April 10 Devotion - Jesus' Resurrection

For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, ⁴ and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, ⁵ and that He was seen by Peter, then by the twelve. ⁶ After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once.

 

 فَالْوَاقِعُ أَنِّي سَلَّمْتُكُمْ، فِي أَوَّلِ الأَمْرِ، مَا كُنْتُ قَدْ تَسَلَّمْتُهُ، وَهُوَ أَنَّ الْمَسِيحَ مَاتَ مِنْ أَجْلِ خَطَايَانَا وَفْقاً لِمَا فِي الْكُتُبِ، 4 وَأَنَّهُ دُفِنَ، وَأَنَّهُ قَامَ فِي الْيَوْمِ الثَّالِثِ وَفْقاً لِمَا فِي الْكُتُبِ، 5 وَأَنَّهُ ظَهَرَ لِبُطْرُسَ، ثُمَّ لِلاثْنَيْ عَشَرَ. 6 وَبَعْدَ ذلِكَ ظَهَرَ لأَكْثَرَ مِنْ خَمْسِ مِئَةِ أَخٍ مَعاً

1 Corinthians 15: 3-5

The fact that Jesus rose from the dead is vital to Christians because our justification depends on it.

He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.

 الَّذِي أُسْلِمَ لِلْمَوْتِ مِنْ أَجْلِ مَعَاصِينَا ثُمَّ أُقِيمَ مِنْ أَجْلِ تَبْرِيرِنَا

Romans 4:25

A dead Saviour cannot save, but we have a living Saviour who justifies us and makes intercessions for us.

Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them

وَهُوَ لِذَلِكَ قَادِرٌ دَائِماً أَنْ يُحَقِّقَ الْخَلاصَ الْكَامِلَ لِلَّذِينَ يَتَقَرَّبُونَ بِهِ إِلَى اللهِ. فَهُوَ، فِي حَضْرَةِ اللهِ، حَيٌّ عَلَى الدَّوَامِ لِيَتَضَرَّعَ مِنْ أَجْلِهِمْ وَيُحَامِيَ عَنْهُمْ!

Hebrews 7:25

Although different denominations differ on the date of the resurrection of Christ because they use different calendars, Jesus’ resurrection is not a denominational issue or a point for theological debate. Either we believe Christ rose from the dead and ascended to heaven or we do not. If we reject His victory over the grave, we deny ourselves a place in eternity.

Believing that the Lord Jesus Christ rose from the dead is essential for Christians, because merely recognizing that He died for our sins is not enough; we must accept His resurrection in order to receive eternal life. Christ paid our debt, but His sacrifice on the cross means nothing if He possesses no power over the grave. In vanquishing evil and death, the Lord made our salvation possible. Jesus’ resurrection proved He was able to remove sin and its penalty.

I invite you to repeat the following prayer for yourself:

Jesus, I confess that You are my Lord and Saviour, and I know that I know that I know in my heart that God raised You from the dead. Jesus, I thank You for saving me through Your atoning death on The Cross and Your resurrection , and for making me righteous in the eyes of God our Father. Thank You Jesus, that because I believe in Your resurrection, I am granted eternal life. Abba Father, I thank You for Your unfailing, inseparable, deep and everlasting love for me, Your abundant blessings in my life, and for the riches of Your grace upon my life. Father God, I praise You, revere You, worship You, I stand in awe of You, I lift You up on high, and glorify Your holy name. I pray in Jesus’ holy name to You Father. To Jesus be the power, the glory, the majesty, the blessings, and the dominion before all time, now and forevermore. Amen.

 

In Him,

Wagdi Henein

April 9 Devotion - God Shall Supply All Your Need

 

My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

وَإِنَّ إِلَهِي سَيَسُدُّ حَاجَاتِكُمْ كُلَّهَا إِلَى التَّمَامِ، وَفْقاً لِغِنَاهُ فِي الْمَجْدِ، فِي الْمَسِيحِ يَسُوعَ.

Philippians 4:19

 

Please note that God is telling us through the Apostle Paul that our needs will be supplied "according to His riches in glory". We have needs in many areas: spiritual, emotional, health wise etc. So to understand God’s supply as an example in the financial area (and it applies to all other needs) the Bible verse does NOT say “according to the current economic status” but according to His riches in glory. The Lord is telling us He will supply ALL our needs this way. It is God's will to bless us abundantly in all our needs, but we need to believe that He will and wait patiently for His perfect timing and we have to:

 

.. seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

أَمَّا أَنْتُمْ، فَاطْلُبُوا أَوَّلاً مَلَكُوتَ اللهِ وَبِرِّهِ، وَهَذِهِ كُلُّهَا تُزَادُ لَكُمْ.

Mathew 6:33

 

I invite you to repeat the following prayer for yourself:

Abba Father, thank You for Your unfailing, inseparable, deep and everlasting love for me and Your abundant blessings in my life. Lord, You know all my needs and You have promised to provide them when I seek first Your Kingdom and Your Righteousness. Teach me not to worry about tomorrow and let tomorrow to worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Help me to transfer my anxieties to Christ and to ‘help’ You by letting You be God and I Your faithful servant and friend. I rejoice in the victorious thought that You are taking care of me, and You have never failed to keep any of Your promises. God, I leave all my present and future needs at Your alter for I know You are faithful, omniscient, and love me perfectly. Father God, I pray to You in the holy name of Jesus. To Jesus be the glory, the power, the dominion, the majesty, and the blessings forever and ever. Amen.

 

In Him,

Wagdi Henein

April 2 Devotion - Jesus Institutes the Lord’s Supper

 

When the hour had come, He sat down, and the twelve apostles with Him. ¹⁵ Then He said to them, “With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; ¹⁶ for I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.”

¹⁷ Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, “Take this and divide it among yourselves; ¹⁸ for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”

¹⁹ And He took bread, gave thanks, and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”

²⁰ Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.”

 

وَلَمَّا حَانَ الوَقْتُ، أخَذَ يَسُوعُ مَكَانَهُ إلَى المَائِدَةِ وَمَعَهُ الرُّسُلُ. 15 وَقَالَ لَهُمْ: «كَمِ اشتَهَيتُ أنْ أتَنَاوَلَ عَشَاءَ الفِصْحِ مَعَكُمْ قَبْلَ أنْ أمُوتَ. 16 لِأنِّي أقُولُ لَكُمْ إنِّي لَنْ أتَنَاوَلَهُ ثَانِيَةً إلَى أنْ يَكْتَمِلَ مَعْنَاهُ فِي مَلَكُوتِ اللهِ.»

 

17 ثُمَّ تَنَاوَلَ كَأسَ نَبِيذٍ وَشَكَرَ اللهَ، وَقَالَ: «خُذُوا هَذِهِ الكَأسَ وَاشْرَبُوا مِنْهَا كُلُّكُمْ. 18 فَأنَا أقُولُ لَكُمْ لَنْ أشرَبَ هَذَا النَّبِيذَ إلَى أنْ يَأْتِيَ مَلَكُوتُ اللهِ.»

 

ثُمَّ أخَذَ خُبْزًا وَشَكَرَ اللهَ، وَقَسَّمَهُ وَأعْطَاهُمْ إيَّاهُ وَقَالَ: «هَذَا هُوَ جَسَدِي الَّذِي يُبذَلُ مِنْ أجْلِكُمْ. اعمَلُوا هَذَا تَذكَارًا لِي.» 20 وَعَادَ فَتَنَاوَلَ كَأسَ النَّبِيذِ بَعدَمَا تَعَشَّوْا وَقَالَ: «هَذِهِ الكَأسُ هِيَ كَأسُ العَهْدِ الجَدِيدِ الَّذِي يُقْطَعُ بِدَمِي الَّذِي سَيُسفَكُ مِنْ أجْلِكُمْ.

Luke 22: 14-20

 

Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. ⁵⁴ Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. ⁵⁵ For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. ⁵⁶ Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them. ⁵⁷ Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. ⁵⁸ This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your ancestors ate manna and died, but whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.”

 

فَقَالَ لَهُمْ يَسُوعُ: «أقُولُ الحَقَّ لَكُمْ: يَنْبَغِي أنْ تَأْكُلُوا جَسَدَ ابْنِ الإنْسَانِ وَتَشْرَبُوا دَمَهُ، وَإلَّا فَلَنْ تَكُونَ لَكُمْ حَيَاةٌ فِي دَاخِلِكُمْ. 54 مَنْ يَأْكُلُ جَسَدِي وَيَشْرَبُ دَمِي لَهُ حَيَاةٌ أبَدِيَّةٌ، وَأنَا سَأُقِيمُهُ فِي اليَوْمِ الأخِيرِ. 55 جَسَدِي طَعَامٌ حَقِيقِيٌّ، وَدَمِي شَرَابٌ حَقِيقِيٌّ. 56 مَنْ يَأْكُلُ جَسَدِي وَيَشْرَبُ دَمِي يَسْكُنُ فِيَّ، وَأنَا أسْكُنُ فِيهِ.

 

57 «الآبُ الحَيُّ أرْسَلَنِي، وَأنَا أحيَا بِالآبِ. هَكَذَا أيْضًا، مَنْ يَأْكُلُنِي فَسَيَحْيَا بِي. 58 هَذَا هُوَ الخُبْزُ الَّذِي نَزَلَ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ. وَهُوَ يَخْتَلِفُ عَنِ المَنِّ الَّذِي أكَلَهُ آبَاؤُكُمْ وَمَعَ ذَلِكَ مَاتُوا، فَمَنْ يَأْكُلُ هَذَا الخُبْزَ سَيَحْيَا إلَى الأبَدِ.»

John 6:53-58

 

 The flesh and blood of the Son of man, denote the Redeemer in the nature of man; Christ and Him crucified, and the redemption created by Him, with all the precious benefits of redemption; pardon of sin, acceptance with God, the way to the throne of grace, the promises of the covenant, and eternal life. These are called the flesh and blood of Christ because they are purchased by the breaking of His body, and the shedding of His blood. Also, because they are food and drink to our souls.

 

Eating this flesh and drinking this blood means believing in Christ. We partake of Christ and His benefits by faith. The soul that rightly knows its state and wants, finds whatever can calm the conscience, and promote true holiness, in The Redeemer, God manifest in the flesh. Meditating upon the Cross of Christ gives life to our repentance, love, and gratitude. We live by Him, as our bodies live by our food. We live by Him, as the members by the head, the branches by the root: because He lives (resurrected) we shall live also. (Adapted from Mathew Henry’s explanation of the Bible).

I invite you to repeat the following prayer for yourself:

 

Abba Father, thank You for the riches of Your grace upon my life which allows me to be forgiven through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus on my behalf. Through Your redemption Jesus I also receive the precious benefits of redemption, pardon of sin, acceptance with God, the way to the Throne of Grace, the promises of the covenant, and eternal life. Thank You Jesus for suffering on my behalf, I believe in You and declare You my Lord and Saviour. Thank You Jesus for Your body which is given for us and for the new covenant of grace through Your blood which was shed for us. God I praise You, revere You, worship You, I stand in awe of You, I lift You up on high, and glorify Your Holy Name. Thank You Father for Your unfailing, inseparable, deep and everlasting love for me, and Your abundant blessings in my life. Now to Him who is able to carry out His purpose and do infinitely beyond our greatest prayers, hopes, or dreams, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever. Ephesians 3:20-21 (AMP) Amen.

 

Jesus loves you,                                                                                          

In Him,

Wagdi Henein

April 1 Devotion - Involve God in every decision

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

⁶ لاَ تَقْلَقُوا مِنْ جِهَةِ أَيِّ شَيْءٍ، بَلْ فِي كُلِّ أَمْرٍ لِتَكُنْ طَلِبَاتُكُمْ مَعْرُوفَةً لَدَى اللهِ، بِالصَّلاَةِ وَالدُّعَاءِ، مَعَ الشُّكْرِ.

 

 

Philippians 4:6

 

Do you think we should pray about every single detail in our lives?

God did not exclude anything. What would a child pray about? Jesus said in Mark10:15 “Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”

 In Psalm 37:23(NLT): The LORD directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives.     

There are some commandments and guidelines that God has given us, so we should not pray to God asking Him obvious things like: God should I love my neighbour? Because He told us we should, however we can pray to God to help us love them.

Other than God’s commandments and guidelines, I believe we should pray for every detail in our lives.

We seem to keep prayers only for big demands or crisis. Praying for and about everything keeps us in constant communication and connection with God and that pleases His heart and is very useful for us.

 

 I invite you to repeat the following prayer for yourself:     

Abba Father, thank You that You love me so much that You want to fellowship with me all day and You desire that I involve You in all my thoughts and actions. I appreciate that You are omnipresent(available everywhere) omniscient (all knowing), and You are interested in every detail in my life. Help me Lord to develop the habit to pray to You about every detail of my life. Thank You Father God for Your abundant blessings in my life, and for the riches of Your grace upon my life. In the holy name of Jesus, I pray. To Jesus be the glory, the power, the dominion, the majesty, and the blessings forever and ever. Amen.

Jesus loves you,

In Him,

Wagdi Henein

 

March 31 Devotion - When We Feel Frustrated

So too the [Holy] Spirit comes to our aid and bears us up in our weakness; for we do not know what prayer to offer nor how to offer it worthily as we ought, but the Spirit Himself goes to meet our supplication and pleads in our behalf with unspeakable yearnings and groanings too deep for utterance.

 

وَكَذلِكَ الرُّوحُ أَيْضًا يُعِينُ ضَعَفَاتِنَا، لأَنَّنَا لَسْنَا نَعْلَمُ مَا نُصَلِّي لأَجْلِهِ كَمَا يَنْبَغِي. وَلكِنَّ الرُّوحَ نَفْسَهُ يَشْفَعُ فِينَا بِأَنَّاتٍ لاَ يُنْطَقُ بِهَا.

Romans 8:26

 

 

The Webster Dictionary defines Frustration as: A deep chronic sense or state of insecurity and dissatisfaction arising from unresolved problems or unfulfilled needs.

 

As humans we sometimes experience a deep sense of frustration that derives from problems or needs beyond our control. What we need to remember during the period of frustration is: God is in the process of revealing a great lesson to each one of us.

 

I believe He allows frustrations to build up so that we will be driven back to Him in prayer. His intent is twofold:

1. He wants us to become stronger, lighter, and peaceful once we get on our knees and pray

 

2. In that mode we can hear His voice better and understand His direction for us.

I invite you to repeat the following prayer for yourself:

Abba Father, I need The Holy Spirit to meet my supplication and to plead on my behalf for I do not know what prayer to offer nor how to offer it worthily as I ought. Jesus, come to me like You came to Your disciples walking on the water through the storm and help me to sail through my storm Jesus and strengthen me spiritually, emotionally, and physically and give me rest for in Your holy name I pray to The Father. To Jesus be the power, the glory, the majesty, the blessings, and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

 

 

In Him,

Wagdi Henein

 

March 29 Devotion - Palm Sunday

 

As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.”

4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:

 

5 “Say to Daughter Zion, ‘See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’”

 

6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. 8 A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,

 

“Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”

 

“Hosanna in the highest heaven!”

 

10 When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?”

 

وَلَمَّا اقْتَرَبُوا مِنْ أُورُشَلِيمَ، إِذْ وَصَلُوا إِلَى قَرْيَةِ بَيْتِ فَاجِي وَقَرْيَةِ بَيْتِ عَنْيَا، عِنْدَ جَبَلِ الزَّيْتُونِ، أَرْسَلَ يَسُوعُ اثْنَيْنِ مِنْ تَلاَمِيذِهِ،

 ² قَائِلاً لَهُمَا: «اذْهَبَا إِلَى الْقَرْيَةِ الْمُقَابِلَةِ لَكُمَا، وَحَالَمَا تَدْخُلاَنِ إِلَيْهَا، تَجِدَانِ جَحْشاً مَرْبُوطاً لَمْ يَرْكَبْ عَلَيْهِ أَحَدٌ مِنَ النَّاسِ بَعْدُ: فَحُلاَّ رِبَاطَهُ وَأَحْضِرَاهُ إِلَى هُنَا.

 ³ وَإِنْ قَالَ لَكُمَا أَحَدٌ: لِمَاذَا تَفْعَلاَنِ هَذَا؟ فَقُولاَ: الرَّبُّ بِحَاجَةٍ إِلَيْهِ، وَفِي الْحَالِ يُرْسِلُهُ إِلَى هُنَا».

 ⁴ وَانْطَلَقَا، فَوَجَدَا الْجَحْشَ مَرْبُوطاً عِنْدَ الْبَابِ خَارِجاً عَلَى الطَّرِيقِ، فَحَلاَّ رِبَاطَهُ.

 ⁵ فَقَالَ لَهُمَا بَعْضُ الْوَاقِفِينَ هُنَاكَ: «مَاذَا تَفْعَلاَنِ؟ لِمَاذَا تَحُلاَّنِ رِبَاطَ الْجَحْشِ؟»

 ⁶ فَأَجَابَاهُمْ كَمَا أَوْصَاهُمَا يَسُوعُ فَتَرَكُوهُمَا.

 ⁷ فَأَحْضَرَا الْجَحْشَ إِلَى يَسُوعَ، وَوَضَعَا ثِيَابَهُمَا عَلَيْهِ، فَرَكِبَ عَلَيْهِ.

 ⁸ وَفَرَشَ كَثِيرُونَ الطَّرِيقَ بِثِيَابِهِمْ وَآخَرُونَ بِأَغْصَانٍ قَطَعُوهَا مِنَ الْحُقُولِ.

 ⁹ وَأَخَذَ السَّائِرُونَ أَمَامَهُ وَالسَّائِرُونَ خَلْفَهُ يَهْتِفُونَ: «أُوصَنَّا! مُبَارَكٌ الآتِي بِاسْمِ الرَّبِّ !

 

Mathew 21:1-10 NIV

 

Note: A colt that had not been used was considered holy by the Jews and was fit to carry a king.

 

I invite you to repeat the following prayer for yourself and others:

 

Jesus, I pray that as You entered Jerusalem, that You enter my heart triumphant and welcomed. I lay in front of You my palms in prayer regarding everyone who has not yet accepted You as Lord and Saviour that they do so, and that You enter their hearts and fill their hearts with Your peace and love. In the name of the King of kings and Lord of lords, in the holy name of Jesus I pray to You Father. To Jesus be the glory, the majesty, the power, and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

 

In Him,

Wagdi Henein