PURSUE THE WISDOM OF GOD

PURSUE THE WISDOM OF GOD

"Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? Corinthians 1:20" 

Devotion : Apostle Paul in his preaching of the gospel of Christ Jesus came to understand that there existed two kinds of wisdom: the wisdom of God and the wisdom of the world. The wisdom of the world has been made foolish; hence, the wise in worldly things, the scribe or learned, and the disputer of this world have worldly wisdom regarded as foolish in comparison to the wisdom of God. In essence God has severely limited the knowledge of the world and made it foolish; no wonder the world cannot understand spiritual truth. The gospel is the wisdom of God and believers in Christ Jesus must focus on the gospel of Christ and make it their primary objective. All other knowledge and wisdom cannot be compared to it. Let us pursue the wisdom of God as Christians and shine in this world and the world will follow. Dear beloved, what did you learn from this gospel? Share your comments here!

THE WORD OF GOD! - PART 1.

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

TUESDAY AUGUST 18, 2020.

SUBJECT : THE WORD OF GOD! - PART 1.

Memory verse: "This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.” (Joshua 1 vs 8.) 

READ: Proverbs 3 vs 1 - 2, 5 - 6, & 8; Hebrews 4 vs 12:

Proverbs 3:1:My son, do not forget my law, but let your heart keep my commands; 

3:2: for length of days and long life and peace they will add to you.

3:5: Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. 

3:6: In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.

3:8: It shall be health to your flesh and strength to your bones."

Hebrews 4:12: For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any 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.

INTIMATION:

The Word of God is the same with God (John 1 vs 1), hence it is as effective as God. God is life therefore, His Word is life and the life was the light of men (John 1 vs 4). And because His Word is life, He created the world in the beginning by His Word; He spoke all things into being (Genesis 1 vs 3-24; Psalm 33 vs 6). The Scripture declares Jesus as the Word, "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us" (John 1 vs 14). Consequently, the Word is another expression for God. The Word is also the source of God's message to His people through the prophets (Hosea 1 vs 2), and God's law which is his standard of holiness (Psalm 119 vs 11). The Word is also a seed (Luke 8 vs 11). It was the seed (The Word) that God planted and it germinated into all that were created. The Word is a spiritual revelation of God and living the Word life is living like Christ. 

The unchanging nature of God (Malachi 3 vs 6; Hebrews 13 vs 8) is embedded in His Word (Psalm 33 vs 11; Isaiah 14 vs 24; 40 vs 8), as well as His purity and power Proverbs 30 vs 5; Psalm 12 vs 6; Psalm 18 vs 30; Hebrews 4 vs 12), and He hastens to perform His Word (Jeremiah 1 vs 12). There is a Word for every situation in life. Search, and locate the desired Word applicable to the situation of concern in your life, sow the seed by speaking the Word (Luke 8 vs 11), and when sowed on good soil (the good soil is the qualifying conditions mentioned below), you are certain of bearing good fruit.  

While locating the Word don't loose site of the qualifying conditions to bring the power in the Word into action. These 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. 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." 

God linked Himself with His Word. He is back of His Word, and He cannot be separated from His Word. The same Word became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1 vs 14), and more than 2500 years of the coming of Christ, had the same creative and powerful effects when spoken by Him. Here are some facts about the Word; (1) The Word is always now; (2) It has been, it is, and it will be, the voice of God; (3) It is never old, it is always fresh and new; (4) To the heart that is in fellowship with the Father, the Word is a present-tense, living voice from heaven; (5) The Word is like the author: Eternal, Unchanging, Living.

Jesus is the guarantor for every word from The New Testament (Matthew 1 vs 1 to Revelation 22 vs 21). All heaven is back of the Word; the very throne of God is back of the Word; and Jesus and the Father are back of the throne. Jesus said in John 16 vs 28: "I came from the Father, and am come into the world; again, I leave the world, and go unto my Father." The Word came into the world from the author and has gone to be with the author, having the same power. When you speak the word, you are speaking God and the Son Jesus into the situation. Jesus clearly stated that all authority has been given to Him in heaven and on earth. He handed us the same authority in His name. The Word spoken in His name works wonders (Mark 16 vs 15 - 18).

Prayer: Abba Father, let the incorruptible seed of Your Word that abides forever grow richly in me, that I may abide in You and You in me, in Jesus’ great Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

SPOKEN WORD

 SPOKEN WORD

"The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. Matthew 8:8" 

Devotion : The centurion wanted help from Jesus Christ. Apparently he had heard of Jesus Christ and knew He had the solution he was looking for but had never set his eyes on Jesus. When he set his eyes on Jesus Christ, he realized he had come into contact with the Holy Son of God and so felt unworthy. He said to Jesus, "Just speak your Word and my servant will be healed." Jesus Christ marveled and said that He had never seen such a great faith in Israel. Jesus spoke the Word and the centurion's servant was healed instantly. Jesus Christ illustrated here faith and the spoken Word; if we have faith and speak the Word of God to every situation that needs a change, there will surely be a change. Dear beloved, do you need a change in any area of your life? What do you think you must do? Share your thoughts here!

ACT OF COMMENDATION

 

ACT OF COMMENDATION

"But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8" 

Devotion : When mankind sinned against God, they were afraid to approach God. God did not wait for mankind to approach Him; He sent Jesus Christ to die to atone for their sin so that mankind would approach God without fear or any sense of guilt. What God did is an act of true love which deserves to be commended. Any time we lift up praise and worship to God for His love toward us, we are commending Him for His mercies and love. He has also taught us not to be revengeful but to be forgiving toward one another. Dear beloved, are you revengeful or forgiving toward others? Share your comments here!

HAVE FAITH IN GOD!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

MONDAY AUGUST 17, 2020.

SUBJECT : HAVE FAITH IN GOD!

Memory verse: "Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for He is faithful that promised;)” (Hebrews 10 vs 23.) 

READ: 

4:18: Who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, “So shall your descendants be.”
4:19: And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body now dead, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah's womb.
4:20: He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, 
4:21: and being fully convinced that what He had promised, He was also able to perform.

INTIMATION:

The object of your faith is critical to your work with God, and obtaining His promises. The Bible says, "Have faith in God." (Mark 11 vs 22.) Faith is an asset of inestimable value, it is worth what you perceive it to be. Faith is not feeling, but rather a force that invades the invisible world and delivers to the physical. It implants humanity into divinity and gives dominion to the faithful. Faith is reasoning with God in the Word until you are persuaded that what He has promised He will do. Therefore, it is a display of confidence in God until you obtain your promise or your desired result. 

In the passage we read today, we saw Abraham, the father of faith, as a classic example of someone with absolute confidence in God. He never wavered at the promise of God, and it was counted to him for righteousness. Your feeling has nothing to do with your faith. You can walk into a hospital room and see someone you dearly love suffering on a bed of affliction, and you cry emotionally for an hour. Your tears may give you emotional relief, but will do nothing for your loved one. Absolutely nothing! Yet one minute of faith released in prayer to a loving God can stop sickness and disease in its tracks.

The Scripture in Hebrews 11 vs 1 states that faith has substance. Faith is real. It is measurable, hence we have all been given a measure of faith. Substance, in the case of faith, means that we have an assurance that God will do for us today what He has done for His people previously. What God has done in the past, He can do in the present. God's past performance gives us absolute assurance for our future. God said in His Word, "I am the LORD, I do not change." (Malachi 3 vs 6.) Scripture also says that Jesus Christ is "the same yesterday, today, and forever." (Hebrews 13 vs 8.)

Our faith is not mysticism. Our faith is not positive thinking or religious psychobabble. Our faith is rock solid, based on the historical evidence that God in heaven will faithfully perform what He has promised, and validated by what God has done in the past. Some people have faith in faith. They take the attributes of God and make them objects of worship and abuse them. While some others have faith in religious rituals, rather than God. Therefore, they are worshipping their distorted view of the attribute of God instead of God Himself. This is , in fact, legal idolatry. You have chosen a different God to worship. 

How would you explain the believer who virtually lives in the church, attending all services Monday through Sunday, but has no love in him or her? They have made the religious ritual of going to church their God, instead God who is love; it is faith in faith. Those who have faith in faith believe more in the crucifix hanging around their necks than the Christ hanging on the cross. A crucifix around your neck without Christ in your heart is nothing more than faith in faith; it is not faith in God. The object of our faith must be God and God alone.

Faith in God consists of more than wearing jewelry. It's more than sleeping in the church. Faith in God is substance based on the Word of God and the evidence of God's past performance. Not only is the object of your faith important, but so is the source. The Bible says, "Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God" (Romans 10 vs 17). The Greek word 'comes' is a progressive verb, which implies a faith that is continually increasing and growing. When you become a new Christian, God gives you a measure of faith (Romans 12 vs 3). This measure of faith increases to more faith as you hear the Word of God and internalize it. As you experience God's faithfulness, your faith grows and matures even more.

No matter how intimidating your problem happens to be, God is ready to hear and answer your prayer right now. He is ready to release your miracle. But first you must expect a miracle! Know it that faith sees the invisible, believes the unbelievable, and receives the impossible.

Prayer: Abba Father, my absolute trust is in You, for I know Whom I have believed. You are not a man, that You should lie, nor a human, that You should change Your mind. You have never spoken and failed to act! And have never promised and not carried it through! Give me the grace to remain steadfast in my trust in You, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

WE ARE COWORKERS WITH GOD!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

SUNDAY AUGUST 16, 2020.

SUBJECT : WE ARE COWORKERS WITH GOD!

Memory verse: "We then, as workers with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain.” (Second Corinthians 6 vs 1.) 

READ: Second Corinthians 5 vs 20:

5:20: Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God we’re pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.

INTIMATION:

The Christian is the representative of God to the world on behalf of the cross. It was through the early apostles and disciples that the message of reconciliation was first preached to the world. We are workers with Jesus Christ. It is in the realm of the recreated spirit that we become utterly one with Jesus Christ, and entered into the holy priesthood (First Peter 2 vs 9; Revelation 5 vs 10). You can be God's voice, His spokesman, His ambassador, His under-ruler, through the Word in your lips, in Jesus' Name. You become God's Will toward Satan ruled world through your prayer life. As coworkers with God through prayer; your spirit is contacting the Father. Your spirit is reaching other human spirits through the Father, and also connects to the spirit of other believers. 

Therefore, in the spiritual exercise of prayer, we become so utterly ruled and governed by the Word and the Holy Spirit that we become masters of demons and of their works. The Word on our lips in prayers is the same as the Word on the lips of Christ. We cast out demons with the Word. We pray for sick folks and the diseases leave them. Weakness is destroyed by the strength of God. The very life of God flows out through our lips. 

In First Corinthians 5 vs 4, the apostle Paul enumerated this revelation in relation to prayer, and our union with Christ in His work when he said, "In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,” The apostle Paul was telling the believers that when they gather together in their meeting that his spirit, and the Lord Jesus through the Holy Spirit will be with them in their deliberations.

Remember what Jesus said in John 7 vs 38 - 39, "On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If any one thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water." Jesus, speaking to the Samaritan woman in John 4 vs 10, used the term "living water" to indicate eternal life. Jesus is speaking of the Holy Spirit's indwelling presence that comes from our inner life of prayer, and there gushes forth a torrent of the very life of God that speeds on its way to that who is in need. 

The Holy Spirit is God's promise or guarantee of eternal life for those who believe in Him. It is that same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead that dwells in you, and that Spirit will also quicken your mortal bodies (Romans 8 vs 11). Our prayers bring the very presence of God upon men, and any circumstances, in any part of the world. In prayer we are cooperating with Him, and become ambassadors of Christ, ruling the demons and evil forces all over the world.

Prayer: Abba Father, thank You for making us kings and priests to reign on earth. Endue me with the excellent spirit of prayer, in communion with You, and working with other believers to rule the world with You, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

GLORY IN TRIBULATION

GLORY IN TRIBULATION

"And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; Romans 5:3" 

Devotion : Apostle Paul in his walk with Christ Jesus went through several tribulations. He saw God's hand in the tribulations to teach him some spiritual truth. He learned of the spiritual truth and is in the best position to enlighten us about what he had learned. He learned that tribulation or challenges yield patience, and patience produces experience, and experience generates hope. Hence, Apostle Paul is of the view that we should not totally condemn tribulation or challenges but rather be on the alert to learn patience, experience, and hope. In the end, the Holy Spirit comes to our aid to end the tribulation, fulfilling our hope because He loves us and His love is at work in our heart. Dear beloved, are you going through any challenge or tribulation? What should be your disposition? Share your thoughts and comments here!