The Jesus Christ of Nazareth Church, Inc.

24/09/2022

Responding to Conflict
Taking time to seek God's guidance helps us respond with wisdom.

September 24, 2022

Proverbs 15:18

I remember being severely chastised once while in a meeting at another organization. I wanted to react, but instead I turned to God, and He enabled me to remain calm and respond in a godly manner. Turning to the Lord in prayer is always the best response in a crisis. We can ask Him to provide:

Spiritual discernment. God perfectly understands the situation, and He can help us understand too. With His assistance, we can gain insight into the source of the problem and move forward toward resolution.
A quiet spirit. It’s natural to react quickly and defend ourselves. But we need to deliberately focus our attention on the Lord and experience the inner peace that He promises (John 14:27).
Wisdom. God told the disciples that the Holy Spirit would give them wise words to say when they faced hostile authorities (Luke 12:11-12). He will do the same for you. If tempted to speak hastily, ask the Spirit to seal your lips until God provides the words and the proper time to respond (Psalm 141:3).
No matter what the situation may be, God has called us to represent Him the same way that Christ did—through dependence on our heavenly Father. Next time someone speaks critically to you, how will you respond?

19/07/2022

🙏💕Shalom Brethrens 💜

Grieving the Holy Spirit
We grieve the Holy Spirit when we harbor anger and refuse to forgive.

Ephesians 4:30-32

Have you ever considered how some of your attitudes and actions grieve the Holy Spirit? When you were saved, He came to live within you and sealed you as God’s possession. This means you are no longer your own, as you now belong to the Lord and are to live in a manner that reflects Christ.

It’s obvious to us that lying, adultery, and stealing are wrong, but too often we tolerate sinful attitudes and emotions like anger, bitterness, resentment, and an unforgiving spirit. Every area of our life is affected when we refuse to extend to others the pardon Christ so generously granted to us.

Although the pain and injustice of an offense can break our heart, a refusal to forgive denies God the opportunity to redeem the hurt. We want Him to change the offender and make him sorry for what he’s done, but the Lord wants to transform us. A forgiving spirit flows from our new Christ-like nature and enables us to see others through eyes of grace and mercy.

And something else that can increase our willingness to forgive is a familiar principle from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount—to treat others the same way we want them to treat us (Matthew 7:12).

09/06/2022

Grace and Peace to you all 💕🙏

Molded by the Master
Because God loves us, we can trust how He wants to shape our lives.

Isaiah 45:5-9

There are several Scripture passages that liken God to a potter and us to clay. It’s the Creator’s right to transform and shape His children’s lives as He sees fit, and He is conforming us to the image of His Son (Romans 8:29). In other words, He is helping us not conform to the world or give in to our former lusts (Romans 12:2; 1 Peter 1:14).

The problem arises when we don’t like the molding process. Then we argue with our Potter and complain about the difficulties and afflictions that sometimes result when He shapes us. Isaiah 45:9 puts it this way: “Will the clay say to the potter, ‘What are you doing?’” Our part as clay is to remain pliable and submit to the Lord’s purposes—not to let parts of our life toughen and resist His attempts to shape us.

God will work to remove those hard lumps so He can form us into vessels that are useful and pleasing to Him. Our responsibility is to accept any changes from the Master Potter. We can do this confidently because we are in His competent, skillful, and loving hands. And that is the safest and most satisfying place we can be.

23/05/2022

💔
Unforgiveness and Hate
The sooner we confront hatred in our heart, the brighter our witness will shine.

May 23, 2022

Ephesians 4:31-32

One of the most destructive attitudes a believer can display is hate. Think about it: How well can the light of Christ shine through a life that’s shrouded in anger, bitterness, and malice? Such a demeanor doesn’t reflect a positive image of Jesus to non-Christians. But the problem affects more than our witness to the unbelieving world. Even in churches, it’s not difficult to find individuals brimming over with hostility. Where does this attitude come from?

One reason some believers struggle with hatred is an inability to forgive a hurt. Is that you?

Think about someone who wronged you in the past, and ask yourself three questions:

1. If you hate someone, you cannot shake the memory. Does the scene play out in your mind over and over?

2. If you hate someone, you cannot wish him or her well. Do you want the best for a person who has hurt you?

3. If you hate someone, you want that person to hurt, too. Do you secretly desire for this individual to experience the pain that you suffered?

Have these questions revealed any hidden animosity in your heart? If so, don’t leave this page without prayerfully meditating on Ephesians 4:31-32. Read the passage aloud. Then personalize it into a prayer, and let the Holy Spirit move you to forgive an old hurt.

18/05/2022

Blessed day Brethrens

The Comfortable Church

Matthew 28:16-20

I think it’s fairly evident that the society we live in is very self-centered, and this same characteristic can be present in a church. Whenever a local body of believers develops an inward focus, its fruitfulness in ministry begins to decrease, and each member’s Christian walk is hindered.

Many believers want their church to be cozy and comfortable. They come to listen to a nice sermon, fellowship with friends, and have their needs met. But Godnever intended for the gathering of His people to be like a country club; He calls us to join an army that will bring the gospel into enemy territory.

An effective church—one that poses a real threat to the Enemy—is a body of discipled people who have been taught the truth of Scripture, trained for service, and helped to mature spiritually. But all this is accomplished for the purpose of going out into the world, not for becoming a self-contained sanctuary of Christian comfort.

The urgency of the Lord’s command and the desperate condition of humanity should motivate us to leave the safety of our Christian fellowships and deliver the message of salvation through Jesus. To avoid this responsibility is to miss the Father’s plan for your life and the opportunity to help build His kingdom.

None of us want to waste time or energy on trivial things and thereby miss the exciting fulfillment of God’s will. He has called us, not to a life of comfortable tradition, but to an adventure of obedience. Answer His call—you’ll help fill His kingdom with people from every tribe and nation.

05/05/2022

Impossible Love Made Possible
Only the Holy Spirit can enable us to fulfill God's two greatest commandments.

May 5, 2022

Galatians 5:13-23

Jesus said the two greatest commandments are these: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind” and “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:37-39). What an overwhelming assignment!

In our own strength, we will find success out of reach, but the Lord has provided a way for Christians to accomplish the impossible. The indwelling Holy Spirit works to produce His fruit in us (Gal. 5:22-23). The first quality listed is love, and the remaining eight are actually descriptions of how it is conveyed.

Love isn’t produced by trying harder to muster good will toward someone who is irritating or hard to get along with. Instead, think of the process more like sap running through a branch on a grapevine. In a similar way, the Spirit flows through us, producing God’s love so we can express it to Him and to others.

Whenever we demonstrate kindness, patience, or gentleness, it’s God’s doing, not ours. Even the adoration we offer Him isn’t something we produce in our own heart apart from His assistance. Though the command to love is enormous, God’s grace makes it possible.

11/04/2022

In Life’s Storms
God never promised believers would live an easy life, but He does promise our hardships aren't in vain.

April 11, 2022

Matthew 14:22-33

When difficulties arise, are you surprised that the Lord would allow them? Such thinking assumes that being an obedient believer exempts us from problems. Consider today’s passage—the disciples did exactly what Jesus said by getting into the boat and setting sail for the other side. Yet before long, they found themselves battered and tossed about by a powerful storm.

Then there are other believers who automatically assume that if trouble comes, they’re the problem. Even though God does use trials to correct us from time to time, not all difficulties result from our sins and failures. But He can use all situations to mature and conform us to Christ’s likeness.

And that’s what was happening in Matthew 14 with the disciples. Jesus knew what lay ahead, and He was training them for the work He was calling them to do. In this case, the lashing winds created an environment that would help them learn key lessons about trust that would be invaluable for future ministry.

God uses a variety of means to help us become strong, vital servants of Jesus Christ. Instead of keeping our heads bent low against the struggles of life, let’s look up to the Lord and seek His strength and purposes.

Matthew 14:22-33
Immediately He made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side

11/04/2022

Surrender Your Heart.

“And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.” Deuteronomy‬ ‭6:5‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Surrendering is a choice. Choose to love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. Deuteronomy‬ ‭30:19‬ ‭KJV‬‬ declares, “I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:” Choose to lay your heart before Him. Let Christ conduct surgery on every area of your heart. Surrender to His Word. Let Christ make you whole.

You are not God. You cannot heal yourself. Jesus Christ came so that you might be healed. Christ came to set your heart free. Choose to surrender to Him. Submission is a choice. You have the opportunity to either love and surrender to Christ, or you can surrender to the lusts and cares of this world — you choose.

You can either hold to the entanglements of the world or you can choose to surrender to Christ. Choose Christ. Choose life. Choose His Way of doing things. Choose to give your life as a living sacrifice. Let every area of your life serve as a continual offering of thanksgiving. Choose not to be a slave to other gods — choose to serve Christ.

You can either worship the gods of this world or you can choose to serve Christ. “And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua‬ ‭24:15‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Family Action:

Joshua declared, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” As a family, choose to serve the Lord. Make a declaration to serve the Lord. Choose to surrender your heart to Christ.

~Thankful
YouVersion

08/04/2022

Oh how I pray we will answer His call today. Let’s seek God like never before. Let’s turn to Him, follow Him and offer Him all that we are and all that we have.

Father God, please forgive me. You know how my heart can get so divided and stretched and pulled in a million directions. Thank You for reminding me that You want every single piece of my heart. Please reveal anything I have been turning to instead of You. Teach me to rely on Your strength and power in the areas where I am weak. My deepest desire is to follow hard after You. In Jesus’ Name. Amen!

Message us for Prayers!

08/04/2022

O Give Thanks.

“O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever.” 1 Chronicles‬ ‭16:34‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Choose to give thanks in all seasons. Let your heart turn away from the bitterness, pain and offense of the past. Let the ground of your heart reflect the Character of Christ. Choose to forgive and let the pain of the past go.

Matthew‬ ‭18:21-22‬ ‭KJV‬‬ declares, “Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.” Choose to keep a heart-posture of forgiveness. Choose to let the past go.

Don’t let the stain of the past entangle your heart. Don’t let past offense contaminate the ground of your heart. Ecclesiastes‬ ‭3:1‬ ‭KJV‬‬ declares, “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:” There’s a season for everything. It’s time to forgive. Let the pain of the past go.

Don’t let the stain of the past harden your heart. Let Christ lead your heart. Let His Word soften and nourish the ground of your heart. Don’t let the past pain choke your harvest. Don’t let the past choke your praise. Don’t let the past choke your destiny. Choose to deliberately give thanks in all seasons. Psalms‬ ‭150:6‬ ‭KJV‬‬ declares, “Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord.” As long as you have breath in your body — choose to praise the Lord.

Family Action:

In addition to starting your day with prayer, decide not to complain. Choose to create an environment of thanksgiving at home, in the classroom, in the boardroom or in the workplace.

~Thankful
YouVersion

25/03/2022

Words are powerful. This is why we have to be careful in handling them and giving them. Words can be forgiven but they will not be forgotten.
Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone. (NLT version)

By: Francis Kong

13/02/2022

Be blessed everyone!

I just want to speak the name of Jesus
Over every heart and every mind
'Cause I know there is peace within your presence
I speak Jesus

I just want to speak the name of Jesus
'Til every dark addiction starts to break
Declaring there is hope and there is freedom
I speak Jesus

'Cause your name is power
Your name is healing
Your name is life
Break every stronghold
Shine through the shadows
Burn like a fire

Shout Jesus from the mountains
Jesus in the streets
Jesus in the darkness over every enemy
Jesus for my family
I speak the holy name
Jesus

“I Speak Jesus” by Charity Gayle feat. Steven Musso (Live) | Written by Dustin Smith, Abby Benton, Carlene Prince, Jesse Reeves, Kristen Dutton, Raina Pratt ...