MONTHLY NEWSLETTER By Rev. Dr. C. A. ONITIRI (August 2022)

BRETHREN, I welcome us all to the month of AUGUST, the 8th month in the year 2022.

Do you know that the number 8 has an important place in the Bible? Do you also know that it has been used 73 times!.

The number 8 is considered to be a symbol of CREATION AND NEW BEGINNINGS.

We must also bear in mind that the number 8 comes immediately after the number 7 that is known as a symbol of Completeness. If something has ended with number 7, it means that something new has to begin with 8. God rested on the 7th day which means that the 8th day was always a day for new beginnings.

Do you remember that God saved 8 people who were in the Ark because those people should begin the new life after the Great Flood.

Last month, the month of July, the 7th month of the year, was our month of REPENTANCE, the month we prayed to God for forgiveness and healing of our land and forgiveness of sins. Our personal sins and the sins of our Nation Nigeria. I want you to join your faith with my faith, and believe God has answered our prayers and in this new month, this 8th month, a NEW BEGININNING IS DAWNING IN OUR LIVES AND IN OUR NATION NIGERIA, in Jesus name.

Our Scripture for the month is taken from the Book of Psalms: Psalm 9v1-10.

Our THEME for the month is “PRAISING GOD FOR PROTECTION”

O Yes, we must praise Him for protecting us and giving us a fresh start in life.

If you read through the entire Psalm 9, you will realize that God is more powerful than our enemies. He cares about our struggles. We should therefore turn to Him always in the midst of our struggles.

Further, in this Psalm, David gives us words for our sufferings. He teaches us how to react to hardship; And how does he do this? By beginning with words of Praise.vv1&2.

v1–“I WILL PRAISE THEE, O LORD, WITH MY WHOLE HEART, I WLLSHOW FORTH ALL THY MARVELLOUS WORKS.

v2—”I WILL BE GLAD AND REJOUCE IN THEE: I WLL SING PRAISES TO THY NAME, O THOU MOST HIGH”(KJV)

In vv1-10, David praises God for protecting his people.

I want us to note the following derived from these verses:

1–If we praise God, we must do so in all sincerity, with our whole heart.

2–When we give thanks for one particular mercy, we should remember former mercies.

3–Our joy must not be in the gift, so much as in the Giver.

4–The triumph of the Redeemer ought to be the triumph of the redeemed.

5–The Almighty Power of God is that which the strongest and stoutest of His enemies are no way able to stand before.

6–The judgement of God is according to truth, and that with Him, there is no unrighteousness.

7–We as His people, by faith, can turn to Him as our Refuge and depend on His power and promise  for safety ,so that no real hurt can be done to us.

8–Those who know Him to be a God of truth and faithfulness, will rejoice in His Word of promise and rely upon that.

9–Those who know Him to be an Everlasting Father will trust Him with their souls as their main care, and trust in Him at all times, even to the end; and by constant care seek to approve themselves to Him in the whole course of their lives.

And I ask you:

Who is there that would not seek him, who never hath forsaken those that seek Him?

Let me conclude by telling us that the CONTEXT of this Psalm is battle, but the FOCUS is the CHARACTER AND ACTIVITY OF GOD.

SHALOM.

HAPPY NEW MONTH AND

WELCOME TO A NEW BEGINNING.