Authentic Faith with Johnson Addula

Lets Find out what it means "In God's hands".

Do you believe that God cares only that you “behave correctly?” That as long as you aren’t doing “bad” things, you and God are okay? Do you find yourself trying to live by a set of rules and “white knuckling” your Christian walk – straining very hard not to give into temptations and sin?

Our parents disciplined us as children, attempting to shape proper conduct, often by using reward and punishment. BUT that's not discipline, that's behavior manipulation. And as soon as our parents turned their back, we did exactly what they told us not to do! Why? Because we wanted to please our parents, but we didn’t believe in the merit of changing our actions.

Many believers in the church are very good at controlling their actions to “appear” Godly when others are watching, but don’t live or act like a Christian the other six days of the week. 

One of the biggest challenges we face on our spiritual journey is

According to Hebrews 4:12, “the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” The “word of God” here is the written or spoken Word, not the Logos of John 1. 

The description of the Bible as “living” means that it has a vital power inherent to itself. The written Word of God accomplishes God’s purposes (Isaiah 55:11); the preaching of the Holy Scriptures brings about God’s desired effects. The Bible is unlike other books, whatever emotional or social effects they may produce, in that it brings about lasting, supernatural change within a person. “Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ” (Romans 10:17).
Jesus likened the Word of God to seed in His parable of the sower (Matthew 13:1–23). Seed, like the Bible, is not dead, but living, and it has the ability to bring forth more life abundantly. Seeds produce a crop (verse 23).
The Bible, as the living Word of God, is not inert or powerless, as seen in the actions attributed to the Word in the rest of Hebrews 4:12: the Bible “penetrates” deep within us and “judges” our hearts and motivations. It is “active,” not passive. The Bible is resisted or ignored to our own peril (Hebrews 2:1–3).
We see the living Word of God in action in the pages of the Bible. On the Day of Pentecost, Peter preached the Word of God, and his audience “were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, ‘Brothers, what shall we do?’” (Acts 2:37). Three thousand people were saved that day (verse 41). Later, as the apostles continued to preach, the number in the church grew to five thousand, because “many of those who had heard the word believed” (Acts 4:4, ESV). God’s Word, living and active, does not return to Him void.
The Bible is the living Word of God because it is the message given to us from the “living God” (Hebrews 3:12). The God who is alive works in this world through His living Word in conjunction with the Holy Spirit (see Ephesians 6:17). Jesus spoke of the life-giving property of His words: “The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life” (John 6:63). The word of our Lord is efficacious for our salvation and sanctification (Acts 13:48; John 17:17).

Sometimes God delivers us before the trouble, sometimes he delivers us while we are in trouble. God had the power to prevent this situation from happening. He had a purpose for revealing His power. Can you trust Him to work in you and your troubles?

We always have a choice in our faith. At any point these men could have questioned how important it was to take a stand. They had been given plenty of time to recant what they believed. In the trouble you might find yourself in, can you hold true to God even if He doesn't show up in your timing?

"Blessed are the poor in spirit," were the first words from Christ's famous 'Sermon on the Mount' "for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Yes, the promised kingdom was on offer, and those who acknowledged their helplessness before God's omnipotence and recognised that their spiritual supply comes from Him alone, would be the beneficiaries of Christ's coming kingdom.

There are times when we feel completely alone. Imagine, for instance,  how Joseph, Jacob’s son, felt when he was taken from Israel to Egypt  after his brothers sold him (Genesis 37:23–28). Then he was thrust into further isolation by being thrown in prison on false charges (39:19–20). How did Joseph survive in prison in a foreign land with no family  anywhere nearby? Listen to this: “While Joseph was there in the prison,  the Lord was with him” (vv. 20–21). Four times we’re reminded of this  comforting truth in Genesis 39. Do you feel alone or isolated from others? Hold on to the truth of God’s  presence, promised by Jesus Himself: “Surely I am with you always”  (Matthew 28:20). With Jesus as your Savior, you’re never alone.  

Eze 34:12  As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness.

Without Jesus’ sacrificial work on the cross, the “many rooms” of the  Father’s house wouldn’t be able to receive us (v. 2). Having gone before  us in preparation, Christ assures us He’ll return and take those who  trust in His sacrifice to be with Him. There we’ll take up residence  with Him in a joyous eternity.

We often consider the birth of Jesus from the perspective of looking back. For a moment, I want you to put yourself in the hearts and minds of the people who were alive during this time. When you do this, it will help you understand the reason for the hope and excitement surrounding Jesus’ birth.

Israel had a glorious past as a nation. The history of Israel began with a promise to Abraham. God told him he would make him into a great nation and give him land for his people who would come after him. Through exile and then exodus, God eventually fulfilled this promise, birthed a nation, and gave them their own land. The glory of Israel extended through the period of judges, but eventually, Israel wanted a king. The kingdom was formed first with Saul, then David, then Solomon. After Solomon, the kingdom was split into the Northern kingdom, which had ten tribes and was known as Israel, and the Southern kingdom, which had two tribes and was known as Judah. All during this time, there were kings in Israel and Judah. However, because of their rebellion and sin, eventually, the nations went into captivity.