Wishing you a Meaningful Christmas

11 DEC 2014, WORD4ALL: CHAMPIONS OF FAITH:- 8. JACOB

CHAMPIONS OF FAITH:- 8. JACOB

(Hebrews 11:21 NLT)
# It was by faith that Jacob, when he was old and dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons and bowed in worship as he leaned on his staff.

@ Jacob had faith like a mountain and had the experience of how God can bless an individual into a nation
@ His father-in-law didn't pay his salary as promised or as agreed upon. It was changed many times.
@ The business agreement with his father-in-law was revised many times so as to bring nothing to him.
@ Yet, Jacob stood by his faith in God and so he got the divine wisdom for the supernatural blessings.
@ He grew bigger and better than his father-in-law.
@ He was taken care by the Egyptian king till his death as a royal guest.
@ He could spent the end days with his beloved son Joseph & his family even though he was made to believe that Joseph died.
@ He lived a complete life, blessing the sons of Joseph and then worshipping God by leaning on his staff - surrendering his life to God.

# Are you going through disappointing situations?
# Don't give up. Don't loose heart. When you go through storms, all you have to do is hold on to God's promises and remain calm.
# Very soon the the storm will pass away and a rainbow will come.
# God will not let you down.

10 DEC 2014, WORD4ALL: CHAMPIONS OF FAITH:- 7. ISAAC

CHAMPIONS OF FAITH:- 7. ISAAC

(Hebrews 11:20 NLT)
# It was by faith that Isaac promised blessings for the future to his sons, Jacob and Esau.

@ Faith gives us the solid assurance about our future.
@ This assurance will give us the confidence & clarity to plan ahead.
@ Faith is one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
@ Do we have faith? 
@ If not, let's ask Jesus the author & finisher of faith to grant this gift.

08 DEC 2014, WORD4ALL: CHAMPIONS OF FAITH:- 6. ABRAHAM'S SACRIFICE

CHAMPIONS OF FAITH:- 6. ABRAHAM'S SACRIFICE

(Hebrews 11:17-19 NLT)

# It was by faith that Abraham offered Isaac as a sacrifice when God was testing him.
# Abraham, who had received God’s promises, was ready to sacrifice his only son, Isaac, even though God had told him, “Isaac is the son through whom your descendants will be counted.”
# Abraham reasoned that if Isaac died, God was able to bring him back to life again.
# And in a sense, Abraham did receive his son back from the dead.

@ How deeply we are holding on to God's  blessings?
@ All that we enjoy in this world (people & possessions) are blessings from God. If we start loving and cherishing God's blessings more than Him, it is idolatry.
@ Analyse. Check..If there is anything like that is found in your life, put them on the altar.
@ Let Christ be the first and foremost in your life.

04 DEC 2014, WORD4ALL: CHAMPIONS OF FAITH:- 5. SARAH

CHAMPIONS OF FAITH:- 5. SARAH

(Hebrews 11:11-12 NLT)
# It was by faith that even Sarah was able to have a child, though she was barren and was too old.
# She believed that God would keep His promise.
# And so a whole nation came from this one man who was as good as dead—a nation with so many people that, like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore, there is no way to count them.

@ Are you waiting for an answer from God?
@ Today's situations may be dicy, and may look not in favour for what you are expecting from Him (technically, logically or medically)
@ But, still God can do a miracle. Coz, He is the creator and a wonder working God.
@ All you need is, clinging on to His promises and to remain intact in your faith.
@ God will surely fulfill His promise.

03 DEC 2014, WORD4ALL: CHAMPIONS OF FAITH:- 4. ABRAHAM

CHAMPIONS OF FAITH:- 4. ABRAHAM

(Hebrews 11:8-10 NLT)

# It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance.
# He went without knowing where he was going.
# And even when he reached the land God promised him, he lived there by faith—for he was like a foreigner, living in tents.
# And so did Isaac and Jacob, who inherited the same promise.
# Abraham was confidently looking forward to a city with eternal foundations, a city designed and built by God.

@ Abraham's faith gave him the heart to obey God and to leave the inheritance of his earthly father.
@ He couldn't settle down in any particular place and was only living in tents (temporary shelter) as a foreigner.
@ Even though he had the provisions to built a solid building, he didn't.
@ He was patiently enduring and waiting for God's destined place for him.

# Will you be ready and willing to leave the current comforts of life, if God tells you?
# What we have now (our assets and possessions) are all temporary.
# So, don't put your heart and soul into it.
# Don't boast about what you have. In no time, God can take it away.
# Don't be worried over your needs and what you don't have. In no time, God can give you.
# Our destined dwelling place is with Jesus. Let's be prepared and remain prepared to inherit that permanent dwelling place...

02 DEC 2014, WORD4ALL: CHAMPIONS OF FAITH:- 3. NOAH

CHAMPIONS OF FAITH:- 3. NOAH

(Hebrews 11:7 NLT)

# It was by faith that Noah built a large boat to save his family from the flood.
# He obeyed God, who warned him about things that had never happened before.
# By his faith Noah condemned the rest of the world, and he received the righteousness that comes by faith.

@ Noah went through moments of ridicule and abuse, while constructing the ark.
@ Building an ark to protect the animals from the expected flood was certainly a giant task, but was an act of foolishness before the entire world.
@ Yet, Noah stuck to his work and was rewarded for his obedience.

# YES!, Noah obeyed God because of his faith.
# God values Obedience more than sacrifices and offerings.
# Doing exactly what the Lord says is perfect Obedience.
# Many a times, delayed obedience is equivalent to denial.
# Do you obey God?

01 DEC 2014, WORD4ALL: CHAMPIONS OF FAITH:- 2. ENOCH

CHAMPIONS OF FAITH:- 2. ENOCH

(Hebrews 11:5-6 NLT)

# It was by faith that Enoch was taken up to heaven without dying—
# “he disappeared, because God took him.”
# For before he was taken up, he was known as a person who pleased God.
# And it is impossible to please God without faith.
# Anyone who wants to come to HIM must believe that God exists and that HE rewards those who sincerely seek HIM.

@ Pleasing God or Pleasing Man - Pls check on your priorities.
@ Living a God Pleasing life may make you unpopular with people around.
@ The world may ridicule you & forsake you.
@ You may walk through paths of rejection, isolation, abuse & any other persecution.
@ Yet, if you stick to your priority of leading a God pleasing life, He will reward you to be with Him in Eternal bliss of unending Joy & Peace.