“Where do you put your trust?” by Pastor Johanna Mukhavhuli, Wednesday Service, the 23rd of January 2013.
Scripture reading: Isaiah 43:1-4 “1 But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine. 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you. 3 For I am the Lord your God, The Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I gave Egypt for your ransom, Ethiopia and Seba in your place. 4 Since you were precious in My sight, You have been honored, And I have loved you; Therefore I will give men for you, And people for your life.” KJV.
Where do you put your trust? We heard the word of God from the book of Isaiah. The bible says the God of Israel, the creator of heaven and earth is saying to us that he is the one who delivered the Israelites from the hand of the Egyptians. God is saying that we need not to be afraid because He is the one who delivered the Israelites and He knows us and He even knows our names.
God knows Israel and He knows Jacob, He knows them by their names He is saying that He is the one who saved them from the Egyptians. The bible says that when the Israelites where with Moses in the wilderness they started to grumble and to complain that it would have been better if Moses had left them to starve and die in Egypt rather than letting them to suffer in the wilderness.
The bible says Moses asked them to be still and he told them that they should no fear evil because the Lord is with them. The bible says Moses told the Israelites that they must not be afraid because the Egyptians they were seeing were not gonna come no more.
So many people are so afraid and they forget that they have God in their lives and He is the Savior and Healer. When people hear strange things in their homes at night they get scared and consult the prophets and sangomas for protection, forgetting that they have God inside them and He is the master of everything.
God knows us and He even knows our names. Even though you are committing a sin He is seeing you and He knows all your plans. So what you need to know is that when you are committing sin it hurts God and God is seeing whatsoever that you are doing even though the pastor or church members do not see it but God himself sees everything that it is happening on earth.
God is telling us powerful and wonderful words tonight: if we trust in Him and put all our trust unto the Lord, He will deliver us and He will save us from whatsoever that we are coming across. There were these three men in the bible, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego and the bible says these men committed themselves and they made a vow that they will not bow to any gods and they would only serve the living God.
A time came when the king heard that these men were not following his instructions and that they were not worshiping his idols. He asked his servants to put these men into the consuming fire but because these men had trust in the Lord they offered their lives for the sake of the kingdom of heaven and God saved them.
Nowadays there are many people who are living to please people rather than please God. Daniel was delivered from the den of the lions because he had trust in the Lord and Gideon defeated the Midianites with the army of three hundred because he had the living God on his side. God was with him and He saved him and his army. If only you could put your trust in the Lord He will deliver you and He will set you free irrespective of whatsoever that you might be going through. We need men and women who can stand in the gap for their families and say “Even if our neighbours are always quarreling with us, we will stand still and know that we have the God of Israel on our side.”
Free yourself so that you can enter in the kingdom of God. Call unto Him and tell Him that irrespective of the situations you are facing, you will stand still and proclaim His name. God is saying “Do not be afraid but stand up and take a decision of worshiping Him”. It doesn’t matter that your family is worshiping idols but you can stand up and trust in the Lord and God will use you to deliver your family from the bondage of the devil.
God says “Do not be afraid for He is your God and He chose you, He knows you and He even knows the number of your hairs.” God will never forsake nor leave you; it is you who might turn away from Him but He is always faithful and His mercy endures forever and He is the omnipresent God.
God can chase your enemies away for your sake and He will fight every spiritual fight for you for the sake of your life. He redeemed us by the blood of His only begotten son for the sake of our lives to be free because He saw us and He saw that we deserve good things that is why He sent his son to set us free.
He says “Come morning, I don’t remember the bad things you have done” but He always blesses us and sees us as good people, so let us not pervert ourselves because God is pleased by those who are holy and righteous.
God is looking for people who are willing and obedient who will put their trust unto the Lord, put Him first in everything they do or have including their possessions and He will save them. Do not be afraid.
Where do you put your trust? We heard the word of God from the book of Isaiah. The bible says the God of Israel, the creator of heaven and earth is saying to us that he is the one who delivered the Israelites from the hand of the Egyptians. God is saying that we need not to be afraid because He is the one who delivered the Israelites and He knows us and He even knows our names.
God knows Israel and He knows Jacob, He knows them by their names He is saying that He is the one who saved them from the Egyptians. The bible says that when the Israelites where with Moses in the wilderness they started to grumble and to complain that it would have been better if Moses had left them to starve and die in Egypt rather than letting them to suffer in the wilderness.
The bible says Moses asked them to be still and he told them that they should no fear evil because the Lord is with them. The bible says Moses told the Israelites that they must not be afraid because the Egyptians they were seeing were not gonna come no more.
So many people are so afraid and they forget that they have God in their lives and He is the Savior and Healer. When people hear strange things in their homes at night they get scared and consult the prophets and sangomas for protection, forgetting that they have God inside them and He is the master of everything.
God knows us and He even knows our names. Even though you are committing a sin He is seeing you and He knows all your plans. So what you need to know is that when you are committing sin it hurts God and God is seeing whatsoever that you are doing even though the pastor or church members do not see it but God himself sees everything that it is happening on earth.
God is telling us powerful and wonderful words tonight: if we trust in Him and put all our trust unto the Lord, He will deliver us and He will save us from whatsoever that we are coming across. There were these three men in the bible, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego and the bible says these men committed themselves and they made a vow that they will not bow to any gods and they would only serve the living God.
A time came when the king heard that these men were not following his instructions and that they were not worshiping his idols. He asked his servants to put these men into the consuming fire but because these men had trust in the Lord they offered their lives for the sake of the kingdom of heaven and God saved them.
Nowadays there are many people who are living to please people rather than please God. Daniel was delivered from the den of the lions because he had trust in the Lord and Gideon defeated the Midianites with the army of three hundred because he had the living God on his side. God was with him and He saved him and his army. If only you could put your trust in the Lord He will deliver you and He will set you free irrespective of whatsoever that you might be going through. We need men and women who can stand in the gap for their families and say “Even if our neighbours are always quarreling with us, we will stand still and know that we have the God of Israel on our side.”
Free yourself so that you can enter in the kingdom of God. Call unto Him and tell Him that irrespective of the situations you are facing, you will stand still and proclaim His name. God is saying “Do not be afraid but stand up and take a decision of worshiping Him”. It doesn’t matter that your family is worshiping idols but you can stand up and trust in the Lord and God will use you to deliver your family from the bondage of the devil.
God says “Do not be afraid for He is your God and He chose you, He knows you and He even knows the number of your hairs.” God will never forsake nor leave you; it is you who might turn away from Him but He is always faithful and His mercy endures forever and He is the omnipresent God.
God can chase your enemies away for your sake and He will fight every spiritual fight for you for the sake of your life. He redeemed us by the blood of His only begotten son for the sake of our lives to be free because He saw us and He saw that we deserve good things that is why He sent his son to set us free.
He says “Come morning, I don’t remember the bad things you have done” but He always blesses us and sees us as good people, so let us not pervert ourselves because God is pleased by those who are holy and righteous.
God is looking for people who are willing and obedient who will put their trust unto the Lord, put Him first in everything they do or have including their possessions and He will save them. Do not be afraid.
Prayer Points: Pastor MJ Lishivha
Ps M.J Lishivha leading prayer points.
1. Repentance of Sins
Psalm 32:5 “5 I acknowledged my sin to You, And my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the Lord," And You forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah” NKJV
2. Ask for the spirit to be strong like a rock
John 1:42 “42 And he brought him to Jesus. Now when Jesus looked at him, He said, "You are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas" (which is translated, A Stone).” NKJV.
Matt 16:18 “18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.” NKJV.
Ask for the spirit to be strong like a rock.
3. Ask for the spirit of discernment
John 2:24 “24 But Jesus did not commit Himself to them, because He knew all men,” NKJV.
4.Pray to have unconditional love
John 3:16 “16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” NKJV.
The grace to love all unconditionally.
5. God make us people who love the light
John 3:21 “21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God."” NKJV.
5. Believe the word of God
John 4:49-50 “49 The nobleman said to Him, "Sir, come down before my child dies!" 50 Jesus said to him, "Go your way; your son lives." So the man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and he went his way.” NKJV.
We are here not because all is well but to worship God. When we are here the devil whispers into our ears and brings doubt into our hearts so that we will not believe in the deliverance and healing we were believing we will get.
Just like in the story in this text: Jesus Christ says go your way, your son has been healed. Same with you, believe that it is well with you.
6. God helps to do better
Titus 3:5 “5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,” NKJV.
We are here not because we are righteous or because we have done good works, it is by His grace. Oh Lord give us more of your Give us the grace.
God, empower us to do more and better and to serve you better.
Paul says I forget the past and I press on, I regard the past as vain and useless. We need more of your grace oh God.
7. Against the spirit of fear
2 Tim 1:7 “7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” NKJV.
Pray against the spirit of fear especially in our children as they go to the different schools and institutions.
8. Heal our land
2 Chron 7:14 “14 if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” NKJV.
Let’s cry unto God to heal our land. Let’s humble ourselves before God and ask Him to reveal the secrets behind our problem what are the things we need to do in our lives, families, schools, work etc
We humble ourselves before the Lord God Almighty and we ask for divine intervention into our lives, our land, and the body of Christ in Jesus’ name.
9. Thank God for his forgiveness
Luke 7:42 “42 And when they had nothing with which to repay, he freely forgave them both. Tell Me, therefore, which of them will love him more?"” NKJV.
Some people know they have really transgressed before the Lord but the devil then whispers to them: your sins are way too much, you don’t deserve mercy. They then they start to doubt the forgiveness of God.
It’s not about how much you have sinned but about whether you humble yourself and repent be the Lord.
Let’s pray and thank God because He has forgiven us our sins, that were red as scarlet.
10. Unstable marriages
There are marriages that are in trouble because they are under attack. God, we ask that you will bring restoration to these marriages in Jesus’ name. The plans of the enemy shall not prevail in Jesus’ name.
11. To put fire in the wombs
Those wombs that the devil has declared will not conceive and bring forth birth. Set them on fire.
Let everything that the devil planted in those wombs catch fire in Jesus’ name.
12. Set whatever the enemy threw into our yards on fire
There are those who wait for you to go to church and then plant or throw things in your yards. Let’s set these things on fire now.
13. Praying for the leadership training
This Saturday we are having leadership training. Let’s pray for the success thereof.
14. Praying for unity and maturity
When I was young I spoke like a child, when I was an orphan I spoke like an orphan. Refuse to be an orphan and grow up.
1 Peter 2:2 “2 as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby,” NKJV.
Let’s pray for unity so we can do the will of God, and to grow up spiritually so that our lives will be pleasing unto You God.
15. Thanks giving
Let’s thank God for these prayers and the answers that He has released.
Psalm 32:5 “5 I acknowledged my sin to You, And my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the Lord," And You forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah” NKJV
2. Ask for the spirit to be strong like a rock
John 1:42 “42 And he brought him to Jesus. Now when Jesus looked at him, He said, "You are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas" (which is translated, A Stone).” NKJV.
Matt 16:18 “18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.” NKJV.
Ask for the spirit to be strong like a rock.
3. Ask for the spirit of discernment
John 2:24 “24 But Jesus did not commit Himself to them, because He knew all men,” NKJV.
4.Pray to have unconditional love
John 3:16 “16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” NKJV.
The grace to love all unconditionally.
5. God make us people who love the light
John 3:21 “21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God."” NKJV.
5. Believe the word of God
John 4:49-50 “49 The nobleman said to Him, "Sir, come down before my child dies!" 50 Jesus said to him, "Go your way; your son lives." So the man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and he went his way.” NKJV.
We are here not because all is well but to worship God. When we are here the devil whispers into our ears and brings doubt into our hearts so that we will not believe in the deliverance and healing we were believing we will get.
Just like in the story in this text: Jesus Christ says go your way, your son has been healed. Same with you, believe that it is well with you.
6. God helps to do better
Titus 3:5 “5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,” NKJV.
We are here not because we are righteous or because we have done good works, it is by His grace. Oh Lord give us more of your Give us the grace.
God, empower us to do more and better and to serve you better.
Paul says I forget the past and I press on, I regard the past as vain and useless. We need more of your grace oh God.
7. Against the spirit of fear
2 Tim 1:7 “7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” NKJV.
Pray against the spirit of fear especially in our children as they go to the different schools and institutions.
8. Heal our land
2 Chron 7:14 “14 if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” NKJV.
Let’s cry unto God to heal our land. Let’s humble ourselves before God and ask Him to reveal the secrets behind our problem what are the things we need to do in our lives, families, schools, work etc
We humble ourselves before the Lord God Almighty and we ask for divine intervention into our lives, our land, and the body of Christ in Jesus’ name.
9. Thank God for his forgiveness
Luke 7:42 “42 And when they had nothing with which to repay, he freely forgave them both. Tell Me, therefore, which of them will love him more?"” NKJV.
Some people know they have really transgressed before the Lord but the devil then whispers to them: your sins are way too much, you don’t deserve mercy. They then they start to doubt the forgiveness of God.
It’s not about how much you have sinned but about whether you humble yourself and repent be the Lord.
Let’s pray and thank God because He has forgiven us our sins, that were red as scarlet.
10. Unstable marriages
There are marriages that are in trouble because they are under attack. God, we ask that you will bring restoration to these marriages in Jesus’ name. The plans of the enemy shall not prevail in Jesus’ name.
11. To put fire in the wombs
Those wombs that the devil has declared will not conceive and bring forth birth. Set them on fire.
Let everything that the devil planted in those wombs catch fire in Jesus’ name.
12. Set whatever the enemy threw into our yards on fire
There are those who wait for you to go to church and then plant or throw things in your yards. Let’s set these things on fire now.
13. Praying for the leadership training
This Saturday we are having leadership training. Let’s pray for the success thereof.
14. Praying for unity and maturity
When I was young I spoke like a child, when I was an orphan I spoke like an orphan. Refuse to be an orphan and grow up.
1 Peter 2:2 “2 as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby,” NKJV.
Let’s pray for unity so we can do the will of God, and to grow up spiritually so that our lives will be pleasing unto You God.
15. Thanks giving
Let’s thank God for these prayers and the answers that He has released.