Whom Shall I Fear? Romans 8:31 - "If God Be For Us, Who Can Be Against Us?"

This is Namma for Christ with the eighteenth inspirational blog dated Thursday, December 27, 2012.
The title of this message is, "Whom Shall I Fear? Romans 8:31 - If God Be For Us, Who Can Be Against Us?" The scripture comes from 2nd Kings 6: 14-17 and Romans 8:31 - as provided below:

2 Kings 6:14-17

New International Version (NIV)

¹⁴ Then he sent horses and chariots and a strong force there. They went by night and surrounded the city.
¹⁵ When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. “Oh no, my lord! What shall we do?” the servant asked.
¹⁶ “Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”
¹⁷ And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, Lord, so that he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

Romans 8:31

New International Version (NIV)

More Than Conquerors

³¹ What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?


BE ENCOURAGED- YOU ARE NOT ALONE! IF YOU ARE WORRIED OR FEARFUL - PRAY AND REMEMBER "GOD IS WITH YOU"!

AS MATTHEW 1:23 READS BELOW..

Matthew 1:23
Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a Son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. 

"GOD IS WITH US!"  NO MATTER WHAT WE ARE GOING THROUGH - THE LORD'S NAME, "EMMANUEL",  MEANS GOD WITH US!

THE BACKGROUND STORY FOR THIS LESSON COMES FROM THE SAME BIBLICAL OLD TESTAMENT STORY (2 KINGS 6:14-17) THAT INSPIRED THE CHRISTIAN ARTIST, CHRIS TOMLIN, (FEATURED IN HIS BELOW VIDEO/WITH LYRICS) TO WRITE THIS INSPIRATIONAL SONG, "WHOM SHALL I FEAR (GOD OF ANGEL ARMIES)." THE OLD TESTAMENT STORY TELLS OF HOW THE PROPHET ELISHA HAD A YOUNG SERVANT WHO IN 2 KINGS 6:15 WAS WORRIED ABOUT WHAT HE SAW ALL AROUND HIM. THE KING OF SYRIA HAD SENT HIS ARMIES "TO COMPASS THE CITY ABOUT" AS READ IN VERSE 15. BUT, ELISHA'S RESPONSE WAS (AS FOUND IN VERSE 16) :

"FEAR NOT: FOR THEY THAT BE "WITH US" ARE MORE THAN THEY THAT BE WITH THEM." 

AS VERSE 17 READS- (ELISHA PRAYED THAT HIS SERVANT'S EYES BE OPENED AND THAT HE "SEE" WHAT SURROUNDED THEM):  "AND ELISHA PRAYED, AND SAID, LORD, I PRAY THEE, OPEN HIS EYES, THAT HE MAY SEE. AND THE LORD OPENED THE EYES OF THE YOUNG MAN, AND HE SAW: AND BEHOLD, THE MOUNTAINS WERE "FULL OF HORSES AND CHARIOTS OF FIRE" ROUND ABOUT ELISHA."

THE YOUNG SERVANT SAW THAT GOD'S ARMIES WERE INDEED GREATER THAN THE ENEMIES' ARMIES. THE STORY CONCLUDES THAT THE ARMY OF SYRIA WAS BLINDED, FED AND THEN THEY WERE LED BACK TO THEIR "MASTER" AS STATED IN VERSE 23:

2 Kings 6:23

King James Version (KJV)

²³ And he prepared great provision for them: and when they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away, and they went to their master. So the bands of Syria came no more into the land of Israel.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR US - AS BELIEVERS IN OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST? AS ROMANS 8:31 REMINDS US:

"IF GOD IS FOR US?, WHO CAN BE AGAINST US?" 

ALSO, BE REMINDED OF 1 JOHN 4:4 :

1 John 4:4
Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world.

BE ENCOURAGED....NO MATTER WHAT YOU ARE GOING THROUGH... OR WHO OR WHAT IS AGAINST YOU...."IF GOD IS FOR US?, WHO CAN BE AGAINST US?"

BE BLESSED!

(I do not own the rights to this song.)

Look To Jesus - 1 John 5:11-14

This is Namma for Christ with the seventeenth inspirational blog dated Friday, December 21st, 2012.  The title of this message is, "Look To Jesus - 1 John 5:11-14". The scripture comes from 1st John 5: 11-14  and from 2nd Corinthians 5: 19-21:

1 John 5:11-14

New International Version (NIV)

¹¹ And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. ¹² Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

¹³ I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. ¹⁴ This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.

2 Corinthians 5:19-21

New International Version (NIV)

¹⁹ that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation. ²⁰ We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. ²¹ God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.

JESUS LOVES YOU.
Jesus loves you so much that He died for you (and rose again) to conquer sin and death for all who believe in Him. He gave His life for you...He gave His life as a ransom for many as Mark 10:45 reads: 

Mark 10:45
For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.” Jesus, who had no sin...became sin for us:

2nd Corinthians 5:21 states:

²¹ God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.

Romans 3: 23-25 (as written below) declares that our righteousness comes from Jesus' shed blood - because "we, as humans" have ALL sinned and fallen short of the glory of God... and all are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of His blood.

Romans 3: 21- 26 :

New International Version (NIV)

Righteousness Through Faith

²¹ But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. ²² This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, ²³ for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, ²⁴ and all are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. ²⁵ God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of His blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance He had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— ²⁶ He did it to demonstrate His righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the One who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

THIS IS "TRUE" LOVE:

JOHN 3:16 (KJV) states: 

 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

We love God...but, He Loved US FIRST as 1st John 4:19 reads: 

1 John 4:19

King James Version (KJV)

¹⁹ We love Him, because He first loved us.

WE MUST LOOK TO JESUS...BECAUSE HE LOVES US...AND HE WANTS WHAT IS BEST FOR US IN OUR LIVES!  (JOHN 10:10 DECLARES- "...I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.")

HE WANTS US TO YIELD "OUR WAY AND OUR WILL" TO "HIS WAY AND HIS WILL" IN OUR LIVES. LET US LIVE FOR JESUS! LET US LET OUR LIGHTS SHINE FOR JESUS AND USE WHATEVER GIFTS, TALENTS AND ABILITIES WE HAVE TO GLORIFY JESUS IN OUR LIVES! LET US LIVE TO PLEASE JESUS...LET US REPRESENT HIM AND BE "HIS AMBASSADORS"!

2ND CORINTHIANS 5:20 STATES:

²We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us.

Let us pray and ask the Lord that He guide and direct us everyday!
Let us seek Jesus that we may live to serve Him and live for His purpose and His will in our lives!

Whatever our need, problem or challenge is...let us give it to Jesus... He is able to do anything, but fail!

LET US LOOK TO JESUS AND LIVE FOR JESUS!

Please enjoy the below song/video (with lyrics) of  "I Look to You" by the late Whitney Houston.


(I do not own the rights to this song.)


BE BLESSED!

WHO ELSE BUT GOD - Phil. 4:6-7

This is Namma for Christ with the sixteenth inspirational message  dated Sunday, December 9th, 2012. This message is entitled, "WHO ELSE BUT GOD - Phil. 4:6-7". The scripture for this message is found in Phil. 4: 6-7  :

Philippians 4:6-7

King James Version (KJV)

⁶ Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

⁷ And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

This message's title is taken from the title of Tye Tribbett & G. A.'s song -  "Who Else But God" (featuring the male lead singer - Aaron Camper and the female lead singer  - Angie White).

The title of this message - "WHO ELSE? BUT GOD" includes the question and the answer (for the question). The scripture from Phil. 4: 6-7 reminds us - as written by the missionary and apostle Paul how we are to come to God for our needs. First of all - "DON'T WORRY- BE CAREFUL FOR NOTHING" as written in Phil 4: 6 -

⁶ Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

We are to come to God "by prayer and supplication  with thanks" (bringing our thanks, requests and needs to God).

Let us first come believing that HE CAN DO ALL THINGS- but FAIL! Let us be aware of God's greatness, His sovereignty, His love for us and His great power because HE IS GOD! Recognizing God as sovereign Lord, we bring our thanks to Him for HIS many blessings, we bring our concerns, problems, troubles, worries...whatever is on our heart- leave at the feet of Jesus. These requests could be our deepest desires, our desperate cries for help, or our thanks for His goodness. These requests can be for ourselves or for others. When we thank Him, we are remembering how He has dealt with us according to His grace and mercy and has met so many of our needs, already. When we pray and trust OUR LORD with our cares, we can thank Him for being He who loves us, who understands our needs, and who has the power to answer our prayers. What could be more important than to bring our concerns, worries, fears, (anything on our hearts and minds) to the ONE who has the power and ability to do something about them.   

Philippians 4:7 tells us what we get in return when we follow what is said in Philippians 4:6 -  "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with "thanksgiving" let our requests be made known unto God" .... we get "the peace of GOD....which passeth all understanding, (the peace of GOD) shall keep our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

BE BLESSED!

Be blessed by the lyrics of  : Tye Tribbett & G. A.'s song "Who Else But God".  :

Who is He who answers when I call?
Who is there in the time of need?
And when I get weak who gives me His strength?
Who else but God, who else but God

Who has power beyond what eyes can see?
Who orders the wind blow and rivers flow?
So great and mighty, yet still cares for me
Who else but God, who else but God

Now who is He who keeps my mind at ease?
And who gives me praise for heaviness?, and
For ashes, who gives beauty?
Who else but God, who else but God

Now who is He who always makes a way?
Who's the one who never fails?
And in my trouble, who's my present help?
Who else but God, who else but God

[Chorus:]
No one else can do the things You do
You are holy
That's why I will always worship You
You are holy

Who is He who gives health to my flesh?
Who allows my eyes to see?
And who'll be there when everyone else leaves?
Who else but God, who else but God

Now who's the one who died on Calvary?
And on day three rose again
And by His blood I've been redeemed
Who else but God, who else but God

[Chorus:]
Who deserves the glory that is due?
And who should I give all my praise?
And when I give thanks... 
Where should it go to?
Who else but God, who else but God

Oh God (Who has blessed me, (God) inspite of my ways? (God) Who has given me His favor?)
Oh God (Who loves me even more than myself?)
Who else but God, who else but God

Please enjoy the video and song attached below that features "Tye Tribbett & G. A."  (featuring the male lead singer - Aaron Camper and the female lead singer  - Angie White) singing "Who Else But God". This song is excellently performed and the soloists are truly anointed. The lyrics to this song are so "powerful"... I just had to include them above so that you could read and enjoy them....


I PRAY THAT YOU MAY BE BLESSED BY THE "MESSAGE" AND THE "ANOINTING" OF THIS SONG...I KNOW I AM BLESSED BY THIS SONG... EVERY TIME I HEAR IT!

(I do not own the rights to this song.)