Love Of God

April 30, 2024·Rapha Abreu

Justice and love!

I’ve heard many people talk about God’s justice as divine punishment. He doesn’t punish; He teaches and guides. The consequences of our choices have never been God’s fault, but rather our own errors and steps taken alone. Warning “He rules the world in righteousness and judges the peoples with equity.” Psalm 9:8 He is love. But God cannot be a God of love without also being a just God. Love comforts and confronts. It corrects, guides, warns, and cares. If your child makes a mistake, you teach them. You show them where they went wrong, instruct them on the right way to do things. But most of the time, you cannot prevent the consequences. If they climb somewhere they shouldn’t and fall, the pain of the fall is inevitable. However, your role as a parent is to instruct and correct, so that it does not happen again. God warns us, gives us new chances, directs us, and calls our attention repeatedly. But often, we continue in error and suffer the consequences, blaming God for them. Fair judge “For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: […]

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April 25, 2024·Rapha Abreu

Prayer: Influencing through the Spirit

In the previous message, I mentioned the importance of not allowing ourselves to be influenced by others, but rather allowing ourselves to be guided by God and influencing others through that. I would like to take this moment to pray together about this matter. 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, lead my heart to follow in the footsteps of Jesus. Teach me the way and direct my focus to where You want me to go. I long to move towards Your promises and the calling You have for my life. I do not want to be shaped by the influences of the world around me. I acknowledge, Lord, that You are the source of all wisdom and truth, and Your words and deeds are the standard by which I should live. Empower my heart to discern what I should absorb and learn from the things […]

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April 18, 2024·Rapha Abreu

Prayer: Chosen Children

We are children of God, chosen and set apart to live by His side, building His Kingdom and experiencing the fullness of His love. I want to invite you to pray together today, so that we can feel in our hearts that we are beloved and desired children of the Lord, no longer carrying within us the feeling of orphanhood. 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 “Father, we acknowledge that we are Your beloved sons and daughters and we thank you for this truth. We know that You have adopted us and given us the privilege to call You Abba Father! Teach our hearts to fully understand the meaning of this adoption. May we deeply feel the unconditional love You have for each one of us, even before we were born. Empower us to trust in Your paternal providence and care, even in moments of difficulty and uncertainty. […]

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April 15, 2024·Rapha Abreu

Adopted by the Creator

The Bible says that we have been adopted by God as beloved children. As stated in Galatians 4:5: “…to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship….” For a long time, the word “adoption” bothered me. Perhaps because it carries a connotation of not being directly begotten, as if it were less important. But today, I see it as something even deeper, because we were chosen. Desired “The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.” Romans 8:16 A biological child is often unexpected and unplanned. In some situations, we even hear the word “accident” when referring to a pregnancy. Having a child is a blessing, and pregnancy is a gift. But truly, depending on the timing in the parents’ lives, it may not be desired right away. This is not the case with adoption. The process of adopting someone is filled with difficulties, choices, decisions, and planning. It does not happen by chance at an undesired time. God loves Jesus as a son begotten by Him, as part of Who He Is, and loves us as chosen and set apart children. God and Father “Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God […]

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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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March 28, 2024·Rapha Abreu

Prayer: Living in the Supernatural

Let’s pray together about the supernatural? Just as I mentioned in the previous text, God wants us to live out promises and miracles through His hands and calls us today to draw near to Him. And it’s important that we pray for this, entrusting our trust to the Father. 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, allow us to live in the supernatural. Open our eyes to Your wonders and miracles. We don’t want to see just the ordinary in our days, but to perceive the extraordinary that happens through Your mighty hand. We know that You are a God who performs miracles, and that Your power knows no limits. We ask, Lord, that You pour out Your Holy Spirit upon us and grant us the ability to see miracles in our lives, just as we see in the Bible. You parted the Red Sea […]

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March 21, 2024·Rapha Abreu

Where Christ is not welcome

As tempting as it may be to journey where you desire, refrain from proceeding if it means leaving God behind along the way. Any path without Him leads towards the abyss. Despite the pain involved, relinquishment and surrender bring us peace and accomplishments far beyond what we could ever imagine. Don’t follow your limits “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. They are brought to their knees and fall, but we rise up and stand firm. Lord, give victory to the king! Answer us when we call!” Psalm 20:7-9 God calls you to live your best life in this world, not as a slave to your desires and dreams, but with the Father by your side, guiding you to ever greater heights. When we walk alone, we rely solely on our own abilities and strength, reaching only as far as our own limits allow. However, when we choose to walk with God, we surpass our own strength, being empowered by Him. Consequently, we reach places that we could never reach on our own, as there are no limits to Him. Our minds can only comprehend so much, and our strength has its limits. But […]

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March 11, 2024·Rapha Abreu

Prayer: Worship and faith

I want to invite you to pray together about faith and worship. In order to worship Him, giving everything we are and have, it is necessary to have complete faith in God, knowing that He will always do infinitely more than we ask or dream. He is a providing Father, and we will never be alone in our steps of faith and obedience. 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, we come before You with gratitude and praise, acknowledging Your faithfulness and presence in all circumstances. You consistently provide for us, and we have never been alone because You are always with us. We place our trust in You, not for what we receive through this faith, but because of who You are to us in every moment of our lives. Teach our hearts to worship Your name in all circumstances, whether in 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 27, 2024·Rapha Abreu

Prayer: Consuming fire

I want to invite you to pray together for revival. We are living in a time where we witness the desires of the flesh outweighing the purposes of the Spirit. People are getting lost, entangled in ties and chains that hold them back and distance them from God and His paths. But He calls us, you and me, to be voices in this generation, bringing His life back to hearts and spirits. One way to accomplish this is by praying for the people around you, for your city, and for your country. Keep in mind that it is not necessary for you to pray exactly as I am about to do here. Everyone has their own way of communicating with the Father, and it is important that we seek this intimacy with Him. Feel free to speak to the Lord in your own way. However, if you wish, I am here to join you in this prayer. Prayer “Lord, Your presence burns like fire, and we yearn to feel it once again, increasingly. It invigorates and purifies those who seek it with sincerity of heart, and that is precisely what we are doing in this moment. Bring life to our […]

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February 05, 2024·Nicole Leão

Series: What cure do you need? [Emotional Healing]

Today we will continue the series “What healing do you need?”, where through three reflections we will recall biblical stories of physical, emotional and spiritual healing, in which the Lord worked in favor of his children, showing once again his glory and infinite goodness. In the last text we talked about physical healing, and today we will talk about emotional healing, a subject that has become more and more important considering the world we live in. Overwork, polarization, information coming at us all the time, and so many other things, more and more we see people with stress, anxiety, depression, and other bad things that affect even children. Of course, all this has not arisen in our time, and in the Bible you can already find stories of emotional healing, because since there is sin on earth, we human beings have led much more arduous lives. However, fortunately our savior sacrificed himself for us and today we no longer have to carry the weight of sin, for we have been set free. I want to remind you that emotional diseases can have several reasons, not only spiritual ones, and that there are qualified professionals that we can seek to help […]

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January 25, 2024·Rapha Abreu

God and sin

Some texts have such a huge impact with certain words that our attention can focus on just one part of the sentence and take away the full meaning of it. I see this detail in some texts in the Bible and also in those that mention faith, where, if we don’t have an open heart, we can focus on just a few parts and forget the context. Aversion to sin “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8 Certainly, you have heard the phrase “God hates sin, but loves the sinner”. This phrase is not in the Bible, but it has become very famous. The word “hates” becomes something so impactful for us that it steals our attention only on it, but I want to invite you to read the rest of it. The Lord truly abhors sin; He does not accept it, and His desire is for sin to be destroyed. But He loves those who sin because the way God sees us goes far beyond our mistakes. He knows our hearts deep down and knows who we are in Him. The Father gave us the […]

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January 23, 2024·Rapha Abreu

Prayer: Identity of Jesus

Previously, we talked a little about some of the names by which Jesus is called throughout the biblical texts. There are many others that I did not mention in the previous text, names that are presented in prophecies since the Old Testament until they become palpable in the New Testament. Regardless of the name that catches your attention the most or the one that is most repeated in the Bible, God remains the same and reveals Himself to us with grace and mercy. I want to invite you to pray today about recognizing this God at any time, place, or situation. 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 God, I recognize Your greatness and majesty. I know that Your name is the clear expression of Your love and grace towards us. I cry out for Your presence in my life. Thank you for revealing to […]

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January 15, 2024·Gabriela Angerami

Our breath is in God

Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. Genesis 2:7 How good it is to remember how much our existence depends entirely on God. For the human being to live, it was necessary for the Lord to breathe the breath of life. An inexhaustible breath Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:30-31 It is He who has the power to give us an inexhaustible breath. So often we are stubborn and try to run the journey of life with our own strengths, but they will always be insufficient. We must learn to our hope in the Lord so that we can fly like eagles and walk without getting tired. To wait on the Lord is to live in union with Him. Even in our humanity we were made to live in communion with God. In Genesis God created us in his image and likeness so that we could […]

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January 15, 2024·Rapha Abreu

Prayer: What really matters

Previously, I spoke to you about seizing opportunities and the present. Today, I want to pray about this, so that we don’t waste time and enjoy every detail of life: the places, the people, possibilities, moments, opportunities… Life is a reflection of the One who created it, and we need to enjoy every part of it. 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 express my gratitude for the precious gift of life and for every blessing You bestow upon me, even when undeserved. I acknowledge that You present me with people, places, and opportunities that I can only experience through Your grace and wisdom. Teach me to relish every detail of these gifts. Guide my heart to love others unconditionally and sacrificially, expressing my feelings to make them feel loved by You. May my heart learn to value places, moments, and opportunities, maintaining the […]

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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 22, 2023·Rapha Abreu

Creating other gods

The Lord instructs us several times that He should be the Only One worshiped, above anything else, because He is the Only God. This is not because He simply desires exclusivity. It goes far beyond that thought. Thinking like this makes it seems like God pleads for attention and needs us. But that is not it. One God for all The Father desires to be first in our lives, but He does not instruct us to worship Him solely out of a desire for exclusivity, as if His power depended on it. He calls us to have Him as the Only God because it is not necessary for us to look for something elsewhere. He is already the true source of everything. He is complete, whole, unique, and incomparable. Why would we worship other gods? Why would we create other gods? Just as the disciple Peter said in John 6:68: “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” If He already possesses everything and gives us all these wonders through His grace and love, why would we run to other gods? In the past, it was common to hear about a god for each subject. […]

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December 14, 2023·Rapha Abreu

Prayer: Reaching for eternity

I want to use this space to pray with you for clarity and depth so that we can prepare ourselves for eternity with the Father. May we walk and act with this purpose, longing for Him and sharing His love and grace with people along our journey. In this journey, may we love above all, for He loved us first. The love, which is Christ, dwells within us. The Holy Spirit of God resides in me and in you. Therefore, may our response always be one of love and grace. 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 come before You today to ask for clarity, not to know all the steps I will take in life and have a false sense of control, but so that I can see You and hear You. I don’t need to understand eternity, but I want to fear […]

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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 28, 2023·Rapha Abreu

Prayer: A good soldier

Whenever I hear the word “Missions,” I remember soldiers who are placed in front of tasks that must be completed in the best way, seeking excellence in carrying them out. We are those soldiers in the Gospel. In addition to being called as Children of God, we are also included in the mission of spreading the word, making it known and desired. Today, I want to pray about this Christian mission, about us as His soldiers. Remember that you don’t need to pray in the same way as I’m going to say here. I know that everyone has their own way of talking to the Father, and it is important to have our intimacy with Him. Feel comfortable talking to the Lord in your own way, and, if you wish, I will be happy to accompany you in this prayer. Prayer “Father, I lift my heart to You at this moment, laying at Your feet my complete reverence and a full surrender to You. I desire to be a faithful instrument in Your hands, seeking to be an increasingly effective soldier in carrying out Your works. May my entire being be dedicated to proclaiming Your Gospel and truth, spreading Your […]

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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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