23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.26 It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. Romans 3:23-26, English Standard Version (ESV)
By Dr. Charles Stanley
In our culture, sin is no longer considered an issue. Although some people might admit to making mistakes or being wrong, few will actually say, "I have sinned." The Lord, however, takes sin very seriously. Until we learn to see transgression as He does, we will never understand what happened at Christ's crucifixion.
The cross was God's perfect answer to a terrible dilemma. Because the Lord is holy and just, He hates sin and must respond to it with punishment and wrath. Yet He also loves sinners and wants to be reconciled with them. The cross of Christ was the place where God's wrath and love collided. The only way to rescue fallen mankind from eternal punishment was to devise a plan whereby the Lord could forgive sins without compromising His holiness. There was no way to overlook transgressions; His wrath had to be poured out- either on us or a substitute. But there was only one possible substitute: the perfect Son of God.
So Jesus came to earth as a man and suffered the Lord's wrath for us as He hung on the cross. Sin was punished, divine justice was satisfied, and now God could forgive mankind without compromising His character. His wrath was poured out on His Son so that His love and forgiveness could be lavished upon us.
Because of human limitations, we'll never grasp all that happened while Jesus hung on the cross. We can begin to comprehend only the physical suffering He endured, but in the spiritual realm, Christ bore so much more - the very wrath of God. This costly redemption plan proves God's great love.
" But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth. " John 4:23-24 ESV
By Kemi Olubiyi
For me, true worship indicates total surrender to the One who created me and has my life in His hands. The Source of all goodness and all things. The one true God!
What does true worship mean to you? Before we go further, let us see what the world defines "worship" to be.
Define "Worship"
According to the New Illustrated Webster's Dictionary, worship is defined as " The act or feeling of adoration or homage; the paying of religious reverence as in prayer, praise, etc. It is referred to as excessive or ardent admiration.
The highest purpose for which man was created was to worship the one true God who created us in His image and likeness. (friends we were created to worship God and find fulfillment in Him). However, when sin came into the world through our first parents, man's heart became corrupt; thereby, the strong desire to yearn for more caused human beings to seek other things to occupy the place in their hearts meant for the Almighty God alone. This eventually led man to begin to worship other gods, worship things & people, practice occultism, and directly or indirectly serving Satan, who desperately craves man's worship ( worshipping the creation instead of the Creator).
As we can see throughout biblical history, the Children of Israel were chastised by Jehovah God often because of their worship of Idols, thereby disobeying God's commandments in Deuteronomy 5:7-9, which states " You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not bow down to them or serve: for I the LORD your God am a jealous God". Deuteronomy 5:8-9 ESV
Worship is a fundamental purpose of the Church of God because we are God's chosen people, a holy nation, a royal priesthood 1 Peter 2:5,9, and as a result, He demands true worship from His people. When you, as His child worships Him wholeheartedly, you are saying that He is the only one you look unto for your dependency because you know that apart from Him, you are nothing and can do absolutely nothing.
True worship begins in the heart of a believer for as we recognize His awesomeness in our lives; it brings us peace, which surpasses all understanding, rest, and joy that only He can give. True worship reveals how much we love the Father, and as a result of that, we see God's move in our lives.
It is the ultimate intimate experience that is beyond human understanding because to worship the Father truly, the flesh has to be crucified, you can not genuinely worship Him with mere flesh, it is only through the spirit which you are also made up of that you and I can worship Him in the beauty of His Holiness. Psalm 29:2.
Worship changes the outcome of events in a believer's life quality time is spent in praise and adoration to Him. It becomes a lifestyle that everyone around you becomes quick to notice because you are often seen offering thanksgiving to the Lord, glorifying Him even in trials and difficulties. A True worshipper can effectively win souls for the kingdom merely through a lifestyle of worship and gratitude. Those around them see and recognize that indeed this is truly a son or daughter of the Almighty God. 1 Peter 3:1-2. Every believer should live a life of worship and thanksgiving, unto God for even in Heaven; He is continuously worshiped and adored by the Angels, etc. how much more we created for the sole purpose of worship. Rev 19:4-5, Isaiah 6:3-4.
True worship is about living a holy life, set apart for God alone. You cannot worship any other but the Father. It is alright to shower praises on Man for his good works and even give honor to whom honor is due, but as believers, "worship" belongs to the Almighty God alone. We are to worship the Creator and not the creation.
Satan, our adversary, knows the power of worship in a believer's life, and that is why he wages war against God's people day and night to destroy our relationship with the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ. He seeks the worship and praise of man so much that we can see what he has done or brought about in the world, since the beginning of time to obtain it—i.e., false religion, murder, sexual perversion, deception, wars, etc.
Our genuine worship of God has the power to bring about tremendous changes in a believer's life. The deeper you worship, the greater the difference you encounter. I can testify of such changes at different periods in my life. When I spend quality time in His presence, at times, I all of a sudden feel the need to worship Him, ignoring the human desire to "ask" for something I want or need. I begin with songs of praises, which eventually lead to worship. Because praise produces worship, it automatically invokes God's presence, and you begin to feel the Holy Spirit taking over. At that point, I am usually helpless. By the time, I am back to myself; there is this assurance I get in my spirit that all is well, I feel this overwhelming peace and joy that comes over me, and it's like the Lord is telling me that He has taken care of everything and I should just say " Thank you." It does not happen to me all the time, but things begin to work for my good when it does. I begin to see prayers answered to situations that have been pending for a long while.
Even in a church gathering or fellowship, you will see God's hand at work, especially during times of praise and worship. I have witnessed and heard of many cases where instant healing and deliverance takes place once the congregation begins to worship the Lord. The pastors or speakers cannot preach anymore; it's like he or she becomes speechless. Friends that is the Holy Spirit at work is why it's essential to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit's move because if you hinder Him, He will not be free to do what He wants to do at that moment in time. The Ministry of Music is also critical in the body of Christ. God's presence comes down so much during times of praise and worship, and so even without the laying of hands, you begin to see miracles taking place in the lives of people and many also giving their lives to the Lord Jesus Christ during times of worship and praise.
Just for clarification purposes, worship is not just about singing to God, and it is not about a public display of your affection for him; it goes deeper than that. True worship has to do with everything concerning your life. I mean by this that it involves the total surrender of all that you are and all that you have. Recognizing that everything you have, your children, spouses, material things, job, business, education, etc. all belong to Him. Surrendering all that you have and are to Him is the act of daily worship. The late Dr. Myles Munroe put it this way" true worship means to ascribe credit of all things to Him (GOD). That means your talents, gifts, skills, and everything else (as mentioned earlier) must be accredited to the One who gave it all to you.
True worship has the power also to bring about victory in a believer's life. It brings about the victory from bondage, from the hands of their enemy, from sin. II Chronicles 20 is one of my favorite examples in scripture of how God works on His people's behalf when we worship and adore Him. King Jehoshaphat and all the people of Judah knew that they would not be able to defeat their enemies without God's intervention. The king cried out to Jehovah God for help, and He assured them that they would be victorious and instructed them accordingly.
In addition to obeying the Lord's instruction, King Jehoshaphat felt the desire to show gratitude to the Lord for what He was going to do and what the king did. Along with the people of Judah and Jerusalem, the king immediately bowed down and worshiped the Lord God and continue to do so even until the next day. The Lord approved their praise and worship and instantly gave them victory over their enemies. It was recorded in biblical history that Jehoshaphat was a good king who did what was pleasing in the Lord's sight. How many Kings did the Lord give such a favorable report about? Very few! May the Lord remember us for good in Jesus' name.
Beloved, I admonish you today to worship the Lord with all your heart because He seeks true worshippers that will worship Him in spirit and truth. John 4:24. God wants us to live a life of holiness to enjoy being called His Sons and Daughters. The time will come when all the ends of the earth i.e, the whole world shall remember and turn back to the Lord, and all the families of nations shall worship before Him. Psalm 22:27-28. ESV
Why don't we, who are already chosen and called to be His children, show the world first that we are indeed true worshippers of God, fulfilling the purpose for which He created all humankind?
Let us, therefore, examine our hearts today. Are you worshiping the Lord like you are supposed to i.e., in spirit and truth? If your answer is no or I am not sure, it is time to repent and decide today to spend quality time in His presence, offering continuous thanksgiving and praises to Him. He will take you to a deeper level in your Christian walk when you do so.
Beloved, A heart of worship will surely transform your life!
Arise, Shine; for your light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. "The Lord shall be thy everlasting light and the days of thy mourning shall be ended.Isaiah 60:1:20b KJV
by. Kemi Olubiyi
When we look all around us today, especially at the body of Christ, which we can relate to as believers; we see so much depression, frustration, sadness, anger, distress, and so on. There is so much evil in our society today that it takes the grace of God for us not to get caught up in the affairs of this world. We, as Christian women, try to put our faith in the Lord, daily trusting Him to be the best wives, mothers, daughters, and workers that we can be, and I am here to tell you today that the Lord sees all your hard work and also sees the stress of everyday life that weighs you down. And so, therefore, He is reminding us today in His word, "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavily laden, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11: 28 KJV.
Is not our God awesome? He knew there would be times when we will be down and distressed, and we would need His word to lift us right back up. The above verse is one of those words He has provided to comfort us in times of trouble. The Lord has assured us in His word that He will give us rest and ease our pain when we look unto Him, the Author and Finisher of our faith.
Sisters, arise and shine this day, for your light has come; who or what is this light? It is our Lord Jesus Christ; He is our everlasting light. In Him, there is no darkness, no more pain, hurt, or distress. Allow the glory of the Lord this day to shine in your lives. Let the Lord take away your cares and burdens that weigh you down and let Him be unto you this day an everlasting light.
The Light of the Lord shall overshadow every darkness in your life as long as you permit Him to do so. I am not saying trying times will not come; they surely will; Our Lord Jesus Christ Himself experienced it while on earth, but He is assuring us this day that He will see us through and our days of mourning, of sorrow shall be over because He shall be our everlasting light that outshines the darkness and destroys everything that tries to steal our joy.
She is simply "The woman who communicates with God (i.e intercedes) on behalf of her husband and her home regularly.
The praying wife is a godly woman who values her marriage and would do whatever is necessary for ensuring the peace of God and the joy of the Lord dwells continuously in her home.
The praying wife is a woman that prays consistently for her husband regardless of whether she feels like it or not because she knows the importance of prayer. She is praying at all times with a joyful heart. 1 Thess 5: 16-17
2. Why should you pray for your Husband?
i. We as wives have been given the legal and spiritual authority by God to stand in the gap for our husbands. As long as you are the legally married wife of your spouse, you are operating according to the will of God for your life and that of your husband’s. Eph 5: 31, Gen 2:24.
ii. We are equal partners in God’s gift of new life. 1 Peter 3:7 New Living Translation.
iii. Because out of reverence for our Lord Jesus Christ, We are required to pray for the well being of our husbands.
iv. Because God has made the husband to be head of his wife, the priest of the home as Christ is the head of the church. 1 Corin 11:3, Eph 5:22-23.
v. Because it shows an act of true and genuine love for your husband. There is no greater way of showing one’s love than to pray for him regularly.
vi. Because praying for your husband brings God’s presence into the center of your marriage. As a woman, you recognize that you need God’s grace and strength to build a lasting marriage.
vii. Because praying for your husband brings him good and not evil. His life is enriched by God when you pray for him. Proverbs 31:11-12
viii. Because praying for your unbelieving or backslidden spouse and living a godly life, can win him over or back to the Lord. ( Salvation, Restoration) 1 Peter 3:1-2
3. The Benefits of Praying for your Husband.
i. It causes you to have favor with your husband as you trust God for whatever you desire for your husband and marriage. See Esther 4:15, 5:1-14
ii. You, as the wife, gain your husband’s trust and praise. Proverbs 31:28.
iii. It brings about peace and happiness in the home. I Tim 2:1-2.
iv. It makes your husband feel loved and honored when he is aware that you spend time interceding on his behalf and also to know he can depend on you to lift him up in prayers when he is spiritually weak.
v. It makes your husband feel more connected to you on a spiritual and emotional level. Mark 10:8
( I have to give credit to my husband for these particular points while preparing to write this article, I asked him what goes through his mind when he hears me praying for him or knows that I am praying for him, and the above two answers were his response).
vi. It gives you front row view or first-hand notice of God’s hand at work in his life.
4. What to Pray for in your Husband’s life.
As a wife, you know that what affects your husband positively affects you and your marriage and so it is essential to pray for every area of his life according to the leading of the Holy Spirit. The following are some things you can pray for:
iii. Pray for him to be an effective leader in the home, work, and ministry.
iv. Pray that he will be faithful to the marriage and that the Lord will safeguard his heart from succumbing to the lust of the flesh. Hebrews 13:4, Proverbs 6:32
vi. Pray that he will be a good steward of what God has given him and your home. It is important for him as the head of the home to manage your finances wisely.
vii. Pray that he will excel in his job, business, education ( if in school).
viii. Pray that God will use him to speak words of encouragement and wisdom that will build you up to be an excellent wife and mother for him and your children.
ix. Pray that he will be a man of integrity, honor, and humility.
x. Pray that he will live a purpose driven life.
xi. Pray that God will keep him always in perfect health and that he will not do anything to defile his body ( the temple of the Holy Spirit). 3 John 1:2, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20.
xii. Pray that he will put God first in everything he does. Colossians 3:23-24
5. Praying for your Husband even when it hurts.
Beloved, I must honestly confess that when my husband and I quarrel or let’s just say have " a difference of opinion" or when he has done or said something that profoundly hurts, the desire and thought of praying for him is far from my mind. I do not even feel like being in the same room let alone praying for him. I am confident some of you can agree with me on that.
Nevertheless, we should remember that he is still human and like us, the tendency to disappoint or cause hurt whether intentional or not is possible, there will definitely be times when trials will come, but God is still in control because He is in the center of the marriage. And so, no matter how hurt or disappointed you are, you should not cease praying for him. 1 Thess 5:17. Even scripture admonishes us to love and pray for our enemies, how much more praying for someone whom we love and share our lives with. Matthew 5:44.
Therefore, instead of dwelling on the hurt or pain, do not bear a grudge, but report him to God, the one who made him the head of you and gave him authority over your household. 1 Corin 11:3, James 5:9, Phil 4:6. Never give the enemy the opportunity to gain a foothold in your life by allowing the pain or hurt to consume or overwhelm you, thus leading you to sin with your words and actions, but go to the Lord in prayer pouring your heart out and looking unto Him for healing. And the Prince of peace will begin to work on your behalf as long as you do your part to let go of the anger and bitterness, forgiving your husband and let the Lord take complete control of the situation. Mark 11:25, Exodus 14:14.
In conclusion, I will say the wife that prays is a tool in the hands of the Lord to safeguard her marriage against the devices of the enemy. Sisters, you can choose this day to be a tool in the hands of God or a weapon in the hands of the Devil. See Proverbs 14:1.
Praying for your husband per the will of God can never lead you down the wrong path. For the words that come out of your mouth has life in it to either make or break your husband and marriage. Proverbs 18:21, 1 Peter 3:7
The praying wife is a woman on call 24 hours a day; she is one that is vigilant, always on alert because at anytime she may feel the need to pray for a particular issue according to the leading of the Holy Spirit. She is indeed a woman led by the Lord and is willing to do whatever necessary to safeguard her marriage.
Beloved, may the good Lord empower each of you this day to be " The Praying Wife" in your marriage and the Lord will strengthen and equip you as you make that commitment today in Jesus name.
God has to be true to Himself. People are foolish to entertain the hope that He will ignore justice and sacrifice holiness in order to allow unbelievers into heaven. Living a mostly moral life will not satisfy a righteous Judge.
As much as the Lord loves us and desires to save us from our sins, He can not deny His holiness by accepting sin in His presence. The Father is pristine perfection - a holy Being who, by His very nature, must condemn all sin. Therefore, it is the height of egotism to think that God will bend both His law and His nature to welcome one whom still bears the stain of wrongdoing.
There is not one person who's good enough to enter heaven on his or her own merit. Everyone of us needs Jesus. The stain of sin is washed clean only by the sacrifice of God's holy and blameless Son. Those who believe in Christ are forgiven their wrongs and cloaked in His righteousness ( 2 Cor:5:21).
Let me make it very clear that trusting Jesus is far more than giving intellectual assent to His existence- that's something even the Devil acknowledges. A true believer enters into a relationship with the One who loves his soul enough to save him from eternal punishment.
Those who remain tightly wrapped in their mantle of sin cannot hope to sneak into heaven. God's holy nature demands perfection, and since we can't provide this for ourselves, the Lord has given it to all who believe in Him. He has exchanged our filty rags for a cloak of righteousness (Zech. 3:4).
By Kemi O.
Beloved, A very Happy Valentines Day to you and your loved ones. As we celebrate this day, Let's remember the greatest lover of all, Our Father and God who first loved us that He sent His only begotten Son to die for us in other to live eternally with Him and to live a glorious life here on earth while awaiting His return.
Spread His love unto others around you today. Pray for someone, hug someone, show kindness to someone, bless someone, help someone and the good Lord, the God of LOVE will reward you greatly.
I leave you with this today
7 Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. 8 But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
9 God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. 10 This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.
11 Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. 12 No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us.1 John 4:7-12 New Living Translation.
May the warmth of God's love surround you now and always.
By Dr. Charles Stanley
