12th
Praise God for Godly Women in the Home, in the Church, and in the Workplace
Text: Proverbs 31:30 (KJV)
"Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised."
Men, let us stop and give praises to God and thanks to Him for the godly women in our lives. The woman that fears God shall be praised. She may be single or married; it does not matter. What matters is that she fears God in her home, her workplace,
her church, and her neighborhood, and she has the loving compassionate heart of our Lord Jesus Christ and lives in the power of his divine Holy Spirit.
Hymn ("The Praises of that Saint we Sing"): “The praises of that saint we sing, To whom all lands their tribute bring, Who with indomitable heart, Bore throughout life true woman's heart.”
11th
Don't Envy the Wicked; They will Receive Something You don't Want
Text: Psalm 37:1 (KJV)
"Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity."
King David wisely tells us to not fret, worry, and be envious of the wicked, also called here "evildoers." So many times I have heard people (even Christians) say, "Oh, if I only had so and so's money,” or “If only I was married to that beautiful or handsome celebrity,” etc. Christian brothers and sisters--STOP! STOP! AND AGAIN I SAY, STOP! We need to not be envious of those who have an abundance of the pleasures of the world. Unless they have repented of their sins, they will receive something that we don't want--namely eternal damnation and separation from God and the pleasures of heaven. The “rewards” on earth are less than nothing compared to the rewards in heaven.
Hymn (“Fret Not Thyself"): “Fret not thyself, Nor envious be, When wicked workers thou shalt see, Who prosper in their way; For like the grass they perish soon, And, like the herb cut down at noon, They wither in a day
10th
Jesus Christ is the Source of Eternal Life
Text: John 5:39-40 (KJV)
"Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life."
Jesus told the Pharisees that the scriptures testified that only in Him could they find eternal life. Today, many seek
eternal life through the occult, the New Age Movement, Mohammed, Buddha, and cryogenics, etc. None of these will give eternal life. Only Jesus Christ can save you and me and give us this life. Come to Jesus today!
Hymn ("Good Christian Men Rejoice,” verse 3): Good Christian men rejoice, With heart and soul and voice; Now ye need not fear the grave. Peace! Peace! Jesus Christ was born to save! Calls you one and calls you all, to gain his everlasting hall. Christ was born to save! Christ was born to save!”
9th
Face to Face with Christ my Savior
Text: Deuteronomy 34:10 (KJV)
"And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face."
God spoke to Moses and knew him "face to face." God wants us all to know Him this way. First, we must believe the
truth of Jesus Christ, God's Son, and accept Him as our Lord and Savior. Then, we must spend time with God daily in reading the Bible, in praying to Him, and in obediently listening for his still, small voice to guide us in our daily walk. Only then can we begin to be known by God "face to face." I want to be in a “face to face” relationship with Him; don't you?
Hymn ("Face to Face with Christ my Savior"): “Face to face with Christ, my Savior, Face to face—what will it be, When with rapture I behold Him, Jesus Christ Who died for me?” Refrain: “Face to face, I shall behold Him, Far beyond the starry sky; Face to face in all His glory, I shall see Him by and by!”
8th
Declare how Great and Good God Is
Text: Deuteronomy 32:3 (KJV)
"Because I will publish the name of the LORD: ascribe ye greatness unto our God."
Moses told the people of Israel that they needed to remember how great and good that God is. Who can heal us completely? Who alone can provide for us? Who can cheer the lonely heart? Who alone can bring us salvation and eternal life? No one but God!
Hymn ("Sing Praise to God Who Reigns Above"): “Sing praise to God Who reigns above, the God of all creation, The God of power, the God of love, the God of our salvation. With healing balm my soul is filled and every faithless murmur stilled: To God all praise and glory
7th
Glorious and Fearful is God's Name
Text: Deuteronomy 28:58b (KJV)
"That thou mayest fear this glorious and fearful name, The LORD the God. "
When Moses gave the people of Israel the blessings (for obeying) and cursings (for disobeying) God and his word, he said this was given for them to fear the "glorious and fearful name of the LORD thy God.” God's name is "glorious" (Hebrew, kaw-bad which is interpreted as “numerous, rich, honorable, very great"). His name is also "fearful" (Hebrew, yare which is interpreted as “reverent or fearful”). Let us honor, fear, and reverence God's name in all that we do and say!
Hymn ("Glorious is Thy Name, O LORD"): “Glorious is thy name, O Lord! Heav'n and earth with one accord, Tell thy greatness, Part revealed, But the larger part concealed. How shall we poor singers dare, Seek thy face in praise and prayer?
Fearful is thy Name, O Lord! Dread thy voice and sharp thy sword; Thunders roll around thy path; None can stand before thy wrath! How shall trembling sinners dare, Lift their voice in praise and prayer?”
6th
Hearken to the Voice of God
Text: Deuteronomy 26:14 (KJV)
"I have not eaten thereof in my mourning, neither have I taken away ought thereof for any unclean use, nor given ought thereof for the dead: but I have hearkened to the voice of the LORD my God, and have done according to all that thou hast commanded me."
When, for the second time, the people of Israel were given the Law of God from Moses, they promised to hearken
(“listen, give heed to, and obey”) the voice of God. Sometimes we “hear” the still small voice of God, and most (but not all) of the time He uses the Bible to speak to us and teach us the way to live. The books of other religions, most media, and the advice of non-Christians cannot give us the words of wisdom that we need to live this daily journey called life. We must go to the Bible!
Hymn ("Hark! Hark! My Soul!"): “Hark! Hark! My soul! The Savior's voice is calling. E'en now it breathes o'er life's dark troubled sea; His gracious truth like heav'nly dew is falling. Hark! Hark! My soul! Thy Father calls for thee! Father of mercy. Father of love. Thee would we follow to our blest home above.”
5th
Help Others in Need; It's a Biblical Command
Text: Deuteronomy 22:4 (KJV)
"Thou shalt not see thy brother's ass or his ox fall down by the way, and hide thyself from them: thou shalt surely help him to lift them up again."
Helping others who are in need, especially our Christian brothers and sisters, is a biblical command. We must remember that Jesus said that if we give a cup of cold water, feed someone, visit the sick or those in prison, etc., we have done these things as unto Him. Let us spend the rest of our lives helping those in need. The rewards are truly "out of this world."
Hymn ("Help Somebody Today"): “Look all around you, Find someone in need, Help somebody today! Though it be little—a neighborly deed—Help somebody today!” Refrain: “Help somebody today, Somebody along life's way; Let sorrow be ended, The friendless befriended, O help somebody today!”
4th
Christ the LORD is Risen! Alleluia!
Text: Matthew 28:5-6 (KJV)
"The angel said to the women, 'Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; He has risen, just as He said."
Dear Friends, In today's text, we see the joyous reason to celebrate and live victoriously all the days of our lives. Are you fearful? Are you lonely? Are you discouraged? Do you feel like giving up? Are you tempted? Don't despair, don't give into temptation, and don't fret any longer! Why? Because Christ, The LORD is risen! He has conquered sin, death, hell,
and the grave. He truly loves you and me! He is all we need! Alleluia! Celebrate His love today and everyday!
Hymn ("Christ The Lord is Risen”): “Lives again our glorious King; Alleluia! Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia! Once He died our souls to save; Alleluia! Where thy victory, O grave? Alleluia!”
3rd
Seeking the Lost so They can be Found
Text: Luke 19:10 (KJV)
"For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost."
In today's text, we see the true story of why Christ came and died on the cross. He came to seek and to save that which was lost, namely men and women like you and me. Let us rejoice that we who were lost were found by Jesus and now have an eternal relationship with Him because we believe by God's grace through faith. Let us be telling people who are still lost so they can be found.
Hymn ("Amazing Grace"): “Amazing Grace, How sweet the sound, That saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, But now am found, Was blind, But now I see.
2nd
To Fear God Brings Happiness
Text: Proverbs 28:14(KJV)
"Happy is the man that feareth always: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief."
The secret of happiness is to fear God always. Go back to the cross of Jesus Christ. Remember, there were two thieves crucified with Jesus. One feared God, believed on his Son Jesus Christ, and received eternal life and happiness with Jesus in Heaven. The other hardened his heart, blasphemed and rejected Jesus, and received eternal damnation and misery. It is not too late to turn your heart back to Jesus, or come to Him for the first time. Only fearing God, obeying Him, and spending quality time with Him daily can bring you joy, happiness, and peace now and forever.
Hymn ("Thrice Happy Souls"): “Thrice happy souls, who, born from Heav'n, While yet they sojourn here, Humbly begin their days with God, And spend them in His fear, And spend them in His fear.”
1st
Be Bold as the Lion of the Tribe of Judah
Text: Proverbs 28:1(KJV)
"The wicked flee when no man pursueth: but the righteous are bold as a lion.”
The wicked are cowardly, but the righteous are bold (the Hebrew word here means “bold, confident, trusted in"). We as
Christians are "bold," "confident," and know the only “trusted one” is God, the Father, and Son, and Holy Spirit. The Son, Jesus Christ, is called "The Lion of the Tribe of Judah." So, the next time someone at work, in your neighborhood, or wherever, tries to get you discouraged, stop, smile, and boldly say, "God loves you and so do I."
Worship Song ("Be Bold"): “Be bold, Be strong, For the Lord thy God is with thee; be bold, Be strong, for the Lord thy God is with thee. Do not be afraid, Do not be dismayed; Walk in faith and victory, For the Lord thy God is with thee. Run through the camp, Tell everybody get ready. Are you ready to take the land? Are you ready to take a stand? Are you ready to take this land for the Lord?”
JOSEPH CULP
