How should we pray?

IOI CHRISTIAN MORNING MEAL

TOPIC: How should we pray?

In this new month brethren, We should pray earnestly, continually, thankfully, in humility, and in faith.

David’s close relationship with God permeates the entire prayer. He knew God intimately and personally. So he felt free to pour out his heart as he does here.

A. PRAY EARNESTLY.

David’s earnestness and intensity oozes out of the entire prayer. It stems from his awareness of his great need. If God doesn’t answer, David knows that he is doomed. So he cries out from his heart for God to save him from these powerful enemies.

The point is, he wasn’t mumbling through a formal liturgy. He wasn’t just going mindlessly down a prayer list. Like a starving beggar, he was entreating God to give him food.

B. PRAY CONTINUALLY.

David says (86:3), “For unto You I cry all day long.” Again, his continual prayers were driven by his intense awareness of his great need. Paul tells us (1 Thess. 5:17), “pray without ceasing.” He does not mean that we should pray non-stop, which would be impossible. Rather, the word was used of a hacking cough and of repeated military assaults. The idea is, keep coming back to prayer over and over again, all throughout the day.
...CONTINUE TOMORROW. HAPPY NEW MONTH.

LET US PRAY
Dear Lord Jesus cast out every power of look-warmness and cast out spirit that make our prayer ineffective in Jesus name.

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To whom should we pray?

IOI CHRISTIAN MORNING MEAL

TOPIC: To Whom Should We Pray?

We should pray to the only true God, great in power, love, grace, and mercy.

Palm 86.

This psalm shows that David knew the God to whom he was praying. Knowing God’s attributes and His promises gives us hope and endurance in prayer. To approach God’s holy throne, we must know that He is good, ready to forgive, and abundant in lovingkindness to all who call upon Him (86:5). We must know that He is “merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness and truth” (86:15). In this prayer, David basically pits who God is against his enemies and leaves the outcome to God.

A. GOD IS THE ONLY TRUE GOD, GREAT IN POWER.

David exclaims (86:8-10), “There is no one like You among the gods, O Lord, nor are there any works like Yours. All nations whom You have made shall come and worship before You, O Lord, and they shall glorify Your name. For you are great and do wondrous deeds; You alone are God.”

Seven times in this psalm, David uses the name, Adonai, or Lord (3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 12, 15). It emphasizes God’s lordship and sovereignty. He made the nations. He has ordained that they will all come and worship before Him. He is great and does wondrous deeds. The Lord alone is God.

By referring to “the gods,” David means the idols or demons that the heathen worship. Satan is called the god of this world (or, “age,” 2 Cor. 4:4; John 12:31). The whole world lies in his power (1 John 5:19). Paul, referring to the demons, says that there are many gods and many lords in heaven and on earth (1 Cor. 8:5; 10:20). These demons are spirit-beings, organized under Satan, with great power over individuals and entire nations (2 Thess. 2:9; Acts 19:13-16; Dan. 10:13, 20).

But, at the time which God determines, He will bring fire down from heaven to destroy His enemies. Satan and all of the demons will be thrown into the lake of fire, where they will be tormented forever and ever (Rev. 20:9-10). And even now, before that time, we are assured (1 John 4:4), “greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.”

This should give us great confidence to pray. Although the forces of darkness are powerful, none of them can compare to God. Hallelujah.

LET US PRAY
EVERY ATTACK OF THE ENEMY IN YOUR LIFE IS SEND BACK TO THE SENDER IN JESUS NAME.

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WHY SHOULD WE PRAY?

IOI CHRISTIAN MORNING MEAL

TOPIC: WHY SHOULD WE PRAY?

We should pray because we have great needs.

David begins (86:1), “Incline Your ear, O Lord, and answer me; for I am afflicted and needy.” The fact that he cries out for God to save him (86:2, 16) shows that David knew that he could not save himself. In 86:7 he mentions that he is in “the day of trouble.”
In 86:14, he specifically mentions the band of arrogant, violent men that were seeking his life. David was deeply aware of his great need, which drove him to earnest prayer.

It sounds obvious to say that we have great needs that should drive us to prayer. But the truth is, our pride blinds us to how needy we really are, so that we rely on ourselves or on other people or on some godless method to get us out of our troubles. Finally, when nothing else has worked, we say, “We’ve done all that we can do. The only thing left is to pray!” It’s our last resort.
But, Prayer should be our first resort!

The main reason that people do not cry out to God to save them from their sins is that they do not see their great need as sinners before the holy God. They see themselves as basically good. Sure, they know they’re not perfect, but they aren’t evil sinners! They compare themselves with terrorists and child molesters and think, “I’m doing okay.” Not seeing their desperate need, they don’t cry out to God to save them.

But, even once we are saved, we fall into this same trap. We’re oblivious to the power of the enemy, who prowls about as a roaring lion, seeking to devour us (1 Pet. 5:8). We overlook the strong appeal of indwelling sin that lurks within us (Gal. 5:17). We don’t recognize our own selfishness, which undermines our relationships in the family and in the church. And so, we don’t pray. So perhaps our first prayer should be, “God, show me my great needs that only You can meet.”

LET US PRAY
DEAR LORD JESUS SHOW US MORE OF YOURSELF AS WE PRAY TODAY AND BLESS US MORE IN JESUS NAME.

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God Our Refuge

IOI CHRISTIAN MORNING MEAL

TOPIC: God Our Refuge

THE Israelites were in danger as they entered the region of Sinai A fear-inspiring trek lay before them, a journey through a “vast and terrible wilderness infested with poisonous snakes and scorpions.” (Deuteronomy 8:15, The New English Bible)

They also faced the threat of attack by hostile nations. Jehovah had brought his people into this situation. As their God, would he be able to protect them?

God's words were most reassuring: “You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, that I might carry you on wings of eagles and bring you to myself.” (Exodus 19:4) God reminded his people that he had delivered them from the Egyptians, using eagles, as it were, to carry them to safety. But there are other reasons why “wings of eagles” fittingly illustrate divine protection.

Why do “wings of eagles” fittingly illustrate divine protection?

The eagle uses its broad, strong wings for more than just soaring aloft. In the heat of the day, a mother eagle will arch her wings—which may span over seven feet (2 m)—to form a protective umbrella, shielding her tender nestlings from the scorching sun. At other times, she wraps her wings around her offspring to protect them from the cold wind. Just as the eagle safeguards its young, so God had shielded and protected the fledgling nation of Israel. Now in the wilderness, his people would continue to find refuge in the shadow of his mighty wings as long as they remained faithful. (Deuteronomy 32:9-11; Psalm 36:7) But can we today rightly expect God’s protection?

Yes because he has promise to protect us. So as the year comes to an end put your trust in God and have faith in his protecting power over all that is yours and you shall surely be safe.

LET US PRAY
WHATEVER EVIL PLANED TO ATTACK YOU, I SEND IT BACK TO THE SENDER IN JESUS NAME. AMEN.

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THE LOVE OF CHRIST

IOI CHRISTIAN MORNING MEAL

TOPIC: THE LOVE OF CHRIST

The phrase “love of Christ,” as opposed to “love for Christ,” refers to the love that He has toward mankind. His love can be briefly stated as His willingness to act in our best interest, especially in meeting our greatest need, even though it cost Him everything and even though we were the least worthy of such love.

Though Christ Jesus, being God in nature, existed from the beginning of time with God the Father (John 1:1) and the Holy Spirit, He willingly left His throne (John 1:1-14) to become a man, that He might pay the penalty for our sin so that we would not have to pay for it for all eternity in the lake of fire (Revelation 20:11-15). Because mankind’s sin has been paid for by our sinless Savior Jesus Christ, God who is just and holy can now forgive our sins when we accept Christ Jesus’ payment as our own (Romans 3:21-26). Thus, Christ’s love is shown in His leaving His home in heaven, where He was worshipped and honored as He deserved, to come to earth as a man where He would be mocked, betrayed, beaten, and crucified on a cross to pay the penalty for our sin, rising again from the dead on the third day. He considered our need of a Savior from our sin and its penalty as more important than His own comfort and life (Philippians 2:3-8).

This love which He demonstrated toward us on the cross is just the beginning. When we place our trust in Him as our Savior, He makes us God’s children, co-heirs with Him! He comes to dwell within us through His Holy Spirit, promising that He will never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5-6). Thus, we have a loving companion for life. And no matter what we go through, He is there, and His love is ever available to us (Romans 8:35). But as He rightfully reigns as a benevolent King in heaven, we need to give Him the position He deserves in our lives as well, that of Master and not merely companion. It is only then that we will experience life as He intended and live in the fullness of His love (John 10:10b).

LET US PRAY
FATHER IN JESUS NAME, REMOVE OUR NAME FROM THE BOOK OF HELL AND LET YOUR SAVING GRACE SAFE OUR SOUL IN JESUS NAME.

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IS GOD'S LOVE CONDITIONAL OR UNCONDITIONAL?

IOI CHRISTIAN MORNING MEAL

TOPIC: IS GOD'S LOVE CONDITIONAL OR UNCONDITIONAL?

God’s love, as described in the Bible, is clearly unconditional in that His love is expressed toward the objects of His love (that is, His people) despite their disposition toward Him. In other words, God loves because it His nature to love (1 John 4:8), and that love moves Him toward benevolent action. The unconditional nature of God’s love is most clearly seen in the gospel. The gospel message is basically a story of divine rescue. As God considers the plight of His rebellious people, He determines to save them from their sin, and this determination is based on His love (Ephesians 1:4-5). Listen to the Apostle Paul’s words from his letter to the Romans:

“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:6-8).

Reading through the book of Romans, we learn that we are alienated from God due to our sin. We are at enmity with God, and His wrath is being revealed against the ungodly for their unrighteousness (Romans 1:18-20). We reject God, and God gives us over to our sin. We also learn that we have all sinned and fallen short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23) and that none of us seek God, none of us do what is right before His eyes (Romans 3:10-18).

Despite this hostility and enmity we have toward God (for which God would be perfectly just to utterly destroy us), God reveals His love toward us in the giving of His Son, Jesus Christ, as the propitiation (that is, the appeasement of God’s righteous wrath) for our sins. God did not wait for us to better ourselves as a condition of atoning for our sin. Rather, God condescended to become a man and live among His people (John 1:14). God experienced our humanity—everything it means to be a human being—and then offered Himself willingly as a substitutionary atonement for our sin.

This divine rescue resulted in a gracious act of self-sacrifice. As Jesus says in John’s gospel, “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). That is precisely what God, in Christ, has done.

LET US PRAY
DEAR LORD JESUS.
LET YOUR UNCONDITIONAL LOVE CLEAN US FROM ALL HATRED AND LET YOUR BLESSING FLOW IN TO OUR LIFE

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WHAT IS AGAPE LOVE?

IOI CHRISTIAN MORNING MEAL

TOPIC: WHAT IS AGAPE LOVE?

The Greek word agape is often translated “love” in the New Testament. How is “agape love” different from other types of love?
The essence of agape love is goodwill, benevolence, and willful delight in the object of love. Unlike our English word love, agape is not used in the New Testament to refer to romantic or sexual love. Nor does it refer to close friendship or brotherly love, for which the Greek word philia is used.

Agape love involves faithfulness, commitment, and an act of the will. It is distinguished from the other types of love by its lofty moral nature and strong character. Agape love is beautifully described in 1 Corinthians 13.

Outside of the New Testament, the word agape is used in a variety of contexts, but in the New Testament it takes on a distinct meaning. Agape is used to describe the love that is of and from God, whose very nature is love itself: “God is love” (1 John 4:8). God does not merely love; He is love itself. Everything God does flows from His love. Agape is also used to describe our love for God (Luke 10:27), a servant’s faithful respect to his master (Matthew 6:24), and a man’s attachment to things (John 3:19).

We are to love others with agape love, whether they are fellow believers (John 13:34) or bitter enemies (Matthew 5:44). Jesus gave the parable of the Good Samaritan as an example of sacrifice for the sake of others, even for those who may care nothing at all for us. Agape love as modeled by Christ is not based on a feeling; rather, it is a determined act of the will, a joyful resolve to put the welfare of others above our own.

Agape love does not come naturally to us. Because of our fallen nature, we are incapable of producing such a love. If we are to love as God loves, that love—that agape—can only come from its Source. This is the love that “has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us” when we became His children (Romans 5:5; cf. Galatians 5:22). “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters” (1 John 3:16). Because of God’s love toward us, we are able to love one another

LET US PRAY
DEAR HEAVENLY FATHER, SEPARATE US FROM EVERY LUST AND ANY FORM IF HATRED AND LET YOUR LOVE BE IN US IN JESUS NAME. AMEN

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WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO LOVE GOD?

IOI CHRISTIAN MORNING MEAL

TOPIC: WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO LOVE GOD?

loving God requires knowing Him, and that knowledge begins with His Word. It may sound glib, but to know Him is to love Him.

To love God is to worship and praise Him. "It is written: 'Worship the Lord your God and serve him only'" (Luke 4:8).

To love God is to put Him first. The number-one commandment is to love God “with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength” (Mark 12:30). It’s an undivided love. God is our priority. If we love God with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strength, then we won’t allow other things to crowd in.

Our love for God is manifested by loving people (Mark 12:31), but we do not love the things of the world. “Earth has nothing I desire besides you” (Psalm 73:25). We cannot love this present world and God at the same time (1 John 2:15); love for what the world offers can lead us astray (2 Timothy 4:10).

To love God is to desire Him, to yearn for His righteousness, His Word, and His grace. “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God” (Psalm 42:1). Once we have tasted and seen that the Lord is good (Psalm 34:8), we want more of Him. If we love God, we will be like Mary of Bethany, “who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said” (Luke 10:39).

Suppose a man is separated from his sweetheart and receives a letter from her. His first action will be to eagerly open the letter and pore over its contents. His love for his beloved will naturally cause him to love her correspondence with him. The same is true with our love for God’s Word. Because we love the Author, we love His message to us. We read it avidly and often, we hold it close, and we hide its words in our hearts.

Finally, to love God is to obey Him. Jesus tells us, “If you love me you will obey what I command” (John 14:15, 23; 15:10; 1 John 5:3). However, this is not a matter of merely following rules and registering good deeds. It is about having God’s love written indelibly on our hearts. We naturally wish to please those we love. When we love God, we will want to please Him and obey His commands eagerly. “I delight to do your will” (Psalm 40:8).

LET US PRAY
DEAR LORD JESUS CHRIST, LET YOUR LOVE BE IN US AND LET POWER OF HATRED BE SUBDUE IN JESUS NAME.

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WHY DOES GOD LOVE US?

IOI CHRISTIAN MORNING MEAL

TOPIC: WHY DOES GOD LOVE US?

This short question is among the most profound questions ever asked. And no human would ever be able to answer it sufficiently. One thing is certain, however. God does not love us because we are lovable or because we deserve His love. If anything, the opposite is true. The state of mankind since the fall is one of rebellion and disobedience. Jeremiah 17:9 describes man’s inner condition: “The heart is deceitful and desperately wicked. Who can know it?” Our innermost beings are so corrupted by sin that even we don’t realize the extent to which sin has tainted us. In our natural state, we do not seek God; we do not love God; we do not desire God. Romans 3:10-12 clearly presents the state of the natural, unregenerate person: “There is none righteous, no, not one; There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one.” How then is it possible for a holy, righteous, and perfect God to love such creatures? To understand this we must understand something of the nature and character of God.

First John 4:8 and 16 tell us that “God is love.” Never was a more important declaration made than this—God is love. This is a profound statement. God doesn’t just love; He is love. His nature and essence are love. Love permeates His very being and infuses all His other attributes, even His wrath and anger. Because God’s very nature is love, He must demonstrate love,

Since it is God's essential nature to love, He demonstrates His love by lavishing it on undeserving people who are in rebellion against Him. God’s love is not a sappy, sentimental, romantic feeling. Rather, it is agape love, the love of self-sacrifice. He demonstrates this sacrificial love by sending His Son to the cross to pay the penalty for our sin (1 John 4:10), by drawing us to Himself (John 6:44), by forgiving us of our rebellion against Him, and by sending His Holy Spirit to dwell within us, thereby enabling us to love as He loves. He did this in spite of the fact that we did not deserve it. "But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8).

God's love is personal. He knows each of us individually and loves us personally. His is a mighty love that has no beginning and no end. It is this experiencing of God’s love that distinguishes Christianity from all other religions. Why does God love us? It is because of who He is: "God is love."

LET US PRAY
FATHER IN JESUS NAME, LET YOUR LOVE CONTINUE TO MANIFEST IN US AND LET THIS WEEK BE OUR WEEK OF BLESSING IN JESUS NAME

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LOVE IS VULNERABLE TO THE OTHER

IOI CHRISTIAN MORNING MEAL

TOPIC: LOVE IS VULNERABLE TO THE OTHER

John 13

love opens up its life to another person. It goes beyond sentimental feelings. It breaks down barriers. It exposes the heart.

Think about Jesus. He left the glory of heaven to come to earth. He veiled His divinity and took on humanity. And what did it get him?
"He came to His own, and His own people did not receive Him" (John 1:11).

Can you imagine being away on a business trip for a week, coming home, and your family not recognizing you?
That's similar to what Jesus experienced when he came to earth. Surely that must have hurt. Then, as Jesus hung on the cross, dying for these people that he loved, they hurled abuses, scorn, and ridicule.
His heart was broken. And yet, He forgave them.
Christian love is the most costly investment you will ever make.

LET US PRAY
EVERY SATANIC MANIPULATION IN US THAT IS CAUSING LUST INSTEAD OF GODS LOVE, WE CAST YOU OUT IN JESUS NAME.

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DEMONSTRATION OF THE VIRTUE OF LOVE

IOI CHRISTIAN MORNING MEAL

TOPIC DEMONSTRATION OF THE VIRTUE OF LOVE

How do we demonstrate the distinctiveness of Christian love? Because virtue is moral action we practice, How can we practice the glorious virtue of love?

Love values the other person
Let's not confuse Christian love with its modern counterfeits - lust, sentimentality, and gratification. While love is a wonderful, warm feeling, it is not only a feeling. In fact, according to the Bible, love is primarily an active interest in the well-being of another person. Love acts for the benefit of others.

According to William Barclay love "is the spirit in the heart that will never seek anything but the highest good of its fellow man."
God loved us not because we had something to offer him, but rather because He had something to offer us. "For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16).

God loved us so that He could demonstrate His mercy to us in the person of His Son.

everyone around us is of incredible value to God as a potential object of His mercy. His one and only Son died in their place. Because people matter so much to him, they ought to matter to us. And, we, therefore, need to love them as he loves them.

LET US PRAY
EVERY SPIRIT OF HATRED AND JEALOUSY IN US, LORD JESUS CAST THEM OUT IN JESUS NAME.

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LOVE DISTINGUISH US FROM THE WORLD.

IOI CHRISTIAN MORNING MEAL

TOPIC: LOVE DISTINGUISH US FROM THE WORLD.

Embody the distinguishing nature of love

When we demonstrate Christian love, it distinguishes believers from the rest of the world.

Jesus goes on to say, "By this [love] all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13:35).

Notice Jesus did not say that people will know that you are my disciples if you promote my agenda, or wear Christian T-shirts or a WWJD bracelet, or have a fish decal on your car, but rather if you love one another.

A watching world will be persuaded not when our values are promoted but when they are incarnated, when we become purveyors of love. It is as though Jesus has given the entire world the right to judge whether or not one is His follower simply on the basis of their love for fellow human beings. The vivacious virtue of love distinguishes the Christian.

From the very beginning, God's plan was to develop a people that reflected his character. And what is his character? Love. "God is love, and the one who remains in love remains in God, and God remains in him. In this, love is perfected with us so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; for we are as He is in this world" (1 John 4:16-17).

Believers are God's advertisement to a watching society as to how individuals could best live in that society. In fact, Christian love will always be the best apologetic that the church has.

LET US PRAY
DEAR LORD JESUS CHRIST MAKE US YOUR GOOD EXAMPLE FOR THE LOVE THAT WILL CHANGE THE WORLD TO YOU IN JESUS NAME.

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UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF LOVE

IOI CHRISTIAN MORNING MEAL

TOPIC: UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF LOVE

When Jesus spoke to the disciples regarding the first and second greatest commands, he explained that "All the Law and the Prophets depend on these two commands" (Matt. 22:40).

To the people of Israel, as well as for many believers today, it would seem more logical for obedience to be the peg from which the Law hangs, since the point of writing a law is adherence to it.
And it is written, "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments" (John 14:15).

Yet Jesus also said, "I give you a new commandment: love one another. Just as I have loved you, you must also love one another" (John 13:34).

The apostle Paul goes on to tell us "Love does no wrong to a neighbor. Love, therefore, is the fulfillment of the law" (Rom. 13:10).
This may sound irrelevant to our generation that depends on police departments, guns, and force to uphold and fulfill the law. Yet Jesus' simple command requires greater strength than any of us naturally possess - more power than any man-made weapon.
The logic of Paul's interpretation of Jesus' command that love fulfills the Law seems equally simple.
For if one loves his neighbor, he will not commit adultery with his neighbor's spouse. If he loves his coworker, he will not lie to him. And if loves his enemy, he will not slander him.

Love fulfills the law, because if we truly love every person because he is a person, we will not desire to hurt or violate him or her, thus never break the law. God established love as the impetus for obedience.

LET US PRAY
DEAR HEAVENLY FATHER IN JESUS NAME. LET YOUR POWER OF LOVE COME IN TO OUR LIFE AND MAKE US LOVE AS YOU DESIRE IN JESUS NAME.

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MAKE LOVE A PRIORITY

IOI CHRISTIAN MORNING MEAL

TOPIC: MAKE LOVE A PRIORITY

John 13

The Bible says we are to love one another. Sounds good, but can we do it?
Even people at church can be difficult to love. Sometimes we sing a chorus in church: "I'm so glad you're a part of the family of God," and then we look at the person beside us and sing, "I'm surprised you're part of the family of God."
Sometimes it's hard enough to love our own family. One guy told his wife that if she had really loved him she would have married someone else.
How do we make love a dominating characteristic of our lives?

Indeed loving people is difficult. Yet this is what the Bible commands. "For this is the message you have heard from the beginning: we should love one another" (1 John 3:11).

We spend time on what we deem important. For many of us these choices are valid: time with family and friends, work, prayer, serving the poor, fighting for rights, protesting wrongs. But as the Scripture reminds us, "And if I donate all my goods to feed the poor, and if I give my body in order to boast but do not have love, I gain nothing" (1 Cor. 13:3).

Even though we have the freedom to set our own priorities, Jesus made a point of defining certain ones of them for us: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the greatest and most important commandment. The second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself'" (Matt. 22:37-39).

Love, then, is not a gray area the Scriptures. Jesus gave love priority over all other Christian virtues. Every thought, response, and act of goodwill must first pass through the fine filter of love, or it means nothing at all.

In "Strength to Love", Martin Luther King, Jr., encouraged us to realize that "our responsibility as Christians is to discover the meaning of this command and seek passionately to live it out in our daily lives."

LET US PRAY
FATHER IN JESUS NAME, HELP US TO LOVE TRULY IN YOUR WAY IN JESUS NAME.

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GOD'S BLESSINGS ARE ACTIVATED BY OUR CHOICES.

IOI CHRISTIAN MORNING MEAL

TOPIC: GOD'S BLESSINGS ARE ACTIVATED BY OUR CHOICES.

Deuteronomy 28 is a long chapter of sixty eight verses. This chapter is divided into two parts. These first fourteen verses have to do with blessing. The remaining verses speak of cursing. Blessings or cursing, the choice was theirs.

Deuteronomy 30:15 says, "See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil."

Israel was left with a choice, and so are we. While God is certainly sovereign, only a fool would deny the fact of human responsibility. Every human born of woman, has a choice to make. In this life, we will choose between God or Satan, eternal life or eternal death; a life of blessing or a life of cursing. As children, our parents make many of our choices, but eventually we must choose for ourselves! The secret to securing the blessings of God, is to choose obedience over rebellion.

The Bible tells us that "God is love," and love must make a choice. God is not going to save you against your will.

How many of us would want to marry someone against his other will?

Marriage is a decision of love. Salvation is a decision of love. God in His divine pure love chose in eternity past to redeem us through His Son, Jesus Christ. We must choose to receive the Son by faith at the preaching of the Word of God and conviction of the Holy Spirit of God.

It is the same when it comes to serving God. We serve Him because we love Him. As God's children, none of us merit or deserve the least of His blessings. All blessings come to us by God's grace! However, everyday we make choices that place us in the path of God's blessings or the path of God's correction. God help us to make the right choices!

LET US PRAY
FATHER IN JESUS NAME, HELP US TO MAKE A RIGHT CHOICE IN JESUS NAME.

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GOD'S BLESSINGS ARE ATTACHED TO HIS COMMANDMENTS.

IOI CHRISTIAN MORNING MEAL

TOPIC: GOD'S BLESSINGS ARE ATTACHED TO HIS COMMANDMENTS.

Text: Deuteronomy 28:1-2. "And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all His commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth:

2 And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God."

Verse 1 tells us that if we hear the Lord God and live in obedience to His commandments, His Word, then we can know we are on the road to His blessings. We find the same condition in John 15:10. Jesus said, "If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in His love."

Do you get the message? Keep yourself near the Word of God, the people of God, involved in the things of God, doing the will of God, and God will bless your life. Dwelling with God, living in obedience to His Word, is the secret to securing God's blessings.

Now that is easily said, but is not easy. The flesh, the devil, and the world, are purposed to pull you away from the will and Word of God. Only as you are purposed, determined, to keep yourself focused upon God and His Word, will you be successful in life.

LET US PRAY
DEAR HEAVENLY FATHER, GRANT US YOUR MIND TO DO YOUR COMMANDMENT IN JESUS NAME.

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HOW TO POSITION YOURSELF FOR GOD’S BLESSINGS

IOI CHRISTIAN MORNING MEAL

TOPIC: HOW TO POSITION YOURSELF FOR GOD’S BLESSINGS

You must be at the right place at the right time. You need to change you location to change your position. The people you surround yourself with are important to your faith. Association determines your faith. You will need to leave some of your associates, friends and relatives. You need to change your position to change your condition – Pro. 27:8.

You need to change a number of environments: mental, psychological, physical, spiritual, et al.

You must live a life of obedience – Gen. 12:4, 13:14-16, 15:18. When a man acts in obedience to God’s word there is a blessing for it – Gen. 21:12-20, 22:1-2 and 16-18,.

For a blessing to go into operation, you must live a live obedience.
You must live a life of sacrifice. When sacrifices are offered God shows up. Sacrifice is a thing of importance to God. It is anything you do or give that cost you something and it essentially comes from the heart. When it is a sacrifice it moves God.

Hannah gave her son, Abraham gave God his only son, and the widow of Zarephath gave her last meal. Sacrifice is doing things from the heart – Gen. 46:1-2, 1 Kings 3:4-5.

LET US PRAY
FATHER IN JESUS NAME, POSITION US TO THE RIGHT PLACE OF YOUR BLESSING IN JESUS NAME.

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Faithfulness in Marriage

IOI CHRISTIAN MORNING MEAL

TOPIC: FAITHFULNESS IN MARRIAGE

Eph. 5:31 speaks of the bond that exists between the husband and the wife. It is a bond that can only exist between two people. There is no room in the marriage relationship for a third party.

It is never acceptable for a man or a woman to have a sexual or emotional relationship with a member of the opposite sex on the side.
Our relationship with our spouse is to be one of absolute faithfulness, both physically and emotionally. Adultery is a sin regardless of the form it takes, Ex. 20:14; Matt. 5:28.

Marriage is one of the greatest gifts God ever gave to humanity. But, it is truly beautiful when it is operates like God intended it to.

Has He spoken to you about your marriage? Husbands and wives might want to come and pray together today. You might want to ask the Lord to strengthen your bonds. You might want to iron out some troubled places. You might need to apologize to your spouse for acting like a jerk. You might want to come and thank God for what He has done in your home. This would be a great time to make your marriage stronger.

Had He spoken to you about some sin or failure in your life? He offers forgiveness, if you will bring it to Him, 1 John 1:9. If you are out of God’s will come home. If you are lost come to Jesus.

Let this weekend be sweet in your home. Do the necessary.

LET US PRAY
DEAR LORD JESUS CHRIST HELP US TO BE FAITHFUL TO YOU AND TO OUR SPOUSES IN OUR UNION IN JESUS NAME.

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THE PLACE OF RESPECT IN MARRIAGE

IOI CHRISTIAN MORNING MEAL

TOPIC: THE PLACE OF RESPECT IN MARRIAGE

Respect –
Mutual respect is fundamental for any marriage that expects long term success. Several passages speak about this matter. Let’s consider a few today.

Eph. 5:22-24 – These verses have been among the most loved and hated of the New Testament. Some men love to hang these verses over the heads of their wives and demand that they fall down before them in obedience. Some women read these verses and feel that they make the wife inferior to the husband. Neither interpretation is correct.

God is not establishing the husband as some kind of dictator in the home. Nor is God relegating the wife to a place of servitude. The word “submit” means “to arrange under”. The truly spiritual wife recognizes God’s order in the home. She understands that it is a reflection of God’s order in the church. Jesus is the head of the church and we are to submit to His headship. The husband has been given the responsibility of leading the home and the godly wife follows the husband’s leadership willingly and humbly.

The husband is not to demand submission from the wife. She is to offer it freely and lovingly. This submission is to her “own husband” only! Women are not subservient to men. They are equals, even in the home. But, God has invested leadership in the husband and he will be held responsible for the home. He will give an account for his actions as the head of the home when he stands before Jesus.

Eph. 5:28-29 – I willingly submit the Lordship of the Jesus in my life because I know He loves me. I understand that He gave Himself to save me sacrificially, willingly, lovingly and unconditionally. I respond to His love by submitting to Him. The same is true in the home. When the husband loves His wife sacrificially, willingly, lovingly and unconditionally, she will respond by respecting him.

The reason some wives have a hard time submitting to their mates is because the man is anything but Christ-like in his love for her! Ladies, this is no excuse for rebellion in the home! You are told to “submit” without respect to how he acts toward you. Even if your husband is lost, you have the duty of submission, Ill. 1 Pet. 3:1-6. Men, your wife will be more likely to follow your lead if she knows you love her with every fiber of your being.

Verses 28-29 teach us that the husband is to love his life like he loves his own flesh. Husbands are to “nourish” their wives, and they are to “cherish” their wives.

LET US PRAY
IN JESUS NAME, LORD HELP US TO FOLLOW YOUR FOOTSTEP AND MAKE US A LOVING SPOUSES IN JESUS NAME.

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LOYALTY IN MARRIAGE

IOI CHRISTIAN MORNING MEAL

TOPIC: LOYALTY IN MARRIAGE

Eph. 5:31 speaks of the law of “leaving and cleaving”. This was what God expected of the first married couple, Gen. 2:24, and it is what He expects of every other married couple. When a man and woman are married, there is a fundamental shift in their relationships to others.

Their relationship with the parents is altered forever. It can still be strong, but the marriage relationship must have preeminence over the parental relationship. Children need to let go and so do parents. Few things are more devastating to a marriage than a failure to “leave and cleave”.

The word “joined” means “to be glued”. It is the idea of two things being bonded together in such a way that they cannot be torn apart. It is a bond so strong and so deep that you cannot tell where one begins and the other ends.

This kind of loyalty is spelled out in 1 Cor. 13:7. Look at the characteristics of true loyalty.

Beareth all things – Loyal even when things are tough. It doesn’t walk out in the day of trouble.

Believeth all things – Loyalty believes in ones mate. It trusts them.

Hopeth all things – Loyalty never looks for the worst in them, but only believes the best.

Endureth all things – Loyalty sticks it out. Loyalty does not abandon the fort

LET US PRAY
DEAR LORD JESUS CHRIST GIVE OUR UNION LOYALTY THAT WE BUILD A HAPPIER FAMILY IN JESUS NAME.

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