Saturday, January 17, 2009

God's Promises: Saturday

Today's subjects are: Charity; Hospitality; Brotherly Love; Poverty; Self Denial; Humility; Work; Help in Troubles; Righteousness; and Repentance. All verses are from the NKJV.

Charity: Psalms 41:1-2: "Blessed is he who considers the poor; the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble. 2 The Lord will preserve him and keep him alive, and he will be blessed on the earth; you will not deliver him to the will of his enemies."
The Lord loves a giver. Those who think of others and cares for those in need.

Hospitality: 1 Peter 4:9-10: "Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. 10 As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God."

We should receive one another with grace and kindness. We are all created by our Lord, acceptance of one another is key. Each one using God's gifts together generates more light onto Him. So much is accomplished when we work together.

Brotherly Love: John 13:34-35: "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have lover for one another."

By the Lords example, we show others how great the Lords love is.

Poverty: Psalm 72:12-13: "For He will deliver the needy when he cries, the poor also, and him who has no helper. 13 He will spare the poor and needy, and will save the souls of the needy.

This is a true testimony of the love of our Father for all. He will never let anyone go without. Some may say, "what about all the homeless, what about those in shelters." We must remember, God uses times of trials and tribulations to shake the foundation to bring us to Him, or to draw us nearer. Also, those totally down on their luck may be raptured by the enemy. God reaches out to them, but if they do not follow, He waits and prays for their souls. Sometimes some are so wrapped in the enemy they can not see their way out. God does all He can to call them back. There are those that just refuse to be saved. This is why it is so important for Brotherly Love, and charitablility to be used by us. We are God's servants and should be working to help bring those in need to a comfortable place in life and draw them to the Lord.

Self Denial: Matthew 16:24-26: "Then Jesus said to His disciples, 'If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. 26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?"

Are you willing to give yourself to the Lord and carry your cross, and follow His design for your life? I know I am. I can testify to the greatness of His love when one gives oneself to Him. Life is beautiful once we let go of what we want for our lives and live the way the Lord wants us to live it. Selling ones soul to have all the riches in the world, not worth it. What happens to all of it when your time comes to an end? Misery for eternity. Would it be worth it?

Humility: Matthew 18:4: "Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven."

Humbling oneself is so important. When we admit we are not worthy of receiving His gifts is when we really give ourselves to the Lord. False humility does not work. Humbling oneself as a way of drawing attention to oneself is not humble. We don't do it for recognition from others. We humble ourselves before Him.

Work: Genesis 2:3: "Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made."

God wants us to take a day of rest. It is important to care for our bodies so that we are able to carry out the responsibilities that He has laid upon us to do. If we do not get our rest, our bodies do not function properly, nor do our brains.

Help in Troubles: Psalm 37:39: "But the salvation of the righeous is from the Lord; He is their strength in the time of trouble."

It is necessary to find our strength in our Lord, as He never fails us. Seek and you shall find. Ask and you shall receive. It's that simple. But...we must remember, everything is on His time. We may not always get our answers instantly. Sometimes He waits, as He is working on you. Sometimes God's greatest gifts are unanswered prayers. We may think we need certian things, or things done a certian way, but Father really does know best.

Righteousness: 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 those who walk uprightly."

Amen and Hallelujah! Our God is a good God, the only God. He cares for those who walk in His ways. I can certianly testify to that. He is an all loving God. His grace and mercy is like none other.

Repentance: Mark 1:15: "and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel."

This is a simple request of us. Repent of our sins and all will be granted to us. How simple is that? After the suffering Christ went through for our sins, one would think this would be a simple tax. After all, it's the least we can do. But...when one is repenting one must be genuine in one's repentance. For if it's just a show, your repentance will not be accepted. There is no faking with God. He knows all, He sees all. Being genuine to Him, giving our all to Him opens so many doors!

As you can see, many of these all work closely together. One runs into the other and they all work together. Miss one of them, and the others do not work all that well.

May God Bless you all abundantly. Have a beautiful Christ filled day! Live your life to the fullest. Make a ripple and watch it grow! P.U.S.H. (Pray Until Something Happens).

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