THE GRACE OF GOD!

 

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

MONDAY AUGUST 31, 2020.

SUBJECT:  THE GRACE OF GOD!

Memory verse:  "So He answered and said to me: “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the LORD of hosts.” (Zechariah 4 vs 6.) 

READ:  Zechariah 4 vs 1 - 6:

4:1: Now the angel who talked with me came back and awakened me, as a man who is awakened out of his sleep. 

4:2:And said to me, “What do you see?” So I said, “I am looking, and there is a lampstand of solid gold with its bowl on top of it, and on the stand seven lamps with seven pipes to the seven lamps. 

4:3: Two olive trees are by it, one at the right of the bowl and the other at its left.”

4:4: So I answered and spoke to the angel who talked with me, saying, “What are these, my lord?” 

4:5: Then the angel who talked with me answered and said to me, “Do you not know what these are?” And I said, “No, my lord.” 

4:6: .So he answered and said to me: “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord of hosts."

INTIMATION:

The dictionary definition of grace is; beauty, kindness, good-will, mercy, reprieve, and pardon. God's grace will then be His beauty; kindness; good-will; mercy; reprieve; and pardon for sinful humanity. These attributes of God are freely, and undeservedly given to sinful humanity. Grace therefore, is the free, and unmerited power of God available to sinful humanity to meet our needs without any costs to us. it is received by believing rather than through any human efforts. 

The simple and uncomplicated nature of God's grace as being a free gift, make many people miss it. There is nothing more powerful than grace. In fact, everything in the Bible—salvation, the infilling of the Holy Spirit, fellowship with God, victory in our daily lives, and so on—are rooted in the grace of God. Without grace, we are nothing, we have nothing, and can do nothing. If it were not for the grace of God, we would all be miserable and hopeless. Everything we are, do, and have are by the grace of God. You and I are helpless without the grace of God. We must not trust our own abilities, and initiatives because apart from Him, [cut off from vital union with Him] we can do nothing (John 15 vs 5). 

In Ephesians 2 vs 10, the apostle Paul tells us ..."We are God's [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live].” (Amplified Version.) Our works were prepared for us by God and finished from the foundation of the world (Hebrews 4 vs 3).

The psalmist in Psalm 139 vs 13 - 16 clearly states; "For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mothers's womb. ... for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Marvelous are Your works,...My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed . And in Your book they all were written, the day's fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them." It is in realization of these facts, and in believing, that God's grace will be alive in your thought process, and you will "enter that rest" already fashioned for you (Hebrews 4 vs 3).  

We should start each day by saying, "Here I am, Lord, ready for whatever You have for me to do. I empty myself, as much as I know how, to allow Your grace to flow in my life, to cause me to be able to do whatever it is that You desire for me. I cast myself totally upon You. I can be only what You allow me to be, I can have only what You will for me to have, I can do only what You empower me to do, and each victory is to Your glory, not mine."

Many people believe that to survive in this world a person must be tough, strong, unbending and harsh. But God says, "Not by our might nor by our power, but by His Spirit—the power of God." It is only through God's Spirit (God's grace) that anything of lasting value is accomplished by us, and we overcome all our lives' challenges. In the passage we read today, the Lord is speaking to the same people who were trying to build the temple with Zerubbabel. He is telling them how they should react to their frustrating situation to overcome their adversaries against the rebuilding the temple. They should rely on God's grace. God says His children’s response to trouble should be not to depend on their own abilities or efforts, but on the limitless power of the Holy Spirit to meet the issues of their lives, and resolve the crises they face. 

Although God asks us to do our part, we should remember that He is not limited to human effort. God often chooses to work through people, but only because it is good for them. He can accomplish all He purposes without any help from us if He so chooses. You are very important to God, but on your own you have neither the ability to fulfill nor the power to disrupt God’s plan. 

Prayer: Abba Father, by strength shall no man prevail. Without Your grace I am nothing, I have nothing, and can do nothing! May I never miss me Your grace in all I do, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

PREORDAINED DESTINY

 PREORDAINED DESTINY

"Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations. Jeremiah 1:5" 

Devotion : Jeremiah was called by God at a young age and he tried to give excuses to God but God would not buy them and had to encourage him with the opening Scripture. God has planned the destinies of His children and would want His children to know about their personal destiny and walk in it (Ephesians 1:5-6). Our responsibility is to find our destiny through fellowshipping with the Holy Spirit and the Holy Scriptures; after we have found it, let us not hesitate to fulfill it. No two destinies are the same; therefore, Christians should desist from comparing their destiny with others. What God would want you to do is to appreciate your destiny, give Him the glory, and ask Him to help you live it. Hallelujah! Dear beloved, do you know your destiny? Are you living it? Share your thoughts here!

WORRY NOT ABOUT YOUR LIFE!

 

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

SUNDAY AUGUST 30, 2020.

SUBJECT : WORRY NOT ABOUT YOUR LIFE!

Memory verse: "Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you." (First Peter 5 vs 7.)

READ: Matthew 6 vs 25 - 30::

6:25: Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?

6:26: Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?

6:37: Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?

6:28: So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin;

6:29: and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

6:30: Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

INTIMATION:

One must not be overly anxious about the things of this world nor of the sustenance of life. One must come to an understanding that life does not consist of those things that empirically beheld and possessed. God is our Creator and Sustainer of our lives. Just as the manufacturer of any product knows the reasons and purposes for doing so, and provides the means for its proper functioning, so it is with our God—the Creator and Owner of us all. He knows His reasons and purposes for creating anything He created, and provides all that are necessary for the effective functioning of all He created, so as to achieve the desired purposes. All those needs are in constant supply according to His promises.

Jesus asked the intriguing question, “Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?” Obviously, without life there are no needs for food and clothing. Therefore, if He has given you life, rest assured of His provisions of the necessities for sustaining the life, and He already knows of those needs (Matthew 6 vs 31). Worrying shows a lack of faith in and understanding of God, and it’s more harmful than helpful in our relationship with Him. It negatively hampers our efforts in relating with Him in the now—our faith in Him. God deals with our daily needs, hence Jesus’ teaching of our living one day at a time, and asking for our daily bread from Him (Matthew 6 vs 11). 

In the passage we read today, Jesus teaches of the wonderful ways God takes care of all He created; supplying them of their desired needs to live without any efforts of theirs. He gave two classical examples of the birds of the air and the lilies of the field. The birds neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet they have never lacked because He supplies their needs. And also, the lilies of the field neither toil nor spin, but the glory of their beautiful flowers are even better than the works of human designs and beautification. Jesus exhortation is that if God takes care of grass, flowers, birds, then surely He will take care of His children. The point is that one must trust in God, not in one’s own self-sufficiency. 

Have you ever read a headline about millions of birds dying of starvation? No! And you never will. They don't plant, or harvest, or store food away, yet God feeds them. If God cares that much for a tiny little bird, think how much better care He will take of a person who has been made in His image and after His likeness! Jesus is encouraging us that we can have much more confidence in God to take care of us. This seems a radical statement because we feel like it's our duty to worry about things, but God is telling us to rely on Him with our whole heart. (Proverbs 3 vs 5; First Peter 5 vs 7.)

Jesus further said in Matthew 6 vs 31 - 32, "Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or What where shall we wear?' For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your Heavenly Father knows that you need all these things."

There should be a difference between Christians and unbelievers—between people who have covenant with God, and people who are trying to do it all on their own. We shouldn't be out in the world chasing possessions and struggling to survive the same way that the unbelievers are. God wants us to prosper, and we have a covenant of all round blessings. Our covenant of blessing stems from the blessing of our father Abraham who was blessed in all things (Genesis 24 vs 1; Galatians 3 vs 14). 

The same God who created you can be trusted with the details of your life. The All-Knowing God knows all your needs even before you mention them, and is concerned about every aspect of our lives. He never ignores those who depend on Him (Romans 10 vs 11). He wants us to prosper in every way: physically, emotionally, financially, and in our relationships. Our duty is to put Him first in our life, and all our needs will be supplied according to His plans and purposes. God is pleased when we prosper! He wants to see us succeed. (See Psalm 35 vs 27; Third John 2.)

You have to rely on God and trust that He is your source—putting God first in everything in your life. It has to be a heart-level revelation, not just a conclusion you arrive at mentally. And once you grab hold of this, it will revolutionize your life, you will be completely transformed. He will begin to supernaturally take care of you. It will bring you a tremendous amount of peace and confidence. Let God’s counsel in His Word rule you at all time; “Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13 vs 5). 

Prayer: Abba Father, give me the grace to cast all my care upon You, and eschew all forms of worry in my life. What You cannot give me let me never have it, and what You cannot do for me let it remain undone, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

WALK WITH LIKE MINDS

 WALK WITH LIKE MINDS

"And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. Thessalonians 3:14" 

Devotion : God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ are mindful of those we associate with. Our Lord Jesus Christ was always in company with the disciples except on a few occasions when He had to go out of the way to win a soul. He knows that evil company or evil association corrupts good character (1 Corinthians 15:13). Jesus Christ wants us to live and walk in His Word, and associate with likeminded people who live and walk in His Word. It is then we can sharpen one another and learn from one another so that we can shine as true lights of the world. If Christians dissociate from their fellow Christians who are not walking in the Scriptures, they shall be ashamed and turn from their crooked ways. Let us be quick to identify brethren who are taking the gospel for granted so that we can help them to stand in the faith. Dear beloved, what did you learn from this gospel? Share your comments here!

KEEP YOUR HOPE ALIVE!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

SATURDAY AUGUST 29, 2020.

SUBJECT: KEEP YOUR HOPE ALIVE!

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: Hebrews 4 vs 3 - 10: 

4:3: For we who have believed do enter that rest, as He has said: “So I swore in My wrath,‘ They shall not enter My rest,’ although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. 
4:4: For He has spoken in a certain place of the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all His works”; 
4:5: and again in this place: “They shall not enter My rest..”
4:6: Since therefore it remains that some must enter it, and those to whom it was first preached did not enter because of disobedience,

4:7: again, He designates a certain day, saying in David, “Today,” after so long a time; as it is said: “Today if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.”
4:8: For if Joshua had given them rest, then He would not afterward have spoken of another day.
4:9: There remains therefore a rest for the people of God.

4:10: For he who has entered His rest has also ceased from his works, as God did from His.

INTIMATION:

Hope is the foundation upon which we continue our response to the grace of God. We all have faced problems in our relationships or in our work that have caused us to think about giving up. Also, 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. It’s easy to lose heart and quit. Because of our hope is in Christ, however, we can let go of past quit and look forward to what God will help us become. Don’t dwell on your past if you a child of God. 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.

Our troubles should not diminish our faith or disillusion us, nor should fatigue, pain, or criticism force you off the job. We should not forsake your eternal reward because of the intensity of today’s pain. We should realize that there is a purpose in our suffering. Problems and human limitations have several benefits: (1) They remind us of Christ’s suffering for us; (2) they keep us from pride; (3) they cause us to look beyond this brief life; (4) they give us opportunities to prove our faith to others; and (5) they give God the opportunity to demonstrate His power. See your troubles as opportunities! Your very weakness allows the resurrection power of Christ to strengthen you moment by moment as you concentrate on the inner strength that comes from the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 3 vs 16). 

Our day-to-day experiences and hardships are sometimes overwhelming; unless we can see that God’s purpose is to bring about continual growth in us, we may despair. Though Christians see the world as it is—physically decaying and spiritually infected with sin, but they do not need to be pessimistic, because they have hope for future glory. The hope they need is well expressed in Jeremiah 29 vs 11 - 12; “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of Peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.” To retain hope while we suffer shows we understand God’s merciful ways of relating to His people.

Some people have little hope of escaping their degrading way of life. With no hope, they languish in their state of predicament. But the blind beggar, in Luke 18 vs 35, took hope in the Messiah. He shamelessly cried out for Jesus’ attention, and Jesus said that his faith allowed him to see. No matter how desperate your situation may seem, if you call out to Jesus in faith, He will help you. God’s grace has delivered us from sin and death, and consequently, will deliver us unto the new heavens and earth that are to come. For this reason, Christians should obediently walk by faith in order not to give up their eternal possession that they have as heirs of God. 

The ultimate hope of a Christian when experiencing terrible illness, persecution, or pain is the realization that this life is not all there is—there is life after death! Death is only a prelude to eternal life with God. 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. The ultimate hope of the believer is in the return of Jesus (Titus 2 vs 13). Our perspective on life remains incomplete without this hope. This hope gives the Christians the inner strength to persevere through the struggles of this life, and remain faithful and strong through the trials and persecutions of this world. 

Hope keeps the Christian from becoming lazy or feeling bored. Like an athlete, train hard and run well, remembering the reward that lies ahead (Philippians 3 vs 14). No matter what happens, God is in control. Evil will not last forever. And a wonderful reward awaits all those who believe in Jesus as Savior and Lord. All Christians should show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, that they do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises (Hebrews 6 vs 11 - 12).

Prayer: Abba Father, my trust is in You. For I know I am victorious in Christ, and look forward to live with Him forever when all suffering will end and all sorrow will flee away.

Give me the grace of unshakable hope in the heirship You promised to Your children,  in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

THE RIGHT DIRECTION

 THE RIGHT DIRECTION

"In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Proverbs 3:6" 

Devotion : In this world everybody is going somewhere but not everyone knows where they are going; everybody is going somewhere but not everyone will reach their destination; everybody is going somewhere but not everyone is on the right path. These are the reasons why the opening Scripture said we should not see anything too small to talk to God about. He wants to know everything so that He can direct us. He alone knows the right way because there is a way that seems right unto man but the end thereof is the way of death (Proverbs 14:12). Let Him know what you have purpose to do so that He can lead you on the path of success and peace. Praise the Lord! Dear beloved, what did you learn from this gospel? Share your comments here!

GROW UP!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

FRIDAY AUGUST 28, 2020.

SUBJECT: GROW UP!

Memory verse:  "For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food.” (Hebrews 5 vs 12.) 

READ: Hebrews 5 vs 12 -14:

5:12: For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 

5:13: For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. 

5:14: But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

INTIMATION:

Growth in Christianity is growing in the wisdom and knowledge of the high-priestly role of Christ in the life of all believers. The growth is difficult unless you moved out of your comfort zones, and get really committed to Christ. Your commitment and thirst, commits God to arouse your intellect, and discerning spirit to know Him personally; your eyes of understanding being enlightened, that is, being focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what He is calling you to do. 

In real life, we try to know someone better by reading biographical information or historical data about him. That will help you know a lot about that person, bu it won’t enable you to actually know him or her. To know someone better, you need to spend time with that person; there is no shortcut. The same holds true with God. Reading the Bible, great works of theology, and devotional material is wonderful, but there is no substitute for knowing God personally by spending quality time with a Him. 

Do you really know God, or do you just know about Him? The difference is in spending quality time with Him, and in that hinges your growth as a Christian. Consequently, you grasp the immensity of this glorious way of life He has for His followers, and the utter extravagance of His work in us who trust Him; His endless energy, and boundless strength.

Christians who are yet to experience growth are Babes in Christ. Instead of growing in the wisdom and knowledge of their inheritance in Christ, such Christians are still needing someone to teach them the very rudiments of the truths of God; the elementary principles of Christ.  The apostle Paul said such believers are still in the infant stage, needing milk for feeding. He says that, “for everyone who partakes only in milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe.” (Hebrews 5 vs 13.)

Considering how long they have been Christians, some believers ought to be teachers, leaders, helpers of men, praying with the sick. Instead of still needing prayer contractors who would do the praying for them. Stunted growth in a Christian’s life is as a result of the bad habit of not listening appropriately, and practicing the Word of God, and they become believers who are unskilled in the word of righteousness—inexperienced in God’s ways. 

For some, instead of growing, they are pulled back to the world by the devil—backslides. The peril of not growing up in Christ, but rather backsliding is enormous. Once you have seen the light, gotten a taste of heaven and been part of the work of the Holy Spirit, once you have personally experienced the sheer goodness of God’s Word and the powers breaking in on us, turning your back on it—washing your hands of the whole thing—is costly. Why? Because when you turn your back on Christ, you become a toy in the hands of the devil. 

To return to Christ you must begin afresh. You can’t start over again as if nothing happened. That’s impossible. Your action of turning your back on Christ is repudiating Him in the public. By deliberately turning away from Christ, you become  an unbeliever, cutting yourself off from God’s forgiveness. And, in the event of your returning to Him, the apostle Paul likened it to your re-crucifying Jesus: “For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame. (Hebrews 6 vs 4 - 6.)

The apostle Paul likened such persons to a parched ground that soaks up rain and then produces an abundance of grains for its gardener, and get God’s approval. But if it produces weeds and thistles, it’s more likely to get cussed out. Such fields are not harvested, but rather, they are cleared of the weeds and thistles and are burned. It is time to grow to adulthood and claim your real place in Christ. Start today and the Holy Spirit will guide you to all truth.

Prayer: Abba Father, grant me your glorious inner strength through the Holy Spirit, that Christ may dwell in my heart through faith, and I will experience the extravagant dimensions of Christ love, in Jesus’ Name I prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!