August 27
Heavenly father, we thank You, we blessed Your Holy Name. Mightier God, no one can withstand You, what You say will do that is what you will. You are All-Sufficiency; You owe the cattle on a thousand hills, all the birds on the mountain and animals in the field belongs to You; You blesses men and women with good things who will in turn be Your hands and legs here on earth.
Beloved, are bothered with what is happening all around you, never mind the foolishness of God surpasses all human understanding; His ways are not our ways and it very far from it too.
Many promises and works we read and happen around us made us glad. You O! Lord had made me glad through Thy works, glory be to You Father. Indeed all things are possible to him that believeth. Join me as we dig out the depth of these scriptural passages together:
“Thou, Lord, hast made me glad through Thy work.” Psalm 92:4
Do you believe that your sins are forgiven, and that Christ has made a full atonement for them? Then what a joyful Christian you ought to be! How you should live above the common trials and troubles of the world! Since sin is forgiven, can it matter what happens to you now? Luther said, “Smite, Lord, smite, for my sin is forgiven; if Thou hast but forgiven me, smite as hard as Thou wilt”; and in a similar spirit you may say, “Send sickness, poverty, losses, crosses, persecution, what Thou wilt, Thou hast forgiven me, and my soul is glad.”
Christian, if thou art thus saved, whilst thou art glad, be grateful and loving. Cling to that cross which took thy sin away; serve thou Him who served thee. “I beseech you therefore, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” Let not your zeal evaporate in some little ebullition of song.
Show your love in expressive tokens. Love the brethren of Him who loved you. If there be a Mephibosheth anywhere who is lame or halt, help him for Jonathan’s sake. If there be a poor tried believer, weep with him, and bear his cross for the sake of Him who wept for thee and carried thy sins. Since thou art thus forgiven freely for Christ’s sake, go and tell to others the joyful news of pardoning mercy.
Be not contented with this unspeakable blessing for thyself alone, but publish abroad the story of the cross. Holy gladness and holy boldness will make you a good preacher, and all the world will be a pulpit for you to preach in.
Cheerful holiness is the most forcible of sermons, but the Lord must give it you. Seek it this morning before you go into the world. When it is the Lord’s work in which we rejoice, we need not be afraid of being too glad and not afraid of that situation, incident, sickness, financial crisis, disobedient child, disloyal spouse asking you where is your God? Remember all things are possible to him that believes:
“All things are possible to him that believeth.” Mark 9:23
Many professed Christians are always doubting and fearing, and they forlornly think that this is the necessary state of believers. This is a mistake, for “all things are possible to him that believeth”; and it is possible for us to mount into a state in which a doubt or a fear shall be but as a bird of passage flitting across the soul, but never lingering there.
When you read of the high and sweet communions enjoyed by favoured saints, you sigh and murmur in the chamber of your heart, “Alas! these are not for me.” O climber, if thou hast but faith, thou shalt yet stand upon the sunny pinnacle of the temple, for “all things are possible to him that believeth.”
You hear of exploits which holy men have done for Jesus; what they have enjoyed of Him; how much they have been like Him; how they have been able to endure great persecutions for His sake; and you say, “Ah! as for me, I am but a worm; I can never attain to this.” But there is nothing which one saint was, that you may not be. There is no elevation of grace, no attainment of spirituality, no clearness of assurance, no post of duty, which is not open to you if you have but the power to believe.
Lay aside your sackcloth and ashes, and rise to the dignity of your true position; you are little in Israel because you will be so, not because there is any necessity for it. It is not meet that thou shouldst grovel in the dust, O child of a King. Ascend! The golden throne of assurance is waiting for you! The crown of communion with Jesus is ready to bedeck your brow.
Wrap yourself in scarlet and fine linen, and fare sumptuously every day; for if thou believest, thou mayst eat the fat of kidneys of wheat; thy land shall flow with milk and honey, and thy soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness.
Gather golden sheaves of grace, for they await thee in the fields of faith. “All things are possible to him that believeth.”
This is one of the chief promises made to us by our Father, “if you believe all things are possible”. Another one that looks like it is that you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you, not through your parents, not through your qualifications, not your wealth, your children but through Christ. May the Lord give you understanding, so many have failed on the path because of whom they are looking up to help them get a good job, secure admission or visa. Without the help of God, you cannot go far. So tapped into these promises of God and you will be richly blessed.
Remain blessed in the Lord.
Evang Ifeoma Ohondu
