GOOD COMPANION

 GOOD COMPANION

"Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee. Job 22:21" 

Devotion : Friendship has several advantages and blessings in life. Friendship can also bring severe disadvantages and misfortunes. The kind of friends you have will determine whether you will enjoy blessings or curses. The opening scripture exhorts us to befriend God and be at peace with Him, and His goodness will become our inheritance. The closer we are to God, the more glorious we will be. As children of God, let us choose friends who will bring us closer to God and godliness so that we can always enjoy the goodness of God. Dearly beloved, how do you choose your friends? Share your comments here!

THE LAW THAT GOVERNS THE NEW CREATION!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 11, 2020.

SUBJECT : THE LAW THAT GOVERNS THE NEW CREATION!

Memory verse: ""If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love.” (John 15 vs 10.) 

READ: Mark 12 vs 29 - 31; John 13 vs 34 - 35:

Mark 12:29: Jesus answered him, “The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.

12:30: And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment.

12:31: And the second, like it, is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is none other commandment greater than these.”

John 13:34; A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 

13:35: By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.

INTIMATION:

The law that governs the new creation is the love law. We are to love one another even as Jesus loved us, and as you love yourself. The love that Jesus emphasizes is love that has no conditions. It’s a self-sacrificing love that extends beyond any conditions of one’s environment, and thus, simply acts out of a selfless attitude of appreciation for all God has done in one’s life in reference to salvation. The importance of that law is embedded in the emphasis that Jesus laid on it. In the passage we read in John, the two verses of about forty words has "love for one another," said three times. In one sentence He said it twice. 

Jesus says that Christlike love will show we are His disciples. Do people see petty bickering, jealousy, and division in your church? Or do they know you are Jesus’ followers by your love for one another? Love is more than simply warm feelings. It is an attribute that reveals itself in action. How can we love others as Jesus loves 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. 

God’s law are not burdensome. They can be reduced to two simple principles: Love God and love others. When you love God completely and care for others as you care for yourself, then you have fulfilled the intent of the Ten Commandments and the other Old Testament laws. According to Jesus, these two commandments summarize all God’s laws. Let them rule your thoughts, decisions, and actions. When you are uncertain about what to do, ask yourself which course of action best demonstrates love for God and love for others.

You cannot work in love without fellowship. To walk in love is to walk in fellowship. To live the love life is to live the fellowship life. It is bringing joy to the heart of the Father. This fellowship life with Him is the sweetest, biggest, and richest thing the world ever knew. Jesus said in John 15 vs 11, "These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full." What does joy grow out of? What is the secret? It is in the fellowship or communion with the Father in Christ Jesus. It's the thing that gives joy. When fellowship is broken joy dies. The joy of the Lord is the ultimate requirement of the child of God because there lies his strength (Nehemiah 8 vs 10). 

Restoring fellowship is restoring joy; restoring power with God. The richer the fellowship, the deeper one gets into the Word. Deep, rich fellowship means that we go far below the surface in this mine of wealth—the Word. There will be no growth in faith, in grace, in knowledge, nor growth in joy, with broken fellowship. Every person who has lost power with God has lost it through loss of fellowship. 

If your faith has been impaired so your prayer life is but a form, it is because fellowship has been broken. If joy has all seeped out, it is because the vessel that held it has been cracked. When your usefulness and testimony has lost its grip and power; it is mere empty words, it is because fellowship has been broken. If you want your testimony to be rich and full, then you must have fellowship that is rich and full. Therefore, love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength, and establish a strong fellowship with Him.

Prayer: Abba Father, endue me with the spirit of love for You and others that I may richly draw from the abundant wealth of new creation in Christ, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

ATTRACTING GOD'S ATTENTION

 ATTRACTING GOD'S ATTENTION

"In that night did God appear unto Solomon, and said unto him, Ask what I shall give thee. Chronicles 1:7" 

Devotion : King Solomon attracted God's attention when he offered a thousand burnt offerings upon the altar of God. God told Solomon to ask for whatever he pleased and Solomon asked for wisdom and knowledge to judge the people of God. God fulfilled Solomon's request and added riches, wealth, and honor. Solomon knew what to ask for because his father, King David, had educated him to make the right request from God, Proverbs 4:3-5. Dearly beloved, let us give God the best of what we have and we will attract His attention and blessings, hallelujah. Share your thoughts here!

THE REAL FACTS OF RECREATION IN CHRIST!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 10, 2020.

SUBJECT : THE REAL FACTS OF RECREATION IN CHRIST!

Memory verse: "But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption.” (First Corinthians 1 vs 30.) 

READ: Second Corinthians 5 vs 17 - 21:

5:17: Therefore if anyone be in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things are become new.
5:18: Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation,
5:19: that is God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them; and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
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.

5:21: For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

INTIMATION:

Christians are brand-new people in the inside. The Holy Spirit gives them new life, and they are not the same anymore. We are not reformed, rehabilitated, or reeducated—we are re-created (new creations), living in vital union with Christ (Colossians 2 vs 6 - 7). At conversion we do not merely turn over a new leaf; we begin a new life under a new Master—Jesus Christ. This is not a superficial change that will be quickly superseded by another novelty. This is an entirely new order of all creation under Christ’s authority. It requires a new way of looking at all people and all of creation.

After the recreation, God gave us a standing with Himself. Our union and identification with Christ result in our having God's wisdom and knowledge, possessing right standing with God, being holy, and having the penalty for our sin paid by Jesus. We haven't only become sons or daughters, but one with a standing with the Father that He gives you Himself. That is perfectly natural; if the Father has children, He will give them a standing with Himself so that they can approach Him with the uttermost freedom and liberty. It is for that reason He gave us His own righteousness in Christ Jesus. (Second Corinthians 5 vs 21.)

Righteousness means the ability to stand in the Father's presence without the sense of guilt or inferiority, to stand in the presence of Satan without any inferiority, to stand in the presence of anything Satan has done without any sense of inferiority. You stand in his presence as his master. You are taking Jesus' place in the world, and you are Satan's master because you do it.

Now we have righteousness, we have Eternal life, we have the consciousness of sonship, we have great mighty Spirit come and make His home in our bodies. All these are the ultimate of the new creation, because we are recreated so that our body might become the home of God. (First Corinthians 6 vs 19 - 20.) We have been reconciled to God by Himself by blotting out our sins and making us right with Him. Because we have been reconciled to God, we have the privilege of encouraging others to do the same, and thus we are those who have the ‘ministry of reconciliation.’

The secret of the manifestation of all those attributes is in proper fellowship or communion with Christ, otherwise it is hindered. Then what is proper fellowship or communion with Him? It is keeping His commandments. It is abiding in His love. John 15 vs 10 & 12 says, "If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love. This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you." Now notice the secret in the ninth verse, "As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love." He has already loved us. All we need to do is abide in that love by keeping His commandment. His commandment is that we walk in love and live love by loving one another as He has loved us.

Prayer: Abba Father, I am overwhelmed by Your superb love for me which You demonstrated by giving us Your only begotten Son to die for my sins. Through our union with Christ I have gained Your righteousness, wisdom, sanctification, and redemption. Give me the grace to be in constant fellowship with You that I may not be hindered in accessing my privileges in Christ, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

TRANSFERABLE POWER

 TRANSFERABLE POWER

"And the whole multitude sought to touch him: for there went virtue out of him, and healed them all. Luke 6:19" 

Devotion : The power of the Holy Spirit is transferable; the Holy Spirit can move from one place to another. Jesus was full of the power of the Holy Spirit in such a way that every part of His body could heal the sick; even His clothes could heal the sick, Mark 6:56. The Holy Spirit worked in the life of His disciples with the same power, so Paul prayed over handkerchiefs and aprons and the sick were healed by these handkerchiefs and aprons; even demons fled upon coming into contact with these handkerchiefs and aprons. The Apostle Peter was so filled with the Holy Spirit that even his shadow healed the sick, Acts 5:15. The Holy Spirit is still using people mightily today; He could even use you if you allow Him so to do. Dearly beloved, have you ever demonstrated the power of the Holy Spirit in you? Share your experience here!

FREEDOM FROM POVERTY

 POOR

P-Passing 

O-Over

O-Opportunities

R-Repeatedly

Make use of opportunity that comes your way for progress.

OUR SUFFICIENCY IN GOD’S GRACE!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 9, 2020.

SUBJECT: OUR SUFFICIENCY IN GOD’S GRACE!

Memory verse: “And the child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon Him.” (Luke 2 vs 40.)

READ: Second Corinthians 3 vs 5; 9 vs 8:

3:5: Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as being from ourselves; but our sufficiency is from God.

9:8: And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.

INTIMATION:

It is hard for us to enjoy life if we don't have assurance about today, peace about yesterday and confidence about tomorrow. Why is it so? It is because as long as we live we will always have to face situations for which we don't have all the answers. If we don't have something going on in our lives that we can't handle, we wouldn't need God, therefore, we wouldn't need faith, we wouldn't have to trust God. The Lord will see to it that we are always dependent upon Him. And He does that by allowing us get into situations that are over our head, and makes His grace available to us. Although we may get worried, God never gets worried because He already knows exactly what He's going to do.  

For instance, when Jesus fed the multitude of five thousand men, excluding women and children, He said to Philip His disciple; “Where shall we buy bread that these may eat?” The Scripture says, “But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do.” (John 6 vs 5 - 6.) But although the Lord already has a plan for us to follow, a path for us to walk in, and a work for us to do, He won't give us all the answers today that we will need tomorrow. With each new day comes the grace that we need to live that day and meet the challenges of it. 

No matter what happens, God is still in control. He has a plan to handle everything that we will encounter in this life. And His grace is sufficient to meet all our needs. When the Israelites were brought out of the land of Egypt to the promised land, because it was God’s plan, His grace was sufficient for them to meet all their needs, even in the wilderness, until they arrived at the promised land.

No one can be adequate without God’s help through His grace. No one is competent to carry out the responsibilities of God’s calling in his or her own strength. Without the Holy Spirit of grace enabling us, our natural talent can carry us only so far. As Christ’s witnesses, we need the character and special strength that only God gives through His grace. We turn to God to seek pathways for effectiveness. We must rely on God for our effectiveness rather than simply on our own energy, effort, or talent. Our weakness not only helps develop Christian character, it also deepens our worship, because in admitting our weakness, we affirm God's strength. 

It was God's plan to send His only Son, Jesus Christ, to die for our sins. When the time came for Jesus to do what He came for, He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed (Matthew 26 vs 37 - 38). Jesus prayed to God the Father three times, asking for the same thing, saying the same words; “O My Father, If this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done” (Matthew 26 vs 42). Thereafter, God took over, the Father’s strength was made perfect in the Son’s weakness, and He became strengthened to face the planned death for mankind. God made available His Spirit of grace to carry Him through.

You may have heard the story about the young man who was in prison and about to be burned at the stake the next day for his faith in Christ. In the same cell there was an older man, more experienced believer who knew more about the way of the Lord. As it began to get dark, the younger man struck a match to light a candle and, as he did so, he burned his finger. Letting out a cry of anguish and pain, he said to his companion, "How can I stand to be burned at the stake tomorrow if I can't stand to be burned on the finger tonight?" The older man calmly replied, "Son, God didn't ask you to burn your finger, so there is no grace for that. But He is asking you to die for your faith, so when the time comes the grace will be there."

Prayer: Abba Father, in You I live, and move, and have my being. I can do all things through Your grace made available to me. Help me, O Lord, that nothing can inhibit Your grace in my life, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!