GOD YEARNS TO BE YOUR FRIEND!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

MONDAY AUGUST 10, 2020.

SUBJECT: GOD YEARNS TO BE YOUR FRIEND! 

Memory verse: "No longer do I call you servants; for a servant does not knows what his master is doing; but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you." (John 15 vs 15.)

READ: John 15 vs 13 - 16:

15:13: Greater love has no one  than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.
15:14: You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.
15:15: No longer do I call you servants; for a servant does not knows what his master is doing; but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you.

15:16: You did not chose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatever you ask the Father in My name, He may give you.

INTIMATION:

The realization of the various aspects of your relationship with God makes you get committed to Him. He is your Maker, Lord and Master, Judge, Faithful Companion, Redeemer, Father, Savior, and much more. But the most shocking truth is this: Almighty God yearns to be your Friend! From creation, God plan is to be in constant fellowship with man. In the garden of Eden we see God's ideal relationship with us: Adam and Eve enjoyed daily visitation of the Lord, due to His quest for an intimate relationship with them. While unhindered by sin, Adam and Eve delighted in God, and He delighted in them. 

God is known in His creation, and He is close to every one of us. There are no rituals, ceremonies, or religion, just a simple loving relationship between God and the people He created. But He is not trapped in His creation; He is supernatural. This means that God is sovereign and in control, while at the same time He is close and personal. Knowing and loving God is our greatest privilege, and being known and loved is God's greatest pleasure. 

Only a few people in Old Testament times had the privilege of friendship with God. Moses and Abraham were called "friends of God" (Exodus 33 vs 11 & 17; James 2 vs 23), David was called "a man after [God's] own heart" (Acts 13 vs 22), and Job, Enoch, and Noah had intimate friendship with God (Job 29 vs 4; Genesis 5 vs 22; 6 vs 8). But fear of God, not friendship, was more common in the Old Testament. We were made to live in God's continual presence, but after the “Fall,” that ideal relationship was lost due to sin. 

Then Jesus came as a propitiation for our sins, and changed the situation. When He paid for our sins on the cross, the veil in the temple that symbolized our separation from God was split from top to bottom, indicating that direct access to God was once again available. Unlike the Old Testament priests who had to spend hours preparing to meet God, we can now approach God anytime. Friendship with God is possible only because of the grace of God and the sacrifice of Jesus. The Bible, in Second Corinthians 5 vs 18 says, "Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation." 

God actually is reconciling us to the Trinity; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. He invites us to enjoy friendship and fellowship with all three persons of the Trinity. The Bible, in First John 1 vs 3, says, "That which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us, and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ." The apostle Paul, in Second Corinthians 13 vs 14, concludes his letter to the saints in Corinth by reminding them of the communion and fellowship with the Trinity; "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen."

Your opinion of God makes it difficult for many to understand why He would want us to be close friends. But the Bible, in Exodus 34 vs 14 says, "For you shall worship no other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God)." God is jealous of sharing your fellowship with any other, indicating how you are valued and wanted by Him. He deeply desires that we know Him intimately. God puts a higher priority on knowing Him personally and living a life that reflects His justice and righteousness, over and above every other things we do. If any wants to boast, they should boast that they know and understand Him. These are the things that please the Lord. 

Prayer: Abba Father, what a friend I have in You, the Triune God—my loving Father, Jesus Christ my sacrificial Savior, and Holy Spirit my Senior Partner! I cannot find a friend so faithful; all my sins and griefs You bear, and has given me the great privilege to carry everything to You in prayer. How needless it is for me to bear any pains, or forfeit my peace in You. Engrace me to commit everything in prayer to You at all times. In Jesus’ most precious Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD! 

FEAR OF GOD

  FEAR OF GOD

"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction. Proverbs 1:7" 

Devotion : The fear of the LORD is the foundation of knowledge. What is this fear of the LORD? The fear of God is to hate evil: pride and arrogance, and the evil way, and the perverse mouth (Proverbs 8:13). Hence, anyone who fears God is humble and gentle, walks in the way of righteousness, and speaks to edify others. When humility, gentleness, righteousness, and seasoned words are part and parcel of your life, the Holy Spirit will give you wisdom and long life to work for Him. He also adds riches, wealth, good health and fame. Hallelujah! Choose to fear God today and be a partaker of these divine blessings. Dear beloved, what did you learn from this gospel? Share your thoughts here!

INVEST WISELY FOR ETERNAL BENEFITS!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

SUNDAY AUGUST 9, 2020.

SUBJECT: INVEST WISELY FOR ETERNAL BENEFITS! 

Memory verse: "And I say to you, make friends for yourselves by unrighteous mammon, that when you fail, they may receive you into an everlasting home." (Luke 16 vs 9.)

READ: Matthew 6 vs 19 - 21:

6:19: Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:
6:20: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
6:21: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

INTIMATION:

Kingdom investment have remained the most enduring investment anybody could make: It’s working in the will of God, and laying treasures for oneself in heaven. If your investments are heavenly bound, obviously your heart and desires will be geared toward eternity, and doing the will of God. One will develop a spiritual vision to see clearly what God wants us to do and to see the world from His point of view. Jesus made it clear that having wrong treasures leads to our hearts being in such wrong place. What we treasure the most controls us, whether we admit it or not. If possessions or money become too important to us, we must reestablish control or get rid of items. 

Jesus does not condemn material things, the possessions themselves are not wrong. What is wrong is how they were acquired and idolized. He condemns such only when the material things possess the individual, and thus, direct one’s mind away from that which is more important than the material. One must keep in mind that ambitions to acquire worldly treasures do not profit toward the edification and growth of the soul that must be spiritually prepared for eternal dwelling. There is no spiritual profit in spending one’s life in the acquisition of the things of the world, when in the end, the things of this world will be destroyed and one is left with a life that has been wasted on acquiring material things.

Treasures we possess on earth can easily be consumed or taken from us. Because we know they can easily be taken from us, we worry about them. By concentrating on those things that are above this earth, one places earthly things in the right perspective. The crown of righteousness in heaven awaits those who have forsaken the treasures of the world. Jesus contrasts the physical and temporary things of this world with the eternal, spiritual things that will endure the destruction of the physical. If one has many things of this world, one’s mind will be earth bound. If one’s mind is on those things that are above, then his or her thoughts, desires, and ambitions are on spiritual things.

In our memory verse, Jesus made one of his most misunderstood statements in the Bible when He said, "And I say to you, make friends for yourselves by unrighteous mammon, that when you fail, they may receive you into an everlasting home." Jesus did not mean for you to "buy" friends with money. What He means that we shall make wise use of the financial opportunities we have to help people find Christ. He thought that we should be wise about taking care of our spiritual life as the shrewd steward took care for his material life. If we use our money to help those in need or to help others find Christ, our earthly investment will bring eternal benefit. It is the best financial investment you'll ever make. 

When you obey God's Will, the unselfish use of possessions will follow. That is what Jesus meant by asking us to "store up your treasures in heaven." Our correct use of material things will determine our right to eternal life. A man’ faithfulness is measured by what he does with what he has. Jesus calls for a decision that allows us to live contentedly with whatever we have because we have chosen eternal values over temporary, earthly treasures.

Prayer: Abba Father, let the zeal of Your kingdom eat me up, that I will invest my whole being in doing Your will, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD! 

YOU CAN BE ON THE FENCE

 YOU CAN BE ON THE FENCE

"For he that is not against us is on our part. Mark 9:40" 

Devotion : In Christ Jesus, your position for Jesus Christ must be clear and emphatic. It is either you are for Christ or you are against Him; there is no middle ground. If you claim you are born again, then give yourself wholly to Jesus Christ and His gospel. Let whatever Jesus stands for be what you stand for; let whatever Jesus likes and loves be what you like and love; let whatever Jesus hates be what you hate (Ephesians 5:1-2). If you claim you love Jesus Christ and stand for Him, yet you don't do what He loves, you are a liar, you are against Him. Dear beloved, does your conduct differ from that of Christ? If your answer is no, then you are for Christ; if it is yes, then you are against Christ. By their fruit you will know them (Matthew 7:20). Share your comments here!

BACK GROUND BY LECREA

 

SELF SUFFICIENCY

 SELF SUFFICIENCY

And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; Thessalonians 4:11" 

Devotion : The will of God for His children is to be self-sufficient. It is something that does not come by chance but by careful study of the Word of God and the practice thereof. Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ does not want His children to be continually dependent on others. His wish is that His children enlighten themselves, do their own business, and work with their own hands; He also wants them to live truthfully toward others, and lack nothing. This will be a good light to those who are in the world so that they don't take Christianity for granted. God does not like it when people in the world make comments such as Christians are lazy or Christians are unemployed. Let us live up to expectation and shine as the true light of the world. Praise the Lord! Share your thoughts here!

THE BEST WAY TO LIVE!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

SATURDAY AUGUST 8, 2020.

SUBJECT: THE BEST WAY TO LIVE! 

Memory verse: "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." (Romans 12 vs 1.)

READ: Luka 9 vs 23 - 26:

9:23: And He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.
9:24: For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save.
9:25: For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost? 
9:26: For whoever is ashamed of Me and of My words, of him the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father's, and of the holy angels.

INTIMATION:

The best way to live is to surrender to Christ. Everybody eventually surrenders to something or someone. If not God, you will surrender to the opinions or expressions of others, to money, to resentment, to fear, to your own pride, lusts, ego, self-defeat, or pity. You were designed to worship God, and if you fail to worship Him, you will eventually create things (idols) that are gods to you, and you give your worship or life to them. God created you to worship Him, and also allowed the freedom of choice. You are free to choose who or what to surrender to, but you are not free from the consequences of that choice. There is freedom before surrender, but no freedom after surrender from the consequences of not surrendering to Him. If you don't surrender to Christ, you surrender to crisis. 

Since outside of Christ is crisis, the only way to live life devoid of crisis is surrender to Him. Nothing else works. All other approaches lead to frustration, disappointment, and self-destruction. The apostle Paul calls surrender a "your reasonable service." Surrendering your life is not a foolish emotional impulse but a rational, intelligent act, the most responsible and sensible thing you can do with your life. That is why Paul said, ".Therefore we must make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him." (Second Corinthians 5 vs 9.) Your wisest moments will be those when you say yes to God. 

Sometimes it takes years to discover this most sensible way to live. When this happens you eventually discover that the greatest hindrance to God's blessing in your life is not others, it is yourself—your self-will, stubborn pride, and personal ambition. You can't fulfill God's purposes for your life while focusing on your own plans. The time of the discovery in your life is immaterial, the important thing is that you have turned to your Owner. You need to discover yourself, if God is going to do His deepest work in you, it starts from this discovery.

Give all of you to God: your past regrets, your present problems, your future ambitions, your fears, dreams, weaknesses, habits, hurts, and hang-ups. Put Jesus Christ in the driver's seat of your life and take your hands off the steering wheel. Never you be frightened; nothing under His control can ever be out of control. You may not understand the circumstances you are in with Him, but it is the best for you, because all the things He does, work together for your eventual good, and in line with His purpose of your life. When you are Mastered by Christ, you can handle anything. You will be like the apostle Paul: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Philippians 4 vs 13.)  

Our place, time, and how we surrender differs. Paul's moment occurred on the Damascus road after he was knocked down by a blinding light. For others, God gets our attention with less drastic methods. Regardless, surrendering is never just a one-time event. Paul said, "I die daily." (First Corinthians 15 vs31.) There is a moment of surrender, and there is the practice of surrender, which is moment-by-moment and lifelong. Remember, when you surrender, you become a living sacrifice, and the problem of a living sacrifice is that it can crawl off the altar, so you may have to re surrender your life fifty times a day. You must make it a daily habit. (Luke 9 vs 23.)

Let me warn you: When you decide to live a totally surrendered life, that decision will be tested. Sometimes it will mean doing inconvenient, unpopular, costly, or seemingly impossible tasks. It will often mean doing the opposite of what you feel like doing. Christ presented a clear and challenging description of the Christian life. Being His disciple means putting aside selfish desires, shouldering one’s “cross” every day, and following Him. It is simple and yet so demanding. For believers it means understanding that we belong to Him and that we live to serve His purposes. 

Consider this: Do you think of your relationship with God primarily in terms of what’s in it for you (which is considerable) or in terms of what you can do for Him? Are you willing to deny yourself, take up your cross daily, and follow Him? Anything less is not discipleship; it is merely superficial lip service. Have you surrendered to Christ? Or are you still arguing and struggling with God over His right to do with your life as He pleases? If you have not, now is your time to surrender to God's grace, love, and wisdom; receiving His Nature! Following Christ means total submission to Him—perhaps even to the point of death.

Prayer: Abba Father, without You, I am completely nothing. I obediently and completely surrender all of my life to You, that You do with it as it’s pleasing to You. My utmost heart desire is to live everyday of my life in You, for You, and with You. So help me God, in Jesus’ most precious Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!