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Acknowledge, Faithfully Forever Christ Triumphs In Our Nurture!" (A.F.F.E.C.T.I.O.N)

Ramesh C. Reddy
Publisher

SCRIPTURE:
It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God's grace with me. God can testify how I long for all of you with the AFFECTION of Christ Jesus." (Philippians 1:7-8, NIV)

Approach Question:
What word/s of assurance can you use to describe the relationship of someone you are close to?

Observations:
I asked myself in what context do we see God and Jesus Christ used in this verse?
1. God can testify how I long for all of you.
2.
I long for all of you with the AFFECTION of Christ Jesus.

Interpretation:
I asked myself what is the significance of Paul mentioning God and Jesus Christ?
Paul is so confident in his longing for the Philippians with the AFFECTION of Jesus Christ that he is able to say that GOD CAN TESTIFY on his behalf. Wow! Paul is assured to bank on the testimony of God on his relationship with the Philippians, that it is genuine with the AFFECTION of Jesus Christ!

Implications:
I asked myself what are the implications for my own life?
In any relationship that the Lord Jesus places in my life whether it is with my sweetheart wife Leela, my precious daughters Esther and Evangeline, my family or friends, can I be able to say, 'God can testify that my longing for others is with the AFFECTION of Jesus Christ' or can Satan testify that my longing for others is with the selfishness of Satan. There is no middle ground. It is one or the other in relationships. I want God to be able to testify on my behalf to others that it is with the AFFECTION of Jesus Christ. Anything mentioned in Scriptures has implications for our lives somehow and somewhere because God's entire Word is our instruction manual.

There are and have been relationships in my life that I can confidently say with the apostle Paul, "God can testify how I long for all of you with the AFFECTION of Christ Jesus." And then there are also relationships in my life that I cannot bank on God to testify on my behalf because that AFFECTION of Christ Jesus is not exhibited on my part towards others.

I realized how much the Philippians meant to Paul that he was not shy to use the word AFFECTION in the context of Christ Jesus. It showed me that AFFECTION should not be limited to a romantic relationship alone but AFFECTION of Christ Jesus should be shown to those relationships Jesus has placed in my life. I want AFFECTION of Christ Jesus to be a phrase that people can use about my relationship with them.

The Lord Jesus can place people in our life that our AFFECTION grows based on our own relationship experiences with them BUT more than anything, it is because of our relationship with Jesus Christ. No matter how long I spent with Pastor Hugo, it felt like the time went away like a blink of an eye. Now, when I spend time with Pastor Josh, it feels like the time just flies away. This past Thursday, I was telling Chandra that I spent 4 hours with Pastor Josh discussing spiritual leadership, etc and was shocked that 4 hours went by. It felt like even an hour did not go by. When we have AFFECTION towards another we can spend so much time with them that the time just flies away because we are comfortable being in their presence too. What Pastor Hugo and Pastor Josh has done for me, I felt I should do for the students and young professionals making myself available Tuesdays and Wednesdays for anyone who wants to talk about their lives, need prayer, etc between 9:00 am - 1:00 pm or a time that is convenient for you. If you want to meet, please just text me or call me at 412-641-9426. We can meet where and when it is convenient for you. My wife and I have such AFFECTION towards the international students and families, he has placed in our path. We love playing games with them, sharing spiritual insights with them, and eating homemade Indian food with them.

The purpose of today's devotional for me was to have relationships in such a way that God can testify on my behalf that the longing is with the AFFECTION of Christ Jesus.

I ask you now dear friend, how can your A.F.F.E.C.T.I.O.N grow towards others?
Dear friend, it starts with having loving relationships in life. A relationship does not have to be romantic even though our culture equates 'being in a relationship' with being with a member of the opposite sex but that's not how Paul defined a relationship and neither should we box a relationship in those terms alone.
The day you and I were born, we were meant to be in a relationship with those who loved us. Through the years, the Lord Jesus has placed people in our lives to love us, train us, challenge us, etc for our own growth. Your AFFECTION will grow depending on how much you experience the Lord's love first and foremost.

Jesus wants to have a relationship with you to take all your scars and heal them by His love. You can be in the best relationship possible with the best person who is perfect and will never disappoint you. Yes, friend you can be! He loves you so much and if you were the only one living, He would have still come to have a relationship with you because you are special and precious in His sight. He has called you by Name and will never leave you nor forsake you. Jesus went to the cross for your sake and my sake.  He paid the ultimate price by shedding His precious blood for you and me to cover over all our sins and came back to life on the third day to save us. For when Christ loves you and heals you, He does not want you to live your life alone but be part of a community of believers where we can reciprocate His love for us and His AFFECTION for us.

When you are in a relationship with Jesus, His love in your life will help you find a community of believers where your AFFECTION will grow towards others because of Christ's work in your life. When you experience a relationship with Christ, He will introduce you to a 'Witnessing Community' that can help you experience love that will turn to deep AFFECTION towards others.

The Lord Jesus has used my mommy mightily to help me come to know Jesus as my Lord and Personal Savior so my love for the Lord and experiencing His strong community is what grows my affections towards others. The Lord continues to use my mommy and my darling wife Chandra through their prayers to help me grow in AFFECTION towards others. Thank you Jesus!

You and I can be in a relationship with Jesus and wait upon Him to transform our lives and experience AFFECTION that grows towards others because of what He has already done for us.  I hope you would join me if you do not know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Personal Savior, for He waits for you and is calling you. Yes, He is!

May you rest in Him and Him alone where your AFFECTION will grow towards others because of His love and work in your life! Amen!

"Acknowledge, Faithfully Forever Christ Triumphs In Our Nurture!" (A.F.F.E.C.T.I.O.N)/"How can your A.F.F.E.C.T.I.O.N grow towards others in life?"

Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, thank you so much for how much you love us. Thank you for loving the apostle Paul so much that even though in jail, we see his AFFECTION towards the Philippians because of you. Oh Lord, help others to see our AFFECTION towards others is because of you. In that moment, please touch their lives that they would want to know you as their Lord and Personal Savior too because of your love for them. Touch hearts with your love Oh Lord. Heal the broken hearted and help us make ourselves available for others who need to talk, pray, etc just like
Pastor Hugo, Pastor Josh, Pastor Mike, Pastor Bucknell, Pastor Ridge, Pastor Terrence, Pastor Lake, and Elder Calvin, etc have made themselves available to me time after time. Use us to be a blessing in the lives of others and let them experience your AFFECTION through us. Thanks so much Jesus. In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!

Lord Jesus, You are my all in all. You are my Prince of Peace, Rock, Savior, and Friend. You are my Holy Father guiding me through to live a life of righteousness, holy righteousness. Oh God, I need you more than ever. I need to feel your hands around me holding me tight. I need your love to surround me so that you can glow in my life. Help me please Jesus. I desire in your presence. Thank you for guiding me to live a life of righteousness. Oh God you love me more than ever. You hear my voice when I cry out to you. When I seek your face, you fill me up. You are my all in all. Thank you Jesus so much for your help no matter what I face, your grace is available and you take my case. Thank you for hearing us and answering us. In Your Name I Pray Jesus! AMEN! (Most of the prayer is from a vineyard song called “All in All”)

If you would like to invite Jesus Christ into your heart and make Him a daily part of your life, you can this very moment. You will never be alone. You can claim God's promises for you in the Bible and see them come true, before your eyes, in His wonderful timing. You don't have to wait for a special time to come to the Lord. You can come right now as you pray the prayer below, meaning it in your heart.

Prayer:
God I am a sinner. I am invaded by this deadliest virus. Many times I feel so guilty and yucky inside. I need forgiveness. I am so sorry for my sins. I have not obeyed you with my whole heart! I have gone my own way and done my own things. I  struggle with sin. I need you Jesus in my life so I can receive forgiveness and a new beginning. In the process, I can forgive others as you help me to. Thank you so much Jesus. I accept the antidote you have sent me. I believe Jesus you died for me and your cleansing blood will cleanse me from all my sins. You came back to life to save me. Thank you God I am set free, free from the bondage of sin. Hear my cry Oh Lord. I accept you Jesus into my heart. I make you my Lord and Personal Savior of my life. Thank you Father God for giving me Salvation. Thank you Jesus for coming into my heart and making my heart your home. Thank you for living in me Jesus and I will live for you and serve you the rest of the days of my life. Thank you for being my Lord and personal Savior! I can live a life of peace with you on my side. Thank you that you have heard my prayer and answered me! In your Name I Pray Jesus! AMEN!

No matter what you feel in your heart, know that Jesus has come in and resides with you! You are not alone! To make your walk strong with the Lord, spend time in prayer talking to Him as you would to a friend. You don’t need special words to talk to the Lord. Spend time in His Word reading Psalms and turning them into prayer. Next allow God to heal you and speak to you through the Gospel of John or Gospel of Mark before moving on to other Books of the Bible! Slowly, let the Lord show you to which Scriptures He wants you to go to next. It is also important to be part of a body of believers to help you grow in the faith. Find a Bible believing church that preaches the Word of God from Genesis to Revelation proclaiming Jesus Christ our crucified and risen Lord who brings us hope, healing, and help!

No matter who you are, it is not ever too late to join a Bible-believing church or a college fellowship. I highly encourage each of you to come to Small Group on Friday nights at 7:30 p.m. and Oakland International Fellowship on Sunday mornings at 9:00 a.m. for prayer, 10:00 a.m. for Community Bible Time in Gospel of John, worship at 11:30 a.m, and fellowship lunch at 12:30 pm.

May the Lord's presence and peace fill you with His love now and forever! Amen!

Friend, if you have prayed this prayer and meant it in your heart, you are a new creation in Christ and all old things are passed away and everything has become new! You may feel something or may not but don’t base it on feelings but base your new life in Christ on the promises of our Savior who will never leave you nor forsake you! Amen!

Feel free to email me at reddy4hisglory@gmail.com if you want to meet to study the Bible, pray with, talk about Spiritual issues or whatever is on your mind! My number is 412-641-9426

"This is my work and I can do it only because Christ's mighty energy is at work within me." (Colossians 1:29, TLB)

Express Your View

 

 

Philippians 1:7-8: "Why can you only be saved by G.R.A.C.E alone?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (Jan 13, 20, 10:51 a.m)

Philippians 1:3-6: "Why be C.O.N.F.I.D.E.N.T in the Lord?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (Jan 08, 20, 09:44 a.m)

Philippians 1:3-5: "How can you attain a P.A.R.T.N.E.R.S.H.I.P in the Gospel?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (Jan 08, 20, 09:44 a.m)

Philippians 1:3: "How will others R.E.A.C.T towards God when they remember you?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (Jan 07, 20, 10:07 a.m)

Philippians 1:2: "When do you B.L.E.S.S others in life?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (Jan 06, 20, 11:10 a.m)

Philippians 1:1: "Why bother to let others T.R.A.I.N you when you are already a leader?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (Jan 04, 20, 11:55 a.m)

Philippians 1:1: "Why should you believe you are H.O.L.Y instead of a sinner?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (Jan 03, 20, 9:53 a.m)

Philippians 1:1: "Who will you be a S.E.R.V.AN.T to in life?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (Jan 02, 20, 6:55 pm)

"What will your P.R.E.S.E.N.T look like in 2020?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (Jan 01, 20, 1:13 pm)

 

 

 

 
   
 

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