TOPIC: WHAT IS MAN? IV
MEMORISE:
Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. 1 Peter 5:7
READ: Philippians 4:4-7
4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.
5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
MESSAGE
Man is very special because he has the capacity to accommodate the Spirit of God inside him. This is such a magnificent thing because God is so big that heaven is His throne and the earth is His footstool (Isaiah 66:1), yet He decided to make Himself so little that He can dwell inside us John 14:16-17). In Exodus 25:1 -9, God asked Moses to build a sanctuary to house His presence. However, after Jesus died for our sins, He made every child of God His temple. This means that if you are a child of God, He is living inside you, and everything that answers to God also answers to you. What a tremendous privilege!
I remember when I joined The Redeemed Christian Church of God. I thought I was a very wise man, after all, I was a university lecturer. We had many non-literate people in the church back then, and I used to look down on them. However, one day, I thought to myself, "These people may not be educated, but they are always radiating joy while I am always worried about one thing or the other. They seem to be so much at peace, but there is always a storm raging inside me." I decided to give my life to Christ that day, and the first thing I experienced was peace. All my anxieties and worries vanished, and for the first time in my life, I was truly joyful. The joy I felt inside me was so much that the next morning, my boss in the office noticed that I was joyful without me saying anything to him.
Man was not originally made to be anxious about anything. It is the fallen nature that made us lose our joy. The good thing, however, is that Jesus came to restore us to the original plan of God. You will experience peace and joy when you become the temple of the Most High God because Psalm 16:11 says that in the presence of God, there is fullness of joy, and Philippians 4:7 says that the peace of God that passes all understanding will flood your heart indeed.
Beloved, if you have not yet accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, you cannot be a part of God's original design. The Lord wants to come into your heart (Revelation 3:20), and I encourage you to let Him in. He will lift all your heavy burdens (Matthew 11:28) and you will begin to experience peace and joy like never before.
KEY POINT
When you understand your identity 'as God's dwelling place, you will enjoy so much joy and peace.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Genesis 44-46
AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE
HYMN 27: WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS
What a friend we have in Jesus,
all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
all because we do not carry
everything to God in prayer!
2 Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged;
take it to the Lord in prayer!
Can we find a friend so faithful
who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness;
take it to the Lord in prayer!
3 Are we weak and heavy laden,
cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge--
take it to the Lord in prayer!
Do your friends despise, forsake you?
Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In his arms he'll take and shield you;
you will find a solace there.
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