God's Glory Church

? 04/16/2023 10:01 a.m. #broadcast “Almost Like Jonah” has started on the Church of God’s Glory channel | Pastor Oleksandr Koltukov 04/16/2023: https://youtu.be/kAub1u8kyW0

“No one has greater love than the one who would lay down his life for his friends.” —John 15:13

Just a few days before Easter week, when Christians around the world remember the sacrifice of Jesus and celebrate his resurrection, a terrorist broke into a supermarket in southwestern France, opened fire and killed two people. After negotiations, the terrorist released all the hostages except one woman, using her as a cover for himself. Aware of the danger, police officer Arno Beltrame did the unthinkable. He voluntarily exchanged the hostage for himself. The criminal let the woman go, but Beltram was wounded during the fight and later died.

A minister who knew the police officer attributed his heroism to his faith in Jesus, pointing to the words of John 15:13: “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” Christ spoke these words to the disciples after their last meal together. He urged His friends: “That you love one another as I have loved you” (v. 12). The greatest manifestation of love is the sacrifice of one’s life for the sake of another (v. 13). This is exactly what Jesus did when he went to the cross for our salvation from sin. Only He could do that.

We may never have to emulate the heroism of Arnaud Beltrame. However, being in God’s love, we can serve others, sacrificing our plans and desires for the sake of witnessing His great love.

How do you react to stories like Arnaud Beltrame’s? How can you sacrificially serve someone today?

Dear Jesus, You died to give me eternal life. Help me live with gratitude for this gift and share it with those whom You send on my path.

By Amy Buescher Pye

“And be kind and merciful to one another, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ forgave you.” — Ephesians 4:32

As a child, my sister and I often had conflicts, but I still remember one moment. After another portion of insulting words that we shouted at each other, my sister said something that at that moment seemed unforgivable. Watching the enmity between us grow, my grandmother reminded us of our duty to love one another. “God has given each of you one sister in life. And you should show a little leniency to each other,” she said. When we asked God to fill us with love and understanding, He helped us to realize how we had offended each other and to forgive.

It is very easy to hold on to bitterness and anger, but God desires for us a peace that can only come when we ask Him to help us let go of resentment (Eph. 4:31). Instead of hiding these feelings, let’s look at Christ’s example of forgiveness, the source of which is love and grace, the desire to be kind and merciful, “forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven [us]” (v. 32). If it is difficult for us to forgive, let us remember the grace that He shows us every day. No matter how many times we fall, His mercy never ends (Lamentations 3:22). God can help us get rid of bitterness in our hearts so that we can live in hope and accept His love.

When did someone offend you? What did you learn from that incident?

Heavenly Father, thank you for the people you have brought into my life. Help me to show love and forgiveness.

Author: Kimya Loder (guest)

“Let him do to me what is good in his eyes.” — 2 Samuel 15:26

Nothing in life came easy to Christina Rossetti, poet and writer. She suffered from depression and various illnesses throughout her life and went through three breakups. She eventually died of cancer.

David entered the national consciousness of Israel as a victorious warrior. At the same time, he experienced difficulties all his life. At the end of David’s reign, his son opposed him; David’s trusted advisor and most of the country’s residents joined his rebellion (2 Sam. 15:1-12). Therefore, David took the priests Eviathar and Zadok and the sacred ark of God and fled from Jerusalem (vv. 14, 24).

However, after Abiathar offered a burnt offering to God, David said to the priest: “Bring the ark of God back to the city. If I find favor in the eyes of the Lord, and He brings me back, then I will see Him and His dwelling” (v. 25). Despite the uncertainty, David said: “And if [God] says this: I do not want you… let him do to me as is good in his eyes” (v. 26). He knew he could trust God.

Christina Rossetti also trusted God, and her life ended in hope. The road may indeed go downhill all the time, but it leads to the Heavenly Father, who awaits us with open arms.

How did it seem to you that the road of life went downhill? How to rely on God’s guidance on the road you are on?

Dear God, life seems so hard sometimes. However, I believe that You are doing everything right for me and for others. Help me to live in Your hope, waiting for the day when I will be with You.

Author: Tim Gustavson

“Sing to the Lord, His saints, and glorify the memory of His sanctuary.” — Psalm 29:5

Many years ago I took care of my mother while she was in hospice. I am grateful to God for the four months that He allowed me to serve her, and I asked Him to help me through the path of grief. It was often difficult for me to praise God while I was in emotional turmoil. When my mother took her last breath, I was overcome with strong sobs, and I whispered: “Hallelujah.” For a long time I felt guilty for praising God in that devastating moment, until years later I looked closely at Psalm 29.

In the “Song of Consecration of the House” David glorified God for His faithfulness and mercy (vv. 2-4). He called others: “Sing to the Lord” (v. 5). Then David looked at how God closely intertwines difficulties and hope (v. 6). He recognized that there are times of sorrow and joy, times of feeling safe and confused (vv. 7-8). His pleas for help are permeated with confidence in God (vv. 8-11). The echo of this praise is heard in the moment of crying and joy, grief and joy (v. 12). After all, David speaks of his undying devotion to God (v. 13).

We, like David, can sing: “Lord, my God, I will praise You forever!” (v. 13). God, in whatever condition we are, can help us express our trust in Him and lead us to worship Him with joyful shouts and tears of praise.

How has God helped you to trust Him even in the face of your emotional turmoil? How to praise Him in times of difficulty?

Dear God, please help me to trust You and praise You as I try to deal with my emotions.

Author: Sosheel Dixon

And Samuel answered: “Speak, Lord, for Your servant is listening.” — 1 Samuel 3:10

I got a call from an unknown number. I often send calls like this to voicemail, but this time I answered. A stranger politely asked if I had a moment to spare and if he could share a short Bible passage with me. He quoted from Revelation 21:3-5, which says that “God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” The man spoke about the fact that the Lord Jesus is our confidence and hope. I replied that I had already come to know Jesus as my personal Savior. Then he offered to pray with me and in prayer asked God to support me and fill me with strength.

That call reminded me of another instance in Scripture when God called the boy Samuel at night (1 Sam. 3:4-10). Samuel heard the voice three times, thinking it was the old priest Eli. Ultimately, with the help of Elijah, Samuel realized that God was calling him, and answered: “Speak, Lord, for Your servant is listening” (v. 10). In a similar way, God can address us, both during the day and at night. We need to spend more time in His presence and listen to His voice.

You can look at such a “call” from the other side. What if we are messengers of God’s words to someone else? Yes, we may not know how to help others. However, following God’s guidance, we can call a friend and ask, “Would you mind if I pray with you?”

Who has encouraged you recently? Who can you cheer up with your call?

Dear God, prompt me to think of those whom I can encourage with Your Word.

By: Kenneth Petersen (guest)

“Do the work of the evangelist.” — 2 Timothy 4:5

While waiting to start university, twenty-year-old Shin decided to devote three summer months to serving in a youth missionary organization. It seemed like an inappropriate time for this, given the restrictions related to COVID-19, which prohibited in-person meetings. However, Shin found a way to serve. “We weren’t able to meet with students on the streets, in shopping malls and in fast food places like we normally do,” she said.

Shin followed the instruction of the apostle Paul, which he gave to Timothy: “Do the work of an evangelist” (2 Tim. 4:5). Paul warned that people will seek teachers who will tell them what they want to hear, not what they really need to hear (vv. 3-4). However, Timothy was called to preach with courage “in season and in season”. Paul told him: “Rebuke, forbid, convince with patience and knowledge” (v. 2).

Although not all of us are called to be evangelists or preachers, each of us can share our faith with those around us. Without Christ, unbelievers will simply perish. Believers need strengthening and encouragement. With God’s help, let us proclaim His good news everywhere and to everyone.

What prevents you from witnessing to the faith? How does the thought of Jesus’ return help you overcome fear?

Dear Jesus, help me to use every opportunity to witness to others about You so that they may find hope and comfort in You.

Author: Po Fang Hia

“And the Lord said to Gideon: “The people that are with you are numerous.” — Judges 7:2

When my son was about three years old, I had an operation, after which I had to recover for a month. Even before the procedure, I imagined how I was lying in bed, and a pile of dirty dishes was piling up in the sink. I did not understand how I would worry about my energetic child and how I would prepare food. I imagined with fear how my weakness would affect the rhythm of our life.

God deliberately weakened Gideon’s army before his battle with the Midianites. First, all who were afraid were allowed to leave the army, and twenty-two thousand men returned home (Judg. 7:3). Then, of the remaining ten thousand soldiers, only those who drew water for drinking with their hands could remain. So, three hundred soldiers remained, and this lack of military strength did not allow the Israelites to rely on themselves (vv. 5-6). They could not say: “My hand saved me” (v. 2).

There are times when many of us feel exhausted and powerless. When this happened to me, I realized how much I needed God. He encouraged me internally through His Spirit and externally through the help of friends and family. I had to lose my independence for a while, but it taught me to rely more on God. Since “[His] power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor. 12:9), we have someone to hope for if we are unable to care for our own needs.

How have you experienced the manifestation of God’s power through your weakness? How can you help a person who feels weak?

God, help me every day to rely on You even more and to feel Your strength in times of difficulty.

Author: Jennifer Benson

? 04/09/2023 10:02 a.m. #broadcast “Jesus Yosypovych. Son of David, Son of Abraham, Adam, God” | Pastor Oleksandr Koltukov 04/09/2023: https://youtu.be/S0O2FLY16BI

“By his wounds we are healed.” — Isaiah 53:5

On Easter Sunday 2020, the famous statue of Christ the Redeemer, which towers over Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, was illuminated in a special way, making Jesus dressed as a doctor. The bright image of Christ in the image of a doctor was made in support of many workers in the medical field who were trying to cope with the coronavirus pandemic. This image resembles the description of Jesus Christ as our Great Healer (Mark 2:17).

During His earthly ministry, Jesus healed many people from physical ailments. For example, He healed the blind Bartimaeus (Mr. 10:46-52), the leper (Lk. 5:12-16), the paralyzed (Mt. 9:1-8). Jesus’ concern for the health of His followers was also manifested in providing for their food needs, when He multiplied bread and fish to feed the multitude of people (Jn. 6:1-13). Each of these miracles reveals the mighty power of Jesus and His sincere love for people.

However, the greatest healing came through His death and resurrection, as prophesied by the prophet Isaiah. “By [Jesus’] wounds we are healed” from the greatest problem – our separation from God, which arose because of our sins (Is. 53:5). Although Jesus does not deliver us from all health problems, we can believe in the solution of our greatest need – the healing of our relationship with God.

How have you experienced the amazing spiritual healing that God has given you? How does a healed relationship with God through Jesus’ sacrifice help you endure physical ailments?

Lord Jesus, thank you for your sacrifice that heals my spiritual sickness. Help me to trust You in times of physical difficulties.

Author: Kirsten Holmberg