TRUST IN THE UNCHANGING GOD!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

FRIDAY JANUARY 31, 2025.

SUBJECT : TRUST IN THE UNCHANGING GOD!

Memory verse: "For I am the LORD, I do not change; therefore you are not consumed. O sons of Jacob. (Malachi 3 vs 6.) 

READ: Hebrews 1 vs 10 - 12:

1:10: And, “You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands:

1:11: They will perish, but You remain; and they all will grow old like a garment;

12 like a cloak You will fold them up, and they will be changed. But You are the same, and Your years will not fail.

INTIMATION:

God is changeless; He is unalterable, inviolable, and persistent. In other words, you can always count on Him because He is worthy of our trust and He never changes. In accordance with His persistent nature, our Heavenly Father does not have good days or bad days. He never gets out of bed on the wrong side (maybe because He never goes to bed nor sleeps! (Psalm 121 vs 4)). Therefore, though we are in a changing and dynamic world, we can trust our unchanging Lord. 

His nature is revealed to us in Second Timothy 2 vs 13, "If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself." This is absolutely incredible! Even when you are faithless and filled with doubt, God is persistent as your Father. Despite the fact that everything else around you may be changing, and your world appears to be falling apart, there is always one thing you can count on—God never changes how He acts toward you no matter what you do. Problems and heartaches can overwhelm us and cause us to feel that God has rejected us. But God our Creator is eternally with us and will keep all His promises, even though we may feel alone. The world will perish, but God will remain. 

Jesus Christ is faithful. He will stay by our side even when we have endured so much that we seem to have no faith left. We may be faithless at times, but Jesus is faithful to His promise to be with us always, "even to end of the age" (Matthew 28 vs 20). Though some refuse Christ and His help, which breaks their communication with the Father, but He will never turn His back on us even though we may turn our back on Him. And because of His grace, He loves us persistently on our good days and bad days. Christ’s character will never change. He persistently shows His love to us. He is always fair, just, and merciful to us who are so undeserving. He will always help us when we need it and offer forgiveness when we fail.

Christ is our only security in a changing world. Whatever may happen in this world, Christ remains forever changeless. If we trust Him, we are absolutely secure, because we stand on the firmest foundation in the universe—Jesus Christ. A famous hymn captures this truth: “On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand.” 

Earthly fathers can be so unpredictable and inconsistent, as can any human being. The result of this inconsistency is insecurity. But our Heavenly Father is persistent, consistent, and perfect. God loves us unconditionally and persistently because we are His children. In Psalms 18 vs 30, the psalmist says, "As for God, His way is perfect; The Word of the Lord is proven; He is a shield to all who trust Him." 

 

Some people think that believing in God is a crutch for weak people who cannot make it on their own. God indeed is a shield to protect us when we are too weak to face certain trials by ourselves, but He does not want us to remain weak. He strengthens, protects, and guides us in order to send us back into the world to fight for Him. Then He continues to work with us because the strongest person on earth is definitely weaker than God and needs His help. David was not a coward; he was a mighty warrior who, even with all his armies and weapons, knew that only God could ultimately protect and save him. 

When we spend more time on ourselves than on serving Christ, we treat ourselves (His creation) as being more important than our Creator. When we regard our finances, rather than our faith in Christ, as a basis for security, we give higher status to an earthly resource than we do to God. Rather than trusting in changeable and temporary resources, trust in God, who is eternal. 

Prayer: Abba Father, You are my Shield, my high Tower, and my Refuge, my Savior, in You I put my whole trust. You are on my side, I will not fear: what can man do to me.Give me the grace to serve You faithfully all the days of my life, in Jesus' Name I have prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

Five Purposes for Suffering

 Five Purposes for Suffering

For those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)

We seldom know the micro reasons for our sufferings, but the Bible does give us faith-sustaining macro reasons. 

It is good to have a way to remember some of these so that, when we are suddenly afflicted, or have a chance to help others in their affliction, we can recall some of the truths God has given us to help us not lose hope. 

Here is one way to remember: 5 R’s (or if it helps, just pick three and try to remember them). 

The macro purposes of God in our sufferings include:

Repentance: Suffering is a call for us and others to turn from treasuring anything on earth above God. Luke 13:4–5:

“Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” 

Reliance: Suffering is a call to trust God and not the life-sustaining props of this world. 2 Corinthians 1:8–9:

We were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. 

Righteousness: Suffering is the discipline of our loving heavenly Father so that we come to share his righteousness and holiness. Hebrews 12:6, 10–11: 

“The Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” . . . He disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. 

Reward: Suffering is working for us a great reward in heaven that will make up for every loss here a thousandfold. 2 Corinthians 4:17:

This light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison. 

Finally, Reminder: Suffering reminds us that God sent his Son into the world to suffer so that our suffering would not be God’s condemnation but his purification. Philippians 3:10:

. . . that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings.

So, it is understandable that the Christian heart would cry out in suffering, “Why?” since we don’t know most of the micro reasons for our suffering — why now, why this way, why this long? But don’t let that ignorance of the micro reasons cause you to overlook the massive help God gives in his word by telling us his macro purposes for us. 

“You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful” (James 5:11).

Prevailing Grace

 Prevailing Grace

“I have seen his ways, but I will heal him; I will lead him and restore comfort to him and his mourners.” (Isaiah 57:18)

Learn your doctrine from biblical texts. It stands up better that way, and feeds the soul. 

For example, learn the doctrine of irresistible grace from texts. In this way, you will see that it does not mean grace cannot be resisted; it means that when God chooses, he can and will overcome that resistance.

In Isaiah 57:17–19, for instance, God chastises his rebellious people by striking them and hiding his face: “Because of the iniquity of his unjust gain I was angry, I struck him; I hid my face and was angry” (verse 17).

But they did not respond with repentance. Rather, they kept backsliding. They resisted: “But he went on backsliding in the way of his own heart” (verse 17).

So grace can be resisted. In fact, Stephen said to the Jewish leaders, “You always resist the Holy Spirit” (Acts 7:51).

What then does God do? Is he powerless to bring those who resist to repentance and wholeness? No. He is not powerless. The next verse says, “I have seen his ways, but I will heal him; I will lead him and restore comfort to him and his mourners” (Isaiah 57:18).

So, in the face of recalcitrant, grace-resisting backsliding, God says, “I will heal him.” He will “restore.” The word for “restore” is to “make whole or complete.” It is related to the word shalom, “peace.” That wholeness and peace is mentioned in the next verse which explains how God turns around a grace-resisting backslider.

He does it by “‘creating the fruit of the lips. Peace, peace (shalom, shalom), to the far and to the near,’ says the Lord, ‘and I will heal him’” (Isaiah 57:19). God creates what is not there — peace, wholeness. This is how we are saved. And this is how we are brought back from backsliding — again and again. 

The grace of God triumphs over our resistance by creating praise where it did not exist. He brings shalom, shalom to the near and the far. Wholeness, wholeness to the near and the far. He does it by “restoring,” that is, replacing the disease of resistance with the soundness of submission.

The point of irresistible grace is not that we can’t resist. We can, and we do. The point is that when God chooses, he overcomes our resistance and restores a submissive spirit. He creates. He says, “Let there be light!” He heals. He leads. He restores. He comforts.

Therefore, we never boast that we have returned from backsliding. We fall on our faces before the Lord and with trembling joy thank him for his irresistible grace that conquered all our resistance.

BOLDLY DECLARE THE WORD WITH FAITH!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

THURSDAY JANUARY 30, 2025.

SUBJECT : BOLDLY DECLARE THE 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 19 vs 8 - 12:

19:8: And he went into the synagogue, and spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading concerning the things of the kingdom of God. 

19:9: But when some were hardened, and not believe, but spoke evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and withdrew the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus. 

19:10: And this continued for two years; so that all who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks. 

19:11: Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul, 

19:12: so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them, and the evil spirits went out of them.

INTIMATION:

God has given us several promises in the Scriptures. In our prayers, we should approach God with confidence and assurance in Him and His Word—His promises. 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 are agreed?" (Amos 3 vs 3.) You agree with God by saying what He says in His Word. The bold declaration of God’s Word in faith signifies the depth of your trust and confidence in Him and His promises. And God will definitely come through to you in performance of His Word.

For instance, the Scripture says, “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want”  (Psalm 23 vs 1). “And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4 vs 19). "And by His stripes we are healed" (Isaiah 53 vs 5). "He sent His Word and healed them, and delivered them from their 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). Therefore, when you speak lack, sickness, fear, defeat, and inability, you are disagreeing with God’s Word because it is contrary to His Word, and the power in God’s Word will not manifest for you.

As 'Believers' we should boldly be speaking the Word of our Father, and the power in the Word will manifest in our lips as though is the Father speaking it. It is neither you nor 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, He promises to “give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist" (Luke 21 vs 15). Failure to boldly declare the Word of God is a faith failure as His child.

To walk closely with God is to walk in bold assurance of His Word—His promises. It should be in the heart of all Christians to walk closely with God. The Bible records the testimony of Enoch: "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.

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). And your confession is harsh against God (Malachi 3 vs 13.) 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 bold declaration of the Word in faith. And such assurance of faith engenders God’s confirmation with signs and wonders by the hand of the believer. Also, in the passage we read today, we have seen that even with the accompanying signs and wonders, not all would be convinced about Christ. God gave these men power to do great wonders as confirmation of the message of grace, but people were still divided. The important thing is to sow the seeds of the Word on the best ground you can find in the best way you can, and leave the convincing to the Holy Spirit—the Teacher, and Revealer of the truth (John 16 vs 13.) 

Prayer: Abba Father, You have magnified Your Word above all Your Name, and hasten Your Word to perform it. In bold and assurance of faith I will declare Your Word, and believe You will confirm Your Word with signs following, in Jesus' Name I have prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

Prayer for Personal Safety and Protection

 Prayer for Personal Safety and Protection 

Today, we're praying for personal safety and protection because the days are evil most especially begining of the new year. God's divine protection shall be upon you and your house hold in Jesus Name. The evils of 2025 will never locate you and household in Jesus Name 🙏🙏🙏🙏.

Psalms 91, Psalms 121 the whole Bible passages.

Isaiah 45:1-3

Thus saith the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him; and I will loose the loins of kings, to open before him the two leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut; I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron: And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the LORD, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel. 

PRAYER POINTS

1.    - Thank God for this day, and begin to decree good things into the womb of day.

2.  - I dedicate this day to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and decree that I shall be favoured by God and men, in the name of Jesus.

3.  - I take authority over this day and declare that this is the day the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it, in the name of Jesus.

4.  - Commit today into God's hands and tell Him to have His way in your life, in Jesus Name.

5.  - I cover every journey I shall embark upon this day and month with the blood of Jesus.

6.  - Lord Jesus, I stand on Your word in Isaiah, 54, verse, 17 and declare that no weapon formed against me and my family this day and month shall prosper, in the name of Jesus.

7.  - I decree that all elemental forces, will refuse to cooperate with my enemies, in the name of Jesus. 

8.  - Lord Jesus, uproot evil things from my life, in the name of Jesus.

9.  - O Lord, plant good things in my life, in the name of Jesus.

10.  - I cancel every conscious and unconscious negative agreement, in the name of Jesus.

11.  - Let every spiritual weakness in my life receive termination, in the name of Jesus.

12.  - Let every financial failure in my life receive termination, in the name of Jesus.

13.  - Let every sickness in my life receive termination, in the name of Jesus.

14.  - Let every architect of problems in my life receive termination, in the name of Jesus.

15.  - I refuse to reap any satanic harvest this day, and for the rest of my life, in the name of Jesus.

16.  - That which hinders me from greatness in the past months, begin to give way right now, in the name of Jesus.

17.  - All my imprisoned blessings in the past years, come forth now, in the name of Jesus.

18.  - Every tree of sorrow in my life be uprooted by fire, in the name of Jesus.

19.  - I silence evil utterances against my life and family, in the name of Jesus.

20.  - Pray for the church of christ, that the church of God will continue to march forward, and the gate of hell shall not prevail over it.

21.  - Begin to appreciate God for answered prayers.

Caused to Return

 Caused to Return

Cause us to return, O Lord, that we may return! (Lamentations 5:21, my translation)

There is no hope for God’s people unless God causes them to return from their sliding and leaping into sin and unbelief.

The book of Lamentations is the bleakest book in the Bible. God himself had decimated the apple of his eye: Jerusalem. 

The Lord gave full vent to his wrath; he poured out his hot anger, and he kindled a fire in Zion that consumed its foundations. (Lamentations 4:11)

He has killed all who were delightful in our eyes. (Lamentations 2:4)

The Lord has afflicted her for the multitude of her transgressions. (Lamentations 1:5)

So how does the book end?

It ends with the only hope there is: 

Cause us to return, O Lord, that we may return! (Lamentations 5:21)

That is my only hope — and your only hope! 

Jesus said to Peter, “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers” (Luke 22:31–32).

Not if you return. But when you return. I have prayed for you! You will return. And when you do, it will be my sovereign grace that brought you back from the precipice of apostasy.

Christian, this is true for you. This is your only hope of perseverance in faith. Glory in it.

Christ Jesus is the one who . . . is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. (Romans 8:34)

He will cause us to return. Therefore, “to him who is able to keep you from stumbling . . . be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forveer” (Jude 1:24–25). Amen!

FILLING THE VACUUM!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

WEDNESDAY JANUARY 29, 2025.

SUBJECT: FILLING THE VACUUM!

Memory verse: "And you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power. (Colossians 2 vs 10.)

READ: John 6 vs 16 - 21:

6:16: Now when evening came, His disciples went down to the sea,

6:17: got into the boat, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was already dark, and Jesus had not come to them.

6:18: Then the sea arose because a great wind was blowing.

6:19: So when they had rowed about three to four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing near to the boat; and they were afraid.

6:20: But He said to them, “It is I; be not afraid.”

6:21: Then they willingly received Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land where they were going.

INTIMATION:

Life without its Owner creates a vacuum. This vacuum needs to be appropriately filled. If you look around, you will notice that few people seem content within themselves. But when you get closer, they will tell you of a vacuum in their lives that needs to be filled. Many people are searching for something that will give their lives a boost. A strange and often hard-to-identify inner vacuum gives most people an uneasy sense of incompleteness. Christ fills that vacuum! As Jesus’ person is fully divine, so we, united by faith to Jesus, find personal fulfillment in Him: “You are complete in Him.”

Jesus is the Creator and Sustainer of all things: “All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life and the life was the light of men.” (John 1 vs 3 - 4.) With Him you are something valuable and unique; apart from Him you are nothing, and can do nothing (John 15 vs 5). Christ alone holds the answer to the true meaning of life because He is life. He is the unique source of knowledge and power for the Christian life. No Christian needs anything in addition to what Christ has provided to be saved, and to live; ‘as His divine power has given us all that pertains to life and godliness’ (Second Peter 1 vs 3). 

In our lives’ experiences and circumstances, some days may not feel like it. But in Jesus, the vacuum is gone; the full power and presence of God will take up residence in our minds and hearts. In Christ you are a new person, equipped for life and satisfied in God. In union with Christ through His empowering Spirit, we are complete. We have all the fullness of God available to us. But we must appropriate that fullness through faith and through prayer as we daily live for Him. You can ask the Holy Spirit to fill every aspect of your life to the fullest. Take some risks, and God will guide you. Give more generously, and God will supply. Love more freely, and God will energize you. Say “can do” more often, and God will amaze you.

Jesus said, “I am the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.” (Revelation 22 vs 13.) Alpha and Omega are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet, and it signify the eternity of God. Without Him you have nothing that is eternal, nothing that can change your life, and nothing that can save you from sin. When you place your life in Christ’s hands, He restores you now and resurrects you later to an eternal, peaceful relationship with Him. Is the Lord your reason for living? “the Alpha and the Omega” of your life? Honor the One who is the beginning and the end of all existence, wisdom, and power.

In the passage we read today, the apostle John recorded the very significant and unique attribute of Jesus! When you willingly accept the entrance of Jesus into your life, you will immediately arrive at your ultimate life’s destination. Just as His disciples willingly received Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land where they were going (John 6 vs 21). When you catch this revelation, you will willingly receive Him into your life, trust, and rest in Him, assured of your ultimate arrival to your life’s destination.

Prayer: Abba Father, all to Jesus I surrender, and to Him I freely and willingly give my life. I will ever love and trust Him, and desire to live in His presence daily, so help me God, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD! 

How to Repent

How to Repent

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)

A vague, bad feeling that you are a crummy person is not the same as conviction for sin. Feeling rotten is not the same as repentance.

This morning I began to pray, and felt unworthy to be talking to the Creator of the universe. It was a vague sense of unworthiness. So I told him so. Now what?

Nothing changed until I began to get specific about my sins. Crummy feelings can be useful if they lead to conviction for specific sins. But vague feelings of being a bad person are not usually very helpful.

The fog of unworthiness needs to take shape into clear dark pillars of disobedience. Then you can point to them and repent and ask for forgiveness and take aim with your gospel bazooka to blow them up.

So I began to call to mind the commands I frequently break. These are the ones that came to mind.

Love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. Not 95%, but 100%. (Matthew 22:37)

Love your neighbor as you love yourself. Be as eager for things to go well for him as you are for things to go well for you. (Matthew 22:39)

Do all things without grumbling. No grumbling — inside or outside. (Philippians 2:14)

Cast all your anxieties on him — so you are not being weighed down by them anymore. (1 Peter 5:7)

Only say things that give grace to others — especially those closest to you. (Ephesians 4:29)

Redeem the time. Don’t fritter away the minutes, or dawdle. (Ephesians 5:16)

So much for any pretensions to great holiness! I’m undone.

This is much worse than vague, crummy feelings. Ah, but now the enemy is visible. The sins are specific. They’ve come out of hiding. I look them in the eye. I’m not whining about feeling crummy. I’m apologizing to Christ for not doing specific things that he commanded.

I’m broken, and I’m angry at my sin. I want to kill it, not me. I’m not suicidal. I’m a sin-hater and a sin-murderer. (“Put to death what is earthly in you,” Colossians 3:5; “Put to death the deeds of the body,” Romans 8:13.) I want to live. That’s why I’m a killer — of my sin!

In this conflict, I hear the promise, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). Peace rises. 

Now, prayer feels possible and right and powerful again.

He Knows Your Need

 He Knows Your Need

“Do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.” (Matthew 6:31–32)

Jesus wants his followers to be free from worry. In Matthew 6:25–34, he gives at least seven arguments designed to take away our anxiety. One of them lists food and drink and clothing, and then says, “Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all” (Matthew 6:32).

Jesus must mean that God’s knowing is accompanied by his desiring to meet our need. He is emphasizing we have a Father. And this Father is better than any earthly father.

I have five children. I love to meet their needs. But my knowing falls short of God’s knowing in at least three ways. 

First, right now I don’t know where any of my children are. I could guess. They’re in their homes or at work or school, healthy and safe. But they might be lying on a sidewalk with a heart attack.

Second, I don’t know what is in their heart at any given moment. I can guess from time to time. But they may be feeling some fear or hurt or anger or lust or greed or joy or hope. I can’t see their hearts. They don’t even know their own hearts perfectly.

Third, I don’t know their future. Right now they may seem well and steady. But tomorrow some great sorrow may befall them.

This means I can’t be for them a very strong reason not to worry. There are things that may be happening to them now, or may happen tomorrow, that I do not even know about. But it is totally different with their Father in heaven. Our Father in heaven! He knows everything about us, where we are, now and tomorrow, inside and out. He sees every need.

Add to that, his huge eagerness to meet our needs. Remember the “much more” of Matthew 6:30, “If God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you?”

Add to that his complete ability to do what he is eager to do (he feeds billions of birds hourly, around the world, Matthew 6:26). 

So join me in trusting the promise of Jesus to meet our needs. That’s what Jesus is calling for when he says, “Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.”

ESSENTIALS OF FAITH THAT PLEASES GOD!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

MONDAY JANUARY 27, 2025.

SUBJECT : ESSENTIALS OF FAITH THAT PLEASES GOD!

Memory verse: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3 vs 16.)

READ: James 2 vs 20 - 26:

2:20: But do yo want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?

2:21: Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?

2:22: Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?

2:23: And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the Friend of God.

2:24: You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.

2:25: Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?

2:26: For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

INTIMATION:R

The Bible also shows us that not just any faith will do. We cannot expect God to be pleased with a faith just because we approve of it. The faith that pleases God is a belief that comes from God, not from some other source or from within ourselves. Therefore, the essentials of the faith that pleases God must be (1) Faith in Christ, (2) Obedient faith, (3) Faith that passes the test. 

1. Must be Faith in Christ. 

There is a popular idea that you need a genuine and enthusiastic faith of some kind, but it doesn't really matter what you believe. It could be a belief in yourself, or your guardian angel, or the spirits of your ancestors, or in the earth mother, or in a god, or in some great teacher. God teaches us however, that only faith in His Son Jesus Christ will be pleasing to Him. Since Jesus Christ is the only way to God, the Father, it is very essential for all people to have faith in Him (See John 3 vs 16 & 36; 14 vs 6). 

2. Must be obedient faith with works.

Though we are not justified by what we do in any way, but true faith always result in good deeds. Faith brings us salvation, active obedience demonstrates that our faith is genuine. The deeds referred to here is good deeds toward one’s fellow man. Such deeds are the manifestation of one’s faith. 

There is this popular idea is that faith stands alone and is not complemented by anything, certainly not by anything we do. It is a belief without works, and cannot be perfected by works. But this is not true. The Bible certainly teaches that works on their own, without belief, are useless. The apostle Paul especially makes this clear. However, this does not mean that works are out of the question, because the Bible also certainly teaches that belief on its own, without works, is equally useless. James especially makes this clear. So we need to know that neither works alone nor belief alone will please God. (See James 2 vs 20 - 24.) 

3. Must be Faith that passes life’s tests.

Another popular idea is that faith makes all troubles go away, and if you have troubles then this shows a lack of belief on your part. This was not true for Job. His troubles came because he had faith rather than because he lacked it. The same was true of the apostle Paul. Disciples of Christ may find their belief tested by troubles. This is not a time to question your belief, but rather a time to lean on it. A faith that endures through trials is pleasing to God.

The godly life in Christ brings persecution because Satan will rise up against all that God represents in this world. Certainly God uses Satan’s work against him, therefore, many trials are an occasion for spiritual growth and development of character. Since God uses Satan’s work against him, then persecution and trials manifest that God is going to use Satan’s work to accomplish something that is good in the life of every believer in that stead. (See James 1 vs 2 - 3; First Peter 5 vs 6 - 11.)

Let us, therefore, covet the faith that will make us well pleasing to God. The apostle Paul states thus; “Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that each one may receive the things done in his body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” (Second Corinthians 5 vs 9 - 10.)

Prayer: Abba Father, thank You immensely for the gift of Your Son, Jesus Christ, and Your grace to build up myself on my most holy faith in Him. I most sincerely wish to covet the faith pleasing to You, that I may please You in my good works, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!