Stanley Tavaziva

Praise the Lord, the God of Israel who lives from everlasting to everlasting. God our shelter, a refuge when we are afraid. Our faith in almighty God as protector would carries us through all the dangers and fears of life. This should be a picture of our trust—trading all our fears for faith in him, no matter how intense our fears. To do this we must “live” and “rest”. By entrusting ourselves to his protection and pledging our daily devotion to him, we will be kept safe. Everything everywhere is to praise the Lord: all his angels and all his works! Praising God means remembering all he has done for us. Fearing him and obeying his commands and doing his will. Our life should always praise the Lord.

This is a characteristic prayer of praise to God. Paul described the timeless role of the church. He explains how church members should live in order to bring about the unity God wants. As Paul first lays a doctrinal foundation and then makes practical applications of the truths he has presented. Pauline compound superlative meaning, "exceeding, abundantly more according to the power that works within us," This is a reference to the indwelling Christ through the Spirit.This permanent indwelling Spirit is the difference between the Old Covenant and the New. Be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus" Here is the exalted place of Jesus' Bride and Body, the Church, His blood-bought to Spirit-filled people.

This “fullness” is fully expressed only in Christ. In union with Christ and through his empowering Spirit, we are complete. We have all the fullness of God available to us. But we must appropriate that fullness through faith and through prayer as we daily live for him. Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians is also for you. We can ask the Holy Spirit to fill every aspect of your life to the fullest. Christ might present to Himself the Church" This is another active subjunctive, which presents an element of contingency. This refers to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. Just as Jesus' love for the church revolutionized the church, so too, a husband's love for his wife should stabilize and bless the Christian home. Spot" This is literally "no impurity." wrinkle" Literally this means "no sign of age. Holy, this is from the same root as "sanctify. Blameless, his is an Old Testament sacrificial term. This same concept is mentioned as God's will for the church in The cumulative weight of all of these terms is that God desires the complete holiness of His people. The goal of Christianity is Christ likeness. The image of God in man will be restored and Holy Spirit fills us all.

God’s love is total, says Paul. It reaches every corner of our experience. It is wide—it covers the breadth of our own experience, and it reaches out to the whole world. God’s love is long—it continues the length of our lives. It is high—it rises to the heights of our celebration and elation. His love is deep—it reaches to the depths of discouragement, despair, and even death. When we feel shut out or isolated, remember that we can never be lost to God’s love. Prayer is about God’s immeasurable and inexhaustible love, Paul’s says it in Romans 8:38, 39. Christ dwells in our hearts through faith an active infinitive which points toward a specific act of faith. There is a fluidity being deeply rooted" This is a perfect passive participle which could be translated to be rooted in God.

This versus reflect Paul's prayer for the believers in all these churches that they be stable and established by God's power through Christ's acts and the Holy Spirit's empowering to resist (1) the false teachers and (2) the persecution of a fallen world Riches" are one of Paul's favorite terms to describe the grace of God in Christ. God's nature is the key to God's power and provisions. The inner man" Spiritual growth is internal, but it is stimulated by external pressure. Paul often uses the contrast between the inner man and the outer man. The inner man is the spiritual aspect, while the outer man is the physical aspect. The inner man is already part of the New Age, the kingdom of God, but the outer man is still dying and struggling with the old age, the old fallen nature, and the fallen world system

To us who believe God has chosen to allow we humans to participate conditional covenant, thus own spiritual salvation and pilgrimage. Christians must repent and believe.. The gospel is universal and is invited to all who will call on the name of the Lord. The working of the strength of His might has may be another allusion to which indicates God's power. The term dunamis) is for power. It focus on salvation which is God's powerful actions through Christ, not individual human actions or intellectual concepts. Three phrases describe what God the Father's tremendous, mighty power has done for Jesus. 1. It "raised Him from the dead" This was the sign of His accepted sacrifice. 2. Jesus "seated Him on His right hand of God. This was the place of exaltation and preeminence. This represented Christ's ongoing intercessory ministry and was fulfilled. 3. This made Him supreme Head of the church. This use of the term church refers to the unique new people of God, which includes all of us who believe, both Jews and Gentiles There are things that the Father has done for Christ. Christ has these things for us for His followers

Knowledge of God the Father's provisions in Christ involves three aspects .1 believers' predestined hope 2. Believers' glorious inheritance 3. Believers' understanding of God's surprassingly great power, manifested in Christ. The eyes of your heart may be enlightened of the gospel bringing understanding to fallen humanity. This has always been God's will and there is hope in His calling" The term "calling 1. Sinners are called by God through Christ to salvation 2. Sinners call on the name of the Lord to be saved 3. Believers are called on to live Christ-like lives 4. Believers are called to ministry tasks.

Hope changes your way of living“Not guilty; let him go free.” What would those words mean to us if we were on death row? The fact is that the whole human race is on death row, justly condemned for repeatedly breaking God’s holy law. Without Jesus we would have no hope at all. But thank God! He has declared us not guilty and has offered us freedom from sin and power to do his will.

Paul prayed that the Ephesians would know Christ better. Christ is our model, and the more we know of him, the more we will be like him. Study Jesus’ life in the Gospels to see what he was like on earth nearly 2,000 years ago, and get to know him. Personal knowledge of Christ will change your life. The world fears the power of the atom, yet we belong to the God of the universe, who not only created that atomic power but also raised Jesus Christ from the dead. God’s incomparably great power is available to help us all. There is nothing too difficult for him

When Christ was in his agony, there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. It was a part of his humiliation that he was thus strengthened by a ministering spirit

When Christ was in his agony, there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. It was a part of his humiliation that he was thus strengthened by a ministering spirit

1. When Christ was in his agony, there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. It was a part of his humiliation that he was thus strengthened by a ministering spirit. 2. Being in agony, he prayed more earnestly. Prayer, though never out of season, is in a special manner seasonable when we are in an agony. 3. In this agony his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down. This showed the travail of his soul. We should pray also to be enabled to resist unto the shedding of our blood, striving against sin, if ever called to it. When you dwell in imagination upon the delights of some favourite sin, think of its effects as you behold them here! See its fearful effects in the garden of Gethsemane, and desire, by the help of God, deeply to hate and to forsake that enemy, to ransom sinners from whom the Redeemer prayed, agonized, and bled

Jesus exposed his dread of the coming trials, but he also reaffirmed his commitment to do what God wanted. The cup he spoke of meant the terrible agony he knew he would endure—not only the horror of the crucifixion but, even worse, the total separation from God that he would have to experience in order to die for the world’s sin

Jesus asked the disciples to pray that they would not fall into temptation because he knew that he would soon be leaving them. Jesus also knew that they would need extra strength to face the temptations ahead—temptations to run away or to deny their relationship with him. They were about to see Jesus die. Would they still think he was the Messiah? The disciples’ strongest temptation would undoubtedly be to think they had been deceived. Was Jesus trying to get out of his mission? It is never wrong to express our true feelings to God. Jesus exposed his dread of the coming trials, but he also reaffirmed his commitment to do what God wanted. The cup he spoke of meant the terrible agony he knew he would endure—not only the horror of the crucifixion but, even worse, the total separation from God that he would have to experience in order to die for our sins. Luke tells us that Jesus’ sweat resembled drops of blood. Jesus was in extreme agony, but he did not give up or give in. He went ahead with the mission for which he had come.How tragic it is that many of us Christians act as if we are sound asleep when it comes to devotion to Christ and service for him. .

With little time to think, Nehemiah immediately prayed. Eight times in this book we read that he prayed spontaneously. Nehemiah prayed at any time, even while talking with others. He knew that God is always in charge, is always present, and hears and answers every prayer. Nehemiah could confidently pray throughout the day because he had established an intimate relationship with God during times of extended prayer. If we want to reach God with our emergency prayers, we need to take time to cultivate a strong relationship with God through times of in-depth prayer.

Comparing the Book of Daniel, just as the God of Israel saved Daniel and his friends from their enemies, so he would save all Israel in their present oppression. And The book of Esther and the Jewish community of Shushan having fasted for 3 days and 3 nights before she approached the king (Esther 4:16). Fasting which is presumed to have occurred on the 13th of Adar, when the Jews fought a battle against their enemies. Each of one of us is capable of serving no matter what our position. Just as Nehemiah used his place as the king’s trusted servant to intercede for his people, we can use our present positions to serve God. We have the responsibility to stand up and serve in the Kingdom of God.

Nehemiah fasted and prayed for several days, expressing his sorrow for Israel’s sin and his desire that Jerusalem would again come alive with the worship of the one true God. Nehemiah demonstrated the elements of effective prayer: (1) praise, (2) thanksgiving, (3) repentance, (4) specific requests, and (5) commitment. Heartfelt prayers like Nehemiah’s can help clarify (1) any problem we may be facing, (2) God’s great power is meant to help us. (3) the job you have to do. By the end of his prayer time, Nehemiah knew what action he had to take (1:11). When we pray, difficult decisions fall into proper perspective, and appropriate actions follow. Nehemiah was in a good position to speak to the king. He was the trusted cup-bearer, who ensured the safety and quality of the king’s food and drink. Nehemiah was concerned, prayerful, and prepared as he looked for the right opportunity to tell the king about God’s people. Like us we are in a unique and capable of serving no matter what our position. Just as Nehemiah used his place as the king’s trusted servant to intercede for his people, we can use our present positions to serve God.

When Nehemiah arrived after a three-month journey, he saw the completed Temple and became acquainted with others who had returned to their homeland. But Nehemiah also found a disorganized group of people and a defenseless city with no walls to protect it. Before the Exile, Israel had its own language, king, army, and identity. At this time it had none of these. What the Jews lacked most was leadership; there was no one to show them where to start and what direction to take as they tried to rebuild their city. As soon as Nehemiah arrived, he began a back-to-the-basics program. He helped care for the people’s physical needs by setting up a fair system of government and rebuilding Jerusalem’s walls. He also cared for their spiritual needs by rebuilding broken lives. Nehemiah is a model of committed, God-honoring leadership, and his book contains many useful lessons for today.Nehemiah was concerned about Jerusalem because it was the Jews’ holy city. As Judah’s capital city, it represented Jewish national identity, and it was blessed with God’s special presence in the Temple. Jewish history centered around the city from the time of Abraham’s gifts to Melchizedek, king of Salem, to the days when Solomon built the glorious Temple in 1 Kings 7:51, and throughout the history of the kings. Nehemiah loved his homeland even though he had lived his whole life in Babylon. He wanted to return to Jerusalem to reunite the Jews and to remove the shame of Jerusalem’s broken-down walls. This would bring glory to God and restore the reality and power of God’s presence among his people. Nehemiah broke down and wept when he heard that Jerusalem’s walls still had not been rebuilt. Why did this upset him? Walls mean little in most present-day cities, but in Nehemiah’s day they were essential. They offered safety from raids and symbolized strength and peace. Nehemiah also mourned for his people, the Jews, who had been stifled by a previous edict that kept them from rebuilding their walls Nehemiah was deeply grieved about the condition of Jerusalem, but he didn’t just brood about it. After his initial grief, he prayed, pouring his heart out to God (1:5-11), and he looked for ways to improve the situation. Nehemiah put all his resources of knowledge, experience, and organization into determining what should be done. When tragic news comes to us, we need to first pray. Then seek ways to move beyond grief to specific action that helps those who need it.

Daniel knew how to pray. As he prayed, he fasted, confessed his sins, and pleaded that God would reveal his will. He prayed with complete surrender to God and with complete openness to what God was saying to him. When you pray, do you speak openly to God? Examine your attitude. Talk to God with openness, vulnerability, and honesty, and be ready for God’s reply. Daniel begged for mercy, not for help, because he knew that his people deserved God’s wrath and punishment. God sends his help, not because we deserve it, but because he wants to show great mercy. If God would refuse to help us because of our sin, how could we complain? But when he sends mercy instead of the punishment we deserve, how can we withhold our praise and thanksgiving? Just as God answered Daniel’s prayer, so we can have confidence that God hears and answers our prayers.

In Daniel’s prayer for the nation he confessed his own sin, using the pronoun we throughout. In times of adversity, it’s easy to blame others and excuse our own actions. If any Israelite was righteous, it was Daniel; and yet he confessed his sinfulness and need for God’s forgiveness. Instead of looking for others to blame, first examine yourself and confess your own sins to God.

Remember how the Lord's Prayer begins, with a recognition of God's greatness and holiness? Daniel begins: "O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with all who love him and obey his commands, 5we have sinned and done wrong. We have been wicked and have rebelled; we have turned away from your commands and laws

Daniel pleaded with God to bring about the promised return of his people to their land. The prophet Jeremiah had written that God would not allow the captives to return to their land for 70 years (Jeremiah 25:11-12; 29:10). Daniel knew of this prophecy and realized that this 70-year period was coming to an end.

David’s hatred for his enemies came from his zeal for God. David regarded his enemies as God’s enemies, so his hatred was a desire for God’s righteous justice and not for personal vengeance. Is it all right to be angry at people who hate God? Yes, but we must remember that it is God who will deal with them, not us. If we truly love God, then we will be deeply hurt if someone hates him. David asked God to search his heart and mind and point out any wrong motives that may have been behind his strong words. But while we seek justice against evil, we must also pray that God’s enemies will turn to him before he judges them.

We need not fear because (1) God is with us (“I am with you”), (2) God has established a relationship with us (“I am your God”), and (3) God gives us assurance of his strength, help, and victory over sin and death. Are you aware of all the ways God has helped you? We should have confidence in God’s presence and guidance. From birth to death, we are continually in God’s grip. But far more, we have the hope of the resurrection. Though our courage and strength may fail, we know that one day we will be raised to life to serve him forever. He is our security, and we must cling to him.

Sometimes we don’t let people get to know us completely because we are afraid they will discover something about us that they won’t like. But God already knows everything about us, even to the number of hairs on our heads in Matthew 10:30, and still he accepts and loves us. God is with us through every situation, in every trial—protecting, loving, guiding. He knows and loves us completely.His hand is always upon us, we need to worship this God in truth. God‘s character goes into the creation of every person. When you feel worthless or even begin to hate yourself, remember that God’s Spirit is ready and willing to work within you. We should have as much respect for ourselves as our Maker has for us.