ENMITY WITH GOD!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

TUESDAY JANUARY 14, 2020

SUBJECT : ENMITY WITH  GOD!

Memory verse: 

"Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend to the world makes himself an enemy of God." 

(James 4 vs 4.)

READ: First John 2 vs 15 - 17

:

2:15: Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

2:16: For all that is in the world - the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and pride of life - is not of the Father but is of the world.

2:17: And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.

INTIMATION:

Being a friend to the world is making yourself an enemy of God. This is because having friendship with the world involves seeking pleasure at the expense of obeying God. Christians are not to attach themselves to the thinking of the world in a way that they are diverted from keeping their minds on those things at above. The Christian must not be directed in his or her life by the evil values and morals that are maintained by those deceived by Satan. It is impossible for one to love God with the intensity of love by which God demands that we serve Him, and at the same time, compromise his or her values and morals by living after the world. Whenever there is a compromise in one’s relationship with the world and God, lukewarmness or apostasy in reference to the truth results. One’s relationship with the world must be defined and controlled by his or her love for God.

The materialist is an adulterer in that he or she has wedded him or herself as a member of the body of Christ to that which is of the world. He or she has broken the covenant made with Christ in order to give him or herself to the world. If one loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him or her. Those who love activities and possessions of this world do not love the Father, for they are obsessed with the things of this world. 

This does not mean that the rich must forsake their riches, for many rich people have the gift of making money for the benefit of the work of the kingdom advancement endeavors. The rich are not obligated to give themselves into poverty. However, those who have been consumed with the things the world have taken their minds off that which is to come. And that which is to come is the destruction of all that for which one has worked in this world.

Pleasure is the desire or inclination that pleases or delights you. It's something that gives you enjoyment, that is joy or delight. Pleasure can keep us away from God. And that pleasure that keeps us from pleasing God is sinful. But pleasure from God's rich bounty is good. There is nothing wrong with wanting a pleasurable life. God gives us good gifts, and He gives us richly all things to enjoy (James 1 vs 17; First Timothy 6 vs 17). But those sinful pleasures or evil desires that keep us away from God should be avoided. The Scripture has given us the cure of evil desires, which is humility:

Some people think that worldliness is limited to external behavior—the people we associate with, the places we go, the activities we enjoy. Worldliness is also internal because it begins in the heart and is characterized by three attitudes: (1) lust of the flesh; preoccupation with gratifying physical desires, (2) lust of the eyes; coveting and accumulating things, bowing to the god of materialism, and (3) pride of life; obsession with one's status or importance. 

The enemy of our soul—the devil—knows we are vulnerable in these areas. When the serpent tempted Eve, he tempted her in these areas; "So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate" (Genesis 3 vs 6),  Also, when the devil tempted Jesus in the wilderness, these were his three areas of attack (see Matthew 4 vs 1 - 11). Jesus didn't fall to the whims and caprices of the devil. He resisted him and he flee from Him. Jesus defeated the devil by His self-control, insisting on dong what “is written”! 

Normally, the desire for possessions and sinful pleasures can be intense, but we should realize that these objects of desire will one day pass away. It has been plainly revealed in the Scripture that it is only the person who does the will of God will live forever. In the passage we read today, the apostle John got his conviction based on the facts of Jesus' life, death, resurrection, and promises. We too should learn from that. Knowing that this evil world will end can give you the courage to deny yourself temporary pleasures in this world in order to enjoy what God has promised for eternity.

Prayer: Abba Father, endue me with the spirit of love for, and complete obedience to, You, and give md the grace to resist any form of compromise with the world, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

THE GREATEST NEED OF MAN!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

MONDAY JANUARY 13, 2020

SUBJECT: THE GREATEST NEED OF MAN!

Memory verse: "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” (Matthew 6 vs 33.)

READ: Mark 10 vs 28 - 30:

10:28: Then Peter began to say to Him, “See, we have left all and followed You.”
10:29: So Jesus answered and said, “Assuredly, I say unto you, there is no one who has left house, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's,
10:30: Who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time—houses and brethren and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life.”

INTIMATION:

Human beings have always seen their greatest need as financial. Governments and their leaders, businesses, families, even churches get trapped into thinking in the same manner, and that money is the answer to every problem. Though the Bible states that "Money answers everything" (Ecclesiastes 10 vs 19), and that "Money is a defense" (Ecclesiastes 7 vs 12), but it is not the greatest need of man. The greatest need of man is God's kingdom, and His righteousness, and all other of your needs, including financial, will be added to you.

To “seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness” means to put God first in your life, to fill your thoughts with His desires, to take His character for your pattern, and to serve and obey Him in everything. God’s righteousness comes through one’s submission to His will. Seeking the kingdom of God, therefore, must always be first. God will  take care of those who seek Him first. God’s kingdom is organized differently from worldly kingdoms. In the kingdom of God, wealth and power and authority are unimportant. The only important thing in His kingdom is your relationship and fellowship with Him—submitting yourself to the will of God.

God created all things and owns all things in the world. When you put God first in all things, God will stand with you as your “Faithful Companion” in everything. Jesus said, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word, and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.” (John 14 vs 23.) When the Creator and Owner of all things have makes His home with you, all things are available to you, as you are filled with the fullness of God, and your joy in Him will be full. Joy comes from a consistent relationship with Him. When our lives are intertwined with His, He will help us walk through life a conqueror in every circumstances.

In His kingdom we experience a shelter, and a refuge. Being in His kingdom ensures His answering whenever you call upon Him, and you rest assured of His deliverance from troubles. God said, “Because he has set his love upon Me, Therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him, and show him My salvation.” (Psalm 91 vs 14 - 16.) What else can anybody want or what is greater than this? God’s love is total. It reaches every corner our experience!

The Scripture says, “For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 14 vs 17.) The kingdom of God involves relationships, relationship between God and man (justification), and man and man (peace and joy). In His kingdom, God fills you with joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit, bearing the fruit of the Spirit—the fruit of righteousness: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Galatians 5 vs 22 - 23).

The fruit of the Spirit—the fruit of righteousness—is the spontaneous work of the Holy Spirit in us. The Spirit produces these character traits that are found in the nature of Christ. They are by-products of Christ’s control, and not by any efforts of ours without His help. And in the Spirit-filled life consists of the fruit of the Spirit which is in perfect harmony with the intents of God’s law. In all, we are fulfilled and above, will obtain the crown of glory, that is, external life with Him!

Prayer: Abba Father, grant me the grace to rightfully seek the greatest need of man—Your kingdom and Your righteousness—that I may have all other things added to me, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

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!