Tuesday, January 28, 2025

JOHN 12:25-30. THE MESSAGE OF THE GOSPELS


Jesus explains that whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, and whoever hates his life will save it.


We therefore learn the way of the cross is the best pathway for our salvation. We must learn to follow the way of death to ourselves if we want to save our lives. But if we think that we can live as we please, talk as we please, react as we please, and do what we ourselves want to do or think is best for our lives, we will destroy our own lives. The way of death to self is the way of every true disciple. Are you walking in it?


Jesus says that those who serve Him must follow Him. There we can see that it is possible to serve God without following Jesus. Majority of people in churches today who are serving God are not following Jesus. The life of Jesus is not the one they are seeking to follow as an example. We must learn to have our priorities in order. Following Jesus must come before serving Him. Every time Jesus called His disciples, He always told them to follow Him and it was only later that they served Him.

It's not saying that serving is not important, but rather, serving is good, following is better and following as we serve is the best.


He says that whoever serves Him will be in His presence and such a one will be honoured by the Father.


It's a good thing if God the Father can honour you. This is beyond any earthly honour. Seek for it. 

The condition for receiving such an honour is just following Jesus while serving Him. Desire that 


Jesus said that His soul was troubled. Unless it were written we couldn't believe that. What an honest confession. He was made like us in every way, He felt the pressures that we face, and that is why He is an example to us. Heb 2:17


He asked, how should I pray for deliverance? But He came for that hour. He prayed, Father glorify your name.


What a prayer to pray. 'Father, glorify your name'. We can also learn from Jesus and follow Him here, that whenever our souls are troubled, we can ask God to glorify His name in that situation. It's not easy but practice makes perfect. Let's learn from Jesus.

A voice came from heaven saying I have glorified it and will glorify it again. In other words, when our prayers are that God may glorify Himself in all situations, He will glorify Himself. Such prayers God cannot ignore. 


What is the motives of our prayers, is it to glorify God or our selfish motives? We ought to seek The glory of God in everything and our prayer lives will change dramatically.


The crowds hear the voice and said it thundered and others said an angel spoke to Him. We see that what was so clear to Jesus, the crowds could not understand.


Why was the voice of God clear to Jesus but not to the crowd? Because His whole mindset was set to do the Father's will but the crowd were only interested in being blessed, and what they can get for themselves.


The voice came for the for the sake of others. Jesus always heard the voice of the Father in His spirit. We can also hear from our spirit if we always keep our conscience clear all the time and feed Gods word in our hearts by meditation.


Is God's voice clear to you or you don't even hear. Gen 1 teaches us that God is speaking everyday; therefore if you don't hear Him, the problem is with you, that you are deaf to His voice. The more we decide to walk the way of the cross, the clearer God's voice to our souls will be.


Make it your ambition to obey God and please Him in everything and always say no to your self-will, and you will come to know God better.


You are blessed to be a blessing 

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@Blessed Mshindi Mambo

JOHN 12:9-24. THE MESSAGE OF THE GOSPELS

 




When the crowd heard Jesus was there, they came to Him and to see Lazarus as well. Many believed Him because of Lazarus and the chief priests planned to kill Lazarus as well.


A large crowd took branches and went to meet Jesus singing, Hosanna, blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.


Jesus came riding a donkey to fulfill what was written. The disciples did not understand this at first but later on after Jesus was glorified.


All through the gospel we see that Jesus is in constant conflict with the religious folks but the common people heard Him gladly. It was the people who read the old testament and preached that were blind about the very person whom the scriptures talked about. This should serve as a warning to us; that we can be blind to the true Jesus even though we are constantly reading the bible and praying and even preaching it. The common people did not have anything to boast about but the Pharisees had their doctorate in theology. They could boast about their achievements and their position. We can therefore conclude that pride in achievement and position or in any other things; is always a barrier to spiritual progress. It blinds us to the truth of the scriptures. BEWARE OF PRIDE.


There are some things that the Lord does that we don't understand why but we will understand we we mature. It's encouraging to know that somethings God does, He does not wait for us to fully mature to understand, but does them and we come to understand why later.


Many people asked Philip that they wanted to see Jesus. When the report reached Jesus, He said that His hour to be glorified had come and unless the grain of seed falls in the ground and dies, it abides alone. But if it dies, it bears much fruit.


Now Jesus is not here physically but we can see Him in our hearts. To see Jesus in our hearts, we must do what Jesus said; we must die to ourselves, and our reputation, our outer shell of beauty and allow ourselves to be buried underground when we have no recognition, where we are men trample us underfoot without retaliating. We must never seek the approval of men but of God alone.


Do you want to see Jesus constantly in your heart? This is the price, to die to your own self-will. Crucify your will constantly and always choose God's will in everything and you will see the glory of Jesus and you will be fruitful.


As long as you walk the way of the cross, you will see Jesus and the more you see Him, the more you become like Him and the more fruitful you become. If you reach a certain point and feel you no longer need to walk this way, that will be your dead end. From that point you will backslide. You will lose the anointing and now instead of being a blessing, you will be a burden.


ALWAYS CHOOSE THE WAY OF THE CROSS. DIE TO YOUR OWN SELF-WILL AND ALWAYS CHOOSE GOD'S WILL


You are blessed to be a blessing 

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@Blessed Mshindi Mambo

JOHN 11:37-12:8. THE MESSAGE OF THE GOSPELS

  




When Jesus came to the tomb, He asked the stone to be removed. Martha was concerned that there would be a stench for He had been there four days and Jesus reminded her what He told her earlier; that if she believed, she would see the glory of the Lord.

Jesus lifted up His eyes and thanked God for always listened to Him.

He cried with a loud voice telling Lazarus to come forth and He did bound in graveclothes, hand and foot and the head. Jesus said that he should be inbound and He was.


Here we learn that Jesus asks us to do what we can and He does what we can't. He tells us to remove the stone and unwrap the body but He raises the dead. He tells us to fill the buckets with water and He changes the water into wine. Christ has made us coworkers with Him; and He gives us the joy of sharing in the work of blessing others. 


Are you a coworker with Christ?


Many believed and some reported to the Pharisees and gathered asking themselves what to do because everyone will believe in Jesus. Caiphas prophesied that it was very necessary for one person to die for the nation than the whole nation perish. Not only for the nation but to unite all the children of God in the whole world.


They planned to kill Him. Jesus stopped walking publicly among the Jews. He went to Ephraim with His disciples.


Jesus didn't walk openly knowing they were planning to kill Him. It's not wisdom to unnecessarily expose ourselves to danger claiming the promises. Thats presumption. Jesus could have claimed the promises such as; I will not die but live, no weapon fashioned against me shall prosper,... and many other promises from the old testament which He knew in heart. He also knew that He should not tempt the Lord His God by Doing foolish things that would endanger Him and then claim the promise. Mathew 4:6-7


Do you tempt the Lord in the name of claiming a promise?


The Pharisees had given orders that whoever knew where He was, he should report it to them. Six days before Passover, Jesus went to Bethany where Lazarus was. They made supper and Martha was serving.

Mary took a pound of expensive ointment and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair and the whole house was filled with the ointment.


There will always be people to criticise something good one does. Judas asked why waste such which could be sold and given to the poor. Not that he cared for the poor—he was a thief, and since he was in charge of the disciples’ money, he often stole some for himself.


Jesus spoke in defence of Mary and told Judas to leave her alone for she did it for His burial. They had the poor always.


We realise that it was supper which was served which means Jesus didn't walk to the house during the day. Mary gave the most expensive thing to Jesus. She recounted all that Jesus had done. John 11:2 refers us back to Luke 7:38-48. We thus know that this Mary was a former prostitute. When she thought about her former life and how Jesus changed her; she was thinking in herself; what do I do for this one who changed my life. She took her lifetime savings, "the cost of the ointment" and poured on the feet of Jesus.


Vs 5“That perfume was worth a year’s wages. 


Try to think how much you earn in one year. Then ask yourself, how long will it take you to save such amount? If you save maybe 10% per month, it will take you ten years to save the earnings of one year.


This which had costed her so much, she poured on Jesus; thinking about how good Jesus had been unto her and that he even had raised His brother from the dead.


It's good to look intently at our past life to see how good the Lord has been unto us. 

Think about the many times you've been in difficult situations but God helped you. Think about the many times you have failed God and He forgave you and gave you another chance. Think about all the kindness if God unto you.

Remember all the instances God delivered you. 


When Mary remembered how good the Lord was unto her, she gave the best to God. When you remember how good the Lord has been to you, you will give your best. Your love, your time, your mind, your obedience, your commitment, your resources....He will be to you the most important person. He will be your first priority in everything. Your utmost desire of heart will be to please Him in everything you do.


Count your blessings, name them, one by one.


You are blessed to be a blessing 

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@Blessed Mshindi Mambo

JOHN 11:16-37. THE MESSAGE OF THE GOSPELS

  

Thomas having heard Lazarus was dead said, "let us go to die with Him". Jesus never replied.


Bethany was about 3km distance. When Jesus came, Lazarus had been in the tomb for four days. 


Such a distance could not take much time, just approximately two hours; why did it take so long? Why was Jesus not in a hurry? The state was urgent and desperate but Jesus seemed not to be bothered. Jesus was waiting for them to come to an end of themselves. When there was nothing else which could be done unless Jesus does it. When they reached that point, Jesus came. 


Even today, many things happen in our lives which we think that God should act immediately but He does not. He is waiting for us to reach the end of ourselves. How quickly He comes through depends on how quickly we reach the end of ourselves.There is a statement which says that the end of man is the beginning of God; and it's true. Earlier we saw that at the wedding, He waited until the wine was finished to the last drop and that's when He made new wine. It was after Peter had fished the whole night without catching anything that Jesus came. He never comes when we have any strength remaining; it is when we reach a dead end that Christ comes. Christ is never in a hurry until we come to such a blessed position, when we have nothing but God .


Martha run to Jesus and said, if Jesus came earlier, her brother would not have died. She said if He prayed, God would answer Him. Jesus said His brother would rise again and Mary thought it was on the last day. Jesus said He is the resurrection and the life and everyone who believes in Him will never die. She then went away after saying she believed.


Whoever believes in Jesus does not die. Everyone dies physically, but man is spirit, soul and body. It is the body which dies, but the spirit which is the real person, goes straight to the presence of God. The spirit of those who die in sin goes to hell waiting for the final judgment where even hell itself will be thrown in the lake of fire. You can check on study on Luke 16:19 onwards.


When Mary heard about Jesus, she rose up and ran where He was. When she saw Him, she fell at His feet and said that Jesus was there, her brother would not have died. Comparing Vs 21&32, we see that both Mary and Martha said the same thing to Jesus. But only after Mary spoke that Jesus raised Lazarus. Why. Reading the same verses carefully, we see that there something else Mary did that Martha didn't do; that is she first of all fell at His feet. 


Both had the same problem, they had the same amount of pain but only one moved Jesus to act. We learn it is not the magnitude of our problem that moves Jesus to act or even our words for both sisters said the same thing to Jesus. God looks at brokenness in our hearts. It is brokenness that move the hand of God not how we phrase our words in prayer.


Two believers can have a similar problem and they pray about it but only one who is broken in spirit will move the hand of the omnipotent God.


Is there brokenness in your heart? Are you deceived to think that magnitude of your problem will move God to act? It is brokenness that matters to God.


Jesus wept and asked where they laid the body. He didn't even speak to Mary as much as He spoke to Martha.


The Jews saw Him and said that He truly loved Him, but others asked why He couldn't stop Him from dying.


Jesus as we have seen so far, never explained to the Pharisees why He did things the way He did them; but to the disciples, whenever they asked Him a question, no matter how insignificant it was, Jesus always explained to them. He does the same today, He explains nothing to the modern day Pharisees, but to the disciples who truly love Him more than everyone and everything else, whenever they ask Him anything, He always gives an answer, but the Pharisees who are good at finding faults with others, He leaves them to walk in darkness.


To which category are you in?


You are blessed to be a blessing 

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@Blessed Mshindi Mambo

Thursday, January 23, 2025

JOHN 11:1-15. THE MESSAGE OF THE GOSPELS

 

Mary, Lazarus sister sent a message to Jesus saying; "the one whom you love is sick". 

This is the title given to God's children. If you are a child of God, God refers to you as the one whom He loves. Whatever problem you may be facing, when you go to God in prayer; go as the one who He loves.


Jesus after receiving did not act immediately but went after two days and the condition had worsened for Lazarus had died by then, but God was still in control.


This should encourage us because many time we go to God and pray that He may intervene in a situation but instead of the condition getting better, it gets worse and we wonder whether has forgotten or forsaken us. We learn from this story that God is still in control and He'll come through for us. We should not give even when it seems that the more we pray, the more condition are worsens. We should not stop seeking God.


Why was Jesus not in a hurry to go to heal Lazarus? As we have seen from previous chapters, he did nothing out of His own initiative. He asked God about going and the Lord said wait. He continued waiting for Gods direction and after two days the Lord said to Him, now you can go.


We learn here that we should not be quick to act with what we hear but we should always seek to know Gods minds in every situation. 


We should not panic for anything but we should pray and listen to what the Lord tells to do. When you are in darkness, continue waiting, and trusting in the character of God; when action is required; light will come. Isaiah 50:10.


Jesus told His disciples that Lazarus had slept and they were going to awaken Him. They didn't understand and He said plainly that Lazarus had died.


Here we can learn that there are times when the Lord speaks to us and we hear His voice but we fail to understand what He means. When we are sincere, the Lord will speak plainly to us. It's a wonderful thing if we seek to be sincere and honest before God.


The disciples had also reminded Jesus that the Jews wanted to stone Him previously. He answered that if anyone walks during the day, He does not stumble because he sees the light of the world, but if you walk in the night, you stumbles.


Jesus is the light of the world. When the eyes of our heart sees Jesus as we walk, we will not stumble. But in our christian walk if we do not see Jesus, we will stumble and fall. There are many stumbling blocks along our way as we walk in the Lord, but if we are not in darkness, if we are seeing Jesus and listening to His voice and following it, we will not stumble when others are stumbling around us. Learn to walk in the light. Let your eyes see the way Jesus lived. Train your ears to listen to His voice.


You are blessed to be a blessing 

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@Blessed Mshindi Mambo

JOHN 10:30-42. THE MESSAGE OF THE GOSPELS


Jesus said that He and His Father are one and they picked stones to stone Him. He asked for which work they wanted to stone Him and they said for claiming to be God. He asked what was written in their scriptures God calling men gods. Ps 82:6.

He said though they never believed Him, they should believe for the sake of the works He did and they understood that He is in the Father and the Father is in Him. They tried to seize Him but He escaped their hands.


We learn here the oneness of Christ and the Father. This also we should follow Jesus. Though we may not be perfectly one with the Father, we can seek to dwell in His presence beholding His glory and seek to know His mind and His will and try to only do what He tells us to do.


We can seek for such a union in Christ: and as each day passes by, that union should be becoming better and better. We must spend time in prayer and in Gods word. We must learn to meditate on the scriptures day and night. We must always humble ourselves in every circumstance and we must and we must always learn to keep our conscience clear. Long to be made one with God. At the end of the year, those who see you most must be able to testify that you have become better and more godly. This is your inheritance; a life of inner peace and rest and full of joy. 



We also learn that it's not wisdom to expose ourselves when we see danger; we must go out of the place of where there is danger.


Many came to Jesus and said that whatever John said about Him was true though John performed no miracle.

John, the greatest of all men in the old covenant did no miracle, yet people were flocking to listen to Him in the wilderness. God bore witness to Him and His message went straight to peoples hearts. 

We see here that God does not bear witness only through miracles. Not every servant of His has the gifts of healing or miracles. In fact Paul says that God gives the gift of miracles to some, and to another healing. But whether you have healing or miracles gifts, the most important thing is that God bears witness to your ministry. 


Many servants have been blinded to think that if they cannot perform miracles and signs; God is not pleased with them but that is not true. These gifts are not given to everyone. 1st Corinthians 12:8-10, 29-30 teaches that clearly. 

Many believed Him.


You are blessed to be a blessing 

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@Blessed Mshindi Mambo

Tuesday, January 21, 2025

JOHN 10:18-29. THE MESSAGE OF THE GOSPELS

Jesus said that no one forced Him to lay His life but decided to do it and obey His Father. We are encouraged to do the same in 1John 3:16; to lay down our lives for the brothers. Not seeking our own comfort and ease but how we can sacrifice ourselves to be a blessing to our brothers and sisters.

Let's follow Jesus here.


Many were divided and thought He was mad. In the same way if you decide to lay your life for the brethren in a world where everyone seeks their own interests and comfort, they'll think you are out of your mind, but the opinions of the people or what people say about us us worthless. Isaiah 2:22 says that we should Stop regarding man, whose breath of life is in his nostrils; For why should he be esteemed?


In other words, mans opinion is worthless. They are mortal being who will die if they miss breathe for five minutes. You can't stop them from talking, but you must not regard what they say as important. Obeying Gods voice is the only thing that really matters.


Jesus was asked to say plainly whether he was Christ and he told them He as already told them and the works bore witness to Him. God bearing witness to the servants of God is the most important thing. We must have an authority from from above, God backing us up, otherwise our words will not change lives. Not how loud we speak but whether God is backing us up is the thing that is important. God will never back up a hypocrite or someone living in sin.


Jesus said they didn't believe because they were not His sheep. We learn that even Jesus, His Father entrusted only a few individuals to Him; and even today,for the true ministers, God entrusts them with some people who will receive what they have. Jesus did not desire to have a worldwide ministry but was content with what the Father gave Him. Remember that the devil offered Jesus a worldwide ministry in the temptation when he told Him he will give Him all the kingdomif the earth if he bowed to Him. Even today, satan is willing to give worldwide ministries to ministers if they will compromise. We must learn contentment. It's not quantity but quality that God looks at. Many ministers have compromised looking for worldwide ministries and they have it but at the end, both they and their deceived members will go to hell. What's the use of such a work.


Jesus ministry which only had 12 and backslid was of such a quality that they turned the world upside down. Today we have many who claim to be Christians but cannot put are still living in sin and the devil is not even afraid of them. He just wants them to continue in their blindness and at the end, they waiting for the gates of heaven to open for them; they will receive a suprise falling in hell for their sins. God cannot be mocked; whatever a man sows, that he shall also reap.


Jesus said that the mark of His sheep is that they hear him, and they know Christ: to know here is an intimate word; there is intimacy between them and Christ, and they follow him; and Christ gives life to them and they will never perish and no one will snatch them out of His hand for the Father is stronger than all.


If you don't want to perish, then become His true sheep; listen to His voice everyday; have an intimate relationship with Christ everyday; follow His: his example everyday; in other words, Christ must become your example in everything. They way you talk, or treat others, your motives and attitudes and thoughts and deeds. To follow Him you must love Him more that everyone and everything else and you have to carry your cross to crucify your self-life everyday. Saying no to my will and yes to Gods will everyday. 


It is to such a person this promise applies, that no one will snatch them from the Fathers hand; you alone can decide to leave the Fathers hand but no one can snatch you out. Thus the solution to backsliding is to always listen to God's voice everyday, have an intimate relationship with Christ, make Jesus your example in everything you do, walk the way of the cross and love Jesus more than everyone and everything else.


You are blessed to be a blessing 

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@Blessed Mshindi Mambo

JOHN 10:7-17. THE MESSAGE OF THE GOSPELS


Jesus is the door of the sheep. All who came before Him are thieves and robbers. 

There are many who had come proclaiming to be the Messiah but as we know that thieves and robbers are only interested on what they will get for themselves, secretly or through force. Even today there are many thieves who get into the sheepfold taking advantage of the sheep to get something for themselves. They are only concerned about what they will get for themselves. Jesus on the other side is not interested in getting something from the sheep but is interested in giving something to the sheep. His is genuinely concerned about the welfare of the sheep. Those who find Jesus find pasture. They are well fed. Jesus gives abundant life but the thief comes only to steal, take advantage, kill and destroy. They discourage and sidetracke people from God's calling in their lives.


Jesus as the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. True shepherds have the same spirit; not to count what it will cost them if that can save the sheep from destruction.


One who is hired will only serve the sheep when it's convenient but when there is danger, they are are not willing to risk for the salvation of the sheep. Unfortunately we have many hired servants more than the true shepherds today. You can ask God to make you a true shepherd to those God has placed under your authority.


Jesus, the good shepherd, sacrifice His life for the sheep. If we follow Him here, we will be willing to sacrifice for those God has given us and never think on what we'll get from the sheep. This is the spirit of the true shepherd and God can make you one.


There are other sheep which must be brought to the fold; thus we must never be content with just the few that we are blessing but we must seek God that He may make us a blessing to more and more.


When this is our desire, we'll experience a type of love of the Father that we've never experienced before. We must learn to lay down our lives for the brothers. 


We must begin with our way of thinking. When we look at others, we must never think about what I can get from them, but rather, how can I be a blessing to these.


You are blessed to be a blessing 

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@Blessed Mshindi Mambo

JOHN 10:1-6. THE MESSAGE OF THE GOSPELS


Jesus says that he who does not enter by the door into the sheepfold but enters some other way is a thief and a robber. He who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep; the gatekeeper opens the door for him, and the sheep hear his voice and calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.


He gathers his sheep and goes ahead of them and they follow him, for they know His voice and they will not follow the voice of strangers for they don't know his voice. Jesus said He is the door of the sheep.


Here we learn that those why do not come through Jesus, but come somewhere other way, this means that those who are not seeking to glorify Jesus but come some other way to seek honour or position for themselves, they are thieves and robbers. We know that thieves do not bless but would; thus we see that if we are seeking to promote ourselves as great servants of God, we will not bless the sheep but hurt and would them. The thieve and robbers think about what they will get for themselves; in the same way, those who do not come seeking Gods glory alone seek for opportunities to take advantage of the sheep, to get money, or honour or sexual pleasure for themselves. 

Do you take advantage of those who are under you to get something for yourself from them? Jesus never took advantage of anyone and never sought to get anything from others but instead he always thought of how to bless others without getting anything in return; learn from Him.


The doorkeeper opens and the shepherd enters and the sheep know His voice. The sheep was first a lamb, and it was at that time of growth that it got to know the voice of the shepherd; in the Same way, we must learn to recognise the voice of the true shepherd from our earliest time as Christians; and the voice of the shepherd is written in God's word. One who claims to be a believer and does not read God's word will never know the voice of Jesus; just like a child who grows away from the parents will never know the voice of His parents. 

Do you read the bible or do you wait for it to be read for you during the service? 


When we develop from lambs to sheep, having been hearing the shepherds voice everyday, we'll get to know His voice and we will follow Him. What He says to us we will obey. He says the shepherd goes before the sheep and they follow him. We learn that the true shepherd is an example not a dictator to the sheep. He does not go behind them with a whip telling them you must do this and that, but goes ahead showing them, "this is the way to do it, learn from me". His mouth is not full of condemning and judging the sheep but is full of encouraging and teaching the sheep. Jer 3:15 says they will feed you with knowledge and understanding. Their speech will be of building up not destroying. The voice of the stranger they will not follow; it's filled with discouragement and condemnation.


Are you a shepherd to those younger to you or a stranger? A shepherd loves and cares but a stranger is only concerned about his own welfare.


You are blessed to be a blessing 

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@Blessed Mshindi Mambo

JOHN 9:32-41. THE MESSAGE OF THE GOSPELS


The man who was healed said that since creation, such a miracle never happened and that such a miracle was impossible without the help of God.


They hardened their hearts to the facts and asked the man whether he was trying to teach them yet He was born in sin. We see here that prejudice blinds people even in obvious facts. 


We must try to learn to get rid of the prejudices we have acquired through the years and the belief that the way we do things is the way that everyone else must follow and if others do in a different way, they are wrong. We must learn to give allowance to others who may do things slightly different from us and also make allowance for ourselves that we also may probably be wrong. We are not the standard, and we must cease to judge others by our own standards. Jesus Christ alone is the standard in all things, and each of us is blind in many areas in our lives and thus we must learn to mind our own business and concentrate on the Lord to see the areas in our individual lives where we need to change, or improve or repent of; we must not concentrate on others who are not your responsibility to see what is wrong with them. Learn to live in the area of your responsibility.


After the man was cast out of the synagogue, Jesus finding him asked whether he believed in the Son of man and he asked who He was and Jesus answered he was the one, and the man believed and worshipped.


We see here that true faith always leads us to worship Jesus.

Jesus said that He came for judgement that the blind may see and those who see maybe made blind.


Here we see the danger of pride and the beauty of humility. If you think you know, God will make sure you blind or your life, but if you humble yourself and seek God to open your eyes, God will give you light. Everyone is blind many areas but only a few acknowledge they don't know and need Gods help and it's only to such that God there eyes and the rest wonder around in blindness.


The Pharisees asked whether they were blind and Jesus replied that if they were blind they would have no sin but because they said they see, their sin remains.


We see here that if we think we are righteous, we'll remain in sin but if we have the attitude that "Lord, I maybe displeasing you and and sinning unconsciously against you, Lord give me light" to such God opens their eyes to see what displeases God in their lives and they turn from it, but those who have the attitude, "am alright, there is nothing wrong with me, but there are many things wrong with others" such will live in darkness all their lives displeasing God thinking that God is pleased with them when He is not.


Thus we can say that judging others blinds us but judging ourselves rightly opens our eyes. 

The energy you have to judge, don't use it on others but judge yourself instead.


You are blessed to be a blessing 

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@Blessed Mshindi Mambo

JOHN 9:8-31. THE MESSAGE OF THE GOSPELS

  

Many were asking whether the man was really the one who was blind. Some said yes, others said he looks like him, but he himself said he was the one.

They asked him how his eyes were opened and He explained to them that.

Even in an obvious thing like this, the human nature always loves to argue and everyone wants to win the argument. Don't waste time in argument; at the end of it you should ask yourself; what have I benefited in the argument? Has it helped me become holier or more godly? 


The man was taken to the Pharisees and they asked Him the same question. Even among the Pharisees, some said he was not offended God for breaking the Sabbath others asked if it were possible for a wicked man to perform such a notable miracle. The blind man when asked what he thought of Jesus said He was a prophet. They called his parents to enquire about him. The parents confirmed he was their son who was born blind but how he saw only he could tell.

The parents feared being put out of synagogues if they confessed Jesus as Messiah. 


We learn here religion can blind you and bring you into bondage of fear. 

Has God done something for you and you are afraid to give a testimony because your church does not believe such things?


They declared to the man that Jesus is a sinner but he said he didn't know, but what He knew is that though he was blind, now he can see. This is a good reply to give to those who try arguing against what the Lord has done for us.

He even asked them whether they wanted to follow Jesus but they said they followed Moses. 


The Pharisees could not accept Jesus because he didn't keep their church traditions. Even today, the Pharisees will not accept any child of God who may have a different way of doing things than their church practice. We must try to learn to be largehearted and receive others who are different in minor things; though we may not be able to work together.


The man said that we know that God does not listen to sinners, but whoever fears and worships and does His will, of such, He hears.


If you are indulging in sin in private, and pray, God will not listen to you unless you are repenting and have made up your mind to stop sinning.


When we are true worshippers; Rom 12:1, tells us that true worship is giving our body as living sacrifices and holy to God. Rom 6:13 puts it as, "Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God."

If every part of your body you use it in holiness, whether tongue, eyes or hands... you are a true worship; and if you have set your mind and decided that you will do God's will in everything; when you pray, God will hear you. If you are undecided in doing God will or your own will, though you may not be committing obvious sin, God will not hear you.


We learn hear that the secret to God always listening to your prayers is surrendering completely to God to live a holy life and determination to do God's will in everything.


Do you wonder why God does not answer some of your prayers? Now you know.


You are blessed to be a blessing 

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@Blessed Mshindi Mambo

JOHN 9:1-7. THE MESSAGE OF THE GOSPELS


Jesus passed by and saw a blind man by birth. The disciples asked who sinned that the man was born blind; and Jesus answered that no one sinned but it was for the glory of God.


We saw in John 5:14 that some sicknesses are due to sin, but here we learn that not every sickness is due to sin. We can say that sickness maybe a chastening from God when we sin but it's not always a chastening. Thus whenever you get sick, it's always good to search your heart to see if there is a sin you have committed. Your conscience will definitely tell if you are sincere and desire to please God. Sickness may also be an attack from satan and for that, we have to resist. Another cause is because we live in a sin cursed world. If you expose yourself to cold you can get sick; if you have wrong eating habits, you can get sick...


Jesus said that we must work for the Lord while it is day. Night is coming when no one can work.

We learn here that if God tells you to do something; that privilege will not always be there. We must do it quickly. We must never assume that we'll have the opportunity "tomorrow", tomorrow maybe too late.


God will test you to see whether you obey Him in what He commands you in secret. He will not with a voice from heaven tell you to do something when everyone is hearing because you will definitely obey immediately because you are afraid because everyone knows what the Lord told you and you want to maintain a reputation that you obey God; but God speaks to us in private and no one knows what the Lord has asked of us and even when we disobey, no one will know and we can still have a good reputation. When God told Abraham to sacrifice Isaac to Him, if Abraham disobeyed, Sarah would not even know that he disobeyed God. He would still have maintained a good testimony amongst his neighbours and relatives but it's because He obeyed God that we know what the Lord said to him alone. There are many things that God speaks to us to test us, He asks us to apologise to those we have wronged, to repay our debts, to give up something, or to do something; and it's always in secret. Our conscience tells us but we can silence it and no one will know that we are disobeying God. 

We must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent us. The night is coming, and then no one can work.


Time is coming when it will be too late to obey. Don't wait for that. Obey now.


Jesus said that as long as He is in the world, He is the light of the world. Now that He is not in the world; His disciples are the light of the world. Mathew 5:16.


What kind of light are you. Paul says that we are letters read by others. 2Cor 3:2. People are reading your lives; are they seeing something of Christ. Someone said a Christian reads the bible but the people of the world read the life of the Christian. What do people see about your saviour? Do they honour Him or do they blaspheme Him when they look at your life. Rom 2:23-24.


Learn to always honour God.


Jesus spat on the ground, made clay and anointed the eyes of the blind man and told Him to go and wash in the pool of Siloam. We see here that there is no standard way in which Jesus healed people. There was not formula. It depends on what the leading of the Holy Spirit. This we must learn to always be sensitive to the voice of the Holy Spirit especially when we meet circumstances we may have previously met for we tend to handle them the way we tackled them previously and that may not be the way God wants us to tackle them this time.


The blind man also had a person who walked with Him otherwise He could not walk. We may not be physically blind but we are blind in many areas in our lives and we need the help of others so that our eyes can be opened. We need others to encourage us to obey God, we need others to criticise us and correct us and show us what is wrong with us, we need others who will walk with us and fellowship with us. Remember that Jesus sent the disciples were sent two by two so that they can fellowship and encourage each other. We need others to fellowship with and encouragement from others.


The blind man received his sight.


Can it be said of you that Jesus opened your eyes and you were blind and that your life has truly changed?


You are blessed to be a blessing 

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@Blessed Mshindi Mambo

JOHN 8:51-9:1. THE MESSAGE OF THE GOSPELS


Jesus said that whoever keeps His word will never see death. This is the secret of abundant life; that is obeying the teachings of Jesus. Physical death is just a transition from this life to higher life just like student transits from one class to a higher class.


How much of Jesus teachings do you know and how much do you obey. The teaching of Jesus is found in the gospels and the epistles.

Study the new testament to obey it's teaching and you'll have abundant life.


The Jews said that Jesus had a demon for the patriarchs and the prophets died; and Jesus claims that whoever obeys Him will never die.


They asked Him; who do you think you are? They said He was not greater than Abraham or the prophets and Jesus replied that if He honors or glorifies Himself, that is worthless. 

This we need to learn also, that if we praise ourselves saying how good people we are, all that is worthless. It's God honour that counts and that is the only honour we should seek; not what we think of ourselves or what others think about us, but what God thinks about us is what counts.


He told them that they didn't know God as a Father but He knew Him.

Do you know God your heavenly dad to whom you can go with childlike confidence because you are convinced that He loves you deeply and He is willing to help you and give you everything that is good and has perfect wisdom and perfect power to help you out of every circumstance you maybe in. Knowing God as Father who loves and cares drives out all fear from our hearts. Do you have fear in your heart? It's because you don't know a Father who is in heaven. Seek to know Him. The more you know Him the more peaceful and at rest your life will be.


The fact the He knew the Father made Him obey all His commands. In the same way, the more we know the Father, the more we will love Him and we will obey all His commands. We can conclude that sin in the lives of believers is the proof that they don't know God as Father. Making excuses for sin and justifying it is the evidence that we are very far from God, but by confessing and forsaking sin, we come closer to God.


The more we know God the more we will obey Him and the more we'll overcome sin.

Abraham rejoiced to see Jesus day. He longed to be at the time of Jesus. This shows what a privilege these Jews had but they were blind. Even today, there are so many things that we are privileged to but the devil blinds us to the glorious life in Christ we can live and makes us concentrate on things that have no eternal value. 


Have your eyes been opened to see the glorious privilege we have today in life in Christ and living the life in the Holy Spirit?

 There is a higher life in Christ that you are yet to experience. Seek for it.


They said He was not even 50years and claimed to have seen Abraham, Jesus said that even before Abraham was Born, He existed. He said ""I am"". This shows that there is no past tense in Jesus. As He was, He still is.


Jesus didn't bother to explain to them simply and they picked up stones to kill Him. Even today when Jesus speaks, He does not always explain to us why. We must obey Him in faith that whatever He commands us is for our very best.


Jesus hid Himself and went from the temple and went to the mount of olives. We learn hear that when we see danger, we must hide from it not expose ourselves to it.


Jesus went to pray and so should we. Whatever difficulties we face during the day we must learn to always find time to pray about them. Don't just assume that it will be ok, but always pray about it. No matter how busy your schedule is, always find time to pray about the situations and temptations that we face during the day.


You are blessed to be a blessing 

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@Blessed Mshindi Mambo

JOHN 8:37-50. THE MESSAGE OF THE GOSPELS

 

The Jews sought to kill Jesus because God's word found no place in them. Does God's word find place in you or have your heart been filled with prejudices and mens traditions? Does God's word govern every area in your life or something else does?

When Your heart is not filled with God's word, you will kill others; not physically but with your tongue. When God's word fills your heart, you will be full of love for other of God's children and you will seek to bless them.


Jesus obeyed His Father and the Jews obeyed their Father. They thought Abraham was their Father but Jesus said if He was their Father, they would follow Him. Abraham never tried to kill a servant of God. They declared themselves righteous because they were not born of fornication but Jesus said that counted nothing. If God were their Father as they claimed, they would love Jesus. Jesus said that He never came from His own initiative. 


This phrase has been repeated severally (NASB- JN 5:30, 8:28,42, 12:49, 14:10,). This is is the whole secret of successful ministry. Always listening to what the Father says to us and doing only that. This habit we must develop through study of God's word plus asking God in our hearts to open our ears to hear Him. Mathew 15:13 says that every plant which the Father has not planted will be uprooted. The question is not whether it's a good or bad plant, but who planted it. It's not about whether it's a good idea or not, the question is, did God initiate it or is it from our clever minds. Many good things we do for God one day will burn up because the idea was not from God. We must learn at an early stage to wait on God; and to to do nothing saved under command. 


Someone said; when in doubt, do nothing but continue to wait on God; when action is needed,light will come.


Jesus called them the children of the devil who do the will of the devil. They kill their tongues and speak lies. The devil is the Father of all lies, white lies and black lies. The mother is anyone who gives their tongues to speak the lie. 


The children of the devil are always seeking to do or speak evil of others. The devil loves especially when they are in the house of God. Are you one of them?


Anyone who belongs to God listens gladly to the words of God. But you don’t listen because you don’t belong to God.”


They accused Jesus of having a demon. Jesus always sought to Honour His Father. We can also follow Him here. Learn in everything to seek to honour God. Whatever you do, eating or drinking, or whatever you do, always ask yourself; will it honour God? In this situation, how can I honour God?


Jesus never sought to glorify Himself. We always must follow Him here, not to seek to glorify ourselves in any way. Not to seek to appear important before others or seek honour from men.


You are blessed to be a blessing 

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@Blessed Mshindi Mambo

JOHN 8:31-36. THE MESSAGE OF THE GOSPELS

Many believed in Jesus and He said to them; if you continue in my word, you truly my disciples.


Here we learn that it's not only the initial stage of receiving Christ, but it must be a continuous walk in His word. It's not only entering the narrow gate, but most importantly, walking the narrow way; this is the prove of true disciples. Are you continuing in the word, reading and obeying it in your daily life?


As you continue obeying the word, you will come to know the truth and that truth will set you free. There are many dark areas in our lives but if we faithful walk in the word which is the light; these dark areas will come to light and we'll be set free. It is the truth that we know that sets us free. We are freed to the degree that we have come to know the truth. It's just like in a school; being born again is like entering school. We are are all ignorant but if we continue abiding in school, our ignorance will be removing through knowing many things that we are taught. It's not in one year but it takes many years to learn. In the same way, it takes our lifetime to know all the truth that God wants us to know and learn. Don't be satisfied because you know something that others don't; there are still much more in God's word that you are unaware and which ought to set you free. Don't drop out of the school of learning the truth. God's word is truth. Jesus said He is the truth. Know Gods word more, and in it seek to know Jesus more and more and the knowledge you have of Him will set you free from sin, fear, anxiety, chains of the devil.....


They answered they were not slaves if anyone but were Abrahams children: Jesus said WHOEVER COMMITS SIN IS A SLAVE OF SIN. This freedom that Jesus is talking about is freedom from sin. Sit does not have to sit on your head and rule over you; Rom 6:14. Jesus came to save you from sin. There are conscious areas and unconscious areas. He set us free from conscious sins, and then gives us light in the unconscious areas of our lives where we sin. As we get light in these unconscious areas, He sets us free and helps us overcome. This is something the continues constantly throughout our lives as we continue abiding in His word. As we grow, our lives will be if continuous repentance as we get light in new areas of our lives where we sin; in our speech, in our thoughts, in our motives, in our attitudes and in our actions.


Are getting more light in areas that you were completely ignorant? If yes you're growing. Whenever a student gets in a higher class, they always learn something new they didn't know; in the same way, when we make progress, God gives us light on ourselves in things that we didn't know displeased Him so that we can repent and please Him in those areas.


A slave lives temporary but a son lives forever in the house. All who continue living in sin without forsaking it will be cast out but those who keep on fighting it will remain in God's house. Not by our strength, it is Jesus who sets us free from the power of sin.


Are you comfortable in your defeated Christian life? There is something higher, there is something better than what you are already experiencing. Come up higher.


You are blessed to be a blessing 

Feel free to share 

@Blessed Mshindi Mambo

JOHN 8:21-29. THE MESSAGE OF THE GOSPELS

 

Jesus said He was going to a place they wouldn't follow Him; and for their unbelief, they would die for their sins. Jesus came to die for our sins but if we don't put our trust in Him, our sins will remain and they'll condemn us.


They wondered whether Jesus was going to commit suicide. He said the difference between Him and then was that He was from above and they were from below. They were of this world but He was not.

This God desires of us; He is always calling us upwards that we may see things from a heavenly point of view. We are called from this world to live with heavenly values. As much as God is able to do this in us, He'll accomplish something through us.


Jesus said to that He had much to say and condemn about them but He said that He won't.


We can also follow Jesus here; though we may have much to say and judge about other christians, we should shut our mouths and mind our own business. God alone is the judge and He has not given us the responsibility of judging others under His care


They never realised that He talked about His Father. It is the crucifixion that will open their eyes to see that He is the Messiah. Jesus did not initiate anything He did but He only spoke as His Father taught Him.


This is the whole secret of Jesus ministry. He listened to the Father and only did what His Father told Him. Many gave many suggestions but He never acted on them; He always asked the Father what He wanted Him to do in every situation. For this reason, God never left Him, and since He only did what His Father taught Him, He always pleased Him in every case and in every situation.

Let's follow Jesus here....let the whole attitude of our lives be; "Lord, speak for your servant is listening". "What do you want me to do?" And we will find that God will always be with us and that we will be pleasing to God in every case and in every situation.


You are blessed to be a blessing 

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@Blessed Mshindi Mambo

Wednesday, January 8, 2025

NEW YEAR'S MESSAGE

When the Lord made you in your mother's womb; He had a purpose for you. You never came here by mistake.


God knew you even before He created the heavens and the earth and He had a plan for your life.


Ps 139:16 says that; You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.


Thus we see each day has a different page in your book. God has not written a summary of your life by years or months or by weeks, by has written each day; and therefore if God has taken much trouble to write down your life for each day; the best thing you can do to please Him is to seek to know and do God's will each and everyday. This days had 366 days; can you say that you did what God wanted you to do for each day? Don't worry about the past, you can start now. Decide that for this new year; I want to fulfill God's plan for my life each day.


God also has planned for us good works that we may do them. Before He cre them the earth, He prepared for us good works for us to do. Yes; there are many good things that God wants you to do this new year. 


Eph 2:10 says that; For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.


This year seek to know and do all the good works that God has planned for you to do. There is something specific which God has planned that it's you and no one else should do that; can you imagine what a privilege and honour that is; that God has prepared something that it's only you He wants to do; take that honour and privilege. It's written in your name.


You may probably have been faithful to the best of your knowledge to God; but God has something more for you that you have already experienced. 


Paul says in Phil 3:13-14

No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.


We need to forget the past; when Paul wrote this, he was not talking about past problems, all the bad things: it also included the good things; He was forgetting how much God had used Him; how many churches he He had planted; how many miracles and healing God had used him to do. What a great blessing He had been.

How much he had known and experienced God, how much he had sacrificed for Gods work and all He went through. He was now just like a beginner who is just starting to serve God today. There was no sitting down in self-congratulations of all he had done in the past. 


His focus is on what lies ahead. There is still more than God has for me that I am yet to achieve; there is a greater way that I God wants me to know Him that I am yet to know Him, there are many things that am yet to overcome that am yet to overcome; there are greater ways that God wants to use me that He has not been able;


This is the upward call; God is always calling us upwards; there is still more; come up higher.


Each and everyday if this year; hear the Lord speaking to you in your heart; my son, my daughter, come up higher. There are still better things ahead and upward. The call is forward and upward ↗️📴📈✈️.


Joshua took over from Moses when He was about forty years. Josh 14:7. We know that the Israelites stayed in the wilderness for forty years. Therefore Joshua was born when the Israelites were coming out of Egypt. He was from His childhood a minister of Moses. Ex 24:13. This is a picture of one who has served God faithfully from childhood to old age. The Lord says to such; “You are old and advanced in years, and much land remains to be conquered. Josh 13:1


Yes you has served God for many years faithful; but the Lord says to; there is still much more riches in Christ which are for you which you are yet to experience. There are still that God has for you which you know nothing about. Don't be satisfied with the level you have reached. Don't be satisfied that you are far ahead of many spiritually. There is still much more; continue pressing on. Heed the upward call which is still says to you; come up higher.


God has made a destination for you; and by the way; not heaven as you have already thought. Rom 8:29; For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;

The destination God has for us is to become like Jesus; in the way we speak; in our thoughts, in our deeds,as the well known phrase asks; what would Jesus do? , in our attitudes to circumstances of life, to people who hate us, to those who hurts and take advantage of us, to money and material possessions, to the poor, to sinners. God's destination is for us to become completely like Jesus. But this is not done in a moment. It's a little as Paul expresses it in 2Cor 3:18. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.


We see here is just like a student who moved from one grade to another; from grade one to two all the way to doctorate. We also see the it's not us but transforming powerful of the Holy Spirit.

The first thing He does is to show how Christ was and His attitudes, How He treated people, his attitudes to people and things, and then transforms us to make to be in that same image that Christ is.

Every time if we yield to the Holy Spirit, by the time we end the year; we should be more like Jesus in thoughts, attitudes, deeds motives and our speech.


By the end of the year you should have become a little more like Christ.


In each of the 365 days of this year; there are some things that you need to do everyday; 

1. You should encourage at least one person everyday; especially those whom you see; Heb 3:13

2. You should make your challenges that you face your servants and they should make you stronger than you were before they came. There should be no wasted experience; every experience whether good or bad should make you better and stronger than you were before. Ps 84:6-7- When they walk through the Valley of Weeping, it will become a place of refreshing springs. The autumn rains will clothe it with blessings. They go from strength to strength, Every one of them appears before God in Zion.

3. As your days increase; so should your spiritual strength also. Deut 33:25; as your days, so shall your strength, your rest and security, increase. At the end of the year, you should be stronger spiritually that you begun, you should be more at rest, and you should be more secure; that is more free from fear and anxiety.

4. Each day your heart should be like the fertile ground which bore fruits; one which received God's word, and obeys it, one that id honest before God and one that has a good attitude towards everyone especially those who do you wrong. Luke 8:15.

5. Each day you need to hear God's voice speak to you. Mat 4:4. You must thus meditate on His written word.

6. Each day you must judge yourself rightly to see where you are wrong, where you need to improve, what you need to change, where you need to repent, and what you need to set right; if you do so, the promise is that God will not judge you. 1Cor 11:31

7. Each day you must keep your conscience clear, as the evidence that you are waiting for the Lord; when you are convicted in your conscience about anything, you must set it right at the first opportunity. Act 24:16-17, 1John 3:3


This year will be the most fruitful to you if you do the above. You'll the Lord more than you ever did in your previous years, you'll serve Him more than you ever did, you'll be humbler than you've ever been, and most importantly is that your life will be more purer than you've ever been.


You are blessed to be a blessing 

Feel free to share 

@Blessed Mshindi Mambo

JOHN 8:13-20. THE MESSAGE OF THE GOSPELS

 


The Pharisees accused Jesus of giving a false testimony about Himself but Jesus said it was true for He know where He came from and where He was going. They judged by human standards but Jesus judged no one. 


This also we can learn from Jesus; not to judge others. The natural man thinks that "the way I do it is right, and if anyone does any other way; He is wrong". No one is the standard but Jesus. We must learn from Jesus not to impose on others what we think is the standard; and we should not judge others who do things differently.


Even if He judged; Jesus would judge rightly because the Father was with Him. In other words; to make the right assessment of people or circumstances; we must be walking with God and listening to Him. We must seek His mind on people or different situations; we must see things as God sees them.


The testimony of two is right. The Father gave witness to Jesus.


God approving of you is what is needed most; not trying to convince people by yourself. If God doesn't approve of you; there is no use of trying to approve of yourself.


They didn't know Him, nor did they know His Father. Though they were irritated with Him, no one arrested Him because His hour had not come.


If you are doing God's will, you cannot die before your time. God will give you all the protection that you need 


You are blessed to be a blessing 

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@Blessed Mshindi Mambo

JOHN 8:3-12. THE MESSAGE OF THE GOSPELS

 



The Scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery in the very act. They asked Jesus what He said about it since the law said that such a woman should be stoned to death. Lev 20:10.


Jesus could have started arguing with them saying it's written that both the adulterer and the adulteress should be killed; and He could have told them to go and bring the man also; but Jesus couldn't argue with them. He stooped dow to write on the ground; and as He did that, He was praying to the Father asking Him what to do in that situation. The Pharisees continued asking Him and He got an answer in His heart from the Father; 'ask them the one who has no sin to throw the first stone' and the all left beginning with the elders being convicted in their conscience. Then Jesus was left alone with the woman. He had no sin and was qualified to throw the first stone but didn't. He didn't come to throw stones to sinners but came to save them.


We learn hear that the presence of Jesus convicts us of our own personal sins. It is when we are far from Him that we are horrified by the sins of others. The more we draw nearer to Him, the more we see our sins in our speech, our deeds, our attitudes, our motives and our thoughts. 

It's when we are far from God that we have stones to throw at others to condemn them, but when we come closer to Jesus, we have compassion on sinners and long that they maybe saved.


Jesus did not say that what she did was not wrong but told her to stop sinning. It's the same thing He says Tous even today; STOP SINNING.


Whenever we face a difficult situation, in which we can even try to argue our way out, we need not to argue to prove any point; but we need to pray in our hearts and ask God for wisdom: on what to say or do in that situation. We need to learn to keep our shut until we have an answer from the Father.


Jesus said that whoever follows Him will not walk in darkness. We saw in Luke 9:23; that if anyone wants to follow Him He must say no to His will everyday and say Yes to God's will everyday. He must love Jesus above everyone and everything else. Luke 14:26-35

Such a person will not walk in darkness. In other words; He will give them all the wisdom they need for every situation they face, He will give them all knowledge, all the counsel, all the resources, all the health, all the encouragement and exhortations, all the warnings they need to do God's will and continue following Him. Are you in darkness in any area of your life? Are you a true disciple who is denying yourself and carrying your cross everyday; that is saying no to my will, my longings, my desires, my plans and ambitions and saying yes to Gods will, Gods plans, His longings, and ambitions; and loving Jesus more that father, mother, wife, husband, children, money and material possessions- If indeed you are. God will give you light when action is required. Is 50:10 Who among you fears the Lord and obeys his servant? If you are walking in darkness, without a ray of light, trust in the Lord and rely on your God.


You are blessed to be a blessing 

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@Blessed Mshindi Mambo

JOHN 7:40-8:2. THE MESSAGE OF THE GOSPELS

 



Some people after listening to Jesus said that indeed He is a prophet and He is the Messiah. Others said no because of His background. They said no prophet would come out of Galilee but in Bethlehem. Jesus didn't go to convince these bible scholars that He was born in Bethlehem. 


The soldiers who had gone to arrest Him but couldn't. After listening to Him, they concluded that no one spoke like Jesus.


We see here that the there is no need to prove to others who doubt that God chose us. God Himself will bear witness in the hearts of those listening to us. 


The Jews concluded that Jesus was deceiving people. There will always be fault-finders along the way but we shouldn't allow them to distract us from the path God has chosen for us.


Everyone went home but Jesus went to the mount of olives. This teaches us that the appreciations and fault-findings of men are just for a short time. Don't let them affect you by making you proud or discouraged.


After Jesus blessing the crowd, no one bothered to ask Him where He would spend His night. He didn't have any complaints in His heart that these people He was blessing were very ungrateful and couldn't even invite Him for a night. Have you blessed people and they forget all about you and are not bothered with something you need and they have ability to help you but won't? Don't complain or curse them in your heart. Learn from Jesus not to make demands on others even if you have blessed them. Learn contentment. Godliness with contentment is great gain. 1Tim 6:6-8.


Jesus also could use His power to make others allow Him spend the night in their house. He didn't force people but gave them freedom to do things willingly. 


The power God gives us; we should not use it to take advantage of others and and make benefits for ourselves. From Jesus we learn that power is only to be used to bless others and get nothing for ourselves.


Early in the morning He went to the temple and people came and sat down to listen to Him. No one bothered to ask Him whether He had taken breakfast or where He spent the night and that didn't bother Jesus. 


When you find that people are not concerned about you yet you have been a blessing to them; does that bother you? Do you have any complaints in your heart? Learn from Jesus. Ask God to help you not to be bothered by the things that don't bother Him and that only the things that bother Him should bother you.


Jesus was concerned about blessing the crowds who listened to Him only not how comfortable He slept, or how delicious the supper or breakfast He took.


Learn from Jesus and have the right priorities.


You are blessed to be a blessing 

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@Blessed Mshindi Mambo

JOHN 7:31-39. THE MESSAGE OF THE GOSPELS


Many believed on Jesus and when the Pharisees learned how people whispered, they sent soldiers to arrest Jesus. 


We see here the jealousy of the Pharisees. They couldn't bear the crowds listening to Jesus. These crowds could not attend the Pharisees meetings.


Do you get jealous when someone else has favour which you don't have or can do things in a better way than you? Don't be a follower of the Pharisees. Learn to appreciate when others can do something better than you and don't compare yourself with them. The problem with comparing is that you'll be wrong; if someone is better than you, you'll get jealous; and if you are better than them, you get proud and despise them. Thus we must only compare ourselves with Jesus Christ alone.


Jesus said He'll go somewhere no one can come and people didn't understand what He meant and He never explained it. Even today there are times He speaks to us without explaining. He is testing the obedience of faith. Will you obey Him only when you understand the reason or will you obey Him even when you don't understand the reason.


At the climax of the feast, Jesus stood at the crowds and said; that whoever thirsts, let Him come to Him and drink. He who believes on Him as the scripture said, from His innermost being will flow rivers of living waters. He spoke about the Holy Spirit who was not yet given because Jesus was not yet glorified.


We learn here that Jesus does not call everyone. He calls only those who are thirsty. We also saw in Mathew 11:28 that it those who are sick and tired of their defeated unsatisfying Christian life that Jesus calls to Himself.


As we all know; there are different degrees of thirst. Some thirst can be quenched by a half glass, others a full glass, others two, others a jug... It is your thirst that will determine how much fulness of the Spirit you will receive. It's so unfortunate that many got satisfied with the gift of tongues. It just means that what they thirsted for was just a gift, and thats what they got. Jesus promised that rivers of living waters should flow from the innermost being. Not one river but many. We know that rivers are a blessing wherever they flow: to the fish and creatures living in them, to the families around that place, to the trees and everything. In the same way, Jesus desire that your life should bless everyone who comes in contact with you. Another thing is that the river does not strain to be a blessing but it's natural and easy. In the same way, it should not be a struggle to bless others but it should be the natural thing and very easy. Jesus talked about many rivers not one river; rivers flowing in different directions; east, west, north and south; in good times in bad times, you will be a blessing. Don't be satisfied that you speak in tongues. That's not the greatest thing. God desires to fill you with His Holy Spirit in greater measure than you have experienced so far. Hunger for more.


Don't be satisfied with being an average christian, your life should be flowing rivers of living waters blessing others wherever they meet you.


God has so much in store for you than you have experienced so far. Long that you will experience everything that Christ purchased for you in this life, long that God will use you mightily as He has planned with your life....


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JOHN 7:19-30. THE MESSAGE OF THE GOSPELS

 



Jesus reminded the Pharisees that though Moses gave the law; they never kept it. In fact, they were trying to kill Him. They said He had a demon. They were amazed at the miracle Jesus performed. Jesus also reminded them that they broke the Sabbath law to circumcise a man.


Here we see the nature of Adam in us. It's always seeking the faults in others and never sees 'whats wrong with me'. it's easier to find what's wrong others when there are so many things wrong with you. We must reorient our minds to seeking what's wrong with us and the good qualities in others.


The Pharisees could not simply appreciate that a man was healed; they saw that it was on Sabbath and it was wrong and they thought of killing Jesus.


He said we should not judge superficially by appearances, but we should look beneath the surface and judge with righteous judgment.


The natural man judges superficially by what his ears hear and what his eyes see. Isaiah 11:3, tells us that because Jesus feared God, He never made judgement based on what His eyes saw and what His hears heard, but He always sought the Father in everything. 

We don't fear God so much and that's why we are careless in making judgement based on what our eyes see and what our ears hear. We need to be filled with the Spirit of the fear of God that we will always have an attitude; 'let me first of all pray about it.'


Someone saw Jesus and thought the rulers discovered He was the Messiah because He spoke openly and no-one laid their hands on Him though they were seeking to kill Him.


They couldn't agree He was the Messiah and Jesus said He never came with His own authority as self -appointed, but He was sent.


We are to follow Jesus in His footsteps. He didn't come in His own authority but He was sent. He never came as a self-appointed prophet but He was sent. He never came in His own initiative but He was sent.


From this we learn that we should not go where we have not been sent. When man fell, Jesus could have come immediately to die for the sins of the world but He waited in heaven for four thousand years. 


Gal 4:4 says that when the fulness of time came, God sent forth His son. In the same way; there is always a time and a season for everything that God wants us to accomplish. Ecc3:1, and God has made everything beautiful when it's done in its own time. Just like fruits, there is the flowering stage to the maturity stage and then the ripening stage. If you pick the fruit when it's immature, it will be bitter and sour, but if you wait until ripening, it will be sweet. There is always a sweetness that comes when we do things at the right time. We also must not delay because when fruits overripen, they get spoilt.


Have you understood different times and seasons for different things God wants you to do? Seek and you will find.


Jesus was sent from the Fathers presence. We also must live in the Fathers presence so that we can hear Him sending us. We must learn to wait in His presence before going out, and we must only go where we have been sent, and we must only do what God asks us to do.


They were eager to arrest Jesus but no one laid His hands in Him because His hour had not yet come.


This is a beautiful picture of how God protects us when we are doing His will. They had the power, they had the authority from their authorities, they had muscles, they had eagerness to arrest Jesus but they couldn't simply because His hour had not yet come. 


There is nothing that the devil can do to a man who lives in His Fathers presence and is doing His will. Such a man cannot die before his time. Be such a person who will live in the Fathers presence and doing His will.


You are blessed to be a blessing 

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JOHN 7:11-18. THE MESSAGE OF THE GOSPELS

 



At the feast the Jews were seeking Jesus. Some people said He was a good man and others said He was a deceiver but they couldn't speak openly because of the fear of Jews.


Here we learn something about the opinions of men. Each person has their own opinion, and Jesus didn't go to ask Him for their opinion about Himself. He lived before God's face and only God's opinion about Him mattered.


Mens opinion can make you think you are a somebody when you are a nobody and make you proud or it can make you think you are worthless, especially the fault-finding and criticism of men and you get discouraged. Thus, it's only God's opinion about you that matters. He alone sees many things that people can't know about you. 


In the midst of the feast Jesus went and taught and the Jews were astonished and wondered how He learnt yet He wasn't educated.


Jesus spoke with authority from the Father. He didn't go to the Jewish bible school to be taught and thats why the Jews wondered about Him. He attended the school of the Holy Spirit and got spiritual authority. 

This is the most important thing in preaching or teaching God's word; to have spiritual authority. God does not give authority to everyone; but to those He has tested and approved of; just like one doesn't get a degree without being tested in different units and passed. Are you seeking for Gods authority? Are you seeking to pass the tests He allows in your life especially in private? Are you seeking His approval or mans approval? Are you seeking to please God or men?


Jesus only taught what the Father gave Him. We should only teach or preach from the bible.



Whoever has set His heart to obey God and do His will; God will give to such discernment to know what comes from God and what is of flesh or demonic.


Do you long for discernment to know the difference on what comes from God and what is not from Him? Set your heart to obey God and do His will in every area of your life.


He who advertises himself seeks His own glory, but one who seeks to glorify the one who sent him is true and there is no unrighteousness in Him.


This is another secret of Jesus and it is also a secret to have an inner reality of our spiritual life and a secret to overcoming sin; that is; in everything that you do, seek to glorify God. Ask yourself; how will this glorify God? In this situation; how can God be glorified? In what way can I respond to this and glorify God? 

If you make this your attitude in your day to day life, you will have a inner satisfying christian life and life of overcoming sin. You will be true and there will be no unrighteousness in you do.


Desire that and change your attitude to glorifying God in everything. Set your heart to obey God and seek to do His will in every area of your life.



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JOHN 7:1-10. THE MESSAGE OF THE GOSPELS

 


Jesus was unwilling to walk in Judea because the Jews were planning to kill Him. 

We learn that it's wisdom to expose yourself to danger. Jesus knew God more than us and yet He didn't claim the promise foolishly declaring no weapon fashioned against Him shall prevail. In the same way we must not expose ourselves to danger unnecessarily.


The feast was near and His brothers told Him to go to Judea that the disciples may see the works He was doing.

They said He can't be famous hiding Himself as He did but He should show Himself to the world.


We see the attitude of the world is to seek fame but Jesus said no. He didn't come to seek honour from men. 

Are you seeking to be a famous Christian? Are you seeking honour for yourself? Abstain from such.


Jesus brothers did not believe Him and this was not the last case.


He told them that they can do whatever they want anytime but His time had not yet come for Him to go.

We learn something about God's timing and Jesus sensitivity to it. As Ecclesiastis 3 says, there is a time and a season for every activity under the earth.

Whatever the Lord wants you to do, there is a timeframe for it? For every season there is a place where you need to be. Jesus did not miss Gods timing because of peer pressure or the pressure of His blood brothers.


We can also follow Jesus here; to be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit and not act according to the pressure of our relatives or our circumstances.


Are you able to recognise different times and seasons in your life and also enter into them? You can start now; ask God to make you sensitive.


The world cannot hate Jesus brothers but it hated Jesus because Jesus testified that it's deeds are evil. The way Jesus lived was a testimony the the deeds of worldly people were evil. This is the reason that there is a great pressure for true believers to compromise; but Jesus didn't compromise. He stood up and God was with Him.


He told His brothers to go to the feast; He wouldn't go for His time to go had not yet come. After His brothers went, He also went, not publicly but in secret.


Jesus was also waiting to hear from the Father on when to go; while He was talking to His brothers, He hadn't heard a go ahead. It was after He was left alone that He heard His Father telling Him to go secretly.


We must learn to have the sensitivity of God's voice. This doesn't come naturally but we have to practice it more more more. Practice makes perfect.


Why did God not allow Jesus to go that journey with His brothers? Because He didn't want Him to go listening to all the gossip His brothers talked about. 

He wanted to walk alone so the He would walk in communion with His Father. Talking to God and listening to Him.

God wanted Him to be alone with Him.


Do you seek time to be alone with God?

God is always desiring that you be alone with Him. Take your time to be alone with Him.


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JOHN 6:46-71. THE MESSAGE OF THE GOSPELS

 



Jesus said He alone has seen the Father and he who believes has eternal life.

 He is the living bread from heaven that gives life to everyone who eats it. It is in eating His flesh that we have life. Many people got offended thinking He was making them cannibals. Jesus f

Didn't bother to explain to them about the Lord's supper.


Here we learn about the importance of the Lord's supper, that is partaking His blood and body. It's not just a ritual but a reality that makes us partake of the life of Christ and makes us know Him more intimately and abide in Him more and more.


It's unfortunate that this has become a meaningless ritual to many believers but Jesus didn't intend it to be. 

Do you take the Lord's supper meaningfully or is it another church ritual?


Another thing we learn is that God will not explain everything He tells us. He wants us to have the obedience of faith. That is, I trust my heavenly Father loves me and cares for me and is all wise in whatever He commands me to do though I don't understand why. I will still obey without questioning.


Jesus lived because of the Father, we will also live because of Him. If know Him more and more intimate, abiding in Him, will be the source of our strength.


Jesus asked whether they got offended for saying the difficult things: He asked what will happen if they see the Son of man ascending where He was before.


It is the Spirit who gives life: the flesh profits nothing.


Have you come to know this in your flesh. Have you realised your flesh; which refers to your self-will, profits nothing? If you knew it you would crucify it everyday; saying no to my will and yes to Gods will and obeying the promptings of the Spirit for that alone gives life.


The words Jesus spoke are not empty. They are spirit and they are life; in the same way, the words of a true disciple are not empty. This is why the disciples must be very careful in the way they speak. Your tongue has power if you are a true disciples; that is one who loves Jesus more that Himself, and everyone and everything else.


No one comes to Jesus unless Jesus gives them to Him. In the same way, when God gives a ministry to a child of God, it is God who draws people to that ministry. 


Jesus asked the twelve whether they also wanted to go away and Peter replied no; the words of Jesus had eternal life.


We see here that God constantly tests His disciples to see whether they would stand by Him.


As long as you are in this life; God will constantly test you to see whether you love Him with all your heart, soul, strength and mind and whether you will obey Him in private.


God tests us most times in secret, when He tells us to do something which no one will know even if we disobey it. We may still maintain a good reputation before others yet be failing the tests God gives us in private. Beware and pass your tests.


He said that He chose the twelve but one is a devil. The interesting thing about the word translated as devil here is that in other places it's translated as slanderer. A slanderer is one who speaks evil of others behind their back. 


A devil is also a slanderer.


In the times of this ignorance, God overlooked but now command all men everywhere to repent. Acts 17:30


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JOHN 6:39-45. THE MESSAGE OF THE GOSPELS


Jesus said that Gods will was that He lose nothing of all He was given. Whatever God entrusted Him with, He was to treasure it and preserve it. 


In the same way we must value what God gives us; not material wealth; that must be held loosely otherwise it will come between you and God; but the revelation that God gives you must be valued; those whom the Lord brings under your authority must be valued... Don't take for granted what God entrusts with but you must treasure it and guard it; as Paul says in 2Tim 1:14; Through the power of the Holy Spirit who lives within us, carefully guard the precious truth that has been entrusted to you.


He explained that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in Him should have eternal life and He would raise him up on the last day.


Jesus came to give life to all who look up to Him and believe Him. Even today God is calling us to look unto Jesus and believe in Him that we may get eternal life. 


Remember that eternal life doesn't mean living forever but knowing God and Christ intimately. Jn 17:3


Thus don't think that you got born again and thats enough; you must continue looking unto Jesus and believing Him to know Him more and more and to know God as your Father and this knowledge should be increasing consistently.


The Jews grumbled because He said He was the bread from heaven. They asked if He was not the Son of Joseph and Mary....they got offended. 


We see as the saying goes; Familiarity breeds contempt. It's a dangerous thing to get familiar with a servant of God because you will not receive what God has for you through them. Have you allowed familiarity to come between you and the servant of God who ministers to you?

To fight familiarity; learn to appreciate what He does, learn to find good and not faults with Him. Don't forget what a blessing He has brought to your and your family. 


Jesus said that no one can come to Him unless God sends him. We see here that human nature is against God and will not come to God. If you came to God; it's not you, it's God who drew you to Christ. You didn't choose God; God chose you .



Everyone who is taught of the Father comes to Christ. 


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JOHN 6:30-38. THE MESSAGE OF THE GOSPELS


The people asked Jesus which sign He would give them for them to believe; for Moses had given bread from Heaven. Jesus replied that Moses didn't give the true bread from Heaven but it is the Father who gives the true bread. They asked Jesus to give them the bread everyday. Jesus said He is the bread of life, He who comes to Him will not hunger, and he who believes in Him will not thirst.


We can say here there is a vacuum in the heart of man, which can only be filled by God. There is a hunger and a thirst in the heart of man which nothing but Jesus can satisfy. Many think that by accumulating a lot of money, they will find satisfaction, but discover that money cannot satisfy. Others try to fill the gap in entertainment, but leave there empty; other think it's in having great positions in the world but only get disappointed. 


There is nothing that this world can offer that can satisfy the heart of man. It's in finding the real Jesus that the hunger in our hearts.


Have you found the true Jesus who brings true satisfaction? Have you found him and lost the hunger and thirst for other things the world can offer? 

If your heart is longing for anything else other than Jesus; it's because you may have probably have not met the real Jesus but another Jesus. 2Cor 11:4. There is another Jesus, another spirit, another gospel.


The real Jesus when you find Him and come to Him, you shall never hunger, when you believe in Him, you shall never thirst.


Jesus said that anyone who comes to Him, He will never cast out. Whoever the person is, from any religion, or any country, or any tribe or in any family, rich or poor, educated or non-educated, no matter what crimes and sins they have committed, whoever and at any time they come to Jesus, Jesus will never cast them out. He has no discrimination. 


We can also follow Jesus here, to learn to receive those who He has received. There may be differences in doctrines, but the question should be, Has Jesus received this person, if yes, why should you reject them. Y

We need to ask God to enlarge our hearts to receive and love all of Gods children. All of Gods children are not found in your church. They are found even in the churches you despise. Learn to receive God's children. Each of God's children is a work in progress. God is still working in them to make the like Christ, in the attitudes, in their motives, in their thoughts, in their speech and in their actions. You also are a work in progress. Just because God has been able to work with you to some measure doesn't mean you are better than them because you are ahead of them spiritually or in other ways, a student who is in class 8 doesn't despise the one who has just joined school because they don't know anything. They receive them and are patient with them and constantly encourage them to press on knowing that one day, they will also learn as he has learnt and if he passes exams in every class he will sooner or later know as much as he knows.


This is what we need to do; those whom the Lord has recently received, we need to help and encourage them but most importantly, we need to learn to be patient with them and not expect them to learn in one year what the Lord has taught us in 10 years. Be patient and be an encourager.


Jesus said that the reason He came from heaven was not not to do His own will but the will of Him who sent Him. 


We are to follow Jesus; and we should change the ambition and goal of our life to this; God saved me for me not to do my own will but the will of God. 


My whole attitude each day should be, I want to do God's will not my will in this matter. This will change our whole being to one which is constantly praying; asking God, In this case, what is your will? What should I do here? How should I reply to this? What will glorify you in this case?


Where are following Jesus so far? 

You've been following this bible studies, how much have they changed you to follow Jesus or have they just increased your bible knowledge? What practical ways have they helped to know Jesus more and more?


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JOHN 6:14-29. THE MESSAGE OF THE GOSPELS

 

The people after seeing the miracle perceived that God had sent a prophet in the world and they intended to take Him by force and make Him a king but Jesus withdrew by the mountain alone.


Here we learn from Jesus that there is no earthly or political position that can equal being in the place God wants you to be, doing what He wants you to do. The centre of God's will for your life is the greatest achievement you can ever make in your life; and the good thing is that it has nothing better than it but it has many enemies and distractions. Determine to always be in God's appointed place for you doing your appointed task.


Jesus didn't go even with His disciples because of the urgency of the matter. He had no time for explanations.


The disciples went to Capernaum by boat and there was strong winds; then Jesus came walking on water and and the disciples got afraid and He told them that it was he not to be afraid and they welcomed Him to the boat and immediately they arrived.


We see here that sometimes God withdraws His manifest presence from us just as He left the disciples; but even when He seems silent, He still cares. He came through when the disciples were in trouble and they were at peace. The presence of Jesus always brings peace.


The crowds took boats to Capernaum seeking for Jesus. He told them that they were seeking for Him because they ate bread, not because they understood the miracles.


We learn here that the miracles of Jesus were with a purpose; and that is to teach something. Even today He is the same. The miracles He performs in our lives are to teach us a lesson. Learn to seek to always learn something from the workings of God in your life.

Even in the situations and challenges we face in life, we should have an attitude of; what is this trying to teach me? And learn a lesson for yourself.


Man is naturally selfish. He is only thinking about, " I, my, me, myself" and Jesus came to deliver us from selfishness.


Jesus said, But don’t be so concerned about perishable things like food. Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that the Son of Man can give you. For God the Father has given me the seal of his approval.”


As someone has said; don't live for the temporal but on eternal things. Let things with eternal values have the highest priorities in your life. 

" A question that can help you determine how much value to place is, after I die, how much important will this be to me? When am in heaven and I look at what am living for today, will I see I was wise or foolish? How much will this count on the last day. 


The people asked Jesus what they must do to do the works of God and He told them they were to believe in Him. 


Here we learn for us to do the works of God, for us to fulfill God's purpose for our lives, we must trust in Jesus. Our entire life must lean on Him for guidance, for direction, for strengthening, for wisdom for everything just like a branch leans on the tree for everything and bears fruits. We'll be fruitful if our entire lives is dependent on Christ.


You are blessed to be a blessing 

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THE FEAR OF GOD

  The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.   Wisdom will multiply your days and ...