THE RIGHTEOUS SHALL REJOICE (Ps.64:1-10)
Hear me, O God, as I voice my complaint; protect my life from the threat of the enemy. Hide me from the conspiracy of the wicked, from that noisy crowd of evildoers. They sharpen their tongues like swords and aim their words like deadly arrows. They shoot from ambush at the innocent man; they shoot at him suddenly, without fear. They encourage each other in evil plans, they talk about hiding their snares; they say, “Who will see them?" They plot injustice and say, "We have devised a perfect plan!" Surely the mind and heart of man are cunning. But God will shoot them with arrows; suddenly they will be struck down. He will turn their own tongues against them and bring them to ruin; all who see them will shake their heads in scorn. All mankind will fear; they will proclaim the works of God and ponder what he has done. Let the righteous rejoice in the Lord and take refuge in him; let all the upright in heart praise him!
The Lord God Almighty in His infinite mercy has declared to us to rejoice in Him as from this month, but we must not take this for granted and indulge in practices that will make Him to change His mind. We are all witnesses to the happenings in our country Nigeria in the past months; we cannot deny the fact that it is the grace of God that has kept us alive. The ground would have swallowed us up but He has decided, like He promised, to see us through the turbulent period, may His name be glorified forever in Jesus’ name. In his letter to the Thessalonians, Paul instructed that believers should rejoice always (1Thess. 5:16). Also in Philippians 4:4, he says ‘Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!’ it follows therefore that we should always have reasons to rejoice in the Lord. But we know that this is not always the case. Why? There are several things that will not allow the Christians to rejoice, some of them are considered in this write-up.
Not giving to appropriately to kingdom projects: - like many Christians would aptly apply Phil.4:19 to their situations, no matter the number of times one recite this, his/her needs might not be met. If we really want all our needs met, then we need to take that passage of the bible from verse 15 to 19. You have to pour water ahead of you so as to walk on wet ground. You have to do certain things for God to rise to your help always so as to be able to rejoice always as enjoined by God. If we fail to do that which is right in the sight of God, we found out that God Himself might be working against us instead of help (Hag.1:5-11).
Operating under a curse for nonpayment of tithe: - the bible explicitly states that those who refuse to pay tithe appropriately as and when due are robbers robbing God and therefore working under a closed heaven. When the heaven is closed against anyone, there is no way such can be fully blessed or always have reasons to rejoice in the Lord. It is only when we tithe as expected that the Lord will rebuke devourers for us (Mal.3:8-12).
Not giving to the needy and the servants of God: - when you expect something from the Lord and it is not coming, try giving to the needy or the servant of God. Whatever we give to such will be highly honored by God and consequently, abundant blessing will result (Matt. 25: 31-40). If your heaven is closed, then open it by giving to a servant of God. We need to remind ourselves the story of the Zarephath widow who first gave to the servant of God and in the process got more than what she actually bargained for (1Kgs. 17:1-16).
These are a few of things that are capable of not making one rejoice always as time and space could permit us today. Those who could not do them are regarded as being wicked according to our passage and as such should not be exposed to the source of overflowing joy. Remain blessed in the Lord.
PRAYER POINTS FOR THE WEEK
Monday: - I thank you Jesus for being my source of joy always
Tuesday: - Remove sadness from my heart o Lord IJN
Wednesday: - Keep o Lord in your presence that I may have fullness of joy always IJN
Thursday: - In whatever I have been operating under a curse, please Lord help me out IJN
Friday: - Teach us o Lord in Seed of Life, how to give to kingdom projects that I may be fully blessed of you IJN
Saturday: - Father of all nations, give us peace and joy in Nigeria IJN
Hear me, O God, as I voice my complaint; protect my life from the threat of the enemy. Hide me from the conspiracy of the wicked, from that noisy crowd of evildoers. They sharpen their tongues like swords and aim their words like deadly arrows. They shoot from ambush at the innocent man; they shoot at him suddenly, without fear. They encourage each other in evil plans, they talk about hiding their snares; they say, “Who will see them?" They plot injustice and say, "We have devised a perfect plan!" Surely the mind and heart of man are cunning. But God will shoot them with arrows; suddenly they will be struck down. He will turn their own tongues against them and bring them to ruin; all who see them will shake their heads in scorn. All mankind will fear; they will proclaim the works of God and ponder what he has done. Let the righteous rejoice in the Lord and take refuge in him; let all the upright in heart praise him!
The Lord God Almighty in His infinite mercy has declared to us to rejoice in Him as from this month, but we must not take this for granted and indulge in practices that will make Him to change His mind. We are all witnesses to the happenings in our country Nigeria in the past months; we cannot deny the fact that it is the grace of God that has kept us alive. The ground would have swallowed us up but He has decided, like He promised, to see us through the turbulent period, may His name be glorified forever in Jesus’ name. In his letter to the Thessalonians, Paul instructed that believers should rejoice always (1Thess. 5:16). Also in Philippians 4:4, he says ‘Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!’ it follows therefore that we should always have reasons to rejoice in the Lord. But we know that this is not always the case. Why? There are several things that will not allow the Christians to rejoice, some of them are considered in this write-up.
Not giving to appropriately to kingdom projects: - like many Christians would aptly apply Phil.4:19 to their situations, no matter the number of times one recite this, his/her needs might not be met. If we really want all our needs met, then we need to take that passage of the bible from verse 15 to 19. You have to pour water ahead of you so as to walk on wet ground. You have to do certain things for God to rise to your help always so as to be able to rejoice always as enjoined by God. If we fail to do that which is right in the sight of God, we found out that God Himself might be working against us instead of help (Hag.1:5-11).
Operating under a curse for nonpayment of tithe: - the bible explicitly states that those who refuse to pay tithe appropriately as and when due are robbers robbing God and therefore working under a closed heaven. When the heaven is closed against anyone, there is no way such can be fully blessed or always have reasons to rejoice in the Lord. It is only when we tithe as expected that the Lord will rebuke devourers for us (Mal.3:8-12).
Not giving to the needy and the servants of God: - when you expect something from the Lord and it is not coming, try giving to the needy or the servant of God. Whatever we give to such will be highly honored by God and consequently, abundant blessing will result (Matt. 25: 31-40). If your heaven is closed, then open it by giving to a servant of God. We need to remind ourselves the story of the Zarephath widow who first gave to the servant of God and in the process got more than what she actually bargained for (1Kgs. 17:1-16).
These are a few of things that are capable of not making one rejoice always as time and space could permit us today. Those who could not do them are regarded as being wicked according to our passage and as such should not be exposed to the source of overflowing joy. Remain blessed in the Lord.
PRAYER POINTS FOR THE WEEK
Monday: - I thank you Jesus for being my source of joy always
Tuesday: - Remove sadness from my heart o Lord IJN
Wednesday: - Keep o Lord in your presence that I may have fullness of joy always IJN
Thursday: - In whatever I have been operating under a curse, please Lord help me out IJN
Friday: - Teach us o Lord in Seed of Life, how to give to kingdom projects that I may be fully blessed of you IJN
Saturday: - Father of all nations, give us peace and joy in Nigeria IJN
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