BE CLEANSED AND BE SAVED

BH 87: The Lily of the Valley

1. I have found a friend in Jesus,

He’s everything to me,

He’s the fairest of ten thousand to my soul,

The Lily of the Valley, in Him alone I see

All I need to cleanse and make me fully whole

In sorrow He’s my comfort, In trouble He’s my stay;

He tells me every care on Him to roll; He’s the

Lily of the valley the Bright

And Morning Star,

He’s the fairest of ten thousand to my soul.

2. He all my griefs has taken and all my sorrows borne;

In temptation He’s my strong and mighty tower;

I have all for Him forsaken,

And all my idols torn

From my heart, and now He keeps me by His power

Though all the world forsake me, and Satan tempt me sore,

Through Jesus I shall safely reach the goal; He’s the

3. He will never, never leave me,

nor yet forsake me here,

While I live by faith and do His blessed will;

A wall of fire about me, I’ve nothing now to fear,

With His manna He my hungry soul shall fill

Then sweeping up to glory to see

His blessed face

Where rivers of delight shall ever roll; He’s the

*Memory verse:* Jerusalem, wash the evil from your heart and be saved. How long will you harbour wicked thoughts? Jeremiah 4:14, NIV

Text: Jeremiah 4: 5-14                    

  [5] “Announce in Judah and proclaim in Jerusalem and say: ‘Sound the trumpet throughout the land!’ Cry aloud and say: ‘Gather together! Let us flee to the fortified cities!’ 

[6] Raise the signal to go to Zion! Flee for safety without delay! For I am bringing disaster from the north, even terrible destruction.”

 [7] A lion has come out of his lair; a destroyer of nations has set out. He has left his place to lay waste your land. Your towns will lie in ruins without inhabitant. 

[8] So put on sackcloth, lament and wail, for the fierce anger of the Lord has not turned away from us.

 [9] “In that day,” declares the Lord, “the king and the officials will lose heart, the priests will be horrified, and the prophets will be appalled.” 

[10] Then I said, “Alas, Sovereign Lord! How completely you have deceived this people and Jerusalem by saying, ‘You will have peace,’ when the sword is at our throats!” 

[11] At that time this people and Jerusalem will be told, “A scorching wind from the barren heights in the desert blows toward my people, but not to winnow or cleanse;

 [12] a wind too strong for that comes from me. Now I pronounce my judgments against them.”

[13] Look! He advances like the clouds, his chariots come like a whirlwind, his horses are swifter than eagles. Woe to us! We are ruined!

[14] Jerusalem, wash the evil from your heart and be saved. How long will you harbor wicked thoughts?

 MESSAGE 

Wrong decisions often make people miss God's plan. Many search for ease in the wrong places and comfort in the wrong things without acknowledging God. Homosexuality and other queer behaviours are now lifestyles promoted by the developed nations. 

These are not only alien to African culture but they are also absurd. Governments in African countries are under intense pressure to incorporate these ideologies into their constitutions so that those who engage in them can have legal backing.

Jeremiah, the prophet, sounded the trumpet, warning God's people because of the impending disaster that was coming upon them for their sins and wickedness (vv. 5-6). Jeremiah told the people that a destroyer has already been release to ruin the nation. 

He instructed them to put on sack cloth (a sign of mourning) and cry unto the Lord because His anger is still on them. In later part, he appealed to the people of Jerusalem to cleanse their heart from evil and be saved. 

Without a sinner turning away from their wickedness and sinful acts, he cannot be saved. Salvation only comes when repentance has taken place. 

This is a call to everyone in this generation to desist from their evil ways and repent of their sins. This way, we can all experience the salvation Christ bought with His blood. 

Both leaders and followers of this time must accept their failures and sins and come to God for cleansing and transformation. 

There should not be room for believers to harbour sin in their lives. You must continually live a life of holiness and purity to maintain spiritual balance in your walk with God.

Perceive: To be saved from God's condemnation, a change of heart for righteous living is required.

Ponder: Consider what can be done about the increasing level of wickedness and resolve to stand out. 

Practise: Do a personal reflection of your life and come to God for cleansing where necessary. 

Pray: O Lord, help our parents and the government promote positive values.

Prayer: Lord, put people with Your wisdom and spiritual understanding in the corridor of power in this country.

Pray for these ordained ministers and members of their churches:* Akanmu E. Olatunji, Ogbomoso; Ojebisi Samuel, Iju-Itaogbolu; Adekanye Victor, Matogbun; Sangotunji Job O., Akinlalu; Adekunle Abayomi J., EfonAlaye; Ayanrinola L. S., Akute; Adamu Bature, Udawa; Opalola Thomas, Makera; Garba Abok, Gwaska; Oke Seun, Igbo-Ora; Evelyn Olusanya, Ogbomoso; Lekan Omoni, USA; Moses K. Olabiyi, Iseyin; Ugochukwu Chima, Yenegoa; Oshundiya Seyi, Mowe, Moses Kunle Olabiyi, Iseyin.

RBT: Matthew 1-4