2Gi5

“After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.” Acts 4:31 St. Peter and St. John had been on trial before the chief priest for preaching the name of Jesus and healing a lame man in His name. They were given strict orders not to preach again. What did they do? They prayed, together with the whole group of disciples. It was a genuine prayer, to which God responded with shaking the whole place and a new outpouring of the Holy Spirit. What is our first instinct when we feel threatened? Call a friend, cry, escape, ... As followers of Jesus, our first instinct should be prayer. After all He instructed us to pray all the time. “Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.” Luke 18:1 If we are commanded to pray all the time, then not the least when we are in trouble. Unfortunately, sometimes we choose to rely on people and worldly wisdom to deal with our problems. “In his time of trouble King Ahaz became even more unfaithful to the Lord. He offered sacrifices to the gods of Damascus, who had defeated him; for he thought, “Since the gods of the kings of Aram have helped them, I will sacrifice to them so they will help me.” But they were his downfall and the downfall of all Israel.” 2 Chronicles 28:22-23 Ahaz was one of Judah’s kings who were evil and led the people astray. His choices were wrong and he sought the wrong sources for help in his times of trouble. In stark contrast, Daniel, when threatened not to pray and not to seek God, he took his troubles to the only source of life and wisdom he knew. “Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.” Daniel 6:10 David knew that God was always with him and that He always listened, so he called on God all the time. “I love the Lord, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live.” Psalms 116:1-2 Let’s make prayer our natural reaction to life in general, especially in times of trouble. He listens!

“For he will deliver the needy who cry out, the afflicted who have no one to help.” (Psalms 72:12) David prayed this psalm about his son Solomon, but was prophetically pointing to Jesus, the ultimate Son of David. Sometimes we feel we have no one to help, and many of us indeed have literally no one to help. But, Jesus is the help of the needy and the helpless. Joseph, was helpless and outnumbered by his brothers, yet God was his help and led him to the royal palace of Egypt. “Joseph is a fruitful vine, a fruitful vine near a spring, whose branches climb over a wall. With bitterness archers attacked him; they shot at him with hostility. But his bow remained steady…because of the hand of the Mighty One of Jacob" (Genesis 49:22-24) Job was helpless in his calamity, after losing his children, possessions and his health. Yet God was his help and delivered him from it all and restored to him more than what he had. “I know that You can do all things; no purpose of Yours can be thwarted.” (Job 42:2) St. Peter was helpless in prison, sleeping between two soldiers and bound with two chains, yet God’s help was present for him. “Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. “Quick, get up!” he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists.” (Acts 12:7) So, when we feel helpless, we ought to pray with David the following prayer, knowing that God is help of the helpless: “Arise, Lord! Lift up Your hand, O God. Do not forget the helpless...But You, God, see the trouble of the afflicted; You consider their grief and take it in hand. The victims commit themselves to You; You are the helper of the fatherless.” (Psalms 10:12, 14)

We are God's offspring, God's breath, and al we have comes from Him. Let us always remember to acknowledge and praise our Father and LORD...

No matter how deep we go in our troubles and temptations, God is able to bring us out. From Jonah to Lazarus, God is man's best friend and remains faithful to us to rescue and save us...

In a world full of loss and despair, the Bible talks about the bundle of the living, what is the bundle of the living? Tune in to find out...

David knew that he could not know himself well enough and he needed God to reveal to him the truth about himself. This applies to each and every one of us. We may think we understand, but away from God we can easily deceive ourselves.

What can we do to bring God's blessings to our homes? 3 things that the ark of covenant contained and 1 thing it represented are helpful clues. Through God's presence, following His commandments, partaking of the Holy communion and offering spiritual sacrifices, our homes become churches and a dwelling place for God's presence.

“You know how I am scorned, disgraced and shamed; all my enemies are before you.” (Psalms 69:19)

How often do we lose hope and give up when waiting on God? What is His faithful promise? and what is the benefit of enduring and waiting? Listen in to find out...

God is a faithful friend, always fighting our corner and lifting us up. If we have God, we have everything.