The song to drive the message today is from
Daniel W Whittle, 1883.
The song : I know whom I have believed !
WHO IS DANIEL W. WHITTLE
Major Daniel Webster Whittle was a 19th-century American gospel song lyricist, evangelist, and Bible teacher. Wikipedia
THE SONG :
Verse 1
I know not why God’s wondrous grace
To me He hath made known,
Nor why, unworthy, Christ in love
Redeemed me for His own.
But I know Whom I have believèd,
And am persuaded that He is able
To keep that which I’ve committed
Unto Him against that day.
Verse 2
I know not how this saving faith
To me He did impart,
Nor how believing in His Word
Wrought peace within my heart.
But I know Whom I have believèd,
And am persuaded that He is able
To keep that which I’ve committed
Unto Him against that day.
Verse 3
I know not how the Spirit moves,
Convincing men of sin,
Revealing Jesus through the Word,
Creating faith in Him.
But I know Whom I have believèd,
And am persuaded that He is able
To keep that which I’ve committed
Unto Him against that day.
Verse 4
I know not what of good or ill
May be reserved for me,
Of weary ways or golden days,
Before His face I see.
But I know Whom I have believèd,
And am persuaded that He is able
To keep that which I’ve committed
Unto Him against that day.
Verse 5
I know not when my Lord may come,
At night or noonday fair,
Nor if I’ll walk the vale with Him,
Or meet Him in the air.
But I know Whom I have believèd,
And am persuaded that He is able
To keep that which I’ve committed
Unto Him against that day.
AND IN THIS RESPECT :
Paul the Apostle coming from the background of sufferings wrote and said:
Timothy 1:12 King James Version (KJV) For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
The great men of God in suffering wrote to say: “I know whom I have believed”, and we should join them to say same: “I know whom I have believed.”
MY LITTLE SELF PAUL ADDING TO THESE THOUGHTS OF GREAT MINDS DO SAY: ” “COMING FROM WHAT HE HAS DONE FOR US , WE CANNOT PRAISE HIM OR THANK HIM ENOUGH.”
Now brethren, there is always a time :
(i) to look back over the past years and count our travails and see how we scaled over hurdles of life.
(ii) there is always a time to look back to the distance and begin to ask how did we over come grievous battles;
(iii) there is time to imagine how we fell down on stones and got up without a scratch.
To the simple hearted these difficult situations, which would have claimed lives, if God did not intervene, would be regarded as gallantry or nothing.
Some would have screamed and said, ” if I did not take care.”
But a thankful heart would question himself /herself, to ask oneself, “Have I thanked God enough.”
This is where I am coming from this sermon of our 2024 praise Sunday.
Today is twenty one years of “Praise Sunday”, at Miracle Valley Gospel Ministries/ Church, a Sunday set aside to praise God for hours non – stop.
Ten years ago, I was in a night vision, where I was instructed to buy a talking drum and praise God. I had two questions :
(1) I did not know how to play the talking drum, so how can I praise God with an instrument I am not used to?
(2) Praising God had been my delight for decades; does it mean I have not been praising God all these years? I asked.
When I reasoned over this, even as now, I felt there must be some unrevealed events in my life, which required God to say to me, “buy an unknown praise instrument and use it to praise Me.
I bought my first talking drum in March 2014, and in October 2014, I woke up from a night vision with this first praise song, which I started to praise God with.
The song is as follows:
“I sim kuwara gi aka nnam.”
This language is Igbo, South East of Nigeria.
Interpreted into English :
“You said I should clap my hands to Thee my Father”.
Even with my talking drum and with six revealed songs to me at this 21 years of Praise Sunday, I stilll say this ” I have never thanked God enough”.
People like Jehoshophat stood before the enemy with praise:
They literally won their victory through praise. The people of God received their battle instructions from the Lord. They went to meet their enemy on the battle field as God directed them, but Jehoshaphat set worshippers, singing and praising God out before his army. (2 Chronicles 20:21) Praise led the way.
THE BEST TIME TO PRAISE GOD SHOULD BE THE TIME OF ADVERSITY.
20:21 And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed singers unto the LORD, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, Praise the LORD; for his mercy endureth for ever.
20:22 And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten. (2 Chronicles 20 : 21 – 22).
TO STAND BEFORE ENEMIES WITHOUT ARMS AND PRAISING GOD TAKES RARE COURAGE. ONE THING, GOD ALWAYS PROVED HIMSELF.
As we praised God today, issues around, life threatning situations or obstacles around us, will bow before our Daddy, Almighty God.
Sing with me:
He is Lord, He is the Lord Amen
He has risen from the dead
He is the Lord
Every knee shall now, every tongue confess.
That Jesus Christ is the Lord.
21 years anniversary Praise Sunday @ Covenant Bethel , Miracle Valley, Umuehiri Umuele 24th November 2024.
Email: outreach.mvgm@yahoo.com.
+234- 803-717 9735