The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. This statement comes from Proverbs 9:10 and is a great warning for all who seek to honor and serve God with their life. When an individual fails to walk in the fear of the Lord, they are bound to do and say things without restriction. These things will likely cause them to sin and run afoul of the Creator.
One consequence of lacking the fear of the Lord is speaking arrogantly against Him. This issue is mentioned in Malachi 3:13-15 - “You have spoken arrogantly against me,” says the LORD. “Yet you ask, ‘What have we said against you?’ “You have said, ‘It is futile to serve God. What do we gain by carrying out his requirements and going about like mourners before the LORD Almighty? But now we call the arrogant blessed. Certainly evildoers prosper, and even when they put God to the test, they get away with it.’”
Have you ever said those words or something similar? Have you heard others utter them? Maybe you only thought along those lines but never spoke that way about God. Or do you know (of) someone who proudly said they can do whatever they like because God won't do anything (Psalm 10:11;13)? Please understand that speaking arrogantly against God is something to avoid at all costs.
And if you wonder why, consider that doing so is akin to slandering and blaspheming Him because it questions His character. In such cases, you essentially say He is unfaithful and a liar. When Believers do this publicly, they are breaking faith with Him. They are also speaking about Him falsely and He considers that a great offense. He concludes that they risk not being saved. 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.
If you are to be honest, you have probably spoken disrespectfully or 'recklessly' about God. You likely did it at a point of intense emotions, say during a period of disappointment. You may have been shocked that something you'd prayed for didn't materialize and spoke in a manner that didn't reflect the fear and reverence you should always have for Him.
Maybe you said, "God has disappointed me." Or you may have called Him a liar outright. Whatever the case, God is in the business of forgiving those who genuinely repent and seek His forgiveness when they recognize their sin. Therefore, if you have spoken arrogantly or falsely about the Lord, today is the day to repent without hesitation and ask for His mercy. Call on His Holy Spirit to help you so you never forget to revere Him.
This is not to suggest that God wants us to speak of Him and pray to Him with a formal approach. He is and will always be a kind and loving Father to His children and He enjoys a warm relationship with them. Still, remember how Jesus referred to Him. Though the most powerful man on earth, He always gave God the glory and spoke of Him with great deference. In the moments before He was captured and led to His death, He prayed that God would spare Him but also said these key words, "not my will, but yours be done" (Luke 22:42). He was subject to God in His speech, thoughts, and actions. We too are called to do the same and by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, we shall no longer speak arrogantly against our God, IJMN, Amen.
To learn more, please read:
Idle Words Block Blessings - Tuesday Praise & Pray (for others) January 19, 2021
Careful what you say - Tuesday Praise & Pray (for others) December 14, 2021
Don't Slander or Blaspheme God - Tuesday Praise & Pray (for others) February 28, 2023
Careful what you say about yourself - Friday Praise & Pray (for others) March 3, 2023
Do whatever he tells you - Tuesday Praise & Pray (for others) September 26, 2023
By Their Actions They Deny Him - Praise & Pray (for others) April 23, 2024
Christian, Guard Your Tongue - Tuesday Praise & Pray (for others) June 18, 2024
Your Fiduciary Duty To God - Friday Praise & Pray (for others) September 6, 2024
From M22 - Grateful I get to fellowship today. God is good. I pray nothing will ever stand in the way of us worshipping him. Amen.
From M22 - Grateful for today's message. It's a wonderful reminder for me to praise God when things don't go my way.
CLOSING PRAYER
Mighty God. You have been faithful, once again. In a place where You are not acknowledged, You have allowed us to gather peacefully for Your glory.
Beautiful God! Thank You.
Powerful God, to You alone be all the praise.
The God who can and does take care of everything. Hallowed be Your Holy Name! Now and forever more.
I place today's participants before You and cry to You for Your grace and mercy upon them. Where they have spoken arrogantly against You, I plead for mercy. Where they have sinned, I pray for Your forgiveness. Lord, You are He who does not treat us as our sins deserve. Beloved God. Yeshuah. Mercy instead of judgment, Lord.
As we disperse, cover us in Your grace. May each of us be kept safe by the blood of the Lamb and the grace of our Savior. I pray over all that they will experience You in a tangible and new way this weekend. That their love for You will grow and their reverence for You shall increase.
Thank You, Lord. Thank You, Sovereign King. Thank You, Mighty Man of War.
Glory be to You now and always. IJN, 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. Please join me in saying the following prayer:
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. I repent for speaking and thinking arrogantly against You. 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.
Now, thank the Lord for His mercy. And put your repentance to work by prayerfully asking the Lord to reveal how you have made this grave mistake. Also pray for His strategy on how to not repeat this sin. The Lord is faithful. He will do it.
fROM M22 - Father Lord I pray for families struggling as we head towards the holidays. I pray that you bless them with resources to make this holiday worthwhile. I pray that joy will overflow in their hearts and they will have every cause to celebrate IJMN Amen
From m22 - Father Lord we ask for your mercy over us. We have spoke about you in ways that don't please or honor you in anyway. I pray father that you forgive us and have mercy in us. Father Lord even when things don't go out way, I pray that you humble our spirit and we find comfort in you. I pray that we will continue to please and honor you more than ever IJMN Amen
From JIR - I pray for all Jews. They have been oppressed for centuries. Please Lord take them under Your wings and shield them, protect them and cover them from those who look to cause them any further harm. Please Lord bless them to take back the promised land that You have given them for all time. IJMN. Amen.
From M22 - Abba Father I pray for myself and my siblings that you continue to transform, renew and prune so we become more like you. I pray that you will continue to transform our inner man as we walk eith you everyday. IJMN Amen
From M22 - Father Lord I pray that you continue to bless sis @FFJ . She has been a blessing to this community online and offline. I pray that your mercies and blessings will continue to prevail over her and her family. I pray that you will continue to supply all of her needs and enrich her spiritually 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.
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 world. May we witness it, declare it is marvelous and rejoice in You, IJMN, Amen.
From M22 - Heavenly Father I pray for people struggling with their mental health that you rene me and transform their minds till it aligns with your promise of a sound mind in 2Timothy 1:7. I pray that you destroy everyday strong hold of false reasoning and arguments affecting their minds. I pray Father that every rebellious thoughts in their mind begins to submit to Christ. I pray that they experience your peace beyond measure IJMN Amen
Psalm 150:6 - Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD.
Hallelujah, my God!
I join all of creation to honor You with my praises. You are excellent, oh Lord! I worship at Your feet and thank You for making Your presence known.
Praise the Lord!
From JIR - I pray for all world leaders to pray, seek Your face, humble themselves and turn from their wicked ways. I pray for them to seek Your counsel and depend on You and rely on You for all things. I pray that they carry out Your will and they are just and merciful in their ways. Your will be done no matter what, Lord. IJMN. Amen.
From M22 - Father Lord I pray that you continue to heal the sick and recovering. I pray that your healing power continues to permeate every inch of their bodies. I pray Lord that you coordinate the eyes and hands of operating surgeons to carry out successful surgeries IJMN Amen
From M22 - Father Lord I pray that you help people in dire financial situations. I pray that you open multiple doors of opportunities that will increase them financially. Abba Father I pray that they will never lack and they will continue to experience your promises in Phillipians 4:19 IJMN Amen
From M22 - Heavenly Father I pray for couples seeking the fruit of the womb that you bless them with beautiful and healthy babies that they will nourish and nurture them in your ways. I pray that you put an end to failed IVFs, miscarriages and difficult adoption processes 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.
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.
Be selfless.
Intercede for someone in prayer.
From M22 - Heavenly Father I come before you this day and ask that you forgive us in anyway we have sinned against you in our words, thoughts and actions. I pray Father that you break the stronghold of sin in our lives, that you give us strength to restrain our flesh and help our inner man to be strengthened IJMN Amen