Loving One Another

Scripture Text:  I John 3:11-23

For me, this particular passage in scripture to me places much emphasis on the importance of the brethren loving one another than anywhere I have read in scripture. The enemy is waging war against the body of Christ and he knows that if he turns brother against brother and sister against sister, there will be chaos in the church and the lives of many believers will be in jeopardy of hell fire due to hatred and bitterness. In verse 12, it mentioned briefly the story we all know, Cain and Abel, how Cain hated his own blood brother so much because he saw how favored he was and as a result of envy, he killed his brother. It is not until we pick up a gun or knife to kill another, before we call it murder, our thoughts and words alone can kill our sister or brother in our hearts. 1 John 3: 15 "Anyone who hates another brother or sister[c] is really a murderer at heart. And you know that murderers don’t have eternal life within them."

Beloved, as we approach the end of the year 2016, let us strive to love one another, forgive those who have hurt you in anyway, do not give the enemy an entry way into your heart through bitterness, unforgiveness and hatred. Show compassion at all times, learn to do good to all men regardless of what they think or feel about you. Let your action reflect genuine love for others, both believers and the unbelievers. Of course, showing compassion should not be only during the holiday season  because unbelievers also do good during this time of the year, and so what should set us apart from the rest of the world should be a lifestyle of giving and showing compassion throughout the year. In season and out of season, our lives must reflect that of a true believer, one who follows the Lord God Almighty, who is also the God of Love. Remember this day, how Christ Jesus gave up his life for us. This is the epitome of pure unconditional love for His children.

Beloved, if you are in the position to show love to a sister through giving of your time, resources etc, please do so with all your heart and you will see how you will get God's full attention when you do so. See 1 John 3:17-18

May the New Year bring you and your household much joy, laughter and peace in Christ's name.

Happy New Year beloved

SHALOM.

Merry Christmas

Wishing our friends and fellow Daughters of Zion, a very Merry Christmas and a Joyous New Year.  May this season bring much love and peace into your homes. 

God bless you all

Love from

Daughters Of Zion Ministries

Doing The Will of The Father

 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.  On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’  And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness........ Matthew 7:21-27 ESV

Beloved, are you doing the will of the Father in your life today? In addition to listening to the word, are you also a doer? Do you believe you are fulfilling God's plan for your life? If you have answered "Yes" to all these questions, Praise the Lord! Heaven awaits you! But if you have responded to "No" or you are not too sure about your stand with God at this moment in your life, then I will say to you, It is not too late to start right now to make amends by first of all confessing your sins before God and seeking His will for your life and how to serve Him.

It will be a disaster for anyone called by His name, sons, and daughters of the highest God, to be found wanting on that day. It will be a catastrophe if, on judgment day, we stand before the Father, and the book of life is opened, and guess what? Our names are nowhere to be found. God forbid!!! It shall not be our portion in Jesus' name.

We serve a God who not only delights in the praises of His people but also delights in our total obedience to Him. When we obey the Lord God, we show how much we honor and love Him and the incredible benefits that come with it. Many of us think we are operating in God's will, but sisters, do not be surprised that you are "NOT" because just because you are a church pastor or the Choir leader does not mean that you are in the will of God. We do things often without seeking God's will, and we also try to justify what we do, especially if it is church or ministry-related. Suppose you are sensitive to the voice of the Spirit. In that case, you will hear the Lord telling you what to do, how to go about it, and His will and purpose for you at that moment in time or season. It could be to feed the poor and homeless on the streets of Atlanta, Chicago, etc., for the next year, or go back to school to become a teacher, or sweeping the church for the next 30 days, or probably lead a bible study group in your community, etc., etc. We must be spiritually alert at all times to know God's will for our life for a particular time or season; when we do that, we will not make mistakes. Scripture tells us in Proverbs 3:5-6 that "Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight. "   

True disciples follow the orders and direction of their Lord and Master, they are not just hearers of the word or instruction, but they are doers as well. We must follow in the footsteps of our Lord Jesus Christ, and if you are not sure what God wants you to do or not sure if you are operating in His will, ask Him through prayer. His words tell us we should ask and receive what we ask for. Another way to know if you are walking and working in God's will is to look at the life of Jesus while He was here on earth. Study the word of God carefully and see what Jesus did. He lived a life of purpose, and He never did anything without permission and leadership from the Father. He did and said things at the right time. He did not do something when He felt like it, but according to the leading of the Father, He operated. Beloved, we are called "Christians" for a reason. In our attitudes, speech, and ways, we must be "Christ-like."  

I encourage you today to ask the Lord for wisdom; our main text states in verse 24," Everyone who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock." The wisdom from the Lord guides our steps and directs our path, not our own understanding. To bolster this, James 1:5 also states," any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. The Lord knows how crucial godly wisdom is in the life of a believer. We need it to live a satisfying and acceptable life in His sight, a life of obedience. This kind of wisdom keeps us on the right path, leading to everlasting life.

Sisters, as we approach the end of the year and look forward to a new year, 2017, let us take a moment to reflect on our spiritual life and our walk with the Lord. Are we truly walking in the will of God? It is not about engaging in every church activity, being on the board of a Christian organization, drawing crowds at conferences or crusades, speaking in diverse tongues, etc. It is about your personal relationship with the Lord, His purpose and will for your life; It is about whether you are doing what He has called you to do and how you live your life for Him. It is about being confident that if you die today, you are sure that heaven awaits you. Are you serving Him the way you should? Are you living a life that is holy and pleasing before Him? Let us use this time ( myself included) to examine ourselves and seek the Lord, and as we do this, may the Lord reveal areas in our lives where we are lacking. As He does that, may we open our hearts and surrender all to Him so He can perform the necessary healing, deliverance, and transformation we need.

Beloved, instead of the Lord saying, "Depart from me, you workers of iniquity, I do not know you, He will say, "Well done, good and faithful servant, enter into my rest."

 Merry Christmas and A Glorious New Year to you all!!!!

Thanksgiving Greetings

Living God's Way In The Last Days

" So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise.  Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly but understand what the Lord wants you to do. Ephesians 5:15-17

Beloved sisters, how are you living your life today? Are you living your way, or are you living God's way? I encourage you to meditate on this scripture text today as another year draws to an end. 

It is essential to examine your life each season to ensure that you are living a lifestyle that is befitting for a true believer and that whatever you are doing is pleasing to God. You are doing what He has called you to do. On that appointed day, we will all give an account of how we used the time allocated to each of us. Scripture has warned us in our text today that we should be careful how we live; we must live as wise individuals and not foolish ones because the time of reckoning is near, and the time is very near for our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, to return for His church.

And so what are we doing to keep busy? Are we doing our own thing, or are we doing what God has assigned us to do? As believers, we must always be conscious of how we utilize the time and resources given to us. We must take advantage of every opportunity we have in these evil times. We must know precisely what God is calling us to do and do it. Today, a lot of believers need clarification about their purpose in life. They go to church, pay their tithes and offering, and probably try to do a little bit more in the church in the area of service, but is that all there is to our Christian walk/journey? Is there a possibility that God may want to use you to impact lives for Him, whether in a small way or in a significant way beyond the walls of your local assembly? 

I have been a Christian since my high school days, which is over 25 years now, and I always thought that serving God in my local church as an usher or choir member and striving to live a decent life was all God required of me. Still, about ten years ago, I realized it wasn't enough; I needed the Holy Spirit to direct my path and show me exactly what His plans were for me in these last days. Where do I fit in, in the body of Christ? What was my assignment? God revealed it to me as clearly as a day sometime later, and by His grace, I started to walk and work in obedience. 

I believe God is seeking for us to do more with our time. Marriage, raising children, having a secular job or business, and being a part of one fellowship or the other are all very good things; there is absolutely nothing wrong with having all of these... But the question is, are you ensuring that the Lord God is still your priority, that you are putting Him first above all these beautiful gifts HE has given you? Are you ensuring that you are raising your children in the way of the Lord and your marriage is unto the Lord? Are you representing Christ well in your workplace and business? And in addition, are you availing yourself of being used by God in your community and other areas? Are you letting your light shine for Him wherever you go? Are you striving to be the virtuous woman of the Bible who takes care of her home, does business, and helps those in need with the resources God has given her?

Sisters, I want you to ponder on all of these questions, and if you feel that you are not really living the way God wants you to and making the most of every opportunity given to you, then it is time to make a change. Ask the Holy Spirit to order your steps and direct your path, revealing where and how to serve Him wisely and diligently in these last days. I assure you that when you call upon Him, He will surely answer, for He is the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation. He will reveal to you what He wants you to know and do.

Be blessed today!  

I Am Gabriel | Full Christian Movie

Troubled? Try Praise!

Psalm 34


A lot of negative emotions accompany hardship; frustration, despair, fear and doubt.  People ruled by these feelings will often make poor choices.  This is why I recommend that you decide now to respond to troubled times the way the psalmist did: with a heart of praise.  Even in the darkest hours, worshipping God fills the heart with joy and the mind with peace.  A believer who is filled in this way can wisely keep a commitment to obey the Lord no matter what.

Worshipping the Lord enlarges our vision.  By doing so, we begin to see how He is at work in the world, perhaps in ways and places we've never noticed before.  More particularly, we see what God is doing in our situation and detect areas where He requires obedience from us

Our human tendency is to plot a course through a situation toward the easiest solution.   But believers who strike out on their do not mature in their faith.  Moreover, they miss out on the blessings of following the Lord 's plan.  Stopping to praise can keep us from taking the easy way out and direct us to the right path -  namely,  the way of God's will.  Taking a step forward  in faith can be frightening .  However, we can confidently  take a risk,  knowing our omniscient, omnipotent God has His children's best interest  in mind ( Isa. 64:4; Jer. 29:11).  
It's hard to despair  while honoring the Lord for His love and strength .  We can dispel doubt  by recalling  His past faithfulness to us - and ease frustration  by committing our future plans to Him.  Praise is not the obvious reaction to hardship,  but it is the wisest response.


By  Dr. Charles Stanley
IN TOUCH Ministries