OUR FATHER WHO GIVES WISDOM TO THOSE WHO ASK

Solomon, the king of Israel, having inherited the throne of his father David as a young man, asked God for wisdom to help him govern the kingdom and he was granted a great endowment of wisdom by the Lord.  

With this wisdom, King Solomon undertook to find the meaning of life and he endeavored to see if any good could be found in pleasure but he was disappointed because he found that all pleasures were meaningless.

Starting with comedy, he concluded that laughter was madness  and when he tried drinking wine and pursuing folly, he did not find happiness.

He searched for pleasure by engaging in huge projects: He built houses, great gardens and water reservoirs. 

He acquired many slaves and owned huge flocks of cattle as he sought pleasure and meaning in material accumulation. 

He then put together a band of musical entertainers as well as a harem of women to seek pleasure in the things that delight men.

Ecclesiates chapter 2 verses 9 - 10 gives a progress update of his pursuit of pleasure;

I became greater by far than anyone in Jerusalem before me. In all this my wisdom stayed with me.

I denied myself nothing my eyes desired;  I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my labor, and this was the reward for all my toil.

This passage describes the limitless search that Solomon, as the king of Israel, conducted in his pursuit of meaning.

While still seeing things from a vantage point of wisdom, he attained social, political and economic supremacy in Jerusalem. Finding no meaning in status, he plunged himself into the desires of the flesh denying himself nothing that his eyes or his heart fancied.

He then searched for pleasure in his own toil to see if he could produce work that would reward him with satisfaction but when he stopped to assess if there was anything of value that had come from his pursuits, he concluded that  everything was vaporous and pointless. Ecclesiastes chapter 2 verse 11 says it this way;

Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind;  nothing was gained under the sun.

13

OUR FATHER WHOSE MYSTERIES ARE MADE KNOWN TO US BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD

1 Corinthians chapter 2 verse 10 says this;

 these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit.

The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 

Paul the apostle, writing to the Corinthians, tells them that the  Spirit of God had revealed to them the great mysteries written of in Isaiah chapter 64 verse 4 saying;

“What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived”—the things God has prepared for those who love him

These mysteries were hidden so effectively that the rulers of this world did not comprehend what was underway and they put Jesus to death. If they had been able to decipher the encrypted plan of salvation, they would not have crucified the king of glory.

However, the Spirit of God was able to reveal these deep mysteries to believers because the Spirit searches the deep things of God and just as the spirit of a man is the one who knows the mind of the man, the Spirit of God knows the thoughts of God.

The great mysteries of God are revealed through the Spirit of God to us who believe and we are able to comprehend these mysteries by the Spirit even though they are but foolishness to those without the Spirit.

Amen.

31

OUR FATHER WHO RESPONDS STRONGLY TO FAITH

A centurion, an officer in the Roman army who would have commanded about a hundred men, had a servant whom he valued highly who got deathly sick.

The centurion had heard about Jesus and so he urgently sent his Jewish contacts to give a message to Jesus to come and heal his servant.

The Jewish envoys reached Jesus and implored Him to help the centurion's servant because the centurion was a strong supporter of Israel and had built the local synagogue.

Jesus went with them and they were about to get to the house when the centurion sent another message via his friends as captured in Luke chapter 7 verses 6 - 8;

 “Lord, don’t trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof.  That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

Luke chapter 7 verses 9 - 10 records Jesus' response to the centurion's word's;

When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, “I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel.” Then the men who had been sent returned to the house and found the servant well.

The Lord Jesus was deeply moved upon hearing the centurion's discourse on the nature of authority and his deduction that Jesus' miraculous power worked on the same principle.

Jesus, speaking to the crowd, said that even in Israel, He had not encountered the level of faith demonstrated by the centurion.

The centurion understood that supernatural power, being a function of spiritual authority, did not need the physical presence of Jesus to be carried out.

His message to the Lord was,  "say the word, and my servant will be healed." He was humble before the Lord but he also knew that the issuance of the word by a person under authority and carrying authority was enough for the word to be obeyed in the spirit so that the healing miracle was carried out.

The centurion's servant was healed by the great faith of the centurion without Jesus being present.

Amen.

36

OUR FATHER ESTABLISHED A NEW COVENANT

Hebrews chapter 8 verse 13 says this;

By calling this covenant “new,” he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and outdated will soon disappear.

The writer of the book of Hebrews discusses the ministry of the high priests who made various offerings to God and  compares their ministry  with the ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The first covenant which was served by the priests making offerings in an earthly tabernacle was going to replaced by  a new covenant because God found fault with the people who lived under the first covenant.

As Hebrews chapter 8 verses 7 - 8 says ( quoting the book of Jeremiah chapter 31 verse 31) ;

For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another. But God found fault with the people and said:

“The days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and with the people of Judah.

Here, the Lord announced the imminence of a new covenant with His people.

The new covenant is mediated by the Lord Jesus Christ as the High Priest who offers a superior sacrifice in heaven and it is a superior covenant because it is established on better promises.

In Hebrews chapter 8 verses 10 - 12, the new covenant, joined into by faith in the Lord Jesus as saviour, has these features that makes it better and that made the old one obsolete;

• God put His laws in our minds 
• God wrote His Laws on our hearts
• God adopted us as His people
• God's people will know Him directly
• God will be known by the greatest to the least
• God will forgive our wickedness
• God will remember our sins no more

Amen.

46

OUR FATHER WHO JUDGES IDOLATRY

Jeremiah chapter 19 verse 41 14 says this;

Jeremiah then returned from Topheth, where the Lord had sent him to prophesy, and stood in the court of the Lord’s temple and said to all the people,

The  prophet Jeremiah returned to Jereusalem from Topheth where he had been sent by the Lord. 

Topheth, located just south of Jerusalem,  was a type or shadow of hell where dead bodies were disposed of and burned and the place represented defilement by idolatry and death.

The cities of Judah including Jerusalem had become like Topheth because they worshipped Baal and sacrificed their children in fire.

Because of this and because they would not heed the words of the Lord, Jeremiah spoke the prophecy of judgment and destruction over the cities.

Amen.

15

OUR FATHER WHO CONQUERS THEN SAVES THE EGYPTIANS 

Isaiah chapter 19 verse 17 says this;

And the land of Judah will bring terror to the Egyptians; everyone to whom Judah is mentioned will be terrified, because of what the Lord Almighty is planning against them.

This verse reveals a reversal of fortune that the Lord orchestrates.

Egypt, with her systems of worldly governance and her idols are enemies of the people of Judah who are God's people.

God's people will gain preeminence over those who threaten them because of the Lord Almighty. The land of Egypt will greatly fear Him because they will be aware of the judgment that is aimed at them.

Under the authority of the Lord, Egypt will capitulate and they will accept the governance of the Lord. The Egyptians will be saved from their oppressors and they will be healed by the Lord.

The manifold wisdom and kindness of the Lord is demonstrated towards all people .

Amen.

11

OUR FATHER WHOM JESUS CALLED WHEN IN DISTRESS

Psalm 17 verses 1 - 5 says this;

Hear me, Lord, my plea is just; listen to my cry. Hear my prayer—it does not rise from deceitful lips.

Let my vindication come from you; may your eyes see what is right.

Though you probe my heart, though you examine me at night and test me, you will find that I have planned no evil; my mouth has not transgressed.

Though people tried to bribe me, I have kept myself from the ways of the violent through what your lips have commanded.

My steps have held to your paths; my feet have not stumbled.

This passage captures the prayers of Jesus as He went through the ordeal of being arrested, being put on trial for His life and being crucified.

Jesus speaks to His Father to ask Him to hear His plea for vindication. He asserts that His lips are not deceitful even as He asks God to examine Him and test Him. Jesus tells His Father that even under scrutiny, no evil plan or verbal transgression would be discovered.

The Lord Jesus, under pressure, had people trying to bribe Him into deviating from what His Father had commanded but Jesus was steadfast and His steps stayed on the path set for Him and did not stumble even once.

In verses 11 - 12, Jesus prayed to God as His enemies searched for Him even to the garden of Gethsemane and they surrounded Him like ferocious animals.

They have tracked me down, they now surround me, with eyes alert, to throw me to the ground.

They are like a lion hungry for prey,  like a fierce lion crouching in cover.

Facing imminent death, Jesus stayed steadfast and declared that even though He would go through the trials and the sentence of death, He would be vindicated and when He awoke He would see His Father's face.  Verse 15 says it this way;

As for me, I will be vindicated and will see your face; when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness.

Bless the Lord who loved us so much that He, even though perfectly sinless, endured the bitterness of the cross to save us.

Amen.

20

OUR FATHER WHO LOVES JUSTICE

Psalm 11 reads this way;

In the Lord I take refuge. How then can you say to me: “Flee like a bird to your mountain.

For look, the wicked bend their bows; they set their arrows against the strings to shoot from the shadows at the upright in heart.

When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?”

The Lord is in his holy temple; the Lord is on his heavenly throne. He observes everyone on earth; his eyes examine them.

The Lord examines the righteous, but the wicked, those who love violence, he hates with a passion.

On the wicked he will rain fiery coals and burning sulfur; a scorching wind will be their lot.

For the Lord is righteous, he loves justice; the upright will see his face.

This Psalm speaks of a time of complete societal breakdown.

During such times, the psalmist declares that the Lord is His refuge and therefore he spurns the advise he is given to flee to the mountains.  But as he looks around, he sees that  the righteous are hunted and persecuted by the wicked. The foundations of human life itself are being destroyed and he is at a loss of what to do.

Gaining perspective, he remembers that the Lord is in His holy temple.

From His throne, the Lord sees and studies everyone. He examines the righteous but the wicked who love violence, He hates passionately.

The Lord visits a fiery retribution on those who carry out violent wickedness on people..

The Lord is righteous and loves justice.

The upright will see His face.

24

OUR FATHER WHO IS MIGHTY, FAITHFUL AND JUST

Psalm 89 verses  1 - 10 reads this way;

I will sing of the Lord’s great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations.

I will declare that your love stands firm forever, that you have established your faithfulness in heaven itself.

You said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to David my servant,

‘I will establish your line forever and make your throne firm through all generations.’”

The heavens praise your wonders, Lord, your faithfulness too, in the assembly of the holy ones.

For who in the skies above can compare with the Lord? Who is like the Lord among the heavenly beings?

In the council of the holy ones God is greatly feared; he is more awesome than all who surround him.

Who is like you, Lord God Almighty? You, Lord, are mighty, and your faithfulness surrounds you.

You rule over the surging sea; when its waves mount up, you still them.

You crushed Rahab like one of the slain; with your strong arm you scattered your enemies.

You rule over the surging sea

You command the waves

Among those who in heaven be

You are the One who saves

I will sing of the Lord's love forever

And make Your faithfulness known

Lord, the heavens praise your wonders

Righteous and just is Your  throne

Amen.

12

Song only

OUR FATHER WELCOMES HIS SON'S BRIDE

From Psalm 45

Your throne, O God, will last for ever

Your kingdom in glory where justice is Your  scepter 

And at your right hand is the royal bride

All glorious is the princess bride 

Her  gown interwoven with gold

Let the king be enthralled by your beauty;

Honor Him, for He is your lord.

Enter with joy  Enter with gladness

Enter the palace of the King

In the land Your sons will be princes 

Therefore the nations will ever sing 

10

OUR FATHER WHO IS MINDFUL OF MAN

In the book of Hebrews chapter 2 verses 3 - 5, the author, speaking of the fact that the messages brought by angels were binding on those who heard them, asks the question that if a message of salvation was brought by the Lord Himself;

...how shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation? 

The writer continues;

This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.

It is not to angels that he has subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking. But there is a place where someone has testified:

“What is mankind that you are mindful of them,  a son of man that you care for him?

This passage exposits the extreme gravity of the project undertaken by God to redeem mankind.

The message was delivered by the Lord Himself to the human race and confirmed by those who heard Him and this message was attested to by the working of signs, wonders and miracles as well as by the spiritual gifts that  the Holy Spirit distributed among those He chose to continue attesting to the message as it was broadcast to all the nations.

The writer makes it clear that the whole enterprise of salvation was carefully executed to redeem mankind and it will be under them that the world to come will be subject.

Quoting Psalm 8 verse 4, the great mystery of the age is asked;

“What is mankind that you are mindful of them,  a son of man that you care for him?

Man, made in the image of God, holds the attention of God who had a destiny for them and this moved Him to mercy and to action to save them whom He fashioned after Himself and are His children.

Amen.

43

OUR FATHER WHOSE HEAVENLY WISDOM GUIDES US TO HUMILITY AND SELFLESSNESS

James chapter 3 verse 13 says this;

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.

This verse marks those who are wise and understanding as being the ones who are able to demonstrate a good life by humbly doing things as taught by the wisdom that comes from heaven.

The apostle James contrasts such a life with one that is driven by an earthly, unspirtual or demonic wisdom and filled with bitter envy and selfish ambition. 

James describes a community rife with envy and selfish ambition as being disorderly and riddled with every evil practice.

On the other hand, as verse 17 says, when heavenly wisdom is applied, our lives become first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.

Amen.

15

OUR FATHER WHO MADE PROVISION TO CLEANSE OUR CONSCIENCES THROUGH CHRIST 

Hebrews chapter 9 verses 13 - 14 says this;

The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. 

How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!

In this passage, the writer of the book of Hebrews contrasts the power of the blood of goats ano m.

d bulls to cleanse those who were ceremonially unclean with the power of the blood of Christ to 11q our consciences.

Whereas the ceremonies in the man-made tabernacle were representatives or shadows of the spiritual tabernacle in heaven and were enacted to ceremonially cleanse those who were externally unclean, when Christ offered Himself as an unblemished sacrifice to God through the eternal Spirit, our internal consciences are cleansed when presented to God so that we can serve Him.

Also, whereas the priests had to conduct the ceremonial external cleansing by the blood of goats and bulls every year,  the blood of Christ was shed once and for all and for all time has the power to do the deep work of cleansing our consciences.

It is on the basis of the power of the blood of Christ that we can find forgiveness for as it says in Hebrews chapter 9 verse 22;

In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

The blood, having been shed to pay the penalty for sin, we, by believing in Christ's power to save us, find that His blood has covered our sin and we are acquitted in the courts of judgement. When we look at the court documents, we find that the Lord Jesus is the one paid the penalty and so when we go to inquire of our benefactor what we owe Him for paying the penalty of our sin, He tells us that we owe Him nothing.

So the Lord shed His own blood to pay our penalty of death and gain our complete exoneration in court and then does not hold us to repayment but rather writes off the debt we owe Him.

This is what forgiveness is. 

When this is clear to us, are we not moved to offer our lives to Him in love and gratitude for the immeasurable price He paid to save us and yet demanded nothing in return? And moreover, with our consciences cleaned, are we not fully able to serve the living God freely and joyfully?

Amen.

30

OUR FATHER WHO RESISTS THE PROUD

Jeremiah chapter 13 verse 19 says this;

The cities in the Negev will be shut up, and there will be no one to open them.

All Judah will be carried into exile, carried completely away.

This verse speaks of the judgement that was to fall upon Judah because of their pride and sins. 

The southern towns would be boarded up and abandoned and the people of the kingdom of Judah would be carried away into captivity as verse 17 says;

If you do not listen, I will weep in secret because of your pride; my eyes will weep bitterly, overflowing with tears, because the Lord’s flock will be taken captive.

Jeremiah had been instructed by the Lord to buy a new belt. After he bought it, the Lord instructed him to take the belt to Perath and bury it in the crevices in the rock.

After some time had passed, the Lord directed Jeremiah to return to Perath to retrieve the belt and when Jeremiah dug up the belt, he found that it was ruined and useless.

The Lord told Jeremiah  that the people of Judah were the same as the belt that was dug up because they were filled with pride and stubborness and they followed other gods to worship them.

The judgment upon them was for their pride that made them think that they could proceed without their God. They set up alliances to defend themselves but their allies ended up being set over them.

The Lord's people fell into pride and sin and the judgement of shame and exile was visited upon them.

20

OUR FATHER WHO GIVES THE CROWN OF LIFE TO THOSE WHO PERSERVERE

James chapter 1 verse 11 says this;

For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business.

In this verse, the apostle James, writing to advise believers who were in humble circumstances and believers who were in priviledged circumstances, tells them that those who were rich would fade away even while they continued conducting everyday business.

He tells the poor believers that they should take pride in their high position but he tells the rich that they should take pride in their humiliation because they will pass away like wild flowers.

James tells rich believers that their riches make  them vulnerable in the same way that wild flowers are vulnerable to the sun's heat. 

While the sun causes the plants' blossoms to fall and their distinctive beauty to be destroyed, riches cause people's unique beauty to be destroyed and they fade away.

Having riches can often help people by-pass regular trials in life and  bypassing day-to-day trials causes people to miss the blessedness that comes from perservering through the tests as it says in James chapter 1 verse 12;

Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.

It is for this reason that James says, in James chapter 1 verses 2 - 4;

 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds,  because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 

Amen.

42

OUR FATHER WHO WILL ESTABLISH THE BRIDE OF CHRIST IN RIGHTEOUSNESS

Isaiah 54 verses 13 - 14 says this;

All your children will be taught by the Lord, and great will be their peace.

In righteousness you will be established: Tyranny will be far from you; you will have nothing to fear.

Terror will be far removed; it will not come near you.

This passage captures five of the promises that the Lord makes to His bride in chapter 54.

The ones in this passage list as follows;

• He Himself will teach all her children
• He will give all her children great peace
• He will establish her in righteousness
• He remove tyranny from her
• He will remove fear and terror from her

The Lord is referencing a time when the bride is being encouraged to expand her capacity to shelter a lot more people as it says in verse 2;

“Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes.

All these people who will be pouring into the church are the bride's children who will be returning enmasse into her folds.

It is these returning people whom the Lord will teach directly and give great peace to.

As for the bride herself, righteousness will become her foundation.

The forces of darkness that had been tyrannical towards the bride and caused her to dwell in fear will be displaced and evicted from her domain. 

The Lord will imbue her with power such that those who attack her will capitulate to her as verse 15 says ;

If anyone does attack you, it will not be my doing;  whoever attacks you will surrender to you.

Amen.

14

OUR FATHER WHO IS OUR REFUGE

From Psalm 7

I will sing the praises of the name of the Lord Most High

I take refuge in You my God who knows my heart and mind

Save and deliver me oh God my Shield from all those pursuing me

I will give thanks to You Lord for all things You do for me

Amen.

OUR FATHER WILL NOT GIVE HIS GLORY TO ANOTHER

Isaiah chapter 42 verse 8 says this;

“I am the Lord; that is my name!  I will not yield my glory to another or my praise to idols.

The Lord our God is categorical in this verse. 

He declares His identity by saying that His name  is YHWH which, in this form, is a transliteration of the Tetragrammaton  ( יְהֹוָ֖ה ).

He then says that He will not yield or give His glory to any other being and that He will not share His praise with carved idols.

He, the great I AM, the one who made all beings and things, all glory and honor and praise are His and He will let none other usurp His place at the pinnacle of all existence.

Amen.

33

OUR FATHER WHOSE SPLENDOR IS DISPLAYED IN ZION

Isaiah chapter 60 verses 4 - 6 says this;

“Lift up your eyes and look about you: All assemble and come to you; your sons come from afar, and your daughters are carried on the hip. 

Then you will look and be radiant, your heart will throb and swell with joy; the wealth on the seas will be brought to you, to you the riches of the nations will come.

Herds of camels will cover your land, young camels of Midian and Ephah. And all from Sheba will come, bearing gold and incense and proclaiming the praise of the Lord.

In this passage, Zion, the people of God, are told to lift their eyes and see that the whole world has turned towards them and seeking to gain their favour by bringing gifts to them. 

Zion will go from being an outcast in the world to being the center of the world's attention as wealth from the sea, riches from the nations, camels from Midian  and from Sheba, gold and incense are brought before Her

The Lord planted a shoot that blossomed to display the Lord's splendor when each citizen of Zion is given great authority as Isaiah chapter 60 verse 22 says;

The least of you will become a thousand the smallest a mighty nation.

Amen.

32

OUR FATHER WHO FORGIVES THE REPENTANT

Isaiah chapter 59 verses 12 - 13 says this;

For our offenses are many in your sight, and our sins testify against us.

Our offenses are ever with us, and we acknowledge our iniquities: rebellion and treachery against the Lord,  turning our backs on our God, inciting revolt and oppression, uttering lies our hearts have conceived.

This passage represents a sincere confession of wrong-doing by God's people.

They tell the Lord of their many sins and how they rebelled against Him and stirred others to revolt against Him as well as how they traded in deception.

They reveal that the consequences of their deeds have caught up with them and now righteousness and justice cannot be found in their midst. There is no stable platform for truth among them and honesty cannot exist.

In their society, any attempt to avoid evil is punished as verse 15 says;

 Truth is nowhere to be found, and whoever shuns evil becomes a prey.

The conditions in this degraded culture have deteriorated so far that the judgement of the Lord lines up against the people.

However, the people who repent are spared by the arrival of the redeemer as verse 20 says;

“The Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who repent of their sins,” declares the Lord.

Those who humbly acknowledge their iniquities are given an eternal covenant with the Lord. Verse 21 says it this way;

 “As for me, this is my covenant with them,” says the Lord. “My Spirit, who is on you, will not depart from you, and my words that I have put in your mouth will always be on your lips, on the lips of your children and on the lips of their descendants—fromq as this time on and forever,” says the Lord.

Amen

18

OUR FATHER WHO PROTECTS HIS PEOPLE 

Isaiah 47 verses 3 - 4, speaking of the Babylonian kingdom,  says this;

Your nakedness will be exposed and your shame uncovered.

I will take vengeance; I will spare no one.”

Our Redeemer—the Lord Almighty is his name— is the Holy One of Israel.

This passage reveals the fierce anger the Lord had against Babylon because of their arrogant harshness they metted out to the Lord's people.

The Lord had been angry with his children and handed them over to the Babylonians for judgment but the Babylonians went too far and acted cruelly towards God's people.

Isaiah chapter 47 verses 6 - 7 records it this way;

I was angry with my people and desecrated my inheritance;

I gave them into your hand,  and you showed them no mercy.

Even on the aged you laid a very heavy yoke.

You said, ‘I am forever—the eternal queen!’ But you did not consider these things or reflect on what might happen.

This passage reveals that even those tasked by the Lord to bring judgment on His people must use caution and due care so that they do not function without mercy and without restraint towards those over whom they have been given  power.

This overreach on the part of the Babylonians would  bring down such judgment upon them that even their sorcerers, astrologers and star gazers would not be able to ward off the calamities and catastrophes that would visit them.

The Lord judges those who act unjustly and cruelly towards others while pridefully believing that their exalted stations and security are eternal.

Amen.

28

OUR FATHER WHO GIVES GIFTS TO MEN

I Corinthians chapter 14 verses 1 - 2 says this;

Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy. For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit. 

In this passage, the Apostle Paul encourages believers to follow the way of love which is the way of;

•  Patience
•  Kindness 
•  Absence of envy
•  Meekness
•  Humility
•  Honor
•  Selflessness
•  Longsuffering
•  Forgivness
•  Goodness
•  Truthfulness
•  Protectiveness
•  Trust
•  Hopefulness
•  Perserverence.

While cultivating these attitudes of love, Paul tells us to eagerly desire the gifts of the Spirit. We have and should exercise the gift of tongues but this gift is mainly for communication between us and God and is not decipherable to others because things that are deliberately kept as mysteries are transmitted  through these languages.

However, the other gifts of the Spirit, when used with love, are gifts that can bring tremendous edification to the body of Christ and to individuals.

These gifts of the Spirit that Paul calls us to eagerly desire are;

• The word of wisdom
• The word of knowledge
• Faith
• Healing
• Miraculous powers
• Prophecy
• The Distinguishing or discerning of spirits
• The Interpretation of tongues

The manifestation of these gifts among congregations stir up reverence and gratitude towards the Lord. In the case of the gift of the interpretation of tongues, the listeners may be blessed by having the mysteries of things uttered in tongues being made plain to understand.

Let us actively desire and seek these gifts from the Lord so that we may bring honor to Him through their power.

Amen.

12

OUR FATHER WHO IS WORTHY OF HONOR

From Psalm 50

And from Zion Perfect in beauty

A consuming fire burns before

He is our God worthy of honor

All around Him tempests roar

He will gather to Himself a consecrated people,

A people gained for Him by His own  sacrifice

So let us offer to the Lord songs of thanksgiving

And in the day of trouble He'll deliver us

From the rising of the sun to where it sets again

The Lord summons that which is his

The heavens proclaim His righteousness

For he is a God of justice

OUR FATHER WHO IS DRAWING BACK HIS PRODIGAL CHILDREN

Isaiah chapter 57 verse 14 says this;

And it will be said: “Build up, build up, prepare the road! Remove the obstacles out of the way of my people.”

This verse is speaking of the prodigal children of God who went their own way and pursued their own lives and purposes and engaged in sinful actions.

The Lord commands that building be done for them.  Roads must be prepared for them and obstacles removed from their paths as they return home.

 Those returning with contrite hearts and are lowly in spirit will be invited to live with the Lord on His holy mountain as it says in verse 15;

“I live in a high and holy place, but also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit,

The Lord said that even though He was angry at His people for leaving Him to chase their sinful greed, He would not stay angry at them forever.

Even though the Lord punished them and hid His face from them, He resolved to heal His people and to guide them. He promised to create praise on their lips and He offered them real peace however far they were returning from.

As Isaiah chapter 56 verse 18 and 19 says;

 I have seen their ways, but I will heal them;  I will guide them and restore comfort to Israel’s mourners, creating praise on their lips. Peace, peace, to those far and near,” says the Lord. “And I will heal them.”

The Lord is bringing back His prodigal children who are contrite before Him.

Let roads be prepared and obstacles be removed from their paths.

Amen

27

OUR FATHER WHO IS STRONGER THAN ANY WHO OPPRESS HIS PEOPLE

Isaiah chapter 51 verse 13 adjures God's people not to fear their human oppressors to such a degree;

that you forget the Lord your Maker, who stretches out the heavens  and who lays the foundations of the earth, that you live in constant terror every day because of the wrath of the oppressor, who is bent on destruction?

For where is the wrath of the oppressor?

The terror of mere humans who torment them causes God's people to forget the might and power of their God who stretched out the heavens and laid the foundations of the earth.

Verse 14 speaks of the desperation of the captives as they rush around so that they might appease the wrath of their captors so that they may be loosed from their chains or so that they won't be thrown into a pit to die or so that they won't  be deprived of food.

They live in terror of these things but as verse 16 and 17 tell us;

But I am the Lord your God, Who divided the sea whose waves roared—The Lord of hosts is His name.

And I have put My words in your mouth; I have covered you with the shadow of My hand, That I may plant the heavens, Lay the foundations of the earth, And say to Zion, ‘You are My people.’ ”

The Lord takes His people into His care and covers them in the shadow of His hand.

Amen.

21

OUR FATHER WHOSE HELP WE NEED FOR VICTORY

Psalm 108 reads this way;

My heart, O God, is steadfast; I will sing and make music with all my soul.

Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn.

I will praise you, Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples.

For great is your love, higher than the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies.

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth.

Save us and help us with your right hand, that those you love may be delivered. 

Here, David, the author of this Psalm, proclaims the  steadfastness of his heart and indicates that the evidence of this is that he sings and makes music with all his soul and rises early in the morning to sing and play  musical instruments in honor of the Lord.

David broadcasts praise among the nations and  to the people to tell of the Lord's great love and his faithfulness.

David exalts the Lord and asks the Lord to let the earth be filled with His glory and he then asks the Lord to save his people and deliver them by His right hand.

David then hears a word from the Lord in verse 7 saying;

God has spoken from his sanctuary:

 “In triumph I will parcel out Shechem and measure off the Valley of Sukkoth.

Gilead is mine, Manasseh is mine;

Ephraim is my helmet, Judah is my scepter.

Moab is my washbasin, on Edom I toss my sandal; over Philistia I shout in triumph.” 

This enigmatic passage records the Lord pronouncing his intention to do four things when He is triumphant;

• Parcel out Schechem
• Measure off the Valley of Sukkoth
• Toss His sandal on Edom
• Shout over Philistia

The Lord then claims ownership over five places;

• Gilead
• Manasseh
• Ephraim (as His helmet)
• Judah (as His scepter)
• Moab (as His washbasin)

The psalmist, in verse 11 - 13, says to the Lord that these places can't be accessed because the Lord has declined to go out with the armies of His people.

Who will bring me to the fortified city? Who will lead me to Edom?

Is it not you, God, you who have rejected us and no longer go out with our armies?

Give us aid against the enemy, for human help is worthless.

With God we will gain the victory, and he will trample down our enemies.

David asks the Lord for help in fighting their foes because any help they receive from human allies fails.

If the Lord helps them, they will vanquish their enemies and capture territory.

Amen.

70

OUR FATHER FOR WHOM WE SING AND SHOUT

Isaiah chapter 54 verses 1 - 5 says this;

“Sing, barren woman, you who never bore a child; burst into song, shout for joy, you who were never in labor; because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband,” says the Lord.

“Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes.

For you will spread out to the right and to the left; your descendants will dispossess nations and settle in their desolate cities.

“Do not be afraid; you will not be put to shame. Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated. You will forget the shame of your youth and remember no more the reproach of your widowhood.

For your Maker is your husband—the Lord Almighty is his name—the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; he is called the God of all the earth.

In the narrative of this passage,  the Lord tells His bride that even though she considered herself barren, her time of rejoicing is coming and she will need to prepare by enlarging her tent to fit all her children.

She is advised to stretch the fabric of her tent, to lengthen her tent cords, and to strengthen her tent pegs because those that are her's will overflow her capacity to house them.

Her descendants will be numerous and powerful and they will disperse in all directions. They will displace nations and inhabit their abandoned cities.

The Lord's bride will not be ashamed nor will she be disgraced. She will forget the shame and reproach of her widowhood.

The One to whom she is betrothed is the Lord Almighty who made her and redeemed her from a distant country.

Amen.

40

OUR FATHER TOWARDS WHOM WE SHOULD BE SINCERELY GRATEFUL

Psalm 107 verses 3 - 5, speaking of the redeemed of the Lord, says this;

those he gathered from the lands, from east and west, from north and south.

Some wandered in desert wastelands, finding no way to a city where they could settle. 

They were hungry and thirsty, and their lives ebbed away.

This passage speaks of some of those that the Lord had saved who wandered in the wilderness unable to connect to a civilization into which they could settle.

In this wandering state, the redeemed were malnourished and their lives faded as their spirits weakened.

This was when they cried out to God in their trouble and the Lord heard them and relieved their anguish as Psalm 107 verses 6 - 9 says;

Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress.

He led them by a straight way to a city where they could settle.

Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind, for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.

The Lord, hearing the cries of His redeemed in the wilderness, led them to His civilization where they were revived and sustained and they became a people full of gratitude towards the Lord having seen His lovingkindness intervene in their lives.

This story is mirrored in the story of the ten lepers whom Jesus healed in Luke chapter 17 verses 12 - 19 which reads this way;

 As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!”

When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed.

One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.

Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”

The lepers cried out to the Lord and he healed them and told them to go to the priests to show themselves and they were cleansed from leprosy as they went.

One of the ten men, seeing that he was cleansed, returned praising God and fell down before Jesus because he recognized the profound importance of what Jesus had done for him.

Jesus asked, "Where are the other nine?"

This question brings home the point that ingratitude for the Lord's salvation will keep us from finding our way to God and we will miss His call to us to rise and go forward on our journey of faith.

Without that, we may wander in the wilderness till we finally cry out to the Lord to deliver us.

Let us always be sincerely thankful towards our Lord who is our redeemer and who paid so great a price to save us.

Amen.

36

OUR FATHER TO WHOM I CRY

From Psalm 88

I am overwhelmed with troubles Lord

I'm confined and can't escape

My eyes are dim with grief

Why  do you hide Your face   

You are the God who saves me

 I cry to You night and day

Turn Your ear towards me Lord

Hear me when I pray.

1

OUR FATHER WHO LED US OUT OF BONDAGE

From Psalm 77

Your ways are holy

    What god is great as You are?

You are the God of wonders

   You are the God  of power

With your mighty arm you redeemed your people,

You led them out of bondage to be free

Thunder was heard Your lightening lit up the world

As your chosen people crossed the sea