CONTENTMENT IS A GODLY VIRTUE!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

SATURDAY JANUARY 4, 2020

SUBJECT : CONTENTMENT IS A GODLY VIRTUE!

Memory verse: 

"Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."

 

(Hebrews 13  vs 5.)

READ: First Timothy 6 vs 6 - 11

:

6:6: Now godliness with contentment is great gain.
6:7: For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
6:8: And having food and clothing with these we shall be content.
6:9: But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
6:10: For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

6:11: But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.

INTIMATION:

Contentment is satisfaction, it primarily signifies to be sufficient, happiness with one's situation in life. 

Contentment is a godly virtue, and carries great gain. In the passage we read today, the apostle Paul lays a solid foundation for a godly living; being content in any circumstances you find yourself, and seeing life from God's point of view, and being grateful for all God has given us. 

The statement in our memory verse is the key to spiritual growth and personal fulfillment. God has said it, "

I will never leave you nor forsake you." In realization of these facts, our contentment should be God who made and owns all things.

The bane of humanity before the coming of the Savior was as a result of lack of contentment. Eve was approached by Satan in the Garden of Eden, where she and Adam lived. He questioned her contentment. How could she be happy when she was not allowed to eat from one of the fruit trees? Satan helped Eve shift her focus from all that God had done and given to the one thing He had withheld. And Eve was willing to accept Satan’s viewpoint without checking with God. How often is our attention drawn from the much that is ours to the little that isn’t? We get that I’ve got to have it” feeling. Eve was typical of us all, and we consistently show we are her descendants by repeating her mistakes. Our desires, like Eve’s, can be quite easily manipulated. They are not the best basis for actions. We need to keep God in our decision-making process always. His Word, the Bible, is our guidebook in decision-making.

The Tenth Commandment of God harps on covetousness, which is an offshoot of discontentment. To covet is to wish to have the possessions of others. It goes beyond simply admiring someone else’s possessions, or thinking, “I’d like to have one of those.” Coveting includes envy-resenting the fact that others have what you don’t. God knows, however, that possessions never make anyone happy for long. Since only God can supply all our needs, true contentment is found only in Him. When you begin to covet, try to determine if a more basic need is leading you to envy. For example, you may covet someone’s success, not because you want to take it away from him, but because you would like to feel as appreciated by others as he is. If this is the case, pray that God will help you deal with your resentment and meet your basic needs.

We deceive ourselves when we measure our happiness or contentment in life by the amount of wealth we possess. When we put riches at the top of our value system, we let power, pleasure, and financial security overshadow the eternal value of our relationship with God. We think we will be happy or content when we get riches, only to discover that they don’t really satisfy, and the pleasures fade away. The true measurement of happiness or contentment is found in God’s love and in doing His will. You will find true happiness if you put your relationship with God above earthly riches.

Are you able to be content (get along happily) in any circumstances you face? In the epistle of the apostle Paul to the believers in Philippi (Philippians 4 vs 10 - 14), he stated his knowledge of how to be content whether he had plenty or whether he was in need. The secret was drawing on Christ’s power for strength. Do you have great needs, or are you discontented because you don’t have what you want? Learn to rely on God’s promises and Christ’s power to help you be content. If you always want more, ask God to remove that desire and teach you contentment in every circumstance. He will supply all your needs, but in a way that He knows is best for you.

However, we should separate our needs from our wants. God knows our needs even before we say it (Matthew 6 vs 32), and has promised to meet them (Philippians 4 vs 19). Your wants are mostly those things you require to feel good, and avoid discomfort or pain. But God never promised that life here on earth "is a bed of roses." Often, our wants are our desires to feel perceived empty places in our lives. But do we really need to feel the empty places? Are they really our needs? The answer lies in our perspective, our priorities, and source of power. We may not get all we want, but surely will get all we need. By trusting in Christ, our attitudes and appetites can change from wanting everything to accepting His provision and power to live for Him.

How can you learn to be content? Strive to live with less rather than desiring more; give away out of your abundance rather than accumulating more; relish what you have rather than resent what you're missing. See God's love expressed in what he has provided, and remember that money and possessions will pass away (First John 2 vs 17). 

W

e become content when we realize God's sufficiency for our needs. Christians who become materialistic are saying by their actions that God can't take care of them, or that He won't take care of them the way they want. The only antidote is to trust God to meet all our needs.

Prayer: Abba Father, my sufficiency is in You, and You are able to make all grace abound toward me, that I may have sufficiency in all things. Make me to content in You, abounding in every good work, to live for You now, and live in eternity with You, in Jesus' Name I have prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

GOD IS OUR TEACHER/DISCIPLER!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

FRIDAY JANUARY 3, 2020

SUBJECT : 

GOD IS OUR TEACHER/DISCIPLER! 

Memory verse: "For this is God, Our God forever and ever. He will be our guide even unto death." (Psalm 48 vs 14.)

READ: Psalms 25 vs 4 - 5 & 9 - 10 & 12:

25:4: Show me Your ways O Lord; teach me Your paths. 

25:5: Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation, On You I wait all the day. 

25:9: The humble He guides in justice. And the humble He teaches His way.

25:10: All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth. To such as keep His covenant and His testimonies. 

25:12: Who is the man that fears the Lord? Him shall He teach in the way He chooses.

INTIMATION:

God instructs us on how to live. He sent His only Son to be a Model for this. Like a loving parent, God teaches and directs us. However, He leaves us a choice, either to follow and obey, or reject Him and His guidance. We should listen to Him because peace and righteousness come to us as we obey His Word. Refusing to pay attention to God's commands invites punishment and threatens that peace and righteousness.

Our obedience and fellowship with God stem from our fear for God. To fear the Lord is to recognize God’s attributes: He is holy, Almighty, Righteous, Pure, All-knowing, All-powerful, and All-wise. When we regard God correctly, we gain a clearer picture of ourselves: sinful, weak, frail, and needy. When we recognize who God is and who we are, we will fall at His feet in humble respect. Only then will He show us how to choose His way.

We need both God's guidance and His guide. We need His map that gives us landmarks and directions along our way and a constant companion who has an intimate knowledge of the way and will make sure we interpret the map correctly. The Bible is the map and the Holy Spirit is constant companion and guide. As you make your way through life, use both the map and your Guide.

How do we receive God’s guidance? The first step is to want to be guided and to realize that God’s primary guidance system is in His Word—the Bible. Psalm 119 tells of the endless knowledge found in God’s Word. By reading the Bible and constantly learning from it, we will gain the wisdom to perceive God’s direction for our lives, and sit with the resurrected Christ in His school of discipleship. By believing in Him, we can receive His power through the Holy Spirit to be new people. By joining other believers, we can take part in doing His work on earth. When we are willing to seek God, learn from His Word, and obey His commands, then we will receive His specific guidance. 

In our contemporary world, we are bombarded today with relentless appeals to go in various directions. Television advertising alone places hundreds of options before us, in addition to appeals made by political parties, cults, false religions, and dozens of other groups. Numerous organizations, including Christian organizations, seek to motivate us to support a cause. Add to that the dozens of decisions we must make concerning our job, our family, our money, our society, and we become desperate for someone to show us the right way. If you find yourself pulled in several directions, remember that God teaches the humble way.

Sometimes, in the journey of life with God, you feel as though you are not making progress in your spiritual life. Rest assured that when God starts a project, He completes it! The God who began a good work in us continues it throughout our lifetime and will finish it when we meet Him face to face. God will help you grow in grace until He has completed His work in your life. When you are discouraged, remember that God won’t give up on you. When you feel incomplete, unfinished, or distressed by your shortcomings, remember God’s promise and provision. 

God’s work for us began when Christ died on the cross in our place. His work in us began when we first believed. Now the Holy Spirit lives in us, enabling us to be more like Christ everyday. This is a short description of the Christian growth and maturity that began when we accepted Jesus and it continues until Christ returns.

Prayer: Abba Father, I praise You for Your faithfulness that endures forever. O Lord, You are God of mercy and love. Your compassion has never failed me. I surrender totally to Your guide and discipleship. Let Your strength be made perfect in my weaknesses, for without You I can do nothing. Engrace me to live for You, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

HAVE YOUR OWN FAITH!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

THURSDAY JANUARY 2, 2020

SUBJECT : HAVE YOUR OWN FAITH!

Memory verse: "So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God." (Mark 11 vs 22.)

READ: Mark 11 vs 23 - 24: 

11:23: For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.

11:24: Therefore I say to you whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them and you will have them.

INTIMATION: 

Faith is a profession for living. It is a spiritual profession that requires spiritual skill development for maximum delivery or effectiveness. Faith empowers you to make the most of life. Accessing life at its best is according to your own faith (Matthew 9 vs 29). One should never trust the great issues of his or her life to another's faith. You should have your own faith in God and His Word; faith that can meet any crisis that may come. Everyone should build his or her own faith life. The Woman with the flow of blood had her own faith, and she said, “If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well.” (Matthew 9 vs 21.) Note that she didn’t ask even Jesus to pray for her or touch her, but she simply reached out in faith to Jesus, and her faith delivered expressly her healing to her. 

Unfortunately. majority of people float on carelessly until they come to a dangerous position; when they are sick, or some loved one is sick, some financial or heart problem confronts them that may affect their entire future, then they frantically hunt for someone who can cry and sob and quote Scriptures in what they call ‘their prayer,' and it is of no avail. It is vitally important to you that you have your own faith in God and His Word to fall back on in these difficult or troubled times. Obviously, your case is vital to you. It may not be vital to this other party to whose faith you look up to. He may have troubles that are unresolved, inward struggles that have never been settled. His faith may be at a low sub when you appeal to him or her for aid.

Here are some facts that will help you to begin to build your own faith life. The Word of God is yours. It is as though there was no other person in the world but you, and any revelations has been given especially to you; you can say, "It is mine. No one has a better right to it than I have. Every promise is mine. Every statement of fact is mine." When Jesus said, ".If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you" (John 15 vs 7), you now can say, "He is talking to me. He is my Father; I am His child. This is His message to me to help me in my earth walk." This message was given to me by the Master from the Father for He said, "The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works." (John 14 vs 10).

Consequently it is the Father who said, "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.” (John 15 vs 7 - 8.)  The fruit is prayer fruit. It is one of the branches that will bear the fruit, and I am that branch." When your heart can speak like this, then you know that as you approach the throne of grace there is a willing ear listening to you, that whatever you ask (because the Word is living in you) you will receive.

God is love and has inspired His saints who wrote the instructional book called the Bible. Jesus came to unveil love, and the revelation of love is given to us in the Word. Jesus now has spoken a love message to you. He says, "If you abide in Me." If you are a New Creation, you certainly do abide in Him. His words abide in you just as that lover's words would abide in your heart. You go over that lover's words again and again. He has asked you to become His companion for life.

When you make His Word yours and speaking them with sincere believe or faith, I bet you, nothing will be impossible with you. You can say to that mountain be removed and cast into the sea, and that mountain will obey you (Mark 11 vs 23 -  24). This is because you are speaking the words of your Father that He has spoken to you which are sure words because He assured us that His word cannot return to Him void, but will achieve that for which it is sent and will prosper in it. (Isaiah 55 vs 11). And that the Word is forever settled in heaven (Psalm 119 vs 89).

Prayer: Abba Father, thank You, most Faithful Lord, for the privilege of sonship granted me, and the revelational knowledge on Your Word to me. My absolute faith, trust and confidence are in You. May I never falter in unbelief, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD! 

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!