Topic: Pleasant Words, Healing Words [Joyce Meyer‘s Devotional Friday July 6, 2018]

“I am a Jew… being zealous for God as all of you are this day.” — Acts 22:3

Our thoughts can either get us into trouble or elevate us above our problems. Too often, however, we allow our minds to linger over and ponder the wrong kind of thoughts. In the verse above, it says the mind (or the heart) of the wise teaches his mouth. This proverb means that the thoughts on which we dwell will eventually come out in our words. If our words are good and uplifting, they encourage others and us.

Those thoughts aren’t just about others—they are also about how we reflect on ourselves, as well. One of the smartest friends I had in school confessed one day that she felt intellectually inferior. Her words shocked me, and I told her so. I learned that her father used to call her stupid when she didn’t grasp something the first time he explained it to her. Eventually, her own thoughts said to her, You aren’t intelligent enough to understand this.

That’s a good example of how our words can tear down others. But we can also uplift others with our words. When we focus on the good, we see in people and tell them, we may well be God’s messenger to them.

For example, I’ve stood in front of a crowd and spoken many times. Because I have victory, they assume I’m always in victory, and that I never have to struggle the way they do. Sometimes a person will come to me and say, “Joyce, God really used you tonight. I came here discouraged and kept asking God what I should do. Right in the middle of your teaching, I heard God speak through you.”

Those are pleasant words—as sweet as a honeycomb. Those people who speak to me are often unaware of how hard I’ve fought the enemy and struggled to free my mind from his influence. When they tell me what a blessing I’ve been to them, they often don’t sense how much their words mean to me.

Everyone needs to hear pleasant and healing words. It’s too easy to assume certain people don’t have the same struggles or severe battles that we experience. All of us struggle, and for some, it’s worse than for others. I believe that the more God wants to use us, the more forcefully Satan exerts his power against us.

We can help each other. When we sincerely speak pleasant words, healing words, we are not only diffusing our enemy’s power, but we are building up one another. We need to build up others as much as we need others to encourage us.

I can remember times when I’ve wanted to say a kind word to someone, and I would think, Oh, she knows that. She’s heard that before. Then I would say to myself, Yes, maybe she knows, and perhaps she’s heard it before, but she hasn’t heard it from me. It’s not that my words are better than anyone else’s, but it is the Holy Spirit who takes our words, anoints them, and brings healing and help to others.

What if each of us decided, I am God’s servant to bring healing words to wounded and hurting hearts? What if God chose us to strengthen and build up people by speaking soothing, kind, and thoughtful words to them? Not only do we put the devil to flight, but our friends’ joy soars, and ours does, too—¬because we’ve been used as God’s instruments of healing. I learned long ago that it takes so little to do so much good. Often, it’s only a word of encouragement, a hug, or just saying the words, “I care.”

Prayer Starter: Holy Spirit of God, please remind me of the words that dwell inside me. Remind me to hold on to the good, the kind, and the uplifting thoughts, and empower me to push away those that can hurt and tear down others—and myself. I ask this through Jesus Christ. Amen.

If you missed yesterday devotional, please click to read “Joyce Meyer Daily Devotional HERE’’

From Joyce Meyer’s Ministries.

TOPIC: Death [Sunday, 8th July 2018]

MEMORY VERSE: “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” – John 5:24 (scroll down for RCCG SUNDAY SCHOOL 8TH JULY, 2018 HYMN)

BIBLE PASSAGE: John 5:17-27 (Sunday School STUDENT Manual July 8, 2018)

17 But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.

18 Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.

19 Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.

20 For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel.

21 For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.

22 For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:

23 That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.

24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.

26 For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself;

27 And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.

INTRODUCTION:

What is death? Death is the opposite of life, the departure of life and the cessation of life. To humans, death is the separation of body, soul and spirit. The body goes to the grave and disintegrates; the spirit goes back to God (Ecclesiastes 12:7), and the soul goes to one of two places: The soul of the wicked to hell (Luke 16:23) and the soul of the righteous to paradise (Abraham’s bosom)(Luke 16:22).

LESSON OUTLINES

1. What is the origin and cause of death?
2. How can we describe death? What is the remedy for death?

WHAT IS THE ORIGIN AND CAUSE OF LIFE?

There are principally two kinds of death and both of them come from the Garden of Eden.
1. Spiritual death, which means separation from God (Genesis 2:17). In Eden, Adam and Eve did not die physically immediately they ate the forbidden fruit. However, they were separated from God and driven out of Eden. They died spiritually.

2. Physical death, which is cessation of life also originated in Eden when God killed some animals to get skins to cover Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:21). The first human to die was Abel, the son of Adam (Genesis 4:8).
Spiritual death was caused by disobedience to God (James 1:15). Death is the direct result of sin (Ezekiel 18:4). In the case of physical death, the doctor may write any one of many things on the death certificate, but the real answer is SIN (Ezekiel 18:20, Romans 6:23). Sin is the basic cause and disease is the immediate agent that God uses to execute the sentence that was pronounced on mankind in the Garden of Eden.

HOW CAN WE DESCRIBE DEATH? WHAT IS THE REMEDY FOR DEATH?

Physical death is described in various ways in the Bible. For example, it is described as: sleep (John 11:11); the requiring of the soul (Luke 12:20); putting off this earthly house (2 Corinthians 5:1); going to a place of no return (Job 16:22); going down in silence (Psalm 115:17); yielding up the ghost (Acts 5:10).

Spiritual death is known as banishment from God, as everlasting destruction from the presence of God (2 Thessalonians 1:9). It is also called alienation from God, that is, becoming a stranger to God (Ephesians 4:18).
Regardless of what modern science and doctors may achieve, we are ‘’appointed to die’’ (Hebrews 9:27). We are born with an appointment to meet physical death. We must keep that appointment unless the Lord returns soon.

However, we can avoid spiritual death simply by believing on the Lord Jesus Christ and accepting Him as our Lord and Saviour (John 5:24). Physical death can be avoided by the rapture of the Church but if we meet our appointment with death before the Lord returns, there is still hope. Christ has promised to walk with us (Christians) through the experience of death (John 14:1-3). If you can truthfully say, ‘’The Lord is my shepherd,’’ then, you do not have to fear death (Psalm 23:4).

CONCLUSION:

Why did Jesus die on the cross? Was it an accident? Certainly not. God’s word said that someone must die for sin. Jesus volunteered to be One to die. He died that you and I may live (Hebrews 2:9). He tasted the bitter dregs for you and me. Do not let His death be in vain over you. Reconsider your stand today.

QUESTIONS:

1. What happens to the body, soul and spirit of man at death?
2. What is the basic cause of death?

Click to read previous RCCG Sunday School STUDENT Manual July 1, 2018 Lesson 44 — Life

SUNDAY SCHOOL HYMN

1. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
O how I love Thee well,
I am happy, it makes me glad
To rejoice at Thy birth.

2. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day, Thy friendship suits me well,
Both young and old will sing Thy song,
We long for Sunday School.

3. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
Christ was Thy first teacher,
The Holy Spirit, great teacher,
Does manifest in thee.

4. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
This testimony is sure,
That God, the Father Almighty,
Poured His blessing on Thee.

5. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
Though the sun be so bright,
Or if the clouds black with rain,
I’ll be in Sunday School.

6. O Sunday School, on the Lord’s day,
I rejoice to see Thee,
Will thou pass over me today?
Without my being blest?