In the spirit of Thanksgiving, today's TERC Podcast focuses on a state of eternal gratefulness.
Below is a short summary, and then the Podcast:
Main Verse: Philippians 4:6 "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God."
A state of eternal gratefulness is where God wants us to be. It doesn't matter how challenging our circumstances may be, just the knowledge that you know a mighty God who is your Father should change your countenance. That's why Philippians 4:6 says that every time we pray, it should be with thanksgiving.
In that verse, do we notice how the "thanksgiving" comes before "making our requests known to God?"
Are we thankful for the things we have before we make future requests to God?
God is so much MORE than Someone who we can delegate the tasks of the day. With just one word, He framed the entire universe. He is powerful beyond comprehension. And the same powerful God who holds the entire universe with His hands is the same one whose heart beats for each one of us.
Presented by Muyiwa on Friday, November 18th, 2011.
Below is a short summary, and after that the actual podcast:
Dear friends, Satan's #1 target is your faith.
Have you ever noticed that to grow your muscles you need to put distress on it? That's what this conference was all about. Strengthening our faith can be rightly compared to strengthening our muscles.
Our Christian walk can be compared to a battle field, not a bed of roses. 2 Timothy 2:3 "You, therefore, must endure hardship as a good soldier of Christ."
Just as you can separate the wheat from chaff, Satan wants to sift you from your faith. Luke 22:31-32, "And the Lord said, "Simon, Simon, indeed Satan has asked for you that he may sift you as wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith should not fail."
When you feel the impact of a fiery trial, don't give up. Use the opportunity to strengthen your faith. 1 Peter 4:12, "Do not think of it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you..."
To hear the rest of the very interesting TERC conference, click PLAY on the Youtube video below:
This TERC Conference was divided into series of points and prayer points.
1. The Raising of Moses:
In Exodus 3:9-10, we see that God specifically raised up Moses, from the day he was born, to be the one to bring the Israelites out of bondage.
Prayer Point: God will raise up your own Moses to deliver you out of whatever you are going through.
2. The Hardening of Pharaoh's Heart: In Exodus 4:21 & Exodus 5:6-9, we see that God hardened Pharaoh's heart. In fact, Pharaoh increased the hardship by making the Israelites look for their own materials to build (they were being supplied with materials before, but Pharaoh put a halt to their supplies).
Prayer Point: God will silence every Pharaoh who is trying to make your task impossible.
3. God has His Perfect Timing: Between Exodus 11:9 to Exodus 14, we see that many plagues happened, but Pharaoh's heart remained hardened till the last plague. When Pharaoh eventually let the children of Israel go, it wasn't because of the plagues, but because God saw that it was time. God has His perfect timing, and His timing is the best. Whatever you're going through, He can turn your situation around in a swift second.
Prayer Point: Every Pharaoh standing between you and your promise land, through a hardening of his or her heart, God's miracles will be multiplied. Also that God should turn your situation around in His perfect time.
4. God Allows Events So That His Name Will Be Glorified: One of the reasons Pharaoh's heart was hardened was so that God's wonders would be multiplied in all of Israel.
Prayer Point: That your enemies would acknowledge the power of God in your life, and that they would come to the knowledge of the Lord and accept Jesus as their Savior.
5. Even After Your Victory Hold on to God: After he let the Israelites go, Pharaoh decided he'd made a mistake and sent an army to chase the children of Israel. After your victory, you need to hold on to God even more because the enemy is ready to pursue.
6. The Enemy Cannot Win Against the Children of God: In Exodus 14:19-28, we see that as the chase pressed forward, God protected his children. First, he went before them as a pillar of cloud by day and pillar of fire by night (shielding them from the Egyptians). Second, He created a way of escape by parting the red sea so the Israelites walked through on dry ground. Third, He caused confusion in the enemy's camp. Lastly, all the armies of Pharaoh were drowned after they attempted to follow Israel through the path in-between the red sea.
Prayer Point: For patience. The breakthrough for the children of Israel did not come immediately. They had to endure till the very end. May we persevere till the very end. Also, that God will arise and throw confusion into the camp of the enemy. That He will contend with those who contend with you.
Conclusion:
The Red Sea represents that distance between you and your promise land (breakthrough, deliverance, Canaan). Pharaoh represents the enemy (those who don't want you to see your Canaan). But for every red sea, there will always be a Moses to part it. For every wall of Jericho, there's always a Joshua to bring it down. For every Goliath, there is always a David to conquer him. Therefore, for every problem you are facing, no matter how difficult, God will always provide a solution as far as you're a child of God.
The main focus in the church should be the Word of God and Salvation. These days, there are so many distractions in churches which can come in the form of church activities and charities. Old school ministries had their focus mainly on the Word of God, but it isn't the same in this generation's churches. How can we get back to those days? How can we fulfill our ministries and eliminate distractions in today's society?
Listen to Dosh and be blessed as she encourages all of us to "Fulfill Our Ministries."
Posts
