Following Instructions

Text: Exo.26:15-25
More Lessons: I Sam. 15:22-23
Bible Reading in One Year: 1Sam.17-20

Orders, directives, guidance, facts and figures are some ways by which instructions are passed from one person to another. Instructions are vital to human existence for when all else fail, read the instructions. Where there are no instructions, error, mistakes, and abuses are inevitable. God has given many instructions- to love, to be kind, to obey parents, to respect authority and to go into all the world with His gospel. Are we following His instructions? To the people of Israel for making the tabernacle, he gave instructions in great details so there would be no mistake. What would have happened if one member of the working team said “forget it, I know a short cut?” then all would have ended in vain. I once heard a man of God say “take every instruction as prescription.” If life will not be struggle without harvest, we must obey God's instructions no matter how we feel.

In life there are many instructions to keep and many people to obey;
1. We must obey the Lord in all things Exo. 19:5, Deut 13:4.
2. Children must obey the instructions of their parents Eph. 6:1, Col.3:23.
3. The laws of the land must be obeyed by the citizens Titus 3:1.
4. People in authority must be obeyed Heb.13:17.
5. Wives must obey the instructions of their husbands I Pet.3:1.
6. And when it comes to clashes of instructions between man and God, we must obey the Lord Acts 5:29.
7. The instructions of the servants of the Lord must be obeyed II Thes.3:14

The Bible is a book containing many instructions of life. Each day we open it to read we are taking instructions from God. And it is wisdom if we obey. Isa.1:19-20

Prayer/Action
* Lord Jesus, give me the heart of flesh to obey you in all things.
* I receive the grace to obey the instructions of the Lord as a command all the days of my life.
* I will follow the commandments of the Lord no matter how difficult it is in Jesus’ name.

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God Cares

Text: Psa. 34:15-22
More Lessons: Job 36:5-12
Bible Reading in One Year: 1Sam.14-16

Our text today is the answer to one of the greatest questions we are confronted with today. Our God is Jehovah the breasted One; ever ready to help all those who come to Him. If you want to know whether someone cares about you or not check whether he often offers you a listening ear, a helping hand, and encourages you when you are downcast. These are the things the Lord does in the life of His children and much more.

Sometimes you hear people say “no one will ever know how I feel, and no one seems to care” David had a similar experience of abandonment by his friends and alies. However, understanding the God in whom he trusted, David later said God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Psa.46:1. How comforting it is when we are in trouble to know that God cares. The Lord is always near but especially tender with us when we are broken-hearted. No situation is too difficult for God to handle and he is ever willing to help His own. I Pet. 5:7 says Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

To receive constant care from the Lord we must learn to call upon Him in prayer and live in His presence daily. Thereafter, He will command people to bring succor and care to you in any situation.

Moreover as a child of God, if you are in any need, feel free to talk to other children of God about it. God can use them to meet your need and He will, in Jesus' name. Many a times children of God languish in their troubles because they listen to the enemy. Satan can say “Don't tell anybody, they will not help you.” All these are Satan's gimmicks to keep you in trouble perpetually. Break the chain today and be free forever. God cares for you and so do other children of His.

Prayer/Action
* Father, help me to always remember that you care for me.
* I receive the grace to give and receive care from others.

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It is What is Inside

Text: I Sam. 16:1-7
More Lessons: Jer. 4:14
Bible Reading in One Year: 1 Sam.11-13

Appearance, personality, beauty, cleanliness are all important but as important as they are, they cannot be the most vital things in your life. Your life is more than your face and how you appear. Our text today brings out the vital part of man; the heart, that is the source of everything in man. The way a man appears, dresses, talks and walks is a reflection of the state of his heart. Verse 7 of our text makes us to understand that God looks at man from inside out. For us to please the Lord we must handle our heart correctly. For example, Prov.4:23 says Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. it is never a thing to play with ...for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. Matt 12:34. When wisdom entereth into thine heart... Prov. 2:10. We need a heart that knows wisdom because a heart full of wisdom is a tree of life; everyone can feed from it. Wisdom is a principal thing.

The way man looks at another man's face to judge him is the way God looks at man's heart to discern him. When God wanted to choose a king, He looked for someone with the right attitude- David. And when God gave Samuel instruction for finding the king He said ...Look not on his countenance,…:vs7. While it is good to take care of ourselves in the area of cleanliness and attractiveness and in using the personality that God has given us, these should not take top billing. Neither should they be the basis for choosing friends, marriage partner, as some people do. It is not what is on the outside that makes the person it's his or her attitude.

Check your heart, not just your appearance. How beautiful and colourful are you on the inside? Is it clean enough for the King of kings to be resident there? Hear the admonition of the Lord on how you can become clean: Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. Isaiah 1:16-18

Prayer/Action
* I subject my heart to the cleansing power in the blood of the Lamb.
* Father, help me to put more emphasis on the beauty of the spirit more than that of the body.
* I receive a heart that is well pleasing unto the Lord.

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Nineveh

Text: Jonah 4:1-3
More Lessons: Psa.94:1-3, 22-23 Bible Reading in One Year: 1Sam.8-10

Nineveh was a city built by Asshur after the flood of Noah. It was the capital of Assyria, situated on the river Tigris and was first called Nina. And to this city was Jonah the prophet sent. And as a prophet, Jonah was obviously in close communication with God. Yet when God told him to go to Nineveh to preach, Jonah was scared. Nineveh then was the capital of Assyria and was known for its wickedness. Jonah was afraid for his life and for his nation because he was likely thinking, ‘if they believed what I preach, God might save their nation, then they might in turn conquer His nation Israel’. So, he refused to go and paid to go down to Joppa. And to confirm that Jonah knew God so well, God forgave the nation and Jonah became angry. He didn't have the faith to leave the situation in God's hands.
Do you have faith to trust the Lord even when everything goes wrong? Dearly beloved, we must allow God to have His way in our life. He is all knowing and good. We must trust God's judgment. God asked Jonah a great question in the last verse (v11) And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle? All things and people belong to God, including your enemy. It is always better to allow God to deal with our enemies rather than taking over.
Our God is the Lord of Hosts. Let Him take over the battle and you will surely be victorious in Jesus. You must know that the devil is your only enemy although he specialises in using the ignorant humans to achieve his purpose. Let's face the enemy in battle and he will flee in Jesus' name. Read the following scriptures: Exo.14:25, Deut.1:30, II Chron.32:8

Prayer/Action
* Come against every work of the enemy in your life that will not allow you to always obey God.
* Ask the lord of Hosts to fight the battles of your life.
* Declare yourself victorious and more than a conqueror in Jesus' name.

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