Every day in the God's Word

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

TUESDAY MARCH 24, 2026.

SUBJECT: LET THE JOY OF THE LORD BE IN YOU ALWAYS! 

Memory verse: "Rejoice in the Lord always: Again I will say, rejoice." (Philippians 4 vs 4.)

READ: Psalm 37 vs 4 - 5; Isaiah 12 vs 3:

Psalm 37:4: Delight yourself also in the LORD, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. 

37:5: Commit your way to the LORD, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass.

Isaiah 12:3: Therefore with joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.

INTIMATION:

One rejoices over specific incidents. However, the demeanor of a Christian lifestyle is one of rejoicing always. Joy is a common theme in Christ’s teaching—He wants us to be joyful always. Joy is the quiet, confident assurance of God's love, and work in our lives—that He will be there no matter what! Joy is lasting because it is based on God’s presence within us. It is only in being joyous that “you will draw water from the wells of salvation.” 

The key to immeasurable joy is living in intimate relationship with Christ, the source of all joy. When we do, we will experience God’s special care and protection and see the victory God brings even when defeat seems certain. The fullness of our joy comes from a consistent and intimate relationship with Christ, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit—the rivers of living water. As we contemplate His daily presence, we will find contentment. 

The Bible, in John 7 vs 37 - 39, says, “On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, who those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.” 

Salvation is a gift from God that ensures our overwhelming and unparalleled inheritance in Jesus Christ. You can only access this by your delighting (being joyful) in the Lord. When you delight in the Lord, you will commit your ways to Him, completely trusting in Him, and surely He will give you the desires of your heart, and ensures they are accomplished. 

Joy comes from a consistent relationship with Jesus Christ, that is, abiding in Him and Him in you; being a branch of the vine that you may bear fruit. Abiding in Christ means (1) believing that He is God’s Son, (2) receiving Him as Savior and Lord, (3) doing what God says, (4) continuing to believe the gospel, and (5) relating in love to the community of believers—Christ’s Body. 

When our lives are intertwined with His, He will help us walk through adversity without sinking into debilitating lows and manage prosperity without moving into deceptive highs. The joy of living with Jesus Christ daily will keep us levelheaded, no matter how high or low our circumstances. True joy transcends the rolling waves of circumstances. 

For instance, the apostle Paul wrote our memory verse to the believers in Philippi while he was in prison. It is quite strange that a man in prison will be telling a church to rejoice. But his attitude teaches an important lesson, our inner attitude do not have to reflect our outward circumstances. The apostle Paul was full of joy because he knows that no matter what happens to him, Jesus Christ was with him. 

If you are not joyful, you will never look at things in the right perspective. Ultimate joy comes from Christ indwelling within us through the Holy Spirit. He who lives within us will fulfill His final purposes for us. As we understand the future He has for us, we will experience joy. Don’t base your life on circumstances, but on God who controls circumstances.

To delight in someone means to experience great pleasure and joy in his or her presence. This happens only when we know that person well. Thus, to delight in the LORD, we must know Him better. Knowledge of God’s great love for us indeed makes us delight in Him. And we will commit ourselves to the LORD, entrusting everything—our lives, families, jobs, possessions—to His control and guidance. We are to trust in Him, believing that He can care for us better than we can ourselves. We should be willing to wait patiently for Him to work out what is best for us.

Prayer: Abba Father, You are my everything. My joy is complete in You. My total confidence is in Your assured presence and fellowship with me always, Surely, Your goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life as I dwell in Your presence forever, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

Ministry and the Fear of Man

 Ministry and the Fear of Man

“Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, declares the Lord.” (Jeremiah 1:8)

A great obstacle to serving the Lord, especially among the young, is the fear of rejection and opposition. 

All kinds of thoughts enter the mind about how some people might not like the way we act or speak. People might disagree or be offended. I might make a mistake and get criticized. 

The fear of man is a great hindrance to ministry.

So God says, Don’t fear, because I will be with you and I will deliver you. God’s presence and approval is more valuable than all the accolades of men. And God says that, in and through all your troubles, I will deliver you. You will triumph in the end. You will be more than a conqueror. 

And the same thing is promised to all of us in Christ Jesus today:

“[God] has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’ So we can confidently say, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?’” (Hebrews 13:5–6)

“If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31)

So God said to young Jeremiah, and God says to young people today whom he is calling to serve him — and to the rest of us — “Do not say, ‘I am only a youth’” — or I’m too old, or I’m too anything (Jeremiah 1:7). Why?

Because your life is rooted in the unshakable, sovereign purposes of God. You have been chosen and consecrated and formed and appointed for a great purpose.

Because God’s authority, not your own, is behind your serving and your speaking.

And because God himself will be with you to deliver you in all your trials.

Every day in the God's Word

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

MONDAY MARCH 23, 2026.

SUBJECT: WILL GOD REGRET ENTRUSTING YOU WITH HIS GIFTS?

Memory verse: "Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king, who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.” (Matthew 18 vs 23.)

READ: Matthew 25 vs 14 - 19:

25:14: For the kingdom of heaven is as a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered his goods to them.

25:15: And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey.

25:16: Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents.

25:17: And likewise he who had received two, gained two more also.

25:18: But he that had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord's money.

25:19: After a long time the lord of those servants came, and settled account with them.

INTIMATION:

All we have on earth; our time, energy, intelligence, opportunities, relationships, resources, and so on, are all gifts from God and are entrusted to our care and management by Him. We are stewards of whatever God has given us. We never really own anything during our brief stay on earth. The Owner is God, and has only given us right to use when we come in. It is for this reason we come into the world bringing nothing with us at birth, and takes nothing away with us at death. God loans the earth to us while we're here. And He will give the same right to another when we depart in death. You just get to enjoy it for a while. He expects us to invest all He entrusted to us wisely. 

God entrusted the care of His creation to man and appointed him the trustee of His property (Genesis 1 vs 28). This role has never been rescinded. If God truly is our Master, we must obey willingly without excuses. All He has entrusted to our care must be handled and managed properly. When we ignore, squander, or abuse what we are given, we are rebellious and deserve to be punished. 

This stewardship is the major purpose of our life. Unfortunately, the common culture amongst us is to careless of what you don't own. But that is not God's idea. Christians should live by a higher standard: "Because God owns it, I must take the best care of it to the best of my ability." (See First Corinthians 4 vs 2.)"

Jesus often referred to life as a trust and told many stories to illustrate this responsibility toward God. In the story of the loaned money (the talents) according to the passage we read today, the kingdom of heaven is like a businessman who entrusts his wealth to the care of his servants while he is away. When he returns, he evaluates each servant's performance against given responsibility and rewards them accordingly. Those who do well, in line with his expectations, he says, "Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy your Lord." (Matthew 25 vs 21.)

In the passage we read today, the master divided the talents among his servants according to their abilities. No one received more or less than he could handle. Therefore, if anyone failed in his assignment, his excuse could not be that he was overwhelmed. It will be obvious he failed due to laziness or hatred toward the master. 

The talent represents any kind of resource God has given us: time, talents, possessions, and other resources according to our abilities, and he expects us to invest them wisely until He returns. We are responsible and accountable for whatever God has delivered to us, and should ensure proper usage or investment. The issue is not how much we have, but how well we use what we have.

In order words, inactivity in the kingdom is not accepted. When the kingdom reign of Jesus is in the hearts of those who have accepted Him as their king, they are moved into action for the king. Inactivity is evidence that the king is not reigning in the hearts of men. The faithful servant does the master's bidding. Each day God presents us with needs and opportunities that challenges us to do what we know is right. We must use our resources—time, talents, abilities, possessions, etc—diligently in order to serve God completely in whatever we do. 

The excuses of the ‘one-talent’ servant actually insulted the integrity of the master. It manifested the fact that he didn’t know the master, and thus, did not know what the master expected. He was rejected on this basis. His inactivity manifested his lack of concern and response to the will of the master. The will of the Master is not burdensome to the one who responds to the love and grace of a Loving Father. The sin of the ‘one-talent’ servant resulted from his ungrateful response to the master who had given him so much.

Stewardship is the main subject of the kingdom. Even those who are “one talent servants” must do what they can for the king. Emphasis is not on how much one does, for the amount one accomplishes is determined by the personal gifts from God. Emphasis is on doing. The world is filled with those who buried their talents in the deceptions of indifferent religiosity, and lack of knowledge. (Hosea 4 vs 6.) We must not make excuses to avoid doing what God called us to do. If God truly is our Master, we must obey willingly. The gifts are not ours, but God’s. When we ignore, squander, or abuse what we have been given, we are rebellious and deserve to be punished.

The ‘five talents’ and ‘two talents’ servants were commended on the basis of their faithfulness and stewardship to carry out in their lives the will of the king. If one determines to serve God, then God will give the increase, for it is God’s grace that works in our hearts to bring forth fruit to God. “Well done good and faithful servant.” What greater words could ever be heard from God? Christians should be motivated to work for God in order to hear these words from Him for the works they do are in response to the grace of God. 

At the end of each one’s life on earth one will be evaluated and rewarded according to how well one handled what God entrusted to him or her. That means everything you do, even simple daily chores, has eternal implications. If you treat everything as a trust, God promises three rewards in eternity. First, you will be given God's affirmation: He will say, "Good job! Well done!" Secondly, you will receive a promotion and be given greater responsibility in eternity: "I will make you ruler over many things." Thirdly, you will be honored with a celebration: "Enter into the joy your Lord." 

The neglected use of one’s gift will result in losing everything one has been given. If one refuses to respond to God’s grace, he cannot expect to receive anything as a result of his lazy ingratitude. In the final end of things, the glories that will be given to the Christian will far outweigh that which he has accomplished on earth. He will receive more than what he can earn by works on this earth, all by God’s grace. 

Prayer: Abba Father, You are forever faithful. Endue me with the spirit of faithfulness to You in all things, being a worthy and effective steward for I have been entrusted with, and be found worthy of Your approval, and Your crown of glory in eternity, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

Ignorance Guarantees Ungodliness

 Ignorance Guarantees Ungodliness

His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence. (2 Peter 1:3)

I am amazed at the power that the Bible attributes to knowledge. 

Listen again to 2 Peter 1:3: “[God’s] divine power has granted . . . all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence.”

Literally, all the power available from God to live and be godly comes through knowledge! Amazing! What a premium we should put on doctrine and instruction in the Scriptures! Life and godliness are at stake.

Not that knowing guarantees godliness. It doesn’t. But it seems that ignorance guarantees ungodliness. Because, Peter says, the divine power that leads to godliness is given through the knowledge of God.

Here are three implications, a warning, and an exhortation.

1. Read! Read! Read! But beware of wasting your time on theological foam and suds. Read rich doctrinal books about “the one who called you to his glory and excellence.”

2. Ponder! Ponder! Slow down. Take time to think about what the Bible means when you read it. Ask questions. Keep a journal. Let yourself be humbly troubled by puzzling things. The deepest insights come from trying to see the unifying root of two apparently antagonistic branches on the tree of truth.

3. Discuss. Discuss. Be a part of a small group that cares passionately about the truth. Not a group that just likes to talk and raise problems. But a group that believes there are biblical answers to biblical problems, and they can be found. 

Warning: “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge” (Hosea 4:6).“They have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge” (Romans 10:2). So beware of the deadly effects of ignorance.

Exhortation: “Let us know; let us press on to know the Lord” (Hosea 6:3).

Every day in the God's Word

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

SUNDAY MARCH 22, 2026.

SUBJECT : THE FLESH AND THE SPIRIT!

Memory verse: "For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish." (Galatians 5 vs 17.) 

READ: Galatians 5 vs 16 - 25:

5:16: I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

5:17: For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.

5:18: But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

5:19: Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness,

5:20: Idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies,

5:21: Envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I have also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

5:22: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 

5:23: gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

5:24: And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its affections and desires.

5:25: If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

INTIMATION:

The ‘flesh’ is the meaty part of animal and human bodies, the human and weaker or carnal aspect of human nature as opposed to the spiritual or nobler part. While the ‘spirit’ is the invisible, nonmaterial part of human. The flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh, and they are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. The flesh is selfish, and in it is rooted the sinful self-interest in us as humans. And this is at odds with the spirit because the spirit is incompatible with selfishness. 

In the Scripture we read today, the apostle Paul describes two forces fighting within us—the Holy Spirit and the sinful nature (our desires or inclinations that stem from the body). These forces, however, are not equal—the Holy Spirit is infinitely stronger. But if we rely on our own wisdom, we will make wrong choices. If we try to follow the Spirit by our own human effort, we will fail. Our only way to freedom from our evil desires is through the empowering of the Holy Spirit 

“Flesh lusts against the Spirit”: The life that is directed by the Spirit is opposed to the life that has been given over to fulfill the carnal desires of the flesh. Because of this, individuals must always choose between the Will of God and their own will. Those who do not exercise self-discipline will eventually give themselves over to the work of the flesh.  

We all have evil desires, and we can’t ignore them. In order for us to follow the Holy Spirit’s guidance, we must deal with them decisively (crucify them). These desires include obvious sins, such as sexual immorality and demonic activities. They also include less obvious sins, such as hostility, jealousy, and selfish ambition. Those who ignore such sins or refuse to deal with them reveal that they have not received the gift of the Spirit that leads to a transformed life.

The Christian life is within the realm of the Spirit’s direction through the Word of God. When we live according to the direction of God’s Word, we are living in the Spirit. In order to be within the realm of the Spirit one must behave after the Spirit-inspired Word of God, that is, “Walk in the Spirit.” The emphasis is on walking in a spiritual life after the spirit-inspired word as opposed to following the carnal desires of the flesh, or walking after a legal performance of law and works. Living after a spiritual manner is living after the direction of the Holy Spirit which He gives through the Word of God (Hebrews 4 vs 12). 

Christians would not know how to behave themselves in a godly manner if they were not directed by the inspired instructions of the Bible. Therefore, credit for the spiritual life that is according to the Word of God must go to the Spirit’s work of inspiration through the Word of God. When one follows the inspired word, he or she truly walks in the Spirit. 

“Works of the flesh”: The apostle Paul gives a general list of those behavioral patterns of life that are considered desires of the carnal nature of man. These actions or works are in contrast to the fruit of the Spirit, that is, the product that comes forth from the one who is dependent on God. In the flesh is no good thing (Romans 7 vs 18). The flesh produces dead works (Hebrews 9 vs 14). Those who are living after the flesh are not pleasing God (Romans 8 vs 8). Therefore, we should not feed the flesh with that which it desires (Romans 13 vs 14). 

“Led by the Spirit”: Those who seek a spiritual relationship with God will seek God’s direction through the inspired Word of God. Those who are led by the Spirit depend on God. They depend on God for salvation because they realize that they cannot keep law perfectly. Walking after the flesh brings condemnation because no man can behave in a manner to be justified before God through works of law. The system of justification by perfect law-keeping and meritorious deeds brings condemnation because it is a denial of the sufficiency of the grace of God. However, grace and faith bring life because God’s grace saves. Grace motivates obedience to law, and thus, law is established in the life of the obedient. 

Have you ever worried about whether or not you are really a Christian? A Christian is anyone who has the Spirit of God living in him or her. If you have sincerely trusted Christ for your salvation and acknowledged Him as Lord, then the Holy Spirit lives within you and you are a Christian. You can be assured that you have the Holy Spirit because Jesus promised that He would send Him. Since you now believe that Jesus Christ is God’s Son and that eternal life comes through Him, you will begin to act as Christ directs. You will find help in your daily problems and in your praying; you will be empowered to serve God and do His Will.

Prayer: Abba Father, by Your mercy and grace You have saved us and adopted us as Your children. O Lord, the privilege of sonship I will never take for granted. My utmost heart desire is to serve You acceptably; being a vessel of honor in Your hand so as to accomplish all You have purposed for me here on earth with the spirit of obedience to Your Will, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

Satan’s Candy Store

 Satan’s Candy Store

Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin. (1 Peter 4:1)

First it puzzles. Did Christ have to cease from sin? No! “He committed no sin” (1 Peter 2:22). 

Then it clicks. When we arm ourselves with the thought that Christ suffered for us, we realize that we died with him. “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness” (1 Peter 2:24). When we die with him, we cease to sin.

It’s just like Romans 6. “We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin. . . . So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus” (Romans 6:6–7, 11).

Peter says, “Arm yourselves with this thought!”

Paul says, “Consider yourselves dead!”

The weapon for our warfare against sin is this thought — this consideration.

When the temptations of Satan come — to lust, to steal, to lie, to covet, to envy, to retaliate, to put down, to fear — arm yourself with this thought: When my Lord suffered and died to free me from sin, I died to sin!

When Satan says to you, Why deny yourself the pleasure of lust? Why deal with this mess, which you could avoid by lying? Why not go ahead and get that harmless luxury you covet? Why not seek justice by returning the same hurt you just received?

Answer him: The Son of God suffered (really suffered!) to deliver me from sinning. I cannot believe he suffered to make me miserable. Therefore, what he died to purchase must be more wonderful than the pleasures of sin. Since I trust him, my susceptibility to your allurements has shriveled up and died. 

Satan, be gone! My mouth doesn’t drool any more when I walk by your candy store.

Every day in the God's Word

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

SATURDAY MARCH 21, 2026.

SUBJECT : THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT!

Memory verse: "(For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness and truth)." (Ephesians 5 vs 9.) 

READ: Galatians 5 vs 22 - 25:

5:22: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 

5:23: gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

5:24: And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its affections and desires.

5:25: If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

INTIMATION

The fruit of the Spirit is generated in the life of the one who lives after the principle of loving God with all his heart, soul, mind and strength, and his neighbor as himself. Those who have turned from depending on themselves, have turned to depend on the direction of God. Thus, the fruit of the Spirit is brought forth in the lives of those who seek direction from God for moral attitudes and behavior. This is a manifestation of those whose lives are motivated by thanksgiving. The fruit of the Spirit is the result of one’s recognition of God’s grace in his or her life. It is the result of recognizing God’s mercy and therefore, presenting oneself a living sacrifice (Romans 12 vs 1 - 2). 

The fruit of the Spirit is the spontaneous work of the Holy Spirit in us. The Spirit produces these character traits that are found in the nature of Christ. They are the by-products of Christ’s control, and we can’t obtain them by trying to get them without His help. If we want the fruit of the Spirit to grow in us, we must join our lives to His: We must know Him, love Him, remember Him, and imitate Him. As a result, we will fulfill the intended purpose of the law—to love God and our neighbors.

As we study through the fruit of the Spirit, it is significant to note that love is the foundation upon which all the qualities of the fruit are built. If one loves his neighbor as himself, then he will bring forth in his life these characteristics of godly behavior. One fruit leads to another. We begin with love. The result of love is joy, then peace with our neighbor, and then longsuffering. 

God reached out to humanity with agape (love), that is, His grace that was unconditional. We did not earn it. When one recognizes this degree of love, he will in turn express such to others. Love then becomes the foundation upon which we establish relationships with others. Love produces joy, for in giving unconditional love to others, the serendipity, or result, is joy in one’s own heart. The natural result of joy is peace in one’s heart, and also peace with others. 

The natural result of peace with God, because of His mercy and grace, is our own longsuffering and mercy toward others. This is the capacity to patiently endure with the faults of others. Then kindness is the inner gentle nature of the individual that is produced as a result of dependence on the grace of God. When one loves his neighbor he will seek to be kind in attitude toward his neighbor in order to guard the peace that exists between himself and his neighbor. 

Kindness then leads to doing good to our neighbor. The outward expression of inner kindness is doing good toward others. Since God was faithful in saving us by grace, recognition of such will produce faithfulness toward our fellow man. We become committed to our neighbor because we have developed a relationship that is based on love for one another. 

The spiritual nature of the saved person is characterized by a meek or gentle attitude toward others. The meek is courteous and considerate of their neighbors. Gentleness refers to one’s ability to control outbursts of emotion in order to guard the relationship of peace that we have with our neighbor. The gentle person is in control of his being. Therefore, the natural result of the gentle person is self-control and self-discipline when it comes to maintaining the loving relationship we have established with others.

Law does not work against the preceding qualities, or those who possess them. In fact, the one who behaves after the fruit of the Spirit does not need law to tell him how he should behave in relation to his neighbor. Love motivates him to be considerate in all things in his relationship with others. The foundation upon which law stands is love. Law governs our interaction with one another. Love of our neighbor motivates us to act in a lawful manner in our relationship with one another as the organic body in society.  

Because the God who sent the law also sent the Spirit, the by-products of the Spirit-filled life are in perfect harmony with the intent of God’s law. A person who exhibits the fruit of the Spirit fulfills the law better than a person who observes the rituals but has little love in his or her heart. 

If your desire is to have the qualities listed in 5 vs 22 - 23, then you know that the Holy Spirit is leading you. At the same time, be careful not to confuse your subjective feelings with the Spirit’s leading. Being led by the Spirit involves the desire to hear, the readiness to obey God’s Word, and the sensitivity to discern between your feelings and His promptings. Live each day controlled and guided by the Holy Spirit. Then the words of Christ will be in your mind, the love of Christ will be behind your actions, and the power of Christ will help you control your selfish desires.

Prayer: Abba Father, by Your faithfulness and mercy You gave us an Helper in the Person of the Holy Spirit. My utmost heart desire is to be continually led by the Holy Spirit, and that I will have the qualities listed in the fruit of the Spirit manifested in my relationship with others, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!