God’s Messenger

Posted on December 15, 2022 by Doula Faith

Summary – Reflection – Prayer
To
God’s Word
While Walking it Out

Context: Luke 1: 1-79
Focus: Luke 1: 5-17

“Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty, according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense. And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense. And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the “Altar of Incense.”( my emphasis)   Luke 1: 8-11

Zechariah was chosen to make intercession for God’s people in the temple while burning incense at the altar. . During this time, an angel of the Lord appeared with God’s message; his prayers were heard. The angel announced, it would be through his son, John, God would prepare His people for the coming of their Savior and Lord.

Scriptures reveal when God is doing a work involving all His people, He sends an angel to confirm the answer to prayer.  We know that after 21 days while Daniel was interceding for Israel, an angel appeared to tell him what was to come, and when Mary was to conceive the Son of God, the angel, Gabriel told her the good news of Jesus’ birth.

Now, when the children of God, who have been born again into the Kingdom of God’s Son, receive an answer to prayer, it is by His Holy Spirit what is to come is revealed.

As children of the living God, through faith in Jesus’ death and resurrection, God does something greater than sending an angel, He sends His Holy Spirit who dwells within the believer and the High Priest, Jesus Christ STANDS at the right – hand side of the Father, interceding for His church- His Bride betrothed.
(John 3: 3, Ephesians 1: 13, Philippians 1: 4-6,
Romans 8:34, Luke 22: 31-32, John 16:13 )

Thank You, Lord it is not by might nor by power but by your Holy Spirit you are revealed.
(Matthew 16: 16-17, Zechariah 4:6)

 

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BELIEVE

Posted on December 9, 2022 by Doula Faith

“His Abide” 

Summary – Reflection – Prayer
To
God’s Word
While Walking it Out

Context: Luke 1: 1-80
Focus: Luke 1: 1-4

“Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us,  just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.”

In any investigation there must be eyewitnesses affirming the person exists or the event took place.  In the case of the life of Jesus Christ there were many eye-witnesses to His life, death and resurrection. So the account in the Word of God is accurate and is the complete truth.  (1 John 1: 1-4)

In the Word of God it states there has to be two or more witnesses to verify the truth. No person can be condemned or affirmed without this proof. Those closest to Jesus during the time of His life on earth were His disciples who lived with Him for three years.  So their testimony is true.  Luke a physician was meticulous concerning his investigation into the birth and life of Christ. But the greatest testimony and witness to the truth concerning who Jesus Christ is and was is the witness of the Holy Spirit.

When a person believes in the testimony concerning the gospel, they have confirmation it is the truth by God, Himself; for the Holy Spirit confirms it to the believer’s heart and the matter is settled and sealed.  No one nor anything can rob the believer of this truth; Jesus came to save the world and by His death and resurrection all who believe have eternal life. This witness remains solid and real to all who BELIEVE.
(Deuteronomy 19:15,  Deuteronomy 17:6 , 2 Corinthians 13:1
Matthew 18:16 , 1 Timothy 5:19 )

Lord, thank you for sealing the witness of your salvation to our heart, so there is no longer any need of an investigation into the person of your Son, Jesus Christ, for He dwells in us and our faith abides in Him, alone.  (Ephesians 1:13)

My Witness of the Truth

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The Mark

Posted on December 1, 2022 by Doula Faith

“His Abide” 

Summary – Reflection – Prayer
To
God’s Word
While Walking it Out

Context: Exodus 13: 1-16
Focus: Exodus 13:16



“This ceremony will be like a mark branded on your hand or your forehead.  It is a reminder that the power of the Lord’s mighty hand brought us out of Egypt.”

After the Lord brought the Israelites out of Egypt He told Moses to dedicate the first born male animal and child to Him to remember how He brought them out of slavery in Egypt by the power of His mighty hand.

This ceremony was to be celebrated so they would never forget how God had delivered them and set them free by His judgment upon the Egyptians.  Just as circumcision marked the families belonging to God, this dedication ceremony also reminded them they belonged to the Lord.

When a person accepts Jesus Christ as their personal Savior, the evidence they are a child of God is in the  manifestation of the Holy Spirit. The fruit of the Holy Spirit is the character of Christ  – love, joy, peace, goodness, faithfulness, kindness, patience, gentleness and self control.  As the born again believer yields to the Holy Spirit, Christ’s character is developed. Therefore there is no longer any condemnation for those in Christ Jesus, for there is no law against the fruit of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer.
(Romans 8: 1-2, Galatians 5:22-23, 2 Corinthians 13:5)

Satan will try to imitate the things of God. Those who receive the devil’s spirit in order to buy and sell during the time of the anti-christ, will be brought into spiritual slavery. The unbeliever who yields to the flesh and collaborates with evil for self-preservation, will be sealed with this fate.
(Revelation 13: 16-17, Mark 8:35)

The persons receiving Jesus Christ as their personal savior are marked, sealed with the Holy Spirit.  This is a guarantee of their redemption and nothing can separate them from God’s love. What He begins in them He will finish and bring them into His eternal dwelling place. They will not suffer His wrath, but will escape through faith in the One who saves – Jesus Christ.
(Romans 8: 38-39, Ephesians 1: 13-14, Philippians 1:6, Revelation 3:10)

” And in Him, having heard and believed the word of truth-the gospel of your salvation-you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the pledge of our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession, to the praise of His glory.”
Ephesians 1: 13-14

Jesus Christ received the marks and nail prints in His hands and feet on the cross to pay for our redemption to be set free from sin and death.  Anyone who repents and accepts His salvation is set free from the slavery to sin,  and receives eternal life, having received the mark of redemption which is His Holy Spirit.
(John 3:16, Romans 5:6)

If you have not accepted Christ’s salvation for the forgiveness of your sins, you can receive Him today. Just pray for God to forgive you of your sins and believe in Christ’s salvation.
He will hear your prayer.

“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For it is with your heart you believe and are justified and it is with your mouth you profess your faith and are saved.”
Romans 10: 9-10 

My Personal Testimony of my Salvation
Margie Reid

 

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Childbirth Faith

Posted on November 7, 2022 by Doula Faith

“His Abide” 

Summary – Reflection – Prayer
To
God’s Word
While Walking it Out

Context: Matthew 24: 1-51
Focus: Matthew 24:8

“All this is just the start of the birth pangs.” Matthew 24:8

Jesus told His disciples that the temple they thought was so great, would one day be destroyed, leveled, not one stone remaining upon another. So they asked when would this take place, and so He proceeded to tell them the signs that would occur at the end of the age, liking it to childbirth, where the beginning of the process would be like birth pangs.

The lord gives warnings through pain. This is an alert that something is about to take place. So it is with childbirth that the pains begin slowly, giving the mother time to flee to safety, and with less intensity and frequency at the beginning then increasing until the baby is suddenly born.
(Matthew 24: 15-21)

When the subject is approached concerning whether or not we are at the end of the age, I often hear; “well, you know,  these things have been happening since the beginning of time”, and that is very true, that is a fact. We have had calamities, wars, earthquakes, and disasters even worse then today which have taken place throughout the world.  Calamities and wars have always taken place, but that’s not the point. The reason He likened His sudden return to childbirth is that during the process  the contractions usually start off  mild, and are spread apart over a long duration.  Then they increase, are closer together  with greater intensity when the baby is ready to be born.  The greatest intensity and pain is during the transition period, whereby,  the baby moves in position, from the womb to the pelvis region. There the baby waits for the natural impulse of the pelvic muscles to lift up and out,  and thus, the long awaited event of birth takes place. So it will be when the church leaves this world and lifted up to meet the Lord in the air.
(Romans 8:19, 1 Thessalonians 4:17)

During the last phase before His return,  Jesus said specific things would take place.
There would be an increase in wars, famines, false Messiahs, false prophets, great persecutions of His followers, lawlessness will increase everywhere,  signs and wonders to deceive, and the Good News about the Kingdom would be preached and heard throughout the whole world.

After the intense and frequent contractions open the womb, there is a lull period, a sudden rest, and then suddenly there is a natural push and the baby comes forth.
1 Thessalonians 5:3

Therefore, I believe the world is in the last stages of labor where the judge is standing at the door, waiting to deliver His Beloved and take His sons and daughters to His Father’s home.   The increase birth pangs signal the watching, the alert to be prepared and ready. Because, the Son of Man is coming soon!

How I Came to Faith

CR – Matthew 25: 1-30

 

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Quiet and Confident in Jesus

Posted on November 1, 2022 by Doula Faith

“His Abide” 

Summary – Reflection – Prayer
To
God’s Word
While Walking it Out

Context: Isaiah 30:1-33
Focus: Isaiah 30: 15

“For thus said the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel, “In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.” But you were unwilling.”


Painting: Brandi Ramirez

8252 (Strong’s Hebrew) – quietness: to be quiet or undisturbed, calm, peaceful, at peace, rest, still

When the Israelites refuse to listen to God and repent, they are threatened by their enemy, and so they turn to Egypt’s Pharaoh for help.  But God in His Sovereignty says, that only returning back to Him and resting in Him will they be saved.  They will find their strength in having confidence that God is in control and is ready to help them when they begin to trust.

Presently, I find myself in a circumstance beyond my control. There is no clear direction as to what to do. There is turmoil, strife and uncertainty; so I’ve gone to God asking for wisdom and help. He has shown me to stop manipulating the situation and trust.
Philippians 4: 5-6

One evening I heard His small still voice, just say, “Believe I am for you.”
I am quiet now, giving no defense, growing confident as I go forward, in every step.

Painting: Brandi Ramirez

I am a fix it person, but this I cannot fix. I am not trying to figure it out,anymore,  nor looking for someone’s help or solutions, I am just quiet, strengthened and at rest.
Proverbs 3: 5-6

When He is ready, He will still the tempest, stand up and say, enough is enough, and I will be stronger, because I leaned on Him, in Him only do I trust.
Isaiah 40: 30-31, Isaiah 64:4

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God is Waiting for You

Posted on October 31, 2022 by Doula Faith

“His Abide” 

Summary – Reflection – Prayer
To
God’s Word
While Walking it Out

Context: Isaiah 30:1-33
Focus: Isaiah 30: 18

“So the Lord must wait for you to come to Him, so He can show you His love and compassion. For the lord is a faithful God. Blessed are those who wait for His help.”

The Israelites were in trouble and afraid of their enemy. The Lord was speaking to them about repentance and turning from their idols and trusting God. But instead, they turned to the Egyptians to protect them.

God can not do anything to help us until we realize our sin and repent.  His hands are tied to intervene when we refuse to recognize why we are in a place of helplessness and without hope.  As we seek out the help by other means, we will not be delivered but disappointed. Sometimes a quick fix looks attractive to us and so we are willing to pay whatever it costs to escape our present trouble. The pain of our circumstance causes us to look for whatever means for relief, a temporary solution at any cost.  But the trouble we experience finds a permanent solution when we look to our Lord. So the Lord is waiting for us to turn to Him so He can show us His love. He’s been faithful before, He will be faithful again, because He cannot deny Himself.  He is Who He Is.  But He cannot do a thing until we turn to Him and trust. So He waits for us to give us His help.

Lord, you are always willing to deliver us in our present troubles. Remind us to turn to you instead of others. To trust your Word first. For you are faithful to do it because you are our heavenly Father, our Savior, our loving God.

CR– The Prodigal Son – Luke 15: 11-31

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