TRUE HUMILITY!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

SATURDAY MARCH 7, 2020.

SUBJECT : TRUE HUMILITY!

Memory verse: "Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself." 

(Philippians 2 vs 3.)

READ: Psalm 8 vs 3 - 4; First Corinthians 15 vs 9 - 10: 

Psalm 8:3: When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained, 

8:4: what is man that You are mindful of him, and the Son of man that You visit Him?

First Corinthians 15:9: For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 

15:1: But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

INTIMATION:

Humility is modesty and meekness. True humility gives a more accurate perspective of oneself and the world. It is seeing ourselves as we really are from God's perspective, and acting accordingly. When we acknowledge God’s majesty, and compare ourselves to His greatness, we will realize how small we are by comparison, and this is a healthy way to get back to reality. True humility is not convincing yourself that you are worthless or nobody before God, but recognizing God's work in you. It is having God's perspective of who you are, and acknowledging His grace in developing your abilities. We accept God’s gifts and use them to praise and serve Him.

How can we humble ourselves? Some people think that humility means putting themselves down. Truly humble people compare themselves only with Christ, realize their sinfulness, and understand their limitations. On the other hand, they also recognize their gifts and strengths and are willing to use them as Christ directs. Humility is not self-degradation; it is realistic self-assessment and commitment to serve. True 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. 

In one of the passage we read today, the apostle Paul, in his first letter to the Corinthian church, demonstrated clearly true humility. He considered himself least among the apostles, and thought of himself not worthy to be an apostle because of his past records.  Though, his fellow apostles acknowledged him as haven gotten more revelations than them, but yet he considered himself least among them. (See Second Peter 3 15 - 16.) He  worked harder than the other apostles to preach the same message he initially was condemning. 

Paul felt unworthy to be called an apostle of Christ because, as a zealous Pharisee, he had been an enemy of the Christian church; even to the point of capturing and persecuting believers (see Acts 9 vs 1 - 3). His conversion stunned his fellow Pharisees. When Christ saw his zealousness in pursuing his erroneous believes, He arrested him to apply that same zealousness in doing the correct work for God. His eyes were opened to the wrong believes when Christ met him on the road to Damascus, and he was blinded to the erroneous believes.

The apostle Paul was deeply humble. He knew that he had worked hard and accomplished, but only because God had poured kindness and grace upon him which he always acknowledged. In First Corinthians 15 vs 8, he remarked himself 'as one born out of necessity' because he was a special case; the other apostles saw Christ and were with Him in the flesh, but he was in the next generation of believers—he believed after Christ appeared to him. 

Today, people practice of false humility by talking negatively about themselves so that others will think they are spiritual. They will tell of their wretched past, and comparing it to their present achievements, praising themselves for their accomplishments. Rather than give glory to God and praise Him, they appropriate all their achievements to their ability and doggedness. They turn into the doer, and not God; ‘vainly puffed up by their fleshly minds,’ as the apostle Paul described such persons in Colossians 2 vs 18. False humility is self-centered while true humility is God-centered.

We Let us not lose sight of the end result of all our humility and self-sacrifice—a joyous banquet with our Lord! God never asks us to suffer for the sake of suffering. He never asks us to give up something good unless He plans to replace it with something even better. Jesus is not calling us to join Him in a labor camp but in a feast—the marriage supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19 vs 6 - 9), When God and His beloved church will be joined forever.

Prayer: Abba Father, endue me with true humility worship and serve You, and others. Help me to put You first in all things, and to always consider the collective interests of others above mine, in Jesus' Name I prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

BREAKFAST BY THE SEASIDE
Life's Punchlines... (Volume 3).
❤🇳🇬🇳🇬 Year 2020🇳🇬🇳🇬❤.

Preacher: Priest Godsknight O.J

Topic: Melting Point.

Text: Nahum 1v5 "The mountains quake before Him and the hills melt away. The earth trembles at His presence, the world and all who live in it."

The situation of this world right now is like, one just need to prepare for the worst daily while expecting the best at the end of each day ( Prov 4v16-18).

God gave us good lives for free, situations tries to make it look like we borrowed it. Something just need to give way for our greatness to manifest 🛫, the devil 😈 has to resign ( Rom 8v18-19).

A lot of people in trying to understand life were led astray. Almost Impossible to retrace their steps, now languishing in despondency. Jesus is counting on us to be their mountains🌋 melting points (Is 61v1 ).

A young lady played emotional community shield and was caught in the very act; her accusers wanted her dead for the devil's sake, not knowing that Jesus is a Melting Point ( Jn 8v 1-11).

Ps 97v5 "The mountains melt like wax before the LORD, before the Lord of all the earth."

Every obstacle has an expiring date, except you've not shown it the size of Jesus in your life (Micah 1v4 ).

Handle that crossroad⚠ with wisdom, it will determine if you'll get to the finish line soon, or would have to start all over again and again 🤷🏾‍♂.

If you've killed someone before, Jesus will forgive you. And if someone kills you, Jesus will forgive the person. Revenge time is long past, learn to spare lives and have a secured life too ( 2 Sam 14v14, Ps 91v16).

Melting Point concept is very simple, you're not permitted to remain a slave to your past sins & creditors. Come to Jesus with your loads of care, He'll break those yokes (Acts 10v38, Is 10v27).

I prophesy into your lives, every mountain 🗻 confronting you shall skip like Rams today before Jesus the Melting Point in Jesus Name.

God bless you🤝.
Instagram: @PriestGodsknight.

SURVIVING SATANIC ATTACKS!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

FRIDAY MARCH 6, 2020.

SUBJECT: SURVIVING SATANIC ATTACKS!

Memory verse: "Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” (First Peter 5 vs 8.)

READ: Ephesians 6 vs 10 - 18:

6:10: Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might.
6:11: Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
6:12: For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in heavenly places.
6:13: Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
6:14: Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having on the breastplate of righteousness,
6:15: and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
6:16: above all, taking the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 
6:17: And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 
6:18: praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints. 

INTIMATION:

The Christian’s struggle is not against the physical things of this world. The struggle is a spiritual battle against the deceptive devices of Satan who seeks to change the moral values of those who are willing to live according to their own desire as opposed to the will of God. The source of all evil that is seen in the world is Satan and his demonic forces that are at work in order to destroy the work of God through Jesus. Beneath the surface of the routine of daily life, is a fierce struggle among invisible spiritual powers constantly being waged. 

In Christian life we battle against “principalities” and “powers”—the powerful evil forces of fallen angels (demons) headed by the devil, who is a vicious fighter. They are not mere fantasies—they are real. We face a powerful army whose goal is to defeat Christ’s church. When we believe in Christ, these beings become our enemies, and they try every device to turn us away from Him and back to sin. To withstand their attacks, we must depend on God’s strength and use every piece of His armor. As you do battle against “the rulers of darkness of this age,” fight in the strength of the power that comes from the Holy Spirit. 

Satan is constantly scheming to deceive the innocent. His deceptive influences are presented to the saints of God through every means. If one is not conscious of the fact that Satan is continually scheming to deceive the righteous, then he will not be vigilant against apostasy. We need supernatural power to defeat Satan, and God has provided this by giving us His Holy Spirit within us and His armor surrounding us. Although we are assured of victory, we must engage in the struggle until Christ returns, because Satan is constantly battling against all who are on the Lord’s side. 

Christians should first put the truth of God in their hearts by believing and living the truth—God’s Word. They should do such in order that they be transformed into the strong character of Jesus, as well as be able to identify and stand against all that is error and morally wrong. Now, just as the breastplate in the soldier’s armor protects the vital organs of the soldier, Christians’ life in the will of God protects the vital spiritual life of the Christian. It is upon the foundation of the historical event of the gospel that Christians maintain emotional, mental, and spiritual stability. It is the fact of the death of Jesus for our sins and His resurrection for our hope that we can have peace of mind and confidence that Jesus has all things under control for the sake of the Christian. 

The faith of the Christian functions as a shield to ward off the attacks of doubt, discouragement, and despair. The Scripture in First John 5 vs 4 says, “And this is the victory that overcomes the world, our faith.” As the shield protects the soldier’s body against the attacks of the enemy, the faith of the Christian functions in like manner. By increasing faith through the study of the word of God (Romans 10 vs 17), the Christian is able to stand against the deceptions of Satan. Every temptation that Satan may throw against the Christian can be stopped by truth that is learned through a study of God’s word. 

The assurance of salvation of the Christian that is based, not on their works, but in the grace of God through Jesus Christ, protects him or her against the wiles of the devil,  just as the helmet protects the head which is the center of reference of the body, and the soldier can confidently keep his head high in order to engage the enemy in battle. The Christian uses the word of the Spirit to attack the enemy of deception and also defend himself against being deceived. It is the responsibility of every Christian to arm him or herself with a knowledge of the word of God in order not to be tossed to and fro in a world of turbulent religious deceptions. One must “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (Second Peter 3 vs 18). 

Christians should maintain a lifestyle that lends itself to prayer. It is through prayer that not only the inward man is strengthened, but also the work of God is called upon by the believers to function  in their lives. How can one pray at all times? One way is to make quick, brief prayers your habitual response to every situation you meet throughout the day. Another way is to order your life around God’s desires and teachings so that your very life becomes a prayer. You don’t have to isolate yourself from other people and from daily work in order to pray constantly. You can make prayer your life, and your life prayer, while living in a world that needs God’s powerful influence. 

The following guidelines can help you prepare for and survive satanic attacks: (1) Take the threat of spiritual attack seriously; (2) pray for strength and help from God; (3) study the Bible to recognize Satan’s style and tactics; (4) memorize Scripture so it will be a source of help no matter where you are; (5) associate with those who speak the truth; and (6) practice what you are taught by sound spiritual leaders. There is no power that Satan may have that can break through the armor of God that the Christian exercises in his or her life (Romans 8 vs 37 - 39).

Prayer: Abba Father, prepare me a soldier of Christ, constantly putting on Your whole armor for my daily spiritual battle against the devil and his cohorts, that I will be able to stand against the wiles of the devil, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

THE BELIEVER’S LIFE IN CHRIST!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

THURSDAY MARCH 5, 2020.

SUBJECT : THE BELIEVER’S LIFE IN CHRIST!

Memory verse: "But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption." (First Corinthians 1 vs 30.)

READ: Galatians 2 vs 20; Colossians 2 vs 9 - 10:

Galatians 2:20: I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."

Colossians 2:9: For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; 

2:10: and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power. 

INTIMATION:

In the new birth, we have become one with Christ, and His experiences are ours. Christian life began when, in unity with Christ, we died to our old life (See Romans 6 vs 5 - 11). And yet the focus of Christianity is not on dying but on living. Because we have been crucified with Christ, we have also been raised with Him (Romans 6 vs 5). Legally, we have been reconciled with God (Second Corinthians 5 vs 19) and are free to grow in Christ’s likeness (Romans 8 vs 29). And in our daily life, we have Christ’s resurrection power as we continue to fight sin (Ephesians 1 vs 19 - 20). We are no longer alone, for Christ lives in us—He is our power for living and our hope for the future (Colossians 1 vs 27).

Christ is the strength of the believer’s life. He is the fount of our resources as believers and the reason for our personal and living relationship with God. Our union and identification with Christ results in our having God's wisdom and knowledge (Colossians 2 vs 3), possessing right standing with God (righteousness, Second Corinthians 5 vs 21), being sanctified (First Thessalonians 3 vs 3 -7), and having the penalty of our sins paid by Jesus (redemption, Mark 10 vs 45).

God is our ability. He is the Author and Finisher of our faith. We are partakers of His divine nature. His wisdom is given to us in Christ without measure, so we can safely say He is our ability. Jesus told His disciples, to wait in the city of Jerusalem they are endued with power from on high (Luke 24 vs 49). The word "power" comes from the Greek word "dunamis." Some translations call it "ability." They were to tarry in Jerusalem until they received the ability of God.

Christ has come into the believer in His fullness; with all His completeness. The limitless One has come into the believer to take over. He gave His ability, His completeness. Now, we can understand John 1 vs 16 that says, "Of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace." All that the believer requires is to be filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.  Consequently, we will walk worthily of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, bearing fruit unto every good work and continually increasing in this exact, and perfect knowledge of God, and strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power. (See Colossians 1 vs 9 - 13).

This new light has given the believer a new responsibility in the prayer life. You can understand now why He said, "Come boldly unto the Throne of Grace" into the Throne Room (Hebrews 4 vs 16), where He and the Father are seated together. You are not to come as a servant or a slave, but as a lover, a son. Now, prayer of course, is not going to be what it was before you knew who you are in Christ, and what your privileges are. Prayer is now coming boldly in the Throne Room, in fellowship with your Father and the Son—the first born among many brethren, and putting Him into remembrance of His promises—His Word, contending together with Him, and stating your case clearly to obtain His promises (Isaiah 43 vs 26).

Prayer: Abba Father, thank You so much for the privilege of sonship granted me. My eyes of understanding are continually enlightened with the spirit of wisdom and revelation of the knowledge of You. Now, I know the hope of Your calling, and the riches of the glory of Your inheritance in me, in Jesus’ Name I have given thanks, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

BREAKFAST BY THE SEASIDE
Life's Punchlines... (Volume 3).
❤🇳🇬🇳🇬 Year 2020🇳🇬🇳🇬❤.

Preacher: Priest Godsknight O.J

Topic: Pleasant Fictions (2).

Text: Is 30v10 "They say to the seers, " See no more visions!", and to the prophets, "Give us no more visions of what is right! Tell us pleasant things, prophesy illusions."

Humans has this constant willingness to cut corners, contrary to divine instructions at the slightest opportunity. This weakness has given pleasant fictions a large market worldwide.

King Ahab was to go to a war, King Jehoshaphat advised him to inquire from God. Prophet Micaiah told him the truth but King Ahab preferred his "Pleasant Fictions Prophets", which led to his death (1 Kings 22v1-40).

Pleasant fictions are taught in schools, many people's career & religions are built around it. A handful even lay down their lives to defend the hypocrisy ignorantly ( Luke 12v1-3).

However, the earth is beginning to take interesting shapes since Calvary's victory. Despite our inadequacies, the devil 😈 can't force Jesus to antagonize us anymore.

Our job as Christians is to heal the walls causing the great divide till they become useful bridges. We can't stay divided because of well programmed pleasant fictions (Eph 2v14).

Some take pride in atrocities, yet, wants to give directives to those who chose modesty (Luke 20v 46-47). Uncountable lives are wasted yearly due to pleasant fictions.

King Solomon saw how destinies were built on mere pleasant fictions, no concrete foundation, & concluded that all is vanity upon vanity (Luke 6v47-49 ).

For Instance, top law enforcement agencies know money launderers, yet, will wait for money to circulate before nabbing innocent customers that patronizes the bank 🏦.

We're in the age of truth, we can't afford to be bats anymore (Jn 8v32). A truth that throws you off balance, is your truth. Embrace it now & let go of disastrous pleasant fictions (Prov 25v27).

God bless you🤝.
Instagram: @PriestGodsknight.

THE GRACE TO LIVE HOLY!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

WEDNESDAY MARCH 4, 2020.

SUBJECT:  THE GRACE TO LIVE HOLY!

Memory verse:  "For God did I not call us to uncleanness but in holiness.” (First Thessalonians 4 vs 7.) 

READ:  First Peter 1 vs 13 - 16:

1:13: Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

1:14 as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance;

1:15: but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 

1:16: because it is written, “Be Holy, For I am holy.”

INTIMATION:

Grace, as undeserved (unmerited) favor, is one aspect of grace, we are  probably most accustomed to hearing about, and it is wonderful. But we have also seen that grace is power—the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives—that enables us overcome our problems. It is the power of God available to meet our needs without cost to us. There is nothing more powerful than grace, and it is received by believing rather than through human effort.

What is holiness? Holiness is being "separated to God,"—being consecrated or set aside for sacred use. It is standing apart from sin and evil. It is a separation that should result in "conduct befitting those so separated." It is the characteristics or nature of God, especially the third person of the "Trinity."  

Holiness is a demand on us by God. We are to separate ourselves from the world's sinful values, and be devoted to God's desire rather than our own, and carry His love and mercy into the world. God's plan for us ab initio, is to be like Him, hence His creating us in His own image and after His likeness (Genesis 1 vs 26). He wanted us to live like Him. Unfortunately, sin separated us from Him. In His love, mercy and grace, He sent His Son, as a propitiation for our sins (First John 4 vs 10), and through His blood reconciled us back to Himself, to live for Him and be like Him. 

But while God wants us to be holy, He realizes our weakness and inability. He knows that without help we can never be what He desires for us to be or wants us to do. That is why He has sent His Spirit to help us to fulfill His design and purpose for us. Jesus has gone to prepare a place for us, and the Holy Spirit has been sent to prepare us for that place. That is not a Scripture, but it is scriptural, that is, a truth based on the Word of God. This process through which the Holy Spirit makes us holy, or leads us into holiness is called sanctification. 

Sanctification therefore, refers to the process that God uses to do a work in us by His Holy Spirit to make us more and more holy until finally we become just like His Son Jesus. It is God's grace (the power of the Holy Spirit) we receive that enables us to meet the need of sanctification—the transformation process to holiness.

In Hebrews 10 vs 14, the Bible says, "For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified." We have been made perfect, yet we are being sanctified (made holy). Through His death and resurrection, Christ, once for all, made His believers perfect in God's sight. At the same time He is making them holy (progressively cleansed and set apart for His special use) in their daily pilgrimage here. We should not be surprised, ashamed or shocked that we still need to grow. God is not finished with us yet.

Sanctification is a progressive venture. The finality of that process will never occur while we are in these earthly bodies. But we don't need to be concerned about that. The only thing we need to be concerned about is progress. The question we must ask ourselves is, “Are we making progress toward holiness, are we cooperating with the Holy Spirit and allowing Him to do what He wants to do in our lives?” 

As believers we are not to be anxious about holiness or the process of sanctification ('be anxious for nothing' (Philippians 4 vs 6)), but we are to be serious about it. We are to recognize that it is God's Will for us. We are to desire and thirst for it with all our hearts, and sincerely ask God for it in our fellowship with Him. We are to make every effort to cooperate with the Holy Spirit Who is working to bring it to pass in us day by day.

Prayer: Abba Father, in Your loving kindness, and the riches of Your grace You saved us from the bondage of sin and Satan to live for You, and be like You. I thirst for the endowment of Your Spirit of grace for my sanctification, to lead a holy life as You desire, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

YOU ASK AND DO NOT RECEIVE!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

TUESDAY MARCH 3, 2020

SUBJECT: YOU ASK AND DO NOT RECEIVE!

Memory verse: "You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures." (James 4 vs 3.) 

READ:  James 1 vs 5 - 8; First John 5 vs 14 - 15:

James 1:5: If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally, and without reproach, and it will be given him.

1:6: But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.

1:7: For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 

1:8: he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

1:17: Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. 

First John 5:14: Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.
5:15: And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we asked of Him.

INTIMATION:

The major problem with us is that we most times fail to ask from the Lord. We go around complaining about our problems and spending half our times trying to figure out what we can do to solve the problem. We do everything under the sun except the one thing we are asked to do in the Word of God; “Ask, that we may receive that our joy may be full.” (John 16 vs 24.) And when we now remember to ask God in prayer, we ask in unacceptable ways that will culminate into our not receiving our petitions.

The apostle James mentions the most common problems in prayer: not asking, asking for the wrong things, or asking for the wrong reasons. Do you talk to God at all? When you do, what do you talk about? Do you ask only to satisfy your desires? Do you seek God’s approval for what you already plan to do? Are your desires in accordance with God's will? Your prayers will become powerful when you allow God to change your desires so that they perfectly correspond to His will for you. 

The apostle James also stated that God's blessing is without reproach or fault-finding. When He blesses, He has blessed, and never turns to find faults. When we go to Him, asking Him for help, He doesn't withhold His help from us because we have made a mistake. The reason why we don't receive is not because we don't deserve what we are asking for, but because we are not asking in faith, and because we have lost our confidence or we are being double-minded.

In his epistle, the apostle John gives the condition for answered prayer, “Beloved if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God. And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing to His sight. And thus is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commitment.” (First John 3 vs 21 - 23.) 

Therefore, answered prayer is conditioned on (1) keeping God’s commandments, and (2) doing the things that are pleasing to God. Therefore, we must ask according to the will of God, for God does not work contrary to His will in answer to prayer. We must ask upon the condition that we are obedient to His will, for God works through the lives of those who are carrying out His work in the world. 

According to the apostles James and John: 

God is what kind of a God?  A "giving God."

How does He give? "Liberally and ungrudgingly."

To whom does He give? "To everyone that ask according to His will"

What is His attitude in giving? "Without reproach and fault-finding."

What kind of gift does He give? "Good and perfect gifts."

How does He react after giving? "Without variation or shadow of turning."

When does He give? "When we ask in faith."

Who receives from Him? “The undoubled-minded person, stable in his ways.”

Why do we ask in faith? “Without faith it is impossible to please Him.”

“For whoever would come near to God must believe that God exists and that He is the rewarder of those who earnestly and diligently seek Him.” (Hebrews 11 vs 6). And whatever you desire, ask from God, and wait patiently for Him to bring it to pass in His own way, and in His own time. God's ways are perfect! If you are frustrated about timing, learn to pray with the psalmist, "My times are in Your hands......(Psalm 31 vs 15). 

Prayer: Abba Father, I can receive nothing unless it is given to me from You. And I can only receive when I ask in faith, without doubting. I know You will not deny me anything I need to live for You. Endue me with the spirit of faith in, and complete obedience to You, in Jesus’ Name I prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!