THE OVERCOMERS!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

SUNDAY APRIL 19, 2020.

SUBJECT: THE OVERCOMERS!

Memory verse:  "And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; and they did not love their lives to the death." (Revelation 12 vs 11.) 

READ:  First John 5 vs 4 - 5:

5:4: For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.
5:5: Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

 

INTIMATION:

Christians are overcomers; They have been brought forth from God by their response to the grace of God that was demonstrated by offering of His only begotten Son on the cross as a propitiation for the sins of the whole world. They have obeyed the gospel, and thus, have been born of water and the Spirit. Their faith is their victory insofar as they are moved to respond to the will of God. Therefore, the Christians’ faith has made it possible for them to overcome the world. Those who have obeyed have overcome the mentality and behavior of the world that is dominated by Satan as the temporary ruler of the part of the world that chooses to follow him. While Jesus is the permanent ruler of the whole world.

Christians became overcomers when Jesus, the Lamb, dealt the critical blow to Satan by the shedding of His blood on the cross for sins of the whole world. The victory was won by sacrifice—Christ’s death in our place to pay the penalty for our sins, and the sacrifice they make because of their faith in Christ. Jesus disarmed Satan and his agents—principalities and powers—and made made a public spectacle of them on the cross where He nailed them, and triumphed over them in victory for all believers (Colossians 2 vs 14 - 15). What Christ ‘disarmed’ on the cross was any embodiment of rebellion in the world—whether that be Satan and his demons, false idols of pagan religions, evil world government, or even God’s good angels when they become objects of worship. 

Christ has delivered the Christians from the power of darkness and conveyed them into the kingdom of the Son of His love (Colossians 1 vs 13). True believers have been transferred from darkness to light, from slavery to freedom, from guilt to forgiveness, and from the power of Satan to the power of God—the ultimate power in the universe. Satan has great power, but people can be delivered from his reign of spiritual darkness because of Christ’s victory on the cross. Satan is powerful, but Jesus is much more powerful. 

Christians have not only conquered the sin and death, they have also conquered the world because nothing in this world can separate them from the love of God. Satan has no subjective power over the Christian. Satan cannot of his will snatch the Christian from the love of God. He may go about in the world as a roaring lion (First Peter 5 vs 8), but His power of deception is not effective in reference to those who know and love the truth. He does not have the power to subject any Christian against his will who has given himself or herself to God. 

Christians now has power over the results of their sins by the power of the cleansing blood of Jesus. They have power over the kingdom of darkness by the power of the gospel and the word of God that they believe and preach. They are willing to die in Christ because they know that death is only a transition into a better realm—eternal life with Christ. And in Christ, God has freely given us all things that pertain to godliness and to a life of victory in this present evil age in which we are living (See Second Peter 1 vs 3). 

The Scripture, in Romans 8 vs 37 - 39, contain one of the most comfortable promises in all Scripture. Believers have always had to face hardships in many forms: persecution, hardship, illness, and even death. These sometimes cause them to fear that they have been abandoned by Christ. It is impossible to be separated from Christ. His death for us is proof of His unconquerable love. Nothing can separate us from Christ’s presence. God tells us how great His love is so that we will feel totally secure in Him. If we believe these overwhelming assurances, we will not be afraid in the face of life’s circumstances. 

Prayer: Abba Father, thank You, our most merciful and faithful God, for all You wrought in Christ for us. We have eternally overcome the world in Christ. Give me the grace to live worthily—in obedience, trust, and love for you—in response to all You have done for me, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD! 

LET HIS WILL BE DONE!

BELIEVE AND SPEAK THE WORD!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

FRIDAY APRIL 17, 2020.

SUBJECT: BELIEVE AND SPEAK THE WORD!

Memory verse:  "And since we have the same spirit of faith, according what is written, “I believed and therefore I spoke,” we also believe and therefore speak." (Second Corinthians 4 vs 13.) 

READ:  Mark 11 vs 22 - 24:

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 says will be done, he will have whatever he says. 

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

INTIMATION:

Believe is having trust in, or firm conviction about something. To believe in the Word is accepting its existence, recognizing its value or advantage, and to have faith in its ability. Believing builds up your faith. 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. Every Word of God is pure (Proverbs 30 vs 5), purified seven times (Psalm 12 vs 6), it is proven (Psalm 18 vs 30), it is living, quick, and powerful (Hebrews 4 vs 12), it stands forever (Isaiah 40 vs 8). and God hastens His Word to perform it (Jeremiah 1 vs 12).

Believing that God exists is only the beginning. You have to have faith in what you believe, and demonstrate that faith by practicing what you have believed. If one truly believes, he or she will speak forth the word of God. The faith or believe that one must have is not worth having if he or she is not willing to speak it out or even die for it. As you study the Bible, put into practice the lessons, commands, and examples you have learnt, you will be able to see your way clear enough to stay on the right path. 

Faith comes alive when we apply Scripture to our daily tasks and concerns. The Word of God is a seed (Luke 8 vs 11), and when planted on good soil (the good soil is the qualifying conditions mentioned below) bears good fruit. The qualifying conditions to bring the power in the Word into action are: (1) you must be a believer; (2) you must not hold a grudge against another person (Mark 11 vs 25); you must not pray with selfish motives; (4) your request must be for the good of God's kingdom; (5) you must have faith in God and His Word, not faith in the object of your request.

Believe in God, and His Word, have faith and trust in Him, resolve to do His bidding, practice the Word life by speaking the Word into action, and rest assured of a profitable living as the mountains on your path of life will be leveled. The Word is like a medicine—it goes to work only when we apply it to the affected areas: The Scripture notes, "He sent His Word and healed them, And delivered them from their destructions." (Psalm 107 vs 20.) 

Now that you have known that God and His Word is one, the unchanging nature of God, and consequently the unchanging nature and efficacy of His Word, as well as the purity and power in the Word, and how He hastens to perform His Word, search, and locate the desired Word applicable to the situation of concern in your life. Pray that the Holy Spirit will open your eyes of understanding, and give you the desire to apply Scripture where you need the manifestation of God’s unparalleled power. 

For instance, if you are having any health challenges, speak the Word in Isaiah 53 vs 4 - 5, Matthew 8 vs 17, First Peter 2 vs 24, into your health situation; "Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; and by His stripes we are healed; He Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses in His body nailed them on the Cross that we might be free and are freed.” Keep saying it, don't stop saying it, and the result is sure to come. Though it may tarry, be patient and wait for it, for it shall surely come. 

Remember the Word of God in Isaiah 55 vs 11, "So shall My Word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it." There is a Word for every situation in life. Locate the Word that relates to your situation, and sow the seed of the Word (Luke 8 vs 11) into the situation by speaking the Word. “God is not a man, that He should lie; nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will he not do ? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?” (Numbers 23 vs 19.) 

Prayer: Abba Father, You made all things by Your Word, and has given us all that pertains to life and godliness in Your Word, give me the grace to be studious of Your Word, believing and speaking Your Word into any situations of concern in my life, that I may obtain the inherent promises, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

SACRIFICE YOURSELF TO GOD!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

THURSDAY APRIL 16, 2020.

SUBJECT: SACRIFICE YOURSELF TO GOD! 

Memory verse: "And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God." (Romans 6 vs 13.)

READ: Romans 12 vs 1 - 2:

12:1: I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.

12:2: And be not conformed to this world: but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

INTIMATION:

In view of the fact that God’s grace was poured out for our salvation, our natural response is to obediently comply with the directions of the One who has offered the grace. Christians should be motivated to respond to all that God has done by giving themselves totally to to God who gave His only begotten Son to them. Presenting yourself as a living sacrifice is the natural response of the spiritually-minded individual who has come to know and appreciate the grace of God. 

Just as the Levitical Law (Leviticus 1 vs 9) called for the total consumption of the burnt offering for sin upon the altar of sacrifice, so must Christians give their lives totally to God. It is only reasonable to respond with worship to God for His grace that was manifested through the sacrifice of His Son on the cross. We should offer our lives in sacrificial worship and service to Him. Those who have not given their lives totally to God have not appreciated the grace of God. If because of His grace God was willing to offer His Son, who was eternal in heaven, then certainly it is not unreasonable that we give to Him the totality of our short life on earth. 

It is also the mind of the flesh to reason that one can give anything less than the totality of his life and believe that God’s grace will reward him for his lukewarm commitment. The committed mind is directed by purposes that are higher than the material world and the ambitions of the selfishly driven individual. The thinking of the Christian is to be on those things that will last beyond the existence of this world. Therefore, he is not to engage his or her thinking in those things that would divert his or her life from the eternal purposes of God. 

To sacrifice yourself is to submit to God in devotion. He wants us to offer ourselves as living sacrifices—daily laying aside our own desires to follow Him, putting all our energy and resources at His disposal and trusting Him to guide us. We do this out of gratitude that our sins have been forgiven. God has good, pleasing, and perfect plans His children. He wants us to be transformed people with renewed minds, living to honor and obey Him. Because He wants only what is best for us, and because He gave His Son to make our new life possible, we should joyfully give ourselves as living sacrifices for His service.

Our skills, capabilities, and bodies can serve many purposes, good or bad. In sin, every part of the our body is vulnerable. In Christ, every part can be an instrument for service. It is the one to whom we offer our service that makes the difference. We are like lasers that can burn destructive holes in steel places or do delicate cataract surgery. Will you give yourself completely to God, asking Him to put you to good use to His glory? 

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, my utmost heart desire is for an intimate relationship with You, that I may be a living sacrifice to You, and You will put me in to good use to Your glory, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

THE NEW BIRTH!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

WEDNESDAY APRIL 15, 2020.

SUBJECT: THE NEW BIRTH!

Memory verse:  "Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." (Acts 2 vs 38.) 

READ:  John 3 vs 3 - 8:

3:3: Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." 

3:4: Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?"

3:5: Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 

3:6: That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit. 3:7: Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' 

3:8: The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.

INTIMATION:

The new birth is the birth of the spirit by being regenerated by the power of God. To be part of the kingdom of God, that is, to enter into the kingdom of God, Jesus stated a condition for one’s participation in it. The condition will be the manifestation of one’s response to all that God as done in order to bring one into a covenant relationship with Him. In this one statement of Jesus, the condition is established for one’s participation with Him in the kingdom of God. He is not establishing a commandment as a work of merit or a condition that will put God in debt to save one. 

This birth is not the result of one’s ancestral heritage from Abraham. Neither is it the physical birth that would result from a sexual relationship between a man and a woman. Neither is the birth generated from the religious inventions of men who would pronounce themselves righteous before God. The new birth is from God. The cleansing of sin at the point of baptism originates from the One against whom sin has been committed. However, His forgiveness and justification are given when men respond by faith to be buried and resurrected with the One who died for our sins (Romans 6 vs 3 - 6). It is at the point of baptism, therefore, that one is born again.

In the passage we read today, Nicodemus’ first question was certainly or the purpose of generating further explanation by Jesus concerning what He said about a new birth. Jesus answer is that to be in God’s kingdom, one would have to be spiritually born again in order to come into a covenant relationship with God. One must be born of the water of baptism, at which point, one is renewed by the Holy Spirit. What Jesus is saying is that unless one truly repents because of obedient faith, and is immersed into Christ via immersion baptism in water, he or she cannot participate with Jesus in the kingdom of God. 

One is thus born anew in baptism by the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit. “Born of water” is the response of the individual to the grace of God. “Born of Spirit” is the work of God in a realm we do not fully understand. We are simply told that it is the Spirit who does His work to bring us forth from the grave of baptism pure of sin because we have relinquished to obedience to the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. The apostle Paul says, “Therefore we are buried with Him through baptism into death: that just as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” (Romans 6 vs 4.)

When one is born of the Spirit, He is spiritually rejuvenated by the Holy Spirit through the sacrificial blood of Jesus (Ephesians 1 vs 7). To be saved we must be spiritually regenerated in order to be reconciled to God. Just as the wind cannot be seen by the physical eyes of humans, and so is the work of the Holy Spirit in regeneration. The Spirit does His work in the regeneration of the soul of man at the point of immersion. In the new birth, the Spirit does His work of sanctification without the perception of men. 

Baptism parallels the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, and it also portrays the death and burial of our sinful old way of life followed by resurrection to new life in Christ. Remembering that our old sinful life is dead and buried with Christ gives us a powerful motive to resist sin. Not wanting the desires of our past to come back to power again, we can consciously choose to treat our desires as if they were dead. Then we can continue to enjoy our wonderful new life with Christ. (Galatians 3 vs 27; Colossians 3 vs 1 - 4). 

Therefore, the confession of our believe in Christ as our personal Lord and Savior, is a step in our obtaining new birth in Him. The baptism by immersion into water parallels our death, burial of our sinful old way of life followed by our resurrection to new life in Christ. One is this born anew by the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit.

Prayer: Abba Father, thank You for our death and burial with Christ by baptism. And our resurrection from the dead by Your glorious power, and making walk in the newness of life, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

PARKAKERS OF THE NEW HEAVENS AND NEW EARTH!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

TUESDAY APRIL 14, 2020.

SUBJECT: PARTAKERS OF THE NEW HEAVENS AND NEW EARTH!

Memory verse: "Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness." (Revelation 21 vs 3.) 

READ: Isaiah 65 vs 17; 66 vs 22; Second Peter 3 vs 10 & 13:

Isaiah 65:17: For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.

66:22: For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain.

Second Peter 3:10: But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

3:13: Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

INTIMATION:

Heaven is where God live. It is a dwelling place of God, His Son Jesus where He first came from, and dwelling place of angels (Matthew 6 vs 9; 18 vs 10; Hebrews 8 vs 1; 10 vs 12). Life in heaven operates according to God’s principles and values, and it is eternal and unshakable. However, God will purify the heavens and earth with fire, to make anew. The new heaven and earth is the future realm of dwelling wherein the resurrected redeemed will eternally exist with a spiritual body in the presence of God. 

We don’t know how the new earth will look or where it will be, but God and His followers—those whose names are written in the Book of Life—will be united to live there forever. It is not a place flesh and blood (First Corinthians 15 vs 50), like the present earth, where we all face limitations. Some have physical, mental, or emotional disabilities. Some are blind, deaf, lame, but we will all be given new bodies when Christ returns and that these bodies will be without disabilities, never to die or become sick. 

In addition, those with disabilities and other limitations are encouraged that those disabilities and limitations are only temporary. 

God’s purpose for people is not destruction but recreation. God will purify the heavens and earth with fire, then He will create them anew. We can joyously look forward to the restoration of God’s good world. The purified or new heavens and earth is a place of rest, joy, glory, righteousness, no sorrow, no death, and a place of eternal life. (Romans 8 vs 18; Colossians 3 vs 4; Matthew 25 vs 21). The purpose of purified heaven and earth is for the reward to the obedient, an inheritance for God’s children, a place of immortality for the mortal, a crown of victory for the faithful. 

Our loyalty should be to our citizenship in the new heavens and earth, not to our citizenship here on earth, because the earth will be destroyed. Jesus remarked that heaven and earth shall pass away, therefore, our utmost desire is to be partakers in the new heavens and earth, where God will live with the faithful forever. Those who will inherit heaven are; the pure in heart, the persecuted Christians, the undefined, the moral upright believers. (Matthew 5 vs 4 - 12. Revelation 21 vs 27; Galatians 5 vs 19 - 21; Revelation 22 vs 15).

Realizing that the earth is going to be burned up, we should put our confidence in what is lasting and eternal and not be bound in earth and it’s treasures or pursuits. While it is true that money, fame, and belongings can’t be taken with us from this life to dwell with God, we can produce fruit that survives even death by utilizing them to do God’s will; taking care of the poor and needy amongst us, investing in kingdom endeavors, and excelling in every good works. God will remember our love, kindness, and faithfulness, and those who accept Christ through our witness, and they will join us in the new earth. 

Be sure that your values are in line with God’s values, and decide today to produce fruit that lasts forever. Our loyalty should be to God’s truth, His way of life, and His dedicated people. Do you spend much of your time piling up possessions or striving to develop Christlike character? Will you be part of the new heavens and earth? The choice is yours, and the time is now, for the end is fast approaching! 

Prayer: Abba Father, one thing I desire, that will I seek after; is that I may dwell in Your kingdom, and live with You forever. Give me the grace to earnestly pursue this desire, and that the zeal of Your house will eat me up, that I may run to obtain the in perishable crown of eternity with You, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

GOD IS EVER CARING!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

MONDAY APRIL 13, 2020.

SUBJECT: GOD IS EVER CARING!

Memory verse: "Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you." (First Peter 5 vs 7.) 

READ: Psalm 103 vs 8-14 & 17:

103:8: The Lord is merciful and gracious. slow to anger, and abounding in mercy. 

103:9: He will not always strive with us, nor will He keep His anger forever. 

103:10: He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor punished us according to our iniquities. 

103:11: For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; 

103:12: As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. 

103:13: As s father pities his children, do the Lord pities those who fear Him. 

103:14: For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust. 

103:17: But the mercy of The Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him. And His righteousness to children's children. 

INTIMATION:

God has deep interest in all that concerns you and I. We are fragile, but God's care is eternal. Too often we focus on God as Judge and Lawgiver, ignoring His compassion and concern for us. When God examines our lives He remembers the frailty of our our human condition. His mercy takes everything into account. God will deal with us compassionately. God is so caring that when He forgives us our sin, He separates it from us and doesn't even remember it. As east and west can never meet, so is the symbolic portrait of God's forgiveness of our sins. We need never wallow in the past, for God forgives and forgets.

In Matthew 6 vs 31 - 33, the Scripture states, "Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' Or 'What shall drink?' For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." To "seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness" means we should put God first in all things in our lives; we should turn to God first for help, to fill your thoughts with His desires, to take His character for your pattern, and to serve and obey Him in everything. Though other things, and desires all compete for priority in our lives, and any of these can quickly bump God out of first place if you don't actively choose to give Him first place in every area of our life.

Carrying your worries, stresses, and daily struggles by yourself shows that you have not trusted God fully with your life. It takes humility, however, to recognize that God cares, and to admit your needs, and let God take care of you. Sometimes we think that struggles caused by our own sin and foolishness are not God's concern. But when we turn to God in repentance, He will bear the weight of those struggles, including your sins. Our loving Father will never leave us; that is His promise. But the enemy of our souls wants us to doubt God, and to question His ability. And undoubtedly, this is the trick the father of lies—Satan—has used from the beginning of human history.

In the Garden of Eden our first parents were set up to live happily ever after, having been placed in a paradise-like setting by a Loving, Caring, and Personal God. They had been given everything they could ever want, but with only one small restriction: "Don't eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil." We easily will say today, 'What a simple innocuous request and easy to obey.' But when they were enticed by the “tempter,” they fell into his trap of questioning the love and goodness of the One from whom they had only experienced good. What a monstrous lie! But they bought the lie hook, line and sinker! And mankind has been wretched ever since, but for God's intervention through His Son, Jesus Christ!

We do the same today. We willingly swallow the lie that we cannot trust our Heavenly Father. We allow our earthly hurts from parents or others to distrust our view and our understanding of God. Our many feelings, emotions, fears, and human experience effectively block a clean perception, consequently stifling all truth about Him. Pray that God will help you not allow negative human relationship and experience interfere with having a close relationship with your Loving, and Caring Father, and hindering your enjoying the never ending and limitless benefits of His care.

Prayer: Abba Father, You are so caring and loving that You gave Your only Son, Jesus Christ, to die for my sins. What a supreme sacrifice You made for me! Forever You remain my God. Endue me with the spirit of love, compassion, trust, and complete obedience to You, Who has given all for me, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!