GOD’S POWER IN OUR LIMITATIONS!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 15, 2020.

SUBJECT: GOD'S POWER IN OUR LIMITATIONS!

Memory verse:  "Blessed are the poor in Spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 5 vs 3.)

READ:  First Corinthians 1 vs 26 - 29:

1:26: For You see your calling, brethren, that not many wise men according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called.
1:27: But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty;

1:28: and the base things of the world, and things which are despised, God has chosen, and things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, 

1:29: that no flesh should glory in His presence.

INTIMATION:

Humans are imperfect. Each of us has a bundle of flaws and imperfections: physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual. You may also have uncontrollable circumstances that weaken you, such as financial or relational limitations. We are God's creatures, and He has allowed these imperfections in our life for His predetermined purposes. God is always drawn to people who are weak and admit it. Jesus regarded this recognition of our need as being "poor in spirit." (Matthew 5 vs 3.) It's the number one attitude He blesses. If God considers perfection in using people, obviously nothing could be done, because none of us will be eligible since we are all imperfect.

A limitation is not a sin, or a vice, or a character defect that you can change, such as overreacting, or impatience. A limitation is any inadequacy that you inherited or have no power to change. It may be a physical limitation, like a handicap, a chronic illness, or disability. It may be emotional limitation, such as a trauma scar, a hurtful memory, a personality quirk, or a hereditary disposition. Or it may be a talent or intellectual limitation: We are not all super bright or talented. Your limitations or weaknesses are not an accident. God deliberately allowed them in your life for the purpose of demonstrating His power through you.

The most important issue is that God loves you, even in your weakness or limitations. It is for our weaknesses that God sent His only begotten Son, Jesus, to the world, as a propitiation for our sins, since we can't handle sin ourselves. The Bible in John 3 vs 16 says, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son..." Come to think of it, if we are perfect, are we going need God? The answer is no! God allows those limitations in us to always remind us of our need for Him. He gives us the power to accomplish the seemingly impossible tasks, our limitations not withstanding. Knowing that the power is His, not ours, should keep us from pride and motivate us to keep daily contact with God, our power source. 

Sometimes we deny our limitations or weaknesses, defend them, excuse them, hide them, and resent them, instead of owning them up. That prevents God from using them the way He desires. God has a different perspective on your limitations or weaknesses. In Isaiah 55 vs 9 God says, "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts." He has His reasons for creating you the way He did, and that knowledge is known to Him alone. Be totally truthful, and allow Him to use you as He purposed.

The Scripture, in Romans 11 vs 33 states, "Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgements, and His ways past finding out!" God's knowledge and wisdom are greater than man's, and passed finding out. Although God's method and means are beyond our comprehension, He Himself is not arbitrary, He governs the universe and our lives in perfect wisdom, justice, and love. He often acts in ways that are the exact opposite of what we expect. We think that God only wants to use our strengths, but He also wants to use our limitations or weaknesses for His glory.

When we think of the limitation in your life, you may be tempted to conclude, "God could never use me." But God is never limited by our limitations. Rather He brings His great power to bear in our situations, haven considered us as ordinary containers—earthen vessels (frail and fallible human beings). The Bible, in Second Corinthians 4 vs 7, says, "But we have this treasures in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not if us."

Prayer: Abba Father, Your wisdom is beyond human comprehension, and Your ways passed finding out. Nothing is useless in Your hands, and my limitations and weaknesses are great tools in Your hands. Therefore, I empty myself before You each day that You use me as is pleasing to You, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

GOD IS TOO FAITHFUL TO FAIIL US

 Song by Moses Bliss 

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!