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Watch The Power of Redemption | “Pastor John Lomacang” on YouTube

The Holy Spirit Intervenes when we pray for help. Human Effort alone cannot keep us on the Path of Righteousness. God, the Father, Jesus, God the Son, and God, the Holy Spirit along with angel armies as are just a prayer away. Don’t lose your crown because you gave up without asking and relying on the Warrior God and His angel armies.

Be blessed. Happy Sabbath!

Escaping From a Life of Compromise: Psalm 139:23-24

“Good Morning” Two Words that Reflect a Grateful Heart

Devotional September 28, 2023

This morning, I walked to Dollar General to purchase a couple of items. Since there was only one other customer, the cashier started putting up sale signs throughout the store. After happily finding out the plant food [that my plants have been crying for] was 50% off, I placed it in my cart and began searching the aisles for the cashier as I was ready to check out.

While waiting at the register, another customer entered the store, and instead of looking straight ahead, she turned her head in my direction, smiled, and said a happy, “Good Morning.” As I smiled and returned a jubilant good morning greeting, I silently thanked God again for another day of new mercies. Although saying, good morning with a smile is not popular anymore, there is a spiritual side to saying, good morning—it reflects the condition of one’s heart.

Expressing good morning [with a smile] reveals two character traits, gratitude and caring about others. Hearts bursting with love, care, and compassion have the desire to encourage and give hope to others. Social interaction with familiar people is expected, but when an individual extends the interaction to strangers, they recognize that life is good, and share that belief through spoken words.

Yes, the greeting of good morning comes from a grateful heart. When we awaken and reflect on our blessings of life, we know that God is Love! Yet, many believers have ungrateful hearts which prevent them from saying the spoken words of good morning.

“Through the Lord’s mercies, we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. (23) They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. (24) ‘The Lord is my portion,’ says my soul, ‘Therefore I hope in Him!'” —Lamentations 3:22-24

“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” —1 Thessalonians 5:18

Saying, “Good Morning, God” [with a smile] expresses gratitude to God for another day of life which we certainly are not promised, but often take for granted. The expression of Good Morning to others reveals and acknowledges God’s love, care, and compassion for humanity. And last but not least, saying, good morning is an effective outreach tool to witness the love of God within us to others.

With direct eye contact and a smile, we express good morning to everyone. Do not discriminate based on the person’s external appearance! Although we expect others to verbally respond to our greeting, they can respond in other ways. Whether they look at us and remain silent, or pretend they did not hear us, we are believers who are committed to our relationship with Christ, so we do not take a spirit of offense.

We will never know the impact of those two words on the person suffering in silence. If we strive to represent Christ and pray for others then the Holy Spirit will continue to remind them that hope still exists.

“And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” —Ephesians 4:32

The suffering of humanity has intensified within the past four years. Many individuals are so overwhelmed that drug and alcohol addiction along with suicide are prevalent throughout this world. Unhealthy relationships and marriages have become the standard. We are the beacons of light who are called to alleviate the burdens of others.

The kindness that we demonstrate represents Christ and reveals that His love is overflowing within our hearts. A tender, compassionate heart proclaims our understanding of the Agape love that God has for us and Christ has for His Church [the righteous]. In His earthly life, Christ strived to uplift the burdened soul and to give hope and healing to all who believed and desired His help.

As disciples of Christ, saying “Good Morning” is our duty to God and humanity.

Scripture: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples if you have love for one another.” —John 13:34-35

Prayer: Good Morning God, we thank You for Your love and the mercies of a new day. As we witness the love of Christ through our smiles and expressions of good morning, we ask You to provide peace and comfort to those who are despondent. Lord, help us to prioritize our spiritual calling to minister to others by seizing the opportunity to say Good Morning, God loves you. In Jesus’ Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

Honor God by Waiting on His Timing

Honor God by Waiting on His Timing Devotional September 26, 2023

“Still I am certain to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait patiently for the LORD; be strong and courageous. Wait patiently for the LORD!” —Psalm 27:13-14

Waiting is one of the most difficult things in life. Yet, to be obedient, we must wait on God. Every day we choose to honor God through surrender and obedience. To live a strong life in Christ, we pray for God to reveal His will and plans. God’s ultimate goal is to give us eternal life. And none of us are ready to receive the reward, so in His loving mercy, God is waiting on us—He is waiting for us to embrace the spiritual journey of Sanctification—the transformation of our character into the likeness of Christ.

God’s Timing: “The smallest family will become a thousand people, and the tiniest group will become a mighty nation. At the right time, I, the LORD, will make it happen.” —Isaiah 60:22

The last part of Isaiah 60:22, “At the right time, I, the LORD, will make it happen.” is trending on social media as God’s promise to fulfill our dreams and goals in His timing. But as I listened to the reel, something did not feel right. God never promised to give us the things we desire unless they are perfectly aligned with His will and plans for us. So, I researched to find out the spiritual meaning of this verse.

David Platt serves as a pastor in metro Washington, D.C. He is the founder of Radical. The following is an excerpt from his article, The Lord Will Hasten the Day (Isaiah 60:22). The link to his article is included in this post.

Now, that verse is only rightly understood when you realize all that’s come before it, and 21 verses before that, because basically, what God, through Isaiah, gives his people is prophecy, a picture of their restoration. After exile, after experiencing the consequences of sin, he’s saying, “I’m going to bring you back to your land. You’re going to dwell in peace,” but it’s a picture not just of what was going to happen in Old Testament history. radical.net

It broadens to a picture of what God is going to do in ultimate history when he brings his people to himself for among all the nations to worship, and there’s peace and righteousness that reigns on the Earth. This is talking, ultimately, about a new Heaven and a new Earth, where God will dwell with his people in perfect harmony. radical.net

“I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?” —Luke 18:8

Reflection: Are spiritual transformation and eternal life in the New Heaven and New Earth our priorities?

“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” —2 Peter 3:9-11

“But God isn’t subject to time. Because he created time, he operates outside of time…He uses time to test your faith and to build your character. While you’re working on your goal, God is working on you. And God’s much more interested in you than in what you’re trying to accomplish because you’re not taking your accomplishments to heaven. You’re only taking your character.” pastor rick

Truthfully, we rarely focus on our spiritual status. We assume that we are in the right standing with God. But John Bradshaw, President of It Is Written stated, “The biggest deception among today’s Christians is that we think we are ready to receive eternal life.”

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” —Jeremiah 29:11

Human effort is always required to receive God’s Divine Intervention and His blessings. Faith, humility, surrender, and obedience are the bundle of character traits that God requires for us to receive eternal life. We cannot change ourselves or possess these righteous traits without the Holy Spirit. We have a tough decision to make—pray and ask God to search our hearts and reveal all unrighteousness or continue to live according to our earthly agendas.

Honoring God requires the sacrifice of giving God our all. We pray daily for His will to be done. And we change our desires to align with His plan to change us into the likeness of Christ. Honor God by praying, obeying, and waiting on His timing.

Scripture: “The Lord your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.” —Zephaniah 3:17

Prayer: God, we confess that we are living to satisfy our desires. And for this sin against You, we ask for forgiveness. We ask You to cleanse us from all unrighteousness and fill us with the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. Because we love You, we will honor You by living obediently, righteously, and according to Your timing. In Jesus’ Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

Link: https://radical.net/podcasts/pray-the-word/the-lord-will-hasten-the-day-isaiah-6022

Come and See—Sermon by Pastor John Lomacang

Depending on God Strengthens Our Lives

“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on Earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

Depending on God is Not Optional for Christian Believers

Jesus tells us that we can do nothing without him. Many have made earthly accomplishments, but for the spiritual growth and transformation required to receive our reward of eternal life, we need the Divine Intervention of the Holy Spirit to help us every day.

Prayer: God, we pray for the humility to love, surrender, and serve You. In Jesus’ Righteous Name, we pray. Amen.

Ephesians Chapter 6: Waging Peace by Dr. John K. McVay

I am sharing a discussion of the spiritual meaning of the apostle Paul’s admonishment for the Christian believer to Put On the Whole Armor of God. This is part of the SDA World Church’s Lesson Study. Be blessed in Jesus’ Holy Name.

https://itiswritten.tv/sabbath-school/2023-q3-lesson-13-waging-peace

Who Will Pray for You?

Who Will Pray for You? Devotional September 24, 2023

Yes, Jesus witnessed to everyone, and He ate with the sinners, but His purpose was to reveal the love and glory of God and the plan of Salvation.

What is the status of your relationships? Hanging out with people who have not surrendered their hearts to Jesus changes you! We need friends who can give us spiritual support and pray for us and with us. Reflect on your relationships, Who can you ask to pray for you and with you?

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but He who does the will of my Father in heaven.” Matthew 7:21

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