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I am with you always
Song: 1. I will sing unto the Lord a joyful song, I wilt is over (2x) the dominion of Satan 2. I just want to be where you are, dwelling daily in your presence, I don’t want to worship from afar draw me near to where you are. 3. Bigger than all my problems bigger than everything, God is bigger than every mountain I can or cannot see. A. Introduction 12 And God said, "I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain." (Exodus 3:12). 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matthew 28:20). 5 No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." (Joshua 1:5, 9). You have every cause to thank the Lord for all his goodness towards you. Be like the only leper in Luke 17:11-19 that came back and thanked the Lord for his healing. B. Guard yourself against pollution Our society is in a state of moral decadence and decay; I mean absolute corruption. It is important you mind the type of relationship you keep. You’ve just got to pick and choose. You cannot follow the crowd to do evil. Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. 40With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation." (Acts 2:40). "Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong. When you give testimony in a lawsuit, do not pervert justice by siding with the crowd,” (Exodus 23:2). 9 How can a young man keep his way pure? 11 I have hidden your word in my heart “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;” (1 Corinthians 6:19). C. Fear and Reverence God The great British Prime Minister, W.E. Gladstone formerly instructor in Christ Church College told one of the students, ‘Yes, there is one thing which frightens me, it is that the fear of God seems to be dying out in the minds of man!’ In our materialistic and godless society, there is an urgent need to wake up to the fact that a nation is not made great by virtue of its wealth but by the wealth of its virtue. “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.” (Galatians 6:7). “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.” (Proverbs 14:34). Fear of God is not a negative feeling of being afraid to approach God. Fear of God brings knowledge. “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. (Proverbs 1:7). Fear of God brings wisdom. "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” (Proverbs 9:10). Fear of God brings health. 7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil. 8 This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones. (Proverbs 3:7-8). Fear of God brings prolonged life. “The fear of the LORD adds length to life, but the years of the wicked are cut short.” (Proverbs 10:27). Fear of God brings confidence. “He who fears the LORD has a secure fortress, and for his children it will be a refuge.” (Proverbs 14:26). Fear of God brings happiness. “Blessed is the man who always fears the LORD, but he who hardens his heart falls into trouble.” (Proverbs 28:14). Fear of God brings protection. The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them. Fear of God brings provision. “Fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him lack nothing.” (Psalm 34:9). “He provides food for those who fear him; he remembers his covenant forever.” (Psalm 111:5). So in summary, the fear of God must be seen wherever you go. D. Do not be afraid and avoid discouragement The bible however gives us good cause for hope. One of the most common phrases Jesus spoke throughout His ministry was, ‘Fear not’, or, ‘Do not be afraid’. In fact this phrase is repeated 365 times in the scripture – that is one for each day of the year. 31What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31). “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” (1 John 4:4). “You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.” (Isaiah 26:3). "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.” (John 14:1). Do Not Worry 25"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? 28"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matthew 6:25-34). 4Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. (Philippians 4:4-6). “For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favour lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning. (Psalm 30:5). "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." (Psalm 46:10). So you must fight on and you must persevere! ‘Too many failures are traced to lack of persistence and not lack of talent or ability.’ By Paul P. Parker E. Finding guidance in uncertainty Decision determines destiny. Decision marks the difference between a mediocre and an achiever. Submit your plans to God for scrutiny and guidance. “Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails.” (Proverbs 19:21). 9For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. 10And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, (Colossians 1:9-10). 'Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.' (Jeremiah 33:3). God bless you Evang. John B. Oseh |