Scripture Psalm 116:12 NKJV What shall I render to the Lord For all His benefits toward me?

Scripture Ephesians 2:8-9 NKJV For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. Notes Many of God's people are living far beneath their privileges - we forget His benefits! Scripture Psalm 103:13 NKJV As a father pities his children, So the Lord pities those who fear Him. Notes God's benefits won't come on you automatically! We must educate ourselves as to what He wants us to have. Scripture Psalm 103:1-6 NKJV Bless the Lord, O my soul; Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagles. The Lord executes righteousness And justice for all who are oppressed. 1 | Be Convinced Find stories that support this Psalm. Scripture Luke 13:10-17 NKJV Now He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. And behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bent over and could in no way raise herself up. But when Jesus saw her, He called her to Him and said to her, Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity. And He laid His hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God. But the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath; and he said to the crowd, There are six days on which men ought to work; therefore come and be healed on them, and not on the Sabbath day. The Lord then answered him and said, Hypocrite! Does not each one of you on the Sabbath loose his ox or donkey from the stall, and lead it away to water it? So ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has

boundthink of itfor eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath? And when He said these things, all His adversaries were put to shame; and all the multitude rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by Him. Scripture Acts 27:22-25 NKJV And now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. For there stood by me this night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve, saying, Do not be afraid, Paul; you must be brought before Caesar; and indeed God has granted you all those who sail with you. Therefore take heart, men, for I believe God that it will be just as it was told me. 2 | Pray the Scriptures Get it in your head, "God wants to bless you!" Circumstances do not communicate the will of God. Scripture Isaiah 43:25-26 NKJV I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; And I will not remember your sins. Put Me in remembrance; Let us contend together; State your case, that you may be acquitted. 3 | Declare What God Has Promised If you're really believing it, you're declaring it.

PART 2

Scripture
Psalm 116:12-14 NKJV What shall I render to the Lord For all His benefits toward me? I will take up the cup of salvation, And call upon the name of the Lord. I will pay my vows to the Lord Now in the presence of all His people.

Notes
Jonah realized that his relationship with God was a life and death matter.

Scripture
Jonah 2:1-2 NIV84 From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the Lord his God. He said: In my distress I called to the Lord, and he answered me. From the depths of the grave I called for help, and you listened to my cry.

Notes
When he contemplated what God was doing for him, he made a vow!

Scripture
Jonah 2:9 NIV84 But I, with a song of thanksgiving, will sacrifice to you. What I have vowed I will make good. Salvation comes from the Lord.

Notes
Jacob had an awe-inspiring visitation from God when he stepped out on his own.

Scripture
Genesis 28:12-22 NKJV Then he dreamed, and behold, a ladder was set up on the earth, and its top reached to heaven; and there the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. And behold, the Lord stood above it and said: I am the Lord God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and your descendants. Also your descendants shall be as the dust of the earth; you shall spread abroad to the west and the east, to the north and the south; and in you and in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed. Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have spoken to you. Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it. And he was afraid and said, How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven! Then Jacob rose early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put at his head, set it up as a pillar, and poured oil on top of it. And he called the name of that place Bethel; but the name of that city had been Luz previously. Then Jacob made a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and keep me in this way that I am going, and give me bread to eat and clothing to put on, so that I come back to my fathers house in peace, then the Lord shall be my God. And this stone which I have set as a pillar shall be Gods house, and of all that You give me I will surely give a tenth to You.

Notes
Zaccheus encountered Jesus and it changed his life!

Scripture
Luke 19:1-10 NKJV Then Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. Now behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was of short stature. So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was going to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house. So he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully. But when they saw it, they all complained, saying, He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner. Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold. And Jesus said to him, Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.

Notes
God wants to be NUMBER ONE in your life.

Scripture
Matthew 10:36-39 NKJV

and a mans enemies will be those of his own household. He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.

Notes
God doesn't just demand first place - He tests you with opportunities to demonstrate it.

Scripture
Genesis 4:3-4 NIV84 In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering,

Notes
God expects us to honor Him with the tithe. He demands tangible demonstrations!

Scripture
Romans 10:9 NKJV that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

Scripture
Mark 16:16 NKJV He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.

Notes
John taught action that accompanies belief!

Scripture
1 John 3:16-18 NKJV By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has this worlds goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.

Notes
God doesn't want all our possessions, but He does want our honor, and guarantees that we won't be disappointed!

Scripture
Proverbs 3:9-10 NKJV

Honor the Lord with your possessions, And with the firstfruits of all your increase; So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine.

Notes
When you have a life-changing encounter with God, you are going to make a vow!