VIDEO City on a hill

Faith Film Productions
Feb 29, 2016

City On a Hill Christian Short Movie by faith film productions, directed by Selva Devados . It’s based on the bible verse from Matthew 5:14-16 14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven

Stay Connected – Awareness of the Call

Stay Connected

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10, NIV

Think of a tall tree covered in green leaves with birds nesting in its branches. If we cut off a branch, it withers and dies. The only branches that thrive are connected to the flourishing tree. Sunlight is received by the leaves and water is drawn up through the roots.

When we are connected to Christ, opportunities and blessings we cannot imagine in our own strength become available to us. Instead of being limited by our own capacity and strength, we have His strength and power available to us. Each person called by God is equipped by God. We can rely on God, just as Moses and Joshua did.

God’s power is like a towering tree. We can let go of our expectations and self-sufficiency. The life He has for us is beyond what we can imagine or achieve on our own. The best part, He is with us and we can remain connected to Him through every season and in every moment of our lives. It is in our best interest to stay stuck on God. He is life.

The greatest barrier to knowing God’s will is simply that we want to run our own lives. Our problem is that a battle is going on in our hearts—a battle between our wills and God’s will. Billy Graham

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Awareness of the Call

…for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel! —1 Corinthians 9:16

We are inclined to forget the deeply spiritual and supernatural touch of God. If you are able to tell exactly where you were when you received the call of God and can explain all about it, I question whether you have truly been called. The call of God does not come like that; it is much more supernatural. The realization of the call in a person’s life may come like a clap of thunder or it may dawn gradually. But however quickly or slowly this awareness comes, it is always accompanied with an undercurrent of the supernatural— something that is inexpressible and produces a “glow.” At any moment the sudden awareness of this incalculable, supernatural, surprising call that has taken hold of your life may break through— “I chose you…” (John 15:16). The call of God has nothing to do with salvation and sanctification. You are not called to preach the gospel because you are sanctified; the call to preach the gospel is infinitely different. Paul describes it as a compulsion that was placed upon him.

If you have ignored, and thereby removed, the great supernatural call of God in your life, take a review of your circumstances. See where you have put your own ideas of service or your particular abilities ahead of the call of God. Paul said, “…woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!” He had become aware of the call of God, and his compulsion to “preach the gospel” was so strong that nothing else was any longer even a competitor for his strength.

If a man or woman is called of God, it doesn’t matter how difficult the circumstances may be. God orchestrates every force at work for His purpose in the end. If you will agree with God’s purpose, He will bring not only your conscious level but also all the deeper levels of your life, which you yourself cannot reach, into perfect harmony.

WISDOM FROM OSWALD CHAMBERS

When a man’s heart is right with God the mysterious utterances of the Bible are spirit and life to him. Spiritual truth is discernible only to a pure heart, not to a keen intellect. It is not a question of profundity of intellect, but of purity of heart. Bringing Sons Unto Glory, 231 L

 

A Partner for Accountability

Galatians 6:1-10

An accountability partner is able to perceive what you can’t see when blind spots and weaknesses block your vision. Such a person serves as a tool in God’s hand to promote spiritual growth, and he or she watches out for your best interest. When choosing a confidant, look for seven characteristics:

1. Godly. A person who walks in the Spirit will offer genuine wisdom based on biblical principles rather than personal opinion.

2. Trustworthy. No matter what you share with this individual, you must be certain that he or she will keep everything in the strictest confidence.

3. Accepting. He or she must allow you to be yourself—frailties and all—and not try to remake you into someone “perfect.”

4. Courageous. A good accountability partner will lovingly confront you with the truth, even when it hurts (Eph. 4:15).

5. Forgiving. Trust is built when mistakes are forgiven.

6. Edifying. Don’t choose someone with an overly critical attitude, who will make you feel worthless. Love edifies and builds up (Eph. 4:29). It never destroys.

7. Encouraging. You don’t want someone with a checklist, who judges you or acts like a prophet. Instead, choose someone who takes great joy in encouraging you.

We can all benefit from someone who’s able to say what we need to hear without making us feel threatened. Answerability provides checks and balances that promote spiritual growth and protect us from pitfalls. If you don’t already have an accountability partner, ask God to lead you to such a person.

The Urgent Faith

“When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up.” (Psalm 27:10)

The preceding verses to our text bear out that David was almost shouting his prayer to the Lord. His need was urgent, the circumstances were fearful, and David was not attempting to impress the crowd around him with his religious piety. An urgent need demands an urgent expression!

Such urgent expression, however, should not be understood or suggest that shouting is sufficient to move the Lord to hear. Jesus warned against using “vain repetitions” and “much speaking” as a substitute for genuine petition (Matthew 6:7). The Creator certainly understands the human condition. Our dear Lord Jesus “was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15). We are clearly told that we are to seek Him with our whole heart.

This kind of prayer is like thirsting for the Lord’s help “in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is” (Psalm 63:1). This kind of prayer reaches out with the soul to “desire thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek thee early” (Isaiah 26:9). God does promise that the seeking prayer will be responded to! “Those that seek me early shall find me,” Wisdom promises in Proverbs 8:17. “I will hearken unto you,” the Lord says. “Ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:12-13).

It is the “effectual fervent prayer” of the righteous man that “availeth much” (James 5:16). HMM III

Adapted from Treasures in the Psalms, Henry M. Morris III, 344-345.

King also himself passed over the brook Kidron

2 Samuel 15:13-26

2 Samuel 15:13

This must have sounded like a thunderclap in the ear of David. While rejoicing in the belief that his son was religiously employed in paying his vows, the news of his rebellion was suddenly brought to him. David had rebelled against his God and king, and now he sees his own son in arms against him. How well had God kept his threatening that evil should arise to him out of his own house!

2 Samuel 15:14

The city could not be defended, for its walls were not built; therefore, David had prayed, “Build thou the walls of Jerusalem.”

2 Samuel 15:16, 17

He must needs go on foot, though his wicked son had horses: he took his family with him, for he was always a loving father, and would not leave them in danger. Who can tell the sorrow which filled poor David’s heart? God’s rod smote him heavily.

2 Samuel 15:18

and all the Cherethites or executioners

2 Samuel 15:18

and all the Pelethites or messengers

2 Samuel 15:18

These were his body-guard, and remained faithful when others deserted to the popular side. May we always adhere to our Lord Jesus, even though all the world should wander after the beast and the false prophet.

2 Samuel 15:19, 20

David was too generous to wish to bring troubles upon others; much as he needed Ittai’s help, he would not impose upon his kindness.

2 Samuel 15:21

After this true-hearted fashion we ought to follow Jesus.

2 Samuel 15:22

The Lord did not leave his servant quite alone, but found him friends in his need.

2 Samuel 15:23

The common people mourned with their king, and well they might. There was a yet sadder sight when Jesus, “the King, also himself passed over the brook Kidron.” O Lord, we see thee typified by David, and our hearts adore thee.

2 Samuel 15:24-26

He was jealous for the safety of the ark and the priests, and therefore would not have them exposed to the same dangers as himself. He was also deeply submissive to the Lord’s will, and thereby showed how much his trials had been sanctified to him. It is a blessed thing when the visitations, which God sends upon us for sin, bow us in lowly reverence and humble acquiescence at the Master’s feet. So may the Lord always bless our family afflictions to each one of us.

 

Jesus, whom angel hosts adore,

Became a man of griefs for me;

In love, though rich, becoming poor,

That I, through him, enrich’d might be.

 

Do You Know What You Are Called To Do?

Philippians 3:12

I have no doubt as to what God has called me to do with my life. He has called me to preach the Gospel and to help establish the Church in regions of the world that are unstable, difficult, and unchurched. That is my calling, and I am very confident of this fact. But for me to fulfill this divine call on my life requires hard work, attention, and a determination to never stop until I have achieved exactly what Jesus intended for me to achieve with my life.

When you look at the life of the apostle Paul, you’ll find it very evident that he emphatically knew his calling. Furthermore, he was able to concretely express it and often wrote of it in his epistles. Over and over again, he wrote that he was an apostle to the Gentiles (Galatians 2:8). Paul lived, breathed, ate, and slept and awoke every day to the call of God that was on his life.

When Paul was in a Roman prison with the prospect of death staring him in the face, he never gave up because he knew he hadn’t yet fulfilled the entire plan God had revealed to him. I personally believe that reaching his God-given goal was in Paul’s mind when he wrote, “Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect…” (Philippians 3:12).

The word “perfect” is the Greek word teleo. It refers to something that is ripe, mature, perfect, or complete. It suggests that Paul meant, “I have done a lot and accomplished much in comparison to others, but I haven’t yet brought my assignment to completion. The job is not finished. I have not yet completed what God has called me to do.”

During his multiple years of serving the Lord, Paul had achieved more than any other Christian leader of his time. He had preached on different continents, traveled to the countries of the Mediterranean Sea, and preached to governors and kings. Besides all these notable accomplishments, Paul had written the majority of the New Testament text! But none of this mattered to him because he knew he hadn’t yet “attained” that for which Jesus Christ had apprehended him.

Instead of relaxing and taking it easy at the end of his life, Paul therefore turned his attention to the dream—to the unfulfilled vision or assignment that was still before him. Because there was still so much left to do, he went on to say, “… I follow after….” This phrase comes from the Greek word dioko, which is the word that is usually translated to persecute. Let’s stop and talk about this for a moment so we can understand the full force of what Paul was writing in this verse.

The word dioko, translated as “I follow after,” is a fiercely aggressive word. In historic Greek literature, it means to hunt; to pursue; to chase; to track down and kill. It is the picture of an outdoorsman who is so determined to hunt down an animal that he will stop at nothing to pursue, chase, track down, and ultimately get his game!

Do hunters accidentally bag their game, or do they strategize in their plans to get a good one each hunting season? Hunters strategize! They dream! They talk to other hunters about the best places to hunt! They dress in camouflaged clothes; then they perch themselves high up on tree branches and wait for hours upon hours for an unlucky deer to walk into their trap. Once the deer comes in range, they shoot to kill! They hunt, hound, and stalk that animal until they finally kill it. Then they throw the big catch in the back of their truck and head home with their trophy—and the prospect of many good venison meals in their future! That is exactly what Paul means when he says, “I follow after.”

The apostle Paul strategized, planned, studied, and ardently followed after the call of God on his life. You could say that he hunted, hounded, and stalked the call of God with all his heart, never stopping until he could say, “I got my game!” When Paul’s job was finished, he gladly said, “… I have finished my course…” (2 Timothy 4:7). That’s when he packed it all up and went home to Heaven with his trophy—a crown of reward.

For you to achieve what God has planned for your life, it will likewise require a fierce determination to keep pressing ahead. You can never stop until every part of your God-given assignment has been fulfilled. Jogging along at a comfortable pace will never get you where you need to go. You must focus your attention on the goal and then strategize, plan, and work until you can confidently say, “I’ve done exactly what Jesus wanted me to do!” But be forewarned: Achieving this goal will demand your utmost concentration and undivided attention and the empowerment of the Holy Spirit.

Do you know God’s plan for your life? Do you know the assignment He has designed just for you? Are you following after that divine call with all your heart? If not, today is the perfect time to start discovering and then following after God’s call on your life!

MY PRAYER FOR TODAY

Lord, I am asking You to help me to really know my calling so I can ardently follow after it with all my might. Help me push all distractions out of my way and to put my sights on fulfilling the assignment You have designed for me. I know this is going to take the greatest concentration, so please help me to focus on Your plan and to refuse to allow anything to pull me away from reaching Your goal for my life!

I pray this in Jesus’ name!

MY CONFESSION FOR TODAY

I confess that I will achieve what God has planned for my life. I am fiercely determined to keep pressing ahead, and I will never stop until every part of my God-given assignment has been fulfilled. I have set my sights on reaching God’s plan—and I will not stop until I can confidently say, “I’ve done exactly what Jesus wanted me to do!”

I declare this by faith in Jesus’ name!

QUESTIONS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER

1. Do you know what God has called you to do with your life? Are you really confident of your calling, or are you just taking a stab in the dark, hoping you are headed in the right direction?
2. If you keep pursuing God’s plan at the rate you are moving at right now, will you reach your God-ordained destination?
3. What changes do you need to make in order for you to reach the goal God has planned for your life? Why not make a list of ten things you need to do to streamline your life and help you stay more focused so you can successfully do what God has called you to do?

 

The Suffering Of The Saints

 

Suffering, it seems, is a daily occurrence among God’s people: Health problems, persecution, financial stress, etc., etc. How are we to understand it? How are we to cope? In studying 1 Peter, I discovered eleven ways we are to respond to suffering:

 

1. Rejoice, recognizing your faith is being tested and purified — “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials… Your faith… may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed… ” (1:6-8)

 

2. Do not retaliate against your tormentors — “When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats.” (2:23)

 

3. Follow Christ’s example in entrusting yourself to God — “Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.” (2:23b)

 

4. Do not be afraid — “Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened.” (3:14b)

 

5. Follow Christ’s example in suffering for doing good — “It is better, if it is God‘s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit,” (3:17, 18)

 

6. Adopt Christ’s attitude toward suffering —”Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin.” (4:1)

 

7. Rather than being surprised, rejoice in the fact that you are participating in Christ’s suffering — “Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.” (4:12, 13)

 

8. Be unashamed in your suffering and association with Christ —”If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.” (4:15, 16)

 

9. Amidst the suffering, commit yourself to God, and continue to do good — “So then, those who suffer according to God‘s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good. ( 4:19)

 

10.Resist Satan, recognizing that other believers are also suffering at his hand — “Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.” (5:9, 10)

 

11.Anticipate His restoration — “And the God of all grace… after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.” (5:10)

 

 

VIDEO Confirmation of the Power Of Prayer

Sept 28, 2017

U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise, the Old Jefferson Republican and House majority whip, returned to Congress on Sept. 28, 2017, for the first time since he was shot three months ago, delivering an emotional 16-minute address to a packed chamber of colleagues. Critically wounded and near death June 14 at a suburban Washington ballpark, Scalise said he now is “a living example that miracles really do happen.” (Video from U.S. House of Representatives)

Why Are We All So Lonely?

A person can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in their own toil. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment? Ecclesiastes 2:24-25, NIV

A British paper ran a column entitled “Life Looks Good on the Surface So Why Are We All So Lonely?” The writer Liz Hoggard said her life looked great in her social media posts. She attended the theater every night and spent her weekends at cultural events. One person told her, “I follow your glittery life in awe.” But, Liz admitted, her stress, tears, rejection, and loneliness don’t show up on her social media posts, yet they are a constant reality.¹

Some of our loneliest moments occur on important days—birthdays, anniversaries, and holidays. Why not anticipate the challenges in advance? You know when your birthday will occur. Plan what you’re going to do. Invite a neighbor for tea on that day or spend the afternoon volunteering. If possible, let your family know you might need them on that day. By planning in advance, you can minimize the dangers of self-pity or loneliness.

We can’t avoid loneliness, but as Christians we should be able to deal with it better than those without Christ. Ask for God’s help, reach out to others, and don’t let loneliness get the best of you.

God doesn’t only come and sit with us; He also enables us to enjoy the pleasures of His presence. Paul Matthies

Caring With Our Conscience

1 Corinthians 8:9-12

How do you approach your decisions—by thinking primarily of yourself? Or do you consider how your actions will affect the beliefs and lives of others? Since coming to faith, we all have had to discipline our conscience for it to grow stronger. It is also important to use discernment so we can avoid wounding a weaker believer.

Some Christians never stop to think that their choices can hurt or destroy someone else’s faith. They justify their behavior, saying God doesn’t convict them for it. While they don’t necessarily indulge in sinful acts, their spiritual defenses have grown strong enough to let them do things they wouldn’t have done in the early stages of their spiritual walk. These believers fail to realize that younger Christians are watching how they live out their faith. When “weaker” ones follow the example they see, their ship of faith may capsize because of a conscience that is troubled or confused rather than strengthened.

Paul blames the “stronger” Christian for these shipwrecks. He says we’re responsible not only for our actions, but also for the effect of those actions. In the end, we are to care more about the “brother for whose sake Christ died” than about our own wants or desires (1 Cor. 8:11).

Because our faith is on display before the world, God promises rewards but insists on responsibility. One of the rewards is freedom from condemnation. But that freedom doesn’t mean license to do as we please without considering those who watch our example. Through the Spirit, we must discern the greater good and act on it.