22/03/10

Seeking the countenance of the Lord

Psalms 36:10 - O continue thy lovingkindness unto them that know thee; and thy righteousness to the upright in heart.


In the Bible when the Lord was pleased with man He lifted His countenance on man and His glory was felt. In the same way if man who called himself a child / people of God and misrepresented Him; God would turn away His countenance and man would be in great trouble.

Turning away the countenance of God made way for Satan and his angels to attack. But when the countenance of God was lifted up on a person it meant the favor of God was on that person. Favor of God does wonders for a person, the impossible not only becomes possible it becomes simple.

Grace of God or mercy of God does not require a person to do any work, but in the case of favor one needs to be stand in between the Rock. To stand between the Rock, means to imitate God in his character or pursue relationship with Him.

To give an example of favor of God, we hear of Christians being persecuted but just yesterday a person came from a visit to the interiors of India, where there was a gathering of Christians. Like most large gathering this gathering also attracted the attention of people who hate Christians. So a person of this group filled a case in court to stop this gathering. And during the hearing this person was giving false witness, as he was doing this he fell down in the court itself and died. His brother in who was there was very afraid, ran home and at home he too fell.

The Pastor who was conducting this gather felt in his heart to save this family so went to this person's house. When he reached there they were putting the brother into an ambulance. On the way to the hospital, in the ambulance itself the brother died. These events have gripped a fear in to the hearts of the unbelievers and they all have one thing in their minds, to keep distance from the Christians for their God is God.

We experience problems because we do not pursue the countenance of the Lord. Persecution will come, but if we have the favor of God on us, then those who come to persecute will have fear of how great our God is.

So let us not speak as Christians but be Christians by imitating Christ who is God come as man and whom we can easily know and imitate.


[ Prayer Starter ]
Lord, when the Israelite walked in the wilderness and walked according to your Word there was fear in the hearts of their enemies and they did not dare to attack them, if they did they were completely destroyed. Lord, we are your children; children of the One and Only God, help us to imitate You so that the world knows You and fears You...

We make this prayer in Jesus' Name, Amen.


[ Reference Scriptures ]
Deuteronomy 28:9-14
9 The LORD shall establish thee an holy people unto himself, as he hath sworn unto thee, if thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, and walk in his ways.
10 And all people of the earth shall see that thou art called by the name of the LORD; and they shall be afraid of thee.
11 And the LORD shall make thee plenteous in goods, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy ground, in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers to give thee.
12 The LORD shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow.
13 And the LORD shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the LORD thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them:
14 And thou shalt not go aside from any of the words which I command thee this day, to the right hand, or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them.

The Word of God was given free to us, therefore we should also share it freely with others. (All rights are with God)