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 23:5, “You prepare a table before me in the Presence Of my enemies.”
My Dear Brothers and Sister, from the above passage we come to understand that God is always, ready to prepare a table before you in the presence of your enemies. Every good man has his enemies. He would not be like his Lord if he had no enemies at all. Yet we see the quietude of the godly man even in the sight of his enemies, and how refreshing is his calm bravery. And David was one such person. When a soldier is in the presence of his enemies, nothing seems to disturb him, there is no confusion, the enemy is at the door yet God prepares a table and makes you sits down and eats as if everything were in perfect peace. Oh the peace which Jehovah gives to His people even in the midst of the most trying circumstances is inexpressible.
My Dear Brothers and Sisters, David experienced the fear of death. He was confronted by his enemies. King Saul was possessed by evil spirit. So David the son of Jessie was called to play music in his harp. And when David played his harp, he would be relieved of the evil spirit or the evil spirit would subside. Since, King Saul knew that David was anointed as the next king of Israel; he was jealous of him and wanted to kill him. So he threw his spear at him with the desire to kill him. But God saved him from the hands of King Saul several times. Not once, but he made many attempts to kill him. But the Lord was with David and therefore saved him from the hands of King Saul.
My Dear brothers and Sisters, similarly David and his body guard Abishai, for fear of Saul, went up the hill of Hakilah and hid themselves which faces Jeshimon, Knowing this, Saul with three thousand warriors , surrounded the hill in which David was hiding. So David could not come out of his hideout. He feared that he would be trapped by his enemies, So he cried out to the Living God. He lifted up his voice to God in prayer, asking God to save him from his enemies. The Lord heard his prayer and put king Saul and his three thousand men into deep sleep. Such that they never even noticed David take away the spear, and the jar of water, from Saul’s head. And they escaped from the cruel hands of their enemies. Thus God prepared a table before him in the sight of his enemies. This royal context explains the presence of David’s enemies, as observers at the feast, they almost mocked at him. But David trusted in God and God delivered him from the hands of his enemies at all times. And this victory was the feast David enjoyed before his enemies.
My Dear Brothers and Sisters, the Lord will prepare a table even before you in the presence of your enemies. God will exalt your name in front of those who put you to shame. God will lift your name. He will increase you on every side and comfort you. People might have told that you would never arise from your fallen state. But God says, “Your enemies, will fall down but you will stand erect, and firm.” Hallelujah. ”God will suppress your enemies that rise up against you. Those who afflict you shall never rise up against you. You will search for them but you will never find them. This is the Lord’s doing and it will be marvellous to your eyes.
Prayer: Our loving heavenly Father, we thank you for this blessed day. Thank you for protecting us and preparing a table before us in the presence of our enemies. Lord You hear us when we cry unto you. Grant unto us the grace to walk in the fear of God. Help us to be careful with our enemies. Never allow us to suffer in their hands. May we be victorious before them all the days of our life.
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 Zachariah 2:7, 8 “ Deliver thyself, O Zion, that dwells with the daughter of Babylon. For thus says, the Lord of hosts; After the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that touches you touches the apple of his eye.”
From the above context we understand that our God delivered his children namely the Israelites from the captivity of Babylon and after he attained the glory of God he came into the world to redeem the children of God from the hands of this world, that is corrupt and evil. God looks at Zion (The Children of God) and admonishes them to come out of Babylon and not to engage themselves in the lust of the flesh and sinful activities like the people of Babylon.
Prophet Zachariah compares Babylon to that of this world, which has become more like Babylon so wicked and evil in the sight of God. God is worried that no one should pluck his children from his hands. So He says, “For he that touches you touches the apple of his eye.” He considers his children so precious in his sight. The Bible says, “The Fear of God is the beginning of wisdom.”God expects his children to walk in the fear of God. God is Almighty, God says, “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, which was and which is and which is to come, the Almighty” “to whom all power is given in heaven and in earth.”
When king David was in deep distress, he said, Let us fall into the hands of the Lord for his mercy is great. Rather than fall into human hands.”Apostle Paul refers in his Epistle to the Hebrews, saying “Let us approach Gods throne of grace, with confidence, so that we may receive the mercy of God and find grace to help us in our time of need.”
One day a young man came to see me. He said. “Sir, I have committed a sin, but my conscious pricks me. What should I do? Will God forgive me of my sin?’’ So I decided to come to the Prayer Tower, “A place of Refuge” and ask God to forgive me of all my sins that I have committed until this day. He asked me if God would forgive him of all his wicked deeds and give him an opportunity to live a fresh clean life. I told him, “When God could forgive the woman who was caught in the act of adultery and granted her another opportunity to live a fresh life, will he not forgive you, and give you one more opportunity to live. The tears you have shed is the sign of your repentance.”
This young man was very scared, he even went for blood test to ensure if he was attacked by any disease, due to his sinful habits. I told him, that if he confessed his sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” He confessed to God with great fear, and since he admitted his faults, and confessed his sins, God changed his tears of sorrow and pain to tears of joy. God gave him a new life. He went home rejoicing.
God expects that you need to fear him. He questions saying, A son honours his father, And a servant his master, If then I am the Father, where is My honour? And if I am a Master, Then where is My reverence? God commands us to fear the Lord our God, for our good always, and for our survival. The Psalmist says, “ How great is Your goodness which You have stored up for those who fear you?” Therefore I urge you dear Brothers and Sisters, to fear God at all times to enjoy life of fullness. God bless you.
Prayer: Our loving heavenly Father, we thank You for this blessed day. Lord we thank You for enlightening us, about Your power and Your supremacy. That You are Almighty God. Help us to fear You with all humbleness of heart. May we learn to live a God fearing life and not involve in sinful ways. Teach us to come out of the captivity of Babylon, and live a life acceptable in the sight of God.
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 103 : 13 “As a father pities his children, So the Lord pities those who fear him.”
From the above context we understand that our God shows mercy to those who fear Him. Like as a father pities his children, so the Lord pities them that fear him. To those who truly pay reverence to his holy name, the Lord acts as a father to them. .God shows pity to those who deserve mercy.. Fathers feel for their children, especially when they are in pain, Fathers would like to suffer instead, of their children. Their sighs and groans causes them much pain. Similarly our heavenly Father is also very sensitive . We do not adore a god of stone, but the living God, who is tenderness itself. His pity never fails to flow, and we never cease to receive it.
Usually, a father shows compassion to his children. A father not only feels sympathy for his child, but has compassion and this is reflected in his nursing the child back to health. If one of his children is in trouble, it hurts him and compassion inspires him to extricate the child from danger. Like a good father, our heavenly Father also demonstrates strong compassion for us. God understands what we face, and He cares for us. The Bible encourages us to cast all our anxiety on our Father in heaven. It further reminds us, of “The steadfast love of the LORD that never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is His faithfulness.”
Many of you who are reading this message are expecting some mercy from God. You feel that if God shows mercy then all things will be well with you. You are actually expecting that someone should show you, some favour or mercy that you may progress in life. God is touching that person tonight, whom you think will be helpful to you. Because a father will be merciful, to his son, however good or bad he might be. The Bible records, about a father who was loving and forgiving. This father represents our God who is merciful and gracious to his children.
The father had two sons, The eldest son looked after his home affairs and his father’s cattle. But the younger son asked his father for his portion of goods and so the father divided to them his livelihood. The younger son gathered all his property and journeyed to a far away country. He thought he would live a better life with all his wealth. But he wasted all his wealth, with his friends, and indulged in all sorts of fun and pleasure. When he had spent all his money then there arose a famine in that land and he was in great need of money, food and he did not even have good clothing to cover himself. Finally he began to look after the swine, and he was compelled to eat the pods that the swine ate.
But one day when he came to himself, he thought about his father and all the servants in his house and therefore he decided to return to his father. And he arose and came to his father. And his father who was anxiously waiting for the return of his son, saw him coming he had compassion on him and ran to meet him. He fell on his neck and kissed him. This reveals the love and forgiving nature of the father. He loved his son in spite of his foolishness, and wrong doings. Such is the goodness of our heavenly father, and so is every father to his children. Therefore in case you think that if a particular person would show you mercy and that you will prosper in life because of that person then you ought to fear God. Because it is only God who causes him to show mercy to you.
If all these days, you had purposely sinned against God, having no fear for God then you need to repent of your sinful life. They fear the police standing on the roadways, they have fear for their earthly father and even their boss under whom they work but have no fear at all for God who is above all these people and has authority over them. We see that many do not have any fear for God. They live as they like as a result they go through much sorrow. Therefore if you need favour from someone then you need to fear God. Because the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting, on those who fear Him. God bless you.
Prayer: Our loving heavenly Father, we thank You for this blessed day. Lord we thank You, for Your mercy and loving kindness. Teach us to fear You at all times. Never to refrain ourselves from God. Never to commit sin wilfully. Help us to be like the younger son who returned to his father and so was blessed. May we learn to obey, and never to depart from our father.
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 John 8:11-John 8:3,4,11And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst,They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. Jesus said unto her, “Neither do I condemn you, go and sin no more.”
From the above context we see that a group of scribes and Pharisees confronts Jesus, interrupting his teaching session. They bring in a woman, accusing her of committing adultery, claiming she was caught in the very act. They ask Jesus whether the punishment for someone like her should be stoning, as prescribed by Mosaic Law.
One day early in the morning when Jesus came into the temple, all the people gathered unto him; and he sat down, and taught them. And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, they said unto him, “ Master, this woman was caught red handed in the act of adultery,”’ and they argued with Jesus about the law of Moses. They said”’ Did not Moses command us, that such person should be stoned to death. They inquired of him as to what, he has to say in this regard? This they said, tempting him, that they might have a chance to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he did not hear them.
So when they continued asking him, again and again then he stood up himself, and said unto them, “ He that is without any sin among you, let him throw the first stone at her. After saying this, He again stooped down, and wrote on the ground. Jesus challenged her attackers, pointing out that they weren’t really good in any way. Even though the law calls for the death of both guilty parties, the woman was the only one who was being accused of wrong doing. Jesus pointed these things out, by writing in the dirt. And they which heard him speak, were convicted by their own conscience, and hence went out one by one, beginning from the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman was standing in the midst. All the men who accused her of committing adultery had disappeared as none of them were perfect.
And thus Jesus had driven off every single one of the men who called for her death. Jesus does not tell the woman, “you did nothing wrong.” He does not say, “don’t worry about what you did.” Instead, Jesus simply states that He does not condemn her. Jesus showed this woman spectacular grace, while still holding firm in calling her adultery what it was: a moral failure which should not be repeated.
And When Jesus had lifted up himself, he saw none but the woman alone standing in shame and humiliation. Jesus said unto her, Woman, where are those who accused you ? Has no man condemned you? She said quietly “ No man, Lord. ”And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn you : go, and sin no more. ‘’”Thus we see that neither Jesus rebuked her for her sinful act, neither did he punish her. Instead He gave her another opportunity for her to live a better life in the future. This incident serves as a useful example for Christians. The adulterous woman was morally and legally guilty while Jesus remains perfect. No one on earth had greater justification to kill her, for her sin than Jesus did in that moment. And yet, Jesus chose not to kill her.
thus we see that Our God is a God of compassion. He cares for us. He is mindful of us. He always prefers that we live an exemplary life. God says, “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things, and be in health just as your soul prospers.” He tells us that we will prosper if our soul prospers, that is to be in tune with God, walk spiritually and not be worldly. When we have a close relationship with God then we will surely prosper. We shall be like the tree planted by the rivers of water. That brings forth its fruit in its season. Whose leaf shall not wither and whatever he doeth shall prosper. A life of prosperity.
Prayer: Our loving heavenly Father, we thank You for this blessed day. Lord we thank You for being gracious to the woman who had committed sin. You did not kill her according to the law of Moses. But You forgave her. We remain grateful to You for giving her another opportunity to live a better life in the future. We are so impressed by the way You dealt or challenged the scribes and Pharisees. We praise Your glorious name O Lord.
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 Deuteronomy 26:8 , “So the Lord brought us out of Egypt, with a mighty hand and with an outstretched arm, with great terror, and with signs and wonders.”
From the above context we understand that our God performed great signs and wonders in the wilderness in order to bring the people of Israel from the land of Egypt. God performed marvellous things in the sight of their fathers. In the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan. He divided the Red sea, and caused them to pass through. And He made the waters stand up like a heap. In the daytime, he led them with a cloud. All the night with a light of fire. He split the rocks in the wilderness, and gave them drink in abundance like the depths.
He also brought streams out of the rocks and made the waters to run down like rivers. He commanded the clouds above and opened the doors of heaven. And rained down manna, for the people to eat. Thus men ate angel’s food. He also rained meat on them like the dust. Feathered fowl like the sand of the dust. Thus God performed many signs and wonders among them. He sent darkness and made it dark. He turned their waters into blood and killed their fish. Their land abounded with frogs. Even in the chambers of their kings, he spoke and there came swarms of flies. And lice in all their territory. He gave them hail for rains and flaming fire. He spoke and locusts came and ate up all the vegetation. He also destroyed all the firstborn in their land.
People in Egypt did not understand God’s wonders. They did not remember the multitude of God’s mercies. Yet God saved them for His name sake. That He might make His mighty power known. He rebuked the Red Sea, also and it dried up. So He led them through the depths as through the wilderness. He saved them from the hands of those who hated them. Thus God led them by the right hand of Moses, with a mighty hand and with an out stretched “arm, with great terror, and with signs and wonder.
God can perform wonders in your life too. He will go before you and break the barriers that stand as a blockade in showering His blessings upon you. He will make all crooked places straight and level all the mountains. He will break the gates of bronze and cut the bars of iron. He will cause you to ride on the high hills of the earth. And feed you with the heritage of Jacob. He will fulfil the desires of your heart. He will settle you with a good job, a career, a business or grant you Visa to settle abroad. There is nothing that God cannot do for you. All things are possible to them that believe in His name. So cheer up, commit your ways unto the Lord. Trust also in Him and He shall bring it to pass.
Prayer: Our loving heavenly Father, we thank You for this blessed day. We thank you Lord for performing many signs and wonders through which You revealed your power and glory. We realize that You are great, for You do wonders beyond numbers. Lord perform wonders in our life too, so that all people will know that we belong to you.
In Jesus name we pray.
Amen.
