The Daily Bible Study

Blessed are the Merciful

By Warren Wiersbe

      Certainly it does not mean that we earn mercy because we extend mercy, for such an idea is foreign to Word of God. By its very definition, mercy cannot be earned any more than grace can be earned. The Beatitude is saying: "When you experience mercy, and share mercy, then your heart is in such a condition tha6t you can receive more mercy to share with others. . . Jesus is not asking us to be merciful occasionally; He is asking us to be constant channels of mercy. "Give, and it shall be given unto you" (Luke 6:38). By extending mercy, we open our hearts to receive mercy; and having received, we can share again and again.

      The Christian is surrounded by mercy. When he looks back, he can say, "Surely goodness, and mercy have followed me all the days of my life" (Psalm 23:6). When he looks ahead, he remembers the words of Jude 21–"Looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life." As he begins each new day, he can say; "It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness" (Lamentations 3:22-23).

      . . . God responds to us on the basis of the heart. "With the merciful thou wilt shew thyself merciful; with an upright man thou wilt shew thyself upright; with the pure thou wilt shew thyself pure; and with the froward thou wilt shew thyself froward" (Psalm 18:25-26). . . . When once we begin to cultivate one of the spiritual graces, God always provides more. When we show mercy, He gives mercy; and thus, we have more mercy to show.

      When a Christian shows mercy, he experiences liberation. He is set free from grudges that drain the strength and unsettle the mind. . . The most miserable prison in the world is the prison we make for ourselves when we refuse to show mercy. Our thoughts become shackled, our emotions are chained, the will is almost paralyzed. But when we show mercy, all of these bonds are broken, and we enter into a joyful liberty that frees us to share God's love with others. This blessing of freedom is one way that we receive mercy as we show mercy. It is a blessed by-product of obeying God.

      . . . How thrilling to go through life sharing God's mercy and not having to judge people to see if they are "worthy" of what we have to offer. We stop looking at the externals and begin to see people through the merciful eyes of Christ. Every Christian we meet is a person in whom Jesus lives; every lost soul we meet is a person for whom Jesus died. In both cases, we have candidates for God's mercy.

                                                                    Quotes from A.W.Tozer

“An infinite God can give all of Himself to each of His children. He does not distribute Himself that each may have a part, but to each one He gives all of Himself as fully as if there were no others.” 
― A.W. Tozer

God Bless.

Today’s Word of Blessing

A CHANNEL OF BLESSINGSPaul Dhinakaran

I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.    (Genesis 12:2)

Dearly beloved, when the Lord sets His hands on you and blesses you, your family will be blessed through you. The Bible says that when Jacob lived in his uncle Laban’s house, God blessed the latter and all his belongings immeasurably. One day, when Jacob prepared to leave Laban’s house for his native land, his uncle pleaded with him: "If I have found favor in your eyes, please stay. I have learned by divination that the LORD has blessed me because of you" (Genesis 30:27).

What Laban had before Jacob came to him, was little (Genesis 30:30). However, from the day Jacob set foot in his house, his blessings began abounding. Amazed at it, he went to the soothsayers and asked them what could be the secret of his bountiful blessings. They told him that it was all due to the presence of a newcomer called Jacob in his house.

You may be bemoaning saying, “Alas! Poverty is so rampant in my family. My father or mother is bed-ridden all the time!” Are you broken-hearted because of problems in the family? The Lord who blessed Laban through Jacob, will bless your family also through you. 

I came to the Lord in 1980. I was then 18 years old. Before that, I did not bother in the least about God! My parents used to shed tears for me. There was no peace at home. Everywhere people rose against us. Hence, my mother fasted one day in the week and prayed in tears for me, day and night. God touched me very soon. He filled me with His Holy Spirit. Our home, dull and dreary till then, became a haven of peace and joy. Since then the ministry began spreading. Countless miracles were witnessed in the Good News meetings and people were drawn to them in lakhs. My father had a promotion in his profession and his pre-eminence as a servant of God began to spread all over the world. In the ministry also, buildings and equipment increased in abundance. Both our family and the ministry began prospering. 

All because I accepted the Lord and gave Him room in my heart, our family was abundantly blessed by God. Today whether it be in the family or the ministry, I am consulted on all matters. If I am honoured so much, it is all because Lord Jesus is with me and prospers all my undertakings. Because the hand of the Lord is upon me, my family is blessed so much.

Perhaps you may be young in age but do not forget that you alone are responsible for the blessings in your family. When the Lord sets His hand upon you, He will cause abundant blessings to be poured into your family. There will be prosperity in your family. Your parents, relatives, brothers and sisters will love you and respect you. They will say about you with pride: “He/ she has come to Lord Jesus Christ and is channel of blessings to us.” The love of those around you, will surround you all through your lives. You will become a blessing to your family and the society at large.

Prayer:

Loving Lord Jesus,

I seek You with my whole heart. Let your hand be with me. Bless me in order that I may be a blessing to others. Lord, be with me and prosper all my undertakings. Make me a channel of blessings to my family. Let their love surround me all through my life. May our home become a haven of peace and joy. Help me to spread your divine fragrance everywhere I go.

In Your matchless name I pray.

Amen.
—-

The Daily Bible Study

                                                                                                                  Bigger and Better

                                                                                                                  By Warren Wiersbe

                                                                                                                  Read Psalm 4:1-8

 
      Sometimes God's people can be so discouraging! In Psalm 4 we find David listening to people saying, "Who will show us any good?" (v. 6). David's own men were discouraged. They were going through a trial, and some were saying, "O David, this is the end. God is no longer going to help us." That's hard to take. It's rough when your associates or friends say to you, "Well, you've reached the end. Who will show us any good?"

      But David called on the Lord, and God enlarged him. "You have relieved (enlarged) me when I was in distress" (v. 1). Pressure on the outside should make us bigger on the inside. The trials of life will press against us and make us either midgets or giants–either smaller or bigger. But we have to start on the inside. "You have relieved me when I was in distress." How did this happen?

      David cried out to God, "You have put gladness in my heart" (v. 7). He started out with sadness and ended with gladness. He started with tears and ended with triumph. Once again he's sleeping beautifully. "I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; for You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety" (v. 8).

      David discovered that what was important was not the circumstance around him but the attitude within him. Let God enlarge you when you are going through distress. He can do it. You can't do it, and others can't do it for you. In fact, others may want to make things even tighter and narrower for you. But when you turn to the Lord and trust Him, He will enlarge you on the inside. You'll come out of your distresses a bigger person because you've trusted in the Lord.

      There is a relationship between our attitude inside and our circumstances outside. If we maintain the proper attitude, God will use our trials to enlarge us. Are you going through a trial today? Give your circumstances to the Lord and trust Him to enlarge you.

                                                                      Quotes from A.W.Tozer

                                                    “Perhaps it takes a purer faith to praise God for unrealized blessings than for those we once enjoyed or those we enjoy now.” 
                                                                                                                                                                ― A.W. Tozer

God Bless.

The Daily Bible Study

                                                                                                                  Bigger and Better

                                                                                                                  By Warren Wiersbe

                                                                                                                  Read Psalm 4:1-8

 
      Sometimes God's people can be so discouraging! In Psalm 4 we find David listening to people saying, "Who will show us any good?" (v. 6). David's own men were discouraged. They were going through a trial, and some were saying, "O David, this is the end. God is no longer going to help us." That's hard to take. It's rough when your associates or friends say to you, "Well, you've reached the end. Who will show us any good?"

      But David called on the Lord, and God enlarged him. "You have relieved (enlarged) me when I was in distress" (v. 1). Pressure on the outside should make us bigger on the inside. The trials of life will press against us and make us either midgets or giants–either smaller or bigger. But we have to start on the inside. "You have relieved me when I was in distress." How did this happen?

      David cried out to God, "You have put gladness in my heart" (v. 7). He started out with sadness and ended with gladness. He started with tears and ended with triumph. Once again he's sleeping beautifully. "I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; for You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety" (v. 8).

      David discovered that what was important was not the circumstance around him but the attitude within him. Let God enlarge you when you are going through distress. He can do it. You can't do it, and others can't do it for you. In fact, others may want to make things even tighter and narrower for you. But when you turn to the Lord and trust Him, He will enlarge you on the inside. You'll come out of your distresses a bigger person because you've trusted in the Lord.

      There is a relationship between our attitude inside and our circumstances outside. If we maintain the proper attitude, God will use our trials to enlarge us. Are you going through a trial today? Give your circumstances to the Lord and trust Him to enlarge you.

                                                                      Quotes from A.W.Tozer

                                                    “Perhaps it takes a purer faith to praise God for unrealized blessings than for those we once enjoyed or those we enjoy now.” 
                                                                                                                                                                ― A.W. Tozer

God Bless.

Today’s Word of Blessing

REWARD FOR PATIENCEStella Dhinakaran

But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.    (1 Corinthians 15:57)

Lord Jesus assures us that He will make us more than conquerors in this world (Romans 8:37). All we have to do is just say, “But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (I Corinthians 15:57). He says, “…In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

The Lord Himself walked through all kinds of afflictions, trials and temptations in this world just to grant us victory over them. “Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted” (Hebrews 2:18). He Himself carried all our sins, iniquities and afflictions on the cross in order to grant us a new life. Just for our sake, He went through the experience of utter helplessness and cried out, “My God, My God why have You forsaken Me” (Matthew 27:46).

Joseph was a young man who loved God with all his heart. On account of that, he had to suffer in the prison for 13 years. However, the Lord changed everything in his life and made him a blessing to many. He never forsook him. He was with him and delivered him (Genesis 39:2, 21 and 23). “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time” (I Peter 5:6). As mentioned in the above Scripture verse, Joseph surrendered his life to God even in that difficult situation. He continued to lead a godly life. That is why God delivered him from all his troubles and made him a channel of blessing.

The Lord enabled Joseph to obtain grace in the eyes of Pharaoh. He gave Joseph the necessary wisdom and the power. At His appointed time the miracle happened. Finally, the Pharaoh himself acknowledged, “Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the Spirit of God?…There is no one so discerning and wise as you” (Genesis 41:38, 39).

Dearly beloved, we may be lamenting on account of our afflictions. According to James 5:11, the time has come for God to reward us for our patience. He will certainly remember all the afflictions we went through in the past and grant us deliverance. Therefore, let us seek the Lord with great faith and enjoy wonders and miracles in our lives.

Prayer:

Loving Lord Jesus,

I am going through the path of adversity. You suffered on the cross for my sake in order to give me a new life. You overcame the world. Lord, do not forsake me. Let your presence be with me as I walk this difficult path. Hold my hand and strengthen me. Grant me deliverance and elevate me in my life at the appointed time. I give all glory, honour and praise to You.

In Your matchless name I pray. 

Amen.
—-

The Daily Bible Study

                                                                                                           Be Determined

                                                                                                           By Warren Wiersbe

      Are we the kind of leaders and followers God wants us to be? Like Nehemiah, do we have a burden in our hearts for the work God has called us to do? (Neh. 2:12). Are we willing to sacrifice to see His will accomplished? Are we patient in gathering facts and in planning our work? Do we enlist the help of others or try to do everything ourselves? Do we motivate people on the basis of the spiritual-what God is doing-or simply on the basis of the personal? Are they following us or the Lord as He leads us?

      As followers, do we listen to what our leaders say as they share their burdens? Do we cling to the past or desire to see God do something new? Are we cooperating in any way with the enemy and thus weakening the work? Have we found the job God wants us to complete?

      Anyone can go through life as a destroyer; God has called His people to be builders. What an example Nehemiah is to us! Trace his 'so' statements and see how God used him: 'So I prayed' (2:4); 'So I came to Jerusalem' (v. 11); 'So they strengthened their hands for this good work' (v. 18); 'So built we the wall' (4:6); 'So we labored in the work' (v. 21); 'So the wall was finished' (6:15).

      Were it not for the grit and determination that came from his faith in a great God, Nehemiah would never have finished the work.

      As Dr. V. Raymond Edman used to say, 'It is always too soon to quit.'

      Paul writes: "Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain" (1 Cor. 15:58, niv).

                                                      Quotes from A.W.Tozer

“God never hurries. There are no deadlines against which he must work. Only to know this is to quiet our spirits and relax our nerves.” 

― A.W. Tozer, The Pursuit of God

Today’s Word of Blessing

GOD FIGHTS OUR BATTLESEvangeline Paul Dhinakaran

Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.    (James 4:10)

Dearly beloved, the Lord will fight for us and grant us victory. He says, “They will fight against you but will not overcome you” (Jeremiah 1:19). How can we triumph over the people who rise up against us? When we walk patiently in the path laid by God for us, no affliction can overcome us. 

When the Lord led king David through the path of affliction, he was very patient. A man called Shimei rose up against him. When the former walked in the wilderness, the latter cursed him (II Samuel 16:7). He even pelted stones at him. Even then, David was very patient and allowed him to curse him. He went on to say, “Who can ask, ‘Why do you do this?’” (II Samuel 16:10).

Sometimes when our own family members rise up against us, we start speaking ill about them. We use unnecessary words to hurt them. On account of that, the situation becomes even more worse. But when we remain patient just like David, then those who rise up against us, cannot overcome us. The Lord will protect us even in that situation.

Our own people, relatives, neighbours and even friends may rise up against us. They may be people whom we trust so much. The Lord will surely fight our battles in this year. Nothing can overcome us. The Bible assures, “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still” (Exodus 14:14).

The Lord says, “…Whoever attacks you will surrender to you” (Isaiah 54:15). This was what happened to David. When he became the king again, this same Shimei came in search of him, fell at his feet saying, “Sir, what I did was wrong. Please do forgive me.” David was appreciated by all.

When we go through afflictions, let us say, “The Lord is my light and my salvation and I will not be afraid of anyone.” When we say this with great faith, the Lord will certainly deliver us from all kinds of bondages and grant us victory. The Bible advises, “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up” (James 4:10). When we humble ourselves, the Lord will exalt us at the right time.

Prayer:

Loving Lord Jesus,

I am going through the path of affliction. You have overcome the world. I humble myself before You believing that You will lift me up at the right time. Give me the grace to remain patient amidst my ordeals. Please protect me and fight the battle for me. Let nothing overcome me. Exalt me in the very place where I was humiliated. Grant me victory.

In Your matchless name I pray. 

Amen.
—-

Today’s Word of Blessing

GOD FIGHTS OUR BATTLESEvangeline Paul Dhinakaran

Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.    (James 4:10)

Dearly beloved, the Lord will fight for us and grant us victory. He says, “They will fight against you but will not overcome you” (Jeremiah 1:19). How can we triumph over the people who rise up against us? When we walk patiently in the path laid by God for us, no affliction can overcome us. 

When the Lord led king David through the path of affliction, he was very patient. A man called Shimei rose up against him. When the former walked in the wilderness, the latter cursed him (II Samuel 16:7). He even pelted stones at him. Even then, David was very patient and allowed him to curse him. He went on to say, “Who can ask, ‘Why do you do this?’” (II Samuel 16:10).

Sometimes when our own family members rise up against us, we start speaking ill about them. We use unnecessary words to hurt them. On account of that, the situation becomes even more worse. But when we remain patient just like David, then those who rise up against us, cannot overcome us. The Lord will protect us even in that situation.

Our own people, relatives, neighbours and even friends may rise up against us. They may be people whom we trust so much. The Lord will surely fight our battles in this year. Nothing can overcome us. The Bible assures, “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still” (Exodus 14:14).

The Lord says, “…Whoever attacks you will surrender to you” (Isaiah 54:15). This was what happened to David. When he became the king again, this same Shimei came in search of him, fell at his feet saying, “Sir, what I did was wrong. Please do forgive me.” David was appreciated by all.

When we go through afflictions, let us say, “The Lord is my light and my salvation and I will not be afraid of anyone.” When we say this with great faith, the Lord will certainly deliver us from all kinds of bondages and grant us victory. The Bible advises, “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up” (James 4:10). When we humble ourselves, the Lord will exalt us at the right time.

Prayer:

Loving Lord Jesus,

I am going through the path of affliction. You have overcome the world. I humble myself before You believing that You will lift me up at the right time. Give me the grace to remain patient amidst my ordeals. Please protect me and fight the battle for me. Let nothing overcome me. Exalt me in the very place where I was humiliated. Grant me victory.

In Your matchless name I pray. 

Amen.
—-

The Daily Bible Study

                                                                                                               Are You Worthy?

                                                                                                                                                         By Warren Wiersbe

                                                                                                                                                       Read Psalm 15:1-5 

      Imagine what would happen if I walked up to the main gate at Buckingham Palace in London and said to one of the tall, hand-some, well-dressed guards, "Sir, I want to live with the royal family." He would look at me and say, "Begone, before I arrest you."

      Who is worthy to live with God? Only through Jesus Christ can we "dwell in God's holy hill." David always was a little bit envious of the priests. When we read the Psalms, we find David saying such things as, "Oh, those priests. They are able to walk in the temple of God. I can't do that. I can't go into the Holy Place." Spiritually he could, but physically he couldn't. Because we are in the Lord Jesus Christ, we can come boldly into the presence of God, not just to visit Him but to live with Him.

      David describes the kind of person who is able to live with God. He must have the right kind of feet ("walks uprightly") and hands ("works righteousness"), lips ("speaks the truth") and heart. What we say with our lips always has to come from our heart. Verse 3 also talks about the tongue: "He who does not backbite with his tongue, nor does evil to his neighbor, nor does he take up a reproach against his friend." This is the person God welcomes at His front door and says, "You come and live with Me." That person has clean feet, clean hands and a clean heart that produce clean words and clean motives, one in whose eyes a vile person is despised. His eyes look upon only what is right and good.

      Here is a beautiful picture of the kind of person God chooses to live with Him. And the beauty of it is this: Such a person will never get an eviction notice. "He who does these things shall never be moved" (v. 5). How can we be this kind of person? Through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

      God welcomes those with clean feet, clean hands and a clean heart. Remember, your worth is founded in Jesus Christ. It is through faith in Him that you are acceptable in the sight of God. Are your feet, hands and heart clean?

                                                            Quotes from    ― A.W. Tozer                            

“O God, I have tasted Thy goodness, and it has both satisfied me and made me thirsty for more. I am painfully conscious of my need for further grace. I am ashamed of my lack of desire. O God, the Triune God, I want to want Thee; I long to be filled with longing; I thirst to be made more thirsty still. Show me Thy glory, I pray Thee, so that I may know Thee indeed. Begin in mercy a new work of love within me. Say to my soul, ‘Rise up my love, my fair one, and come away.’ Then give me grace to rise and follow Thee up from this misty lowland where I have wandered so long.” 
― A.W. Tozer

God Bless

Today’s Word of Blessing

GOD WILL RESTORE YOUPaul Dhinakaran

God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were.    (Romans 4:17)

Dearly beloved, the Lord shall bless you in double measure. He will restore to you all that you have lost. When Job, the devout servant of God, was going through afflictions, he was deserted by all. But when the Lord changed his captivity, granted him good health, rebuilt his family life, restored all his wealth and made him great, all his relatives came in search of him. They ate with him and honoured him.

The Bible says, “All his (Job’s) brothers and sisters and everyone who had known him before came and ate with him in his house. They comforted and consoled him over all the trouble the LORD had brought upon him, and each one gave him a piece of silver and a gold ring. The LORD blessed the latter part of Job's life more than the first…” (Job 42:11,12).

The Holy Spirit will do the same in your family also. He will make you a very honourable person in your family. He will do miracles for your family members as well as relatives for your sake. He shall make everyone of them to be of great support to you. He will do awesome things in your life also. The Lord who calls those things which do not exist as if they do exist, shall create new things for you and your children. He shall certainly do miracles for you. You shall rise up as a great army and fulfill the will of God.

The Lord shall bring prosperity to the ministry and the nation through you. But before doing that, He shall do miracles for you. If you are suffering without the gift of a child, He shall place a child in your womb today. If you do not have a house of your own, He shall not only give you the necessary finance but also provide a house for you. If you do not have a job, He shall provide a job for you. He shall remove all your sickness and grant you his health. Whatever you do not have, shall be given to you. Believe in it and praise God with all your heart. 

Lord Jesus tells, “Do not say that there is no God. I came into this world just to prove that I do exist and to fill you with My blessings. I call those things which do not exist as if they do exist. For your sake, I shall do miracles for your people and reveal My salvation to the whole world.”

Lord Jesus Christ is alive even today. He shall remove all your wants and fill you with His blessings. He shall reveal His resurrection power through you. He shall do mighty miracles for you and through that, He shall establish your family life. Believe in the Lord and offer your praises to Him. He is the Almighty God and there is nothing impossible for Him. So He will do awesome miracles in your personal life, family life and in your ministry. The Lord Himself shall do these things and make you rejoice.

Prayer:

Loving Lord Jesus,

You are the living God. I offer You my praises. Nothing is impossible for You. Please look upon my affliction. Deliver me and restore to me all that I have lost. Exalt me among my family, friends and relatives. Perform awesome miracles in my life. Make me a channel of blessing to them. Reveal your salvation to them. I believe in my heart that You will grant me all the blessings.

In Your matchless name I pray. 

Amen.
—-