GOD'S FAVOR SURROUNDS THE RIGHTEOUS

Proclamation:

"But let all who take refuge in You be glad; let them ever sing for joy.  Spread Your protection over them, that those who love Your name may rejoice in You.  For surely, O LORD, You bless the righteous; You surround them with Your favor as with a shield."  Psalms 5:11-12 (NIV)

Explanation:

This psalm is a prayer which King David prayed for others so that God would bless and protect the righteous believers and surrounds them with His favor. 

Application:

Those who are true believers should rejoice because we are assured of the blessings and protection of The Lord.  Believers who obey The Word of God are surrounded by the favor of God and it is like a hedge of protection around us. (Job 1:10)  God's favor is a special blessing for us.  We should thank God for blessing us, protecting us, and for granting us His favor.

STAND STILL AND SEE THE DELIVERANCE OF THE LORD

Proclamation:

"Moses answered the people, 'Do not be afraid.  Stand firm and you will see the deliverance The Lord will bring you today ... The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.'"  Exodus 14:13-14 (NIV)

Explanation:

In this second book of Moses, after he has led the Israelites our of Egypt, they were now trapped with the Red Sea in front of them, the Pharaoh and his army behind them, and mountains on both sides.  They were afraid that they would be killed there, and Moses told them "Do not be afraid.  Stand firm ... The Lord will fight for you ..."  The Lord parted the Red Sea for them and they crossed over on dry land while He kept Pharaoh’s army away from them.  Then He destroyed the army when they pursued them. (Exodus 14:18 -29)

Application:

As believers, we are children of God.  He will protect us, and fight our battles for us.  We have enemies that only He can protect us from. (Ephesians 6:11)  All we have to do is stand on His Word and do as He says.  Our faith may be tested, but He will never leave us or forsake us. (Hebrews 13:5)   It does not matter whatever the problem, believers just need to keep the faith and stand on His Word.  As the song says:
"What do you do,
when you've done all that you can,
and it seems like you can't make it through,
you just stand ...
after you've done all that you can,
you just stand."

THERE IS POWER IN THE NAME OF JESUS

Proclamation:

"They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: 'By what power or what name did you do this?' Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: 'Rulers and elders of the people! If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a cripple and are asked how he was healed, then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. He is 'the stone you builders rejected, which has become the capstone.' Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." Acts 4:7-12 (NIV)

Explanation:

These are the written word of Luke, who was the Apostle Paul’s close friend, traveling companion, and personal physician.  Luke wrote this under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God to Theophilus, possibly a well known Roman dignitary, and to others who he knew would read his letter.  His purpose was to provide “an orderly account” of the events in the life of the early church.  Here he records that after healing the crippled man by the temple, the priests and the Sadducees had Peter and John arrested, jailed for the night, then brought before them the next day for questioning.  They wanted to know by what power did Peter and John heal the crippled man.  Peter boldly told them that it was by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom they had crucified, and whom God had raised from the dead.

Application:

Jesus gave His disciples power to heal the sick and to cast out demons. (Acts 1:8)  The disciples knew that the power they had was from and because of Jesus.  When they used the power, they did so in the name of Jesus. (Acts 3:6)  Today, there is still power in the name of Jesus.  His name is the only name by which men can be saved.  We can share in His power, if we have the faith, and if ask something in His name that will give God glory, (John 14:13) but we must have faith and believe.  Remember, no prayer, no power; little prayer, little power; much prayer, much power.

THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL REMIND US OF GOD'S HOLY WORD

Proclamation:

"All this I have spoken while still with you.  But The Counselor, The Holy Spirit, whom The Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you."  John 14:25-26 (NIV)

Explanation:

These are the words of Jesus, The Christ, as recorded by the Apostle John who wanted all believers to know that one function of The Holy Spirit is to bring to their remembrance all of the things that Jesus taught them while He was with them.

Application:

The Holy Spirit serves the same function for us today.  Even though today we have the Bible to read, in print and electronic forms, The Holy Spirit still reminds us of what Jesus said and taught.   By bringing to our mind the appropriate Bible verse for a particular situation, The Holy Spirit helps us to make better choices.  He only reminds us of what The Word of God says, He does not make us say or do the right thing.  We must choose what we say and do for ourselves.  However, if you have never read or heard The Word of God, then He cannot help you.  But He can enlighten you once you have been exposed to The Word.  So, read the Bible and study it, so that The Holy Spirit will have something to remind you of and He can help you live a better life.

DON'T WORRY ABOUT ANYTHING PRAY ABOUT EVERYTHING

Proclamation:

"Rejoice in The Lord always.  I will say it again: Rejoice!  Let your gentleness be evident to all.   The Lord is near.  Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."  Philippians 4:4-7 (NIV)

Explanation:

In his letter to the Christians in Philippi, the Apostle Paul wrote these words to encourage them to strive to be Christ-like.  Under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God, Paul said that their joy comes from The Lord and they should not worry about anything.  Paul reiterates what Jesus said in His Sermon on The Mount. (Matthew 6:25-34)  He said that they should pray and give thanks, and ask God for what they want.  Because they were believers, God would protect them and give them peace.

Application:

As believers we need to understand that all of our joy comes from The Lord and He is always with us.  We believe in Him and He blesses us.   When we pray we should thank Him for what He has done before we ask for more blessings.  We should not worry about anything.  Fret and worry indicate a lack of trust in God.  We should pray about everything.  Before doing or saying anything we should pray.  We should take everything to The Lord in prayer.  Because we belong to Him, He will protect us and provide for us as only He can.  He can give us an inner peace regardless of our situation.  He will protect us during and guide us through our situations.

THOSE WHO HAVE FAITH ARE BLESSED

Proclamation:

"Consider Abraham: 'He believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.'  Understand, then, that those who believe are children of Abraham.  The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: 'All nations will be blessed through you.'  So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith."  Galatians 3:6-9 (NIV)

Explanation:

These Holy Spirit inspired words were written by the Apostle Paul to the believers in Galatia.  He told them that they were not blessed because they obeyed the law.  He said that they were blessed because of their faith in God, just as Abraham, the father of the faithful, was blessed.

Application:

Those of us who believe in God and have faith in God are blessed by God, just as Abraham, who is considered the father of the faithful, was blessed.  We are justified by our faith just as Abraham was justified by his faith.  Abraham believed in God and righteousness was credited to him.  All of the blessings that we receive are because of Jesus Christ.  Salvation is not possible through faith in any other but Jesus, The Christ.  Jesus said, "No man comes to The Father except through Me." (John 14:6)

BLESSED IS HE WHO PERSEVERES THROUGH THE STORMS

Proclamation:

"Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him." James 1:12 (NIV)

Explanation:

These Holy Spirit inspired words were written by James, the half brother of Jesus, to the scattered believers after the crucifixion of Jesus, The Christ, and the martyrdom of Steven, the first deacon, when the Jewish believers were being persecuted.  His plea was for them to be uncompromisingly obedient to The Word of God.  The persecution of believers was a test of their spiritual faithfulness and that they would be blessed and rewarded by God if they persevered in the face of adversity.

Application:

As long as we never let go of our belief and faith in God, and focus on our guaranteed victory at the end of our trials, we will receive eternal life as God has promised.  There is a crown awaiting those believers who faithfully endure the storms of this life.  However, there is also a blessing in store in this life for those who persevere through the trials, tribulations, and temptations.  Those of us who pass the tests of the storms of life will be given earthly blessings in addition to heavenly rewards.  Each test that we endure will strengthen our character and help to prepare us for the next test.  Therefore we should count it all as joy when we are tested. (James 1:2-4)  Just as exercise strengthens muscles, the storms of life can strengthen our faith.  By maintaining our faith in God during the bad times we will be blessed.

BE A BLESSING TO OTHERS AND YOU WILL BE BLESSED

Proclamation:

"A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed ..." Proverbs 11:25 (NIV)

Explanation:

The Proverbs of King Solomon contain some of the best advice ever given, from the wisest man that ever lived. (2 Chronicles 1:7-12 and 1 Kings 4:29-34)  Under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God, Solomon wrote that generosity would be rewarded.  He said that if they were a blessing to others, then they themselves would be blessed.  Solomon also said that if they went about looking for the good in others, then good things would come to them. (Proverbs 11:27)

Application:

As we sow, so shall we also reap. (Job 4:8)  What we give out is what we will get back.  And, one who gives will get back much more in return than they give out.  A seed which is planted produces not just another seed, but many times more seeds, often there is more than a one hundred fold increase. (Matthew 13:8 & 13:23)  That which we want more of, we should try giving more of that to others.  As we give to others, so shall we receive.   He who is a blessing to others, will himself also be blessed.  When we give to the poor we are actually lending to The Lord and He will repay us. (Proverbs 19:17)   Jesus, The Christ, said that it is better to give than to receive. (Acts 20:35)   A generous giving person will be blessed for being a blessing to others.

ONE BLESSING AFTER ANOTHER

Proclamation:

"From the fullness of His grace we have all received one blessing after another.  For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ." John 1:16-17 (NIV)

Explanation:

John, the disciple whom Jesus loved, states that by the grace of God, we all have received blessing after blessing.  Not because we were so righteousness or deserving.  We were and are utterly unrighteous.  The law, the Ten Commandments which were given to Moses for mankind, was designed to show the unrighteousness of man and our need for a Savior.  Grace, the unmerited favor of God, was displayed and given to mankind by Jesus Christ.

Application:

We have all enjoyed countless blessings, one after another, spaced out by trials and tribulations which are, or lead to blessings.  Unfortunately, we tend to focus on our troubles and not on our blessings.  Every breath and every heart beat is a blessing.  Every act of random kindness shown to us is a blessing.  Protection from dangers seen and unseen is a blessing.  Closed doors to things that we want are blessings that keep us from some things and direct us to open doors that are opportunities for greater and better things for us.  Even the death of a loved one can be a blessing, it frees them from suffering and it causes us to look to and depend on The Lord.  God has blessed us with one blessing after another.  We just need to be thankful for the blessings that we have received because we did not deserve any of them.

THE NARROW LESS TRAVELED DIFFICULT ROAD

Proclamation:

"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." Matthew 7:13-14 (NIV)

Explanation:

These are the words which were spoken by Jesus, The Christ, near the end of The Sermon on The Mount.  Jesus taught His disciples and the surrounding crowd that the wide and well traveled road that most people take is not the way to go because that road leads to bad outcomes.  The better choice is the narrow, less traveled, more difficult road which will lead to a better life. 

Application:

The easy way is often not the best way.  Following the crowd will usually lead you to trouble.  The popular choice, entering the wide gate, includes the worldly way of non-believers and many popular religions which teach self-righteousness and rituals not based upon biblical principals.  Following Jesus, entering the narrow gate, is often difficult because we must make choices that are unpopular and that go against our sinful nature.  The wide gate will eventually lead to eternal damnation in the lake of fire. (Revelation 19:20 and 20:15)  The narrow gate will lead to eternal life with Christ.  There are many false prophets and false teachers who will lead people astray. (Matthew 7:21-23)  Choose very carefully the road you take and who you will follow, your life on earth and in eternity will depend upon it.

WHAT EFFECT DID THE WORD OF GOD HAVE ON YOU?

Proclamation:

"Then He told them many things in parables, saying: ‘A farmer went out to sow his seed.  As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up.  Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil.  It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow.  But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.  Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants.  Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop, a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown." Matthew 13:3-8 (NIV)

Explanation:

These are the words of Jesus, The Christ, as He spoke from a boat to a large crowd which had gathered on the shore.  In this parable of the sower, The Word of God is the seed and the people that hear it are the ground upon which it fell.

Application:

What did you do with The Word of God when you heard it?  Some heard The Word and rejected it, some liked it but it did not change their life, and some let their friends and the world have more influence over them than The Word.  What kind of "ground" are you?  The best way to answer this question is to look at the "fruit" that it has produced in your life.  When the seed, The Word, fell on good ground, it produced good fruit.  The fruit that we produce is the evidence of God in our lives.  The fruit of The Holy Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23)  We need to cultivate within our lives a greater receptivity to The Word of God in order for it to grow within us, to produce good fruit, and produce a changed life which will give God glory.

KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE LORD AND YOU WON'T SINK

Proclamation:

"During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake.  When the disciples saw Him walking on the lake, they were terrified.  ‘It's a ghost,’ they said, and cried out in fear.  But Jesus immediately said to them: ‘Take courage! It is I.  Don't be afraid.’ ‘Lord, if it's You,’ Peter replied, ‘tell me to come to You on the water.’  ‘Come,’ He said.  Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.  But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’  Immediately Jesus reached out His hand and caught him.  ‘You of little faith,’ He said, ‘why did you doubt?’  And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down.  Then those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, ‘Truly You are The Son of God.’" Matthew 14:25-33 (NIV)

Explanation:

This historical event and the words of Jesus, The Christ, were witnessed and written by the Apostle Matthew.  Not only did Jesus walk on water, He had the power to allow Peter to also walk on the water.  Peter was doing fine looking toward Jesus, but when he took his eyes off of The Lord he began to sink.  As he was sinking he prayed a powerful short prayer, "Lord, save me!"  Jesus heard him and immediately caught him.  All those who saw what had happened worshipped Jesus saying, "Truly You are The Son of God."

Application:

Jesus has the power to grant us what we ask for.  As long as we keep our focus on Him, by His power, we can do what others think is impossible.  Our problems begin when we take our eyes off of Him and focus on what is going on around us.  That is when we start to sink into sin.  Our God is bigger and more powerful than our problems.  There is no need for us to ever doubt Him.  We just need to have faith, pray, and keep our focus on The Lord, and He will get us through whatever it is that we are facing.

THE BREATH OF LIFE

Proclamation:

"The Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being." Genesis 2:7 (NIV)

Explanation:

These Holy Spirit inspired words of God were thought to have been written by Moses even though he was clearly not present when the events occurred.  The title of the first book of The Old Testament, Genesis, in Greek means “origins” while the Hebrew translation means “in the beginning.”  After creating the heavens and the earth by speaking them into existence, (Genesis 1:1-8) God then created man. (Genesis 1:26-27)  God created man from the dust of the earth but man did not become a living being until God breathed into him the breath of life. (Genesis 2:7)

Application:

God gave us our most precious gift, the breath of life.  One day each of us will have to give it back to Him.  The dust of the earth and the minerals that make up our physical bodies will one day return to the dust of the earth. (Job 34:15 and Psalm 104:29)  The breath of life, which is the spirit within our bodies, will return to The Lord God who gave it to us. (Ecclesiastes 12:7)  This life is short and it will soon be over. (James 4:14)  We should live our lives, our temporary existence here on earth as living souls, as if we value and appreciate God for giving us the opportunity to exist.  We should thank God for all that we have and for every blessing that we have received, and we should live our lives like we are grateful to Him for being alive and having the breath of life.  Our spiritual soul will live forever, but not our physical bodies.  Just how and where our soul will spend eternity will depend upon our relationship with Jesus, The Christ. (John 3:16 and Revelation 20:10 and 15)  The choice is ours, please choose wisely.

WE MUST BE BORN AGAIN

Proclamation:

"In reply Jesus declared, 'I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again ... unless he is born of water and The Spirit.'" John 3:1-6 (NIV)

Explanation:

These are the words of our Lord and Savior Jesus, The Christ, as He spoke to Nicodemus, a Pharisee and a member of the Jewish ruling council, the Sanhedrin, who had come to Him secretly by night. (John 3:1-2) 

Application:

All Christians have two birthdays, the date of their physical birth and the date of their spiritual birth.  With our physical birth, we were born into sin when we entered this world.  With our spiritual birth, we are released from the penalty of sin when we accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior.  When we are born again, we undergo a spiritual transformation.  We are a "changed" group of people who act, talk, and think differently because of the effect of The Holy Spirit upon our lives.  We are not perfect, we still make mistakes, and we still sin, but we are not as bad as we used to be.  Hopefully, we are getting better, more Christ-like, each day because we have been born again.

WE ARE IN GOD'S HANDS

Proclamation:

"My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow me.  I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of My hand.  My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of My Father's hand.  I and The Father are one." John 10:27-30 (NIV)

Explanation:

These are the words of Jesus, The Christ, as He answered the Jews who had gathered around Him in the temple courtyard when they asked Him if He was The Messiah.   Jesus told them that they did not believe Him because they were not His followers. (John 10:25-26)  After He said that He and God, The Father, were one, they picked up stones in order to stone Him for claiming to be God.

Application:

There is safety for us by being in God and having God in us.  We may feel the ill wind as it blows past us, but we still have God's protection constantly.  Once we are in the hand of God we are protected and no one can take us out of His hand.  No matter what is happening in our life, once we are in God's hand, no real harm can come to us.  God’s permissive will may allow for us to be tested by the devil but no real harm will happen.  "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28)  So when the storms of life are raging, don't worry, God's got us.

RESIST THE DEVIL

Proclamation:

“Submit yourselves, then, to God.  Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  Come near to God and He will come near to you…” James 4:7-8 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by James, the half brother of Jesus, to the dispersed believers during their persecution after the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.  His purpose was to encourage righteous living and godly behavior and he gave them practical examples of how to do so.

Application:

As Christians, we do not have to give in to the devil.  We have a choice in what we do.  The Bible says for us to "... Resist the devil and he will flee..." (James 4:7)  However, we cannot resist the devil by ourselves or on our own.  The beginning of that Bible verse says, "Submit yourselves to God ..." and the verse which follows it says, "Come near to God, and He will come near to you ..." Only with God's help can we resist the devil.  We need to get closer to God and do His will or we do not stand a chance against the devil and his powers and the tactics.  Jesus, The Christ, has already defeated the devil.  We just need to get on The Lord's side and use His power to resist the devil and his temptations.  The devil is busy. He attacks us and tempts us all of the time.  If he is not bothering you, then maybe you are already doing what he wants you to do.  In order to withstand the attacks of the devil we need to submit ourselves to The Lord and be wrapped in the whole armor of God. (Ephesians 6:11)  We need to pray and ask God clean our minds and our hearts to help us do His will. (James 4:8)  Then if we submit ourselves to God we can resist the devil and he will flee from us.

AN ABUNDANCE OF BLESSINGS

Proclamation:

"A faithful man shall abound in blessings, but he who hastens to be rich will not go unpunished." Proverbs 28:20

Explanation:

These are the words of King Solomon, the wisest man to ever live, (2 Chronicles 1:7-12 and 1 Kings 4:29-34) which were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God to warn the young people, and all of the other people of God, regarding the dangers of  being greedy, stingy, and concerned only with getting rich.  Solomon told the people that the man who lives by The Word of God will have and abundance of blessings.  Those who live only to get rich and are only concerned with their prosperity will suffer.

Application:

We all want to be blessed.  Even though we have already been blessed, and we are currently being blessed, we want even more blessings.  When we pray, additional blessings are usually what we are praying for.  However, there are some things that we can do in order to receive more blessings from The Lord.  Being faithful to God and His Word will bring us an abundance of blessings.  When we live by The Word of God we will be blessed abundantly. (Proverbs 28:14)  Those who are only concerned with getting rich will be punished. (Proverbs 28:22)  The love of money is the root of all evil. (1 Timothy 6:10)  Some blessings are the product of honest labor and the adherence to the promises that we made to God when we prayed.  We should ask God for His help and for Him to give us the strength and courage of our convictions.  We all need His help in order to be faithful.  Because in the end, we all want to hear Jesus say: "Well done, good and faithful servant ..." (Matthew 25:21 and 23)

RENEWING OUR MIND

Proclamation:

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your true and proper worship.  Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is; His good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:1-2 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were written by the Apostle Paul, under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God, to the believers in Rome.  Paul offered them practical examples of how they should live the theological truths and principals which he had presented to them earlier.  He exhorted and encouraged them to yield themselves to God.  Paul told them not to imitate the behavior of the unsaved people around them.  They were to transform their mind by the study of and the meditation on the scriptures until they were saturated with and controlled by The Word of God.

Application:

As Christians, we should live our lives in such a way as to be pleasing to God.  We live in this world but we are not of this world.  Our real home is in heaven and we are on our way there.  We just need to get our mind, focus, and actions right while we are here on earth.  How do we "renew our mind"?  By reading, studying, and meditating on The Word of God.  We should read our Bible more often.  None of us is perfect; we can all improve and do better.  Don't be like the unsaved folk in the world.  When we accepted Christ as our personal savior we were changed, transformed into new creators.  We need to grow spiritually and renew our mind and our commitment on a daily basis.  Now that we belong to God, we can expect the devil to get busy in our lives.  We need to be on guard and constantly renew our foundation in God’s Word.  If we love someone, telling them that we love them once a week is not enough.  We need to show them that we love them by our actions and our behavior daily, if not several times each day.  In the same manner, just reading The Bible on Sunday is not enough.  We must read it and live it each day of the week.

DO YOUR BEST AT WHATEVER YOU DO

Proclamation:

"Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the grave, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom."  Ecclesiastes 9:10 (NIV)

Explanation:

The wisest man to ever live, King Solomon, (2 Chronicles 1:7-12 and 1 Kings 4:29-34) the son of King David, wrote these words under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God to warn the young people, and all of the other people of God, to avoid just going through life relying on human wisdom and doing just enough to get by.  He encouraged them to do their very best at whatever they do.

Application:

I was taught that one should do their very best to be the best at whatever it is that they do.  The Bible teaches us that we should do our best, and that we should work as if what we are doing is for The Lord. (Colossians 3:23)  We are also taught that we should get busy and not procrastinate because this life is short. (John 9:4)  Whatever we do, and in all that we do, we should do our best to do it to the glory of God. (1 Corinthians 10:31)  Nothing that we do should be done in a half-hearted manner.  Every thing that we do should be done to the best of our ability.  “Anything that is worth doing is worth doing right.” (Author unknown)  If it is worth doing then it is worthy of our best effort.  This life is short.  When we come to the end of this life and look back over our life, it will be much more rewarding and enjoyable when we have done the best that we could do in all that we have done.  We should do our best so that God will be glorified in our efforts.

LIVE BY THE GOLDEN RULE

Proclamation:

“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” Matthew 7:12 (NIV)

Explanation:

These are the words of Jesus, The Christ, which He spoke to His disciples and to the crowd near the end of His Sermon on The Mountain as recorded by the Apostle Matthew.  These words are also recorded in the gospel according to Luke, the physician and traveling companion of the Apostle Paul. (Luke 6:31)  According to noted Bible scholar John MacArthur, the negatively stated version of the golden rule existed before Christ in the rabbinic writings, in Hinduism, and in Buddhism.  They stated it as a negative command which was "what is hateful to yourself, do not to someone else."  Jesus stated this as a positive command, enriched its meaning, and underscored that this one imperative aptly summarizes the whole gist of ethical principles contained in the Law and the Prophets.  The Law refers to the Torah, the first five books of the Old Testament, and the Prophets refers to the remaining books of the Old Testament which were written by the prophets.

Application:

This is "the golden rule": do unto others as you would have them to do unto you. Stated another way it is: “Treat people as you would like to be treated.”  Many people can recite "the golden rule", even if they do not always practice it.  However, rarely, if ever, do the people that say it, tell you that it is a paraphrased Bible verse quotation.  According to The Bible we are to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. (Matthew 22:39 and Mark 12:31)  We are to treat others as we would like to be treated.  This is contrary to the worldly way of thinking which is to treat others as they treat you.  Christian behavior is beyond and a step or two above worldly behavior.  So, let us live by this higher Biblical standard.

OUR BAD TIMES ARE JUST A TEST

Proclamation:

"... Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?" Job 2:10 (NIV)

Explanation:

With the aid of The Holy Spirit of God Job spoke these words to his friends and his wife after he had suffered.   Job went from being on top of the world (Job 1:1-3) to losing all of his possessions (Job 1:14-17) and then losing all of his children. (Job 1:18-19)  Then he even lost he health (Job 2:7).  "In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing." Job 1:22 (NIV) God allowed Satan to test Job. (Job 1:8 & 2:3-6)  Job passed his test; he kept the faith and did not curse God.  He did eventually question God, but he soon repented for doing that.

Application:

No matter how bad things are going with us, none of us have it as bad as Job had it.  Bad things happen to good people.  Some times we are reaping the results of our own bad choices and some times we are just being tested.  Regardless of why we go through bad times, we are to continue to praise God. (James 1:2)  Satan can only do to us what The Lord God permits.  He knows just how much we can bear.  Remember, after Job passed his tests, God blessed him with twice as much as he had before the bad times began. (Job 42:10)  I am sure that there is a blessing in store for each of us if we keep the faith and endure until the end. (James 1:12)  When bad things happen to us, we should pray and continue to have faith in God.  He can bring us through it, whatever it is.  We can’t have a testimony until we first go through a test.  Bad times are only a test. 

LISTEN TO BE WISE AND PRAY TO SUCCEED

Proclamation:

“Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise.  Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is The Lord's purpose that prevails." Proverbs 19:20-21 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words of advice were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by King Solomon, the wisest man to ever live. (2 Chronicles 1:7-12 and 1 Kings 4:29-34)  Solomon was offering advice on the essential features of a good life.  He stated that he who keeps God’s commandments also keeps his life. (Proverbs 19:16)  He says that he who gives to the poor lends to The Lord and God will repay him. (Proverbs 19:17)  Be involved in the lives of your children and correct them when they are wrong. (Proverbs 19:18)  Avoid people who lack self control. (Proverbs 19:19)  Then he said listen to the advice of Godly people and follow The Word of God in order to succeed in this life and to be ready for the next one. (Proverbs 19:20)  The will of God will prevail.

Application:

None of us knows everything.  We can all learn something new especially regarding The Word of God.  Our main problem is we don't want to listen, we want to talk.  Our next problem is we listen to the wrong people and we do not validate what we hear with The Word of God.  The Lord God sends some people into our lives to be a blessing to us. However we should not believe everything that we hear no matter who the source is.  Advice and instruction can come from many sources, make sure that it is heaven sent.  Wisdom is a gift from God. (1 Corinthians 12:8 and James 3:17)  The knowledge of a lot of facts is useless without the fear of The Lord and the wisdom to apply them. (Psalms 111:10)  We need to listen to what The Lord God is saying to us through His Holy Word and then we need to pray for the understanding and wisdom in order to put His Word into action in our lives.  Ultimately The Will of God will prevail.  All that remains to be seen is whether or not we will be doers of His Will or just hearers of His Word. (James 1:22)

WE SHOULD LET OUR LIGHT SHINE

Proclamation:

"... Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:16 (NIV)

Explanation:

These are the words of our Lord and Savior Jesus, The Christ, as He spoke to His disciples and indirectly to the surrounding crowd during His Sermon on The Mount.  After He presented the beatitudes, Jesus told them that they were the salt of the earth and then He said that they were the light of the world. (Matthew 5:13-16)

Application:

Salt has a purifying influence in addition to having a unique taste.  Light always defeats darkness and it reveals things which are hidden in the dark.  As believers we are to be a purifying influence in a sin sick world.  We are to be the light which shines so that the lost can find their way to Christ.  We are to live our lives in such a manner that others can see The Christ within us.  Our good deeds are to be done for the benefit of others, to help, encourage, edify, and enlighten them.  We are to be living examples of good Christian behavior for others to see and imitate.  Additionally, we are to do so, not for the personal praise from men, but for the glory of God.  Before we speak or act, we should ask ourselves, "What would Jesus say or do in this situation?"  Let us examine the motives for our words and actions.  Let us stop living for personal attention, glory, gain, and gratification.  We each should pray and ask God, "What is His purpose for our life?"  Then we should let our light shine and live for the glory of God.

BE CAREFUL WITH WHOM YOU ASSOCIATE

Proclamation:

“In the name of The Lord Jesus Christ ... keep away from every brother who is idle and does not live according to the teaching you received ... If anyone does not obey our instruction ... Do not associate with him ... Yet do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother." 2 Thessalonians 3:6 and 3:14-15 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were written by the Apostle Paul, under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God, to the believers in Thessalonica.  Paul was both admonishing them and warning them not to associate with non-believers.  They were to tell the non-believers what The Word of God says.  If they chose not to accept it then the believers were to keep away from them.

Application

Christians are to separate themselves from, and not continue to fellowship with, habitually disobedient believers and from non believers.  We are not to hang out with or frequently interact socially with the blatantly sinful, non believing individuals or with so-called believers who live a pattern of life that is not conforming to The Word of God.  We are to warn them, in brotherly love, of the consequences of their behavior and their non-belief, but we are not to continue to “walk with” them.  "Can two walk together, except they be agreed?" (Amos 3:3)  Be very careful regarding the people that you choose to "walk with".   Our friends are our friends because we chose them and we choose to associate with them when nothing forces us to do so.  Who our friends are says a lot about us and who we are.  Only birds of the same feather will flock together.  If we cannot pull them up, we should let go of them and not let them pull us down. 

DON'T ENVY OTHERS ENJOY YOUR OWN BLESSINGS

Proclamation:

"A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones." Proverbs 14:30 (NIV)

Explanations:

King Solomon, the wisest man to ever live, (2 Chronicles 1:7-12 and 1 Kings 4:29-34) wrote these words under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  Solomon wanted the people of God to know that it is not healthy for them to be jealous and envious of the things that others have.  Jealousy and envy will destroy their inner peace.

Application:

A healthy mind filled with wisdom is associated with a healthy body.  Envy and jealousy are like suffering from a painful incurable condition that destroys our insides.  They are like a passionate hatred which produces only corruption and distress, and ultimately they shorten ones life.  Conversely, a healthy heart and mind which is at peace will lead to longevity.  We should be thankful and rejoice in the things which The Lord God has blessed us with.  We should not worry or fret over the blessings which others receive.  Everything that we want is not good for us, and some of the things that others have we could not handle.  God gives to us according to our ability to handle things. (Matthew 25:14-15)  If the truth be told, often we are not willing to pay the price that others paid to get what they have.  We need to learn to be content with what we have, whether we have a lot or a little. (Philippians 4:11-12)  So let go of jealousy and envy.  Let us count our blessings, thank God for them, and enjoy them.

SOME BLESSINGS ARE CONDITIONAL

Proclamation:

"Now then, My children, listen to Me; blessed are those who keep My ways." Proverbs 8:32 (NIV)

Explanation:

These Holy Spirit of God words were written by King Solomon, the wisest man to ever live, (2 Chronicles 1:7-12 and 1 Kings 4:29-34) to his subjects, especially the young and the naïve, that they might fear God and live by His wisdom.  In this chapter he presents the personification of wisdom which some Bible scholars believe is a reference to Christ. (1 Corinthians 1:30)  Those who are blessed obtain favor or grace from The Lord God.

Application:

We are all blessed by God every day in ways too numerous to count.  The blessings that we receive are gifts from God that we do not deserve.  He blesses all of us, the sinners and the saints, the lost and the saved, the good and the bad.  “… He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and He sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” (Matthew 5:45)  We receive some blessings without asking for them.  Our hearts keep on beating and we keep on breathing.  However, some blessings are conditional, we only get these blessings after certain conditions are satisfied. 

"If My people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin ..." 
(2 Chronicles 7:14)  We only get the "then" blessings when the "if" conditions are satisfied.  The Bible is full of examples of God blessing His people.  The word "blessed" appears in The Bible more than 300 times.  However, there are 62 specific times when The Bible clearly indicates that some blessings are conditional.  Something must be done in order to receive those blessings.  Blessings that begin with words like: "Blessed is the man that ..." and "Blessed is he that ..." and Blessed are they which ... ", are conditional blessings.  We do not earn blessing, we receive these special blessings when we exhibit a particular behavior that pleases God.  He wants us to follow His ways.  The Bible says, "...prove Me now herewith, saith The Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it." (Malachi 3:10)  However, if we read the beginning of this verse we find that this blessing is linked to paying our tithes.  All of us are blessed, whether we recognize it or not.  There are some special blessings, however, which are tied to special conditions that must first be met in order to be received.  Some blessings are conditional.

GOD IS

Proclamation:

"God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble." Psalms 46:1 (NIV)

Explanation:

This psalm is a psalm of the sons of Korah.  It is a song which proclaims some of the attributes of God, His abilities, and His power over nature.  He is all powerful (omnipotent, Matthew 19:26), all knowing (omniscient, Ephesians 3:10), and is everywhere at the same time. (omni-present, Jeremiah 23:24)  God can do for us things which we cannot do on our own or for ourselves. (Genesis 18:14) 

Application:

When we are in trouble and need help, it is God who helps us, protects us, and gives us the strength that we need to go on and continue.  We are secure during the storms of life because God is our mighty fortress.  The song “God Is” says, "God is my protection ... God is my guide and direction ... God is my joy in the time of sorrow … God is my hope for today and all my tomorrows … God is my all in all.  God is the joy and the strength of my life; He moves all pain, misery, and strife.  He promised to keep me, never to leave me.  He’s never ever come short of His word … I want to go with Him when He comes back, I’ve come too far and I’ll never turn back.  God is … God is… God is my all in all.”  He is our every thing and He is all that we need.

DO NOT CAUSE SOMEONE TO STUMBLE

Proclamation:

“It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything else that will cause your brother or sister to fall.  So whatever you believe about these things keep them between yourself and God.  Blessed is the one who does not condemn himself by what he approves.” Romans 14:21-22 (NIV)

Explanation:

These are The Holy Spirit inspired words of the Apostle Paul which were written in a letter to the believers in Rome.  In a discussion regarding new and seasoned believers, ones weak in the faith versus one who is strong, they were not to judge their weaker brothers. (Romans 14:10-13)  Paul said that they should not eat meat around the less knowledgeable brothers who believe meat to be unclean. (Romans 14:15-16)   His point was that the kingdom of God is not concerned about their eating or drinking but it is concerned abut righteousness and peace. (Romans 14:17)

Application:

We should be extremely careful regarding our behavior around new believers.  We should teach them what The Word of God says when we have the opportunity.  However, it is important that babes in Christ not see senior believers engaged in non-Christian behavior.  It is important that we avoid doing evil in front of them so as not to destroy their new weak faith.  It is also important that we avoid even the appearance of evil as this may also cause them to fall back into sin. (1 Thessalonians 5:22)  In the minds of most people, perception is the same as reality.  As believers we are to make every effort to do things which lead to peace and to the edification of others.   We help them by letting them see The Christ in us.  Our lives and behavior are the only “bible” that some people will ever read.  We do not want to cause someone weak in the faith to stumble and fall away from Christ and into sin.  If they truly believe that their behavior is glorifying God, and there is nothing sinful in their behavior, we are not to judge them. (Roman 14:10-13)  If we can’t teach them what The Bible says, then we should not argue with them and destroy their weak new-found faith.

A PRAYER OF CLEANSING

Proclamation:

“Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your unfailing love; according to Your great compassion blot out my transgressions.  Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.  For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.  Against You, You only, have I sinned and done what is evil in Your sight; … Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” Psalm 51:1-4 and 10 (NIV)

Explanation:

This psalm is a prayer of King David, written under the inspiration of The Holy Spirit of God.  After he had slept with Uriah’s wife, Bathsheba, David ordered him to be put in a position to be killed so that he could have her for himself. (2 Samuel 11:1-27)  David knew that he had sinned and he asked God to cleanse him of his sins. (Psalm 51:2)  He also asked God to purge him, clean him, wash him, (Psalm 51:7) and to blot out all of his iniquities. (Psalm 51:9)  David wanted God to give him a clean heart and a right spirit. (Psalm 51:10)  He also wanted God to restore the joy of his salvation. (Psalm 51:12)  Then he asked God to control his words so that he could give God praise. (Psalm 51:15)

Application:

Most of the sins that we commit are conscious decisions on our part and we know that what we are doing is wrong.  Most believers feel bad or guilty after committing a sin as if doing so robs us of the joy of our salvation.  We need to pray and ask The Lord God to have mercy on us and to forgive us.  We need for Him to cleanse us, to wipe away our sins and transgressions, and to create within us a clean heart and mind.  We also need His help to stay on the straight and narrow path that is His way.  We need to pray that He would order our steps, guide our tongues, and direct out thoughts so that our lives will be a good Christian example for others to see and so that we can all praise His name.

PRAY TO OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN

Proclamation:

“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done …” Matthew 6:9-13 (NIV)

Explanation:

This is the model prayer which Jesus, The Christ, used as an example when He taught His disciples how to pray.  After giving them several examples of what not to do, He said to them “This, then, is how you should pray: …”  

Application:

Prayer is simply us talking to God.  When we think of prayer this way it becomes easier to understand why Jesus told us what not to do.  We should not pray to be seen. (Matthew 6:5)  There is a time and place for corporate prayer but we are not to draw attention to ourselves.  Also, we should not use vain repetitions when we pray. (Matthew 6:7)  No one would believe us if every time we spoke to them we used the exact same words and said the same thing every time.  I am sure that God is not pleased with us when our prayers to Him are always a combination of the same trite, over used expressions which we heard someone else say.  The model prayer is an example of how we should pray.  In our prayers we should acknowledge who He is.  We should thank Him for what He has done.  We should confess our sins and ask to be forgiven.  Then we should ask for what it is that we want.  We should also ask for something for some one else and not just be selfish.  A helpful acronym is “ACTS”, which stands for acknowledgement, confession, thanksgiving, and supplication.  We should pray regularly and frequently. (Luke 18:1 and 21:36)  In case we unknowingly ask for something which is inappropriate, we should also ask that His will be done and that He give us the ability to accept His will.  Our prayers should be sincere and heart felt in order to be effective. (James 5:16)

THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD

Proclamation:

"The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.  He makes me to lie down in green pastures, He leads me besides quiet waters, and He refreshes my soul.  He guides me along the right paths for His name's sake. ... Goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of The Lord forever." Psalms 23:1-3 and 6

Explanation:

This Psalm is a prayer of King David, a man after God’s own heart.  It reveals the intimate and personal relationship that David has with God.  He is confident of God’s care.  He states that God will supply all of his needs and he will not go lacking.  God will provide his food and shelter and will direct his path.  God’s love will take care of him all of his life and he expects to be with God for all of eternity.

Application:

Sheep would be lost without a shepherd.  The shepherd provides for their total care.  He leads them to peaceful places to sleep, to eat, and to drink.  Not only do sheep need to be lead to places to eat, they need to be moved from time to time so they do not destroy their feeding grounds.  Sheep will not drink from running water, they will only drink from a still pool.  Sheep need to be protected, they cannot protect themselves and are easily slaughtered. (Isaiah 53:7)  Like sheep we are just dumb animals who cannot protect ourselves from the wiles of the devil. (Ephesians 6:11)  Like dumb animals all of us follow someone.   The question is, who are you following and where are you being led to?  Jesus said that His sheep know His voice and will not follow anyone else. (John 10:27)  If you are not following Jesus then who are you following and where are you going?  The love of God, His goodness and mercy will protect those who follow Him all of the days in this life and in the eternity to come.