Solid Rock Devotional
18th January, 2018
OBJECT OF WORSHIP
Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you. Such a person also goes into great detail about what they have seen; they are puffed up with idle notions by their unspiritual mind. Colossians 2:18
Angels have become popular in certain sections of our culture. We can even find models of angels for sale in different shops. People apparently buy an angel for their homes, their cars, or their bookshelves.
The Bible makes it clear that there is one mediator between God and man and it’s *Christ* Himself. The worship of angels was one of the false doctrines being taught in the church at Colosse. We can be encouraged, and even comforted that angels are involved in life. *The name angel means ‘messenger’, but they are carriers of messages not the origin of the message.*
The constant warnings against idolatry in Scripture, is the warning against elevating anything to a place it was never to be given. One thing we know angels say is this: ‘Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!’ (Revelation 5:11-12).
*We are never to worship angels not to talk of human beings. Let’s not elevate them, let’s join them to worship the king of Kings and Lord of Lords.*
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, Please help me keep my focus on You. You are the object of my worship and forever you will remain, in Jesus name.....Amen
1 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Matthew 16:13-28
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HAVE A BLESSED DAY
Thursday, 18 January 2018
GLORY BOUND
Solid Rock Devotional
17th January, 2018
GLORY BOUND
Praise be to the God and Father of our lord jesus christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of jesus christ from the dead. 1 Peter 1:3
The old spirituals that we still sometimes sing are mostly about the future, because in those dark days of slavery, there wasn’t a lot to be glad about in the here and now.
Those songs brought joy into the hearts of ill-treated, trodden down slaves, being denied the dignity and freedom every human being deserves. *They sang about ‘crossing the Jordan’, about ‘glory’ and although ‘Soon and very soon we are going to see the King’ was a later song* , that was the spirit of their music.
This is not escapism. We can sing about the future because in the darkest times of life, one thing remains sure. *God raised Jesus from the dead, and ‘Because He lives, you also will live (John 14:19).*
We enjoy His resurrected life today, indwelling and enabling us to live well, but we also have the certain hope of a future resurrection from the dead. This ‘living hope’ overrides the worst nightmares of life and gives to us one of the most important ingredients of life - hope.
We can say with Paul about the present and the future, ‘ *For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain’ (Philippians 1:21).*
Is your Christian life about what God does in you, or about your human efforts?
PRAYER: My Father and my Lord, I thank you for life and the hope you have given me. Am so grateful for the gift of Jesus Christ......Amen
1 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Matthew 11:20-30
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Email: solidrockchapel.cityoffaith@gmail.com
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KINDLY SHARE WITH YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY
17th January, 2018
GLORY BOUND
Praise be to the God and Father of our lord jesus christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of jesus christ from the dead. 1 Peter 1:3
The old spirituals that we still sometimes sing are mostly about the future, because in those dark days of slavery, there wasn’t a lot to be glad about in the here and now.
Those songs brought joy into the hearts of ill-treated, trodden down slaves, being denied the dignity and freedom every human being deserves. *They sang about ‘crossing the Jordan’, about ‘glory’ and although ‘Soon and very soon we are going to see the King’ was a later song* , that was the spirit of their music.
This is not escapism. We can sing about the future because in the darkest times of life, one thing remains sure. *God raised Jesus from the dead, and ‘Because He lives, you also will live (John 14:19).*
We enjoy His resurrected life today, indwelling and enabling us to live well, but we also have the certain hope of a future resurrection from the dead. This ‘living hope’ overrides the worst nightmares of life and gives to us one of the most important ingredients of life - hope.
We can say with Paul about the present and the future, ‘ *For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain’ (Philippians 1:21).*
Is your Christian life about what God does in you, or about your human efforts?
PRAYER: My Father and my Lord, I thank you for life and the hope you have given me. Am so grateful for the gift of Jesus Christ......Amen
1 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Matthew 11:20-30
http://www.solidrockchapel.org/site
Facebook Page: Ambassadors for Christ@solidrockchapelint
Email: solidrockchapel.cityoffaith@gmail.com
+233277605065
KINDLY SHARE WITH YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY
Tuesday, 16 January 2018
WATCH YOUR MOUTH
Solid Rock Devotional
16th January, 2018
WATCH YOUR MOUTH
All of them were filled with the holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
Acts 2:4
If you want to know what’s going on in somebody’s heart, just stay around and listen to what comes out of their mouth especially when they are off guard. What happens in the heart will find its way out through the mouth.
In all Post-Pentecost references to people being filled with the Spirit, something immediately happened to their mouth. On the day of Pentecost they spoke in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. On other occasions they spoke the Word of God boldly, or on one occasion issued a rebuke: ‘Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked straight at Elymas and said, “You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right!” (Acts 13:9-10).
After Paul tells the Ephesians to ‘be filled with the Spirit’ he immediately says, ‘ *Speak* to one another with psalms, hymns and songs from the Spirit,’ (Ephesians 5:18-19).
When the Holy Spirit fills us, there will be something to talk about and something to sing about. Singing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs is an expression of the Holy Spirit’s presence in our hearts.
Therefore to not speak good words and to not sing good songs will be to grieve the Holy Spirit, and quench the outworking of His fullness.
Is there evidence of the Spirit in what comes out of your mouth? Think about this.
PRAYER: Precious Holy Spirit, I humbly ask that you will be seen in me, my speech and all that I do, In Jesus name....Amen
1 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Matthew 11:1-19
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Facebook Page: Ambassadors for Christ@solidrockchapelint
Email: solidrockchapel.cityoffaith@gmail.com
+233277605065
HAVE A LOVELY DAY
16th January, 2018
WATCH YOUR MOUTH
All of them were filled with the holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
Acts 2:4
If you want to know what’s going on in somebody’s heart, just stay around and listen to what comes out of their mouth especially when they are off guard. What happens in the heart will find its way out through the mouth.
In all Post-Pentecost references to people being filled with the Spirit, something immediately happened to their mouth. On the day of Pentecost they spoke in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. On other occasions they spoke the Word of God boldly, or on one occasion issued a rebuke: ‘Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked straight at Elymas and said, “You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right!” (Acts 13:9-10).
After Paul tells the Ephesians to ‘be filled with the Spirit’ he immediately says, ‘ *Speak* to one another with psalms, hymns and songs from the Spirit,’ (Ephesians 5:18-19).
When the Holy Spirit fills us, there will be something to talk about and something to sing about. Singing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs is an expression of the Holy Spirit’s presence in our hearts.
Therefore to not speak good words and to not sing good songs will be to grieve the Holy Spirit, and quench the outworking of His fullness.
Is there evidence of the Spirit in what comes out of your mouth? Think about this.
PRAYER: Precious Holy Spirit, I humbly ask that you will be seen in me, my speech and all that I do, In Jesus name....Amen
1 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Matthew 11:1-19
http://www.solidrockchapel.org/site
Facebook Page: Ambassadors for Christ@solidrockchapelint
Email: solidrockchapel.cityoffaith@gmail.com
+233277605065
HAVE A LOVELY DAY
Monday, 15 January 2018
CONVICTION OF SIN
Solid Rock Devotional
15th January, 2018
CONVICTION OF SIN
But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. unless I go away, the advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. when he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: about sin, because people do not believe in me.
John 16: 7-9
The Bible tells us that both the Holy Spirit and the devil talk to us about our sins but their voices are very different.
When God speaks to us about our sin, He convicts. When the devil speaks about our sin, he condemns. He is called ‘the accuser of our brothers and sisters’ (Revelation 12:10).
The difference between his voice and God’s is this: The devil’s condemnation is like a wet blanket that sits on us, we can’t move from under it. The devil heaps on us a sense of guilt and condemnation.
The Holy Spirit’s conviction however, makes us aware of our sin but at the same time, an awareness of the way out.
The Holy Spirit has no interest in exposing our sin simply to condemn us, or humiliate us. The reason the Holy Spirit convicts us of our sin is so that He may remove it and liberate us. *With conviction of sin comes the awareness of the Cross of Christ by which we may be forgiven, and the resurrection of Christ by which we are equipped to live a new life.*
PRAYER: Precious Holy Spirit, please strongly convict me of any sin that I might desist from them, in Jesus mighty name....Amen
1 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Matthew 10:32-42
http://www.solidrockchapel.org/site
Facebook Page: Ambassadors for Christ@solidrockchapelint
Email: solidrockchapel.cityoffaith@gmail.com
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HAVE A FRUITFUL WEEK.
15th January, 2018
CONVICTION OF SIN
But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. unless I go away, the advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. when he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: about sin, because people do not believe in me.
John 16: 7-9
The Bible tells us that both the Holy Spirit and the devil talk to us about our sins but their voices are very different.
When God speaks to us about our sin, He convicts. When the devil speaks about our sin, he condemns. He is called ‘the accuser of our brothers and sisters’ (Revelation 12:10).
The difference between his voice and God’s is this: The devil’s condemnation is like a wet blanket that sits on us, we can’t move from under it. The devil heaps on us a sense of guilt and condemnation.
The Holy Spirit’s conviction however, makes us aware of our sin but at the same time, an awareness of the way out.
The Holy Spirit has no interest in exposing our sin simply to condemn us, or humiliate us. The reason the Holy Spirit convicts us of our sin is so that He may remove it and liberate us. *With conviction of sin comes the awareness of the Cross of Christ by which we may be forgiven, and the resurrection of Christ by which we are equipped to live a new life.*
PRAYER: Precious Holy Spirit, please strongly convict me of any sin that I might desist from them, in Jesus mighty name....Amen
1 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Matthew 10:32-42
http://www.solidrockchapel.org/site
Facebook Page: Ambassadors for Christ@solidrockchapelint
Email: solidrockchapel.cityoffaith@gmail.com
+233277605065
HAVE A FRUITFUL WEEK.
Saturday, 13 January 2018
TOGETHER AS ONE
Solid Rock Devotional
13th January, 2018
TOGETHER AS ONE
‘This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.’ Ephesians 3:6
When God created Adam, He created an individual. When He created Eve, He created something different. He created community. With the sin of Adam and Eve, individuals fell and community fell apart. The fragmentation of humanity comes to a climax in only eight more chapters of Genesis, at the Tower of Babel where humanity became utterly fragmented geographically, socially, linguistically and spiritually.
We know the Gospel reconciles us as individual men and women to God. That’s the message of Romans. However, the Gospel also restores community. That’s the message of Ephesians. Christ is the answer to fallen individuals, but the Church is the answer to fragmented society. The Church is a demonstration of a new unity of humankind.
The Apostle Paul wrote of the Jew and Gentile divide, ‘For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility... His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.
He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near’ (Eph 2:14-17).
How are you experiencing the unity of His people, purchased by Christ? *The dream of the world living together as one is a God-given dream.*
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I humbly ask that you continue to help the world to love you and to live in harmony in Jesus name....Amen.
1 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Matthew 10:1-15
http://www.solidrockchapel.org/site
Facebook Page: Ambassadors for Christ@solidrockchapelint
Email: solidrockchapel.cityoffaith@gmail.com
+233277605065
13th January, 2018
TOGETHER AS ONE
‘This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.’ Ephesians 3:6
When God created Adam, He created an individual. When He created Eve, He created something different. He created community. With the sin of Adam and Eve, individuals fell and community fell apart. The fragmentation of humanity comes to a climax in only eight more chapters of Genesis, at the Tower of Babel where humanity became utterly fragmented geographically, socially, linguistically and spiritually.
We know the Gospel reconciles us as individual men and women to God. That’s the message of Romans. However, the Gospel also restores community. That’s the message of Ephesians. Christ is the answer to fallen individuals, but the Church is the answer to fragmented society. The Church is a demonstration of a new unity of humankind.
The Apostle Paul wrote of the Jew and Gentile divide, ‘For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility... His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.
He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near’ (Eph 2:14-17).
How are you experiencing the unity of His people, purchased by Christ? *The dream of the world living together as one is a God-given dream.*
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I humbly ask that you continue to help the world to love you and to live in harmony in Jesus name....Amen.
1 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Matthew 10:1-15
http://www.solidrockchapel.org/site
Facebook Page: Ambassadors for Christ@solidrockchapelint
Email: solidrockchapel.cityoffaith@gmail.com
+233277605065
Thursday, 11 January 2018
TRUE LAMP
Solid Rock Devotional
11th January, 2018
TRUE LAMP
‘Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.’ Psalm 119:105
When we see Scripture as a self-help manual for living our lives well, a handbook on psychology, or a manual on fixing problems, the focus is on us, instead of God. We have active responsibility of course, but our responsibility is our ‘response to His ability’. The initiator and enabler of our lives is God.
The Gospel is firstly about being reconciled to God, in order that He becomes the source of our strength. Paul writes, ‘It is because of him (God) that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.
Therefore, as it is written: ‘Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord’ (1 Corinthians 1:30-31). He has not given us a manual for do-it-yourself improvement, but He has given us Himself to be our redemption and righteousness. *Therefore we read the Scripture that we might get to know Christ, and as we get to know Christ we increasingly relate everything to His sufficiency, not our own* . This does not leave us passive, but active in our response to His presence and agenda in our lives.
He has given us Himself (Word) as our guiding lamp.
Unless we take the Scriptures as the source of our spiritual sustenance, we will wallow around in shallow and stale waters.
PRAYER: Teach me thy ways oh God and let thy word guide my path in Jesus mighty name....Amen.
1 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Matthew 9:1-17
http://www.solidrockchapel.org/site
Facebook Page: Ambassadors for Christ@solidrockchapelint
Email: solidrockchapel.cityoffaith@gmail.com
+233277605065
11th January, 2018
TRUE LAMP
‘Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.’ Psalm 119:105
When we see Scripture as a self-help manual for living our lives well, a handbook on psychology, or a manual on fixing problems, the focus is on us, instead of God. We have active responsibility of course, but our responsibility is our ‘response to His ability’. The initiator and enabler of our lives is God.
The Gospel is firstly about being reconciled to God, in order that He becomes the source of our strength. Paul writes, ‘It is because of him (God) that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.
Therefore, as it is written: ‘Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord’ (1 Corinthians 1:30-31). He has not given us a manual for do-it-yourself improvement, but He has given us Himself to be our redemption and righteousness. *Therefore we read the Scripture that we might get to know Christ, and as we get to know Christ we increasingly relate everything to His sufficiency, not our own* . This does not leave us passive, but active in our response to His presence and agenda in our lives.
He has given us Himself (Word) as our guiding lamp.
Unless we take the Scriptures as the source of our spiritual sustenance, we will wallow around in shallow and stale waters.
PRAYER: Teach me thy ways oh God and let thy word guide my path in Jesus mighty name....Amen.
1 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Matthew 9:1-17
http://www.solidrockchapel.org/site
Facebook Page: Ambassadors for Christ@solidrockchapelint
Email: solidrockchapel.cityoffaith@gmail.com
+233277605065
Wednesday, 10 January 2018
A HEART AFTER GOD
Solid Rock Devotional
10th January, 2018
A HEART AFTER GOD
‘Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.’ Psalm 51:10
David was described as a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22). This did not mean he floated twenty inches above the ground, with no cares, trouble, failure or sin. David experienced all of those. Human frailty does not permit perfection, but the issue of the heart lies in how we relate to the life of God who indwells us in all of our imperfections.
The Holy Spirit, who by definition is holy, indwells our unholy fallen humanity. Do we face everything in life with dependence on Him, or do we relate things only to human perspectives and abilities? Psalm 51 is David’s prayer of repentance after his adultery with Bathsheba. He is utterly honest about his transgressions and sin, he pleads for mercy and cleansing, but then he addresses the heart: ‘Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.’ (Psalm 51:10).
The word translated ‘pure’ has connotations of ‘clean’ but also of single mindedness. David pleaded for a clean conscience, but now he prays for ‘purity’. He is asking for a heart that does not deviate from God, that is single minded in love, allegiance, dependence and obedience to God. This is the antidote to his failure.
A person with a heart after God does not model perfection but knows where to go when he or she fails.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, please create in me a pure heart which will always be after you, in Jesus mighty name....Amen
1 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Matthew 8:18-34
http://www.solidrockchapel.org/site
Facebook Page: Ambassadors for Christ@solidrockchapelint
Email: solidrockchapel.cityoffaith@gmail.com
+233277605065
10th January, 2018
A HEART AFTER GOD
‘Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.’ Psalm 51:10
David was described as a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22). This did not mean he floated twenty inches above the ground, with no cares, trouble, failure or sin. David experienced all of those. Human frailty does not permit perfection, but the issue of the heart lies in how we relate to the life of God who indwells us in all of our imperfections.
The Holy Spirit, who by definition is holy, indwells our unholy fallen humanity. Do we face everything in life with dependence on Him, or do we relate things only to human perspectives and abilities? Psalm 51 is David’s prayer of repentance after his adultery with Bathsheba. He is utterly honest about his transgressions and sin, he pleads for mercy and cleansing, but then he addresses the heart: ‘Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.’ (Psalm 51:10).
The word translated ‘pure’ has connotations of ‘clean’ but also of single mindedness. David pleaded for a clean conscience, but now he prays for ‘purity’. He is asking for a heart that does not deviate from God, that is single minded in love, allegiance, dependence and obedience to God. This is the antidote to his failure.
A person with a heart after God does not model perfection but knows where to go when he or she fails.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, please create in me a pure heart which will always be after you, in Jesus mighty name....Amen
1 YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Matthew 8:18-34
http://www.solidrockchapel.org/site
Facebook Page: Ambassadors for Christ@solidrockchapelint
Email: solidrockchapel.cityoffaith@gmail.com
+233277605065
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