The Word “AMEN”

“For all the promises of God in Him are yea, and in Him Amen, unto the glory of God by us” (II Corinthians 1:20).

The word “amen” is a most remarkable word.
It was transliterated directly from the Hebrew into the Koine Greek of the New Testament, then into Latin and into English and many other languages, so that it is practically a universal word.

It has been called the best-known word in human speech.

The word is directly related–in fact, almost identical–to the Hebrew word for “believe” (aman), or “faithful.”
Thus, it came to mean “sure” or truly,” an expression of absolute trust and confidence.

When one believes God, he indicates his faith by an “amen.”
When God makes a promise, the believer’s response is “amen”–“so it will be!”

In the New Testament, it is often translated “verily” or “truly.”

When we pray according to His Word and His will, we know God will answer, so we close with an “amen,” and so also do we conclude a great hymn or anthem of praise and faith.
The word is even a title of Christ Himself.

The last of His letters to the seven churches begins with a remarkable salutation by the glorified Lord:
“These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God” (Revelation 3:14).

We can be pre-eminently certain that His Word is always faithful and true, because He is none other than the Creator of all things, and thus He is our eternal “Amen.”
As our text reminds us, every promise of God in Christ is “yea and amen,” as strong an affirmation of truth as can be expressed in the Greek language.

It is, therefore, profoundly meaningful that the entire Bible closes with an “amen.”

“The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen” (Revelation 22:21),
assuring everyone who reads these words that the whole Book is absolutely true and trustworthy. Amen!

Everything

Did you know that God can use a single moment to transform your life for the better?

God is always working, even when we have no idea what He’s doing. He loves to bless us with His amazing, awe-inspiring goodness, even when we least expect it or when things don’t seem to be going the right way.

Romans 8:28 is a popular verse but never gets old. To me, it’s one of the most encouraging verses in the entire Bible. “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them”.

I love the word “everything” in this verse. We tend to think of bad things and difficult seasons, but “everything” includes more. It includes the good things as well as the things that we are indifferent about. God takes all of those things and works them out for our good.

He wants you to be the kind of person who thinks about His promises all the time, who believes the best, and who keeps hoping when others just give up. If you live this way, I believe you’ll be amazed at how God works in your life. You’ll experience His favor in what I call a “God-ordained moment.”

A God-ordained moment is an incredible, supernatural event that God’s been setting up, working behind the scenes so that you can experience His goodness at just the right time.

Seeking the Countenance of the Lord

Psalms 36:10 – O continue thy lovingkindness unto them that know thee; and thy righteousness to the upright in heart.

In the Bible when the Lord was pleased with man He lifted His countenance on man and His glory was felt. In the same way if man who called himself a child / people of God and misrepresented Him; God would turn away His countenance and man would be in great trouble.

Turning away the countenance of God made way for Satan and his angels to attack. But when the countenance of God was lifted up on a person it meant the favour of God was on that person. Favour of God does wonders for a person, the impossible not only becomes possible it becomes simple. Grace of God or mercy of God does not require a person to do any work, but in the case of favour one needs to be stand in between the Rock. To stand between the Rock, means to imitate God in his character or pursue relationship with Him.

To give an example of favour of God, we hear of Christians being persecuted but just yesterday a person came from a visit to the interiors of India, where there was a gathering of Christians. Like most large gathering this gathering also attracted the attention of people who hate Christians. So a person of this group filled a case in court to stop this gathering. And during the hearing this person was giving false witness, as he was doing this he fell down in the court itself and died. His brother in who was there was very afraid, ran home and at home he too fell.

The Pastor who was conducting this gather felt in his heart to save this family so went to this person’s house. When he reached there they were putting the brother into an ambulance. On the way to the hospital, in the ambulance itself the brother died. These events have gripped a fear in to the hearts of the unbelievers and they all have one thing in their minds, to keep distance from the Christians for their God is God.

We experience problems because we do not pursue the countenance of the Lord. Persecution will come, but if we have the favour of God on us, then those who come to persecute will have fear of how great our God is. So let us not speak as christians but be Christians by imitating Christ who is God come as man and whom we can easily know and imitate.

Bamboo

Once upon a time, in the heart of the Western Kingdom, lay a beautiful garden. And there, in the cool of the day, the Master of the garden would walk. Of all the denizens of the garden, the most beautiful and most beloved was gracious and noble bamboo. Year after year, bamboo grew yet more noble and gracious, conscious of his Master’s love and watchful delight, but modest and gentle withal. And often when the wind came to revel in the garden, Bamboo would cast aside his grave stateliness, to dance and play right merrily, tossing and swaying and leaping and bowing in joyous abandon, leading the Great Dance of the garden, Which most delighted the Master’s heart.

Now, once upon a day, the Master himself drew near to contemplate his Bamboo with eyes of curious expectancy. And Bamboo, in a passion of adoration, bowed his great head to the ground in loving greeting.

The Master spoke: “Bamboo, Bamboo, I would use you.” Bamboo flung his head to the sky in utter delight. The day of days had come, the day for which he had been made, the day to which he had been growing hour by hour, the day in which he would find his completion and his destiny.

His voice came low: “Master, I’m ready. Use me as Thou wilt.”

“Bamboo,” – The Master’s voice was grave — “I would have to take you and cut you down!”

A trembling of great horror shook Bamboo…”Cut me down ? Me.. who thou, Master, has made the most beautiful in all thy Garden, cut me down! Ah, not that. Not that. Use me for the joy, use me for the glory, oh master, but cut me not down!”

Beloved Bamboo,”—The Master’s voice grew graver still—”If I cut you not down, I cannot use you.”

The garden grew still. Wind held his breath. Bamboo slowly bent his proud and glorious head. There was a whisper:

“Master, if thou cannot use me other than to cut me down.. then do thy will and cut”.

“Bamboo, beloved Bamboo, I would cut your leaves and branches from you also”.

“Master, spare me. Cut me down and lay my beauty in the dust; but would thou also have to take from me, my leaves and branches too?”

“Bamboo, if I cut them not away, I cannot use you.”

The Sun hid his face. A listening butterfly glided fearfully away. And Bamboo shivered in terrible expectancy, whispering low: “Master, cut away”

“Bamboo, Bamboo, I would yet… split you in two and cut out your heart, for if I cut not so, I cannot use you.”

Then Bamboo bowed to the ground: “Master, Master… then cut and split.”

So did the Master of the garden took Bamboo…
and cut him down
and hacked off his branches
and stripped off his leaves
and split him in two…
and cut out his heart.

And lifting him gently, carried him to where there was a spring of fresh sparkling water in the midst of his dry fields. Then putting one end of the broken Bamboo in the spring and the other end into the water channel in His field, the Master laid down gently his beloved Bamboo, And the spring sang welcome, and the clear sparkling waters raced joyously down the channel of bamboo’s torn body into the waiting fields. Then the rice was planted, and the days went by, and the shoots grew and the harvest came.

In that day Bamboo, once so glorious in his stately beauty, was yet more glorious in his brokenness and humility. For in his beauty he was life abundant, but in his brokenness he became a channel of abundant life to his Master’s world.

When you’re in Deep…

“They saw the works of the Lord, His wonderful deeds in the deep” – Psalm 107:24

The scripture says is Psalm 107:23, “They that go down to the sea and do business in deep waters, they will see the wonders of God.” Friend, you and I were created to do business in deep waters. In other words, we’re not supposed to have little dreams or little plans. We are supposed to have big dreams. We are supposed to go out into the deep things God has for us. But understand, when you’re out there in the deep waters, you can’t touch the ground. You can’t see the shoreline, and at times, it can get a little rocky. You may not always see how things are going to work out. But, the scripture tells us that deep calls to deep. In other words, God is the one who has called you to the deep waters. He is with you, and He knows there are deep things on the inside of you. When you are in those deep waters, you are not alone. God is with you, and He’s causing those deep things inside of you to come forth.

If you feel like you are out in the deep today, if you feel like you are overwhelmed, remember, you are in the right place and God is with you. You will see His wonderful deeds in the deep, and you will fulfill the destiny He has in store for you.