The Bible is full of things that will work if you put them to practice in your life. There is wise counsel to be found on a number of subjects in the word of God.
ÿ The scripture says, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my pathway.”
ÿ The Bible says, “Thy word is like gold to me, and I should desire His word more than I desire gold.”
ÿ His words are better than life the scripture says.
ÿ His word is a mirror that I can look into and see what my life looks like.
ÿ The word of God can be used to defeat Satan
ÿ The word of God can be used to withstand evil
ÿ The word of God is a mighty powerful weapon of warfare. It is the sword of the spirit. It is quick and powerful. It is sharper than any two edged sword.
® The word of God gives instruction to us on how we should live our life.
® It gives instruction on how to win in the battles we will fight in this life.
® It gives instruction on how to be saved.
® It gives counsel on how to make it to Heaven one day.
All I have to say about the word and the things found there is – “If it works, DO IT!!!!
If we find something that works we would be considered foolish to abandon those ways for something that does not work.
∑ I have found that thinking before I open my mouth and speak usually works best.
∑ I have found that opening the garage door before I try to drive my car into the garage works best.
∑ Its true that opening your mouth before trying to put food into it works best.
∑ I have found that here in America driving in the right hand lane of the road works best.
∑ I have found that if you want to get somewhere and don’t know the directions to that location there is a member of our congregation that you don’t want to follow.
My point is, that if you find something that works – DO IT!! If you find something that works don’t look for something else but do what you know will work in what ever situation you are in.
I have found that the gospel works. In taking a life that has been wasted by sin and the influence of the world - the gospel works.
Romans 1:16
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
The gospel of Jesus Christ is the death, burial and resurrection. That is that Jesus died on Calvary’s cross. He was buried in a tomb for three days and he rose again from the grave on the third day. That is the gospel and it is the power of God unto salvation.
If it works – DO IT!!
¸ Don’t go looking for another gospel that suits you just a little better.
¸ Don’t go looking for a gospel that will allow you to do what you want to and still feel good about yourself in the process.
¸ Don’t look for a gospel that will make you just a little more comfortable and appease your conscience but still let you live like you want to.
But follow the gospel of Jesus Christ. There is no other gospel.
Galatians 1:6-12
6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:
7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.
8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
10 For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.
11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.
12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
What is the gospel?
1 Corinthians 15:1-4
1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
How do we obey the gospel?
Death – repentance
Burial – baptism
Resurrection – holy ghost
I don’t understand completely how it all works or why God choose the way that He did but I know it works.
God can take a heart stained with sin and blemished with the things of this world and wash it in red blood and make it white as snow. I don’t know how he does it but I know it works!!
Isaiah 1:18
18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
If it works – DO IT!!
Imagine if we could not praise him.
(Use someone from the congregation and start talking about what God has done for them but don’t let them praise God)
(Then use someone and tell what God has done and let them praise God)
I don’t know why God chose praise but he did and I know it works and so I’m going to praise him when I begin to think about his goodness and how he saved my life.
Jehoshophat
2 Coronicles 20:22
22 And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten.
Walls of Jericho
Joshua 6:20
20 So the people shouted when the priests blew with the trumpets: and it came to pass, when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city.
Paul & Silas
Acts 16:25-26
25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed.
There is something supernatural that happens when we begin to praise Him. It is like the incense that drifted up from the tabernacle in the old testament and then God would send his glory. When we send praise up to God he sends his blessings on down.
What is it about clapping or dancing or shouting that gets ahold of God? I don’t know but I do know that he loves it and it works so I am going to do it!!
LIFTING OUR HANDS
Psalm 63:4
4 Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name.
Psalm 134:2
2 Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the LORD.
STANDING
Psalm 135:1-3
1 Praise ye the LORD. Praise ye the name of the LORD; praise him, O ye servants of the LORD.
2 Ye that stand in the house of the LORD, in the courts of the house of our God,
3 Praise the LORD; for the LORD is good: sing praises unto his name; for it is pleasant.
CLAPPING OUR HANDS
Psalm 47:1
O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph.
WITH MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
Psalm 150
1 Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power.
2 Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness.
3 Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp.
4 Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs.
5 Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals.
6 Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.
WITH SINGING
Psalm 96:1
1 O sing unto the LORD a new song: sing unto the LORD, all the earth.
Hebrews 2:12
Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.
DANCING
Psalm 149:1-3
1 Praise ye the LORD. Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise in the congregation of saints.
2 Let Israel rejoice in him that made him: let the children of Zion be joyful in their King.
3 Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp.
SHOUTING
Psalm 47:1
O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph.
Psalm 95:1
O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.
Psalm 98:4
Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.
