Text: Job 38:1-41

Introduction: Have you ever looked up in the heavens at night and seen the innumerable stars? How did they get there? Who controls them? What holds them together? How many can you see without a telescope? How many are there beyond the human eye and even the most sophisticated scopes? Finally, God breaks His silence to speak to His servant Job. Afterwards, Job is speechless and dumbfounded with the magnificence of God’s creation. By the way, Jesus holds it ALL together (Col 1:16, 17)!

1. God reveals His creation – the sea! (Job 38:8)

“8Or who shut up the sea with doors, when it brake forth, as if it had issued out of the womb? 9When I made the cloud the garment thereof, and thick darkness a swaddlingband for it.”

2. God reveals His creation – the light and darkness! (Job 38:19, 20)

“Where is the way where light dwelleth? and as for darkness, where is the place thereof, 20That thou shouldest take it to the bound thereof, and that thou shouldest know the paths to the house thereof?”

3. God reveals His creation – the number of our days! (Job 38:21)

“1Knowest thou it, because thou wast then born? or because the number of thy days is great?”

4. God reveals His creation – the snow and hail! (Job 38:22)

“22Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow? or hast thou seen the treasures of the hail.”

5. God reveals His creation – the lightning and thunder! (Job 38:25)

“Who hath divided a watercourse for the overflowing of waters, or a way for the lightning of thunder.”

6. God reveals His creation – the rain! (Job 38:26)

“26To cause it to rain on the earth, where no man is; on the wilderness, wherein there is no man.”

7. God reveals His creation – the grass and plants! (Job 38:27)

“27To satisfy the desolate and waste ground; and to cause the bud of the tender herb to spring forth?”

8. God reveals His creation – the dew and ice! (Job 38:28, 29)

“Hath the rain a father? or who hath begotten the drops of dew? 29Out of whose womb came the ice? and the hoary frost of heaven, who hath gendered it?”

8. God reveals His creation – the stars – Pleiades & Orion! (Job 38:31)

“31Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion?”

9. God reveals His creation – the stars – Arcturus! (Job 38:32)

“32Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season? or canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons?”

10. God reveals His creation – the lion and the raven! (Job 38:39-41)

“Wilt thou hunt the prey for the lion? or fill the appetite of the young lions, 40When they couch in their dens, and abide in the covert to lie in wait? 41Who provideth for the raven his food? when his young ones cry unto God, they wander for lack of meat.”

1. Who can TAME the TERRIBLE TONGUE? (James 3:1-8)

“My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. 2For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. 3Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. 4Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. 5Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! 6And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. 7For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: 8But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.”

Did you notice the illustration James uses with the horse and bridle? Have you ever tried to ride a horse without a bridle? One time as a teenager, I jumped on a horse without a bridle and he took off running…..I was hanging on for dear life – with no ability to stop him – until eventually when it became impossible to hold on, I fell off and hit the ground! Lesson learned… Don’t get on a horse without a way to control him!!

So it is with taming the terrible tongue. If God the Holy Spirit does not put His bridle on our tongue, it will run WILD!

Did you notice the illustration James uses with the ship and rudder? The same principle applies with the tongue. Neither can be consistently controlled without a “CONTROLLER”!

2. How can the “TERRIBLE TONGUE be TAMED”? (James 3:9-12)

“9Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. 10Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. 11Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? 12Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.”

Check out the difference in Good words & Bad words: 

• “16These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: 17A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, 19A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.” (Prov 6:16-19)
• “The mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom: but the froward tongue shall be cut out.” (Prov 10:31)
• “23He that rebuketh a man afterwards shall find more favour than he that flattereth with the tongue.” (Prov 28:23)
• “A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.” (Prov 15:4)
• “She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.” (Prov 31:26)
• “172My tongue shall speak of thy word: for all thy commandments are righteousness.” (Prov 119:172)

Are you discovering “Bad Words” coming out of your mouth? It could be an indication our heart needs to be cleaned up!

Jesus said,

Conclusion: Unless the TERRIBLE TONGUE is TAMED, it will “ABUSE,” be “MISUSED,” and not be “USED” for the glory of our Lord. But when our tongue comes under the authority of the WORD of God and is under the Control of the SPIRIT of God, then we can speak BLESSINGS by the POWER of God!

1. We have a GUARANTEED RELATIONSHIP with our HEAVENLY FATHER! (Rom 8:15)

“For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.”

We have a NEW FREEDOM!

We have a NEW FAMILY!

We have a NEW FAITH!

2. We have a SWEET FELLOWSHIP with the HOLY GHOST Of GOD! (Rom 8:16)

“The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:”

The Holy Ghost comes IN and the devil goes OUT!

3. We have a GLORIOUS CITIZENSHIP with JESUS CHRIST our Savior and Lord! (Rom 8:17-25)

“And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.”

“For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”

We have a BRAND NEW outside!

1. Because of the “TEMPTATION of PROCRASTINATION”! (Luke 9:59-61)

“9And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. 60Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God. 61And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house.”

2. Because of the Unbeliever’s “FINAL DESTINATION”! (Luke 9:60)

“Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.”

After hearing about the spiritual needs of India, the secretary of the meeting remarked: “There is a gold mine in India, but it seems almost as deep as the center of the earth. Who will venture to explore it?” “I will go down,” said William Carey, “but remember that you must hold the ropes.”

3. Because of Jesus’ “INVITATION”! (Luke 9:57, 58)

“And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. 58And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.”

• Hurting
• Lonely
• Grieving
• Discouraged
• Lost
• Tired
• Sick
• Hungry
• Helpless
• Thirsty
• Unfulfilled
• Hopeless
• Vision less
• Apathetic
• Backslidden
• Empty
• Directionless
• Powerless

4. Because of the “Great TRANSFORMATION”! (Luke 9:62)

“And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

From the INSIDE to the OUTSIDE, Jesus changes us.

5. Because of the Earth’s “EVACUATION”! (Luke 9:62)

“And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

Conclusion: We have only one shot at this thing called “life”!

Introduction: Do you make it a practice to “PRAISE the Lord” daily? We could all probably use a little improvement in that area. This devotion is intended to encourage and challenge you to work harder at “Praising our Lord.” He certainly is worthy!

Why not take a “PRAISE BREAK” right now?

1. How can we PRACTICE to let the PRAISES Go Up so that the Glory Comes Down? (Psalm 135:1, 3)

“Praise ye the LORD. Praise ye the name of the LORD; praise him, O ye servants of the LORD…. 3Praise the LORD; for the LORD is good: sing praises unto his name; for it is pleasant.”

How can we PRACTICE Praising the Lord?

• By clapping your hands! (Psa 147:1)

“O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph.”

• By singing and shouting! (Psa 147:1)

“Praise ye the LORD: for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely.”

• By lifting up hands! (Psa 134:1, 2)

“Behold, bless ye the LORD, all ye servants of the LORD, which by night stand in the house of the LORD. 2Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the LORD.”

2. Where can we PRACTICE to let the PRAISES Go Up so that the Glory Comes Down? (Psalm 135:2)

“2Ye that stand in the house of the LORD, in the courts of the house of our God.”

Where can we Praise the Lord?

• At Church! (Psa 100)

“Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. 2Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. 3Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. 4Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. 5For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.”

• At sunrise and sunset! (Psa 113:3)

“3From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the LORD’S name is to be praised.”

• In Good times and bad times! (Psa 34:1; 149:5, 6)

“I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.”

“5Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds. 6Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a twoedged sword in their hand;”

3. Who can PRACTICE to let the PRAISES Go Up so that the Glory Comes Down? (Psalm 135:1)

“Praise ye the LORD. Praise ye the name of the LORD; praise him, O ye servants of the LORD.”

Who can Praise the Lord?

• Hannah Praised the Lord! (1Sam 2:1)

“1And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation.”

• Jehoshaphat Praised the Lord! (2Chron 20)

“7Then they returned, every man of Judah and Jerusalem, and Jehoshaphat in the forefront of them, to go again to Jerusalem with joy; for the LORD had made them to rejoice over their enemies. 28And they came to Jerusalem with psalteries and harps and trumpets unto the house of the LORD. 29And the fear of God was on all the kingdoms of those countries, when they had heard that the LORD fought against the enemies of Israel. 30So the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet: for his God gave him rest round about.”

• Paul & Silas Praised the Lord! (Acts 16:25)

“25And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.”

Conclusion: When the Praises Go Up….the Glory Comes Down! C.H. Spurgeon used to say “Prayer and Praise were cousins.”

In GOOD TIMES and BAD TIMES, the name of Jesus is to be PRAISED!

1. A CHILD of GOD will not Wallow in Sin! (1John 5:18)

“18We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.”

• The word “know” is οἶδα, which means I know, remember, appreciate.
• The words “born of God” is γεννάω, which means I beget (of the male), (of the female) I bring forth, give birth to.
• The word “sinneth” is ἁμαρτάνω

Why does a CHRISTian not “live” habitually in sin? Because he or she has been made a new creation. (2Cor 5:17)

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

2. A CHILD of GOD will be Protected by God! (1John 5:18)

“18We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.”

• A CHILD of God will have OVERCOMING Power over the WORLD! (1John 5:4,5)

“5Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? Power over the WORLD! 4For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. 5Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?”

• A CHILD of God will have OVERCOMING Power through prayer because of Jesus Christ! (1John 5:14,15)

“4And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: 15And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.”

3. A CHILD of GOD will not be possessed by the devil! (1John 5:18)

“18We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.”

• A CHILD of God will have OVERCOMING Power over the devil because of Jesus Christ! (1John 3:8)

“8He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.”

The devil’s grip has been broken by Jesus! (Col 2:13-15)

Introduction: Can you picture an army of locusts? History records devastation and destruction when locusts attack. Yet, as Joel visualizes as well as articulates, there is HOPE in the Lord!

The book of Joel was written from both a historical and prophetical perspective. From the historical, Joel’s vision reveals the Assyrians would invade Israel from the north. This was fulfilled in 722 B.C. Not only did they invade but they led captives away from their homeland.

From the prophetical point of view, Joel’s prophetic (futuristic) events will be fulfilled when Jesus Christ comes in His second coming. According to Zechariah’s prophecy at Christ’s second coming, His feet shall stand upon the Mt. of Olives, which will split in half. Consequently, a battle in the Kidron Valley will take place, which will be the geographical location of Joel’s prophecy. This will lead up to the battle of all battles in the Jezreel Valley….called Armageddon.

1. The INVASION of the enemy! (Joel 1:1-6, 2:1-11)

“1The word of the LORD that came to Joel the son of Pethuel. 2Hear this, ye old men, and give ear, all ye inhabitants of the land. Hath this been in your days, or even in the days of your fathers? 3Tell ye your children of it, and let your children tell their children, and their children another generation. 4That which the palmerworm hath left hath the locust eaten; and that which the locust hath left hath the cankerworm eaten; and that which the cankerworm hath left hath the caterpiller eaten. 5Awake, ye drunkards, and weep; and howl, all ye drinkers of wine, because of the new wine; for it is cut off from your mouth. 6For a nation is come up upon my land, strong, and without number, whose teeth are the teeth of a lion, and he hath the cheek teeth of a great lion.”

“1Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand; 2A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations. 3A fire devoureth before them; and behind them a flame burneth: the land is as the garden of Eden before them, and behind them a desolate wilderness; yea, and nothing shall escape them. 4The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen, so shall they run. 5Like the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains shall they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble, as a strong people set in battle array. 6Before their face the people shall be much pained: all faces shall gather blackness. 7They shall run like mighty men; they shall climb the wall like men of war; and they shall march every one on his ways, and they shall not break their ranks: 8Neither shall one thrust another; they shall walk every one in his path: and when they fall upon the sword, they shall not be wounded. 9They shall run to and fro in the city; they shall run upon the wall, they shall climb up upon the houses; they shall enter in at the windows like a thief. 10The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble: the sun and the moon shall be dark, and the stars shall withdraw their shining: 11And the LORD shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; and who can abide it.”

2. The PERSUASION of the prophet Joel! (Joel 1:13-20, 2:12)

“13Gird yourselves, and lament, ye priests: howl, ye ministers of the altar: come, lie all night in sackcloth, ye ministers of my God: for the meat offering and the drink offering is withholden from the house of your God. 14Sanctify ye a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of the LORD your God, and cry unto the LORD, 15Alas for the day! for the day of the LORD is at hand, and as a destruction from the Almighty shall it come. 16Is not the meat cut off before our eyes, yea, joy and gladness from the house of our God? 17The seed is rotten under their clods, the garners are laid desolate, the barns are broken down; for the corn is withered. 18How do the beasts groan! the herds of cattle are perplexed, because they have no pasture; yea, the flocks of sheep are made desolate. 19O LORD, to thee will I cry: for the fire hath devoured the pastures of the wilderness, and the flame hath burned all the trees of the field. 20The beasts of the field cry also unto thee: for the rivers of waters are dried up, and the fire hath devoured the pastures of the wilderness.”

“12Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning.”

God’s remedy for both Israel back then and the Church right now is to REPENT and RETURN to the Lord.

3. The INTERVENTION by the Lord! (Joel 2:18-28, 30-32)

“Then will the LORD be jealous for his land, and pity his people. 19Yea, the LORD will answer and say unto his people, Behold, I will send you corn, and wine, and oil, and ye shall be satisfied therewith: and I will no more make you a reproach among the heathen: 20But I will remove far off from you the northern army, and will drive him into a land barren and desolate, with his face toward the east sea, and his hinder part toward the utmost sea, and his stink shall come up, and his ill savour shall come up, because he hath done great things. 21Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the LORD will do great things. 22Be not afraid, ye beasts of the field: for the pastures of the wilderness do spring, for the tree beareth her fruit, the fig tree and the vine do yield their strength. 23Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month. 24And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the fats shall overflow with wine and oil. 25And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you. 26And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed. 27And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the LORD your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed. 28And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions.”

“And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. 31The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come. 32And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call.”

Most conservative Bible scholars acknowledge that this prophecy of Joel has not been fulfilled in the day of Pentecost. Rather, it will be completely fulfilled at the second coming of Jesus Christ (see Matt 24:29-31). This is a time of judgment.

4. The CONSUMMATION of the Lord! (Joel 2:18-28; 3:1-21)

“For, behold, in those days, and in that time, when I shall bring again the captivity of Judah and Jerusalem, 2I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land. 3And they have cast lots for my people; and have given a boy for an harlot, and sold a girl for wine, that they might drink. 4Yea, and what have ye to do with me, O Tyre, and Zidon, and all the coasts of Palestine? will ye render me a recompence? and if ye recompense me, swiftly and speedily will I return your recompence upon your own head; 5Because ye have taken my silver and my gold, and have carried into your temples my goodly pleasant things: 6The children also of Judah and the children of Jerusalem have ye sold unto the Grecians, that ye might remove them far from their border. 7Behold, I will raise them out of the place whither ye have sold them, and will return your recompence upon your own head: 8And I will sell your sons and your daughters into the hand of the children of Judah, and they shall sell them to the Sabeans, to a people far off: for the LORD hath spoken it. 9Proclaim ye this among the Gentiles; Prepare war, wake up the mighty men, let all the men of war draw near; let them come up: 10Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruninghooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong. 11Assemble yourselves, and come, all ye heathen, and gather yourselves together round about: thither cause thy mighty ones to come down, O LORD. 12Let the heathen be wakened, and come up to the valley of Jehoshaphat: for there will I sit to judge all the heathen round about. 13Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come, get you down; for the press is full, the fats overflow; for their wickedness is great. 14Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision. 15The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining. 16The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel.

Blessings for God’s People

17So shall ye know that I am the LORD your God dwelling in Zion, my holy mountain: then shall Jerusalem be holy, and there shall no strangers pass through her any more. 18And it shall come to pass in that day, that the mountains shall drop down new wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, and all the rivers of Judah shall flow with waters, and a fountain shall come forth of the house of the LORD, and shall water the valley of Shittim. 19Egypt shall be a desolation, and Edom shall be a desolate wilderness, for the violence against the children of Judah, because they have shed innocent blood in their land. 20But Judah shall dwell for ever, and Jerusalem from generation to generation. 21For I will cleanse their blood that I have not cleansed: for the LORD dwelleth in Zion.”

Conclusion:

Introduction: Are you carrying a burden right now? Is it heavy? Wearing you down? Too much to handle? Can’t fix it? What can you do? In Psalm 55, we can find sweet “RELIEF” from overwhelming burdens.

1. What do you do when problems happen you can’t control? (Psa 55:4-8)

“4My heart is sore pained within me: and the terrors of death are fallen upon me. 5Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me.”

Let’s face it. Some things are out of our control!

2. What do you do with  people you can’t control? (Psa 55:9-15)

“9Destroy, O Lord, and divide their tongues: for I have seen violence and strife in the city. 10Day and night they go about it upon the walls thereof: mischief also and sorrow are in the midst of it. 11Wickedness is in the midst thereof: deceit and guile depart not from her streets. 12For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him: 13But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance. 14We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company. 15Let death seize upon them, and let them go down quick into hell: for wickedness is in their dwellings, and among them.”

People – we can’t control, but God can.

3. What we can’t control, our Lord can control! (Psa 55:1, 2, 22)

“22Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.”

Either the Lord will take the burden away, or give grace to endure.

Conclusion: Since God is in control, then why not let Him take control? Will you take your burden to the Lord & leave it there?

1. By “GRACE”! (Eph 2:8)

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

Definition of GRACE:
God doing for us what we do not deserve.

G- God’s
R- Righteousness
A- At
C- Christ’s
E- Expense

God’s GRACE is….
Amazing (Eph 2:8)
Available (Tit 2:11)
Abounding (Rom 5:20)

2. Through “FAITH”! (Eph 2:8)

“For by grace are ye saved through faith;”

Definition of FAITH:
Faith is taking the Lord at His Word.

“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
(Rom 10:17)

“1Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
(Heb 11:1)

“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”
(Heb 11:6)

3. Unto “GOOD WORKS”! (Eph 2:10)

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

James clears up any confusion concerning being saved but not having any WORKS.

“14What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? 15If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 16And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? 17Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 18Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. 19Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 20But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? 21Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? 22Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? 23And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. 24Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. 25Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? 26For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” (James 2:14-26)

Conclusion: Praise the Lord for His perfect will in forgiving our sins because of His “GRACE” and our exercising “FAITH” in His Word! This results in “GOOD WORKS”!

Will our Lord one day INSPECT our, “GOOD WORKS”?

Text: Proverbs 3:33

“The curse of the LORD is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just.”

Introduction: Do you have a BLESSED home or CURSED home? How can you tell?

1. C-U-R-S-E 

C – Controlling

Manipulating, deceiving, conniving

2. C-U-R-S-E

U – Unforgiving

Bitter, resentful, critical 

3. C-U-R-S-E

R – Retaliating 

Angry, mad, get even

4. C-U-R-S-E

S – Shaming

Cut down, judgmental, flesh filled 

5. C-U-R-S-E

E – Ego centered

I’m right, what’s in it for me, my way

1. B-L-E-S-S-E-D

B – Baptized into the body of Christ 

(Gal 3:27)

“27For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”

2. B-L-E-S-S-E-D

L – Love with God’s “agape” unconditional love

(Rom 5:5)

“And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.”

3. B-L-E-S-S-E-D

E – Encourage each other 

(Heb 3:13)

“But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.”

4. B-L-E-S-S-E-D

S – Spirit-filled 

(Gal 5:16)

“16This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.”

5. B-L-E-S-S-E-D

S – Self worth in Christ

(Eph 1:6)

“To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.”

6. B-L-E-S-S-E-D

E – Expectations realistic 

(Eph 4:32)

“And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”

7. B-L-E-S-S-E-D

D – Dedicated to fulfilling your God-given role

(Rom 12:1,2)

Conclusion: Is your Home CURSED or BLESSED?

(Prov 3:33)

“The curse of the LORD is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just.”

Why not make your acrostic for the words? 

C                                                 

U                                                  

R

S

E

D

B

L

E

S

S

E

D

If we want our homes “BLESSED” by the Lord Jesus, then we must INVITE Him as our Honored Guest…..really Host!

“UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT”