Kingdom Of God

April 11, 2024·Rapha Abreu

Prayer: Merciful like Christ

I spoke last week about how our mercy is often selective and limited. Today, I want to pray with you about this, to be meek and have a heart filled with God’s love and grace. We need to express this care that the Father has for us, reflecting this to the people around us, being witnesses of God’s grace and mercy on earth. And God has His eyes and ears open to receive our prayer at all times. Remembering that you don’t need to pray exactly as I’m going to say here. I know that everyone has their own way of communicating with the Father, and it is important that we seek this intimacy. Feel free to talk to the Lord in your way. But if you wish, I am here to accompany you in this prayer. Prayer “God, I want to be more like you. Knowing You transforms me every day, walking with the Lord renews me. I know how much I make mistakes. I am not worthy of Your love, but even so, the Lord continues to pour it into me abundantly. Your mercy accompanies me every day, and just as the Lord forgives and consoles me, I […]

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April 08, 2024·Rapha Abreu

Selective mercy

God expects from us a merciful heart, just like His. And in several biblical passages, He teaches us about mercy, love, and compassion… But have you truly been merciful? Weaknesses “Not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.” Philippians 2:4 One of the things I ask God for the most, and where He has worked the most in me, is patience. It’s understanding other people’s timing and difficulties, as this sometimes prevents me from being merciful. Our tendency is not to show mercy toward what is not our weakness, but to desire mercy in our moments of weakness. What hurts us deserves all the grace and gentleness in the world, but have we shown gentleness and grace toward what doesn’t cause us pain but affects others? The Bible calls us beyond ourselves. And I write this text in complete vulnerability about one of my own struggles as well. Unit “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together […]

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April 04, 2024·Rapha Abreu

Prayer: Anointing of the Spirit

God grants us gifts, pours His grace upon us, and empowers us for various actions, specific to each of His children. But, furthermore, He also desires to anoint us in these areas. He has set us apart for the Kingdom and guides us daily toward His work. I want to invite you to pray today for this anointing, for boldness and wisdom to serve the Kingdom. It’s important for us to pray for our dreams, but beyond that, it’s necessary to be thankful for what we already have and to seek empowerment for what He calls us to do. You don’t need to pray exactly as I’m going to say here. I know that everyone has their way of talking to the Father, and it is important that we individually seek intimacy with Him. Therefore, feel comfortable talking to the Lord in your own way. But if you want, I will be happy to accompany you in this prayer. Prayer “Father, I acknowledge the need I have to be anointed and washed by You, Lord. In this moment, I pour myself out before You, surrendering all that I have and am, allowing myself to be crushed and molded so that […]

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April 02, 2024·Rapha Abreu

Anointed

What have you done with what God has poured out on you? We often seek instant fulfillment, asking for everything or new things immediately, hoping to feel needed. However, true fulfillment comes only from Him, and we can only attain new things when we learn to cherish what we already have. God desires to anoint what you already possess! You already have the gift “If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.” 1 Corinthians 13:2 God will not give you something new if you do not value what you already have. Routine makes us forget all that we have with us, everything we have received from God. We ask for gifts and more gifts, and we neglect the anointing. We long to be talented people, but when we have the ability to do something, we often think only of serving ourselves. Seeking validation in something that should point to the Kingdom. There is a very big difference between a gift and anointing. God wants to anoint us in our gifts; He wants to direct us to impact lives through our […]

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March 26, 2024·Rapha Abreu

Live the supernatural

I see many people questioning why those who don’t follow God prosper, while others who do, encounter afflictions. But that’s simply the nature of life. Natural cycle “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.” 2 Corinthians 9:6 Whoever walks without God experiences what is natural. There is planting, rain, and then the harvest, as this is the normal cycle of things. And amidst all this, there are the consequences of your mistakes. We who live with God experience the supernatural daily. We witness miracles and events that can only exist in Him, which clearly demonstrate the presence of God and His hand in everything. Those who walk far from the Father only experience the natural, the obvious, and the expected cycle. But those who live for the Kingdom also need to understand that this does not provide an antidote to the bad things that happen. Battles exist, whether they are necessary for our growth or those in which we get involved due to wrong choices along the way. But achievements exist too, those of our own work and those that the Lord grants us. He promises to be with us […]

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March 19, 2024·Rapha Abreu

Prayer: Rebuilding the altar

Shall we pray concerning our relationship with God? We must reconstruct the altar, renew our intimacy and profound connection with the Father, as He beckons us to do. Today, I wish to set aside this time to pray collectively regarding this commitment with the Lord, ensuring that we consistently prioritize the altar and submit to Him. You don’t need to pray exactly as I’m going to say here. I know that everyone has their way of talking to the Father, and it is important that we individually seek intimacy with Him. Therefore, feel comfortable talking to the Lord in your own way. But if you want, I will be happy to accompany you in this prayer. Prayer “Dear God, I thank You for Your constant presence in my life and for granting me access to You, even when I do not deserve it. I am eternally grateful for the grace of being able to be with You, God. I acknowledge the importance of rebuilding the altar of worship and relationship with You as a top priority. I desire to offer You my firstfruits, knowing that You have much more in store for me. Often, I find myself distracted by the […]

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March 05, 2024·Rapha Abreu

Prayer: Servants

We are servants of the Kingdom, which means we depend on one Lord, under one God, and follow one direction. Offering ourselves for our brothers, just as the Lord gave himself for us, is our greatest calling. A high price, in blood, was paid so that today we could be free, and in that freedom, choose to be servants of the One who called us! We have already received, and therefore, we give. Today, I want to pray with you about this devotion and obedience in serving and pouring everything at His feet. You don’t need to pray exactly as I’m going to say here. I know that everyone has their way of talking to the Father, and it is important that we individually seek intimacy with Him. Therefore, feel comfortable talking to the Lord in your own way. But if you want, I will be happy to accompany you in this prayer. Prayer “God, today I come before You with a heart overflowing with gratitude. I acknowledge the abundance of blessings I have received from You and the unconditional love You have bestowed upon me since before my birth. Thank You for envisioning my existence and showering Your boundless […]

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February 22, 2024·Rapha Abreu

Prayer: Fighting with Christ

In Proverbs 3:5-6, it is written: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.” This verse reminds us of the importance of fully trusting in God and recognizing Him in all areas of our lives. In one of the previous texts (“Unnecessary Battles”), we discussed avoiding fighting battles that do not come from the Lord, conflicts that arise from our own decisions and can divert us from the plan that God has for us. Today, I want to pray with you for the courage to completely surrender our lives to God, trusting in His wisdom and guidance to lead us along the right path. You don’t need to pray exactly as I’m going to say here. I know that everyone has their way of talking to the Father, and it is important that we individually seek intimacy with Him. Therefore, feel comfortable talking to the Lord in your own way. But if you want, I will be happy to accompany you in this prayer. Prayer “Lord, I acknowledge that I often make decisions without seeking Your guidance, leading me into unnecessary battles. Today, I […]

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February 20, 2024·Rapha Abreu

Don’t just be a worker

God has called you to be a servant! For this reason, we should be grateful. The gratitude within us must come from the Lord, and it goes beyond being thankful only when we receive a reward after something we have done. Instead, we should truly be grateful for simply being here, even amidst challenging moments. This life style comes from understanding that we are servants first and foremost. Be a servant! “Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.” John 12:26 The Word of God encourages us to be servants, not just workers. We can read in various passages that we should labor in the work, but in this context, this word is connected to “getting our hands dirty,” calling us to action, to GO! When we embrace the work, our hearts need to be those of servants. The worker acts thinking about what they will receive. The servant acts knowing that they have already received. The grace of God has already filled us; His mercy reaches us every day! There is no greater reason to be grateful. We should serve because we have been […]

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February 15, 2024·Rapha Abreu

Consumed by fire

The Bible mentions in several passages that God is a consuming fire and that we must burn for Him. However, for this, we also need discernment. We must constantly seek the Father’s wisdom to distinguish what comes from Him and what is merely burning out of a desire of the flesh. Revive us! “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.” Hebrews 12:28-29 When I hear these passages, revival comes to mind. Revival is not merely about gathering people and making noise. There is already plenty of noise that lacks the presence of God. Revival is the life of the Lord breathing life into us, resurrecting what was dead. And this is not about the volume of your voice, but rather the condition of your heart and your true intention. God knows us intimately; a whisper uttered with the spirit carries much more weight than a shout from the mouth. When the intention of our hearts is to seek the Father, His consuming fire surrounds us without any effort on our part. Special portion “And afterward, will pour out […]

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February 09, 2024·Rapha Abreu

Unnecessary battles

There are battles necessary for our growth, where God strengthens us and reveals Himself to us. However, we cannot forget that actions generate reactions and consequences, and depending on the step we take, the result may be an unnecessary battle that we ourselves create. Guided fights “For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.” 2 Corinthians 10:3-4 Daniel was placed in the den with lions, and David was sent to fight Goliath. Similarly, we are also called to battles, urged to be strong and courageous, receiving direction and power from Him. These confrontations elevate us to new levels, drawing us nearer to Him and His promises. They are moments of strength and shaping, fostering our growth. However, at times, we engage in unnecessary battles not initiated by Him. The Bible instructs us to involve the Lord in our decisions from the very first step. Yet, in our daily hustle and bustle, we often decide for ourselves. This leads us into places, relationships, and circumstances not aligned with God’s plans, thus delaying the […]

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February 08, 2024·Rapha Abreu

Prayer: Instruments of Praise

In the previous text, I discussed the daily decision to be someone through whom God is praised. Today, I invite you to pray with me about this, to become available and completely surrendered instruments, allowing God to work in our lives according to His will. You don’t need to pray exactly as I’m going to say here. I know that everyone has their way of talking to the Father, and it is important that we individually seek intimacy with Him. Therefore, feel comfortable talking to the Lord in your own way. But if you want, I will be happy to accompany you in this prayer. Prayer “Father, I acknowledge Your worthiness of all praise and worship, for everything in creation is under Your sovereignty, and all belongs to You. I understand that my purpose is to praise You, and I desire to do so each day of my life, leading others to worship You in the same way. You are the source of all love and grace, and Your mercy continues to pour out upon me, even when undeserved. Make me an instrument of praise. Shape my heart according to Your will, and may my hands be ready to carry […]

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February 06, 2024·Rapha Abreu

Who are you?

Every day, we need to make decisions, whether big or small, that can change not just an hour but an entire life. These decisions often unsettle us, especially because we don’t know the impact they will have on various areas. Have you ever wondered what the most significant decision in your life will be? Well, I believe I have the answer for you… Identity and direction “Who, then, are those who fear the Lord? He will instruct them in the ways they should choose… The Lord confides in those who fear Him; He makes His covenant known to them.” Psalm 25:12 and 14 The most significant decision will always be choosing Christ. Without further ado, today I invite you to decide to be the vessel through which God is praised. Regardless of the magnitude of professional, financial, or family decisions… Choosing Christ should always take precedence. When our lives are centered on following Him and worshipping Him, others around us are influenced to do the same, and this stance radically transforms our lives, aiding us in making countless other decisions. A life focused on God provides answers to questions that once seemed insurmountable. Used daily “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special […]

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January 11, 2024·Rapha Abreu

Don’t chase the wind

Life goes by so fast. Places are renovated, addresses change, people come and go; We are often forced to say goodbye. At other times, it is necessary to choose wisely who to say “hello” to and who to say “goodbye” to, no matter how much it hurts. Growing up hurts, but it teaches us and matures us. It prepares us for things much greater than anything we dream or plan. Life does not stop “When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider this: God has made the one as well as the other. Therefore, no one can discover anything about their future.” Ecclesiastes 7:14 My favorite quote has always been that of Saint Teresa of Ávila: “It is fair that much costs what much is worth.“ To reach “tomorrow,” it is fair that it costs our “today.” Some cycles can only begin when others close, when we understand that we need to leave behind what is behind, that life goes on above any situation. The world does not stop as we need or want; each day has the same number of hours, and we need to act wisely in every minute. Do not waste time. I […]

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January 09, 2024·Rapha Abreu

Walking in the light of the Word

I always heard about the Word; I was raised by my parents hearing about its importance in knowing how and where to walk, following Jesus and the kingdom of God above all. It is essential that we read and delve deeper into it at the end of the process as well, as the Word of God always teaches and feeds us, but it is at the beginning of things that it provides paths and directions. From the beginning “If the part of the dough offered as firstfruits is holy, then the whole batch is holy; if the root is holy, so are the branches.” Romans 11:16 If we take our own steps when starting our journey and then everything goes wrong, even if we seek God just at that moment, entrusting our path into His hands, the Lord hears us and responds; He corrects our walk. But do you agree that it becomes more difficult this way? Because He will need to undo what we do to actually begin His work. We have to deliver our firstfruits, the beginning when everything is still a dream and project, because He guides us and clarifies our paths. He answers us in the end, […]

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December 22, 2023·Rapha Abreu

Prayer to One God

Our minds, in moments of sadness and turmoil, become weak if they are not established in Christ. Consequently, we begin to try to fill the void within ourselves at any cost, but we can never fill it with anything other than God and His life-giving Word. This prayer is based on the previous text Creating other gods. You don’t need to pray exactly as I’m going to say here. I know that everyone has their way of talking to the Father, and it is important that we individually seek intimacy with Him. Therefore, feel comfortable talking to the Lord in your own way. But if you want, I will be happy to accompany you in this prayer. Prayer “Dear God, thank you for being complete. I appreciate that everything we need can be found in You. Please don’t let me create other gods or prioritize dreams and projects over You. I don’t want to seek answers elsewhere. Keep me steadfast in Your word, following Your direction. God, I ask for forgiveness for the times I’ve placed any other subject, place, person, or situation above You. Do not let my eyes stray from You, Father. Grant me discernment to identify and […]

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December 13, 2023·Rapha Abreu

An eternity to love

Eternity is something difficult for us to understand. This is because humans are destined to end, humanly and physically speaking. We get hurt, feel pain, are fragile, and mortal. But when we stop to think about this, we may ask ourselves, ‘But what will God do there?’ After all, a perfect place, with His full presence, without any evil, what will He do? Simple, what He has always done and continues to do in Eternity: to love. From the beginning “And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.“ Genesis 1:3,4 The world has never been the result of an eternity filled with boredom and emptiness. God was not idle, just thinking of writing a simple story to fill His time. He is complete; everything needs Him to exist, it has never been the other way around. But He loved! The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit already coexisted in perfection, and the creation of such a vast universe was always so that this perfect and complete love could overflow. The world is the full expression of God’s great love and, as it is so sovereign and complete, He invites us to also discover this lifestyle. God’s love […]

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December 12, 2023·Rapha Abreu

Prayer: Bought by the blood

I spoke to you in the previous text about the price paid through the blood of Jesus to redeem our sins. Today, I want to pray about recognizing and remembering this sacrifice daily. We need to surrender and pour out our hearts completely and constantly. You don’t need to pray exactly as I’m going to say here. I know that everyone has their way of talking to the Father, and it is important that we individually seek intimacy with Him. Therefore, feel comfortable talking to the Lord in your own way. But if you want, I will be happy to accompany you in this prayer. Prayer “Father, thank you. I express gratitude today because I can call you Father, all thanks to the blood of Jesus shed on the cross. I can now pray to the Lord wherever I am, without the need for sacrifices or grand temples. I acknowledge the sacrifice of Jesus, which allowed me to receive the Holy Spirit into my heart, granting me the privilege of living in Your love and care, even without deserving it, being Your home. Teach me to deeply understand the meaning of this redemptive act and to value the price paid […]

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December 07, 2023·Rapha Abreu

It wasn’t for free

It wasn’t free. Nothing Jesus did, nothing the Father poured out, was without value or cost. We hear the word “grace” so much that we confuse it with something that doesn’t have a value or that doesn’t need a price to be paid. However, I emphasize, nothing in the Bible was free, but everything came through grace and because of it. It is finished “You were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.” 1 Corinthians 6:20 You were bought at a price… The cross was a delivery, a payment, so that God’s grace could reach everyone. I’m not saying that we can buy God, but rather that a cross price was paid for us to reach the Father. We have so many mistakes, so many flaws and faults in our human configuration. Nothing we could do would be able to redeem and cleanse everything we have done, are doing and will still do. Nothing can purify us from our impure way of living except the grace of God. This grace represents unconditional love. If this love is unconditional, the name itself already says that it does not need conditions to exist. The mercy and unmerited favor given by […]

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November 23, 2023·Rapha Abreu

The Christian Mission

The Gospel continually teaches us about our mission as christians. This goes beyond what we can measure in distance or time. It doesn’t matter the geographical distance or the time it takes to fulfill this mission. What really matters is how deeply we carry it out and how our hearts are devoted to this purpose. Instructed by love “In fact, this is love for God: to keep His commands. And His commands are not burdensome” 1 John 5:3 The Bible instructs us in various ways and through various texts about the missionary role we have as christians. It invites us to live out the Great Commandment and the Great Commission. When we think of missionary work, it’s common to think about trips to Africa or other countries. But Jesus urges us to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, and mind, and to love our neighbor as ourselves, spreading the love of the Father and His message of mercy and grace. The ‘Great Commandment,’ revealed by Jesus in Matthew 22:37-39, is the fundamental basis for the missionary call. This love that renounces our own desires and wishes is the driving force behind the Christian mission. When we love […]

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November 14, 2023·Rapha Abreu

Slaves of pain

Have you ever thought about losing all the things we complain about? If we were to lose our jobs because we complain about them, if we were denied access to places because of our complaints, or to people, situations, opportunities… Complaining about something is often connected to a lack of appreciation for it, even if only for a brief moment. It’s when something irritates me to the point of blinding my eyes to the value it holds in my life. Activate the faith. “Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance. Perseverance, character. And character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” Romans 5:3-5 Many times, we complain about storms and difficult situations. We forget that it is precisely these adversities that activate our faith and lead us to new levels with God. It’s not about a bad life, but rather a challenging day, perhaps just a complicated hour that, if we dwell on for hours, can ruin the entire day. Then, we ruin weeks, months, and even years! The reality is that we […]

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October 31, 2023·Rapha Abreu

The sign of return

The Bible is full of details, and the more we study and get to know it, the more we realize those that make all the difference. Today, I want to talk about the death of Jesus and how the tomb was left when the promise is fulfilled. Folding the cloth When Jesus died, a cloth was placed over his face at the time of burial. In John 20:7, we can see that the cloth was not just left aside when He rose, as all the cloths were left in the tomb: “…while the cloth that had covered Jesus’ head was folded up and lying apart from the other wrappings.“ At that time, while the master was eating, the servant would stay out of his sight. When he finished, he would crumple the cloth and set it aside, which meant the servant could clear the table, as the master would not return. If the master got up but, before doing so, folded the cloth, it meant he would come back, and the servant should wait for him. Other studies also suggest that if a man went to eat at the house of his intended bride’s family and folded the cloth when […]

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September 05, 2023·Rapha Abreu

Negotiating the price of blood

Do not negotiate what cost the price of blood! Several times to fit in places and intentionally approach people, we give up what we are and what we received from the Father. But He didn’t die for you so that you can use this truth only when it suits you. Focus on him “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires. To be made new in the attitude of your minds. And to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” Ephesians 4:22-24 Jesus paid with His own blood so that we could freely live out the identity we received through Him. Through his work we are children loved, cared for and protected by the Father. However, in certain situations in our lives, we are so focused on feeling part of something that we lower ourselves to fit into scenarios that are not for us. When I see myself in those moments where I start to negotiate my truths, I realize that this has almost 100% to do with fear of the future. It’s as if the place where I […]

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August 31, 2023·Rapha Abreu

Prayer: Urgency to move

In recent texts, I spoke to you about how the Father is not just a priority, but an urgency. And how He moves through us. Today, I want to use this space to pray about these matters. I want to ask that we can move for Him with that sense of urgency, looking for the Spirit and His work in us. Having strength and boldness to put Him before first place and move in favor of it. Remembering that you don’t need to pray exactly as I’m going to leave it here, because I know that everyone has their own way of talking to the Father and I want you to feel comfortable talking to Him in your own way. But if you want, I’ll be happy to accompany you in this prayer. Prayer “Father, how good it is to know that, even moving in You, I can rest in Your love and in Your action. I can rest knowing that You move through me and gives me strength in the face of everything that is impossible. I want to ask today for my heart to be open and understand how important and essential it is that my first search […]

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