Let us pray. “ Lord Jesus, I long to be perfectly whole, I want thee forever to live in my soul, break down every barrier, cast out every foe, Lord, wash me and I shall be whiter than snow. Lord Jesus, let nothing unholy remain, apply thine own blood and extract every stain, to get the best cleansing I all things forego, now wash me and I shall be whiter than snow. Lord Jesus, thou see that I patiently wait, come now and within me a new heart create, to those who have sought thee, thou never said no, Lord, wash me and I shall be whiter than snow.” Thank you, Lord, for songs of praise and meditation, they help to bring us closer to you.

Lord, we acknowledge you this day, and we humble ask you to correct and control the willful spirits within us which causes us to walk away from your truth, and humbly bring us back into your fold Good Shepherd. Lord, we know that you are able to order our unruly minds, in your own time, you will direct and control us, we know of your awesome works in that you have been sought by those who did not ask for you, you have been found by those who did not seek you, you said, here I am, to a nation that was not called by your name, you have stretched out your hands all day long to a rebellious people, who walk in a way that is not good, according to their own thoughts, a people who provoke you continually to anger. Who else, could be so accepting of us; who else, could love us still, but our Heavenly Father? So, this day O Lord, favorably hear us, and let our cry come unto you, for we are still rebellious at heart, and we humbly ask you to correct, control, and order our unruly minds, and give us faithful, loving hearts to serve you all the days of our lives. All this we ask in your precious name. Amen! 

Let us thank God this morning for grace which abounds, because we are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed, we are perplexed, but not in despair, persecuted, but not forsaken, struck down, but not destroyed; Why? All because of God’s grace which abounds, his mercies which are new every morning, his love which surrounds us like a shield. Therefore, scripture reminds us not to lose heart as we go through our various trials, for even though the outward man is perishing, the inward man is being renewed every day, and that all things are for our sakes, that grace, having spread through many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God. Oh, what a mighty God we serve! Praise Him!

 As I read my bible this morning, this passage just stuck with me, and as I continued reading, I was moved to tears, for I know the tribulations I endure in my walk with God, and I was reminded of how much Paul suffered for Christ’s sake, but he said he served the Lord with all humility, with many tears and tribulation, but that he kept back nothing that was helpful, and spoke boldly of the Lord and all that he have done, and he said the Holy Spirit testified to him in every city that he went, saying, that chains and tribulations awaited him, but none of these things moved him, nor did he count his life as his own, but the Lords, so that he may finish the race with joy, and the ministry he received from the Lord Jesus Christ, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. My brothers and sisters in Christ, I want to encourage you to continue to run this race for God, no matter what trials and tribulations confront you, know that you are God’s chosen one and that his banner over you is love, and his love will comfort you, guide, you and surround you like a shield, so that you may not be overcome by your tribulations, but that you will overcome your tribulations. Praise the Lord!

Hate, curse and use, are three emotionally charged actions, they take more from you than they give to you, but loving, blessing and praying, gives more to you that they take from you. So today, we will try, yes, we will try, because it is not easy to love our enemies, to do good to those who hate us, to bless those who curse us, and to pray in a good way for those who spitefully use us. But, God demands this of us, so in trying to do the will of God, we will pray this prayer together: Lord, not my will but thine be done, instill in me a heart to love, to bless, and to pray for those who hate me, curse me, and intentionally and spitefully use me. Lord, show me how to love them, how to bless them and how to pray for them in a good way. For in so in doing, I believe that I will find peace, that my reward will be great in heaven, that You, O Lord, will work through me to bring positive changes to their lives, changes that will enable them to see, that even though they have been evil and unkind, that I am able to show them kindness and love, and bless them O Lord, with the peace that surpasses all understanding. All this we ask for Christ’s sake. Amen!

Somebody somewhere this morning, is happy to tell out their soul the greatness of the Lord for what he has done. What wonderful thing has God done recently in your life? Are you excited about it? Do you want to tell the whole world about it? You may have just received the greatest gift, the gift of salvation and you want the whole world to know, it’s ok, I too, wanted to tell the whole world about it, and I still am. You may be feeling a little bit uncomfortable, I was too. I was at first hesitant to tell others about the blessed gift I received, but we should not be, for when the Lord delivers you, it’s something to shout about, it’s something to share with the whole world. Many will judge you because they think they know where you came from, and where you have been, but what they don’t know is that before you were born, God knew you, he predestined you, he knew where you were going, and the path you would take to get there, so when you are challenged, you just tell them that they just happened to meet you along the path God chose for you to get where you are today, and now you have left them behind. Praise the Lord.

“Afflictions, though they seem severe, in mercy oft are sent, they topped the prodigal son’s career and caused him to repent.” I love this song! It’s hard for people to see afflictions as blessings if they are not close with God. In times of affliction people of faith do not ask God why me, they say show me where I am wrong and put me back in my place. It takes affliction to bring many people to their knees, to remember that God is the Lord, and they never see the love of God in this affliction until it is passed, when God brings them through it, when they realize that this could have been the end, but God made it a new beginning, and therefore is happy to tell someone else, “ It is good that I had been afflicted, because before my affliction I was walking in my own wilful, but now I am walking in the ways of the Lord. Oh, glory be to God!

Rejection in any form is devastating, especially if it comes from the ones we claim to love. My brothers and sisters in Christ, take heed that no one deceives you, for many will be deceived by false prophets who will befriend you, who will lead you away from the will of God for you, and in the end it will not profit you. God loves us and we claim to love God, when in fact we don’t even love ourselves, because we allow ourselves to be easily misled, to be deceived, to suffer rejection because of the choices we make. But know that all of the choices we make in life have consequences, and one of the most devastating is to turn our backs on God, for the day will come, when you will hear these devastating words, “Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.” Many times in a relationship, we find ourselves asking our partner this question repeatedly, “Do you love me?” And many times the answer is yes, yet the same person turns around and rejects you. Jesus asked Peter this same question three times, not that he did not know the answer, but he wanted to reinforce this to Peter, how much he himself loved him, knowing that Peter was about to betray him, and Peter got it, he said, “Lord, you know all things, you know that I love you.” Jesus then said to him, “Feed my sheep.” My brothers and sisters in Christ know today, the shepherd who is leading your flock; take heed that you are not deceived.

Many of us are quick to judge and condemn others, we find it hard to forgive one another, even though we are not blameless. But, who are we to judge and condemn one another? Many times, the same people who are quick to judge have done far worse than those they are ready to condemn. But who knows this better than our righteous Judge, Jesus Christ the Lord? He knows all things, he sees the evil that we do when we think no one is watching; but yet, he forgives us, so that we too could be forgiving, one to another. For if You, O Lord, should mark our iniquities, none of us would be able to stand, but you forgive us so that we will fear you, and reverence you, to give you praise and honor and glory, for all the wonderful things you have done and continue to do for us. Thank you Lord!