Posted by: missionventureministries | January 20, 2021

THE BIBLE IS GOD’S WORD THEREFORE STUDY TO SHOW YOURSELF APPROVED UNTO GOD – 2 Timothy 2:15

Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15)

  1. THE BIBLE IS GOD’S WORD

 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God (God-breathed, alive), and is profitable for doctrine (what to believe), for reproof (to tells us what is wrong), for correction (tells us how to make it right), for instruction in righteousness (tells us how to live). That the man of God may be perfect, (capable, being empowered to do what God wants), thoroughly furnished unto all good works. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

The Bible was written by man, but authored by God. “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:20-21). It is a book that you can read in which the author (the precious Holy Spirit) is with you to guide you and to help you understand it. 

The Bible comes alive to those who have received the Holy Spirit because they believe that Jesus is the Son of God and that He came to earth to redeem the lost to the Father by His sacrificial death on the cross, that He arose on the third day and has ascended on to heaven from where He will return.

The Bible is useful to teach, rebuke, correct, train and equip us. When we read out Bible we have an encounter with the Living God. 

The Bible transcends time, culture, age, race, gender and education. God’s Word speaks to all who seek Him as seen in some of the following verses: 

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105). In this dark world God’s Word will light our way with His awesome light if we let Him! 

“Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You” (Psalm 119:11). 

“I will take delight in your commands, which I love. I will lift up my hands to your commands, which I love, and I will meditate on your statutes” (Psalm 119:47-48). 

The Bible offers profound insight into our heart and soul. “For the word of God is living and powerful (active), and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12). 

The Word of God, empowered by the Holy Spirit, provides a living encounter with God Himself. As you read the Bible, God discerns your deepest inner secrets and reveals the thought and intents of your heart. 

The Lord is truly our wonderful Counselor. Praise His Holy Name! 

  1. THE BIBLE IS ETERNAL

Psalm 119:89 says: “Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven.” 

In 1 Peter 1:24-25 we read: “All flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, and its flower falls away, but the word of the Lord endures forever.” 

And Mark 13:31 states: “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.” 

When we die we cannot take anything with us other than the Word of God that we have treasured in our spirit. Our world is a temporary place, but how awesome is our God that we can study His eternal word while in this temporary body. 

2 Corinthians 5:1 tells us, “For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.” 

If you read, and treasure God’s eternal Word you know that you have an inheritance reserved for you in heaven. 

  1. THE BIBLE IS TRUE

The Bible is true; it is inerrant (without error) as we read in Psalm 119:160, “Your Word is true from the beginning: and every one of your righteous judgments endures forever.” 

The Bible is absolute truth; it is our love letter from God. It is our owner’s manual of Basic Instruction Before Leaving Earth. The Bible teaches us reverence for life from conception to the grave and we are commanded to search the Scriptures because they point to Jesus and eternal life. As Jesus told the Pharisees: “You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me” (John 5:39). 

  1. THE BIBLE REVEALS PROPHECY

True prophets were called and chosen by God and given prophecy through divine inspiration to warn God’s people. Prophesy was the declaring or describing of something that would occur in the future, which was beyond the power of human wisdom to foresee, discern, or imagine. To prophesy is to speak forth truth. 

Statistics show that over twenty-five percent of the Bible is made up of Bible prophecy; and that of the existing 31,124 verses in Scripture, 8,352 are prophecy verses. 

Since Jesus said that we are to live by every Word that proceeds out of the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4, Luke 4:4) we cannot ignore Bible prophecy. 

We need to understand that the ancient Jews were careful to use prophecy as a measuring stick. If someone claimed to be a prophet, yet his predictions did not come true, the punishment was severe: “If any prophet dares to speak a message in My name that I have not commanded him to speak, or to speak in the name of other gods, that prophet must be put to death” (Deuteronomy 18:20).

A true prophet of God was required to deliver God’s message accurately. Remember, only God can “declare the end from the beginning” and forecast to the very day the “things that are not yet done” (Isaiah 46:10). 

Reading and studying prophecy is fascinating since it not only opens up our eyes to the truth of God’s Word but it also keeps us from being mislead by those that add or take away from Scripture (Deuteronomy 4:2 and Revelation 22:18-19); which the Lord tells us will lead to God taking away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book (Revelation 22:19). 

Please always remember that God wants us to regard His Word as the most important source for life and we are commanded to study Scriptures. The following verses are just a few that mention these commands: 

This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. (Joshua 1:8) 

I will study your commandments and reflect on your ways. I will delight in your decrees and not forget your word. (Psalm 119:15-16) 

I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. I praise you, O LORD; teach me your decrees. (Psalm 37:31) 

As we see, we are to study Scripture to transform our life. “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:2). 

Remembering that, “blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled” (Matthew 5:6). 

“For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope” (Romans 15:4).

Therefore, study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15)

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SOURCE: Parts taken from, “Meditating on the Bible;” a message from our sister in Christ, Carol T. 

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Posted by: missionventureministries | January 13, 2021

PEACE I LEAVE WITH YOU MY PEACE I GIVE YOU – John 14:27

Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27). He had also told His followers that “in this world you will have many troubles. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). 

Peace is the presence of God giving us the inner tranquility of mind and spirit even during times of trouble. 

Peace is a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22). When the “God of all peace” comes to live inside a believing heart (1 Corinthians 6:19), He begins to produce His own characteristics in that life. Inner peace comes from knowing that circumstances are temporary and that God is sovereign over all (Isaiah 46:9-11). 

Peace comes from exercising faith in God and His Word. We can have peace in the midst of challenges when we remember that “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31). 

Peace is an inner sense of contentment and quietness, regardless of life’s circumstances. It is steadfast confidence in our ever-faithful, immutable heavenly Father. 

In Colossians 3:15, Paul tells believers, “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.” Peace is an awesome gift of God that He gives to those who, through faith in Jesus Christ, belong to Him and walk obediently in His ways. 

Knowing that our lives are under God’s authority should bring us great peace and assurance because He promises to work everything together for good to those of us who love Him and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).

If we do not have faith, believe and trust, we do not have peace; and worry and fear will creep back in. If that should happen we need to immediately take our concerns to the Lord in prayer so that His peace, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7). And we should always remember that: “My God will meet all your needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19). 

Psalm 119:165 emphasizes that those who love God’s Word have great peace. 

Throughout Scripture, God makes promises of provision for His obedient children. Therefore, His peace is available to all who are willing to believe and trust that the Lord will meet all our needs. 

So how do we receive this peace? We give every situation to God in prayer; and when we do this, God’s peace fills out our inner most being, because we trust in Him. 

Psalm 29:11 tells us that: “The LORD gives strength to His people; the LORD blesses His people with peace.” 

God has provided His peace to every believer. If there is an absence of it, it’s because we have not let it rule in our hearts. Or in other words, we haven’t practiced and applied the truth of His peace to our lives in a way that governs our hearts, no matter what our circumstances may be. 

To reach this place of peace won’t come from worry or stress; it will come from resting in the loving arms of the Savior; knowing that He is in control and that He will carry you through any situation that life has to offer. 

God’s desire is that we who know Him and have His peace in our hearts radiate that peace to others, bringing calmness and wisdom to tense situations and in so doing be light to the world (Matthew 5:14). 

Always remember that “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7). 

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Posted by: missionventureministries | January 6, 2021

THE POWER OF PRAYING IN JESUS NAME – 1 John 5:14-15

“This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him.” (1 John 5:14-15) 

Praying for things that are in agreement with God’s will is the essence of praying in Jesus’ name; and it is important that we pray with words that accurately express the words that the Holy Spirit inspires us to say. 

Some believers think any request that concludes with the words “in Jesus name,” will automatically be fulfilled, but praying in Jesus’ name is not a guarantee for our wishes to be granted. It is true that Jesus promised to do whatever we ask in His name (John 14:14); however, we cannot base our concept of prayer on this one verse without considering the context and other teachings on the subject throughout Scripture. If we do this it leads to confusion and disappointment when God doesn’t answer our prayers as we expect. 

Praying in Jesus’ name means asking according to His will so the Father will be glorified in the Son as stated in John 14:13. 

Oftentimes, unanswered prayer is not about God’s unwillingness to respond but has to do with requests made with wrong motives or limited perspective. We should keep three things in mind: 

  • First, we must make wise requests. When we ask according to God’s will, we have confidence that He’ll answer our requests (1 John 5:14-15). The purpose of prayer is not to pressure God to do what we want, but to submit to His desires because He knows what is best for us. 
  • Second, our prayers should be according to correct motives, because selfish motives will not be blessed by God. “When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures” (James 4:3). 
  • Third, we are to trust God’s perspective. As we submit to His will and pray according to His word, we need to be patient knowing that the Father knows the time and place for everything. And as we continue praying, we start thanking Him and waiting for the answer with faith, because the Lord knows what we need and what is best for us. 

Never give up on prayer, and as you present your requests, ask the Lord to reveal if you’re hindering His answer in some way because “If I regard iniquity in my heart the Lord will not hear” (Psalm 66:18). Remember, prayer is about His will, not ours. 

So how can we know what God’s will is? God promises to give us wisdom when we ask for it. “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him” (James 1:5).                                       

The more we study Scripture, the more we understand God’s Word, and the better we will know how to pray “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you” (John 15:7); and the more often God will answer “yes” to our requests. 

As we see, the important condition to prayer is that it is prayed within the will of God. Jesus prayed this way all the time, even in Gethsemane: “Not my will, but Yours be done” (Luke 22:42). We can pray with great sincerity and faith, but if it is not within God’s will, we are praying incorrectly, and prayers will not be answered until we learn and understand His purposes for us. 

On the other hand, when we pray according to God’s will, the Lord hears our petition and we truly can say: “Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld His love from me!” (Psalm 66:20) 

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Posted by: missionventureministries | December 30, 2020

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RESCUING AND ENABLING? – Hebrews 12:11

“No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” (Hebrews 12:11) 

When we talk about rescuing or enabling someone, we need to look at the situation of what is happening and what has been occurring. Once we have done this, we need to evaluate the situation to make sure that we are not becoming enablers. 

The Bible says a person reaps what they sow (Galatians 6:7). A bad choice almost always leads to a bad consequence. Since we want what’s best for someone, we’ll counsel them to avoid making bad choices, but that’s not the same as helping them not to suffer the consequences if they persist in choosing to do what is wrong. 

While it is correct and good to rescue people who are in a dangerous situation and cannot save themselves (Proverbs 24:11), or helping them when a dire unforeseen circumstance happens; we become enablers when we rescue people that continue to practice bad choices and we feel the responsibility to minimize the consequences of their bad choices. 

Many people believe that rescuing equates to having mercy on someone, but is that really having mercy? We need to understand that we become enablers whey we continually bail someone out and never allow the person to learn from their mistakes. As Christians we are to help each other move in the right spiritual direction. It does not mean giving them money every time they ask for it. 

There is a place for mercy, but if we constantly rescue someone from the natural consequences of sin, we rob that person of the wisdom God wants to impart to them. It’s never easy to see a loved one experience difficulty, but we need to be tough and let God teach them the important lesson in life they need to learn. 

When we give money to a family member or a friend we suspect is using it unwisely, we enable them to continue in their wrongdoing. Even when we are helping out with necessary bills, we may still be enabling them when we know that that they are only experiencing need because they have squandered their own money on gambling / booze / drugs / cigarettes / materialistic self-satisfaction / etc. 

When we rescue people from consequences they deserve, we become amateur providence that is; we are interfering with God’s plan for them, which might end up in adverse consequences for us also. 

God uses the consequence of our bad choices to teach us life lessons, but when a rescuer/enabler keeps bailing the person out, the offender is basically living a consequence-fee life, and we are negating a valuable lesson that the irresponsible person needs to learn. 

Like the story Jesus told about prodigal son who had to hit terrible times tending pigs and eating their food after squandering the vast amount of money his father had given him (Luke 15:11-32). Thankfully after the prodigal  hit rock bottom and realized he was wrong; he became remorseful and vowed to make things right. The father welcomed him back with open arms since he never stopped caring, but he was willing to let God discipline the son’s rebelliousness in His own way.

As we see some people do not learn until they hit bottom and unfortunately some never do. The Bible is a book of boundaries and consequences. From the Garden of Eden (Genesis 1-3) to Revelation, we see many situations of God saying, “Thou shall not.” But He did not put a fence around the forbidden fruit in the Garden, and He allowed Adam and Eve to make the choices they wished to make; however, there are consequences that came with those choices. 

All through the Old Testament, we find examples of God clearly instructing His people Israel to walk in His commands. Through His prophets, He warned them what would happen if they disobeyed (Joshua 23; Zechariah 1:6). They disobeyed anyway, so God brought consequences: they wandered in the wilderness for forty years (Numbers 14:28-35), and they spent seventy years of captivity in Babylon (Jeremiah 25:3-11). Although it displeased God to have to punish His people, the Lord did not rescue them from their justly earned consequences. 

Many times when we rescue others by being enablers, it allows them to manipulate us while remaining on the same unwise course. When people ask and we just give, we are not helping them; instead we are making it easier for them to continue doing what they have been doing instead of letting them reap the well deserved consequences. 

We need to stop our habit of enabling by setting healthy boundaries for ourselves. As long as we believe it is our job to rescue everyone who comes to us for help, we will be at the mercy of fools who in the long run will drain our resources if we let them. We need to make every decision based on the discernment God gives us for the long-term best interests of ourselves and others. 

When we allow others to violate our boundaries and take from us what many times we cannot afford to give, we have switched from righteous rescuing to unrighteous enabling. 

Allowing someone to suffer the consequences of their disobedience might be painful to us, but it is letting God do what He has to do to free them from the power of sin. The Bible teaches us that “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it” (Hebrews 12:11). God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in His holiness. 

As followers of Jesus, we are to be both helpful and wise. We need to make sure however, that we are truly helping and not enabling someone to continue on a self-destructive path. If we aren’t sure what to do, we should ask God. “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you” (James 1:5). 

The difference between helping and enabling comes down to having the strength to say NO when we find ourselves doing things people should be doing for themselves. 

We need to remember that Jesus Christ is the final authority on any decision we make and that “we must obey God rather than human beings” (Acts 5:29); and that a change in behavior will never last without a change in the heart and mind of a person; and that’s the kind of transformation only Jesus provides (1 Corinthians 6:10-11). 

When we want the best for someone, we’ll encourage them to please God with their choices. They can’t however please God if we continually enable them by being part of the problem, because people don’t have initiative to change when they find themselves in a comfortable situation. 

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Posted by: missionventureministries | December 23, 2020

CHRISTMAS MESSAGE 2020 – Romans 15:13

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13). 

Over 2000 years ago, the Savior of the world who was spoken of by the prophets throughout the Bible came to Earth as a baby boy and lived a human life, just as Isaiah had prophesied, “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14). 

Since the beginning of time, Satan and his enemies have tried to prevent prophecies from being fulfilled yet God’s plan to bring the Messiah to earth could not be stopped. And “when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons” (Galatians 4:4-5).​

Christ grew up under Roman rule and endured terrible persecution, oppression and the worst forms of human cruelty. In spite of this, He taught us and demonstrated the unconditional and unfailing love of His Father. “This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins” (1 John 4:9-10). 

Jesus went to the cross and suffered torture and death as a sin offering for all of mankind (John 3:16). He rose again on the third day defeating death and the evil schemes of the enemy. He ascended into heaven forty days after He resurrected and now is at the right hand of God interceding for us (Romans 8:34). 

As you celebrate Jesus’ birth, you have the opportunity to accept His free gift of salvation and to make Him the Lord of your life. And by doing so, you are choosing to follow the path of everlasting life and to have victory over sin and death.​

700 years before Christ walked the Earth, the prophet Isaiah spoke of what the Messiah would do for us. 

“But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. 

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:5-6). 

​As you see, you are loved and valued at a higher price than you could ever imagine! Therefore, during this time of the year, “I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God” (Ephesians 3:17-19). 

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13). 

Wishing everyone a blessed Christmas!

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Posted by: missionventureministries | December 16, 2020

NOW IS THE DAY OF SALVATION – 2 Corinthians 6:1-2

“As God’s co-workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. For He says, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.” (2 Corinthians 6:1-2)

As we read this message of Paul to the Corinthians we notice the urgency for unbelievers not to procrastinate in making things right with God. 

Many people even though they have heard the gospel and are aware of their need for salvation, still put off their decision to tomorrow or perhaps some other day! 

It is important to understand that it is dangerous to count on tomorrow as the Word of God warns us: “you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes” (James 4:13-14). 

Procrastination is a sin that neglects the Word of God; and if a person continues on this path they will become indifferent and the consequences are that when their life reaches the end, they’ll spend eternity in the Lake of Fire instead of with God. Like the rich fool who was only focused on what he could amass, and God told him ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ (Luke 12:20). 

Please be aware that all our best laid out plans are always subject to the will of God because He is our Creator and He gives life and takes it away. We have been given free will and demand to be masters of our own eternal destiny; however, because we do not know what will happen, today, tomorrow or next week, it is vital that we yield to the Lord Jesus Christ and accept His free gift of salvation before it is too late.

The psalmist wrote: “Today, if only you would hear His voice, “Do not harden your hearts…” (Psalm 95:7-8). This was such an important warning, that the writer of Hebrews quoted it three times, (Hebrews 3:7-8, Hebrews 3:15; Hebrews 4:7). This is an emphatic warning against unbelief and procrastination; and cautions that there is indeed great danger in resisting God’s call to salvation. 

Today is the day of salvation. The accepted time is now! Because, “How much more severely do you think someone deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified them, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace?  (Hebrews 10:29). 

You may be given other opportunities, but it is presumptuous and dangerous to impose too long on God’s patience and mercy. There needs to be a realization that the Word of God is true and that “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16). 

In the book of John chapter 3 we read: “For God so loved the world that he gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son” (vs. 16-18). 

The Lord is giving you another chance and there is not a moment to waste, because, as we read: “It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:31). 

Please understand that God has an acceptable time for each one to accept Jesus as Savior and to make Him the Lord of their life, but God’s patience will not last forever. 

If you are ready, and we hope that you are, to accept the free gift of eternal life please read this simple plan of SALVATION.

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Posted by: missionventureministries | December 9, 2020

BIBLICAL ADVICE ON HOW TO LET GO OF THE PAST – Philippians 3:13-14

“Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13-14) 

The Bible is full of advice of not calling to mind the former things. In this verse we are instructed to learn to forget what lies behind just as Paul was willing to reach towards what is ahead. 

We need to learn to be willing to forget our hurts and past mistakes. Many Christians cannot go forward in their walk with Christ until they are willing to lay aside their hurts, sins, wrong decisions; and focus on Christ and what He did for us and repent; otherwise our spirit lacks grace and peace. 

Forgetting past offenses and failures is necessary in order to genuinely press toward the mark of Christ-likeness. We should learn from life’s hurts and injustices, not be held captive by them. Forgetting is often the prerequisite to going forward. As we follow the example of the Apostle Paul and echo his words of “this one thing I do,” we need to realize that in order to reach ahead and press forward it will be necessary to forget some things and let God take care of them. 

When it comes to offenses one of the best things we can do to overcome them is to stop rehearsing the hurt in our thoughts and mind. Unless we do this, we will continue to justify our bitterness toward others, which keeps us from focusing on forgiveness, grace, and the fact that we have often been guilty of the same failings. 

When we look back it takes our focus away from looking to God for help and the potential of viewing our offender in a better light. If our eyes and heart are focus in the wrong direction and we decide to keep pondering on the past, we are giving authority to the enemy to keep us captive in his snare instead of having true freedom in Christ. 

Paul pressed forward for a prize. To him there was something greater to be gained by moving ahead and not lingering in the past. That is true for us in terms of offense as well. There is simply nothing to be gained by going back to past hurts and refusing to let them go. However, by forgiving and pressing forward, we gain a greater Christ-likeness; we gain strength, maturity, understanding, and patience. We grow in wisdom and faith and give both our offenders and ourselves the opportunity to learn from the past and to do what God wants us to do in the future. 

There are many reasons we should forget the past and go forward. The most important among them is the reward of knowing we have done what is taught in God’s word. Here are just a few verses pertaining to forgiveness: Ephesians 4:31-32, Colossians 3:13, Matthew 6:14-15, Acts 3:19, Isaiah 1:18.     

We need to remember that each new day is a gift from God, but if the pain suffered in our past is still impacting our life, we can’t fully embrace the new life God offers because we are stuck in a frustrating cycle of brokenness that leaves us feeling hopeless. 

The key to overcoming is making choices that invite God’s hope into your life. Therefore, ask the Holy Spirit to help you mentally take those past experiences and lay them at the foot of the cross, letting Jesus deal with them. We need to acknowledge that holding onto the past is sin because it keeps us from obeying God’s call to move on. 

Remember Jesus paid the price on the cross for our sins and has forgiven us, so let’s show our gratitude and love for Him, by obeying His command to forgive others. We need to understand that forgiveness doesn’t depend on what we consider fair, reasonable, or just; it’s a matter of being faithful to God. Therefore we need to “not call to mind the former things, or ponder things of the past” (Isaiah 43:18), and realize that our experiences in life aren’t just for our own benefit; they are also to help other people, as we share what God has done in our life by His unfathomable love for us. 

Please encourage others to do the same, instructing them like Paul did to focus only on “whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy; meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you” (Philippians 4:8-9). 

Hallelujah! Amen! 

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Posted by: missionventureministries | December 3, 2020

TRUSTING IN GOD – Psalm 55:22 – 1 Peter 5:7

“Cast your cares on the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken” (Psalm 55:22), and “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7). 

The word cast means to simply “release”. When you cast your cares on the Lord, you are releasing it from your ability and strength to God’s omnipotent power. 

Once you understand how much God loves and cares for you, then you will have no problem casting your needs on the Lord, because you know that your concerns are in the Almighty’s unfathomable mighty hands. 

In these verses God declares both His ability and His willingness to be our strength and support. He is able and willing to take everything that threatens and overwhelm us and uses it for our benefit and for His honor and glory. He has promised to “work all things together for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28). 

The concept of God’s control over everything is called “sovereignty,” and is defined as His complete and total independent control over every creature, event, and circumstance at every moment in history. Subject to none, influenced by none, absolutely independent, God does what He delight in. God is in complete control of every molecule in the universe at every moment and everything that happens is either caused or allowed by Him for His own perfect purposes. So, once we understand and believe in the sovereignty of God it should give us great confidence and strength knowing that He is in total control of our life and whatever is happening around us. 

“The Lord of hosts has sworn, saying, ‘Surely, as I have thought, so it shall come to pass, and as I have purposed, so it shall stand’” (Isaiah 14:24). Nothing is random or comes by chance, especially not in the lives of believers. He “purposed”, means God has resolved to do what He will do and nothing and no one stands in His way. “I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please” (Isaiah 46:9-10). This is what our powerful and purposeful God who is in control of everything inspired Isaiah to write and which should bring us great comfort and help us ease our doubts and trust in Him. 

He has also promised that He will allow no trial to be so great we cannot bear it in the power of Christ and that He will provide a means of escape (1 Corinthians 10:13). By this, He means that He will never let the righteous be shaken, as He promised in Psalm 55:22. 

“He cares for you,” gives us the motivation in addition to His other promises. Our God is our loving heavenly Father whose heart is tender toward His children. Jesus reminds us that just as an earthly father would not deny his children, so God has promised to give us “good gifts” when we ask Him (Matthew 7:11). 

The only way to trust in God’s sovereign control and rest in it, is to know His attributes, and to know what He has done in the past builds our confidence in Him. Daniel 11:32b says, “The people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits.” Therefore, we can rejoice in our God’s sovereignty, because it is filled by His goodness, His love, His mercy, His compassion, His faithfulness and His holiness. 

If we read His Word each day and let it fill our minds and hearts, the sovereignty of God will become clearer to us, and we will rejoice because in doing so we are growing in knowledge and trusting in the One who controls all things for His perfect purpose. 

Here are three verses that continually help us and will help you also if you meditate on them. 

First: In Exodus 14:13-14, “Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.” God was in control the whole time; even when the enemy was on its way, ready to defeat the Israelites. He can do the same for us when we trust and rest in Him. 

Second: “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” (Proverbs 3:5-6). Trusting in God is a lifelong process. Like many aspects of the Christian faith, it’s a choice that we make every day. We have to learn to give our burden to God, trusting that He will take care of whatever our needs or concerns might be. 

Third: Jeremiah 29:13 says “You will find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.” When we search for God, surrender control, wait and trust in His plan, we can be at peace knowing that He is faithful and will lead us according to His purpose where He wants us to go. 

As a result, we must be a witness to others, reflected by our actions, because we know that our Lord will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are fixed on Him (Isaiah 26:3). 

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Posted by: missionventureministries | November 25, 2020

WHAT IS THE BIBLICAL MEANING OF BEING BORN AGAIN? – John 3:1-16

To understand what this term truly means, we must go to the Bible where Jesus used the occurrence in John 3:1-16 to describe a spiritual change that is required in order to have eternal life, because, unless we are born again, we cannot enter heaven. 

John 3:1-16 records a conversation between Jesus and a Jewish Pharisee. 

There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.” 3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

4 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”

5 Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

9 Nicodemus answered and said to Him, “How can these things be?” 10 Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things? 11 Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness. 12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven. 14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.

 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 

After observing Jesus’ miracles and hearing His teachings, Nicodemus came to Jesus one night saying, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him” (v. 2). Instead of commenting on Nicodemus’ observation, Jesus told him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (v. 3). 

During this conversation, Jesus was telling Nicodemus that his impressive education, obedience to the Law, and religious prominence in Judaism would not get him into heaven. What he needed was a brand new start, meaning, to be born from above. Being born again is the act of God by which He imparts eternal life to those who were dead in their trespasses and sins but have now accepted Jesus as Savior and made Him Lord of their life. 

Nicodemus responded to Jesus with a puzzled question, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” (v. 4). To help him understand, Jesus explained, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God” (v. 5). In other words, someone is born physically into this world as a baby, but to enter the heavenly realm, he must be born of the Spirit. 

For his entire life Nicodemus had been taught that being Jewish and doing good works were what would gain him entrance into heaven, but now his self-importance was shattered, and he realized that nothing he had done or built his life upon would benefit him eternally. 

He was spiritually puzzled like many people today that have the mistaken idea that they are good enough to go to heaven. They attend church, give their offering, and may have even been baptized yet have never truly been born again. Some defend themselves by reasoning that God will surely accept them because they’ve tried to live a good life and haven’t committed any crimes. But in reality they aren’t good enough because everyone is born a sinner as Romans 3:23 sates, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” 

We must be careful not to make the same mistake the Pharisees did. They saw Jesus’ miraculous signs and heard Him teach, but they walked away without considering whether His claims were true. 

Nicodemus however, was different; he risked his religious reputation as a Pharisee to come see Jesus, listened to Him, asked questions, sought to understand what He was saying, and learned the truth as we see in John 7:50-52, where Nicodemus stood up for Jesus in a meeting of the Sanhedrin and later in on in John 19:39-40 where he and Joseph of Arimathea took care of His body for burial. 

So what does the Bible tell us the nature of the new birth is? 

It is a spiritual experience. The new birth is the work of the Holy Spirit in our life. He convicts us of sin and helps us understand that our good works are insufficient in His eyes and will never make us fit for heaven. But He also assures us of God’s love and leads us to confess and repent of our sins and trust Jesus Christ as our Savior. 

It is a memorable experience. Like physical birth, there’s a specific point at which a person is born again. It starts with conviction of sin and the realization that Jesus Christ died on the cross as payment for the penalty for our sin. It is when we call out to Him for forgiveness, turn away from our old sinful lifestyle, and in faith accept Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord. 

This is not a slow process but a radical change. There must be a transformation within our hearts that is so clear that we will know beyond a shadow of doubt that we have been born again. 

Jesus is the only one who can make us fit for heaven with a new birth. All other religions rely on good works, but no one can be good enough for God because we’ve all sinned against Him. 

We are not saved by our righteous acts but by God’s mercy and the regeneration of the Spirit (Titus 3:5). If we could have been good enough, then the cross was a horrible mistake because it would have been unnecessary. Only the shed blood of God’s Son could make forgiveness possible; and the evidence of God’s awesome love and power is that He came to earth to save sinners. 

It’s a lasting experience. Being born again changes us forever, but this doesn’t mean that we will be perfect. Our old sinful nature is still present in us, but as we confess our sins, Jesus’ blood continually cleanses us. We are now called to a life of holiness, obedience, surrender, and love for God; and there must be external evidence that proves there’s been an inner transformation which results in: 

  • A change in our relationship with God. Until Jesus becomes our Savior, we are enemies of God. Although we may deny that we are against Him, there is no neutral ground. We have either been reconciled to God through His Son, or we are at odds with Him.
  • There is a change in our position. The separation and enmity between God and us has been removed. Now we’re a part of His kingdom and members of His family. Our name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, and we will never lose our salvation.
  • There’s a change in attitude. The Holy Spirit works in us, sealing us as God’s children, transforming our hearts, and living out Christ’s life through us. He gives us wisdom, reveals truth, and guides us throughout our lives.
  • There is a change in our destination. Jesus said, “He who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life” (John 5:24).The Holy Spirit’s presence in us is our guarantee that we are forever children of God, and our eternal destiny in heaven is secure.

 Therefore, you might want to ask yourself: “If I am truly born again, what change in my life gives me reassurance that I will spend eternity in heaven?

Our wish is that you will celebrate this Thanksgiving joyfully, rejoicing in the free gift of salvation offered by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ remembering that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

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Posted by: missionventureministries | November 18, 2020

MAN SHALL NOT LIVE BY BREAD ALONE – Matthew 4:4

Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.“ (Matthew 4:4) 

The word of God is essential in the life of anyone who claims to be a follower of Christ, because the Bible first of all tells us how to become a Christian, and then how to follow Jesus in our everyday living.

The word of God was important in the life of Jesus. It sustained Him and helped Him in times of testing. 

We need to understand that the word of God is our sustenance. We live by every word that comes from the mouth of God. It is the word of God that gives us the strength to face the realities and difficulties of life. Therefore we must pay careful attention to what the Lord is saying to us. We need to live by the word of God; otherwise we will perish, as it is written in Hosea 4:6 “My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge.”

The word of God gives stability to our lives. Jesus said that whoever listens to His words and obeys them is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. When we build our lives on the word of God we can face any storm and still remain strong and stable. (Matthew 7:24-27)

The word of God gives us a security and an assurance of fulfillment. Jesus said that even if the heavens and earth pass away, His words would never pass away. God is not a man that He should lie or change His mind. We can trust His promises with full assurance that He will fulfill what He has promised. Abraham had such a strong and unshakable faith in the promises of God even in hopeless situations. (Mark 13:31; Numbers 23:19; Romans 4:18-21)

The Lord speaks to us through His servants and prophets in the Bible and confirms and fulfills what He has spoken through them. The Lord was with Samuel and ensured that none of his words fell to the ground. Therefore we should expect the confirmation and fulfillment of what the Lord has spoken to us through His servants. (Isaiah 44:25-26; 2 Chronicles 20:20; 1 Samuel 3:19)

The word of God rescues us from danger and destruction. The Lord sends His word in times of crisis and desperation and heals us and delivers us from the grave. The word of God will not return empty, but will accomplish what He desire and achieve the purpose for which He sent it. Therefore let us receive the word of the Lord and obey it and we will be delivered from eternal damnation. (Psalm 107:20; Isaiah 55:11)

The word of God stimulates us and inspires our faith. Faith comes by hearing the word of God. The word of God brings clarity and understanding in times of perplexity and confusion. The word of God brings the message of peace. Therefore we must fill our hearts with the word of God which will give us faith and revelation. We should not be easily troubled by the various voices of fear and despair that may surround us. We must focus our attention on the word of the Lord. (Romans 10:17; Psalms 119:130; Hebrews 13:5-6; Philippians 4:6-7)

The word of God gives us comfort and reassure in times of sorrow and distress. It gives us rest and peace within our heart. It gives us hope and assurance of God’s presence and assistance. This is a great comfort and source of healing to our broken hearts. Therefore we must seek our comfort and consolation from the word of God in times of distress and pain. (Psalms 119:49-50; Psalms 85:8; Isaiah 41:13) 

Deuteronomy 6:6 – tells us: “And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in your heart.” And Psalm 119:11: “I have hidden your word in my heart. . .” The Bible also equates the Word of God to a sword. Hebrew 4:12: “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”  

People need more than bread to live; we must feed on every word of God because it helps us in the times of need and it transforms us and gives us the understanding and assurance of eternal life where we will have “the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.” (Revelation 2:7)

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