Announcement

 With the Lord's wonderful help, I will be able to post again. Thank you for your patience through this difficult time. So many technical difficulties. But, with the Lord's help, I am more than able to get it done. I made a mistake of relying on my own strength to do this ministry and not His. This morning He spoke to me and gently corrected me concerning this matter. I asked and thanked Him for His forgiveness as I repented  before Him. Have a blessed week. I am excited to meet with you here. Please have a blessed week. 

Technical Difficulty

I am so sorry. I am having technical difficulty. Need a new computer. Both were old and the last one is trying to give out. Working on the problem. Please pray. I need the Lord’s help on this one.

It's Time to Grow Up Buttercup

                           It’s Time to Grow Up Buttercup

  

           Hello and welcome to My Little House of Prayer. I am your host Dayla Smith. I am so very glad that you could join me today. Let’s open in prayer.

                     Let’s review: 1 Corinthians 13Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

                   We are discussing verses 8-11. I know that the title might be a bit too abrasive, but it is not meant to be. I say it with a bit of joy in my voice. According to Ephesians 4:13-16   13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

                    You see, today’s society teaches us to wear our heart on our sleeve. To get offended at every little thing. I call it looking for a fight. My husband used to do this. He’d walk around cranky, trying to pick a fight with me. After a while, you get tired of this. So, I would look at him and tell him, “Look, if you are looking for a fight, you are looking in the wrong direction. This town has bars all over the place. Go look for a fight there. But you won’t find it here.” The first time I said that to him, he bursted out in laughter. “You’re right mama. I’m sorry.” he said.

                Flesh always wants to get even. But, we are called to forgive. I did not see this coming. When we first started out in this study of 1 Corinthians 13, the title began with You Are Offensive to Me. I believe that as we looked at what love was not, that we have learned that love is a beautiful expression of the glory of God. That is is offensive to God fur us not to walk out our lives in this glorious expression of Him who loves all of us unconditionally. Who doesn’t want to be used in this way? To be the tool the Lord uses to ultimately change someone’s life hopefully for forever. 

               So, looking at verse 8 and 9, we learn that we can have all the gifts of the Holy Spirit. But, they are worth absolutely nothing in the eyes of the Lord. They don’t determine your salvation. They already belong to Him. In the end, they will be done away with for us in the capacity that we use them on this side. Remember, it says in 1 Corinthians 15:51-57   51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 

                 So, when all the good works are taken away, what will we have left? It says in 1 Corinthians 3:13-15   13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

              As Christians we will be judged according to our works. Whose name were we lifting up through our works of the love of God? Ours or His? It takes faith to walk out this crucified walk with the Lord. That is one of the reasons Yeshua told us to count the cost if we choose to accept His contract of salvation. Hebrews 11:1 says, Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. So, it takes faith to do the works of the Lord. To be able to love people the way that He is telling us to love. That is why we need to get in His presence. We can’t give what we don’t have. We love because He first loved us. It takes faith to get in presence. It takes faith to believe that He is speaking to us and that through His Holy Spirit, we are instructed in His righteousness how to love people the Lord’s way. 

                          Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Our faith in the Lord allows us to perform works of righteousness. James 2:14-26   14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

              You see, we can’t have faith without works, or works without faith. We can’t have neither without the love of Christ. We are to let the light of Christ so shine before men. How else will we be able to do greater works than Christ like He promised? Did you know that the greatest miracle ever worked was that of a lost soul who was once dead in sin and now is alive in Christ. This is the greatest resurrection.We have to live His way. Love His way. The Lord, ourselves, and then, others. Remember flesh wants to protect itself, but Jesus Christ of Nazareth said for us to deny our flesh. Jesus Christ our Lord is that which is perfect. He is the truth, the life, and the way. He is calling us to grow up in the measure and stature of Christ. Where we put away our childish behaviors. To be mature Christians. 

                     

                    If you do not know the Lord Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior. Let me introduce you to Him. It is really simple. First you must acknowledge that you are a sinner in need of a savior according to the mirror of the law of the Lord. Ask Him for His forgiveness for all of your sins and call them out to Him. Thank Him for His forgiveness. Then, forgive those who have sinned or transgressed against you. Then, repent. Repent means to change your mind concerning sinful habits. Change your choice making decisions. Let Him influence your choice making decisions as you get in His Holy Word. Ask Him to be Lord over your life. I want to pray this prayer with you. But, this is just an outline. The real work begins after I pray with you because it is a very personal walk with the Lord Jesus Christ of Nazareth. 

                    Lord Jesus, I confess my sins and ask for your forgiveness. Please come into my heart as my Lord and Savior. Take complete control of my life and help me to walk in Your footsteps daily by the power of the Holy Spirit. Thank you Lord for saving me and for answering my prayer. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

                               If you have made the decision to give your life to Jesus, let me be one of the first to welcome you to the body of Christ. All of heaven is greatly rejoicing over your decision today. Please let me know of your decision today. I want to pray for you. If this message has brought up any questions or spoke to you in some way, or if you have any prayer requests; please let me know by commenting below, private messaging me, or you can email me at my1littleafmp@aol.com. I would greatly love to hear from you. Remember I love you with the Love of the Lord but Jesus will always love you more.

(close in prayer)

Oh, Sweet Victory in Jesus!!

                          Oh, Sweet Victory in Jesus!!

        

              Hello and welcome to My Little House of Prayer. I am your host Dayla Smith. I am so very glad that you could join me today. Let’s open in prayer. Oh, what a day to just take a moment to praise His wonderful name. The Lord is great and worthy to be praised. Yes we are still discussing this great chapter in 1 Corinthians 13. So, let’s review this passage. But, I am so excited to look at verses 7-8. Did you know that 1 Chorinthians 13 is considered the love chapter in the bible.

                Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

               Today we are looking at verses 7-8. Love : * bears all things * believes all things * hopes all things * endures all things * Love never fails!! So, I want to discuss these 4 points that culminate in victory in Jesus Christ! This is just so exciting. 

                    I want us to look at these 4 key points in a corner of each square. Here is a picture of what I’m talking about. Wikipedia describes the name of the Lord. How His wonderful name forms a square. The Tetragrammaton (/ˌtɛtrəˈɡræmətɒn/; from Ancient Greek τετραγράμματον (tetragrámmaton) '[consisting of] four letters'), or the Tetragram, is the four-letter Hebrew theonym יהוה‎ (transliterated as YHWH or YHVH), the name of God in the Hebrew Bible. The four letters, written and read from right to left (in Hebrew), are yodh, he, waw, and he.[1] The name may be derived from a verb that means "to be", "to exist", "to cause to become", or "to come to pass".[2] While there is no consensus about the structure and etymology of the name, the form Yahweh is now accepted almost universally, though the vocalization Jehovah continues to have wide usage.[3][4][5]

                  The books of the Torah and the rest of the Hebrew Bible except Esther, Ecclesiastes, and (with a possible instance of the short form יה‎ in verse 8:6) the Song of Songs contain this Hebrew name.[4] Observant Jews and those who follow Talmudic Jewish traditions do not pronounce יהוה‎ nor do they read aloud proposed transcription forms such as Yahweh or Yehovah; instead they replace it with a different term, whether in addressing or referring to the God of Israel. Common substitutions in Hebrew are Adonai ("My Lord") or Elohim (literally "gods" but treated as singular when meaning "God") in prayer, or HaShem ("The Name") in everyday speech.

                 So, here it is in picture form. The four corners of His name start from bottom right and end at the bottom left. 

L - yod - wisdom - love bears all things

O  - hey - knowledge - love believes all things

R - vah - understanding - love hopes all things

D - hey - prudent choice - love endures all things

                   So, let’s look at these four points. In the first corner is the first letter of the name of the Lord. In this corner we find wisdom. So, I believe the Lord is saying to us right here, that it is the wisdom of the Lord is for us to bear all things. In the Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance bears all things means to roof over, i.e. (figuratively) to cover with silence (endure patiently): forebear, suffer, (a thatch, or deck of a building, roof. In the Webster’s Dictionary it means to carry, to endure, support, sustain, conduct oneself, to produce or bring forth, show to be true, confirm, be productive, to press or weigh down, overwhelm, have reference, to be relevant to, to confirm the truth, to endure with courage, to listen patiently.

                   I love the definition of bear meaning a roof over. You Jesus Christ intercedes on our behalf. He bore the weight of the curses of sin for all mankind, once and for all. He is our covering. Song of Solomon 2:4 He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love. Did you know that the prayer shawl the priests would wear, the Lord would call it a prayer closet. It formed a roof over their heads. Now that we are a holy priesthood in His name, He is our roof. When we intercede for one another, bearing one another's burdens, we are being used as a roof over them. How powerful is this? That He can use even our prayers for someone to bring them out of their storms into the safety of his love.

                    When I read these definitions, I think of these 2 scriptures. Galatians 6:2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. And, 1 Peter 4:8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.

                   In the second corner found on the top right is the second letter of the name of the Lord. O. In this corner, we find that hopes all things are found in the knowledge of the Lord. In the knowledge of the Lord we are to believe all things. Believe in the Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance means : to have faith (in, upon, or with respect to, a person or thing), i.e. credence; moral conviction (of religious truth, or the truthfulness of God or a religious teacher), especially reliance upon Christ for salvation; abstractly constancy in such profession; by extension the system of religious (Gospel) truth itself; assurance, faith, or fidelity. In the Webster’s Dictionary this word means: to accept as true, to think, to be convinced of, to have religious faith.In Hebrews 12 Sarah was able to conceive because she counted Him faithful who had promised.  When I read this I think of this particular scripture, 1 John 5:14-15   14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.  You see, we are not to put our confidence in mankind. We are to trust the Spirit of Jesus Christ in them. You know, follow me as I follow after Christ. Mankind is imperfect, fallible. The Lord is perfect. As we allow Him to have His perfect work done in us, we are to pass that same patience on to others. We are to believe for the best for others and in others.

                    In the top left corner we find Understanding. That Love hopes all things. In the Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance, hope means : to expect or confide, or trust. In the Webster’s Dictionary it means : aa  feelling that what is wanted will happen; the object of this; a person or thing on which one may base some hope; to want and expect, or to have hope for. Hebrews 11 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. And, Titus 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

                    Not only are we to hold on to this hope for ourselves, but we are to share this hope with others. Encourage them with the good news, the gospel. This is our one and only hope in this life. And in a world without hope, we are to share our hope. To encourage one another with this beautiful hope. 

                    Finally in the bottom left corner we find prudent choice. Prudent choice helps us to endure all things. Endure in the Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance means : to stay under (behind), i.e. remain, figuratively to undergo, i.e. bear (trials), have fortitude, persevere, abide, patient, take patiently, suffer, tarry behind. And in the Webster’s Dictionary, this word means to undergo, tolerate, to continue in existence, to last out. Hebrews 12:1-2   12 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. And, Philippians 3:13-14   13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

                    So, we are to persevere in our faith. Stand strong in our faith. Faith in what? The Lord Jesus Christ and His saving grace towards all mankind. Whenever the relationships get hard to stick with, remember that there is an eternal battle. The battle for the Name of the Lord. A battle for souls. In this day and age, society teaches us that whenever the relationships get difficult we can just leave those relationships. We are allowed to have conditions on how long or how much we will love. Jesus Christ tells us that this is not right. That we are to love others as we would want to be loved. Love should be as enduring as the love of God is. Paul said this in Ephesians 3:18-21   18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

                     Then when we have accomplished all four of these corners in the love of God, we accomplish the sweet victory in Jesus Christ of Nazareth! That love never fails! The love of God is infallible. Has never and will never fail. Look at what happened at the cross of Calvary. Then go to the tomb of death. You will find the unconditional, unchanging love of God that brings everlasting life to any and all who come to Him. 

                    If you do not know the Lord Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior. Let me introduce you to Him. It is really simple. First you must acknowledge that you are a sinner in need of a savior according to the mirror of the law of the Lord. Ask Him for His forgiveness for all of your sins and call them out to Him. Thank Him for His forgiveness. Then, forgive those who have sinned or transgressed against you. Then, repent. Repent means to change your mind concerning sinful habits. Change your choice making decisions. Let Him influence your choice making decisions as you get in His Holy Word. Ask Him to be Lord over your life. I want to pray this prayer with you. But, this is just an outline. The real work begins after I pray with you because it is a very personal walk with the Lord Jesus Christ of Nazareth. 

                    Lord Jesus, I confess my sins and ask for your forgiveness. Please come into my heart as my Lord and Savior. Take complete control of my life and help me to walk in Your footsteps daily by the power of the Holy Spirit. Thank you Lord for saving me and for answering my prayer. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

                               If you have made the decision to give your life to Jesus, let me be one of the first to welcome you to the body of Christ. All of heaven is greatly rejoicing over your decision today. Please let me know of your decision today. I want to pray for you. If this message has brought up any questions or spoke to you in some way, or if you have any prayer requests; please let me know by commenting below, private messaging me, or you can email me at my1littleafmp@aol.com. I would greatly love to hear from you.