Shun Party Spirit

TEXT: PROVERBS 21:16-31

Key verse: “He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich” (Proverbs 21:17)

Shun party spirit

It will be difficult to quantify the number of families and lives that have been ruined by the love of alcohol. The bottle has not only succeeded in impoverishing many that love it, but has stolen away joy, peace and harmony in many homes. Many children have been denied the love, warmth, affection and care expected to be given in the family due to the influence of alcohol. How many promising men, having great potentials and wonderful careers have had their careers ruined and thrown out of job because they have become slaves to alcohol. And there are countless number of untimely deaths, young wives turned to early widows and children orphaned at tender age, all due to alcohol.

Don't defile your body with Alcohol.

Our passage today warns against the practice of abandoning oneself to pleasure. There are so many people who spend all their time and money seeking for pleasure. They can be said to be possessed by the party spirit. While they cannot afford to pay their children’s school fees and provide for their basic essentials of life, they can afford the money for expensive party dresses, designer’s perfumes and other such vanities. Some even go to the extent of taking loans just to organize parties.

This is the spirit of the world and must not be found among Christians. Christians are supposed to be discreet, prudent and wise in all their dealings. Their lives are to be lived to the glory of the Lord. We should also bear in mind that our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit which must not be defiled with alcohol or any other such defilements.

It is not only the Bible that warns against the danger of alcohol and reckless pleasure seeking. Government agencies have joined in the campaign. The wise will take heed and keep off. Whatever subtracts from a sober Christian fellowship which must be Christ-honouring and soul-seeking cannot be of God. We must avoid all tendencies that paint the believer in lurid, worldly colours.

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One Day At A Time

 One day at a time, with its failures and fears,
With its hurts and mistakes, with its weakness and tears,
With its portion of pain and its burden of care;
One day at a time we must meet and must bear.

One day at a time to be patient and strong,
To be calm under trial and sweet under wrong;
Then its toiling shall pass and its sorrow shall cease;
It shall darken and die, and the night shall bring peace.

One day at a time - but the day is so long,
And the heart is not brave, and the soul is not strong,
O Thou pitiful Christ, be Thou near all the way;
Give courage and patience and strength for the day.

Swift cometh His answer, so clear and so sweet;
"Yea, I will be with thee, thy troubles to meet;
I will not forget thee, nor fail thee, nor grieve;
I will not forsake thee; I never will leave."

Not yesterday's load we are called on to bear,
Nor the morrow's uncertain and shadowy care;
Why should we look forward or back with dismay?
Our needs, as our mercies, are but for the day.

One day at a time, and the day is His day;
He hath numbered its hours, though they haste or delay.
His grace is sufficient; we walk not alone;
As the day, so the strength that He giveth His own.

=== Written by: Annie Johnson Flint ===

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P.B.R.: The Secret Of Fulfilment

Text: Matthew 21:22; Mark 11: 22-24

 

P.B.R means Pray, Believe and Receive. These are the three words that unlock the secret of fulfilment in the life of a Christian. In this, we pray to God the Father in the name of Jesus the Son, believe that He will attend to what we have asked for and then we receive the answer by faith.

We often see some people who wish to receive from God but either fail to pray or receive. Of course, such people will not get the desired result. As stressed by our Lord Jesus Christ in the text above, the order (pray, believe and receive) needs to be followed to ensure realization of our wishes. It is indeed, a sound fundamental formula that we should all embrace and use. Nevertheless, we need to know how to pray.

The purpose of receiving what we ask from God is to glorify Him through His Son Jesus Christ. Therefore, we should pray to God in the name of His Son, Jesus. We should also pray with the right motives, and in accordance with God's will (James 4:1-3). There is also the need for us to ensure we forgive those who offend us as unforgiveness hinders prayers from being answered.

When we pray, it is important our prayer has focus and is specific. Absent-mindedness, day-dreaming, and all forms of distractions should be avoided. We should pray from our hearts and avoid unnecessary repetitions or reciting prayers mechanically. Prayers based on specific help us to focus our faith in God.

"… Without faith it is impossible to please Him …" (Hebrews 11:6). Believing in God when we pray indicates our confidence in the all-powerful God who is able to do all things (Ephesians 3:20). This was what gave Elijah, Hannah, Jabez and many others the answer to their requests. The same God who answered their prayers still answers prayers today, and will answer us if we pray in faith.

Our needs vary from one person to another. Among the things we can pray for include: success, finance, good job, healing/health, marriage, promotion, breakthroughs, Christian experiences, etc. As we pray ourselves, we should also remember to pray for our families, friends, the church, our leaders, communities, the nation and the world at large for the power and will of God to be made manifest (1 Timothy 2:1-3). 

It is only when we pray in faith, and believe in the Son (Jesus) that we can receive whatever we ask. However, we can't disregard the place of trusting and obeying the Word of God. "If you live in Me and My words remain in you and continue to live in your heart, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you (John 15:7). Only follow this formula – Pray, Believe, and you shall Receive according to God's riches in Christ Jesus.

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Paul's Mistake

Text: Acts 21:1-16

“As we were staying there for some days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. And coming to us, he took Paul's belt and bound his own feet and hands, and said, "This is what the Holy Spirit says: "In this way the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentile’(Acts 21:9-11)”

This is a rather painful scene. At Caesarea they came into the home of Philip the evangelist. There Agabus, a prophet of the Lord, in a dramatic, visual way, took Paul's sash from around his waist and bound his own feet and hands, and said, "This is what the Holy Spirit is saying to you, Paul. If you go on to Jerusalem, this is what will happen to you. You'll be delivered into the hands of the Gentiles. They will bind you, and you'll be a prisoner."

This was the last effort made by the Holy Spirit to awaken the apostle to what he was doing. Agabus was joined in this by the whole body of believers. The whole family present urged him not to go, Luke included. We read in verse 12, "When we had heard this, we and the local residents begged him not to go up to Jerusalem." So even his close associates recognized the voice of the Spirit, to which the apostle seemed strangely deaf. He refused to listen.

And in Paul's reply to them we can detect that, without quite realizing what has happened, he has succumbed to what today we call a "martyr complex." Paul said in verse 13, "What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but even to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus." These words are brave and sincere and earnest. He meant every word of them. We can find no fault with the bravery and courage expressed in those words. But it was not necessary for him to go, and the Spirit had told him not to go.

Here we see what can happen to a man of God when he is misled by an urgent hunger to accomplish a goal which God has not given him to do. The flesh had deceived Paul and evidently he saw himself as doing what the Lord did in his final journey up to Jerusalem. The Gospel accounts say that Jesus steadfastly set his face to go there, determined to go against all the pleading and the warnings of his own disciples. Paul must have seen himself in that role. But Jesus had the Spirit's witness within that this was the will of the Father for him, while Paul had exactly the opposite. The Spirit had made crystal clear that he was not to go to Jerusalem.

When Paul refused to be persuaded his friends said, "Well, may the will of the Lord be done." That is what you say when you do not know what else to say. That is what you pray when you do not know how else to act. They are simply saying, "Lord, it is up to you. We can't stop this man. He has a strong will and a mighty determination, and he's deluded into thinking that this is what you want. Therefore, you will have to handle it. May the will of the Lord be done."

“Father, thank you for recording so faithfully even this failure by the apostle. It is so helpful in letting me see how I must rely not upon the arm of the flesh but upon the arm of the Spirit. Teach me to walk in obedience, Lord, and not to venture out upon that which would be merely the fulfillment of a great desire on my part.”

Copyright | Ray Stedman Ministries| www.raystedman.org

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Watch Your Words

Text: Psalm 12:1-8

Key verse: “They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak” (Psalm 12:2).

Disappointment, disagreement and destruction are some of the tragic occurrences in human history associated with the misuse of the tongue. Yet, it is quite surprising that many people have not learnt to refrain from unguarded speech.

The Psalmist raised some issues crucial to the happiness of all people. With genuine concern, he observed the absence of godly and faithful men whose presence would have sanitised the society and enhanced the morality of the people. It is no surprise then that God eventually arose to the help of the “oppressed.” It may sometimes take long, but God will not fail to come to the rescue of the oppressed and the less privileged. Every wise person is therefore encouraged to hold tenaciously to the word of God because it is trustworthy.

As opposed to trusting in God, the carnal man depends on other sources for success. This was what informed the Psalmist’s abhorrence of the proud who thinks his tongue belongs to him and it does not matter to what use he puts it. Many today still think this way and so misuse the gifts of God, especially the tongue.

Instead of destroying lives through thoughtless words, we can bless others. We can comfort and not curse. We can use this “comely part” to benefit others. The alternative is to use our tongues recklessly and risk God’s anger, especially as He has said that, “...every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment” (Matthew 12:36).

THOUGHT TO CONSIDER: Bless always and curse not.

- See more at: http://dailymanna.dclmhq.org/2014/01/daily-manna-2014-watch-your-words.html#.U8kRpkA56Dl

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Keep Off The Rat-Race

Text: Proverbs 23:1-12

Key verse: “Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom” (Proverbs 23:4).

The Book of Proverbs is noted for giving precepts to Christians and humanity in general on how to avoid pitfalls that may ruin and damn the soul, and  how to  live successfully and victoriously here. Exhortations for living to please God and maintaining proper relationships with our fellow men abound in the book of Proverbs. 

Our text touches on what our attitude should be towards riches and wealth and how we can avoid the danger associated with inordinate ambition to be rich at all costs. It also counsels on how we can use our discretion in relating with  rich people.

No human being desires to be poor or dependent on other people for sustenance and survival. This is one of the reasons people engage in profitable labour. However, the prevalent situations around us today show that many people are desperately seeking to enrich themselves and acquire wealth by all means. The philosophy of the end justifying the means now dictates the manner many seek riches.

The counsel of the Scripture to us is: “Labour not to be rich…” (verse 4). It does not suggest that being rich is sinful. It is just a caution to avoid the danger associated with the unbridled crave for riches. The New Testament presses this counsel further by saying that, “they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition …the love of money is the root of all evil” (1 Timothy 6:9,10). 

Indeed, it is a measure of the immaturity of the believer when he devotes more attention to gathering riches and getting obsessed with material considerations. A right and unswerving relationship with God is sure to evoke His blessings from time to time, and without adding sorrow to them.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Caution: Over speeding kills!

- See more at: http://dailymanna.dclmhq.org/2014/07/topic-keep-off-rat-race.html#.U8kKU0A56Dk <<or click daily manna at the top of the page>>

Thanks for reading and I hope you are blessed. Feel free to leave your comments, suggestions and requests. We would love to hear from you.

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…building the body of Christ.

Key verse: “Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom” (Proverbs 23:4).

The Book of Proverbs is noted for    giving precepts to Christians and humanity in general on how to avoid pitfalls that may ruin and damn the soul, and  how to  live successfully and victoriously here. Exhortations for living to please God and maintaining proper relationships with our fellow men abound in the book of Proverbs. 

Our text touches on what our attitude should be towards riches and wealth and how we can avoid the danger associated with inordinate ambition to be rich at all costs. It also counsels on how we can use our discretion in relating with  rich people.

No human being desires to be poor or dependent on other people for sustenance and survival. This is one of the reasons people engage in profitable labour. However, the prevalent situations around us today show that many people are desperately seeking to enrich themselves and acquire wealth by all means. The philosophy of the end justifying the means now dictates the manner many seek riches.

The counsel of the Scripture to us is: “Labour not to be rich…” (verse 4). It does not suggest that being rich is sinful. It is just a caution to avoid the danger associated with the unbridled crave for riches. The New Testament presses this counsel further by saying that, “they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition …the love of money is the root of all evil” (1 Timothy 6:9,10). 

Indeed, it is a measure of the immaturity of the believer when he devotes more attention to gathering riches and getting obsessed with material considerations. A right and unswerving relationship with God is sure to evoke His blessings from time to time, and without adding sorrow to them.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Caution: Over speeding kills!

- See more at: http://dailymanna.dclmhq.org/2014/07/topic-keep-off-rat-race.html#.U8kKU0A56Dk

Key verse: “Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom” (Proverbs 23:4).

The Book of Proverbs is noted for    giving precepts to Christians and humanity in general on how to avoid pitfalls that may ruin and damn the soul, and  how to  live successfully and victoriously here. Exhortations for living to please God and maintaining proper relationships with our fellow men abound in the book of Proverbs. 

Our text touches on what our attitude should be towards riches and wealth and how we can avoid the danger associated with inordinate ambition to be rich at all costs. It also counsels on how we can use our discretion in relating with  rich people.

No human being desires to be poor or dependent on other people for sustenance and survival. This is one of the reasons people engage in profitable labour. However, the prevalent situations around us today show that many people are desperately seeking to enrich themselves and acquire wealth by all means. The philosophy of the end justifying the means now dictates the manner many seek riches.

The counsel of the Scripture to us is: “Labour not to be rich…” (verse 4). It does not suggest that being rich is sinful. It is just a caution to avoid the danger associated with the unbridled crave for riches. The New Testament presses this counsel further by saying that, “they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition …the love of money is the root of all evil” (1 Timothy 6:9,10). 

Indeed, it is a measure of the immaturity of the believer when he devotes more attention to gathering riches and getting obsessed with material considerations. A right and unswerving relationship with God is sure to evoke His blessings from time to time, and without adding sorrow to them.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Caution: Over speeding kills!

- See more at: http://dailymanna.dclmhq.org/2014/07/topic-keep-off-rat-race.html#.U8kKU0A56Dk

Key verse: “Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom” (Proverbs 23:4).

The Book of Proverbs is noted for    giving precepts to Christians and humanity in general on how to avoid pitfalls that may ruin and damn the soul, and  how to  live successfully and victoriously here. Exhortations for living to please God and maintaining proper relationships with our fellow men abound in the book of Proverbs. 

Our text touches on what our attitude should be towards riches and wealth and how we can avoid the danger associated with inordinate ambition to be rich at all costs. It also counsels on how we can use our discretion in relating with  rich people.

No human being desires to be poor or dependent on other people for sustenance and survival. This is one of the reasons people engage in profitable labour. However, the prevalent situations around us today show that many people are desperately seeking to enrich themselves and acquire wealth by all means. The philosophy of the end justifying the means now dictates the manner many seek riches.

The counsel of the Scripture to us is: “Labour not to be rich…” (verse 4). It does not suggest that being rich is sinful. It is just a caution to avoid the danger associated with the unbridled crave for riches. The New Testament presses this counsel further by saying that, “they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition …the love of money is the root of all evil” (1 Timothy 6:9,10). 

Indeed, it is a measure of the immaturity of the believer when he devotes more attention to gathering riches and getting obsessed with material considerations. A right and unswerving relationship with God is sure to evoke His blessings from time to time, and without adding sorrow to them.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Caution: Over speeding kills!

- See more at: http://dailymanna.dclmhq.org/2014/07/topic-keep-off-rat-race.html#.U8kKU0A56Dk

Never Give Up

Never be sad or desponding
If thou hast faith to believe;
Grace, for the duties before thee,
Ask of thy God and receive.

Nev... er give up,...

Nev... er give up,...

Never give up to thy sorrows,

Jesus will bid them depart;

Trust... in the Lord,...

Trust,,, in the Lord,..

Sing when your trials are greatest,

Trust in the Lord and take heart.

What if thy burdens oppress thee;
What tho' thy life may be drear;
Look in the side that is brightest,
Pray, and thy path will be clear.

Never be sad or desponding,
There is a morrow for thee;
Soon thou shalt dwell in its brightness,
There with the Lord thou shalt be.

Never be sad or desponding,
Lean on the arm of thy Lord;
Dwell in the depths of His mercy,
Thou shalt receive thy reward.

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