January 31 Devotion - We are witnesses of Christ

“But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

Acts 1:8

لكنكم ستنالون قوة متى حل الروح القدس عليكم وتكونون لي شهودا في اورشليم وفي كل اليهودية والسامرة والى اقصى الارض
 

We each have a role to talk about the good news and the truth about Jesus to all those who do not believe and/or do not know the good news and the truth. Do you know anyone whom you can help? Even if you just forward devotions to them, that is a beginning.

 Here is the good news:

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

لانه هكذا احب الله العالم حتى بذل ابنه الوحيد لكي لا يهلك كل من يؤمن به بل تكون له الحياة الابدية

John 3:16

 

I invite you to repeat the following prayer for yourself:

Abba Father, thank You for Your abundant blessings and love. Expand my focus Jesus, and bring me into harmony with Your divine purpose of reaching the world with the good news of the gospel and the truth about Your identity. Jesus, I pray that You strengthen me with power through Your Spirit in my inner being, so that I can help others to believe in You and feel your presence in their lives. In the Holy Name of Jesus I pray. To Him be the glory and the power and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Jesus loves you
In Him,
Wagdi Henein

January 30 Devotion - As Christian believers we are set apart for God (saints)

To the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who in every place call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord

Ephesians 1:1, 1 Corinthians 1:2.

The word “saint” comes from the Greek word hagios, which means “consecrated to God, holy, sacred, pious.” The idea of the word “saints” is a group of people set apart for the Lord and His kingdom. Therefore, scripturally speaking, the “saints” are the body of Christ, Christians, the church. All Christian believers are considered saints in The bible and at the same time are called to be saints. Christians are saints by virtue of their connection with Jesus Christ. Christians are called to be saints, to increasingly allow their daily life to more closely match their position in Christ. This is the biblical description and calling of the saints. In the Bible, everyone who has received Jesus Christ by faith as Lord and Saviour is a saint.

I invite you to repeat the following prayer for yourself:

Abba Father, thank You for Your abundant blessings and love. Thank You Lord that through Jesus’ redemptive work at The Cross I am sanctified and I am set apart for God. Now may the God of peace himself sanctify me completely, and may my whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians 5:23 Lord, I pray that out of Your  glorious riches that You strengthen me with power through Your Spirit in my inner being, so that I can increasingly allow my daily life to more closely match my position in Christ. In the Holy Name of Jesus I pray. To Him be the glory and the power and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Jesus loves you
In Him,
Wagdi Henein

January 29 Devotion - Jesus paid His life for us

For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s, knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, ¹⁹ but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.

1 Corinthians 6:20, 1 Peter 1:18-19

لانكم قد اشتريتم بثمن.فمجّدوا الله في اجسادكم وفي ارواحكم التي هي لله عالمين انكم افتديتم لا باشياء تفنى بفضة او ذهب من سيرتكم الباطلة التي تقلدتموها من الآباء

19 بل بدم كريم كما من حمل بلا عيب ولا دنس دم المسيح

Apart from the blood of Christ, you and I could not have a relationship with our Heavenly Father. Jesus’ sacrificial death made it possible for sinful man to approach Holy God. Because of His blood, we are redeemed (purchased at a price) and , forgiven.

Our obligation toward our redeemer is in proportion to the price which is paid for our redemption. A price far more valuable than any amount of silver or gold has been paid for our redemption and we are under proportionate obligation to devote ourselves to His service. Believers are redeemed by the life of the Son of God offered in their behalf; and between the value of the life of The Son of God and silver and gold there is no comparison.

I invite you to repeat the following prayer for yourself:

Abba Father, thank You for Your abundant blessings and love. Thank You Lord that Jesus bought me with His precious blood and through Jesus’ redemptive work at The Cross I am granted access to You God, my Heavenly Father and I will spend eternity with You. Lord, I pray that out of Your  glorious riches that You strengthen me with power through Your Spirit in my inner being, so that I can continue to declare to the world that Christ is my Lord and Saviour and Friend and behave in a such a way that pleases Your spirit within me. In the Holy Name of Jesus I pray. To Him be the glory and the power and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Jesus loves you
In Him,
Wagdi Henein

January 28 Devotion - We are united with the Lord

But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.

1 Corinthians 6:17

 واما من التصق بالرب فهو روح واحد.

When we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour we have the same spirit, in measure, which Christ our Mediator with God has without measure. We have the Spirit of God, as a spirit of faith and holiness and of adoption. We are also sealed for eternity.

I invite you to repeat the following prayer for yourself:

Abba Father, thank You for Your abundant blessings and love. Thank You Lord that as a follower of Your Son Jesus I am joined with Jesus and enjoy the same spirit. I pray that out of Your  glorious riches You strengthen me with power through Your Spirit in my inner being, so that I can continue to declare to the world that Christ is my Lord and Saviour and Friend and behave in a such a way that pleases Your spirit within me. In the Holy Name of Jesus I pray. To Him be the glory and the power and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Jesus loves you
In Him,
Wagdi Henein

January 27 Devotion - Jesus is our Friend

No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.

John 15:15

   لا اعود اسميكم عبيدا لان العبد لا يعلم ما يعمل سيده .لكني قد سميتكم احباء لاني أعلمتكم بكل ما سمعته من ابي .

 

A slave does not know the plans of his/her master or owner. He receives the commands of his master without knowing the reasons why they are ordered. Friendship on the other hand allows one to be made acquainted with the plans, wishes, and wants of the friend. This instance of friendship Jesus had shared with His disciples the reasons why he was about to leave them, and with His secret wishes in regard to them. As He had given them this proof of friendship, it was proper that He should not withhold from them the title of friends.

The reason why He calls us friends is that He treats us as friends. He has opened to us His mind; made known to us His plans; acquainted us with the design of His coming, His death, His resurrection, ascension, and second coming; and, having thus given us the clearest proof of friendship, it is therefore proper that He gives us this name.

We should always look at Jesus as our friend, even though He is also our Lord and master.

 I invite you to repeat the following prayer for yourself:

Abba Father, thank You for Your abundant blessings and love. Jesus You laid Your life for me and said: “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” John 15:13 Thank You Jesus  for loving me and treating me like Your friend. LORD, I pray that out of Your glorious riches You strengthen me with power through Your Spirit in my inner being, so that I can continue to declare to the world that Christ is my Lord and Saviour and Friend. In the Holy Name of Jesus I pray. To Him be the glory and the power and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. 

ليس لاحد حب اعظم من هذا ان يضع احد نفسه لاجل احبائه

 

Jesus loves you

In Him,

Wagdi Henein

January 24 Devotion - We are children of God

But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name. We are freed from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

واما كل الذين قبلوه فاعطاهم سلطانا ان يصيروا اولاد الله أي المؤمنون باسمه.

تُحَرَّرَ هِيَ أَيْضاً مِنْ عُبُودِيَّةِ الْفَسَادِ إِلَى حُرِّيَّةِ الْمَجْدِ الَّتِي لأَوْلاَدِ اللهِ.   

John 1:12

            Romans 8:21

When we receive Jesus as our Saviour and believe that He bore our sins in His own body at The Cross, and surrender our lives to Christ we are freed from the bondage of this world into the glorious liberty of the children of God. God sanctifies us when we accept Jesus as our Lord and Saviour, and He continues to sanctify us to make us clean vessels properly prepared for His good works. Sanctification is an ongoing work in our lives as Christians.

 

I invite you to repeat the following prayer for yourself:

Abba Father, thank You for Your abundant blessings and love. Lord I praise You and glorify You. Thank You Lord that I am a child of God and I was purchased with the precious blood of Christ. Thank You Lord that You redeemed me and granted me forgiveness of my sins, according to the riches of Your grace. LORD, I pray that out of Your  glorious riches You strengthen me with power through Your Spirit in my inner being, so that I can continue to declare to the world that Christ is my Lord and Saviour and Jesus may continue to dwell in my heart through faith and continue to sanctify me on a daily basis . In the Holy Name of Jesus I pray. To Him be the glory and the power and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

 
Jesus loves you
In Him,
Wagdi Henein

January 23 Devotion - Joy and Grace

. .

 

This is the day the LORD has made;
         We will rejoice and be glad in it.

Psalm 118:24

هذا هو اليوم الذي صنعه الرب. نبتهج ونفرح فيه

 

Today is a gift. That is why they call it the ‘present’. Let us rejoice in it.

The Greek word in the Bible for ‘joy’ is ‘chara’ and the verb is ‘charein’ which is often translated ‘to rejoice’. Closely related is the word ‘charis’ which is translated to be ‘grace’.

I explore this to present my point that I believe it is ‘Charis’ that produces ‘Chara’ or in English, it is ‘Grace’ that produces ‘Joy’. Understanding the word of God increases our appreciation of His Grace, and our feeling of Joy.

 I always wondered and struggled for years to understand how the Apostle Paul was feeling joy while being held prisoner in a dungy Roman prison cell and how from there he told us to:

Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!
افْرَحُوا فِي الرَّبِّ دَائِماً، وَأَقُولُ أَيْضاً: افْرَحُوا.

Philippians 4:4

My belief is that The Apostle Paul probably felt God’s grace so powerfully that it overshadowed all the negative feelings of being chained in a Roman prison to the point that he actually felt joy.

Jesus said:

“These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.”

كلمتكم بهذا لكي يثبت فرحي فيكم ويكمل فرحكم

John 15:11

All through the Bible we see evidence of God wanting us to be joyful, irrespective of the situation. Let’s concentrate on God’s grace and the magnitude of His love for us expressed through His grace and that on its own is reason enough for quantum joy.

I invite you to repeat the following prayer for yourself:

Abba Father, thank You for Your abundant blessings and love. I praise You and glorify You.

Lord, thank You that You gave me today as a present for me to rejoice in. I praise You, I thank You, I glorify You and I rejoice in You. Fill me God totally and envelop me with Your Grace, so that I can feel an inner joy independent of circumstances. Jesus I long for and pray that Your Joy remain in me and that my Joy be full and that I may always have the Fruit of The Spirit, Joy, bubbling within me. Hallelujah. In the Holy Name of Jesus my Lord and Saviour I pray. To Him be the glory and the power and the dominion forever and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Jesus loves you
In Him,
Wagdi Henein

January 21 Devotion - Part 5 The Fruit of The Spirit - Gentleness (Meekness) and Self-Control

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.

واما ثمر الروح فهو محبة فرح سلام طول اناة لطف صلاح ايمان

وداعة تعفف.

Galatians 5:22–23

Gentleness (Meekness) is love as an expression of humility, considering the needs and hurts of others before one's personal goals.

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.

Ephesians 4:2

Self-control is love to be Spirit led so as not to indulge our sinful nature

 Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control

Proverbs 25:28

 

I invite you to repeat the following prayer for yourself:

Abba Father, thank You for Your abundant blessings and love. I praise You and glorify You. O gracious and merciful God, fill my heart with the fruit of Your Holy Spirit. Father God, teach me, help me and strengthen me to be completely humble and gentle; to be patient, bearing others in love. Strengthen the walls of my spirit and body Lord by gifting me with self-control. I pray in the mighty name of Jesus my Lord and Saviour to whom be power and glory forever and ever and unto ages of all ages. Amen.

Jesus loves you
In Him,
Wagdi Henein

January 20 Devotion - Part 4 The Fruit of The Spirit - Goodness and Faithfulness

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.

واما ثمر الروح فهو محبة فرح سلام طول اناة لطف صلاح ايمان
وداعة تعفف.

Galatians 5:22–23

 

Goodness is love choosing to do what is right … in God’s eyes.

 

"Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power"

2 Thessalonians 1:11

 "For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth"

Ephesians 5:9

 

Faithfulness (faith) is love in keeping commitments in relationships. Only The Holy Spirit can produce the quality of loyalty no matter the cost.

 

O Lord, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth

Isaiah 25:1

 

I invite you to repeat the following prayer for yourself:

Abba Father, thank You for Your abundant blessings and love. I praise You and glorify You.

O gracious and merciful God, fill my heart with the fruit of Your Holy Spirit. God please count me worthy of this devotion ministry calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of Your goodness, and the work of faith with power. I pray that out of Your glorious riches You may strengthen me with power through Your Spirit in my inner being, so that I always exalt You Lord, and praise Your name, for You have done wonderful things for me. Your counsels to me have always been faithful and true. I pray in the mighty name of Jesus my Lord and Saviour to whom be power and glory forever and ever and unto ages of all ages. Amen.

January 17 Devotion - Part 3 The Fruit of The Spirit - Longsuffering and Kindness

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.

واما ثمر الروح فهو محبة فرح سلام طول اناة لطف صلاح ايمان

وداعة تعفف.

Galatians 5:22–23

      Longsuffering (patience) is love waiting for God to reveal to you and in you what He desires to reveal.

 We are strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy;

Colossians 1:11

 

With all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love,

Ephesians 4:2

Kindness is love reacting to those around you. Kindness and goodness are joined with patience to teach that a sweet disposition and doing good toward people is the way to stay with them in love.

 

I invite you to repeat the following prayer for yourself:

Abba Father, thank You for Your abundant blessings and love. I praise You and glorify You.

O gracious and merciful God, fill my heart with the fruit of Your Holy Spirit. Help me Lord to be patient and to find Your joy in longsuffering situations. I pray that out of Your glorious riches You may strengthen me with power through Your Spirit in my inner being, so that I may bear others in gentleness and love and be able to do good toward them.

I pray in the mighty name of Jesus my Lord and Saviour to whom be power and glory forever and ever and unto ages of all ages. Amen.

Jesus loves you
In Him,
Wagdi Henein

January 16 Devotion - Part 2 The Fruit of The Spirit - Joy and Peace

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.

واما ثمر الروح فهو محبة فرح سلام طول اناة لطف صلاح ايمان

وداعة تعفف.

Galatians 5:22–23

 Joy is love enjoying all of the goodness of God. The first result of true love in relationships is the evidence of joy.

“The joy of the Lord is your strength.”

Nehemiah 8:10

 

Peace is love resting on the promises of God.

"Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ

Romans 5:1

 

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit"

Romans 15:13

I invite you to repeat the following prayer for yourself:

Abba Father, thank You for Your abundant blessings and love. I praise You and glorify You.

O gracious and merciful God, fill my heart with the fruit of Your Holy Spirit. Let me enjoy all Your goodness Lord so that my heart will be filled with joy and let your strength be manifested in my life.

My God of hope, I trust in You, fill me with all joy and peace so that I may overflow with hope by the power of The Holy Spirit. Lord I rest on Your promises, fill me with Your peace which is above my comprehension.

I pray that out of Your glorious riches You may strengthen me with power through Your Spirit in my inner being, so that Christ may dwell in my heart through faith. I pray in the mighty name of Jesus my Lord and Saviour to whom be power and glory forever and ever and unto ages of all ages. Amen.

Jesus loves you
In Him,
Wagdi Henein

January 15 Devotion - THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.

واما ثمر الروح فهو محبة فرح سلام طول اناة لطف صلاح ايمان
وداعة تعفف.

Galatians 5:22–23

 

"Fruit of the Spirit" is a Biblical term that sums up the nine visible attributes of a true Christian life. We learn from scripture that these are not individual "fruits" from which we pick and choose. Rather, the fruit of the Spirit is one ninefold "fruit" that characterizes all who truly walk in the Holy Spirit. Collectively, these are the fruits that all Christians should be producing through The Holy Spirit. The way to the fulfillment of the law is not to live under the law like slaves, but to live by the Spirit as children of God.

 

The fruit of the Holy Spirit is first and foremost love. All of the other qualities associated with having the Holy Spirit flow from the presence of God’s love in us.

And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.

1 John 4:16

 I invite you to repeat the following prayer for yourself:

Abba Father, thank You for Your abundant blessings nd love. I praise You and glorify You.

O gracious and merciful God, fill my heart with the fruit of Your Holy Spirit - love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.
Fill me Jesus with the moral qualities produced by the Spirit. Teach and strengthen me to love those who hate me; to pray for those who despitefully use me; so that I may be a child of God, my Father, who makes the sun to shine on the evil and on the good and send rain on the just and on the unjust. Fill my heart dear Lord with Your unconditional Agape love.I pray that out of Your glorious riches You may strengthen me with power through Your Spirit in my inner being, so that Christ may dwell in my heart through faith. Ephesians 3:16-17
Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that I ask or think, according to the power that works in me, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21

والقادر ان يفعل فوق كل شيء اكثر جدا مما نطلب او نفتكر بحسب القوة التي تعمل فينا

 

له المجد في الكنيسة في المسيح يسوع الى جميع اجيال دهر الدهور.آمين 
Jesus loves you

In Him,

Wagdi Henein