God Understands Our Limitations

Bible reading: Genesis 22: 2-13 (NIV)
Focus verse: Genesis 22: 7-8 – Isaac spoke up and said to his father Abraham, “Father?” “Yes, my son?” Abraham replied. “The fire and wood are here,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.” And the two of them went on together.

Limitations are part of our daily encounters with a degree ranging from one person to another, or a family to the other or a nation to the other. Though some people may say that they have excess for their needs, but none is perfect without a limitation – we are all lacking in something whether physical, physiological or emotional. Isaac as a young boy understood that something was missing; they did not have a lamb for sacrifice. He could count what they have but that is not all they needed, something was still missing. He turns to his father and shares his worries and concerns, and the father lovingly responds that God will provide. Isaac did not stop on the way nor did he complain to the father but believed the words of his father and kept moving even to the sacrifice alter. 

Many people have doubted God’s help when over carried with limitations. Some have stopped from trusting and as a result have left the faith. God understands that we do not have it all but still wants us to trust and walk with Him. He already has solutions to all that troubles us but wants us to trust Him more daily as we abide in him no matter what. Apostle Paul states, Philippians 4:19 “And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” Don’t sit back or forsake walking in truth of the light of God because you do not have it all. Keep going, God has it all for you.

Pastor Eliazar Wambo
Makira Baptist – Mfangano Kenya

Wasted Opportunity

Bible reading: Exodus 8:1-15 (NIV)

Focus verse: Exodus 8:8-10 – Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron and said, “Pray to the Lord to take the frogs away from me and my people, and I will let your people go to offer sacrifice to the Lord.” Moses said to Pharaoh, “I leave to you the honor of setting the time for me to pray for you and your officials and your people that you and your houses may be rid of the frogs, except for those that remain in the Nile.” “Tomorrow” Pharaoh said. Moses replied, “It will be as you say so that you may know there is no one like the Lord our God.

Decisions have consequences that not only affect our lives but also the lives of our loved ones, communities, friends, work and even the nation at large. At one point in life we all stand a chance to help rescue other people’s lives or to help worsen their lives more so when are entrusted with a leadership role like Pharaoh was. Many people have made decisions that have lived to cause regrets in the generations to come. Pharaoh realizes that because of his tough headedness all the nation is invaded by frogs that spread all over the land. He goes to Moses to present the cry of his nation to have all frogs taken out from them. When given opportunity to decide when, he boldly says “Tomorrow.” Why would he postpone such kind of decision to the following day? Why would he allow the innocent lives of his people including his own family, and the children to have another troubled day with frogs?

That is exactly how we behave when we keep postponing making important decisions for our lives in time. We allow Satan to trouble us for another day yet we live in pain and worries away from God. We cause our innocent families to suffer when we don’t make right choices for their lives. Just as Moses told Pharaoh to decide when, so the Lord is waiting patiently for when we shall allow Him to come to our rescue. God will never force himself to us.  Paul in his letter to the church in Rome (Romans 10:8-9) mentions that the word of salvation is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart. Any moment you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you are saved. Will you post pone your worries, troubles, anxieties to another day or have yourself at feet of Jesus and cast all your burdens upon him?

Pastor Eliazar Wambo
Makira Baptist – Mfangano Kenya

The Conclusion

Bible Reading: 2 Timothy 4

Focus Verses: 2 Timothy 4:7-8  “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.  Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.”

The Rapture is an event that could take place at any moment.  One day millions of people will disappear from the face of the earth in an instant.  Only the people who have put their faith and trust in Jesus will be taken.  Then there will be a period of seven years of suffering on the earth called the tribulation.  During this time those who have gone to heaven will be rewarded at the judgment seat of Christ.  Not to be judged for our sin, because that was paid for a the cross.  But we will be rewarded for our faithfulness to Christ.  Those found faithful with receive “the crown of righteousness” from the only person who could give such a reward, Jesus.  The Christian life is not easy.  Paul says “I have fought a good fight.”  Sometimes the Christian life is a fight.  Those who finish this race well will be blessed.  So let us remain faithful to the end, so that we can have a great conclusion.

Bobby Johnson
Interlocking Ministries

Adversity and Humility

By Greg Laurie

"So it shall be, when the Lord your God brings you into the land of which He swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give you large and beautiful cities which you did not build, houses full of all good things, which you did not fill, hewn-out wells which you did not dig, vineyards and olive trees which you did not plant--when you have eaten and are full--then beware, lest you forget the Lord. . . ."

—Deuteronomy 6:10-12

In his book, The Problem of Pain, C. S. Lewis wrote, "God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains. It is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world." We talk about the problem of pain, but let's talk about the problem of prosperity. Prosperity brings responsibility, because we are not owners; we are stewards. Everything God gives to us is a gift, and we will be held responsible for what we do with the resources that are at our disposal. Therefore, we want to make sure that we remain dependent on God.

When life gets really hard and adversity hits, we pray—and so we should. But sometimes when life is going reasonably well, we sort of forget about prayer. In Acts 12, we read that when James was beheaded and Peter was put in prison, the church prayed—and they prayed with desperation, because they knew that if God didn't come through, there was no other hope.The psalmist wrote, "Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep Your word" (Psalm 119:67). God gave this warning to Israel before they entered the Promised Land and began enjoying all its blessings: "When you have eaten and are full—then beware, lest you forget the Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage" (Deuteronomy 6:11–12).

Adversity levels us and keeps us humble, while prosperity tends to make us proud and self-sufficient. We don't think we need God when we're in good health or have a [pocket full of money]. But when an economy goes south or the doctor has bad news, we turn to God, because we are reminded of what really matters. 

Whether in prosperity or adversity, humility honors God.  Philippians 2:3 tells us, "Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself."