GOD Will Deliver - Exodus 14:14

This is Namma for Christ with the one hundredth inspirational message dated Sunday, November 27th, 2016.  The title of this message is, "GOD Will Deliver – Exodus 14:14". The title of this message is taken from the encouraging and anointed gospel song, “GOD Will Deliver” as sung by The Williams Brothers. The scripture comes from the fourteenth verse of the fourteenth chapter of Exodus, as written by Moses:

Exodus 14:14

New International Version (NIV)

¹⁴ The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”

Have you ever been in a difficult situation?

Have you ever been between a “rock and a hard place”?

Have you ever been in a place that you had NO WAY of knowing how you would get out?

Well, I have.  And so have so many others.  Many of us have been between a “rock and a hard place” at some time in our lives (some - might currently "still" be in a  difficult situation, right now)…

The 14^th chapter of Exodus tells the miraculous story of God’s people, "the Israelites" and how God delivered them when they were “STUCK”… between “a ROCK and A HARD PLACE”!

IF GOD DELIVERED THEM, HE CAN DELIVER US, TOO!

What do you do when there seems to be NO WAY out of a difficult situation?  YOU TURN TO GOD!

GOD CAN DO ANYTHING, BUT FAIL! HE CAN MAKE A WAY – OUT OF “NO WAY”!

In the 14^th chapter of Exodus, the Bible tells the story of when Moses led the Israelites from Egyptian captivity to the Red Sea. Moses and the Israelites were standing in front of the Red Sea with Pharaoh and the Egyptian army pursuing them from behind.  The Israelites were literally, between a “rock and a hard place”!  They couldn’t go back and they didn’t know “how” they could move forward.  Exodus 14^th chapter and the 13^th through the 14^th verses state what God told Moses to say to His people:

Exodus 14:13-14

New International Version (NIV)

 

¹³ Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. ¹⁴ The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”

GOD comforted, gave reassurance, encouragement and HOPE to His people. He let them know that HE WOULD DELIVER THEM! He told them that they didn’t have to be afraid…just to stand firm and HE WOULD DELIVER! GOD TOLD HIS PEOPLE - HE WOULD FIGHT FOR THEM!

Deliverance would not come from any effort on their part.

GOD TOLD HIS PEOPLE - HE WOULD FIGHT FOR THEM!

The Israelites were told to – TRUST IN GOD FOR THEIR  DELIVERANCE - HE WOULD WORK ON THEIR BEHALF! In verse 15 of the same chapter, God tells Moses to tell them to: “MOVE ON”!

Exodus 14:15-16

New International Version (NIV)

 

¹⁵ Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to Me? Tell the Israelites to move on”.

The Israelites were instructed to “OBEY GOD, and GO!” God would “MAKE A WAY OUT OF NO WAY” – they had to MOVE...which meant to OBEY and WALK THROUGH – THE WAY THAT GOD MADE! Read the below scriptures on how GOD DELIVERED THE ISRAELITES:

Exodus 14:15-22

New International Version (NIV)

 

¹⁵ Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to Me? Tell the Israelites to move on. ¹⁶ Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground. ¹⁷ I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them. And I will gain glory through Pharaoh and all his army, through his chariots and his horsemen. ¹⁸ The Egyptians will know that I am the Lord when I gain glory through Pharaoh, his chariots and his horsemen.”

¹⁹ Then the angel of God, who had been traveling in front of Israel’s army, withdrew and went behind them. The pillar of cloud also moved from in front and stood behind them, ²⁰ coming between the armies of Egypt and Israel. Throughout the night the cloud brought darkness to the one side and light to the other side; so neither went near the other all night long.

²¹ Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided, ²² and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left.

GOD DELIVERED THE ISRAELITES IN A MIRACULOUS WAY!

 HE DIVIDED THE RED SEA SO THE ISRAELITES COULD WALK THROUGH ON DRY LAND! GOD DELIVERED HIS PEOPLE “THEN”… AND HE’LL DELIVER US “NOW”!

No matter what you are going through – TRUST GOD! HE IS ABLE!

THE LORD says: “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you!”

NOTHING IS TOO HARD FOR GOD! Jeremiah 32:27 confirms this:

Jeremiah 32:27

New International Version (NIV)

 

²⁷ “I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?

TRUST THE LORD – as Proverbs 3:5-6 instructs:

Proverbs 3:5-6

King James Version (KJV)

 

⁵ Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

⁶ In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.

Please listen and be blessed by the below anointed and encouraging song/video entitled, “God Will Deliver” as sung by The Williams Brothers.



(I do not own the rights to this song.)

 

BE BLESSED!

Grateful - 1st Thes. 5:16-18

This is Namma for Christ with the ninety-ninth inspirational message dated Thursday, November 24th, 2016. The title of this message is, "Grateful - 1^ST Thes. 5:16-18". The title of this message is taken from the uplifting and anointed gospel song, “GRATEFUL” as sung by Hezekiah Walker and the Love Fellowship Choir. The scripture comes from the sixteenth through eighteenth verses of the fifth chapter of Thessalonians, as written by the Apostle Paul: 

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

King James Version (KJV)

¹⁶ Rejoice evermore.

¹⁷ Pray without ceasing.

¹⁸ In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

These three verses SPEAK to all of us, as Christians, on how we should live. In researching these verses on the internet, I found a beautiful message in regard to these words of wisdom as written by Christian Schmidt:

Worship Without Ceasing

There are many things that separate a Christian from the world. A Christian has been made alive in Christ while the unregenerate follow the course of this world and the prince of the power of the air and are dead in their trespasses and sins (Ephesians 2:1-5). A Christian will display the love of the Father to all while the world has no love (John 13:35, 1 John 3:14-15). A Christian will obey the Word of the Father and keep His commandments while the world will not (1 John 2:4-6, 3:7-10).
The world is in a constant state of a rebellion against God, but the Christian has been called to a life of unending worship. From the time we wake up in the morning to the time we go to sleep and even when we are asleep, we are called to praise the Father.

We were created to glorify His name, and our entire lives should be centered on worshipping His precious name.
Today "worship" seems to be confined to music. After church services we will ask, “How was worship?” and someone will respond that the choir did a great job or the praise band was too loud. Worship is not just about music but the entire Christian life. Worship also entails rejoicing, praying, and giving thanks to God.

In this passage we find Paul exhorting us to do all three. Not only does he tell us to do all three, but also he commands us to do all of them "without end". He says to rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and give thanks in all circumstances. The Christian life should be one never-ending state of praise and worship to God through rejoicing, praying, and thanksgiving.

Rejoicing, praying, and thanksgiving have a certain type of synergy with each other. They work together and build each other up and are often hard to separate. We see that they heighten the effect and value of each other. Prayer and thanksgiving lead to rejoicing, thanksgiving and rejoicing are types of prayers, and prayer and rejoicing illuminate thanksgiving. The three work together and feed off of each other. The three cover the entirety of the Christian life. We rejoice for present times, pray for future protection, and give thanks for past gifts.

This same command is given in Roman 12:12, “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” No matter what happens in our lives we can remain hopeful and rejoice because we know that God is in control and working for good. In closing, Romans 8:28 reminds us:

Romans 8:28

King James Version (KJV)

²⁸ And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.

 Remember to be "GRATEFUL" as 1^ST Thes. 5:16-18 tells us:

 Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing.

In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you!

Please listen and be blessed by the below anointed and uplifting song/video (with lyrics) entitled, “GRATEFUL” as sung by Hezekiah Walker and the Love Fellowship Choir.

(I do not own the rights to this song.)
 

BE BLESSED!

Grace And Mercy - Psalm 23:6

This is Namma for Christ with the ninety-eighth inspirational message dated Saturday, November 19th, 2016. The title of this message is, "GRACE AND MERCY – PSALM 23:6". The title of this message is taken from the great gospel song, GRACE AND MERCY, as sung by the Mississippi Mass Choir (with the lead soloist, Frank Williams). The scripture comes from the sixth verse of the well-known 23^RD Psalm, as written by King David: 

Psalm 23:6

King James Version (KJV)

6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

Recently, I searched the internet for further study regarding this last verse of the 23^rd Psalm, and this is what I discovered:

Bible Study Tools: Psalm 23:6 - EXPOSITION

Verse 6. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life. This is a fact as indisputable as it is encouraging, and therefore a heavenly verily, or "surely" is set as a seal upon it. This sentence may be read, "only goodness and mercy," for there shall be unmingled mercy in our history. These twin guardian angels will always be with me at my back and my beck. Just as when great princes go abroad they must not go unattended, so it is with the believer. Goodness and mercy follow him always -- all the days of his life -- the black days as well as the bright days, the days of fasting as well as the days of feasting, the dreary days of winter as well as the bright days of summer. Goodness supplies our needs, and mercy blots out our sins.

And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. "A servant abideth not in the house forever, but the son abideth ever." While I am here I will be a child at home with my God; the whole world shall be His house to me; and when I ascend into the upper chamber, I shall not change my company, nor even change the house; I shall only go to dwell in the upper storey of the house of the Lord forever. May God grant us grace to dwell in the serene atmosphere of this most blessed Psalm!

Please listen and be blessed by the below anointed and uplifting song entitled, "Grace and Mercy", performed by the Mississippi Mass Choir. This was one of the last songs the soloist, Frank Williams sung (in 1993) before his death of a heart attack. Frank Williams was the founder and principal singer of the acclaimed Mississippi Mass Choir.


(I do not own the rights to this song.)

 

BE BLESSED!

Precious Lord - Matthew 14:22-32

This is Namma for Christ with the ninety-seventh inspirational message dated Tuesday, November 15th, 2016. The title of this message is, "PRECIOUS LORD - MATT. 14: 22 - 32". The title of this message is taken from the great gospel song, "PRECIOUS LORD, TAKE MY HAND", written by the late Thomas Dorsey (1899-1993), known as the father of Gospel music.  (This message was originally written by me on August 25th, 2013 for Namma for Christ). The scripture comes from the book of Matthew in the 14th chapter (see below scripture text), where Jesus "walked on the sea" as He approached the disciples (who were in a ship "in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves"):

Matthew 14:22-32

King James Version (KJV)

²² And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away.

²³ And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.

²⁴ But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.

²⁵ And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.

²⁶ And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.

²⁷ But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.

²⁸ And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.

²⁹ And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.

³⁰ But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.

³¹ And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?

³² And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.

In the above text, in verse 26, upon seeing Jesus walking on the sea, they were all at first "troubled", saying: "It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear". But, Jesus reassured the disciples saying, “Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid." Then Peter said, "Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water."  Jesus replied to Peter (in the 29th verse) by stating, "Come." The scripture then states, "And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus".  While Peter trusted in Jesus' miraculous power, he looked to and depended on JESUS...Look at the results:  Peter actually "walked on water"! Verse 30 follows with what happened when Peter started "worrying" about "what" was troubling him: the boisterous wind". Peter then began to be "afraid'. Instead of "continuing" to remember to focus on JESUS - amid the storm and winds around him..... Peter momentarily lost focus of "WHO" CAN HOLD YOU UP DURING A STORM! When "he (Peter) saw the boisterous wind" Peter then became "afraid" and began to "sink".  

When Peter "stopped" looking to JESUS (WHO IS OUR SAVIOR, OUR LORD, OUR DELIVERER AND OUR GREAT PROBLEM SOLVER).....Peter began to be afraid and began to "sink" when he focused on "his problem"!

But did Peter stay down.....NO.....what did he do...after he started "sinking"? He CRIED OUT TO JESUS - HIS LORD AND SAVIOR!

PETER CRIED, SAYING, "LORD, SAVE ME!"

VERSE 31 SHOWS HOW OUR LORD IS ALWAYS THERE TO CATCH HIS CHILDREN WHEN WE CALL OR CRY OUT TO HIM.....

JESUS LOVES US AND HE IS THERE TO REACH OUT HIS "UNCHANGING HAND" ...IF WE "FALL"....OR BEGIN TO "SINK" AMID OUR PROBLEMS...OR BECOME AFRAID.

ALWAYS REMEMBER...WE CAN CRY OUT AND SAY, "PRECIOUS LORD, TAKE MY HAND"  TO HELP US IN OUR TRIALS, TRIBULATIONS, PROBLEMS,  WORRIES AND FEARS. 

WE DON'T HAVE TO BE OVERWHELMED WITH WHAT "COMES AGAINST” US...WE HAVE JESUS ON OUR SIDE! JESUS CAN HELP US DO WHAT WE CAN'T DO ON OUR OWN.... JESUS CAN HELP US DO MIRACULOUS THINGS WHEN WE TRUST HIM! WE MUST BELIEVE IN HIM, OBEY HIM, PRAY TO HIM AND TRUST JESUS - AT ALL TIMES! 

HEBREWS 13: 5 REASSURES US - "I WILL NEVER LEAVE THEE, NOR FORSAKE THEE":

Hebrews 13:5

King James Version (KJV)

⁵ Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

1ST PETER 5:7 REMINDS US WHAT JESUS WANTS US TO DO BECAUSE HE CARES FOR US:

1 Peter 5:7

King James Version (KJV)

⁷ Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

PLEASE ENJOY THE BELOW SONG AND VIDEO BY THE LATE, GREAT GOSPEL SINGER, MAHALIA JACKSON, SINGING, "PRECIOUS LORD, TAKE MY HAND" (WRITTEN BY THOMAS DORSEY - AFTER HIS WIFE AND SON DIED DURING CHILDBIRTH. IN HIS GRIEF, HE SAID THAT THE "WORDS” OF THIS FAMOUS GOSPEL SONG CAME DIRECTLY FROM GOD).

(I do not own the rights to this song.)

BE BLESSED!

Listen to Dr. Charles Stanley - Strength - Phil 4:13

Listen

Amazing Grace - Prov. 16:18 - Pride Goes Before a Fall

This is Namma for Christ with the 95th inspirational message dated Saturday, November 12th, 2016. The title of this message is, “Amazing Grace - Prov. 16:18 - Pride Goes Before a Fall”.  The scripture comes from the 18^th verse of the 16^th chapter of the book of Proverbs - where King Solomon reminds us that, “PRIDE GOES (or COMES) BEFORE A FALL”:

Proverbs 16:18

New King James Version (NKJV)

¹⁸ Pride goes before destruction,
And a haughty spirit before a fall.

Recently, I looked up the “saying” of “Pride goes before a fall” and this is what it stated: “People who are overconfident or too arrogant are likely to fail.” This saying was adapted from the scripture as listed above.

It also means - “If you’re too conceited or self-inflated, something will happen to you to make you look foolish.”

This idiom (of “pride going before a fall”) is also displayed many times in Biblical stories. One account can be found in the fifth book of Daniel in regard to King Belshazzar.

The scripture for the story is as follows:

Daniel 5:1-6

New King James Version (NKJV)

Belshazzar’s Feast

5 Belshazzar the king made a great feast for a thousand of his lords, and drank wine in the presence of the thousand. ² While he tasted the wine, Belshazzar gave the command to bring the gold and silver vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple which had been in Jerusalem, that the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines might drink from them.³ Then they brought the gold vessels that had been taken from the temple of the house of God which had been in Jerusalem; and the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines drank from them. ⁴ They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold and silver, bronze and iron, wood and stone.

⁵ In the same hour the fingers of a man’s hand appeared and wrote opposite the lampstand on the plaster of the wall of the king’s palace; and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote. ⁶ Then the king’s countenance changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his hips were loosened and his knees knocked against each other.

  The story proceeds as follows - by the King asking for his wise men, magicians, and sorcerers to interpret “the meaning and the words of this hand”. The Queen, his wife,  then tells King Belshazzar to call for Daniel (who had interpreted dreams for his (late) father, Nebuchadnezzar):

Daniel 5:11

New King James Version (NKJV)

 

¹¹ There is a man in your kingdom in whom is the Spirit of the Holy God. And in the days of your father, light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, were found in him; and King Nebuchadnezzar your father—your father the king—made him chief of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers.

  Daniel is then called. Daniel reminds King Belshazzar of what happened to his father. Daniel then interprets the dream and he informs King Belshazzar that his end will soon come – that “God has numbered his days” (see below scripture):

Daniel 5:18-31

New King James Version (NKJV)

 

¹⁸ O king, the Most High God gave Nebuchadnezzar your father a kingdom and majesty, glory and honor. ¹⁹ And because of the majesty that He gave him, all peoples, nations, and languages trembled and feared before him. Whomever he wished, he executed; whomever he wished, he kept alive; whomever he wished, he set up; and whomever he wished, he put down. ²⁰ But when his heart was lifted up, and his spirit was hardened in pride, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him. ²¹ Then he was driven from the sons of men, his heart was made like the beasts, and his dwelling was with the wild donkeys. They fed him with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven, till he knew that the Most High God rules in the kingdom of men, and appoints over it whomever He chooses.

²² “But you his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, although you knew all this. ²³ And you have lifted yourself up against the Lord of heaven. They have brought the vessels of His house before you, and you and your lords, your wives and your concubines, have drunk wine from them. And you have praised the gods of silver and gold, bronze and iron, wood and stone, which do not see or hear or know; and the God who holds your breath in His hand and owns all your ways, you have not glorified. ²⁴ Then the fingers of the hand were sent from Him, and this writing was written.

²⁵ “And this is the inscription that was written:

MENE,MENE, TEKEL, PARSIN.

²⁶ This is the interpretation of each word.

MENE: God has numbered your kingdom, and finished it; 

²⁷ TEKEL: You have been weighed in the balances, and found wanting;

²⁸ PERES: Your kingdom has been divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.”

²⁹ Then Belshazzar gave the command, and they clothed Daniel with purple and put a chain of gold around his neck, and made a proclamation concerning him that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom.

Belshazzar’s Fall

³⁰ That very night Belshazzar, king of the Chaldeans, was slain. ³¹ And Darius the Mede received the kingdom, being about sixty-two years old.

In summary – Belshazzar’s PRIDE went before his FALL!

As a lesson for us, as Christian believers – let’s stay humble before the Lord. Matthew 23:12 reminds us:

Matthew 23:12

 

New King James Version (NKJV)

¹² And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.

 Let us cling to God’s “Amazing Grace” and be reminded that “it is by God’s Amazing Grace that we have been saved”:

Ephesians 2:8-9

New King James Version (NKJV)

 

⁸ For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, ⁹ not of works, lest anyone should boast.

Please enjoy the below beautiful and anointed song, “Amazing Grace”, as sung by the late Whitney Houston.

(I do not own the rights to this song.)

BE BLESSED!