My dear brother and sister 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 given for you today is from the book of Ezekiel 36: 11 “ I will multiply upon you man and beast; and they shall increase and bear young; I will make you inhabited as in former times, and do better for you than at your beginnings. Then you shall know that I am the LORD.”
My Dear Brother And Sister, from the above context we learn that God promises to bless Israel with men and beast. Once they return from their captivity from Babylon God promised to do for them better than their former days. He will help them to return and will make them inhabited as in the former times. God told Prophet Ezekiel, to prophesy concerning the land of Israel. He said, “Therefore prophesy concerning the land of Israel, and say to the mountains, the hills, the rivers, and the valleys, that “I have raised My hand in an oath that surely the nations that are around Israel shall be put to shame for causing trouble to Israel. But you, O mountains of Israel, you shall shoot forth your branches and yield your fruit to My people Israel, for they are about to come. For indeed I am for you, and I will turn to you, and you shall be tilled and sown. I will multiply men upon you, all the house of Israel, all of it; and the cities shall be inhabited and the ruins rebuilt. I will multiply upon you man and beast; and they shall increase and bear young; I will make you inhabited as in former times, and do better for you than at your beginnings. Then you shall know that I am the LORD.”God assures the people of Israel that He will be their strength and shield.
My Dear Brother And Sister, God continued His word directed to the land of Israel. These prophetic passages clearly focus on Israel’s future in her promised land. God looked with compassion and care upon Israel, under so much attack, conquest, and hatred from the nations of the world. What was true in Ezekiel’s day has remained true through the centuries and up to the present day. Many nations not only came against Israel, but the land has borne the insults of the nations long enough while they were on their way to possess the promised Land. God said, “The nations that are around you shall bear their own shame””: In a solemn oath, God promised that He would vindicate Israel and the shame the nations hoped to place upon Israel would come upon Israel’s enemies. The nations surrounding Israel, such as the, “Moabites, Ammonites, and Demeans shall be repaid in their own coin. God said, “ I will, as sure as I am God, as sure as I can, so surely make them a taunt, a proverb, and a curse among men.” Then God blessed Israel, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that [h]moves on the earth.”
My Dear Brother And Sister, According to Israeli government statistics and reports, though only 20% of Israel’s land is suitable for farming, since the establishment of the modern state of Israel in 1948 they have more than tripled the amount of land used for farming and production has increased sixteen times. What used to be an agricultural wasteland is now a model for the world, and Israel produces 95% of its own food requirements and has a large agricultural export industry. We can regard these impressive developments as a mere beginning of the much greater fruitfulness promised in the fullness of God’s plan for Israel and her land.. He promised blessing and renewal to the land, saying it would be tilled and sown. God can restore that which is dead and unfruitful. “Do you think that you will never be glad again; that shadow will always lie athwart your path; and that desolation shall hold undisputed empire? It shall not be so. O desolate mountains, ye shall shoot forth your branches, and yield fruit; and it is near to come.” Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that [h]moves on the earth.”According to these verses, God would make the land of Israel a blessing to the Jewish people once again.
My Dear Brother and Sister, nothing is too hard for the Lord to do. All things are possible to them that believe on His name. God is willing to bless you too as he has blessed Israel His chosen people. Are you surrounded by enemies? Has the creditor threatened you for not returning the money you have borrowed? Are you caught up in court case and the case has been pending for a very long time ? What is your problem? Have you been entangled in business dealings. Have you been cheated by your business partner? God is able to save you from the hands of your enemies. He will do for you better than at your beginning. He will give you men and people to help and support you in your endeavour. But all you need to do is to commit your ways unto the Lord. You need to know that Jehovah is the Lord God. And trust in Him, then He will do marvellous things in your life. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Do not be afraid, of terror or trouble that rises by your enemies. For the Lord shall be your confidence. Surely there is a future and your hope will not be lost. For God will be your refuge and strength. A very present help in trouble. So cast all your cares upon God for He cares for you. God Bless you.
Prayer: Our loving heavenly Father, we thank You for this blessed day. Thank You, Father, for revealing to us, Your care and concern for Israel. For supporting them, and giving them a hope of a bright future. Thank You Lord for providing them with men and people to help them . They have lived a hard life in the hands of their enemies So we thank You Lord for considering them and granting them hope of a better life.
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 given for you today is from the book of Isaiah 43:19, “Behold I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth. Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and Rivers in the desert.”
From the above context we learn that God is able to do a new thing in your life. Then all your old ways of life will be erased. God will rejuvenate newness in your life. Whenever the people of Israel disobeyed God, He troubled them by sending different nations , who would carry them away in captivity. Often the Israelites had wearied God with their sin and disobedience, but God was faithful and promises once again to care for them and provide for them. In this light, the deliverance from slavery, in Egypt is a sign and symbol of the deliverance from slavery to sin and death..The Israelites who went to Egypt during the time of Joseph began to spread and expand to a large number. After Joseph died, the new Pharaoh who came after Joseph did not know what great thing He had done for the people of Egypt during the famine that lasted for seven long years. So the Israelites were cruelly treated by the Egyptians, they were in bondage for 430 years.
Later the Israelites were carried away by the Babylonians. And they were in captivity for seventy years. The deliverance from Babylon is foretold, but there is reference to greater events. This deliverance can be compared to the redemption of sinners by Jesus Christ, the conversion of the Gentiles, and the recall of the Jews, are described. All that is to be done to rescue sinners, and to bring the believer to glory, is compared to a little extent, with that wondrous work of love, the redemption of man by the death of Christ. Mankind has been frolicking in sin and guilt. Since the first man Adam sinned by disobedience. God is so good to mankind that He wants to deliver them from their fallen state of sin and shame. Therefore He wants to do a new thing in the life of man. So He says, “I will do a new thing – Something that has not hitherto occurred, some unheard of and wonderful event, that shall far surpass all that he had formerly done. God says, “Behold, the former things have come to pass, And new things I declare. Before they spring forth I tell you of them. Now it shall spring forth. It shall spring up as the grass does from the earth; or it shall bud forth like the opening leaves and flowers. ” God further says, “I will even make a way in the wilderness.”
The prophet declares that God would provide “streams in the desert” as part of a promise to God’s people: “Behold, I will make a way in the wilderness and streams in the desert”. God promises that He would make Israel’s captors, namely Babylon, into captives, The Lord, the “Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel,” would deliver Israel from the captivity of Babylon. God compares Israel’s deliverance from Babylon to their prior exodus from Egypt, when God had “made a way through the sea, a path through the mighty waters”. The Lord promises that He will now do “a new thing” “Indeed, I will make a way in the wilderness, and streams in the desert, I provide water in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to My chosen people” and their cattle. So that they will not die, but live to tell the glory of God. For they are “the people I formed for Myself will declare My praise” says, the Lord.
God wanted to protect His children from the hands of their enemies the Egyptians so God had provided a way through the Red Sea during Israel’s exodus from Egypt. Just as God provided a way for his people God will make a new way for you and your family if you obey the commandments of God. Just as the Lord provided, all that they needed to leave Babylon and re establish their home in the Promised Land. God will make a way for those who trust in Him. Have you lost your job because of Corona? And because of this there is financial stress within your family. God will soon stabilise your financial status. May be until today you had been steeped in debts and must be struggling to come out of it. God will open a way for you, to clear all your debts. Many years have gone by since marriage, but you do not have a child. Don’t be distressed. God will soon bless you with a gift of a child. At the appointed time you shall embrace a child in your arms. God encourages His people who are in need through His promises. He will supply His people in their frailty, with water that they may quench their thirst. God says, that the Lord, will answer you, the God of Israel, will not forsake you. God Bless you.
Prayer: Our loving heavenly Father, we thank You for this blessed day. Thank You, Father, for delivering the people of Israel from their captivity. Lord You are above all and know our thoughts afar off. Help us to understand You in a larger way and thus submit our cause to You. That You may lead us in the current situation and remain with us in all our struggles as you had been with the Israelites. Thank You Lord for assuring us, that You would provide streams in the desert, and quench our thirst. And also provide a way for us even when there is no way. Do marvellous things for us, that we may glorify Your name.
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 Psalms 107:43 , “Those who are wise will take all this to heart; they will see in our history the faithful love of the Lord.”
From the above context we learn that whoever is wise will observe these things, and they will understand the loving kindness of the Lord. The psalmist has invited us to look at the way God works in the world, both in responding to those who cry out to Him and in His ability to bring low and raise high. Wisdom tells us to take notice of what God is doing for His children. “It is for yourself to recognize the fourfold picture of plight and salvation, and it is the steadfastness of God, that you need to praise Him with new insight.” This psalm is a great song of the mercy of God. This shows how when we listen to the voice of God, and when we cry unto God in our distress, and find, deliverance through His goodness, we shall give Him thanks and praise Him.” Thus , “The conclusion to this psalm transforms the hymn of thanksgiving and praise to a wisdom psalm. The righteous will become wise by studying the acts of the Lord in the affairs of man.”
“All things work together for good to them that love God’; and the more they love Him, the more clearly will they see, and the more happily will they feel, and so it is. How can a man contemplate, and keep his sanity, without that faith? He who has faith to see the work of God, will experience it in his own life. And So we read in Jeremiah, “ Who is the wise man who may understand this? And who is he to whom the mouth of the Lord has spoken, that he may declare it? Why does the land perish and burn up like a wilderness, so that no one can pass through?” And again prophet Hosea says, “Who is wise? Let him understand these things. Who is prudent? Let him know them. For the ways of the Lord are right; the righteous walk in them. The Bible says. “Evil men do not understand justice, But those who seek the Lord understand all things.”
The Bible says, A wise man will hear and increase learning. And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. For the Lord gives wisdom, from his mouth, come knowledge, and understanding. The wise men will understand the wonderful works of God in nature, providence, and grace; these will be taken notice of, laid up in the mind, and kept by such who are truly wise, who know how to make a right use and proper improvement of them. Such wise men shall understand the loving kindness of the Lord; even in all their afflictions, they will perceive this to be at the bottom of every mercy and blessing; they will understand more of the nature and Excellency of it, and know more of the love of God and Christ, which passes all understanding and knowledge. Happy is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gains understanding.
To those of you who are reading this message, I urge you to walk in wisdom. When you fear the Lord, you will be filled with wisdom and knowledge. And then you shall know all things. Then you will understand righteousness, and justice. Equity and every good path. With wisdom you shall know the loving kindness of God. Once you are filled with His loving kindness you will learn to do that which is right in the sight of God. And thus walk in the ways of God. You will not get entangled with the affairs of this world. Once you were in bondage and but now you have been liberated. Your parents will be proud of you. You will experience joy, peace and happiness. A bright future is ahead of you. God Bless you.
Prayer: Our loving heavenly Father, we thank You for this blessed day. Thank You, Father, for instructing us to walk in wisdom. Teach us to learn the loving kindness of the Lord. So that we may improve our moral style of life. Renew our heart and help us to do that which is right in the sight of God. May we learn from You as to how we need to live a content life. May we increase in learning. And attain wise counsel. Above all help us to fear the Lord, then we shall understand all things.
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 given for you today is from the book of Proverbs, 21:1, “The king’s heart is in the hand of the LORD, like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes.”
From the above context we learn that the kings heart, is like a stream of water, in the Lords hand, which he directs, towards, all those who please him, according to his plan and purpose. He turns their heart according to His will and that of God the father. The Lord has placed the heart perfectly in the body of the king. He might be powerful or he may be an ordinary king. The Lord will turn the heart of the king as he turns the stream of water, to various directions as per his plan and purpose. Usually the farmer makes narrow channels so as to receive the flowing water from the nearby river into his field, for better irrigation. And thus their land becomes more fertile for crops to grow. If God wants to bless a person, he will direct the heart of the king or any person to be of help to you. God has the power to turn the heart of the king or your boss, or one in authority to show favour to you when necessary.
We see how the Lord turns the heart of the king, and shows favour to those whom he desires. Here we see prophet Elisha shows favour to the Shunammite woman. He stayed in the upper room of her house whenever he came there to carry on his ministry. She provided him not only the upper room but also provided a table and a chair and a cot and also a lamp stand. Now that Elisha had finished his ministry in that place and was about to return to mount Carmel, he gently asked the Shunnamite woman if she needed any favour or anything in particular for him to do in return for all the favour she had shown to him while he stayed in her house. But she refused to ask of anything as she was blessed abundantly and was rich. So she thought she lacked nothing, she was content with what she had. But Kehazi, the assistant of Elisha, answered, “Actually, she has no son, and her husband is old.” He told Elisha, that the
shunammite woman had no children. She had everything but she did not have the gift of a child.
The prophet was very considerate to the Shunammite woman. He immediately prayed to the Lord to open her womb so that she might conceive and bring forth a child. He called for her, she came and stood in the doorway. Then Elisha said to her, ” About this time next year you shall embrace a son.” So the woman conceived, and bore a son when the appointed time had come, of which Elisha had told her. This woman from Shunem was a wealthy woman who, seeing Elisha was a holy man of God, blessed the prophet with meals and a place to stay. For her reward, God gave the woman a miracle: a son of her own. Thus we see how the Lord turned the heart of the prophet to plead to God, and ask God to open the womb of the Shunammite woman. Therefore God heard the prayer of the prophet and opened the womb of the Shunammite woman.
Today many of, who are reading this message, are anxiously waiting for the Lord to turn the heart of your boss to give you a promotion, or an increase in your salary. You may be in need of opening a new business, or you want to open a hotel or restaurant to do business. You need the help of your lawyer to fight your case for you successfully. Some of you are expecting loans from the banks. Therefore you need God to turn all their hearts to show you favour to achieve all your goals. He is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that you ask or think or pray for. God bless you.
Prayer: Our loving heavenly Father, we thank You for this blessed day. Thank You, Father, for your kindness in turning the channels of blessing according to your plan and purpose. Thank You Lord for turning the heart of the king or any other person in order to show us favour. We need such people to help , survive in this world. God must turn their heart toward us to show pity and sympathy so that we can achieve our goals in life. Jesus Himself needed favour of God and man while He was on this earth to have His way. Hence grant us favour from those we look up to.
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 given for you today is from the book of Psalm 84:11, “For the Lord God is a Sun and Shield. The Lord will give grace and glory. No good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.”
From the above context we learn that God, our Lord Jesus Christ, is a Sun and Shield to us. He is a refuge for us while we are in trouble. He is not only our Sun and Shield, but also the horn of our salvation. He is our rock, our fortress, and our deliverer. David says, “God is my Strength, in whom I will trust. I will call upon the Lord who is worthy to be praised.”Such is the greatness of our God. Charles Spurgeon calls this psalm as “The Pearl of Psalms.” This is the Psalm of the sons of sons of Korah. These sons of Korah were Levites, from the family of Kohath. During David’s time it seems they served in the musical choir of the temple worship. Korah led a rebellion of community leaders against Moses while he was leading the people of Israel through the wilderness. God judged Korah and his leaders and they all died, but the sons of Korah remained. Perhaps they were so grateful for this mercy that they became notable in Israel for praising God. This is one of the sweetest of the Psalms of Peace.”
In the above verse the Psalmist says, For the LORD God is a sun and shield: The psalmist explains the goodness and blessing that come to those pilgrims who love and long to be in the house of God. They enjoy God as the source of blessing (sun) and defence (shield). They receive His generous grace and glory. “This is the only place in the Bible where God is explicitly called ‘a sun.’ It is because He shines on us and is the brightness of our days.” He seems to be the sun while we enjoy the happy days. And He becomes the shield to us during dangerous times. “A sun above us and a shield around to protect us. A light to show the way and a shield to ward off its perils.”
“How God suits Himself to our need, is a great wonder. In darkness, He is a Sun; in the sultry noon. He is a Shield; in our earthly pilgrimage, He gives grace; when the morning of heaven breaks, He will give glory. He suits Himself to every varying circumstance in our life. He becomes what the exigency of the moment requires.” So The Psalmist says, No good thing will He withhold, is a promise made to those who walk uprightly – they will receive every good thing God has for them. The nature of this promise is appropriate where God promised direct blessings for obedience, to God and His precepts. Hence the believer receives God’s good things on the basis of the goodness of Jesus and especially to those who walk uprightly. The Bible does not say, ‘I will force all my children to enjoy every good thing.’ No, but, ‘No good thing will he withhold.’ There are thousands of mercies that we do not enjoy, not because they are withheld, but because we do not take them.” “Because God is what He is, and gives what He gives, it is the highest wisdom to take Him for our true good, and never to let Him go.” God’s greatness and goodness lead the psalmist to experience and declare the blessedness of trusting in God. So he says, Blessed is the man who trusts in You: “The essence of godliness is in submissiveness to the Great King, Jesus who will grant his blessings to those who find their refuge in him.”
God wants us to walk uprightly before God. Many people of God walked uprightly before God. Peter talks about how he would never deny Jesus. But he denied Jesus three times. Later, Peter thinks he is unworthy and returns to his old life as a fisherman. All the disciples go along with him. But Peter was restored by Jesus, who is merciful. Thus we find that Jesus forgave Peter who denied Him, because he walked uprightly before God. Next we read about Job in the Bible, that he was blameless, and upright. And one who feared God and shunned evil. We see David, though he experienced affliction in his life, he walked uprightly before God. Paul the Apostle, Queen Esther, her uncle Mordecai, the forerunner of Christ, John the Baptist, are those who walked uprightly before God. And so they were blessed, in the latter part of their life. What about you? Are you walking like these people of God, or do you still walk in darkness? The Bible says, “My people perish without knowledge.”But having, read this message you must have a faint idea of the benefits of walking uprightly. Will you submit to God today and declare that you will walk upright before God, then you will inherit the grace and glory of God. Then no good thing will God withhold from you. You will receive all the blessings God has in store for you. God Bless you.
Prayer: Our loving heavenly Father, we thank You for this blessed day. Thank You, Father, for revealing to us the need to walk upright before God. Though we often experience affliction in our life help us to walk uprightly before God. Teach us to walk in sincerity and truth. For the Bible says, Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright, for the end of that man is peace.” Help us to be perfect in all our ways.
In Jesus Name we pray.
Amen.
