The Scripture for meditation this month comes from Jeremiah chapter one. This chapter records Jeremiah’s call by God to the office of prophet. God was letting him know that even before he was formed in his mother’s womb, He knew who he was. In other words, he was not an afterthought but was very much in the mind of God. Not only was he in God’s mind as a person, but also in terms of his destiny and purpose. God had ordained that Jeremiah would be a prophet for the glory of His Kingdom.

Initially, Jeremiah used the fact that he was young as an excuse for not desiring the destiny he was being called to. As you read further in the chapter, God assures him that he has been equipped with everything he would need to stand in that office. Similarly, God has put within each of us the ability to fulfill the destiny that he has called us to. Our responsibility is to find out what that destiny is and walk in it. Jesus is our great example of one who came to earth with a purpose and would not relent until that purpose was fulfilled. In John 17:4, Jesus says, “… I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.” Jesus did not get sidetracked or distracted by anyone or anything. He kept on the course that God had ordained for him and finished what He was given to do.

God has a destiny for every person that is born into this world. No one is born without a purpose and a destiny. King David in Psalm 139, verse 16 says, “Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.” David is echoing God’s words to Jeremiah that before he became a person God already knew who he was. In the world today, there are so many people who have been convinced by the enemy that they have no real reason for being born. They have allowed themselves to believe this lie and live vacuous and purposeless lives. Some take their lives by committing suicide to escape what they see as a cruel world that has no purpose for them, failing to realize that they are born into a God-given destiny. Many never discover their purpose because they live their lives apart from God. The destiny that God has ordained for each of us is only fulfilled as we follow Him and allow His will to be accomplished in our lives.

Scripture Reading: Jeremiah 1:4-19

The meditation for this month is on a subject that is very close to my heart, being a carrier of God’s presence. The Scripture that I have chosen for the text of this meditation comes from Exodus chapter 33. Prior to this time, Moses had gone up on Mt. Sinai to receive the 10 Commandments. He stayed so long that the people doubted his return and decided to replace the worship of the one true God with that of a golden calf. Their decision angered God to the point that he was going to destroy them. Had it not been for the intercession of Moses, they would have been totally wiped out. These people were like many Christians of today, they took the presence of God for granted. They did not really seem to appreciate the fact that God was protecting, watching over them, and keeping them on their journey to the land of promise. How soon they forgot His presence in their midst!

After accepting Moses’ intercession for the people, God told him that He was not going to go in their midst, but that he would send an angel before them. Moses having talked with God realized that it was His presence that they needed more than anything else, and tells God that if His presence did not go with them, he did not want to go. Of course this expression of Moses’ heart caused God to relent and once again be in their midst . God has sent His presence among the people of God today by the Holy Spirit. When Jesus ascended up to heaven, He told His disciples that He would send the Comforter to abide with them always. The Holy Spirit is God’s presence that comes to live in the hearts of all of those who receive Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord. Because Jesus comes to live in us, it is His presence that we carry. This means that as go about our daily living, whether in our neighborhood, on our job, or wherever we go, we are to be carriers of His presence. A brief look at the Acts of the Apostles will help us to clearly understand what this means.

In Acts chapter 5 is an account of what resulted as the Apostles carried His presence. Verse 12 states, “And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people…” God’s presence was so powerful with them that verse 15 says, “Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them.” Just imagine, the people were so influenced by God’s presence in them that they had faith to believe that just by the shadow of Peter they could be healed! It did not stop here because if you read the following verse (16) it is told that not just sick people but those who were demon possessed were delivered. They were truly carriers of the Presence.

Dear reader, if you are a Spirit-filled believer, I want to ask you the question, are you carrying His presence? Do people know when you enter their presence that there is something different about you? Are the sick being healed as you carrying His presence? Are the demon possessed being delivered? Do people desire to know how they can receive the Holy Spirit? You were not given His Spirit solely for your own edification. You were given His Spirit to carry His presence wherever you go and to change the atmosphere t reflect His glory. Let us cry out daily for more of Him, and the demonstration of His presence to those who do not know him by healing the sick, casting out devils, bringing many to salvation. Do not be like the children of Israel in their journey through the wilderness who did not honor God’s presence and worshiped an alien God. God alone is who we serve, and if we do so with all of our heart, we will be carriers of His presence.

Scripture Reading: Exodus 33; Acts 5:12-16

For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

June is the month for many events among which is Father’s Day. For those who presently have or have had a good father it is a very pleasant time of remembrance and gift-giving. For the fatherless, or orphans, it can be a depressing and painful time. Our present day society has grown progressively more fatherless, with an increasing number of teenage mothers, women whose husbands have abandoned them, families in which the father has died in wars, and the list goes on.  Needless to say, fatherlessness is all around us. However, there is a father, who supersedes all earthly fathers, and he is, Father God.  He is the one true Father that we can lean and depend on, and totally trust.

If you’ll notice in our meditation Scripture it says “For ye have not received a spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, father. The word “Abba” in the Greek is a term which expresses endearment and relationship, and is used by a son or daughter when speaking of their father. The English equivalent of this term is, the word daddy. It cannot be used by a servant or one who does not have a relationship brought about by blood ties. As Gentile believers, we have been adopted into the family of God by the shed blood of Jesus Christ. It is this relationship, which allows us to call God ,Abba father. Sin held us in bondage until Jesus Christ died on the cross, giving us the freedom to become a part of the family of God. You cannot call God your father if you have never become a part of his family. Becoming a part of his family involves giving your life to him by accepting Jesus Christ as your personal savior, and moving forward to receive the abundant life of the Spirit. No longer do you have to live in fear because of the ravages of sin.

So many times, an individual’s natural relationship with their earthly father affects their relationship with the heavenly Father. If the earthly father was untrustworthy, dictatorial or difficult to please, these characteristics were carried over to one’s opinion about Father God. Such individuals have a difficult time trusting God and believing that he is a loving father, who cares about them and loves them unconditionally. It is in such a case that one needs to pray that God will teach them what it means for Him to be their Father. In fact, because the love of God is so much greater than natural human love, it is incumbent upon believers to seek to know God intimately as Father.  One thing for sure, he will never forsake or abandon you (Hebrews 13:5-6). He will always watch out for you and protect you (Psalms 91:1-4). He will provide everything you need for both your natural and spiritual life (2Peter 1:3).  Do you know God as your father? Have you become a part of His family by establishing a trusting and intimate relationship with Him? I challenge you to get to know Him as Father because in doing so your life will never be the same, and the absence or presence of an earthly father whether for good or bad, will not keep you from experiencing God’s best in your life.

Scripture Reading: Romans 8:14-17

This month’s topic for meditation is a distress call, mayday — mayday — mayday. May Day is an emergency code, used internationally as a distress signal in radio communications. A mayday situation is one of great or imminent danger in which an aircraft, vehicle, vessel or person is in need of assistance. Whenever this call is heard, rescue teams and emergency preparedness teams spring into action. The Scripture quoted above in Joel 2:1 is a Mayday call. The prophet Joel is calling the nation of Israel to take note of their sins and turn to God. He was putting out a warning that can also apply to the day we are living in. The news is filled with reports of earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, ecological disasters, and a plethora of foreboding situations that continue to occur around the world. It does not take a rocket scientist to realize that our nations as well as the nations of the world are in crises. The root cause of these crises is a turning away from the will and purposes of God that He has determined for each nation. There is a great shaking going on, and everything that can be shaken is being shaken.

There are many who are responding to the situation in our nation and world with fear. There are others who have a lackadaisical attitude and are only concerned about their welfare and could care less about the conditions that surround them. However, there are those who are hearing the Mayday call of God and are rising up to do the will of God and carry out His work in these difficult times. They are not afraid to declare the word of God and to stand for what they believe. Political correctness when it opposes the word of God is not a part of their agenda. The truth of the Word of God is the foundation on which they stand. Those who hear the Mayday call are positioning themselves to bring the demonstration of the power of God to an unbelieving world.

God is calling the Church in this hour to hear what the Spirit is saying, and to pull down strongholds of moral decadence and establish standards of righteousness. Passivity cannot be a part of the mindset of those who hear because their faith will be demonstrated by action. Matthew 11:12 says, “From the time of John the Baptizer until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful people have been seizing it (GW). The Mayday call is a clarion call to be answered by those who understand that it is high time to advance the Kingdom of God in the earth. Nothing short of full surrender to God will qualify one to be a part of the Army to advance His kingdom. Dear brothers and sisters do you hear the call? Have you surrendered your all to Him who through the Holy Spirit will enable you to do exploits in His Name? Now is the time.

Scripture Reading: Joel 1,2