Dearly beloved in Christ,
Loving greetings to you in the sweet name of the Lord Jesus Christ! In the beginning of every year, on the first day we announce the promise Word received from the Lord upon waiting and give messages based on that word. We are happy to print and give that verse to all in our fellowship. Such words of promise are given not only at the beginning of a year or month, but everyday to comfort and establish us. The verses of the Bible for that day guides us throughout that day. Sometimes, they caution us and counsel us. That is the way the Lord makes us whole.
If the head of a family places a lot of gifts for his children and asks them to go and take the gift they need, all of them would hurry to take the one that pleases them. Our heavenly Father likewise has gifts to offer us every month or day. If you know that, you would be really blessed.
The Lord God offers several good things to His children. Let us examine them here.
I. The Lord Gives HisWord
“The Lord gave the word; Great was the company of those who proclaimed it.” (Psalm 68:11)
The Word offered by the Lord Jesus Christ is really wonderful. “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life,” Jesus said. (John 6:63). These words of spirit and life comfort us at times of problems and difficulties and tears through Christ and change the circumstances and thereby help us to have the peace of God.
1. The Word Revives
“This is my comfort in my affliction, for Your word has given me life.” (Psalm 119:50).
When I was afflicted with a disease and was disturbed as to what would happen, the Word of the Lord greatly transformed me. The Word revived me, who was dead in sin and iniquities. It was in 1983 in the month of December, I was struck by an unexpected heart disease. I had taken part in the hostel Christmas dinner of the school and returned home. I could not sleep at night. I invited a medical professional who was a friend of mine for consultation. He enquired me what I ate that day and suggested me that I could take two digene tablets for digestion of biryani. After taking them, I couldn’t sleep. I was admitted to a nearby hospital in an Intensive Care Unit. I was greatly worried.
Earlier in my dream an evil spirit appeared to me and asked where it should go as, it said, I had driven it away from that place. I told it to go somewhere and get lost. Then I went to bed. My body began to shake. I was given sleeping tablets. In sleep, the same spirit appeared again. It became the subject of my thought. I asked my wife the time then. It was midnight. That was the time it first appeared. I told my wife that the affliction was not a disease. The thought of death and its impact on the family disturbed me. I had three sons aged 3, 7 and 11. I was worried how my wife would take care of them. I was heartbroken and was searching for a way out. I had no hope. But my wife seated by my side was reading the Bible aloud. The word touched me. Psalm 91:10, “No evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling” got my attention and I asked my wife to read it again. That word kindled my faith and gave me hope. I submitted to it and committed myself to the Lord at that very moment saying that the Lord was everything to me from that time. Then the words of my father who was working as a pastor came to my mind. He had advised me to pursue theology course after completing degree course. Then immediately I decided and surrendered to the Lord that after settling all the borrowed loans I would go for full-time ministry. A change came over me. In 1987 on 11th of January I resigned my job in the school. The Word of the Lord completely transformed me to live for Christ.
2. The Word Lights Our Way
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:105).
Jesus Christ came into this world as great light. Isaiah 9:2 says, “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them a light has shined.” John 1:9 affirms, “That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.” Christ was the Word that took the form of man and walked about in the midst of men manifesting Himself as Light. In this world if we walk in darkness having enmity with brethren, we would have to encounter several problems and afflictions. But if we walk in the light of the Word of Jesus Christ in all affairs, we would not struggle or stumble.
Once a lady working as nurse abroad came for prayer. She told me her story. Her husband first separated from her and then one by one her children also left her. She was living alone. As I prayed for her, I had a vision from God and accordingly I advised her. I counselled her to throw away the statue before which she stood with closed eyes every morning. She told me that she had bought it for $300. I also told her that the statue was rose in colour. She also obeyed my suggestion as she was convinced and removed it. After a few days, I went to that region for ministry. She turned up there and reported happily that her husband and her two sons returned to her. She confessed that it was her ignorance that she worshipped that rose colour idol. She had also confessed that to the Lord and the very next day her second son came to her. Then her elder son came to her, followed by her husband. She thanked me for the counsel of the Lord. The word of the Lord lighted her path of loneliness and did away with separation resulting in unity and peace and joy in the family.
The Word of God lights our path and points to the defects, mistakes and other pitfalls and leads us in the right way.
3. The Word Heals
“He sent His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.” (Psalm 107:20).
In our day-to-day life, we are confronted by various events, news and disappointments which lead us into desperation and depression. Some dreams, or visions make us terror-stricken. Even Daniel states his position on seeing a vision: “fainted and was sick for days (Daniel 8:27). When we are so, the Lord sends His word to heal us. We are saved from all the afflictions and tribulations of fear by His Word. These words of comfort strengthen the broken heart and establish us. So by the Word of the Lord our spirit, soul and body have healing and are strengthened to pursue our work happily. The devil on the other hand makes us lose all hope and counsels us to commit suicide as there is no way out. Some are thus misled to take the wrong decision to end life. Some in such cases are led to indulge in wrong activities. Let us listen to this Word of the Lord in our daily lives to lead a happy life.
Once a family came to me and shared with me that a child was born to them but it died. They were medically counselled that there was no scope for children and were advised to go in for adoption. I prayed and told them that the Lord would bless their descendants as I saw two flowers on a branch. Therefore, I asked them to wait for those two children. They too waited. The Lord healed them and gave new strength. Two children were born to them and they are doing ministry joyfully.
This Word of Life heals, saves us from destruction and leads us in the path of blessings.
4. The Word Sanctifies
“Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.” (John 17:17).
The word of the Lord also cleanses us. Many a time we fail to meditate on the Word of God. The enemy prevents us from listening to this Word in devious ways. The word is the weapon that we can wield against the enemy Satan. That we may not fall into his trap, the Word helps us. They keep working within us. Psalm 119:11 says, ‘Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.’ Hence the Lord Jesus Christ writes these verses on our heart with the Holy Spirit. “For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality” (1 Thes. 4:3). “Be holy, for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:16). Holy God cleanses us with His Word which is the Truth. The power of His Word would convict us of our sins and would reconcile us with the Lord. The Blood of Christ cleanses us. Further, the sanctification of the Spirit (1 Peter 1:2) in a person would make him worthy to enjoy several blessings of the Lord. The Word cleanses us.
II. The Lord Gives Wisdom
“For the Lord gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding” (Proverbs 2:6)
To do anything in life we do need wisdom. “Happy is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gains understanding” (Prov. 3:13). Wisdom exalts us in all affairs by making us succeed in them. James 1:5 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”
1. Wisdom Exalts
“...there is no one as discerning and wise as you. You shall be over my house, and all my people shall be ruled according to your word...” (Genesis 41:39,40)
Joseph, who was despised by his brothers and was sold as a slave, was accused of an unaccomplished act of crime that he didn’t commit and was sent to prison. He had the ability to interpret dreams. He ran away from the temptation to commit sin. He feared the Lord. He did not yield to sin. He was faithful and could understand the worries of other people. He had the ability to assist them by the gifts given to him by the Lord God. The chief butler shared with him the dream he had had. Joseph told him the interpretation of his dream and told him to remember him when he stood before the king again. According to his interpretation the king took him back as Chief Butler and exalted him, but he forgot all about Joseph.
The Lord God who does everything in its time gave a dream to the Pharaoh to accomplish his plan. Joseph could interpret that dream to him and also counselled him what he should do. He asked him to store everything in the first seven years of plenty for the seven years of famine that were to follow. This was acceptable to the Pharaoh and his officials. As Joseph was wise enough to interpret dreams and to announce what was to follow, Pharaoh exalted him next only to him. He was given the authority to do what should be done in the next years. According to the dream given to him 13 years before, he was exalted. It was all because of the wisdom given to him that he had exaltation and joy.
2. Wisdom Excels
“Thus Solomon’s wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the men of the east and all the wisdom of Egypt.” (1 Kings 4:30)
Solomon became king in the place of his father. He loved the Lord and walked according to the statutes of his father David. He offered a thousand burnt offerings on the altar. That night the Lord appeared to him in a dream and asked, “Ask! What shall I give you?” He realized his responsibility as king and asked Him to “give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil” (1 Kings 3:9). This was an acceptable request before God and He gave him his request. People knew that he had wisdom from God and feared him.
3.Wisdom Shines
“Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever.” (Daniel 12:3).
As we have this wisdom, we are held high everywhere and shine before people in everything. The Lord gives it liberally and thus blesses us. If we ask with faith, He gives it liberally. For us to be worthy to receive this, we need the fear of the Lord. Psalm 110:10 says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom . . .”
We should also walk in the way of the Lord and be filled with His love of the cross. This love of Christ impels us to have pity on perishing souls and to take the word of the Lord to them. Paul says in 2 Cor. 5:14, “For the love of Christ compels us...” “The law of the Lord is perfect, converting, the soul . . .” (Psalm 19:7). With this Word and His power, we win souls for Christ. Those who do this shine as stars.
III. Other Good Blessings from the Lord God
“Yes, the Lord will give what is good; And our land will yield its increase.” (Psalm 85:12).
The Lord gives what is good to His people. Jesus Christ supplies this life with all goodness abounding in it. We need it for our life.
1. Protection
“Oh, how great is Your goodness, which You have laid up for those who fear You, which You have prepared for those who trust in You in the presence of the sons of men! You shall hide them in the secret place of Your presence from the plots of man; You shall keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues.” (Psalm 31:19,20).
We live in a world filled with jealousy and envy. This takes the form of competition and makes people involve in acts of rivalry, and wicked acts of witchcraft. This affects prosperous business houses and makes them incur loss. “They encourage themselves in an evil matter; they talk of laying snares secretly; they say, “who will see them?” (Psalm 64:5). There remains nothing secret from Him. He protects all those who trust in Him from the plots of men from the strife of tongues. “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.” (Isaiah 26:3).
2. No Want
“The young lions lack and suffer hunger; but those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing.” (Psalm 34:10).
Man today strives to excel and prosper in the things he cherishes much. He trusts in his flesh and works hard to have success. But when we seek the Lord, the Lord grants a life of plenty and abundance. The Lord does not forsake those who seek Him. He is the same today, yesterday and forever.
A family affected by cancer had no children for 9 years. In medical examination, they were advised removal of the uterus. They were sorely depressed. When they came for counsel, I told them to seek the Lord with the whole heart and they would see the Lord do good to them. They sought the Lord truly. In their 36th year they had a female child. Not only that, but also health. When we seek the Lord, He gives a life of no want. You will be blessed, if you seek Him truly.
3. Prosperity
“Therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Zion, streaming to the goodness of the Lord—
for wheat and new wine and oil, for the young of the flock and the herd; Their souls shall be like a well-watered garden, and they shall sorrow no more at all” (Jeremiah. 31:12,13).
The goodness from the Lord is spiritual and includes worldly blessings as well. Wheat, new wine, and oil pertain to spiritual blessings of the Word, gifts of the Spirit and anointment. Flocks and the herd refer to the wealth of this world. When we come to Him, He supplies all these and blesses us fully. He transforms sorrows into joy; He comforts wiping out bitterness. He does away with our miseries and fills us with joy.
Thus let us be filled with all the good things of Jesus Christ by His power and healing. Let us be blessed through Him.
The blessings of the Lord be with us all.
In the service of Christ,
Bro. Ebenezer Paul.