Divine Nature

Keys to a Fruitful Life. Written by Dan Lee on 16/05/2017 Series: Weekly Devotional Tags: God, Bible, Holiness, Scripture Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:4-5 The two pear trees in my yard produced a lot of delicious pears last summer. Did those branches have to strain and strive to produce those pears? No! The only requirement for the branch to grow fruit was to stay connected to the tree. Recently, a hailstorm broke a small branch off one of the trees. That branch, lying on the ground, will sadly never produce any more fruit. So the secret to being fruitful, as Jesus said in John 15, is to abide in Jesus — that is, to stay connected to Him. Unfortunately, that’s not as easy as it sounds. How can we practically stay con...

Have you ever heard the saying, “Practice makes perfect?” Maybe you have tried eating really healthy before. And if you have, you know that the effects don’t happen overnight, but have to be continued for a lasting effect. It’s the same with reading God’s Word. As Christians, it is important for us develop a daily pattern of prayer and Bible study. Then we will see the effects of following God’s word throughout our whole lives. The apostle Peter said in 2 Peter 3:18 that we “should grow in the grace and the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” Spiritual growth, just like physical growth, requires a source of nutrition. Jesus said He is the “living bread that came down from heaven” (John 6:51) and that whoever “eats this bread will live forever” (John 6:58). So in order for us to receive the benefits of our relationship with God, we have to spend time every day with Him in His word to grow in our faith. Set aside time each day It doesn’t have to be a long period, but it he...

Keys to a Fruitful Life. Written by Dan Lee on 16/05/2017 Series: Weekly Devotional Tags: God, Bible, Holiness, Scripture Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:4-5 The two pear trees in my yard produced a lot of delicious pears last summer. Did those branches have to strain and strive to produce those pears? No! The only requirement for the branch to grow fruit was to stay connected to the tree. Recently, a hailstorm broke a small branch off one of the trees. That branch, lying on the ground, will sadly never produce any more fruit. So the secret to being fruitful, as Jesus said in John 15, is to abide in Jesus — that is, to stay connected to Him. Unfortunately, that’s not as easy as it sounds. How can we practically stay con...

As Christians, it is important for us develop a daily pattern of prayer and Bible study. Have you ever heard the saying, “Practice makes perfect?” Maybe you have tried eating really healthy before. And if you have, you know that the effects don’t happen overnight, but have to be continued for a lasting effect. It’s the same with reading God’s Word. As Christians, it is important for us develop a daily pattern of prayer and Bible study. Then we will see the effects of following God’s word throughout our whole lives. The apostle Peter said in 2 Peter 3:18 that we “should grow in the grace and the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” Spiritual growth, just like physical growth, requires a source of nutrition. Jesus said He is the “living bread that came down from heaven” (John 6:51) and that whoever “eats this bread will live forever” (John 6:58). So in order for us to receive the benefits of our relationship with God, we have to spend time every day with Him in His wo...

Keys to a Fruitful Life. Written by Dan Lee on 16/05/2017 Series: Weekly Devotional Tags: God, Bible, Holiness, Scripture Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:4-5 The two pear trees in my yard produced a lot of delicious pears last summer. Did those branches have to strain and strive to produce those pears? No! The only requirement for the branch to grow fruit was to stay connected to the tree. Recently, a hailstorm broke a small branch off one of the trees. That branch, lying on the ground, will sadly never produce any more fruit. So the secret to being fruitful, as Jesus said in John 15, is to abide in Jesus — that is, to stay connected to Him. Unfortunately, that’s not as easy as it sounds. How can we practically stay con...

Jesus was the true Lamb of God who would take away the sin of the world for good Written by GodLife Series: Jesus Booklet Tags: Jesus, Salvation When John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him, he said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29) What did he mean? In the Old Testament, God told the people of Israel to sacrifice a lamb to pay for their sin. The problem was that after the lamb was sacrificed, the people of Israel would continue to sin. So even a pure, spotless lamb could not ultimately take away their sin. When John saw Jesus, he knew Jesus was the true Lamb of God who would take away the sin of the world for good. All who would come to Jesus as their Savior could be truly forgiven of their sin. How was this possible? It is just as if you owed $100 and had no money to pay. The penalty for nonpayment is prison. Suddenly, along comes someone who pays your debt for you. They could do it in one of two ways. They could pay th...

Jesus goes by other names in the Bible besides Jesus. What are they? Written by GodLife on 14/12/2014 Series: Weekly Devotional "The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe." (Proverbs 18:10) As I read through the Bible, my favorite thing to do is look for Jesus. Jesus said the whole Bible is talking about Him (Luke 24:27; John 5:39; Hebrews 10:7). There are many different names of Him throughout the Bible. Let’s take a look at five of the most common names of Jesus and see what they teach us about who He is. 1. Son of Man Jesus often called himself the “Son of Man.” This name reminds us that Jesus was human, just like we are. He was able to fully understand us and our suffering when he was born and took on human nature. But in Daniel 7:13, we learn the "Son of Man" is far more than simply human. 2. Son of God Many times, Christians call Jesus the Son of God. Others sometimes say that Jesus never claimed to be anyth...

Jesus was the true Lamb of God who would take away the sin of the world for good Written by GodLife Series: Jesus Booklet Tags: Jesus, Salvation When John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him, he said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29) What did he mean? In the Old Testament, God told the people of Israel to sacrifice a lamb to pay for their sin. The problem was that after the lamb was sacrificed, the people of Israel would continue to sin. So even a pure, spotless lamb could not ultimately take away their sin. When John saw Jesus, he knew Jesus was the true Lamb of God who would take away the sin of the world for good. All who would come to Jesus as their Savior could be truly forgiven of their sin. How was this possible? It is just as if you owed $100 and had no money to pay. The penalty for nonpayment is prison. Suddenly, along comes someone who pays your debt for you. They could do it in one of two ways. They could pay th...

The world is not our home; we have an eternal one in Heaven! Written by Hope on 02/03/2013 Series: Weekly Devotional Tags: Goodness, Life Change, Personal Transformation "Work for the peace and prosperity of the city where I sent you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, for its welfare will determine your welfare.'" (Jeremiah 29:7) My mother-in-law often tells my 5-year-old daughter that she "did good." Even at her age, she is learning the value of doing good to others, sometimes far from home. Bless Others It must have been hard for God’s people to "do good" when Jeremiah instructed them to pray for the welfare of the cities in which they were living. Years of degrading exile from their homeland to Babylon had brought frustration and turmoil. Yet even in tough times, God instructs us to "Bless those who persecute you. Don't curse them"(Romans 12:14). In Exile Did you know that you, as a Christian, are in exile? The world is ...

Ambassadors represent their home country in a foreign land and are messengers for their rulers. Did you know you are an ambassador? Written by Joy on 08/02/2015 Series: Weekly Devotional “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, certain that God is appealing through us. We plead on Christ’s behalf, ‘Be reconciled to God!’” 2 Corinthians 5:20 You are a Citizen of Heaven Christians are united with Christ through faith, so “our citizenship is in heaven...” (Philippians 3:20). Hebrews 11 tells us about great men and women who had faith and “agreed that they were foreigners and nomads here on earth but they were looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland....That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them” (Hebrews 11:13,16). You Represent God Jesus prayed and said “Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world” (John 17:18). Jesus prayed these words because we have a mission. God calls all who follow him to be...

Two great things that happen when you put your faith in Christ Written by Dan Lee on 30/05/2015 Series: Weekly Devotional Tags: Cross, Forgiveness, God, Guilt, Jesus, Justification “For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation.” 2 Corinthians 5:19 The word “gospel” means “good news.” But the message about Jesus is not just good – it’s GREAT news! Many great things happen when someone puts their faith in Christ. Today’s scripture mentions two very important ones. Let’s take a look: Reconciled: Reunited with God “For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself . . .” (2 Corinthians 5:19a). Have you ever been in a broken relationship? It feels terrible when someone you love no longer wants to be your friend, or even considers you an enemy. This was our situation before we knew Christ. Everyone is born sinful; it is our natural state. (Ephesians 2:3) Our own ...

Connecting with the Body of Christ Written by Dan Lee on 09/05/2017 Series: Weekly Devotional Tags: Church, God, Doctrine They spent their time learning from the apostles, and they were like family to each other. They also broke bread and prayed together... Day after day they met together in the temple. They broke bread together in different homes and shared their food happily and freely, while praising God. Everyone liked them, and each day the Lord added to their group others who were being saved. Acts 2:42, 46-47 Last week’s devotional talked about why every follower of Jesus needs to find a church to be a part of, if possible. In some parts of the world, there is no organized church. But if you live somewhere where there are two or more Christian churches to choose from, here are a few teachings and attributes to look for. Many churches have a “Statement of Faith” or “What We Believe” on their website. The Authority and Inerrancy of the Bible When finding a church, you s...

Is it enough to just follow Jesus? Written by GodLife on 02/05/2017 Series: Weekly Devotional Tags: Church, Membership, Gifts, Baptism, Fellowship Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. 1 Corinthians 12:27 Did God give us a list of steps we must take before we can go on to maturity? In a way, yes! An interesting Bible passage warns us not to get stuck in our growth, but to move on to maturity. In doing this, it actually gives us seven “basic things” mature believers need to understand clearly. It begins with our personal relationship with God. It moves to our earthly identification with God’s people. And it ends with the ultimate heavenly destiny of all God’s people. Are you ready for a tour? Turn to Hebrews 6 and follow carefully along. Just You and God “Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God...” (Hebrews 6:1) Every followe...

Connecting with the Body of Christ Written by Dan Lee on 09/05/2017 Series: Weekly Devotional Tags: Church, God, Doctrine They spent their time learning from the apostles, and they were like family to each other. They also broke bread and prayed together... Day after day they met together in the temple. They broke bread together in different homes and shared their food happily and freely, while praising God. Everyone liked them, and each day the Lord added to their group others who were being saved. Acts 2:42, 46-47 Last week’s devotional talked about why every follower of Jesus needs to find a church to be a part of, if possible. In some parts of the world, there is no organized church. But if you live somewhere where there are two or more Christian churches to choose from, here are a few teachings and attributes to look for. Many churches have a “Statement of Faith” or “What We Believe” on their website. The Authority and Inerrancy of the Bible When finding a church, you s...

Faith comes through the Word(Romans 10:17),and as you keep hearing the Word, it brings you a picture of your desires; a picture of possibilities. At such times you apprehend what you see. Faith is the substance of things hoped for; that hope is the picture of your desire, and it will come to you through the Word. When it comes, and you accept, confess and endorse the reality of what you've seen. it becomes established. If it's healing you need, or increase in your finances; whatever it may be; see and receive it from the Word. This is how you receive all of the spiritual blessings contained in God's Word for you.

Is it enough to just follow Jesus? Written by GodLife on 02/05/2017 Series: Weekly Devotional Tags: Church, Membership, Gifts, Baptism, Fellowship Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. 1 Corinthians 12:27 Did God give us a list of steps we must take before we can go on to maturity? In a way, yes! An interesting Bible passage warns us not to get stuck in our growth, but to move on to maturity. In doing this, it actually gives us seven “basic things” mature believers need to understand clearly. It begins with our personal relationship with God. It moves to our earthly identification with God’s people. And it ends with the ultimate heavenly destiny of all God’s people. Are you ready for a tour? Turn to Hebrews 6 and follow carefully along. Just You and God “Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God...” (Hebrews 6:1) Every followe...

Are effective prayers answered? Written by Lois on 25/04/2017 Series: Weekly Devotional Tags: Prayer, Holy Spirit, Jesus, God Be sure to pray that God will make a way for us to spread His message and explain the mystery of Christ... Please pray I will make the message as clear as possible. Colossians 4:3-4 CEV The Old and New Testaments have many illustrations of strong and effectual prayers. In John 17:24 Jesus prays: “Father, I want everyone You have given me to be with me, wherever I am. Then they will see the glory that You have given me, because You loved me before the world was created.” In John chapter 17, Jesus prays for Himself, explaining exactly who He is. He continues to pray for His disciples and His followers (us). If we want an answer from God, wouldn’t this be the kind of prayer to send to Him? Ephesians 6:18-19 says, “Never stop praying, especially for others. Always pray by the power of the Spirit...Pray that I will be given the message to speak and that I m...

Prayer is absolutely everything, especially when it comes to evangelism Written by Malcolm Riley Tags: Evangelism, Prayer What does it mean when we are told to 'pray at all times?' Do you pray... literally 'talk to God' about all things... or just when you 'need' Him? He wants your fellowship and He is waiting for you to pray to Him.