True Riches

El Chayil Christian Fellowship

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We believe in "ELOHIM," the plurality of God. Singular but plural. One God in three persons. Genesis 1:26 says, "Let US make man in OUR image...." GOD the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit existed even before the beginning of creation. Come and join our fellowship!

"...that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ." - 1 John 1:3

Martes, Mayo 14, 2024

TAKE YOUR PLACE

Take Your Place

[For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection.

- Philippians 3:10, The Amplified Bible

The more you fellowship with God around His Word, the more you’ll know the “power outflowing from His resurrection.” You’ll develop joy. You’ll develop faith. You’ll start developing God’s own characteristics...just by fellowshiping with Him. You’ll begin to understand who you really are in Jesus.

I remember one day I was reading the story of the woman with the issue of blood who touched the hem of Jesus’ garment and was healed.

I’d read the story many times and pictured myself as almost everyone in the story, just experiencing how it would feel to be someone in the crowd or even the one who was healed.

Suddenly God spoke to my spirit and said, Read that again and this time picture yourself as the one wearing the garment.

I was stunned. “Lord,” I said, “how can I do that? I can’t take Your place!”

That’s just what’s wrong with the Body of Christ, He told me. That’s the reason the world doesn’t know anything about Jesus. You identify with everyone except Me. But I sent you to be My witnesses, to imitate Me, to stand in My place...not everyone else’s!

So, I read that story again. This time I pictured myself in the role of the one with the Anointing of the Holy Ghost. Instead of crawling up to touch the hem of His garment, I was the one wearing the garment, freely giving what God had given me. After all, the Bible does say, “Clothe yourself with the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Do you know who scares the devil most of all? Believers who’ve found out they can do that. Believers who, instead of begging for a little touch from Jesus, are letting His very life flow out to others.

Come on, give the devil a scare. Fellowship with your Father around the Word and start discovering who you really are today.

Scripture Reading: Luke 8:40-48

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WHO IS JESUS?

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"...that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ." - 1 John 1:3

Linggo, Abril 28, 2024

OBEDIENCE: NO SMALL THING

Obedience: No Small Thing

But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.

- Luke 6:49

Do you ever have seasons in your life when it seems like every time you go to church and every time you spend time in prayer and every time you open the Bible, you receive a revelation from God? I do. Spiritually, everything will be going great. I’ll be higher than a Georgia pine. Then, suddenly, something starts to happen. I start drying up in spiritual things.

It seems like it doesn’t make any difference what I pray or how much I read the Word, I can’t get anywhere spiritually. I’m so dry my spirit’s creaking!

That used to baffle me. I didn’t know what the cause was. I didn’t have any sin in my life. I’d taken care of that. I was still praying. Still meditating. Still acting on and confessing the Word. But instead of getting results, I was getting nowhere. I’d stand in front of my mirror and confess faith over and over again and the only thing that happened was that my voice got tired!

If that’s ever happened to you, may I make a suggestion? Backtrack and find the last thing God told you to do that you didn’t do—and do it!

It’s probably nothing big. Just a seemingly small thing. But, believe me, those minor disobediences will dry up the flow of the Spirit just like the major ones will.

Most of us don’t realize that. We’ll get on our knees and say, “Oh Lord, I want to go to China for You. I’ll go to Africa. I’ll go to Russia.” But when God says, Go next door, we just shrug it off.

“I can’t do that,” we’ll say. “That guy next door doesn’t like me. Besides, I want to be like Brother Schambach and get a big tent.”

If you’ve done something like that, repent. Then pick up where you left off and do what God directed. And from now on, remember, no matter how insignificant God’s instructions may seem, obeying them is no small thing! It’s those simple acts of obedience that will make your spiritual house stand...or fall. All the small things combined become the direction of our lives.

Scripture Reading: Luke 16:1-10

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WHO IS JESUS?

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"...that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ." - 1 John 1:3

Miyerkules, Nobyembre 15, 2023

RIVERS OF FAITHFULNESS

Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, “Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.” (When he said “living water,” he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him.)

John 7:38–39 NLT

In 2 Corinthians 5:21, the apostle Paul tells us, “For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ” (NLT). Jesus has borne the responsibility of sin entirely on our behalf. That truth displays God’s faithfulness, which is a fruit of the Spirit. The strength of faithfulness is that its origin is in God. It’s His faithfulness—not my own—that sustains me. It’s not that I am faithful to Jesus but that Jesus is entirely faithful to me. And He is entirely faithful to you. This is evidenced by His Spirit in us, pouring forth “rivers of living water” (John 7:38) that refresh our souls.

What an invitation! To relax upon the “rivers of living water” is to rest from our work and yet still be moving. We are progressing by the river’s power. Faithfulness, then, is the substance upon which we rest (see Hebrews 11:1). Jesus’ faithful work on the cross made us alive together with Him (see Colossians 2:13). His faithfulness freed us from sin and made us children of God! It’s in being who we are—God’s children—that we reflect our Father’s faithful nature.

What about the responsibilities of life that rush all around? I relate to Martha who had her own sink full of dirty dishes to clean. Jesus said, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things” (Luke 10:41 NKJV). On the other hand, her sister Mary was praised for choosing the good part—the sitting-at-Jesus’-feet part. The good news is the Spirit’s indwelling empowers us to be Mary and Martha at the same time.

Jesus said, “It is best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Advocate (the Spirit) won’t come. If I do go away, then I will send Him to you” (John 16:7 NLT). Jesus baptizes us with His Spirit, gracing us with the ability to sit at His feet while we wash the dishes! Both are possible because “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me” (Galatians 2:20). Our union with Jesus enables us to work faithfully while also resting in His faithful work! This is the power of relaxing in the river of living faithfulness that is His Spirit in and through us.

Prayer

Thank You for Your faithfulness, Jesus. You are the strong and dependable One in this relationship! Holy Spirit, please remind me of God’s faithful love. I choose to relax in receiving the Spirit that You pour into me and through me. Thank You that I am empowered to progress in life by the current of Your living water. In relaxing, I worship You. I trust You! I sit at Your feet and behold You, even as I meet the demands of life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Activation

Spend some time purposely relaxing. Get comfortable. Set your head back on the couch. Turn the eyes of your heart to God. Ask Jesus to pour His Spirit into and through you like living water. As you breathe, rest in the reality of His power carrying you. What does the Holy Spirit want to say to you about this?
What responsibilities worry and trouble you? Decide to approach those demands with a heart turned toward Jesus. Choose to worship God by “sitting at His feet” as you do your work. In what way does this inner awareness change the burden of the job?

For Further Study

2 Corinthians 5:21 Colossians 2:13 Galatians 2:20

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"...that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ." - 1 John 1:3

WHO IS JESUS?

Matthew 5:38–48 Psalm 25:6–7 Psalm 42:8 Psalm 143:8

Sabado, Nobyembre 11, 2023

THE GOD KIND

A 21 day Daniel Fast Devotional (Nov. 1-21, 2023)

Day 11

THE GOD KIND

by Thomas Miller

Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise You.

Psalm 63:3 NKJV

I struggled to “get” it. It was just so difficult for me to understand. I knew it was true, but it was hard for me to feel like it was true.

You see, for several years of my life, from my late teens to my early 20s, I just didn’t live for God. Although I grew up in church, I had chosen to walk away from what I knew to be right. My words, my actions, my thoughts—my life—were focused on me. Partying, promiscuity, and pretending were all parts of day-to-day living.

But then God in His power and providence turned my life around. He stepped into the mess of my life and showered me with His kindness. I repented of my sins, wholeheartedly started following Him, and for the first time in my life had a deeply intimate, personal relationship with Jesus Christ. He loved me!

Yet I struggled to comprehend and fully receive it. God was so unrelentingly kind to me, but I didn’t deserve it. It was difficult for me to look at the life I had been living and feel like I could receive His kindness. It felt like I was taking something that didn’t rightfully belong to me and that I didn’t deserve. I was embarrassed by my past choices. How could God continue to be so kind to me when I had been so apathetic toward Him for so many years?

As I’ve continued to follow Him, though, God has time and time again showed me that this life I live is truly about the love relationship I have with Him—the love relationship that starts from Him. Who He says I am is who I am. I am not defined by my past; I am defined by His love for me. What a kind Father He is!

Even to this day, if I look at my daily mistakes, mess-ups, or missteps, it’s easy to feel puzzled by God’s kindness. Why would He still be so kind to me? Well, the truth is that His kindness is zero percent based on my failures and 100 percent based on His love for me. And that is true for you as well. His kindness toward you flows completely from His character, not from your flaws, faults, or failures. He is kind because of Who He is. His kindness is greater than, bigger than, and beyond any of our understanding. It’s mysterious. But it’s real! We may not “get” it, but we get it. In other words, we may not fully understand it, but we are daily recipients of it. And it flows from Him in every season and every second, through the highs and the lows, the successes and the failures. Moment by moment, you can count on God’s kindness.

In Psalm 63:3, David exclaims to God that His lovingkindness is better than life itself. How could anything be better than the precious gift of life? After all, if we don’t have life, what do we have? But let me ask you this—: what is life without the kindness of God? David knew that this life has true joy, meaning, and fulfillment only in God’s kindness toward us.

So then the next question is this: since we’ve received such great kindnesses from God, how should we treat the people around us? There will definitely be times when others do things that annoy us, hurt us, or offend us. Their words and actions may even be malicious. So how should we respond? In those instances, the typical (and understandable) response is to either avoid, ignore in a passive-aggressive way, snap back, or retaliate. Those are all natural responses. But as followers of Jesus, we have His Spirit dwelling in us, and we’re called to respond supernaturally—by showing kindness.

You might be thinking, Wait, does this really apply to everyone? My family, my friends, and those I work with? What about those people I just casually meet throughout the day? Am I supposed to show kindness to every single person with whom I come in contact? The answer is actually yes. I’ve discovered that when you show God’s kindness throughout your daily life, it’s like shining a light in the darkness. That warm glow of kindness stands in such stark contrast to what people experience in other parts of their lives. It’s like a cup of cold water to the thirsty. Kindness is truly a gift. And it shines the light and love of God, even if people don’t realize that it’s God they are experiencing.

God’s kindness flows directly from Who He is. It’s not something He just shows on the outside yet in reality feels different on the inside—kindness is fully connected with Who He is. And His kindness can flow from His heart directly to you and then through you to others. It can be fully connected with how you feel on the inside and who you are as a person. The God kind of kindness always loves from the inside out. It is gracious to all and flows freely no matter how the other person acts. It is constant.

God’s kindness is a gift you can give so many times throughout the day every day. Through your words and actions, your small, medium, and large acts of kindness can show God’s love to so many. His type of kindness is better than life. And you get to give it to everyone!

Choose today and every day to give kindness—the God kind.

Prayer

Father, Your kindness to me is better than life and anything else in this life. I ask You to live Your life through me so I can show Your kindness to everyone around me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Activation

Reflect on the times when God has shown His amazing kindness toward you. How did His kindness change your heart?
Think about those who have offended you. Ask God to soften your heart toward them and show you ways to demonstrate kindness to them.

For Further Study

(Just click the verses to read it)

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"...that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ." - 1 John 1:3

WHO IS JESUS?

Ephesians 4:32 Colossians 3:12 2 Timothy 2:24 Philippians 2:4

Biyernes, Nobyembre 10, 2023

BE KIND, BE INTENTIONAL

A 21 day Prayer and Fasting Devotional (Nov. 1-21, 2023)

Day 10

BE KIND, BE INTENTIONAL

In the New Testament, kindness is translated from the Greek word chrestotes, which means ‘the quality of being warmhearted, considerate, humane, gentle, and sympathetic.’ It can also be described as a characteristic of true love as described in 1 Corinthians 13:4: “Love endures with patience and serenity, love is kind and thoughtful, and is not jealous or envious; love does not brag and is not proud or arrogant” (AMP).

An illustration of kindness in the Bible can be seen in the actions of the Roman centurion (officer) in Luke 7:2–6. The centurion had a servant who became ill, and the centurion did everything in his power to heal this servant. Now, the centurion could have used his resources in a different way, such as hiring a new servant. But kindness compelled him to use every resource at his disposal to help his servant find healing. When the centurion appealed to Jesus, the Lord could see his intentionality. Jesus knew the centurion was motivated by compassion and kindness, and He could feel his faith. Jesus spoke a healing word from a distance, and the centurion’s servant was instantly made well.

How often do we see someone in need from a distance? How often do we hear the quiet voice of the Holy Spirit speak to our hearts to help someone with groceries, assist someone who is struggling, or speak a word of encouragement to someone who needs uplifting? As we act on what we hear and feel in these times, we are intentionally giving kindness to others. We are being the hands and feet of Jesus. Intentional kindness is the heart of God. Intentional kindness can—and will—change the world.

Prayer

Father, please give you me Your eyes for those around me and help me see where I can show kindness today. Search my heart thoroughly, Father, and give me a heart of kindness. Highlight those around me who need a word of encouragement from You. Thank You, Lord, for Your intentional love toward me. Help me give what I have received from You to others and show me what intentional kindness looks like so I can love people well. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Activation

Reflect on a time when someone was kind to you. How did it make you feel?
What would your life look like if you made the decision to walk in intentional kindness for 10 days in a row? Do you accept the challenge?

For Further Study

(Just click the verses to read it)

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"...that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ." - 1 John 1:3

WHO IS JESUS?