Worship Exhortations

My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me (2 Corinthians 12:9).

orgiveness, salvation and holy calling through the grace of God: The Lord extended His grace so as to enable us to manifest the truth in our day to day lives. We are strengthened when we are weak in flesh. The sufficient grace is helping is until our last day upon this earth. What work the grace of God has done in our lives?

First of all, we have the forgiveness of our sins because of the riches of the grace of God (Ephesians 1:7) – Our sins are forgiven by the blood of Lord Jesus Christ. The blood of Christ is blameless and holy. Today, let us worship the Lord for the forgiveness of the sins that we have received through the grace of God.

In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace (Ephesians 1:7). 

Secondly we are saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8) – We are saved not by works but by the grace of God. When someone preached the gospel to us, the faith has started in us by the Lord. By believing in Jesus the work of faith started in us (Ephesians 2:4-5). This is the work of grace – when we are saved, our sins are forgiven and we are justified (Romans 1:17).

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God (Ephesians 2:8).

Thirdly, we received a holy calling by the grace of God (2 Timothy 1:9) – God called us with and holy calling with full love and whole heatedly unlike the calling of a man. We do not deserve such a calling from the Lord. But God called us in to His kingdom, in to His pavilion.

Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began (2 Timothy 1:9). 

-DSN

Table Exhortations

 …But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price… (1 Peter 3:1-8).

amily life and Church life: All those who have believed in Jesus Christ have the new birth (born-again). And every born-again person has a hidden man within, created after the nature of Lord Jesus Christ. The beauty of that man is of grate price or value in the sight of the Lord. That hidden man should have meekness and quite spirit as ornaments. Those who have believed in Jesus Christ, do not have the new birth and therefore do not have the relation with God. Believe in Jesus Christ you will be saved.

We have been considering that the Satan is attacking the two institutions – family and the Church. Let us consider the seriousness of the attack of the Devil and let us encourage ourselves to have a proper family and church life.

amily life – In 1 Peter 3:1-8, Peter writes to husbands and wives to lead a model life. In this portion of the Scriptures, we have a wonderful example of successful married life, that is the Family of Abraham and Sarah – truly father and mother of many nations.

For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands: Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement (1 Peter 3:5-6).

When the Lord called Abraham to leave a famous city Ur to go to place that he would show to him, Sarah followed him without questioning! It appears that she had threefold character (1 Peter 3:5-6) – i) trusted in God, ii) adorned herself with meekness and quite spirit and iii) subjected herself to Abraham. Abraham and Sarah never has a proper house to live in throughout their lives (journey). Moreover, they had to go through toughest life’s problems – Sarah was taken by Pharaoh (in Egypt, Genesis 12: 14-15) and by Abimelech in Gerar (Genesis 20:1-8). There were many more such challenges that they faced in the journey of obedience to God. But Abraham and Sarah stood out as the finest example of a family.

Likewise, ye husbands, 1dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered (1 Peter 3:7).

Abraham also, as it is implied in 1 Peter 3:7, possessed three great qualities. Among them is the life of prayer. Where ever Abraham pitched a tent there he reared an altar also (Genesis 12:8 and Genesis 13:18). Abraham was a man of prayer (Genesis 18) and his prayer life has influenced the entire household of Abraham (for example, Eleazar – Genesis 24). Abraham was commended by the Lord that he will command his children to follow the way of the Lord (Genesis 18: 19). May we learn many lessons from Abraham and Sarah?

hurch life: In contrast to the family Abraham and Sarah, Lot and his family were not an encouraging family. They chose to live in Sodom and Gomorroh the places where much sin prevailed. They had everything but an Altar. They did not live for the Lord nor raised their children for the Lord. It appears that we are also likewise want to provide everything to our children except the Lord. The two daughters of Lot had no fear of God. Through them only the sinful Ammonites and Moabites have come. The Holy Bible warns us –  Remember Lot’s wife (Luke 17:32)! What a contrast between Sarah and Lot’s wife! Tent and Altar speaks of Abraham and Sarah family – a miniature church. Bring the children to the house of God. Teach them the word of God as the Lord told us in Deuteronomy 6. There are two Psalms (Psalm 127 and Psalm 128) that connects a family and church. The Lord may teach us about the family and church life through these Psalms also.

 The LORD shall bless thee out of Zion: and thou shalt see the good of Jerusalem all the days of thy life.
Yea, thou shalt see thy children’s children, and peace upon Israel. Psalms 128:5-6

Let there be peace upon New Jerusalem and New Israel also!

-KIT