DRAWING CLOSER TO GOD!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

MONDAY AUGUST 3, 2020.

SUBJECT : DRAWING CLOSER TO GOD! 

Memory verse: “He who does not love does not know God, for God is love."(First John 4 vs 8.)

READ: First John 4 vs 12 - 16:

4:12: No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. 

4:13: By this we know we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us His Spirit.

4:14: And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world.

4:15: Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.

4:16: And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.

INTIMATION:

Drawing closer to God is the best of life for any believer. And it is in doing so that God draws closer to us! (James 4 vs 8.) God is invisible, and a Spirit. How then do we draw closer or nearer to Him, and develop intimate relationship with Him? We only draw closer to Him if we love one another—the ones we can see. When we abide in love with one another we abide in God. Therefore, in leading a life of intimacy with God, love is what matters most. God is love, and to know God is to know how to love. The Bible, in First John 4 vs 7 - 8, says "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” 

Because God is love, the most important lesson He wants you to learn on earth is how to love. It is in loving that we are most like Him, so love is the foundation of every command He has given us. The Owner and Giver of life is God. God is love. And the best use of anything is in the hands of the producer, and owner. God is the Producer and Owner of life, and God is Love, therefore, the best use of life is in God—inLove.The Bible, in Galatians 5 vs 14, says, "For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: "you shall love your neighbor as yourself."

Therefore, in drawing closer to God, love should be your top priority, primary objective, and greatest ambition. Love should, and is not, a good part of your life; it's the most important part of your life. The Scripture in First Corinthians 14 vs 1, says, "Pursue love, ...." To "pursue" means to "chase after," "strive for," "to work hard at," "persist in." It is not enough to say, "One of the things I want in my life is to be loving," as if it's in your top ten list. Relationships must have priority in your life above everything else.

Learning to love unselfishly is not an easy task. It runs counter to our self-centered nature. That's why we are given a lifetime to learn it. Of course, God wants us to love everyone, but He is particularly concerned that we learn to love others in His family. The apostle Peter, in First Peter 2 vs 17, tells us, "Love the brotherhood." He says we should show special love for God's people, that is 'other believers in Christ.' The apostle Paul echoes this sentiment in Galatians 6 vs 10 that says, "Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of God."

Why does God insist that we give special love and attention to other believers? Why do they get priority in loving? Because God wants His family to be known for its love more than anything else. Jesus said our love for each other—not our doctrinal beliefs—is our greatest witness to the world. Jesus said in John 13 vs 35, "By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."

Love is much more than simply warm feelings. It is an attitude that reveals itself in action. How can we love others as Jesus loved us? By helping when it is not convenient, by giving when it hurts, by devoting energy to others' welfare rather than our own, by absorbing hurts from others without complaining or fighting back. This kind of loving is hard to do. That is why people notice when you do it and know you are empowered by a supernatural source. You have to be around people - imperfect, frustrating, irritating people to learn how to love in action, and as Jesus loved.

In heaven we will enjoy God's family forever, but first we have some tough work to do here on earth to prepare ourselves for an eternity of loving. When we are not motivated by love we become critical of others. We stop looking for good in them and see only their faults. Have you talked behind someone's back? Have you focused on others' shortcomings instead of their strengths? When you begin to feel critical of someone, make a list of that person's positive qualities. If there are problems that need to be addressed, it is better to confront in love than in hate or to gossip.

Prayer: Abba Father, endue me with the spirit of love for You and others, that I will draw closer to You, and You to me, and have the best of life, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

REFUSE TO LOOSE

REFUSE TO LOOSE


"How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray? Matthew 18:12"

Devotion : Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ once again has shown that He is the way, and truth, and the life (John 14:6). He has illustrated in the opening Scripture that every child of His must refuse to entertain loss in every endeavor. What have you lost in life? No matter what you have lost in life, our Lord Jesus Christ says you can find it if you make the effort. In fact, He is ready to give you the grace to look for your lost asset. In respect to soul winning, the souls who are lost can be found if the church and individuals make the effort to win them. The only souls who cannot be won are the devil's children (John 8:44). Dear beloved, what did you learn from this gospel? Share your comments here!

GOD IS WISER

GOD IS WISER



"Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Matthew 7:9"

Devotion : The LORD God Almighty is wiser in answering our prayer request than what man can possibly do. God is not insensitive to our request to give us what we have not asked for; He will possibly not give us what we ask for if what we are asking will destroy us because He loves us so much and cannot afford losing us. If you are a child of God and it seems you are not receiving what you have prayed for, try to reexamine your request. Find out if the Holy Scriptures support your request; if the Word of God supports it then wait patiently for it in faith. As children of God, we should be students of the Holy Scripture so that we do not pray amiss (James 4:3). Dear beloved, does it seem your requests are not answered? What do you plan to do? Share your thoughts here!

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THE TRUST IN MONEY VERSUS THE TRUST IN GOD!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

SUNDAY AUGUST 2, 2020.

SUBJECT : THE TRUST IN MONEY VERSUS TRUST IN GOD!

Memory verse: “Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy” (First Timothy 6 vs 17).

READ: First Timothy 6 vs 6 - 10:

6:6: Now godliness with contentment is great gain.

6:7: For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 6:8: And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.

6:9: But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.

6:10: For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 

INTIMATION:

Looking at the world around us, we can see that money has tremendous power. It obviously enables us to do things we can't otherwise do, and it gives us a certain level of respect and great confidence. For instance, when a rich man walks into a room, his financial status gives him authority that a poor person in the same room doesn't have. Then Scripture buttressed this point in Ecclesiastes 10 vs 19; 7 vs 12 when it says, "Money answers all things." And ".....Money is a defense." The danger is that unless you are careful, you will begin to trust more in the power of money than you do in the power of God. This calls to mind the slang 'Money speaks' for those you trust in the power of money. 

Scripture recognizes that money is necessary for survival, but it warns against the trust in, and love of money. Money is dangerous because it deceives us into thinking that wealth is the easiest way to get all we want. The love of money is sinful because we trust money rather than God to solve our problems. Those who pursue its empty promises will one day discover that they have nothing because they are spiritually bankrupt. For instance, money can’t buy you salvation, nor can it put out death. If it can the rich will have no need seek God’s forgiveness, nor will they die. 

The Lord is aware of this temptation and that is why He said so many things about finances. Jesus taught more on money than all other of His teachings put together during His ministry walk on earth. In one of of His teachings Jesus said, "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Matthew 6 vs 19 - 21.)

The last verse in that passage is very interesting. It says that your heart is where your treasure is; which means you can tell where a person's heart is by where their money (treasure) goes. This Scripture illustrates the point Jesus made with the rich young ruler whom He told to sell all of his goods, give to the poor to lay up treasure in heaven, take his cross, come and follow Him. (Mark 10 vs 21.)  Jesus was saying, "If you really love and trust Me more than your money, then put your treasure in heaven." The man wouldn't do it because his treasure and his heart were on earthly riches. 

Jesus never asked him to sell and bring the money to Him. He has no need for it. Jesus loved him (Mark 10 vs 21) and wanted to show him the right path of life for him to walk in (Psalm 16 vs 11). Of course, we know that the Lord would have blessed that man back with even more than he gave away (Proverbs 19 vs 17), so God wasn't trying to take from him. Jesus was just trying to get the man to put his total trust and dependence on God.

Do not let the trust in, and love of money drive drive the real thing out of you—the love and trust in God! Live a life of contentment and godliness which is greatly gainful. The Scripture admonishes us, “Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Hebrews 13 vs 5.) God has given us a promise “never to leave nor forsake us.” So, why don’t you put your absolute trust in Him nothing is impossible with nor difficult for? Those things money can’t get you are only possible with Him, and never difficult for Him! The apostle Paul admonishes in our memory verse, “not to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.” 

Prayer: Abba Father, You have given us all that pertains to life and godliness. Endue me with the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of You, that I may know the hope of Your calling, and the riches of the glory of Your inheritance in us that believe, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

 

WHERE IS THE DEVIL?

"Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Luke 10:19"

Devotion : The Lord Jesus Christ died on the cross and went to hell for our sake. In hell He defeated the devil and his cohort of darkness, and took away from them the key of death and hell (Revelation 1:18). Afterwards He limited the devil and his cohort of darkness under our feet. Jesus Christ stated in the opening Scripture that He has given us power to continually tread or trample the devil, demons, and the like under our feet and nothing will hurt us. If anybody asks you where the devil and his demons are, be quick to tell them that they are under your feet. The devil and his demons only have power to deceive and invent lies. Never be afraid of the devil and his demons, and their tricks to create fear and doubt in you. Keep trampling upon them. Hallelujah! Share your comments and testimonies here

GOOD OUT OF EVIL!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

SATURDAY AUGUST 1, 2020.

SUBJECT: GOOD OUT OF EVIL!

Memory verse: "But as for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.” (Genesis 50 vs 20.)

READ: Genesis 37 vs 27 - 28; 45 vs 5 - 8:

37:27: Come Let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hand be upon him, for he is our brother and our flesh.” And his brothers listened.

37:28: The Midianite traders passed by; so the brothers pulled Joseph up and lifted him out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver. And they took Joseph to Egypt.

45:5: But now , do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life.

45:6: For these two years the famine has been in the land, and there are still five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvesting.

45:7: And God sent me before You to, preserve a posterity for you in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance.

45:8: So now it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his House, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.

INTIMATION:

God is sovereign, and His creations are tools in His hands to achieve His purposes and plans. His knowledge and wisdom are beyond human comprehension and searching out. People may man evil against you, but such situations in God’s place is for good. No matter what you are going through in life, or in the hands of others, remember God is in control. When others intend evil toward you, remember that they are only God’s tools. As Joseph said to his brothers in our memory verse, “You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good.”

Perhaps no other account in all of Scriptures illustrates the strange vicissitudes of life more vividly than the biography of Joseph (The Dreamer). Joseph was born into privilege. He was the eleventh, and the favorite son of Jacob, one of the patriarchs of Israelite history. Though Joseph was loved by his father, he was hated by his brothers because of his favored status. Joseph stoked his brothers' hatred by telling them of dreams he had; dreams in which his brothers bowed down to him.

One day the brothers could contain their rage no longer. They seized Joseph and threw him into a pit. Their first thought was to kill him, but they changed their minds when they saw a caravan heading for Egypt. Instead of murdering him, his brothers sold him as a slave to members of the caravan—the Ishmaelites. They returned home and told their father that Jseph had been killed by a wild beast.

In Egypt, Joseph became the trusted servant of Potiphar, an official in the king's court. Unfortunately, Potiphar's trust was shattered by one false accusation against Joseph by his wife. Without so much as a court hearing, Joseph was thrown into prison. He was doomed, or so he thought. But a perplexing turn of events raised him to unexpected heights.

In prison, Joseph met the king's cup bearer and the king's baker. Both men were troubled by strange and mysterious dreams. When they told Joseph their dreams, he interpreted the strange visions for them. Days later his words came to pass in precisely the way he had announced. What kind of special powers did Joseph possess? How could he interpret these dreams? Joseph merely attributed his ability to the God of Israel, a God not worshiped in Egypt. Two years later, Pharaoh had a dream. His advisors could not even begin to interpret it. Joseph was summoned from the prison to decipher the strange, troubling images. After a moment of silence, Joseph declared the visions meant that Egypt would be blessed with seven years of abundance, followed by seven years of famine. 

In grateful response, Pharaoh appointed Joseph second-in-command in Egypt (a Prime Minister in a foreign land). Again, Joseph downplayed his own abilities and spoke instead of the power of the Awesome God. And just as he predicted, the seven years of abundance came, as did the seven years of famine.

Joseph's appointment to second-in-command, remains an astonishing moment in ancient history. A man's unique supernatural gift of God propels him to power. How do we explain his rise from an impoverished foreigner to an imperial leader? "God turned into good what you meant for evil. He brought me to high position I have today so I could save the lives of many people" (Genesis 50 vs 20). And that is the best explanation of all the wonderful act of an awesome God. He brought good from the brothers’ evil deed, Potiphar’s wife’s false accusation, the butler’s neglect, and seven years of famine. The experience in Joseph’s life taught him, and teaches us, that God brings good from evil for those who trust Him. 

Do you trust God enough to wait patiently for Him to bring good out of bad situations? You can trust Him because, as Joseph learned, God can overrule people’s evil intentions to bring about His intended results. Although Joseph’s brothers didn’t kill him outright, they wouldn’t expect him to survive for long as a slave. They were quite willing to let cruel slave traders do their dirty work for them. Joseph faced a 30-day journey through the desert, probably chained, and on foot. He will be treated like baggage and, once in Egypt, would be sold as a piece of merchandise. His brothers thought they would never see him again. But God was in control of Joseph’s life and had other plans.

Joseph’s brothers had wanted to get rid of him, but God used even their evil actions to fulfill His ultimate plan. He had sent Joseph ahead to preserve their lives, save Egypt, and prepare the way for the beginning of the nation of Israel. God is sovereign. His plans are not dictated by human actions! Hallelujah!

Prayer: Abba Father, my trust is in You. Your thought for me is of good, not of evil. May You upturn all evil intentions of people in my life for good, after the order of Joseph in the Scripture, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

CONFIDENCE IN GOD

CONFIDENCE IN GOD


"For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not. Isaiah 30:15"

Devotion : Jesus Christ made it easy for mankind to be saved: the Israelites and other nations or Gentiles can now be saved by one Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ used His blood to atone for the sin of the world; therefore, in repentance and rest all who call on the name of the Lord shall be saved (Acts 2:21). After you are saved, be still or quiet and have confidence or trust in the Lord Jesus Christ in every situation; our trust in Him makes more grace available to us to overcome every opposing situation. Hallelujah! What God hates is murmuring and complaining; instead He wants us to be quiet and look up to Him in faith and He will do it. Praise the Lord! Dear beloved, have you stopped murmuring and complaining? Trust Jesus - He knows what He is doing; He shall surely come to your aid! Share your comments here!