Category: Category 3

That your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. 1 Corinthians 2:5

We Have To Move By Faith

As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him. Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground.

1 Samuel 17:48-49

Application of our faith does not stop with our confession – we have to also follow through with action. As we become sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s prompting, He will guide us along the path we should follow and direct us in all of our activities.
In the life of David, we can see that he had experienced God’s faithfulness when the Lord protected him while he was tending his father’s sheep. David had experienced a personal encounter with God and trusted that, when he called on the Lord, He would be there for him. Are we able to say the same of our own walk with God? Do we trust Him implicitly to believe that He will meet our every need if we walk in faith and obedience to His Word?

If you are in the wilderness this morning, He is willing to meet with you, to reignite your faith. Let your faith not be based on your own strength and effort but seek an encounter with the One who is able to transform your spirit, soul and body so that you may know His faith which is alive and active, enabling you to glorify the Lord as you walk according to His will.

 

Dear Lord,

I thank You for this day. I desire a personal encounter with You so that I will be able to feel Your heart beat and move by it. Amen.

God bless you.
Your obedient servants in Christ,
Theo and Manju

“We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, “I believed, and therefore have I spoken,” we also believe, and therefore speak.” 2 Corinthians 4:13

Faith Has To Be Applied

David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands, and I’ll strike you down and cut off your head. This very day I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds and the wild animals, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel.”
1 Samuel 17:45-46

 

Our faith is applied when it is declared or proclaimed. The Word says “I believed and therefore I spoke.”  When we believe with our hearts, the faith within us needs to be confessed through the words that we speak with our mouth; our hearts and mouths are connected. It is important for us to vocalize our faith because there is power when we proclaim and testify in accordance with God’s Word.
When Goliath cursed David, he felt no fear because his faith in God was greater than the words that the giant threw at him. David applied his faith by confessing with his mouth, the victory that he believed the Lord would give to His people, saying, “This day the Lord will deliver you into my hands.”

David understood the importance of right confession, by confirming with his mouth the faith that the Lord had placed in his heart, he was able to see the victory that God had planned for him.

 

God’s Word and His principles have not changed and so we, also, will be able to see the mighty hand of God move in our lives if we believe with our heart and confess with our mouth, the promises that God has made for His children. As we apply the faith that He has graciously placed in our hearts, let us stand firm before the giants and boldly proclaim His victory, giving Him the glory, that others may know that God is alive in our world today.
Dear Lord,
I thank You for this day and the many things that You have done in my life. Help me to hold fast the confession of my hope without wavering, for You are faithful. Amen.

 

God bless you.
Your obedient servants in Christ,
Theo and Manju

When you become an instrument in God’s hands as He transfers someone from the realm of darkness into the kingdom of His Son, you make a difference in the person’s eternal destiny. Not only that, but Satan also receives a devastating blow.
– Charles Stanley

The Lord is our Judge

See, “Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Who are you pursuing? A dead dog? A flea? May the Lord be our judge and decide between us. May he consider my cause and uphold it; may he vindicate me by delivering me from your hand.
1 Samuel 24:14-16

David did not want to kill Saul because he was appointed by God. He did not fear Saul and only feared God, so he boldly pointed out to Saul his wrongs. David made it clear to Saul that God was judge and can see all things, and nothing can be hidden from Him.
We should not be afraid to correct those whom God has appointed, because if they are humble they can learn from their mistakes and become more effective in building God’s kingdom.

The Lord is not only our judge, but will also vindicate us from the enemy. Can we learn from these truths and be like David when we encounter similar situations?

Dear Lord,
You are the Alpha and the Omega and I take cover under Your wings. Help me not to fear man but speak out the truth and encourage others to abide in You. Amen.

God bless you
Your obedient servants in Christ,
Theo and Manju

A rule I have had for years is: to treat the Lord Jesus Christ as a personal friend. His is not a creed, a mere doctrine, but it is He Himself we have. Dwight L Moody

May He Go With You

“The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.”
Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you.”
1 Samuel 17:37

In today’s passage, King Saul sends David out to fight Goliath with an assurance, saying “Go, and the Lord be with you.” David was not alone, the Lord was with Him.

When Jesus sent out the twelve disciples, He did not send them out alone but sent them in two’s. We may wonder why Jesus did that; one reason may be that when two or three are gathered in His name, the Word says that He will be present. His presence is what all of us need. Moses did not want to leave the mountain of God without His presence.

It is important to know that the Lord is with us and therefore, we are not alone. When we live our lives with this assurance, we will not be afraid; the Lord will give us victory over our enemies and we will live as overcomers.

We may encounter many a challenge throughout the day but remember that He is with you and abides in you.

Dear Lord,
I thank You for this day. May Your presence abide within me, giving me peace and rest to my spirit. Amen.

God bless you.
Your obedient servants in Christ,
Theo and Manju

Basically, there are two paths you can walk: faith or fear. It’s impossible to simultaneously trust God and not trust God. Charles Stanley

Faith Does Not Give Up

David said to Saul, “Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him.” Saul replied, “You are not able to go out against this Philistine and fight him; you are only a young man, and he has been a warrior from his youth.”
1 Samuel 17:32-33

When David was taken before King Saul, he was full of confidence and faith that the Lord would give him the victory over Goliath. Saul, however, could only see in the natural and was not convinced that a young lad with no experience in battle could defeat a giant who was a seasoned warrior.

The faith within David was activated when he saw how Goliath defied the armies of the living God; David wanted to show the Philistines how the Lord would fight for His people and give them the victory. He also knew that the Israelites needed to see the hand of God move on their behalf in order for them to deal with the lack of faith in their hearts.

As David testified of how the Lord had protected him from wild lions and bears when he was looking after his father’s sheep, Saul’s faith was also built up. David’s perseverance and determination to see God’s name honoured and glorified resulted in victory for the Israelites.

Therefore, when we are confronted by attacks from the enemy, let us not lose heart and cower like the soldiers in the army. Rather, let us stand firm and persevere by putting our faith in the living God who is able to defeat the giants in our lives.

Dear Lord,
I thank You for Your word which says that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. Help me, Lord, to apply this to my life so that I may live in victory. Amen.

God bless you.
Your obedient servants in Christ,
Theo and Manju

The time you spend alone with God will transform your character and increase your devotion. Then your integrity and godly behavior in an unbelieving world will make others long to know the Lord. Charles Stanley

Be Yourself

 So Saul clothed David with his armour, and he put a bronze helmet on his head; he also clothed him with a coat of mail. David fastened his sword to his armour and tried to walk, for he had not tested them. And David said to Saul, “I cannot walk with these, for I have not tested them.” So David took them off.
1 Samuel 17:38-39

 

When David offered to fight Goliath, Saul clothed him in his own armour and gave him his own sword to slay the giant. Needless to say, the king’s armour did not fit the young shepherd boy and fortunately, David was wise enough to refuse it. He didn’t need the armour to pretend he was a great soldier because he did not want to be what he was not.
When we come to Jesus, He does not want us to hide behind masks, pretending to be something that we are not. Rather, He desires us to be transparent before Him, coming to Him with honesty and sincerity because He is able to see and discern the deepest thought and intent of our hearts. The Pharisees looked good on the outside but the Lord was able to see beyond their religious acts, knowing that their heart motives were not pure.

Not only should we be transparent before God, but we should also be open and honest before our brothers and sisters in Christ. The body of Christ cannot move in love and unity if we build walls around our hearts, hiding our true thoughts and feelings behind a superficial mask. Only as we learn to trust and confide in one another, will the Holy Spirit start to move freely amongst His people.

 

So let us follow the example of David and have the courage to take off the armour that we think will protect us when in fact, we need only be ourselves, placing our faith in God who clothes us with His righteousness, who gives us the victory as we walk with Him, led by His Spirit.

Dear Lord,
I thank You for this day. Thank You that I can come to You just as I am for You desire truth and sincerity. Help me to live a life that serves You, so Your Name may be glorified. Amen.

God bless you.
Your obedient servants in Christ,
Theo and Manju

Stand up, stand up for Jesus, ye soldiers of the cross;
Lift high His royal banner, it must not suffer loss.
From victory unto victory His army shall He lead,
Till every foe is vanquished, and Christ is Lord indeed.

George Duffield, Jr.

Taking A Stand For God

David asked the men standing near him, “What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel? Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?”
1 Samuel 17:26

David was willing to take a stand for God because his faith rested in the living God of Israel, the Lord Almighty. He did not see Goliath as a giant of great strength but rather, he saw him as an uncircumcised Philistine who dared to humiliate the children of the Lord God Almighty.

 

Sometimes we may compromise our faith because we do not want to hurt our friends or offend other people. Our fear of man is greater than our fear of God but by not taking a stand for the Lord, we grieve both Him and His Holy Spirit.
Taking a stand for God comes from having a close relationship with Him; may we desire to spend more time with Him, making Him our priority in the busyness of the world that we live in. As we acknowledge and proclaim His goodness in our lives, we can be confident that He will give us the victory over the Goliaths because our faith is grounded in the living God.

 

Therefore, let us not be ashamed or fearful of taking a stand for Him who took a stand for us when He bled and died for us on the cross, washing away our sins and giving us the gift of eternal life.

 

Dear Lord,
I thank You for this day. Help me to be bold so that I will be able to stand up for You and not be a coward. The world is passing away but Your kingdom will not pass away. Amen.

God bless you.
Your obedient servants in Christ,
Theo and Manju

When you focus on being a blessing, God makes sure that you are always blessed in abundance. Joel Osteen

 

Faithful In The Little Things

 

David was the youngest. The three oldest followed Saul, but David went back and forth from Saul to tend his father’s sheep at Bethlehem.

1 Samuel 17:14-15

 

David’s appointment to serve King Saul when he was still a shepherd boy would have been considered a great honour; yet he remained humble and travelled back and forth to look after his father’s sheep in Bethlehem. Even though he had been elevated to serve in the king’s presence, he did not consider himself too good for the work his father had entrusted to him. By continuing to shepherd his family’s sheep, he honoured his father and was faithful to him.

 

Are we as faithful in the little things that God has called us to do? Whether it is in our home, our church, the community or at our work place, we need to be mindful of doing what He has called us to do, to the very best of our ability. Do not let pride be a stumbling block, preventing God from fulfilling His purposes in your life, because you think a task is too menial.

 

The Lord does not expect us to do everything, quantity does not always equal quality. We need to hear and obey His call upon our lives – in this He expects us to be faithful.

 

Many times we desire to please man and not God, involving ourselves in many activities. We end up becoming tired and run down, often overlooking the one small thing that the Lord wanted us to be faithful in. May we search our hearts diligently to see whether, like David, we can prove ourselves to be faithful in the small things because only then, will the Lord entrust us with greater and mightier works.

 

Dear Lord,
Great is Thy faithfulness oh Lord, morning by morning new mercies I see; all I have needed Thy hands have provided, great is Thy faithfulness oh Lord, my Saviour. Amen.

God bless you.
Your obedient servants in Christ,

Theo and Manju

“Keep doing the right. God is building character in you, and you are passing that test. Remember, the greater the struggle, the greater the reward. Joel Osteen

Favour of God

 

So David came to Saul and stood before him. And he loved him greatly, and he became his armour bearer. Then Saul sent to Jesse, saying, “Please let David stand before me, for he has found favour in my sight.”
1 Samuel 16:22-23

The word says that David was loved by Saul, became his armour bearer and found favour in the eyes of the king. The first step to finding favour amongst our own people and our superiors is to find favour with God.

Favour received from man is based on the relationships that we cultivate with others. Similarly, we will find favour with God when we spend time with Him. When the favour of God is upon us, His abiding presence will always be with us through the Holy Spirit who will lead us into all truth. We will enjoy tangible benefits and be spiritually refreshed, filled to overflowing so that we may be a blessing to others.

As David developed his relationship with the Lord even while tending his father’s sheep, he found favour with God who blessed him and opened the doors for him to become the future king of Israel.

 

So let us encourage one another to seek a closer and more personal relationship with the Lord that we may enjoy the favour of both God and man.

 

Dear Lord,

I thank You for this day; may the favour of the Lord our God rest upon us and establish the work of our hands. Amen.

God bless you.
Your obedient servants in Christ,
Theo and Manju

Those outside the church expect followers of Christ to live differently, yet today many in church are chasing after the world – not to win them, but to be like them. Billy Graham

His Favour

 

One of the servants answered, “I have seen a son of Jesse of Bethlehem who knows how to play the lyre. He is a brave man and a warrior. He speaks well and is a fine-looking man. And the Lord is with him.”
1 Samuel 16:18

David, the shepherd boy, who was once overlooked by his family, had now grown to be recognised by others as a brave warrior who was handsome and well spoken. His musical abilities were also acknowledged and because of this, he was called to the king’s service. It is interesting to note that all this talent was only recognised after the prophet had anointed him.

 

The most important characteristic, however, that the servant used to describe David was that the Lord was with him. Can people look at us and say the same of us? When the Lord is with us, His favour cannot be hidden and it will be recognised by others.

 

By giving the Lord first priority in our lives, we should also prepare ourselves to go where He calls us, just as David was called from the flocks of sheep to live in the king’s palace. We may think that we are the least important and not have the right education or qualifications but when we place Him above all things, He will give us the ability and strength to carry out His purpose in our lives. His favour will surround us and shield us from the enemy, making us the head and not the tail.
Dear Lord,
Thank You for Your grace and favour over my life. Help me to prioritise my time so that I may give You the best of all that I am. Amen.

 

God bless you.
Your obedient servants in Christ,
Theo and Manju