THE PEACE OF GOD TO US!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 22, 2020.

SUBJECT: THE PEACE OF GOD TO US! 

Memory verse: "And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4 vs 7.) 

READ: John 14 vs 27 - 28:

14: 27: Peace I leave with you. My peace I give you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

14:28: You have heard Me say to you, ‘I am going away and coming back to you.’ If you love Me, you would rejoice because I said, ‘I am going to the Father ,’ for the Father is greater than I.

INTIMATION:

God's peace is different from the world's peace. True peace is not found in positive thinking, in absence of conflict, or in good feelings. It comes from knowing that God is in control, and that Christ has won the ultimate victory for us on the cross. Therefore, as believers, our citizenship in Christ's kingdom is sure, our destiny is set, and we can have victory over sin. Christ has already assured us of His continuous presence in our lives; that He will not leave us alone, He will come back to us as the Holy Spirit. Let God's peace guard your heart against anxiety.

The end result of the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives is deep and lasting peace. Unlike worldly peace, which is usually defined as the absence of conflict, this peace is confident assurance in any circumstance; with Christ’s peace, we have no need to fear the present or the future. Sin, fear, uncertainty, doubt, and numerous other forces are at war within us. The peace of God moves into our hearts and lives to restrain these hostile forces and offer comfort in place of conflict. Jesus says He will give us that peace if we are willing to accept it from Him. If your life is full of stress, allow the Holy Spirit to fill you with Christ’s peace.

Jesus said, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16 vs 33.) With these words He told His disciples to take courage. In spite of the inevitable struggles they would face, they would not be alone. He is saying the same thing to all believers; He does not abandon us to our struggles either. If we remember that the ultimate victory has already been won, we can claim the peace of Christ in the most troublesome times.

The apostle Paul tells the believers, “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.” (Colossians 3 vs 15.) Paul tells us to let Christ’s peace be umpire or referee in our heart. Our heart is the center of conflict because there our feelings and desires clash—our fears and hopes, distrust and trust, jealousy and love. How can we deal with these constant conflicts and live as God wants? The apostle Paul explains that we must decide between conflicting elements by using the rule of peace that will promote peace in our souls, and our Christian community. 

The result of one’s prayerful communication with God that is based on faith is an inner tranquility that cannot be expressed in words. It is the peace of God that protects one’s heart and produces consistency in one’s thoughts. When our prayers are offered to God upon the basis of faith, and knowing that God will work in answer to our prayers, then we will gain an inner peace of heart and mind. Through the knowledge of the presence of God, we would have peace of mind. The world could not give such peace of mind because of the turmoil that is constantly in the world. 

Prayer: Abba Father, let Your peace which surpasses all understanding guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus, rule my heart at all times with inner tranquility that cannot be expressed in words because of the knowledge of Christ’s triumph for us on the cross, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

THE PRESENCE OF GOD

THE PRESENCE OF GOD

"Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. Psalms 127:1" 

Devotion : The scripture above is not discouraging the children of God from engaging the services of laborers, building contractors, watchmen, and security men. It is good to engage them but the acknowledgement that God oversees their work is vital, because their technical knowledge is limited. It is only God who has the perfect knowledge to build strong houses, and has the intelligence to secure the city. The work of laborers and watchmen becomes effective and efficient if both the laborers/watchmen and their employers seek God's blessings. Dearly beloved, do not think you can do it all by yourself, or you might work in vain. Talk to the Holy Spirit about it. Share your comments here!

WHEN GRACE IS DENIED US!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

MONDAY SEPTEMBER 21, 2020.

SUBJECT: WHEN GRACE IS DENIED US! 

Memory verse: "And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in Me." (Matthew 1I vs 6.) 

READ: Philippians 2 vs 14 - 16:

2:14: Do all things without complaining and disputing.

2:15: that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,

2:16:holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.

INTIMATION:

Grace is denied us due to our bad attitudes such as short-lived gratitude, complaining, murmuring, seeking sympathy, self-pity, grumbling, fault-finding, nit-picking, jealousy, envy. Ignorance—not knowing enough to call on the Lord, asking Him to pour out His grace in time of need, and so on. Many times the reason we are not able to tap into the grace of God is simply because our attitude is all wrong. Such attitudes can never mix with grace. Many times the mistake we make is griping and fussing from daylight to dark, at the same time we are trying to activate the power of God in our life to help us solve a problem. You and I cannot expect God to intervene on our behalf in a situation if we are constantly displaying unacceptable attitudes before Him.

There is no way to receive God's grace while seeking sympathy from others or fellowshipping with self-pity. God will heal our wound if we don't seek others to nurse them. Many times we want the power of God to come upon us and solve some problem for us, but at the same time we want all our friends to feel sorry for us. Seeking pity becomes more important to us than seeking God’s grace to take us over. For instance, if we are having money problems, we may go into our prayer closet and cry out to the Lord, "O Father, please help me. I'm in over my head financially, and I need Your help so bad. I'm trusting You to help me, because without You I have no hope. Lord, You are the only One who can save me!"

Then, as soon as prayer time is over, you get on the phone telling your friends, co-workers, and relations, how tight it is for you and family, how hard you have worked and nothing is happening, how your husband or wife has not been helping and is idle, how underprivileged you are, how nobody is helping you, on and on. You want God to help you, but you also want everybody else to feel sorry for you. 

It is not wrong to share your burdens in a balanced way and with right motives. But beware of seeking pity. God never leads us where He cannot keep us. His grace is always sufficient for us in any and every circumstances of life. There is no sense in our griping and complaining, worrying and finagling, constantly trying to figure out things, working ourselves up into a stew and getting all frustrated and confused. If we do, that shows that we have no faith at all in God's abiding grace. If we want to receive God's grace, we have got to learn to depend upon Him totally and not upon others' sympathy or our own self-pity. 

As human beings, believers and unbelievers, we are subject to selfishness and ingratitude. We can pray and believe God for something, and even be very thankful and grateful for it when we receive it. But it doesn't take us very long and we are no longer thankful and grateful for them, but actually come to complain about them. We should be grateful and thankful to God always. In the event of our desiring something more, we then go to the Holy Spirit - the Spirit of grace and supplication, which is the power of God coming into our life to meet evil tendency that we have, and help us solve every problem that we encounter, as well as helping us institute any changes we desire.

As an example of how quickly and easily we can fall prey to a bad attitude, is inherent in the following illustrations: You are believing God for the fruit of the womb, and thankful and grateful when you got pregnant and delivered to a baby. In a few years you are griping and complaining and questioning God for giving us  "a stubborn child." Or we are praying, fasting, and believing God for husband or wife, and soon God showed up and the partner came. A few years down the road, we are complaining of our husband or wife, questioning God why He had allowed this partner into your life. 

It is noteworthy that this kind of bad or negative attitude was the major problem that caused the nation of Israel to wonder in the wilderness for forty years before entering the Promised land, in a journey that should have lasted forty days. God calls it unbelief. Learn to trust God in all things, not being anxious for anything, but by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, presenting your problems or concerns to God.

Prayer: Abba Father, with You all things are possible, and there is nothing difficult for You including my problems and concerns. Forever my trust and confidence is in You, even when I am at my wits’ end, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

MY GOD

 MY GOD

"But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19" 

Devotion : Have you ever wondered why the Apostle Paul used the phrase "my God"? The Apostle Paul had an intimate relation with the true God, Elohim, such that he knew what God could do. Indeed, God had been his supplier and had made him a channel through whom anyone could be blessed. He also gave the people of Philippi the secret of attracting God's blessings: ministering to the needs of the conveyers of the Gospel of Christ. Lastly, he gave them the full assurance that their needs would be supplied by God; God is in the business of supplying needs so that He can supply our wants. Dearly beloved, do you know the difference between needs and wants? Share your thoughts here!

BE THE FIRST

 BE THE FIRST

"If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Romans 12:18" 

Devotion : The opening scripture uses the term "as much as lieth in you" because peace is inherent in the believer in Christ Jesus. The Holy Spirit who comes to live in the believer in Christ Jesus comes with the virtue of peace. Since it is already inherent in you, what is needed is to cultivate it. The more you cultivate it, the more capable you become of always living at peace with all men. Always ask the Holy Spirit to develop patience in you because peace walks with patience. Dearly beloved, are you a peace-loving person? Share your thoughts here!

GOD’S CONCEPT OF PROSPERITY!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 20, 2020.

SUBJECT : GOD’S CONCEPT OF PROSPERITY!

Memory verse: "This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success." (Joshua 1 vs 8.)

READ: Genesis 39 vs 1 - 3:

39:1: And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hands of the Ishmeelites, which had brought him down thither.

39:2: And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.

39:3: And his master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand.

INTIMATION:

The dictionary definition of prosperity is the state of being prosperous; successful; good fortune; thriving; affluent; wealth. In our contemporary world, prosperity is viewed and acknowledged as the state of economic well-being: having money, possessions, and wealth. But God's concept of prosperity and good success does not connote the state of economic well-being. It is a function of obedience to God's laws, being strong and courageous to follow God's leading, and constantly reading, studying and meditating on God's Word to ensure you observe them. However, economic well-being can be an aftermath of functioning in God's concept of prosperity. 

In the passage we read today, Joseph, a slave in Potiphar's house, was noted in the Scriptures as a successful and prosperous man. His master saw that all he did prospered in his hands. All these were possible because the Lord was with him. Not because he had a flourishing business, money, or possessions. He, however, feared God, and was obedient to God’s laws. Therefore, prosperity and success are the aftermath of our relationship with God. It is embedded in our obedience to God's laws.

Many people think that prosperity and success come from having money, possessions, wealth, power and so on, hence their relentless desire to get ahead in pursuance of these things. But the strategy for prosperity that God is teaching us from the anchor Scripture goes against such criteria. For God it means being controlled by Him. Therefore, to be prosperous and have good success, you must obey the rules of living found in God's laws, be strong and courageous to obey, and follow His leading. 

You may not succeed by the world's standards, but you will be a success in God's eyes, and His opinion is final and lasts forever.

Often we can't see what the results or benefits of following God will be, but certainly the results are being prosperous and having good success. So, when you are not certain what to do, obedience to what God has revealed in the Scriptures is the only sure step we can take. So, resolve to set aside time each day to read and meditate on God's Word. Remind yourself of God's words day and night. Act today upon what you know God has said, and He will assure your success in carrying out His purposes, and living for Him.

Instances abound in the Scriptures of those that were prosperous and had good success by obeying God and following His leading. Our father in the faith, Abraham, through obedience became the friend to God, and was blessed in all things: "And Abraham was old, and well stricken in age: and the Lord blessed Abraham in all things." (Genesis 24 vs 1.) Obedience to God's laws and following His leading is the panacea to failure.

The most valuable thing in life is your relationship with God, and this is cost-free. He has given us the biggest gift to humanity, that is the "gift of salvation." The onus is on us to avail ourselves of this awesome privilege since God has freely given us the opportunity to accept the gift and the attendant reconciliation with Him through our Messiah Jesus Christ. 

Prayer: Abba Father, Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path. Give me the grace to abide in Your word always that I may be successful and prosperous in Your eyes, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

REJOICE ALWAYS IN THE LORD!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 19, 2020.

SUBJECT : REJOICE ALWAYS IN THE LORD!

Memory verse: "Rejoice always.” (First Thessalonians 5 vs 16.) 

READ: Philippians 3 vs 1; 4 vs 4:

3:1: Finally, My brethren, rejoice in the Lord. For me to write the same things to you is not tedious, but for you it is safe.

4:4: Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I say rejoice.

INTIMATION:

To rejoice is to delight, be joyful, be happy, or make happy. To rejoice in the Lord is to be joyful, happy, delighted, or gladdened in the Lord for who He is, and what He does, is doing, and can do. Rejoicing is pleasing to God hence His demand on people to be joyful. God encourages joy. God doesn’t intend for religion to be only meditation and introspection. He also wants us to celebrate. Serious reflection and immediate confession of sin is essential of course. But this should be balanced by celebrating who God is, what He has done, is doing, and can do for His people. Therefore, worship involves both celebration and confession. In believers meetings, there are times of meditations, and celebration: rejoicing in the Lord and demonstration of His goodness. 

One of the feasts that God gave to Moses for the children of Israel is the feast of Tabernacles, also called the feast of ingathering (Leviticus 23 vs 33 - 44). It was a special celebration involving the whole family that lasts for seven whole days. The feast taught family members of all ages about God’s nature and what He had done for them, and was a time for renewed commitment to God. In our societies in the world today, families need rituals of celebration to renew our faith and to pass it on to our children. Among Christians are Christmas, and Easter. Also, Churches and Fellowships have other special days to commemorate God’s goodness and nature. 

But the apostle Paul tells that rejoicing in the Lord should be a constant practice for us. It was so important to him that he emphasized the word ‘rejoice’ twice in a verse of just nine words (Philippians 4 vs 4.) In his letter, from the prison in Rome to the church in Philippi, he emphasized the need of rejoicing in the Lord always. Although, it seems strange that a man in prison would be telling a church to rejoice. But his attitude teaches us an important lesson: As believers in Christ, and trusting in God, our inner attitudes do not have to reflect our outward circumstances. Paul was full of joy because he knew that no matter what happened to him, Jesus Christ was with him.

It is in our nature to get easily discouraged about unpleasant circumstances. It’s also easy for us to take unimportant events too seriously. There are times when the last thing we want to do is rejoice. Our mood is down, our situation is out of hand, and our sorrow or guilt is overwhelming. Yes, but this is as a result of your not looking at life from the right perspective: Your focus is on the circumstance you face, instead of on Him who controls all circumstances. 

We can relate to the writers of the psalms in the Bible who often felt the way stated above. But no matter how low the writers felt, they were always be honest with God. And as they talked to God, their prayers ended in praise. When you don’t feel like rejoicing, tell God how you truly feel, be attentive, and you will find out that God will give you a reason to rejoice; Even at that same time, God has given you that day, that hour to live and to serve Him, be glad!!

You may not have been joyful because you have a wrong perspective of life. For instance, in the event of someone abusing you, calling you names indicative of the person’s regard of you as useless. Such circumstance is mostly unpleasant and discouraging. But such should not be taken serious, and not worry you, knowing that the ultimate assessment that matters is God’s assessment, not a fellow human’s assessment. “Let God be true and every man a liar” (Romans 3 vs 4.)

The apostle Paul, gives us three very important commands; be joyful, never stop praying, and be thankful (First Thessalonians 5 vs 16 - 18). Our joy, prayers, and thankfulness should be continuous, and not fluctuating with our circumstances or feelings. However, obeying these commands often go against our natural inclinations. But when we make a conscious decision to do what God says, we will begin to see life and people in the right perspective as God sees it. And when we do God’s Will, we will find it easier to be joyful and thankful.

Prayer: Abba Father, engrace me to rejoice in You always; having the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness, that I may be called a tree of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that You may be glorified, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!