GIVE THANKS Psalms 107: 1-2
Today is Thanksgiving Sunday. It is good to give thanks to the Lord. The first person to teach the people to give thanks was Moses. He is the first person / man of God to teach his people how to sacrifice. He taught the way God taught him.
The Christian songs that we sing in church has always something to thank God for. The very little thank you that we do for God must be performed and said with a heart of gratitude. Leviticus 22:29 - When you sacrifice a thank offering to the LORD, sacrifice it in such a way that it will be accepted on your behalf.It is not by force but it must be done with a free will heart.
In a spirit filled church, we can preach / listen to the Word of God. Some are seen to be on fire during praise and worship. But behind it all, it must be done with a gratified heart. When we offer praises to God, we are actually building an alter of offering, an alter of sacrifice, an alter of thanksgiving. Our altar should get bigger and bigger each day. We are to grow in our thanksgiving because each day our gratitude becomes greater to Jesus. We have so much in accumulation to thank Him for His goodness.
On this day of Thanksgiving, many have placed gifts at the altar. God will surely reward you for your gratitude. No matter how much we spend for God, God will give us double fold because He is the provider and richer than any of the richest man in the world. Your gifts and sacrifices He appreciates. He is not a man to forget what you have said or done for Him. People may forget your 'thank you's but not Jesus. Yet Jesus looks at your heart. He studies the sincerity of your "thank you"s to Him.
Psalms 107:22 - Today remember all those little sickness that Jesus healed. You may have taken medicine from the doctor but it was the prayer that healed you. Medicine too have no power, if Jesus did not will it to work. There are many who fall sick and never see a daylight. But when you ate medicine, you were healed - THATS JESUS! You have so much to thank Him for His works in your life. Psalm 69:30-31
In John 11:41, before Jesus healed Lazarus, He gave thanks to the Father first. It is so important to say thank you - to be gratified. If you had a friend who never said thank you, or remembered your kindness, or never appreciated you for all that you have done, would you want to do much for him / her? instead you would be glad to give as much as you can for someone who thanks you from his/her heart for a small gift that you have presented. It is the same with God. The relationship between man to man and man to God does not defer much. Our feelings are the same as God's. In Genesis it is said that God created man in His own image. We are like God in feelings.
Exodus 23:25-26 - Worship the LORD your God, and his blessing will be on your food and water. I will take away sickness from among you, and none will miscarry or be barren in your land. I will give you a full life span.
In Psalm 6:5, King David says "No one remembers You when he is dead. Who praises You from the grave?" Only when you are alive you can praise God. Only living things praise God. You are God's handmade. So praise Jesus when you are alive and still have the time. Use the time you have today to praise God and receive His unmatchable blessing.
May God bless you...
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
The Goliath In Your Life
The Goliath In Your Life
Today's Reading: 1 Samuel 17 - David & Goliath
David was a good looking Shepherd boy. His brothers were in the army. His father Jesse sent David to bring him good news from the dispute of Goliath and his people. Goliath was large and strong in stature and ability. Every day Goliath was challenging the children of God to battle with him. He was not challenging the people of God but he was mocking God. When we have a problem, it is also God's problem. God takes up our case.
Today God wants to speak three things to His people. If you read throughout the Bible, we read in many places, that there was always a challenge between God's people and the uncircumcised. The same was happening here in this text. for example 1 King 18 Elijah faced his challenge with Baal. Who is greater in this world than our God? He is living and none can stand before Him. Know the Lord to know who you are. If you know who God is, then you will not be afraid of any challenges. Surely the Living God is great.
1). Who can stand against the 'Philistines'? Someone who is for the Lord. Someone who doesn't fight for himself but for God. David did not fight for himself. He wanted to do it for God. Young people want to enjoy their youth and prefer coming to God at an old age. They slack in coming to church and doing ministry. If Christians cannot be discipline then how can non-believers come to God and be disciplined? 1 Timothy 4:12 - Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. Young people, be joyful to serve the Lord. You won’t regret this in your old age.
2). If God is for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:36 No one can stand against people of God. People can come against and challenge us, but they won’t last long as His people. God's people are survivors. They know that God is with them. They are strong and wait for the Lord. They know that God will act for them. Are there anyone in your office, school or home challenging you? They won’t last long. If you are a walking with Jesus, they won’t last long. They will be removed.
3).We must be cheerful and encourage one another. Satan sometimes puts criticism about others to us. We may criticize others and others will do the same to us. But God says encourage one another. People criticized David when he wanted to fight against Goliath. People didn’t notice the God that is with David. Humans tendency is to look low upon people. If someone criticizes you, look to God.
4) Lastly God promises to place a crown on those who are victorious. For those who stand for God till the end, they will be rewarded. David not only struck Goliath but he also used the giant's weapon to cut off his head. David must be a strong boy at a young age, to carry the weapon belonging to Goliath and to hit the giant hard enough WITH ONE STONE to kill him. It is not an ordinary feet. It is not an ordinary strength but the supernatural strength of God was with David.
Romans 8:37 - We are more than Conquerors. Children of God, will you stand for Jesus? You will be crowned.
Today's Reading: 1 Samuel 17 - David & Goliath
David was a good looking Shepherd boy. His brothers were in the army. His father Jesse sent David to bring him good news from the dispute of Goliath and his people. Goliath was large and strong in stature and ability. Every day Goliath was challenging the children of God to battle with him. He was not challenging the people of God but he was mocking God. When we have a problem, it is also God's problem. God takes up our case.
Today God wants to speak three things to His people. If you read throughout the Bible, we read in many places, that there was always a challenge between God's people and the uncircumcised. The same was happening here in this text. for example 1 King 18 Elijah faced his challenge with Baal. Who is greater in this world than our God? He is living and none can stand before Him. Know the Lord to know who you are. If you know who God is, then you will not be afraid of any challenges. Surely the Living God is great.
1). Who can stand against the 'Philistines'? Someone who is for the Lord. Someone who doesn't fight for himself but for God. David did not fight for himself. He wanted to do it for God. Young people want to enjoy their youth and prefer coming to God at an old age. They slack in coming to church and doing ministry. If Christians cannot be discipline then how can non-believers come to God and be disciplined? 1 Timothy 4:12 - Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. Young people, be joyful to serve the Lord. You won’t regret this in your old age.
2). If God is for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:36 No one can stand against people of God. People can come against and challenge us, but they won’t last long as His people. God's people are survivors. They know that God is with them. They are strong and wait for the Lord. They know that God will act for them. Are there anyone in your office, school or home challenging you? They won’t last long. If you are a walking with Jesus, they won’t last long. They will be removed.
3).We must be cheerful and encourage one another. Satan sometimes puts criticism about others to us. We may criticize others and others will do the same to us. But God says encourage one another. People criticized David when he wanted to fight against Goliath. People didn’t notice the God that is with David. Humans tendency is to look low upon people. If someone criticizes you, look to God.
4) Lastly God promises to place a crown on those who are victorious. For those who stand for God till the end, they will be rewarded. David not only struck Goliath but he also used the giant's weapon to cut off his head. David must be a strong boy at a young age, to carry the weapon belonging to Goliath and to hit the giant hard enough WITH ONE STONE to kill him. It is not an ordinary feet. It is not an ordinary strength but the supernatural strength of God was with David.
Romans 8:37 - We are more than Conquerors. Children of God, will you stand for Jesus? You will be crowned.
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