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Mattana Ministry

Welcomes You To:

Weekly Bible Study: 4 June 2024

Theme: Bible Basics Explained/Faith (3)

Scripture: Heb. 11:4-7 & Rom. 10:17

Message:

Righteous by Faith

We’re back in Hebrews 11, and today: the heroes. The Bible is filled with heroes - men and women of courage and humility. And their stories are amazing. They are a diverse bunch, to say the least. But what do they have in common? What’s the source of their courage? And what drives their character? Here in Hebrews 11, we find one simple answer. Starting at verse 4:

“By faith, Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did” (Hebrews 11:4).

Remember Cain and Abel from Genesis? They both offered sacrifices to God. Why did God accept Abel’s? What was different? Simple. Abel had faith. See Cain was a man who went through the religious motions, and Cain even knew God existed, but he didn’t have faith.

But how is that possible? He talked with God. How can we do that without faith? Watch his actions right afterward. He killed his brother. And he thought he could get away with it, thought God wouldn’t see. Today we can go through the motions at church, and still go out and sin up a storm. And anyone who thinks they can get away with that simply doesn’t believe that God is God. They lie to themselves, and often they convince themselves they’ll make it to Heaven on a technicality. “I went to church, dropped money in the plate, and said the prayer! Boom. Done.” But that is not faith. Faith changes how we give and changes how we live.

Look at Abel, the brother who had faith. Back in verse 4:

“By faith, he was commended as righteous when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith, Abel still speaks, even though he is dead” (Hebrews 11:4).

Pay attention here. Abel’s faith set him apart as righteous - right in God’s sight. But hold on. Abel had faith and Abel was right with God, and yet God allowed him to be killed. Why? Here faith gets tricky. Do we trust that God is faithful when life gets hard? Even when life ends?

Then verse 5:

“By faith, Enoch was taken from this life so that he did not experience death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away” (Hebrews 11:5).

Remember Enoch’s story? He walked with God, and God took him home. No death - just straight to God. That’s way back in Genesis 5, and it’s a big hint - from the beginning - at God’s plan for how you and I can escape death. And it’s all about faith. We are saved by grace through faith. Back here in verse 5:

“For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God” (Hebrews 11:5).

This is huge. In every relationship, we’re always trying to figure out what it takes to please the other person. Parents, friends, spouse, boss. So what about God? Verse 6:

“And without faith, it is impossible to please God because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him” (Hebrews 11:6).

We can’t please God if we don’t believe that God exists. Simple. The greatest transformation of the human soul begins with the simple conviction that God is. That’s it. Sink those two words deep into our being, at the core of our consciousness. God is. And second, believe and trust that God rewards those who genuinely seek Him.

Next hero, verse 7:

“By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family” (Hebrews 11:7).

Noah gives us another dimension to this faith. He heard God’s warning about things he had never seen before. But he didn’t build his life on what he’d seen. He heard God’s Word and he believed what he heard. Romans 10:17 tells us that faith comes by hearing. And back here in Hebrews, Noah…

“…became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith” (Hebrews 11:7).

There are those two words together again - righteous and faith. That’s big. Righteous means right with God. In the Bible, righteousness only the only way to enter God’s Kingdom, and ultimately go to heaven. Righteous is our only ticket. The problem is - on our, own we are not righteous. Not one of us.

So God made a plan to restore our standing, heal our relationship, and make us right with Him. We are righteous by faith. Now, it is not simply our belief that God exists that makes us righteous. Jesus died for our sins to make us righteous. But we accept it by faith. Without faith, it doesn’t happen.

MM

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Mattana Ministry

Welcomes You To:

Daily Bible Study: 4 June 2024

Theme: Book of 2 Kings (2)

Scripture: 2 Kings 4; 2 Kings 5; 2 Kings 6; 2 Kings 7; Rom. 5:5; Matt. 22:37; Deut. 6:5 & Rom. 8:28

Message:

THE LOVE OF GOD THAT BRINGS FREEDOM

Disappointment is not something new to every one of us. Every one of us experiences disappointment in life, especially with the people close to us. What is the reason for disappointment? The reality doesn’t match our expectations. Some people also get disappointed with God because what they pray for is not answered by God, or the prayer is answered differently from what they wish for.

Romans 5:5 tells us that we should not be disappointed because we have the love of God in our hearts. The key to having no disappointment is to have the love of God. What kind of God’s love that we need to have? Do we love God with all of our heart, soul, strength, heart, and mind (this is the main commandment from God,) or do we love God with our measure of love? Human love depends so much on the situation and condition. When we are well, we can love God; otherwise, we become disappointed with God.

When we obey this main commandment (that is written in Matthew 22:37, and Deuteronomy 6:5), we should not become disappointed in any kind of situation and condition we face. God’s love is giving us strength and a firm guarantee that He works together in every matter to bring goodness to those who love Him (Romans 8: 28).

Holding on to the trust of God’s love will enable us to come out from the trap and poison of disappointment that kills our dreams, the purpose of, life, and even our future. Shake off the toxin of disappointment from our hearts and we will be able to look at our future with eyes that are fixed on Jesus, who will lead us to faith and through faith and bring us to the perfection of love.

Stop looking at our problems but direct our view to God’s love that sets us free.

MM

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Mattana Ministry

Welcomes You To:

Senior Program: 3 June 2024

Theme: Love: The Fruit of the Spirit (6)

Scripture: 1 John. 3:21-23; Rom. 13:8 & John. 15:12

Message:

Disobedience Is Dangerous

Sometimes people think God’s commands are just suggestions, but they aren’t! Everything God instructs us to do is for our good. And that includes in the area of love.

When we don’t obey God, we open ourselves up for the devil to have a field day in our lives. And, even worse, we block the countless blessings God is waiting to shower on us.

Let’s take a look at two of the places He commands us to love.

Romans 13:8 (NIV) says, “…whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.” That means not loving others is breaking God’s law. And, of course, let’s not forget John 15:12, which says, “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.”

Disobedience is dangerous! Just as when we obey God’s Word, we experience victory and live as overcomers, when we disobey Him, we experience defeat. We step out of the light and start stumbling around in the darkness. That’s not a safe thing to do. We want to stay protected and on the victory side. We want to walk continually in God’s power and manifested presence by communing with Him in His Word and keeping His command of love.

Next time we think about lashing out at someone or letting envy get the best of us, ask ourselves this, “Am I willing to put my blessings and victories on the line right now for this one moment?” Most likely, the answer will always be no.

MM

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Mattana Ministry

Welcomes You To:

Daiĺy Bible Study: 3 June 2024

Theme: Book of 2 Kings

Scripture: 2 Kings 1;

2 Kings 2; 2 Kings 3;

Rom. 8:38-39 & John. 3:16

Message:

DO NOT GIVE UP

Apostle Paul had experienced a lot of hardships and challenges along his journey to spread the Gospel to many places. He experienced a lot of sufferings since he repented such as being in prison, being in stripes, being beaten with rods, being stoned, being shipwrecked, and other sufferings. But he could boast and say that nothing can separate him from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

When someone who has just repented and believes in Jesus suddenly has to face sufferings and hardship because of his faith in Jesus, there is a tendency that this person will not be able to stand it and turn back to his old life.

When God brought the Israelites out of Egypt into the Promised Land, God could have brought the Israelites through the shortcut that required only 11 days but God didn’t do that. Instead, God brought them through the path that encircled the desert that required 40 years.

There is a tendency of our human nature to give up when we face challenges and difficulties in life. We give up with the situation, give up with ourselves, give up with our family, work, and ministry and even sometimes we give up with God.

Let us remember the great love of God to us (John 3:16). He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with us also freely give us the help and way out of our problems? God never gives up with us, therefore we shall not give up with our problems too.

Do not ever give up, hold firm our hope to God, because God will never let us down.

MM

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Mattana Ministry

Welcomes You To:

Daiĺy Bible Study: 28 May 2024

Theme: Book of 1 Kings (6)

Scripture: 1 Kings 19;

1 Kings 20; 1 Kings 21;

1 Kings 22 & Heb. 10:23

Message:

TOTAL TRANSFORMATION

Jehoshaphat was one of the Kings of Judah who lived according to God’s way and did what was right before God and followed the ways of his father Asa. God appreciated what Jehoshaphat did. During his reign, Jehoshaphat reformed the life of the people of Judah back to worshipping the Lord God of their fathers. Nevertheless, the high places where the Israelites gave sacrifices to other gods were not taken away, for as yet the people had not directed their hearts to the God of their fathers. Jehoshaphat also allied himself to the king of Israel who acted very wickedly and did not worship the Lord God. Jehoshaphat did not really depend on God but relied on the strength of man.

Jehoshaphat’s shortcoming made a big impact to Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. Jehoshaphat’s son, Jehoram, did not walk in the ways of his father. When Jehoram was established over the kingdom of his father, he strengthened himself and killed all his brothers and all other princes of Israel with sword. He did wicked things before God. We learn here that because Jehoshaphat did not settle all the high places to give sacrifices to other gods, it led the people of Judah back to sin. Because he reformed things incompletely, it couldn’t become a strong foundation for his people.

The life story of Jehoshaphat reminds us that our spiritual life will impact our family, descendants and community. Spiritual transformation that we experience have to impact our minds and the people around us. As Christians it is our duty to spread the fear of God to our family members and community so that they will worship the real God.

When the spirit of the Lord is leading our life, our life will be transformed.

MM

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Mattana Ministry

Welcomes You To:

Daiĺy Bible Study: 24 May 2024

Theme: Book of 1 Kings (5)

Scripture: 1 Kings 15;

1 Kings 16; 1 Kings 17;

1 Kings 18 & Rom.12:12

Message:

Obey and Stay Faithful

From every story of kings in Judah or Israel, we can see the character of God who can not stand sin. In each of these stories, we can learn some things to consider in our Christian life:

First, God wants total obedience from His chosen people, His people who decided to follow Him. The form of obedience is when we think that nothing is more important than His words

Obedience will bring our lives to fulfill God's will. Obedience to God was born from our heart willing to be formed and humble to learn from other people who live in the spirit of fear of God.

Second, remain faithful to God. It was very unfortunate rulers, the kings who had seen God's awesomeness with their own eyes, but when it came to their turn, they turned aside from God. This is a strong warning for those who are living following the Lord Jesus today. The mistakes they made may happen in our lives, for example; When we diligently serve God but do not live for God. When we are too busy 'eradicating' the sins of others, but negligent and insensitive to our own mistakes. The key is to keep words faithful. Do we remain faithful to live in the truth? God is faithful, that is why we, His children, must live in faithfulness.

Try to face all challenges by remaining faithful, obedient, and faithful to God.

MM

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Mattana Ministry

Welcomes You To:

Daiĺy Bible Study: 23 May 2024

Theme: Book of 1 Kings (4)

Scripture: 1 Kings 10;

1 Kings 11; 1 Kings 12;

1 Kings 13; 1 Kings 14 &

Ps. 130:6

Message:

Living in Fear of God

One kind of God's sentence for sinful man is the loss of God's glory and God's favor over his life. It happened in the story of King Rehoboam. He was the son of Solomon who "let" the kingdom of Judah commit sin. What were the sins of the kingdom of Judah? Verses 23-24 described the idolatry and idolatry which was mixed with sexual sin into worship. This sin defiled the promised land, for the presence and the name of God was there. That's why God punished them, this implied that the people of Israel had lost the glory of God.

The act of sin that we committed surely has consequences and could lead us to God's judgment. The real judgment of God is the loss of the glory and favor of God in a person. The source of the destruction of a life is when worshipping God is no longer become a priority. Never turn away from living in fear of God. For our strength as believers is fear of God, there is no compromise in it.

The worst position in human life is when we are separated from God and the loss of God's embracement. Because if it all happens then the family, work, education, health or whatever it will be slowly destroyed. Continue to life closely to God, so that our souls won’t be perished in separation with God.

Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him.(Psalm 34: 9)

MM

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[mattanaministry]

Mattana Ministry

Welcomes You To:

Daiĺy Bible Study: 22 May 2024

Theme: Book of 1 Kings (3)

Scripture: 1 Kings 7;

1 Kings 8; 1 Kings 9 & Ps.119:146-148

Message:

Failed or Successful?

The inaccuracy in judging the meaning of success and failure hurts one's life which means also the failure of life. But if we can interpret them rightly and correctly, those two things will form us to be qualified people. Successful people for sure have experiences in a situation or an occasion when they were in the failed zone. But they can be categorized successfully, as they can interpret their failure as a 'vehicle' to succeed.

David in the journey of his life gave us an example of how to respond to any failure and use it as a vehicle to succeed. He succeeded in transforming what the world views as a failure and he used it as a lesson to always be grateful and stronger in the hope of his faith in God. Furthermore, Davidic psalms through the power of the Holy Spirit have awakened the faith of their readers to the present day.

The truth is, that failure or success all depends on how we react to it. Failure can happen, but if we believe that it is still under God's control then our faith will grow and bring us to experience walking with God. So failure is when we fail to address God’s will. But success is a moment of positive response and gratitude for whatever we are experiencing, whether it is good or bad. This attitude determines the maturity of our faith.

Move in God's plan, so that success is real in our lives

MM

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