FIXING YOUR THOUGHTS ON ETERNITY!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

FRIDAY AUGUST 7, 2020.

SUBJECT: FIXING YOUR THOUGHTS ON ETERNITY! 

Memory verse: "While we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal." (Second Corinthians 4 vs 18.)

READ: Second Peter 3 vs 10- 13:

3:10: But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are it will be burned up.
3:11: Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness,
3:12: looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?
3:13: Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.

INTIMATION:

To make the most of your time on earth, you must maintain an eternal perspective. You should be mindful of eternal inheritance than what you can get now. Everything you see, and have now will one day pass away (Second Peter 3 vs 10). This will keep you from majoring on earthly things which are minor and help you concentrate on the thing that is eternal, and the ultimate! The more we understand the temporary nature and existence of this world, the more we will focus our attention on that which will permeate the final destruction of all things. We look forward to the passing of the things that are seen in order to enter the glory of that which is presently not seen. 

Nothing seen or experienced in this life is worth the eternal life with God, and nothing we have here on earth will matter a thing in eternity. Even now, so much of what we waste our energy on will not matter even a year from now, much less for eternity. Don't trade your life for temporary things. Our ultimate hope when we are experiencing terrible illness, persecution, or pain is the realization that this life here on earth is not all there is. There is life after death! Knowing that we will live forever with God in a place without sin and suffering can help us live above the pain that we face in this life. Christians who are spiritually detached from what will pass away will be anxiously hastening the coming of that glory which is without end.

The Christian should be godly; maintaining an emotional and spiritual detachment from the things of this world, and seek after God’s ways. He must conduct his or her life as God would direct through His word. Christians should be holy just as our Father in heaven is. Holy is from the word that means “to separate.” The believer’s conduct should be as one separated or detached from what will be terminated. Christians must not become attached to the material world which will have its end in the consuming fire. Their minds must be on the things that are above, the things which will permeate the consummation of all earthly things. 

The Bible, in First Corinthians 7 vs 31, says, "And those you use this world as not misusing it. For the form of this world is passing away." We should be unhindered by the cares of this world, not getting involved with the burdensome pursuit of earthly things, and should deal as sparingly as possible with the things the world thrusts on you because the world, as you see it, is on its way out.

What are you allowing to stand in the way of your mission? What is keeping you from being an unbeatable Christian? Whatever it is, let it go. Let us strip off anything that slows us down or holds us back. The Bible, in Hebrews 12 vs 1, says, "....Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us." Jesus warned us on distractions by earthly things when He said in Luke 9 vs 62, "No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." What does Jesus want from us? Total dedication, not halfhearted commitment. We can't pick and choose among Jesus' ideas and follow Him selectively; we have to accept the cross along with the crown.

You've probably heard the expression "You can't take it with you." But the Bible says you can send it on ahead by investing in people who are going there! The Bible, in First Timothy 6 vs 18 - 19, says, "Let them do good, that they are rich in good works, ready to give, willing to share, storing up for themselves a good foundation for the time to come, that they may lay hold of eternal life." Be wise, be selfless, and be rich in good works. We should not be lazy and complacent because Christ has not returned. Instead, we should live in eager expectation of His coming. What would you like to be doing when Christ returns? That is how you should be living each day.

Prayer: Abba Father, You have put eternity in our hearts, engrace me to always be eternity conscious, and daily conduct myself in that consciousness, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

 

JESUS TAKE THE LEAD

THE BLOOD OF CHRIST AND TESTIMONY

THE BLOOD OF CHRIST AND TESTIMONY

"And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. Revelation 12:11"

Devotion : The blood of Jesus Christ is a very effective weapon against the devil and his cohorts of darkness. Even in heaven Archangel Michael and his angels used the blood of Jesus to overcome the devil and his cohorts of darkness. Any time we use the blood they are powerless before us; as a Christian never stop using the blood of Jesus. Another weapon at our disposal is the word of our testimony; testimonies are not meant to be quiet over. Our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ want to hear our testimonies; when they do anything for us, be it small or very great, we must not be quiet over it and take it for granted. The more we testify the more Jesus Christ keeps doing more miracles for us so that we can glorify Him. Our testimonies also expose the works of the enemy and make them feel ashamed and powerless. Hallelujah! Share your testimonies here!

GOD’S WORDIS HIS TRANSFORMING TOOL!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

THURSDAY AUGUST 6, 2020.

SUBJECT: GOD’S WORD IS HIS TRANSFORMING TOOL!

Memory verse: "For the Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." (Hebrews 4 vs 12.)

READ: Jeremiah 23 vs 29; John 15 vs 3; 17 vs 17:

Jeremiah 23:29: “Is not My word like a fire?” Says the LORD, “And like a hammer that breaks the rock into pieces?

John 15:3: You are already clean because of the word which I spoken to you.

17:17: Sanctify them by Your truth. Your Word is truth."

INTIMATION:

God has specialized tools for transforming us. These tools are used by the Holy Spirit to help mold us into Christlikeness. These tools cannot be operative on you except you are willing and submissive to allow Him work on you. One of these tools is the Word of God—the Truth. The Word of God is a tool that transforms us. It can make you into what God wants you to be, and give you everything you could possibly need. This transformation by the Word, through believing and obeying the Word, is called sanctification.

Our memory verse defines the Truth— the Word of God. It is not simply a collection of words, nor a doctrinal guidebook for communicating ideas. It is living. life-changing, creates faith, and is dynamic as its work in us; frightens the devil, causes miracles, heals hurts, build character, transforms circumstances, imparts joy, overcomes adversity, defeats temptation, infuses hope, releases power, cleanses our minds, brings things into being, and guarantees our future forever! 

The Word of God reveals who we are and what we are not. It penetrates the core of our moral and spiritual life. It discerns what is within us, both good and evil, and consequently, the Holy Spirit uses it for our cleansing. Therefore, in transforming us, God’s Word require decisions of hearing, obeying, and practicing; we must not only listen to the Word; we must also let it shape of our lives.

The Word transformation occasions spiritual growth in us, and it is the process of replacing lies with truth—the truth found in the Word of God.  A follower of Jesus Christ has already accepted forgiveness through Christ's sacrificial death. But daily application of God's Word has a purifying effect on our minds and hearts. The Word in the Scripture points out sin, motivates us to confess, renews our relationship with Christ, and guides us back to the right path.

The Spirit of God uses the Word to make us like the Son of God. To become like Jesus, we must fill our lives with His Word. The Bible, in Second Timothy 3 vs 17, says, "That the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work." Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us. God's Word is unlike any other word. When God speaks things happen. All of creation was spoken into existence by God. The apostle James, in James 1 vs 18, points this out; "Of His own Will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of first fruits of His creatures." God decided to give us life through the Word of truth so we might be the most important of all the things He made—"first fruits of His creatures."

God's Word is the spiritual nourishment you must have to fulfill your purpose in life. Therefore, never take it for granted. You should consider it as essential to your life as food. Job said, "I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food." (Job 23 vs 12.) The Bible calls the Word of God milk (First Corinthians 3 vs 2; First Peter 2 vs 2), bread (John 6 vs 48), solid food (First Corinthians 3 vs 2), and sweet dessert (Psalm 119 vs 103). This four-course meal is the Spirit's menu for spiritual strength and growth. 

Therefore, Knowing that in the Word there is everything, crave for it like no other food, because in it all other things exist. Jesus said; "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God" (Matthew 4 vs 4). The Word of God is the all-encompassing nourishment we need for the good life. Jesus quoted the Scripture in Deuteronomy 8 vs 3; "...man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord." Many people think that life is based on satisfying their appetites. If they can earn enough money to dress, eat, and play in high style, they think they are living "the good life." But such things do not satisfy our deepest longings. In the end they leave us empty and dissatisfied. 

Prayer: Abba Father, Your Word gives, transforms, and grows life. Let the entrance of Word, already settled in heaven, transform my life by the renewal of my mind and heart that I may live completely for You, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen. 

PRAISE THE LORD!

KEYS TO BREAKTHROUGH

KEYS TO BREAKTHROUGH

"Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. Philippians 4:6"

Devotion : Prayer is so essential that it cannot be over emphasized. Sometimes you hear people say this thing is not about prayer or that situation does not need prayer, but they are not right in saying that. Apostle Paul in his walk with the Lord Jesus Christ came to believe that everything is about prayer; there is nothing too small or too big to pray about. In the opening Scripture he says in everything by prayer, supplication, and thanksgiving make your request to God. Hence, he has given us the three keys to our breakthrough: prayer, supplication, and thanksgiving. He said if you try these keys every time you pray, your request will definitely be granted. Dear beloved, have you tried these keys in your prayer? What was the result? Share your thoughts and comments here!

THE GRACE OF PROSPERITY IS IN REAL STEWARDSHIP!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 5, 2020.

SUBJECT: THE GRACE OF PROSPERITY IS IN REAL STEWARDSHIP! 

Memory verse: "So you shall serve the LORD your God, and He will bless your bread and your water. And I will take sickness away from the midst of you." (Exodus 23 vs 25.)

READ: Genesis 12 vs 1 - 3:

12:1: Now the Lord said to Abram, get out of your country, from your family and from your father's house, to a land that I will show you. 

12:2: I will make you a great nation; I will bless you, and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. 

12:3: I will bless those who bless you, and curse him who curses you: and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.

INTIMATION:

A lot of Christians say they know God is the source of everything, but their lives don't reflect an understanding of that truth. For instance, when you think that money comes by your own sweat and tears, then you keep a much tighter hold on it. You become attached to your money, and it actually becomes your master. But when you see yourself as a steward and recognize money as God's blessing, even though you work for your paychecks, it totally changes the role money plays in your life. It ceases to control you and simply becomes a tool for service to the Owner. This simple change in mindset from owner to steward will make a tremendous difference in your life.

Many people see making a living as resulting from the sweat of their brow, and they don't see God as their source. They separate their lives into spiritual matters and personal matters. When it concerns spiritual matters they rely on God, but when it comes to private or personal matters, it becomes their baby. For instance, when it come to money, they think it's all up to them. As a result many Christians are struggling financially. God wants to be the source of everything in your life. The Lord never intended you to carry the burden of financial responsibility, or any other burden, and He wants to lift that burden from you.

Many Christians have made a firm commitment of their lives to the Lord concerning spiritual things, but when it comes to possessions, they see them as a private to them. The pressures of life lead them to view possessions as something they must control, and that kind of ownership mentality leads to a lot of problems.

The first step toward becoming responsible with your possessions is to get this mindset that they do not belong to you. Instead of clinging to your possessions, you need to think: ‘I am a steward of what God has entrusted to me.’ ‘God has blessed me with these talents and abilities.’ ‘God has blessed me with my job.’ ‘God is blessing me, and God has given me all the resources I have.’ ‘It is not up to me to run my finances the way I want to.’ ‘I'm a steward.’ ‘I have the responsibility to serve God with all He has given me; my talents, my money, my abilities, my wisdom’ and so on.

People with an ownership mentality end up trying to do everything themselves, but stewards freely receive God's blessing. Look at how blessed Abraham was in the passage we read today. God said here that He would bless Abraham, and that He would make Abraham's name great. When you read the entire story of Abraham, you see that God wasn't talking about intangible spiritual benefits. He was talking about physical earthly blessings: “Abram was very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold.” (Genesis 13 vs 2.)

Abraham didn't become rich through his own hard work. He became wealthy because the blessing of God was on his life (Hebrews 6 vs 13 - 14). Abraham was blessed in everything he did, even when he made mistakes. He was to be a blessing, and all the families of the earth will be blessed in him.

Prayer: Abba Father, endue me with the spirit of real stewardship, that I may serve You with all my heart, my soul, my strength, my mind, and with all the resources You pit in my care, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

LOVE IS ETERNAL AND WE ARE EVALUATED ON IT!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

TUESDAY AUGUST 4, 2020.

SUBJECT : LOVE IS ETERNAL AND WE ARE EVALUATED ON IT! 

Memory verse: "And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love." (First Corinthians 13 vs 13.)

READ: Matthew 25 vs 31 - 46:

25:31: When the Son of man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory.
25:32: All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats.
25:33: And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left.
25:34: Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
25:35: For I was hungry and you gave Me food: I was thirsty, and you gave Me drink: I was a stranger, and you took Me in:
25:36: I was naked, and you clothed Me: I was sick, and you visited Me: I was in prison, and you came to Me.’
25:37: Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and gave a You drink? 
25:38: When did we see You a stranger, and take You in? Or naked, and clothe You?

25:39: Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?
25:40: And the King shall answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, Inasmuch as you’d I’d it to one of the least of these My brethren, you have done it to Me.’
25:41: Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
25:42: For I was hungry, and you gave Me no food: I was thirsty, and you gave Me no drink:
25:43: I was a stranger, and you you did not take Me in: naked, and you did not clothe Me: sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me.’

25:44: Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we You hungry or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister to You?’
2545: Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’

25:46: And they will go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

INTIMATION:

God tells us to make Love a top priority in our life because it has eternal value. Love is the greatest of all human qualities, and it is an attribute of God Himself. Today people are still confused about love. Love involves unselfish service to others, to show it gives evidence that you care. Love leaves a legacy. How you treated other people, not your wealth or accomplishments, is the most enduring impact you can leave on earth. As mother Teresa said, "It's not what you do, but how much love you put into it that matters." Love is the secret of a lasting heritage. In our final moments we all realize that relationships are what life is all about. Wisdom is learning that truth sooner rather than later. Don't wait until you're on your deathbed to figure out that nothing matters more than love.

It is a common knowledge that people only remember their loved ones when they are in critical conditions of ill health or near death. This is the time they stand on the edge of eternity, and they never ask of any other thing than their loved ones. I have never heard that anyone said, "Bring me my money in the bank! I want to look at my degrees, and awards one more time. Show me my medals, that gold trinkets I acquired! I want to see all my possessions that I can feel them again." When life on earth is ending, people don't surround themselves with objects. What we want around us is people—the loved ones and those we have relationships with.

In the passage we read today, Jesus tells about The Final Judgment. We will be evaluated on love in eternity. One of the ways God measures spiritual maturity is by the quality of your relationships. In heaven God won't say, "Tell Me about your career, your bank account, your titles, your possessions, and your hobbies." Instead He will review how you treated other people, particularly those in need. No wonder all the “Ten Commandments” of God are relationship based. Those who have done well in their love and relationships He will keep on His right side, and declares rather righteous. He will tell them: “Come, you blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; For I was hungry, and you gave Me food: I was thirsty, and you gave Me drink: I was a stranger, and you took me in. Naked, and you clothed Me: I was sick, and you visited Me: I was in prison, and you came to Me.”

And the righteous will answer Him, saying, Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, ....or thirsty....or a stranger....or sick....or naked....or in prison, and come to You.' And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.'

Then He will also say to those on the left hand, 'Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; I was a stranger and you did not take Me in; naked and you did not clothe Me; sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.' Then they also will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You, hungry or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?' Then He will answer them, saying, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.' And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

Now look at these statements, "Then shall the righteous answer Him, saying,.." (Vs 37), "And these shall go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life." (Vs 46). Have you seen that showing love is also counted to you for righteousnesses. Those who showed love—cared for other people, Christ called the righteous on His right hand, and He crowned them with eternal life with Him. When you transfer into eternity, you will leave everything else behind. All you're taking with you is your character, your relationship with God, and people. That is why the Scripture says, "In Christ Jesus nothing avails anything except faith expressing itself through love." (Galatians 5 vs 6.) 

Faith is the base or substructure and substance of God's message. Without faith in the Word (message), you can't go far with God, and His things. (Hebrews 11 vs 6.) Hope is the positive attitude and focus on God and His Word. Love is the action proper. When faith and hope are in line, you are free to love completely because you understand now God and His love nature. 

Prayer: Abba Father, Your love is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given to us. Engrace me, O Most High God, to lead a life Your nature, and obtain Your approval, in Jesus’ most wonderful Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!