The Triumphant Shame of the Cross

 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 PRAYER GOD WONT HEAR!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 30, 2024.

SUBJECT : THE PRAYER GOD WONT HEAR!

Memory verse: "If I regard iniquity in my heart, the LORD will not hear." (Psalm 66 vs 18.)

READ: Isaiah 59 vs 1 - 3:

59:1: Behold, the LORD's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; nor His ear heavy; that it cannot hear.

59:2: But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear.

59:3: For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue has muttered perversity. 

INTIMATION:

Iniquity is sin, implying the perversion of heart and wickedness of purpose. Sin is defined as a moral offense or shortcoming. It is a rebellion against God's laws, a perversion of heart. Sin is a reproach to any people as well as to God. It offends our Holy God and separates us from Him. Because God is holy He cannot ignore, excuse, or tolerate sin as though it didn't matter, therefore, sin cuts people off from Him, forming a wall to isolate God from the people He loves. Our sins makes God angry and forces Him to look the other way. 

When we are involved in iniquity or sin, we build a wall of separation between us and God. The Scripture says of God, “You are of purer eyes than to behold evil, and cannot look on wickedness...” (Habakkuk 1 vs 13.) When we are involved in sinful and wicked deeds, we cause our separation from the Holy God, and our prayers are not heard by Him. These are times when we bear loads of grudges, resentment, envy, hatred, anger, un-forgivenesses , and like emotions. The loads of such emotions are very heavy and costly to our relationship with God, because they are iniquities before Him whose eyes cannot behold iniquity.

Our confession of sin must be continual because we continue to do wrong. But true confession requires us to listen to God and want to stop doing what is wrong. We may not be able to remember every sin we have ever committed, but our attitude should be one of confession and obedience. Though we may have been dragged into such emotions by wrongdoing to us by another, but these emotions hurt us more than they hurt the one who has wronged us. This is because, if our faith is strong and our prayer is persistent, there is only one thing that can stand in the way of answered prayer—getting what you say—and it is un-repented sin. What a terrible condition for a Christian to be in, to be unable to talk to God! 

When we understand what our resentment does to us, we see how much better it is for us to allow our enemies to get away with their cruelty, even murder, and forgive them, rather than hold a grudge and cut ourselves off from God. God knows the heart of our enemy, and repays accordingly without needing any helps from us. The Bible tells us that vengeance is God's business not ours: "Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath: for it is written, 'Vengeance is mine; I will repay,' says the Lord" (Romans 12 vs 19). God takes vengeance on our enemies because He is just, and because He loves us.

An unforgiving spirit is so destructive that we are warned that when God does take vengeance on our enemies, we ought not be happy that He did; "Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles; lest the Lord see it, and it displease Him, and He turn away His wrath from him" (Proverbs 24 vs 17 - 18). 

Once you understand the destructiveness of "getting even," you will be able to ask God to keep you from resentment in all its forms. In Matthew 5 vs 39 Jesus commanded us, "But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also." Jesus is suggesting that our response to injustice should not be demanding our right, but to give it up freely! According to Him it is more important to give justice and mercy than to receive it.

Jesus said in Mark 11 vs 25; "And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses." Only in so doing that you receive what you ask in prayers.

When you study the exploits of the apostle Paul and Barnabas in Antioch in Acts 13 where they preached and taught, you will appreciate how the two steadfast and spirit-filled servants of God handled the resentment of Jews against them. They preached and the Gentiles heard and were glad and glorified God, and all those who believed received the Spirit and were ordained to eternal life. The Jews, however, incited the devout men and women against the apostle Paul and Barnabas and drove them from the city. They left, and they were filled with joy in the Holy Spirit, and never had any desire for retaliation. The Spirit-filled life doesn't seek revenge but joyously reflects the presence of God within.

Prayer: Abba Father, keep me from resentment of all forms. Cleanse me from secret faults, and keep me from presumptuous sins that they may not have dominion over me. Endue me with the spirit of forgiveness that I may forgive all that offend me and stand blameless before You, in Jesus' Name I have prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

The Only Conscience-Cleanser

 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.

The Root of Ingratitude

 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 JOYFUL ALWAYS!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 28, 2024.

SUBJECT: BE JOYFUL ALWAYS!

Memory verse: "Rejoice always.” (First Thessalonians 5 vs 26.)

READ: Philippians 4 vs 4; First Peter 1 vs 6 - 9:

Philippians 4:4: Rejoice in the Lord always!Again I will say, rejoice.

First Peter 1:6: In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials,

First Peter 1:7: that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,

First Peter 1:8: whom having not seen, you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,

First Peter 1:9: receiving the end of your faith-the salvation of your souls. 

INTIMATION:

The demeanor of Christian life-style is one of being joyful always. If a Christian has a cantankerous demeanor, he must repent. One result of the joyful life is gentleness or forbearance toward others. Every Christian should have a reputation for being a patient and longsuffering person toward the faults and weaknesses of others. If one is forbearing, then his or her joy will not be stolen away by his or her own impatience with others. 

Pessimistic and fatalistic attitudes should not be the characteristics of the followers of Jesus. The transformed mind must change from such negative attitudes of life, even in times of trials. They should endure trials knowing that all things are working together for good for those who love God.

When things are going well, we feel elated. When hardships come, we sink into depression. But true joy transcends the rolling waves of circumstance. Joy comes from a consistent relationship with Jesus Christ. When our lives are intertwined with His, He will help us walk through adversity without sinking into debilitating lows and manage prosperity without moving into deceptive highs. The joy of living with Jesus Christ daily will keep you levelheaded, no matter how high or low your circumstance.

Joy is a common theme in Christ’s teachings—He wants us to be joyful. The key to immeasurable joy is living in intimate relationship with Christ, the source of all joy. When we do, we will experience God’s special care and protection and see the victory God brings even when defeat seems certain. Ultimate joy comes from Christ dwelling within us. Christ is near, and at His second coming we will fully realize this ultimate joy. He who lives within us will fulfill His final purpose for us.

True joy is far deeper than happiness; we can feel joy in spite of our deepest troubles. Happiness is temporary because it is based on external circumstances, but joy is lasting because it is based in God’s presence within us. As we contemplate His daily presence, we will find contentment. As we understand the future He has for us, we will experience joy. Don’t base your life on circumstances, but on God who controls circumstances. To find hope and joy, the deepest form of happiness, follow Jesus no matter what the cost. To be blessed by God means the experience of hope and joy, independent of outward circumstances. 

In our anchor Scripture the apostle Paul was encouraging the believers in Thessalonica to be joyful. It seems strange that a man in prison would be telling a church to rejoice. But Paul’s attitude teaches us an important lesson: Our inner attitudes do not have to reflect our outward circumstances. The apostle Paul was full of joy because he knew that no matter what happened to him, Jesus was with him. 

Several times in his letter the apostle Paul urged the Philippians to be joyful, probably because they needed to hear this, being convinced that in Christ all things work together for the good of the believer. It’s easy to get discouraged about unpleasant circumstances or to take unimportant events seriously. If you haven’t been joyful lately, you may not be looking at life from the right perspective.

Prayer: Abba Father, Your thought for me is of good not of evil. I am persuaded that all things are working together for my good because of my love for, and trust in You. Give me the grace to remain thankful and joyful in You, for all circumstances are under Your control, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

How to Magnify God

 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).

Prayer for Success in Examination

 Today, we're praying for success in examination to all students and as many preparing professional exams. May God grant you tremendous success in Jesus Name 🙏🙏🙏

3 John 1:2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.

Joshua 1:8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

PRAYER POINTS

1.  - I receive the power of focus and concentration towards my exams.

2.  - Bad news fired against my exams, backfire, in the name of Jesus.

3  - Every arrow of sickness assigned to frustrate my exams, go back to the sender, in Jesus name.

4   - I shall not collapse and die on the day or ending of my exams, in the name of Jesus.

5.  - Let the strength of the Lord make me strong during my exams, in Jesus name.

 6.- The powers that disgrace people at the prime of their career will not disgrace me, in Jesus name.

7.  - I reject every spirit of carryover and slow learning, in the name of Jesus.

8.  - Let every difficult course becomes easy and simple for me, in the name of Jesus.

9.  - Powers that want me to eat and suck my biro during exams, die by fire, in the name of Jesus.

10.  - Every garment of academic failure, catch fire, in the name of Jesus.

11.  - I break every curse of forgetfulness during exams, in the name of Jesus.

12.  - Lord plant academic success in my life, in the name of Jesus.

13.  - I receive the spirit of distinction over my exams, in the name of Jesus.

14 .  - O Lord, cover my errors and expose my good points to my teachers, lecturers etc, in Jesus name.  - I shall not forget what to write in exams and remember them after the exams, in the name of Jesus.

15.  - O Lord, cover my errors and expose my good points to my teachers, lecturers etc, in Jesus name.

16.  - Holy Spirit give me the direction on what to read and study for this examination, in Jesus name.

17.  - Holy Spirit, give me the power to answer all questions with your divine revelation, in Jesus name.

18.  - Father, baptize me with your wisdom and guidance of focusing relevant pages for my exams, in Jesus name.

HOLD FAST TO YOUR CONFESSION OF HOPE IN GOD!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 27, 2024.

SUBJECT : HOLD FAST TO YOUR CONFESSION OF HOPE IN GOD!

Memory verse: "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful." (Hebrews 10 vs 23.)

READ: Psalm 139 vs 1 - 4; 7; 23 - 24:

139:1: O LORD, You have searched me and known me.

139:2: You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off.

139:3: You comprehend my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways.

139:4: For there is not a word on my tongue, but behold, O LORD, You know it altogether.

139:7: Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? 

139:23: Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties;

139:24: And see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. 

INTIMATION:

We have seen that believers are friends to Jesus. It is noteworthy that the word friendship initiates a variety of mental pictures. But despite the diversity of opinion regarding what real friendship is all about, certain common denominators are vital to its growth and continued viability. In our friendship (relationship) with God, the same is true. And one of the steps needed for this friendship to flourish is living a lifestyle of confession.

Confession, in this context, is not simply a recitation and acknowledgement of all your faults, crimes, inadequacies and insufficiencies. It is not merely the displaying of dirty habits for everyone else to examine and critique. Confession is much more than all these. It is more a statement of your religious belief with reference to God Almighty and His Son Jesus Christ.

In the passage we read today, David knew the importance of confession. He saw it as the opportunity to examine himself, express his perception of who was really in charge and to initiate a marvelous change of perspective in his life. 

In our memory verse, the Scripture encourages us to hold fast to our confession of hope and trust in God without wavering, knowing that God who gave us His promises is very faithful and will, at all times, live up to His promises. God said: "So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it." (Isaiah 55 vs 11.) "....For I am ready to perform My word." (Jeremiah 1 vs 12.)

Always acknowledge and confess from an obedient heart, the supremacy of God and His nature; His All-knowing, Omnipresence, Omniscience, All-powerful, Loving Kindness, Ever Merciful, etc. It is noteworthy that God already knows you inside out, up to the number of hairs on your head (Matthew 10 vs 30). 

Amidst all our faults, inadequacies, insufficiencies, and even our unbelief, He still accepts and loves us. His love for us He openly demonstrated on the cross at Calvary, and we are witnesses to that till date: "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5 vs 8). Also, confess everything about yourself to Him who already knows you. Ask God to reveal to you the necessary changes required in your life and ask Him to help you change.

God sent Jesus Christ to die for us, not because we were good enough, but just because He loves us. Jesus knows the extent of the love He bestows on us, and He witnessed it when He said, "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends." (John 15 vs 13.) The confession of faith and believe in Him and what He wrought for us in redemption, ensures a closer relationship with Him. 

Prayer: Abba Father, You are my God. Before You there was no God, with You there is no other God, and there will be no other God after You. Everything about me is already known to You. Examine me thoroughly, and reveal to me the necessary changes required in my life, and help me to lead a life pleasing to You, such that I will enjoy a closer relationship with You, in Jesus' Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

Jesus Prays for Us

 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.

DAILY EXPERIENCING GOD’S LEADING!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

TUESDAY NOVEMBER 26, 2024.

SUBJECT : DAILY EXPERIENCING GOD’S LEADING!

Memory verse: "Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed." (Mark 1 vs 35.)

READ: Psalm 5 vs 1 - 3:

5:1: Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my meditation.

5:2: Give heed to the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for to You will I pray.

5:3: My voice You shall hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning I will direct my prayer to You, and will look up. 

INTIMATION:

The secret of daily experiencing God’s leading is to pray to Him earnestly every morning. Prayer is one of the greatest opportunities given to man by God. It is one of the greatest privileges and ministries available to all believers. Indeed everyone who seeks to take his or her place in the Kingdom of God should seek or learn how to pray effectively. Praying is speaking reverently to God in order to express thanks or make a request. It is earnestly entreating God in sincerity of your intention.

God not only welcomes us in prayer, He is waiting for us to pray. In the morning, our minds are more free from problems, and then we can commit the whole day to God. Regular communication helps in friendship and is certainly necessary for a strong relationship with God. We need to communicate with Him daily. Throughout Jesus’ ministry He often went to places where He could be alone in order to concentrate on prayer to the Father.

Our anchor Scripture says He rose up early and in the morning went to a solitary place to pray.

The first thing believers should do before communicating with anyone is communicating with their Maker first. There is this peace and stillness that comes with communicating your fears to God. It’s how we rebuke the devil. The devil is always on the look out for every believer, he comes to them with a snare. Believers must always be at alert in prayer, you must be relentless in prayer always, in the morning, noon and at night. 

Every believer should embrace the act of starting and committing a new day to God’s hands in the morning, asking Him to guide us and shield us from the evils that come with a new day. Also, It is how we command our day: When you invite God to your morning via morning prayers, it sends signals to the realm of the Spirit, you call forth the good you want to see in your morning via prayers. Each day comes with its blessings and opportunities, and that is why Scripture says he daily loads us with benefit. It is very significant to commit the day into God’s hands and to also tune into the prompting and leading of the Spirit.

Jesus Christ never taught His disciples how to preach but rather taught them how to pray. Note that Jesus Christ told the disciples "WHEN YOU PRAY" and not "IF YOU PRAY" therefore, the onus is on us to pray. We, the godly; those who are faithful and devoted to God, should know that God is waiting for us to approach Him in prayer and should be confident that God listens to our prayers and answers when we call upon Him. 

Sometimes we think that God will not hear us because we have fallen short of His high standards for holy living, but if we are aware of the sacrifice of His only Son for our sins, we know He hears us.

Perhaps you need to redesign your schedule to find time for earnest prayer, especially in the morning. It is vitally important to: (1) seek the Lord before your busy schedule takes over your thoughts; (2) withdraw from noise and demands so you can focus on God; (3) take Jesus’ attitude of regular communion with the Father; (4) reflect on the priorities Jesus had for His life; (5) determine to pray on a more regular basis, not just in times of crisis. 

If prayer was important for Jesus, then it must be important for His followers. Pray, make it a point of duty to get up early in the morning to do it! Do you have a regular time to pray and read God’s Word?

Prayer: Abba Father, thank You for the privilege of communion with You in prayer. Give me the enablement to always start my day in communion with You in prayer; handing everything over to Your care and direction, in Jesus' Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

Glorify God by Giving Thanks

 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.

THE DUTY TO PRAY ALWAYS OF A BELIEVER!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

MONDAY NOVEMBER 25, 2024.

SUBJECT: THE DUTY TO PRAY ALWAYS OF A BELIEVER!

Memory verse: "Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart.” (Luke 18 vs 1.)

READ: Acts 12 vs 5 - 10:

12:5: Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church.

12:6: And when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers; and the guards before the door were keeping the prison.

12:7: Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, “Arise quickly!” And his chains fell off from his hands.

12:8: Then the angel said to him, “Gird yourself, and tie on your sandals”, and so he did. And he said to him, “Put on your garment and follow me.” 

12:9: So he went out and followed him; and did not know that what was done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision.

12:10: When they were past the first and the second guard posts, they came to the iron gate that leads to the city; which opened to them of his own accord; and they went out, and went down one street; and immediately the angel departed from him.

INTIMATION:

Praying is a duty assigned to every believer. Apart from the specific functions God created the believers for in the body of Christ, one common function of all the members of the body is communing with our Father in prayers. Therefore, every believer ought to take his or her place in the duty of praying always. 

Since prayer is a common denominator for all believers, we all should develop the lifestyle of prayer. The most effective way of developing a lifestyle of prayer is praying at all times. How can anyone pray at all times? One way is to make quick, brief prayers your habitual response to every situation you meet throughout the day. Another way is to order your life around God’s desires and teachings so that your very life becomes a prayer. You don’t have to isolate yourself from other people and from daily work in order to pray constantly. You can make prayer your life and your life a prayer while living in a world that needs God’s powerful influence. 

It’s wrong to think you are not called or set apart to give your life to prayer. It’s a demand on all believers in the body of Christ. And it is for this reason that Jesus said in our memory verse, ‘Men always ought to pray and not lose heart.’ The apostle Paul advised all believers thus, “Pray without ceasing.” (First Thessalonians 5 vs 17). You may not have been set apart by the Spirit for other special ministries, but not in prayers, because it’s one of the only two ways (the Word and prayer) of getting acquainted with the Lord. 

In the passage we read today, the apostle Peter was arrested by King Herod and put in prison after he has killed James, and saw that it pleased the Jews. It was the Easter period, and he  intended to bring him to the people after Easter to be killed also. However, constant prayers was offered by the church to God. Consequently, God sent His angel to deliver him from the prison. If the church had failed in its prayer duty the King would have succeeded in his plot to kill him. 

It is noteworthy that believers need no specialized gifts to be functional in the body of Christ. The prayer duty requires no specialities. If anyone thinks that because of lack of training or for lack of one thing or the other, he or she has no place in the body of Christ, the fellow is deluded by the enemy. We all have a place, and with the place comes responsibility, and with responsibility comes a reward or demerit. Know it now that if you don't take your place in the body of Christ, and begin to function, the body of Christ is weakened.

Therefore, one duty that you will ever perform for your family, the church, all Christians, your nation, your friends, your enemies etc, is your prayer duty. Take up your responsibilities now! Do you realize that there are people who will be utterly lost unless you take your place in the prayer duty. Unless you do your part, some people will cry against you through eternity. There are men and women who are defeated and are breaking down in their businesses, homes, and spiritual lives because we haven't prayed. Or better still, because you are not praying. You have been occupied with your pleasures and your dreams; while men and women, staggering under the burdens you should have carried, are breaking down.

It is for this reason that God said in Ezekiel 22 vs 30, "So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one." The wall spoken of here is not made of stones, but of faithful people united in their efforts to resist evil. God is looking for us to take our places, stand in the gap for others, the nation, Church, our families and so on. He needs us to pray, to be in constant communion with Him, knowing that our requests are only made to Him through prayers. Give yourself to meditation, prayer, and study of the Word. The most important thing in life is to be in the Will of the Lord. Life will not mean much outside the Will of God.

Prayer: Abba Father, endue me with the spirit of prayer and supplication at all times, that I may take my place in the body of Christ, active in my prayer duty and communing with You in all things, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!