Kingdom Vessel

18/07/2024

Testimony

22/05/2023

22/05/2023

Over the Waters

12/03/2023

Motioning Faith to Change Fate!

‘Then Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. Now behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was of short stature. So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was going to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, “Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house.” So he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully. But when they saw it, they all complained, saying, “He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner.”

Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold.”

And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost” – Luke 19:1-10.

Highlights and insights
 Zacchaeus could not see Jesus due to his short stature, nonetheless, he took the brave climb up the sycamore tree to get sight of Jesus the Messiah.
 When Jesus told Zacchaeus He would stay at his house, Zacchaeus was happy and opened his door right away.
 In those days, tax collectors had a bad reputation and people avoided association with them.
 The crowds were not pleased with Jesus’ decision to associate Himself with a man like Zacchaeus. Nevertheless, Jesus still pursued staying at Zacchaeus’ house and, as a result, changed the course of Zacchaeus’ life.
 We often try to “climb trees’ to extend our eyes’ reach to a quieter yet better tomorrow. So, seek Jesus who is our better present and future!
 We do not need to climb a tree to be seen by Jesus. In fact, Jesus already saw Zacchaeus and knew him even before he could climb the tree. Jesus sees you!
 Zacchaeus decision to climb out of his comfort to seek Jesus, resulted in him repenting and receiving Jesus into his life.

Jesus does not care about what people think of you. In fact, He wants you to receive Him. Take the step of courage to receive Him.
Unlike people who judge from the outside, Jesus sees you and your true nature.

Jesus said to Zacchaeus, ‘I must stay at your house…’ and this was not a request, but more of a command that He needed to be invited and stay with Zacchaeus. Are you inviting Jesus into your heart to stay?

Do not let circumstances stop you from seeking and receiving Him into your heart right now. Jesus wants to enter and if you want to receive Him into your life, then take a bold step and repeat this prayer after me.

Heavenly and Almighty God, I come before you humbled and sorrowful, aware of my sins, and ready to repent. Lord, forgive me for my sins. Wash away my sins, purify me, and help me to turn away from the sins. Lead me to walk in your way instead, leaving behind my old life and starting a new life in you. All this I pray through your Son Jesus Christ, who came to save us from our sins. Amen!

Your relationship with God does not end with just this prayer. Continue to dwell in His presence and experience a new and better life.

19/02/2023

The Adopted Prince

19/02/2023

The scoop of the day

The Announcement of the Purposeful miracles

During the time when Herod ruled Judea, there was a priest named Zacharias (also called Zachariah in some Bible translations).

His wife Elizabeth came from the family of Aaron. Zacharias and Elizabeth lived near the big city of Jerusalem in Judea.
Both were good people and pleased the Lord God by obeying all that He had commanded. But they did not have children.

Elizabeth could not have any children and both Zacharias and Elizabeth were already old.

One day Zacharias’s group of priests were on duty, and he was serving God in the temple at Jerusalem. He had been chosen to go into the Lord’s temple that day to burn incense, while the people stood outside praying.

Suddenly, an angel from the Lord appeared to Zacharias at the right side of the altar.

Zacharias was confused and afraid when he saw the angel. But the angel told him:
‘Don’t be afraid, Zacharias! God has heard your prayers. Your wife Elizabeth will have a son, and you must name him John.

‘His birth will make you very happy, and many people will be glad. Your son will be a great servant of the Lord. He must never drink wine or beer, and the power of the Holy Spirit will be with him from the time he is born. John will lead many people in Israel to turn back to the Lord their God. He will go ahead of the Lord in the power of the Holy Spirit and people who now disobey God will begin to love and obey Him. That is how John will get people ready for the Lord.’

Zachariah said to the angel, ‘How will I know this is going to happen? My wife and I are both very old.’

The angel answered, ‘I am Gabriel, God’s servant, and I was sent to tell you this good news. You have not believed what I have said. So, you will not be able to say a thing until all this happens. But everything will take place when it is supposed to.’

The crowd outside was waiting for Zacharias and kept wondering why he was staying so long in the temple.
When he did come out, he could not speak, and they knew he had seen a vision. He motioned to them with his hands but did not say a thing.

When Zacharias’s service in the temple was over, he went home. Soon after that, his wife Elizabeth found out she was expecting a baby, and for five months she did not leave the house. She said to herself, ‘What the Lord has done for me will keep people from looking down on me.’ (Luke 1:5-25)

Some Insights
• Refrain from speaking negative and doubting the God who can do what seems logically impossible.

• God formed you and has your life and time in His hands.

• Is anything impossible for God?! However, how often do we allow our physical environment and our earthly knowledge to lead us to a life absent of the Power of God.

• Do we choose human logic over God’s might, over His promises, over the fulfilment of the impossible, over the reality of miracles, and over God’s report? (Man’s report or Gods report, you choose!)

• Do you think that Zacharias’ temporary silence would have humbled him, taught him to control his words and to stop the utterance of further doubt or exhibiting of faithless words?

• Do you surrender your faithless words to God and allow Him to be that promise keeper that He is?

• Zacharias had prayed for a son and when the angel Gabriel appeared both him and his wife Elizbeth were very old. God can do what seems impossible. WHEN JESUS SAYS YES NOBODY CAN SAY NO!

• When we pray for something for a long time, we sometimes begin in the smallest ways to doubt the love and care of God for us, but our God always loves, and His care never stops. God is in control over everything, and He is above every law of nature.

Rhetorical Questions:
Who are we to establish the limits for God? Do you choose faithless words OR WORDS OF FAITH?

06/02/2023

Parable- Unforgiveness

04/02/2023

The scoop of the day

Unforgiveness

Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?”

Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven. Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made. The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, ‘Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt.

“But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe!’ So his fellow servant fell down [a]at his feet and begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you [b]all.’ And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt. So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done. Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?’ And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him.

“So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother [c]his trespasses.” – Matthew 18:21-35

Just some key points (more can be provided if you read the Word)

 King showed mercy towards the servant and cancelled his large debt
 Servant did not appreciate the cancellation of that debt
 Servant reprimanded his fellow servant and refused to pardon him
 King became aware of his servant’s unforgiveness and made his life difficult
 Forgiveness does not necessarily mean forgetting. You know they owe you, but when you don’t make them pay, you know that it cost you. We don’t forget. We can’t forget, but we don’t hold a grudge. We don’t bring it up again.

2 Samuel 24:14 ‘And David said to Gad, “I am in great distress. Please let us fall into the hand of the LORD, for His mercies are great; but do not let me fall into the hand of man.”

Colossians 3:12 -13 "Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.”

Matthew 5:7 'Blessed are the merciful,
For they shall obtain mercy.”

Medically speaking, the act of forgiving has been shown to reduce:

 Blood Pressure  Anxiety  Depression  Pain

https://youtu.be/qQ6DH9l_hLk

18/12/2022

Jeremiah 29:11

10/12/2022

The scoop of the day
Why am I alive?

‘Why was I born? Was it only to have trouble and sorrow, to end my life in disgrace? – Jeremiah 20:18

The Lord has made everything for His own purpose. Each of us were made by God and for His purpose. Until you understand this, life will never make sense. We are the focus of God’s love and before He created the earth, He had us in mind (Eph. 1:4).

God says, ‘I am your Creator. You were in my care even before you were born” (Is. 44:2).

You are not a mistake nor an accident. You are valued and born with a purpose. There may be accidental parents , but there are no accidental births. There are unplanned pregnancies, but there are no unpurposed people.

Our God wanted you in this world and you are not an accident. Psalm 139:16 says, ‘You, saw me before I was born and scheduled each day of my life before I began to breath. Every day was recorded in your book!”

Our earthly life is a preparation for the eternal life. We are made to last forever (2 Corinthians 5:1).

As mentioned, you were created with a purpose and the only way to know your purpose is to ask your Creator. Remember life is not about you, it’s about God.

“It makes no difference who you are or where you’re from – if you want God and you are ready to do as He says, the door is open.” – Acts 10:35

Jerimiah 29:11 says, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

You were fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14). Read Colossians 1:16 and Ephesians 1:11-12.

There may be accidental parents , but there are no accidental births. There are unplanned pregnancies, but there are no unpurposed people.

You are not an accident!