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By Their Actions They Deny Him - Praise & Pray (for others) April 23, 2024

Imagine two young girls - Sade and Jenny. Sade is new to the neighborhood and Jenny takes it upon herself to welcome her. They become fast friends over the summer break, going to the mall together, having sleepovers, and staying up late to watch cheesy 80s movies.


Summer comes to an end and the first day of school arrives. Sade somehow spends lunch with the popular girls, ignoring Jenny. This hurts Jenny deeply as she'd looked forward to hanging out with her new bestie. The weeks go by and the friendship they had evaporates almost as if it never existed.


As Christians, we don't realize how easy it is to be a 'Sade' when it comes to our relationship with the Lord. Keep in mind the word as stated in Titus 1:16 - They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good. Could you fall under this category? A person whose actions deny the God they claim to know?


It is not enough to proclaim that we know or love the Lord. Many of us do this on our social media handles, for instance. Calling ourselves Proverbs 31 women or distinguishing ourselves with some scripture or another. However, does our behavior reflect a knowledge of the Lord? Do the choices we make display the fruits of the Spirit? Can others look at us and see God at work?


Or, do we deny God through our actions? Do we fail to reflect our Kingdom Identities? Do we neglect our call to be ambassadors for the Kingdom through the things we say and do when we think nobody is watching?


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We don't want to be like those who say they are Christians but don't live like it. They don't allow the Holy Spirit to change them and thereby squander the grace that is available to them. It doesn't matter if you're the first one at church and the last one out if you are always fighting with your neighbors. And if you don't pull your weight at work but claim to believe in Christ, you jeopardize your role as an ambassador of God's Kingdom and put Him to shame.


Peter made the mistake of denying Christ. He did so three times, pretending that he never knew the Savior (John 18:15-18; 25-27). Praise God that upon His resurrection, Jesus redeemed Peter by having him acknowledge his love for Him three times (John 21:15-25).


Christ wants to do the same for anyone who has denied God through their behavior. Have you denied God through disbelief? Or maybe you've spoken falsely about Him? Have you forgotten to represent the Kingdom in a heated moment and lashed out in a way that wouldn't please the Lord? Whatever the shortcoming was, the Son of God is ready to wash us clean and set us on the right path so we walk stronger and able to resist the tactics satan has used to make us fall short in the past.


If you are unsure how you have denied the Lord through your actions, prayerfully ask Him to reveal this to you. Then beg for His forgiveness and repent, choosing to not repeat the misstep. God is in the business of helping all who cry out to Him (Joel 2:32). You are no different, so cry out to Him for mercy. Remember that Titus 1:16 speaks of those who deny God as being "detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good." We never want to be in that category and must be mindful that satan lays traps to ensnare God's children. But God's grace will help us. His mercy shall speak for us. And as we strive to be consistent in what we proclaim about God and how we behave when others aren't necessarily watching, He will help us to be consistent and pleasing to Him.

 
 
 

Holding On To The Promise - Friday Praise & Pray (for others) April 19, 2024

Is there a promise from the Lord that you've been waiting on? How long has the wait been? A year? Three? Five? Ten years?


God works in mysterious ways; one such mystery is that He makes His people wait for things. Abraham waited for the birth of his son Isaac. David waited - while fleeing from his murderous predecessor - to become king. Hannah waited - and was taunted as barren - before giving birth to Samuel. Even Jesus had to wait 30 years to mature physically before He started his earthly ministry.


Many will testify that the waiting period can be very emotional. One moment a person is filled with faith and committed to be patient for the long haul. The next, they are overcome with disappointment and sadness. Alas, both are arguably two sides of the same waiting-on-God coin.


When disappointment and sadness are the prevalent emotions, however, it is easy to give up and erroneously choose to walk away from the promise. In that moment a person might believe that since it has taken so long, the promise will never come to pass.


There is another flawed choice a person can make. It might even seem pious at first but it is a dangerous way of thinking that stems from the very pit of hell. A person could be inclined to think, "I've waited a long time and had my heart hurt. Maybe I should just focus on serving God and not think about the things he said he wants to give me."


This attitude appears sensible. We think if we just focus on God we won't feel the sting of disappointment that comes each season or year that passes without the promise in hand.


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​However, that's not the attitude God wants us to have. He tells us His plans and promises so we keep our attention on Him. Knowing God's plans empowers us to hold onto our faith and war for what is to come (1 Timothy 1:18-19). When a person opts to ignore or forget the promises, they are at risk of losing their fervor and zeal for the Lord. They can become a person who goes through the motions but doesn't, at the very heart of things, believe in or belong to God anymore. They are also at risk of missing the day of prosperity when it arrives (Jeremiah 17:6). All because such a person is easy prey for the devil's lie that the promise will never come.


And so as the years go by, that promise will seem further and further away. The person will then stop pursuing the issue in prayer. and no longer pine for it. And as satan convinces them one promise isn't forthcoming, they will become convinced that others will never be fulfilled. They will stop looking to God to make things happen in their life. They will start relying more on human beings, themselves included, to achieve their self-motivated desires and dreams. The result is a curse per Jeremiah 17:5 - This is what the LORD says: “Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who draws strength from mere flesh and whose heart turns away from the LORD.


None of us should fall for the lie that God's promise won't happen or that if it were to happen, it would have already. We need to pray and praise the Lord for what He has coming for us. It could be a personal promise that He's given or a blessing contained in the Bible. Whatever it is and however we lay our hands on it, we must not let go. We are told in 2 Peter 1:19 - We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. We each have to keep holding on to the promise, remembering that He who committed is able. We serve the God of Covenant (Deuteronomy 7:9). He will keep His word because He is faithful and cannot deny Himself (2 Timothy 2:13). All we need to do is meet His conditions, obey His instructions, and wait. His promise will surely come at the right time.



Come on back at Noon EST to worship and intercede with prayer for others. God bless you!





If you are waiting on the promises of the Lord, please read the following and be encouraged:



 
 
 
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