Every day in the God's Word

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 11, 2026.

SUBJECT: THE BENEFITS OF ABIDING IN CHRIST!

Memory verse: "If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor." (John 12 vs 26.)

READ: John 15 vs 4 - 5 & 7:

15:4: Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.

15:5: I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit, for without Me you can do nothing.

15:7: If you Abide in Me, and My words Abide in You, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.

INTIMATION:

Christ's promised company is one of the benefits of serving Him in love and obedience. It is noteworthy that the most important and valuable thing in life is our relationship with God; it has eternal value. All other of our possessions are left behind at our passing. Money, fame, and belongings cannot be taken with us from this life to eternity. 

Christ’s company—abiding in Him, is the offshoot of: (1) believing that He is God's Son, (2) receiving Him as Savior, (3) doing what God says, (4) continuing to believe the gospel, and (5) relating in love to the community of believers—Christ's body. 

The enormity of the benefits of Christ’s company are encapsulated in fruit bearing. It includes; soul winning, answered prayer, joy, empowerment, God’s love and honor, and crown of eternal life with Christ. The fruit of His company survives even death. God will remember our love, kindness, and faithfulness, and our witnessing for Him. Many people try to be good, honest people who do what is right. But Jesus says that the only way to live a truly good life is to stay close to Him, like a branch of a tree attached to the tree. 

In the passage we read today, Jesus' illustration puts Him as a tree—the vine, and the believers in Christ are the branches. Outside of being faithfully attached to Him, our efforts in leading the Christlike (Christian) life, are unfruitful. When you are attached to Him (abide in Him), you receive the nourishment and life offered by Christ—the vine, and your joy will be full. If you are not attached to Him, you are missing that special gift, and your efforts come to nothing. You are then a waste and is thrown away and destroyed.

Jesus used the farming illustration to deeply drive home the point He made. A plant, like the vine, is God's creation. When a plant bears much fruit, God is glorified. This is because the evidence of God's doing is glaring. He daily sends the sunshine, and the rain to make the crops grow. He constantly nurtured each tiny plant and prepared it to blossom. The plant grows and bears fruit, and the fruit is harvested.  

What a moment of glory for the Lord of the harvest when the harvest is brought into the barns, mature and ready for use! He made it all happen! The farming analogy shows how God is glorified when people come into a right relationship with Him and begin to "bear fruit," telling others of Christ, and the benefits of their relationship with Him.

Unproductive followers are as good as dead and will be cut off and tossed aside, and abandoned by Him, because not only are they not productive and worthless, but they often infect the rest of the tree. People who won't bear fruit for God or who try to block the efforts of God's followers will be cut off from His life-giving power.

Joy comes from a consistent relationship with Jesus Christ. When our lives are intertwined with His, and we enjoy His continual companionship, He takes us through life in full joyfulness. The more you are in companionship with Christ, the more you know Him and Hs Word, and the more you are able to tell others about Him. The people you tell about Christ are witnesses to the effect of the nourishment and life offered by Christ in you. 

As you showcase Christ, you are His disciple. and your life is a testimonial to others who would come and abide in Him. The good news, in summary, is that whatever your desire according to His Will, you ask from Him, and He shall give it to you! Yes, because you love Him, and abide in Him, all things will work together for your good. Eventually, you will be justified, and glorified!

When you are consistently in good relationship with Jesus, your fruit bearing is guaranteed, and as you bear much fruit, your joy becomes full. You are joyful because you live with Jesus Christ daily. The joy of living with Jesus Christ daily keeps you level headed; no matter how high or low your circumstances, knowing that the controller of all circumstances abides with you. 

For most people, it is common that when things are going well, they feel elated. When hardships come, they sink into depression. But true joy in Christ transcends the rolling waves of circumstances. In adversity you stay stable without sinking into debilitating lows. And in prosperity, you move not into deceptive highs. You are calm knowing that it is by Him all things consist, and all you have was given to you by Him. 

Prayer: Abba Father, give me the grace to live for You always, releasing my life to Your control, that I may have the awesome privilege of daily enjoying Your companionship. My utmost heart desire is to live, and move, and have my being in You. in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

7 Reasons Not to Worry, Part 1

 7 Reasons Not to Worry, Part 1

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” (Matthew 6:25–26)

We are going to spend three days on this part of Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount. In Matthew 6:25–34, Jesus is dealing specifically with anxiety about food and clothing. But, in fact, it relates to all anxiety.

Even in America, with its extensive welfare system, anxiety over finances and housing and food and clothing can be intense. Not to mention Christians who live in situations where much greater poverty threatens life. But Jesus says in verse 30 that our anxiety comes from little faith in our Father’s promise of future grace: “O you of little faith.” 

These verses (25–34) contain at least seven promises designed by Jesus to help us fight the good fight against unbelief and be free from anxiety. (Today we look at Promises 1 and 2 — then over the next two days at the rest.)

Promise #1: “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?” (Matthew 6:25)

Since your body and your life are vastly more complex and difficult to provide than food and clothing are, and yet God has, in fact, created and provided you with both, then surely he will be able and willing to provide you with food and clothing.

Moreover, no matter what happens, God will raise your body someday and preserve your life and body for his eternal fellowship.

Promise #2: “Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” (Matthew 6:26)

If God is willing and able to feed such insignificant creatures as birds who cannot do anything to bring their food into being — as you can by farming — then he will certainly provide what you need, because you are worth a lot more than birds. You, unlike the birds, have the amazing capacity to glorify God by trusting, obeying, and thanking God.

Every day in the God's Word

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 10, 2026.

SUBJECT : EFFECTIVE EVANGELISM TO ALL PEOPLE!

Memory verse: "Just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved." (First Corinthians 10 vs 33.)

READ: First Corinthians 9 vs 19 - 23:

9:19: For though I am free from all men, yet have I made myself servant to all, that I might win the more.

9:20: and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win the Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law;

9:21: to those who are without law, as without law, (not being without law toward God, but under the law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law.

9:22: to the weak became I as weak, that I might win the weak: I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.

9:23: Now this I do for the gospel's sake, that I may be partaker of it with you.

INTIMATION:

Zealous preaching and advocacy of the gospel require important principles generally accepted for reaching a wider audience. These principles employable in effective and efficient service in ministry, require paying adequate attention to your peculiar environment, and circumstances surrounding you at anytime. 

In the Bible passage we read today, apostle Paul shares his experience and techniques in ministry. He said, though he was free of the demands and expectations of everyone, he voluntarily became a servant to any and all in order to reach a wide range of people: religious, non-religious, meticulous moralists, loose-living immoralists, the defeated, the demoralized, and so forth. He said, though he didn’t take on their way of life. he kept his bearings in Christ, but he entered their world and tried to experience things from their point of view. He became just about every sort of servant there is in his attempts to lead those he met into a God-saved life. He did all that because of the sake of the gospel. It not that he just talked about it, he was actually in on it.

These principles are: (1) Finding common ground with those you contact; (2) avoiding a know-it-all attitude; (3) making others feel accepted; (4) being sensitive to their needs and concerns; and (5) looking for opportunities to tell them about Christ. These principles have remained valid as all-time techniques in soul winning.

There is no gainsaying the fact that a shared interest or a common denominator remains the best form of attracting others to a discussion. For instance, current happenings in any society, such as politics, natural disasters, great events etc, are common grounds of engagement in discussion, with reference to the peculiarities of the environment. 

In engaging others in a conversation, avoid a know-it-all attitude; listen to the parties, and appreciate their line of discussion. Always make them feel appreciated and contributing. Even when they may not have the facts or have informed wrongly, find a smart way to pass on the right information to them. For instance, don’t say outright, “You are wrong,” rather say, “But I thought it is this or that.” or, “I also learnt it is this or that.” In so doing the person feels accepted. An outright, “You are wrong” is snobbish and suggests rejection.  

In the course of your discussion, be sensitive to the need and concerns of the other party. For instance, your discussant might be on worries about the state of the economy, leadership style or quality, rising insecurity due to crime in the society or political grandstanding of some politicians that are often not actualized. Show your concerns, and sincerely proffer some solutions. At this point, you are penetrating his conscience, and will easily find your way to introduce Christ to the person, in Whom lies the ultimate solution to any concerns and problems.

The aforementioned principles call for Christians being all things to all people. You must learn how to assume the level of your discussant for effective communication between you people. It is, most times, not effective to assume either an inferior or superior position with the other party. Though, it is not an easy task, but you necessarily will come to the level of your discussant. If you feel inferior, you might be rejected, and if you feel superior you might be scaring the other party. 

We limit ourselves to the other person’s conscience because we are to do all things for God’s glory. We do what is best for others, so that they might be saved. We should also be sensitive to the meaning of our actions to new souls who are sorting out how to renounce sinful ways from the past and live for Christ. Our actions must be motivated by God’s love so that all we do will be to His glory. Keep this as a guiding principle by asking, “Is this action glorifying God?” Or “How can I honor God through this action?”

Effective soul winners are hardly offended, and without oversensitive consciences. Believers must not project their standards to others. Many believers who have been Christians for years are still oversensitive and judgmental of others. Instead, be guided by God’s love nature, and showcase it in your relationship with others. We should try our best to be considerate of everyone’s feelings in all we do.

Prayer: Abba Father, endue me with the spirit of servant hood that I may be humble and selfless, adopting Your nature of love in all I do to win souls for Your kingdom, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

How to Fight Anxiety

 How to Fight Anxiety

[Cast] all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. (1 Peter 5:7)

Psalm 56:3 says, “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.”

Notice: it does not say, “I never struggle with fear.” Fear strikes, and the battle begins. So the Bible does not assume that true believers will have no anxieties. Instead, the Bible tells us how to fight when they strike.

For example, 1 Peter 5:7 says, “[Cast] all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.” It does not say, you will never feel any anxieties. It says, when you have them, cast them on God. When the mud splatters your windshield and you temporarily lose sight of the road and start to swerve in anxiety, turn on your wipers and squirt your windshield washer.

So my response to the person who has to deal with feelings of anxiety every day is to say: that’s more or less normal. At least it is for me, ever since my teenage years. The issue is: How do we fight them?

The answer to that question is: we fight anxieties by fighting against unbelief and fighting for faith in future grace. And the way you fight this “good fight” (1 Timothy 6:12; 2 Timothy 4:7) is by meditating on God’s assurances of future grace and by asking for the help of his Spirit.

The windshield wipers are the promises of God that clear away the mud of unbelief, and the windshield washer fluid is the help of the Holy Spirit. The battle to be freed from sin — including the sin of anxiety — is fought “by the Spirit and belief in the truth” (2 Thessalonians 2:13).

The work of the Spirit and the word of truth. These are the great faith-builders. Without the softening work of the Holy Spirit, the wipers of the word just scrape over the blinding clumps of unbelief on the windshield.

Both are necessary: the Spirit and the word. We read the promises of God and we pray for the help of his Spirit. And as the windshield clears so that we can see the welfare that God plans for us (Jeremiah 29:11), our faith grows stronger and the swerving of anxiety straightens out.

Every day in the God's Word

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 09, 2026.

SUBJECT: THE FRUIT OF A CHRISTLIKE LIFE!

Memory verse: "You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?" (Matthew 7 vs 16.)

READ: Matthew 7 vs 15 - 20:

7:15: Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.

7:16: You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbrushes, or figs from thistles?

7:17: Even so, every good tree bears good fruit; but a bad tree bears bad fruit.

7:18: A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.

7:19: Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down, and thrown into the fire.

7:20: Therefore by their fruits you will know them.

INTIMATION:

Fruit is edible growth of plants. It also signifies the result or product of an endeavor; the consequence of some effort or action. Our actions and their consequences reveal who we are. For instance, in God’s kingdom, our faith in Christ is demonstrated by actions that depict such faith. If we say we follow Christ, we must strive to be like Him; doing things in accordance with His ways. And it is by our actions (fruits) that people, and even God, will know our sincerity in following Him. 

The “Christian life” is a “faith life.” Faith must be more than belief in certain facts; it must result in action, growth in Christian character, and the practice of moral discipline, or it will die away. Some of the faith actions are: soul winning, learning to know God better, developing perseverance, doing God’s Will, and loving others. These character traits are found in the nature of Christ, they do not come automatically, but require hard work. 

In Galatians 5 vs 22 - 23, and Second Peter 1 vs 5 - 8, the Scriptures list additional fruit qualities of Christian character: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness self-control. Against such there is no law.” (Galatians 5 vs 22 - 23.) 

“And also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; to virtue knowledge; to knowledge self-control; to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Second Peter 1 vs 5 - 8.) 

All the character traits enumerated above are not optional; they all must be continual parts of the Christian life. We don’t finish one and start the next, but we work on them all together. God empowers and enables us, but He also gives us the responsibility to learn and grow.

For the genuine followers of Christ, the fruit is the spontaneous work of the Holy Spirit in them. They are the by-product of Christ’s control—we can’t obtain them by trying to get them without His help. If we want the fruit to grow in us, we must join our life to His (John 15 vs 4 - 5.) 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 neighbor. 

God’s people can produce fruit that survives even death. God will remember our love, kindness, and faithfulness, and those who accept Christ through their witness will join them in the new earth. Be sure that your values are in line with God’s values, and decide today to produce fruit that lasts forever. The Scripture says, “Then I heard a voice saying to me, "Write: 'Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.'” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors; and their works follow them.” (Revelation 14 vs 13.)

Prayer: Abba Father, endue me with Your excellent Spirit that I may bear fruit after the nature of Christ, that lasts to eternity, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

Grace Must Be Free

 Grace Must Be Free

What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it? (1 Corinthians 4:7) 

Picture salvation as a house that you live in.

It provides you with protection. It is stocked with food and drink that will last forever. It never decays or crumbles. Its windows open onto vistas of all-satisfying glory.

God built it at great cost to himself and to his Son, and he gave it to you free and clear.

The “purchase” agreement is called a “new covenant.” The terms read: “This house shall become and remain yours if you will receive it as a gift and take delight in the Father and the Son as they inhabit the house with you. You shall not profane the house of God by sheltering other gods nor turn your heart away after other treasures, but find your contentment in the fellowship of God in this house.”

Would it not be foolish to say yes to this agreement, and then hire a lawyer to draw up an amortization schedule with monthly payments in the hopes of somehow balancing accounts and paying for the house?

You would be treating the house no longer as a gift, but a purchase. God would no longer be the free benefactor. And you would be enslaved to a new set of demands that he never dreamed of putting on you.

If grace is to be free — which is the very meaning of grace — we cannot view it as something to be repaid.

How to Repay God

 How to Repay God

What shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits to me? I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord, I will pay my vows to the Lord. (Psalm 116:12–14)

The very use of the language “rendering to God for all his benefits to me” makes me nervous. Payback can so easily imply that grace is like a mortgage. It’s really generous, but you have to pay it back.

Paul said in Acts 17:25, God is not “served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything.” In other words, you can’t give anything to God or do anything for God that he hasn’t first given to you and done for you.

You see this again in 1 Corinthians 15:10, “By the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.” So none of our work can ever be a payment to God, because the very work is another gift from God. With every deed we do for God we go deeper into debt to grace.

So in Psalm 116 what keeps the paying of vows free from the dangers of being treated like a debt payment is that the “payment” is, in reality, not an ordinary payment, but another act of receiving which magnifies the ongoing grace of God. It does not magnify our resourcefulness.

The psalmist’s answer to his own question, “What shall I render to the Lord for all his benefits?” is, “I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord.” In other words, I call on the Lord to fill the cup. To pay back the Lord means to go on receiving from the Lord so that the Lord’s inexhaustible goodness will be magnified.

Lifting up the cup of salvation signifies taking the Lord’s satisfying salvation in hand and drinking it and expecting more. We know this because of the next phrase: “I will . . . call on the name of the Lord.” I will call for more help. What shall I render to God for graciously answering my call? Answer: I shall call again. I will render to God the praise and the tribute that he is never in need of me, but is always overflowing with benefits when I need him (which I always do).

Then the psalmist says, in the third place, “I will pay my vows to the Lord.” But how will they be paid? They will be paid by holding up the cup of salvation and by calling on the Lord. That is, they will be paid by faith in the promise that more grace — all-sufficient grace — is always on the way.