There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. (I John 4:18 NKJV)
Tag: iBibleVerse
God loved us so much that He gave us Himself.
“In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him”. 1 John 4:9 NKJV
Although we had no electricity in church this morning, the place was certainly lit with hearty laughs and cheerful smiles of God’s people as we enjoyed each other’s company.
Love does knit hearts together. Lovingly, be devoted to others. Enjoy God’s people.
Happy Sunday!
The Want For Escape
When we are confronted with a personal issue, more often than not its sin, there is this natural want to escape from it. 
To get away. Just not worry about it.
Cain ran from God because he did not want to be accounted for killing his brother. We have Jonah traveling entirely opposite from God’s sovereign direction for Jonah to preach to his enemies at Nineveh.
We cannot hide. Especially if it is sin. God clearly stated that will “bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil” (Ecclesiastes 12:14 NKJV).
God found Cain as he ran from the scene of the crime. He exposed him, exclaiming to Cain, “The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground” (Genesis 4:10 NKJV). Then Cain faced his judgment.
God forced Jonah to go to Nineveh with a fierce storm and a whale.*
Truth is you can’t run from confrontation. All of us need to learn that we need to run through them.
Even Jesus sought an escape from His mission to suffer and die. This act was necessarily for all of us.
Jesus revealed his humanity when He wrestled with the thoughts of the immense suffering that waited for Him. He even pleaded with Father God asking, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done” (Luke 22:42 NKJV).
We are human. Confrontation honestly is uncomfortable. Here are some things to consider when faced with confrontation.
1. The Confrontation could possibly be God’s divine fingers, pointing out our sin or pointing us to do the right thing.
We saw God confronted Cain with his sin in killing his brother. God also confronted Jonah to do the right thing which was to go to Nineveh.
When we are confronted with sin, we need to remember that He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy” (Proverbs 28:13 NKJV).
“For whom the Lord loves He chastens…” (Hebrews 12:6 NKJV). We are God’s children, therefore he will confront us on our wrong and discipline us.
We need to always do the right thing because we have to as Christ’s followers. God says its sin to not do what you know you ought to do:
“Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.” (James 4:17 NKJV)
When confronted, we need to always do the right thing. (Check out Doing Good Because You Have To)
2. Whenever confronted, see God’s desire in the matter.
God has called us to “be imitators of God as dear children” (Ephesians 5:1 NKJV). He desires that we “be conformed to the image of His Son” (Romans 8:29 NKJV). God will even use trials and circumstances to shape you into His desired image.
Know also that God wants us to be a better person. As He molds us, especially in undelightful confrontations, it’s always for your good. As you endure confrontations, remember that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6 NKJV).
3. Always depend on God’s strength.
Remember Mary, Jesus’ mother. Here she is minding her own business, when she is suddenly approached face to face with an Angel whom declares her assignment to carry the Son of God. Talk about confrontation!
When Mary listed the impossibilities, the angel responded boldly, “For with God nothing will be impossible” (Luke 1:37 NKJV).
“If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small” (Proverbs 24:10 NKJV).
You can’t afford to shrink and hide from your problems when they confront you. That weakens you.
Any confrontation you face, you can always bank on God to see you through it. Cast all your anxiety upon Christ because He cares for you**.
Mary understood she could make it through this confrontation that included incredible responsibility and supernatural elements only on God’s strength.
She gave the right answer for the angel. “Then Mary said, ‘Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word’ (Luke 1: 38 NKJV).
You can do all things through Christ who gives you strength, even in confrontations.*** Trust in Him.
*Jonah 1
**1 Peter 5:7: “Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.”
***Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
Love, the Greatest Gift
God refreshed my soul to observe how high love ought to be regarded in our lives. He brought me to 1 Corinthians 13. I pray your soul will be illuminated by the life of these words, and that letters literally jumped out and be absorbed into your very being so you can produce a love-filled personality:
13 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned,[a] but have not love, it profits me nothing.
4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.
11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.
13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
Happy New Year! Great verse for the resolution’s list:
Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,
I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:13, 14 NKJV)
Run towards glorifying Christ in everything you do. Forget the past. Press forward! Greater things are still to be done. Live for what Christ has planned for your life to experience.
Go! Chase His Heart!
I’m praying for you to achieve!
Walk like You are Called by Jesus
I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, (Ephesians 4:1 NKJV)
Check out great graphic verses @lewissatini.tumblr.com
This is Best remedy to fight sin. It’s also how you purify yourself.
How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word. (Psalm 119:9 NKJV)
Some good insight on rejection from iBibleVerses.
FOLLOW THE SON 