Vessels of Praise II

READ: Luke 8: 1-3
MORE LESSONS: Mark Luke 21: 1-4
Bible Reading in One Year: Amos 7-9

We are considering being a vessel of praise and today we will see things that a man can do that will make him become a vessel of praise unto Jehovah. And it came to pass afterward, that He went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: AND THE TWELVE WERE WITH HIM, And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils, And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance: Lk. 8:1-3.

In the text, Jesus had twelve disciples who were with Him when He was preaching the good news. These disciples became vessels of praise simply by following Jesus around. Without these twelve the gospel wouldn't later have gone abroad. So a man can become a vessel of praise by giving his life time for God’s service.

Certain women that Jesus healed were also mentioned who were always ministering to Him. Some of these women’s names were mentioned, others were grouped as 'many others. . . .' but they all ministered to Jesus. You can become a vessel of praise by taking note of what is lacking in the lives of ministers of God and taking out of your substance to meet their needs When God blesses some believers they usually hide behind the pretext that,'There is nothing we can give to thank God enough', and they truly give nothing. That is no correct reasoning, As a vessel of praise you should give God what you have.

The widow in the Bible gave two mites, it was the least but that was her all and the best. What is left after you have given to God is what determines the quality of what you have given and whether it can be called your best or not. A vessel of praise will never come empty before God; he will always bring Him his best.

Another widow was the old prophetess Anna who was serving God with fasting and prayers.(Luke 2: 36-38)She was married for just seven years when she became a widow, probably without a child. But she stayed in the temple and worshiped God with fasting and prayers. She didn't give in to self-pity neither was she fasting for money, husband or children but rather she gave herself to worshiping God with fasting and prayer. That woman was a vessel of praise. With all the challenges you are facing in life, are you still worshiping God? This woman was an example of worship by fasting and prayer instead of fasting for needs. You can become a vessel of praise by creating time to fast and pray for God’s work and people. It is another form of worshipping God that brings praise to Him. I pray that you will be a great vessel of praise to God in Jesus' name.

Prayer / Action
* Help me oh Lord to ever give my best to You.
* Father, may the challenges of life never becloud my cheerful giving in Jesus' name.
* God gave you His best, what have you given Him thus far?

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Vessels of Praise I

READ: Lk. 11: 27-28
MORE LESSONS: Acts 3: 6-11
Bible Reading in One Year: Amos 4-6

A vessel of praise is one whose actions causes men to praise God. Jesus was a perfect example of a vessel of praise by His works and His words. In the main text, Jesus was teaching and doing miracles and a woman was so impressed that she could not but burst out saying; Blessed is the womb that bare thee… Lk. 11: 27. And it came to pass, as he spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked. But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it: Luke 11:27-28. Jesus by His work caused praises to go forth. There are also vessels of disgrace. When people repeatedly make negative statements to God and man because of your actions, you are a vessel of disgrace.
Children who are well taught but living contrary to the teaching and causing people to make negative remarks about their parents are vessels of disgrace. May you be a vessel of praise in Jesus’ name. You become a vessel of praise by providing solutions to problems.

If you solve problems anywhere you find yourself even when not called upon you will be remembered as a vessel of praise. Some people only cause problems anywhere they go making themselves so difficult to get along with. Such people will also be remembered for that. In life being a vessel of praise or of disgrace is a choice. Everyone will be remembered for something. The good that a man does will speak for him while he is alive and even after he is dead. In the same way there are those who will be remembered for the problems they caused.

Today I urge you to make the choice to be a vessel of praise- be the reason why somebody is happy and praising God every day from today. There is a reward for being vessels of praise.

The little boy whose lunch pack was used by Jesus to feed 5,000 people obviously has God’s reward and may be the owner of the 12 basket left over! Paul says: and let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not: Gal. 6:9. It is wonderful to be a tool of blessing. Jn. 6:9-11.

Prayer / Action
* Decide to always be a vessel of praise to your generation.
* Ask God for forgiveness in whatever way you were a vessel of disgrace.
* Make up your mind to solve problems of at least two people today.

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Bearing Fruits

READ: Gal. 5:13-26
MORE LESSONS: Matt. 7:15-20
Bible Reading in One Year: Amos 1-3

Every tree is known by its fruit, But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith: Gal. 5:22. A mango tree cannot produce an orange fruit nor can an orange tree produce a mango fruit, For every tree is known by his own fruit: Lk. 6:44a. The character and acts of a man will always tell who he is on the inside. The best way therefore to prove a man is by his works, deeds, words and behaviour. These tell who a man is because they are the fruits of a man's life. The proof of a believer is in his character.

One man of God once said, You cannot eat rice and vomit pounded yam. A good man cannot produce bad works nor can a bad man do good works. A believer will bring forth only godly acts proving who he is on the inside and a sinner will do sinful things naturally, Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit: Matt. 7:17. So don't expect good from a sinner no matter how pius and a believer should not have a reason for evil sinful acts under any circumstance.

What is the secret of righteous living? Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit: Matt. 12:33. Redemption by the blood of Jesus is the only way to plant a good tree in a man's life. With Jesus in a man's life, the tree is good and the life will be good. Any time the acts recorded in Gal. 5:19-21 are found in a believer's life, that believer has heard a word for such tree, Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire: Matt. 7:19. What type of tree are you and what fruit do you bear?

Prayer / Action
* Ask God to remove from you any character that is contrary to Jesus.
* Command every satanic tree in your life to catch fire.
* Receive grace for godly living.
Lay your hands on your head and begin to prophesy to your destiny to bear godly fruits from today on!

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Who is on the Lord's Side?

READ: Exo. 32:21-29
MORE LESSONS: I Jn. 2:15-17
Bible Reading in One Year: Joel 1-3

Joining the multitude to do evil is the in- thing in the world today and it has started spreading to the Church of God. Christians now do things without understanding and it does not bother them. The only explanation for the type of dressing and the type of words and language that a lot of Christians use today is simply that is what everybody is doing. Everybody wants to do popular things but Jesus warns, …for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Matt. 7:13.

A true child of God should not follow the multitude to do evil. The believer should be the example that people of the world are copying not the other way round. In my early Christian days, it was not difficult to differentiate a Christian sister from the worldly ladies but today, all that has changed. Church music and the worldly one are also hard to differentiate, not to talk of the dance. I don't know how Jesus feels in Heaven right now, especially each time He looks down to see His Church; the Church He sacrificed so much to purchase.

When Israel messed up in the wilderness by making a molten calf to replace Moses and God because Moses delayed in coming back from the presence of God, Moses’ only call to them was; …Who is on the LORD'S side?.... Exo. 32:26. God is asking the Church the same question today, Who is on the Lord's side? Who is going to forsake the multitude even if alone and walk the pathway of consecration (Exo. 32:29)? Who will deny the crowd, the broad way and follow the Lord in the unpopular, lonely way of consecration? Who will declare like Daniel, others may, I shall not. Both the pew and the pulpit must cry to God for forgiveness and ask for God's grace to return to the Lord's side of being the example to the world and not being influenced by the world.

Prayer / Action
* Ask the Lord to purge you of anything you might have copied from the world
* Declare war against every form of worldliness in your life.
* Tell the devil you are on the Lord's side
Find a hymn book before the close of today and locate the hymn "The Old Rugged Cross". sing it and pray it.

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