An Emoji devotions for Wed 29th December,2021

Topic: Hard copy Certificate of Frenemies

Highlights: For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
Matthew 5:46 KJV

Who is a frenemy: a person with whom one is friendly despite a fundamental dislike or rivalry. It's hard to swallow that you would love your enemy and bless them that curse you. Yes that's what Jesus wants us do. He said it in Matthew 5:44-45 that if you truly want to like God, you should do good to your haters.

Do not forget that if you love your enemies in today's world, you will be passing a message to them that good people still exist. Jesus Christ is intensifying that "being good" is not a selfish word. It's a word of love that has no discrimination. When you are truly good person, you are good to everyone.

Doing good is like acting like the Sun that shines on everyone. When the sun is coming out, it does not discriminate anyone. So God sends out the sun to shine and it shines on both good, bad, ugly, beautiful, rich and poor people. And When you call yourself a Child of God. You are different from the child of the world. You are like His Sun. Shining the light of goodness on everyone. You cannot love one and hate another. You must work hard to get your hard copy Certificate of Frenemies.

God is a light that shines bright and He wants you to be like Him. Do not flash or go dim on anyone, no matter the circumstance. Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
Matthew 5:48 KJV

There are many advantages of being like the Sun. Think about it.

Prayer: God I can not deny hearing your message of shining light. Help me to be good as you are. Make me a better version of your image and protect your treasure in me. in Jesus Name I pray. Amen

https://emojidevotions..com/2021/12/hard-copy-certificate-of-frenemies.html

An Emoji devotions for Mon 27th Dec, 2021

Topic: Your Power is Not Veto

Highlights:

What you’ll get is the Holy Spirit. And when the Holy Spirit comes on you, you will be able to be my witnesses in Jerusalem, all over Judea and Samaria, even to the ends of the world.”
Acts 1:8

Some Christians got power from God and wants to use it the way they like. When their selfishness is not fulfilled they will go on their knees and ask "where do I go wrong?".

This is not about sin. The fact that you have received power and used it to perform miracles does not give you freewill to use the power on egocentric and self-centered Plan.

The power you received is not a Veto Power. There is a constitution in heaven which is in control of that power. The fact that you have received that power and it worked for you means it's working in line with the constitution authority of Heaven. Once your power is vetoed against the constitutional authority of God's will. It will not work for you anymore.

Matthew 6:36 says But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Matthew 6:33

The above Bible verse tells us that we should seek God's approval first and ensure we use his power with precision according to His will.

Then she called, “Samson, the Philistines are upon you!” He awoke from his sleep and thought, “I’ll go out as before and shake myself free.” But he did not know that the LORD had left him. Judges 16:20

So you must continue to be strong in your spirits, my Christian friends that I love. Do not let anything move you away from your faith. Continue to work hard as you serve the Lord. You know that whatever you do for him will not be useless.
1 Corinthians 15:58

Prayer: Lord Jesus I pray that you open my eyes of understanding to live right, under the heavenly constitution and use your power with precision in Jesus name. Amen

https://emojidevotions..com/2021/12/your-power-is-not-veto.html

An Emoji devotions for Fri 24 December, 2021

Topic: The economic value of the gospel

Highlights: A child has been born for us. We have been given a son who will be our ruler. His names will be Wonderful Advisor and Mighty God, Eternal Father and Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6

Gospel values are what Jesus said, what Jesus did and what He told us to do. What are some of the things Jesus said:

Jesus said we should trust in God.
Jesus said we should respect people's life and dignity. Jesus wants us to be honest in our dealings and relationship. Jesus wants us to have compassion. He wants us to forgive. He wants us to show mercy. Jesus wants people in position to show justice. He said we should treat people with equality including children. He told us to maintain peace with others.

People's lives have changed due to the gospel preached to them. Some bad people have changed into good people while those who are desperate for fame have become a messenger of good news through Jesus Christ.

What about you? Have the gospel impact you in any way? Do you believe in the gospel.

As many people who believe in Jesus today have become an instrument of change in their societies. In some communities, some brutal laws were abolished and peace have been allowed to reign because of the gospel.

Miracles are happening. Blind eyes could see, the barren having babies, cancer and deadly diseases are being cured because of the gospel. The value of the gospel can not be ignored in our environment. Just look around your environment either on your phone, virtual or in reality to enjoy the value of the gospel of Jesus Christ today. Most especially read your Bible today.


Prayer: Lord Jesus I can say that you are very important and valuable to me. Let your Spirit dwell with me and around me from now on. Amen

https://emojidevotions..com/2021/12/the-economic-value-of-gospel.html

An Emoji Devotions for Tue 14th December, 2021

Topic: Let us glorify our creator, savior and redeemer, the Lord God Almighty

By Pastor Hans Ulrich Wenger

Highlights:

• I will make known my holy name among my people Israel. I will no longer let my holy name be profaned, and the nations will know that I the Lord am the Holy One in Israel. (Ezekiel 39:7)

• Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.

Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. I have made you [your name] known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them. (John 17:24-26)

I was raised in a modern world with no place for an Almighty God. The belief in him was not only considered outdated and a relic from the dark middle Ages, it was considered a denial of science and obstruction of progress. God got openly ridiculed and so were the people who still bowed down to him and tried to hold his laws and rules upright. With the philosophy of the Frankfurter school, there was no place anymore for an absolute truth. Everything became relative. The only absolute that remained was their belief in the relativity of all things. Truth got totally individualized. It is my truth, your truth, his or her truth, but a generally accepted truth ceased to exist. What had been known as “good” for centuries got now questioned and challenged and turned more and more to notions like “obsolete, life denying, boring and bad and an obstacle to development”. Society got invited to a permanent discourse to redefine the common values, but nobody could participate, who had already a premeditated set of values. Although there were many warnings from watchful Christians, who saw that Isaiah 5:20 “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter,” got fulfilled before their eyes the new philosophy made its way even into the church. It is therefore high time we turned around to the Lord God, who is the way, the truth and the live. Whoever denies him has truly no future.

In our first highlight the prophet Ezekiel talks from a war that is about to come over the people of Israel. It is a war that will show how feeble all the armies of this world are before the really existing God. He himself will win the war and the people of Israel and all the nations will see where the true truth comes from. No longer will his holy name be profaned. The church, that means you and I need to repent and to return to his laws and then to boldly proclaim his name, his gospel and all of his unchangeable truth even before the Ezekiel war is going to break loose.

Our second highlight reminds us that we are to make known Jesus wherever we go and wherever we are. In him, in his love we have seen the father and therefore we know his love, his absolute truth and his absolute goodness. In John 14:9 Jesus tells us: “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.” What a treasure is given unto us in the relationship with Jesus. What is still in our way to tell the world that our own hope is in Jesus alone and that whoever does not turn to him will be lost in eternity? We have slept too long and while we were sleeping Lucifer’s demons have infiltrated mankind more and more. We are living in an evil time (Ephesians 5:16) and the evil powers want to make us afraid. It is crucial that we do not look to them, but only to Jesus, who already has the victory over all powers. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. (Colossians 2:15) Let us get rid of all the deception that has come into the church through the philosophy of evil people and boldly confess Christ’s love and salvation. In him alone is salvation.

Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, let me be strong in you and in your mighty power. Help me to boldly glorify your name among the people around me. Make me a tool in your hand that your name will be hallowed around me. Give me the strength to intervene wherever your name is profaned in my presence. Thank you for your salvation. Help me that I praise your holy name not only in my prayers, but publicly without the fear of being shamed. Thank you, that you are with me. Amen

https://emojidevotions..com/2021/12/let-us-glorify-our-creator-savior-and.html

An Emoji Devotions for Sun 12th December, 2021

Topic: The foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength

By Pastor Hans Ulrich Wenger

Highlights:

• Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the people of the world revere him. For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm. The Lord foils the plans of the nations; he thwarts the purposes of the peoples. (Psalm 33:8-10)

Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the Lord and against his anointed, saying, ‘Let us break their chains and throw off their shackles.’ The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them. He rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath, saying, ‘I have installed my king on Zion, my holy mountain.’ (Psalm 2:1- 6)

Therefore, you kings, be wise; be warned, you rulers of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear and celebrate his rule with trembling. Kiss his son, or he will be angry and your way will lead to your destruction, for his wrath can flare up in a moment. Blessed are all who take refuge in him. (Psalm 2:7 -10).


For it is written: ‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.’ Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? (1Corinthians 1:20) For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength (intelligence). (1 Corinthians 1:25)

In my life time I have experienced that more and more conservative values have been turned into the opposite. I have been taught to revere old people, to offer them my sitting place in public transportation and to help them whenever they are in need.
Couples with years of marriage were praised and honored and so on. The house of my parents was located on a steep hill and often times people with loaded carts tediously labored up the hill. Whenever we kids did not immediately run and helped them to overcome the hill, our parents punished us. My father, who was the black smith in the village, interrupted quite often his work just to help somebody. Today the situation has changed.

Old people are rarely offered a sitting place anymore. Rather they are blamed for using public transportation in times the working people need it. Their long years of marriage are viewed as boring and as a lack of dynamic change and on the steep hill people are not helped anymore. It is their fault that they did not arrange for proper transportation.

God and his law are not totally forgotten, but the whole concept is outdated. What has been good and got praised, is now a wrong way to look at things. Everybody should look after him- or herself and not count on the help of other people. Now, the same principle is at work among the Nations. God told Abraham that his people will be blessed. Whoever blesses his offspring will get blessed and whoever curses them, will be cursed. Since the destruction of Jerusalem almost 2000 years ago, the Nations have collected a lot of guilt by carelessly treating the Jewish population. Even right now, many of them do not want to accept Israel’s right of existence.

The UN plots against the Jewish state, be it that they deny the Jewish history of Jerusalem, be it that they never gave them all the land they were promised, be it that they should give back the Golan Heights. Many “wise” experts stand up and talk against what God has told long ago. Israel will prevail, though they will go through many troubles. Where ever wise people and the Kings of the earth talk against what God has ordained from the beginning, they became fools and will be put to shame.

In our walk with the Lord, we have to be careful that we always put his wisdom first. He does not change. I cannot serve him and be fight the end he has make known from the beginning. Jerusalem will be the center of wisdom and guidance in the future, and the Prince of Peace will be the king of all the Nations. He became an “adventus”, one, who has arrived, in his coming to our earth as a baby and ever since then he is also an “adventurus”, one, who will arrive as the King over all kings. No human plotting, no conspiracy, no weapon and no power can change something on the Lords plans. He thwarts the purposes of the people.


Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus. Let me take refuge in you. Fill me with your wisdom even if I may appear as a fool to the leaders of the Nations. Help me and help all my fellow Christians that we serve you with fear and celebrate your rule with trembling. Thank you that you will return soon and bring your wonderful kingdom with you. Keep me in your grace and fill me with your Holy Spirit. Amen.

https://emojidevotions..com/2021/12/the-foolishness-of-god-is-wiser-than.html

An Emoji devotions for Thu, 9th December, 2021

Topic: The evidence of God in plain sight, but do I believe?

By Pastor Hans Ulrich Wenger

Highlights: But God made the earth by his power; he founded the world by his wisdom and stretched out the heavens by his understanding. (Jeremiah 10:12)

“The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.” For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. (Colossians 1:15-20)

By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. (Hebrews 11:3)

The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. Romans 1:18-20)

In Jeremiah 10 God slams the idols and the idols makers about their nothingness. “Everyone is senseless and without knowledge, every goldsmith is shamed by his idols. His images are a fraud, they have no breath in them. They are worthless, the objects of mockery; when their judgment comes, they will perish.” (Jeremiah 10:14-15)

He then makes the comparison with the God of Israel and writes: “He who is the Portion of Jacob is not like these, for he is the maker of all things, including Israel, the tribe of his inheritance – the LORD Almighty is his name.” (Jeremiah 10:16) The Old Testament is full with references like this. In Isaiah 46 God slams the Idols of Babylon and declares that he is the only God who makes known the end from the beginning and from ancient times, what is still to come.

Today we can look back on a long history how God has already done what he has announced long ago; the coming of Christ as redeemer and fulfillment of the law, the pouring out of the Holy Spirit and, perhaps most dominantly, the bringing back of the people of Israel into their homeland of old right before our eyes. Many more events could be mentioned, but what is said is enough to know, that everybody who does not believe what the Holy Scripture says is a fool in his heart.

The only really reliable information about our time, we can gather only from the Scriptures. We are living in the latter days and have never yet been closer to the return of Jesus Christ to reign with righteousness for one thousand years on the earth. What we call science today is a mixture of known facts and the satanic deception to make it without belief and trust in the true God of creation and salvation. Be it the climate change problem, be it the Covid 19 problem, be it a lot of other questions, we get only confusing and often contradicting answers from science. For people who are awaiting the coming of the King of all Kings it is the trust in the Father and the Son that makes them uplift their heads in joyous expectation. Their visible salvation is nigh.

Prayer: Dear Lord God, strengthen my trust in you and let me not be entangled in the confusion and deception of this world. Thank you that you bring about what you have promised. Let me stand with you and before you and fill me with your Holy Spirit that I will be able to interpret the signs of the time. I praise you and thank you for my present and for my future visible salvation. You are faithful beyond doubt and you will do it. I glorify your holy name. Amen.

https://emojidevotions..com/2021/12/the-evidence-of-god-in-plain-sight-but.html

An Emoji devotions for 8th December, 2021

Topic: Rejecting the fear of the Lord and Idolatry

By Pastor Hans Ulrich Wenger

Highlights: So Moses went back to the Lord and said, ‘Oh, what a great sin these people have committed! They have made themselves gods of gold. But now, please forgive their sin – but if not, then blot me out of the book you have written.’ The Lord replied to Moses, ‘Whoever has sinned against me I will blot out of my book. Now go, lead the people to the place I spoke of, and my angel will go before you. (Exodus 32:31-34)

See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. no noBut encourage one another daily, as long as it is called ‘Today’, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. (Hebrews 3:12-14)

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise. (Psalm 110:10)

The fear of the Lord leads to life; then one rests content, untouched by trouble. (Proverbs 19:23)

Inspired by God, Moses led the people of Israel out of Egypt and let them experience many wonders, provisions and salvations in the wilderness. Finally they arrived at Mount Sinai and God wanted to make a covenant with them.

He instructed Moses to sanctify them for his appearance on the third day. Nobody was to touch the mountain or to set foot on it, but Moses was commanded to deliver this message to the people: “You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” (Exodus 19:4-6)

“The people all responded together, ‘We will do everything the Lord has said.’ So Moses brought their answer back to the Lord. The Lord said to Moses, ‘I am going to come to you in a dense cloud, so that the people will hear me speaking with you and will always put their trust in you.’ Now the appearance of the Lord was quite earth shattering and the people trembled and run away. They did not want to stay in the fear of the Lord. “When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance and said to Moses, ‘Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not let God speak to us or we will die.’ Moses said to the people, ‘Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.’ The people remained at a distance, while Moses approached the thick darkness where God was.” (Exodus 20:18-21)

The story of the golden calf shows us that the avoidance of the fear of the Lord was a fatal mistake. The encounter with the holiness of God puts the Israelites and us in the rightful place. By staying in the fear of the Lord, I am aware that there is absolutely no messing with God. Many people died in this story, just because the people created for themselves a shiny God of Gold and if it would not have been for the priestly heart of Moses, the whole people of Israel would have been annihilated except for Moses himself.

God has forgiven them for the time being, but he made clear that the punishment for their sin will come in his time. (Exodus 32:33)

Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for; through the fear of the Lord evil is avoided. (Proverbs 16:6)

The fear of the Lord is the main weapon against evil and we better stay before the Almighty in the fear of the Lord, even if it gets scary and we may have the feeling of dying. All the characters of the bible that stood and fainted before the Lord in fear have been touched by his redeeming touch and love. God is never a fellow or a buddy; he is the Almighty, Holy God and father, the emperor of the Universe and much more. But whoever submits to him in the fear of the Lord becomes his beloved child and gets the right to call him Abba, Daddy.

To be close to the heart of God leads over the fear of the Lord.
The Hebrew Christians, and we with them, get exhorted to stay in the fear of the Lord and to watch out that no one gets deceived by tolerating Gods of shining gold and avoiding the fear of the Lord instead of avoiding evil. Today we are surrounded by evil and too often the church and believers are tolerating evil in their lives. The Apostle Paul writes in his epistle to the church in Ephesus: “For of this you can be sure.

No immoral, impure or greedy person – such a man is an idolater – has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them.” (Ephesians 5, 5 – 7) We are to stay in the fear of the Lord and to encourage each other to seek the Lord who is absolutely good and full of love for all his children that turn to him in the midst of the evil by which they are surrounded.

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you that you are my father and that I am even allowed to call you Daddy, but beware me from thinking of you as a fellow or buddy. You are the holy, almighty God who has created everything and reigns everything. I praise you and I thank you that I am allowed to stand before you and to serve you. Your ways are holy and I thank you that you lead me on the paths of righteousness for your name’s sake. Thank you that I do not need shiny Gods of gold and help me to destroy them, wherever they want to pop up in me, in my fellow brothers and sisters or in the church. Amen

https://emojidevotions..com/2021/12/rejecting-fear-of-lord-and-idolatry.html

An Emoji Devotions for Sun, 5th December 2021

Topic: Twelve Baskets

Highlights:

They all ate as much as they wanted, and afterward, the disciples picked up twelve baskets of leftovers. Matthew 14:20 NLT

How come there were twelve Baskets of leftovers after five loaves and two fish were eaten by five thousand in addition to women and children? Jesus gave the food to the disciples, and the disciples were serving people one by one. Someone took heavy portion of the loaves at once and passed on the the rest to the next person and once it gets to them, they have enough also to take and pass to the next person. In the end it was a miracle that fed over five thousand people to satisfaction.

As the disciples were still baffling about the big miracle, some folks among the crowd who had too many bread and fishes left with them began to return them to the Disciples: "Sir I have loads of bread here and many fish left with others. we even overfeed ourselves and please where can we drop the leftovers?

They fetched to for up to twelve Baskets as they collect the leftovers from people. Twelve is an important number in Christianity and in adulthood. It means a completeness.

A little boy gave up his food to begin this story. Have you considered giving today. As Jesus multiplied to feed thousands, He will multiply what you give. As the little boy received complete abundance (financial, health, protection) for a reward. Be rest assured that you will not be forgotten when you give to the Lord.

The gospel is helping many lives including yours. No matter how little it may seems towards the big project. Give!

Prayer: Lord please give me an opportunity to give unto you something that you will use to bless your Kingdom in Jesus name. Amen

An Emoji devotional for Saturday, 4th December 2021

Topic: Give your 5 and 2

Highlights: Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish. John 6:11

Andrew said to Jesus, ‘Here is a boy who has five small loaves of barley bread and two fish. That's a drop in a bucket for a crowd like this". (John 6:9)

The term 5 & 2 came from the above verse. There were many crowd gathering together and a little boy carrying some food to school saw them. He went to see, and he saw Jesus performing miracles and teaching people amazing things about God. As the little boy pressed into crowd to see more of Jesus, he overheard Jesus saying "where can we buy bread to feed all these people".

As many as the crowd were, Philip answered, ‘A man could work for eight months to get 200 coins. But he still would not have enough money to buy bread for all these people. There would not be enough bread for each person here to have even a little piece.’

But the innocent little boy said "take all - I mean all my 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, loaves and 1 & 2 fishes. They were so little, that Andrew had to call them little loaves and little fishes which means they may not be enough to feed an adult. But a little boy gave them all to Jesus.

What are your 5&2, are they so little in your eyes. It's time to give it to the Lord. The good news is that the Lord will not only take it from you and eat, He will multiply them to feed thousands. Whatever you are giving to Jesus will also put your name in the book of remembrance in heaven and earth.

He said in Matthew 10:32 that “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven."

The future belong to the Lord. Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. (Psalms 34:. As no one will ever forget this little boy, It's time to write your name in heaven's book of remembrance with your 5&2.

Prayer: God I'm waiting for the right time but who knows the right time but you. My times are in your hand. Accept me, as I take a bold step of faith to give you little of what I can afford. Let my offering be a sweet smelling offering, holy and acceptable unto you. Honestly, I trust you. In Jesus name. Amen.

An Emoji Devotional for Fri, 3rd December, 2021

Topic: Just do it

Highlights: Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. Luke 19:30

When there is something important you need to do - Do it. Why would you keep the host waiting for you. It is your action they need not excuse. So someone was giving excuse on why he buried one talent Matthew 25:18

It is very simple, God does not like excuses. He wants action. There is no later, do it now. Mark 7:28 A Phoenician woman told Jesus that she will do anything to become favored and blessed by God - “Lord, even puppies eat the crumbs that children drop from the table.”

Some will give rebellious excuses to criticize Jesus but the woman knows that Jesus loves those who get things done. She got her miracle.

Do not use excuse to lose opportunity. Don't keep Jesus waiting. He is depending on you to play your part so that He can also play his part. Jesus will never be blamed, it's you that need to do your duty.


Prayer; Dear Lord. I am an excuse giver. acknowledged my excuses. I have played the pity party all these while. Lord Please forgive me. From now, please Give me your support and power to be resourceful in the face of opportunities. In Jesus name. Amen.

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An Emoji devotions for Tue 26th Oct, 2021

Topic: Remember Me O Lord

Highlights:

I pray that my God will remember these good things that I have done for his temple and for those who worship there.
Nehemiah 13:14

Who say God does not remember? It is human that forgets. God remember everything very easily as if it were just displayed. Be it things of sixty years ago. That is why we need to be asking for mercy and be doing things right. But at times you need to pray like Moses did

Moses tried to get the Lord God to change his mind: Our Lord, you used your mighty power to bring these people out of Egypt. Now don't become angry and destroy them.
Exodus 32:11

When Herod cut off the head of James the brother of John, he saw that it pleased the Jewish people and He took Peter in Jail. He planned to kill him after the festival

"While Peter was being kept in jail, the church never stopped praying to God for him."
Acts 12:5

The night before Peter was to be put on trial, he was asleep and bound by two chains. A soldier was guarding him on each side, and two other soldiers were guarding the entrance to the jail. Suddenly an angel from the Lord appeared, and light flashed around in the cell. The angel poked Peter in the side and woke him up. Then he said, “Quick! Get up!” The chains fell off his hands,
Acts 12: 6- 7

To cut the long story short Peter escape death because God was reminded by prayers of the church that Peter must not die.

"Remember the solemn promise you made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. You promised that someday they would have as many descendants as there are stars in the sky and that you would give them land. So even though the Lord had threatened to destroy the people, he changed his mind and let them live."
Exodus 32:13‭-‬14

Let us pray:

O God the Father of all Remember the solemn promise you made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. You promised that someday they would have as many descendants as there are stars in the sky. And Now O God, I am one of the descendants of Abraham your servant through Jesus Christ. Please be merciful unto me in the name of Jesus. Amen.

An Angelic Devotional for Thu 21 Oct 2021

Topic: Forbidden Fruit

Highlights:

If only you had paid attention to my commands, your peace would have been like a river, your well-being like the waves of the sea. Isaiah 48:18

There have been prophecies about Jesus The Messiah. Everyone was happy by the time he was born. Not until after some time of His life He realized that He will have to die to save humanity... Jesus humbly accepted the task and obeyed God and today He is the Prince of Peace.

What is the difference? Adam was the first man. He was not asked to die but only that he would not eat from a forbidden tree in the garden. Adam could not obey this task and he was sent out of the garden to the ghetto and hustle life. He did not have peace after the disobedience.

On each of our way to obedience, there lies the forbidden fruit and the slippery serpent who is the marketer. If you escape the forbidden fruit, you must also strive to escape the serpent because all that the serpent does is for people to eat the forbidden fruit and lose out of the race.

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 1 Corinthians 9:24

I don’t know about you, but I’m running hard for the finish line. I’m giving it everything I’ve got. No sloppy living for me! I’m staying alert and in top condition. I’m not going to get caught napping, telling everyone else all about it and then missing out myself.

1 Corinthians 9:26‭-‬27 MSG

Prayer: Father Lord, please give me the power to win in line with obedience to your authority. Guide me to focus and remain fit in your paradise. Protect me from the slimy serpent in Jesus name. Amen

By emoji devotions

An Emoji devotional for Sat, Oct 9 , 2021

Topic: Are we hanging out with the wrong bunch of people?

Take your Bible and read Luke 15

    Highlights:
I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. (Luke 15:7)

·        In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” (Luke 15:10) For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate. (Luke 15:24)

·        “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him! My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ (Luke 15:28 – 32)

Now the tax collectors and sinners kept gathering around to hear Jesus. The Greek grammar makes clear that this was not just a single incident; it happened time and again. The tax collectors were despised people, because they were collaborating with the Herodian and the Roman Government and as sinner was everyone viewed, who did not strictly adhered to the Jewish Law. The text basically implies that the “bad” people of the Jewish society gathered to hear Jesus to the anger of the Jewish elite and the law abiding Jews. In their opinion something had to be wrong with Jesus. He directed his message of repentance and grace to the scum. Why, for heaven’s sake, could he not address the well behaved, hardworking people like the older son in the parable? They are not only upset, but rather outraged: Jesus fraternizes with the scum of society! The whole chapter gives an answer to the complaint of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law and shows at the same time the immeasurable love of the Father to every lost human being. The first parable shows the Father as a shepherd of one hundred sheep from whom one got lost. He leaves the 99 back in safety and searches for the lost one, till he finds it and can care for it. The context makes clear, that the one, who got lost, repented, whereas the 99 were people like the Pharisees and teachers of the law, who live with the conviction of being righteous. In the second parable the Father is like a woman, who lost one of her precious coins and she does everything possible to find it again. The coin may represent people who have somehow been brought into deplorable situations like abuse or lack of appropriate human support. Repentance of one such human being obviously initiates a joyful celebration in heaven. The parable of the younger and older son makes then everything clear. The younger one provokes the Father and requires, what does not yet belong to him. At the lowest point in his life he
decides to go back to his father and to admit his sin against heaven and against his father. That acknowledgment and the turning back to the Father is, what repentance means. “I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants. So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.” (Luke 15:18 – 20) His faith in the goodness of the Father redeems him and he gets born again with a new life under the benevolent reign of the Father.

His older brother, however, is full of anger over the course of the father and he blames and accuses him. “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him! My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ (Luke 15:28 – 32)

Jesus liked to talk to the tax collectors and sinners. The Pharisees and the teachers of the law rather wanted to talk to well-educated and good-mannered people, who wanted to earn their salvation through immaculate performance in keeping the law. They do not need salvation, repentance or grace. They just need a trainer for reaching a more powerful performance.

Jesus was around the people who needed him. Are we around the people, who crave for change and help? Are we hanging out with the wrong bunch of people?

Prayer: Dear Father in heaven help me to make your goodness and your grace known to the people, who are open to receive your salvation in Christ Jesus. I repent for wasting time with self-righteous people. Help me to make the right decision and to live only under your guidance. Amen.

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An Emoji Devotional for Tue 5th Oct, 2021

Topic: Blend Jesus Into Your Diet

Highlights:

“Sir,” they said, “give us that bread every day.”
John 6:34

There is a meal made of special nourishment full of vitamins and minerals that can cure hunger, malnutrition and all kinds of disease. A bite of Jesus diet is the key to long and ever lasting life. What is Jesus Diet?

There are meals that make your tummy hurt with discomfort. Those meals causes a lot of headache and fever. Such are the bad news we read on social media about how people got hurt or hurt others and how people crash one another in pieces. These are meals that give heartbreak and make us feel like unsafe.
The devil promised Matthew 4:9
“I will give it all to you,” he said, “if you will kneel down and worship me.” The devil uses bad things to promote his followers when they feed with the news he is spreading all around.

Jesus is the game. the tasty food and bread of Jacob made so that blessings from the promises of God will be received (Genesis 27:17) while people like Esau were still out there looking for ways to trend in news and chasing clout. Genesis 27:5. You were there staying and learning from Rebecca the mother of delicious cook. You will eat the best food. What did Rebecca did that made blessings flow on her favorite son - She blend Jesus into her diet.

It’s not what goes into your mouth that defiles you; you are defiled by the words that come out of your mouth.” Matthew 15:11

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

The world is a dark place already. It's time to add light into it by adding Jesus into all we are doing. It is time to blend Jesus into our diet today so the world we see and know what we were made of. Act 4:13, Matthew 11:29, John 8:12.

Remember to read about Jesus from the Holy Bible as your daily bread every day. Like that you are blending Jesus into the diet of things that goes into your mind daily.

Matthew 6:11 - Give us today our daily bread

Prayer: Lord Jesus please make it evident that I have been with you. Please give me the resurrected bread that comes from you everyday. in Jesus name I pray Amen.

An Emoji Devotional for Mon 4th Oct, 2021

Topic: Father and Child

Highlights:

“Never! Can a mother forget her nursing child? Can she feel no love for the child she has borne? But even if that were possible, I would not forget you!

God is a father to his children. It is the duty of a father to take care of His children. God will take care of you if you accept His love as your father. Any father and Child relationship has to come through Jesus. God said in John 3:16 that if you believe in Jesus, you will have a whole and lasting life.

It is your heavenly father that is most trusted because He has the whole world in His care and He is a loving God that wants a lasting relationship. That is why our heavenly father blesses all union we have through His Son. He said that though a nursing mother can forget her child, He will not forget you.

God still have you in mind because you matter a lot to Him. You need to find your way through Jesus to Him because John 14:6 tells us that Jesus is the way, truth and life to the Heavenly Father. Whatever you want from God, begin to build a relationship with Him over that thing and you may have it.


Prayer: Able God, I want you to shower your mercy on me through Jesus Christ my Lord. I believe in Jesus name. Amen

An Emoji Devotional for Fri 24th Sept, 2021

Topic: Jump Jesus Superman

Highlights:

For the second test the Devil took him to the Holy City. He sat him on top of the Temple and said, “Since you are God’s Son, jump.” The Devil goaded him by quoting Psalm 91: “He has placed you in the care of angels. They will catch you so that you won’t so much as stub your toe on a stone.”
Matthew 4:5‭-‬6

You are in the church feeling the worship songs and suddenly a thought comes into you "Jump Jesus Superman! this is your father's house" and suddenly you begin to jump because you believe that in your father's house are many mansions...yeah! it feels good right?

But the time is coming—it has, in fact, come—when what you’re called will not matter and where you go to worship will not matter. “It’s who you are and the way you live that count before God. Your worship must engage your spirit in the pursuit of truth. That’s the kind of people the Father is out looking for: John 4:23

When you hear "Jump" what should first come to your mind is to remember the test of our Lord Jesus when the devil took him to top of the temple and quote Psalms 91 to Him that angels will catch him when he jumps. Did Jesus Jump?

“Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.
Matthew 6:34

When any voice asks you to 'jump' first do what Jesus did "Jesus countered with another citation from Deuteronomy: “Don’t you dare test the Lord your God.”
Matthew 4:7

My dear friends, don’t believe everything you hear. Carefully weigh and examine what people tell you. Not everyone who talks about God comes from God. There are a lot of lying preachers loose in the world.
1 John 4:1

May the Lord give us wisdom and power in Christ Jesus name. Amen.

Prayer: Father Lord, please lead me to victory over evil test in Jesus Christ name. Amen

An Emoji Devotional for Mon, Sept 20, 2021

Topic: You Can Not Escape Jesus

Highlights:

“Lord, who are you?” I asked. He said to me, “I am Jesus from Nazareth. And you are fighting against me.”
Acts 22:8

Thousands walking across the streets and thousands driving along the traffic. We all chase different things. On our pathways, we met Jesus. How did you hear about Jesus? It is certain that some would have met Him in Church while some listened to their radio and heard about Him. There is one simple truth "No one on earth will escape Jesus including you". So, have you accepted him yet or you are still delaying your salvation. It is better now than later because at times 'delay is evil'.

Jesus once said in Matthew 19:29‭-‬30

"Some people have left their home. Or they may have left their brothers or sisters. Or they may have left their mother or their father. Or they may have left their wife or their children or their fields. They have done that because of me. God will give those people many more things than they have left behind, even 100 times more! And after they die, they will live for ever with God. But many people who are very important now will become the least important. And many people who are not important now will become very important then.’"

The good news is "anyone who encountered Jesus, accepted him as their Lord and savior and walked in His commands never regrets such decisions".

If you are proving stubborn and you did not want to accept Jesus, someday you would wish you have made a decision very long time ago and accepted Him as your Saviour. It is never too late. Jesus is still able to turn nothing into something. He can restore wasted years provided you quickly make your choice before you get carried away.

No one, I said, No one, can escape Jesus including you. What to do is to accept Jesus as your Lord today, repent of your bad ways and ask Him to forgive your sins and be your wise protector from today. If you have already been saved, please don't go back to a sinful life because judgement is around the corner waiting for who will misbehave.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Hebrews 13:8

Prayer: Lord Jesus be my life, be my breath and my everything. If I have wronged you please forgive me. I accept that you are the boss and I will always love you forever. Let your grace be with me In your name I pray. Amen

An Emoji Devotional 17th September, 2021

Topic: The Spirit of Jesus

Highlights:

And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.

1 John 5:11-13

Our Lord Jesus once said "give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and give to God what belongs to God.” because what belongs to God is different to what belongs to the government. This brings us to the question: What is the thing that belongs to God? The answer is your simple: It's your Confidence in Him. This is not an ordinary confidence, but a confidence engineered by the Spirit of Jesus Christ.

This spirit of Jesus is very special that it can never be outdated. Apostle Paul Said "For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day." 2 Timothy 1:12

All authority in heaven and earth and underneath the earth is backing up the Spirit of Jesus and that is why it can never flop forever. That is why all faith filled believers never give up their Faith.

Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.” Acts 5:39

There are different Spirits, but the Spirit of Jesus is only Spirit that can do tremendous miracles and transformations in the world. Anyone who has the Spirit of Jesus has great confidence in God. If anyone says He's a Christian and does not have hope of tomorrow, Let that person ask for the Spirit of Jesus to come into their lives and they will begin see divine transformation.

Prayer: Almighty Father send into my life the Spirit of Jesus Christ and let the Spirit of Jesus show Your all sufficiency in my life in Jesus name. Amen

An Emoji Devotional for Wednesday September 15, 2021

Topic: Understanding Means Victory

Highlights:

Finally, he came to his senses and said, “My father's workers have plenty to eat, and here I am, starving to death!
Luke 15:17


So Many things will happen today. Clocks will carry on with their duties. Flowers will blossom, works will still be done. Babies will come and sun will rise. No one stops the prodigal son.."I say No one". It was his decision to leave home. No one is able to stop the promiscuous girl from doing what is on her mind.

We will all come to our senses not at the same time and then we will understand that things does not work the way we expect. We must leave things in God's hands because God's way is the only way:

"I will get up and go (back) to my father (you are lucky if he is still alive before you come to your senses), and will tell him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight."
Luke 15:18

For if I grow rich, I may deny you and say, “Who is the LORD?” And if I am too poor, I may steal and thus insult God’s holy name. Proverbs 30:9

There are Too many questions to answer so don't go there. Before you were here today, there was yesterday of past and there will be tomorrow which no one knows. Let us leave what we cannot control in God's hands and begin to live with understanding with every other. Understanding Means Victory to those who can accept the truth that "The secret things belong to the Lord our God; but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever....
Deuteronomy 29:29

Prayer: Lord I pray that my heart will be flooded with light so that I can understand the confident hope You have given to those you called. Amen

An Emoji Devotions for Tues 14th September, 2021

Topic: Misunderstanding Means Defeat

Highlights:

And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Matthew 22:39 KJV

When the Bible says you will love your neighbor as yourself, it's saying you will have to understand your neighbor as yourself. It is not saying you should only look for hungry neighbor and treat them with nice dinner. The most painful thing is when you were being misunderstood. Even little children needs understanding. The key is - 'You need to be understood to understand others'. Okay let us take the love quotes in the Bible and replace the word "love with understanding and see how it looks like"

What if I could speak all languages of humans and even of angels? If I did not understand others, I would be nothing more than a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. What if I could prophesy and understand all mysteries and all knowledge? And what if I had faith that moved mountains?

I would be nothing, unless I understand others. What if I gave away all that I owned and let myself be burned alive? I would gain nothing, unless I understand others. Understanding is patient and kind, never jealous, boastful, proud, or rude.

Understanding isn't selfish or quick tempered. It doesn't keep a record of wrongs that others do. Understanding rejoices in the truth, but not in evil. Understanding is always supportive, loyal, hopeful, and trusting.
1 Corinthians 13:1‭-‬7

Today I bid you to understand people for who they are and do only your best so that you will not be misunderstood. Because Misunderstanding Means Defeat.

Prayer; Dear Lord Jesus Give me the Power of understanding. Give me victory in understanding others according to God's blessed will for me. Amen

An Emoji Devotions for Mon 13th September, 2021

Topic: Job's trying to be Messiah.

Highlights:

For I know him (Abraham), that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.
Genesis 18:19

Job's sons took turns having feasts in their homes, and they always invited their three sisters to join in the eating and drinking. After each feast, Job would send for his children and perform a ceremony, as a way of asking God to forgive them of any wrongs they may have done. He would get up early the next morning and offer a sacrifice for each of them, just in case they had sinned or silently cursed God.
Job 1:4‭-‬5

Is someone trying to act like a Messiah here? Just in case they had sinned or silently cursed God Job would offer a sacrifice. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. So Job would like to cleanse away his children's sins. Should he teach his children about uprightness, maybe there would be no need for sacrifice. Is someone trying to be a Messiah? The devil will find out from God.

One day, when the angels had gathered around the Lord, and Satan was there with them, the Lord asked, “Satan, where have you been?” Satan replied, “I have been going all over the earth.” Then the Lord asked, “What do you think of my servant Job? (you see that?) No one on earth is like him—he is a truly good person, who respects me and refuses to do evil.” “Why shouldn't he respect you?” Satan remarked. “You are like a wall protecting not only him, but his entire family and all his property. You make him successful in whatever he does, and his flocks and herds are everywhere (He is trying to act like a Messiah and you letting him get away with it). Try taking away everything he owns, and he will curse you to your face.” The Lord replied, “All right, Satan, do what you want with anything that belongs to him, but don't harm Job.” Then Satan left.
Job 1:6‭-‬12.

It is good to pray for our loved ones but We'd better train them in the way of God so that they will not see us a Messiah. Teach them the way of God and to call unto God in time of trouble. Job allowed his children to live their lives the way they want and afterwards pray on their behalf to God. They trust their dad to waive their sins through his self sacrifice But the devil wiped them out. This is to show us that Jobs religious works cannot withstand the devil's hands.

I am not claiming to be Holy neither do I know all and I am not disputing what Job did. But our efforts cannot take away the guilt of others. If God is giving us grace for acting like a Messiah, the devil may find out one day. Only the righteousness of Jesus can save us from the devil. Only Jesus stand as our Messiah and each and everyone of us will have to personally surrender our lives to Him. Ephesians 2:8-9

This is what the gospel is all about. We must tell our loved ones this truth that only Jesus is our Messiah and Savior in this world and in the world to come. Amen

Jesus answered, “Go away Satan! The Scriptures say: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’ ” Then the devil left Jesus, and angels came to help him.
Matthew 4:10‭-‬11

Have you yet received Jesus Christ as your Lord today. In what way do you act like Messiah. Accepting Jesus as our sovereign Lord and Savior in faith and righteousness is what will do. Let the people around you especially your family and friends know this truth. John 8:32

Prayer: Lord Jesus I believe that you are the only one that can save us from evil. Please protect and shield me, my family and everything that belongs to us from the evil one in your name Jesus. Amen

An Emoji Devotional for Sun. Sept 12, 2021

Topic: Do not worry – rather trust

By Pastor H. Wenger

Highlights:

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. (1. Peter 5:7)

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5 – 6)

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6 – 7)

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matthew 6:25 – 34)

In my corner of the world there was a time, whenever you put on your radio, you heard Bobby McFerrin warble his song: Do not worry – be happy! He did not give a solid ground to trust in, but he found a truth: “In every life we have some trouble, but when you worry you make it double!

The word of God provides us with more and especially with an unwavering solid ground – the trust in the Lord who cares for us. By trusting in the Lord, there is never a situation hopeless. It may take unexpected turns, but it will eventually turn out for the good. God is in no way indifferent to our troubles. Much more he invites us to cast everything upon him and to go on with trusting that whatever is going to happen has a deeper purpose. To put his kingdom and his righteousness above our perceived needs is under the promise that our needs will be magically met. In John 15, Jesus gives us a wonderful parable about the wine and the branches. Jesus is the vine, we as his followers are the branches and his father is the gardener. All we have to do is to stay connected with the wine and accepting the pruning of the gardener and we will bear beautiful grapes. The full connection with the wine is crucial. By staying in Jesus, he will stay in us and the result of that intimate bond is unfailingly fruit. Knowing that we are in God’s hands and that his peace fulfills our hearts is a solid ground that leads to serenity without worries. Brothers and Sisters let us trust the Lord, let us seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and enjoy his blessings the way he is providing them.

Prayer: Dear Lord, help me to trust you wholly and flood my heart with your peace even if the circumstances of my life appear overwhelming. Help me to stay in you and thank you that you promised to stay in me. Let me bring fruit for your kingdom. Thank you for your unfailing love and care. Amen

Topic: Talking in unknown tongues …

By H. Wenger

Highlights: Acts 1:8

Since the day of Pentecost this is a theme, which has occupied, unified and divided the Christian community all over the world. Before Jesus ascended to the heavens he promised several times the outpouring of the Holy Ghost, latest in Acts 1:8: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” And then on the day of Pentecost it happened: “Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.”

This was a sensation as Jews from all over the world were present in Jerusalem and each of them heard the gospel preached in his own language. Peter finally cleared the situation with his Pentecost-Sermon in Acts 2:14ff.

The disciples were promised to be empowered with the Holy Spirit in order to be witnesses for Christ. In this original situation the gift of tongues, which is often combined with the gift of prophecy, made the greatest possible impact. Later on several charismatic oriented Christian began to declare that speaking in tongues would be the sure sign that a follower of Christ has received the Holy Spirit.

As not everybody receives the gift of tongues, charismatic movements have encouraged praying first for the gift. Then they should open their mouth and make sounds, till it somehow begins to flow like a language. Please understand that this practice does not lead to the gift of tongues, but to a kind of childish gibberish that does not make any sense. The gift of tongues has always to do with a language that is somewhere spoken and can be understood.

Paul has been aware that the church in Corinth had many questions and misuses of the gift of tongues and he therefore brings clarity to it in Chapters 12 to 14 of his first epistle to the Corinthians. It is crucial that you read through these chapters to understand what I am trying to say here.

1. There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. (1. Corinthians 12: 4 – 7)
None of the spiritual gifts is the sure sign of being filled with the holy spirit. If there is a sure sign for that it is a life of holiness and humility in Christ likeness.

2. In verses 8 to 10 Paul lists the different power-working gifts and concludes in vers 11: All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.

3. The church is the body of Christ. Everybody has many cells and organs and every part has an important task. No part in the body has all the gifts, no part is without gift and we better just fill the part the spirit has given us, lest we are paralyzing the body. Paul encourages us to earnestly covet the best gifts, but tells us at the same time that the most excellent way is to bring love to the same perfection as God loves us. (1. Corinthians 12; especially 12,31 and all of Chapter 13)

4. We are all supposed to follow the way of love and charity. (1. Corinthians 14:1) As it comes to the gifts, Paul wants us to foremost covet the gift of prophecy. With prophecy is not meant that we should tell what will be going to happen in the world. It is again bound to the body of Christ. Prophecy convicts, it reveals what has been covered up. Prophecy has the potential to heal the body by showing what has to be changed, where we erred from the sound path and it convicts unbelievers and brings them to a turn around. (Compare Chapter 14, verses 24, 25)

5. If you have received the gift of tongue, use it for yourself as it will strengthen you, and use it in the church, when there is somebody present who can interpret. It is just crucial that the rules Chapter 14 gives us are followed. Paul uses the prayer in tongues intensely (Vers 18) and gives the credit to the Lord. Now event of the church is to serve the gifts of the spirit, but the gifts of the spirit are to best serve every event of the church for the call to faith, for the sanctification of the saints and for the outreach to the unsaved.

Some conservative Christians believe that the gifts mentioned in 1. Corinthians 13:8 do not exist anymore today and consider them therefore as an ensnarement of the enemy. They believe that with the completing of the New Testament Canon, the completeness mentioned in Chapter 13:10 has arrived. The argument is for me too week, as it is not confirmed by scripture in any way.

Nevertheless I am convinced that the gifts of the spirit are a huge battlefield for Satan today. We should not forget that he can well appear as an Angel of light. It is therefore crucial that we double check our gifts. Nothing should be attributed to the Holy Spirit that does not come from the Holy Spirit. If you are unsure about your gift, talk with your elders. Implore God together with them to confirm your gift or take it away, if he is not the giver of it.

Prayer: Lord God, I do thank you that you have made me a member in the body of your son Jesus Christ. Thank you for all the gifts you have entrusted me with. Let me faithfully fulfill the part you have assigned to me, lead me to proficiency in love and bestow me with every gift with which I can be of help for the body of Christ and for your Kingdom. Help me to live in humility and holiness. Amen

An Emoji devotional for Thu, 9th Sept, 2021

Topic: Sowing mercy and grace

By Pastor H. Wenger

Highlights:

Blessed are those who have regard for the weak; the Lord delivers them in times of trouble. The Lord protects and preserves them— they are counted among the blessed in the land— he does not give them over to the desire of their foes. (Psalm 41:1 – 2)

Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. (Matthew 5:7)

Whoever oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God. (Proverbs 14:31)

Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment. (James 2:12 – 13)

We are living in a world within which self-assertiveness is required. When you apply for a job, you are expected to show that they miss out on the best opportunity, if they do not hire you. It gives us a feeling of superiority when we know that we are better in a discipline than most others. Unfortunately it makes us often times haughty and we forget that we are only as good because our Maker has gifted us. As a boy I had many problems with orthography, but it did not bother me much, because I was still in the upper third. Looking down on those in the lower two thirds worse off, made me still feel quite strong. The feeling of superiority is dangerous because it makes us easily judgmental, unforgiving and merciless.

In the Lord’s prayer Jesus thought us to say: “forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” The quality of my forgiveness, of my mercy and grace determines the quality of what I am going to receive. The story of the unmerciful servant (Matthew 18:21ff) and the sermon of Jesus about the sheep and the goats in Matthew 25 underline the truth:

“Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” “Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.” (Matthew 25:40 and 45) It is so easy and it happens so quickly to feel superiority and to look down on those we perceive as weak. Although I know that I have to look at my fellow human beings with a higher esteem than I have for myself, I have so often to repent because I catch myself belittling a fellow car driver, somebody who cannot follow an explanation I am giving, somebody who has difficulties with a task at hand, I deem trivial and easy and so on.

Brothers and Sisters the Lord is about to come back for the snapping away of his church. Let us therefore encourage one another to sanctify ourselves and to live out his character as good as ever possible. “Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.” (Hebrew 12:14) Peter tells us: In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. (1. Peter 5:5 – 6)

Prayer: Dear Lord, forgive me my tendency to so often feel superior. You have always truly been superior, but you humbled yourself and sowed grace and mercy. Help me to follow your footsteps. Always remind me that I do not possess anything that you have not given me. Help me to be fruitful for your kingdom and let me belong to the sheep that have served you in your weakest brothers and sisters. Amen

An Emoji Devotions for Tue 7th September, 2021

Topic: Why Jesus Cursed the Fig Tree

Highlights:

and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless and powerless [mere delusion]; you are still in your sins [and under the control and penalty of sin].

1 Corinthians 15:17

Then they understood things. They understood that they were not wearing any clothes. So, they took some leaves from fig trees. They fixed them together to cover their bodies.
Genesis 3:7

Peter remembered what Jesus had said. So he said to Jesus, ‘Teacher, look at that fig tree. You said that it should die, and it has died.’
Mark 11:21

This Devotional will be short. Our Lord Jesus was hungry and went to a fig tree to look for fruit to eat. The Bible made us to know that it was not the right season for fig trees to have fruits. (cf Mark 11:13) but Jesus still went on to look for fruit and he could not find any. In the end Jesus said to the tree "Nobody will ever eat your fruit again." Literally, we all agreed it was because the fig tree was fruitless hence Jesus taught His disciples to use their Faith. But the death of the fig tree is more to this than we could see.

Here is how it went down from the beginning of time. The whole scene of Jesus and the Fig tree relive the moment of Adam and Eve in Genesis 3:7 after they ate the forbidden fruit, they gained their senses of living a shortened and destructible life. The first thing Adam and Eve ever think of was unclothedness and their solution was to cover their bodies with Fig leaves. Why fig leaves? It was their best attempt of traditional ritual that seems to work in effort to restore back to their original bodies before God could return to see them.

Afterwards, God saw them hiding and He cursed them for their sins and gave a temporary solution to cover their unclothedness which is their most priority (read Genesis 3:16-24). The Lord God made clothes for Adam and Eve to wear. He used the skins from animals to make them.
Genesis 3:21. God sent them out of the garden and sent angels to guard it. (verse 24)

The revelation was happening since the beginning and it came to reality until the day Jesus Christ came in contact with Fig leaves (read Luke 4:21). God made human understood that using the fig leaves is an inconsistent rite to cover unclothedness. Jesus would find a fig tree in a season not right to have fruits and spoke to it that "Nobody will ever eat your fruit again" - a time traveling word to show that the "old" laws (fig leaves) will have to 'die' so that the new testament will begin (sacrifice of the lamb of God to become the risen son).

It was not a mistake that Jesus was beaten with whips having spike tips and crowned with thorns made from trees. He was thereafter crucified on a tree (Cross) to show that he was treated like a guilty animal. He behaved like a lamb and laid down his life. While he watch the reminisce of fallen man killing divinity. "It is finished" - He said.

Anytime we try to solve a problem by our efforts, it leads to another problem. Jesus is the only solution.

Jesus answered, ‘I am the way. I am the truth. I am the life. Nobody comes to the Father except by me.
John 14:6


Sin is what gives death its sting, and the Law is the power behind sin. But thank God for letting our Lord Jesus Christ give us the victory! My dear friends, stand firm and don't be shaken. Always keep busy working for the Lord. You know that everything you do for him is worthwhile.
1 Corinthians 15:56‭-‬58

Our Lord Jesus has taken the power belonging the fig leaves that no one will ever get covered by it anymore even if they keep trying unless by salvation through His blood. He is risen to life everlasting . Turn from your own ways and religious beliefs be cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ the lamb of God. If you Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ you and your family will be saved!

Take time and find the Lord Jesus today.

Prayer: Lord Jesus I have your understanding as the solution to life's troubles. I pray for grace to receive eternal life in you alone. Help me to stay in you for ever. In Jesus name Amen.

More

Cont'd.

An Emoji Devotions for Mon 6th September, 2021

Topic: Childhood Story of Jesus

Episodes from Jesus's childhood as depicted in the Klosterneuburg Gospels, a 14th-century gospel translation:

1. Jesus is carrying water in his lap, after his water jar got broken; other children are watching in surprise.

2. Jesus hands the water in his lap over to Mary

3. Jesus reassembles the water jars of the children who, in an attempt to imitate him, smashed their jars on purpose.

4. Jesus raises the clay birds of his playmates to life.

5. Jesus tells Joseph to raise a dead man.

6. Joseph raises the man on the stretcher from the dead.

7. During play, child Zenon falls off the roof of a house; two Jews accuse Jesus to have pushed him

8. Jesus raises the dead child (Zenon) from the dead, so he can testify that Jesus is innocent.

9. Together with other children, Jesus is catching fish on Sabbath.

10. The children complain about Jesus to adult Jews.

11. At Mary's and Joseph's request, Jesus raises the dead man.

12. Jesus plays with lions and guides them up to the town gates. The town people are scared.


God loved the people of this world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who has faith in him will have eternal life and never really die.
John 3:16

Jesus answered, ‘I am the way. I am the truth. I am the life. Nobody comes to the Father except by me.
John 14:6

Prayer of Salvation: Thank you Lord Jesus. I am now ready to accept you into my life. I accept to repent of my bad ways and now become your follower. I believe in you from now on and I will never turn away from your love. I am asking for grace to know you more. Amen