Sunday 30 June 2024

EVENT: Start of Fast Day 1

SOAP



Scriptures

Matthew 8

English Standard Version

Jesus Cleanses a Leper

1 When he came down from the mountain, great crowds followed him. 2 And behold, a leper[a] came to him and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” 3 And Jesus[b] stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. 4 And Jesus said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a proof to them.”

The Faith of a Centurion

5 When he had entered Capernaum, a centurion came forward to him, appealing to him, 6 “Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, suffering terribly.” 7 And he said to him, “I will come and heal him.” 8 But the centurion replied, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9 For I too am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my servant,[c] ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” 10 When Jesus heard this, he marveled and said to those who followed him, “Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel[d] have I found such faith. 11 I tell you, many will come from east and west and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, 12 while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” 13 And to the centurion Jesus said, “Go; let it be done for you as you have believed.” And the servant was healed at that very moment.

Jesus Heals Many

14 And when Jesus entered Peter's house, he saw his mother-in-law lying sick with a fever. 15 He touched her hand, and the fever left her, and she rose and began to serve him. 16 That evening they brought to him many who were oppressed by demons, and he cast out the spirits with a word and healed all who were sick. 17 This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: “He took our illnesses and bore our diseases.”

The Cost of Following Jesus

18 Now when Jesus saw a crowd around him, he gave orders to go over to the other side. 19 And a scribe came up and said to him, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” 20 And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” 21 Another of the disciples said to him, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” 22 And Jesus said to him, “Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead.”

Jesus Calms a Storm

23 And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. 24 And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. 25 And they went and woke him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing.” 26 And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. 27 And the men marveled, saying, “What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?”

Jesus Heals Two Men with Demons

28 And when he came to the other side, to the country of the Gadarenes,[e] two demon-possessed[f] men met him, coming out of the tombs, so fierce that no one could pass that way. 29 And behold, they cried out, “What have you to do with us, O Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?” 30 Now a herd of many pigs was feeding at some distance from them. 31 And the demons begged him, saying, “If you cast us out, send us away into the herd of pigs.” 32 And he said to them, “Go.” So they came out and went into the pigs, and behold, the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the waters. 33 The herdsmen fled, and going into the city they told everything, especially what had happened to the demon-possessed men. 34 And behold, all the city came out to meet Jesus, and when they saw him, they begged him to leave their region.

ObservationHow GOD is pleased with the faith of the Roman Centurion that HE declares to the people around them "I have not found a man in Israel with such faith." This is like GOD bragging or being proud of a man who does not even belong to the chosen people whom HE gave HIS law to. The faith of this man, is that he doesn't need JESUS to go to his house, the centurion believes that anything JESUS will say will indeed happen. The Centurion tells JEUS "Just say the Word and it will be done." The Centurion just wanted an assurance from JESUS by HIS WORDs because the Centurion believes that JESUS indeed is GOD. And with this revelation I have realized how small my faith is compared to the Centurion because GOD has already given me so many promises and signs of what HE said will happen in my life but here I am fasting with the church so that indeed what HE said will happen. It's not only a lack of faith but a lack of trust. But may the LORD redefine my understanding why HE lets me fast.
ApplicationIf only my faith was like that of the Centurion I would not be so depressed and miserable for those times that GOD told me something quite impossible because what I was seeing in reality was actually so far from what GOD was telling me. If only I was like Mary who just believed instead of struggling to understand and figure out how it will happen. Today I understand my need to fast, it is not for GOD to do HIS will in my life but for me to pray for me to subdue my flesh and pray for the people around me to receive their healing becasue they have been broken for a long time. I fast with the church and pray for me to be confident and strong in my faith even if storms come in my life because One WORD from JESUS will silence all the storms. I pray for my Mother to come into humility and repentance from all that she thought is right when it is wrong. I pray for her healing and repentance. I pray for her to be humble and to learn true fear and reverence for GOD who cannot be mocked.

PrayersDear AVI,HOLY is YOUR Name O GOD, maker of Heaven and Earth, Ruler over all being existing in the galaxies. O GOD Almighty, I cling to YOU, I bow to YOU for YOU alone are the reason for my being. Forgive me for every wrong, every doubt, everything I have done that hurt YOU. Help me KING JESUS to do everything according to YOUR Will. And so I continue to pray for YOUR kingdom to come and YOUR will to be done unto Stephen and I and our families, our work, all that YOU have entrusted into our hands, have YOUR way in us, O GOD because YOU are GOD of all. O LORD, please sustain me as I fast and pray for the things that YOU put in my heart, give me YOUR Word and feed my Spirit I pray for YOUR Precious blood to cover me and my family, Stephen and his family as I pray for things concerning us, I pray that YOU encounter Stephen, and continue speaking to him, give him visions, revelations O GOD, a spiritual supernatural experience with YOU because I want us to talk about YOU when we meet the next time. I pray that YOU bless the work of his hands as he helps us solve all our Tax related issues and help with our Accounting. I pray that YOU provide for me education, an teacher or an Accountant, a system software that I can use for the business. I pray O GOD for YOUR grace to be upon all of us. I pray O GOD for salvation upon Stephen and Benita that YOU will keep knocking on their hearts, and that they will suddenly seek YOU - the true and living GOD, open YOUR WORD and seek for eternal things, that cannot be seen in the natural. I pray O GOD, that YOU heal my mother and father from all their past pain and traumas, Deal with all our pride and rid us of all evil O GOD, forgive all our sins O GOD as we forgive those that have wronged us. I pray O GOD forgive us for all that we have done wrong, and do not lead us to tastings and tribulations but deliver us from all evil. O GOD I pray for Randy and Mai that YOU protect their relationship and guide them in their relationship as they journey from friendship to marriage. I pray O GOD, heal them of all their past pain. I pray O GOD that YOU take care of Stephen and Benita, and bring them to YOUR church and that they will experience power from the Most High GOD and they will always belong to YOU. I pray that the rest of their families be saved. I Pray O GOD that YOU put it in my Moms heart that she is loved by all her children, do not let her doubt YOUR love for her but assure her that YOU are in full control and enable her to submit to YOUR Will O GOD. LORD as I seek YOU I pray that YOU guide and direct my steps regarding the Foundation that Mom wants to make. I pray O GOD that YOU will direct me because I only want to follow YOU for YOU are my GOD who is deserving of all my best efforts, my work, my time, my devotion, my love and utmost worship. Please KING JESUS cover me and my household with the blood of JESUS, take care of us O GOD, heal us O GOD, please JESUS King of Kings Faithful and True!!! YOU deserve all the glory, honor and praises!
In the name of JESUS Amen!