OBEDIENCE TO GOD BREEDS SUCCESS!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 30, 2023.

SUBJECT : OBEDIENCE TO GOD BREEDS SUCCESS!

Memory verse: "This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth; but you shalt meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” (Joshua 1 vs 8.) 

READ: Psalm 1 vs 1 - 3:

1:1 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful.

1:2: But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in His law he meditates day and night.

1:3: He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he does shall prosper.

INTIMATION:

Only two paths of life lie before us—God’s way of obedience or the way of rebellion and destruction. God judges people on their faith in Him and their response to His revealed will—His Word. Those who diligently try to obey God’s will are blessed. These are the righteous: They are defined by their desire to seek the law of God. Their study of, and meditation on the word of God identify them as the people of God (Second Timothy 2 vs 15). They do not simply read, but think on the things that have read. They are those whose minds are focused on godly things. Their minds are not be so busied with the things of the world that they do not have time to think on God’s Word. 

The faith of the righteous is continually nourished by the word of God (Romans 10 vs 17). God is working for the righteous. They are like healthy, fruit-bearing trees planted along a riverbank with strong roots (Jeremiah 17 vs 7 - 8), and God promises to watch over them. God’s wisdom guides their lives. In contrast, those who don’t trust and obey God have meaningless lives that blow away like dust. Be sure to choose God’s path because the path you choose determines how you will spend eternity.

You can learn how to follow God by meditating on His Word. This means spending time reading and thinking about what you have read. It means asking yourself how you should change so you will live as God wants. Knowing and thinking about God’s Word are the first steps toward applying it to your everyday life. If you want to follow God more closely, you must know what He says. The more we know of the whole scope of God’s Word, the more resources we will have to guide us in our daily decisions. The more we delight in obeying God, the more fruitful we are. 

In the passage we read today, the writer begins the Psalm extolling the joy of obeying God and refusing to listen to those who discredit or ridicule Him. The phrase “whatever he does shall prosper” does not mean immunity from failure or difficulties. Nor does it guarantee health, wealth, and happiness. What the Bible means by prosperity is this: When we apply God’s wisdom, the fruit (results or by products) we bear will be good and will receive God’s approval. Just as a tree soaks up water and bears luscious fruit, we also are to soak up God’s Word, producing actions and attitudes that honor God. To achieve anything worthwhile, we must have God’s Word in our hearts. 

God told Joshua that to succeed he must obey the rules for living found in God’s law. Often we can’t see what the results or future benefits of following God will be. When we are not certain what to do, obedience to what God has revealed in the Scriptures is the only sure step we can take. Resolve to set aside time each day to read and think about God’s Word. Remind yourself of God’s words day and night. Act today on what you know God has said, and God will assure your success in carrying out His purposes.

God told Joshua that success and prosperity come from obeying and being controlled by Him. God said that to succeed, Joshua must (1) be strong and courageous, because the task ahead would not be easy, (2) obey God’s law, and (3) constantly read and study the Book of the Law—God’s Word. To be successful, follow God’s words to Joshua. You may not succeed by the world’s standards, but you will be a success in God’s eyes—and His opinion is most important and the final.

Prayer: Abba Father, endue me with the spirit of obedience to, and meditation on, Your Word that I may observe to do according to all that is written in it, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

WHEN GOD’S ANSWER TO YOUR PRAYER IS “NO”!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 29, 2023.

SUBJECT : WHEN GOD’S ANSWER TO YOUR PRAYER IS “NO”!

Memory verse: "The word of the Lord came to David saying, 'You have shed much blood and have made great wars; you shall not build a house for My name, because you have shed much blood on the earth in My sight' (First Chronicles 22 vs 8).

READ: First Chronicles 22 vs 9 - 10:

22:9: Behold, a son shall be born to you, who shall be a man of rest, and I will give him rest from all his enemies all around. His name shall be Solomon, for I will give peace and quietness to Israel in his days.

22:10: He shall build a house for My name, and he shall be My son, and I will be his Father; and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever.

INTIMATION:

God’s doesn’t answer yes at all times to our requests, even when the requests are intended for good. When your request is outside His plan and purpose for your life, His answer to your request will be in the negative. You may have sometimes prayed with good intentions, only to have God say no to your request. This is God’s way of redirecting you, most times, to His greater purpose in your life. 

Accepting God’s no requires as great faith as carrying out His yes. Our humility in accepting God’s no, and allowing Him to rearrange your schedule, demonstrates your level of obedience to, and faith in Him. The plan of building the temple was David’s his idea, not God’s. However, God sanctioned this desire of David, and thus God claimed the temple after it was built. But we must not forget that the temple was never in the original plan of God for Israel.

David was a man described by God Himself as "a man after My own heart" (Acts 13 vs 22). He was worried that while he was dwelling in a beautiful palace of cedar, the Ark of the covenant of the Lord, which is a symbol of the presence of God, sat under tent curtains. David expressed his displeasure to Nathan the prophet. Then the prophet urged him to do all that is in his heart. 

But God refused that David should build a temple for Him. God told David that his job was to unify and lead Israel and to destroy its enemies. This huge task would require David to shed a great deal of blood. God did not want His temple built by a warrior. Because David was a man of war, God didn’t allow him the privilege of fulfilling his dream of building a temple. This task was left to Solomon, a king who inherited a kingdom of peace from his father. 

God has done many things in David’s life, and He plans to do even more! This is so in the life of some of us. Like David, we should humble ourselves and give glory to God, even when He says no to our prayers. We should humbly respond, accepting His answer,  saying such things to him as, “O LORD, there is none like You, Omnipotent and Omniscient, knowing the end from the beginning. To You be all the glory and adoration.”

In response to God’s refusal of David building the temple, he went and sat before the Lord and humbled himself in prayer, praising God, recognizing God's blessings and accepting God's decision, promises, and commands. The righteousness of David was manifested in his response to God’s denial of His building a temple. 

He submitted in humility, knowing that the eternal plan of God must be worked out in the affairs of men. He was not presumptuous against the plan of God, and by faith he submitted to God’s will in his life, remembering that God, who made all things according His predetermined purposes, knows the end from the beginning.

Though David thought well, his request was good, but God said no. This does not mean that God rejected David. In fact, God was planning to do something even greater in David’s life than allowing him the privilege of building the temple. Sometimes God says no to our plans for His own reasons, and purposes. When He does, we should utilize other opportunities He gives us. His response is an example of those who would walk by faith, not sight. Though we do not understand all of God’s plans, we understand enough to walk by faith, trusting that He will perform His promises. 

However, God told David that his son Solomon will undertake the task of building a temple for Him instead. David graciously accepted this "no" from God. David made the plans and collected the materials so that his son Solomon could begin work on the temple as soon as he became king. He was not jealous of the fact that his son would have the honor of building God's temple, but instead made preparations for him to carry out his task. David responded to God's refusal with deep humility, not resentment. He accepted his part in God’s plan and did not try to go beyond it. 

It’s noteworthy that although God turned down David’s request, He promised to continue the dynasty of David forever. David’s earthly dynasty ended four centuries later, but Jesus Christ, a direct descendant of David, was the ultimate fulfillment of this promise (Acts 2 vs 22 - 36). Christ will reign for eternity—now in His spiritual kingdom, and in heaven, and later, on earth, in the New Jerusalem (Luke 1 vs 30 - 33; Revelation 21).

Prayer: Abba Father, You are my all in all. Whatever You cannot give me, let me never have it. Whatever You cannot do for me, let it remain undone forever. Endue me with a humble spirit; to acknowledge, obey, and trust in You at all times, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

THE CARNALLY MINDED CANNOT PLEASE GOD!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

TUESDAY NOVEMBER 28, 2023.

SUBJECT: THE CARNALLY MINDED CANNOT PLEASE GOD!

Memory verse: "Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be." (Romans 8 vs 7.)

READ: Romans 8 vs 5 - 8:

8:5: For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.

8:6: For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

8:7: Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be.

8:8: So then those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 

INTIMATION:

Humans are divided into two categories; those who are dominated by their sinful nature; those behavioral patterns of life that are considered desires of the carnal nature of man, and those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit. All of us would be in the first category if Jesus hadn’t offered us a way out. Once we have said yes to Jesus, we will want to continue following Him, because His way brings life and peace. 

The carnally minded focuses on his own desires. He is in the flesh. In a religious context, it is the one who focuses on his own ability to perform law in order to save himself. The carnally minded person is walking in sin, though he may not recognize the fact that he is in sin. The individual who persists on remaining “in the flesh,” or is focusing on his own meritorious performance of law, is actually working against the plan of God to have all men trust in Him for direction. Such a person is focusing on himself and not on God’s grace. This is the man who seeks to walk by sight without the faith that is necessary to please God (Hebrews 11 vs 6). 

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

As long as one seeks to approach God on his own terms, he will not allow God to direct his life. In the world of religions there are countless religious people who are seeking to worship God on their own terms. They are walking in the flesh because they are seeking to worship God on their own terms. They are walking in the flesh because they are seeking God either by following after the security of their own traditions or the assurance of their own subjective religiosity. Such religions are “after the flesh” because they are not based on direction  from God.

In Galatians 5 vs 19 - 21, the Bible says, “Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, Idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,

envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the likes; of the which I tell you beforehand, just as I have also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” (Galatians 5 vs 19 - 21.)

In the above list it was apostle Paul’s goal only to list examples of the lusts of the flesh. These are the sins of the unregenerate life, the life of living after the base nature of man. These actions, or works, are in contrast to the fruit of the Spirit, that is, the product that comes from the one who is dependent on God. The person who walks after the Spirit focuses by faith on the cross and God’s grace. He has life and peace of mind because he is trusting in the grace of God and not in his abilities in reference to law-keeping.

In Galatians 6 vs 8, the Bible says, “For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.” It will certainly be a surprise if you planted corn and pumpkins came up. It’s a natural law to harvest what we plant. It’s true in other areas, too. If you gossip about your friends, you will lose their friendship. Every action has results. If you plant to please your own desires, you’ll harvest a crop of sorrow and evil. If you plant to please God, you will harvest joy and everlasting life. 

You are free to choose between two masters, but you are not free to adjust the consequences of your choice. Each of the two masters pays with his own kind of currency. The currency of sin is eternal death. That is all you can expect or hope for in life without God. Christ’s currency is eternal life—new life with God that begins on earth and continues forever with God. 

Daily we must consciously choose to center our lives on God. Use the Bible to discover God’s guidelines, and then follow them. In every perplexing situation, ask yourself, What Will Jesus want me to do? When the Holy Spirit points out what is right, do it eagerly. How much influence do your desires have on your life? Your goal should be to let God’s desires be yours. Being controlled by own desires will stunt your growth.

Prayer: Abba Father, all things are Yours. And by You all things consist. My total trust and confidence is in You. Give me the grace never to shift my trust and focus from You, for any reason, in any circumstances, and by anything, and endue me with the mind of Christ, in Jesus’ Name I prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

BOLDLY DECLARE GOD’S WORD WITH FAITH!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

MONDAY NOVEMBER 27, 2023.

SUBJECT : BOLDLY DECLARE GOD’S WORD WITH FAITH!

Memory verse: "And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, 'I believed and therefore I spoke,' we also believe and therefore speak." (Second Corinthians 4 vs 13.)

READ: Acts 14 vs 1 - 3:

14:1: Now it happened in Iconium that they went together to the synagogue of the Jews, and so spoke that a great multitude both of the Jews and of the Greeks believed.

14:2: But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brethren.

14:3: Therefore they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who was bearing witness to the word of His grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.

INTIMATION:

Bold declaration of the Word of God with faith is agreeing with Him, and only in so doing will God work with you. Prophet Amos asked the very important question, "Can two walk together, unless they have agreed?" (Amos 3 vs 3.) You agree with God by believing and boldly declaring in faith what He says in His Word. 

The Bible says, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” (Hebrews 11 vs 6.) Faith must act in faithful obedience to the will of God expressed in His Word. This is obediently giving oneself over to faith in the Word of God.

If one truly believes then he or she will speak forth the word of God. The faith that one must have is not worth having if one is not willing to boldly declare, and even ready die for it. When you speak lack, sickness, fear, defeat, and inability, you are disagreeing with God because He says, ‘He is your shepherd, and you shall not want’ (Psalm 23 vs 1), ‘He supplies all your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus’ (Philippians 4 vs 19). ‘By His stripes you are healed’ (Isaiah 53 vs 5), and ‘He sent His Word and healed you, and delivered you from your destructions’ (Psalm 107 vs 20), "’For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and of a sound mind’ (Second Timothy 1 vs 7). 

As 'Believers' we should boldly be speaking the words of our Father in unquestionable faith, and the power in the Word will manifest in your lips as though is the Father speaking them. It is not you or in your power, but God who hastens to perform His Word (Jeremiah 1 vs 12). As a child of God, and a believer in Christ's work of redemption for you, God, "Has given you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist" (Luke 21 vs 15). 

How do we agree with God? We agree by saying what God says while disagreeing with the wicked, lying devil. Know it that when your word is not in agreement with God's Word, you weary Him with your word. (Malachi 2 vs 17). Our relationship with the Lord should be in humility, obedience, and trust. It should not be of weariness and harshness in words. In our memory verse, the apostle Paul reveals that the release of power of God is consequent upon our bold declaration of His Word in faith. Now that you know, begin to declare boldly the Words of your Father. 

It should be in the heart of all Christians to walk closely with God. The Bible records the testimony of Enoch that he walked with God (Genesis 5 vs 24). Enoch wasn't the only person who could walk with God, you and I also can walk with Him. Hebrews 11 vs 5 says that Enoch "pleased God" by agreeing in faith with God. We can walk just as closely with God as Enoch did if we choose to agree with Him in faith.

Prayer: Abba Father, You have magnified Your Word above all Your Name. I am persuaded that forever Your Word is settled in heaven as the Scripture foretold and Your Word never comes back to You void but will achieve the purpose it was sent and prosper in it. As I boldly declare Your Word with absolute and obedient faith, confirm my bold declaration of Your Word with signs following, in Jesus' Name I have prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

GOD IS EVER CARING!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

SUNDAY NOVEMBER 26, 2023.

SUBJECT: GOD IS EVER CARING!

Memory verse: "Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you." (First Peter 5 vs 7.) 

READ: Psalm 103 vs 8 -14 & 17:

103:8: The Lord is merciful and gracious. slow to anger, and abounding in mercy. 

103:9: He will not always strive with us, nor will He keep His anger forever. 

103:10: He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor punished us according to our iniquities. 

103:11: For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; 

103:12: As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. 

103:13: As s father pities his children, do the Lord pities those who fear Him. 

103:14: For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust. 

103:17: But the mercy of The Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him. And His righteousness to children's children. 

INTIMATION:

God has deep interest in all that concerns you and I. We are fragile, but God's care is eternal. Too often we focus on God as Judge and Lawgiver, ignoring His compassion and concern for us. When God examines our lives He remembers the frailty of our human condition. His mercy takes everything into account. God cares for us as a father lovingly cares for his children. 

God will deal with us compassionately. God is so caring that when He forgives us our sins, He separates them from us and doesn't even remember them anymore. As east and west can never meet, so is the symbolic portrait of God's forgiveness and of our sins. We need never wallow in the past, for God forgives and forgets.

Though there are times when God’s children have to be disciplined, God would not continually do so day by day. Because of His forgiveness and mercy, He does not punish His people with what they deserve for their sins. Their rebellion will justly deserve death, but because of His mercy, He only disciplines. 

In the Garden of Eden our first parents were set up to live happily ever after, having been placed in a paradise-like setting by a Loving, Caring, and Personal God. They had been given everything they could ever want, but with only one small restriction: "Don't eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil." 

We easily will say today, 'What a simple innocuous request and easy to obey.' But when they were enticed by the “tempter,” they fell into his trap of questioning the love and goodness of the One from whom they had only experienced good. What a monstrous lie! But they bought the lie hook, line and sinker! And mankind has been wretched ever since but for God's intervention through His Son, Jesus Christ! In His caring, and merciful nature He saved mankind from the calamities of disobedience by sacrificing His Son for us.

What our first parents did is even done today by some of us. Some people willingly swallow the lie from the devil that we cannot trust our Heavenly Father. Some of us allow our earthly hurts from parents or others to distrust our view and our understanding of God. Our many feelings, emotions, fears, and human experience effectively block a clean perception, consequently stifling all truth about Him. 

Pray that God will help you not allow negative human relationship and experience interfere with having a close relationship with your Loving, and Caring Father, and hindering your enjoying the never ending and limitless benefits of His care.

God’s mercy continues forever. It continues throughout the generations of those who have committed themselves to be obedient to the laws of the covenant that He has established with us. He is so caring and unchanging that He will never break His covenant with us (Psalm 89 vs 34).

God is so caring that He allows us to cast all our cares upon Him. Therefore, carrying our worries, stresses, and daily struggles by ourselves show that we have not trusted God fully with our lives. It takes humility, however, to recognize that God cares, and to admit your needs, and let God take care of you. Sometimes we think 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 of those struggles, including our sins. Our loving Father will never leave us according to His promise. But the enemy of our souls, the devil, wants us to doubt God, and to question His ability. And undoubtedly, that is the trick the father of lies has used from the beginning of human history.

However, to experience the totality of God’s care, put Him first in all things in your life. In Matthew 6 vs 31 - 33, the Scripture states, "Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' Or 'What shall drink?' For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." 

To "seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness" means we should put God first in all things in our lives; we should turn to God first for help, to fill your thoughts with His desires, to take His character for your pattern, and to serve and obey Him in everything. Though other things and desires, all compete for priority in our lives, and any of these can quickly bump God out of first place if we don't actively choose to give Him first place in every area of our lives.

Prayer: Abba Father, You are so caring and loving that You gave Your only Son, Jesus Christ, to die for my sins. What a supreme sacrifice You made for me! Forever You remain my God. Endue me with the spirit of love, compassion, trust, and complete obedience to You, Who has given all for me, that I may give all for You and put You first in every area of my life, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!