We've previously considered how much God hates liars and those who give false testimony about other people. God detests when we lie and say untrue things about others. However, have you ever thought about how you communicate about God? Are there ideas you have about Him or statements you've made about Him that aren't true?
These questions become important when we consider the following scripture:
Hosea 7:13 - Woe to them, because they have strayed from me! Destruction to them, because they have rebelled against me! I long to redeem them but they speak about me falsely.
Here, God speaks of those who have turned from Him and His desire to save them from the consequences of their choice. Unfortunately, the fact that such people speak falsely about Him has prevented Him from helping them.
And this is why it is crucial to be aware of the things we communicate about the Lord - that we don't speak or even think about Him falsely, whereby those thoughts and words act as a barrier to receiving the help we need from Him.
There are many ways that we humans speak falsely about God. However, the origin of those expressions stem from satan for it is a liar for whom lies are its native language (John 8:44). The devil is an expert in whispering seemingly intelligent ideas that serve to erode a person's understanding of God's true character. For instance, they may eventually not believe that God can help them in times of trouble. As a result, the person runs from pillar to post trying to solve their own problems, forgetting that God is the master problem solver.
Once that seed is planted - that God is incapable, for example - many start to speak in a way that makes God and His promises appear untrue. People communicate those ideas in their conversations with friends in person. People also publish statements fueled by such ideas in social media discussions. They even blaspheme, expressing their disregard for God, by inserting God's name into their foul language, which violates Exodus 22:28 - “Do not blaspheme God or curse the ruler of your people.
Nevertheless, we must praise the Lord, for His mercy extends to all who have spoken falsely about Him. This is because Jesus said so in Mark 3:28 - Truly I tell you, the sons of men will be forgiven all sins and blasphemies, as many as they utter. As such, once we take steps to confess and repent for speaking falsely about the Lord, we can freely receive God's promised forgiveness and begin the process of becoming people who no longer sin that way.
Have you spoken of God falsely? Have you put His power, kindness or love in question when speaking of Him? How about in your thoughts about Him? None of us is perfect, and undoubtedly, at some point in time, we've made such an error. Even if it was simply blaspheming His name by the choice of coarse language we uttered along the way.
Regardless of this sin, we each need His help and the way to gain that is to repent. So, why don't we seek God's forgiveness on this issue?
Heavenly Father, I confess I have said and/or thought things about You that question Your character and thus present You in a false light. Please forgive me. Thank You for Your grace and mercy, which allow me to not only recognize the error of my ways but also repent and receive Your forgiveness. From today, I seek and request Your grace to not repeat this error. All glory belongs to You, IJMN, Amen.
God bless you and see you at fellowship at Noon EST today.
FINAL WORD
It is very possible some of us are not sure about God's true character. That could be because our lives have not been such where we've had the blessings of learning about how faithful the Lord is.
If you are that person, my prayer is that the Lord will rapidly introduce Himself to you. That you will come to see and taste of His goodness.
I pray that His glory shall rise upon you soonest, IJMN, Amen.
And for anyone who wants to remind themselves of God's character, please take a look at Psalm 103. I think it does a good job at spelling out the type of God He is.
As you repent for speaking/thinking falsely about the Lord and remember God's true character, I pray over you that the doors that were closed to you will fling open. I declare and establish in your life that God's redemptive grace and great help will catch up with you. His compassion for you will bring restoration in all areas of your life, IJMN, Amen.
May the Lord bless you. Shoot me your questions if you have any and see you on Friday, by His grace, IJMN, Amen.
CLOSING PRAYER
Thank You Lord for opening our eyes to a way that we could potentially be limiting Your blessings and great help in our lives. Thank You for teaching us to be careful how we speak about you that we neither utter falsehoods or blasphemies about You.
Praise be to Your Holy Name. We thank You for being so mindful of us to want us to be better and do better, that we enjoy the fullness of life You have for us.
God God, I pray for today's participants and those who will join in fellowship at a later point in time. Bless them, Jehovah. Cover them in Your great grace and may they each be recipients of Your help in their times of need. May Your undying love produce unmerited favor and grace that feeds and fuels their walk with You, IJMN, Amen.
LAST 10 MINUTES
As fellowship ends, let's praise God for His mercy. Although we have each likely spoken falsely about the Lord at some point - be it knowingly or by mistake - His compassion and love for us does not end. I pray you prayed the prayer shared at the end of today's main message.
As you worship the Lord for His kindness, take these last few minutes to think about how you can stop speaking falsely about Him. Could it be via the elimination of certain swear words from your speech? How about the things you say about God when you feel disappointed or frustrated? Can you choose to be more conscious to not grumble and then slip up by speaking or thinking about Him in a way that disrespects instead of glorifies the King of kings?
Think carefully because the consequence of speaking falsely about your God is that you effectively tie His hands from being a source of help to you. This might not be in every area of your life, but can you afford to shut out His help from any part of your life?
If the answer is no, then it is important to take this time to think carefully so you can walk on the path of doing better.
*From M22* - Heavenly Father, I pray for people going through financial crisis and debt. I know you hear their cries, you see their breakdowns. Father, I pray that you lift up their financial burden. I pray that you open up financial opportunities for them. I pray that this year shall be a year of abundance IJMN amen.
Lord, we lift up Turkiye, Syria and all the nations across the earth that are experiencing turmoil in one form or the other.
Thank You for being the God who has promised to warn His people if they listen. In fact, Your word tells us that the end times will be tough (Matthew 24). That there will be wars, famines, earthquakes, diseases and a breakdown of society. Lord, I confess that although You have shared this knowledge to prepare us for the times, it remains difficult to see people suffering.
And so, because You are the God who has told us to cast all our burdens onto Him, I lift up the nations and peoples of the world to You (Psalm 55:22). Lord, wherever there is turmoil, I call on You, the God who stills the turmoil of the nations, to bring Your peace (Psalm 65:7). Lord, I call for Your mercy and compassion to fall upon those whom You have determined will be recipients (Exodus 33:19).
Remember Your word in Isaiah 30:18 - Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!
Therefore, Your faithful await Your grace and compassion to spread out across the Lord. May we witness it, declare it is marvelous and rejoice in You, IJMN, Amen.
*From M22* -Heavenly Father, I pray for people that are job hunting. I pray that you lead them to the right community where they can work and feel appreciated for their workflow. IJMN amen.
*From CUR* - Heavenly Father I pray for my unsaved family members and friends; and all those who do not know You. God I pray that You would open their hearts to receive the Gospel. Lord remove anything that blinds them from the Truth that is Your saving grace. You are powerful and mighty Lord, overcome their ideologies that convince them that they don't need You. Make us mighty in our own relationships with You so that we may be a light to those around us. IJMN I pray AMEN!
*From M22* - Abba, I pray for people that are mourning the loss of a loved one. I pray that you grant them strength and help them rest in you. Help them move on with ease and help them grief with ease IJMN amen.
*From BI* - Lord, I pray for Your healing touch on BB, JO, PC, MW, CE, TB and CS. I place them into Your care and ask that You remove all anxiety and fear from their lives. May they find consolation in Your healing presence. Show them mercy Lord and heal their mind, body and spirit. May the mantle of long life rest upon them. Cover them with Your unending love and fill them with Your transcending peace. I declare that by the stripes of Jesus they are healed.
Lord, I pray You protect all the people involved in their care as they act as agents of Your healing hands. I pray Lord that it will end in praise all to Your glory IJMN Amen.
*From M22* - Heavenly Father, I pray for the family of Kiernan Forbes especially his young daughter. I pray that you grant them all strength. I pray that you help them as they mourn the loss of Kiernan. I pray that you strengthen his daughter as she grows in the public eye. I pray that she grows up to be of godly character. IJMN amen.
Father, I thank You for being Jehovah Ropheka. The Master Healer.
Lord, Your word tells us in Joel 2:32 - And everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved; for on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be deliverance, as the LORD has said, even among the survivors whom the LORD calls.
God we know satan aims to steal people of the good health that is their rightful inheritance as Your children. Nevertheless, You are not a man that You should lie and You have never been limited by anything satan has ever done or will ever do.
So, it is with confidence and praise that we come before You lifting up the healing needs of our fellowship members. We thank You for being the God who answers prayers.
As P&P belongs to you, we stand on it as if on Mt. Zion lifting up Peppers who desire Your restorative healing. We believe they need one touch but call on You to give them a second touch and transform all that needs to be healed within and even around them, IJMN, Amen.
*From M22* - Heavenly Father, I pray for people struggling mentally. Heavenly Father I pray that you conquer their minds. Help them to focus on the positive. Help them to celebrate their wins no matter how small. Help them to focus on the wins and know if they lost something, a better opportunity is open for them. Restore their self worth, confidence and self esteem. IJMN amen.
*From M22* - Heavenly Father I pray for people that don't know you, that they come to know you. I pray that they come to recognize you and bask in your presence. Assure them of your word in Isaiah 41 vs 10,13 IJMN amen.
Lord, thank You for being the God who is steadfast and true. You do not change like shifting shadows (James 1:17). You are completely dependable.
God, satan wants people to doubt Your capacity. It wants people to think they need to depend on themselves and not on You.
Dear Father, You have told us to ask that we will receive (Matthew 7:7-8). Therefore, I ask that You kindly teach Peppers more about Your character. Help Peppers to learn more about you and develop an even more trusting relationship with You. That none will be deceived by the devil's lies about You and what You are capable of doing.
Gently guide Peppers that we may all come to know You more. That our faith be increased and that we know that there is nothing impossible with You, just as our Savior Jesus Christ said in Matthew 19:26. IJMN, Amen.
*From M22* - Heavenly Father I thank you for your healing power over every folk that is currently ill, I pray that their cells, systems, organs, and vessels submit to your healing authority. I pray that you direct the medical team to administer the right drugs, treatment and technology IJMN amen.
*From CUR* - Thank You Lord for giving me the energy and willingness to take better care of my temple. Even when I call on You mid workout, You give me the energy to push though. Praise God for the convictions that You lovingly lay on my heart. It means that Spirit dwells within me and for that I praise you!
*From M22* - Heavenly Father, I want to thank you for Nigeria. I thank you for exposing every misdoings in the electoral process. I give you glory that the youths stood their ground and used their voice for good. I thank you for exposing and dismantling every contrary forces in the country. I pray that you elect your chosen one and help the masses as they cry out to you. We are children of God and we refuse to suffer continuously. Heal this country Abba.
PRAYER TIME
Everyone needs someone to pray for them. Oftentimes, they just don't realize.
Please put your own prayer requests to the side. I know they are pressing and hard to ignore, but during the next 25 minutes, it is our responsibility to pray for others and not ourselves.
God will not forget your needs just because you took a few minutes to focus on someone else's prayer point. You showing love to someone by praying for them will actually endear you to the Lord. He does great things for those He is pleased with.
We must first give to receive in the Kingdom of God. This requires great faith.
Put your faith to work right now, no matter how small it seems. Believe that as you take time to bless others with your prayers, your own needs will not go ignored by God Almighty.
Be selfless.
Intercede for someone in prayer.
*From M22* - Thank you Abba for providing my sister with her own accomodation. You did at your timing. She waited on you and you didn't disappoint her. Thank you Abba I am beyond grateful for everyone that lifted her up during this time.
Psalm 97:9 - For you, LORD, are the Most High over all the earth; you are exalted far above all gods.
Hallelujah!
*From M22* - Thank you Abba for Nigeria, the masses are starting to cry out for the lack of good governance. Heavenly father, let your chosen one lead this country to glory. Dismantle every system of rigging, intimidation, vote buying, diabolical acts and let your mandate prevail concerning this country.
*From BI* - I thank You King of kings for all You are doing in the lives of friends, family, neighbours, colleagues and patients. Thank You Lord that it did not end the way the devil planned it. It ended in praise all to Your glory.
Father, I exalt You for You are my Rock, my Refuge, my Fortress and my Shelter.
You, oh Lord, are my Deliverer and Salvation.
Ancient of Days, I thank You for all You have done, are doing and will do in my life and all around me.
Praise be to You, my King!
*From BI* - Thank You Lord for helping me, forgiving me, rescuing me, loving me, protecting me, sheltering me, feeding me, guiding me, correcting me, disciplining me, healing me, encouraging me and so much more more. You Lord are a wonderful father me. Your mercy and grace are boundless and to You be all the glory, honour and adoration. Thank You Abba for yesterday, today and forever.
From sis FJ -
Praise reports:
Thank You, wise God, for giving me a solution to the problem that's been bothering me. And also for giving me peace about another worry too!
Thank You, Jehovah Jireh, for giving us financial provision. "the gold is Mine and the silver is Mine, says the Lord"
Thank You, all powerful Father, for helping me to better mange my thoughts and guard my heart.
Thank You, my God, for work: the room for growth, the favor, and the spirit of excellence upon me.
Thank You, living God, for the love and the sense of fellowship at volunteering.
From DR14U -
Exodus 15:18 - “The LORD reigns for ever and ever.”
AMEN!
From the beginning to the end, You reign, Jehovah!
Glory belongs to You alone!
*From CUR* - Good morning Peppers! I've been asking for prayers for my grandma and her sinus/eye issues and she has a message for you all! "Don't forget to tell your prayers group thanks for their prayers I am doing much better with God's help and thank you" :D
*From M22* - Thank you Abba for another P and P. Grateful for today. Grateful we are here together again to pray and intercede.
From MS - Thank you for this message
*From CS* - This is a good topic. I’m thankful that it doesn’t apply. Lol. Still, it gives me a lot to think about. God has brought me through a lot. He healed my mind. He fixed my broken spirit. He fixed my broken life. I was a new Christian at the time of trial, but I never doubted Him. I just thought that I was being tested. I prayed and fasted and never thought that He wouldn’t fix things. BUT— I was also open to Gods Will. So…whatever God desired for my life, I was willing to accept that reality. Because one thing about Him: you may face hardship in this life, but God will give you the strength to bear it all. God gave me peace especially in my darkest moments. In Him, I found ‘rest’.
But He saved me, instead - from mental illness (I developed an onset of psychotic mental illness - schizoaffective disorder - literally a month after I converted. It is due to the Lords Grace that I can even speak like a rational person, right now).
God saved me from homelessness - where I ended up while battling psychosis. God saved me from atheism - what I was before I came to Him. I am here to say that I BELIEVE in God and I believe that He is because the Bible says. And it takes a certain kind of living for a former atheist to appreciate this circular logic. Lol
God saved me from myself - my wounded psyche, my broken life. He healed me. He made me a better person.
And He improved my life. He saved my life.
God did that.
I pray a lot for strong faith. That helps a great deal in my relationship with Him. That’s why I don’t doubt God. I don’t pray for money and things. I pray for faith. And I force myself to do Bible study every day - just to keep Him in my heart because I want to spend every waking minute ‘in the Spirit’. Lol. But, yeah…God saved me from the worst things that can happen to a person - the loss of safety, security and my mind. I’ll never doubt Him. If you’ve overcome what I have, you wouldn’t either.
God will help you; you just have to trust Him.
*From DS* - This devotional message's meant for me. Thank you.
*From CUR* - I want to praise God for another great weekend back at church the for the upcoming small groups. I praise God for my grandmothers eye and sinus issues subsiding slowly but surely. I praise God for P&P!
PRAISE TIME
Do not, and I mean do not act like you don't know what time it is!
You should be praising God without a care right now. Telling Him how much you love Him. How wonderful He is. How kind He's been to your loved ones and yourself.
Don't waste time, folks!
If this was some girl or guy you liked, you'd be whispering silly sweet nothings in their ear. Are you going to tell me you can't do that and more for the King of the Universe?
You better get to praising...