By His Spirit - Weekly Watchword

Praise God Who Hears and Answers Prayer.

nospam@example.com (Rev. Bevon White) — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 17:57:48 -0700

Blessed be the name of God from age to age, for wisdom and power are his. Daniel 2: 20

The story of Daniel is quite an interesting one. He is praised by King Nebuchadnezzar as a wise man, yet when the king needs really wise men around him to interpret his troubling dream, Daniel is overlooked. It is the failure of the prized magicians that causes a death sentence to be pronounced upon all the wise men of the Kingdom, including Daniel. When he learned what was happening, Daniel went to the king to seek time to give him the answer he needed, then he went to his prayer partners who went with him to God. Note the sequence. He found out the problem, gathered like-minded people around him and together they approached God.

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Lenten Request

nospam@example.com (Rev. Roslyn Hamblin) — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 23:06:00 -0700

The Lord has granted me the petition that I made to him. 1 Sam.1:27

Hannah spoke these words after she had given birth to her son and was actually taking him to serve God In the temple. She had requested of God a child, and he had granted her request. Thus she spoke with joy and rejoicing.

At the beginning of the Lenten Season we tend to reflect upon the testing of Jesus in the wilderness. This brings into focus our own propensity to sin as we are, ourselves, tempted day by day. Hannah’s observation and declaration can therefore be instructive. The Lord had granted her request. This inspires confidence. If God had granted her request, others can call upon him; he can be expected to grant their requests as well. Hence, in the face of temptation requests can be made to him.

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Get It Right!

nospam@example.com (Rev. Bevon White) — Tue, 08 May 2012 08:38:50 -0700

Hear the word of the Lord, because the Lord has a charge to bring against you who live in the land: “There is no faithfulness, no love, no acknowledgement of God in the land.” Hosea 4: 1

When we read the prophets we sometimes get the idea that they were like whining parents, always at Israel about the same thing. We all can identify with that to a certain extent whether as parents or as children. There is always the drive to get it right. Parents keep at the children to get it right and will keep harping on the same thing until there is a sense of satisfaction that it has been done satisfactorily. This is how we know as parents that our children are ready to face similar situations. If they get it right at home, there is no need to worry (too much) when they are away.

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Psalm 55:16

nospam@example.com (Calvary Moravian Church, Barbados) — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 00:21:00 -0700

I call upon God, and the Lord will save me. Psalm 55:16

What a wonderful thought and precious promise! It is especially precious as we anticipate the reminder of the Palm Sunday experience of the crowd shouting “Hosanna” – ‘save now’. The people recognized, in that moment, their Messiah and Saviour. The Psalmist here recognizes in God one who will save him as well. What of you today?

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Shepherds After God’s Heart

nospam@example.com (Rev. Bevon White) — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 21:21:18 -0700

Shepherds After God’s Heart

I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding. Jeremiah 3: 15

Jeremiah 3 is a call for the people of Israel and Judah to repent or return to the ways of God. This is the only hope for them as a people. The Lord promises them that they will receive shepherds after His own heart to lead them. In many instances in the Bible, including this one, the term shepherd is used to mean ‘king’. There was only one true shepherd in Israel. Their greatest King, David, paid homage to Him in Psalm 23, the Lord [Jehovah] is my Shepherd! God was the one true Shepherd in Israel. What Israel needed then were kings with a Godly heart, kings that would put themselves aside and rule according to the leading of God.

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One Hand Can’t Clap

nospam@example.com (Rev. Roslyn Hamblin) — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 17:28:00 -0700

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord. 1 Cor.12:4,5

The book of Corinthians addressed many challenges and controversies in the church. In our text Paul deals with the matter of spiritual gifts and personal talents. He notes that whilst there may be a variety of these, they are provided by the same Lord, who has called his followers to be his body. Later in the chapter he goes on to liken this ‘body of Christ’ to the human body, dependent on each member for its effectiveness. No part of the body can function in isolation from another part. Indeed, so is the body of Christ! Its structure and system is such that the various members must function interdependently.

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God’s New Year’s Resolution

nospam@example.com (Rev. Roslyn Hamblin) — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 14:48:00 -0700

God says, “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.” Isa. 43:1

An assurance like this would surely receive a welcome at the beginning of any new era such as the new year! What a solace to hear from God the words, “You are mine”! Can you imagine the comfort of knowing you belong to God?! That sense of belonging is something everyone cherishes. And belonging to God is a good place for anyone. Further, the knowledge that he really knows you gives added comfort. He says, “I have called you by name”! Yes, He knows even your name. This thought is refreshing. But even greater reassurance comes when God continues to speak in the following verse.

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New Year’s Gift

nospam@example.com (Rev. Roslyn Hamblin) — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 02:32:00 -0700

God has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he has set forth in Christ. Eph.1:9

This verse of scripture can adequately fit into the Christmas scenario, and, following the Christmas season, it readily does so. It aptly describes the whole significance of Christmas in that God sent Jesus into the world in response to his recognition of our human depravity. So great was the sinfulness of the world that the ‘culprit’ was not adequate to his own punishment – it would take someone far greater, and less contaminated. And so God turned to his son and sent him to be the propitiation for our sin – to substitute on our behalf. He therefore prepared him a human body to take our place in the matter of satisfying the requirement and penalty for sin. Thus two great truths are revealed in this scenario.

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A Call To New Behaviour

nospam@example.com (Rev. Roslyn Hamblin) — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 02:13:00 -0700

Bear fruits worthy of repentance. Luke 3:8

As John the Baptist, the fore-runner of Jesus, preached to the crowds whom he sought to prepare for Christ’s coming, he urged them to repentance, both in word and action. The understanding of ‘repentance’ includes penitence and change – saying ‘sorry’ and demonstrating it by a change in behaviour. As each group asked him the question, “What shall we do?” he directed them to how their fruit of repentance should look. Your fruit of repentance should look similar. You, too, should have new behaviour as a result of your interaction with Christ. How can you show this – what should you do?

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What A Full Salvation!

nospam@example.com (Rev. Roslyn Hamblin) — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 21:11:00 -0700

Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has looked favourably on his people and redeemed them. Luke 1:68

These words are spoken by Zacharias after he had named his son ‘John’ and his tongue was loosened that he could speak. He added, “He has raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David.” This response to God’s action and intervention in his life was similar to Mary’s response when she was informed that she would be the mother of the Messiah. She said, among other things, “He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy.” (Luke 1:54) Both responses speak of salvation – that God would rescue his people. Indeed, the whole Christ-event is about the rescue and redemption of the human race. But what significance does it have for us today?

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God’s Sure Promises

nospam@example.com (Rev. Roslyn Hamblin) — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 01:23:00 -0700

Jesus says, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.” Luke 21:33

Jesus’ words are lasting. What a wonderful assurance! Have you ever thought of that when you considered some of the messages contained in scripture? Do you give it a thought when you consider his promises? Are you ever conscious then of what 2 Cor.1:20 says of him? “For all the promises of God in him are ‘Yea’; and in him are ‘Amen’.” Therefore reflect on some of his promises to you in the new assurance that such promises will not pass away, nor return to him void. (See Isa.55:11)

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The Grace Of The Eternal God

nospam@example.com (Rev. Roslyn Hamblin) — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 00:50:00 -0700

“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty. Rev.1:8

God here declares himself as eternal and from the beginning. He was there at the creation with the invitation “Let us make man in our own image”. He was there throughout the history of the children of Israel, when they could gladly say, “If it had not been the Lord who was on our side!” He was there in Jesus Christ on earth. He is here in the Holy Spirit sustaining and guiding us daily. He is the one who is to return to claim those who walk in his way. He is the first and the last. He is truly here throughout time. But what does that mean to me or you?

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Your Branch Or God’s Command?

nospam@example.com (Rev. Roslyn Hamblin) — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 18:20:00 -0700

Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for God who has promised is faithful. Heb.10:23

This thought of exercising faith without wavering, although repeated in scripture, is more easily preached than practiced. Jesus frequently said, in the presence of his disciples, “Thy faith has made thee whole”. Yet, when they though that they were in peril, he had to say to them, “Where is your faith?” Practising faith is challenging. Consider the story of a lone mountain climber.

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The Promise To The Righteous

nospam@example.com (Rev. Roslyn Hamblin) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 18:39:00 -0700

The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down; the Lord loves the righteous. Psalm 146:8

Beginning at verse 5 of this Psalm the writer speaks of the activity of God in the lives of his people. He outlines some of the things God does for those who are in need of special help. When we look at Jesus’ life on earth we see the type of activity of which the Psalmist speaks. Jesus dared to reach out to bring healing, either by touch or by word, to many around him. The Psalmist goes on to say that persons who experience such intervention by God are happy. Indeed all those persons who were healed by Jesus went away rejoicing. So the Psalm gives assurance that the righteous are loved and will be helped by the Lord, whatever their condition may be.

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Where Is Your Salvation?

nospam@example.com (Rev. Roslyn Hamblin) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 15:38:00 -0700

Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb! Rev.7:10

In John’s vision of heaven the crowd around the throne fittingly ascribed salvation to ‘God and to the Lamb’. This must be a reminder to us that salvation is from God, and indeed from God alone. Hence the word of Peter in the Book of Acts comes to mind and is very relevant: “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12) This confirms that frustration will result from your efforts to take care of your affairs on your own or by looking to other sources. Marian’s encounter with a psychic demonstrates this fact.

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