Heart Worship not Lip Worship

“Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:”
‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭29:13‬ ‭KJV‬‬
Isaiah prophesied in Jerusalem and the destruction of Jerusalem happened about two hundred years later.  Jesus has made His Blood sacrifice, died and been resurrected; the Church has been built on the Rock of Jesus; the Holy Spirit has come down to empower the Church.  The Word is given and available easily to meditate and hear God’s voice.  We are taught to thank, praise and worship God in spirit and in truth, to connect with God and be empowered.  The fruit of all this, is a power filled victorious Church sharing the Gospel and bringing many to the Kingdom of God.  But as Isaiah said, their heart is far from Him, Who honour Him in Church with their lips.  Let’s be the power filled, victorious Church that will turn this world upside down just like Jesus’s disciples did and bring many souls to Christ.  Let’s be the victorious Church, proclaiming the Gospel in the power of the Holy Spirit.  Let the victory of the Cross shine in and through us to the people of this planet!  Let’s bear the fruit that the Lord Jesus desires from us!  Let’s be the Church that the gates of hell shall not prevail against - Glory to God!

Twice Born

“For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭5:17‬ ‭KJV‬‬
The offence of Adam brought death to all mankind.  The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ brought Life to all who believe.  Only by believing in Jesus’s Blood Sacrifice, we receive unlimited grace and the gift of righteousness to reign in life.  This happened through the resurrection power working in us who were dead in our sins but now made alive and born again.  Being twice born is an experience, once in the flesh by the will of humans but the second birth is not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.  When we’re born of God, then alone can we reign as joint heirs with Christ.  Thank You Father!

Giving Pleasure to God

“Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the Lord be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭35:27‬ ‭KJV‬‬
David was battling against strife and betrayal and he turned to the Lord for help.  When we are beset by confusion and contention, our minds immediately think of solutions to get out of our problems.  David ran to the Lord and spoke his heart in this psalm.  We usually speak our problems to everyone else except the Lord.  It brings pleasure to the Lord when we run to Him and He delivers us.  Let Jesus be magnified through our speech and in our lives when we prosper in every area of our lives.  Let’s magnify Jesus through our words and our life and bring pleasure to Him by prospering!  Hallelujah!

Imparting God’s Righteousness

“Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:”
‭‭2 Peter‬ ‭1:1‬ ‭KJV‬‬
Peter had obtained the precious faith to believe in the risen Christ even after denying and disregarding the Word Jesus had spoken to him.  But with repentance he received forgiveness and the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.  We receive the righteousness of God only through repentance and forgiveness...this is the like precious faith that each person receives who is able to repent and depend on the mercies of our God for forgiveness.  That’s how Peter received the righteousness of God.  This is how we receive the righteousness of God.  Only through Jesus our Saviour.  Let’s thank Jesus for imparting His righteousness to us and we obtain the like precious faith with us.  Thank You Jesus.

God is my Strength and Power

“God is my strength and power: and he maketh my way perfect.”
‭‭2 Samuel‬ ‭22:33‬ ‭KJV‬‬
David wrote this psalm of thanksgiving and praise when God delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul.  The meaning of David is ‘beloved’ because David knew how to thank, praise and worship God - so he was a man after God’s own heart.  Today the Son of David has delivered us out of the hand of all our enemies and made our way perfect, through His death and resurrection.  He has also accepted us in the Beloved - Who is Jesus Himself.  He is our Strength and our Power.  May we know to thank, praise and worship God Who has redeemed us from all our enemies and made our way perfect.  Let’s bring a continuous sacrifice of thanksgiving to Jesus!  Let’s sing psalms of praise to Jesus!!  Let’s worship and adore Jesus!!!

Nourishment for the Church

“If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.”
‭‭1 Timothy‬ ‭4:6‬ ‭KJV‬‬
When a baby is born the mother does all to nourish the baby: providing everything for growth, health and good condition.  The Lord Jesus nourishes and cherishes the Church as His own Body with words of faith, good doctrine and purpose for His will to be done and for His Kingdom to come.  As His Body, our part is to build others with words of faith,  the sound doctrine of the new covenant with Jesus and the glorious grace of the Gospel.  The Gospel is that He died and rose again to remove our sin with His own Blood and He forgives everyone willing to come to Him with a repentant heart.  Let’s nourish with words of faith and with the sound doctrine of His glorious grace and bring many into the Body of Christ and help them grow and be mature.  Amen!

Christ’s Grace & Glory

“For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭84:11‬ ‭KJV‬‬
Grace and truth came from the Lord Jesus Christ.  When we walk in lowliness and humility, knowing that only at the Cross were we made whole, exchanging our brokenness with Christ’s completeness, that He becomes our Sun and Shield and gives us Grace and Glory!  The philosophy of karma or deeds has reached other cultures from our land.  Our deeds, good or bad, has no standing with Almighty God...it is only repentance and forgiveness at the Cross that brings us to the right standing with God.  No good thing does He withhold from us who walk uprightly with Christ’s Grace and Glory!  Let’s exchange our deeds with Christ’s Grace & Glory!

Names Written in Heaven

“Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭10:20‬ ‭KJV‬‬
We are living at a time when we need to have an Aadhar card, a bank account, a PAN Card, a social security number, a passport etc., to get things done to live a reasonably comfortable life.  Jesus tells us that if our names are not written in heaven, we are doomed for eternity.  Let’s rejoice that not only our names are written but that we enable, through the preaching of the Gospel, for many names written through us in heaven, because we obeyed our Lord.  Amen!

The Apple of His Eye

“Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings,”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭17:8‬ ‭KJV‬‬
Jesus loves and protects us even as a hen gathers her chickens under her wings.  David experienced this love and asked God to keep him as the apple of the eye and hide him under the shadow of His wings.  This reality for us is being under the Cross of Calvary and being the apple of His Eye as Jesus looks on us with love.  Let’s personalise Scripture as God speaking individually to us and the Holy Spirit will quicken His Word in us and help us experience being the apple of His Eye and under the shadow of His Wings, that glorious place!

Provoking to Love & Good Works

“And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭10:24‬ ‭KJV‬‬
To consider one another with love in our hearts is well nigh impossible in our own strength and will power, we tend to become like a busybody!  But when we remember that we have boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which Jesus has consecrated for us, and He is our High Priest, we come to Him with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience with the Blood of sprinkling, holding fast the profession of our faith without wavering, because of His faithfulness - then alone are we able to consider one another with love and to good works.  Hallelujah!

Givers of Good News

“And he prayed unto the Lord, and said, I pray thee, O Lord, was not this my saying, when I was yet in my country? Therefore I fled before unto Tarshish: for I knew that thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest thee of the evil.”
‭‭Jonah‬ ‭4:2‬ ‭KJV‬‬
Jonah knew the nature of the God Who called him to prophecy.  He knew that God forgives and has mercy on even the Ninevites who had done terrible things to the children of Israel.  How much more today, when Jesus has been punished on the Cross for all the terrible things mankind has done.  Such love, such mercy, what grace is there in God imputing righteousness to us when we receive forgiveness through Jesus Who became our sin.  The power of love, mercy, and grace is much greater than the power of sin, hate and fear.  This power God has given us freely by His Holy Spirit.  Let’s give the good news of Jesus in our generation like Jonah did in Nineveh and all the Ninevites repented.  Let’s be givers of good news so that people everywhere repent and receive Jesus in their hearts.  Thank You Father!

Good Fight

“Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.”
‭‭1 Timothy‬ ‭6:12‬ ‭KJV‬‬
Paul clearly states that we are to fight the  good fight of faith to manifest the victory of Jesus in our life.  Our profession is that our living God, conquered sin, death and hell and He lives in us.  Whatever comes our way, we fight from the winning side for the Kingdom of God to come on earth as it is in heaven.  The Holy Spirit leads us to declare publicly the right Word for our situation and by faith that Word is manifest.  If you are lacking in anything, let your declaration be that the Lord is your Shepherd and you will not lack anything. If you need deliverance then declare that God has delivered you from the hand of the enemy.  If you are sick then declare that by Jesus’s stripes you are healed.  Whatever your situation keep fighting the good fight of faith till you have victory.  It’s a good fight and we are on the winning side.  Let’s do it!

Putting the Enemy to Flight

“And David girded his sword upon his armour, and he assayed to go; for he had not proved it. And David said unto Saul, I cannot go with these; for I have not proved them. And David put them off him.”
‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭17:39‬ ‭KJV‬‬
It’s a Biblical principle to not give out something that you haven’t experienced yourself.  David was not going to learn to use the armour in a battlefield!  Using the slingshot was second nature to him, so he put off Saul’s armour, he hadn’t proven.  Otherwise he would have been the casualty, not Goliath the giant.  Let’s walk in the power Jesus won for us at the Cross, let it be second nature to us.  For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power.  Then alone, can we walk in victory, as our adversary is roaming around seeking whom he may devour.  Let’s not learn at the battlefield but in our everyday prayer time to fight to destroy the enemy, putting on the whole armour of God and using the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, to put the enemy to flight! Praise Jesus!

Winning Souls through the Gifts of the Spirit

“To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭12:9‬ ‭KJV‬‬
The Church has been given the gifts of the Spirit. The gift of faith and of healing and all other gifts are given by the Spirit to us who believe in the Cross where Jesus won the victory over the enemy.  Those of us who have received miracle working faith and been healed and been at the receiving end of other gifts of the Spirit, are now to release it to others.  Let’s believe that it is God’s will to use the gifts of the Spirit for others.  Let’s bring souls into the Kingdom of God through the gifts of the Spirit....God’s Will be done, God’s Kingdom come!

Youth Renewed

“Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭103:5‬ ‭KJV‬‬
David wrote this psalm as his heart was overflowing with gratitude at the goodness of God. It was prophetic of the Blood of the everlasting Covenant that Jesus was going to make through the finished work of the Cross.  Because of that, our mouth plays an important part!  If it is filled with the goodness of God, our youth is renewed like the eagles.  If it is filled with negativity, and we speak bad news, that’s what will happen. Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.  Let’s satisfy our mouth with God’s goodness and speak God’s Life to our situations!  We’ll fly high over every storm and situation, our youth renewed!  Amen!

Confidence or Unbelief?

“But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭3:6‬ ‭KJV‬‬
Today when you hear God’s voice, do you believe that it is your imagination as God would never speak to you?  That’s unbelief.  We have a relationship with Almighty God Who is our Father, through His Son Jesus Christ.  When we pray, don’t we have confidence that God hears our voice?  So why should we not hear His Voice?  Let’s have confidence that we hear God’s Voice and that we are willing to do what He speaks to us to do.  The more we speak to Him in prayer, the more He speaks to us.  Let’s do that with rejoicing, firm in our hope in Him till the end.  Thank You Father!

Under Christ’s Feet

“I have wounded them that they were not able to rise: they are fallen under my feet.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭18:38‬ ‭KJV‬‬
David spoke this prophetically about the Messiah here when Jesus was wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities, the chastisement of our peace was upon Him and by His stripes we were healed, at the Cross.  That’s when Jesus defeated the devil and all the wicked powers and principalities.  They are now under His Feet.  Those of us who are born again and Christ is in us, the devil and his powers and principalities are under our feet.  Let’s walk in that victory because we are on the winning side.  Hallelujah!

Kingdom of God - the Church’s Responsibility

“Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭12:32‬ ‭KJV‬‬
Jesus explained about the Kingdom of God to the simple people who were hungry to know more and delighted to listen to this Kingdom and this new way of life.  He called God as their Father, and said it gave pleasure to Him to give them His Kingdom!  He asked them to seek God’s Kingdom and everything they need will be added to them.  This is now Jesus’s Church’s responsibility to give the Gospel of the Kingdom of God to simple and hungry people who want this better new life!  Let’s give this good news to people at this time when the pandemic has made people realise they want to get out of it and desire a better alternative.  Let the Kingdom of God come through us as we bring more people into the Kingdom of our Father and give Him pleasure!

Christ delights in us who believe in Him

“He brought me forth also into a large place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭18:19‬ ‭KJV‬‬
Even though David went through the toughest of times, he didn’t give up on his confidence in his God.  He trusted God to deliver him from all his enemies.  When Jesus cried, “My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?”, He had taken on all our enemies and totally disarmed them.  Jesus delivered all mankind from all our enemies.  Why did this happen?  Because He delights in us!  David knew the answer.  We worship You, Lord Jesus, You delivered us from all our enemies because You delight in us, who believe in You!  Thank You!

Trees of Righteousness

“For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭6:44‬ ‭KJV‬‬
God has called us the tree of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He might be glorified.  As we walk in the righteousness that Jesus has given us through the Cross, we bear the fruit of righteousness.  May the Lord increase the fruits of righteousness through us.  Since every tree is known by its fruit, let’s not be bearing thorns or brambles but let’s allow the mighty Holy Spirit to make us fruitful trees of righteousness!

Fruit that Remains Forever

“For I will have respect unto you, and make you fruitful, and multiply you, and establish my covenant with you.”
‭‭Leviticus‬ ‭26:9‬ ‭KJV‬‬
Every time YHWH has spoken to mankind, it is to tell us to be fruitful.  From Adam, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, the children of Israel, right down to us, God has said that He has respect unto us and to make us fruitful.  In the covenant that has been made with us by the Lord Jesus, all who believe in the Cross, we are filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God. Thank You, Jesus, as we abide in Your Word, You are making us fruitful, fruit that remains forever!

Fruitful

“Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.”
‭‭James‬ ‭5:7‬ ‭KJV‬‬
The fruit grower has to be patient to allow the root to go deep at least to three feet.  He has to work the soil with right nutrients.  When the fruit tree grows, it needs to be pruned to remove everything that hinders the fruit bearing.  The fruit tree needs the early and latter rain for its productivity.  Our Heavenly Father is patiently working in us to be fruitful by allowing us to be rooted and grounded in His love and walking in it, loving our neighbours as ourselves; abiding in His Word to have fruit that remains; allowing the Holy Spirit to prune us from unwanted attitudes; walking in the Spirit so we don’t fulfill the lusts of the flesh.  All this is making us fruitful in every good work to be prepared for the Bridegroom coming for His Bride.  Let’s be ready for Him with patience...another word for love!

The Glory of God & the Fruit of our Lips

“Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the Lord filled the house.”
‭‭2 Chronicles‬ ‭7:1‬ ‭KJV‬‬
When the transition from the tabernacle to the newly built temple took place, king Solomon offered thousands upon thousands of burnt offerings and sacrifices.  The glory of God filled the house so that the priests fell down.  Today Jesus Himself is our Sacrifice.  When we bring thousands upon thousands of sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His Name, our body which is the temple of the Holy Spirit is filled with the glory of God, and the Spirit of Glory and of God rests upon us as we prostrate ourselves before Him, our Lord and our God! Let’s come to this level of worship of Almighty God!

Word of Reconciliation Commitment

“To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.”
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭5:19‬ ‭KJV‬‬
Having experienced reconciliation with God personally, we can now testify to the saving power of Christ.  Those who have experienced God’s goodness will go through these calamitous times with the God of hope Who enables us to abound in hope in the power of the Holy Spirit with the peace that passes all understanding...Jesus’s peace that He promised us.  Let’s share this hope, this Word of reconciliation that God has committed to us.  Thank You Abba for preserving us and committing to us the Word of reconciliation to share with the unreconciled.L

Redeemed

“For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee from being king.”
‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭15:23‬ ‭KJV‬‬
Samuel told king Saul that rebellion is as witchcraft and stubbornness as iniquity and idolatory.  Saul came to a sad end.  When we look at the grace of Jesus Christ Who gave Himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works, we are humbled to worship Him.  He has redeemed us from all sin, rebellion, witchcraft, stubbornness, iniquity, idolatory, to fulfill His purpose in us as we preach the Gospel in the demonstration of the Holy Spirit and of power.  Thank You Jesus, we worship You.

Temple of the Living God

“And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.”
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭6:16‬ ‭KJV‬‬
It is for the Body of Christ to get this marvellous revelation of the mystery revealed to Paul.  All who have invited Jesus into their hearts through repentance and forgiveness of sins and identified with Jesus’s death, burial and resurrection through water baptism, then qualify to become the temple of the living God.  God Himself chooses to dwell and walk in us as the living God.  We can never worship a man-made image, but only the living God, Jesus Who lives in our heart.  There is no temple or church which can ever house the living God.  He chooses to dwell in us as we choose to invite Him into our hearts.  Thank You Father for making us Your temple!

Restored through the Cross

“They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of mine head: they that would destroy me, being mine enemies wrongfully, are mighty: then I restored that which I took not away.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭69:4‬ ‭KJV‬‬
David’s psalm is prophetic of Jesus on the Cross....so much revelation came to him because he connected with God in worship.  The enemies of the Kingdom of God hate Jesus, yet it is only through Jesus that our relationship with God is restored.  Jesus restored what He didn’t take away.  For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.  Let’s worship Jesus Who died & rose again to live forever.  Glory to the Lamb of God!

Enter Christ’s Rest

“And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat.”

‭‭Mark‬ ‭6:31‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The disciples were so part of the busyness of being alongside Jesus Who went about healing all who came to Him, that they had no time to even eat.  Jesus is still concerned with His disciples taking time to rest! It is a fallacy that Christ’s disciples should suffer and be overwhelmed with Christian work with no leisure to rest.  The zeal for the Lord & His work must needs be balanced with rest.  Let’s ask the Holy Spirit to help us enter into the Lord’s rest and have the hope of His goodness with confidence when we rest, of Him using us to be about our heavenly Father’s business. Let’s labour to enter into His rest!

Delighting in Mercy

“Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.”

‭‭Micah‬ ‭7:18‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Micah the prophet who was a contemporary of the prophet Isaiah, prophesied also of the coming Messiah, the Christ, Who would be born in Bethlehem.  The reason of Christ’s coming was that there is no God like YHWH Who pardons iniquity, and removes the transgressions of those who believe in Him, Who does not retain anger forever because He delights in mercy.  The Messiah’s sacrifice on the Cross was an act of mercy that He delighted in.  Let’s worship Him Who deserves ALL the glory!

Justified by Grace

“That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”

‭‭Titus‬ ‭3:7‬ ‭KJV‬‬

Usually our minds think of being justified by law - that is the world system.  Prisoners are released from incarceration when they are justified by the law of the land.  But in the Kingdom of God we are justified by the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost!  That’s why we are heirs with Christ because of the hope we have in Him.  To Him be all the glory!

El Shaddai Rejoicing over You

“The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.”

‭‭Zephaniah‬ ‭3:17‬ ‭KJV‬‬

The prophet shows us a glimpse of Almighty God, that shakes our image of Him...could El Shaddai rejoice over me? Could He actually rest in His love & joy over me with singing?  Surely God has important things to do than to rest in His love and joy over me with singing!  It is our choice to believe in this Word!  Our identity in Christ is that the Father sees Jesus in us, if we have been born again, repented, received forgiveness of our sins and invited Jesus in our hearts.  The whole of heaven rejoices and Almighty God joys over us with singing.  Let’s have a testimony of God singing over us with joy...let’s believe His Word!