Psalms 73:26-27

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the rock and strength of my heart and my portion forever.  For behold, those who are far from You will perish; You have destroyed all those who are unfaithful and have abandoned You.  

God is our strength when we feel weak and our direction when we are lost.  We know this because we remember our lives before salvation and what it felt like not knowing God.  That feeling of separation and lack of guidance is why people perish without God.  Praise and thanksgiving to our father in heaven for His love and salvation. 

Psalms 2:10

Now therefore, O kings, act wisely; be instructed and take warning, o leaders (judges, rulers) of the earth.  Worship the Lord and serve Him with reverence (with awe-inspired fear and submissive wonder); rejoice (yet do so) with trembling.

It says that leaders are to give respect to the Son so that he does not become angry and they perish.  Leaders are to represent the Son on earth in an honest manner.  Leadership was supposed to follow the Godly principles of the law, and the Bible handed down by God.  It is when man follows their own way instead of God that corruption of leadership happens.

Romans 12:4-5

For just as in one (physical) body we have many parts, and these parts do not all have the same function or special use, so we, who are many, are (nevertheless just) one body in Christ, and individually dependent on each other.)

God gifted each of us with many talents to work together on His behalf.  We are like seeds planted in different areas but a community of Christians.  We grow with families and in various towns, and we work jobs.  We influence where we live and are planted there as a part of the body of Christ to represent Him.  

Romans 8:13

For if you are living according to the (impulses of the) flesh, you are going to die.  But if (you are living) by the (power of the Holy) Spirit you are habitually putting to death the sinful deed of the body, you will (really) live forever.

We are a spirit. We have a soul, and we live in a body.  When we learn this, we can clarify the order of leadership over our flesh (body) and soul (mind, will, and emotions).  The spirit is to rule over the flesh and the soul with the help of the Holy Spirit and the word of God.  Without this knowledge, people tend to follow their feelings and feelings change and the flesh rules. 

Romans 1:20

For ever since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through His workmanship (all creation, the wonderful things that He has made), so that they are without excuse and without defense.

Man’s creation is in the image of God, but without God, man does not have the full wisdom and insight of the creator or creation.  God knows down the very cell how everything is made.  A man couldn’t see a cell until the invention of the microscope.  The workmanship of God and His creation stand as a witness to His divine power.  

Romans 1:11-12

For I long to see you so that I may share with you some spiritual gift, to strengthen and establish you; that is, that we may be mutually encouraged and comforted by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.

Our Church community is essential for us to thrive in the body of Christ.  Just like a baby needs touch to thrive, we need fellowship and encouragement from fellow believers.  As believers, from the Pastor to pew, we should pray, encourage and work together as the body of Christ.  

Isaiah 55:10-11

For as the rain and snow come down from heaven, and do not return there without watering the earth, making it bear and sprout, and providing the seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so will My word which goes out of My mouth; it will not return to Me void without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.  

We are to speak the word of God out loud daily to activate it like a seed for our needs in our lives.  We are to be imitators of God and Jesus who spoke the word in faith, and the word spoken in faith provided a harvest or outcome.  Believing and speaking is a cornerstone of faith, that we believe in our hearts and speak with our mouths based on the word of God.  

Isaiah 48:18

Oh, that you had paid attention to My commandments! Then your peace and prosperity would have been like a (flowing) river, and your righteousness (the holiness and purity of the nation) like the (abundant) waves of the sea.

Faith and obedience to the word of God go hand in hand.  We will not be obedient to the commands of God unless we believe in His word.  Our peace and our prosperity depend upon what we believe.  The word of God reveals unto us how we are to handle the circumstances of life.  God’s greatest desire is that we would turn to Him and that He could then bless us according to His word.  

Isaiah 5:12-13

They have lyre and harp, tambourine and flute, and wine at their feasts; but they do not regard nor even pay attention to the deeds of the Lord, nor do they consider the work of His Hands.  Therefore My people go into exile because they lack knowledge (of God): and their honorable men are famished, and their common people are parched with thirst.

The lack of knowledge of God to an unbeliever is an emptiness of the spirit that they can’t explain.  Because they don’t understand the love or working of God and have never connected to Him, they feel dry on the inside.  By our example and being a witness of Jesus, we can bridge the gap.  Even if we can plant a seed and another water, we can spread the gospel.

Philippians 3:13  

Brother and sisters, I do not consider that I have made it my own yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead.  

Whether they are for the good times or bad times, our thoughts of the past can hinder us.  Why?  Because we are not focusing on what we need in the present.  Today needs attention so that we can have a positive influence for the good in our lives.  We can’t change the past or go back, but we can make today a step forward with God.