The Triumphant Shame of the Cross

 [Christ did not] offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood not his own, for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. (Hebrews 9:25–26)

It is not to be taken for granted that there should be a welcome for sinners in heaven.

God is holy and pure and perfectly just and righteous. Yet the whole story of the Bible is how such a great and holy God can and does welcome dirty, unholy people like you and me into his favor. How can this be?

Hebrews 9:25 says that Christ’s sacrifice for sin was not like the sacrifices of the Jewish high priests. They came into the holy place yearly with animal sacrifices to atone for the sins of the people. But these verses say Christ did not enter heaven to “offer himself repeatedly . . . for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world” (Hebrews 9:26).

If Christ followed the pattern of the priests, then he would have to die yearly. And since the sins to be covered include the sins of Adam and Eve, he would have had to begin his yearly dying at the foundation of the world. But the writer treats this as unthinkable.

Why is this unthinkable? Because it would make the death of the Son of God look weak and ineffective. If it has to be repeated year after year for centuries, where would be the triumph? Where would we see the infinite value of the sacrifice of the Son of God? It would vanish in the shamefulness of a yearly suffering and death.

There was shame in the cross, but it was triumphant shame. “[Jesus despised] the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2).

This is the gospel of the glory of Christ, the image of God (2 Corinthians 4:4). I pray that no matter how dirty or unholy with sin you are, you will see the light of this glory and believe.

THE NEED OF PATIENCE!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

TUESDAY NOVEMBER 30, 2021.

SUBJECT : THE NEED OF PATIENCE!

Memory verse: "For you have need of patience, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise."  (Hebrews 10 vs 36.)

READ: Hebrews 10 vs 32 - 36:

10:32: But recall the former days, in which, after you were illuminated, you endured a great struggle with sufferings:

10:33: partly while you were made a spectacle both by reproaches and tribulations; and partly while you became companions of those who were so treated;

10:34: for you had compassion on me in my chains, and joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods, knowing that you have a better and enduring possessions for yourselves in heaven.

10:35: Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward.

10:36: For you have need of patience, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise.

INTIMATION:

Patience is the quality of being able calmly to endure suffering, toil, delay, vexation, or any similar condition. Patience is a divine virtue or spiritual fruit. It can be simply defined as “waiting without complaint.” And it is listed as one of the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5 vs 22 - 23). It perfects Christian character. Fellowship in the patience of Christ is therefore, the condition upon which believers are to be admitted to reign with Him. For this patience believers are ‘strengthened with all power,’ through His Spirit in the inward man.’

Hence the Lord teaches us to love as God loves, and to be patient as Christ is patient.

The Scripture we read today encourages believers to persevere in the Christian faith and conduct when facing persecution and pressure. We don’t usually think of suffering as good for us, but it can build our character and our patience. During times of great stress, we may feel God’s presence more clearly and find help from Christians we never thought would care. Knowing that Jesus is with us in our suffering and that He will return one day to put an end to all pain helps us grow in our faith and our relationship with Him.

When faced with a difficult decision, don’t allow impatience to drive you to disobey God. When you know what God wants, follow His plan regardless of the consequences. God often uses delays to test our obedience and patience. Trusting God when nothing seems to happen is difficult. But it is harder still to live with the consequences of taking matters into our own hands. Resist the temptation to think God has forgotten you. Have patience and courage to wait for God to act.

The Scripture abounds with those who through patience obtained the promise. For instance, David did not become king over all Israel until he was 37 years old, although he had been promised the kingdom many years earlier (First Samuel 16 vs 13). During those years, David had to wait patiently for the fulfillment of God’s promise. If you feel pressured to achieve instant results and success, remember David’s patience. Just as his time of waiting prepared him for his important task, a waiting period may help you by strengthening your character.

Although God promises to reward our good deeds, we sometimes feel our “payoff” is too far away or delayed. Be patient. God steps in when it will do the most good. In the Book of Esther, Mordecai had exposed a plot to assassinate Ahasuerus—thus, he had saved the king’s life (Esther 2 vs 21 - 23). Although the good deed was recorded in the history books, Mordecai had gone unrewarding. But God was saving Mordecai’s reward for the right time. Just as Haman was about to hang him unjustly, the king was ready to give the reward. 

It has been said that nothing teaches like experience. To some degree this is true of the virtues. Pain and suffering teach us endurance and empathy. The experience of mercy and forgiveness inclines us to be more merciful and forgiving. We gain moral maturity each day precisely because each day brings some difficulty that we must overcome. Like it or not, we persevere, and we are morally the better for it. 

Misfortunes are designed to build virtue in us, and among the virtues gained through difficulty is patience. That family member or work associate who annoys you is God's gift to you to build your patience. If you're stuck with a job you don't like, and you can't find any other work, then God is building your patience. Each nuisance, long wait, and affliction, every mosquito bite, traffic jam, and body ache in the life of the Christian raises her threshold of tolerance ever so much. Even tedious sermons and difficult reading (perhaps including what you are enduring right now!) can make you a more patient person.

So through the daily grind, the Christian grows morally, improving in virtue through various experiences that she might not even consider morally relevant, much less significant. But we who affirm the sovereignty of God shouldn't be surprised by this moral growth through even incidentals, for we believe God is always at work in the details, moving always to bring us into closer conformity to His image (Romans 8 vs 28).

This is why the apostle James says, "My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the trying of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”

Prayer: Abba Father, let the virtue of patience be developed in me by the working of the Holy Spirit, that I may be strengthened in the inner man to persevere in Christ to the end, and obtain the promise, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

The Only Conscience-Cleanser

 How much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God. (Hebrews 9:14)

Here we are in the modern age — the age of the Internet, smartphones, space travel, and heart transplants — and our problem is fundamentally the same as always: Our consciences condemn us and make us feel unacceptable to God. We are alienated from God. And our consciences bear witness.

We can cut ourselves, or throw our children in the sacred river, or give a million dollars to charity, or serve in a soup kitchen, or a hundred forms of penance or self-injury, and the result will be the same: The stain remains and death terrifies.

We know that our conscience is defiled — not with external things like touching a corpse, a dirty diaper, or a piece of pork. Jesus said it is what comes out of a man that defiles, not what goes in (Mark 7:15–23). We are defiled by attitudes like pride and self-pity and bitterness and lust and envy and jealousy and covetousness and apathy and fear.

The only answer in this modern age, as in every other age, is the blood of Christ. When your conscience rises up and condemns you, where will you turn? Hebrews 9:14 gives you the answer: “How much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.”

The answer is: Turn to the blood of Christ. Turn to the only cleansing agent in the universe that can give you relief in life, and peace in death.

WHEN GOD IS WITH YOU!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

MONDAY NOVEMBER 29, 2021.

SUBJECT : WHEN GOD IS WITH YOU!

Memory verse: "But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive." (Genesis 50 vs 20.)

READ: Genesis 37 vs 26 - 28;  45 vs 5 - 8:

37:26: So Judah said to his brothers, “What profit is it if we kill our brother, and conceal his blood?

37:27: Come, and let us sell him to the Ishmeelites, and let not our hand be upon him; for he is our brother and our flesh. And his brothers listened.

37:28: Then Midianites traders passed by; so the brothers pulled Joseph up and and lifted him out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt.

45:5: But now, do not therefore be grieved, nor angry with yourselves because you sold me here: for God sent me before you to preserve life.

45:6: For these two years the famine has been in the land; and there are still five years, in the which there will  be neither plowing nor harvesting.

45:7: And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance.

45:8: So now it was not you who sent me here, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.

INTIMATION:

People get into problems of various kinds in life. Some of the problems are caused by ourselves, some are caused by some externalities we have no control over, and yet some are planned against us by others. Some problems ensue after a careful planning, some by occurrence of natural disasters, and some out of jealousy and wickedness of others. In all these things losses of all kinds may abound along the line. But if God is with you, they turn at last to be for our own good, and necessary pathways planned by God to actualize His predetermined purposes.

The pathways of children of God are determined and ordered by Him. The prophet Jeremiah says, “O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man who  walks to direct his steps.” (Jeremiah 10 vs 23.) God is involved in our lives. At times the path of the righteous doesn’t seem smooth, and it isn’t easy to do God’s will, but we are never alone when we face tough times. God is there to help us, to comfort us, and lead us. God does this by giving us a purpose (keeping our mind centered on Him) and making provisions for us as we go along. Also God gives us wisdom to make decisions and faith to trust Him. He also, provides us with relationships of family, friends, and mentors. 

We are often confused by the events around us. But for a child of God, many things we will never understand will fall into place in years to come as we look back and see how God was working. Therefore, you should not worry if you don’t understand everything as it happens. Instead, you should trust that God knows what He Is doing, even if His timing or design is not clear to you. Remember, the end is known to Him from the beginning!

The psalmist says, “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in His way. Though he fall, He shall not be utterly cast down, for the Lord upholds Him with His hand.” (Psalm 37 vs 23 - 24.) The person in whom God delights is one who follows God, trusts Him, and tries to do His will. God watches over the person and makes firm every step that he or she takes. If you will like to have God your way, then seek His advice before you step out.

Instances abound where people planned evil against another good person, and eventually God turned the evil in the long run to good for the victim. In the passage we read today, Joseph’s bothers planned to eliminate him out of jealousy and hatred. Although they didn’t kill him outright, but they wouldn’t expect him to survive for long as a slave. They were quite willing to let cruel slave traders do their dirty work for them. Joseph faced a 30-day journey through the desert, probably chained, and journeyed on foot. Hw would be treated like baggage and once in Egypt, would be sold as a piece of merchandise. His brothers thought they would never see him again. But God was in control of Joseph’s life and had other plans.

Although Joseph’s brothers had wanted to get rid of him, God used even their evil actions to fulfill His ultimate plan. He had sent Joseph ahead to preserve their lives, save Egypt, and prepare the way for the beginning of the nation of Israel. God is sovereign. His plans are not dictated by human actions. When others intend evil toward you, as a child of God, just know that they are only God’s tools. As Joseph said to his brothers, “You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good.” 

The Scripture says, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8 vs 28.) God brought good from the brother’s evil deed, Potiphar’s wife’s false accusation, the butler’s neglect, and seven years of famine. The experiences in Joseph’s life taught him that God brings good from evil for those who put their trust in Him. Do you trust God enough to wait patiently for Him to bring good out of bad situations? You can trust him because, as Joseph learned, God can overrule people’s evil intentions to bring about His intended results.

Prayer: Abba Father, I am persuaded that in all situations You are my God, my refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. My absolute faith and trust are in You. Let whatever that will make me lose Your leading never come my way, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

BACKSLIDING!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

SUNDAY NOVEMBER 28, 2021.

SUBJECT : BACKSLIDING!

Memory verse: "Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?" (Hebrews 10 vs 29.)

READ: Hebrews 6 vs 4 - 8:

6:4: For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Ghost,

6:5: and have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the age to come,

6:6: If they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.

6:7: For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God;

6:8: but if it bears thorns and briers, it is rejected and near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned.

INTIMATION:

Falling away from faith in Christ—backsliding—is disgraceful. Backsliding, in the context of our discussion, is falling back to sin. When people, after receiving the Good News, and Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, deliberately return to evil ways, is abominable. It is refusing the freedom that comes from knowing the truth. For Jesus said, “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8 vs 32.) 

The Scripture describes such as a foolish act of one repeating his folly, just as a dog returns to his own vomit (See Proverbs 26 vs 11).

Jesus gave an analogy of the backsliding scenario, He said, “When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finding none, he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when he comes, he finds it swept and put in order. Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of the man is worse than the first.” (Luke 11 vs 24 - 26.)

In the passage of the Scripture above, Jesus was illustrating the unfortunate human tendency of backsliding. In many people the desire to reform often does not last long. They are lured by the fantasy of their old worldly ways. Consequently, Satan draws them back to the world, and their last state is worse than the first—prior to accepting Jesus Christ.

It’s not enough to be emptied of evil, we must then be filled with the power of the Holy Spirit to accomplish God’s new purpose in our lives. Just cleaning up one’s life without filling it with God leaves plenty of room for Satan to enter. Ridding our lives of sin is the first step. We must also take the second step: filling our lives with God’s Word and the Holy Spirit. Unfilled and complacent people are easy targets for Satan.

In like manner, the apostle Peter analyzing backsliding says, “For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them. But it has happened to them according to the true proverb: ”A dog returns to his own vomit,” and, “a sow, having washed, to her wallowing in the mire.” (Second Peter 2 vs 20 - 22.) 

The apostle Peter was speaking of people who have learned about Christ and how to be saved but then reject the truth and return to their sin. These people are worse off than before because they have rejected the only way out of sin, the only way of salvation. It is like someone sinking in quicksand who refuses to grab the rope thrown to him or her. When you reject Christ’s offer of salvation, you reject God’s most precious gift. You ignore the leading of the Holy Spirit, the one who communicates to us God’s saving love. 

There is no other acceptable sacrifice for sin than the death of Christ on the cross. If someone deliberately rejects the sacrifice of Christ after clearly understanding the gospel teaching about it, then there is no way for that person to be saved, because God has not provided any other name in all of heaven for people to call on to save them (See Acts 4 vs 12).

The sacrifice of Christ is tied with the Holy Spirit; therefore, to scorn Christ’s sacrifice is to insult the Holy Spirit by arrogantly rejecting Him. The Holy Spirit is a person, not just a force or influence. To reject him is to cut off the means of God’s acceptance. This is equivalent to blasphemy against the Holy Spirit; the only sin that cannot be forgiven men (See Matthew 12 vs 31 - 32). 

Prayer: Abba Father, by my strength I cannot prevail. Endue me with the spirit of absolute commitment to following Christ that I may not return to my past worldly ways, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

The Root of Ingratitude

 Although they knew God, they did not glorify him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. (Romans 1:21)

When gratitude springs up in the human heart toward God, he is magnified as the wealthy source of our blessing. He is acknowledged as giver and benefactor and therefore as glorious.

But when gratitude does not spring up in our hearts at God’s great goodness to us, it probably means that we don’t want to pay him a compliment; we don’t want to magnify him as our benefactor.

And there is a very good reason that human beings by nature do not want to magnify God with thanksgiving or glorify him as their benefactor. The reason is that it detracts from our own glory, and all people by nature love their own glory more than the glory of God.

At the root of all ingratitude is the love of one’s own greatness. For genuine gratitude admits that we are beneficiaries of an unearned bequest. We are cripples leaning on the cross-shaped crutch of Jesus Christ. We are paralytics living minute by minute in the iron lung of God’s mercy. We are children asleep in heaven’s stroller.

The natural person, apart from saving grace, hates to think of himself in these images: unworthy beneficiary, cripple, paralytic, child. They rob him of his glory by giving it all to God.

Therefore, while a man loves his own glory, and prizes his self-sufficiency, and hates to think of himself as sin-sick and helpless, he will never feel genuine gratitude to the true God and so will never magnify God as he ought, but only himself.

Jesus said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners” (Mark 2:17).

Jesus did not come to minister to those who insist they are well. He demands something great: that we admit we are not great. This is bad news to the arrogant, but words of honey to those who have given up their charade of self-sufficiency and are seeking God.

BE NOT ANXIOUS RATHER PRAY!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 27, 2021.

SUBJECT : BE NOT ANXIOUS RATHER PRAY!

Memory verse: "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God" (Philippians 4 vs 6).

READ: Matthew 6 vs 25 - 33:

6:25: Therefore I say to you, do not worry 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?

6:26: Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?

6:27: Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?

6:28: So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin;

6:29: And yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

6:30: Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

6:31: Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' Or 'What shall we drink?' Or 'What shall we wear?'

6:32: For all these things the Gentiles seek. For your Heavenly Father knows that you needs all these things.

6:33: But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

INTIMATION:

Anxiety is being uneasy with fear, worry, crave or desire regarding something, In our memory verse, the Scripture tells us not fret or worry about nothing. Instead pray concerning anything that makes you fret. Imagine not worrying or being anxious for anything! It seems like an impossibility; we all have worries on the job, in our homes, in our business, at school, etc. Worry or anxiety in itself can change nothing. Take the required action of committing all things in prayers to the Owner of the whole world. The reason we worry or burn with anxiety is because we have not trusted God and His promises enough. 

Don’t fret or worry, instead of worrying, commit everything in the hands of God in prayer. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. There is nothing impossible with, nor difficult for God. Therefore, steep your life in God’s reality, put Him first in your life; let Him fill your thoughts with His desires, take His character for your pattern, and serve and obey Him in everything.

In turning your worries into prayers, locate in the Scriptures the promise of God relevant to your situation, and put Him into remembrance of His promises (Isaiah 43 vs 26), He hastens to perform His Word (Jeremiah 1 vs 12.) Then rest assured you will receive your petition because you have prayed according to His will. The Scripture says, “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask any thing according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked Him.” (First John 5 vs 14 - 15.)

In the passage we read today, Jesus tells us to stop worrying about those needs that God promises to supply. God knows you have those needs (Matthew 6 vs 32), and He is well able to supply your needs. Worry has its negative effects on you; it may damage your health, cause the object of your worry to consume your thoughts, disrupt your productivity, negatively affect the way you treat others, reduce your ability to trust in God. Worry immobilizes, but genuine concern moves you to action.

Worry is distinct from planning. Planning for tomorrow is time well spent, worrying about tomorrow is time wasted. Sometimes it is difficult to tell the difference. Careful planning is thinking ahead about goals, steps, and schedules, and trusting in God's guidance. When done well, planning can help alleviate worry. Worriers, by contrast, are consumed by fear and find it difficult to trust God. They let their plans interfere with their relationship with God. Don't let worries about tomorrow affect your relationship with God today.

Carrying your worries, stresses, and daily struggles by yourself shows that you have not trusted God fully with your life. It takes humility, however, to recognize that God cares. Many a time we run away from God because of our sin, thinking that struggles caused by our own sin and foolishness are not God's concern. But when we turn to God in repentance, He will bear the weight even of those struggles. Letting God have your anxieties calls for action, not passively. Don't submit to circumstances, but to the Lord who controls circumstances.

Prayers: Abba Father, my trust is in You for I know You will never leave me nor forsake me. Daily You have loaded me with Your benefits. My soul blesses, and rejoices in You. I put my cares upon You, knowing You care for me. Engrace me to be anxious for nothing, in Jesus' Name I have prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

How to Magnify God

 I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify him with thanksgiving. (Psalm 69:30)

There are two kinds of magnifying: microscope magnifying and telescope magnifying. The one makes a small thing look bigger than it is. The other makes a big thing begin to look as big as it really is.

When David says, “I will magnify God with thanksgiving,” he does not mean, “I will make a small God look bigger than he is.” He means, “I will make a big God begin to look as big as he really is.”

We are not called to be microscopes. We are called to be telescopes. Christians are not called to be con-men who magnify their product out of all proportion to reality, when they know the competitor’s product is far superior. There is nothing and nobody superior to God. And so the calling of those who love God is to make his greatness begin to look as great as it really is.

That’s why we exist, why we were saved, as Peter says in 1 Peter 2:9, “You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”

The whole duty of the Christian can be summed up in this: feel, think, and act in a way that will make God look as great as he really is. Be a telescope for the world of the infinite starry wealth of the glory of God.

This is what it means for a Christian to magnify God. But you can’t magnify what you haven’t seen or what you quickly forget.

Therefore, our first task is to see and to remember the greatness and goodness of God. So we pray to God, “Open the eyes of my heart!” (Ephesians 1:18), and we preach to our souls, “Soul, forget not all his benefits!” (Psalm 103:2).

Jesus Prays for Us

 He is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. (Hebrews 7:25)

It says that Christ is able to save to the uttermost — forever — since he always lives to make intercession for us. In other words, he would not be able to save us forever if he did not go on interceding for us forever.

This means our salvation is as secure as Christ’s priesthood is indestructible. This is why we needed a priest so much greater than any human priest. Christ’s deity and his resurrection from the dead secure his indestructible priesthood for us.

This means we should not talk about our salvation in static terms the way we often do — as if I did something once in an act of decision, and Christ did something once when he died and rose again, and that’s all there is to it. That’s not all there is to it.

This very day I am being saved by the eternal intercession of Jesus in heaven. Jesus is praying for us and that is essential to our salvation.

We are saved eternally by the eternal prayers (Romans 8:34) and advocacy (1 John 2:1) of Jesus in heaven as our High Priest. He prays for us and his prayers are answered because he prays perfectly on the basis of his perfect sacrifice.

TRUST NOT IN YOUR RICHES!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 26, 2021.

SUBJECT : TRUST NOT IN YOUR RICHES!

Memory verse: “Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy” (First Timothy 6 vs 17).

READ: Luke 12 vs 16 - 21:

12:16: Then He spoke a parable unto them, saying, “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully.

12:17: And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’

12:18: So He said, ‘I will I do this: I will pull down my barns, and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods.

12:19: And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years, take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.”

12:20: But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you hast provided?’

12:21: So is he that lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”

INTIMATION:

Riches are entrusted to us by God—the Owner of the world and everything therein (Psalm 50 vs 12). The Lord ensures this by giving us the power to get wealth (Deuteronomy 8 vs 17 - 18). The primary purpose of bestowing on us riches is for us to serve Him with it. He told Abraham, “I will make you a great nation; I will bless you, and make your name great; and you shalt be a blessing.” (Genesis 12 vs 2.) The only condition God attached to Abraham’s blessing after fulfillment is that ‘he will be a blessing.’ 

Consequently, riches comes with great responsibility. If you have been blessed with riches, then thank the Lord. Don’t be proud and selfish and trust in your riches. Use your riches to do good. Be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share. No matter how much riches you have, your life should demonstrate that God controls the wealth that He has placed under your care. Remember, you wouldn’t have received anything if He didn’t give you (John 3 vs 27).

In the passage we read today, Jesus told the story of the rich man, whom God has blessed, and expecting to be a blessing to others. Instead, he became selfish; planned to keep all his riches to himself, expanded his storage to accommodate all his crops and goods, he would then relax and enjoy his riches. God saw that as foolishness. He called the man a fool who had forgotten his source and relied on his riches for pleasurable years ahead. God saw him as a poor man for laying up treasures for himself. 

The rich man died even before he could begin to use what was stored in his big barns. The man carefully and skillfully planned his pleasurable life and retirement leaving God out of his plan. Planning for retirement—preparing for life before death—is wise, but neglecting life after death is disastrous. If you accumulate wealth only to enrich yourself, with no concern for helping others, you will enter eternity empty-handed. Jesus challenges us to think beyond earthbound goals and to use what we have been given for God’s kingdom. Faith, service, and obedience are the way to become rich toward God. 

Just like the rich man, many of us plan what we intend to do or achieve, leaving God out of the plan. We may subsequently come to Him for help to actualize our plans. It is good to have goals, but goals can disappoint us if we leave God out of them. There is no point in making plans as though God does not exist because the future is in His hands. The beginning of good planning is to ask yourself such questions as: “What would God want me to do today? What would God say of this my plan? When you ask such pertinent questions, it indicates that you are seeking God’s guidance, and approval. 

Again we can ask, “What would I like to be doing ten years from now? One year from now? Tomorrow? How will I react if God steps in and rearranges my plan?” We can plan ahead, but we must hold on to our plans loosely. If we put God desires at the center of our planning, He will never disappoint us.

We have heard of so many rich people dying of one thing or the other. Even among the rich, many near—incurable sicknesses abound—cancer, high blood pressure etc. in the midst of their riches, survival from the illnesses is very slim, which indicates that their riches couldn’t help them. But we have heard of so many miraculous healing and deliverance among the poor who put their trust in God. 

We should not trust on the created riches, but rather on Him who created them. The Creator controls all circumstances and determines events and purposes in our lives. Riches are only means to an end, and not an end itself. God demands that we please Him in all things, not to please ourselves. Pleasing God is accomplished by all acts of obedience to Him. Strive to serve Him with the riches He put under your care. Ensure to be a blessing when you have been blessed. 

Prayer: Abba Father, my trust is in You. You bless us to be a blessing. Endue me with the spirit of trust and obedience in You, and that I may bless others after being blessed by You, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

Glorify God by Giving Thanks

 It is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God. (2 Corinthians 4:15)

Gratitude to God is a joyful emotion. We have a sense of joyful indebtedness for his grace. So in a sense in the very emotion of gratitude, we are still the beneficiaries. But by its very nature, gratitude glorifies the giver. When we feel thankful, we acknowledge our need and God’s beneficence, God’s fullness, the riches of his glory.

Just like I humble myself and exalt the server in the restaurant when I say, “Thank you,” so I humble myself and exalt God when I feel gratitude to him. The difference, of course, is that I really am infinitely in debt to God for his grace, and everything he does for me is free and undeserved.

But the point is that gratitude glorifies the giver. It glorifies God. And this is Paul’s final goal in all his labors. Yes, his labors are for the sake of the church — the good of the church. But the church is not the highest goal. Listen again: “It is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.” All for your sake — for the glory of God!

The wonderful thing about the gospel is that the response it requires from us for God’s glory is also the response that is most natural and joyful; namely, thankfulness for grace. God’s all-supplying glory in giving and our humble gladness in receiving are not in competition. Joyful thankfulness glorifies God.

A life that gives glory to God for his grace and a life of deepest gladness are the same life. And what makes them one is thankfulness.

HOW TO EFFECTIVELY EVANGELIZE TO ALL PEOPLE!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 25, 2021.

SUBJECT : HOW TO EFFECTIVELY EVANGELIZE 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. 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.

The aforementioned principles calls 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. 

In the Bible passage we read today, the 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—whoever. 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.

Paul was willing to sacrifice his rights. He was willing to sacrifice his right to the material things of life. He was willing to sacrifice his right to maintain his own culture. He was willing to sacrifice all that was necessary in order to get the job done of evangelizing the world. God calls on all evangelists to do no less in obedience to the great commission. Paul was willing to make any sacrifice that was necessary in order to share with the unbelievers the reward that comes from the result of obedience to the gospel. That reward is eternal life in heaven. The sacrifices of his personal life, therefore, were small in comparison to that which we will receive as a result of God’s grace.  

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 your 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 the 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 Who is the ultimate solution to any concerns and problems.

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 for 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 onto 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 servanthood that I may be humble and selfless, adopting Your nature of love in all I do to win souls to Your kingdom, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

Hold Fast to Your Hope

 So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us. (Hebrews 6:17–18)

Why does the writer of Hebrews encourage us to hold fast to our hope? If the final enjoyment of our hope was obtained and irrevocably secured by the blood of Jesus, then why does God tell us to hold fast?

The answer is this:

What Christ bought for us when he died was not the freedom from having to hold fast, but the enabling power to hold fast.

What he bought was not the nullification of our wills as though we didn’t have to hold fast, but the empowering transformation of our wills so that we want to hold fast.

What he bought was not the canceling of the commandment to hold fast, but the fulfillment of the commandment to hold fast.

What he bought was not the end of exhortation, but the triumph of exhortation.

He died so that you would do exactly what Paul did in Philippians 3:12, “I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.” It is not foolishness, it is the gospel, to tell a sinner to do what Christ alone can enable him to do; namely, hope in God.

So, I exhort you with all my heart: Reach out and take hold of that for which you have been taken hold of by Christ. Hold it fast with all your might — which is his might. His blood-bought gift of your obedience.

WHAT GOD REQUIRES OF US!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 24, 2021.

SUBJECT: WHAT GOD REQUIRES OF US!

Memory verse: “And now, Israel, what do the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways, and to love Him, and to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.” (Deuteronomy 10 vs 12.) 

READ: Psalm 50 vs 7 - 15:

50:7: Hear, O My people, and I will speak, O Israel, and I will testify against you; I am God, your God! 

50:8: I will not rebuke you for your sacrifices or your burnt offerings, which are continually before Me. 

50:9: I will not take a bull from your house, nor goats out of your folds. 

50:10: For every beast of the forest is Mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. 

50:11: I know all the birds of the mountains, and the wild beast of the field are Mine. 

50:12: 'If I were hungry, I would not tell you; For the world is Mine, and all its fullness. 

50:13: Will I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats? 

50:14:Offer to God thanksgiving, and pay your vows to the Most High.

50:15: Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.”

INTIMATION:

God’s interest is our heart attitude toward Him in all we do. God judges people for treating Him lightly. He demands that we have reverence for Him, walk in His ways, love Him, serve Him with all your heart and soul, and keep His commands. If anything is done superficially, it is unpleasant to Him. 

In the passage we read today, God speaks about the superficial religious people who bring their sacrifices but are only going through the motions. They do not honor God with true obedience, praise and thankfulness. He demands genuine thanksgiving and trust in Him. The people were offering sacrifices and forgetting their significance!  We may fall into the same pattern when we participate in religious activities, tithe, or attend church out of habit or conformity rather than out of heartfelt love and obedience. God wants righteousness, not empty rituals. God was saying that His disagreement with them wasn't about a lack of sacrifices on their part; they had been offering sacrifices continually. His complaint against them was the heart attitude they had in making offerings. They were missing the point! 

They thought they were making the sacrifices because God somehow needed their bulls and goats. In this Scripture, God was making it clear that He didn't need anything from them; everything already belongs to Him. God said, "If I were hungry, I wouldn't tell you! The world is Mine, and everything in it." He doesn't need to ask anyone for food. The truth was that the Israelites needed those sacrifices. They needed to give back to God and show their trust and dependence upon Him. It wasn't for God—it's for them.

The psalmist, David, says, “Sacrifice and offering You did not desire; my ears You have opened. Burnt offering and sin offering You did not require.” (Psalm 40 vs 6.) The religious rituals of David’s day involved sacrificing animals in the tabernacle. David said these acts were meaningless unless done for the right reasons. Today we often make rituals of going to church, taking Communion, or paying tithes. These activities are also empty if our reasons for doing them are selfish. God doesn’t want these sacrifices and offerings without an attitude of devotion to Him. The prophet Samuel told Saul, “To obey is better than sacrifice” (First Samuel 15 vs 22). Make sure that you give God the obedience and lifelong service He desires from you.

A sacrifice is a ritual transaction between a person and God that physically demonstrates a relationship between them. But if the person’s heart was not truly repentant or if he did not truly love God, the sacrifice was a hollow ritual. Religious ceremonies or rituals are empty unless they are performed with an attitude of love and obedience. “Being religious” (going to church, serving on a committee, giving to charity) is not enough if we do not act out of devotion and obedience to God.

Regarding tithing, for instance, your attitude toward your money is actually more important than what you do with it. God doesn't need your money any more than He needed those Old Testament sacrifices. The reason for the tithe is for you to learn to recognize God as the source of all of your money. It's one thing to say you believe God is your source, but it's another thing to prove it. The way you prove to yourself, not God, that you believe God is your source is to give a portion of what you make back to Him. People who don't really see God as their source are going to balk at giving part of what they have away. They are going to think, I need that money! But giving back some of what God has already given you is nothing when you see God as your source.

Some people glibly recite God’s laws but are filled with deceit and evil. They claim His promises but refuse to obey Him. This is sin, and God will judge people for it. We, too, are hypocrites when we are not what we claim to be. To let this inconsistency remain shows that we are not true followers of God. Just because God is silent does not mean He is condoning sin or is indifferent to it. Instead, He is withholding deserved punishment, giving time for people to repent (2 Peter 3 vs 9). God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked and wants them to turn from evil (Ezekiel 33 vs 11). But His silence does not last forever—a time of punishment will surely come.

Prayer: Abba Father, You are my Source of everything. In You I live, and move, and have my being. Endue me with the spirit of raw obedience and absolute trust in You. I desire to give my whole heart to You, and I rather die than allow anything come between us! So help me O Lord, in Jesus’ Name I prayed. Amen. 

PRAISE THE LORD! 

When God Swears by God

 Since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself, saying, “Surely I will bless you and multiply you.” (Hebrews 6:13–14)

There is one Person whose worth and honor and dignity and preciousness and greatness and beauty and reputation is more than all other values combined — ten thousand times more — namely, God himself. So, when God takes an oath, he swears by himself.

If he could have gone higher, he would have gone higher. Why? To give you strong encouragement in your hope. What God is saying in swearing by himself is that it is as impossible that he will break his word of promise to bless us as it is that he will ever despise himself.

God is the greatest value in the universe. There is nothing more valuable or wonderful than God. So, God swears by God. And in doing that he says, “I mean for you to have as much confidence in me as it is possible to have.” For if more were possible, Hebrews 6:13 says, he would have given us that. “Since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself.”

Now this is our God, the God who is reaching as high as he can reach to inspire your unshakable hope in him. So, flee to God for refuge. Turn from all the superficial, self-defeating hopes of the world, and put your hope in God. There is nothing and no one like God as a refuge and a rock of hope.

LEAD AN EXEMPLARY CHRISTIAN LIFE!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

TUESDAY NOVEMBER 23, 2021.

SUBJECT: LEAD AN EXEMPLARY CHRISTIAN LIFE!

Memory verse: “For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.” (Hebrews 6 vs 10.) 

READ: First Thessalonians 1 vs 2 - 8:

1:2: We give thanks to God for you all, making mention of you in our prayers,

1:3: remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and Father,

1:4: knowing, beloved brethren, your election of God.

1:5: For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake.

1:6: And you became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit,

1:7: so that you became examples to all in Macedonia and Achaia who believe.

1:8:  For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place. Your faith toward God has gone out, so that we do not need to say anything.

INTIMATION:

How would people describe your Christian life? As Christians, our calling from God is to become like Christ (Romans 8 vs 29). This is a gradual lifelong process that will be completed when we see Christ face to face (First John 3 vs 2). To be worthy of this calling means to want to do what is right and good (as Christ would). We aren’t perfect yet, but we’re moving in that direction as God works in us. 

The Thessalonian Christians, in apostle Paul’s days, excelled in three areas of discipleship that exemplified them as a truly converted group of people. They were exemplary—a role model—in their work produced by faith; they were not disciples who simply believed in God and Jesus. Their faith was carried into action with an obedient response to the grace of God. 

Their labor prompted by love; in their relationship with one another they were moved into action to care for one another. And their endurance was inspired by hope; hope of eternal heaven moved them to remain committed to that which is necessary to arrive at their eternal dwelling in heaven. Because of their hope of heaven, they remained committed to Christ. Once one gives up hope, he or she loses his or her incentive to maintain a life that is governed by the principles of Christ. Their work, labor, and patience were all in Christ. 

These characteristics are the marks of Christians in any age. Even in persecution they stood firm (1 vs 6; 3 vs 1 - 4, 7, 8). They welcomed the pain and troubles with joy, and the joy with the trouble. The message of salvation, though welcomed with great joy, brought the Thessalonians severe affliction (suffering) because it led to persecution from both Jews and Gentiles (3 vs 2 - 4; Acts 17 vs 5.) 

The believers in both Macedonia and Achaia looked up to the believers in Thessalonica due to their exemplary Christian lifestyles. The news about them had spread all around the provinces. Their lives were echoing Christ’s Word, not only in the provinces but all over the places. The news of their faith in God was great that the apostles felt that their jobs are already done, as they don’t need to preach anymore messages—the believers’ lifestyles were the message. 

How would people evaluate for work of faith? Do you melt at little challenges of life? Or can you proudly show your works produced by faith in God? Many Christians, at little shaking in life by unfavorable circumstances, will become weak in faith, and succumb to searching for alternatives that usually lead them away from following Christ. They will resort to visiting various native doctors, and prayers houses which are manned by native doctors or false prophets (wolf in sheep's clothing). 

How have you labored in love for Christ: reaching out to unsaved souls, doing the extra to ensure the spreading of the Good News of the gospel? Many Christians think that reaching out to unsaved souls is primarily the exclusive preserve of the pastors or ministers of the gospel. Christ’s command is to all believers: “And he said to them, Go into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16 vs 15). The “ministry of reconciliation” is given to all who are, by faith, children of God, reconciled to Him through faith in Christ (Second Corinthians 5 vs 18 - 19).  We have been equipped with the Good News—the gospel—“the word of reconciliation” to share.

Many believers today think that pain is an exception in Christian life. When suffering occurs, they say, “Why Me?” They feel as though God deserted them, or perhaps they accuse Him of not being dependable as they thought He should be. In reality, the world is sinful, so even believers suffer. Some will start querying if God is still on His Throne. He allows some Christians to become martyrs for the faith, and He allows others to survive persecution. 

Rather than asking, “Why me?” we should ask, “Why not me?” Our faith and the values of this world are on collision course. If we expect pain and suffering to come, we will not be shocked when they occur. We can take comfort in knowing that Jesus also suffered. He understands our fears, our weaknesses, and our disappointments (Hebrews 2 vs 16 - 18; 4 vs 14 - 16). He promised never to leave us (Matthew 28 vs 18 - 20), and He intercedes on our behalf (Hebrews 7 vs 24 - 25). In times of pain, persecution, or suffering, trust confidently in Christ.

Believers are elected by God Himself (John 6 vs 44 & 65). Being chosen comes from the heart of God (not our minds). It should be an incentive to please God, rather than ignore Him, and should give birth to gratitude rather than being complacent. Human responsibility requires that we actively confess Christ as Lord, focus on living to please Him, and share the gospel with others.

Prayer: Abba Father, thank You so much for the privilege of adopting me as Your child. You demonstrated in Christ Your unalloyed love for me. Let Your love that has been poured out in my heart by the Holy Spirit engender my exemplary Christian life in my work, love, and patient hope in You, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!