Pouring Your Heart To The Lord, Evans Olang

1Samuel 1:8-18, “But Hannah answered and said, “No, my lord, I am a woman of sorrowful spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor intoxicating drink, but have poured my soul before the Lord”

People do struggle to pray. You may have struggled numerous times to pray and still got nowhere. And if you prayed, your prayers felt so dry, not effective, and did not even enjoy it. I remember years back when I had the same kind of struggle and God had to teach me to pray effectively changing my whole perspective on prayers and how to approach the throne of grace. Yes I still struggle to pray, the will to is there, the strength and the effectiveness sometimes fail.

Seasons Change, God Remains The Same, Evans Olang

Judges 15:18-19, “18 Because he was very thirsty, he cried out to the LORD, “You have given your servant this great victory. Must I now die of thirst and fall into the hands of the uncircumcised?” 19 Then God opened up the hollow place in Lehi, and water came out of it. When Samson drank, his strength returned and he revived.”, (NIV).

The desire to be victorious in every area is a thirst majority craves for. A desire to let everything run smoothly in one’s life yet we find that there are times you are victorious in one area and a failure in other areas. We are like trees that go through different seasons, the winter, spring, summer and autumn. If you took time to look at trees in these different seasons, you will discover that there is change on how they look. During winter time, their leaves are gone. For someone who may not know may conclude the trees are dead but the truth of the matter is, they are alive and well adjusting to the season in which they find themselves in. Their existence is not dependant on the season, their existence is dependant on the roots that have gone deep underground in search of water and nutrients. So the days they may not look attractive, they still have a way of surviving one season while they wait for the next season.

The Pillar And Ground Of The Truth, 2of2, Evans Olang

1Timothy 3:14-16, “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory.”

Having discussed the pillar and ground of the truth in Part 1, Paul further presses upon Timothy to be constant in regard to the greatest diligence, faithfulness, and zeal in handling God’s word. Teaching among other things 6 pillars of the truth that must remain pure and be preached. 1.God was manifested in the flesh, 2. Justified in the Spirit, 3.Seen by angels, 4. Preached among the Gentiles, 5.Believed on in the world, 6. Received up in glory.

Identified With Him, Evans Olang

Hebrews 12:1, “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance (patience) the race that is set before us”

I believe that one of the greatest tests for a Christian is to be identified with Christ and maintain the identity. The moment you are labeled a Christian or identified with Christ, the moment eyes are watching you. To this end it becomes difficult to identify with Christ when your words and actions ado not line up. We live in a world where bad news sells faster than good news and it takes one bad news to override all the good.

Be Ye Holy, Benjamen Leahey

1Peter 1:16-, “Because it is written, “Be ye holy, for I am holy.”

Holiness is the very essence and nature of God. It is the description of who He is. Time and time again, both in the Old and New Testament, God is proclaimed as holy, both by men and angels, all of His creation declares His holiness. Here, God speaks through the anointed word of Peter, declaring a truth that is as pertinent in the New testament as it was in the Old Testament, we are to be holy, for He is holy. This is what God demands of His people. This is not an option, just as sin is not an option. We are to forsake sin, and to be holy, partakers of the very divine nature of God.

Far From Where I Started, Evans Olang

Hebrews 12:1&2, “1…and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; …” (KJV)

I recently shared on the subject of “patience”, it is vital for me to share more as there are some folks battling. Our patience is tested while on traffic; check out lines at the stores, at an entrance gate to a game etc. We struggle with patience because we would rather be the ones in front of everyone else, which makes us selfish if you think about it. In as much as you would like to be the one the front, the person on the front also deserves a chance. Is it about me? (just an input but not the direction for the message today).

Keep Your Eyes Upon Jesus Options, Pastor Phil Sessa

Matthew 14:28-30, vs. 28 “Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water. 29 So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus 30 But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!”

Peter had the idea to walk on the water with His Lord. Christ blessed Peter’s faith in Him, and Peter walked as long as he kept his eyes and faith on Christ. However Peter began to look upon the waves instead of Christ. We are to keep our eyes FIXED upon Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2).

Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth, Evans Olang

2Timothy 3:16&17, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work”

There are those days you find you are dragging your feet behind. The moment your alarm clock goes off, you know it’s time to wake up and get ready for tasks ahead of you for that day. Your two legs debate which should get out of the bed first. We even drag when it comes to reading the bible and praying. As you are reading the bible, you fall asleep or you get nothing out of it, you pray for two minutes, mumble a few words and fall to sleep. I find it much easier to read other books than read the bible and yet the bible has all I need pertaining to life. It is the book that should be read daily by every believer.

Biblical Manhood, Part 3of4, Pastor Phil Sessa

2Samuel 10:11-12, “11 And he said, If the Syrians be too strong for me, then thou shalt help me: but if the children of Ammon be too strong for thee, then I will come and help thee. 12 Be of good courage, and let us play the men for our people, and for the cities of our God: may the Lord do what seems good to him” (KJV and ESV combined).

When David heard of the ensuing battle this he sent Joab and all the mighty men against the Ammonites. John Piper shares, “As it developed, the Ammonites were arrayed at the walled city to protect it, the Syrians were gathered in the open field, and Joab, with the Israelites, were sandwiched in the middle. So Joab took charge of one group of men and set himself against the Syrians, and the rest of his men he put in the charge of Abishai, his brother, and set them against the Ammonites. In verses 11 and 12 Joab gives this great word of challenge and faith to Abishai…If the Syrians are too strong for me, then you shall help me; but if the Ammonites are too strong for you, then I will come and help you. Be of good courage, and let us play the man for our people and for the cities of our God, and may the Lord do what seems good to Him”