1 Corinthians 10:10-13
“And do not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel. These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come. So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.”
INSIGHT
-The Israelites grumbled and complained against Moses and Aaron, and one generation died in the desert. During the Passover, they relied on the blood of the lamb smeared on their door posts and the angel did not strike them. We are reminded to examine the body and blood of Jesus even in our homes and we will have peace, protection and abundant life during these challenging times. Murmuring and complaining is also a cause for one to fall into temptations. We are thus called to stand on the word of God through faith and the Holy Spirit will help us to overcome all trials. There are different levels of temptations which are presented to different people. The temptations faced by Job could be termed as difficult to many, but God’s grace is sufficient. Temptations of pride could also be regarded as dangerous for they brought both great men and angels down. Satan the most anointed cherub fell because of pride. Likewise, king Nebuchadnezzar was dethroned because of pride. There are various forms of pride which include and are not limited to:- spiritual pride, pride caused by beauty, wealth, power etc. Pride grows gradually in our hearts and unnoticeably becomes a massive destructive tree. We are cautioned against pride which slowly erodes our dependence on God and degrades our relationship with men. Psalms 37:11 reminds us, “But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy peace and prosperity.” We are called to humble ourselves before the Lord and He will lift us up.
PRAYER
This is the day that the Lord has made, we rejoice and are glad in it. We thank You for giving us the grace to see this new day. Thank You for Your protection, provision, sustenance, peace, blessings upon our lives, families and nation. We come to Your feet with humility Jesus asking for mercy. Forgive us for the many times we have murmured and complained. We seek Your mercy for the many times we have harbored pride in our hearts and remove any form of pride from us. Fill us with Your fruit of humility Holy Spirit that we may enjoy peace and prosperity and inherit the land. May our joy be complete in You Lord. We rejoice in You always and declare Your salvation upon all the nations. May Your word gain root in our hearts that we may stand firm upon You Jesus Christ. Help us to overcome all temptations Holy Spirit. Heal all those who are sick and suffering, merciful Savior. We humbly ask You to comfort those who are mourning their loved ones, merciful Father. Remove the tide of COVID-19 from the face of the earth merciful Jesus. We seek Your wisdom even as the COVID-19 vaccine is being administered to us. Thank You for Your love and mercy upon us. You are the bread of life Jesus, teach us to administer Your body and blood that we may have life in abundance. Thank You for Your grace and wisdom dear Jesus. We praise You and glorify Your holy name, now and forever. Amen
Numbers 16:1-3
Korah son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and certain Reubenites—Dathan and Abiram, sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth—became insolent and rose up against Moses. With them were 250 Israelite men, well-known community leaders who had been appointed members of the council. They came as a group to oppose Moses and Aaron and said to them, “You have gone too far! The whole community is holy, every one of them, and the Lord is with them. Why then do you set yourselves above the Lord’s assembly?
INSIGHT
-The Israelites continued to grumble and complain at Moses for bringing them to the wilderness where they suffered. Moses cautioned they saying that they were not complaining to him but they put the Lord to test (Exodus 17:2). Korah rebelled against Moses and Aaron along with other co-conspirators and were punished for their rebellion. The Lord caused the ground to split open beneath their feet swallowing them, their families, anyone associated with them, and all their possessions. God also smote 14,700 men with plague, as punishment for objecting to Korah’s destruction. We notice that murmuring and complaining brings forth God’s punishment. Murmuring and complaining is caused by anger and the cautions us from getting angry which leads to evil (Psalms 37:8). Complaining does not make anything better but everything worse. We also notice that one of the greatest tragedy of man is to fail to appreciate the goodness of God but keep complaining. Murmuring and complaining could be the one of the reasons why God allowed COVID-19 to come to the earth. Complaining is a remedy for disaster and we are reminded to give thanks to God and praise Him in all circumstances.
PRAYER
Dear Heavenly Father, we come before Your throne of grace and mercy today with thanksgiving in our hearts, thanking You for who You are, Your faithfulness, Your provision and healing. All You have done is marvelous in our sight, we praise You. We bless Your name for all Your benefits and blessings to us. You are a good God, You are a merciful Father, we bless Your holy name. Receive all our praise, honor and adoration. In honor, we exalt Your name and lift You high for You are a mighty God. We praise You for Your love and goodness in our lives, families and nation. Thank You heavenly Father for loving us with great love. We humbly come before You today in repentance, may You cleanse us from all our sins and make us white as snow. May You forgive us from all we have said, done, thought and all our intentions that have not pleased You merciful Father. You are a good God who is slow to anger and we thank You for You do not punish us as we deserve but Your mercies and love is everlasting from generation to generation. Forgive our families, friends, loved ones from all sin, iniquity, murmurings and complaints. May You forgive our leaders too from all corruption, iniquity, unrighteousness, oppression and blood shed where they have displeased You. May You pour out Your Grace and mercy upon us all and wash us all with Your precious blood. Have mercy on us all and take away the tide of COVID-19 from the face of the earth. Have mercy on us Lord and take away every sickness and plague from us. May all nations and all people receive Your saving grace and tell of Your goodness and love. May true repentance and salvation be our portion every day of our lives. May You guide us and direct us in Your right path of righteousness. We love You and pray all these in Jesus name. Amen.
James 5:7-9
“Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door!”
INSIGHT
-Patience is a fruit of the Holy Spirit which is characterized by humility and love. Ephesians 4:2 reminds us to be completely humble and gentle; patient, bearing with one another in love. As a farmer sows seed and waits for its fruit, we are called to wait patiently on the Lord and for the Day of the Lord; being joyful in hope, perseverant in affliction and faithful in prayer. Murmuring and complaining brings forth condemnation and judgement as observed. Matthew 7:1-2, cautions us from judging others lest we are also judged, and with the measure we use, it will be measured to us. Murmuring and complaining is a form of judgment to one another and with the same measure we judge, it shall be applied unto us. God is gracious and full of mercy and calls us to be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger, and we will be judged righteously.
PRAYER
Let the heavens declare Your righteousness, You God are Judge. As a dear pants for brooks of water so our souls wait on You Lord. We wait on You Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. We souls wait on You day and night, save us merciful Savior. Save us from those who afflict us. Save us from the oppressor our righteous Judge. Vindicate us from those who want to destroy us merciful Savior. Save us from diseases and plagues. Save us from calamity and shame. Save us from premature death. We shall not die but live to declare Your goodness Oh Lord. You alone Lord and Holy, You alone are Righteous, we rely on Your righteousness Jesus. You will judge the nations. You will judge between the nations and render decisions for many peoples. Hear our prayers merciful Savior and vindicate us from those who torment us with manufactured diseases like COVID-19. Save all Your people dear Jesus. Heal all the COVID-19 patients, heal all those suffer from cancer, diabetes, stroke, HIV aids, arthritis, blood sugar and blood pressure imbalances, cerebral palsy and other chronic ailments. Save our nation from corruption. Save us from murmuring and complaining dear Jesus. Save us from cancerous sins and wash us with Your precious blood. Give us hearts of flesh and renew a steadfast spirit within us. Bless all candidates and grant them success in their final exam. Save all those who do not know You and grant them the gift of salvation merciful Jesus. Vindicate us merciful Savior. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us now and forevermore. Amen
Colossians 3:12-17
“Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”
INSIGHT
-There are certain issues that arise in the family unit, relationships, marriages, communities, schools, work place and nation that may cause conflicts among the participants. These issues may spark forth discord, complains, rage, anger, broken relationships and sometimes death. In a nation where the leaders are corrupt, it’s citizens at some point begin to feel the heat of economic depression and spark an uproar. In a relationship or marriage which is unstable, complaining takes the day. Conflict may arise from either couple but forgiveness should always win. Proverbs 21:9 reveals that, “better to live on a corner of the roof than share a house with a quarrelsome wife”. Peace at home is a critical element that unites the family unit together. God calls us to forgive and bear one another with love. We are also called to praise, worship and give thanks to God always. We need to ask God to purify our hearts so that we can access the realm of true worship. Once we are submitted to the Holy Spirit, He puts a new song in us so that we can worship Him in spirit and in truth. Let us believe in God’s power even as we worship, to mend every broken relationship and take away every plague and disease including corona virus.
PRAYER
We sing to You Lord a new song, we sing to You in all the earth. We sing to You Lord, we praise Your holy name and proclaim Your salvation day after day. We declare Your glory among the nations and Your marvelous deeds among all peoples. Great are You Lord and most worthy of praise. You alone are to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the nations are idols, but only You Lord made the heavens. Splendor and majesty are before You. Strength and glory are in Your sanctuary. We ascribe to You Lord all glory and strength. We worship You Lord in the splendor of Your holiness and tremble before You in all the earth. Only You Lord reigns. Heal our hearts from every form of bitterness and unforgiveness. Heal every broken relationship and marriage dear Jesus. Heal our nation from corruption and exploitation merciful Savior. Heal every sector of our economy and bless us dear Jesus. Heal our nation from tribalism and unforgiveness. Heal us all merciful Jesus from murmuring and complaining and make every crooked path straight. All glory and praise belongs to You Jesus now and forever. Amen
Luke 19:5-10
“And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, “Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house.” So he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully. But when they saw it, they all complained, saying, “He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner.” Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold.” And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
INSIGHT
–As we remember the passion, death and crucifixion of Christ, we are called to come to Him as we are with confidence that He has won victory for us. Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole” (Galatians 3:13). Christ paid the penalty of man’s sins by hanging on the pole and gave us eternal life. Christ did not come for the righteous but for the sinners that we may come to repentance (Luke 5:32). Jesus did not die for the righteous but for sinners. Zacchaeus the tax collector; who was called a sinner was a beneficiary of Christ’s salvation plan. When the people murmured and complained that Jesus was dinning with sinners, Jesus had an eternal plan for him. Zacchaeus came to repentance, he restored all that he had taken falsely and gave half of his wealth to the poor. Jesus reminded the people that He came to seek and to save that which was lost. Zacchaeus received the saving power of Christ together with His household. It is during such a time that we are called to welcome Jesus in our hearts to save us and our households. Jesus was crucified for our sins and by His blood He has redeemed us from sin causing death and has given us the gift of salvation. Christ calls us to believe in His and His works on the cross that we may also be converted and come to salvation.
SUMMARY
Heart murmuring is a condition that can be detected when a cardiologist listens to ones heart using a stethoscope during physical examination. According to a publication by Mayo clinic, an abnormal heart murmur may cause the following signs and symptoms depending on the cause of the murmur: Swelling or sudden weight gain, Shortness of breath, Chronic cough, Enlarged liver and Enlarged neck veins. In infants it may cause; poor appetite and failure to grow normally, Heavy sweating with little or no activity, Chest pain, Dizziness and Fainting. Heart murmuring therefore should be eliminated to reduce the chances of cardiac arrest and other diseases. When the heart murmur is prolonged and intense, it can cause cardiovascular disease, chronic ailments and cardiac arrest. Murmuring which begins in the heart and manifests through speech. Murmuring and complaining is contagious and can easily spread like bush fire from one person or group to a mass of people. It is then vital to quiet ones heart with the peace of Christ that surpasses all understanding. God has called us to be still in our thoughts, hearts, feelings and emotions, challenges and know that He is God. Jesus was crucified, died and was buried for the sake of our sins. Through His precious blood, He has conquered all and we are free from any form of diseases, pains and suffering if we have faith in Him and rest in His salvation. Through administration of the holy communion, we experience total healing through the power of Jesus Christ. If then we acknowledge that Christ has won victory for us, let us then put all our trust in Him and give thanks to Him in all situations, and we will find grace and peace in Him, and live forever with Him.
PRAYER
Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. Thank You Jesus for sacrificing Your life for our sake. Thank you for liberating us from sin causing death and giving us eternal life. Thank You Jesus for loving us and for giving us the gift of salvation together with our descendants. Thank You for loving us and making us Your friends and family. We are the seed of Abraham according to the promise and have hope of eternal life with You Jesus. Remember all those who do not believe in Your suffering, crucifixion, death and resurrection that You may touch their hearts. Only You are the way, the truth and life and no one comes to the Father except through You Jesus Christ, let all the people believe in You. Lord You are merciful and full of love, let all Your people come to repentance and forsake sin. Jesus we welcome You into our hearts, home’s, families, relationships, marriages, schools, work places and nation, humbly asking You to remove all forms of complaining and murmuring. Heal our hearts dear Jesus and wash us with Your precious blood. Heal our land dear Jesus and revive our economy. Heal all the nations of the world dear Jesus and deliver us from corona virus and all other diseases. Thank You for loving us Jesus, teach us how to worship You in spirit and in truth. Teach us how to give to the poor. Teach us how to give thanks to You in all situations. All glory, honor, power, blessings and salvation belongs to You Jesus Christ, now and forever. Amen