Epaphras Prays For Colossians

Colossians 4:12 [Paul wrote a letter to Colossians group]
NCV: Epaphras, a servant of Jesus Christ, from your group, also greets you. He always prays for you that you will grow to be spiritually mature and have everything God wants for you. KJV: Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always laboring fervently for you in prayer, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.

Labor Fervently.
Do you want to know how to pray like Epaphras? Epaphras labor fervently in prayer. It looked like it wasn’t a lazy prayer. It wasn’t a short prayer. It wasn’t a one time prayer. Epaphras prayed like he was touching a ‘hot coal’ prayer to God. Epaphras reminded himself to pray for Colossians Christians very often. Epaphras felt one with the new born babe in Christ as if he was holding the spiritual baby Christians before the Lord. Epaphras had a heart-felt prayer for God to touch their lives and help them to grow spiritually mature and what God wants for them to have. Epaphras labored means he worked hard, he struggled, he wrestled and he had strong pleading in prayers for them. He used his voice to express his prayers to God. Epaphras knew the power of darkness and that Satan was a roaring lion seeking to destroy the spiritual baby Christians. This was why Epaphras “always laboring fervently in prayers for Colossians.” Paul wanted the group to know and to be encouraged that they had someone praying for them.

Have you ever met someone who would pray like Epaphras? We could be like Epaphras who pray fervently. Fervently mean showing warmth of feeling; very earnestly; strong pleading; hot and glowing. Imagine a Deaf group who would be like Epaphras? Boy! That would be something, wouldn’t it? Let’s pray for more ‘Epaphras’ among the Deaf Churches. Amen!

Great Peace

Psalm 116:165
KJV: Great peace have they which love thy law:
and nothing shall offend them.
NCV: Those who love your teachings will find
true peace, and nothing will defeat them.

Great peace is the reward of those who love the
Word of God. What is reward? Return made for
something done. When we study the Word of God,
what do we get? Great peace! We receive great
peace and that is our reward that the Lord gives
us. I hope this song will bless your heart
one more time.

Song Collection [Psalm 119:165]
Perfect peace shall they have that love me;
Perfect peace shall they have that love the Lord.
They shall know that in My will nothing shall harm them;
Perfect peace shall they have that love the Lord.

Bless His People With Peace

Psalm 29:11b
The Lord will bless his people with peace.

Is your heart anxious?
The Lord will bless his people with peace.
Are you nervous?
The Lord will bless his people with peace.
Are you worried?
The Lord will bless his people with peace.
Are you upset?
The Lord will bless his people with peace.

“Ah, I feel better when I quote the Scripture, ‘The Lord will bless me with peace.’ It makes me relax and ready for the day. ‘The Lord will bless me with peace.’

The word blessing has the meaning of a divine gift causing our work to succeed. The blessing is having God’s presence with us. The blessing is God giving us strength, power, and help. The blessing is having God working in and through us to produce good things.

One of song collection:
Perfect peace shall they have that love me;
Perfect peace shall they have that love the Lord.
They shall know that in My will nothing shall harm them;
Perfect peace shall they have that love the Lord.

Hold Your Ground

1 Corinthians 15:58
KJV: Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, immoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
NCV: So my dear brothers and sisters, stand strong. Do not let anything change you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your work in the Lord is never wasted.

Have you ever felt like when you have given so much time in the Lord’s work for so many years and nothing much has really happened to you or others? It is like “Why should I continue to do volunteer work for the deaf when I am struggling to meet my own need?” What does the Scriptures has to say about this when we might be tempted to give up?

Some of them came from “The Bible from 26 Translations.” So I am putting some of the words together and would say: “Since future victory is sure, let us be strong in our purpose and HOLD YOUR GROUND. Let us stand firm and let nothing move you. As we continue to be busy for the Lord and let us always be devoted to the Lord. Let us work for the Lord always and work without limit. Let us be active in the Lord’s service at all times. Why? Because you know that your labor in the service of the Lord is never thrown away.”

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, I am asking You to open our spiritual eyes and let us see the work of the Holy Spirit and help us to be true to you. After reading the Scripture, I realized that Satan is working very hard to try to discourage us to give up the service of the Lord. Oh Holy Spirit, revive us today and deliver us from Evil One who walk about as Roaring Lion seeking to whom he could destroy. We ask for help and we believe that You will reveal Yourself to us and assure us that You do care and love us so much. Thank You, Father in Jesus’ name we pray. Amen. The Lord bless you.

How to Pray-Abiding in Christ

John 15:7-9 KJV If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.

The secret of answered prayer is abiding in Christ. The nearer we live to Christ through meditation and study of the Scriptures and communion with Him, the more our prayers will be in harmony with the words of Christ, and then our prayers will be more effectual. The word effect means influence and power to produce results. Effective or effectual mean producing or making the influence to desire result. In another word, it is more fruitful and more successful. Jesus is telling us that our Heavenly Father is glorified and happier when we abide in Christ and His Words abide in us. This is the kind of fruit that our Heavenly Father is looking for: constant contact with Christ and constant contact with His Word and the fruits will show inside of us. [Constant means always, over and over and never stopping].

Do you ever felt like there are so many things going on inside of you? Even though you may have tried to abide in Christ and study His Words and then you may felt like you’re drifting inside, getting no where or nothing thrilling has happened yet? There is a song that might help you ‘hear’ Jesus calling you ‘home’ to Him. ‘Home’ I mean inside of your heart, a place of rest and peace in Christ. I pray that the song will draw you to Him.

Song: Softly and Tenderly
Chorus: Come home, come home, Ye who are weary, come home,
Earnestly tenderly, Jesus is calling, Calling, O sinner, come home…
1. Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling,
Calling for you and for me,
See on the portals He’s waiting and watching,
Watching for you and for me.
2. O for the wonderful love He has promised,
Promised for you and for me;
Tho we have sinned He has mercy and pardon,
Pardon for you and for me.
[Will L. Thompson]

Pray That All The Families of the Earth be blessed

Genesis 12:2,3 Emphasize:
I will bless thee; and be thou a blessing: in thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed.

When did we first receive our heritage of faith? It begins with Abraham’s faith in God’s Word, “And I will make thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed” [Gen.12:2,3 KJV].

God had a plan. God had a plan for us through Abraham. God speaks of a spiritual blessing that would come through a descendant of Abraham. Abraham was only blessed that he might be a blessing to all the earth. Israel prays for blessing, that God may be known among all nations. Paul speaks that this blessing refers to the gospel of Christ offered to all the nations [Gal. 3:8,16]. When we accept Jesus Christ into our hearts, we were blessed. Every believer, just as much as Abraham, is only blessed that he may carry God’s blessing to the world. Do you want God to bless you? Then bless someone today. May this song become your prayer: “Make Me a Blessing.”

Chorus:
Make me a blessing, Make me a blessing;
Out of my life may Jesus shine;
Make me a blessing, O Savior, I pray,
Make me a blessing to someone today.

1. Out in the highways and byways of life
Many are weary and sad;
Carry the sunshine where darkness is rife,
Making the sorrowing glad. [Chorus]
2. Tell the sweet story of Christ and His love;
Tell of His power to forgive;
Others will trust Him if only you prove
True every moment you live.
[Ira B. Wilson & George S. Schuler]

Pray Without Ceasing

I Samuel 12:23-24
KJV: Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way: 24. Only fear the Lord, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you.

“God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray.”
Who said this? Samuel. Samuel was a man of prayer. First, he was born in answer to his mother’s prayer. [Story of Hannah 1-2:11]. Hannah presented Samuel to the Lord and Samuel was a child when he served the Lord. He grew up serving the Lord all the days of his life and Samuel always prayed for His people. Samuel would not slack off praying for His people even when Israel had sinned against God many times. Samuel “prays without stopping.”

The story of Samuel encourages me to remember to pray for our deaf people. New Century Version quoted “I will surely not stop praying for you, because that would be sinning against the Lord. I will teach you what is good and right. You must honor the Lord and truly serve him with all your heart. Remember the wonderful things he did for you!” Wow, it was a powerful conviction for Samuel and I pray that this will help us to know how important it is to pray for others. The Holy Spirit will leads us who to pray for and He is the one that knows how to pray through. Praise the Lord!

Song: Bless His Holy Name
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and
all that is within me, bless His holy name!
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and
all that is within me, bless His holy name!
He has done great things, He has done great things,
He has done great things—Bless His holy name!
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and
all that is within me, bless His holy name!
[Ps. 103:1; Andrae Crouch]

I’d Rather Have Jesus

The Book called, “Simply Jesus” by Joe Stowell. The part that talked about Paul has reminded me of the song, “I’d Rather Have Jesus.” Why? Because Paul counted it (himself, what he had and what he was) all worthless so He could have Christ. I pray that this devotion and the song will touch your heart to be able to sing with heartfelt song.

Phillippians 3:7-11, NLT, Emphasis Added.
“I once thought all these things were so very important, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the priceless gain of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I may have Christ and become one with him. I no longer count on my own goodness or my ability to obey God’s law, but I trust Christ to save me. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith. As a result, I can really know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I can learn what it means to suffer with him, sharing in this death, so that, somehow, I can experience the resurrection from the dead!”

Song: I’d Rather Have Jesus
1. I’d Rather Have Jesus than silver or gold,
I’d rather be His than have riches untold (plenty),
I’d Rather Have Jesus than houses or lands,
I’d rather be led by His nail pierced hand
Than to be the king (queen) of the vast domain (great ruler),
Or be held in sin’s dread (terrible) sway (stray).
I Rather Have Jesus than an – y – thing
this world affords (gives) today.

2. I’d Rather Have Jesus than men’s (people’s ) applause (praise),
I’d rather be faithful to His dear cause (calls),
I’d Rather Have Jesus than world-wide fame,
I’d rather be true to His holy name
Than to be the king (queen) of the vast (great) domain (ruler),
Or be held in sin’s dread (dark) sway (stray).
I’d Rather Have Jesus than an – y – thing
this world affords (gives) today.
[Words by Rhea F. Miller; Music by George Beverly Shea]

In Adam, In Christ

I Corinthians 15:22 NCV
“In Adam all of us die. In the same way, in Christ all of us will be made alive again.”

I Cor. 15:21 “Death has come because of what one man did…” One man? That first man, ADAM, sinned against God when he disobeyed God’s commandment, not to eat fruit from a tree of knowledge of good and evil. He ate its fruit and became the first person to sin. Since that day sin brings death to every person on earth. Because of Adam’s sin being passed on to us, we, humans, eventually will die. No hope.

I Cor. 21b “…but the rising from the death also comes because of one man.” Jesus became the FIRST man to die for three days, and then Jesus rose from the dead, and still lives, lives, lives since then. Have you ever heard of any person who dies for three days and was brought to life forever? No, Jesus is the only one who dies and lives forever! Today we believe in Jesus as our Savior and lord of our lives. We will be made alive, alive forever when Jesus comes again for us. This is our blessed hope.

This is what makes the Gospel, the Good News so powerful because Jesus rose again. No other false prophets have ever done this like Jesus did. This is what makes Jesus different from any false religious such as people who worship other gods or false prophets. If they say, “My religious is a true religious.” Ask them this: “Did your prophet ever rise from the dead and lives forever like Jesus did?” An honest answer would be: “No.” Then encourage them to accept Jesus as their Savior whom they can trust. Why? Because He lives! I Corinthians 15:23 tells us that “everyone will be raised to life in the right order. When Christ comes again, those who belong to him will be raise to life.” This is our blessed hope, believers, whom we truly believe in Him as our Savior and Lord!

We can have a blessed Easter every day of our lives because Christ AROSE! Hallelujah! May the Lord bless you real good today!

Song: Rejoice, the Lord Is King!
1. Rejoice, the Lord is King: Your Lord and King adore.
Rejoice, give thanks and sing, And triumph evermore.
Life up your heart, lift up your voice! Rejoice, again I say, rejoice.
2. Rejoice, in glorious hope! Our Lord the Judge shall come
And take His servants up To their eternal home.
Life up your heart, lift up your voice! Rejoice, again I say, rejoice.
[Lyrics: Charles Wesley and music: John Darwall]

Great Faith!

Matthew 15:28 NCV
Then Jesus answered, “Woman, you have great faith! I will do what you asked.” And at that moment the woman’s daughter was healed.

Story of the faith of a Canaanite woman from Matthew 15:21-28.
Jesus came to the area of Tyre and Sidon where it is not part of Israel’s nation. The woman was Greek and she had seen Jesus and cried out for Him to heal her daughter. She had a demon that was bothering her. Her daughter was suffering and this hurt the mother very much so she begged Jesus for mercy. But Jesus did not answer the woman. The mother kept crying out over and over until the followers had enough and came to Jesus to tell the woman to go away. Jesus gave His reason why He did not answered her. God sent Jesus to Israel first because Israel was the lost sheep. This woman won’t give up and even said to Jesus, “Yes, Lord, but even the dogs (Gentiles) eat the crumbs (left over) that fall from their masters’ table.” Jesus was saying, “Wow, woman, you have great faith!” She was not offended of being called “dogs.” After the Holy Spirit came to Cornelius, the Italian Roman Centurion, Peter learned never to call any Gentiles “unclean” or “dogs” [Acts 10].

Dorothy: Do you want to have true faith like this non-Jewish woman? We can! The word persevere is an important word to know. It means continue steadily in doing something hard. To persist means refuse to stop and continue firmly (strong). Persistence is holding on to a purpose. This woman had a purpose to hold on to Jesus until He healed her daughter. Her courage was strong and she refused to be discouraged. She knew who Jesus was and held to her belief that Jesus would heal her daughter. This story tells us to persevere in true faith is to trust God in all circumstances and stay true to Him, even when you are in great trouble and He does not seem to answer or to care. Let your faith grow deeper in Christ and let the Holy Spirit assure you that Christ does care and He does hear our cries. When you sing this song, Holy Spirit will cause your spirit to feel the love of Jesus tremendously. Hallelujah!

Song: Deeper, Deeper
Deeper, deeper, in the love of Jesus
Daily let me go;
Higher, higher, in the school of wisdom,
More of grace to know
Chorus:
O deep…er , yet I pray…
And high…er every day,
And wis…er blessed Lord,
In Thy precious, holy Word.
[Charles P. Jones]

Because He Lives

God sent His Son, they called Him Jesus,
He came to love, heal, and forgive;
He lived and died to buy my pardon,
An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives.
Chorus:
Because He lives I can face tomorrow;
Because He lives all fear is gone;
Because I know He holds the future;
And life is worth the living just because He lives.
[William and Gloria Gaither]

Song: He Lives
I serve a risen Savior, He's in the world today;
I know that He is living, whatever men may say;
I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer,
And just the time I need Him He's always near.
Chorus:
He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today!
He walks with me and talks with me along life's narrow way.
He lives, He lives, salvation to impart (give)!
You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my Heart.
[Alfred Henry Ackley}

Dorothy: I just had to type this because I was singing
this songs all day long. I plan to sing this at deaf church.
Hope you will too! He lives!

He Is Risen!

John 11:25 NIV: Jesus said,
“I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?”

Dorothy: Wow! He is asking us this question as well as He had asked Martha. Can we say like she said? “Yes, Lord,”… “I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world” [John 11:27 NIV]. Easter time has come and there are few examples of Easter’s songs you might like to use for deaf services.

Song: Christ Arose
Low in the grave He lay, Jesus my Savior!
Waiting the coming day, Jesus, my Lord.
[Chorus: excited and beat]
Up from the grave He arose,
with a mighty triumph o’er His foes;
He arose a victor from the dark domain,
And He lives forever with His saints to reign;
He arose!... He arose!... Hallelujah! Christ arose!
[Robert Lowry]

These are good songs for the deaf service.
1. Because He lives
2. He Lives
3. Rejoice, the Lord is King.
4. He is Lord!

He is risen! May God bless you!

Salt Loses Its Flavor

Matthew 5:13
KJV: “Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour (flavor); wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.” NCV: “You are salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its salty taste, it cannot be made salty again. It is good for nothing, except to be thrown out and walked on.”

You know, there is so much in this little parable that I would like to continue in this subject “Salt of the Earth.” I think it is important to know about the salt so we could understand what Jesus said to us, “You are the salt of the earth.” One little word, SALT seems to be important study. In Jesus’ time everyone knows the value of the salt. They know about the salt. Today, all we know that the salt is necessary to bring flavor for our food. The salt has many uses. It is important for us to know the meaning of the SALT and to have better understanding what Jesus was saying to us.

Salt, noun. 1. a white substance found in the earth and in sea water; sodium chloride. Salt is used to season and preserve food. 2. compound derived from an acid by replacing the hydrogen wholly or partly by a metal or an electropositive radical. BAKING SODA IS A SALT. 3. that which gives liveliness, pleasant taste and sharp taste like salted pickle. 4. salts, plural. a. medicine that causes movements of the bowels: Epsom salts for muscles, smelling salts to wake up people who faint.

Now the subject was “If the salt loses its salty taste, it cannot be made salty again. It is good for nothing, except to be thrown out and walked on.” If they used a lot of salt on the fishes to preserve them, and when it is ready to cook fish, they cleaned out the salt and I would assume that they would throw out the salt. Salt become useless. Jesus was telling the disciples that they are the salt of the earth. If the salt loses their taste, we cannot use the salt because it had no flavor. It was compare to those who have no salt in their life. They become useless and tasteless. You may have met some people whose lives have no fellowship with Christ, no fruits in their lives, and never talked about God’s Word or talk about how the Holy Spirit helps them in many ways. Their lives are full of worldly news.

If salt loses it flavor, what is going to restore its flavor? There is nothing. Once the saltiness is gone from the salt, it is gone. It can no longer salt the earth. A person who has not been salted and saved from decay is doomed to ruin. He is good for nothing but to be cast out. A person has a choice: let Christ salt him or else he is never salted.

Again, Jesus said, “You are the salt of the earth.” Let us keep in touch with Christ who give us the salt and preserve us from decaying. Spiritual salt keep us alive, sharp and fresh so we can spread out the salt to others. May God bless you!

Salt of the Earth

Matthew 5:13
KJV: “Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour; wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.” NCV: “You are salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its salty taste, it cannot be made salty again. It is good for nothing, except to be thrown out and walked on.”

SALT OF THE EARTH
We depend on salt for our food so they would taste better. We often have salted butter put on vegetables and baked potatoes. I use sea salt. Why? They taste so good. People in the old days who do not have freezer, they use salt on fishes to preserve them. They use salt to keep the fishes from getting spoiled. During the winter we have icy ground we walk on, we used salt to melt the ice so we would not slip and fall. Truck uses salt to spread on the roads so it would be safe for people who drive the cars. Salt have many uses.

Jesus spoke to us through His word that we are the salt of the earth. How do we get salt in our lives? Fellowship with Jesus Christ through prayers and singing His praise, study God’s Word, and He “pour salt” inside of us. Then we are the “salt” to others who needs the “flavor” in their spiritual growth. It is our fellowship and our sharing with God’s Word that brings flavor to others. Our lives and our friendship is like the salt that are enjoyable and a blessing to others. Fellowship with other Christians is very important part of Christian’s growth. .

Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for the word of truth, Jesus Christ who encourages us to be the salt of our deaf people. Bless the deaf people who come to deaf church that we may share our “salt” to them so that they would come into Your presence with joy. Touch their hearts today and anoint them with Thy Word. Put joy in their heart to be happy in Christ that others may see and taste the joy of the Lord. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen