"Minute Messages" - Word for Life World Ministries

Link: http://wordforlife.com/b2e/blog1.php/2012/02/18/the-inerrant-word-1

The Inerrant Word - - - - By Pastor Michael D. Inman

"All Scripture is God-breathed" (2 Timothy 3:16a) “When you received the Word of God you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the Word of God." (1 Thessalonians 2:13)

Scripture Focus: 2 Timothy 3:14-17

We are all on a quest for truth. Every day, we are bombarded with lies that lure us down paths of emptiness and destruction. Praise God that there is a divine and ultimate Truth we can know with certainty (Luke 1:4)! Every word of God is flawless (Proverbs 30:5a) and the sum of His Word equals Truth (Psalm 119:160). The Holy Scriptures are completely trustworthy and sufficient because they come from a Holy God. They have the unique power to transcend time, culture, and human reasoning and are equally as relevant today as they were two thousand years ago.

A house built on shifting sand is sure to collapse. In the same way, we cannot build our lives on changing ideologies. But God our Father does not change like shifting shadows, and He has given us His absolute Word that we may confidently rest on (James 1:17-18). Our LORD Jesus is the same yesterday, today and always (Hebrews 13:8)! In an ever-changing world, how awesome it is to know that we can trust in The Inerrant Word.

Insight: Do You Believe That The Bible Is The Very Word Of God? If So, Do You Allow Its Infallible Truth To Permeate Your Life?

Michael D. Inman

Link: http://wordforlife.com/b2e/blog1.php/2012/02/18/taste-and-see-1

"Taste and See" - - - - By Michael D. Inman

"But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on His law he meditates day and night." (Psalm1:2) "My soul is consumed with longing for your laws at all times." (Psalm 119:20)

Scripture Focus: Psalm 1

Can you recall a time when your mind and thoughts were glued to something? Before my wife and I were engaged, I spent hours upon hours thinking about the woman I hoped to marry. It was a thrill to discover everything I possibly could about her.

Psalm chapter 1 addresses the fundamental importance of meditating on "the law of the Lord," which is the Word of God. It teaches that meditation on His Word is the way to blessedness. In fact, it reveals that "delighting" in God's law and "meditating" on it go hand in hand. God doesn't just want our minds; He wants our hearts.

There are many things in this world that vie for our attention. But none compares to the eternal, true, and beautiful words of Scripture. What else could make us wise, preserve us from sin, and free us to be the people God calls us to be? Christ invites us to the banqueting table where we can "taste and see that the Lord is good" (Psalm 34:8). When we feast on God's Word, we commune with Jesus Himself.

Insight: Do You Delight In The Law Of The Lord? Do You Meditate On Scripture? May God Produce Within Us A Holy Appetite For His Word.

Michael D. Inman

Link: http://wordforlife.com/b2e/blog1.php/2012/02/18/teach-us-to-pray-1

Teach Us to Pray - - - - by Michael D. Inman

"This is the assurance we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us we have what we asked of him." (1 John 5:14-15)

Scripture Focus: Luke 11:1-13

One of the extraordinary gifts that God has given to His children is the gift of prayer. But we, like the disciples, need Jesus to teach us to pray. Left to ourselves, we are senseless and ignorant before the Lord (Psalm 73:22). Christ, however, gave Himself to prayer and set aside precious time to converse with His Father. He is the ultimate example, and He teaches us how to pray by His Word and Spirit.

1 John 5:14-15 says that when we pray in faith and in accordance with God's will, we can be confident that our Father hears us and will answer. But how do we know what God's will is? We must search the Scriptures! When we pray God's Word, we come into agreement with God's will and can expect answers. The Holy Spirit helps us to pray by interceding on our behalf in harmony with God's will (Romans 8:26-27). The Holy Spirit never contradicts the Holy Word.

Today, may the Holy Spirit fill our hearts with God's Word so that we may know how to pray as Jesus prayed.

Insight: Jesus said, "If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you" (John 15:7).

Michael D. Inman

Link: http://wordforlife.com/b2e/blog1.php/2012/02/18/what-do-you-see

Dearly Beloved, ------ (Note: This was written By Pastor Bayo Afolaranmi)

It is exactly nine years today that I have been ministering to people throughout the world through the Internet. An email ministry that started on February 18, 2003 has metamorphosed to an Internet ministry with almost ten aspects. Since most of you are not among the 47 people that received my first message and one of the best messages, as a way of celebrating the ministry every year, let me resend the first message to you:

WHAT DO YOU SEE?

“We saw the Nephilim there (the descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim). We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them" (Numbers 13:33 NIV).

"The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good…. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will swallow them up. Their protection is gone, but the LORD is with us. Do not be afraid of them." (Numbers 14:7, 9 NIV).

These were the views of two groups that went to explore the land of Canaan. Undoubtedly, the two groups were saying the absolute things about what they saw in the land. The former is the carnal sight that did not see beyond the ordinary, while the latter is the spiritual sight that saw the extraordinary.

What do see in your situation? Is it the ordinary or the extraordinary? If you see only your situation, you are seeing only the ordinary, but if you believe, you will see beyond the situation. Jesus told Martha, "Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?" (John 11:40 NIV). And Paul testified, “We know these things are true by believing, not by seeing [the ordinary]” (2 Corinthians 5:7 TLB).

See beyond the ordinary by believing in the Lord that He will help you, and He will be glorified in your life.

In His service,

Bayo Afolaranmi (Pastor).

Link: http://wordforlife.com/b2e/blog1.php/2012/02/12/your-kingdom-come

"Your Kingdom Come" - by Michael D. Inman

"Pilate summoned Jesus and asked Him, 'Are you king of the Jews?' Jesus said, 'My kingdom is not of this world, my kingdom is from another place'." (JOHN 18:33, 36)

Scripture Focus: Matthew 6:9-13, John 18:29-38

During His ministry Jesus said, "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news" (Mark 1:15) When Jesus comes again at the close of this age, He will set up His physical, earthly kingdom here. But for now, His kingdom is spiritual, made up of all who repent and believe that Jesus' death on the cross frees them from sin.

Jesus, righteous King of kings and Lord of lords, will rule supreme. He will establish His complete love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (see Galatians 5:22-23) in the new earth. Kings rule over their subjects. But the Bible says our Righteous King does not consider us subjects but friends and family.

Today, as kingdom people, we are freed from the chains of sin. Jesus helps us overcome our deadly enemy. This doesn't mean that we won't experience difficulties in this life. It does mean that Kingdom people will never experience God's wrath. Jesus already endured that at the cross for us.

Insight: As Kingdom People When We Pray "Your Kingdom Come," We Are Asking Jesus To Rule In Our Hearts And Minds Today.

"Your Will Be Done" - by Michael D. Inman

"He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion." (Philippians 1:6) "For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose." (Philippians 2:13) - Scripture Focus: Matthew 6:9-13

When I pray, "Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven," I ask the Lord to help me obey as the angels do. When God directs them to do something, they don't question, argue, or refuse. I want to live like that. But sometimes I become cantankerous and build a wall between us. However, I know that He will crash through that wall anytime He wants. In the deepest recesses of my heart, I desire His will for my life.

In the allegory, Hinds Feet on High Places, the heroine walks on a path leading to high places where God will fix her flaws. When the path meanders up the face of a mountain, she panics and calls for her Shepherd. He comes immediately. She tells Him she's changed her mind and doesn't want her imperfection fixed after all. She doesn't want to be on the high places with Him. Gently, He says, "My little maiden, I know your heart better than you do. I know you want to have your flaws healed and to be with me on high places." May God's will to draw you to Himself be done today.

Insight: God knows our hearts better than we do. He knows our greatest desire is to be with him and to have him correct our flaws.

Meet Our Needs Today

"'Give us today our daily bread.'" (Matthew 6:11) "Jesus declared, 'I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.'" (John 6:35)

Scripture Focus: Exodus 16:1-32, John 6:28-38

In our verse today Jesus identifies Himself as I AM, the Becoming One, always the same, yet always becoming to His people (you and me) what they need. In Exodus manna was the bread God rained down each day for His people to eat during their time in the wilderness. The Lord instructed the people to collect only as much as they needed each day. If they collected more and saved it, the next morning it was spoiled and could not be eaten. But on the sixth day they were told to collect twice as much as usual, because the seventh day was the Sabbath, the day of rest. There would be no manna on that day. The morning of the seventh day they ate fresh, maggot-free manna. And so it continued throughout their wandering years.

Manna sustained physical life for the Jews in the barren desert. Jesus came from heaven to provide spiritual life for all who open their hearts to Him. He provides for our physical, emotional and spiritual needs. This miracle happens daily, always in exactly the portions we need.

Insight: As we read the Bible, we receive all the spiritual food and refreshment our hearts, minds and souls need for all our todays.

Michael D. Inman

Link: http://wordforlife.com/b2e/blog1.php/2012/02/12/deliver-us-from-evil-1

Deliver Us from Evil - by Michael D. Inman

"And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one." (MATTHEW 6:13) Scripture Focus: James 1:2-18

This phrase of the Lord's Prayer raises questions. Does God ever lead us into temptation? Are temptations the same as trials? James explains the distinction between trials and temptations, saying that God does not "tempt anyone; but each one is tempted, when, by his own desire, he is dragged away and enticed" (James 1:13b-14). Many trials do present temptation. And temptations certainly are trials. But the two are quite different.

As we pray these words, we accept that God, for His divine purposes, may order our lives in such a way that we face temptation. Satan waits to pounce when those situations arise. Sometimes, in our human weakness, we do not resist. Therefore, we pray that God would so conquer the way of the world that we would escape temptation altogether.

When Satan tried to entice Jesus in the wilderness, Jesus met his words with the Word. Praise God we have the entire Bible to direct us. Praise Him even further that we have a Savior who has rescued us from all of Satan's evil traps.

Insight: Through Christ, We Can Resist Temptations. Where Temptation Is, You Also Will Find The Loving Arms Of Jesus That Will Never Let You Go.

Michael D. Inman

"The Kingdom, Power and Glory Forever" - by Micheal D. Inman

"For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen." (MATTHEW 6:13B, KJV)

"Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor." (1 CHRONICLES 29:11)

Scripture Focus: 1 Chronicles 29:10-20

Performing a wedding at a nearby location, I was taken off guard when everyone present recited the Lord's Prayer but only a few spoke the words, "Yours is the kingdom, the power and the glory forever," (NKJV) at the end. Members of the other church were silent at that part so that it sounded like half of a duet had stopped singing.

Though this portion of verse 13 is not included in some versions of the Bible, I think it reaffirms the beginning of the Lord's Prayer. Our Father in Heaven, Your name is hallowed. Your kingdom come. Your will be done. It reminds us of who is in charge of the universe. It emphasizes God is ruler of His kingdom. He is all-powerful, and the glory of His presence fills eternity. A fitting end to the Lord's Prayer, it reminds me of King David's prayer recorded in 1 Chronicles 29.

Include this closing phrase of the Lord's Prayer. Let it be a rallying cry for those of us who put our trust solidly in the One to whom all glory and power belong forever.

Insight: His Kingdom Is Forever. When We Open Our Hearts To Jesus, We Become Members Of His Forever Kingdom.

Michael D. Inman

"The Kingdom, Power and Glory Forever" - by Micheal D. Inman

"For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen." (MATTHEW 6:13B, KJV)

"Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor." (1 CHRONICLES 29:11)

Scripture Focus: 1 Chronicles 29:10-20

Performing a wedding at a nearby location, I was taken off guard when everyone present recited the Lord's Prayer but only a few spoke the words, "Yours is the kingdom, the power and the glory forever," (NKJV) at the end. Members of the other church were silent at that part so that it sounded like half of a duet had stopped singing.

Though this portion of verse 13 is not included in some versions of the Bible, I think it reaffirms the beginning of the Lord's Prayer. Our Father in Heaven, Your name is hallowed. Your kingdom come. Your will be done. It reminds us of who is in charge of the universe. It emphasizes God is ruler of His kingdom. He is all-powerful, and the glory of His presence fills eternity. A fitting end to the Lord's Prayer, it reminds me of King David's prayer recorded in 1 Chronicles 29.

Include this closing phrase of the Lord's Prayer. Let it be a rallying cry for those of us who put our trust solidly in the One to whom all glory and power belong forever.

Insight: His Kingdom Is Forever. When We Open Our Hearts To Jesus, We Become Members Of His Forever Kingdom.

Michael D. Inman