EASIER TO DO

 EASIER TO DO

"Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk? Mark 2:9" 

Devotion : Jesus Christ asked the scribes a question when they reasoned in their heart that Jesus could not forgive sins. But Jesus Christ demonstrated that He could forgive sins by healing the sick of the palsy. Jesus demonstrated that it was easier to forgive sins than to perform miracles. He is therefore teaching us that we should find it easy to forgive people who wrong us; if we harbor unforgiveness in us, it will hinder our blessings. He is also teaching us to do the easier things first before thinking about the difficult ones. Dearly beloved, do you find it easy to forgive those who offend you? Share your comments here!

TO HAVE ALL THINGS POSSIBLE WITH YOU!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

MONDAY SEPTEMBER 14, 2020.

SUBJECT:  TO HAVE ALL THINGS POSSIBLE WITH YOU!

Memory verse:  "Jesus said to him, If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes." (Mark 9 vs 23.)

READ:  Mark 11 vs 22 - 25:

11:22: So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God.

11:23: For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.

11:24: Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you have then, and you will have them.

11:25: And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you Your trespasses.

INTIMATION:

The believer who has faith in God, and continually “believes” Him without any iota of doubt, and also in right standing with Him will have all things possible with Him. Note Jesus’ remark in our memory verse; “...all things are possible to him who believes.” Notice that the word 'believes' is a present-continuous tense. The believing is continuous, You don't believe today, and tomorrow be filled with doubt. You can't believe now, and later begin to doubt. James called that a wavering faith; "But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man, suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways" (James 1 vs 6 - 8). 

Doubt is the opposite of faith. You have faith when you decide to take God for His Word. You doubt when you decide not to take God for His Word, or you fail to make a decision to take God's Word regarding any issues you are involved in. Our faith in God and His Word must not waver, and must remain firm, no matter how frightened or unsure we may feel about the outcome of any matter. It’s the nature of humans to see before believing, that is, walking by sight like, instead of by faith (Second Corinthians 5 vs 7). God's way is to believe and then see. Hence He "calls those things which do not exist as though they did" (Romans 4 vs 17).  And "Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed" (John 20 vs 29). 

Look at the instructions of Jesus in the passages we read today: (1) "Have faith in God." Without faith we can't please Him, knowing that if you come to Him, you must believe He is what He said He is, and that those who seek Him diligently will be rewarded (Hebrews 11 vs 6). (2) You have to believe in your heart that what you say will come to pass. It is only what you believe in your heart that you speak out in faith. (3) You must speak out your believe. It is only in confessing your faith—your believe, that you receive from Him. It is whatever you speak in faith to His hearing, He will do to you (See Numbers 14 vs 26).

Many people think that they need "great faith" in order to have their words work miracles. This is not what Jesus taught in Scripture. However, He said, "If you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you" (Matthew 17 vs 20). Therefore, put your faith into action by speaking it out, the amount of faith nothing withstanding, then the grace of God—the power of God (not your faith) will swing into action.

Some people become discouraged when they speak and did not receive immediately. Though, the outcome may or may not be immediate but it is sure to come provided you have the right standing with God. Take a cue from the following, Jesus cursed the fig tree in Mark 11 vs 14, "Let no man eat fruit from you ever again." It was the following morning that the disciples saw that the fig tree that He cursed the previous day has dried up from the roots (See Mark 11 vs 20). In another scenario, when Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, He called him to come forth, and he who had died came out immediately. (See John 11 vs 43 - 44).

Finally, the other qualifying condition to have what you say is having the right motives in prayer. When you do not have the right motives, you receive nothing. It is only with the right motives in prayer that you can bring the power of spoken faith in the Word into action. To have right motives: (1) you must not hold a grudge against another person (Mark 11 vs 25); (2) you must not pray with selfish interest; (3) your request must be for the good of God's kingdom; (4) you must have faith in God and His Word, not faith in the object of your request. You must have total trust in God, if you do, then God can work exceedingly great things through you (Ephesians 3 vs 20). 

Prayer: Abba Father, my trust is in You who made heaven and the earth. I know it is only what I say in faith that You have promised I will have. Give me the grace to have the Word of faith is in my mouth and in my heart, and to continually speak out my faith, and believe, that may have what I say, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

CAST THEM ON JESUS

 CAST THEM ON JESUS

"Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. Peter 5:7" 

Devotion : Some people come to Christ Jesus and still carry their burdens. This is so because they are still ignorant of the scriptures. However, by knowing of the opening scripture they will no longer carry their burdens but cast them upon Jesus. Sometimes we go through unnecessary challenges because we do not know our inheritance in the Word of God. The bible has answers for all the questions we have; the bible also has all the solutions to the challenges that come our way. What we need to do is to search the scriptures for answers and solutions. As we go on with our daily routines, let us not carry any burden; we have Jesus Christ who is prepared to carry our burdens for us so that we can be free to do His work, Matthew 11:28. Dearly beloved, are you still carrying any burdens? Cast them on Jesus! Share your comments here!

OBEDIENCE ENGENDERS FRIENDSHIP WITH GOD!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 13, 2020.

SUBJECT : OBEDIENCE ENGENDERS FRIENDSHIP WITH GOD!

Memory verse: Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine." (Exodus 19 vs 5.)

READ: John 15 vs 9 - 11: 

15:9: As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. 

15:10: If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love.

15:11: These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.

15:12: This is My commandment, “That you love one another, as I have loved you.”
15:13: Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
15:14: You are My friends, if you do whatsoever I command you.

INTIMATION: 

Obeying God in faith brings you closer to Him for an intimate relationship. Every time you trust God's wisdom and do whatever He says, even when you don't understand it, you deepen your friendship with Him. Obedience endears you to God, and makes you special to Him. Just obedience to our earthly parents endear us to them, so it does to our heavenly Parent. Jesus is our role model, He was obedient to both to His earthly parents and Heavenly Father.

Most people have always viewed obedience as submission to an authority, usually a superior authority. They rarely think of obedience as an attribute of friendship. It is usually reserved for relationships with a parent or the boss or a superior authority, not a friend. Though God is a superior being, He views our obedience as condition for intimate relationship with Him. And Jesus made it clear when He said, in John 15 vs 14, "You are My friends if you do whatever I command You." Obedience to God in faith endears you to Him, and fosters an intimate friendship with Him.

We obey God, not out of duty or fear or compulsion, but because we love Him and trust that He knows what is best for us. We want to follow Christ out of gratitude for all he has done for us, and the closer we follow Him, the deeper our friendship becomes. Unbelievers often have the illusion that Christians obey out of obligation or guilt or fear of punishment because He is awesome, and is ever ready to punish any misdeeds prior to the coming of Jesus Christ. Now that Jesus has paid the penalty for our sin, and we have been forgiven and set free, we obey out of love, and our obedience brings great joy! 

Take note of these two declarations in passage we read today, of Jesus' words; "My joy" and "your joy." (John 15 vs 11.) What is His joy? Jesus' joy is to do the Will of the Father, that is, obediently keeping the Father's commandments, and in doing the work of the Father and ensuring the work is completed. This is very important to Jesus that He called it His food; "My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish his work."(John 4 vs 34.) In the same vein, our joy is to obey Christ's commandments. When we do, our joy will be full. Notice that Jesus expects us to relate with Him as He relates with the Father. His relationship with His Father is the model for our friendship with Him. Jesus did whatever the Father asked Him to do, out of love. We also are to do the same with Christ.

True friendship isn't passive; it’s active. When Jesus asks us to love others, help the needy, share our resources, keep our lives clean, offer forgiveness, and bring others to Him, love motivates us to obey immediately. The psyche of most of us is to do great things for God. Actually, God is more pleased when we do small things for Him out of loving obedience. They may be unnoticed by others, but God notices them and considers them acts of worship. Great opportunities may come once in a lifetime, but small opportunities surround us every day. Even through such simple acts as telling the truth, being kind, and encouraging others, we bring a smile to God's face. 

God treasures simple acts of obedience more than our prayers, praise, or offerings. The Bible in First Samuel 15 vs 22 says, "..Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams." Jesus Christ was borne a child, He lived with His parents, worked with the earthly father, Joseph in his carpentry business, and started His public ministry at the age of thirty by being baptized by John the Baptist. At the event of His baptism, God spoke from heaven: "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." (Matthew 3 vs 17.)

What has Jesus done in thirty years that gave God so much pleasure? The Bible says nothing about those hidden years except in two passages:  First in Luke 2 vs 46 - 49, Jesus, at the age of twelve, exhibited great intellectual prowess in the temple. He sat in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers. In answer to the parents quest of where He has been while they searched for Him, He said, "Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father's business." And in Luke 2 vs 51, the Bible says, "Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth; and was subject to them." 

Being subject to the parents simply indicated He was obedient to them. Luke 2 vs 51 in sAmplified Version says, "And He went down with them and came to Nazareth and was [habitually] obedient to them.."Jesus was habitually obedient to the earthly parents, and also the Heavenly Father, and went about the Father's business in total obedience to his Father's commandments. How then is your walk with Jesus? Are you habitually obedient to Him? This is what God demands from us, and in doing so you are endeared to Him.

Prayer: Abba Father, endue me with the spirit of raw obedience to You in all things that I may have the privilege of being Your friend, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

RESPECT FOR LEADERSHIP

 RESPECT FOR LEADERSHIP

"Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things. Timothy 2:7" 

Devotion : In the kingdom of God there are several principles of success. When these principles are followed to the letter, success is inevitable. Our respect for leadership in the church is what the Apostle Paul has brought to light. When we consider what the leadership of the church says, God gives us understanding in all things. In other words, when we respect our church leaders and diligently follow them in the scriptures, God gives us understanding in all our endeavors. However, when we rebel against their leadership, we will fail in all our endeavors because of lack of understanding. Dearly beloved, what is your attitude towards your church leader? Share your thoughts here!

THE DON’TS IN PRAYER!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 12, 2020.

SUBJECT : THE DON’TS IN PRAYER!

Memory verse: "Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful." (Hebrews 10 vs 23.)

READ: Mark 11 vs 22 - 25: 

11:22: And Jesus answering said to them, Have faith in God.

11:23: For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.

11:24: Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.

11:25: And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.

INTIMATION: 

Prayer is petition or entreaty to God, application to God expressed in words or thoughts. In such petition, there are some things we need not do. I called them “the don’ts in prayer.”

1. Don't try to believe the Word of God only, believe and act on the Word you believe. It’s in acting on the Word that God hastens to perform His word; “...For I am ready to perform My word,” says the Lord (Jeremiah 1 vs 12). Do your own believing. Have your own faith as you have your own clothes. Act on the Word for yourself.

2. Don't have double confession that one confession repudiates the other. This moment you confess, "Yes, He heard my prayer. I am healed," and thereafter you say "Let me wait for a week, if the signs didn't return, I will then confess I am healed." Or "I am sure God will supply my needs according to His riches in glory," and subsequently you begin to question how it is going to come and what you ought to do to get it; then you say, "I am not sure I will get it." Your latter confession destroys the first. A wrong confession destroys prayer and destroys faith. 

3. Don't trust in other people's faith. Have your own faith. Your case is vital to you. It may not be vital to this other party to whose faith you look up to. He may have troubles that are unresolved, inward struggles that have never been settled. His faith may be at a low ebb when you appeal to him for aid.

4. Don't talk doubt or unbelief. Never admit that you are a "Doubting Thomas;" that is an insult to your Father in heaven. For instance, the Word of God says, ‘He has born your griefs and carried your sorrows (your infirmities and diseases), and with His stripes you are healed’ (Isaiah 53 vs 5). Therefore, don’t talk of your sickness, but rather talk of your healing according to the word of God.

5. Don’t talk about failure. Meditate on the Word, and it's absolute integrity. Talk of your utter confidence in it; of your ability to act on it; and hold fast to your confession and of its truthfulness.

6. Don’t talk about fear. He has not given you the spirit of fear, but of power, of love, and of a sound mind (Second Timothy 1 vs 7). Fear is the strongest weapon of the devil. Stand bold in your confession without wavering, no matter what you are confronted with.

7. Don’t engage in the altar of prayer with sin and iniquities in your heart. Confess your sins and He is faithful to forgive you (First John 1 vs 9).. If you have anything against anyone forgive him or  her, so the your Father in heaven will likewise forgive you.

Prayer: Abba Father, You are the wonder working, and ever faithful God. Destroy any form of unbelief, fear, and doubt in me regarding Your Word, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

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!