The Ten Commandments

Friday 7 October
READ: Exo. 20: 1-17
MORE LESSON: Rom. 13: 9 -10

The Ten Commandments is not outlawed in the New Testament. We must still obey the principles of the laws of God to inherit eternal life. A young man approached Jesus in Lk. 18:18-20 and asked what he needed to do to inherit eternal life and the Lord told him first to keep the Ten Commandments. This shows that the Lord wants us to keep the Ten Commandments. What should be taken to notice is the response the man gave; he said, All these have I kept from my youth up: Luke 18:21. He said he had kept the Ten Commandments for years and Jesus didn't rebuke him that he was lying so it means that he wasn't. Therefore, any man that says it is impossible to keep the commandments is not serious. If a man who didn't have the Holy Spirit could keep the Ten Commandments, then you can.

The basic rules of God in the Ten Commandments include the following:
1. You must know God and recognise Him as God. This means accepting Jesus as Lord in this dispensation.
2. You must not have another god or worship any idol. Whether tangible or intangible, nothing should take the place of God in your heart.
3. You must not use the name of the Lord in vain. Do not dishonor the name of the Lord.
4. You must also honour the Lord's day and give God your time in fellowship. The basic principle of Sabbath is that you cannot use all the time, days, weeks, months and years of your life as if they were yours. Set apart God's time for Him.
5. Honour your father and your mother.
6. You shall not kill.
7. You shall not commit adultery.
8. You shall not steal.
9. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour.
10. You shall not covet your neighbour's property or anything that belongs to another.

Now in the New Testament, the Lord has even made it easier to fulfil God's laws. He has put His laws in our hearts and not in tablets of stone (Heb 8: 10). Also, all the commandments have been summarised into two by the Lord. Jesus said, ...Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, ...Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. Matt 22:37-40.
The Lord has put His Spirit in you so that you can walk in His commandments. Today, receive the grace to live in obedience to the commandments of the Lord, in Jesus’ name.

Prayer/Action
* Holy Spirit, help me today to be obedient to Your instruction.
* I cast out every rebellious spirit in me by fire.
* I receive grace to do the will of God everyday, in Jesus’ name.

TODAY'S PROPHETIC PRAYER
Father, this month, let the angels of settlement and compensation visit my life, in the name of Jesus.