Friday, January 26, 2024

Trust In God – Isaiah 26:3-4

 

This is “Namma for Christ” with the two hundred sixty-second inspirational message dated Friday, January 26th, 2024.  The title of this message is, “Trust In God – Isaiah 26:3-4”.  The first three words of the title, “Trust In God” are also the words in the title of the below anointed song/video (with lyrics) by Elevation Worship – featuring Christian artist “Chris Brown”. The message’s scripture is below as found in the book of Isaiah - as written by the Old Testament prophet, Isaiah:


Isaiah 26:3-4
New International Version (NIV)


You will keep in perfect peace
    those whose minds are steadfast,
    because they trust in You.
Trust in the Lord forever,
    for the Lord, the Lord Himself, is the Rock eternal.




As to share with future readers and to provide a  brief quotation for critical review - I have included an excerpt of the (January 22nd) message from an inspirational book - (of which I'd like to recommend). The below message was taken from "Jesus Calling - Enjoying Peace In His Presence" as written by Sarah Young. This book was written from the perspective as if JESUS - was saying "these words" directly to "you"!  (Please read the below inspirational message:)

-----------------

STRIVE TO TRUST ME in more and more areas of your life. Anything that tends to make you anxious is a growth opportunity. Instead of running away from these challenges, embrace them, eager to gain all the blessings I have hidden in the difficulties. If you believe that I am sovereign over every aspect of your life, it is possible to trust Me in all situations. Don’t waste energy regretting the way things are or thinking about what might have been. Start at the present moment – accepting things exactly as they are – and search for My way in the midst of those circumstances.

Trust is like a staff you can lean on, as you journey uphill with Me. If you are trusting in Me consistently, the staff will bear as much of your weight as needed. Lean on, trust, and be confident in Me with all your heart and mind.

 

 

Psalm 52:8

New International Version (NIV)

“But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God;

I trust in God’s unfailing love forever and ever.”


 

Proverbs 3:5-6
Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC)

Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding.

In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths.

 

Proverbs 3:5-6
New King James Version (NKJV)


Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.

 

Psalm 112:4 & 7
New International Version (NIV)


Even in darkness light dawns for the upright,
    for those who are gracious and compassionate and righteous.

 

They will have no fear of bad news;
    their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord.


  Please enjoy the below anointed song/video, “Trust In God” (with lyrics) by Elevation Worship – featuring Christian artist “Chris Brown”.


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


(If you can't see the below video: Please scroll down to the end - Under the rectangular box labeled "Home" - please click "View web version". You will automatically be taken to the top of the message - please scroll down to the "end" of the message to view the video. Please press play to enjoy the song/video.)

 


BE BLESSED!



Thursday, December 21, 2023

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel – Isaiah 9:6-7

 

This is Namma for Christ with the two hundred sixty-first inspirational message dated Thursday, December 21st, 2023. The title of this message is “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel – Isaiah 9:6-7”.

The first five words of this message’s title are also the words of the title of the below anointed song/video, “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” as performed by “for KING and COUNTRY”.

The below passage of scripture (that accompanies this message) is from the sixth and seventh verses of the ninth chapter of Isaiah:

Isaiah 9:6-7

New King James Version - (NKJV)

For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of His government and peace
There will be no end,
Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom,
To order it and establish it with judgment and justice
From that time forward, even forever.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

 

 

 

The title of this message includes the words – O Come, O Come, Emmanuel – which is the “title” of the late Dr. Charles Stanley’s “In Touch” Daily Devotional for (Dec. 18th, 2023) – which I have included below (Dr. Charles Stanley passed away on 4/18/23). Dr. Charles Stanley was the founder of the “In Touch” daily devotional. Those who work on behalf of this daily devotional are continuing its publication - as it ministers to readers around the world. I recently read the below message and wanted to share this message in “Namma for Christ”.

 

 O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

  Isaiah 7:14; Matt. 1:23

 

      AT CHRISTMASTIME, we sing “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”, a hymn that includes ancient chants known as the “O Antiphons”. (An antiphon is a phrase or verse from Scripture, often from the Psalms, historically sung during worship.) In 6th-century worship, each “O” was followed by a messianic title: Emmanuel, Root of Jesse, Dayspring, Key of David, Lord of Might, Desire of Nations. These names for the Savior remind us that in Jesus, God fulfilled the hopes of His people. And we can observe His faithfulness both historically and in the present, with hope for the future.

      The hymn hinges on the name Emmanuel (or Immanuel), meaning “God with us” (see Matt. 1:23 below)

Matthew 1:23

New King James Version - (NKJV)

23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”

As John says, “The Word became flesh, and dwelt among us” (see John 1:14 below).

John 1:14

New King James Version - (NKJV)

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

 

Jesus is not merely a good teacher or prophet – He is God Incarnate, the wisdom of God in human form. That truth is the foundation of our hope.

      As we try to embody Jesus’ teachings, our prayer should be to walk as His wise followers in the world (see Ephesians 5:15 below).

Ephesians 5:15

New King James Version - (NKJV)

 15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise

 

That means living faithfully in a kingdom that is both here now and still to come. We also pray that our Emmanuel will draw many
people – “from every tribe, language,… and nation” (see Revelation 5:9 below) – to Himself, until the whole earth is filled with the knowledge of God’s glory (see Habakkuk 2:14 and Psalm 72:19 below).

Revelation 5:9

New King James Version - (NKJV)

And they sang a new song, saying:

 

“You are worthy to take the scroll,
And to open its seals;
For You were slain,
And have redeemed us to God by Your blood
Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,

 

 

 

Habakkuk 2:14

New King James Version - (NKJV)


14 For the earth will be filled
With the knowledge of the glory of the Lord,
As the waters cover the sea.

 

Psalm 72:19

New King James Version - (NKJV)

19 And blessed be His glorious name forever!
And let the whole earth be filled with His glory.
Amen and Amen.

 

I pray that you have enjoyed the above message and I pray that you will enjoy the accompanied song.

 

Please enjoy the below song/video, “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” as performed by “for KING and COUNTRY” performed with power and anointing.

 

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

 

 (If you can't see the below video: Please scroll down to the end - Under the rectangular box labeled "Home" - please click "View web version". You will automatically be taken to the top of the message - please scroll down to the "end" of the message to view the video. Please press play to enjoy the song/video.)

 

BE BLESSED!


 


Thursday, December 7, 2023

Hold On – 2nd Cor. 4:7 – His Strength in Our Weakness

 

This is Namma for Christ with the two hundred sixtieth inspirational message dated Thursday, December 7th, 2023. The title of this message is “Hold On – 2nd Cor. 4:7 – His Strength in Our Weakness”. The first two words of the title of this message are also the first two words of the below song/video by Christian artist “Katy Nichole”, entitled – “Hold On”.  The scripture for this message is found in the seventh verse of the fourth chapter of 2nd Corinthians – as found in the New Testament book as written by the Apostle Paul.

2nd Corinthians 4:7

New King James Version (NKJV)


But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.

 

Recently, I read my church school lesson (on December 6th, 2023) as found in the lesson book from the “Echoes Church School Publications” and the lesson’s title was - "His Strength in Our Weakness".  Immediately, this caught my attention, because this “title” reminded me of one of my favorite verses – 2nd Corinthians 12:9 (see below):

2nd Corinthians 12:9

New King James Version (NKJV)


And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

 

  When I was a child attending Church School, one of the most familiar Bible stories I remember learning was that of – “David and Goliath”.  Upon reading my upcoming church school lesson – I found that it, too, was based on the story of “David and Goliath”. The scripture text of the lesson was taken from the Old testament scripture of 1st Samuel 17:31-37, 1st Samuel 17:45 and 1st Samuel 17:48-50. Below are the passages of the lesson’s scripture (New King James Version):

1st Samuel 17

31 Now when the words which David spoke were heard, they reported them to Saul; and he sent for him. 32 Then David said to Saul, “Let no man’s heart fail because of him; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine.”

33 And Saul said to David, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are a youth, and he a man of war from his youth.”

34 But David said to Saul, “Your servant used to keep his father’s sheep, and when a lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock, 35 I went out after it and struck it, and delivered the lamb from its mouth; and when it arose against me, I caught it by its beard, and struck and killed it. 36 Your servant has killed both lion and bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God.” 37 Moreover David said, “The Lord, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.”

And Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you!”

45 Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.

48 So it was, when the Philistine arose and came and drew near to meet David, that David hurried and ran toward the army to meet the Philistine. 49 Then David put his hand in his bag and took out a stone; and he slung it and struck the Philistine in his forehead, so that the stone sank into his forehead, and he fell on his face to the earth. 50 So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone, and struck the Philistine and killed him. But there was no sword in the hand of David.

Below is the text of the church school lesson book’s message entitled:

 

His Strength in Our Weakness

 

In the story of David (the shepherd boy), his reliance on God stands out. He relied fully on God’s strength and power. David didn’t let his youth or lack of armor and weapons stop him. Our weakness is never God’s weakness. His strength can carry us through even the most impossible-looking situations. David used what he had at hand and trusted that God would use it for His glory. That is, we, like David, are weak that we might be a vessel, a “treasure in jars of clay” (2nd Cor. 4:7 see above verse), to display God’s strength and power to deliver those who call on Him.

We see David’s dependence on God in his thoughts, words and actions. More than once in this scene he refers to the living Lord, the God of Israel. His trust and confidence in God’s strength began during his shepherding experience, as he delivered sheep from the mouths of their enemies.

David had many days and nights to practice with his slingshot and also to grow in relationship with God. Based on his experiences, he made a connection that God would help him defeat this enemy of the Israelites. He told anyone who would listen (and even those who wouldn’t!) that God would win the battle. He had complete confidence in the Lord’s strength and ability to defeat Goliath. David’s goal was not only victory, but that God would be glorified.

In God’s Strength

David placed his faith in God’s strength, not his own. He was not matched physically for Goliath – but God was. When we face the Goliaths in our lives, we need to remember that God is bigger than any problem we have. He will give us the strength, through the Holy Spirit, to forge ahead in faith to whatever He wants us to do, whatever Goliath that He wants us to overcome.

 

I pray that this message may encourage someone else reading this. We ALL may go through difficult times (during our lives), but don’t get discouraged – GOD is with us! The battle is not ours, but the Lord’s. See the below verse from 1st Samuel 17:47a –

“The Lord does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the Lord’s…”

 

Also, REMEMBER 1st John 4:4 says - 

1st John 4:4

New King James Version (NKJV)

 

You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 

 

Please enjoy the below inspirational song/video (with lyrics) by Christian artist “Katy Nichole”, entitled “Hold On” – sung with power and anointing.

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

 

(If you can't see the below video: Please scroll down to the end - Under the rectangular box labeled "Home" - please click "View web version". You will automatically be taken to the top of the message - please scroll down to the "end" of the message to view the video. Please press play to enjoy the song/video.)

 

BE BLESSED!



Thursday, November 16, 2023

I See Grace – Psalm 66:16 – Tell of God’s Goodness

 

This is Namma for Christ with the two hundred fifty-ninth inspirational message dated Thursday, November 16th, 2023. The title of this message is “I See Grace – Psalm 66:16 – Tell of God’s Goodness”.

The first three words of the title are also the words of the name of the below inspirational song/video, "I See Grace" (with lyrics) as sung by the Christian artist, “Micah Tyler”.  The below passage of scripture (that accompanies this message) is from the Old Testament book of Psalms - the sixteenth verse of the sixty-sixth chapter:

Psalm 66:16

New International Version (NIV)

16 Come and hear, all you who fear God; Let me tell you what He has done for me.

 

 

For many years, I have enjoyed reading the daily inspirational messages as provided by Our Daily Bread Ministries in their publications of "OUR DAILY BREAD".  

I recently read the message for the day (for November 16th, 2023) and found it to be so inspiring, memorable and “thought-provoking”.  

 
 I wanted to share this message with you (see the below message). Our Daily Bread Ministries has the 
website of:  www.odb.org so that you can read and enjoy life-changing wisdom of daily inspirational messages based on scripture from the Bible. Please read and enjoy:

 

Tell of God’s Goodness

 

28 Let me tell you what He has done for me.  Psalm 66:16

 

Today's Scripture & Insight:

Psalm 66:5-12,16-20

Testimony time was the segment in our church service when people shared how God had been at work in their lives. Auntie—or Sister Langford as she was known by others in our church family—was known for packing lots of praise into her testimonies. On the occasions when she shared her personal conversion story, one could expect her to take up a good bit of the service. Her heart gushed with praise to God who’d graciously changed her life!

Similarly, the testimony of the writer of Psalm 66 is packed with praise as he testifies about what God had done for His people. “Come and see what God has done, his awesome deeds for mankind!” (verse 5). His deeds included miraculous rescue (verse 6), preservation (verse 9), and testing and discipline that resulted in His people being brought to a better place (verses 10–12). While there are God-experiences that we have in common with other believers in Jesus, there are also things unique to our individual journeys. Have there been times in your life when God has particularly made Himself known to you? Those are worth sharing with others who need to hear how He’s worked in your life. “Come and hear, all you who fear God; let me tell you what He has done for me” (verse 16 – see above).

 

By: Arthur Jackson

 

Please enjoy the below inspirational song/video, “I See Grace” (with lyrics) as sung by the Christian artist, “Micah Tyler” – sung with power and anointing.

 

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

 

(If you can't see the below video: Please scroll down to the end - Under the rectangular box labeled "Home" - please click "View web version". You will automatically be taken to the top of the message - please scroll down to the "end" of the message to view the video. Please press play to enjoy the song/video.)

 

BE BLESSED!