THE IDEAL MANNER TO PRAISE THE LORD!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

SUNDAY NOVEMBER 20, 2022.

SUBJECT : THE IDEAL MANNER TO PRAISE THE LORD!

Memory verse: "I will praise You, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will tell of all Your marvelous works." (Psalm 9 vs 1.)

READ: Psalm 103 vs 1 - 6 & 8:

103:1 Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless His holy name.

103:2: Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:

103:3: Who forgives all your iniquities; who heals all your diseases;

103:4: Who redeems your life from destruction; who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies;

103:5: Who satisfies your mouth with good things; so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

103:6: The LORD executes righteousness and judgment for all who are oppressed.

103:8: The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.

INTIMATION:

Praise is to express admiration or approval of; to commend; to extol; to glorify or worship. To praise the Lord is to worship Him; it is expressing one’s appreciation and understanding of His worth; it is saying thank you for each aspect of His divine nature. Your inward attitude about Him is outwardly expressed in praise. When you praise God, we help yourself by expanding your awareness of who He is. 

Praise can be in speech or song. Praising God in a song is not just song about God, It is a song to God. Praising God has several aspects to it. The ideal manner of praising God include: (1) Thanking Him for each of His divine nature—Creator, Merciful, Loving, Faithful, Powerful, Unchanging, Forgiving, Magnificent, Glorious, etc. As you read the Bible, look for other characteristics or divine nature of God for which to thank Him. Thanking Him for them is the best way to ask for the manifestation of those characteristics in your life. It is always good to make a list of such characteristics and keep reminding yourself of them, internalizing them, and make them a permanent part of your worship.

(2) Focus your heart on God. See nothing, know nothing other than God. Not even yourself require any attention. The Scripture says, “I will praise You with my whole heart” (Psalm 9 vs 1; 138 vs 1). To help you to achieve the required fixation on God, just take one attribute of God, such as His mercy, then concentrate on it for an entire week in your meditation and prayer. In no time it will be an integral part of your worship to Him.

(3) Thank God for His many gracious gifts to mankind. Make a list and count your blessings, and it will surprise you what the Lord has done. David said, “Blessed be the Lord, who daily loads us with benefits...” (Psalm 68 vs 19.) He also said, “How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! how great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand....” (Psalm 139 vs 17 - 18.) 

Now, take for instance, you wake up in the morning, hale and hearty; All the organs in your body are all functioning properly—you can see, talk, walk, taste, feel, hear,  breath, sit, stand, smile, run, eat, free your bowel, etc. All these are possible because the various functional organs are working in harmony with the also functional sensory nerves, body cells, body tissues etc. Also the various natural substances—the air, sun, water, etc—are all available to you. 

God has made all these possible, and also has given you other qualitative provisions of emotional, and spiritual stability. The list is unending, and all in one day. Imagine the number of human cells working all at the same time in your body to achieve the good health; they are in billions, and God has made all these functional. What is more worthy than to thank and appreciate this good God. Praise God and tell Him afresh how much you appreciate all these.

(4) Finally, above all, thank God for your relationship with Him through Christ who has  given you the gift of salvation, and has been made to you wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. Praising Him lifts your perceptive from the earthly to the heavenly, and prepares your heart to receive God’s love and the power of His Holy Spirit.

Now, can you find something to praise God wholeheartedly for each day? As you do, you will find your heart elevated from daily distractions to lasting confidence, reminding you of God’s faithfulness and character which positively effect your attitude.

Prayer: Abba Father, there is none like You. I can’t thank You enough. With my whole heart I will daily lift You in praise. Let my praise come to You as a sweet smelling sacrifice, that will cause You to come down in Your might and power to attend to my petitions, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

I'M YOURS BY LYANNABUCHI

 

We All Need Help

 

Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:16)

Every one of us needs help. We are not God. We have needs. We have weaknesses. We have confusion. We have limitations of all kinds. We need help.

But every one of us has something else: We have sins. And therefore at the bottom of our hearts we know that we do not deserve the help we need. And so we feel trapped.

I need help to live my life, and to handle death, and to cope with eternity — help with my family, my spouse, my children, my loneliness, my job, my health, my finances. I need help. But I don’t deserve the help I need.

So what can I do? I can try to deny it all and be a superman or a superwoman, who doesn’t need any help. Or I can try to drown it all and throw my life into a pool of sensual pleasures. Or I can simply give way to the paralysis of despair.

But God declares over this hopeless situation: Jesus Christ became a High Priest to shatter that despair with hope, and to humble that superman or superwoman, and to rescue that drowning wretch.

Yes, we all need help. Yes, none of us deserves the help we need. But no to despair and pride and lechery. Look at what God says. Because we have a Great High Priest, the throne of God is a throne of grace. And the help we get at that throne of grace is mercy and grace to help in time of need. Grace to help! Not deserved help — gracious help. That’s why the High Priest, Jesus Christ, shed his own blood.

You are not trapped. Say no to that lie. We need help. We don’t deserve it. But we can have it. You can have it right now and forever. If you will receive and trust in your High Priest, Jesus the Son of God, and draw near to God through him.

REFUSE THE COUNSEL OF THE UNGODLY!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 19, 2022.

SUBJECT : REFUSE THE COUNSEL OF THE UNGODLY!

Memory verse: "Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful." (Psalm 1 vs 1.)

READ: Psalm 1 vs 1 - 6:

1:1: Blessed is the man that walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful.

1:2: But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in His law he meditate day and night.

1:3: He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.

1:4: The ungodly are not so, but are like the chaff which the wind drives away.

1:5: Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

1:6: For the LORD knows the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

INTIMATION:

Ungodliness is total lack of reverence for God, characterized by depravation, wickedness, sinfulness and so on. Therefore, the ungodly are those who do not honor God, who act in contravention of God’s demand. They are depraved (corrupt), wicked, sinful, outrageous, irreligious, unconscionable (immoral, not in accordance with conscience) persons. 

The Bible admonishes us not to seek counsel from the ungodly; those who refuse to honor God—those who discredit or ridicule Him. Such attitude is the same as mocking God; they ridicule those things God consider as important. Following them or taking their advice will obviously lead one to becoming indifferent to God’s will. 

God judges people on the basis of their faith in Him and their response to His revealed will. Those who diligently try to obey God’s will are blessed. In contrast, those who don’t trust and obey God have meaningless lives that blow away like dust. Only two paths of life lie before us—God’s way of obedience, or the way of rebellion and destruction. Be sure to choose God’s path because the path you choose determines how you will spend eternity.

The ungodly are unbelievers, who do not share the same faith with believers. They can be your relatives, colleagues, friends and acquaintances, and this makes it easy for them to find a common ground to counsel you on issues, and may lure you to do wrong and sin against God. Friends, relatives, colleagues can make you fall. It is difficult for people to accept the fact that friends and acquaintances may lure them to do wrong. 

Many people who want to be accepted would never confront or criticize a relative or friend for wrong plans or actions. Many other people can’t even see how their friends’ actions could lead to trouble. The most effective way of avoiding the counsel of your ungodly relatives, friends, colleagues, and acquaintances is to stay away from them—separating from them.

However, separation involves more than keeping a distance from sinful people and practices; it means staying close to God. It involves more than avoiding worldly people and entertainment; it extends to how we spend our time and money. There is no way to separate ourselves totally from all sinful influences. Nevertheless, we are to resist the sin around us, without either giving up or giving in. When you know what God wants you to do, make a clean break with sinful practices. Happy is the one who does not have a life-style of sin. Happiness comes from doing the the will of the Lord. 

While we should be accepting others, we need a healthy skepticism about human behavior. When you feel yourself being heavily influenced, proceed with caution. Don’t let anybody cause you to fall into sin. Instead be a heavy influence on them, and cause them to.turn to Christ. We should not make staying away from unbelievers a lifestyle, but rather a consequence of their behavior. Although Christians should avoid some places, but wherever they find themselves, they should let the light of God’s Word coming from them  illuminate the hearts of all the people around them.

Jesus demonstrated that we must go among unbelievers to help them. There is a difference, however, between being with unbelievers and being one of them. Acting like unbelievers—tagging along with them—harms your witnessing for God. Ask yourself about the people you enjoy: If you are with them often, will you become less obedient to God in outlook or action? If the answer is yes, carefully monitor how you spend your time with these people and their effect on you. Do your friends build up your faith or do they tear it down? True friends should help you to draw closer to God, not hinder your relationship with Him.

Prayer: Abba Father, give me the grace never to take or seek the counsel of the ungodly, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of the scornful. But let my delight be in Your law; and in it I will meditate day and night. In You alone do I put my trust forever. Help me, O Lord, to be a light to the unbelievers around me, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

The Piercing Power of the Word

 

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)

The word of God is our only hope. The good news of God’s promises and the warnings of his judgment are sharp enough and living enough and active enough to penetrate to the bottom of my heart and show me that the lies of sin are indeed lies.

Abortion will not create a wonderful future for me. Neither will cheating, or dressing provocatively, or throwing away my sexual purity, or keeping quiet about dishonesty at work, or divorce, or vengeance. And what rescues me from this deception is the word of God.

The word of God’s promise is like throwing open a great window of bright morning sunlight on the roaches of sin masquerading as satisfying pleasures in our hearts. God has given you his good news, his promises, his word to protect you from the deep deceptions of sin that try to harden your heart and lure it away from God and lead it to destruction.

Be of good cheer in your battle to believe. Because the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, it will penetrate deeper than any deception of sin has ever gone and reveal what is truly valuable and what is truly worth trusting and loving.

GODLINESS IS PROFITABLE FOR ALL THINGS!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 18, 2022.

SUBJECT : GODLINESS IS PROFITABLE FOR ALL THINGS!

Memory verse: "For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.” (First Timothy 4 vs 8.)

READ: Mark 10 vs 29 - 30:

10:29: So Jesus answered and said, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for My sake, and the gospel's,

10:30: who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life.

INTIMATION:

Godliness is to be god-fearing; it’s that piety which is characterized by a Godward attitude. It’s doing that which is well-pleasing to God. The power to lead a godly life comes from God. God allows us to be partakers of the divine nature (Second Peter 1 vs 3) in order to keep us from sin and help us live for Him. When we are born again, God by His Spirit empowers us with His own goodness. 

The heart of the gospel is the “mystery of godliness” (the secret of how we become godly). Godliness cannot be possible in the life of a believer without the help of Christ. The obedient faith that is based on the knowledge of Jesus is what is necessary on their part for the godly life. We can’t please God on our own; we must depend on Christ, and His divine nature. As a man, Jesus lived a perfect life, and so He is a perfect example of how to live. As God, Jesus gives us the power to do what is right. It is possible to live godly life through following Christ. 

God has supplied us with everything in this life that is necessary for living according to His directions and for developing a nature that prepares us for eternal dwelling. One of these things is certainly the word of God. It is through the word of God that we learn how to conduct our lives according to the will of God. The word of God is certainly the guide that we must follow in order to be certain concerning the conduct of our lives in behavior and godly living. 

The Christian has escaped the temptations of the world by directing his attention to the One who died on the cross for his sins. It is not that he is no longer tempted. What the Christian has is another focus or direction of life. Before the conversion, he could look only to the world for direction in life. But after knowing Christ, he has a new focus. It is a focus that directs his attention away from the values and behavior of this world. 

The Bible says, “As His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us to glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” (Second Peter 1 vs 3 - 4.) The power to lead a godly life comes from God. Because we don’t have the resources to be truly godly. God allows us to be partakers of His divine nature in order to keep us from sin and help us live for Him. When we are born again, God by His Spirit empowers us with His own goodness.

Godliness must be expressed in our behavior, not just in appearance. A pious or godly look can be deceitful. The appearance of godliness includes; going to church, knowing Christian doctrine, using Christian cliches, and following a community’s Christian traditions. Such practices can make a person look good, but if the inner attitudes of belief, love, and worship are lacking, the outer appearance is meaningless. The apostle Paul warned us not to be deceived by people who only appear to be Christians at first, but their daily behavior will give them away. 

In following God there is great reward. The apostle Paul, in his letter to Timothy—his true son in faith—noted that godliness is profitable for all things both here, and in eternity. The benefits of loving God is here now, and in the future. However, you can’t follow God if you don’t love Him, and Jesus said, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.” (John 14 vs 23.) imagine where you have God the Father and the Son make their home with you! Life definitely will be at its best.

Jesus told the disciples that no follower of His will ever lose anything at the end. For whatever loss we has suffered in following Him, we will undoubtedly recover several times over at the end. Knowing all these, what will ever stop anybody from following Him. Godliness is key to spiritual growth and personal fulfillment. We should honor God and center our desires on Him, and we should be content with what God is doing in our lives.

Prayer: Abba Father, give me the grace to follow You to the end, endue with Your excellent Spirit to be godly in conduct and appearance, relying at all times, on the leading of the Holy Spirit, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

DESIRE THE TEACHING AND GUIDANCE OF THE LORD!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 17, 2022.

SUBJECT : DESIRE THE TEACHING AND GUIDANCE OF THE LORD!

Memory verse: "Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, The Holy One of Israel: I am the LORD your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you by the way you should go." (Isaiah 48 vs 17.)

READ: Psalm 25 vs 4 - 5 & 8 - 10:

25:4: Show me Your ways, O LORD; Teach me Your paths.

25:5: Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; On You I wait all the day.

25:8: Good and upright is the LORD; Therefore He teaches sinners in the way.

25:9: The humble He guides in justice, and the humble He teaches His way.

25:10: All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth. To such as keep His covenant and His testimonies.

 

INTIMATION:

God instructs us on how to live. He sent His only Son to be a Model for this, and it was one of the main aspects of Christ’s ministry. Teaching shows God's concern for understanding. The other aspects of Christ's ministry were preaching, and healing. Preaching shows His concern for commitment. His miracles of healing authenticated His teaching and preaching, proving that He truly was from God. The Bible says of Jesus: "Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people" (Matthew 9 vs 35).

Like a loving parent, God teaches and directs us. The Bible, in Psalm 48 vs 14, says:- "For this is God, Our God forever and ever. He will be our guide even to death." We need both God's guidance and His guide—a map that gives us landmarks and directions and a constant companion who has an intimate knowledge of the way and will make sure we interpret the map correctly. The Bible is the map and the Holy Spirit is the constant companion and guide. As a loving parent, God teaches and guides us. We should listen to Him because peace and righteousness come to us as we obey His Word. Refusing to pay attention to God's commands invites punishment and threatens that peace and righteousness.

We receive God's primary guidance system in His Word—the Bible. By reading it and constantly learning from it, we will gain the wisdom to perceive God's direction for our lives. When we are willing to seek God, learn from His Word, and obey His commands, then we will receive His specific guidance. As you make your way through life, use both  the map and your Guide—the Holy Spirit..

Unfortunately, we are bombarded today with relentless appeals to go in various directions, neglecting our specific Guide and Guardian. Television advertising alone places hundreds of options before us, in addition to appeals made by cults, false religions, political parties, and dozens of other groups. Numerous organizations, including Christian organizations, seek to motivate us to support various causes of their choice respectively. Added to that, are the decisions we must make concerning our job, our family, our money, our society. All these decisions pull us in several directions, and we become desperate for someone to show us the right way. If you find yourself pulled in several directions, remember that God teaches the humble and guides him to the right way.

Now, how do we receive God's guidance? The first step is to want to be guided or taught by God, and to realize that God's primary guidance system is in His Word—the Bible. Psalm 119 tells us the endless knowledge found in God's Word. Above all, those who are guided by God—who are meek and taught by the Lord—has the earth as their inheritance. The Scripture says, “Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.” (Matthew 5 vs 5.) Take the bold step of reading Psalm 119 everyday until it becomes a part of you, and then take responsibility to live according to its dictate. 

Prayer: Abba Father, I love You Lord. Yours I am, and Yours I want to be. Show me the path of life I will walk in, and endue me with the teachable and humble spirit that I may learn from You, earn Your approval, inherit the earth, and receive Your crown of glory—eternal life with You, in Jesus' Name I have prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!