John 14:16

As Jesus neared the end of his earthly ministry, He gave the disciples an essential gift that was to guide them in their work for the Lord. As He was going to leave, He knew the future gospel workers needed another comforter who would work as His representative on earth and be a guide to the disciples.

The disciples who had been in the company of Christ were in need of the Spirit so even more so are we as we further the work of the gospel. The Holy Spirit is to be given to all who submit themselves fully to the will of God.

Luke 4:18,19

Jesus, our example, was constantly guided by the Spirit of the Lord. in Luke 4:18, Jesus clearly outlines the way his activities were Spirit-directed. His ministry was manifestation of the guidance of the Spirit. Here we also see thw types of activities we are to expect when the Spirit guides us:
1. Preach the gospel
2. Heal the brokenhearted
3. Preach the year of the Lord
4. Give sight to the blind
5. Preach deliverance to captives
6. Liberate the bruised

Hebrews 9:14 shows how Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice of death for our sins was done through the Spirit. This shows how truly empowering the Spirit is if we surrender ourselves for it to work through us.

We are to daily commit our lives and ask for the Holy Spirit. Only through the Holy Spirit can we truly live lives that fully reflect the glory of the Lord.

Rufaro Chikari

Luke 16:10: He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much, and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much.
The service of the Lord is a great calling for all who seek to work in His field. We are all required to do our level best in this Great Commission we have been given. (Matthew 28:16-20) Yet the work of the Lord does not only start at the big crusades and camp meeting where thousands are called to the Lord. The truest work starts in our daily lives- in the mundane tasks that we are faced with each day. It is in these tasks that we are put onto the training ground to be the Great Commission leaders who do their level best for the service of the Lord.
“The Lord is testing and proving us to see what sort of timbers or attributes we are bringing into the character building.” Just like the Lord was training the disciples in the feeding of the 5000 (Matthew 14:20) we are being trained today that even the bread crumbs count. It is through the bread crumbs that the baskets will be filled. If we are faithful in the bread crumbs, the small tasks of good that we gave to perform every day, our characters will be shaped to be faithful with the eternal salvation of those around us. The Lord seeks to make our baskets full with His character as we strive to make the whole being wholly His. The small everyday things, as small as a smile to a stranger, will equip us to be ready for the greater task at hand. Let us not neglect the bread crumbs as “the Lord will be glorified in His saints in even the common, temporal things with which they are connected.”

Tapiwa Dete

John 13:34 Jesus told the disciples to love as He loved. This is to love unselfishly, at all times. To truly love unconditionally you need Christ. Love is a principle.  1 Corithians 13:4-7 

When men are bound together by love there is evidence that the image of God is in them. 1 John 4:16.

How did Jesus show His love to us? 1 John 3:1 God did not look at our weaknesses instead He saw our need. Jesus prayed for us. In order to love as Christ did we need to pray for others  Jesus fed the hungry. How prepared are we to share what we have? Jesus loves those who do not love Him. We should be able to forgive those who hurt us and love them. We must desire the salvation of souls.

Jeremiah 37-39

When Jerusalem fell Zedekiah was the King. (Jeremiah 37:1) The people refused to take heed of God’s word as spoken by Jeremiah.

King Zedekiah would not openly show his faith in Jeremiah, instead he chose to secretly seek information (Jeremiah 37:17), but even then he was too weak to stand against his people and submit to God’s will.

Jeremiah 37:7-10, 39: 17-18, 20-23

God’s message to His people was for them to surrender to the Chaldeans and their lives would be spared and the city would not be burned with fire. If they had but only listened they would have been spared.

“Zedekiah was afraid of the Jews, afraid of ridicule, afraid for his life. After years of rebellion against God, Zedekiah thought it too humiliating to say to his people, I accept the word of the Lord, as spoken through the prophet Jeremiah; I dare not venture to war against the enemy in the face of all these warnings” PK 457.2

The results of king Zedekiah’s disobedience was witnessing the death of his sons followed by the plucking of his eyes (Jeremiah 39:6-7). The walls of the city were broken down and people’s houses burnt (Jeremiah 39:8).

Often we face the same fears, the fear of judgement by peers, and the fear of ridicule because of our beliefs; we then disobey God’s clear commands in exchange for acceptance by man. We should always stand for God’s word, love the truth and hate sin because God is willing to show us mercy if we choose to submit to His requirements.

Colette Lisutu

1 Corithians 10:1-6 

As the Israelites started their journey they all started together but some were overthrown along the way. They encountered a number of difficulties as they travelled. We will describe these difficulties as valleys.

Valley of Murmuring (Exodus 15:22-24)

Sometimes we focus on the small minute things of life. We tend to complain and forget about all the good God has done for us.

Valley of Pleasure (Exodus 32:6, 1 Corithians 10:7)

Sometimes we allow the devil to take the best of us because of small pleasures.

Valley of Lust (Numbers 11:4-6; 33)

The Israelites lusted for the meat of Egypt and because of this lust many of them died.

Valley of Discouragement (Numbers 13: 27-33)

The Israelites saw God destroy the whole Egyptian army and yet they were afraid to enter the land of Canaan. When you are faced with challenges focus on God Deuteronomy 1:21 God will be with you.

Valley of Rebellion (Numbers 16:1-4)

Korah and Dathan died because they did not respect the authority that God had given.

Valley of Materialism ( Numbers 32:1-4)

Some people chose not to enter Canaan beacause of material things of this world. Do not settle for less when God has prepared so much more for you.

As we live life we are all on a journey as the Israelites were and we may encounter similar journeys. Of the Israelites that left Egypt only 2 managed to make it into the promised land. Will you finish the journey? The choice is yours.