GOD’S GRACE IS FOR THE HUMBLE!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

SUNDAY JANUARY 12, 2020

SUBJECT: GOD’S GRACE IS FOR THE HUMBLE!

Memory verse: "But He gives more grace. Therefore He says, “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." (James 4 vs 6.)

READ: First Peter 5 vs 5 - 7:

5:5: Likewise, you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yea, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
5:6: Therefore, humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,

5:7: casting all your care upon Him; for He cares for you.

INTIMATION:

Humble primarily signifies low-lying; lowliness of mind. Humility is seeing ourselves as we really are from God's perspective, and acting accordingly. It is not convincing yourself that you are worthless or nobody before God, but recognizing God's work in you. To be humble, we must recognize the sovereignty of God over all things, and eventually submit to His will. It is having God's perspective on who you are and acknowledging His grace in developing your abilities. When one does submit to God’s will, he or she will be lifted up, as God will give such persons the grace to function effectively in an exalted position. Humility is a prerequisite for accessing God’s grace.

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—is based upon the grace of God. Everything we are and do and have is by the grace of God. Without grace, we are nothing, we have nothing, and can do nothing. If it were not for the grace of God, we would all be miserable and hopeless. 

Jesus Christ, our Messiah—the Savior of the whole world, was an epitome of humility during His ministry’s walk on earth. He was humble, willing to give up His rights in order to obey God and serve people (See  Philippians 2 vs 5 - 11). If we love and follow Jesus, we must also live as He lived, we should develop His attitude of humility as we serve. Humility puts others first and allows us to be content with God's leading in our lives. Such contentment gives us security so that we no longer have to prove ourselves to others. 

Humility will not allow you to be influenced by praise, honor, and popularity. It helps you not to allow popularity to twist your perception of your own importance. Though, it’s comparatively easy to be humble when you're not on center stage, but when praised, pride and arrogance usually come in. The psalmist in Psalm 131 vs 1 says; "Lord, my heart is not haughty, nor my eyes lofty. neither do I concern myself with great matters, nor with things too profound for me." Humility, trust and contentment are the bedrock of the psalmist song here. Let humility and trust affect your perspective and give you the strength and freedom to serve God and others.

Prayer: Abba Father, I will humble myself before You, and serve You and others with lowliness of mind, that You may engrace me to function in accordance with Your Word, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

THE PRAYER OF THE RIGHTEOUS!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

SATURDAY JANUARY 11, 2020

SUBJECT : THE PRAYER OF THE RIGHTEOUS!

Memory verse: "Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” (James 5 vs 16.)

READ: James 5 vs 13 - 18: 

5:13: Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? let him sing psalms.
5:14: Is anyone among your sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.
5:15: And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.
5:16: Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
5:17: Elijah was a man with nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain on the land for three years and six months.
5:18: And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.

INTIMATION:

Righteousness is about continually living right before God. It goes beyond being saved. The righteous are those who are in right standing with God. A righteous person does not live in a sinful lifestyle. They walk at a level of holiness and integrity. The righteous are in covenant with God through Christ. We become the righteousness of God through Christ Jesus (Romans 3 vs 22) because we have received the new covenant through Jesus’ shed blood on the cross. His righteousness is imputed to, or counted toward, us. If you are righteous then the words you speak over your situation will have effect. They will cause things to line up for you in the spirit. 

Righteousness is the foundation of the kingdom of God. In order for the kingdom of God—righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14 vs 17)—to be manifested in your life, you must be righteous. His kingdom comes and His will is done when a righteous person prays. But if we don’t remain in Christ and give ourselves over to Him completely, He doesn’t have “a people.” We cannot be God’s own if we do not walk according to His covenant. We can pray for peace in the storm and speak to mountains all year long, but without Jesus, who is the Prince of Peace and the Waymaker, peace will not come and mountains will not be removed.

The righteous have the mind of Christ. Their thoughts are right and pure. They keep a sober mind. They do not claim or trust in their own righteousness, but they live under the imputed righteousness of God in Christ. They are those who have and occupy—or take up residence in—the kingdom of heaven, and shine in their Father’s kingdom. 

The condition of the heart is a major aspect of answered prayer. It is sincere prayer from the heart that makes the power of God available, and this is the heart of the righteous. The Amplified Version of part of the apostle James statement reads, “The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working].” (James 5 vs 16.) If your prayers are not moving mountains, check your relationship with God and your adherence to the covenant with Him.

The apostle James, in encouraging the believers, gave the example of Elijah, who was a man subject to the same passions as any man, yet his prayer shut up the heavens. Elijah was known for his fervency. Fervent means having or showing great emotion or zeal, ardent, extremely hot or glowing. Righteous people will have a passion in prayer. When they open their mouths and begin to pray and speak to the mountains in their lives, wisdom, life, truth, and justice flow out. The environment begins to take on the attributes of the kingdom as they speak it into existence. 

Prayer: Abba Father, thank You for imputing Your righteousness in me through Christ Jesus, and endue me with the spirit of complete obedience to You, that I may keep my part of the covenant, in Jesus’ Name I prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

THE PRAYER OF FAITH!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

FRIDAY JANUARY 10, 2020

SUBJECT : THE PRAYER OF FAITH!

Memory verse: "So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly I say to you, If you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move From here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.” (Matthew 17 vs 20.)

READ: Mark 11 vs 22 - 26: 

11:22: So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God.
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 said 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.
11:25: And when you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.
11:26: But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.”

INTIMATION:

As believers we need to pray believing that we will receive our petitions in prayer (Mark 11 vs 24). If you are facing a problem that seems as big and immovable as a mountain, turn your eyes from the mountain and look beyond your ability to the power of God. It is the power of God plus your faith that moves mountains. The prayer of faith is bold and prayed from a sure foundation of faith. The person praying the prayer is assured of God’s will for the situation or issue at hand. They are confident and hopeful, knowing that it is God’s will to answer their prayer. The prayer of faith has power, trust, and healing for the body and soul.

The New Testament church was in the midst of this kind of prayer when they were praying for Peter. Right in the middle of their prayer they heard a knock on the door, and there was Peter. Many other examples of this prayer can be seen throughout the ministries of Jesus, the apostles, and in our lives today. The apostles prayed knowing what the will of God was for the situations they faced. God answers your prayers when you are: (1) A believer; (2) you hold no grudge against another person; (3) you pray without a selfish motives; and (4) your request is for the good of the kingdom. When we pray we can express our desires, but we should want God’s will above ours.

When we pray a prayer of faith, we are praying God’s will for how things are in heaven to be done in the earth realm. Here is where a clear revelation of the kingdom is very important. There is no sickness in heaven. There Is no lack in heaven. There are no unsaved in heaven. We must have faith to believe that God wants His will for our health, prosperity, and full salvation to be manifested not only when we go to heaven but even as we dwell on earth. It’s for His glory. When people see that God’s people have His ear and He is answering their prayers, that is a testimony for Him. People are drawn to God when they can see through His witnesses that He is a God who hears, and if He hears, they know He will answer.

Every believer already has general faith or saving faith, which is also a gift. Ephesians 2 vs 8 says, “For by grace you are saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.” The faith that you are saved by is a gift of God, but it is not one of the nine gifts of the Spirit; “to another faith by the same Spirit” (First Corinthians 12 vs 9). The Amplified Bible reads, “To another [wonder-working] faith by the same [Holy] Spirit.” Saving faith is given to you through hearing the Word, because the Bible says, “So then faith [saving faith] comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10 vs 17).

But the kind of faith are talking about here is “special faith.” It is something other than general faith or saving faith. It is a supernatural manifestation of the Holy Spirit whereby a believer is empowered with faith beyond simple saving faith. This is the kind of faith you need to be able to move the obstructions or obstacles in your way. Sickness, financial strife, abuse, pride, unemployment, bondage’s, and strongholds of all kinds will not be able to stay in your life when you pray with this kind of (wonder-working) faith. They must go! All you have to do is believe, and nothing will be impossible for you (Mark 9 vs 23). 

Special faith will cause you to speak to stubborn demons and say, “I command you, come out of him and enter him no more! (Mark 9 vs 25). Special faith is the miracle-working faith that Jesus has during His ministry on the earth, and He said that we would walk in even greater power and perform greater things than He did. Special faith changes the heart, and seeks peace. Prayer with such faith is real, and dismantles pride and vengeance, filling the holes with love. To really pray, let go of hurts, abandon grudges, and forgive others.

Can your mountain hear you prophesying to it the Word of the Lord? I challenge you to begin to incorporate the prayer of faith and begin to prophesy to your mountain. Say to it, “ Mountain the Word says that if I believe, nothing will be impossible to me. Mountain, I believe the Word of the Lord. And the Word of the Lord to you today is BE THOU REMOVED and cast into the sea! Even if you have never seen deliverance, healing, or breakthrough in your life or family before, know that today is a new day and your faith in the power of God will make the impossible possible for you.

Smith Wigglesworth said that you often find that if you will make a step of faith and use your own faith that you as an individual Christian have, when you have come to the end of that faith, very often this supernatural faith will take over. The reason it hasn’t happened with a lot of folks is that they don’t first use what they already have. 

Prayer: Abba Father, endue me with the gift of faith by the Holy Spirit that I will speak to mountains in my life and they will be removed, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

HOLD FAST YOUR CONFESSION OF FAITH!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

THURSDAY JANUARY 9, 2020

SUBJECT : HOLD FAST YOUR CONFESSION OF FAITH?

Memory verse: "Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession." (Hebrews 4 vs 14.) 

READ: Hebrews 10 vs 19 - 25: 

10:19: Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus,
10:20: by a new and living way, which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is His flesh,
10:21: and having a High Priest over the house of God,
10:22: Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
10:23: Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering for He who promised is faithful.
10:24: And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and to good works,

10:25: not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more, as you see the Day approaching.

INTIMATION:

Our confession of faith is in what Christ wrought for us in redemption. We are new creatures, created in Christ for good works. We have significant privileges associated with our new life in Christ: (1) We have personal access to God through Christ and can draw near to Him without an elaborate system; (2) we may grow in faith, overcome doubts and questions, and deepen our relationship with God; (3) we may enjoy motivation from one another; (4) we may worship together.

Jesus mediates between God and us. As humanity’s representative, He intercedes for us before God. As God’s representative, He assures us of God’s forgiveness. Jesus is truly God and truly man, and is seated at God’s right hand, interceding for us. He is always available to hear us when we pray. In our memory verse, the Scripture advises us, as Christians, to "hold fast our confession" of faith in tune with the Word of God in the Scripture, knowing that the Scripture cannot be broken (John 10 vs 35); that what the Father says is true, and sure, already settles in heaven. 

Therefore, we come to God not halfheartedly or with improper motives or pretense, but with pure, individual, and sincere worship. We can know that we have “a true heart” if we evaluate our thoughts and motives according to His Word. Christians can approach God boldly, free from “evil conscience” and in full assurance because of the work Jesus Christ did for us in redemption. We can go to God without doubting, knowing that He will hear and answer us. Under the new covenant, our hearts and consciences are cleansed completely, not partially or temporarily. Our clean consciences allow us to enter God’s presence with boldness. 

As a Christian, any confession you a make is a seed sowed in like manner, and you will reap according to what you sowed. Our faith, or unbelief is determined by our confession. Few of us realize the effect of our spoken word on our own hearts, or on our Adversary. He hears us make our confession of trust, confidence, or failure, of sickness, of lack, and apparently he doesn't forget. Remember he is the our accuser before God; accusing us of our weak or negative confession, and God allows us to unconsciously go down to the level of our confession. No one ever rises above his or her confession because God is a just God.

Everybody who walks by faith will have testings. They do not come from the Father; they come from the Adversary. God may allow the testings of the Adversary to test your faith and trust in Him. But as long as the Adversary can confuse the issue, and keep you in a state of flux, you are at a disadvantage. A state of flux is a state of continual changing, of insatiability, of double mindedness. The apostle James describes a double minded man as unstable in all his ways, and let not that man think he shall receive any thing of the Lord (James 1 vs 6 - 8.). What is your confession in prayer, and after prayer? Are you holding tight to your confession during prayer as well as after prayer? Or do you confess doubt and unbelief after prayer? 

When we doubt His Word, it is because we believe something else that is contrary to the Word. Our confidence may be in the arm of flesh; it may be in medicine; it may be in institutions; but whatever our confidence is in, if it contradicts the Word it destroys our faith life, and without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11 vs 6). Consequently, It destroys our prayers, and brings us again into bondage.

There isn't any power in all the universe that can void any statement of fact in His Word. No Word from God is void of power. He said, "So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it. (Isaiah 55 vs 11.) If your confidence is in that unbroken, living Word, then hold fast to your confession in the face of every assaults of the enemy. Sometimes, it may appear as though the prayer is not answered, hold on to it, though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come (Habakkuk 2 vs 3). God’s ways are forever the best, and therefore, He answers in our best interests. Though it might not be the way we wanted, but He aligns our desires with His purposes. He knows the best for us in any circumstances. It is your quiet assurance in His Word that gives you the supremacy over your adversary.

Prayer: Abba Father, my trust is in You. Forever Your Word is settled in heaven. My confession is in what Christ wrought for me in redemption, and assurances of Your Word. I hold fast to these without wavering, and may nothing take this away from me, in Jesus’ Name  I have prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

BE PERSISTENT IN PRAYER!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

WEDNESDAY JANUARY 8, 2020

SUBJECT : BE PERSISTENT IN PRAYER!

Memory verse: “Now Jesus called His disciples to Himself and said, “I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat. And I do not send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way.” (Matthew 15 vs 32.)

READ: Luke 18 vs 35 - 43:

18:35:Then it happened, as He was coming near Jericho, that a certain blind man sat by the road begging:
18:36: And hearing a multitude passing by, he asked what it meant.
18:37: So they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by.
18:38: And he cried out, saying, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
18:39: Then those who went before him warned him that he should be quiet; but he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
18:40: And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought to Him. And when he had come near, He asked him,
18:41: saying, “What do want Me to do for you?” He said, “Lord, that I may receive my sight.”
18:42: Then Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has made you well.
18:43: And immediately he received his sight, and followed Him, glorifying God. And all the people when they saw it, gave praise to God.

INTIMATION:

Persistence means not giving up. Some of the dictionary definition are: (1) To go on resolutely or stubbornly in spite of opposition, importunity, or warning. (2) To remain unchanged or fixed in a specified character, condition, or position. (3) To be insistent in the repetition or pressing of an utterance (as a question or opinion). (4) To continue to exist especially past a usual, expected, or normal time. Synonyms for persist include to carry on, dig in, hang on, keep up, follow through with, endure, hold on, hold up, last, remain, linger, tarry, carry through, prevail, and so on.

Persistence reveals an earnest desire to receive. Ernest means showing deep sincerity or seriousness, being determined. Godly determination will be the force that drives people to pray without ceasing and be steadfast until the answer comes. Sometimes once is not enough, and one prayer hasn’t said it all or broken through. You find yourself praying again and again until you see the lines in the spirit begin to line up in your favor. People who are not persistent lack the intensity that should be in the heart of righteous people. 

The definition of persist also mirrors godly attributes. God persists and continues with us in our humanity. Jesus never ceases to make intercession for us (Isaiah 53 vs 12; Romans 8 vs 34). God is faithful. He sticks with us. He carries us through. When we pray persistent prayers, we are praying in the character of God. Many believers get weary in prayer. They pray a little while and get discouraged because the answer didn’t come. You must never cease in praying because the enemy never ceases to make war with the saints. He will never give up because his time is short. 

Persistence also means continuing in prayer. In our memory verse, Jesus was moved by the people who came to Him and continued with Him for days. He had compassion on the multitude who had “continued” with Him for three days without food. Jesus was moved by the people’s hunger for spiritual food that He miraculously provided physical food for their bodies. They were seeking the things of the kingdom, and Jesus added “all these things.” (Matthew 6 vs 33.) Their persistence in seeking the Savior gave them the physical things they needed, and they weren’t even praying for food.

In the passage we read today, the people told the blind man to keep quiet and not bother Jesus. But this man was desperate. He was insistent on being heard so that Jesus could minister to him. His persistence resulted in his sight being restored. Also in Acts of the apostles chapter 1 and 2, and throughout the forming of the early church the phrases “continued in prayer, “continued in prayer and supplication,” “continued in faith, love, and holiness” are used to describe the apostles, who turned the world upside down with the gospel.

Some of the mountains in our lives are so stubborn that they require us to PUSH—Pray Until Something Happens. Do not be discouraged. Press in. Don’t stop praying. Your breakthrough is near. Praying consistent, earnest prayers is part of the life of a believer who is doing something right. Continue in your position of prayer despite all apparent opposition. The enemy is only on the heels of those who recognize their strength and potential in God. Never give up praying about that lost loved one, that job, your finances, your health, your marriage, your church or ministry. Whatever it is, God is persisting with you. He has compassion on those who continue with Him.

Prayer: Abba Father, endue me with the spirit of persistence in my prayer altar, that I may pray through and receive my petitions, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD! 

DISARMING SATAN!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

TUESDAY JANUARY 7, 2020

SUBJECT : DISARMING SATAN!

Memory verse: “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.” (Revelation 12 vs 11.)

READ: Matthew 4 vs 1 - 11:

4:1: Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
4:2: And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was an hungry.
4:3: Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.
4:4: But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’”
4:5: Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, and set Him on the pinnacle of the temple,
4:6: and he said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written, ‘He shall give His angels charge over you,’ and, ‘In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone.’”
4:7: Jesus said to him, It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’”
4:8: Again, the devil took Him up on an exceeding high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world, and their glory.
4:9: And said to him, “All these things I will give You, if You wilt fall down and worship me.”
4:10: Then Jesus said to him, “Away with You Satan! For it is written, “You shalt worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.”

4:11: Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.

INTIMATION:

Our testimony of the reality of the Word is greatly feared by Satan, and he is totally disarmed and made ineffective by that. That was the weapon of Jesus against Satan's temptations in the wilderness. When the tempter, Satan, came with his temptations, Jesus simply reminded him of what the Word says, "It is written," and the tempter has no reply to it. The devil and his cohorts know the Scripture and tremble at the mention of God, but refuse to obey Him.

Jesus was able to resist all of the devil’s temptations because He not only knew Scripture, but He also obeyed it. Ephesians 6 vs 17 says that God’s Word is a sword to use in spiritual combat. Knowing Bible verses is an important step in helping us resist the devil’s attacks, but we must also obey the Bible. Note that Satan had memorized Scripture, but he failed to obey it. Knowing and obeying the Bible helps us follow God’s desires rather than the devil’s.

The devil used Scripture to try to convince Jesus to sin! Sometimes friends or associates will present attractive and convincing reasons why you should try something you know is wrong. They may even find Bible verses that seem to support their viewpoint. Study the Bible carefully, especially the broader contexts of specific verses, so that you understand God’s principles for living and what He wants for your life. Only if you really understand what the whole Bible says will you be able to recognize errors of interpretation when people take verses out of context and twist them to say what they want them to say.

The devil offered the whole world to Jesus if Jesus would only kneel down and worship him. Today the devil offers us the world by trying to entice us with materialism and power. We can resist temptations the same way Jesus did. If you find yourself craving something that the world offers, quote Jesus’ words to the devil: “You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.” Satan is a fallen angel. He is real, not symbolic, and is constantly fighting against those who follow and obey God. Satan’s temptations are real, and he is always trying to get us to live his way or our way rather than God’s way. 

The excellent knowledge of the Word of God makes for a profitable and triumphant living. Your life is staunched on your believe in the Word. Believing builds up your faith, and faith comes from hearing the Word of God. To believe in the Word is accepting its existence, recognizing its value or advantage, and to have faith in its ability. The Word is the same as God (John 1 vs 1), therefore, believe in the Word is believe in God. All God's attributes are also associated with His Word. God assures us that all who honestly seek Him—who act in faith on the knowledge of God (the Word) that they possess (putting into practice or action the Word they believe) will be rewarded (Hebrews 11 vs 6).

Obedience to the engagement of the Word as well as observance of the declaration, is doing the Will of God, that is obeying the Word of God. Consequently obeying God; living the life of obedience and observance, guarantees a partnership with God in living your life and ensures an ever profitable and classic living.

Prayer: Abba Father, forever, Your Word is settled in heaven. Endue me with Your excellent spirit in the knowledge and faith in Your Word that I may speak Your Word in season and out of season, to the glory and honor of Your name and to my profiting, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

GRACE TO OBEY!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

SUNDAY JANUARY 5, 2020

SUBJECT : GRACE TO OBEY!

Memory verse: "

But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward 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 8 - 10:

2:8: For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
2:9: not of works, lest any man 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:

God knows our weaknesses hence we find freedom to obey from the grace (unmerited favor) bestowed on us through our faith in Christ, and not by our works. We became Christians through God’s unmerited grace, not as the result of any effort, ability, intelligent choice, or act of service on our part. God showered His kindness on us—this is also called God’s “grace.” This is His voluntary and loving favor given to those He saves. We can’t earn salvation, nor do we deserve it. No religious, intellectual, or moral effort can gain it, because it comes only from God’s mercy and love. Without God’s grace, no person can be saved. No one can come to Christ except the Father draws (John 6 vs 44 & 65). 

However, out of gratitude for this free gift, we will seek to obey God out of love for what He has done for us. As a sinner, separated from God, you see his law from below, as a ladder to be claimed to get to God. This becomes more obvious when you have tried repeatedly to climb it, only to fall to the ground every time you have advanced some rungs of the ladder. Or perhaps the sheer height of the ladder seems so overwhelming that you have never even started up. In either case, you are relieved seeing Jesus offering with open arms to lift you above the ladder of the law, to take you directly to God! Once Jesus lifts you into God's presence, you are free to obey; out of love, not necessity, and through God's power, not your own. 

In our memory verse, the apostle Paul acknowledges the gift of grace from God. He posited that, ‘Whatever I am now, it is all because God poured out His grace or special favor on me.’ If we want to live eternally with Christ, we must depend totally on God’s grace. This is true whether we have been murderers or honest, hardworking citizens. We have all sinned repeatedly, and any sin is enough to cause us to need to come to Jesus Christ for salvation and eternal life. Apart from Christ, there is no way for our sin to be forgiven and removed.

There are great tension in daily Christian experience. The conflict is that we agree with God’s commands but cannot do them. As a result, we are painfully aware of our sin. The apostle Paul says, “But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord! (Romans 7 vs 23 - 25.) This inward struggles with sin was as real for the apostles Paul as it is for us. From him we learn what to do about it. Whenever he felt overwhelmed by the spiritual battle, he would return to the beginnings of his spiritual life, remembering how he had been freed from sin by Jesus Christ. When we feel confused and overwhelmed by sin’s appeal, let us claim the freedom Christ gave us. His power can lift us to victory.

No matter your sin or offensive past life, faith in Christ gives you the required grace to obey, because where sin abounded, grace abounded much more (Romans 5 vs 20). In Christ the assurance is given that if you stumble, you will not fall back to the ground. Instead, you will be caught and held in Christ's loving arms. 

In John 6 vs 37 - 40, Jesus clearly states the will of God the Father concerning us who believe in Christ. Jesus did not work independently of God the Father, but in union with Him. This will give us even more assurance of being welcomed into God's presence and being protected by Him, and not even your failures will stop His helping hands. Anyone who makes a sincere commitment to believe in Jesus Christ as Savior is secure in God's promise of everlasting life. Christ will not let His people be overcome by Satan and lose their salvation. 

Prayer: Abba Father, thank You for Your unparalleled love and mercy, gift of grace to obey given me. Perfect Your strength in my weaknesses that I may forever live for You, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!