Presenting the Fifteenth Edition for 2006 of the WEEKLY DEVOTIONS:
You are only a man and not God!!!!!!!
Keep on praying, this world is in great need of it. "Always be joyful. Keep on praying. No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.â€
We have all received Spiritual and physical gifts from God. Are we using these gifts for personal gain only or are we using them to help our brothers and sisters in need????
Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. 1 Peter 4:10
We have received all sorts of gifts from God. Why then poor mortal do you glorify and give yourself all the credit by thinking that all these riches of gold and silver have been acquired by your sole intelligence and wisdom??? Is not the One who created all things also given you what you have now???? For that reason let us give back the credit where the credit is due. Let us exalt and thank God for all He has done and given us and restore to God the Glory that is due to Him and help all of our brothers and sisters in need.
The following is an example; A Prophecy Against the King of Tyre.
The word of the LORD came to me: "Son of man, say to the ruler of Tyre, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: " 'In the pride of your heart you say, "I am a god; I sit on the throne of a god in the heart of the seas." But you are a man and not a god, though you think you are as wise as a god. Are you wiser than Daniel? Is no secret hidden from you? By your wisdom and understanding you have gained wealth for yourself and amassed gold and silver in your treasuries. By your great skill in trading you have increased your wealth, and because of your wealth your heart has grown proud. " 'Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says: " 'Because you think you are wise, as wise as a god, I am going to bring foreigners against you, the most ruthless of nations; they will draw their swords against your beauty and wisdom and pierce your shining splendor. They will bring you down to the pit, and you will die a violent death in the heart of the seas. Will you then say, "I am a god," in the presence of those who kill you? You will be but a man, not a god, in the hands of those who slay you. You will die the death of the uncircumcised at the hands of foreigners. I have spoken, declares the Sovereign LORD.' “Ezekiel 28:1-10
What about the rich man who is solely dependant on his wealth and does not believe in God and in our Lord and Savior, His Son, Jesus Christ, what will happen to him???
Then Jesus said to his disciples, "I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, "Who then can be saved?" Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." Peter answered him, "We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?" Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first. Matthew 19:23-30
He that fears God who depends and believes in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is the one who does not attribute his intelligence and successes on to himself but renders all to God for what he has and is ready to share with others. Let us see what Psalm 112 says.
Psalm 112
Praise the LORD.
Blessed is the man who fears the LORD,
who finds great delight in his commands.
His children will be mighty in the land;
the generation of the upright will be blessed.
Wealth and riches are in his house,
and his righteousness endures forever.
Even in darkness light dawns for the upright,
for the gracious and compassionate and righteous man.
Good will come to him who is generous and lends freely,
who conducts his affairs with justice.
Surely he will never be shaken;
a righteous man will be remembered forever.
He will have no fear of bad news;
his heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD.
His heart is secure, he will have no fear;
in the end he will look in triumph on his foes.
He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor,
his righteousness endures forever;
his horn will be lifted high in honor.
The wicked man will see and be vexed,
he will gnash his teeth and waste away;
the longings of the wicked will come to nothing.
Therefore render all Glory to God and thank Him for all He does for us. Amen, Alleluia!!!!!!!
