Friday 29 April 2011

The Camel








Camels are found throughout The Bible, where they were considered very useful and valuable.They were used for personal transportation (Genesis 24:61), as a beast of burden (Genesis 37:25), and in war (1 Samuel 30:17). The number of camels someone owned was sometimes used as a measurement of personal wealth (Genesis 30:43), and were considered to be a respectful gift (Genesis 32:15). However, unlike cattle which were acceptable for food according to the Levitical dietary regulations (Clean and Unclean), camels (along with horses) were not to be eaten (Leviticus 11:4).

Jesus Christ sometimes used the camel in parables. To those who saw worldly wealth as more valuable than obeying God (e.g. Lazarus and the Rich Man), He said, "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God" (Matthew 19:24 RSV), and to the hypocritical Pharisees who placed great importance on observing minor religious regulations while at the same time living a life of sin, He said, "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you tithe mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law, justice and mercy and faith; these you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel!" (Matthew 23:23-24 RSV).

Sunday 24 April 2011

Scripture’s on Love


Rev 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

Jud 1:21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

Jud 1:2 Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied.

2Jn 1:3 Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.

2Jn 1:1 The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth;

1Jn 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

1Jn 5:2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.

1Jn 4:20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?

1Jn 4:19 We love him, because he first loved us.

1Jn 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

1Jn 4:17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

1Jn 4:16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.

1Jn 4:12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.

1Jn 4:10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

1Jn 4:9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.

1Jn 4:8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

1Jn 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.

1Jn 3:16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

1Jn 3:17 But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

1Jn 3:18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.



1Jn 3:1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

1Jn 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

1Jn 2:5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.

1Pe 3:10 For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:

1Pe 3:8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:

1Pe 2:17 Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.

1Pe 1:22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:

1Pe 1:8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:

Jas 2:8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:

Jas 2:5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?

Jas 1:12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

Heb 10:24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:

Heb 6:10 For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister

Tit 3:4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,

2Ti 4:8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.

2Ti 1:13 Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

2Ti 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

1Ti 6:11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

1Ti 6:10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

1Ti 1:14 And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.



2Th 3:5 And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ.

2Th 2:10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

1Th 5:8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.

1Th 1:3 Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;

Php 2:2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.

Eph 6:23 Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Eph 5:2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.

Eph 4:15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

Eph 3:19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

Eph 3:17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,

Eph 2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

Eph 1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

1Co 8:3 But if any man love God, the same is known of him.

Rom 12:10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;

Rom 12:9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.

Rom 8:39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Rom 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

Rom 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Rom 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.



Rom 5:5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

Joh 15:19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

Joh 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

Joh 15:10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.

Joh 15:9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.

Joh 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

Luk 6:35 But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.

Luk 6:27 But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,

Mar 12:30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.

Psa 91:14 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.

Psa 116:1 I love the LORD, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications.

Psa 122:6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.

Psa 145:20 The LORD preserveth all them that love him: but all the wicked will he destroy.

Pro 15:17 Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith.

Pro 16:13 Righteous lips are the delight of kings; and they love him that speaketh right.

Pro 18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

Deu 6:5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

Deu 7:9 Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;

Deu 11:1 Therefore thou shalt love the LORD thy God, and keep his charge, and his statutes, and his judgments, and his commandments, alway.

Jos 23:11 Take good heed therefore unto yourselves, that ye love the LORD your God.

Neh 1:5 And said, I beseech thee, O LORD God of heaven, the great and terrible God, that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love him and observe his commandments:

Joh 8:42 Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.

Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

May we be reminded of the love of our lord and savior not only in a season , but in every moment of our lives. For his death and resurrection brought us; salvation ,hope , faith, fellowship , righteousness, brotherhood and everlasting life .To all who believe in HIM!,As Lord And Savior.

Sunday 3 April 2011

Hindrances To Answered PraYeR


10.Failure to focus
Another reason prayers are not answered is that we do not stay focused when we pray and we are not diligent to keep our hearts connected to heaven before we know
It, we are saying words that have little meaning or we are distracted by the many pressures or activities of life We end up not concentrating on talking to God, not really paying attention to him.

The bible says in, Proverbs 4:25-27 (Amplified Bible)
25Let your eyes look right on [with fixed purpose], and let your gaze be straight before you.
26Consider well the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established and ordered aright.
27Turn not aside to the right hand or to the left; remove your foot from evil.
If we do want do receive from the lord- if we do want our prayer answered- we need to learn to stay focused not only in prayer, but also in life. We need to know what God has called us to do prioritize that, focuses on that, pray about that and watch as god answers our prayer and does great things though us.


Know what God has called you to do; be responsible for and pray consistently concerning those things No one’s prayer have as much effect on your life, family , and ministry as your do.

Paul told to timothy in; 1 Timothy 4:15 (Amplified Bible)
15Practice and cultivate and meditate upon these duties; throw yourself wholly into them [as your ministry], so that your progress may be evident to everybody.


He was telling him to stay focused. Prayer is like a laser beam. it is powerful, but you must stay focused in an area until the desired results are accomplished. Whatever God assigns you to do, stay focused! Focused prayer is powerful prayer!

11.Rebellion
Being rebellious toward authority will keep our prayer from being answered. A submitted heart which is the opposite of a rebellious heart is tender toward God and eager to obey Him. A rebellious person on the other hand will intentionally disobey. God does not bless disobedience.

12.Not caring for people in need
If we want our prayers to be answered , we need to be compassionate and kind to the poor.

Proverbs 21:13 (Amplified Bible)
13 Whoever stops his ears at the cry of the poor will cry out himself and not be heard


That verse speaks for itself if we want god to hear our prayers , we need to care for those who are less fortunate than we are

John 3:17-18 (Amplified Bible)
17 For God did not send the Son into the world in order to judge (to reject, to condemn, to pass sentence on) the world, but that the world might find salvation and be made safe and sound through Him.
18 He who believes in Him [who clings to, trusts in, relies on Him] is not judged [he who trusts in Him never comes up for judgment; for him there is no rejection, no condemnation--he incurs no damnation]; but he who does not believe (cleave to, rely on, trust in Him) is judged already [he has already been convicted and has already received his sentence] because he has not believed in and trusted in the name of the only begotten Son of God. [He is condemned for refusing to let his trust rest in Christ's name.]


God has equipped us with compassionate hearts and we are told in

1 John 3:17 (Amplified Bible)
17 But if anyone has this world's goods (resources for sustaining life) and sees his brother and fellow believer in need, yet closes his heart of compassion against him, how can the love of God live and remain in him?


This verse tell us not to close our hearts of compassion when we see need. Satan would like for our love to grow cold. As a matter of matter of fact, Mathew tells us that lover gown cold be a sign of the Last Days.

Matthew 24:12 (Amplified Bible)
12 And the love of the great body of people will grow cold because of the multiplied lawlessness and iniquity,


The Best ways to combat hardness of heart and a stronghold of cold love is to stay active helping those who are less fortunate than you are Don’t ignore the need you hear about by closing your heart or letting your love grow cold instead, respond to them.

Isaiah 58:6-9 (Amplified Bible)
6[Rather] is not this the fast that I have chosen: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the bands of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every [enslaving] yoke?
7 Is it not to divide your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house--when you see the naked, that you cover him, and that you hide not yourself from [the needs of] your own flesh and blood?
8 Then shall your light break forth like the morning, and your healing (your restoration and the power of a new life) shall spring forth speedily; your righteousness (your rightness, your justice, and your right relationship with God) shall go before you [conducting you to peace and prosperity], and the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.
9 Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry, and He will say, Here I am. If you take away from your midst yokes of oppression [wherever you find them], the finger pointed in scorn [toward the oppressed or the godly], and every form of false, harsh, unjust, and wicked speaking,




12.Un forgiveness
Un-forgiveness is probably the number one reason prayers are not answered .I would venture to say that more ground is given up in believer’s life through un-forgiveness than though anything else. God’s word contains may Scriptures that emphasize the importance of forgiveness which is nothing more than treating others the way God treats us I do not think we can fid any clearer biblical command to forgive than

Ephesians 4:32 (Amplified Bible)
32And become useful and helpful and kind to one another, tenderhearted (compassionate, understanding, loving-hearted), forgiving one another [readily and freely], as God in Christ forgave you.


Because we live in fallen world full of people who are imperfect as we are , we cannot avoid being hurt offended victimized or betrayed We will have reasons to be angry but unresolved anger turns to bitterness and un-forgiveness and that will hinder our prayers In fact

Ephesians 4:26 (Amplified Bible)
26 When angry, do not sin; do not ever let your wrath (your exasperation, your fury or indignation) last until the sun goes down.


We simply cannot hold on to anger and harbor un-forgiveness in our hearts if we want God to answer our prayers

Jesus makes this point plain in Mark 11:25 (Amplified Bible)
25 And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him and ]let it drop (leave it, let it go), in order that your Father Who is in heaven may also forgive you your [own] failings and shortcomings and let them drop.


In other words, whatever we have against anyone must be forgiven .No matter how major or how minor an issue seems, we have to let go. We do not wait until we feel like forgiving; we forgive by making an intentional choice a willful decision to left a matter drop. When we do, we make a way for our prayer to be answered .

13.Pride
First Peter 5:5 says that “God resist the proud , but gives grace to the humble We can see from the verse that pride is certainly a hindrance to answered prayer ! when we pray and ask for God’s grace in situation, pride will block it but humility will pave the ways for it When we’re proud we don’t think we need God or anyone else We feel self-sufficient :we are self-reliant We think we are better than other people Pride is very serious to God The bible contains may Scriptures that affirm this but one of the strongest is

Proverbs 16:5 (Amplified Bible)
5 Everyone proud and arrogant in heart is disgusting, hateful, and exceedingly offensive to the Lord; be assured [I pledge it] they will not go unpunished


Pride will keep our prayer from being answered and we must deal with our pride if we want god to hear and responds to us when we pray , We need to ask Him to show us areas in our heart swhere we are proud and we need to repent the best way to turn form a particular sin or stop an old attitude or thought pattern is to ask God’s forgiveness for it and to choose to develop the opposite attitude to behavior instead So when overcoming the sin of pride we need to ask god to help us develop humility and do everything we can to cultivate humility in our hearts We need to humble not only before God but also in our relationships with other people.

One of the best ways to practice humility is through confession.The first sentence of
James 5:16 (Amplified Bible)
16Confess to one another therefore your faults (your slips, your false steps, your offenses, your sins) and pray [also] for one another, that you may be healed and restored [to a spiritual tone of mind and heart]. The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working].


Remember, God will resist those who have pride in their heart and their pride will hinder their prayers but God hears the prayer of humble hearts and sends his grace in response.

May we live in humbleness and in obedience to the lord. And let not the Hindrances To Answered PraYeR, come in our way in our relationship with the lord . For a strong walk with him, in this life. And for life to come.