WORD OF THE WEEK (21-11-18)

WORD OF THE WEEK (21-11-18)

This week “ The Parable of the Persistent Widow”

18 Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, ² saying: “There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor ^[a]regard man. ³ Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, ^[b]‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’ ⁴ And he would not for a while; but after ward he said within himself, ‘Though I do not fear God nor regard man, ⁵ yet because this widow troubles me I will ^[c]avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.’ ”

⁶ Then the Lord said, “Hear what the unjust judge said. ⁷ And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? ⁸ I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”

ARE YOU ABOUT TO LOSE HEART?

Here we find Jesus reaching out to us. I know so many people have been waiting for so long they want to lose heart. DON’T! THIS MUST HAVE BEEN A PROBLEM IN THE COMMUNITY THAT THE LORD DECIDED TO ADDRESS IT.

If you look at the history of Israel at this time, they were expecting a liberator. They were tired of Roman rule and too many taxes. Their hearts were melting. Jesus decided to encourage them, not by providing the fish, but by teaching them how to fish for answers from God. He says you are to continue praying and not stop. Then he gave a story about a persistent woman who would not be denied. Even though the Judge wasn’t co operating at first, but the woman continued coming UNTIL HE GOT TIRED. He then decided to grant the woman’s plea. Jesus called that faith. What is exciting about faith? It’s the WAY to the heart of God the Father. Without faith it is IMPOSSIBLE….

Hebrews 11:6 New King James Version (NKJV)

⁶ But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

GET THE HINT FROM JESUS” PRAY ALWAYS AND NOT LOSE HEART.

BY Pastor Nomsa jonah

THE WORD OF THE WEEK PART 2

12-11 2018

CONTINUED FROM PART 1

GOOD DAY

Today we continue with the story of Abraham and his promise from God. 

We did mention that we can learn a lot from Abraham the Father of faith. We did mention, FAITH, PATIENCE, PERSEVERENCE. We do not hear Abraham murmuring and complaining or being angry with God. Never once did he accuse God of anything. but the bible shows us his state of mind at the time of waiting.  

ROMANS 4:13-25

The Promise Granted Through Faith

¹³ For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. ¹⁴ For if those who are of the law areheirs, faith is made void and the promise made of no effect, ¹⁵ because the law brings about wrath; for where there is no law there is no transgression.

¹⁶ Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be ^[d]sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all ¹⁷ (as it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations”) in the presence of Him whom he believed—God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did; ¹⁸ who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, “So shall your descendants be.” ¹⁹ And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. ²⁰ He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, ²¹ and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. ²² And therefore “it was accounted to him for righteousness.”

²³ Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him, ²⁴ but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, ²⁵ who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification.

This is remarkable, and no wonder God was pleased! This man was a great man of Faith. We learn a lot by following his example. While I was pondering this great example, the Holy Ghost spoke to me. We know that all Scripture was written for our example and learning.  (V23 above) If we are open minded God will teach us a lot through His word. We will learn through what is written which is the (LOUD TEXT) and we will also learn by what is not written the silent text.  We can also learn a lot by what he didn’t do but should have done.

QUESTION FROM THE HOLY GHOST?

Why didn’t Abraham enquire from The Lord about His promise? Why didn’t He talk to God? Maybe God was waiting for Him to ask. God may wanted Him to make conversation. WHY?

Because He is a relational God. He delights in Fellowship. He loves us so much that He wants us to ask questions. God delights in conversation. We see Him and Abraham talking and getting into a debate just a few chapters later. God had just told Abraham that He was Going to destroy the two wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. Abraham starts interceding for the city, arguing that God the Righteous Judge of the whole earth would be unjust, if He destroyed the good people with the evil people. Take a look

Genesis 18:16-32 New King James Version (NKJV)

Abraham Intercedes for Sodom

¹⁶ Then the men rose from there and looked toward Sodom, and Abraham went with them to send them on the way. ¹⁷ And the Lord said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing, ¹⁸ since Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? ¹⁹ For I have known him, in order that he may command his children and his household after him, that they keep the way of the Lord, to do righteousness and justice, that the Lord may bring to Abraham what He has spoken to him.” ²⁰ And the Lordsaid, “Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grave, ²¹ I will go down now and see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry against it that has come to Me; and if not, I will know.”

²² Then the men turned away from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham still stood before the Lord. ²³ And Abraham came near and said, “Would You also destroy the righteous with the wicked? ²⁴ Suppose there were fifty righteous within the city; would You also destroy the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous that were in it? ²⁵ Far be it from You to do such a thing as this, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be as the wicked; far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?”

²⁶ So the Lord said, “If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes.”

²⁷ Then Abraham answered and said, “Indeed now, I who am but dust and ashes have taken it upon myself to speak to the Lord: ²⁸ Suppose there were five less than the fifty righteous; would You destroy all of the city for lack of five?”

So He said, “If I find there forty-five, I will not destroy it.”

²⁹ And he spoke to Him yet again and said, “Suppose there should be forty found there?”

So,He said, “I will not do it for the sake of forty.”

³⁰ Then he said, “Let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak: Suppose thirty should be found there?”

So He said, “I will not do it if I find thirty there.”

³¹ And he said, “Indeed now, I have taken it upon myself to speak to the Lord: Suppose twenty should be found there?”

So He said, “I will not destroy it for the sake of twenty.”

³² Then he said, “Let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak but once more: Suppose ten should be found there?”

And He said, “I will not destroy it for the sake of ten.” 

What can we learn from this conversation? Think about these things and discuss them

In your groups. We will continue text week when we conclude next week…. 

BYE NOW HAVE A BLESSED DAY!