Posted by: missionventureministries | June 12, 2024

OUR WORDS REFLECT WHAT IS IN OUR HEART – Luke 6:45

Luke 6 vs 45

A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. (Luke 6:45) 

The words that a Christian conveys are of great importance, for Jesus has said: “Every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment” (Matthew 12:36). 

In Colossians 4:6 we read, “Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” The word “answer” in this text means more than simply an answer to a question, it refers to ordinary conversation, indicating that every verbal response of a Christian should be gracious and tasteful, never crude or hurtful. 

Full of grace means that our presentation of the gospel should be permeated with God’s grace, since as a sinner who has received grace, you won’t speak in a condescending or condemning manner to another. You will be kind and humble, letting the other person know that we’re all sinners who would be on the way to hell, were it not for God’s grace. 

Seasoned with salt, means that our presentation of the gospel should stimulate people’s desire to want to learn more of the Bible, just as salt is used to make food tastier. 

Scriptures include many other specifications for a Christian’s speech. Our words should be carefully chosen, able to be substantiated by, “sound speech that cannot be condemned” (Titus 2:8). People should be able to rely on the truth of what we say (Ephesians 4:25). 

Our words should always be edifying and helpful, wholesome and thoughtful. Christ died both to take away the guilt of our sins and to give us power through the indwelling Holy Spirit to overcome our sins. Paul’s simple command to put aside our anger implies that we can control it. He doesn’t make exceptions for those with short fuses or for those who have been victimized. He just says, “you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips” (Colossians 3:8). 

So, how do you eliminate foul language? 

Removing the stench of the words that come from our mouths begins with renewing our hearts. Just as people recognize the kind of tree by the fruit it bears (Luke 6:43-44), Jesus said that our speech is a convincing indicator of whether our hearts are in tune with Him and His ways or not. Fruit stands for a person’s speech, “for the mouth speaks what the heart is full of” (Luke 6:45). 

Christ was pointing out that if we really want to change what’s coming out of our mouths, we first have to focus on changing our hearts as He helps us. 

External promises are useless to curb the foul language that comes forth from an untransformed heart. We can only eliminate foul speech by first believing in Jesus (1 Corinthians 12:3) and then inviting the Holy Spirit to fill us since He works within us to inspire and help us to continually offer thanks to God and to speak encouraging and edifying words to others. Therefore, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen” (Ephesians 4:29). 

The origin of our words is found in our heart. Our mouth gives us away by revealing our true feelings. Our words also defile and condemn us, for we will give an account for every idle word we speak (Matthew 12:36). This word that Jesus used, “idle,” means careless. We need to be intentional with our words because our words reflect our heart. We have a responsibility to be careful with what we say. 

But if this seems humanly impossible to you, remember God is able to tame our tongues, even though we cannot! The key is prayer, earnest and consistent prayer, not just that our speech become inoffensive, but that it may edify, testify, and minister grace for the honor and glory of God. 

Therefore, “whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him” (Colossians 3:17). 

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Posted by: missionventureministries | June 5, 2024

THE CONFIDENCE OF THE INTERCESSOR’S PRAYER – 1 John 5:14-15

1 John 5 vs 14-15

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of Him. 1 John 5:14-15 

Our faith in God’s promise to hear and answer our prayers must have solid footing because Satan constantly assaults us with doubt that our prayers don’t matter. His goal is to get us to quit, while God’s goal is to get us to persist in prayer and to do so with faith. 

James, like John also states that we need to ask with unwavering faith. “But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do” (James 1:6-8). 

Humans have the ability to have faith, to a certain degree. We get in a car trusting that it will start, and will take us where we need to go. We board buses, trains, and planes in faith that they have been well-maintained and have reliable operators that get us safely where we need to go. The list of examples of where we employ faith in daily living is endless. However, true faith “comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17), by which we believe the Bible to be absolute truth and is teaching us to surrender our life to Christ. 

Intercessory prayer requires a deeper abiding faith. And for us who believe in the power of prayer, the foundation of our faith consists of four attributes of God: 

God Cannot Lie: Hebrews 6:17-18 tells us; “So God gave His word when He made His promise. He wanted to make it very clear that His purpose does not change. He wanted those who would receive what was promised to know this. When God made His promise, He gave His word. He did this so we would have good reason not to give up. Instead, we have run to take hold of the hope set before us. This hope is set before us in God’s promise. So God made His promise and gave His word. These two things can’t change. He couldn’t lie about them.” 

We rely on prayers in the knowledge that God cannot lie and that, therefore, all the promises He gave in Scripture to hear and answer prayer are true and undeniable, meaning that He will never change His mind. 

God Is Omnipotent: Which is a theological word that comes from the Latin “omni” (all) and “potens” (able/powerful). The Scripture points us to this attribute through verses like Jeremiah 32:27, “I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?” 

God is Omniscient: We now know that “omni” means all. “Scient” is also Latin, and it means “knowing.” God is all-knowing. That is why Jesus told His disciples, “Your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him” (Matthew 6:8). 

Intercessors rely heavily on the omniscience of God because we often present situations and concerns to Him that are complex, uncertain in outcome, outside of human control; in other words, too big for us to understand. 

In addition our struggle is not against flesh and blood but against the forces of darkness in the heavenly places, where we need God’s superior knowledge to pray the right things. “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans” (Romans 8:26). Our faith rests in believing that the Spirit knows all things and guides our intercession through that knowledge. We tap into it by acknowledging that we don’t know the right things to pray and asking the Holy Spirit to guide us. 

God is Omnipresent: The omnipotence and omniscience of God are immediately available to us because of a third “omni” – His omnipresence. He is the only Being in existence Who is everywhere at the same time. Angels can’t do that, and evil spirits, including Satan Himself, certainly can’t. They are location-bound and usually work in and through people. But God is everywhere in the universe all at once, employing His omnipotence and omniscience. That is why we can pray about any situation anywhere in the world and expect action from the throne of grace. Paul gives us a glimpse of what the omnipresence of God means for us in Ephesians 4:6, where he says that there is “one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” 

Think about it for a moment; the Father, Who is present in us through the Holy Spirit, directs us to pray for a situation hundreds or thousands of miles away and many times delivers an instantaneous answer there! Not only does He know the situation because He is present there, but He is also able to work in it by His power. If God were location-bound, He would not be capable of doing that. 

The last three attributes become real to us because of the first; the absolute truth that God cannot lie and that there are no mistakes, untruths, or partial truths in the Scriptures that reveal to us Who He is. God’s truth about Himself holds it all together! 

God gives us access to His throne, works through our prayers, and guides us in what to pray because He is a Father Who loves His children. The Apostle Paul describes it like this: “If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” (Romans 8:31-32). 

God delights in our prayers because He loves the company of His children and their partnership in His kingdom work and as we read and study the Bible, we learn what God’s moral will is; and as we do, we should pray according to what is revealed. We can only be sure of things that are specifically set forth in the word of God. It is vital that you and I know the Word of God so that our prayers may be in harmony with biblical truth. 

There is nothing mechanical or magical about prayer. For it to be effective, however, the will of the intercessor needs to be in line with the will of God. Such conformity of wills is brought about only as the believer abides in Christ. 

The key to answered prayer is being in such close fellowship with God that we ask for the things that are on His heart. In other words, we take up His agenda with our requests and intercession. The spirit of true prayer is “Thy will be done” (Matthew 6:10) where Christ models the importance of submission to God’s will, and speaking to Him in a way which acknowledges it. Praying for what God wants to happen is to accept that His plan is right and good for everyone. 

We ask God to do for us through Christ what we can’t do for ourselves. Prayer is the open admission that without God we can do nothing; and when we pray we must turn away from ourselves and turn to God with the confidence that He will give us the help we need. In short, prayer is a declaration of our dependence of the Lord and must always be offered in submission to the will of God. 

Father, we thank You for providing us with your Word to increase our faith. There is no one like You. Help us to increase our faith to intercede for others through Scripture centered prayers, as we ask this in your beloved Son’s name, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen. 

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Posted by: missionventureministries | May 29, 2024

THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT – John 16:7-15

John 16 vs 7-15

Jesus said: Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. (John 16:7) 

In verses 16:7-15, the apostle John writes how the Holy Spirit would enable the apostles to witness for Jesus and justify His supernatural credentials before the world (John 15:26-27). They would also have an Advocate at their side through persecution since the Spirit would not only be their Defender but enable them to carry through their message. 

The following verses reveal the threefold role of the Holy Spirit: 

  • He would indictthose who reject Christ as Savior
  • He would convince people of the standard for acceptance before God
  • He would condemn Satan’s belief system  

And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: The three things that the Spirit would do when He came revolves around conviction. Conviction is a prelude to salvation. 

“Convict” means to expose facts or convince of the truth. It is the ministry of the Holy Spirit to expose the lost to the gospel. It takes more than proclaiming the gospel to come to Christ; it requires supernatural action. 

The Holy Spirit awakens the conscience to believe what is right but also to prove people guilty of violating God’s norms and standards. The Greek word for “convict” implies more than rebuke; it also includes the idea of building a case for what is true. Thus, the idea of “convict” means the Spirit both personally convinces the world of its guilt and calls them to embrace Jesus as Savior. 

The first area that the Holy Spirit convicts is “sin” (singular). The Holy Spirit will convict of one sin, the sin of not believing that Jesus is the Savior (John 3:18). 

And verses 9 and 10 continue to reveal the particular implications of the words “sin,” “righteousness,” and “judgment.” The first is that people do not believe in Jesus. 

The Spirit will convict the person of sin, meaning unbelief (John 3:18). It does not refer to sins in general but of the single sin of rejection of Christ as Savior. Jesus had just spoken of the guilt of those who reject His message (John 15:22, 24). This verse asserts that people are guilty because they refuse to believe in Jesus and His message. The Holy Spirit will personally witness about this (John 15:26). 

The world in general is willfully ignorant of its need to believe Jesus. Because of this, it takes the  supernatural ministry of the Holy Spirit to bring them to the point of belief in Jesus as their Savior. 

Please note that unbelief in Jesus is the singular sin that casts a person into a Christless eternity. People do not come to God strictly from their own initiative; God draws them to Himself (John 6:44). He does this by the convicting work of the Spirit. The sin of unbelief is the singular or supreme sin that condemns a person to a Christless eternity. The Spirit’s conviction of the world is not of sin in general but of the special sin of rejection of Jesus as Savior. We accept Him by believing that He saves us from all sin. 

The benchmark of believing the gospel is to discern God in Christ. The only sin that can put a person outside fellowship with God is unbelief or rejection of Jesus as their personal Savior. Belief is the only requirement for salvation. 

The Holy Spirit convicts the world in two ways: 

  1. He secures a verdict of “guilty” by producing definite evidence of that guilt and shows there is no excuse for not believing.
  2. He brings them to a point of decision of either negative or positive decision toward the gospel message.

 The second area by which the Holy Spirit convicts the world is “righteousness.” 

Righteousness is the standard for acceptance into heaven is God’s very own righteousness, which is absolute or perfect righteousness. If God were to receive anyone into His presence with even a fleeting sin, He would compromise His own character. He would be inconsistent with Himself. 

Therefore, God’s righteousness is the standard for going to heaven. This is the argument of Romans 3 through chapter 5. When people attempt to please God by their own righteousness, they fail to accept the central  reason Jesus came; to pay for sin and to declare the person who believes this as righteous, as God is righteous. By this God maintains consistency with His own character. He is “the just, and justifier of them which have faith in Jesus” (Romans 3:26). 

By Jesus presenting His righteousness to the Father, He reversed man’s failure to measure up to God’s righteousness and vindicated those who go to heaven based on His righteousness (Romans 10:3; Philippians 3:6-9; Titus 3:5). 

The resurrection and ascension vindicated the righteousness of Christ. The Father justly welcomed Him back into His presence. The Father did not compromise His righteousness by receiving the One who bore the sins of the world. This was the Father’s justification of Jesus’ work on earth. The resurrection and ascension validated His offer of salvation to the world from the Father’s perspective. The ascension of Christ declared that righteousness was available to anyone who believes in Jesus. 

It is the Spirit’s role to convince the world that Jesus met all the demands of God’s absolute righteousness. He revealed that point after the crucifixion of Jesus paid for the sins of the world. 

The Father accepted the righteousness of Christ as the basis for anyone who believes in Him to enter heaven. Since God is an absolute being and not finite, He can only accept perfect righteousness into His presence. Jesus established our righteousness and declared those who believe in Him to be as righteous as He is righteous. 

It is the ministry of the Holy Spirit to convince the world of God’s standard for entering heaven – the righteousness of Christ. The Spirit would point to Christ as the righteous one (Acts 3:14; 7:52; 1 John 2:1; 1 Peter 3:18). 

The Jews of Jesus’ day were “ignorant of God’s righteousness” (Romans 10:3). God’s absolute righteous is a completely different category than man’s relative righteousness. Jesus met all the demands of God’s perfect righteousness. 

Righteousness apart from believing what Jesus did to pay for sin is completely inadequate. No one can be declared righteous apart from God declaring him that way. Only the Holy Spirit can bring people to understand that they cannot become right with God other than believing that Jesus paid the penalty for their sins. 

The third dynamic whereby the Holy Spirit deals with the world is “judgment.” The Spirit convicts the world of its liability of being in league with the one who has a different belief system than God. 

Jesus would defeat the devil on the cross in a few hours (John 12:31; Hebrews 2:14). The word “judged” indicates that Satan stands judged in God’s court because of the cross (1 John 3:8). Therefore, the evil one and those who reject Jesus stand under God’s judgment. They are already judged (John 3:18; 12:31; Hebrews 2:14). The world needs to do nothing to be condemned; it is judged already (John 3:36). We need to understand that both the world and its ruler already stand condemned before God. 

The ruler or prince of this world is in the business of making people spiritually blind (2 Corinthians 4:3-4) and the world in general has come to believe the lies of Satan about Jesus. This is an issue of false judgment that rests on wrong assumptions about truth. 

The Holy Spirit’s judgment is not merely on the world but on Satan himself. Satan and those who follow him stand condemned forever and have no status with God. 

As we continue, we read that the apostles still needed much more revelation of truth but were not quite ready to accept everything that Jesus had to say about their immediate future. 

However, even though the apostles did not have the capacity to receive more revelation at this time, they would have that capacity when the Holy Spirit came to permanently indwell the believers on the day of Pentecost. 

When the Spirit of truth comes indicates that the Spirit is a person. The Holy Spirit would convey truth and divine revelation of the New Testament to the apostles; He would also give illumination to believers in their understanding of Scripture once He came on the day of Pentecost and thereafter. 

God would in a few weeks launch the church and set aside Israel as His way of dealing with the world (Hebrews 1:1-2). There would be new revealed truth found in the New Testament that had not been revealed in the Old Testament (Ephesians 3:2-5). 

We need to understand that the Holy Spirit does not speak on His own initiative. Everything that He communicates comes from the Trinity. The role of the Holy Spirit as a guide is not independent of Jesus’ authority (John 14:16; 15:26). The Spirit reveals only what He hears from the Father. We need to understand that Persons of the Trinity are one in their unity and purpose, but also independent of performing their designated task. They are one being, one essence, but different persons. 

Without direction from the Holy Spirit, the apostles would be totally confused about the events coming within hours. The Spirit would complete the message of Jesus when He launched the church and revealed the New Testament. 

Without divine guidance believers are left to incomprehensible options about truth. The Holy Spirit would complete the revelation that began with Jesus during the church age (John 14:26). Eventually He would complete the canon of Scripture by the writing of the New Testament. The Spirit would both “speak” and “tell” the apostles what was needed (2 Peter 3:15). 

The apostles would finally see clearly what the death of our Lord meant. The Spirit would especially glorify Jesus when He was crucified and resurrected in just a few hours. There would be insights for Jesus’ followers that no one knew during His life on earth since the Holy Spirit would reveal everything that the apostles needed to know about Jesus; He would make it plain to them. They would understand the implications of His work on the cross. This would especially be seen when the Spirit revealed the epistles to the apostles. 

It is the mission of the Holy Spirit to make those truths real to the hearer. Jesus Christ is the center of revelation; it points to Him and reaches its climax in Him (Hebrews 1:1-4). 

Please understand that those who deliver the message cannot convict people of their need for Jesus; that is strictly the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Man can make no move toward God without the Spirit’s initiative to do so. No one can become aware of his or her eternal need without the Spirit’s work. The first and foremost responsibility is upon God in that matter. It requires the supernatural ministry of the Holy Spirit to do that. The human will, independent from God’s will, is powerless, incapable, inadequate, and unable on its own terms to have faith in Jesus. It is important to recognize the impotence of the human will without the work of God.

The Trinity collaborates in the doctrine of revelation. What the Father has, the Son has (John 17:10). The Holy Spirit would reveal both things from the Father and the Son and the New Testament would complete the canon of Scripture. Amen!

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Posted by: missionventureministries | May 22, 2024

MAKING WISE DECISIONS – Proverbs 16:3

Proverbs 16 vs 3

Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and He will establish your plans. (Proverbs 16:3) 

Most of us make mistakes because we do not know the right choice or decision to make. We do not consciously say, “I am now going to make a mistake.” Rather, we tend to make mistakes by being careless regarding the needs or desires of others, by not asking the right questions, or by not taking into consideration all the factors that are important to consider. . . 

When we seek God’s wisdom, He leads us to decisions that are right, just, equitable, and good not only for us personally, but for everybody involved. 

Jesus said to His disciples, “Anything you ask for in My name, I will do, that My Father may be glorified in the Son” (John 14:13). The first step, therefore, should always be to bring concerns and needs before God in prayer. It is important to note that Jesus’ main focus is not fulfilling our requests, but glorifying the Father. If any request is not glorifying to the Father, then it is not worthy of being asked for in the name of Christ and should be avoided. 

Paul tells us that “whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). There is a lot of freedom in what can glorify God once you are in Christ, therefore, we need to pray and ask for guidance in choosing God’s best for us when we make decisions. 

The Bible is the primary way in which God speaks to us. The Holy Spirit may stir something within us, God may guide us with circumstances, but there is no work of God in any believer’s life that will not conform to the revealed word of God in the Bible. We are to “not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:2). 

Those of us in Christ, who have laid our daily decisions before Him, can choose with confidence, knowing that part of our freedom is the reassurance that God will not allow anything to impede His good and perfect will. 

Many of us think that it is up to us to decide where we are going to be five years from now, or even that it is up to us to decide exactly what were are going to do tomorrow, next week, or next year. 

If we claim Jesus as our Lord, then those decisions are up to Him, not us. We can make plans, and we are wise to do so, but our plans must always be the result of prayer and made with total flexibility that if this is not what God desires for us to do, we will be quick to alter our course. 

We need to remember that decisions need to be committed to God. All of us have daily decisions that we have to make. We are fallible and we will make mistakes along the way, but when we base them on wise counsel and commit them to God, He will bless them. And if we make wrong decisions, He knows how to correct them and redeem our mistakes. 

The book of Proverbs repeatedly reminds us to seek godly counsel before deciding what to do. 

  • For lack of guidance a nation falls, but victory is won through many advisers. (Proverbs 11:14)
  • The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice. (Proverbs 12:15)
  • All who are prudent act with knowledge, but fools expose their folly. (Proverbs 13:16)
  • The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways, but the folly of fools is deception. (Proverbs 14:8)
  • The simple believe anything, but the prudent give thought to their steps. (Proverbs 14:15)
  • Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed. (Proverbs 15:22) 

We need to remember that God’s love for us is inexhaustible and beyond any form of measurement. It cannot be multiplied, added, divided, or subtracted…because, He will be by our side leading us, if we trust and obey. 

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Posted by: missionventureministries | May 16, 2024

LEARNING HOW TO TAKE AN HONORABLE STAND FOR GOD – Daniel 1:8 and 12

Daniel 1 vs 8 and 12

“But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way… Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink.” (Daniel 1:8 and 12) 

Daniel’s decision constitutes a basic part of genuine integrity and the uncompromising life. If the truth of God’s Word opposes the world’s wisdom on a certain issue, we must align ourselves with God’s Word.

The more you read about and analyze the life of Daniel, the more clearly his personal integrity comes into focus. His uncompromising lifestyle stands in sharp contrast to the way many believers live out their convictions. Many Christians tend to waver and offer ambiguous explanations for abstaining from certain secular activities, but that wasn’t how Daniel approached the opportunity to affirm his convictions. 

There inevitably come those times in the life of a Christian when he, for conscience sake in the light of the Word of God, must take a stand against some worldly practice. Daniel has given us a striking example of how to do this, not only courageously, but graciously and effectively. 

As one of “the princes” of Israel, “of the king’s seed” (Daniel 1:3), he realized that he had the responsibility of maintaining a godly standard as a testimony for the true God when he was asked “to stand in the king’s palace” (Daniel 1:4) after he and his friends had been carried into captivity. Daniel knew that the king’s wine would surely be harmful were he to partake of it. Also, the king’s meat would certainly include pork and would be cooked with blood, which would be unlawful for him, as a good Jew, to eat (Leviticus 11:7-8; 17:10-14). He determined in his heart to take a stand against it. 

Note, however, his stand was not confrontational or self-righteous but courteous and sensible. The Babylonians thought they were doing him and his friends a great favor, however, Daniel suggested a test: “Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink” (Daniel 1:12). 

God honored Daniel’s graciousness and his courageous faithfulness, and so will He do for us. Both are essential ingredients of a fruitful Christian testimony in a non-Christian world. We must “be ready always to give an answer,” but this should be done, not in arrogance, but “with meekness” (1 Peter 3:15). 

The Bible shows Christians how to stand up for God even while being mocked or persecuted by people at school, work, or in your own family. 

Another powerful moment in the Bible occurs when Mordecai appeals to his cousin Esther to save the Jewish people. Esther is the queen of Persia, but also secretly a Jew. Mordecai begs her to reveal her identity to the king, and ask for help in sparing her people. Esther hesitates and Mordecai delivers these famous words: “Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?” (Esther 4:14). 

Esther realizes the gravity of the situation and resolves to go before the king and appeal for her people’s rescue. And God, without being named in the narrative, delivers her and the Jewish people. 

These are some of many examples in the Bible of people taking a stand for God in the midst of persecution, mockery, and oppression. These examples teach us some important truths that Christians must be familiar with. 

For Christians in the Bible and throughout much of human history, persecution and oppression have been a reality. This isn’t a surprise. Jesus, in some of His most challenging words to His disciples, warned us about the reality of persecution. “If the world hates you, remember that it hated Me first” (John 15:18). 

Many Christians have found themselves in situations where people were hostile to their Christianity. They in turn responded with wisdom and God’s truth, and for the most part they don’t know how they did it. It was the Holy Spirit who empowered them and gave them the ability to express God’s truth. 

Christians should not be intimidated to identify themselves with Christ, they should not be afraid to say NO to friends when their plans, actions and decisions are bad and do not glorify God. Obedience and faithfulness to God are what will make us victorious in life. 

Daniel loved and feared God and did not want to sin or do anything that would offend God.  Therefore, because he and his three close friends honored God with their decisions, God also honored them by making them wise, intelligent, fearless and above all gave Daniel and his friends great positions in the land of Babylon to be witnesses of Him. 

So the question is how do we take a stand for God? Here are some Scriptural guidelines for how to proceed: 

  • Commit every decision to God by asking Him to show us how to move forward.
  • Search and study the Scriptures so that we can gain wisdom from God.
  • Exercise courage in all your decisions so that they honor and glorify God.
  • Pray about every decision and seek directions from God.
  • Seek counsel and guidance from your pastor and godly Christian friends so that you can gain a better perspective on the decisions and actions you are about to take.
  • Trust and have faith in God to carry out your decisions and plans for the honor and glory of our Lord. 

Remember, that when we seek God’s wisdom, He leads us to decisions that are right, just, honest and good not only for us personally, but for everyone involved. 

We pray that God will fill our hearts with godly fear and wisdom as we seek to honor and glorify Him through our decisions and actions every day. 

“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to God our Savior, who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen.” (Jude 1:24-25) 

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Posted by: missionventureministries | May 9, 2024

RECEIVING ENCOURAGEMENT FROM THE WORD OF GOD – Romans 15:4-5

Romans 15 vs 4-5

For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another, according to Christ Jesus. (Romans 15:4-5) 

Perseverance is the determination to keep going and not give up. When we look carefully at verse 5, we see that it is God Himself who gives us that determination. 

The Spirit of God encourages us with the Word of God and Psalm 119:68 tells us that the Lord is good. He’s not only good in character and the giver of good things, but He’s also the one who determines what is good. He knows what’s best for us at each point in our life and can guide us wisely in every situation. 

The Lord doesn’t want us to be anxious but to come to Him with every concern (Philippians 4:6) and His Sprit comforts us as we pray. We need to remember that none of our problems is bigger than our omniscient, omnipotent God, and nothing is too small, worldly, or ordinary for Him to get involved and reveal His love. 

Without encouragement, hardship becomes meaningless, and our will to go on wanes. The prophet Elijah struggled with discouragement (1 Kings 19:3-10), and so do we. It is important to remember that “our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against . . . the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12). This truth makes encouragement all the more important. It is not just that we face the world’s displeasure; we are caught in the center of a spiritual battle. When we are encouraged in Christ, we have strength to put on our spiritual armor and remain steadfast (Ephesians 6:10-18). 

Encouragement makes it easier to live in a fallen world in a holy way, it makes it easier to love as Jesus loved (John 13:34-35). Encouragement gives hope (Romans 15:4) and helps us through times of discipline and testing (Hebrews 12:5). Encouragement nurtures patience and kindness (1 Corinthians 13:4-7; Galatians 5:22-26) and makes it easier to sacrifice our own desires for the advancement of God’s kingdom. In short, encouragement makes it easier to live the Christian life. 

Without encouragement, we can be overwhelmed by the very real pains and our life would soon feel pointless and burdensome. Without encouragement, we feel unloved. Therefore, the Bible tells us to encourage one another, to remind each other of the truth that God loves us, that God equips us, that we are treasured. 

Finally, the Holy Spirit will help you to notice God’s daily blessings. Discouragement keeps us from seeing all the good He provides. But when we consider His endless gifts, our attitude is transformed. Sometimes we need to take our focus away from the troubles of life and shift it to the awesome creation that surrounds us. The wonder of the seasons, for example or the perfect order of the universe will always remind us that God is great and He has everything under control. So, actively look for Him and His comfort, and you’ll recognize His love, mercy, and goodness in every situation. 

Remember that at some point, discouragement comes to everyone; through bad news, worldly sorrows, or distressing circumstances. In those moments we can choose to lean on our kind and patient heavenly Father, who sees our struggle. He will never leave us to cope on our own; instead, He comforts and strengthens us through the Holy Spirit. 

Jesus said: “Peace I leave you, My peace I give you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, nor fearful” (John 14:27). God’s peace is mysterious, remarkable, and effective. It holds us together in a way that nothing else can. Therefore, be encouraged because God is always by our side ready to help us through any situation we are facing since “the Lord is the one who is going ahead of you; He will be with you. He will not desert you or abandon you. Do not fear and do not be dismayed” (Deuteronomy 31:8).

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Posted by: missionventureministries | May 1, 2024

LEARNING HOW TO PRAY USING SCRIPTURE – John 14:13

John 14 vs 13

And whatever you ask in My name, this I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. (John 14:13) 

When Jesus says to pray “in My name,” He means that we can pray in His authority. When our requests, made in the name of His Son, further God’s purposes and kingdom, God will act on our behalf, and in the end the Father will be “glorified in the Son” (John 14:13). 

Christ promises He will do anything that is asked “in His name.” That implies that the person is asking something consistent with the will and nature of Christ. This, in turn, means such a request is consistent with the will and nature of God (John 14:10).

By using Scripture to petition our prayers, we use God’s words and speak them back to Him. God promises that His Word never returns void, therefore, praying Scripture is a beautiful way to know God’s will. It guards our theology and helps guide our requests in accordance with God’s word. 

Praying scriptures is helpful for a few reasons. First, it prevents us from praying amiss since it comes directly from God’s word (James 4:3). Next, it ensures that God hears and answers our prayers (1 John 5:14-15). It also helps us to live a more biblically based life since when we remain in God’s word by praying it each day, our hearts become more aligned with God’s ways. Instead of being led astray by the world’s philosophies, we begin to live our life more like God intended us to (Romans 12:2). 

Let’s take a look at how we can personalize a passage from the Word of God and pray. 

Here’s how we could pray Philippians 4:6-7: Lord, I thank you that I don’t have to be anxious about anything. I thank you that I can lay every burden and every care at your feet. Instead of trying to fix my problems on my own, I thank you that I can give them to You. Thank you Lord that when I give you my anxiety and my worries, you give me Your peace. Even when things may be going wrong, internally I can have peace. Lord, help me to lay all my anxieties at Your feet and help me to trust You to do what only you can do instead of trying to do what I cannot do. Thank you Lord. Amen.

 When we look through the Bible we find believers praying the Psalms. For example, in Acts 4:24-26, the believers pray Psalm 2. Even Jesus prayed using the Psalms; His dying prayer on the cross was a quotation of Psalm 22:1: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46 and Mark 15:34). 

Other examples of prayers where we can insert a loved one’s name are: 

Ephesians 1:16-19; “I have not stopped giving thanks for you ______________, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in His holy people, and His incomparably great power for us who believe.” 

Ephesians 3:14-19; “For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you ______________, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.”

Philippians 1:9-11; “And this I pray, that your love ________________ may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” 

Hebrews 13:20-21; “May the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you _____________ complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.” 

We need to find a quiet place where we are able to connect with God without distraction. Where we can focus on letting His Word speak to us and direct our prayers. 

We can also pray a verse back to God and insert the name of a specific person or group to make the prayer more personal. “Lord, your Word says in Acts 2:21 that everyone who calls on Your name will be saved. I pray that _____________ will call on Your name and be saved. Amen!” 

We can also ask the Holy Spirit to help us pray. For example, when we don’t know how to pray or we are lost as how to pray, we can ask the Holy Spirit to intercede for us in prayer since “the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God” (Romans 8:26-27). 

God knows our heart, and He knows our desire to pray on behalf of people in need, using Scripture. So know that as you faithfully commit to pray, He will be faithful in answering your prayers according to His perfect will. 

Therefore, “Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass” (Psalm 37:4-5). 

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Posted by: missionventureministries | April 24, 2024

HOW TO FIND HOPE IN THE MIDST OF STRUGGLES – Psalm 138:7

Psalm 137 vs 8

Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me; You will stretch out Your hand against the wrath of my enemies, And Your right hand will save me. (Psalm 138:7) 

Whether it’s dealing with sickness, financial problems, broken relationships, or any other kind of setback, it’s easy to lose faith and feel like there’s no way out. However, as Christians, we have a unique perspective on struggles that allows us to find hope even in the darkest of times. 

The Bible is full of stories of people who faced incredible struggles and yet found hope and redemption through their faith in God. Take the story of Joseph, for example. Joseph was sold into slavery by his own brothers, falsely accused of a crime he didn’t commit, and spent years in prison. But through it all, he remained faithful to God and eventually became second in command of all of Egypt, saving his family from famine and becoming a hero to his people. 

Similarly, the apostle Paul faced numerous struggles in his life, including imprisonment, persecution, and physical ailments. But he never lost faith and continued to preach the gospel even in the face of adversity. In fact, it was during his imprisonment that he wrote some of his most inspiring letters to the early Christian churches, encouraging them to persevere in the faith. 

As a believer you have the same resources that they had, and can find hope and perseverance in the midst of struggles. 

Here are four principles: 

  1. Trust in God’s Plan. One of the most powerful ways we can find hope in the midst of struggles is by trusting in God’s plan for our lives. The Bible teaches us that God is in control of everything, and that includes the challenges we face. In Romans 8:28, we read: “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” 

This verse reminds us that God can use even the most difficult situations for our ultimate good, and we can take comfort in the fact that God is always with us, even in our darkest moments. As Psalm 34:18 says, “The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit.” When we turn to God in our struggles, we can find hope in the knowledge that He is working everything out for our good. 

As a Christian, trusting in God’s plan means having faith that God is in control of our life and that He has a purpose for everything that happens. It means surrendering our own desires and plans to God and trusting that His plan for us is good, even if it may be different from what we had envisioned for ourselves. 

Trusting in God’s plan requires a deep belief in God’s character and His promises. We need to trust that God is all-knowing, all-powerful, and all-loving, and that He desires what is best for us. We also need to trust that God’s plan for our life is ultimately for our good and for His glory, even if it may involve hardship or suffering along the way. 

Trusting in God’s plan can be challenging, especially when we face difficult circumstances or when God’s plan seems to conflict with our own desires. However, as Christians, we are called to have faith and to trust in God’s sovereignty. Another beautiful verse in the Bible is found in Proverbs 3:5-6 were we are encouraged to “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” 

Trusting in God’s plan means having faith in His character and promises by surrendering our own plans to Him. We need to seek His guidance and direction and ultimately trust that His plan for our life is perfectly orchestrated and for His glory. 

  1. Finding Fellowship. As a Christian, we need to find fellowship through being a part of a group of people who share our faith and who can support us in our spiritual journey. It means being surrounded by people who encourage us, challenge us, and help us grow in our relationship with God. 

In the Bible, we see many examples of people who lived out their faith in community. The early church, for example, was characterized by a deep sense of fellowship and mutual support. Acts 2:42-47 describes how the believers “devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer…All the believers were together and had everything in common…they broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God.” 

Finding fellowship might involve attending a church or small group, participating in a Bible study or prayer group, or getting involved in a ministry or service project. The important thing is to be intentional about seeking out relationships with other believers who can support us in our faith. 

We can find encouragement and accountability as we share our struggles and triumphs with others. We can learn from the wisdom and experience of those who have walked the path of faith before us. We can also be a source of encouragement and support for others who are going through their own struggles and challenges. 

Ultimately, finding fellowship as a Christian is about living out the call to love and serve one another. In John 13:34-35, Jesus says, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” By participating in Christian companionship, we can live out this command and grow in our relationship with God and with others. 

  1. Cultivating Gratitude. As Christians, we’re called to give thanks in all circumstances. In 1 Thessalonians 5:18, we’re told to “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 

This doesn’t mean we should ignore our pain or pretend that everything is okay when it’s not. Rather, it means that we can find hope by looking for the good in every situation no matter how small they may seem. 

We can be grateful for the people who are supporting us, or for the small moments of joy we experience in the midst of our struggles. By intentionally cultivating gratitude, we can shift our focus from our difficulties to the blessings in our lives.

It means acknowledging that everything we have is a gift from God, and choosing to view our life through a lens of gratitude rather than one of entitlement or complaint. We can make a daily habit of thanking God for the blessings in our lives, both big and small. We can also reflect on how God has worked in our life in the past, and give thanks for His faithfulness and provision. 

Cultivating gratitude can help us to shift our focus from our problems to the blessings in our lives, leading to greater joy and contentment. It can also help us to stay connected to God and to remember His faithfulness, even when we are facing difficult circumstances, recognizing that everything we have is a gift from God. By practicing gratitude, we can experience greater joy and contentment in our life, and deepen our relationship with God. 

  1. Holding onto God’s Promises. This means that we are to trust in and rely on the truths and assurances found in the Bible that are attributed to God. These promises remind us of God’s love, faithfulness, and power, and can provide hope and encouragement in the midst of difficult circumstances. 

Holding onto God’s promises involves several steps:

  • First, we need to identify the promises that speak to our specific situation. For example, if we’re facing financial difficulties, we might look to the promise in Philippians 4:19: “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” 

If we’re struggling with fear or anxiety, we might turn to Isaiah 41:10: “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” 

  • Second, once we’ve identified the promises that apply to our situation, we need to meditate on them and internalize them. This means taking the time to read and study the relevant verses, and reflecting on what they mean for us personally. We can pray and ask God to help us believe and trust in His promises, even when our circumstances seem overwhelming. 
  • Finally, holding onto God’s promises requires faith and patience. We may not see immediate results or experience an instant resolution to our struggles, but we can trust that God is working behind the scenes and that His promises will come to pass. As Hebrews 11:1 tells us, “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” 

Holding onto God’s promises involves a combination of faith, study, prayer, and patience. By relying on the truths and assurances found in the Bible, we can find hope and encouragement even in the midst of our struggles. 

So, always remember to “commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him, and He will act” (Psalm 37:5). 

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Posted by: missionventureministries | April 17, 2024

COMMIT YOUR WAY TO THE LORD AND TRUST IN HIM – Psalm 37:4-5

Psalm 37 vs 5

Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass. (Psalm 37:4-5) 

Every day believers must cling to the Lord for help, for He is our source of sustaining power. Psalm 37:5 tells us what King David wrote, “Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass.” 

In John 14:13-14, Jesus says, “Very truly I tell you . . . I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask Me for anything in My name, and I will do it.” 

When Jesus said He would give “whatever you ask in My name,” He was not conveying a supernatural formula for getting whatever we want. He was giving us a guiding principle to align one’s desires with God’s. When we pray “in Jesus’ name,” we pray according to the will of God; we pray for what will honor and glorify Jesus. God will provide the means necessary to accomplish His objectives, and ultimately, God receives all the glory and praise for what is done. 

Many centuries ago, a desperate father brought his son to the Lord Jesus with an appeal for healing. The boy was demon-possessed from childhood and tormented physically and spiritually. The agony was awful. His father had brought him to Jesus’ disciples, and they were unable to do anything. The father then said to Jesus, “But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes” (Mark 9:22-23). 

The urgent cry of that anxious father was, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24). No doubt we often need to plea for such help. The mindset of the believer is important, and it involves commitment to allowing God to do His work in us. 

Remember that our delight should be in the Lord. We should take pleasure in Him, and when we do that, when our desire is for Him, He provides that our desires are met (Psalm 37:4). The closer we get to Him, the more our desires begin to change from our own selfish requests to wanting what He wants for us. 

Therefore, every day in prayer, commit yourself to the Lord. 

  • Ask Him and seek His directions for your life, that you may walk in the purposes He has for your life (Matthew 7:7)
  • Ask Him to give you wisdom for your plans and decisions (James 1:5).
  • Trust Him to provide for your needs in accordance with His will (Philippians 4:19; 1 John 5:14).
  • Cast your worries upon Him (1 Peter 5:7).
  • Confidently know that Jesus will work on your behalf (Psalm 37:5).
  • That He will bring to pass what is good for you according to His purpose (Romans 8:28) and
  • Thank the Lord and praise Him for His answers to your prayers (Philippians 4:6). 

Tell other with gratitude and humility, what God has done for you (Psalm 66:16) and pray that your witness will encourage other people to commit their way to the Lord. 

 “And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God” (Philippians 1:9-11). 

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Posted by: missionventureministries | April 12, 2024

LEARNING TO BE SILENT SO YOU CAN HEAR FROM GOD – Psalm 62:5

Psalm 62 vs 5

My soul, wait silently for God alone, for my expectation is from Him. Psalm 62:5 

For many of us being silence is not something that we care for. Why? Because, we are constantly on the go and technology robs us of our peace and quiet time, it shortens our time and relationship with God because we are preoccupied with other things instead of focusing our minds on Him. 

So we must ask ourselves:

  • God is speaking, but am I listening?
  • Are the activities that consume my time and energy those God wants for me? Do I need more periods of stillness and rest?
  • Have I shortchanged my relationship with the Lord because I’m preoccupied with other things? 

Many times we are so involved with the activities of this earthly life that we neglect what’s more essential, which are adequate quiet time with God in His Word and in prayer. 

It’s not about having a ritual of quickly reading a chapter in the Bible and offering a short prayer in the car on the way to work, but a dedicated time of uninterrupted silent meditation. 

Psalm 119:15-16 tells us, “I will meditate on Your precepts, and contemplate Your ways. I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word.” When we do this, the truths we learn in the Scriptures are implanted in our minds, hearts, and become part of our life. 

We need to understand that God is constantly working in our hearts and circumstances to achieve His will for our lives. If we ever feel hopeless and forgotten by the Lord, we must remember that even though we can’t see what He’s doing, He is not idle. These quiet times of inactivity may well be the preparation we need for what He has in store for our day and for our future. 

David was a shepherd who learned to know and trust the Lord in silence and isolation. Much of his early life was spent alone with the sheep, and even though he was an anointed king, he was forced to hide in the wilderness for many years (Psalm 78:70-72). During this time David wrote many psalms which give us a glimpse into the depth of his relationship with the Lord. 

The only way we truly get to know someone is in a private setting, and this is true of our relationship with God as well. Church gatherings and Bible studies may broaden our understanding of the Lord, but they can never take the place of intimate one-on-one fellowship with Him. We need peace and quiet to process what He says in His Word, to respond in worship, and to bring all our concerns to Him in prayer. And when we do this, like David, we will discover that these quiet moments with the Lord become our greatest joy. 

Another example of spending time with God is the apostle Paul. He was a devout Pharisee whose life was ordered not only by the Law of Moses but also by a huge number of man-made traditions. Paul was an expert in the Scriptures but failed to recognize his Messiah until he met Jesus on the Damascus road (Acts 9:1-6). After his conversion, Paul spent three years alone (Galatians 1:11-18). During this time of isolation, he was trained to become the greatest advocate and missionary for Christianity. He learned to see his Messiah throughout the Old Testament, and every situation and experience in his life was filtered through the truths of Scripture. That’s why he could rejoice in weaknesses and be content despite pain, deprivation, and persecution (Philippians 4:10-13). 

Praying and reading His Word are some of the many blessings that come our way when we reserve time to be alone with the Lord. When we do this, the Holy Spirit teaches us wisdom, which is the ability to view life through biblical lenses. Wisdom is not learned in front of a television, through social media, or at a sporting event. It’s acquired quietly in our private time with the Lord as He puts His Word into our mind and works it out in our relationships and responses to various situations. 

As difficult as it may be to carve out a period of quiet stillness in our life, the benefits will be worth the sacrifice. Depending on your situation perhaps waking up a half hour earlier would work for you, or if you tend to stay up late, that would be the best time for you. Whatever the circumstance it would be worth developing a habit of spending a dedicated time of your day with God which in time you will realize will be a huge benefit in your life. 

Silence for the sake of silence is not the goal. After all, we aren’t simply seeking an absence of noise, disturbances, and activity; our purpose is to remove every distraction so we can focus our attention on God (Psalm 62:5-7). Instead of only inviting the Lord to join us in the midst of our daily activities, let’s pause for a while and discover the joy and blessings of quiet solitude with our heavenly Father. 

Remember what Isaiah wrote: “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You” (Isaiah 26:3). 

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