Topic: Isaiah’s Truths: Lesson 5- What does God look for in His children?
Bible Reading: Isaiah 1
Memory Verse: Isaiah 1:19
If you are willing and obedient, You shall eat the good of the land.
Good evening ladies and gentlemen! How are you doing? How has your week been so far? I pray that it has been a great week so far! Yesterday, we missed a post yesterday! We apologize for that! Today, we are back again! We will be continuing our series, “Isaiah’s Truths”, with the fifth lesson! Before we move into the message the Holy Spirit has for us, what do you think God looks for in His children (including yourself)? Take a few minutes to think of an answer!
Got an answer? Let’s read on to see if the answers match…
As children of God, God has some expectations of us! Yes, He does! Just like your earthly parents expect you to follow the rules they have set in place to govern the household; God expects us to live our lives in a certain way! This is to ensure that we do not live our lives for the flesh- moving away from Him!
From today’s verse, we see that God is looking out for people who are “…willing and obedient…” Yes! These are two very important things that we have to set our minds to! As we go through this journey with Christ, He looks at our hearts and looks out for these two qualities- obedience and willingness! The main question is what is obedience and willingness in this context? This is the question playing back in our minds over and over again, at this moment in time! Well, let’s explore them one by one!
Let us take a look at “willingness” first! What does it mean to be willing? According to the Oxford English dictionary, willingness is the quality of being happy and ready to do something! In our context, God looks at our hearts! He looks at the degree to which we yearn for Him and excited to be a part of His family! God looks at our readiness and strife! Do we show in our hearts that we are ready to be a part of His family? Or do we show signs of yearning to want Him? This is what God looks at for! What are our hearts saying? In what direction are our hearts directed in? He looks at our hearts because that is the central point! A lot of the things we do as humans are from the heart! We are very emotional creatures- we think and act more with our hearts than our minds! Once someone’s heart is fully dedicated to God; it will be very difficult to break his/ her allegiance to God!
The second word is “obedience!” Obedience is said to be the fact of doing something you are told to do! One word that is very interesting in this definition is “fact!” Why? Well, when something is deemed factual it is the truth! So, obedience equals truth! This is because whatever you have been tasked to do is established; once you obey! The truths of the Bible, which are recounted by people (and their experiences), are so because these people obeyed God’s call!
As children of God, we are all being tasked to do something to promote and (attain) Christ’s mission! We all have a part to play! Each person’s part is very important! No matter how small or insignificant it may seem! Due to this, God looks out for people who listen to Him and take up His words and run on them! He is looking at people who are ready to take the action whenever He calls on them! He is looking at people who can carefully decipher His voice and allow Him to lead them! He is looking for people who are ready to selflessly give themselves up (and everything dear to them) for His work!
Do the answer we thought of at the beginning of the post correspond to what the Holy Spirit just taught us? If they were or were not, this message has been a very eye-opening and insightful piece from the Holy Spirit!
Now, let us reflect on our lives! Do we live our lives, as though we are willing and obedient to God? If yes, that’s awesome! Let us continue to live that way! Like the verse says, “You shall eat the good of the land.” The blessings coming your way is going to be awesome and mind blowing! Because the God we serve rewards! He sees and hears all we do, and He rewards us for our diligence!
If the answer to the above question is no, don’t worry! It’s not too late! The Holy Spirit has drawn our attention to it! Let us seek His Help to ensure that we are following God’s Will; we are willing and obedient! The Holy Spirit is available to us all the time! He is there 24 hours a day, 7 days a week! Just call out to Him! He would help you through it all! Hallelujah!
Prayer Points:
1. Thank the Holy Spirit for this reminder!
2. Thank God for His Grace and Mercy!
3. Pray for Christians worldwide that they may continue to choose Christ each day!
4. Pray for the church that they may not falter from their mandate!
5. Ask the Holy Spirit to continue to live and work in you!
6. Ask the Holy Spirit to continue to guide and strengthen you to keep choosing Christ!
7. Thank God for what He is about to do in your life!
8. Ask God to continue to help and fuel ministers, pastors, prophets, teachers, etc. who are proclaiming God every day
9. Pray for Christians worldwide facing persecution.
10. Pray for Sammie’s Ministries.
End with a time of praise and worship!
Today’s prayer:
Dear Lord,
I thank you for my life. I thank you for giving me another beautiful day. I ask that you guide me and protect me. I pray that I will choose you in every situation that I face. And that my life will be a testimony and an example to many that I have Christ living in me. Thank you, Lord, for sending your son to die on the cross and wipe my sins away. I lift your name high for you are Alpha and Omega. Amen!
IMPORTANT NOTE!!!
The prayer below is for anyone who does not know God or maybe has been apart from God for a while. God is here to pour His favor over your life. All you have to do is call out to Him. Make that decision today!
Dear Lord,
I come to you today as a sinner. I admit that I am a sinner. I believe that Jesus is your Son and He came on to this earth to die for my sins. Dear Lord, let your Son come and fill me. Lord, I ask that He cleanses me off my sins. I am ready to stand for you and profess your Name. Thank you, Lord. Amen.
If you repeated this prayer with all the sincerity of your heart, congratulations!! You are now a part of God’s family. Welcome to the greatest family ever. Heaven is jubilating on your arrival. Your fellow brothers and sisters are also excited to have you on board.
Being a child of God is a wonderful thing. The road might not always be easy, but God is with you each and every step of the way. Guiding you, helping you and encouraging up. You will never regret this decision; I can assure you of that. Two things I would recommend for you to do are;
1. Get yourself a Bible (in a version you understand) and meditate on it day and night. In Joshua 1:8, we are told that when you meditate on the Word day and night, you will be prosperous and successful.
2. Find a Bible- believing church to attend and fellowship with other Christians. This would help you grow spiritually.
I am excited that you made this decision. Welcome! If you would like some help or more understanding into anything, you can leave a message (adding your email address) and I would be willing and happy to help you out