I greet and bless everyone in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. The blessed word that God has given for you today, is from the book Isaiah 41:15, 16, “Behold I will make you into a new threshing sledge with sharp teeth. You shall thresh the mountains and beat them small. And make the hill like chaff. You shall winnow them; the wind shall carry them away. And the whirlwind shall carry. Shall scatter them. You shall rejoice in the Lord. And glory in the holy One of Israel. ”
My Dear Brothers and Sisters, from the above context we understand, that the object of the illustration in the verse is to show that God would clothe you with His power and that all your difficulties will vanish. To express this idea, the Prophet uses an image derived from the mode of threshing in the East when the heavy sledge was made to pass over. A large pile, of sheaves and to bruise out the grain and separate the chaff so that the wind would drive it away.
“I will make thee” means, “I will appoint thee,” that is, you shall be a threshing instrument by which you should remove all the obstacles in the way as a threshing sledge and crush them as dust in order to be victorious in your life.
God says, this new year, God will make you a threshing sledge, with sharp teeth. May be last year you might have been blunt and because of this you might have faced difficult consequences in life. You might have behaved unwisely and foolishly as wisdom had been blunt and spoilt and you have been so senseless. But in the new year, God wants to rebuild you to a sharp threshing sledge.
My Dear Brothers and Sisters, In this world there is affliction and tribulation throughout your life. And if you must withstand the struggles of this world, you just can’t manage with blunt equipment but you need an instrument with sharp teeth with which you can tear down those who suppress you. Your sharp less wisdom and knowledge is insufficient for you to face the challenges of this world, that is why this verse says, “Behold I will make you into a new threshing sledge with sharp teeth.” We are living in a fearful world. Surrounded with many dangerous problems. Where there is much jealousy and competition. This world is filled with anger and revenge. We are living in a world with tribulation and affliction. And to live a victorious life in this world, we need to have sharpened wisdom and knowledge. When people of this corrupt world are living without truth, God expects you to have sharp sense of wisdom, and good understanding, to face the battle that confronts you. You need to be intelligent. Only then you can face the mountainous problems that stand against you and crush them into small bits and make them like chaff. Only then can you rejoice in the Lord. And give glory to the Holy One of Israel. God bless you.
Prayer: Our loving heavenly father, we thank you for this blessed day. Lord we thank you for making us, as threshing sledge with sharp teeth. We praise you for making us fit to face the problems of this world. Make us to rejoice in the Lord and glorify in the Holy One of Israel.
In Jesus name we pray.
Amen.
My Dear Brothers and Sisters, I greet and bless everyone in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. The blessed word that God has given for you today, is from the book of Psalms 92:12, “The Righteous Shall flourish like a Palm tree. He shall grow like a Cedar in Lebanon.”
My Dear Brothers and Sisters from the above context we understand the beauty, the erectness, the stateliness and the growth of the palm tree. All this is the symbol of the prosperity, and the happiness of a righteous man. The Palm tree is constantly green and flourishing, spreads its branches very wide and grows to a vast size. The tree affords refreshing shade to travellers. It also produces dates a very sweet luscious kind of fruit. It is a most beautiful tree. And in every way, an invaluable treasure to the inhabitants of those hot countries. And hence it is considered as a fit symbol of the flourishing state of a righteous man.
My Dear Brothers and Sisters, the Bible says, the righteous grow like a Cedar, in Lebanon. They are immensely large; some of them are nearly 35 to 40 feet tall. They flourish for ages. And are always, green. When cut down they yield a most beautiful, kind of wood, brown in colour, solid, durable, and in some sort incorruptible. The Cedars as well as the palm trees when compared to the short lived and withering grass are a striking illustration of the well founded durable, and continually increasing virtue and happiness of the truly righteous in opposition to the momentary, trifling and perpetually decaying prosperity of the wicked.
My Dear Brothers and Sisters, The Cedar is a noble and long lived tree. The Bible says, As the days of a tree, are the days, of my people. Just as the Cedar waves its mighty branches in perpetual verdure over the mountains, the truly godly man under all adversities retains the joy of his soul and continues to make progress in the divine life. Though the grass makes hay for the oxen the Cedars help in building the temple of the Lord. The palm trees too were planted within the very house of the Lord, and their presence there was ornamental, appropriate and highly suggestive. They were best emblem of the righteous, a fat, and flourishing old age – a peaceful end – a glorious immortality.
My Dear Brothers and Sisters, God sometimes grants prosperity to wicked men in displeasure. Yet they flourish but for a moment. Hence let us seek for ourselves the salvation and grace of the Gospel. Let us be anointed by the Holy Spirit, and share the Redeemer’s glory. It is from his grace, by his word and Spirit that believers receive all the virtue that keeps them alive and makes them fruitful. The text tells us not only what the righteous is but what he shall be, come what may. The good man shall flourish and flourish in the noblest manner. May the Lord help you also to be righteous and walk worthy of the Lord.
Prayer: Our loving heavenly Father, we thank You for this blessed day. Dear Lord, help us to grow in the Lord daily like the trees that brings forth fruit in its season. Lord let our days be like the trees that live long. Teach us to enjoy peace and grow fat like stall fed calves. Make our lives a blessing to others.
In Jesus name we pray.
Amen.
My dearly Beloved, I greet and bless you in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. The blessed word that God has given for you today is from the book of Psalm 69: 29, “But I am poor and sorrowful, Let your Salvation, O God set me up on high.”
From the above context we learn that David was despised by his own father and brothers and he was tending his father’s sheep. As a shepherd he was tending the sheep over the hills and valleys and among the mountainous rocks. He was left all alone while all his other seven brothers were serving the king as soldiers in the army. His father had great regard for them where as David was neglected by all. So he cries out to God, saying “Lord I am poor, and sorrowful, Let your Salvation, O God set me up on high.”
The Psalmist David was afflicted very much but his faith was in God. So he cried out to God, Let Thy salvation, O God, set me up on high. God had registered his name in the heaven and waited for the appointed time to lift David. How beautifully has this been answered, in David’s case, for he not only escaped his foes, personally, but he became the very King of Israel.
David, did not know what to do as a young man but he obeyed his father Jesse, who asked him to take some food for his brothers in the battle field. He readily took the food and walked to the battle ground. There he offered his brothers the food, and was watching as to what was happening in the battle ground. Suddenly he saw Goliath defying the army to challenge him. Goliath was a Philistine giant from Gath. He stood over a mountain and cried out to the armies of Israel, and said to them, “Choose a man, for yourselves, and let him kill me. But if I prevail, you shall be our servants.” “I defy the armies of Israel, this day, give me a man, that we may fight together.” When Saul and all Israel, heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid.
It was then that David the son of Jesse, rose to the occasion. He boldly said to the king,” I will fight with the Philistine.”Though Saul hesitated, David boldly, said, “He has defied the armies of the Living God, and further said, God who delivered me from the paw of the lion, and from the paw of the bear, will deliver me from the hand of the Philistines.” Looking at the giant he said, “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin, but I come in the name of the Lord, the God of the armies of Israel. For the battle is the Lords and He will give you into our hands.”’David the young lad with few pebbles struck the giant with his sling and killed the giant. He fell down and David cut off his head. Thus he brought great victory to Israel. Such that even the women sang, saying, “Saul has slain his thousands and David his ten thousands.”’ Thus at the appointed time God exalted David who was despised by all and crowned him the king of Israel.’’
Many of you are reading this message in sorrow and distress, with the hope that God will do something for you. Yes, for those of you who have gone through much tribulation and trials I have good news for you. God is going to lift you, up and is going to exalt you and rejoice in you. God says, surely there is a hereafter, and your hope will not be cut off. So acknowledge the Lord in all your ways and He will direct your steps. Delight yourself also in the Lord; And He shall give you the desires of your heart. God bless you.
Prayer: Our loving heavenly Father, we thank You for this blessed day. Thank you for picking us up from the miry clay and setting our feet upon the rock. Lord may we delight in You all the days of our life. Direct our steps that we may not falter. Thank You Lord for remembering us in our lowly state.
In Jesus name we pray.
Amen.
My Dear Brothers and Sisters, I greet and bless everyone in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. The blessed word that God has given for you today, is from the book of Psalm 86-7 , “ In the day of trouble I will call upon You. And You will Answer me.”
My Dear Brothers and Sisters, When poverty and wretchedness is felt by us then we plead to God for His mercy. The best thing to do is to commit ourselves to God’s keeping. You are one whom God have set apart for Himself and has made you partaker of your sanctifying grace. It is a great encouragement to prayer life. You have learnt to trust in Him. We may expect comfort from God, when we keep up our communion with God. A man who makes God his refuge will feel assured that God will interrupt and save him from all his troubles. He had firm confidence in God at all times, an unwavering belief that God is a hearer of prayers.
My Dear Brothers and Sisters, from the above passage we see how God answers anyone who called on His Name. It is useless to cry to those who cannot or will not hear. But Jehovah the living God really does help to those who call upon Him. The above passage reveals that David believed the Lord to be a living and potent God and indeed to be God alone and hence he resolved in every hour of trouble to call upon Him. There was one such blind man called Bartimaeus, who believed in Jesus. He heard that Jesus and His disciples were coming to Jericho. And a great multitude followed him. Bartimaeus sat by the roadside begging and when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus son of David, have mercy on me.” Many warned him to be quiet but he cried out all the more. Jesus son of David, have mercy on me.”
My Dear Brothers and Sisters , Hearing his loud cry Jesus knew that the blind man was badly in need of help, So Jesus stood still and commanded his disciples to bring the blind beggar up to Him. So the disciples said to him, “Rise, He is calling You.” And throwing aside his garments he rose and came to Jesus.”Jesus asked him, what do you want Me to do for you? The blind man said, to him, “Rabboni help me receive my sight.” Then Jesus said, to him, “Go your way, your faith has made you well.” And immediately he received his sight.” He did not ask Jesus for money. But he asked for his sight, so that he might work hard and make his living. He did not want to beg anymore. Thus God heard his cry and performed a miracle for him and delivered him from his bondage.
My dear Brothers and Sisters, what trouble do you have today? What problem are you facing at the moment? Are you going through depression? Or is it financial difficulty? Is there some kind of disease in your body? Have you some sort of fear about the future of your children? Are you scared that the debtor will catch hold of your neck for not paying your dues? Is there a boil in your body and you are worried that it might be cancer. Call unto Jesus, He will help you overcome your problems. All those who called on his name, “Jesus” He has never let go of them. He never disappointed them either. So call upon His name. And He will solve all your problems. He is able to do exceedingly, abundantly above all that we ask or think. He is able to save to the utmost. He is able to save to the uttermost, those who come to God, through Him. Call on His name He will answer you. God bless you.
Prayer: Our loving heavenly Father, we thank You for this blessed day. Lord teach us to have faith in You like the blind man. Help us to cry out to God in times of distress and not approach others, who cannot be of any help. Make us to rely on You for all our need. Lord open a way where there seems to be no way. Lord be merciful to us and help us in our daily walk of life so that we may not lack any good thing.
In Jesus name we pray.
Amen.
My Dear Brothers and Sisters, I greet and bless everyone in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. The blessed word that God has given for you today is from the book of Genesis 32:26, “The Angel of God said, Let Me go for the day breaks. But Jacob said, I will not let you go, unless You bless me.”
Dear Brothers and Sisters, from the above passage we learn that the Angel of God by an admirable condescension speaks to Jacob, “ Let Me go for the day breaks.” But Jacob was reluctant, to leave the Angel of God. He resolves he will have a blessing even though all his bones are put out of joint, than allow the Angel to leave him without a blessing. Having been left alone he spread his fears before God in Prayer, for prayer is indeed wrestling with God. Nothing requires more vigour and unceasing exertion than wrestling because it is an emblem of the true spirit of faith and prayer. Jacob kept his ground, though the struggle continued long. This did not shake his faith or silence his prayer. So he prevailed and was blessed. Jacob relied on God for his sustenance.
My Dear Brothers and Sisters, Jacob went to his uncle’s place with empty hand and a staff. The only blessing he had while he went to his uncle’s place was the blessing of His parents. But now God had blessed him with many children, servants, cattle, and much wealth. So he decided to leave his uncle and return back to Canaan his Father’s place. He wanted to go back and settle there with his wives and children. The Bible says, He returned with two companies. God had blessed him abundantly. But he feared to enter into His Fathers place, because he feared his elder brother Esau, who had earlier planned to kill Jacob for grabbing all the Blessing’s from his father Isaac. There was a family enmity that continued for over a period of time. Being very tired all the servants and his wives and children were fast asleep. But Jacob could not sleep. He was filled with fear, while returning home to see his Father. He was gripped with fear. He was afraid of facing the consequences awaiting him in his homeland. He was alone by the river side of Jabbok. And he cried out to God in deep distress that God should help him, from the hands of his elder brother. For he was afraid that he and his entire family, his wife and children, his servants would be destroyed.
During this critical time God came to meet him as the Angel of God. And Jacob struggled with him and prevailed. God blessed Jacob as He had promised him, while he was on his way to his uncle’s place. The very same night God changed the heart of his brother Esau, and he came to meet Jacob on his way to Canaan. Esau embraced Jacob and kissed him and a peace treaty was made between the brothers after many long years. Thus God changed the situation in favour of Jacob his beloved. Though the night was agonious, God granted him a peaceful morning.
My Dear Brothers and Sisters, today as you are reading this message with much grief and sorrow, God Himself comes down to join with you in your problems. Share your difficulties with God. Often you share your sorrows with others who cannot help you in any way. But you never understand that there is a God beside you who can help you from all your troubles. You don’t realize to seek God at times of trouble. Learn to share your problems with God, He will solve all your problems in an amicable manner and set you free. May be you youngsters, cannot share your problems with your own parents but when you share with God however big your problem might seem to be God will counsel and solve all your problems. Start sharing with God. Make Him the Lord and Master of your life. He will bless you as He blessed Jacob, and change the worst situation in favour of you. God bless you.
Prayer: Our loving heavenly Father, we thank You for this blessed day. Thank You for teaching us the importance of Prayer. May we look up to God when we are in trouble? Teach us not to share our problems with others who cannot help us. Make us to understand that we need to put our confidence in God rather than man.
In Jesus name we pray.
Amen.
