BLESSINGS IN DOING GOD’S WORD

PROF. BEN ONYEUKWU (REV.)

NCE(Eng.) ND/HD (Journalism); BA (Hons) MA, PhD.

Call: +2348037346939  E-mail: professorbenonyeukwu@yahoo.com

BLESSINGS IN DOING GOD’S WORD

Devotional Text: James 1:22-25

Introduction:

“The best of all the preachers in the world are those who live their creeds”. The foregoing aphorism gives credence to the fact that preaching alone does not prove the worth of one, but preaching the practising what one preaches do. Jesus set the pace of preaching when He first began to do and then to preach, (Acts 1:1). The scripture holds the assertion that brings booms for those who do God’s word and doom for those who jettison it. One’s camp in this regard determines one’s fortune or misfortune. Make a wise choice!

GENERAL REMARKS

(1)     God’s word is the perfect law, (vs. 25)

(2)     God’s word gives freedom, (vs. 25)

(3)     Doing God’s word brings blessings, (vs. 25)

(1)    One deceives oneself where on fails to do God’s word, (vs. 22).

DOING GOD’S WORD SUSTAINS THE BLESSING OF ETERNAL LIFE, (REV. 1:3).

The best of all the blessings that God gives is the gift of eternal life. Therefore, within the context of the apocalyptic writing doing God’s word is a call to:

(i)                   wake up from slumber, (Rom. 13:11)

(ii)                 be ready for the second coming of the Lord, (Rev. 22:7)

(iii)                obey God’s word and be blessed, (Luke 11:28).

The church today is sleeping in the mud of compromise and avaricious living. A complete abrasion is in focus as one notices that almost every pulpit favours materials values at the expense of things of eternity. May God save the church!

DOING GOD’S WORD BRINGS BLESSING AND PROSPERITY, (PASLM 128:1-4)

The subtopic in focus suggests that the church should strike a balance in her preaching expedition. Undue emphasis on earthly values will definitely drag the church to spiritual bankruptcy. On the other hand, a lopsided presentation of spiritual values would paralyze the evangelistic progress of the church. Therefore, the church should:

(i)                   preach prosperity as she preaches purity, (1 Jn 3; Matt. 5:8).

(ii)                 preach earthly blessings as she preaches heavenly blessings, (matt. 6;38)

(iii)                preach waiting for the Lord as she preaches working for the Lord, (1 Jn 3:13, Eccl. 9:10).

Certainly, doing God’s word is a concrete step to enduring blessings and prosperity, (verses 1-2).

DOING GOD’S WORD BRINGS ETHICAL BLESSING, (PSALM 119:9-1)

Ethics are moral beliefs and rules that influence people’s behaviour, attitudes and ideas. Ethical values are invaluable nuggets that sustain every other blessing. Lack of such values brings shame, anguish and sorrows.

            It is certain that a gifted person with moral bankruptcy can hardly reach the peak of his glory. Also, the promotion achieved by gifts can only be sustained by ethics.

Doing God’s word as one can infer from our Bible text leads to purity and purity is the bedrock of righteousness. Therefore, ethical blessing is that blessing that comes as a result of righteousness (moral uprightness). Such a blessing stresses that:

(i)                   the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, (Psalm 34:15)

(ii)                 the Lord blesses the home of the righteous, (Prov. 3:33)

(iii)                the Lord never lets the righteous down, (Psalm 55:22).

In conclusion, it is important to note that giving God’s word a pragmatic approach would equip one for blessings, and by the reason of the ethical standard derived from it one is secured with every other blessing one acquires. You can make a happy living at all times. BE A DOER OF GOD’S WORD!