Refined Gem

Are there circumstances that won't respond to prayer or fasting? If you have grown weary of pushing in prayer, perhaps consider engaging a different spiritual weapon- worship. We draw lessons from King Jehoshaphat and God revealing a different facet of who He is as a man of war but through worship. (2 chronicles 20, Jeremiah 23:29)

We draw lessons on rest earn from the life of Jesus while He was on earth. He would often withdraw to be alone but often times he would be praying. He withdrew just before he began his ministry, when his cousin was beheaded, after ministering to people. We find rest as we spend time with God in solitary moments. (Mark 1, Mathew 14:14)

Is it possible for us to be consumed by our circumstances that we do not realise our time of visitation by the Lord? Might we be putting God in a box by expecting him to move at a certain time or in a specific way? We draw lessons from the paralytic man at the pool of Bethesda and blind Bartimaeus in their encounters with Jesus. (John 5:1-15,Mark 10:46-52)

We may create times for rest for our physical bodies but may unknowingly neglect seeking rest for our inner man. In quieting ourselves in God, we get renewed, are able to pray from a place a rest and can hear God more clearer when our soul is at rest. Be alert to any threats to your pursuit of stillness as the enemy knows the benefits we draw from God. (Isaiah 58:11 & Psalms 131)

Thank you for always listening. Refined Gem takes a short break and will resume on 10th October 2021. Be encouraged to continue gleaning from God's word. Stay blessed.

Murmuring is often to distasteful to the one giving. Israelites grumbled against God and Moses forgetting all God had done for them. God sent them fiery serpents and many died. How easy is it for us to keep giving when we are the ones receiving ingratitude to those we have extended a hand?( Numbers 21:4-5,Galatians 6:9)

Is your inner man guilty just by looking at garments worn? Today we consider how we can violate the law of God just by our spiritual dressing and how satan can bring charges against us on that basis alone.(Zechariah 3:1-10)

Why do we go to great lengths to prepare ourselves for specific events by how we dress? Is it possible to work on the outward man but the inner man is not dressed right and the inner man sabotages us? (Esther 2,Luke 12:35-38)

Do you have a word from the Lord? How do you refrain from helping God to perfect what He shared with you. We draw lessons from Rebekah who went ahead to help God causing her sons Esau and Jacob pain, brewing hatred and years of separation . (Genesis 24,25 &27)

Have you been able to identify ways the LORD speaks to You? Might you be tempted to confirm with others what you know was what God shared with you? Jesus promised us the Holyspirit who searches God's mind concerning us and guides us on paths to take. (Isaiah 30:21;John:16:15-25)

There are names we may have or that others may be call us based on our present but temporal circumstances that others identify us with. Yet in joining the family of God He gives us new names and is able to change our names by also turning our temporal circumstances around. Jacob's name was changed to Israel. God blessed Jabez whose name meant pain.(Genesis 32:22-32& 1 chronicles 4:9-10)

God predestined the adoption of Moses( born a Hebrew) by Pharaoh's daughter. He had an Egyptian name,accessed privileges and rights as a son of an Egyptian Royal-All for the Israelites future deliverance. When we believe in Jesus,God adopts us as His sons as He predestined in love. He cancels our debt to sin, gives us His name and makes us heirs of His kingdom. (Galatians 4:4-7,Exodus 2:1-10)

Is it possible to be in the family of God but not understand what is accessible to us as his children? Is it also possible to be satisfied with what a servant would have a right to? Unlike the prodigal son who asked for his share of his inheritance and squandered it,his brother was always with his father but did not know that all that his father had was his as of right. (Luke 15:11-31)

God's favour not only sustains us in places of divine appointment, but it also acts as a shield for us. Having confidence in the one who holds our lives should then lead us to act wisely as we delicately handle our interactions with others. David wisely handled the love and favor of Jonathan and Michal but balanced it against King Saul's hatred.1Samuel 18.

Many scholars have written on when to apply our emotional intelligence over and above our IQ.Yet there are some situations that no level of education can help us navigate unless we are to receive Godly wisdom. Abigael delicately but wisely balanced the wrath of David,the future King of Israel and Nabal's folly. (1 Samuel 25:2-44)

Sometimes God will give us information but as an invitation for us to partner with Him in prayer. What we sometimes feel is a 'hunch'or a 'gut feeling' is possibly His Holyspirit giving us intelligence into issues we would normally not know but for us to prayerfully keep watch.(Genesis 18:16-33 Judges 7:13-16)

What you are able to build up or gather in your season of rest may be what sustains you in moments when you may be unable to pray or study scriptures. Like the tree planted by the river whose leaves never wither, having your roots deep in God will keep you connected to the source even through the dry seasons of your spiritual life. (Psalms 1)

Might God have spoken a word of promise to you but nothing agrees or He seems to now be silent? He might be taking you through a process- preparing and imparting in you what you'll need to function in the office of that promised word- when He brings it to pass. It took David years from the time of being anointed to when he actually became the King of Israel. (1 Samuel 16-25)

It's easier to believe when we have actual proof but faith works the other way round. We believe then see it. It took faith for Noah to see the reality of God's warning of floods thus built an ark & saved his family. Zechariah on his part asked for proof to believe the LORD that he& his wife would be parents at their old age. God shut his mouth so as not to cancel his blessing through doubt. (Gene...

God is always speaking but sometimes His voice is drowned in many other voices around us. King David blessed the LORD for His counsel acknowledging that his heart instructed him in the night seasons- when all is still. Samuel heard God call his name in the silence of the night. We hear God more clearly when we are at rest and in the stillness of our hearts and minds. (Psalms 16:7,1 Samuel 3)

When we are aware of the indwelling of the presence of God, the enemy will not be able to withstand us .Darkness and light can not co exist.

When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, "Surely the LORD is in this place, and I was not aware of it. Is it possible to create a space where the presence of God is tangibly felt? Genesis 28:16

While sin takes us away from God's presence, sometimes simple distractions or our pursuit of good& important things like a successful career, family,being busy in the mundane activities of life that ends up turning the important things to be the ultimate things. These may unknowingly pull us away from His presence. Return to check in with God ,strive to stay in His presence whichever way returning...

Moses was not aware that his face was radiant that the Israelites were afraid to come near him. He had spent days & nights in the Presence of God. Always yearning for the presence of the Lord, he knew nothing else would distinguish Israel from any other nation thus pleaded to be led of God. Peter & John- unschooled & ordinary men spoke so boldly. It left no doubt that they had been with Jesus. We...

Victory is guaranteed when we understand the spiritual strategy to engage in any challenge we face. Sometimes, it may take helpers in prayer holding us up as we face the challenge head on. Refined Gem explores how a team engaged a physical and spiritual battle strategy to win.