FRIENDSHIP WITH UNBELIEVERS!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

SATURDAY DECEMBER 21, 2019.

SUBJECT : FRIENDSHIP WITH UNBELIEVERS!

Memory verse: "And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said to him, “Zacchaeus, make haste and come down; for today I must stay at your house.

" (Luke 19 vs 5.)

READ: Luke 5 

vs 27 - 32: 

5:27: After these things He went out and saw a tax collector named Levi, sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, “Follow me.”
5:28: So he left all rose up, and followed Him.
5:29: Then Levi gave Him a great feast in his own house. And there were a great number of tax collectors and others who sat down with them.
5:30: And their scribes and Pharisees complained against His disciples, saying, “Why do You eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”
5:31: Jesus answered and said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who  are sick.

5:32: I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

INTIMATION:

Unbelievers are those skeptical of matters of religious truth; not believing in God, and in the substitutionary work of His Son Jesus Christ for mankind. Consequently, they are not Christ’s followers.

Jesus taught his followers to befriend unbelievers or sinners and lead them to Him. Befriending unbelievers is investable if we are to lead them to Christ. However, we must be wary of those who are viciously evil, immoral, or opposed to all that Christianity stands for. Such people are more likely to influence us for evil than we are to influence them for good. It is obvious that we should not disassociate ourselves from unbelievers—otherwise we could not carry out Christ’s command to tell them about salvation (see Matthew 28 vs 18 - 20).

But we are to distance ourselves from hypocrites; the person with pretense of piety—false or godless persons. Such person pretend or claim to be Christians, yet indulge in sins explicitly forbidden in Scripture by rationalizing his or her actions. By rationalizing sin, a person harms others for whom Christ died and dims the image of God in himself or herself.

Christians or believers usually wrongly interpret the apostle Paul’s teaching regarding association with unbelievers in Second Corinthians 6 vs 14 - 15. He said, “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with unbeliever?” 

The apostle Paul urges believers not to be “unequally yoked,” that is, not to be burdened or bear burden together with unbelievers. That is burdens of partnerships in business or anything associations of like manner, because this might weaken their Christian commitment, integrity, or standards. Because believers don’t share the same faith with unbelievers, common grounds are usually difficult in such partnership due to different believe systems. It would be a mismatch. Earlier, Paul had explained that this did not mean isolating oneself from unbelievers (See First Corinthians 5 vs 9 - 10). When believers in leadership positions become allied with unbelievers, values can be compromised and spiritual awareness dulled. Hence the Bible often warns against teaming up with unbelievers.

For married couples, the apostle Paul even urges Christians to stay with their unbelieving spouses if such marriages were consummated before any of the spouse becomes a believer (First Corinthians 7 vs 12 - 13). He wanted believers to be active in their witness for Christ to unbelievers, but they should not lock themselves into personal or business relationships that could cause them to compromise their faith. Believers should do everything in their power to avoid situations that could force them to divide their loyalties. 

These verses also have strong application to marriage. The apostle Paul did not want single believers to enter into marriage with unbelievers. Such marriages cannot have unity in the most important issue in life—commitment and obedience to God. Because marriage involves two people becoming one, faith may become an issue, and one spouse may have to compromise beliefs for the sake of unity. Many people discount this problem only to regret it later. Don’t allow emotion or passion to blind you with someone who will not be your spiritual partner. For those who have discovered God’s light, there can be no fellowship or compromise with darkness (First Corinthians 10 vs 20 - 21.) 

Just as when a man and a woman fall in love, so also new believers rejoice at their newfound forgiveness. Associations with unbelievers when the new believers are not yet firmly rooted in Christ may cause them to lose sight of the seriousness of sin, and then they begin to lose the thrill of their forgiveness. In the first steps of your Christian life, you may have had enthusiasm without knowledge. Do you now have knowledge without enthusiasm? Both are necessary if we are to keep love for God intense and untarnished.

Prayer: Abba Father, endue me with divine wisdom, that I may walk circumspect in dealings with unbelievers that my faith will not be compromised, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

COMPROMISING YOUR FAITH!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

FRIDAY DECEMBER 20, 2019.

SUBJECT : COMPROMISING YOUR FAITH!

Memory verse: "For it was so, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods, and his heart was not loyal to the LORD his God, as was the heart of his father David.

" (First Kings 11 vs 4.)

READ: 

Genesis 19 vs 12 - 14: 

19:12: Then the men said to Lot, “Have you anyone else here? Son-in-law, your sons, your daughters, and whomever you have in the city—take them out of this place!

12:13: For we will destroy this place, because the outcry against them has grown great before before the face of the LORD; and the LORD has sent us to destroy it.

12:14: So Lot went out, and spoke to his sons in-law, who had married his daughters, and said, “Get up, get out of this place; for the LORD will destroy this city!” But to his sons-in-law he seemed to be joking.

INTIMATION:

Compromise can be defined as a blending of the qualities of two different things or a concession of principles. Compromise is an important element in getting along with others, but we should never compromise the truth of God’s Word and our faith in Him.. If we feel we have to change our Christian beliefs to match those of our companions, we are on dangerous ground. Cooperate with people as much as you can, but avoid any alliance, partnership, or participation that could lead to immoral practices. Sometimes people urge believers to compromise and give only partial obedience to God’s commands. But commitment and obedience to God cannot be negotiated. When it comes to obeying God, half measures won’t do.

We also are living in times of widespread sin and sexual immorality. It is popular to be open-minded toward many types of sin, calling them personal choices or alternative lifestyles. But when believers begin to tolerate sin in their lives, it is lowering the standards and compromising their faith and effective witnessing for Christ. Remember that God’s approval is infinitely more important than the world’s. Use God’s Word, not what people around you are willing to accept, to set the standards for what is right or wrong. When we want to take part in an activity that we know is wrong, we may make excuses to justify our behavior, saying that it isn’t as bad as it seems or that it won’t hurt your faith. Christ has strong words for those who look for excuses to sin.

The passage we read today is about Lot who had lived so long in Sodom, and was contented among ungodly people that he was no longer a believable witness for God. He had allowed his environment to shape him, rather than he shaping his environment. Lot had compromised to the point that he was almost useless to God. When he finally made a stand, nobody listened. The angels told him to let his people know about the impending destruction of the city, but his sons-in-laws did not take him serious because he has so compromised his faith and became an ineffective witness to God. To make a difference, you must first decide to be different in your faith and your conduct.

Our memory verse relates to King Solomon, Israelite’s King who so much compromised his faith in God and allowed pagan worship resulting from pressures from his numerous foreign wives. For all his wisdom, Solomon had some weak spots. He could not say no to compromise or lustful desires. Whether he married to strengthen political alliances or to gain personal pleasure, these foreign wives led him into idolatry. You may have strong faith, but you also have areas of weakness—and that is where temptation usually strikes. Strengthen and protect yourself where you are weak because a chain is only as strong as its weakest link. Solomon handled great pressures in running the government, but could not handle the pressure from his wives who wanted him to worship their gods. Solomon, the wisest man, could fall, so you can. 

In marriage and close relationships, it is difficult to resist pressure to compromise. Our love leads us to identify with the desires of those we care about. Faced with such pressure, Solomon at first resisted it, maintaining pure faith. Then he tolerated a more widespread practice of idolatry. Finally he became involved in idolatrous worship, rationalizing away the potential danger to himself and to his kingdom. Because we want to please and identify with our loved ones, God asks us not to marry those who do not share our commitment to Him.

When we ignore God’s clear statements of right and wrong and make decisions based on the preferences of our audience, we fall into compromise and lawlessness. God promises to honor those who do right, not those who make everyone happy. When you have a difficult decision to make, don’t discount the effects of peer pressure. Realize beforehand that the right decision could have unpleasant consequences: social rejection, career derailment, public ridicule. Resolve to stand for what is right no matter what other people pressure you to do.

Daniel and his friends—Shadrach,  Meshach, and Abednego—were astute examples of godly people who refused to compromise their faith. The Babylonians were trying to change their thinking by giving them a Babylonian education, their loyalty by changing their names, their lifestyle by changing their diet (see Daniel 1 vs 1 - 20). Without compromising, Daniel found a way to live by God’s standards in a culture that did not honor God. Wisely choosing to negotiate rather than to rebel, Daniel suggested an experimental 10-day diet of vegetables and water instead of the royal foods and wine the king offered. Without compromising, Daniel quickly thought of a practical, creative solution that saved his life and the lives of his companions. As God’s people, we may adjust to our culture as long as we do not compromise God’s laws.

When we share our message across cultural and economic boundaries, we must be sure that the requirements for faith we set up are God’s, not people’s. In trying to find a common ground with those to whom we witness, we must be careful not to fall into the quicksand of compromise. When reaching out to others, we must be sure that our own footing is safe and secure. Be careful not to become so much like non-Christians that no one can tell who you are or what you believe. Influence them for Christ—don’t allow them to influence you for sin.

Prayer: Abba Father, endue me with the spirit of uncompromising faith in You, that I may be found worthy of Your crown of glory, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

BELIEVERS WORTH IN CHRIST!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

THURSDAY DECEMBER 19, 2019.

SUBJECT : BELIEVERS WORTH IN CHRIST!

Memory verse: "But 

if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you." (Romans 8 vs 11).

READ: Ephesians 1 vs 17 - 23:

1:17: that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him,

1:18: the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the Saints,

1:19: and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power

1:20: which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,

1:21: far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.

1:22: And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be the head over all things to the church,

1:23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

INTIMATION:

In the first three chapters of the apostle Paul's epistle to the church in Ephesus, he enumerated the consummation of Christ's substitutionary work regarding Satan and his cohorts—the demons. His heart intent is that we will come to the full knowledge of what we are in Christ. From the passage we read today, we observed that he prayed that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may grant us the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him—the mysteries and secrets in the deep and intimate knowledge of Him—by having the eyes of your heart flooded with light, so that you can know and understand the hope to which He has called us, and how rich is His glorious inheritance in the believers.

He clearly states that it is the working of God's spiritual might which He wrought in Christ when He raised Him up from the among dead, and that same Spirit is still at work within us. The heart can hardly take it in that the same Might, the same Resurrection Power, that wrought in the dead body of Jesus is ours today. That same Spirit that embodied the power is indwelling us today, and with the same power.

In Ephesians 2 vs 4 - 6, the Scripture says, "But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus." You must always keep in mind that we were raised together with Him, and He made us to sit with Him in the heavenly places; so representatively, we are seated on the throne with Christ.

Jesus has been given all authority (Matthew 28 vs 18), and that authority belongs to His body—the church—for our benefit. He conquered all the forces of darkness and left them paralyzed and broken before He arose from the dead. It is as though we had accomplished the mighty work, because It is reckoned for us at our credit. Now take note of Ephesians 1 vs 22 - 23, "And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be the head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all." Consequently, all these malignant, wicked influences are beneath our feet. We have been made masters of them all. He did not defeat them for Himself, but for us. He did not fight that battle for His glory, but for our good. 

We are the fullness of Him (John 1 vs 16). We are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power (Colossians 2 vs 10). He is not only our fullness, but we are His fullness also. The word, "fullness" comes from a Greek word that is almost untranslatable: "pleroma," which means "completeness," "perfectness," or any other synonym that suggests fullness. 

That knowledge should become as common to us, and as usable as the multiplication table. And when this is done Believers will spend less or no time glorying the devil, instead of using the time time to glorify Jesus Christ for His triumph over Satan and his cohorts. It was for this reason that the apostle Paul thanked God in Second Corinthians Colossians 2 vs 14, for His triumph over Satan for us; "Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ...."

When will our hearts take it in, and our minds become fruitful with this mighty unveiling of what we are in Christ? I hardly give the devil any room to minister his usual lies to me because no matter the circumstances I found myself. By God's grace, I have embraced the truth—my inheritance in Christ. That is the Hallelujah chorus of the new creation, and it never becomes real until you begin to confess it, begin to tell to the world what you are in Christ.

Hebrews 9 vs 12 tells us that this is an ‘Eternal Redemption.’ Not just a redemption for the hour in which it was done, but that Satan is as much defeated now as he was when Christ arose from the dead; that he is as much a subject to the Name of Jesus as he was when Jesus conquered him.

Prayer: Abba Father, I thank You for what You wrought for me in redemption in Christ Jesus. Thank You for the triumph You have given me in Christ over Satan. Help me to comprehend what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height of Christ's love for me, in Jesus' Name. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

THE CERTAINTY IN GOD’S WORD!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 18, 2019.

SUBJECT : THE CERTAINTY IN GOD’S WORD!

Memory verse: "God is not a man, that He should lie, or a son of man, that He should repent, has He said, and will He not do it? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?” (Numbers 23 vs 19.)

READ: Isaiah 55 vs 10 - 11:

55:10: For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and do not return there, but water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:
55:11: So shall My Word be that goes forth out of 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.

INTIMATION: 

The Word of God is certain and cannot be broken; it is constant and stands forever as the Owner. The Scripture, in John 1 vs 1 - 3, says, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made." God and His Son Jesus are inseparable. And Jesus is the Word. Therefore, God cannot be separated from His Word. Jesus lives, hence every Word of God abides. The word of man is as grass, but the Word of God lives on through the ages (Isaiah 40 vs 8).

It behoves on us to put our confidence and trust in that Word that cannot be broken. 

God, by His nature, cannot lie. The Bible says in Second Timothy 2 vs 13, "He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself" No word from God can ever be defaulted. There never can be any denying of His own Word. We did not ask Him to write the Word, nor is He mindful of our perception of His Word. In Isaiah 45 vs 23 God said, "By myself have I sworn." This is repeating what He said to Abraham (Genesis 22 vs 16). God has made even His throne back of His Word. I wonder how much some of our hearts can take it. It is like God throwing a cable about the throne, dropping the cable over for us to grasp. Think of it this way; He said, "Do you see, I am putting my throne as surety for My Word. My very Self is enwrapped in this." This is awesome!

Have you ever noticed Hebrews 6 vs 18, "That by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation....." The two immutable things are God's nature and His promise. God embodies all truth, you can be secure in His promises; you don't need to wonder if He will change His plans because by His nature He will never change for He said "I am the Lord, I change not." (Malachi 3 vs 6).

Our hope is secure and immovable; anchored in God, just as a ship’s anchor holds firmly to the seabed. To the true seeker who comes to God in belief, God gives an unconditional promise of acceptance. When you ask God with openness, honesty, and sincerity to save you from your sins, He will do it because He has said so. This truth should give you encouragement, assurance, and confidence.

The Scripture, Jeremiah 1 vs 12, says, “...for I will hasten my word to perform it.” 

Impassable gulfs becomes level roads to us when we realize that God watches over His Word and is ready to perform it. We take His Word and carry it into His presence and repeat it and say, "Father, this is what you said." We would not say that we knew that He kept His Word. That is an insult. We just look up and say, Father I thank you." It is in this assurance that Jesus said, "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My words shall not pass away." (Matthew 24 vs 35; Mark 13 vs 31; Luke 21 vs 33).

Let us now look at Hebrews 7 vs 22, "By so much more Jesus has become the surety of a better covenant." The better covenant is also called the new covenant or testament. It is new and better because now we have the Father, Jesus, and the Throne back of every word. Is this not tremendous? If the Word should fail, it will dethrone the Triune God. It cannot fail even when the heaven and earth pass away.

The Scripture, in Hebrews 4 vs 12 - 13, says, "For the Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account." The Word of God is living, life-changing and dynamic as it works in us. God's Word reveals who we are and what we are not. It penetrates the core of our moral and spiritual life. It discerns what is within us, both 

How limitless becomes our ministry when we realize the integrity of the Word, when we know we have what He says we have, when we know we are what He says we are, when we know we can do what He says we can do. We step out of the narrow limits of a theology and sense knowledge into the boundless ability of God. Now we understand what it means when we say, "I can do all things in Him who strengthens me." With quiet confidence we face the impossible, knowing that He is the Master.

Prayer: Abba Father, forever Your Word is settled in heaven. All things were made by Your Word. Your Word is true from the beginning, and every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever. Let the light of Your unfailing Word flood my heart at all times, in Jesus’ Name I prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

JESUS THE WAY!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

TUESDAY DECEMBER 17, 2019.

SUBJECT: JESUS THE WAY! 

Memory verse: "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." (John 14 vs 6.)

READ: John 14 vs 7 - 11:

14:7: If you had known Me, you should have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him, and have seen Him.
14:8: Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.
14:9: Jesus said to Him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?
14:10: Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I I do not speak of My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works.

14:11: Believe Me that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me: or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves.

INTIMATION:

God has preordained our pathways. God, from the beginning, has 

set each of us apart for a particular purpose or purposes, and particular ways to function respectively. Identifying the preordained pathway for you ensures your leading a glorious, victorious, pleasurable, joyous, and stress-free life, as predetermined by God—our Loving Father. 

Since God has preplanned all things concerning us, it is therefore given, and realistic that all keys to our preordained pathways are with Him. God, in His infinite wisdom, mercy, unparalleled love, and faithfulness sent us His Son to help us identify our predetermined pathways through the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him who fills all in all. 

In our memory verse, Jesus said, “

I am the way, the truth, and the life...." Three principal things are in Him; ‘the way,’ ‘the truth,’ and ‘the life.’ Therefore, outside of Jesus you are in the wrong way, you can’t discover the truth, and you have no life. 

Jesus, as the way, is our path to the Father. He is one with the Father, and the same with the Father. He is the image of the invisible God (Colossians 1 vs 15) and the exact representation of God. Jesus is not only equal to God (Philippians 2 vs 6), He is God (John 10 vs 30 & 38). 

As the truth, He is the reality of all God’s promises. He not only reflects God, but He reveals God to us (John 1 vs 18; 14 vs 9). 

Jesus said these of Himself, "Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner." "I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgement is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me." 

"....When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as the Father taught Me, I speak these things" (

John 5 vs 19, 30 & 

8 vs 28).

As the Life, He joins His divine life to ours, both now and eternally. He is supreme over all creation (Colossians 1 vs 15), and has all priority and authority. He came from heaven, not the dust of the earth (First Corinthians 15 vs 47), and He is Lord over all (Romans 9 vs 5; 10 vs 11 - 13). He is, in truth, the only living way to the Father.

Following Jesus is knowing the way of the Father. No one has seen the Father, and no one can see Him. But Jesus Christ came to reveal the Father to us. Observing the ways of Jesus is tantamount to observing the ways of the Father, because He is the same with the Father. Everything you need is in Him, and without Him you can do nothing (John 15 vs 5).

Now Jesus has come, and has gone back to the Father, to come again for the final union in marriage with His people—‘the marriage of the Lamb’ (Revelation 19 vs 7 & 9). While He is away, He has left with us the instructions on what to do, and also has given us an Helper, just to help us to occupy until He comes (Luke 19 vs 13). The instructions are in the Holy Book—the Bible, and our Helper is the Holy Spirit. Outside of these two, you will never discover the way.

The Book of instruction—the Bible—tells us that the starting point is embracing Jesus and declaring Him as Savior and Lord  of your life. When you do this, He will help you to ensure that all other things would fall in pleasant places if you follow His instructions (Psalm 16 vs 6). Therefore, today if you hear His voice do not harden your heart. Jesus said, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11 vs 28.)

Prayer: Abba Father, thank You for the gift of Your only begotten Son Jesus Christ, who gave His life for me on the cross to pay the wages of my sin. I wholeheartedly declare Jesus as my Lord and personal Savior. O Lord, reveal to me the predetermined pathway for my effective functioning according to Your will for my life, in Jesus Name I have prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

.

SOME FACTS ABOUT THE BELIEVER!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

MONDAY DECEMBER 16, 2019.

SUBJECT : SOME FACTS ABOUT THE BELIEVER!

Memory verse: "But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.” (John 1 vs 12.)

READ: John 14 vs 12 - 14:

14:12: Most assuredly, I say to you, he that believes in Me, the works I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. 

14:13: And whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

14:14: If you ask any thing in My name, I will do it.

INTIMATION: 

The “Believer” is a child of God, a new creation. His spirit has been recreated. He has come into the family of God. He is in the realm of the supernatural. He is in perfect union with the Master—Jesus Christ. Jesus says, "All things are possible to him that believes." The believing one has come into the family of God, and has become a new creation, created in Christ Jesus. This is not a hyperbole, this is just a statement of fact. Just as all things were possible with Jesus, all things are possible to the believer through the Name of Jesus.

The Scripture, in First John 4 vs 4, says, "You are of God, my little children, and have overcome them because greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world." As a “Believer” you grasp it. Your heart knows it. You are of God, born from above. God Himself recreated you, imparted to your spirit His own nature. Now you stand before Him as though you had never been weak, you had never been a failure, orhad never been under condemnation. Of the recreated man He says, "There is now no condemnation to you because you are in Christ Jesus." (Romans 8 vs 1.)

There is a perfect union of the spirit of the “Believer” with the Spirit of Christ; he is His representative here on earth. God says that you are an ambassador on behalf of Christ. An ambassador is an empowered representative of a country where his citizenship is located. You are born of heaven; your citizenship is there. You have received your credentials from heaven; God is your Father, and you are His child.

The “Believer” has a mighty ministry given to him or her by Jesus when He said, "Go you therefore and make disciples of the nations," ‘Don't forget to teach them all that I have commanded you.’ (Matthew 28 vs 19 - 20.) Jesus went to the Father to become the Mediator, Intercessor, Savior, Advocate, and Lord of the Church. He is now at the right hand of the Father. He enables the “Believer” to take His place and do the same kind of works that He did before He went away.

In the passage we read today, Jesus gave the “Believer” the power of attorney to use His name: "Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do. "If you ask anything in my name, that will I do." This is dealing with demoniacal forces as illustrated in Acts 3 where we see the man lying at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, evidently with infantile paralysis. "And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him said, 'Look on us.' "In the name of Jesus of Nazareth rise up and walk." (John 3 vs 6.) In the name he broke the dominion of Satan over the man. That man had believed in sickness, weakness, and he was helpless. The Name of Jesus broke the dominion of faith in disease and weakness and in its place gave perfect healing and a new faith in health.

Jesus says to the “Believer,” "Whatever you shall ask in my name." That word, "ask," in Greek is "demand." Therefore, He says "Whatever you demand in my name, I shall make good." We are coming into the realm of the supernatural where we see ourselves as representatives of Omnipotence, and where we have an opportunity to draw on Omnipotence to meet Satan in open combat.

In John 15 vs 7 the Bible says, "If you abide in Me and My words abide in you, you shall ask what you will and it shall be done to you." The “Believer” is in the realm of cooperation with the Father, taking Jesus' place here on earth and acting in His stead; doing the work that He began to do. He came to destroy the works of the adversary, and the “Believer” is continuing that work of destruction. He is a co-laborers, working under His direction, setting men free from the dominion of the black prince.

You see the “Believer” is united with Him in all authority, and ability. You remember that Jesus said just before His accession in Acts 1 vs 8, "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you and you shall be My witnesses." The word "power" comes from the Greek word "dunamis", which means ability. According to His words, the “Believer” has the ability to use His name and cast out demons and heal the sick, deliver men from bondage of want into the liberty wherewith He has made him free. The “Believer” has the ability to understand Him and to make Him known. 

Ability means wisdom. Wisdom is ability to use knowledge and to handle circumstances and take advantage of opportunities. The “Believer” has the very nature of God. God is love, therefore, the “Believer” is a love creation, with the ability to love even as He loved. He has God in him. "For it is God who is at work within him, willing and working His own good pleasure." (See Philippians 2 vs 13.)

Prayer: Abba Father, thank You for the awesome privilege of sonship, and joint heir with Christ. Engrace me to witness appropriately for You as an ambassador of Christ, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed. Amen. 

PRAISE THE LORD!

YOUR SPIRITUAL HEART RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

SUNDAY DECEMBER 15, 2019.

SUBJECT : YOUR SPIRITUAL HEART RELATIONSHIP WITH  GOD.

Memory verse: "As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God."

 (Psalm 42 vs  1.)

READ: Exodus 33 vs 8 - 11:

33:8: So it was, whenever Moses went out to the tabernacle, that all the people rose, and each man stood at his tent door and watched Moses until he had gone into the tabernacle. 

33:9: And it came to pass, when Moses entered the tabernacle, that the pillar of cloud descended and stood at the door of the tabernacle, and the LORD talked with Moses.

33:10: All the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the tabernacle door, and all the people rose and worshiped, each one in his tent door.

33:11: So the LORD spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend...

INTIMATION:

How is your heart relationship with God? Throughout our lives, we look for those rare individuals with whom we feel relaxed and comfortable and can share our heart and our secrets and know they will not betray us, who will always be there for us, and in whom we can have confidence—individuals we can respect and who in turn admire us and want us to be successful.

God wants to be in that type of role with you, and is even better than any earthly companion. For God is a perfect companion: the One who knows the road you are traveling on and all of the problems that lay ahead; the One who can give you dependable advice; the One who wants to share your life with you and will not put you down when you stumble; the One who will never desert you if you fail or do not live up to His standards. He accepts you just as you are, wants to be with you forever, is able to help you be all that you can be, and can enable you either to avoid or overcome every obstacle or problem in your life.

A wise person once said, "When God measures you, He puts the tape around your heart, not your head." So what is your heart relationship with God? Our memory verse indicates the heart relationship of David, the man God testified thus, "A man after mine own heart, which shall fulfill all my will." ( Acts 13 vs 22.) In the passage we read today, Moses had such heart relationship with God, that he enjoyed the presence of God most times. God spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. 

Spiritual heart relationship can best be explained through a human illustration. Some children grow up in families where their father is a strong disciplinarian. They obey because they do not want to suffer the wrath of their father. Although they may even respect the father and his accomplishments, they want nothing to do with him on a personal basis. It is not unusual for such children to dread the return of their father in the evening. As adults they spend as little time with him as possible. There is a physical relationship with obedience, but not the close heart relationship. Fear and mistrust are barriers to their ever being close.

On the other hand, some have fathers who have definite standards and rules to obey, but the relationship is one of love and respect. They are excited when Dad walks through the door at night. They love the weekends because Dad can be with them and they do fun things together. Such children obey because they love and trust their father, not because they fear him or the consequences of disobedience. 

In our relationship with God we can respond and obey either out of love or out of fear.

When we realize God's desire to be our ‘Faithful Companion’ in our relationship, we find Him less an authority figure and more a desirable companion Who is no less in charge in our lives. We now realize He is on our side, how much He wants the best for us and how absolutely dependable He is. The inborn unhealthy fear of God that stems from our sin nature and is often stirred up by the enemy of our souls, is weakening as we are getting a clearer picture of who He really is.

Unfortunately many people never really seek Him with all their hearts. They are content to learn as a child would. That is, learning and following rules in order to avoid big problems, but not as willing to spend any great period of time with the Lord in the free time they have. There is little delight in the relationship, only obedience out of necessity. They have salvation from penalty of sin, but they will enter heaven "through the flames" (First Corinthians 3 vs 15). They have yet to cross that line of spiritual familial relationship into spiritual heart relationship.

First Corinthians 3 vs 15 states "If anyone's work is burned, he will suffer loss, but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire." This means that good work will be rewarded; unfaithful or inferior work will be discounted. Though unfaithful workers will be saved, but like people escaping from a burning building, all their possessions (accomplishments) will be lost. Those are the people Jesus Christ described as the least in the kingdom of God. 

Prayer: Abba Father, I desire You as my companion. Create in me Your steadfast Spirit, that my heart will pant for You at all times. My utmost heart desire is an intimate relationship with You. O Lord, engrace me to accomplish this, in Jesus' Name I have prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!