Dear Readers around the world!
I am praying and trusting that you have had a safe week, as well as one that you were able to read His Word, to be in prayer, and were able to be in fellowship with other believers!
Last week I shared with you briefly from Hebrews 13. One of those two verses spoke about our Great Shepherd.
Today, I would like to expand on the Great Shepherd portion of that scripture. I suggested that you read the entire 23rd Psalm. That Psalm is so precious to many of us Christians.
There is part of one verse from this Psalm that I would like to share with you, as well as comments upon it that I recently heard spoken. Our dear brother in Christ, Pastor Steve Wauri, from Canada, formerly of the USA, and whom had been for many years on our church federations Central Board, was speaking only about 2 weeks ago at his son’s funeral.
Yes, sadly, Steve and his wife Jackie, lost there 24 year old son, as he was killed in an accident by a train. As you can imagine, this was a very tragic event in their lives.
As Pastor Steve spoke at his sons funeral, he commented on Psalm 23:4
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death…. Steve said, that on the day his son died, they felt like they were entering into the valley of the shadow of death. It was so precious for me to hear Steve go on to say, that by the end of the week, after feeling the prayers, and seeing the love of the Christians, it truly became real to him that this verse actually says, that though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death..
He said to notice that the word says through the valley, not into the valley…. He said that they could feel the Lord carrying them through the valley. God was and is fulfilling His promise taking care of them in their time of grief.
God will all take care of us in all our times of grief, troubles, and problems. His word and promises are so wonderful and true! He will lead us through. Remember, the God of the mountains, (those good times in life) is the same God as the God of the valleys! (the bad times)
Our Lord is trust worthy. He will lead us through all events that come up. Remember to be like sheep and hear his voice. The animals that are called sheep that we see in our countryside, hear the voice of their shepherd. They know the voice of their shepherd. If there is another shepherd in the same area, they will not be fooled into going with the wrong shepherd because they know the voice of the one they belong to.
Let us as Christians be like sheep even in this way. Let us listen to the voice of the preacher. Let us listen to the small still voice of the Holy Ghost within us. Let us make sure we follow the voice of no other shepherd, other than the Great Shepherd of the sheep, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ!
John 14:6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Let this voice be heard among us always, and let us hear no other!
May God Bless your week! John
"Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price." Isaiah 55:1
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Power and Life in The Blood
Dear Readers around the world! God’s Peace from the God of Peace!
This Sunday in my sermon I was led to preach from Hebrew chapter 13 verses 20-21. I will try to share some main points from this text which is so rich and full as is all of God’s Word. This very short portion of God’s word seems to contain so many of the essential elements of our faith in just a few short words.
Hebrews 13:20-21
Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 21Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
GOD OF PEACE! This is the kind of God we have, one of Peace! Our God is a God of Peace! He wants us to be at peace, to have peace, to experience peace, to share the good news of peace. He wants us to have the peace of a good conscience.
How and when do we have or obtain peace??
Romans 5:1
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
Col. 1:20
And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
Then out text goes on to say that He brought again Jesus Christ from the dead:
What power, how amazing! Jesus arose on the third day! The grave could not contain such a mighty power! Read the verses below that show what this event means for us!
Romans 4:24-25
But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; 25Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
Romans 6:4
Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Romans 8:11
But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
2 Cor. 4:14
Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.
Ephes. 2:6
And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ
Our text then speaks of our GREAT SHEPHERD OF THE SHEEP
There are so many times in scripture that the children of God are referred to as sheep, and our Lord as the Shepherd! He is so Great, and He has a great number of sheep!
Psalm 23:1
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want… Read the entire 23rd Psalm
Isaiah 40:11
He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.
John 10:11
I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
John 10:14
I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.
Our text goes on to say THROUGH THE BLOOD OF THE EVERLASTING CONVENANT
1st Peter 1:18
Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 20Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, THIS IS TRULY EVERYLASTING ……
Other scriptures pertaining to the Power and Life of the Blood of Jesus…….
Ephes. 1:7
In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
1 John 1:7
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
Rev. 7:14
And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
Rev. 12:11
And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
Verse 21 of our text for today, goes on to explain that first He made us perfect, (we are only perfect by and through Christ Jesus) and that He is working in us that which is well pleasing in his sight. Pray that each of us would allow the Lord to do His work on and in us, so that we can be a light and a witness of His great Love to this dark world.
There is Power in the Blood! Mighty, wonder working power in the Precious Blood of the Lamb!!!
May God Bless your week!
In His Service! John Ruotsala FM Admin.
This Sunday in my sermon I was led to preach from Hebrew chapter 13 verses 20-21. I will try to share some main points from this text which is so rich and full as is all of God’s Word. This very short portion of God’s word seems to contain so many of the essential elements of our faith in just a few short words.
Hebrews 13:20-21
Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 21Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
GOD OF PEACE! This is the kind of God we have, one of Peace! Our God is a God of Peace! He wants us to be at peace, to have peace, to experience peace, to share the good news of peace. He wants us to have the peace of a good conscience.
How and when do we have or obtain peace??
Romans 5:1
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
Col. 1:20
And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
Then out text goes on to say that He brought again Jesus Christ from the dead:
What power, how amazing! Jesus arose on the third day! The grave could not contain such a mighty power! Read the verses below that show what this event means for us!
Romans 4:24-25
But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; 25Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
Romans 6:4
Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Romans 8:11
But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
2 Cor. 4:14
Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.
Ephes. 2:6
And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ
Our text then speaks of our GREAT SHEPHERD OF THE SHEEP
There are so many times in scripture that the children of God are referred to as sheep, and our Lord as the Shepherd! He is so Great, and He has a great number of sheep!
Psalm 23:1
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want… Read the entire 23rd Psalm
Isaiah 40:11
He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.
John 10:11
I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
John 10:14
I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.
Our text goes on to say THROUGH THE BLOOD OF THE EVERLASTING CONVENANT
1st Peter 1:18
Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 20Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, THIS IS TRULY EVERYLASTING ……
Other scriptures pertaining to the Power and Life of the Blood of Jesus…….
Ephes. 1:7
In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
1 John 1:7
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
Rev. 7:14
And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
Rev. 12:11
And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.
Verse 21 of our text for today, goes on to explain that first He made us perfect, (we are only perfect by and through Christ Jesus) and that He is working in us that which is well pleasing in his sight. Pray that each of us would allow the Lord to do His work on and in us, so that we can be a light and a witness of His great Love to this dark world.
There is Power in the Blood! Mighty, wonder working power in the Precious Blood of the Lamb!!!
May God Bless your week!
In His Service! John Ruotsala FM Admin.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Watchfulness
Dear readers around the world! Today our article is about watchfulness! This is an important lesson for all of us to understand. It was written by a speaking (pastor) brother of mine and a true friend! I hope you enjoy it! May God Bless your week! John
Have you ever been outside with your friends on a warm summer evening looking
up into the clear night sky waiting to see a “shooting star” go racing across the inky blackness as it appears for just a moment then vanishes from sight? If so, you might recall how after patiently watching someone will exclaim, “Look, there goes one!” Immediately all heads turn, hoping to get a glimpse of this unique nighttime phenomenon. But too late for some, the meteor, rocketing through space, enters the earth’s atmosphere and is quickly consumed in a blaze of intense heat and disappears
from view. Having done this on many occasions, I can now almost hear the disappointed response from someone in the group, “Oh, I missed it!” followed by the excited observer’s exclamation, “Wow, you should have seen it! It was awesome!”
What I have described above serves as one small example of the necessity of being “watchful.” In this case, the star gazers all had a desire to witness this nighttime spectacle, and they all believed it was possible to catch a glimpse of these dashing meteorites if they kept their eyes focused on the heavens and patiently waited for the fiery objects to appear. So the question remains: why did some miss the opportunityto observe this nighttime event?
I can tell you from experience that, in most cases, the chance to see this heavenly exhibition is lost when, after a few minutes of looking skyward and watching intently without success, the stiff-necked watcher becomes tired and weary and begins to lose interest. Or the sudden appearance of a firefly blinking its greenish light in the nearby thicket causes a distraction, and before long, good intentions of careful watching give way to other immediate interests close at hand.
Can you see the spiritual lesson in this example? We are taught in the Scriptures and we believe in our hearts that our Lord is coming again, but Jesus doesn’t come in the first watch or the second, so we become tired of watching, and weary with waiting, and before long, our eyes and hearts are feeding on earthly things. And like the intriguing glow of the firefly, which calls us to follow it into the shadowy night for a closer look, the world, filled with distraction and commotion, plays its tempting songs that can easily lull us into a state of careless slumber. The result of this diversion will not deprive the would-be watchers of a meteoric glimpse but may very well rob them of their greatest blessing, eternal life in heaven.
It was for this very reason Jesus warned His disciples, Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch. (Mark 13:35-37)
Dear bride of Christ, listen carefully and you will hear the midnight cry, “Behold the bridegroom cometh!” And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof. (Romans13:11-14)
Cal Niemela
Tapiola, Michigan
Have you ever been outside with your friends on a warm summer evening looking
up into the clear night sky waiting to see a “shooting star” go racing across the inky blackness as it appears for just a moment then vanishes from sight? If so, you might recall how after patiently watching someone will exclaim, “Look, there goes one!” Immediately all heads turn, hoping to get a glimpse of this unique nighttime phenomenon. But too late for some, the meteor, rocketing through space, enters the earth’s atmosphere and is quickly consumed in a blaze of intense heat and disappears
from view. Having done this on many occasions, I can now almost hear the disappointed response from someone in the group, “Oh, I missed it!” followed by the excited observer’s exclamation, “Wow, you should have seen it! It was awesome!”
What I have described above serves as one small example of the necessity of being “watchful.” In this case, the star gazers all had a desire to witness this nighttime spectacle, and they all believed it was possible to catch a glimpse of these dashing meteorites if they kept their eyes focused on the heavens and patiently waited for the fiery objects to appear. So the question remains: why did some miss the opportunityto observe this nighttime event?
I can tell you from experience that, in most cases, the chance to see this heavenly exhibition is lost when, after a few minutes of looking skyward and watching intently without success, the stiff-necked watcher becomes tired and weary and begins to lose interest. Or the sudden appearance of a firefly blinking its greenish light in the nearby thicket causes a distraction, and before long, good intentions of careful watching give way to other immediate interests close at hand.
Can you see the spiritual lesson in this example? We are taught in the Scriptures and we believe in our hearts that our Lord is coming again, but Jesus doesn’t come in the first watch or the second, so we become tired of watching, and weary with waiting, and before long, our eyes and hearts are feeding on earthly things. And like the intriguing glow of the firefly, which calls us to follow it into the shadowy night for a closer look, the world, filled with distraction and commotion, plays its tempting songs that can easily lull us into a state of careless slumber. The result of this diversion will not deprive the would-be watchers of a meteoric glimpse but may very well rob them of their greatest blessing, eternal life in heaven.
It was for this very reason Jesus warned His disciples, Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch. (Mark 13:35-37)
Dear bride of Christ, listen carefully and you will hear the midnight cry, “Behold the bridegroom cometh!” And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof. (Romans13:11-14)
Cal Niemela
Tapiola, Michigan
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Cease from Labor
Dear readers around the world! This week I am heading back home after traveling for about 3 months for my job as administrator for the Foreign Mission. I have enjoyed visiting different congregations each week to raise awareness about the work that the Lord is doing around the world through the Foreign Mission of the ALC have toward the work in His Kingdom! These travels are done in hopes that even in this bad economy, the Lord’s people would be reminded to share of the Lord’s blessing to help the FM as it endeavors to be obedient to the word of our Lord when He said in Mark..go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature.
On Monday of this week all the people in the United States celebrated a holiday called Labor Day. Naturally thinking, this can sound like a strange holiday. We are celebrating Labor, or work, but we all take the day off. In a way, one might think that if work is celebrated, then perhaps one should work?
This holiday did remind me however, that as Christians, we have also ceased, or have stopped from our own labor, and have entered in His Rest!
Hebrews 4:10 (KJV)
For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.
All work and labor for our salvation has been accomplished by our Lord Jesus Christ. Nothing more needs to be done! Our work has ended when we have died to self, when we have repented and believed the Gospel. 2 Tim. 2:11
It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him:
It may be at first hard to understand how we become dead with him. Romans 6:4
Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
The baptism spoken about here I believe is not only water baptism, but rather also baptism as a word in it’s original and literal meaning, which means to become one. If a person dyes a white cloth with red dye, the cloth is now red through and through. This is an example of what happens when we are buried with him by baptism into death. It is after we have repented, died to self, that then we have newness of life!!
When we have newness of life, we are in His Rest. Just like God rested after creating all things, we are able to have total rest after Jesus has created us anew! What a joy to have rest, to cease from our labors. What a wonder, how amazing, that we have been given such great blessings! Just think, NO more Labor for our Salvation. In the USA we had the one day off to celebrate with no labor, after which we all have to go back to work. In Christ’s Kingdom, our labor is totally over!
Does this mean we can just sit and do nothing? On the contrary! Remember the verse above said we are alive with HIM! Living Christians are not idle! Now that one is a believer, we understand that we are tools in His workshop. We have a desire that more and more lost sinners would be able to have this same peace and rest in Jesus Christ! We want our families, friends, and all we know to have peace and rest! This is no longer us laboring, this is us sharing of Jesus, and witnessing of Him who has given us HIS rest!
The scripture tells us that this glorious rest is not available for the ones that believe not..
Hebrews 3:18
And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not?
This rest is available for all, but it cannot be attained until one repents and believes the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Dear believers reading this, enjoy your rest in the Lord. Rest from now through all eternity in the perfect peace of our Lord!
To all non Christians reading this, may the Lord work a desire in your heart for His Word. May He allow you to come to understand that all are sinners and in need of repentance… Romans 3:23
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
We as people are no different; we must all come in through that straight gate, the Lord Jesus Christ. Matthew 7:14
Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
May you be one of the few ( in comparison to the total people of the world) that find the Lord Jesus so you can also enter into His Glorious rest! John 14:6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Let us pray one for one another that we would be in the truth, and have His life and rest!
May the Lord Bless your week!
On Monday of this week all the people in the United States celebrated a holiday called Labor Day. Naturally thinking, this can sound like a strange holiday. We are celebrating Labor, or work, but we all take the day off. In a way, one might think that if work is celebrated, then perhaps one should work?
This holiday did remind me however, that as Christians, we have also ceased, or have stopped from our own labor, and have entered in His Rest!
Hebrews 4:10 (KJV)
For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.
All work and labor for our salvation has been accomplished by our Lord Jesus Christ. Nothing more needs to be done! Our work has ended when we have died to self, when we have repented and believed the Gospel. 2 Tim. 2:11
It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him:
It may be at first hard to understand how we become dead with him. Romans 6:4
Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
The baptism spoken about here I believe is not only water baptism, but rather also baptism as a word in it’s original and literal meaning, which means to become one. If a person dyes a white cloth with red dye, the cloth is now red through and through. This is an example of what happens when we are buried with him by baptism into death. It is after we have repented, died to self, that then we have newness of life!!
When we have newness of life, we are in His Rest. Just like God rested after creating all things, we are able to have total rest after Jesus has created us anew! What a joy to have rest, to cease from our labors. What a wonder, how amazing, that we have been given such great blessings! Just think, NO more Labor for our Salvation. In the USA we had the one day off to celebrate with no labor, after which we all have to go back to work. In Christ’s Kingdom, our labor is totally over!
Does this mean we can just sit and do nothing? On the contrary! Remember the verse above said we are alive with HIM! Living Christians are not idle! Now that one is a believer, we understand that we are tools in His workshop. We have a desire that more and more lost sinners would be able to have this same peace and rest in Jesus Christ! We want our families, friends, and all we know to have peace and rest! This is no longer us laboring, this is us sharing of Jesus, and witnessing of Him who has given us HIS rest!
The scripture tells us that this glorious rest is not available for the ones that believe not..
Hebrews 3:18
And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not?
This rest is available for all, but it cannot be attained until one repents and believes the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Dear believers reading this, enjoy your rest in the Lord. Rest from now through all eternity in the perfect peace of our Lord!
To all non Christians reading this, may the Lord work a desire in your heart for His Word. May He allow you to come to understand that all are sinners and in need of repentance… Romans 3:23
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
We as people are no different; we must all come in through that straight gate, the Lord Jesus Christ. Matthew 7:14
Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
May you be one of the few ( in comparison to the total people of the world) that find the Lord Jesus so you can also enter into His Glorious rest! John 14:6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Let us pray one for one another that we would be in the truth, and have His life and rest!
May the Lord Bless your week!
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
A Fresh Start
We approach the fall time of the year we begin anew and afresh with church activities as well as continuing to manage our personal lives. Our Lord has given us much direction concerning the duties of life, instructing us to seek His kingdom first and depending upon him to give us that which we have need of. He does not want us to worry about the things of this life which are necessary, but He does call us to plan and carry out our duties with diligence.
Here is the foundation of our approach to having our needs met:
KJV Matthew 6:25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? 26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? 27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? 28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: 29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
We are to ask, seek and knock:
KJV Matthew 7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
KJV Matthew 7:8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
We are not to worry, but make our requests to Him;
KJV Philippians 4:6 Be careful for nothing;(don't worry) but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
We pray;
KJV Proverbs 16:3 Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.
The example of Jesus in prayer;
KJV Luke 6:12 And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.
KJV Luke 6:13 And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles;
We seek wise counsel from others;
KJV Proverbs 15:22 Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established.
KJV Proverbs 24:6 For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety.
We put our plans into action.
KJV Proverbs 21:5 The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to want.
KJV Proverbs 10:4 He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.
KJV Proverbs 13:4 The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.
KJV Proverbs 27:23 Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds.
KJV Proverbs 27:25 The hay appeareth, and the tender grass sheweth itself, and herbs of the mountains are gathered.
KJV Proverbs 27:26 The lambs are for thy clothing, and the goats are the price of the field.
We are open to possible changes in direction.
KJV Proverbs 16:9 A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.
KJV Proverbs 19:21 There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand.
Questions for us to consider… . How are we planning and working our plan?
Where is our planning strongest? Why? Where is our planning weakest? Why?
What can we plan to do better?
May God Bless You!
Pastor Orval Wirkkala
Here is the foundation of our approach to having our needs met:
KJV Matthew 6:25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? 26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? 27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? 28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: 29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
We are to ask, seek and knock:
KJV Matthew 7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
KJV Matthew 7:8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
We are not to worry, but make our requests to Him;
KJV Philippians 4:6 Be careful for nothing;(don't worry) but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
We pray;
KJV Proverbs 16:3 Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.
The example of Jesus in prayer;
KJV Luke 6:12 And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.
KJV Luke 6:13 And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles;
We seek wise counsel from others;
KJV Proverbs 15:22 Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established.
KJV Proverbs 24:6 For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety.
We put our plans into action.
KJV Proverbs 21:5 The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to want.
KJV Proverbs 10:4 He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.
KJV Proverbs 13:4 The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.
KJV Proverbs 27:23 Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds.
KJV Proverbs 27:25 The hay appeareth, and the tender grass sheweth itself, and herbs of the mountains are gathered.
KJV Proverbs 27:26 The lambs are for thy clothing, and the goats are the price of the field.
We are open to possible changes in direction.
KJV Proverbs 16:9 A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.
KJV Proverbs 19:21 There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand.
Questions for us to consider… . How are we planning and working our plan?
Where is our planning strongest? Why? Where is our planning weakest? Why?
What can we plan to do better?
May God Bless You!
Pastor Orval Wirkkala
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