Welcome to "THE NATHAN REPORT"! First of all, I want to thank my friend "Neissly Tapia" for allowing me to use her photograph for today's blog. THANK YOU AND A BIG HUG TO YOU! This photo is beautiful, way too beautiful. May God bless you and your family, abundantly.
Alright, today's service is a "Mother's Day Special Service". As usual we started off with beautiful praise and worship. Below is the list of songs:
1) The Spirit of the Lord - Hosanna Music
2) Days of Elijah - Paul Wilbur
3) Revival Fire Fall - Hosanna Music
4) Pour out Your spirit - Matt Redman
5) Spirit Move - Vinesong Music
Alright, we move to the offering and announcement. Since this is a special service for mothers, today's announcement and message is conveyed by two of our church members who are mothers as well. Followings are the list of announcements:
1- We had team visit to one of the national state for 5 days trip which started from 5th - 10th of this month. As we have heard, temperature there was touching 45° Celsius. But spirit of God was moving and helped with all obstacles and it went successful. We would request prayers from all our readers.
2- Men's fellowship is on 15th of May at Hotel Avion at 6:30 AM. We encourage you to join us.
3- Women's fellowship will be held every last Saturday of every month at 4:30 PM at Hotel Avion.
4- We are seeking harvesters. Please let us know if you think this is your calling. ("And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest." - Luke 10:2). For more information, please log on to our official Church website by clicking to the church banner on the top right of this page or by clicking here.
Today's message is given by Sister Judy. Since we are celebrating Mother's day, we had a change of plan. As you all know, we are covering "Holy Spirit & the Gifts of Holy Spirit", we will be continuing that from next Sunday onwards. Today's topic was "Mothers - Leave the legacy behind".
Sister Judy started with four important points about why mothers should leave there legacy behind. We will learn more as we move further.
1- It is a command.
2- You will be blessed.
3- You have to face the judge.
4- What can we leave as a legacy?
It is a command:
"6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates." - Deuteronomy 6:6-9
Here are means for maintaining and keeping up religion in our hearts and houses:
1. Meditation. God's words must be laid up in our hearts, that our thoughts may be daily employed about them.
2. The religious education of children. Often repeat these things to them. Be careful and exact in teaching thy children. Teach these truths to all who are any way under thy care.
3. Pious discourse. Thou shalt talk of these things with due reverence and seriousness, for the benefit not only of thy children, but of thy servants, thy friends and companions. Take all occasions to discourse with those about thee, not of matters of doubtful disputation, but of the plain truths and laws of God, and the things that belong to our peace.
4. Frequent reading of the word. God appointed them to write sentences of the law upon their walls, and in scrolls of parchment to be worn about their wrists. This seems to have been binding in the letter of it to the Jews, as it is to us in the intent of it; which is, that we should by all means make the word of God familiar to us; that we may have it ready to use upon all occasions, to restrain us from sin, and direct us in duty. We must never be ashamed to own our religion, nor to own ourselves under its check and government. Here is a caution not to forget God in a day of prosperity and plenty. When they came easily by the gift, they would be apt to grow secure, and unmindful of the Giver. Therefore be careful, when thou liest safe and soft, lest thou forget the Lord. When the world smiles, we are apt to make court to it, and expect our happiness in it, and so we forget Him who is our only portion and rest. There is need of great care and caution at such a time. Then beware; being warned of your danger, stand upon your guard. Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God; neither by despairing of his power and goodness, while we keep in the way of our duty; nor by presuming upon it, when we turn aside out of that way.
You will be blessed:
1 Praise the Lord! Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in his commandments! 2 His offspring will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed.
Footnotes:
Psalm 112:1 This psalm is an acrostic poem, each line beginning with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.
"His seed shall be mighty upon earth," that is to say, successive generations of God-fearing men shall be strong and influential in society, and in the latter days they shall have dominion. The true seed of the righteous are those who follow them in their virtues, even as believers are the seed of Abraham, because they imitate his faith; and these are the real heroes of their era, the truly great men among the sons of Adam; their lives are sublime, and their power upon their age is far greater than at first sight appears. If the promise must be regarded as alluding to natural seed, it must be understood as a general statement rather than a promise made to every individual, for the children of the godly are not all prosperous, nor all famous. Nevertheless, he who fears God, and leads a holy life, is, as a rule, doing the best he can for the future advancement of his house; no inheritance is equal to that of an unblemished name, no legacy can excel the benediction of a saint; and, taking matters for all in all, the children of the righteous man commence life with greater advantages than others, and are more likely to succeed in it, in the best and highest sense. "The generation of the upright shall be blessed." The race of sincere, devout, righteous men, is kept up from age to age, and ever abides under the blessing of God. Their children also are under the special care of heaven, and as a rule it shall be found that they inherit the divine blessing. Honesty and integrity are better corner-stones for an honorable house than mere cunning and avarice, or even talent and push. To fear God and to walk uprightly is a higher nobility than blood or birth can bestow.
You have to face the judge:
"16 Do you not know that you[b] are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? 17 If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple. 18 Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise.19 For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their craftiness." - 1 Corinthians 3:16-19
Footnotes:
1 Corinthians 3:16 The Greek for you is plural in verses 16 and 17
To have a high opinion of our own wisdom, is but to flatter ourselves; and self-flattery is the next step to self-deceit. The wisdom that wordly men esteem, is foolishness with God. How justly does he despise, and how easily can he baffle and confound it! The thoughts of the wisest men in the world, have vanity, weakness, and folly in them. All this should teach us to be humble, and make us willing to be taught of God, so as not to be led away, by pretences to human wisdom and skill, from the simple truths revealed by Christ. Mankind are very apt to oppose the design of the mercies of God. Observe the spiritual riches of a true believer; All are yours, even ministers and ordinances. Nay, the world itself is yours. Saints have as much of it as Infinite Wisdom sees fit for them, and they have it with the Divine blessing. Life is yours, that you may have a season and opportunity to prepare for the life of heaven; and death is yours, that you may go to the possession of it. It is the kind messenger to take you from sin and sorrow, and to guide you to your Father's house. Things present are yours, for your support on the road; things to come are yours, to delight you for ever at your journey's end. If we belong to Christ, and are true to him, all good belongs to us, and is sure to us. Believers are the subjects of his kingdom. He is Lord over us, we must own his dominion, and cheerfully submit to his command. God in Christ, reconciling a sinful world to himself, and pouring the riches of his grace on a reconciled world, is the sum and substance of the gospel.
What can we leave as a legacy?
"The memory of the righteous is a blessing, but the name of the wicked will rot." - Proverbs 10:7
The memory of the just is blessed, Men to whom he has been useful, either in temporals or spirituals, bless him, or wish all blessings to him while alive, whenever they make mention of his name; and after death they speak well of him, and pronounce him blessed; for such are had in everlasting remembrance; the memory of them is sweet and precious; their name is famous and valuable, and always spoken of with honor and commendation.
As we move further, sister Judy introduces few important characters from the word of God to encourage women to learn the ways of these legacy makers.
Mary:
Mary occupies a unique place in biblical history. She conceived Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit. Then she bore the Messiah. Among women, she is most blessed (Luke 1:42) and all who claim to be Christian acknowledge her as a chosen vessel of God. Mary knew what she will go through, yet she remained obedient to God.
Few cross references:
Luke 1:28
Luke 1:38
Luke 2:19
Deborah:
Deborah was both a prophetess and ruler of the people of ancient Israel, the only woman among the twelve judges. She held court under the Palm Tree of Deborah in the hill country of Ephraim, deciding the people's disputes. She served as a wise judge, obeying God's commands. In a time of crisis, she trusted Jehovah and took steps to defeat King Jabin, Israel's oppressor. She followed God faithfully, acting with integrity in her duties. Her boldness came from relying on God, not herself. In a male-dominated culture, Deborah did not let her power go to her head but exercised authority as God guided her. Our strength comes from the Lord, not ourself. Like Deborah, we can have victory in life's worst times if we cling tightly to God.
Few cross references:
Judges 4:9
Judges 5:31
Esther:
Queen Esther became the king of Persia's consort and thereby had the means to save her people from slaughter. The Jewish holiday of Purim, which typically falls sometime in March, tells Esther's story. We often talk about reading our bibles and praying. We talk about the importance of going to church and developing a relationship with God. Yet, talking gets us nowhere. We have to internalize our relationship with Him. God is not mentioned once in the book of Esther. Yet He is everywhere in it. We don't actually need God to be mentioned, because He is such a part of Esther and Mordecai that's it's just a given that He would work in their lives. By preparing, we are able to walk with God in the face of anything, which is what Esther did.
Hannah:
Hannah is one of the most poignant characters in the Old Testament. Like several other women in the Bible, she was barren. People in ancient Israel believed that a large family was a blessing from God. Infertility, therefore, was a source of humiliation and shame. To make matters worse, her husband's other wife not only bore children but taunted Hannah mercilessly. Hannah was perseverant. Even though God was silent toward her request for a child for many years, she never stopped praying. She had faith that God had the power to help her. She never doubted God's abilities.
Ruth:
Ruth was poor and a foreigner, but she listened to the advice of an older, wiser woman. In turn, Naomi was rewarded by Ruth's unfaltering loyalty. The message? Courage and ingenuity triumph over misfortune. The story of Ruth celebrates the family and the way it continues through many generations. Ruth, a childless widow at the beginning of the story, became the great-grandmother of Israel’s great king, David.The story of Naomi's family and the way it endured is a universal theme. Even Ruth, a foreigner from the despised Moabites, could move God's plan towards fulfillment.
As we move to the closing of message, sister Judy gave a beautiful quote, "Be consistent with rules and consequences. Let love, fear and blessings of God pour on our children and may we leave our legacy for the future generations like the women mentioned above did, so that our children can continue in the same tradition. As a mother, leave a footprint of God on your children, so they walk in HIS ways."
We have few references:
1 Timothy 1:5"The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith."
2 Timothy 3:5 - "Having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people."
Proverbs 31:10-31 - "10 [See footnotes] A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.
11 Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.
12 She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
13 She selects wool and flax
and works with eager hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.
15 She gets up while it is still night;
she provides food for her family
and portions for her female servants.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.
18 She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.
19 In her hand she holds the distaff
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
20 She opens her arms to the poor
and extends her hands to the needy.
21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
22 She makes coverings for her bed;
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.
25 She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
26 She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
27 She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children arise and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all.”
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
31 Honor her for all that her hands have done,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate."
Footnotes:
Proverbs 31:10 Verses 10-31 are an acrostic poem, the verses of which begin with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.
We closed the message with a prayer and as pastor takes over, he starts with a short story by Erma Bombeck, When God Created Mothers
When the Good Lord was creating mothers, He was into His sixth day of "overtime" when the angel appeared and said. "You're doing a lot of fiddling around on this one."
And God said, "Have you read the specs on this order?" She has to be completely washable, but not plastic. Have 180 moveable parts...all replaceable. Run on black coffee and leftovers. Have a lap that disappears when she stands up. A kiss that can cure anything from a broken leg to a disappointed love affair. And six pairs of hands."
The angel shook her head slowly and said. "Six pairs of hands.... no way."
It's not the hands that are causing me problems," God remarked, "it's the three pairs of eyes that mothers have to have."
That's on the standard model?" asked the angel. God nodded.
One pair that sees through closed doors when she asks, 'What are you kids doing in there?' when she already knows. Another here in the back of her head that sees what she shouldn't but what she has to know, and of course the ones here in front that can look at a child when he goofs up and say. 'I understand and I love you' without so much as uttering a word."
God," said the angel touching his sleeve gently, "Get some rest tomorrow...."
I can't," said God, "I'm so close to creating something so close to myself. Already I have one who heals herself when she is sick...can feed a family of six on one pound of hamburger...and can get a nine year old to stand under a shower."
The angel circled the model of a mother very slowly. "It's too soft," she sighed.
But tough!" said God excitedly. "You can imagine what this mother can do or endure."
Can it think?"
Not only can it think, but it can reason and compromise," said the Creator.
Finally, the angel bent over and ran her finger across the cheek.
There's a leak," she pronounced. "I told You that You were trying to put too much into this model."
It's not a leak," said the Lord, "It's a tear."
What's it for?"
It's for joy, sadness, disappointment, pain, loneliness, and pride."
You are a genius, " said the angel.
Somberly, God said, "I didn't put it there.”
As we move to the closing, all mothers were requested to come forward. There was special prayer for all of them and gifts for each of them. Since I am not a mother, I personally will never be able to know, what was it, I'll ask my mother.
We have another announcement, one of our worship leaders is getting married. Please remember Clement Vincent in your prayers as he enters a new life with his wife.
Also, we have a short testimony by sister Mary Gomez from Varanasi. She told how she was moved by the work of God. Her ministry was able to start 103 churches, which is phenomenal. Please continue praying for her ministry.
We have a closing prayer followed by a meet and greet session. Someone started background music, here is the one:
We hope you enjoyed today's service. How was yours? Please comment.
God bless!
Really powerful...thanks to share with us ,,God bless u
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