19/03/2021
Hello there dear brethren in Christ Jesus, we thank God for your life and I believe you are all doing well today. This is yet another day the Lord has made for us, we will be glad and rejoice in it.
Today in our spotlight scripture, we deem it as supporting to our recent studies which gave us insight on how we can be successful and prosper in our ways by Speaking, Meditating and Abiding by the Word of God. However, today's scripture takes us further to spell out some of the conditions or lifestyle we must give up or avoid in order to be successful and prosper as we apply our lives to God's Word.
1. WALK NOT IN THE COUNSEL OF THE UNGODLY:
Who is the ungodly? I like to simply refer to the ungodly as anyone or any group of people who oppose to the principles of God in deeds and in actions. The ungodly has no regard for the Word of God and as such live their lives anyhow. What today's scripture makes us understand that for us as Believers to be blessed and walk in the prosperity of God, we must ensure to do away with ungodly counsel. As a child of God where do you seek or take counsel from? We see in the book of Samuel where King saul at a point in time went seeking counsel from a fortune teller after his disobedience to the Word of God. There are some like saul today, who seek counsel from all sort of sources rather than the Counsel of the Holy Spirit. As a child of God, we must delight in the Word of God, for out of it comes every counsel we need to live a successful Christian life. Remember we learnt in one of our studies this week that, "All scriptures are given by the inspiration of God and is good for doctrine, reproof, correction and instruction in Righteousness, making us complete and equipping us for every good work". Hence, when our hearts are troubled and we no longer have answers to some of life's challenging problems, whom you seek counsel or help from is vital to how you prevail in the end; and as Believers I entreat us to always seek the Word of God, Seek the counsel of the Holy Spirit and we will surely prosper in all our ways.
2. STAND NOT IN THE WAY OF SINNERS:
Sin as we have come to understand destroys us and destroys the relationship we have with God. The impact of sin if not repented from, can ruin an entire generation. According to Isaiah 59:2 which says, "But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear." Sin separates us from God and once we are separated from God His Word seizes to function in our lives. That is how come one can sin and it becomes difficult to study the Word, pray, fast, worship or do anything Spiritual. Think of it as this: As Righteousness builds us to grow even stronger in Christ, sin weakens our spiritual muscles and the more you sin, the more weaker you become. Sin hinders our prayers or our cry from being heard and so today's scripture encourages us that if we want to flourish and prosper in life, we must avoid sin. Many people today would have been greater or become more successful and prosperous had it not been for sin. The Bible says in the book of Romans 6:23 that, "For (A)the wages of sin is death, but (B)the [a]gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." And as we have seen in today's scripture, when we avoid walking or standing in the path of sinners, we become like trees planted by rivers of water, a very good indication of eternity as it goes on to say for shall bring forth fruits in its season and our leaves shall not with but prosper in all that we do. When we say we do not sin we deceive ourselves but the goodnews is that God has made available provisions for us to reconcile back with Him and one of the provisions is for us to go back to the study of the Word, Meditate on it always and apply our lives to all that is written in it and by that we are able to live a righteous life. And just as we saw in one of our scripture studies earlier this week, when we apply ourselves to His Word and allow His Word to gain access into our lives, His light is cast on us and shines on our path making every darkness disappear and enabling us to walk in His Righteousness.Hence, as a child of God, sin is not an option; avoid walking in the path of sin and always study, Meditate, Speak and abide by the Word of God and you shall have good success and prosper in all your ways.
3. SIT NOT IN THE SEAT OF THE SCORNFUL:
Who is a scorner? Simply anyone who opposes the Word of God. When you find yourself opposing to what God has instructed in His Word you end up becoming His enemy. Remember the Bible says "In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and THE WORD WAS GOD...." God himself is His Word and so to oppose His Word is to oppose Him. No one has ever opposed God and prevailed. Hence as a believer, as we study and Meditate on His Word we must believe in Him and be able to even advocate for the Word; in other words, be witnesses to His Word, telling people of His goodness and kindness. When we avoid the seat of the scornful and seek for God believing that He is, all His promises are Yes and Amen, He diligently rewards us; and part of those rewards is what we see in today's scripture which says He will cause us to prosper in whatever we do.
As the Word of God comes to you today, I want to encourage you to take your time and ponder deep in it, ask the Spirit of God to help you refrain or walk away from every evil counsel, sinful lifestyles and scornful character. It is my prayer for you that as you study the Word of God and Meditate on it always, may you be like a tree planted by rivers of water and may you continually flourish and prosper in all you do in Jesus name, Amen. God bless and have a wonderful day. Shalom!