HYMN- COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS

NOVEMBER  15^TH

TEXT: Psalm28:7; 68:19; 69:30, 31; James1:17

Memory Verse: Praise be to the God and father of our lord Jesus Christ, Who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. (Ephesians 1:3)

For the Christian, gratitude should be a life attitude.

"Count your blessings" was written by one of the prolific gospel song writers of the past century, a Methodist lay preacher named Johnson Oatman. In addition to his preaching and the writing of more than 5,000 hymn texts, Oatman was also a successful business man, engaged in a shipping business and in his later years as an administrator for a large insurance company in New Jersey.

It is good for each of us periodically to take time to rediscover the simple but profound truths expressed by Mr. Oatman in the four stanzas of this hymn. in the first two verses, he develops the thought that counting our blessings serves as an antidote for life's discouragements and in turn makes us victorious Christian living. The third stanza of this hymn teaches us that counting our blessings can be a means of placing material possessions in proper perspective when compared to the inheritance awaiting believers. Then as we review our individual blessings, we certainly would have to agree with Mr. Oatman's fourth verse the provision of God's help and comfort to the end of our earthly pilgrimage is one of our choicest blessings.

Each of us could spare ourselves much despair and inner tensions if we would only learn to apply the practical teaching of this hymn to our daily living.

           

When upon life's billows you are tempest tossed,

when you are discourage, thinking all is loosed,

count your many blessings-name them one by one,

and it will surprise you what the lord hath done.


Are you ever burdened with a load of care?

Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?

Count your many blessings-ev'ry doubt will fly,

and you will be singing as the days go by.


When you look at others with their lands and gold,

think that Christ has promised you his wealth untold;

count your many blessings-money cannot buy

your reward in heaven nor your home on high.


So amid the conflict, weather great or small,

do not be discouraged. God is over all;

count your many blessings- angels will attend,

help and comfort gives you to your journey's end.

           

CHORUS: count your blessings-name them one by one; count your blessings- see what God hath done.

ACTION POINT: Make a list of God’s blessings. Share this list with your friends and family. TAKEN FROM “AMAZING GRACE; 366 INSPIRING HYMN STORIES FOR DAILY DEVOTION”

THE WISDOM OF GOD (PART 3).

 NOVEMBER 14^TH

TEXT: 2 Kings 5:9-14, John 2:1-10.

TEXT: John 2:1-10, 2 Kings 5:9-14Amplified Bible (AMP)

⁹ So Naaman came with his horses and chariots and stopped at the entrance of Elisha’s house. ¹⁰ Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh will be restored to you and you will be clean.” ¹¹ But Naaman was furious and went away and said, “Indeed! I thought ‘He would at least come out to [see] me and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, and wave his hand over the place [of leprosy] and heal the leper.’ ¹² Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus [in Aram], better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?” So he turned and went away in a rage. ¹³ Then his servants approached and said to him, “My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more then, when he has said to you, ‘Wash, and be clean?’” ¹⁴ So he went down and plunged himself into the Jordan seven times, just as the man of God had said; and his flesh was restored like that of a little child and he was clean.

John 2:1-10Amplified Bible (AMP)

Miracle at Cana

2 On the third day there was a wedding at Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there; ² and both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. ³ When the wine was all gone, the mother of Jesus said to Him, “^[a]They have no more wine.” ⁴ Jesus said to her, “[Dear] woman, ^[b]what is that to you and to Me? My time [to act and to be revealed] has not yet come.” ⁵ His mother said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.” ⁶ Now there were six stone waterpots set there for the Jewish custom of purification (ceremonial washing), containing twenty or thirty gallons each. ⁷ Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the waterpots with water.” So they filled them up to the brim. ⁸ Then He said to them, “Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter [of the banquet].” So they took it to him. ⁹ And when the headwaiter tasted the water which had turned into wine, not knowing where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew) he called the bridegroom, ¹⁰ and said to him, “Everyone else serves his best wine first, and when people have ^[c]drunk freely, then he serves that which is not so good; but you have kept back the good wine until now.”

Life can be more interesting and easy if we would just let the Lord lead us unto glory. Often when the Lord is ushering many of us  into our moments of glory we find it difficult to obey because we believe we have better ideas. Mary the mother of Jesus was able to learn the wisdom in being foolish in her resolve to follow God early, that was why she told the servants, Whatever He ask you to do, just do it. Too many of us will not do just what is required of us, we think we are wiser, so we will wait to do it our own way and time.

Some others will edit the instruction to their own taste, but partial obedience is disobedience. This was what was responsible for the fall of the first king of Israel, Saul. If you don’t want to end up like Saul and his kind it will be wise for you to follow the seemingly foolish instructions of God and let Him decide what follows.

The glory in many lives have been cut short because too many of us are too smart. So many would have gone far in their progress in life but for their smartness. Beloved, humble yourself and see the glory of God transform your life from glory to glory. Shalom!

THE WISDOM OF GOD (PART 2)

NOVEMBER 13TH

TEXT: John 2:1-10, 2 Kings 5:9-14Amplified Bible (AMP)

9 So Naaman came with his horses and chariots and stopped at the entrance of Elisha’s house.

10 Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh will be restored to you and you will be clean.”

11 But Naaman was furious and went away and said, “Indeed! I thought ‘He would at least come out to [see] me and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, and wave his hand over the place [of leprosy] and heal the leper.’

12 Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus [in Aram], better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?” So he turned and went away in a rage.

13 Then his servants approached and said to him, “My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more then, when he has said to you, ‘Wash, and be clean?’”

14 So he went down and plunged himself into the Jordan seven times, just as the man of God had said; and his flesh was restored like that of a little child and he was clean.

No one walking by his own wisdom is able to produce any supernatural results. This is where the foolishness of God is greater and more impactful than the wisdom of man.

The reason why many are far from great supernatural manifestation is because they are only willing to obey instructions that make sense, but it is often those unreasonable leading that gives birth to uncommon results.

If Naaman had left in his anger when he was told to go over to the Jordan to wash seven times he would have missed his miracle. But for the intervention of one of his servants, his reasoning was about to cut short his miracle. He was in need of a serious miracle yet in his pride he was expecting the man of God to honour him by coming out to attend to him by waving his hand over him. When he got a simple instruction to go and wash he became offended. Again, in his pride he was offended that he was told to go and wash in a river that is not as clean as the once in Syria. It is amazing that people who are in need of serious help are the ones who want to tell you how you must get it done. If you are full of your own ways chances are that you will miss out in God’s agenda for your life. It is often those who think they are wise that end up showing how foolish their wisdom is. Humble yourself under the mighty hand of God and see the glory that will follow.  

 

THE WISDOM OF GOD (PART 1)

NOVEMBER 11TH

TEXT: 2 Kings 5:9-14Amplified Bible (AMP)

9 So Naaman came with his horses and chariots and stopped at the entrance of Elisha’s house. 

10 Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh will be restored to you and you will be clean.” 

11 But Naaman was furious and went away and said, “Indeed! I thought ‘He would at least come out to [see] me and stand and call on the name of the Lord his God, and wave his hand over the place [of leprosy] and heal the leper.’ 

12 Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus [in Aram], better than all the waters of Israel? Could I not wash in them and be clean?” So he turned and went away in a rage. 

13 Then his servants approached and said to him, “My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more then, when he has said to you, ‘Wash, and be clean?’” 

14 So he went down and plunged himself into the Jordan seven times, just as the man of God had said; and his flesh was restored like that of a little child and he was

Beloved, sometimes, in life we need to act as though we are foolish to be able to see the glory of God manifest in our lives. Some times we need the child-like trust to be able to see divine instructions become divine manifestation. At first this will look like a waste of time, but they often leads us into the fulfilment of our destiny. God is willing to settle your destiny and cause you to rise to a place of glory if you will be willing to leave your wisdom for that which looks foolish in your eyes.

It is my prayer that you begin to see His glory revealed in your life as you follow divine instructions. We have seen sickness and diseases healed in His presence as people follow simple instructions. When a divine word is given, grace is released to make the impossible become possible. Some times, people actually get their miracles as the act in obedience to the word of God. In the same meeting where some persons are waiting for the man of God to touch them some others are quick to follow simple instructions to walk not their blessings. Our text for today is a good example. Please don’t let your wisdom or pride cut you off from the glory of God. Do just what He ask you to do.

RESOLUTE IN STAYING RELEVANT (PART 2)

NOVEMBER 11TH


TEXT: John 15:1-5 King James Version (KJV)

15 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.

2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.

3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.

4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.


Some of us are not ready to commit ourselves to God, but He is saying if we will spend time in His presence, glory will rest upon us. If you will dedicate yourself to Him, darkness cannot manipulate you.

Someone is anointed because of the presence of God. The anointing of God upon him releases power on his word and when he speaks there is authority. The more time a man spends with God, the more of His presence rubs off on him. On the other hand, the less time you spend with Him, the more obscured his presence will become in your life and if you continue in your descent, you will begin to run on an empty tank. At such a time, you cannot function right; you begin to say things you should not say and do things you should not do. This person will soon become insensitive to God’s presence.

If you are to do things to manifest His power and glory, then you must have a consistently intimate relationship with the Lord that is continually on the increase. Don’t be satisfied with remaining at one level for so long, move on to higher dimension of walk with the Lord. When a man has this kind of walk with the Lord he can hear God any time anywhere and is able to know what to do because he is continually hearing from the Holy Spirit. It is not enough to hear the Holy Spirit in your prayer time, you should get to the place where you can boldly say He walks with me and talks with me. Our Lord Jesus was always in touch with the Father that is why He said, it is what I see my Father do that I do. He was able to successfully complete His assignment because He has an unbroken intimate relationship with the Father.

So many of us have lost that intimacy. After Moses left the tent of meeting, Joshua would stay behind, he did not leave and so when it was time for someone to take over from Moses, it was obvious it had to be Joshua. This year, the Lord is looking for those who will run continuously with the glory. Only those who have this kind of intimacy can testify of glory and rest. God is waiting for you.

RESOLUTE IN STAYING RELEVANT (PART 1)

NOVEMBER 10TH



TEXT: 1 Samuel 16:12-14 Amplified Bible (AMP)

David Anointed

12 So Jesse sent word and brought him in. Now he had a ruddy complexion, with beautiful eyes and a handsome appearance. The Lord said [to Samuel], “Arise, anoint him; for this is he.” 13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed David in the presence of his brothers; and the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that day forward. And Samuel arose and went to Ramah.

14 Now the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord tormented and terrified him.

When Samuel anointed David, the presence of the Lord came upon him from that day forward. At that same instance, the presence of the Lord departed from Saul. Sometimes we think God does not know what we are doing when we mess up and He forgives us again and again. We feel God understands that we want to serve Him but our flesh is weak, so we go into sin again and again. Just because you still have some elements of God’s grace upon your life does not mean God has permitted you to go on in sin. The truth is that such persons often gets to a point where the Lord will withdraw His hands from their lives as He did with Saul. Most of the time, when this happens, the fellow is unable to notice it and like Samson, they still be busy with activities but they are only running on a reserved tank.

Where are you in your walk with God?

Some people who have been rejected from reigning in life are still occupying a physical throne like King Saul. Even though he was still reigning as King, God had rejected him.

Many of the time, when a man is busy with his evil ways, in his thinking he says, God is merciful but what he very ignorant about is the fact that God is already working a plan B will take the place of the persons. May that not be your portion.

We must come acknowledge that we all do not have the same measure of grace and mercy. There is a measure of grace for each of us determined. When we keep messing up like King Saul did, the measure of grace upon our lives diminishes. But because we still have access to be part of the things of God, and think we are smart and that is when we dry up.

The journey of life is long and full of many danger, that’s why you need the glory, it will keep you going like fuel in your tank. Let God be glorified in your life

LIBERATE YOURSELF FROM A SLAVISH MENTALITY (PART 6)

NOVEMBER. 9TH


TEXT: Romans 8:14-19 Amplified Bible (AMP)

14 For all who are allowing themselves to be led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.

15 For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading again to fear [of God’s judgment], but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons [the Spirit producing sonship] by which we [joyfully] cry, “[a]Abba! Father!”

16 The Spirit Himself testifies and confirms together with our spirit [assuring us] that we [believers] are children of God.

17 And if [we are His] children, [then we are His] heirs also: heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ [sharing His spiritual blessing and inheritance], if indeed we share in His suffering so that we may also share in His glory.

18 For I consider [from the standpoint of faith] that the sufferings of the present life are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is about to be revealed to us and in us!

19 For [even the whole] creation [all nature] waits eagerly for the children of God to be revealed.

There is a limit to which the power of darkness can hold a man captive. The word of the Lord says, the entrance of the word gives light and understanding to the simple. When a man’s’ life is saturated with the word of God he becomes flooded with divine light and suddenly he will begin to conceive ideas that transform into liberating force to release him to a greater dimension of glory. What you carry on the inside determines how far you can go in life. When Mary got overshadowed by the power of the Most high, she became saturated with the glory of God.

The Scripture says as soon as Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the baby in her womb leaped for joy. Mary walked in loaded with the liberating power of God and the unborn John the Baptist felt the anointing.

No man becomes full with the presence of God and remains the same. At this time Mary was pregnant with Jesus, she was pregnant with the glory of God. If you are full of the glory, everything that comes out of you will become glorious. There is a glory on your inside waiting to be made manifest, your generation is waiting for you. If the Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, that same Spirit will quicken, empower your mortal body (Rom. 8:11).

If you have got the glory, then you are among the ones to write a new chapter in the history of your generation for the next five years and beyond. So do not write yourself off with a slavish mentality, your generation is waiting for your light. Rise up and make history. When the light of God’s glory is on you, people cannot ignore you anymore. It is your time and God is determined to do something awesome in your life. Ask the Lord for help and He will fill you with His glory.