Proverbs 13:4 “The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: But the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.”

Proverbs 15:19 “The way of a slothful man is as an hedge of thorns: But the way of the righteous is made plain.”

Sluggards, is also described in scriptures as the slothful, aim to do as little as possible and to live off the labour of others. Like the animal that gives rise to the name, the person of sloth is slow moving, not concerned about completing tasks quickly or well. Lazy people want a life of ease with no commitment or responsibility. Sloth results in all kinds of problems. These may include loss of job, fractured relationship, stress, poverty and acute focus on self instead of pleasing God.

But the signs of sloth are not always obvious. A spirit of laziness can creep into our lives when we find excuses for not reading and studying scriptures or when we can’t seem to find time to participate in the work of the local Church or when we are just too tired to pray. Spiritual laziness leads to compromise and spiritual ignorance, which will keep us from maturing in the ways of the Lord.

Sloth is a tool of the enemy. He knows that if we allow laziness to rule, we will never fully realize the hope and promise that are ours in Jesus Christ. The good news is that laziness doesn’t have to become a fatal distraction; we can make a choice to turn away from that sin to view every tack as an opportunity to faithfully serve the Lord.

Spend some time in prayer asking God to show us any areas of laziness in our life. Remember, we are accountable for the talent and spiritual gifts God has given us. We are meant to be “a vessel for honour, sanctified, useful to the Maker, prepared for every good work”.

Knowing that, slothfulness is often characterized by laziness, an unwillingness to work, a lack of self-discipline. Slothfulness is the sin of doing nothing or as little as possible.

2 Thessalonians 3:6

“Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ that you withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.

The Way to Salvation

“And he said, The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know his will, and see that Just One, and shouldest hear the voice of his mouth.”

Having been chosen by God, the righteous will be capable of seeing and hearing: “This is the way to eternal salvation.”

Chosen:  The wonder of the election is beyond comprehension — we can understand it with the word “grace”.

God has made it possible for us to know His will, and comprehend His plan of salvation. We have been incorporated into His plan of salvation with our entire being, beginning with our election and including our future. This we consolidated, and now, the new creature in Christ, which is created by the rebirth out of water and spirit, continuous to grow. We experience for forgiveness and redemption; our souls are adorned and prepared for the first resurrection and for eternal destination- what a future! Therefore, no human plans nor our own will should come in between to disturb this godly order. Plans which are devised to promote our own honour, to enslave us in our passion, to gain riches and power, should not and dare not hinder us. All of this is because the plan devised by the love of God has no equal anywhere on earth.

To know the will of God, firstly, means to hear it and, secondly, to fulfil it. Therefore, let us always work at it with all our determination. In this manner, then, even today, some who have been “Saul’s” will convert to “Pauls”. Saul means “the one who demands “; Paul means “the little one”. He desired to have us, then make us small and humble and thereby, leads us straight to godly greatness.

See the just one: on the way to Damascus Saul saw the light of the son of God. In Jerusalem he even fell into a trance (Verse 17) “And it came to pass, that when I was come again to Jerusalem, even while I prayed in the temple, I was in a trance; That is, he had a vision in which he saw the Lord. And us? Do we recognize the Lord in his messengers; yes, even in our brothers and sisters who have been made righteous by grace? If so, we will prove it by the esteem with which we approach them. In like manner,  we prepare ourselves for that time when we will see him as he is (1 John 3:2). “Beloved now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is”.

Our Lords words “He that heareth you heareth me” is what the Lord Jesus said to those whom  He sent (Luke 10: 16).  “He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that Despiseth me despiseth him that sent me”.  Do we hear Gods word from Apostles sent today?  Does Gods word of the  Ministry make us blissful?  Through the Word, God created the World.  Through the Word, the new creation of the Son of God will also be built.

Morning Solute 2021. Lord, by Thy Grace, allow me to be a blessing to someone today, as you guide me to answer Your call, that Your light and virtues may shine though me.

If we are to fulfil our morning salute all parts of our body must be healed. There is only one who can achieve this by our text. We can link this by our prayers.

EYES

Dear Lord, may you grant us healing on our eyes. Help us to see your wonderful works around us each day of our lives. Remind us to always fix our eyes unto your beloved Son Jesus Christ our Lord, as the author and finisher of our faith and that through Him we will find blessings, comfort and rest for our souls. Blind our eyes from the temptations of this world and from Satan. Keep our eyes healthy Lord, for our eyes are the lamp of our body. Help us to see your rich Grace that surrounds us.  Help us to see your divine mercy that gives us the strength to come in boldness to your graceful throne. Heal us to fathom the depths of your Love for all of us and live according to your path. Show us the way that leads to everlasting life.

MIND

Grant us the wisdom that comes from above, which is pure and gentle. Grant that we as your children have the mind like Christ in our daily lives. Purge our minds from all the negativity of this world, cleanse all our thoughts from the things that distract us from your pure wisdom. Help us to think whatever is noble, lovely, pure and of good report that brings glory to Thy Holy Name. Grant us a spiritual and healthy mind filled with powerful and heavenly thoughts that will lead us to live a peaceful and righteous life, to the honour and glory of thy Name.

EARS

Bless our ears O Lord, help us that these ears are always inclined to listen to your precious Words. Remind us that we can receive the gift of faith through hearing, and by hearing of your Words. Empower our listening Lord so that we can remain firm in our faith to your faithful promises. Grant us healing for our ears O Lord, keep these ever shut from the whispers and voice of Satan. Yet, keep our ears always passionate in listening to the voice of our Lord who is our Good shepherd, for His true sheep know His voice. Teach us to listen more and to talk less, anoint our ears O Lord that this will be a pathway of pure wisdom.

LIPS

May the Holy Spirit always anoint our lips on fire in speaking truth, heavenly wisdom, comforting words which are founded in your love and grace. Teach us always to speak blessings not curse, encouragement and not condemnation, truth and not false accusation. Grant us the fruit of the Holy Spirit in restraining our tongues in speaking things unworthy to your presence. Remind us O Lord that every word we speak that we will be accountable on your glorious return. Remind us O Lord, that you are the gentle listener of every word we speak. Grant our lips healing, may Your Wisdom flow mightily upon our tongues so we can share the gospel to other souls to the glory of thy Name.

HANDS

We pray that you may cleanse our hands from all impurities. Wash away the imperfections and filthy works by the power of your precious Blood. Loving Father bless the works of our hands O Lord, that this may only labour the things that brings glory to thy precious Name. Grant the strength in our hands as we continue to labour in Your vineyard preparing ourselves for the great Harvest time. Help us that these hands may have the strength to be used to lift people who are weak, lead who are lost, embrace those who are mourning, provide for those who are in need, carry those who can’t walk and bring them in the abundant Grace of Your Son Christ Jesus. Grant healing and power in our hands, that these may continue to labour and serve You with gladness in our hearts.

FEET

Lord we pray that You grant our feet the strength of the feet of the deer, that causes us to stand on high places. Grant that our feet will be strong enough like the donkey who carries your Son to Jerusalem, that we can also carry the cross and follow Jesus in our lives. Lead our feet to your Truth, grant us your Word as the lamp to lighten our path. Remind us that even though we walk in the valley of the shadow of death, we will never fear for You are with us. Lead our footsteps closer to You and draw us nigh to You O Lord. In time of trials, we sometimes became weak and stumbled and yet, we will rejoice and stand again because Your grace is ever sufficient. Grant healing and strength to our feet that we may be able to finish the race with patience that you have set upon us.

HEART

We pray that through the power of the Holy Spirit, kindle the fire in our hearts. Create us a pure and clean heart that is worthy to your sight. Remind us that only those who have a pure heart can see God. Wash away all the impurities in our heart O Lord, purge these from all iniquities through the power of the body and blood of Thy beloved Son. Grant us a thankful heart Lord, a heart that is filled with peace, joy and strength. Keep our hearts healthy O Lord, we invite You to enter into our hearts O Lord, sit in the throne, be my King, be my Lord all the days of our lives. Strengthen our hearts and guard this from all the attacks from the Enemy. Surround our hearts with Your consuming fire that will burn all impurities and will protect our hearts from all evil ways. Dear Father, grant us a pure heart.

All of these requests to be made through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Great political efforts are made to maintain world peace. Ofttimes little or no thought is given to peace in the home, and instead of harmony there is strife. Peace does not come from without, it grows from within. The condition of society is the product of the families and individuals in it. Man cannot reconcile himself with God and still bear a grudge against his brother.

Peace is not automatic, it is a fruit of the Holy Spirit, which are love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance. (Gal. 5:22). This list could be continued with fidelity, understanding, humility, helpfulness, pity etc. In one of our hymns we sing; “He, in whose heart peace abideth, boundless wealth possesses, rare. Gold and Silver, precious diamonds cannot with God’s peace compare. It is peace that doth you nourish, peace that brings you happiness; That your own heart doth encourage, and your neighbour’s fills with bliss.” A man of peace has many other virtues too. In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus said: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God.” From this it is clear whom He will call God’s children and whom He will welcome into His Kingdom as His heirs.

In a community where peace reigns, there is no place for hatred and envy, here there is time for one’s neighbour.

Parents who make their homes a haven of peace, give their children security and warmth.

There is no security where money rules or when each one seeks his own interests. Freedom and a lot of pocket money can never fulfill the children’s need of security.

Love, warmth and security are found where the Holy Spirit prevails. It is not through words but by good example, that a community of peace is built and maintained. True Christians also have their troubles. “Knots cannot be untied with frozen fingers. A frozen heart makes simple things difficult.” There is a way to warm a ‘frozen heart.’ The Psalmist says: “Blessed is the man, whose strength is in thee, in whose heart are the ways of them.” (Ps.84:5)

Children of peace are happy, because they see beauty around them, experience God’s blessings and have good relationship with their neighbours.

The Lord told John the truth: “I know your deeds, you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. A staggering judgment about a once living community. Much activity may exist, tradition and old customs, but these activities pass away and behind the background no pure life exists. “You are dead.”

 The community about which this was said was a city well known in antiquity for its proverbial riches and extravagance of King Croesus. The gold mines made Sardis a wealthy city. However, wealth is no guarantee of real or genuine life. The pre-Christmas season has many of these characteristics. Life passes at a hectic pace, gold and tinsel captivate the eye and heart and empty and depleted customs grasp hold of many. But who understands the depth of the spiritual message? Whose life witnesses the true spiritual life? As Christians we are also asked to conduct ourselves more wisely than those with no understanding of the real meaning of Christmas. The Advents lights alone or the old Christmas carols don’t do anything, and pious traditions, formed by habit, portray the impression that we are alive and not dead. We must take heed, that in our families and Church another spirit prevails so that another judgment can be expressed about us. The judgment of Christ testifies always of righteous judgment. He knew when to rebuke, but also when to praise. Who looks in to the heart of humans knows that in our community, there are some who have “not soiled their clothes.” To live in genuine piousness and true faith. Today that is still the case as it was in the Church in Sardis. This is the wonder of Christ’s Church, that at all times in north, south, east and west, there are men and women filled with the joy of the Lord, which is the basis of a pure and living Church.

 For me that is again always comforting and joyful that this letter from Revelation reveals a true Advents principal: strengthen one another so that the small body grows bigger. All take part so that which is dying will be strengthened. May the healthy help the sick. This alone opens the broader horizon to the anticipated joy of Christmas. Jesus wants us to be living communities, proclaiming the gospel in the midst of a world full of fear, resignation and the stench of death. The power of faith, prayer and love, should be felt by others. True Christians can forfeit some of these worldly pleasures. They see past this present day towards the goal of eternity. How much we wait for the future with our Lord Jesus is evidenced by how living our faith is and what influence God’s love has upon our conduct; how we persevere because of the reason of our hope. We do not live by what we accomplish, but by that which God, in and through us, does.

 Who overcomes shall not have his name taken out of the Book of Life. God knows us!

According to the book of Revelation, we are reminded that our Lord is the beginning and the end of all things. The Alpha and Omega (Rev. 22:13).

Any book has a first page and the last page. Likewise, also the Bible.

In the world we live, many novels and great stories, written by worldly authors, receive awards and great praise.  However, there is a great book, called the Bible, used within our lives as Apostolics; sadly, not to the full potential. It is our duty to bring life to this book in our existence. We receive many teachings in the Bible, confirming how the Holy Trinity is the Author of our being.

The commandments are written by God.

The hand appearing and writing on the palace wall.

Jesus writing in the sand.

The letters written by the apostles, anointed by Jesus and also the letters of Apostle Paul and other Apostles.  And many more examples, of how we are privileged to know that our Lord is the author of Our LIVES. When we have part in the miraculous power of the Baptism, Communion and the Holy Sealing, we hear words spoken, written by inspiration of the Holy Spirit and not by wisdom of man.

Especially during the Holy Sealing, we hear the words, “we have now become part of the household of God” and then the special words “Jesus Christ your Redeemer will WRITE through this action, your name in the book of life…”

A master plan was written by our Almighty God, that no person can alter, revise or change.  Many have tried with no success to change the clear instructions and the result of this action (Rev. 22:18-19). The master plan of God creating a world filled with people, and His chosen people. A flock guided by the sent Prophets of God, instructing them to adhere to His laws and to expect the coming of the Son, Jesus.

Only by the great mercy and love of God, He gave us His only Begotten Son, as our gateway to Mercy and the Kingdom of God.  Where we shall according to His will have part of the Holy Kingdom and Priesthood.

We shall only enter into His rest (Heb. 3:11), when we adhere to the instructions written and given to us by the Holy Trinity. The author of our Apostolic life.

As per the great plan, Jesus was sent to dwell on Earth amongst men and to also bring the greatest offering to God, suffering on the cross for our salvation, becoming the High Priest for ever (Heb. 5:6; Heb. 10:12; Heb. 7:3).

Before this event of Crucifixion, Christ prayed to His Father, sitting on the Holy Throne, confirming and confessing with comprehendible words that His work and task which He was sent for was completed (John 17:4).

“I have glorified Thee on earth, I finished the work which Thou gavest Me to, do.”

Establishing the faith, the Apostolicship which cannot be erased from the plan of God.

Eph. 4:5 “One Lord, one FAITH, one Baptism…”

MAY YOUR PRAYERS BE LIGHT AND YOUR BLESSING HEAVY.

Paul reminded Timothy – his own son in the faith (I.Tim 1,2) – regardless of anything else to set priorities for a lively prayer
activity in the community. It is all about the ‘Breath of Faith’: the prayer, the communication, the dialogue with the Triune
God. Only through this can a Christian community survive. It is just like the human organism, breathing is a vital necessity.
Once the breathing stops due to a life- threatening incident, death is inevitable, if no appropriate action is applied. Our body
requires oxygenous air to keep the blood circulation and the organs intact for life to function.
A Christian community, even the whole church can only stay intact respectively keep functioning if a lively prayer life is in
place and being practised. Most of all it is salutary and vital for God’s people to breathe in ‘Divine Oxygen’ through the
prayer, so that their (ecclesiastical) blood circulation is pulsating and the organs (officers, helpers, community members) of
the Body of Christ are filled with Godly Life by the Holy Ghost. And that makes it wonderful, comforting and keeps us
strong in the faith when HE fills us with his life saving breath through His Spirit when we talk to God. Then our tired soul is
revived to new life. Just as a candle goes out without a supply of oxygen, it is just as likely that our light of faith will soon go
out (suffocate) when the breath of faith wanes or stops altogether. And sometimes as in the present we become very “short of
breath”. That is why the appeal of Apostle Paul regarding our Christian existence is of the highest priority to remain
unwavering in our prayers (Romans 12:12).
Almost everyone in our society has a mobile phone. But for some it is used to pass the time, a toy or has even become an
addiction. But the mobile phone should be a motivating reminder in regards to our prayers, in all places, at any time and in all
situations to connect with God, our Lord. And how and for whom shall I pray to God?:
– The first priority is to pray to the living God, to worship and praise HIM (Ps. 95:6)1 – To pray to God in a
thanksgiving prayer for all HE is giving us!
– To reveal to God all our concerns (problems, poverty, illness, unemployment etc.) and beseech and plead in a fervent
prayer.
– To pray to God for intercession (for members of the family, fellow men, strangers, non-believers, the persecuted, the
unpleasant and even for enemies etc.)!
– But also thanksgiving prayers for God’s help for others.
– Intercession for the own community, for the whole church and all of Christianity, some of which are suffering from
persecution worldwide!
– Intercession for the ungodly society!
– Intercession for the government, politicians and for the nation and fatherland!
– Intercession for the suffering creation which is longing for the manifestations of the sons of God! (Rom. 8:19)
– And intercession for true peace for this world which is shaken up by prevailing evil!
And if the Christian community tries to cultivate such a life of prayer, it will be good, truthful, and agreeable to God our
Saviour! The aim of the LORD our God is that all people get the help they need and that they will recognize the
understanding of truth (Verse 4).
When praying to God you should not forget that it should be done in the name of Jesus Christ because the Son of God with
His Father in heaven is the true mediator of our prayers (John 14:13).
It was and is surely an important commandment for all times to build a “prayer front” against the powers of darkness
because that is the only way to disarm Satan. That is the reason why Paul begged the brothers (and sisters) in his letter to the
Romans to support his fight in their prayers (Rom. 15:30).
The old saying “ora et labora” (pray and work) has not lost its relevance to the present. It should still be our beneficial life
motto. In all our prayers, intercessions, and supplications the request in our Lord’s prayer “Thy will be done” must remain
dominant to keep us from misinterpreting God the Almighty LORD not as some fulfiller of our wishes.
As Christians let us remain strong and persevere by “breathing in deeply” our faith and there will always be a happy and
thankful sigh of relief. And then, in the spirit of Paul, we will also be “real sons and daughters” in the faith.
Ready – let’s go: Oxygen” into the Lungs” and off to Work”!