FIVE BENEFITS OF THE LORD TO THE PRAYING BELIEVER

PRAYER :

The first two verses speak about Praising and Thanksgiving to the LORD. A.C.T.S. tell us four things about prayer;

A : Adoration of God

C : Confession of sins

T : Thanksgiving to Jesus

S : Supplication of our requests

When you follow this this outline, you can pray for one hour a day. Very recently, I followed this outline and prayed for an hour in a Prayer Tower in our city.

First of all, King David praised the LORD and then he thanked Him. Psalm 103: 1-2 says: “ Bless( affectionately, gratefully praise) the Lord, O my soul; and all that is ( deepest) within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not ( one of ) all His benefits”.

With our souls ( will, intellect and emotion) we should praise the Lord. Who is the Lord? Jesus Christ is Lord. Jesus means Savior, Christ means the anointed one ( Messiah ). Jesus is the Christ. After resurrection, Jesus Christ is Lord. Therefore in Acts and Epistles, He is Lord Jesus Christ. That is why The Apostles used three words to fully describe Jesus, the Lord Jesus Christ. In the O.T. , YAWH represents the LORD. He has seven redemptive names in the O.T.

1.	Jehovah Jireh … The Lord who provides
2.	Jehovah Rapha … The Lord our healer
3.	Jehovah Nissi …. The Lord who gives us victory
4.	Jehovah Shalom …The Lord our peace
5.	Jehovah Rohi … The Lord is our Shepherd
6.	Jehovah Tsidkenu ..The Lord our Righteousness
7.	Jehovah Shammah ..The Lord in us

These are His holy name. My soul, bless His holy name says David. All our important seven needs of life: Provision, Healing, Victory, Peace, Leading, Righteousness and Presence of the LORD are met in His holy name. Let us praise the Lord Jesus. Praise is power. Let us speak good abot others or let us keep silence. And praise the Lord loudly saying Hallelleujah, which means praise the Lord. Let us thank Him for all His benefits! What are the benefits of the Lord?Let me explain five benefits from Psalm 103:3-5:

1.	forgiveness
2.	Healing
3.	Redemption
4.	Crowning
5.	Long life

“ Who forgives all your iniquities,Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from the pit and corruption, Who beautifies, dignifies and crowns you with loving-kindness and tender mercy; Who satisfies your mouth with good so that youth, renewed, is like the eagle’s ( strong, overcoming, soaring)”!

BENEFITS :

1.Forgiveness of sins:

Jesus was in His house in Capernaum. Many people gatered in His house, even around the door. Four men carried a paralytic to Him. Since, they could not get near Him, they dug through the roof above Him. They scooped out an opening and let down the guilt ( or mat) upon which the invalid man lay. Jesus saw their faith in action. Faith is confidence in God through Jesus. He said the paralytic man, Son, your sins are forgiven.

Are you lying on the bed, because of sin? Are you an outcast because of your disease?
Jesus affectionately calls you son, your sins are forgiven. Take up your bed and wak before all people! Jesus is God manifested in the flesh. He has authority to forgive sins. He loves you as a Father. He loves you as a dear friend. He forgot all your mistakes. He lknows your name as a good shepherd knows His sheep names. Therefore, you should love His wonderful, precious name, the Name above all names, JESUS CHRIST THE SON OF GOD. He is able and willing to offer you His great salvation.

2. Jesus heals all your diseases:

After preaching to a great multitude of people and His disciples, Jesus came down from the mountain. “ And behold, a leper came to Him and, prostrating himself, worshipped Him, saying, Lord, if you are willing, You are able to cleanse me by curing me. And He reached out His hand and touched him, saying, I am willing; be cleansed by being cured. And instantly his leprosy was cured and cleansed”.
Note the words: curing and cleansing. In the process of making concret, there is step called curing, which makes the concrete strong. Curing and cleansing makes the person strong morally, spiritually.

What is leprosy/ According to Dictionary, leprosy is a serious infectious disease that affects the skin, nerves, etc. and can cause parts of the body to fall off. Leper(noun): a person who has leprosy. In the Bible some of the lepers are mentioned.

In matthew 8:1-4, Jesus cured a leper. God’s word cleanses and cures. The blood od Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin. The name of Jesus cleanses you. Shout the name of Jesus like the blind man who received healing. There is power in His name. This process cleanses you from pride of life, the lust of eyes and lust of flesh, all these are from the world. World will perish (a strong word)..One Sunday morning worship service in the chuch in Chennai, I happened to pray for a man who had a skin disease ( white spots all oer his body). God healed him graciously and the next Sunday, he testified that he was completely cured and cleansed.Jesus healed him, Glory to God. He shall heal you also. Do you believe this? All things are possible to him that believes. Jesus Christ the same yesterday and today and forever.

3. He redeems your life:

Jesus our Redeemer paid the price- the precious blood of Jesus, for the redemption of your soul. The redemption of your soul is precious. Because, you are precious to Him He shed His precious blood on the cross for you. You are not redeemed by gold and silver which are perishable. The innocent, blameless lamb of God Jesus Christ in the flesh, shed His blood for us – for you! For me! The blood of Jesus Christ is precious. The Lord who redeemed us, continues to redeem your and my life everyday. As Job said, let us proclaim “ My Redeemer lives!”

4. He beautifies, dignifies and crowns you:

After redemption( purchasing with precious price), the Lord beautifies, dignifies and crowns you with loving –kindness and tender mercy. He is beautiful, therefore, He wants us to be beautiful. After, beautifying us, He gives us dignity and crowns us. Psalm 8:5 says, the same thing. “ You have crowned him with glory and honor”.Human beings were created in the image and likeness of God. We are God’s generation. In the N.T. Bible says that we are God’s Workmanship created in Christ Jesus.If you are in Christ, you are a new creation.

5.He satisfies your mouth and renews your youth:

By speaking good words, based on the word of God, there is a comfort takes place in your body. There is a connection between your words and body heath. By eating good food, good drink and speaking good words , you are transformed into His image and likeness. So that, your youth is renewed like the eagle’s ( strong, overcoming , soaring)! Psal 103:5 …Isa. 40;31. 1 Peter 3:10 says that you enjoy life and see good days. God will satisfy you with long life and good life. Your new life is starting now, your best life is still in future. God is a good God, Jesus is that good God. He wants you to enjoy life abundantly. Well.

BLESSINGS

The Lord Bless you and watch, guard, and keep you. The Lord make His face shine upon you and enlighten you and be gracious to you. The Lord life up His countenance upon you and give you peace.