BUILT ON THE SOLID ROCK OR ON SHIFTING SAND

Proclamation:

"Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.  The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.  But everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.  The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."  Matthew 7:24-27 (NIV)

Explanation:

These are the words of Jesus, The Christ, which He spoke near the end of His Sermon on The Mount as recorded under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by the Apostle Matthew.  Jesus compared the believer to a man who built his house on a rock, a solid foundation, versus the non-believer, a man who built his house on sand, a shifting foundation.  The former was able to withstand the storms, whereas the latter was not and it fell apart.

Application:

Our house, our religious life, will be tested and judged.  Only those whose house is built on the foundation of belief in and obedience to The Word of God will stand through the tests of life and the judgement.  The spiritual life of those who built their life on the doctrines of man will crumble under the tests of life and will not stand during the judgement.  Just going to church once in a while or once a week is not enough.  We need to believe, read, and live The Word of God.  The rock, the solid foundation, is The Word of God.  The shifting sand is human opinion and the doctrines of man.  Is your foundation built upon the solid rock, Jesus, The Christ, or on shifting sand?  The storms of life are coming and so is the judgement.  All will be judged. (Revelation 20:12-13)  However, only believers who have their name written in The Lamb’s book of life will survive the judgement. (Revelation 20:15 and 21:27)

DON'T BE AFRAID OF ANYTHING

Proclamation:

"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.  Therefore we will not fear ..."  Psalms 46:1-2 (NIV)

Explanation:

The words of this psalm were recorded by the Sons of Korah under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  It is a song which was sung by the people of God to remind them that He is powerful and merciful in defending His believers.  Therefore, they have no need to be overcome with fear.

Application:
There is no need for believers to be afraid of anything.  The Lord God will strengthen us when we are weak.  He will hid and shield us when we need protection.  He will help us when we are in trouble.  If God is for us, then who can stand against us? (Romans 8:31)  So, what do we have to be afraid of?  This Psalm gives us the assurance and unshakable confidence that we are secure in God, no matter what happens to us, or around us. There is no need for us to be afraid of anything or anyone.  God did not give us the spirit of fear. (2 Timothy 1:7)  When the storms of life come, God is our "bridge over troubled waters", and He is our “shelter in the time of storm."

WANT TO GAIN FAVOR WITH GOD

Proclamation:

“My son, do not forget my teachings, but keep my commandments in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you peace and prosperity.  Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the table of your heart.  Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man."  Proverbs 3:1-4

Explanation:
These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by King Solomon, the son of King David.  Solomon was the wisest man to ever live. (2 Chronicles 1:11-12)  His proverbs were written to teach and guide the people of God so that they would know and practically apply The Word of God.  Here he also addresses how one can please God.

Application:
Most of us would love to have a peaceful, long life and God's favor.  We can enjoy these blessings, all we have to do is believe and follow The Word of God.  If we keep God's word in our heart and on our mind, and have mercy and truth become a part of us so that we demonstrate acts of loving-kindness to others, we will have favor in the sight of God.  Not only should we need to read and meditate on The Word of God, but we also need to live by it.  Our Christian walk is more of a testament to our belief in God than are our spoken words.  Jesus said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” (John 14:15)  If we want to enjoy His blessings, then we need to keep His commandments.

TELL THE TRUTH AND DON'T LIE

Proclamation:

“An honest witness tells the truth, but a false witness tells lies.”  Proverbs 12:17 (NIV)

“Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.”  Proverbs 12:19 (NIV)

“The Lord detests lying lips, but He delights in people who are trustworthy.”  Proverbs 12:22 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by King Solomon, the son of King David.  Solomon was the wisest man to ever live. (2 Chronicles 1:11-12)  His proverbs were written to teach and guide the people of God so that they would know and practically apply The Word of God.

Application:

When we speak, we should tell the truth.  We should not lie.  The Lord God detests liars.  The Bible tells us that all liars will spend eternity in the lake of fire and brimstone (Revelation 21:8) unless they are believers who have been forgiven and have their names written in the book of life. (Revelation 20:15)  Let us pray to The Lord God for forgiveness for our past lies and ask for His help to speak the truth.  Let us practice good Christian conversation.  It is better not to say anything than to lie.  Some of the things that we say are better left unsaid.  We should only speak that which is truthful and helpful.

WALK IN THE LIGHT AND NOT IN THE DARK

Proclamation:

“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.”  Psalm 119:105 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were written by King David under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  David knew that without the help and guidance from The Lord that he would wander down the wrong path.  By meditating on The Word of God (Psalm 119:97) and by obeying it kept him from going down the evil path. (Psalm 119:101)  The Word of God illuminated his path and gave him directions. 

Application:

The steps and directions of a good man are ordered by The Lord God. (Psalm119:133)  If we read, study, and obey The Word of God and acknowledge His influence in our lives, then He will direct our paths. (Proverbs 3:6)  It is not wise for us to walk down the dark road of life by ourselves.  If we choose to do that then we are sure to stumble.  We need to let The Lord God direct us, and provide the light on our path.  As we plan, begin, continue, and complete every work and purpose in this life, we need to include God in it.  For it is in Him that we live, move, and have our very being. (Acts 17:28)  Walk in the light of the presence of The Lord and be blessed. (Psalm 89:15)

WE HAVE THE VICTORY

Proclamation:

"But thanks be to God!  He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."  1 Corinthians 15:57 (NIV)

Explanation:

These are the words of The Apostle Paul written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God to the believers in Corinth.  Paul was encouraging them to stand strong and be unmovable with respect to their faith in The Lord. (1 Corinthians 15:58)  He told them that not only would they have the victory in this life but they would also have the victory over death. (1 Corinthians 5:54)

Application:

As believers we already have the victory.  Some of us act like we don't know that yet.  It doesn't matter what it is that we are dealing with, we've already won!!!  The God that is within us has already defeated the world, the devil, and death.  When He rose from the grave He said, “All power in given to Me in heaven and in earth.” (Matthew 28:18)  With Him we are victorious conquerors. (Romans 8:37)  So, it does not matter what it is that we are going through, things will work out for our benefit. (Romans 8:28)  We may have to suffer for a while, and even cry, but in the end we will win, our joy is coming. (Psalm 30:5)

KNOWLEDGE AND WISDOM

Proclamation:

“The fear of The Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”  Proverbs 1:7 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were written by King Solomon, the wisest man ever (2 Chronicles 1:11-12) and the son of King David, under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God to the people of God in order to provide them with basic guidelines and instruction in Christian living.

Application:

Some people say "I know, I know, I know," and some say it a lot.  But how much do they really know?  A lot has been said about knowledge.  "If you only have a little bit of knowledge, then you are dangerous."  And "Only a fool doesn't know that he doesn't know."  Having a series of facts at ones disposal does not make one knowledgeable.  Knowledge implies an understanding of something.  However, having a large amount of information and even understanding it is useless if one does not know how to apply it.  Wisdom is often used as a synonym for knowledge but it implies an ability to discern relationships between things or facts and the ability to apply of that information.  Having knowledge and wisdom suggests the ability to understand and appropriately apply the facts at ones disposal.  Knowledge and wisdom are God given abilities.  Knowledge is the correct understanding of the world and one’s self.  Wisdom is the God given ability to apply that knowledge correctly.  It is possible to knowledgeable about some things and totally ignorant about other things.  There are a lot of smart people in the world who know very little about The Word of God.  Unfortunately, there are also a lot of believers who can quote parts of The Bible but they do not live or behave as it says we ought to live.  We all need to pray to God for wisdom and knowledge of His Word and for His help in being living examples of good Christian behavior.  Having knowledge without wisdom and understanding leads to destruction.  The devil knows who God is and chose not to obey Him and to go against Him. (James 2:19)  Having knowledge without the appropriate actions is useless. (James 2:17)

CREATE IN ME A CLEAN HEART

Proclamation:

"Hide Your face for my sins, and blot out all my iniquity.  Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me."  Psalms 51:9-10 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were written by King David under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  David knew that he had sinned and he knew that the sin which he had committed was against God. (Psalm 51:4)  He knew that his sin did not end his relationship with God but in interfered with the fellowship he had with The Lord God.

Application:

All of us have sinned.  We all need to ask God for forgiveness on a daily bases.  Sinful thoughts are still sins as well as sinful words and actions.  We all need to be cleansed from sins.  We need God's help to create within us clean hearts and minds.  We should be honest with God and confess to Him our short comings.  We don't need to beat ourselves up because of them.  Let’s ask Him for His help in making us more Christ-like.  Let’s be determined to be a better Christian today than we were yesterday.

THE POWER OF CORPORATE PRAYER

Proclamation:

“So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.”  Acts 12:5

Explanation:

These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by Luke, the physician and frequent traveling companion of the Apostle Paul.  This was about the time when King Herod began arresting believers with the intent to persecute them.  He had James, the brother of John, publically killed with a sword.  When he saw that the Jews liked that, he had Peter arrested and planned to kill him during the Festival of Unleavened Bread.  While Peter was in prison, the church prayed without ceasing unto God for him.  Peter was chained between two soldiers, with two guards posted at the door.  Suddenly an angel of The Lord came to Peter, his chains fell off, and the angel led him past the guards and out of prison. (Acts 12:1-12)

Application:

There is power in prayer.  The effective fervent prayer of a righteous man produces great results. (James 5:16)  Jesus said that where two or three are gathered together in His name that He would be in the midst of them. (Matthew 18:20)  When the church is on one accord, there is power in corporate prayer.  All of the people of God in the upper room on the day of Pentecost were on one accord and they were filled with The Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:1)  When the believers were gathered together on one accord The Lord God added to the church daily. (Acts 2:46-47)  When the people of God raised their voices together in prayer to God (Acts 4:24) He heard them and shook the place where they were and fill them all with The Holy Spirit so that they could speak The Word of God boldly. (Acts 4:31)  Here the people of God were on one accord praying for Peter while he was in prison, chained to two guards.  As a result of their prayers, his chains fell off and an angel of The Lord led him safely past the other guards and out of the gate. (Acts 12:1-12)  When the people of God come together on one accord and pray, things happen, even the impossible things.  Jesus said, "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." (Matthew 19:26)  Our problem today as believers is that we are not all on one accord when we come together.  Our churches are more like a filling station where we receive The Word of God during worship services or learn more about it during Bible study.  We are not even on one accord even during our weekly prayer meetings.  We could be serious world change agents if we were on one accord when we prayed.  Collectively, we are only as powerful as our prayers.  "Little prayer, little power; much prayer, much power; no prayer, no power." (Author unknown)  Prayer, individual and corporate, can change things.  God still hears and answers the prayers of the righteous.

THERE IS POWER IN INDIVIDUAL PRAYER

Proclamation:

“After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully.  When he received these orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in stocks.  About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.  Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken.  At once all of the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose.”  Acts 16:23-26 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by Luke, the physician and frequent traveling companion of the Apostle Paul.  While they were on their way to the place of prayer, Paul and Silas met a female slave who was possessed by a spirit which allowed her to predict the future.  She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling.  She follow them for several days and kept shouting, “These men are servants of The Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved.”  After a while Paul became annoyed with her and commanded the demon to come out of her and it left her.  Her owners realized that their money making source was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and took them before the authorities and accused them of advocating unlawful practices. (Acts 16:16-22)     

Application:
After seeing what happened, the keeper of the prison led them out, took them to his house, washed their wounds, fed them, and he and his whole family were baptized. (Acts 16:27-34)  God can make the impossible, happen.  He can make your enemies your footstool.  He can turn those who were beating you down into someone who helps you to move up a little higher.  Jesus said, "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." (Matthew 19:26)  He also said, "... All things are possible to him that believes." (Mark 9:23)  The chains of life’s bad situations can be broken and weeping can be changed to joy. (Psalm 30:5)  As believers, we are only as powerful as our prayers.  "Little prayer, little power; much prayer, much power; no prayer, no power." (Author unknown)  God still hears and answers prayers.

A CHANGED LIFE

Proclamation:

“… As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.  He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?’  ‘Who are you, Lord?’ Saul asked.  ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ He replied…”  Acts 9:1-9 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by Luke, the physician and frequent traveling companion of the Apostle Paul.  The Apostle Paul, while he was still being called by his given name, Saul, had a life altering encounter with The Lord on his way to Damascus.  He had gotten letters from the high priest which authorized him to arrest any believer that he encountered.  On his way there, a light from heaven blinded him and then he heard a voice from heaven. 

Application:

After he had an encounter with The Lord, Paul’s life changed from being a zealot persecutor of Christians to being a zealot for The Lord.  He changed from a persecutor to a preacher.  The experience humbled him and changed how he saw the world and how he saw himself.  When you have a personal encounter with Christ, you cannot continue to live your life as you did beforehand.  You become a new creature, not perfect, but definitely different. (2 Corinthians 5:17)  Paul lost his sight for three days.  (Acts 9:17-18)  The experience for each believer is different and the change that we undergo is unique for each for each of us.  The people who knew us beforehand should notice a change in us afterwards.  When we do sin we no longer enjoy it as much and we feel guilty afterwards.  Some things we no longer do, some things we do differently, and some things we still struggle with letting go.  If we cannot identify the change in our life, then we should question ourselves regarding our belief in Christ.

MONEY CAN'T BUY THIS

Proclamation:

“When Simon saw that The Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money and said ‘Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive The Holy Spirit.’  Peter answered: ‘May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money!’”  Acts 8:18-20

Explanation:

These words were recorded under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by Luke, the physician and frequent traveling companion of the Apostle Paul.  Simon was a well-known user of sorcery and when he saw what the apostles could do, he also wanted that power.  However, when Peter pointed out the sin in his heart and told him to repent, there is no record that he repented of his sin.  He just asked Peter to pray that he would not have to pay the consequences for his sin. (Acts 8:24)

Application:

Unfortunately there are people who join the church for the wrong reasons.  They join because of what they see and they are seeking personal glory.  Some join the church because they want to avoid the consequences of their sins and to avoid going to hell.  They do not truly believe The Word of God and their thoughts, words and actions reflect their unbelief.  We all commit sins daily, consciously and unconsciously, intentionally and unintentionally. (1 John 5:17)  If what we think, say, or do does not give God glory then it is a sin.  We should all pray and ask The Lord God to forgive us for our sinful thoughts, words, and actions.  As believers, we will be forgiven of our sins if we ask Him. (1 John 1:9)  However, the ungodly non-believers will not survive the judgment of The Lord. (Psalm 1:5-6)  Those who do not believe are lost in their sins and they will spend eternity in the fire of hell. (Revelation 20:15)  Salvation cannot be bought with money, or with anything else.  It is a gift from God and by the grace of God to those who believe. (Ephesians 2:8-9)  If we are to spend eternity with The Lord God in heaven, we need to make sure that our name is recorded in The Lamb’s book of life. (Revelation 21:27)

ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE

Proclamation:

"Jesus said unto him, ‘If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.  And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief."  Mark 9:23-24

Explanation:

These are the words of Jesus, The Christ, which He said to the man with his son who had a dumb spirit that the disciples of Jesus could not cast out.  The man had questioned the power of Jesus by saying “… if you can …” (Mark 9:22)  Jesus replied to the man by questioning his faith.  The man stated that he believed and then asked Jesus to help him by strengthening his faith.  After Jesus cast out the foul spirit from the boy, His disciples asked Him privately why they could not cast out that demon.  He said unto them, “This kind can come forth by nothing but prayer and fasting." (Mark 9:29)

Application:
It is possible to have faith but also to have an imperfect faith mixed with a little doubt.  This father's prayer was to confess his spiritual weakness and ask for Jesus to help him to have a greater faith.  The take home lesson here is that believers may need to have a greater faith.  The disciples needed to know that some demons are more powerful than others.  This is also a lesson that we all could learn.  Some things we want require that we pray and fast.  All things are possible if we truly believe.  If we had the faith of a grain of mustard seed we could move mountains. (Matthew 17:20)  Jesus said to His disciples during a storm, “O ye of little faith.” (Matthew 8:26)  He was also speaking directly to us today.  We are fearful of things when we shouldn’t be.  We worry about things when it is not necessary.  We are doubtful of things that we should be certain of.  We have faith in God but only a little faith mixed with a lot of doubt.  We should probably also pray, as that father did, and say, Lord, help my unbelief.

WHO WILL YOU SERVE

Proclamation:

"But if serving The Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve ... But as for me and my household, we will serve The Lord."  Joshua 24:15 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by the prophet Joshua to the people of God.  Joshua asked the people to decide and choose whom they would serve if they found serving The Lord God troublesome or a burden.  They could choose to serve one of the pagan gods worshiped by the people in land where they were living if they found that to be more profitable to them.  Then Joshua said that he, and all within his household, would serve The Lord God.

Application:

Joshua asked the people to make a choice regarding whom they would serve.  We basically have that same choice today.  There is no middle ground, either you love The Lord and will serve Him or you don't and won't.  Joshua also led by example, he publicly committed himself and his household to serving The Lord.  Leadership occasionally requires that one make a bold stand for what he believes in.  We can't lead people where we will not or do not go.  As Christians we need to publicly choose to serve The Lord.   We need to make that choice known to all those around us.  We need to live our lives in such a way as to make it clear for everyone to see that we have chosen to serve The Lord.

THE GOLDEN RULE

Proclamation:

“Do to others as you would have them do to you.” Luke 6:31 (NIV)  The King James version of The Bible for this verse reads, "And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise."

Explanation:

These are the words of Jesus, The Christ, during His Sermon on The Mount as recorded by Luke, the physician and frequent traveling companion of the Apostle Paul.  Jesus was addressing His disciples and the surrounding crowd.  Near the end of His discourse, He presents this phrase which sums up the essence of His Sermon, the Law of Moses (The Torah), and the teachings of the prophets.  This should be the rule of behavior for all mankind.

Application:
This is "the golden rule", do unto others as you would have them to do unto you.  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 quotation which is taken from The Bible.  According to Bible scholar John Mac Arthur, the negatively stated version of this rule existed before the birth of Christ, in the rabbinic writings, in Hinduism, and in Buddhism.  The negative command was "what is hateful to yourself, do not to someone else."  Jesus stated this as a positive command, enriched its meaning.   This is a rule which all believers should live by.  It applies to how we should treat everyone and not just how we ought to treat other believers.

THE BEATITUDES OR THE BLESSED ATTITUDES

Proclamation:

"Blessed are the poor in spirit ... those who mourn ... the meek ... those who hunger and thirst after righteousness ... the merciful ... the pure in heart ... the peacemakers ... those who are persecuted ... you when people insult you , persecute you and falsely say all kind of evil against you because of Me.  Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad; for great is your reward in heaven ..." Matthew 5:1-12 (NIV)

Explanation:

These are the words of Jesus, The Christ, which He spoke in His Sermon on The Mount as recorded under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by the Apostle Matthew.  Jesus taught His disciples and the crowd which had gathered around them.  The word "Blessed" here literally means "happy, fortunate, and blissful", the divinely bestowed well-being that belongs only to the faithful.  The way to heavenly blessing is the opposite of the way to the worldly pursuit of happiness which is found in riches, merriment, abundance, leisure, and such things. (John MacArthur)

Application:
Believers of the gospel should displace a Christ-like attitude.  Blessed are the people who possess Godly characteristics.  Those with a penitent spirit, mild-tempered, gentle spirit, thirsting for righteousness, compassionate and merciful spirit, the spirit of mediation, long-suffering and forgiving spirit.  These characteristics are God-given and are evidence of the indwelling of The Holy Spirit within the believer.  We will be blessed for exhibiting these Godly attitudes and characteristics while we are here on earth living in a world that behaves totally differently.  The spiritually poor will be blessed by The Word of God and receive joy and gladness on earth and in heaven.  As will those who mourn for the sins of the world be blessed and comforted by The Holy Spirit of God.  The meek, who are not easily provoked or angered but quietly and humbly submit to the will of God, will inherit the new earth when it comes into existence.  Those who aggressively seek righteousness will be filled with it and with other good things such as joy and peace.  Those who show mercy to others will receive mercy from The Lord God.  The pure in heart, those who have the grace of God within their hearts, they will enjoy communion with Him in this life and they will behold His power and glory in the afterlife.  Those who try to make and keep peace among men and exhibit the fruit of The Holy Spirit of God shall be known as the children of God.  Those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness and their Godly conversation and behavior, will be blessed the same as the poor in spirit.  To the Disciples of Christ, the students who study and live by His Holy Word, the world will reject them, falsely accuse them, and persecute them for His sake.  To them He says “Rejoice” for great will be their reward in heaven.

GIVE AND IT WILL BE GIVEN TO YOU

Proclamation:

“Give, and it will be given to you … For the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”  Luke 6:38 (NIV)

Explanation:

These are the words of Jesus, The Christ, which He spoke during His Sermon on The Mount as recorded under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by Luke, the physician and frequent traveling companion of the Apostle Paul.  Jesus told them that as they gave to others, it would be given to them the same way.  They would receive a good measure, “… pressed down, shaken together and running over …”  A heaping measure, as much as the measuring cup could hold, would be given to them if they were equally generous to the indigent people in need.  If they were not generous with others, then The Lord God would not be generous with them.

Application:

Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive." (Acts 20:35)  It is good to be blessed, but it is even better to be a blessing to others.  Giving someone money is not the only way that we can bless them.  As the saying goes, giving a hungry man some food is a blessing to him, but teaching him how to fish and cook it can bless him for the rest of his life.  If you want to receive more blessings, try giving more blessings to others.  Be a blessing to someone and you will receive a blessing.  All that we have received was not meant for us to keep for ourselves, some of it was for us to share with others.  Remember what The Bible says about the rich man and Lazarus, the beggar who sat outside of the rich man’s gate. (Luke 16:19-31)  Apart from our money, most of us place too much importance upon our words.  We think that what we have to say is a blessing to those that hear it.  While it is possible to bless someone by what we say, what we do for them is usually much more of a blessing than what we say to them.  Our actions speak much louder than our words.  That which we have but are not using could be a blessing to others.  The time spent caring for others, visiting the sick or the incarcerated, could be a blessing to them.  The Apostle Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give to you.” (Acts 3:6)  However, if you do have silver or gold or money, it is okay to share that also.  When we give to the less fortunate, we are lending it to The Lord God, and He will repay us. (Proverbs 19:17)  "Give, and it shall be given unto you..." (Luke 6:38)

HEAR AND OBEY THE WORD OF GOD

Proclamation:

“... Blessed rather are those who hear The Word of God and obey it."  Luke 11:28 (NIV)  The King James version of The Bible reads: “… Blessed are they that hear The Word of God, and keep it.”

Explanation:

These are the words of Jesus, The Christ, as recorded by Luke, the physician and frequent travelling companion of the Apostle Paul.  Jesus was responding to a woman in the crowd, who had just witnessed Him cast out a demon from a man that was mute. (Luke 11:14) She called out to Him and said “Blessed is the mother who gave birth to you and nursed you.” (Luke 11:27)  His response to her was that those who hear and obey The Word of God are blessed.   

Application:

All of us have been blessed in more ways than we can count and we all want additional blessings.  However, this conditional blessing requires a two fold response on our part, we must first "hear" and then "obey" The Word of God.  Many people hear The Word of God, but as the old people used to say, “it goes in one ear and out of the other.”  It does not stop, interact with, or change anything as it passes through their head.  When we hear The Word of God, it ought to change us in some way.  We ought to see things in a different light and we ought to think, speak, and act differently.  We need to be doers of The Word and not just hearers only. (James 1:22)  If after hearing The Word of God we are no different than we were beforehand, then we are not true followers of Christ.  True believers are changed by the exposure to The Word of God and become new creatures. (2 Corinthians 5:17)  The Holy Spirit of God indwells believers and they begin to exhibit the fruit of The Spirit.  Believers are not perfect.  All who truly believe in Christ will change and lose some of their desires for the sinful passions of the flesh. (Galatians 5:16-24)  When we know better, then we ought to do better or we will be convicted by The Holy Spirit within us when we don’t.

ACKNOWLEDGE OUR SINS AND CONFESS

Proclamation:

"Then I acknowledged my sin unto You and did not cover up my iniquity.  I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions unto The Lord.’  And You forgave the guilt of my sin.  Therefore let the faithful pray to You ..."  Psalms 32:5-6 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were written by King David under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God to the people of God, possibly as a song to be sung in praise of The Lord God.  David knew that he was wrong, that he had sinned and that his sins were an affront to The Lord.  He confessed his sins unto The Lord and encouraged all of the people of God to do likewise.

Application:

Whether we know it or not, every sin that we commit is a sin against God. (Psalms 51:4)  Recognizing that, we need to do as King David did and confess our sins to the Lord.  We should pray, confess our sins and transgressions, ask for forgiveness, and also ask for His help and strength not to repeat a particular sin.  We can become more Christ-like if we can eliminate one sinful thought, deed, or spoken word from our behavior each day.  That will by no means make us sinless or perfect.  It just means that we will be more Christ-like today than we were yesterday, and even more so on tomorrow.  Being like Christ requires an active effort on our part, including prayer, confession, not yielding to temptation, and thinking before we speak or act, in addition to reading and studying The Word of God.  We should ask ourselves before we speak or act, will this give God glory and would Jesus say or do this?  If more Christians acted more Christ-like, the world would be a much better place.

STILL BABES IN CHRIST

Proclamation:

“Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by The Spirit but as people who are still worldly, mere infants in Christ.  I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it.  Indeed, you are still not ready.  You are still worldly.”  1 Corinthians 3:1-3 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were written by the Apostle Paul under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God to the believers in Corinth.  Paul told them that they had not grown since they accepted Christ as their Savior.  He told them that they were still babes in Christ.  He said that he could not address them about spiritual issues because they were still concerned about worldly issues.  Their conversations and arguments reveal that they have not grown spiritually.

Application:

When it comes to The Word of God, are you ready for more meat, or are you still drinking milk?  Have you grown in your knowledge and understanding of Christ and The Word of God, or are you still a babe in Christ?  Just because we have been in church, or physically attending church services, for a number of years, does not mean that we have matured spiritually.  It does not matter how old we are chronologically, we can still be a babe in Christ.  Paul makes it clear that sometimes preachers have to preach and teach the people in church like they are the lost folk of the world. (1 Corinthians 3:1)  They had heard The Word of God and believed it, but they had not grown in their understanding of it.  That is why he called them babes in Christ.  The same point is made in The Bible Book of Hebrews.  Some people had been exposed to The Word of God often enough that they should be able to teach it to someone else, but they were still babes in Christ themselves. (Hebrews 5:12-13)  Some of us are still just listening to The Word of God every Sunday and not making any effort to dig any deeper and to learn and understand more about it.  After all of our years in church, we are still babes in Christ.  We need to read and study The Word of God and live it in order to correctly explain it and to grow spiritually. (2 Timothy 2:15)

WHO ARE YOU FOLLOWING

Proclamation:

Jesus told His disciples, "Follow me." Matthew 4:19 (NIV)

Explanation

These are the words of Jesus, The Christ, as recorded under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by the Apostle Matthew and also by the Apostle John.  As Jesus began His earthly ministry He chose His disciples by stating this simple, and yet profound and life changing statement when He said, “Follow Me.”  That phrase was an idiom which had a meaning far beyond the usual meaning of the individual words.  The implication was to put Christ first in their lives and to emulate Him.  To be a disciple of Christ one must deny themselves, take up their personal cross and walk as He walked. (Matthew 16:24)

Application:

At one time or another in our lives most of us have looked up to someone that we admired and wanted to be like.  That person could have been called our hero.  Unfortunately, all too often we pick the wrong person to imitate and emulate because that person has faults and short-comings just like the rest of us.  As believers we are called to emulate Christ.  We are to be His disciples or students.  To follow Him is to be an imitator of Christ, which requires obedience to His teachings and is exemplified by moral behavior.  "The steps of a good man are ordered by The Lord ..." (Psalms 37:23)  "Order my steps in Thy word ..." (Psalms 119:133)  Our direction and path should be determined by The Lord.  Only He knows where we are going and only He knows the way there.  Jesus is The Way! (John 14:6)  The old expression, "Lead, follow, or get out of the way" (Author Unknown) was said to motivate procrastinators to do something.  If you are not following Jesus and leading people to Jesus, then you are going the wrong way.  If you are not following Jesus, The Christ, then who are you following?

THE FRUIT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD

Proclamation:

"But the fruit of The Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control ... Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.  Since we live by The Spirit, let us also keep step with The Spirit."  Galatians 5:22-25 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were written by the Apostle Paul under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God to the believers in Galatia, which was a mixture of converted Jews and Gentiles.  Paul’s point here was that it was not enough for them to cease doing evil but that they must learn to do that which is Christ-like.

Application:

Most of us think that we are okay because we are not as bad as the worse criminals in the world.  We forget that The Bible says as a man thinks, so is he. (Proverbs 23:7 and Matthew 5:28)  Sinful thought are still sins.  In fact, anything which does not give God glory, all unrighteousness, is sin. (1 John 5:17)  We need to not think so highly of ourselves and recognize that if we are not exhibiting the fruit of The Holy Spirit of God, then we are probably committing a sin.  Trees bear fruit based upon their nature.  The fruit that we produce, our behavior, should be the same as the fruit of The Spirit, if The Holy Spirit of God is within us.  In the previous verses, Galatians 5:19-21, Paul lists the things of the flesh that we should be dead to and which should no longer be a part of us.  Once we accepted Christ as our Savior, The Holy Spirit of God indwelled us.  We did not become perfect but we changed and became new creatures. (2 Corinthians 5:17)  We should now walk, talk, think, and behave in such a manner that the world can see the fruit of The Spirit in our lives.  We should not have to tell people that we are Christians, they should be able to detect that by observing us.  To the world, our actions will speak louder than our words.  Let us show the world that The Spirit of God is within us by our actions and by how we treat one another. (John 13:35)

GOD IS FULL OF COMPASSION

Proclamation:

“The Lord is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion.”  Psalm 116:5 (NIV)

Explanation:

Although the human author of this psalm is unknown, it was clearly written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  The psalmist loves The Lord because He heard his cry for mercy. (Psalm 116:1-2)  He was overcome by distress and sorrow (Psalm 116:3) and The Lord saved him. (Psalm 116:6)  Then he asked the rhetorical question, “What shall I return to The Lord for all His goodness to me?” (Psalm 116:12)  He answers his own question by saying, “I will fulfill my vows to The Lord in the presence of all His people.” (Psalm 116:14 and 18) 

Application:

The sentence that begins with the phrase “God is …” can be completed in so many ways.  The Bible offers hundreds of statements which include that phrase.  However, God has only revealed a small part of who He is in The Bible.  We only know some of His attributes.  Our limited human capacity for understanding cannot fully comprehend all of who God is.  We know that He is all knowing, all powerful, and everywhere all at the same time but we do not fully appreciate that.  We cannot even adequately express all that He is to us or all that He has done for us.  We know that He is always with us, even though we don’t act like it.  We know that He is our refuge and strength and is our help in times of trouble. (Psalm 46:1)  We know that He is full of compassion and love for us because before we loved Him, while we were lost in sin, He sent His only Son to die for us so that we might have the choice of salvation. (John 3:16 and Romans 5:8)  We should praise God publicly for that if for nothing else.  As the song says, “God is the joy and the strength of my life … God is my all and all.”

PUT YOUR TRUST IN THE LORD

Proclamation:

“In You, Lord, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame; deliver me in Your righteousness.”  Psalm 31:1 (NIV)

Explanation:

This psalm of King David was written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  It was written to the people of God to encourage them to love The Lord, keep the faith, be strong, and be of good courage. (Psalm 31:23-24)  David’s prayer life and his faith walk went hand in hand. (Psalm 31:5)  He was in trouble and he was distressed. (Psalm 31:9-10)  However, instead of giving in and giving up, he put his trust in The Lord. (Psalm 31:14-16)

Application:

It would be good for all believers to read Psalm 31 when things are not going well in our lives.  “In Thee, O Lord, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed; deliver me in Thy righteousness.” (Psalm 31:1 KJV)  “… Come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of refuge … deliver me, Lord, my faithful God … I will be glad and rejoice in Your love … Be merciful to me, Lord, for I am in distress … I have become like broken pottery … But I trust in You, Lord … Let Your face shine on Your servant; save me with Your unfailing love … How abundant are the good things that You have stored up for those who fear You … Praise be to The Lord, for He showed me the wonders of His love …”  (Psalm 31:1-24 shortened)  As I have said on more than one occasion, sometimes we just need to pray like David prayed.

BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS

Proclamation:

"Blessed are the peacemakers; for they shall be called the children of God." Matthew 5:9

Explanation:

These are the words of Jesus, The Christ, which He spoke during the beginning of His Sermon on The Mount as recorded under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by the Apostle Matthew.  Peace makers are happy people.  They love, desire, and delight in peace.  They keep the peace that it may not be broken, and they attempt to recover it whenever is it broken.

Application:

Do you know someone who always seems to be trying to keep the peace, always trying to stop two others from arguing or fighting.  They never seemed to want to take one side or the other, saying something like “you are both right and you are both wrong.”  Peacemakers are not just sitting on the fence.  They are capable of making a decision, they have decided that we should all “just get along” and love each other.  The Bible teaches us that we should love our enemies.  Peacemakers are just trying to remind us of that, trying to help us engage rational thought instead of letting our emotions cause us to fly off the handle.  They are at peace with God and their desire is to live in peace with all men, and to have all men live in peace with each other. (Romans 5:1)  Their peace with Christ enables them to be ambassadors of God's message to a troubled world.  So, don't put down those who promote peace, they may be promoting God's message of love.  You may not agree with either side, but fighting is not the answer.

THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD

Proclamation:

“And when the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.  Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting ... All of them were filled with The Holy Spirit …”  Acts 2:1-4 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by Luke, the physician and frequent traveling companion of the apostle Paul.  Some people believe that only the eleven apostles received power after The Holy Spirit of God came upon them.  Luke records that in that upper room there were about 120 men and women (Acts 1:12-15) and they were all filled with The Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:4) 

Application:

Jesus, The Christ, said “You will receive power when The Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be My witnesses …” (Acts 1:8)  This power is not just for preachers but it is available to all believers.  After Peter preached his first sermon, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.  And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." (Acts 2:38)  That day about 3000 people gladly received his word, believed it, and became disciples (students) of Christ. (Acts 2:41)  That number grew daily and became a multitude. (Acts 2:46-47)  Stephen, the first deacon, was full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, before the apostles laid their hands upon him and prayed for him. (Acts 6:3-8)  As believers in Jesus, The Christ, we have The Holy Spirit of God within us.  Our problem is we have a choice in what we do and say, and we do not let The Holy Spirit have control of our lives.  We want to be in charge.  My favorite example of this is to use a bus as an analogy.  On the bus which represents our life, we want The Holy Spirit to be a back seat passenger on the bus that we are driving, instead of us letting The Holy Spirit take charge and drive the bus.  We have the potential to do great things for The Lord.  We have the power of The Holy Spirit of God available to us, to help us to be a help to others.  We have the power within us, the question is: what are we doing with it and what are we going to do with it?  All believers are to be witnesses for Christ.  We are all to spread The Word and tell others about the good news and salvation through Jesus, The Christ.