REASONS FOR WORSHIPPING GOD
From the beginning of creation, it is customary for people to worship Gods and they did and still do so for diverse reasons. Recently, I carried out a study on the reasons why and I was able to figure out some which I will like to share with you today. They include:
1. Because it is the right thing to do.
Many people in the bible worshipped God because they knew it is the right thing to do (Psalm 147:1). King David was one of them! In Psalm 33:3, he urged people to ”Sing unto him (that is God) a new song…”. Prophet Isaiah also added his own voice to this all important issue by saying ”Sing to the Lord a new song and his praise from the end of the earth …” (Isaiah 42:10). Both men and their ilk made it a point of duty to worship God habitually and they shone brilliantly while on earth. So, if you want to shine brilliantly on earth too, then one of the things you have to do is to incorporate the attitude of worshipping God into your lifestyle and you shall be happy we did in the end in Jesus name. Amen.
2. Because it is the usual practice in heaven.
It is the usual practice in heaven for all the creatures therein, including the twenty four elders, to worship God 24/7 (Revelation 4:8-10). One of their worship pronouncements found in Revelation 4:11 is now adapted into a melodious worship song that goes like this:
”Thou art worthy; thou art worthy, o lord
To receive glory, honor, and power
For thou hast created, all things.
And for thy pleasure they are and were created”.
As children of God, our major aim should be to attain heaven and if we are dead serious about this, then we must strive to become proficient in what the routine is there. And we can start, by getting used to worshipping God at all times.
3. To show our appreciation to Him for granting us our heart desires.
Hannah worshipped God in prayer to show her appreciation to Him for giving her a baby boy, Samuel, after many years of being barren. Her prayer is found in 1 Samuel 2:2 and it has been fashioned into a popular worship song, part of which goes this way:
”There is none holy as the Lord
There is none beside Thee,
Neither is there any rock like our God.
There is none holy as the Lord’.
Hannah worshipped God to show her appreciation to Him and He gave her more children afterwards. From her story, we can easily conclude that it pays to worship God to convey our appreciation to Him for granting us our heart desires. No doubt, this will motivate Him to do more for us.
4. To thank Him for delivering us from unpleasant situations.
Realising their huge loss, following the exit of the Israelites from Egypt, Pharaoh and his men pursued them with the aim of bringing them back into slavery. Before long, the Israelites found themselves trapped in between the highly rated but dreadful Egyptians soldiers and the red sea and they became very afraid. So, they cried out to God to deliver them and He did (Exodus 14: 1-30). After that, Moses and the Israelites worshipped God in song; thanking Him for delivering them from that very unpleasant situation. Their song, found in Exodus 15:11, now forms the body of a popular Christian worship song that goes thus:
Who is like unto thee, O Lord?
Who is Like unto Thee, O Lord?
Among the gods, who is like Thee?
You are glorious in Holiness
And fearful in praises
Always Doing Wonders, Hallelujah
If you want God to be a constant feature of your life after delivering you from a festering situation, then do what the Israelites did; praise and worship Him in songs (Psalm 22:3).
Summary and Conclusion:
It is important to worship God because it is the right thing to do. It is also appropriate to do so to get used to this practice which is a permanent routine in Heaven; our eternal home. We are to worship Him too, for granting us our heart desires and for delivering us from our festering conditions. There are other reasons why we should worship our God but we can’t go into them now because of time and space constraints. The onus is now on us to identify where we fit in, and to worship Him appropriately in return. Granted, we may not have attained our best yet, but our conditions would have been a lot worse without Him. Let us therefore, appreciate Him whole heartedly; let us worship Him on and on without looking back with joy, with dancing and with instruments (Psalm 149: 2-4). I am confident that He will help us more and more till our joy is full in Jesus name. Amen.
Jesus is Lord!
C Adedayo Stoney Adegbulu, 2006
Categories: Mind of Christ Tags: Let's Sing, Sing
SHAKE IT OFF! (Part 2)
In September 2006, we considered part 1 of a topic titled SHAKE IT OFF. It was based on the events recorded in Acts Chapters 27 and 28. Today we shall take its part 2.
By way of a recap, Paul was being shipped to Rome to be tried by Caesar but the ship conveying him and others got wrecked off the Island of Malta but no life was lost. They were subsequently well treated by the Islanders but as Paul was relaxing and enjoying the warmth of the fire made for them, a snake fastened itself around his hands and people concluded that he must be a murderer. He did not panic as one would expect in a situation like this. All he did was to simply SHAKE IT (i.e. the snake) OFF into the fire and he escaped unhurt. For this reason, he was called a ‘god’.
Today, let us pay a close attention to the expression SHAKE IT OFF. It means to get rid of something, often by shaking or to get away from a harmful thing or person.
As Christians, there are many things disturbing our lives that God loathes and he wants us to shake them off so that we can enjoy his full blessings. Let us consider some them here with biblical examples now.
1. POVERTY. In 1 Chronicles 4:9-10, a man called Jabez was restricted by poverty in all ways until he made up his mind to SHAKE IT OFF. He asked God to bless him and to enlarge his coast and God granted his requests. He later became more honorable than his brethren. Perhaps poverty (e.g. of money, ideas, progress, etc) is restricting you or you are now finding it increasingly difficult to pay your bills and mortgages or to meet many of your financial obligations-don’t worry; I advice you to SHAKE IT OFF today by asking God to intervene as Jabez did and he will not let you down. Remember that what destroys the poor most is their poverty (Proverbs 10:15) and that God does not want you to be poor anyway (3 John 2).
2. SICKNESSES AND INFIRMITIES. In Acts 5:12-16, Peter was superbly filled with the power of the Holy Spirit in the name of Jesus such that his shadow alone healed people as he passed by. From this account, we can safely deduce that those who came to him at that time were tired of their sicknesses and infirmities and they were prepared to SHAKE THEM OFF and they were all healed. Are you suffering from any sickness or infirmity? If you are, then SHAKE IT OFF today. Ask Jesus Christ to heal you and he will. Remember that he is always ready and willing to heal us (Acts 10:38).
3. SHAME AND SORROW. In Luke 9:37-42, a boy was tormented by epilepsy which is a disease of shame and sorrow. With time, his father became tired of his condition and he decided to SHAKE IT OFF. He approached Jesus Christ for help and that very day, the boy was set free. Is anything causing shame and sorrow in your life or in the life of someone close to you at the moment? If yes, then SHAKE IT OFF today. Talk to Jesus Christ about it; he will listen to you and do your bidding.
4. SIN. Sin prevents people from enjoying God’s abundant grace (Romans 6:1-2) hence we must SHAKE IT OFF. Zacheus was a Chief Tax Collector hence, a big time sinner. One day, he sought to see Jesus Christ. From his action, we can infer that he was tired of his sinful nature and he decided to SHAKE IT OFF. Jesus forgave him and he was saved that very day (Luke 19:1-10). Remember that we are all sinners (1 John 1:8) and we face imminent death if we continue to wallow in sin. That is why we have to vigorously SHAKE IT OFF and seek eternal life through Christ Jesus (Romans 6:23).
Finally friend, I implore you to look inwards today? What is it that is making your life hard? Be ready to SHAKE IT OFF. Go ahead and discus it with Jesus Christ in prayer right now and he will intervene robustly on your behalf. He is waiting and willing to set you free (Matthew 11:28). Please avail yourself of this unique opportunity; another one may not come your way in a hurry again.
Jesus is Lord!
Categories: Mind of Christ Tags: Shake It Off
Let’s Thank God
Today we shall be focusing on thanksgiving. By definition, thanksgiving is the art of expressing gratitude to God. It is a vital prerequisite for a successful Christian life and God expects it from us in all ways and at all times. Apostle Paul confirmed this in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 when he said ‘’…In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you’’.
King David was successful in Israel because of his unflinching love for God and because he was always thanking him. He did not do so for fun. Remember that it was God who helped him to defeat Goliath. God also delivered him from the evil antics of King Saul and made him king over Israel even though his credentials were very lean for that exalted position. Remember that David was just an ordinary shepherd boy before God chose him over and above his outstanding brothers. I am therefore not surprised that he said ‘’it is good to give thanks to God (Psalm 92:1), to who alone does wonders (Psalm 136:4).
If you endeavour to peruse your earthly journey to date, you will discover many reasons why you should thank God. For instance, he is the one who delivered you and your loved ones from death and from the attacks of Satan via accident(s), sicknesses and infirmities, failure, shame and sorrow etc. He even promised you hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11-NIV). Is he not wonderful? Definitely he deserves our thanks.
Thanking God especially with joy and praise will confer the following privileges on you:
1. Ability to gain access into His presence. King David confirmed this in Psalm 95:2 when he said ‘’let us come before Him with thanksgiving’’. He also said ‘’enter into His gates with thanksgiving (Psalm 100:4). From these two passages, it is evident that we can easily gain access into God’s presence via a protocol that prominently features thanksgiving. Friend, if you are serious about having an encounter with God then make sure that you give thanks to Him continually as from today.
2. Ability to present your request to him. Apostle Paul confirmed this in Philippians 4:6 when he said: ‘’be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving let your request be made known to God’’. We can safely conclude from above passage that Prayer + Supplication + Thanksgiving = Answered Prayer. If you pray and supplicate before God eternally but you fail to thank Him, you will find it very hard to present your requests before Him and you cannot get them sorted out. Thanksgiving therefore is very essential whilst dealing with God.
3. Ability to experience signs and wonders. Thanksgiving is the key that unlocks locked doors. It also unlocks the door to the throne of God where big time signs and wonders occur. In Matthew 15:36, Jesus gave thanks to God over a few loaves of bread and some fishes and they multiplied greatly to feed thousands of men minus women and children. Thanksgiving therefore, leads to multiplication and satisfaction (Jeremiah 30:19) whilst lack of it leads to decrease and frustration. Jesus also thanked God before raising Lazarus form the dead (John 11:41). That is, thanksgiving brings about restoration.
Friend, I presume you will agree with me that it is beneficial to thank God. Therefore, why don’t you devote sufficient time to thank Him on a daily basis and watch the issues troubling you disappear one after the other? If you are liberal with thanking God then, He will locate you for signs and wonders in Jesus name. Amen.
Finally, remember that those who are full of thanks to God will have their tanks full of His blessings.
Jesus is Lord!
Categories: Mind of Christ Tags: Thanksgiving
Shake It Off (Part 1)
In Acts chapter 27, Paul who had been taken a prisoner was being shipped to Rome to be tried by Caesar. Meanwhile, because he was under the control of the Holy Spirit, he knew that the journey was fraught with danger and he warned against it accordingly but he was ignored. A great storm soon started which eventually wrecked their ship off the Island of Malta (remember that they were going to Rome) but thank God no life was lost. When they arrived on land, the people there were very kind to them and they met their needs (Acts 28). But as Paul, like others, was warming himself from the fire made for them, a poisonous snake fastened itself on his hand. He did not panic neither did he create any ugly scene instead, he just went ahead to shake it (i.e. the snake) off into the fire and he was unharmed. For this reason, he was called a ‘god’.
From the account above, we can make the following deductions.
1. We shall be persecuted at some point in our lives on account of our faith. Paul was persecuted on account of his faith in Christ Jesus and there are many people out there too who are being similarly persecuted on daily basis. If you are one of them, I have good news for you-be of good cheer because Jesus Christ is in control (John 16:33). Meanwhile, consider yourself very lucky for facing this trial now because at the end of it you will emerge more matured and lacking nothing (James 1:2-4).
2. Our respective journey in life may not be as smooth as we originally planned it. Paul was going to Rome but his journey was truncated in Malta. Similar scenario is common in many people’s lives. Perhaps you set a target for yourself in the past and from the look of things only a miracle can make you attain it. Let me advice you here not to worry and please do not give up because you are not going to miss that enviable altitude that God earmarked for you ab initio and your expectation in life will not be cut off (Proverbs 23:18) in Jesus name. Amen.
3. We need to be vigilant at all times. Sometimes we may think that the worst is over and then become complacent. Please avoid doing this because this is the time that the Devil is most likely to strike you afresh and hardest. Paul had just survived two major disasters (i.e. a violent storm and a ship wreck) and as he was putting more wood in the fire trying to keep warm and relaxed, another disaster struck. This time around, a poisonous snake fastened itself on his hand and the Islanders concluded that he was a murderer. In some cultures he would have been lynched straight away but thank God he wasn’t. It is very important for us therefore not to relax fully after surviving any disaster or problem because Satan does not rest and he is always ready to strike harder than previously (1 Peter 5:8).
4. We must shake off whatever is hindering us. The snake wrapped itself around Paul’s hand. This symbolised another problem or a major hindrance. He did not panic, neither did he cry nor ask for help instead, he shook it off into the fire and he was not hurt (Acts 28:5). What is it that has clung to you like a leech for so long and is not prepared to leave you alone? Is it a health problem, a troubled mind, a chronic family concern, debt, mortgage problem or any other form of financial embarrassment, academic or professional inertia, poverty of idea, confusion, bareness of any kind etc? If any of them is applicable to you I implore you not to worry, do not panic, do not cry and do not condemn yourself -just SHAKE IT OFF by taking it to God in prayer and be rest assured that he is waiting for you and he is willing to set you free (Matthew 11:28).
Finally, let me use this opportunity to wish you God’s mercies throughout this month and beyond and please do not hesitate to SHAKE OFF all your encumbrances starting from now and may you have absolute victory over them in Jesus name. Amen.
Jesus is Lord!
Categories: Mind of Christ Tags: Deliverance, Freedom
Question and Answer Series (Part 4)
In February 2006, we commenced a Question and Answer Series via this medium. And in April as well as in June 2006, we considered parts two (2) and three (3) of it respectively. Today, I am delighted to present the forth part to you believing God that you will find it helpful in Jesus name. The Questions and Answers in this series are as follows:
1. Is God really committed to meeting our needs?
Yes he is! This assertion can be supported with many biblical passages but we shall consider a few here. In Philippians 4:19, Apostle Paul confirmed the commitment of God towards meeting our needs when he said: “And my God shall supply all our needs according to his riches in glory through Christ Jesus’’. Apostle John too, portrayed the mind of God in 3 John 1:2 when he said: “I wish above all things that thou may prosper and be in good health even as thy soul prospers.’’
In Isaiah 43:19 God promised to do new (spectacular) things in our lives which ostensibly include meeting our needs. Psalm 84:11 points to the fact that God is not interested in denying us access to any good thing. Our needs are of course very good hence, they are extremely important to him. And because he is a covenant keeping God (Psalm 89:34), he will do everything possible to ensure that they are fully met but in his own appointed time (Ecclesiastes 3:11). Please take note of this very important point!
2. What then should we be doing before our needs are met?
First, we must be patient (Psalm 27:14) and we must believe that our needs will be met by God at some point (Mathew 21:22). We must not abandon the ship mid-way and we must remember that as far as God is concerned, delay is not denial. We should also cultivate the habit of rejoicing in the Lord always (Philippians 4:4) and refrain from grumbling whilst waiting for answers to our prayers. These conditions are mandatory, non-optional, non-negotiable and immutable. Whatever challenges we may be facing today has in it elements of blessings and gifts from God therefore, we should not insult Him with our complaints. Furthermore, we should make it a routine to thank God incessantly (1 Thessalonians 5:18) and to praise Him unreservedly. Let me emphasize here that our blessings cannot be far away from us if we praise Him in a way that will make Him happy (Psalm 22:3).
Finally, let us remember to encourage one another with the bible passage below:
‘’he who calls you is faithful, who will do it’’ (1 Thessalonians 5: 24).
Jesus is Lord!
Categories: Mind of Christ Tags: About God, God
You will be Celebrated and not Tolerated
Today, we shall quickly look at the book of Judges Chapter 11. Jephthah was a mighty man of valour who grew up normally with his half brothers. But a time came in his life when he was denied of his inheritance because his mother was a harlot and he had no choice than to flee for his dear life. Not long after that, his people the Israelites were attacked by the Amorites and their existence became threatened. It was at this point that the elders sought after him because they realized that he was the only person who could rescue them from their aggressors. Of course he obliged them but not before making a vow to God in exchange for His support first.
There are many points that we can deduce from the account above but we shall consider only a few of them in this write up.
1. Your personal or family history may work against you at some point. Jephthah was not responsible for his mother being a harlot but this historical fact worked hugely against him later in life. There are many people like Jephthah whose personal or family history is working against at the moment. If you are one of them, I bring good tidings to you. Be of good cheer because God is set to have mercy on you (1 Peter 2:10) and to deliver you from the burden of your unpleasant past. He did it for Jephthah and others before you and he will do it for you too in Jesus name. Amen.
2. Attention will be drawn to you one day and you will regain your position and your voice. At the appropriate time, God directed attention to Jephthah and he regained his position and his voice amongst his people. Irrespective of what your past history may be and irrespective of what you may be going through as a result, please don’t conclude yet that God has abandoned you. Those who are making your life difficult and making fun of you today will soon look for you whether they like it or not. However, be prepared to please God by having absolute faith in Him. Remember that without faith it is impossible to please God and that he rewards those who seeks him diligently (Hebrews 11:6). Not only that, even your enemies will be compelled to be at peace with you (Proverbs 16:7).
3. A vow to God may be necessary so as to achieve greatness in life. Jephthah made a vow to God to help him win the battle against the Amorites and He agreed. Sometimes you may have to make a vow to God if you want something spectacular from Him. This does not connote bribery at all; it only shows that you mean business. Hannah vowed to God and she had Samuel (1 Samuel 1:1-19). Many people in the bible and in this age and time also vowed to God at one time or the other and they had stunning miracles. Are you prepared to be great in life? If you do, then go ahead today and make a vow to God. Note that your vow does not have to involve human life as the case was with Jephthah. You may vow to serve God more, to praise Him more, to dance in His honour, to pay your tithes and offering as a matter of priority, to assist the needy and the poor steadfastly and to lead more people to Christ etc. However, you must not default in redeeming it (Ecclesiastes 5:4-5).
4. Victory will eventually come your way. Jephthah made a vow to God, fulfilled it (unfortunately with the life of his daughter), won the war against the Amorites and became the indisputable leader of his people. When you make a vow to God, He will give you victory over the particular situation for which the vow was made in the first place (Psalm 61:5).
Friend, remember that once a person is in God’s and by extension Christ’s plan, then his or her past will slide into irrelevance (2 Corinthians 5:17). Jephthah was harassed by his brethren on account of his mother’s past but because he was in God’s plan, they turned round and made him their leader. Fortunately, you are also in God’s plan therefore, your so called sordid past will no longer work against you therefore, you will be Celebrated and no longer Tolerated (Jeremiah 29:11 NIV) from this time forth in Jesus name. Amen.
Jesus is Lord!
Categories: Mind of Christ Tags: victory
Question and Answer Series (Part 3)
In February 2006 we commenced a Question and Answer Series through this medium and in April 2006 we considered part two (2) of it. Today, I am delighted to present the third part to you believing that you will find it helpful in Jesus name. The Questions and Answers are as follows:
1. Is God the maker of the world?
Yes he is! This we can defend by looking at issues from the basics. To begin with, it is a known fact nothing extraordinary occurs by accident and that everything in existence has a maker and a beginning. Therefore, our world cannot be an exception. It is an extraordinary entity and its intricate nature alone is enough to convince all skeptics that it did not come into existence by accident. It was carefully thought out and conscientiously put together by an ingenious creator. Great thinkers of old like Plato and Aristotle as well as credible scholars, outstanding leaders (Socio-Political, Economic, Spiritual et. al) and all serious minded people globally are united in their belief that this creator is God. They cannot all be wrong or stupid! Therefore nobody can blame us if we uphold their conviction. Lastly, the final authority on all issues is the Holy Bible and it confirms that God is the maker of the world (Genesis 1:1).
2. Is He powerful?
Yes He is and there are many cases in point that we can cite to prove it. For example, He used His breathtaking power to create the Heaven and Earth (Genesis 1:1), to destroy the Earth (Genesis Chapter 7), to divide the red sea into two through Moses (Exodus 14:21-22), to save Daniel from the den of Lions (Daniel 6:10-19), to deliver Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego from the burning fiery furnace (Daniel 3:19-25), to set Paul and Silas free from the prison (Acts 16:16-26) etc. He has the exclusive power to kill and to make alive (Deuteronomy 32:39) and the final say concerning all issues belongs to him (Lamentations 3:37). It is only a uniquely powerful person that can boast of this type of extraordinary credentials.
Let me quickly interject at this point that God has many power instruments that makes Him astonishingly powerful and one of them is His word (Hebrews 4:12). He wants us to be powerful too hence He gave us the bible which contains His word. Great Apostles like Paul, Peter and John as well as highly revered men and women of God of this era like Kenneth and Gloria Copeland, Kenneth Haggins, Oral Roberts, Benny Hinn, T.D Jakes, Paul Yonggi Cho, Benson Idahosa, Rebecca Brown, Paula White, Joyce Meyer, etc used and are still using the word of God in the name of Jesus to raise the dead, to heal the sick, to set the captives free, to restore sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf, speech to the dumb etc. Also, a huge number of individuals across the globe have severally attested to the efficacy of the word of God in their lives.
Friend, from all above and more outside the scope of this write up, it is evident that God is the maker of the world and that He is absolutely powerful. Finally, we know that one of His most effective power instruments is His word. If you want to obtain freedom from satanic oppression, depression, regression, repression, suppression, retrogression etc then, you must make the bible your inseparable companion. You must study it voraciously (a good daily devotional and other instructional materials such as Christian books, magazines, tapes, CDs, DVDs etc will be very useful here), ruminate over it, act it and declare it unambiguously against any nagging situation that is making it difficult for your life to flourish. The good news is that power will change hands in your favor and outstanding success will come your way (Joshua 1:8). So shall it be in Jesus name Amen.
Jesus is Lord!
Categories: Mind of Christ Tags: About God, God