SEXUAL IMMORALITY!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

WEDNESDAY JANUARY 1, 2020.

SUBJECT: SEXUAL IMMORALITY! 

Memory verse: "For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality.” (First Thessalonians 4 vs 3.)

READ: First Corinthians 6 vs 15 - 20:

6:15: Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them the members of an harlot? Certainly not!
6:16:  Or do you not know that he who is joined to an harlot is one body with her? For “the two” He says, “ shall become one flesh.”
6:17: But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.
6:18: Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body.
6:19: Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?

6:20: For you were bought at a price: therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.

INTIMATION:

Sexual immorality is a temptation that is always before us. 

Sexual immorality of any kind is extremely dangerous; It destroys family life, it eats away at one’s ability to love, it degrades human beings and turns them into objects, it can lead to disease, it can result in unwanted children, it is against God’s laws. 

In our fallen world, sex outside marriage is treated as a normal, even desirable part of life, while marriage is often shown as confining and joyless. People that are suspected to be pure are even be looked down on by others with the notion that they don’t belong. 

But God does not forbid sexual sin just to be difficult. He knows its power to destroy us physically and spiritually. No one should underestimate the power of sexual immorality. It has devastated countless lives and destroyed families, churches, communities, and even nations. God wants to protect us from damaging ourselves and others, and so He offers to fill us—our loneliness, our desires—with Himself.

When we become Christians the Holy Spirit comes to live in us. Therefore, we no longer own our bodies; we have been “bought at a price.” Christ’s death freed us from sin but also obligates us to His service. If you live in a building owned by someone else, you try not to violate the building’s rules. Because your body belongs to God, you must not violate His standards for living.

Sexual temptations are difficult to withstand because they appeal to the normal and natural desires that God has given us. Marriage provides God’s way to satisfy these natural sexual desires and to strengthen the partners against temptation. Married couples have the responsibility to care for each other, therefore, husbands and wives should not withhold themselves sexually from one another but should fulfill each other’s needs and desires. 

God created sex to be a beautiful and essential ingredient of marriage, but sexual sin—sex outside the marriage relationship—always hurts someone. It hurts God because it shows that we prefer following our own desires instead of the leading of the Holy Spirit. It hurts others because it violates the commitment so necessary to a relationship. It often brings disease to our bodies. And it deeply affects our personality, which responds to anguish when we harm ourselves physically and spiritually. 

The partners lose their ability to fulfill commitments, to feel sexual desire, to trust, and to be entirely open with another person.

However, issues arise when there are inherent problems between spouses or with either of the spouse. There are issues of health, weakness as a result of age, faded or fading love for the other, or lack of love, unwholesome attitudes that result in dwindling or lack of intimacy in marriage, and so on. Such things pushes the dissatisfied spouse into temptation of sexual immorality, and at that point is difficult to resist.

Temptation happens to everyone, so don’t feel you have been singled out; others have resisted temptation, and so can you; any temptation can be resisted because God will show you a way out. God will aid you in resisting temptations by helping you  (1) recognize those people and situations that give you trouble. (2) run from anything you know is wrong, (3) choose to do only what is right, (4) pray for God’s help, and (5) seek friends who love God and can offer help when you are tempted. Running from a tempting situation is your first step on the way to victory. 

To avoid temptation and your desire for love and sexual pleasure: (1) You must decide what kind of a person you will love before passion takes over. Determine whether a person’s character and faith in God are as desirable as his or her physical appearance. (2) Because most of the time you spend with your spouse will not involve sexual intimacy, your companion’s personality, temperament, and commitment to solve problems must be as gratifying as his or her kisses. (3) Be patient. Time and observation often reveal what is beneath the pleasant appearance and attentive touch. This is the undeniable reasons for courtship before marriage. When you rush into marriage it becomes difficult to resist temptations when your desires in your partner are unattainable. 

It is God’s will for you to be holy. But how can you go about doing that? The Bible teaches that holiness is not a state of being that you must manufacture on your own with hard work and good deeds and constant fear of failure. Instead, being made holy (sanctified) occurs in the process of living the Christian life. If you have accepted Christ’s sacrifice on your behalf, then you are considered holy and complete in God’s eyes. Yet you must continue to learn and grow during your time on earth. The Holy Spirit works in you, conforming you to the image of Christ (Romans 8 vs 29). 

Prayer: Abba Father, by my strength I cannot prevail over temptations. Engrace me to resist Satan’s temptations with sexual pleasures, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

CREATED FOR A PURPOSE!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

TUESDAY DECEMBER 31, 2019.

SUBJECT: CREATED FOR A PURPOSE! 

Memory verse: "For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were through him and for Him.” (Colossians 1 vs 16.)

READ: The Bible in Genesis 1 vs 27 - 28:

Genesis 1:27: So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

1:28: Then God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over  every living thing that moves on the earth.

INTIMATION:

From our memory verse, we can understand that everything, absolutely everything, above and below, visible and invisible, rank after rank of angels, everything got started in God, and finds its purpose in Him. God has His reasons for creating the world. He has a purpose for creating all that are in the world, and determines the purpose to be served by all He created. To live purposefully in this life, we need to understand why we are created, and brought into this world by the Creator. You and I are not an accident, we are here for a purpose, and discovering that purpose makes the best of life here on earth.

In the passage we read today, God’s mandate to humans is to have dominion over all other things He created. This is the primary, and general purpose to be served by all of us. To have dominion over something is to have absolute authority and control over it. God has ultimate rule over the earth, and He exercises His authority with loving care. God delegated some of His authority to the human race, and expects us to take responsibility for the environment and the other creatures that share our planet. 

To achieve the general purpose God created us all to serve, we are to individually serve our specific purposes predetermined by Him. The individual contributions and collective responsibilities of all of us culminates into achieving the general purpose for which we are created. And the respective purposes each and everyone of us is to serve toward achieving the goal, is determined by God Himself. In Jeremiah 10 vs 23 the Bible says; ".....The way of man is not in himself, it is not in man who walks to direct his own steps." 

The quest for the purpose of life for everyone of us has puzzled many for thousands of years. This is because we typically begin at the wrong starting point—ourselves. We usually ask self-centered questions like; "What do I want to be?" "What should I do with my life?" "What are my goals, my ambitions, my dreams for my future?" But focusing on ourselves will never reveal our life's purpose. Our Owner, our Creator, created us for His purposes. Therefore, if you want to know why you were placed on this earth, you must begin with God. 

We exist only because God wills that we exist. We were made by God and for God, and until you understand that, life will never make sense. It is only in God that we discover our origin, our identity, our meaning, our purpose, our significance, and our destiny. Every other path leads to a dead end.

Many books have been written that suggests ways to discover the purpose of your life. All of them are classified as "self-help" books because they all approached the subject from a self-centered viewpoint, and predictable steps to finding your life's purpose. Of course, these recommendations often lead to great success. You can usually succeed in reaching a goal if you apply yourself to it. But “being successful,” and “fulfilling your life's purpose,” are not, at all, the same issue! You could reach all your personal goals, and achieve your set objectives, becoming a star, or a raving success by the world's standard, and still miss the purpose for which God created you. You need more than self-help advice. 

Contrary to what many popular books, movies, and seminars tell you, you won't discover your life's meaning looking within yourself. You didn't create yourself, and as such there is no way you can tell yourself what you were created for! If you are handed over an invention you have never seen before, you wouldn't know its purpose, and the invention itself wouldn't be able to tell you either. Only the creator or the owner's manual could reveal its purpose.

The easiest way to discover the purpose of an invention is to ask the creator of it directly, or refer to the owner's manual. The same is true for discovering your life's purpose; Ask God—your Maker, or refer to the Owner's Manual—the Bible. The intended discovery is achieved by revelations inherent in the Word of God. He has not left us in the dark to wonder and guess. He has clearly revealed His purposes for our lives in the Bible. It tells us why we are alive, how life works, how the owner of life governs it, what to do, what to avoid, and what to expect now, and in the future. And it is only in Him, and His manual you can find these answers.

Just as a

ll things in life serve their respective purposes. And everything manufactured, produced, or developed have their respective guidelines, manuals, and instructions for their effective, useful and intended use. In like manner, 

God created you for a purpose, and determines how that purpose will be served and achieved by you. All of that knowledge is with Him.

 

Knowing that in Him all knowledge of you is hidden, why then do you seek your purpose in life outside of Him. Go to Him, and you will discover the purpose of your creation.

Prayer: Abba Father, endue with 

the spirit of wisdom and knowledge of You, that may 

discover my purpose on earth which is imbedded in the knowledge of You and Your Will, in Jesus’ Name I prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

TRUE GREATNESS COMES FROM SERVING!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

MONDAY DECEMBER 30, 2019.

SUBJECT: TRUE GREATNESS COMES FROM SERVING!

Memory verse: "But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant.” (Matthew 23 vs 11.)

READ: Mark 10 vs 42 - 45: 

10:42: But Jesus called them to Himself and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them.

10:43: Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant.

10:44: And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all.

10:45: For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

INTIMATION:

Serving is the act of providing or offering; it is a process of attending to, or meeting the need of, and subject one's will to that of another in work, labor, function, or role. A person who engages in a service is called a servant. Christlike or Christian attitude in service is such that lays aside rights in order to serve others. 

Serving is the key that opens the door of true greatness. In our memory verse, Jesus stated that the one who serve others is the greatest among them. To Him, true greatness comes from serving—giving yourself to serve God and others. Businesses, organizations, and institutions measure greatness by personal achievement. In God’s kingdom, however, serving is the way to get ahead. Rather than seeking to have your needs met, look for ways that you can minister to the needs of others. 

Serving keeps us aware of others' needs, and it stops us from focusing only on ourselves. Jesus, the greatest man, came as a servant. Believers should be selfless rather than self-centered in our service to God and to man. Instead of expecting God to serve us, we are to serve Him for who He is, not for what we get from Him.

When you serve others, even in carrying out ordinary tasks, you are serving God. And because ultimately we serve God, every service has dignity. For instance, in First Samuel 2 vs 11 the Bible says; "But the child ministered to the Lord before Eli the priest." In other words, Samuel was Eli's helper, or assistant, in his priestly duties—service to God, and the Scripture recognized him as a minister to God, therefore, he was God's helper too, though he was an assistant to Eli.

Jesus, the greatest man ever, came as a servant, and challenged society’s norms. To Him, greatness comes from serving—giving of yourself to help God and others. Serving keeps us aware of others’ need, and it stops us from focusing only on ourselves. When we give our lives in service to Christ, we discover the real purpose of living. Real discipleship implies real commitment—pledging our whole existence to His service. In Matthew 16 vs 24, Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let Him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me...” “And He who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me” (Matthew 10 vs 38).

To take up our cross and follow Jesus means to totally commit ourselves to His service, identifying with Him publicly, and acknowledging our readiness to experience certain opposition, and to be willing to face even suffering and death for His sake. God should be our first priority. Jesus calls us to a higher mission than to find comfort and tranquility in this life. The apostle Peter was regarded as the head of the apostles by Jesus, hence His challenging him to tend His sheep, handing over to him at His departure from the earth; and extracting real commitment in follower-ship, and discipleship from him:

“So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah,  do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes Lord, You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Feed My lambs.” He said Again the second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me ?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Tend My sheep.” He said to Him the third time, “Simon, the son of Jonah, do you love Me?” ....And He said to Him, “Lord You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.” (John 21 vs 15 - 17.)

It was in the same manner that the apostle Peter instructed elders in the early church, and even in the churches today, extracting total commitment from them: “The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: Sheppard the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lord’s over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.” (First Peter 5 vs 1 - 4.)

Our care for others is a measure of our greatness. How much concern do you show for others? This is a vital question that can accurately measure your greatness in God’s eyes. How have you expressed your care for others lately, especially the helpless, the needy, the poor—those who can’t return your love and concern? Your honest answer to that question will give you a good idea of your real greatness.

Prayer: Abba Father, endue me with the spirit of servanthood, that I may serve You, and others selflessly, and when the Chief Shepherd appears, I will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

TRYING YOURSELF VERSUS TRUSTING IN GOD!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

SUNDAY DECEMBER 29, 2019.

SUBJECT: TRYING YOURSELF VERSUS TRUSTING IN GOD! 

Memory verse: 

"

The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” (Psalm 18 vs 2.)

READ: Proverbs 3 vs 5 - 8; Jeremiah 17 vs 5 - 8:

Proverbs 3:5: Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding;
3:6: In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.
3:7: Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and depart from evil.
3:8: It shall be health to your flesh, and strength to your bones.

Jeremiah 17:5: Thus says the LORD, “Cursed is the man who trusts in man, and makes flesh his strength, whose heart departs from the LORD.
17:6: For he shall be like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see when good comes, but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land which is not inhabited.
17:7: “Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, and whose hope is the LORD.
17:8: For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes, but its leaf will be green; and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit.

INTIMATION:

To “try,” in the context of my discussion, is to make efforts in achieving the desired objective. Surprisingly “try” is not used in the Bible to denote making effort. The only way "try" is used in the Bible is in the sense of putting someone or something to the test. The Bible speaks of the "trying of our faith." (James 1 vs 3) We are told not to believe everything that we hear, but to "try the spirits." (First John 4 vs 1) The psalmist says, "Try me O Lord, and know my thoughts." (Psalm 139 vs 23) The Bible also talks about fiery trials which will "try" us. (First Peter 4 vs 12.) 

In the spiritual sense, then, the word 'try' refers to a test or trial to determine the value and worth of a person or thing, and not as an effort to achieve—in referring to human effort. The Bible didn't speak of "trying" as our attempting to achieve or accomplish by our own means or ability. This is not to say we should never make effort to achieve or accomplish anything in life. Far from it. As believers, we are to put out an effort that is made through the grace of God at work in us. In other words, we don't attempt anything without asking for God's help. We lean on Him the whole way through each project. We maintain an attitude that says, "Apart from Him I can do nothing." (John 15 vs 5)

The attitude of leaning completely on God is "trusting" in Him. Trusting is described as; worthiness of being relied on; a resting on the integrity, friendship, etc of another; faith; hope; confidence in the truth of anything, especially in this case God. For instance, our memory verse is David’s declaration of what God is to him. 

We should not trust in ourselves but in God (Second Corinthians 1 vs 9). The Bible speaks of "Trust in God" more than 45 times. Therefore, there is no gain saying the fact that trusting in the Lord is key. We are not to be involved in natural, carnal efforts because the result is only fatigue and frustration, disappointment and destruction. But completely lean on the grace of God to accomplish all our lives challenges. As a believer, learn to exchange try with trust. 

In the passage we read in Jeremiah, two kinds of people are contrasted here: those who trust in human beings or human efforts, and those who trust in the Lord. Those who trust in human efforts are barren and unfruitful. In contrast, those who trust in the Lord flourish like trees planted along a riverbank (see Psalm 1). In times of trouble, those who trust in human beings will be impoverished and spiritually weak, so they will have no strength to draw on. But those who trust in the Lord will have abundant strength, not only for their own needs, but even for the needs of others. 

God knows what is best for us. He is a better judge of what we want than we are! We must trust Him completely in every choice we make. We should not omit careful thinking or belittle our God-given ability to reason; but we should not trust our own ideas to the exclusion of all others. We must not be wise in our own eyes. We should always be willing to listen to and be corrected by God’s Word and wise counselors. Bring your decisions to God in prayer; use the Bible as your guide, and then follow God’s leading.

To receive God’s guidance we must acknowledge God in all we do. Jesus emphasized this same truth when He said in Matthew 6 vs 33, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” Look at your values and priorities. What is important to you? Where is God On that list? What is His advice? Make Him a vital part of everything you do, then He will guide you because you will be working to accomplish His purposes.

Prayer: Abba Father, in You I live, and move, and have my being. Forever my trust is in You, O Most High, and nothing will ever come before You in my life, in Jesus’ Name I prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

THE LAW VERSUS THE GRACE OF GOD!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

SATURDAY DECEMBER 28, 2019.

SUBJECT: THE LAW VERSUS THE GRACE OF GOD! 

Memory verse: 

"

Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by the faith in Christ and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.

"

 (Galatians 2 vs 16.)

READ: Galatians 3 vs 10 - 13:

3:10: For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, “Cursed is every one who does not that continue in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them

.”

3:11: But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God, is evident, for, “The just shall live by faith.”
3:12: Yet the law is not of faith, but “the man that does them shall live by them.”
3:13: Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”)

INTIMATION:

Law is defined  as a binding decree; a universal principle; governing authority; rule of action established. God gave the Israelites His governing laws through Moses. These laws, and governing principles, and associated blessings, and curses,  are enumerated in the Book of Deuteronomy chapters 5 to 28. However, the study of Romans chapters 2 & 3 teach us that God gave the Old Testament law so man would try to keep it, find out he couldn't, and realize his desperate need for a Savior.

In the passage we read today, the apostle Paul quoted Deuteronomy 27 vs 26, to prove that, contrary to what Judaizers claimed, the law cannot justify and save—it can only condemn. Breaking even one commandment brings a person under condemnation. And because everyone has broken the commandments, everyone stands condemned. The law can do nothing to reverse the condemnation (Romans 3 vs 20 - 24). But Christ took the curse of the law upon Himself when He hung on the cross. He did this so we wouldn’t have to bear our own punishment. The only condition is that we accept Christ’s death on our behalf as the means to be saved (Colossians 1 vs 20 - 23).

Our problem mostly is our trying to observe, and keep the law by our human efforts. In so doing we are unconsciously putting ourselves under the curse of the law. We take the good thing of the Word of God and make a law out of it. We see all that are in the Word as something we have to accomplish rather than seeing them as promises God would fulfill in us as we trusted Him and waited for His victory. 

Any time we put ourselves under the law, we are setting ourselves up for misery, and frustration. This is because the law has the ability to do one of two things: If we follow it properly, it can make us holy. But since no human being can do that, the second thing the law can do is to actually increase sin, which leads to destruction, and hence our desperate need for a Savior. 

How does that happen? We hear or read the law and conclude, "If I don't follow the law, I am going to lose my salvation" or "God won't love me if I don't behave properly, He won't love me if I am not good." We then begin to look at the Word totally opposite from the way God wants us to see it. All He wants us to do is to face the truth and say, "Yes, Lord, You're absolutely right. I need to do that. I need to change, but I can't change myself. Your Word is truth, and my life is not matching up to it. Your Word has become a mirror to me. In it I can see that I am wrong in this area, and I am sorry. I ask You to forgive me and change me by Your power and Your grace."

Most believers don't know how to do that. They don't know anything about the power of God and the grace of God. All they do is trying—trying to be good, trying to do everything that the Word said that should be done, trying to submit, trying to be more generous, trying to be holy, trying to operate in the fruit of the Spirit, trying to pray more, trying to read the Bible more, trying to understand the Bible more when we did read it, trying to be a better person, on and on.

Trying to be right with God by our own effort doesn’t work. Good intentions such as “I will do better next time” or “ I will never do that again” usually end in failure. The apostle Paul points to Habakkuk’s declaration, “...The just shall live by his faith” (Habakkuk 2 vs 4), that by trusting God—believing in His provision for our sins and living each day in His power—we can break this cycle of failure. 

According to Galatians 3 vs 10, we are frustrated—disappointed and actually being destroyed—because we were trying to live by a law that was totally impossible for us to keep, trying to obtain a goal and fulfill a desire that was beyond our ability.It is a vicious cycle, one that can be broken only by a proper understanding of the grace of God which is our only remedy.

Though the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good (Romans 7 vs 12), it can never make us acceptable to God. But it still has an important role to play in the life of a Christian. The law (1) guards us from sin by giving us standards for behavior, (2) convicts us of sin, leaving us that opportunity to ask God’s forgiveness, and (3) drives us to trust in the sufficiency of Christ, because we can never keep the Ten Commandments perfectly. The law cannot possibly save us. But after we become Christians, it can guide us to live as God requires.

Prayer: Abba Father, give me the grace to live according to Your precepts for by my strength I cannot prevail, and without You I can do nothing, in Jesus’ Name I prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

UNDERSTANDING THE GRACE OF GOD!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

FRIDAY DECEMBER 27, 2019.

SUBJECT: UNDERSTANDING THE GRACE OF GOD! 

Memory verse: 

"

But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me

."

 (First Corinthians 15 vs 10.)

READ: Ephesians 2 vs 4 - 10:

2:4: But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,
2:5: even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive 

together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),

2:6: and raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus,
2:7: that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
2:8: For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God, 
2:9: not of works, lest anyone should boast.

2:10: For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared 

beforehand that we should walk in them.

INTIMATION:

The dictionary definition of grace is; beauty, kindness, good-will, mercy, reprieve, and pardon. God's grace will then be His beauty; kindness; good-will; mercy; reprieve; and pardon for sinful humanity. These attributes of God are freely, and undeservedly given to sinful humanity. Grace therefore, is the free, and unmerited power of God available to sinful humanity to meet our needs without any costs to us. it is received by believing rather than through any human efforts. The simple and uncomplicated nature of God's grace, and being a free gift, make many people to miss it. 

There is nothing more powerful than grace. In fact, everything in the Bible—salvation, the infilling of the Holy Spirit, fellowship with God and victory in our daily lives are all based upon the grace of God. Without grace, we are nothing, we have nothing, and can do nothing. In fact, we would all be miserable and hopeless. Everything we are and do and have is by the grace of God. W

e are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which He prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. We become Christians through God’s unmerited grace, not as a result of any effort, quality, intelligent choice, or act of service on our part. 

The writer of Hebrews tells us that our works were prepared for us by God and finished from the foundation of the world (Hebrews 4 vs 3).

Revelation and understanding of the grace of God starts with the understanding the Word of God. The Word of God could be frustrating when we try to work the Word rather than the Word work in us. The most frustrating aspect of the Word of God is that it keeps convicting most believers. Incidentally this is what the Word should do to us. But how do we take and handle the conviction?

As the Word would convict us of our wrong doings, we turn completely to our Lord for the grace to change. The devil would take that thing (conviction) that was intended for our good and would begin to beat us over the head with it as condemnation. We would look in the Word and see our need to change, but we didn't know anything about the grace of God to bring about that change in us. We don't know how to allow the Spirit of the Lord come into our lives and cause the things to happen that needed to happen as we believed Him and exercised our faith. We thought we have to do it all by our own power.

The problem here is that most believers don't understand the difference between conviction and condemnation. When the Word convicts you in one thing or the other (which it ought to do), turn to God completely to accomplish the change you desire through His grace (unmerited favor). Do not get frustrated when the devil will come to minister condemnation (which it ought to) because it is his mission is (John 10 vs 10). We cannot suffer condemnation because Jesus Christ has already justified us as believers: "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit." (Romans 8 vs 1.)

When you try to change yourself; trying to make yourself be everything the Word said you are supposed to be, you get frustrated because you cannot do it by your will power, but only by the grace of God. You have to submit yourself to the Lord and wait patiently on Him to accomplish all He planned for you. Trying to do something about something you can't do anything about is frustrating. It takes the grace of God to change to what the Word wants you to be. It is not automatic but gradual; being changed from glory to glory (Second Corinthians 3 vs 18). When convicted by the Word, allow God (trust and surrender yourself to Him) to walk His perfect Will in your life.

The psalmist in Psalm 139 vs 13 - 16 clearly states in those verses that God chose us and laid out our life work for us before we were born, before the world was even created. That is why we must not trust our own abilities, and initiatives because cut off from vital union with Him we can do nothing (John 15 vs 5).

We should start each day by saying, "Here I am, Lord, ready for whatever You have for me to do. I empty myself, as much as I know how, to allow Your grace to flow in my life, to cause me to be able to do whatever it is that You desire for me. I cast myself totally upon You. I can be only what You allow me to be, I can have only what You will for me to have, I can do only what You empower me to do, and each victory is to Your glory, not mine."

Prayer: Abba Father, thank You for Your manifold gift of grace to me. In You I live, and move, and have my being. Engrace me to have only what You will for me to have, I can do only what You empower me to do, and each victory is to Your glory, not mine," in Jesus’ Name I have prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

SOME PROBLEMS ARE ORDAINED FOR YOUR LIFTING!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

THURSDAY DECEMBER 26, 2019.

SUBJECT: 

SOME PROBLEMS ARE ORDAINED FOR YOUR LIFTING

! 

Memory verse: 

"Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, the day's fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them."

 (Psalm 139 vs 16.)

READ: Romans 8 vs 28 - 30:

8:28: And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called to His purpose.

8:29: For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.

8:30: Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

INTIMATION:

God customizes some of our problems so that we can fulfill the purpose for which we are created. They are stepping stones, and ordained platform en-route to our divine destiny. God knows you and your potentials. The cross you carry was tailor-made by the carpenter's Son.

A case-study of Joseph the son of Jacob, makes the concept very clear. He was a favorite son to his father, and envied by his brothers, a favorite servant in Potiphar's house, a favorite prisoner to the warden and other prisoners, a favorite interpreter of dreams, and a favorite lieutenant to King Pharaoh. And after many years, he became the favorite even to his ten brothers who were envious of him.

He was pre-ordained by God to be the savior of his people, God's own chosen people. God was with him in all his travails. So many problems were lined up en-route to his destined purpose; he was betrayed and deserted by his brothers; he was exposed to sexual temptation; suffered false accusation, and punished for doing the right thing; he endured a long imprisonment and was forgotten by those he helped. 

Joseph didn't plan to be in the bottom of a pit after he recounted his God-given dream to his loved ones, but he was. He did not foresee his brothers selling him into slavery, but they did. God had destined him for great things, but people and problems got in the way, apparently fashioned to get him his promise and provision. 

Joseph was faithful in the problems. He maintained his character and integrity while enduring the problem. He was patient throughout the duration of the problem. He did not complain while facing ridicule, rejection, envy, and jealousy. He held to his dream in the midst of lies, false accusations, and prison. Through it all, God showed favor to Joseph until the provision came.

Joseph had the vision, and interpreted the purpose of his problem. He said:-

"But now, do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life.......And God sent me before you to preserve a posterity for you in the earth, and save your lives by a great deliverance. So now it was not you who sent me here, but God......But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive." (Genesis 45 vs 5; 7 - 8; 50 vs 20.)

Even though Joseph spent years in the problem, he never stopped listening to the voice of God. He remained faithful to God, and God remained faithful to him, leading him to the divine purpose for which he was created.

Are you in the middle of a severe problem? Have you gone through your spiritual checklist to make sure that you are not the cause of the problem? Do you find it difficult to find the purpose of the predicament you are in? Look for the promise in God's Word. Hold to that promise. It is given to you by your Father in heaven, who is faithful to fulfill it. All of the provisions God offers in the pantry of heaven are available to the child of God who is faithfully stands on His promises.

Prayer: Abba Father, though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines; though the labor of my hands fail, and there is no food; though the flock may be cut off from the fold, and there be no herd In the stalls, yet I will rejoice, and joy in You my God. Forever You are my Lord, in Jesus’ Name I prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!