DWELL NOT IN THE PAST!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

TUESDAY JULY 28, 2020.

SUBJECT: DWELL NOT IN THE PAST! 

Memory verse: "But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."

 (Luke 9 vs 62

.)

READ: Philippians 3 vs 13 - 14:

3:12: Not that I have already attained, or am already perfect; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.

3:13: Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended: but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,
3:14: I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

3:15: Therefore, let us, as many are mature, have this mind, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you.

INTIMATION:

The past belongs to history, do not dwell in it. Looking back at the past only serves to limit your vision for the future. Even though the past is not entirely gone, your atonement and redemption from yesterday's mistakes and failures can be the bricks and mortar of today. You need to dream of things that never were and press toward the goal God has ordained for your life. The only reason you should look back is to remember the good God has done for you.

A wise person will not complain about the past. Though we may learn from the past, focusing on misfortunes of the past may lead us to make wrong decisions in the present. Your problems cannot be solved by reliving the failures of the past. King Solomon wisely said in Ecclesiastics 7 vs 10, "Do not say, 'Why were the former days better than these?' For you do not inquire wisely concerning this." Instead of living in the past, decide to live for today, and let it determine the future. 

Reliving the past is a time wasted which would have been well spent on pressing on to the future. Are you looking back at a past relationship, a lost promotion, a bitter experience? Is your mind so fixed on a person or a situation that it keeps you from going forward with your life? It's noteworthy that what was once hard to bear is often sweet to remember. However, with the single-mindedness of an athlete in training, we must lay aside everything harmful and forsake anything that may distract us from being effective Christians. The past belongs to history, and should not hold you back, but the knowledge gained is helpful to face the present and plan the future.

In the passage we read today, the apostle Paul had reason to forget the past—he had held the coats of those who had stoned Stephen, the first Christian martyr (Acts 7 vs 57 - 58, Paul is called Saul here). We have all done things for which we are ashamed, and we live in the tension of what we have been and what we want to be. Because our hope is in Christ, however, we can let go the past guilt and look forward to what God will help us become. Sometimes trying to live a perfect Christian life can be so difficult that it leaves us drained and discouraged. We may feel so far from perfect that we think we can never please God with our life. Quit looking back at "what might have been" and refusing to enter into God's gracious provision of "what can be." 

Don’t dwell on your past. Instead grow in the knowledge of God by concentrating on your relationship with Him now. Realize that you are forgiven, and then move on to a life of faith and obedience. Look forward to a fuller and more meaningful life because of your hope in Christ. You must leave Egypt before you can reach your promised land. Remember, God took the children of Israel 'out' so He can bring them 'in.' You must leave the past behind before you can arrive into your provision.

Dissatisfaction comes when our attention shifts from what we have to what we don’t have. You may remember what you had in the past but don’t have now and begin agonize over your present position. Like the children of Israel in Exodus 16 - 17, they could think of nothing but the delicious Egyptian food they had left behind. Somehow they forgot that the brutal whip of Egyptian slavery was the cost eating that food. They didn’t seem to notice what God was doing for them—setting them free, making them a nation, giving them a new land—because they were so wrapped up in what God wasn’t doing for them. 

We must not allow things of this world to detract us from our goal of eternal dwelling. It’s helpful to think about what occupies our attention most of the time. Are we grateful for what God has given us, or are we always thinking about what we would like to have or what we had in the past and are missing now? We should not allow our unfulfilled desires to cause us to forget God’s gifts of life, health, work, and good friends. 

Prayer: Abba Father, thank You for all You have done, still doing, and will do for me. You are perfect in all Your ways, and knows better than I know myself. What You cannot give me, may I never have it, what You cannot do for me, may it remain undone, the life You cannot give to me, may I never live it, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen. 

PRAISE THE LORD!

OBEDIENT PROFITS

OBEDIENT PROFITS

"Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you. Hebrews 13:17"

Devotion : It pays when disciples, members, citizens and subordinates obey their leaders. It is even vital in the church for members to obey and submit to the leaders placed over them. Jesus Christ, the bishop, has appointed shepherds, pastors or leaders to carry out His work on earth. They will give account to every soul entrusted under their care; therefore, in as much as they have a responsibility, the members also have a responsibility to support them. Their support is in their obedience and submission so that the shepherds can do their work with joy. When they work with joy, blessings flow to the members. On the other hand, when they don't get the support because of disobedience and insubordination, they are grieved; and instead of blessing flowing, grief, pain, bitterness, and curses are passed on to the members. Dear beloved, let us choose to submit to authority in the church and our state. Praise the Lord! Share your comments here!

THE MERCIES OF GOD

THE MERCIES OF GOD

"It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. Lamentations 3:22" 

Devotion : Mercy is a blessing that is an act of divine favor or compassion. Truly indeed it is the mercies of God that we are not consumed. God's mercies endure forever (Psalms 136:1). The mercies of God sent Jesus Christ, who knew no sin, to die for the sin of mankind. Because of the mercies of God the murderer, thief, prostitute, drunkard, liar, etc. can be saved by Jesus Christ. Dear beloved, wherever you are, whatever you have done, the mercies of God can extend to you, for His compassion fails not. Take advantage of God's mercies and be blessed. The mercies of God can pick you from poverty and place you among kings (2 Samuel 9:1-13). Jesus Christ was a man of compassion (Matthew 9:36). Hallelujah! Share your thoughts here!

ASPIRE TO BE PERFECT!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

MONDAY JULY 27, 2020.

SUBJECT: ASPIRE TO BE PERFECT! 

Memory verse: "Therefore, you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect."

 (Matthew 5 vs 48

.)

READ: Second Corinthians 3 vs 18; First John 3 vs 2 - 3:

Second Corinthians 3:18: But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

First John 3:2: Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. 

3:3: And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.

INTIMATION:

“Perfect” comes from the Greek word “Teleios” which signifies haven reached its end, finished, or complete. It’s used primarily for a person’s physical development, then with ethical imports—fully grown, mature. It also, conveys the idea of goodness without necessary reference to maturity, but rather completeness in deeds. For Christ, being perfect is bringing to an end, by completing or accomplishing, His earthly course in the accomplishment of His Father’s Will, the successive stages that culminated to His Death on the cross and resurrection thereto, that made Him perfect legally and officially, for all that He would be to His people on the ground of His sacrifice.

All parts of our lives and character should be in the process of becoming conformed, both inwardly and outwardly, to God's standards. We should be like our Heavenly Father—holy in everything we do. After people commit their lives to Christ, they sometimes still feel a pull back to their old ways, nonetheless, we should aspire to be perfect just as He is. Holiness means being totally devoted or dedicated to God, set aside for His special use and set apart from sin and its influence. We're to be set apart and different, not blending in with the crowd, yet not being different just for the sake of being different. 

We should not be surprised, ashamed, or shocked that have not attained perfection, and still need to grow. God is not finished with us. We can encourage this growth process by deliberately applying Scripture in all areas of our life, by accepting the discipline and guidance Christ provides, and by giving Him control of our desires and goals. Perfection or completeness will be attained at the second coming of Christ—“we shall be like Him For we shall see Him as He is.”

The Bible, in Hebrews 10 vs 14, 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, Jesus Christ, once for all, made His believers perfect (complete) in God’s sight—holy and without blemish as planned by God from the beginning for His people. Jesus Christ, through the indwelling Holy Spirit in the believers, is making us holy (progressively cleansed and set apart for His special use) in our daily pilgrimage here on earth. Daily we are being transformed into the image of God from one stage to another—“from glory to glory,” by the Holy Spirit.

God's quality in our lives make us different. Our focus and priorities must be His. All these are in direct contrast to our old ways, we cannot become holy on our own, but God gives us His Holy Spirit to help us obey and to give us power to overcome sin. How can we perfect? We can be perfect as follows:

1. In character. In this life we cannot be flawless, but we can aspire to be as much like Christ as possible.

2. In holiness. Like the Pharisees, we are to separate ourselves from the world's sinful values. But unlike the Pharisees we are to be devoted to God's desires rather our own and carry His love and mercy into the world.

3. In maturity. We can't achieve Christlike character and holy living all at once, but we must grow toward maturity and wholeness. Just as we expect different behavior from a baby, a child, a teenager, and an adult, so God expects different behavior from us, depending on our stage of spiritual development.

4. In love. We can seek to love others as completely as God loves us. We can be perfect if our behavior is appropriate for our maturity level—perfect yet with much room to grow. Our tendency to sin must never deter us from striving to be more like Christ.

Christ calls all of His disciples to excel, to rise above mediocrity, and to mature in every area, becoming like Him. Those who try to be perfect will one day be perfect even as Christ is perfect. By gazing at the nature of God with unveiled minds, we can be more like Him. In the gospel, we see the truth about Christ, and it transforms us morally as we understand and apply it. Through learning about Christ’s life, we can understand how wonderful God is and what He is really like. As our knowledge deepens, the Holy Spirit helps us to change. Becoming Christlike is a progressive experience, the more we follow Christ, the more we will be like Him.

Prayer: Abba Father, You are the Holy Sovereign God. Endue me with Your Spirit to aspire to be like You—perfect, and without faults, and to be complete in Christ, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

BLAMELESS AND HARMLESS

BLAMELESS AND HARMLESS

"Do all things without murmurings and disputings: Philippians 2:14"

Devotion : The Christian can be blameless and harmless as the light of the world. The way to become blameless and harmless is to do away with murmurings and disputing. Murmuring and disputing are signs of lack of faith and trust in the God we serve. Complaining does not get anything done. Instead of murmuring, disputing, and complaining, we should worship and praise God, and make melodies in our heart; afterwards ask God for His way and go ahead to do what He has destined for us to do. We are the lights in our world so we have to show the world the way to go; the way to go is to shine goodness, hope and inspire confidence in people to trust our Lord Jesus Christ. Dear beloved, do you murmur, dispute, and complain? What would you do to overcome them? Share your comments here!

WE ARE PARTAKERS OF GOD’S DIVINE NATURE!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

SUNDAY JULY 26, 2020.

SUBJECT:  WE ARE PARTAKERS OF GOD’S DIVINE NATURE!

Memory verse:  "having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever.” (First Peter 1 vs 23.)

READ:  Second Peter 1 verse 2 - 4:

1:2: Grace and Peace be multiplied to you through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord,

1:3: as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, 

1:4: by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

INTIMATION:

Many Christians still have not understood fully the finished work of Christ for them; haven made available to us the power of God as “partakers of His divine nature.” The finished work is like undeveloped resources in the African Continent. The finished work still remains the only source of our ability to live for God, have a relationship with Him, obtain and harness all the promises of God to us, live a prosperous life, and have good success. God has supplied us with everything in this life that is necessary for living according to His directions and developing a nature that prepares us for eternal dwelling. 

All that are necessary to live a spiritual life—a life of spiritual service toward God in Holy living in this world—have also been provided and granted to us by God (Second Timothy 3 vs 16 - 17). God has provided all that is necessary for a Christian living, therefore, if one does not respond to God in way that God desires, he or she is without excuse. God has supplied us with everything in this life that is necessary for living according to His directions and for developing a nature that prepares us for eternal dwelling. One of these things certainly is the word of God. It is through the word of God that we learn how to conduct our lives according to the will of God. The word of God is certainly the guide that we must follow in order to be certain concerning the conduct of our lives in behavior and godly living. 

However, the “all things” is plural, and therefore, refers to more than one thing. We would assume that other things include (1) The work of God in our lives in order to work all things together for good. (2) The Christian fellowship among those who have responded to the grace of God that was revealed on the cross through Jesus. (3) The provision by God of an environment that would sustain our very being in preparation for heavenly dwelling. All these things are included in the knowledge of Jesus through whom God worked for our salvation. 

Through the word of God that we learn how to conduct our lives according to the will of God. The divine power in the knowledge of Jesus makes it possible for us to put on the divine nature. Through obedience to the gospel, obedient believers are clothed with Christ, and thus, they put on the divine nature. (Galatians 3 vs 26 - 27.) They are cleansed of sin and thus brought into the fellowship of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Putting on Christ is dressing oneself in the divine nature of godliness and sanctification of the Spirit. Those who have put on the divine nature in Christ have been delivered from the lust of the world because they are now slaves to Jesus. 

Not many Christians have realized that we have in us divine ability. You then ask, "How can this be utilized?" It is acting upon His Word, living the Word life, knowing that all His promises are real and for you to receive if you believe. Knowing that you have your inheritance in Him as is expressed in Colossians 1 vs 12, "Giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light." We take Him, by grace, to lead us into all the fullness of our inheritance.

We will know that Philippians 2 vs 13 is real and at work in us, "For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure." God is at work in us, thinking through our minds, operating through our recreated spirits. He has actually taken us over. Let Him Rule! While He is at work in us, we, as theatre of His marvelous works, should show the excellencies of Him. The power to lead a godly life comes from God. Because we don’t have the resources to be truly godly, God allows us to “be partakers of the divine nature” in order to keep us from sin and help us live for Him. When we are born again, God by His Spirit empowers us with His own goodness. 

Prayer: Abba Father, You have graciously imparted in us Your divine nature. Engrace me to live in Your fullness, manifesting Your divine abilities, utilizing fully the huge treasures of wisdom and knowledge revealed to us in Christ, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

BELIEVING LEADS TO POSSIBILITY

BELIEVING LEADS TO POSSIBILITY

"Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. Mark 9:23"

Devotion : Heaven has endorsed whatever the children of God will believe. No wonder our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ said all things are possible to those who believe. The personal question we need to ask ourselves is "Do I believe?" If I do then it is possible for me to receive whatever I have prayed for. Any time we pray and sense doubt and unbelief, we should rebuke it and openly declare, "I believe I have received what I have prayed for." The doubt or unbelief will vanish. Also we should try to dissociate from people, words, and anything that brings doubt and unbelief to us. Dear beloved, what are you believing God for? What are you trying to achieve? If you believe it is possible you will have it. Share your thoughts here!