of her husband? First of all and above all, that God may be glorified; because she cannot bear the thought that God the Father should be dishonored by her husband trampling underfoot the Son of God.
Many pray for a revival. That certainly is a prayer that is pleasing to God, it is along the line of His will; but many prayers for revivals are purely selfish. The churches desire revivals in order that the membership may be increased, in order that the church may have a position of more power and influence in the community, in order that the church treasury may be filled, in order that a good report may be made at the presbytery or conference or association. For such low purposes as these, churches and ministers oftentimes are praying for a revival, and oftentimes too God does not answer the prayer. Why should we pray for a revival? For the glory of God, because we cannot endure it that God should continue to be dishonored by the worldliness of the church, by the sins of unbelievers, by the proud unbelief of the day; because God’s Word is being made void; in order that God may be glorified by the outpouring of His Spirit on the Church of Christ. For these reasons first of all and above all, we should pray for a revival.
Many a man prays and prays and prays, and gets absolutely no answer to his prayer. Perhaps he is tempted to think that it is not the will of God to answer, or he may think that the days when God answered prayer, if He ever did, are over. So the Israelites seem to have thought. They thought that the Lord’s hand was shortened, that it could not save, and that His ear had become heavy that it could no longer hear.
“Not so,” said Isaiah, “God’s ear is just as open to hear as ever, His hand just as mighty to save; but there is a hindrance. That hindrance is your own sins. Your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid His face from you that He will not hear.”.
It is so to-day. Many and many a man is crying to God in vain, simply because of sin in his life. It may be some sin in the past that has been unconfessed and unjudged, it may be some sin in the present that is cherished, very likely is not even looked upon as sin, but there the sin is, hidden away somewhere in the heart or in the life, and God “will not hear.”.
I well remember a time in my life when I was praying for two definite things that it seemed that I must have, or God would be dishonored; but the answer did not come. I awoke in the middle of the night in great physical suffering and great distress of soul. I cried to God for these things, reasoned with Him as to how necessary it was that I get them, and get them at once; but no answer came. I asked God to show me if there was anything wrong in my own life. Something came to my mind that had often come to it before, something definite but which I was unwilling to confess as sin. I said to God,.
Many a man makes an idol of his wife. Not that a man can love his wife any too much, but he can put her in the wrong place, he can put her before God; and when a man regards his wife’s pleasure before God’s pleasure, when he gives her the first place and God the second place, his wife is an idol, and God cannot hear his prayers.
Many a woman makes an idol of her children. Not that we can love our children too much. The more dearly we love Christ, the more dearly we love our children; but we can put our children in the wrong place, we can put them before God, and their interests before God’s interests. When we do this our children are our idols.
There is perhaps no greater hindrance to prayer than stinginess, the lack of liberality toward the poor and toward God’s work. It is the one who gives generously to others who receives generously from God. “Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, shall they give into your bosom. For with what measure ye mete it shall be measured to you again.” (Luke 6:38, R.V.) The generous man is the mighty man of prayer. The stingy man is the powerless man of prayer.
Many a man and woman who is seeking to find the secret of their powerlessness in prayer need not seek far; it is nothing more nor less than downright stinginess. George Muller, to whom reference has already been made, was a mighty man of prayer because he was a mighty giver. What he received from God never stuck to his fingers; he immediately passed it on to others. He was constantly receiving because he was constantly giving. When one thinks of the selfishness 4of the professing church to-day, how the orthodox churches of this land do not average $1.00 per year per member for foreign missions, it is no wonder that the church has so little power in prayer. If we would get from God, we must give to others. Perhaps the most wonderful promise in the Bible in regard to God’s supplying our need is Phil. 4:19, “And my God shall fulfill every need of yours according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” (R.V.) This glorious promise was made to the Philippian church, and made in immediate connection with their generosity.
The fifth hindrance to prayer is found in Mark 11:25, “And when ye stand praying, FORGIVE, if ye have ought against any; that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”.
An unforgiving spirit is one of the commonest hindrances to prayer. Prayer is answered on the basis that our sins are forgiven; and God cannot deal with us on the basis of forgiveness while we are harboring ill-will against those who have wronged us. Any one who is nursing a grudge against another has fast closed the ear of God against his own petition. How many there are crying to God for the conversion of husband, children, friends, and wondering why it is that their prayer is not answered, when the whole secret is some grudge that they have in their hearts against some one who has injured them, or who they fancy has injured them. Many and many a mother and father are allowing their children to go down to eternity unsaved, for the miserable gratification of hating somebody.
In many and many a case the prayers of husbands are hindered because of their failure of duty toward their wives. On the other hand, it is also doubtless true that the prayers of wives are hindered because of their failure in duty toward their husbands. If husbands and wives should seek diligently to find the cause of their unanswered prayers, they would often find it in their relations to one another.
There are other things in the relations of husbands and wives which cannot be spoken of publicly, but which doubtless are oftentimes a hindrance in approaching God in prayer. There is much of sin covered up under the holy name of marriage that is a cause of spiritual deadness, and of powerlessness in prayer. Any man or woman whose prayers seem to bring no answer should spread their whole married life out before God, and ask Him to put His finger upon anything in it that is displeasing in His sight.
Prayers are hindered by unbelief. God demands that we shall believe His Word absolutely. To question it is to make Him a liar. Many of us do that when we plead His promises, and is it any wonder that our prayers are not answered? How many prayers are hindered by our wretched unbelief! We go to God and ask Him for something that is positively promised in His Word, and then we do not more than half expect to get it. “Let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord.”.