STRIVE TO BE CLOTHED IN WHITE GARMENT!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

FRIDAY JANUARY 31, 2020.

SUBJECT: STRIVE TO BE CLOTHED IN WHITE GARMENT!

Memory verse: "He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the book of life; but I will confess his name before my Father, and before His angels.” (Revelation 3 vs 5.)

READ: Matthew 10 vs 32 - 33; Luke 12 vs 8 - 9:

Matthew 10:32: Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. 

But whoever denies Me before men, him I will Aldo deny before My Father who is in heaven.

Luke 12:8: Also I say to you, Whoever confesses Me before men, him the Son of Man also will confess before the angels of God:
12:9: But he who denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God.

INTIMATION:

To be “clothed in white garment” means to be set apart for God and made pure. Those who are set apart for God and made pure are those who stand firm in their faith. Christ promises future honor and eternal life to such people. All such people are guaranteed a listing in the Book of Life and are introduced to the hosts of heaven as belonging to Christ. Their names are registered in the Book of Life, and the book symbolizes God’s knowledge of who belongs to Him. 

As a country has their records of who are their citizens, so do God has the records of those who have been enlisted as citizens of heaven. God does not have to write down the names of the saved in order to remember, He knows those who is His. Those who claim Christ will be claimed by Jesus as His brethren.

The Christian confession is more than words that often give only lip service to God. It requires the commitment of one’s life by sacrificial living. Believers or disciples must offer a living confession before all people whom they live with. Those who are ashamed of letting their spiritual light shine before men as a result of Jesus living in their hearts are certainly not worthy subjects of an eternal dwelling in the presence of God.

At the judgement, the books will be opened. The Book of Life contains the names of those who have put their trust in Christ to save them. These books also contain the recorded deeds of everyone, good or evil. Everyone’s life will be reviewed and evaluated. No one is saved by deeds, but deeds are seen as clear evidence of a person’s actual relationship with God. Jesus will look at how we have handled gifts, opportunities, and responsibilities. God’s gracious gift of salvation does not free us from the requirement of faithful obedience and service. Each of us must serve Christ in the best way we know and live each day knowing the books will one day be opened.

Anyone who confesses Jesus Christ (that is, publicly acknowledges faith in or declared allegiance to Him) will be acknowledged by Christ before His Father in heaven. Jesus’ followers would face earthly courts of law where they would have to publicly claim to belong to Jesus Christ, usually at their peril. Genuine discipleship always involved acknowledging Jesus Christ, whether or not we face pressure and persecution. We acknowledge Him when we (1) live moral, upright, Christ-honoring lives, (2) look for opportunities to share our faith with others, (3) help others in need, (4) take a stand for justice, (5) love others, (6) acknowledge our loyalty to Christ, and (7) use our lives and resources to carry out His desires rather than our own.

By contrast, we deny Jesus when we (1) hope no one will find out we are Christians, (2) decide not to speak up for what is right, (3) are silent about our relationship with God, (4) blend into society, and (5) accept our culture’s non-Christian values. One denies Jesus by not living according to the standards of the One after whom he calls himself. We can reject Jesus now and be rejected by Him at His second coming, or we can accept Him now and be accepted by Him then. Rejecting Jesus may help us escape shame for the time being, but it will guarantee an eternity of shame later.

For those who strive to be clothed in white garment, we cannot imagine all that God has in store us, both in this life and for eternity. The Scripture says, “But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of Man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” He will create a new heaven and a new earth, and we will live with Him forever. Until then, His Holy Spirit comforts and guides us. Knowing the wonderful and eternal future that awaits us gives us hope and courage to press on in this life, to endure hardship, and to avoid giving in to temptation. This life is not all there is, the best is yet to come. 

Prayer: Abba Father, give me the grace to lead a life of complete trust in and obedience to You as I strive to be clothed in white garment in Your presence, and live with You forever, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

CHARITY THAT RECEIVES REWARD!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

THURSDAY JANUARY 30, 2020.

SUBJECT: CHARITY THAT RECEIVES REWARD!

Memory verse: "But all their works they do for to be seen of men. They make broad their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments.” (Matthew 23 vs 5.)

READ: Matthew 6 vs 1 - 4:

6:1: Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen of them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven.
6:2: Therefor, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Assuredly, I say unto you, they have their reward.
6:3: But when you do your charitable deeds, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
6:4: that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who see in secret will Himself reward you openly.

INTIMATION:

The charity or giving that receives reward from God is such that is done without ulterior motive; hidden or concealed reason of doing such charity. When you give with a pure motive, you give out of love and compassion, not out of any selfish interest. To be sure our motives are not selfish we should do our good deeds quietly or in secret, with no thought of reward. Jesus says we should check our motives in three areas: generosity, prayer, and fasting. These acts should not be self-centered but God-centered, done not to make us look good but to make God look good. 

God promises a reward for deed of righteousness—charitable deeds from a pure heart—but the reward God promises is not strictly material, and it is never given to those who seek it. In the biblical days of the Old Testament, the Pharisees hypocritically sounded a trumpet when they gave to the poor in the streets. In drawing attention to their act of giving, they received all the reward they would receive which was drawing attention to self. Christians should give in a manner by which they do not intentionally seek the praise of men. They should not give for public display. Their giving should be as private as possible in order that one’s motives for giving be kept pure. 

Doing good to others is good and is reckoned as a deed of righteousness. If one does good in order to receive the recognition of men, then he has the purpose of drawing attention to themselves. The term hypocrites, as used in the passage we read today, describes people who do good acts for appearance only—not out of compassion or other good motives. Their actions may be good, but their motives are hollow. These empty acts are their only reward, but God will reward those who are sincere in their faith.

When Jesus says not to let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, He is teaching that our motives for giving to God and to others must be pure. It is easy to give with mixed motives, to do something for someone if it will benefit us in return. But believers should avoid all scheming and give for the pleasure of giving and as a response to God’s love. It’s easier to do what’s right when we gain recognition and praise. Doing something only for ourselves is not a loving sacrifice. With your next good deed, ask, Would I still do this if no one would ever know I did it?

Charitable deed is an act of service to God, and He rewards your service accordingly. Using the gifts God has given us for His service is a deed of righteousness. But when we use our gifts for selfish motives, we are walking in unrighteousness. God uses great preachers like Peter and Paul, but He also uses those who have gifts of kindness for His service. Rather than wishing you had other gifts, make good use of the gifts God has given you.

For instance, the Bible in Acts 9 vs 36 - 42, tells us the story of Tabitha, which is translated Dorcas in Greek, a benevolent sister who spent time in helping others, and she made an enormous impact on her community by always doing kind things for others and helping the poor, by making coats and other garments. When she died, the room where she laid in preparation for her burial, was filled with mourners, very likely many of the people she had helped. Her charitable deeds among her people caused the enormous cry and prayers from the people. And God answered their prayers through the apostle Peter. And when she was brought back to life, the news raced through the town. 

Prayer: Abba Father, endue me with the spirit of love and compassion, that I may do my charitable deeds from a pure heart devoid of any selfish motives, in Jesus’ Name I prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

DO NOT JUDGE OTHERS!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

WEDNESDAY JANUARY 29, 2020.

SUBJECT: DO NOT JUDGE OTHERS!

Memory verse: "Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.” (Luke 6 vs 37.)

READ: Matthew 7 vs 1 - 2; Luke 6 vs 37 - 38:

Matthew 7:1: Judge not, that ye be not judged.
7:2: For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.

Luke 6:37: Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven:
6:38: Give, and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.

INTIMATION:

To “judge” is to pass sentence, condemn, or punish. It’s to consider and form an idea. To criticize someone for doing wrong. Jesus’ statement, “Judge not,” is not to the right one has to form an opinion or to take notice of and help correct the wrong behavior of others. It is against the kind of hypocritical, judgmental attitude that tears others down in order to build oneself up. One must always look at others with an attitude of love. The statement is not a blanket statement to overlook wrong behavior of others but a call to be discerning rather than negative. 

If we have all sinned, as the Scripture foretold (Romans 3 vs 23), why then do we have to be judgmental and condemning of others who sin. Whenever we find ourselves feeling justifiably angry about someone’s sin, we should be careful. We need to speak out against sin, but we need do so in a spirit of humility. Often the sins we notice most clearly in others are the ones that have taken root in us. If we look closely at ourselves, we may find that we are committing the same sins in more socially acceptable forms. For example, a person who gossips may be very critical of others who gossip about him or her.

The Bible in John 8 tells us the story of woman caught in adultery, and the Scribes and Pharisees brought her to Jesus, condemned her and judged her in accordance with the law of Moses, ready stone her to death. Jesus said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” (John 8 vs 7.) This is a significant statement about judging others. By saying that only a sinless person could throw the first stone, He highlighted the importance of compassion and forgiveness. When others are caught in sin, are you quick to pass judgement? To do so is to act as though you have never sinned. 

We are always likely to have hidden sin in our lives, sin we don’t even know about because God’s standards are so high and our performance is so imperfect. Therefore, why judge another? It is tempting to judge fellow Christians, evaluating whether or not they are good followers of Christ. But only God knows a person’s heart, and He is the only one with the right to judge. We are to confront those who are sinning, but we must not judge who is a better servant of Christ. 

When you judge someone, you invariably consider yourself better—and that is arrogant. It is God’s role to judge, not ours. Our role is to show forgiveness and compassion. The Bible says, “Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand.” (Romans 14 vs 4.) We are all God’s servants. We are accountable to God only, especially in reference those things that deal with salvational matters. 

Examine your attitude and actions toward others. Do you build people up or tear them down? When you’re ready to criticize someone, remember God’s law of love and say something good instead. Saying something beneficial to others will cure you of finding fault and increase your ability to obey God’s law of love. How we long for fair treatment from others, but do we give it? We hate those who base their judgements on appearance, false evidence, or hearsay, but are we quick to judge others using those standards? 

The apostle Paul said, “Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself, for you who judge practice the same things.” (Romans 2 vs 1.) This is a confirmation of what Christ said in Luke 6 vs 37 - 38. If we are critical rather compassionate, we will also receive criticism. If we treat others generously, graciously, and compassionately, however, these qualities will come back to us in full measure, and may sometimes surpass ours. We are to love others, not judge them. The thrust of what Jesus stated in those verses is that we will be dealt with by God in the same manner by which we treat our fellow man. Therefore, when we measure mercy to others, God will in turn measure mercy to us. 

Prayer: Abba Father, endue me with the spirit of love, that I may love others, and not be critical of them, treating others with compassion and care, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

BRIDLE YOUR TONGUE!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

TUESDAY JANUARY 28, 2020.

SUBJECT: BRIDLE YOUR TONGUE!

Memory verse: "You are snared by the words of your mouth; you are taken by the words of your mouth.” (Proverbs 6 vs 2.)

READ: James 3 vs 2, 5, 8 - 12:

3:2: For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body.

3:5: Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things.

3:8: But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 

3:9: With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God?

3:10: Out of the same mouth proceeds blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not be so.

3:11: Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? 

3:12: Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh.

INTIMATION:

Our words are part of ourselves; they are ourselves. You create a mental condition with your words. Your words, coming from your heart, goes out into the air to thrill and throb in the hearts of those that listen. If your words are full of love and peace and fidelity, they are born out of your heart life. Life is largely made of words. We declare war with words. Divorces and defeats are made up of words. Children become what words make them.

What you say and what you don’t say are both important. To use proper speech you must not only say the right words at the right time but also not say what you shouldn’t. Examples of an untamed tongue include gossiping, putting others down, bragging, manipulating, false teaching, exaggerating, complaining, flattering, and lying. Before you speak, ask, “Is what I want to say true? Is it necessary? Is it kind?

We dare not be careless with what we say, thinking we can apologize later, because even if we do, the scars remain. A few words spoken in anger can destroy a relationship that took years to build. Before you speak, remember that words are like fire; you can neither control nor reverse the damage they can do.

Our contradictory speech often puzzles us. At times our words are right and pleasing to God, but at other times they are violent and destructive. You might be imprisoned with your own words. You talked failure and failure held you in bondage. You said that you did not have faith, and doubt arose like a giant and bound you. You said that you could not, and the moment that you said it you were whipped.

Few of us realize that our words dominate us. A young man said, "I was never whipped until I confess I was whipped." Another said, "The moment I began to make a bold, confident confession, a new courage that I had never known took possession of me." Another young woman said, "My lips have been a constant curse. I have never been able to get the mastery of my lips."

A woman said the other day, "I always speak my mind." She has few friends. Only pity causes people to go see her. Her lips have been her curse. It isn't so bad speaking your mind if you have the mind of Christ, but as long as you have a mind dominated by the devil, few people care to hear your mind. 

Learn to use words so they will work for you and be your servants. Learn that your lips make you a millionaire or a pauper; wanted or despised; a victor or a captive. Cultivate the habit of thinking big things, and then learn to use words that will react upon your own spirit and make you a conqueror. Your faith will never register above the words of your lips. Thoughts may come and persist in staying, but you refuse to put them into words and they die unborn.

Never for a moment acknowledge that God's ability can't put you over. Become "God-inside minded," remembering that greater is He that is in you than any force in this world that can come against you (First John 4 vs 4). Learn from our Messiah, His confessions proved to be realities. Jesus confessed that He is the Light of the World. He is it. The rejection of Him has plunged the world into a new darkness. He said He was the bread from heaven, and it is true. The people who feeds upon His Words never suffer want. His Words were filled with Himself, as we act on them, they fill us with Christ. 

We were made in God’s image, but the tongue gives us a picture of our basic sinful nature. God works to change us from the inside out. When the Holy Spirit purifies a heart, He gives self-control so that the person will speak words that please God. The believer's words should be born of love and filled with love. Our words should never bruise or hurt, but should bless and heal. 

Prayer: Abba Father, I know that by my words I will be justified, and by my words I will be condemned. Bridle my tongue, O Most High, endue me with spirit of self-control that I may speak words abundant in love, trust, and confidence in You, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

THE RIGHTEOUS IS BLESSED!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

MONDAY JANUARY 27, 2020.

SUBJECT : THE RIGHTEOUS IS BLESSED!

Memory verse: "For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.” (Romans 14 vs 17.)

READ: Proverbs 10 vs 2 - 3, 6, 16, 21, 24 - 25, 28, 30: 

10:2: Treasures of wickedness profit nothing, but righteousness delivers from death.
10:3: The LORD will not allow the soul of the righteous to famish, but He casts away the desire of the wicked.

10:6: Blessings are on the head of the righteous, but violence covers the mouth of the wicked.

10:16: The labour of the righteous leads to life, the wages of the wicked to sin.

10:21: The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for lack of wisdom.

10:24: The fear of the wicked, it shall come upon him, and the desire of the righteous will be granted.

10:25: When the whirlwind passes by, the wicked is no more, but the righteous has an everlasting foundation.

10:28: The hope of the righteous will be gladness, but the expectation of the wicked will perish.

10:30: The righteous will never be removed, but the wicked will not inhabit the earth.

INTIMATION:

Righteousness is the character or quality of being right or just; it is formerly spelled ‘rightwiseness,’ which clearly expresses the meaning. It is characterized by or proceeding from accepted standards of morality or justice. Therefore, “the righteous” are those who are in right standing with God. For “the believers,” Christ has obtained the righteousness of God in Him for us. Consequently, we can all stand upright in the presence of God and boldly make our requests known to Him because we have accepted the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross.

The righteous are those who have and occupy—or take residence in—the kingdom of God. The Bible says that the righteous shine in the kingdom of their Father. Light and gladness shine on their path. They may have many afflictions, but God delivers them out of them all. The righteous have the mind of Christ, their thoughts are right and pure. They keep a sober mind. They do not claim or trust in their righteousness, but they live under the imputed righteousness of Christ. They are open to the correction of the Lord and His ministers. They receive wise counsel and apply it to their lives.

The righteous are immovable and unable to be uprooted out of their place in God. Their house will stand, their children will be saved, blessed, and have plenty to eat. They will flourish and will not be overthrown by their enemy. They will not be lead astray by discouragement, doubt, or depression. The righteous are sure that God will come and save them. 

The righteous are generous and merciful. They are concerned and care for the poor. They are active in the areas of justice; they seek justice. They walk in integrity. Enduring riches and honor are with them. They are fruitful, and their labors lead to life. The righteous welcome godly associations and wisdom. They know who is around them, and they are careful with whom they let into their inner circle. The righteous does not live a sinful lifestyle; they walk at a level of holiness and integrity. 

All believers have received the new covenant through Jesus’ shed blood on the cross, We become the righteousness of God through Christ Jesus (Romans 3 vs 22). His righteousness is imputed to, or counted toward us. If you are among “the righteous,” you can claim all the benefits of the righteous because of being in covenant with God. But if we don’t remain in God and give ourselves over to Him completely, He doesn’t have “a people.” We cannot be God’s own if we don’t walk according to His covenant. Being in covenant with God is a contract or a promise of His peace, safety, favor, protection, health, and prosperity. And God does not break His promises or go back on His Word (Numbers 23 vs 19; Isaiah 55 vs 11). 

The question now is, “Are you righteous?” This goes beyond being saved. Righteousness is about continually living right before God. This is not about perfection. It’s about your lifestyle being that of a righteous person. A righteous person does not live a sinful lifestyle. The righteous walk in a level holiness and integrity. They are not liars, drunkards, and whoremongers. They don’t mistreat people. If you are righteous, then the words you speak over your situation will have effect. They will cause things to line up for you in the Spirit. Your covenant with God is everlasting, and you will not fall, for He had imputed His righteousness to you through His Son, Jesus.

Prayer: Abba Father, give me the grace to live rightly, and for You at all times, that I may be a partaker of the blessings of righteousness, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

UNBELIEF IS AN ENEMY TO OVERCOMING MOUNTAINS!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

SUNDAY JANUARY 26, 2020.

SUBJECT : UNBELIEF AS AN ENEMY TO OVERCOMING MOUNTAINS!

Memory verse: “So Jesus answered and said to them, “Assuredly I say to you, If you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ it will be done.." (Matthew 21 vs 21.)

READ: Matthew 17 vs 19 - 21:

17:19: Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could not we cast it out?”
17:20: So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly I say to you, If you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move From here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.
17:21: However, this kind does not out except by prayer and fasting.

INTIMATION:

Unbelief is the state of not believing, being skeptical, or lack of faith. Mountain represents difficult obstacles we face in life. Unbelief is an enemy to overcoming mountains (difficult obstacles) of what seems to be impossible. In Matthew 13 vs 58 we notice that Jesus did not operate in the power of God in His hometown because of the unbelief of the people: “And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.” (Matthew 13 vs 58.) Unbelief blinds people to the truth and robs them of hope. Believe, ask God for a mighty work in your life, and expect Him to act. Look with the eyes of faith.

Also, the disciples of Jesus could not cast out the demon in the boy, although they have been given the authority by Jesus to cast out demons, but they had not yet learned how to appropriate the power of God. The disciples seem to be somewhat embarrassed over their inability to take care of the demon possessed boy. It was unbelief on their part, not on the part of the one who was healed. However, the qualification for being able to command the power of the supernatural demanded that they believe. Their faith was filled with doubts and fears. 

It is important to drive unbelief from your life. And one of the ways this is accomplished is through prayer and fasting. Prayer and fasting help us clear obstacles to our faith and faith-filled actions. Fasting, coupled with prayer, is one of the most powerful weapons to receiving a breakthrough and overcoming unbelief. Jesus preceded His ministry with fasting and returned in the power of the Holy Spirit into Galilee. Jesus didn’t struggle with unbelief, and He operated in faith throughout His ministry.

Many have wondered about Jesus’ statement that if we have faith and don’t doubt, we can move mountains. Jesus, of course, was not suggesting that His followers use prayer as “magic” and perform capricious “mountain moving” acts. Instead, He was making a strong point about the disciples’ (and our) lack of faith. Jesus’ frustration is with the unbelieving and unresponsive generation. His disciples were merely a reflection of that attitude in this instance. Jesus’ purpose was not to criticize the disciples but to encourage them to greater faith. 

Jesus said to the disciples that their faith was too small. It is the power of God, plus our faith that moves mountains. The mustard seed was the smallest particle imaginable. Jesus said that even faith as small or undeveloped as a mustard seed would have been enough or sufficient. Perhaps the disciples had tried to cast out the demon with their own ability rather than God’s power to act. There is great potential in even a little faith when we trust in God’s power to act.

If we feel week or powerless as Christians, we should examine our faith, making sure we are trusting God’s power, not our own ability to produce results. If you are facing a problem that seems as big and immovable as a mountain, turn your eyes from the mountain and look to Christ for more faith. Only then will you be able to overcome the obstacles that may stand in your way. Like a tiny seed, a small amount of genuine faith in God will take root and grow. Although, the growth or change will be gradual and imperceptible, soon the faith will have produced major results that will uproot and destroy competing loyalties. We don’t need more faith, a tiny seed of faith is enough if it is alive and growing.

Faith is the complete trust and loyalty to God that results in a willingness to do His will. Faith is not be the source of power, God is. Faith is not something we use to put on show for others. It is complete and humble obedience to God’s will, readiness to do whatever He calls us to do. When one prays in faith, it is that God answers prayer. Though He may not answer in the manner we deem correct, or at the time we feel we need an answer, He still answers our prayers. The amount of faith isn’t as important as the right kind of faith—faith in our all-powerful God. Christians, therefore, must always pray with a positive attitude that God is working in answer to their sincere prayers of faith.

God will answer your prayers but not as a result of your positive mental attitude. Other conditions must be met: (1) You must be a believer; (2) you must not hold grudge against another person; (3) you must not pray with selfish motives; (4) your request must be for the good of God’s kingdom. To pray effectively, you need faith in God, not faith in the object of your request. If you focus only on your request, you will be left with nothing if your request is refused.

Prayer: Abba Father, endue me with the right spirit of faith, to believe according what is written, that I may speak accordingly, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

GOD DEMANDS A LIFE OF PRAYER FROM US!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

SATURDAY JANUARY 25, 2020.

SUBJECT: GOD DEMANDS A LIFE OF PRAYER FROM US! 

Memory verse: "Pray without ceasing,” (First Thessalonians 5 vs 18).

READ: Luke 18 vs 1 - 8:

18:1: Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart,

18:2: saying, “There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear Godnor regard man.

18:3: Now There was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, ‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’

18:4: And he would not for a while; but afterword he said within himself, ‘Though I do not fear God nor regard man,

18:5: yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.’”

18:6: Then the Lord said, “Hear what the unjust judge said.

18:7: And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? 

18:8: I tell you that He will avenge them speedily, Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”

INTIMATION:

Prayer is to make supplication or petition to God. Prayer is a call to the Father to visit with Him. It is the call of love to the Father to come and fellowship with Him. Prayer is our need crying out for help. It is the voice of faith to the Father. Prayer therefore, is born out of the sense of need, and the assurance that the need will be met. It’s facing God with man's needs, with His promise to meet those needs. He  taught us to pray, He is one with us in this prayer life, and hence it’s part of His program for us.

Most Christians have realized the fact that the Father's heart is hungry for the companionship of His children. His heart hunger is the reason for man and his redemption. God wants a constant fellowship with His children. It was His plan from the beginning hence He visited Adam everyday in the Garden. He loves us and that love impels Him to call us to prayer.

It is God's Will that His children will come to His Throne Room, to stand in His presence  without reproof or condemnation. It is for this reason that Jesus Christ, while teaching His disciples how to pray, said, "When you pray" (Matthew 6 vs 5), and not "if you pray." It is God's intention that His children will visit their Father, the children coming joyously into the presence of their Loving Father, and are welcome.

To persist in prayer and not give up or “praying without ceasing,” does not mean endless repetition or painfully long prayer sessions. Always praying means keeping our requests constantly before God as we live for Him day by day, believing He will answer. When we live by faith, we are not to give up. God may delay answering, but His delays have good reasons. As we persist in prayer we grow in character, faith, and hope. 

In prayer we are brought near enough to breathe in the Father’s very presence, coming boldly into the Throne Room and are standing in His presence. It is going into the presence of the Father and Jesus who seats at the right hand of the Father, engaging the ‘Father and the Son’ in an executive meeting, laying our needs before them and making our requisitions for ability, for grace, to meet our needs. Whatever the needs may be, we are making a demand upon Them.

When we pray always, we are in constant communication with the Father and it enriches us spiritually. We touch the Father through our prayers, and there cannot be any touching of the Master without the Master knowing it. When our need touches Him, it makes a demand upon his ability to meet that need.  For instance, one day when the crowd was pressing around the Master, Jesus said, "Who touched Me?" And they said, "Master, the multitudes throng and press You,  and You say, "Who touched Me?" But Jesus said, "Somebody touched Me, for I perceived power going out from Me." (Luke 8 vs 45 - 47.) 

Touching the Master is making a demand from Him. The woman, having a flow of blood for twelve years, touched Him, making a demand upon His ability to meet her need, and the Master knew it, and she got her need met—she was healed of the disease (See Luke 8 vs 40 - 48). 

Prayer: Abba Father, You are my Loving and Caring Father, always available to hear my cry, and attend to my needs. I will ever put my complete trust in You, for I know that with You nothing is impossible, and there is nothing too hard for You. May I never take my focus off You, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

CHRISTIAN LIFE IS A RACE!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

FRIDAY JANUARY 24, 2020.

SUBJECT : CHRISTIAN LIFE IS A RACE!

Memory verse: Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us." (Hebrews 12 vs 1.)

READ: First Corinthians 9 vs 24 - 27; Philippians 3 vs 12 - 14:

First Corinthians 9:24: Do you not know that those who run in a race run all, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.
9:25: And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown; but we for an imperishable crown.
9:26: Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainly. Thus I fight: not as one who  beats the air.
9:27: But I discipline my body, and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.

Philippians 3:12: Not that I had already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.
3:13: Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended: but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead.
3:14: I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

INTIMATION:

Christian life is a race; we are running toward our heavenly reward with our eyes fixed on Jesus Christ. It takes hard work, self-denial, and grueling preparation. Winning the race requires purpose and discipline. The essential discipline of prayer, Bible study, and worship equip us to run with vigor and stamina. Therefore, train yourself diligently in these exercises—your spiritual progress depends upon them. God has set before the Christian the mark of a final rest—eternity with Him—for which all of us were created. The goal is the new heavens and earth wherein dwells righteousness. When one’s hope for heaven is strong, then he or she will submit his or her life to the narrow way of Christian living.

To run the race that God had set before us, we must also strip off the excess weight that slows us down. How can we do that? (1) Choose friends who are also committed to the race. Wrong friends will have values and activities that may deter you from the course. Much of your own weight may result from the crowd you run with, therefore, make wise choices. (2) Drop certain activities. That is, for you, at this time, these may be weight. Try dropping them for a while, then check the results in your life. (3) Get help for addictions that disable you. If you have a secret “weight” such as pornography, gambling, or alcohol, admit your need and get help help today. 

The Christian life involves hard work. It requires us to give up whatever endangers our relationship with God, to run with endurance, and to struggle against sin with the power of the Holy Spirit. All sin hinders one’s faithfulness in running the Christian race. The apostle Paul said, “And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.” (Second Timothy 2 vs 5.) To live effectively, we must keep our eyes on Jesus. We will stumble if we look away from Him to stare at ourselves or at the circumstances surrounding us. We should be running for Christ, not ourselves, and we must always keep Him in sight.

The goal of every Christian is to know Christ, and we should not let anything take our eyes off the goal. With the single-mindedness of an athlete in training, we must lay aside everything harmful and forsake anything that may distract us from being effective Christians. If one takes his mind off Jesus, he will be diverted to other things, and thus, discontinue his or her participation in the race. It is essential, therefore, that every Christian focus his or her attention on Jesus who has gone before and is waiting for us in the heavenly realm.

In one of the passages we read today, the apostle Paul said, “But I discipline my body, and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.” (First Corinthians 9 vs 27.) The Christian must not allow the lust of the flesh to detour him from the race. He must exercise self-discipline in order to train his or her character to be fit for eternal.dwelling. The disciple who preaches to others without bringing his or her own lusts under control, will lose his or her reward. Therefore, one’s good works in preaching are not enough to save one from an unholy life. You must exercise discipline and self-control in order to be qualified. However, you put yourself under excessive pressure if you want to lead this life by yourself without involving and relying on the help of the Holy Spirit—our Helper.

Also, the sin of doubts concerning God’s faithfulness to keep His promises, hinders Christians from zealously doing what God requires of an active faith. One must persevere in the race of faith. One’s run must be consistent and enduring. If one is not actively engaged in the race, then He or she is in a state of falling away. Indifference and stalemate are only stages of digression. If one continues in indifference as a stagnant Christian, he will digress to an inactive faith that would lead to creating an inactive religiosity after his or her own laziness. It is this type of religion that leads one to destruction. 

The apostle Paul remarked, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my race, I have kept the faith: Finally there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give me at that Day, and not to me only, but also to all who loved His appearing.” (Second Timothy 4 vs 7 - 8.) He was certain concerning his reward and eagerly awaited it. This should the target of all believers, and we should strive to fight and finish the race as he did, and obviously our reward will await us.

Prayer: Abba Father, my complete trust is in You. Give me the grace to constantly focus on Jesus in my Christian race that I may be worthy of Your calling, and receive the crown of life—eternal life with You, in Jesus’ Name I prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

LIFE IS A TEMPORARY ASSIGNMENT!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

THURSDAY JANUARY 23, 2020.

SUBJECT : LIFE IS A TEMPORARY ASSIGNMENT!

Memory verse: For we were born yesterday, and know nothing, because our days on earth are a shadow." (Job 8 vs 9.)

READ: Hebrews 11 vs 13 - 16:

11:13: These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 

11:14: For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. 

11:15: And truly if they have had called to mind that country from which they have come out, they would have had opportunity to return. 

11:16: But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them."

INTIMATION:

Life on earth is the period between birth and death. And because it has a beginning and an end, it is temporary, and not permanent. The Bible is full of metaphors that teach about the brief, temporary, transient nature of life on earth. To make the best use of your life, you must never forget two truths: First, compared with eternity, life is extremely brief. Second, earth is only a temporary residence. You won't be here long, so don't get too attached. Ask God to help you see life on earth as He sees it. David prayed, "Lord, help me to realize how brief my time on earth will be. Help me to know my end, and what is the measure of my days, that I may know how frail I am." (Psalm 39 vs 4.)

Repeatedly the Bible compares life on earth to temporarily living in a foreign country. We're just passing through. The Bible uses terms like alien, pilgrim, foreigner, stranger, visitor, and traveler to describe our brief stay on earth. David said, "I am a stranger in the earth..." (Psalm 119 vs 19.) As believers, we are "sojourners and pilgrims" (First James 2 vs 11) in this world, because our real home is with God. Our true loyalty should be to our citizenship in heaven, not to our citizenship here, "For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ." (Philippians 3 vs 20.)

Real believers understand that there is far more to life than just the few years we live on this planet. Believers identity is in eternity. At death you won't leave home; you'll go home. When you grasp this truth, you will stop worrying about "having it all" on earth. God is very blunt about the danger of living for the here and now and adopting the values, priorities, and lifestyles of the world around us. When we flirt with the temptations of this world, God calls it spiritual adultery.

God warned us not to get too attached to what's around us because it's temporary, "For the form of this world is passing away" (First Corinthians 7 vs 31). The cares of this world; financial security, self actualization, worldly happiness, marriage, and so on, are not the ultimate goal of life. As much as possible, we should live unhindered by the cares of this world, not getting involved in burdensome life activities that might keep you from doing God's work.

Have you ever imagined why human wants are insatiable? This is because this earth is not our ultimate home. In our home, there are no wants, therefore, there is no insatiableness. And the fact that earth is not our ultimate home explains why, as followers of Jesus, we experience difficulty, sorrow, and rejection in this world. It also explains why some of God's promises seem unfulfilled, some prayers seem unanswered, and some circumstances seem unfair. In order to keep us from becoming too attached to earth, God allows us to feel a significant amount of discontent and dissatisfaction in life with longings that can never be fulfilled on this earth which is not our final home; we were created for something much better. 

This truth about life should radically alter your values. Eternal values, not temporal ones, should become the deciding factors for your actions. It is a fatal mistake to assume that God's goal for your life is material prosperity or popular success, as the world defines it. The abundant life has nothing to do with material abundance. It takes faith to live on earth as a foreigner. In God's eyes, the greatest heroes of faith are not those who achieve prosperity, success, and power in this life, but those who treat this life as a temporary assignment and serve faithfully, expecting their promised reward in eternity. Your time on earth is not the complete story of your life. You must wait until heaven for the rest of the chapters. 

An old story is often repeated of a retiring missionary coming home to America on the same boat as the president of the United States. Cheering crowds, a military band, a red carpet, banners, and the media welcomed the president home, but the missionary slipped off the ship unnoticed. Feeling self-pity and resentment, he began complaining to God. Then God gently reminded him, "But my child, you're not home yet."

A fish will never be happy living on land, because it was made for water. An eagle could never feel satisfied if it wasn't allowed to fly. You will never feel completely satisfied on earth, because you were made for more. You will have happy moments here, but nothing compared with what God planned for you. You will not be in heaven two seconds before you cry out, "Why did I place so much importance on things that were so temporary? What was I thinking? Why did I waste so much time, energy, and concern on what wasn't going to last?"

Prayer: Abba Father, engrace me to live here on earth with the reality of the temporal nature of life, and be eternity conscious, living to please You at all times, in Jesus’ Name I prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!