Come Home 8/27-31/20

27-31 August 2020 - Come Home – Manna by Dorothy & Tony Callies

            John 14:1-3 Jesus said, “Don’t let your heart be troubled. Trust in God, and trust in Me.  There are many rooms in my Father’s house; I would not tell you this if it were not true. I am going there to prepare a place for you.  After I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with Me so that you may be where I am” (NCV).

           

            Do you ever felt lost in the busy surroundings?  We get so busy that when we are finally by ourselves, our bodies gets worn out and we rest and might felt a little lost.  It is like our lives are being in the washing machine filled with water and the machine twisted our clothes again and again until all the dirt comes out of the clothes to get it real clean. But it has to be rinsed again, and the clothes get to be twisted and turned over and over. The next process is the wringer, squeezing the water out while it spins very fast.  

            But that is not all.  The clothes has to be put inside the dryer.  Again, it rolled over and over for a half hour or so to get them dry. It felt like the clothes get so dizzy from being rolled around. Sometimes I felt like “life is like that.”  It seems confusing, but the washing machine and the dryer knows what they are doing while the clothes doesn’t seem to understand its purpose or the process of doing it.  

            I visualize our God is like a washing machine and a dryer that He allows us to go through things like that. Notice something, the clothes were inside the washing machine, it is like we are inside of God’s washing machine, He is there … like a dryer during drying time, He is there ...

            Interesting thoughts this morning … Why? Because the news tells us that so many people lost their home through the fires and the storms. Through 700 Club gave news that Christians are being killed for their belief in Christ in Africa.  I questioned God how do You give answer to this situation to those who are going through so much.  Are You God even there in these situations? 

            The inspiration came to me through the song: Come Home. It melt my heart … come home.  I found the old Manna since I was looking for something else … but I came to the song that touched my heart.  Of all things we go through, Jesus was singing … “Come Home …” Oh, we have a place to look forward to in spite of all things that are happenings to us.  Come home …

            Jesus reminds us: “Do not let your heart be troubled. Trust God. Trust in Me. And I have prepared a home for you.  You are coming home soon. Just keep your eyes on Me.”  While we sing ‘come home’ allow your inner spirit to feel rest in God’s presence and be at home with Him on earth at the same time looking forward to be home with Jesus soon. 

          Let the song gives healing to our ‘lost’ situations and come home to Jesus.

Song: Softly and Tenderly (Come Home)

Chorus: Come home, come home,

You 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. (Chorus)

(Lyric: Will L. Thompson)

May the Lord bless you today! 

Dorothy 

Be Vigilant 8/22-26/20

22-26 August 2020 – Be Vigilant – Manna by Dorothy & Tony Callies

            1 Peter 5:8, 9 “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.  Resist him, steadfast in faith …” Here are the meaning of words: sober means be serious; vigilant means be alert to the signs of danger; resist means to fight or stand up against; steadfast means firmly fixed in place and not easily influence from or stand strong.

            Those words sum up as a warning and encouragement. Be serious. Be alert. Fight against. Stand strong. Who? Against Satan as he seeks to destroy us.  

            Satan is never tired, he is cruel, and he is a crafty worker. Satan is a powerful adversary or enemy of the human race.  Satan began his work on earth against God and man in the Garden of Eden, and he will continue “seeking whom he may destroy. Satan continue his evil work until Satan is cast into the lake of fire” (Rev. 20:10). It means Satan’s time is very short.

            So we need to stand against the “wiles of the devil” (Eph. 6:11).  You are encouraged to put on the whole armor of God by quoting them:  [Wiles means clever tricks]

            (1) the belt of truth (John 14:6).

            (2) the breastplate of righteousness (Roman 10:1-4).

            (3) the gospel sandals (1Cor. 15:3,4).

            (4) the shield of faith (Heb. 11:5,6).

            (5) the helmet of salvation (Heb. 5:9).

            (6) the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God (Heb. 4:12).

            (7) praying always (1Thess. 5:17).

            This armor of God is found in Ephesians 6:10-18 and “putting on the armor of God” you should be able to stand against Satan and his work.

You need to be aware (take notice) of Satan’s works:

            (1) Satan put lots of temptations on the unbeliever and take him captive to                                 do what Satan wants to do (2 Tim. 2:26; Eph.2:1-3).

            (2) Satan tempted men (people) to do evil (1Thess. 3:5).

            (3) Satan has the power of death (Heb. 2:14). Satan is the slayer of men                            (John 8:44). It means Satan killed people.

            (4) Satan motivates professing believers to betray Christ (John 13:2).

            (5) Satan inspires believers to lie to God in the church (Acts 5:1-11).

            (6) Satan influences people’s mind to do what he wants (John 3:21-27).

            (7) Satan has the power to steal the Word of God from the hearts of those                        who hear the Word of God, but do not understand it (Matt. 13:19).

            (8) He blinds unbelievers’ minds to keep them from being saved (2Cor.4:4).

            (9) Satan has access (permission to enter) to the throne of God and accuses                    the brethren before God (Rev. 12:10).

            (10) Satan will work through Antichrist in Great Tribulation (2 Thess. 2:8-12).

Dorothy:  God’s Word tells us to be vigilant; be alert to the signs of danger and be watchful of Satan’s tricks.  God’s Word encourages us to put on the armor of God during our prayer time. A friend told this story of a prayer group who struggled to pray through. Later on, they realized they missed the quote by “putting on the armour of God” and their prayer group broke through the barriers of demons’ force. God answered their prayers. I thought, “Wow! What a powerful testimony they gave us.”  God bless you today!

Song: Whisper A Prayer

God answers prayer in the morning

God answers prayer at noon.

God answers prayer in the evening

So keep your heart in tune. 

(Inspiring Choruses) 

Demons' Identity 8/15-21/20

15-21 August 2020 - Demons, Their Identity

Manna by Dorothy, translate from outlines, The Christian Life Bible.

Theme: Take notice of what demons are like and do.

            The Bible talked about demons or devils in many Scriptures. Demons or devils belong to Satan who is the ruler of demons, in the spirits’ atmosphere.  Where did they come from? They were in heaven before as angels, but they followed Satan and became “fallen angels.” Demons can change forms. The devil or devils means “accuser” or “slanderer.” Accuse means to find faults. Slander means to damage, to ruin or to destroy their reputations.

            From the book of Eye-Witness, Demons written by Howard Pittman, he saw visions of demons’ world.  Satan has groups of fallen angels.  First one is called, “Warring Demon.” This fallen angel looks like a Roman Soldier, look serious with no smile on his face. This demon shows no love, a cold spirit and no warmth at all. This demon is responsible for starting wars of all kinds ever since the beginning of time.  He was responsible for many wars such as World War I and II.

            The second class is a Demon of Greed.  Demon has an appearance of a “Business Man.”  His eye is cold, like a steel stare and greedy eyes.  He specialized in finance systems.  You just simply watch the world with finance problems.

            The third class is a Demon of Frog and looks like frog. This kind of demon specialized on lust of flesh, causing many to fall into temptation of sex sins. From then on there are classes of different demons who specialized in doing other things such as witchcrafts, fortune-telling, astrology, mediums, the occult, and so on.       

            So the question is: Why are we learning about demons?  First thing we need to notice how Jesus went about His ministry, “casting out demons” from among the people.  Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil (1John 3:8).

            Paul wrote to the church at Corinth, “We are not ignorant of his [Satan’s] devices” (2Cor. 2:11). Satan would like to keep you in total ignorance of himself, his powers, and his demons who serve him. Ignorant means having no knowledge.

            If you believe in Jesus Christ, that He is the Son of God and God, the Son, if you love Him and serve Him, you can be sure of one thing: Satan and his demons are going to buffet you. To buffet means a blow especially with the hand; to pound repeatedly; to beat with violent blow. Take your “stand against the wiles of the devil.” The devil does spiritual trickery (Eph. 6:10-12).  [Corona-virus is one of demons’ buffet.]

            Our greatest defense is knowledge of God’s Word.  Jesus defeated Satan when He was tempted in the wilderness.  After each temptation He said, “It is written” then He quoted God’s Word (Matt. 4:4).  

            In our own strength, we are no match for Satan or his demons.  Our protection is “the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God” (Eph. 6:17), and the indwelling Holy Spirit.  Let the Holy Spirit take hold of every part of your being (person), and present your body to the Lord as “a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God” (Rom. 1-2).

            Remember, “He (God) who is in you is greater than he (Satan) who is in the world” (1 John 4:4). James tells us: (from James 4:6-8)

                        (a) “Therefore submit to God.”

                        (b) “Resist the devil (Satan) and he will flee from you.”

                        (c) “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.”

            Closure: Paul tells us that “we are not ignorant of Satan’s devices (plan to deceive)” so it is important to “Put on the whole armor of God” to stand against the “clever tricks” of demons. Remember “In Christ we are greater than demons.”

Dorothy: Whew! That part of Demon’s identity is something to take notice of.  During my growing years in Christian’s life, I remember so many mistakes I made and didn’t even know they were tricks of demons. The more I studied the Word of God, the more I realized where the tricks came from, demons’ influence in thoughts.  I felt ashamed and then I understood the “grace of God” was to forgive and start over and do it right.

            How gracious God is! How kind God is! How lovable God is! His arms is wide open, ready to receive us and hug us so tightly, close to His very own heart-beat. Just like a mom who held her baby so very close and adorable to her chest.  God is like a “mom” to us!

Song: Close To Thee

Thou, my everlasting portion (part),

More than friend or life to me;

All along my pilgrim journey,

Savior, let me walk with Thee.

Chorus:

Close to Thee, close to Thee,

Close to Thee, close to Thee,

All along my pilgrim journey

Savior, let me walk with Thee.

(Fanny Jane Crosby, Sing His Praise)