I greet and bless you in the name of our Creator, Maker, and ever unforgettable Lord Jesus Christ. The blessed word that the Lord has kept for you today is from the book of Joel 2:12, “Yet even now,” declares the LORD, “Return to Me with all your heart, And with fasting, weeping and mourning“.
From the above passage we learn that God declares to the people through Joel the prophet, asking the people to repent of their wicked ways and return to the Lord. Joel compares all the losses that people incurred in their life to that of the destruction caused by the invasion of locust which sequentially devour every crop and all vegetation, in an unrelenting, progressive destruction. Both grain and fruit harvests failed, due to the devastating onslaught of this four-pronged locust infestation. The total destruction of Israel’s wheat and barley crops, along with the failure of the entire fruit harvest, caused farmers and priests alike to mourn and lament bitterly. God called not only the priests to mourn and also called for a sacred assembly, but God commanded the entire nation to fast, and to cry out to the Lord their God, in sincere repentance of heart.
God the Father wants us to be His children. He says, “I have gathered you together like My children, even as a hen gathers her chickens under her wings. But you do not adhere to My voice.” Just as a Father pities his children so the Lord pities all those who fear him. This is the true nature of a father. Even when the prodigal son squandered all the wealth of his father, and had lost every penny and was forced to eat the husk that was given to the pigs, he repented of his wrong doings, and when he returned to his father, we see the graciousness of the Father, overshadowing the sinfulness of the son, we realize the goodness of the Father, which paves way for the son to return back home. But it would have been miserable if the son hadn’t returned back. Likewise we see many people, because of their own selfish reason, withdraw themselves away from God the Father, and live the life as they desire, not knowing the danger that would befall them. Such people are easily attacked by Satan. They may be highly educated people, medical students, or Engineers. But suddenly such people get easily caught and become victim to the ways of Satan.
God wants you and me to return to Him. David says, “In sin did my mother conceive me.”The Bible says, all have sinned and come short of the glory of God which means that we are all sinners. We need to repent of our sins. We need to acknowledge God as our Saviour, Lord and Master of our life. Only then we can enjoy eternal life with Him. Are you willing to surrender your life to God or do you still want to live in sloth and drunkenness, like the stiff-necked people of Israel. The continued grace and mercy of God can be seen in His divine appeal, to the people of Judah to repent of their sins and return to the Lord – for we read ‘even now,’ declares the LORD, ‘return to Me with all your heart, and with fasting, weeping and mourning. The goodness, grace and mercy of our long-suffering God, remains open to all, who will simply trust in His word, remember His goodness, genuinely return to Him with heart and soul – and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of sins, and life everlasting. Choice is yours. May God help you to make the right choice.
Prayer: Our loving heavenly Father, we thank You for this blessed day. Heavenly Father, thank You for the book of Joel, which bears witness of Your goodness and grace, to all, who will trust in Your word. Teach us the lessons that You would have us learn from Israel’s history, and prevent us from making the same mistakes. We pray that You would help us to make the right choice. We need a change of our inner life so that we might trusts You implicitly, in thought, word, deed and motive.
In Jesus name we pray.
Amen.
I greet and bless you in the name of our Creator, Maker, and ever unforgettable Lord Jesus Christ. The blessed word that the Lord has kept for you today is from the book of Isaiah 58:14, “Then you will find joy in the Lord, and I will cause you to ride in triumph, on the heights of the land, and to feast on the inheritance of Jacob your Father. The Mouth of the Lord has spoken.”
If you delight yourself in the Lord, in preserving the Sabbath and glorify the God of Sabbath, in his goodness and faithfulness and in the assurance of his love and favour. God of Jacob will cause you, to ride in triumph. Thou shall be safe, far from danger and God will feed you, with the heritage of Jacob. Thou shall enjoy the good of the land of Canaan, which God promised as a heritage to Jacob and his Children. Thou shall enjoy temporal as well as spiritual blessings. The Lord will not withhold from you, any manner of thing which He sees to be for your prosperity and happiness. For the Lord has spoken through His mouth. The promise is sure, and shall be fulfilled, having proceeded from the mouth of God. Even in Old Testament times the Sabbath day was called as the Lord’s Day. If we thus remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy, we shall have the comfort and profit of it, and have reason to say, it is good to draw near to God because God will cause us to ride in Triumph.
I know of an uncle who was a good Christian. His name is Joel He was very pious and God fearing. He followed the Sabbath Day with great fear and in obedience to God. His only daughter Priscilla got married to a boy in Canada. I attended her wedding and blessed her. She left to Canada with her husband Sherin. He was a good boy very simple and humble. After few years, I happened to visit the USA. When Priscilla heard that I was coming to Chicago, she decided to visit me with her husband. He was an ordinary Truck driver. So they decided to travel by truck and visit me. As they could not afford to fly by airways. They travelled nine days by truck and reached Chicago. Knowing that they had come to meet me, I went with my friend to see them. I was surprised to see Priscilla all so pale and weak. She had lost all charm and beauty. It was three years since she got married but she did not have a child. She did not get a good job to survive there in that foreign land. Life was miserable to her. I couldn’t bear to see her in that state. I told her that God had a plan and purpose in meeting her.
I pleaded before the Lord on behalf of them. I cried unto the Lord in prayer. I asked the Lord three things. Firstly to bless Priscilla with a government Job. Then secondly I asked the Lord to bless her with a child so that she can at least spend her time with her child and be happy. Thirdly I prayed that God should bless Sherin with a good job. Because as a truck driver he will not be able to make money and will not be able to manage the family in that great land Canada. I prayed very earnestly for them and having blessed them I returned to Chennai. After a month I received the news that Priscilla had secured a government job. Twenty days later uncle Joel called up to say that Priscilla was pregnant. And after another twenty days, Priscilla called up and said, that her husband Sherin had been blessed with a good job, in a transport company. God granted all the three requests within two months. This shows that God answers prayers, and that the righteous shall never be forsaken.
If you want God to answer your requests, then you need to be righteous and observe the Sabbath Day. Be blameless before God. The God whom you worship is truthful. He keeps His promise. God answered Moses and Aaron when they called upon God. When king David inquired of the Lord He answered him. Abraham pleaded for Abimelech, and God heard his prayer and healed both Abimelech and his wife. When Moses pleaded for Miriam, God heard his prayer and healed her of her leprosy. Hannah prayed to the Lord and God blessed her with a son. Hezekiah prayed and the Lord extended the years of his life. Thus we see that the blessings of the Lord rest upon the righteous. The Bible says, Blessed is the man, who fears the Lord, Who delights greatly in His Commandments. His descendants will be mighty on earth. The generation of the upright will be blessed. May God help you to fear God and be righteous and blameless, before the Lord. God bless you.
Prayer: Our loving heavenly Father, we thank You for this blessed day. Lord we thank You for revealing to us the importance of fearing the Lord. Help us to observe the Sabbath Day reverently and with much dedication, that we may be blessed. May we thus feast on the heritage of Jacob, and ride in triumph on the heights of the land. Teach us to be more righteous and blameless before God.
In Jesus Name We Pray.
Amen.
I greet and bless you in the name of our Creator and Maker Jesus Christ. The blessed word that the Lord has kept for you today is from the book of Psalms 133:1, “Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity.”
From the above context we see that God expects the brethren to live together in unity. This was considered as the prayer of Christ who was the High Priest. Apostle John pleaded, the brothers as “little children love one another.” While Paul calls us to: be of the same mind toward one with another, maintaining the same love, united in spirit and intent on one purpose – single mindedness, and one Person. And in his outburst of praise we discover king David rejoicing, and singing in his heart by faith with thanksgiving in this Psalm, “How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony, for it refreshes the soul and is a sweet fragrance that ascends to the Lord and glorifies His holy name. We must remember that David had seven other brothers. And as a shepherd boy, he must have longed to be with his brothers who were in the army and had no time for him.
Living in unity was one of the songs that Israel would sing to the Lord, with joy in their hearts, as they advanced on their pilgrimage to Jerusalem. This was a hymn of praise that would echo throughout the land of Israel, as God’s people travelled towards their sacred destination.
It would be well if we could persuade people to live together in peace. It is good for us, for our honour and comfort; and this brings constant delight to those who live in unity. The pleasantness of this is likened to the holy anointing oil. This is the fruit of the Spirit. Where the brethren dwell together in unity, the Lord commands His blessing, Believers who live in love and peace, shall have the God of love and peace with them now, and they shall be with him for forever, in the world of endless love and peace. May all who love the Lord forbear and forgive one another, as God, for Christ’s sake, hath forgiven them. “The dwelling of brethren together. Means there would be no separation among the members of a family. Then perhaps they are likely to be scattered far from one another. God does not like separation .All God’s people are the followers of the Redeemer – they are brethren, members of the same family, fellow-heirs of the same inheritance. Amen. These brethren are expected to be united, or dwell in unity. There is much that is beautiful and lovely in their unity and harmony. They are redeemed by the same Saviour; they serve the same Master; they cherish the same hope; they are looking forward to the same heaven. There is, therefore, the beauty, the “goodness,” the “pleasantness” of obvious fitness and propriety in their dwelling together in unity.
How is your life in the Lord.? Is it united with Him, who is the author and Finisher of your faith? Are you living a separated life from God? Does the world seem more attractive to you rather than God and His teachings; This life on earth is momentary. But life with Him is eternal. Prepare yourself to join Him .and enjoy life evermore, Give away all earthly pleasures, and seek the upward calling, for the Bible says,”’ They that seek Me shall find Me. “What about your family ? Do you attend church service together as family? With your wife and children. Does your children attend Sunday class? Are you bringing them up in the fear of God? Or Do you just satisfy their worldly desires. Is your relationship with your wife worth telling? Only when there be unity between the two of you, God will be pleased, and you will enjoy real peace and harmony in the family. God Bless you.
Prayer: Our loving heavenly Father, we thank You for this blessed day. Heavenly Father, We pray that we may learn to live together with all our brothers and sisters in Christ in godly love and unity. Help us to praise and glorify Your name. Protect us from wanton discord, disunity or division and help all Your children to stand firm in the faith. Teach us to be united together in Christ. May we learn to live united as a family. We pray that we will educate our children in the fear of God. Remove all ill feelings that causes separation, and enable us to live in peace and harmony.
In Jesus Name We Pray.
Amen.
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, I greet and bless you in the name of our Creator, Maker, and ever unforgettable Lord Jesus Christ. The blessed word that the Lord has kept for you today is from the book of Job 5:8, But If were you, I would plead to God, I would lay my cause before him. ”
My Dear Brothers and Sisters, from the above words we come to understand that God speaks through different ways to his people. To some He speaks through His servant, may be a Pastor, an Evangelist, a Prophet, or God might speak even speak through His word while reading the Bible. God is trying all His best to convey the burden of His heart to His people. And when we listen to the word of God then He will perform miracles that cannot be fathomed. That cannot be comprehended. But how will He do it ? He will send forth His word and make known His ways unto the people. All that you got to do is to heed to the voice of God. But everything will be spoken through the word of God.
Here we see the conversation of Job with His friend, Eliphaz. Eliphaz began to praise God’s goodness, and his description point a finger at Job. He gave Job some good advice when he told Job to seek God, but this statement by Job’s “friend” was really just an accusation. He was saying to Job, that Sufferings doesn’t just happen, and tells Job that there must be some secret sin in his life. But let’s focus on the positive in Eliphaz’s words. All of us need to look for and find meaning and purpose in all that God allows to come our way. When suffering, it is all too easy to become trapped in bitterness. Then can we avoid suffering? No, even the godly will have trials and suffering in their lives. How should we respond to suffering? Accept it, worship while you mourn, and don’t allow yourself to become trapped in bitterness (of God would have been a good one if he weren’t also using it to)
My Dear Brothers And Sisters, Eliphaz reminds Job, that no affliction comes by chance. The difference between prosperity and adversity is not so exactly observed, as that between day and night, summer and winter; but it is according to the will and counsel of God. We must not attribute our afflictions to fortune, for they are from God; nor our sins to fate, for they are from ourselves. Man is born in sin, and therefore born to trouble. Such is the frailty of our bodies, and the vanity of all our enjoyments, that our troubles arise thence as the sparks fly upward; so many are they, and so fast does one follow another. We see how Eliphaz reproves Job for not seeking God. Actually God was displeased with Eliphaz for criticising Job, while he was going through affliction. This passage suggests, to hope the best in the worst of times; for it is the glory of God to send help to the helpless, and hope to the hopeless. And daring sinners are confounded, and forced to acknowledge the justice of God’s proceedings.
My Dear Brothers And Sisters, God speaks to His children through this message too. There may be many reading this message with a burdened heart like Job, caught up in misery and pain but how you grasp the whole thing rests in your hands. Take everything that comes your way like Job who says, “Even if God should slay me, I will trust in God. For my Saviour lives. ”Because of his good attitude and spirit, God blessed him with a double portion of blessing. God spoke to Zachariah through the angel, Gabriel that his wife Elizabeth would conceive and bring forth a son and he should be called John. Zachariah doubted so he was made dumb. He remained in this manner until God’s word came to pass in his life. To Abraham God spoke in a vision, and said, “Do not be afraid, Abram, I am your shield, and your great reward. ”In the above passage we see God speaking to us through the conversation of Job with his friend Eliphaz. I wish that God would have spoken to you, and comforted you through this message as you go through a period of trial and testing. God will help you come out of your struggles and save you from the hands of your enemies. God wants us to conquer your enemies namely the trials and testing rather than be conquered by them. God Bless you.
Prayer: Our loving heavenly Father, we thank You for this blessed day. “LORD, we need You to help us stay pliable in Your hands. We choose to trust You even through the hard times.”Teach us to endure patiently our times of trials and testing that comes our way, in the journey of life. May we be like Job who was adamant in his faith to the Lord. Help us to commit our ways to the Lord and trust in Him that He will make it to pass.
In Jesus name we pray,
Amen.
Dearly Beloved, I greet and bless you in the name of our Creator, Maker, and ever unforgettable Lord Jesus Christ. The blessed word that the Lord has kept for you today is from the book of Romans 12:12, “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.”
From the above context we learn thatPaul composed a lengthy and weighty letter to the Roman Church that addressed every issue that is so vital, in order to live a Godly life. His extensive epistle is written in such a way, as to provide a wonderful understanding of all the doctrines and how to apply them in our lives today, so that we are enabled to live a victorious life, the life that God intended for all His children. In a few short, crisp verses Paul sums up all that is necessary to live a life that is pleasing to the Lord and in the above words we are encouraged to rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, and be constant in prayer.
To rejoice in hope is to have that unfaltering assurance in God’s Word – knowing that our hope of glory is secured for us in heavenly places for the eternal ages to come, simply because God’s Word is true and cannot be broken. Our hope is built on nothing less than trusting in the cross of Christ and taking God at His Word. To be patient in tribulation is to know and accept that in this world we will have tribulation – but to wait patiently in our suffering, without murmuring – and to be of good cheer, knowing that His strength is sufficient to see us through every difficulty of life, because He has already overcome sin and death – and we are united with Him and His victory.
As children of God we should all be instant in prayer – constantly lifting our hearts and voice to the Lord in prayers of thanks and praise and intercession and requests – and laying them before the throne of God’s Grace, in the name of Jesus, – For prayer strengthens the faith, that brings forth hope, and lifts it up into an assured and joyful, expectation. Knowing that greater is He that is in us than He that is in the world. Therefore let us learn to exercise Paul’s short, and crisp instructions for godly living.
Apostle Paul directs us to be joyful, patient and faithful in the midst of our daily struggles, because each one of these is the fruit of the spirit. These fruits of the spirit are the characteristics and traits of Jesus Christ. We need to apply these characteristic, in our lives in order to enrich our relationship with Christ. We must be joyful in hope, because when our hope is placed in the Lord Jesus Christ, then it becomes easy for us to face any situation however hard and difficult it may be. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ. As children of God we know the hope that we have through Christ. Even James in his epistle says, “Count it all joy when you fall into various trials.”May God help you to endure sufferings patiently without grumbling, and be always joyful in hope. God Bless you.
Prayer: Loving Father, thank You for the Word of God and the godly instructions that are laid for us. Teach us to rejoice – in hope and, endure tribulation patiently. Help us to engage in prayer whenever we face trials and tribulation. Help us to persevere in prayer and press on to the goal of our calling.
In Jesus name we pray,
Amen.
