GIVE THANKS TO GOD ALWAYS!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

MONDAY NOVEMBER 30, 2020.

SUBJECT : GIVE THANKS TO GOD ALWAYS! 

Memory verse: "In everything give thanks; for this is the Will of God in Christ Jesus for you." (First Thessalonians 5 vs 18.) 

READ:  Read Psalm 92 vs 1 - 2; Ephesians 5 vs 20:

Psalm 9:1: It is good to give thanks to the LORD, and to sing praises to Your Name, O Most High

92:2: To declare Your lovingkindness in the morning, and Your faithfulness every night,

Ephesians 5:20: Giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

INTIMATION:

Thanksgiving is an act of giving thanks, especially publicly acknowledging the divine goodness and mercy of God in our lives. It is the celebration of God's faithfulness in our lives both as a group (like the church), or as an individual. Above all. thanksgiving is an integral part of our relationship with God, and it’s God’s will for us. Being thankful is being grateful, being gladly relieved. The relieve can be for a burden, a task, emotional stress, weight etc. In all you are better off than before. 

Whatever you are: your talent, wisdom, skills etc, whatever assets you have: money, properties, etc, and whatever position you occupy in life, are all the acts and doing of the Lord. (See John 3 vs 27 and James 1vs17).  The life you are living is not your own, God gave it to you. The only thing we return to God in acknowledgment of His goodness and wondrous acts is giving Him thanks. At any corner of your life, you should remember your source. 

Often times, in giving thanks, we focus on our blessings and express our gratitude to God for them. But thanks should be on our lips every time. We should thank God for; (1) The invisible happenings in our lives, His goodness and mercy. ( See Ezra 3 vs 11.); (2) For every sign and wonder we have seen both in our lives, and others. (See Mark 16 vs 20.); (3) For all the benefits especially intangible benefits (See Psalm 103 vs 2 - 5); (4) For all the deliverances. (See John 10 vs 10; Obadiah 1 vs 17; Colossians 1 vs 13); and (5) For all His promises and provisions He made  to us. (See Romans 4 vs 20 - 21). 

Again, as believers, since we have been graciously adopted as children of God, and born of the Will of God, we should rest assured of His presence in our lives at all times. Therefore, in everything that happens to us, we be thankful for God's presence, and for the good that He will accomplish through the happening, bearing in mind that "All things work together for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose" (Romans 8 vs 28). 

Thanksgiving is also a proper response to our salvation. The Scripture in Ephesians 2 vs 8 - 9 says, "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast." When someone gives you a gift, the appropriate response is 'thank you.' Our salvation and even our faith are gifts from God, and we should respond with gratitude, praise and joy. We become Christians through God's grace (unmerited favour), not as a result of any efforts, ability, intelligent choice, or acts of service on our part. 

As we praise and thank God for material, and spiritual blessings, we should also thank Him for answered prayers, remembering His answers to our quest for protection, strength, comfort, patience, love, or other special needs that He supplied. Also, consider it a huge privilege to have been chosen by God for whatever blessing He bestowed on you. He could have chosen another person to do or have what He has given you. For this reason, you should have a lifestyle of gratitude to God at all times.

Our offer of thanksgiving should not be in words only. Just as we naturally show appreciation for what others have done for us, both in words and material offering, we should do the same to our Father in heaven. Our thanksgiving in material offering is an application to God for more. God will ever reciprocate all your offerings to Him, and in greater dimension. 

Let's learn to respond to the help we are already getting from our ‘Helper,’ the Holy Spirit, which actually we don't deserve, by developing an attitude of giving thanks always. This is not just an occasional word of thanks, but a continual lifestyle of thanksgiving. The heart that responds to the grace of God is a heart that continually gives thanks to God with a dedicated life that is presented as a living sacrifice. The person who has developed an "attitude of giving thanks always" is one who is thankful and grateful for every single thing that God is doing in his or her life day by day. It is only through God's Spirit that anything of lasting value is accomplished. 

Prayer: Abba Father, my help comes from You, Who made heaven and the earth. I have received nothing you didn’t give to me. I am what I am by Your grace. I will forever be grateful for all You have done, and is doing, and is yet to do. I thank You for the privilege of my adoption as Your son, and for the gift of life. Endue with the spirit of gratitude to You at all times, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

 

FEAR OF GOD

 What Kind of Knowledge Do You Have? 

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” Proverbs 1:7 (KJV)

The kind of knowledge you have inside you will determine how well you will end. There are different kinds of knowledge on this earth, such as science, history, business, arts, theology or the Word of God, etc. None of this knowledge teaches the fear of God except theology or the Word of God. Thus the only knowledge that provides wisdom is the Word of God (Proverbs 9:10). This is why it is vital to study the Holy Scriptures to know the fear of God: in order to exercise it to gain wisdom and prosper therein. Dear beloved, what kind of knowledge do you have inside you? Some people can only boast of knowledge of things such as science, history, arts, business, etc., but disregard the Word of God, thinking that they are successful in their field. Beloved, success without the fear of God derived from the knowledge of Him is not true success. True success is being rich toward God through His knowledge, thus fearing Him (Luke 12:21). Anyone who fears God loves His Word and refrains from evil, and God makes them wise to fulfill His will (Job 28:28). Beloved, choose the fear of God by enriching yourself in the Word of God. He will instruct and lead you to enjoy peace, joy, divine health, prosperity, and all the pleasures in Him. Hallelujah! God bless you!

Prayer Point: My faithful and righteous Father, I’m so grateful for your Word, which is full of countless blessings. Please continually enlighten my heart to understand your Word in order to fear you always and avail myself to you in fulfilling your will, in Jesus’ name. Amen!

CALLED TO BE GLORIFIED!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

SUNDAY NOVEMBER 29, 2020.

SUBJECT : CALLED TO BE GLORIFIED! 

Memory verse: "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." (Romans 8 vs 28.)

READ: Romans 8 vs 28 - 30:

8:28: And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 

8:29: For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 

8:30: Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified."

INTIMATION:

The believers are “called” through the preaching of the gospel out of the world to be children of God. They are justified by their obedience to the Word of God. The final “calling” of God of believers out of the world will occur at the end of time. The finality of all things, therefore, will end for good for the believers when they are called out of the world into eternal glory. It is the eternal purpose of God to bring obedient free-moral individuals into the realm of heavenly and eternal dwelling in His presence. Therefore, we are called into the plan of God’s purpose which is good. We do not call God into our purpose. He calls us into His.

God is a God of purpose. He created you for His purpose. God's working in our lives is to fulfill His preordained purpose, not necessarily to make us happy. God works in "all thing," not just isolated incidents, for our good. This does not mean that all that happens to us is good by our understanding. For instance, when you lose your job, or valuable, it is not good. But God may have allowed that for the ultimate benefit of His purpose in your life. We often cannot see the good that comes from immediate trials and sufferings. Therefore, we must assume that the good that God brings is within our lifetime. Note that this promise is not for everybody. It can be claimed only by those who love God and are called according to His purpose. Those who are "called" are those the Holy Spirit convinces and enables to receive Christ Jesus. 

God's ultimate goal is to glorify such people; to make us like Christ. The Bible in First John 3 vs 2 says, "Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is." As we become more and more like Christ, we discover our true selves, the persons we were created to be. How can we become like Christ? By reading and heeding the Word, by studying His life on earth through the Gospels, by spending time in prayer, by being filled with His Spirit  and by doing His work in the world. When people conform to the image of the Son, then they make the Son the first born among those who have conformed to His image. 

We must not assume that the foreknowledge of God presupposes the individual predestination of individuals to either heaven or hell. In the context here, reference is to those who will be glorified. Before the creation of the world, God foreknew the body of believers He would glorify in eternal heaven. He foreknew the body because He predestined the existence of the church. Therefore, those who would free-morally choose to be a part of this group (the church—the body of Christ) by voluntary obedience to the gospel in order to conform to the image of His Son (Second Corinthians 3 vs 18), would also be destined to glorification in eternal heaven. It is the group of believers, the church, that God before the creation of the world predestined to be glorified. 

It is the responsibility of individuals to free-morally choose to become a part of this predestined group. Therefore, the group of believers that God predestined to be glorified, were first justified by the predetermined plan of the cross. Those who were justified He called through the gospel. At the end of time, He will call these out of the world for eternal glory. These who would be called out of the world are now predestined because they are a part of the predestined group of believers who will in the end be called out of the world for eternal glory. God foreknew this plan because He fore-planned redemption in Christ before the creation of the world. 

Prayer: Abba Father, thank You, most Gracious Lord, for Your gift of salvation and adoption as Your child. In Your mercy and love You have called me, to justify me through my obedience to Your Word, and will glorify me to eternal glory to live with You in heaven at the end of time, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

DIVINE CHASTISEMENT

 

November, 29

“Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people ... Thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him.”

Leviticus 19:16, 17 

Tale-bearing emits a threefold poison; for it injures the teller, the hearer, and the person concerning whom the tale is told. Whether the report be true or false, we are by this precept of God’s Word forbidden to spread it. The reputations of the Lord’s people should be very precious in our sight, and we should count it shame to help the devil to dishonour the Church and the name of the Lord. Some tongues need a bridle rather than a spur. Many glory in pulling down their brethren, as if thereby they raised themselves. Noah’s wise sons cast a mantle over their father, and he who exposed him earned a fearful curse. We may ourselves one of these dark days need forbearance and silence from our brethren, let us render it cheerfully to those who require it now. Be this our family rule, and our personal bond—Speak evil of no man. 

The Holy Spirit, however, permits us to censure sin, and prescribes the way in which we are to do it. It must be done by rebuking our brother to his face, not by railing behind his back. This course is manly, brotherly, Christlike, and under God’s blessing will be useful. Does the flesh shrink from it? Then we must lay the greater stress upon our conscience, and keep ourselves to the work, lest by suffering sin upon our friend we become ourselves partakers of it. Hundreds have been saved from gross sins by the timely, wise, affectionate warnings of faithful ministers and brethren. Our Lord Jesus has set us a gracious example of how to deal with erring frIviends in his warning given to Peter, the prayer with which he preceded it, and the gentle way in which he bore with Peter’s boastful denial that he needed such a caution. 

ESCHEW SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 28, 2020.

SUBJECT : ESCHEW SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS! 

Memory verse: "Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth, a stranger, and not your own lips." (Proverbs 27 vs 2.)

READ: Luke 18 vs 10 - 14:

18:10: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee, and the other a tax collector.
18:11: The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You, that I am not as other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector.
18:12: I fast twice a week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
18:13: And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.’
18:14: I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.

INTIMATION:

Self-righteousness is being overly confident that one acts properly (especially in comparison with others). It’s being overly virtuous. Self-righteousness is dangerous. It leads to pride, causes a person to despise others, and prevents him or her from learning anything from God. One should not glory in order to emphasize his own abilities to perform. He should glory in the basis that he or she is in the Lord and thus, it is the Lord working through him or her. When we boast in order to bring glory to Jesus, then we know that our lives are about Jesus, not ourselves. Jesus said, “If I honor Myself, My honor is nothing.” (John 8 vs 54.) One should live a godly life that manifests praise to God, and not give praise to himself. 

The Scripture says, “But He who boasts, let him boast in the Lord. For it is not he who commends himself that is approved, but he ‘whom the Lord commends.” (Second Corinthians 10 vs 17 - 18). God cannot be placed in debt to either save or glorify on the basis for human performance. Those who glorify themselves before God on the basis of their performance are establishing their own standards, and thus, they are arrogantly asking God to accept their standards as payment for their salvation. 

In comparison to the righteousness of the good God, there is no righteous person. No man can stand righteous before God on the merit of his own works of law or good deeds. Therefore, we cannot establish our own standards of performance, and then, measure ourselves righteous or good before God on the basis of our standards. One can boast only insofar as the grace of God has worked in his or her life to move him or her to respond to the will of God.

In the passage we read today, the Pharisee boasted concerning his obedience to his self-imposed religious codes and traditions. He checked off his list of righteous deeds that he did and evil deeds that he did not do. He thus trusted in himself, feeling self-confident that his performance of law should satisfy God, and thus, put God in debt to save him. The Pharisee did not go to the temple to pray to God but to announce to all within earshot how good he was. 

The tax collector went recognizing his sin and begging for mercy. I guessed he stood far from the Pharisee because he was judged unrighteous by the Pharisee. However, he stood close to God because he approached God on the basis of his spiritual inadequacies. Because he recognized his spiritual poverty, he trusted in God’s grace for his salvation. He was justified by his faith in God’s grace, not by his perfect law-keeping or performance of good deeds. Those who have self-righteously exalted themselves will be brought down. 

Self-righteous people pride themselves in their self-acclaimed quality of being right or just. Pride is inordinate self-esteem or conceit. It’s 

the inner voice that whispers, “My way is best.” 

Whenever you find yourself looking down on other people, you are being pulled by pride. 

Pride indicates that a person is self-centered, and thus he will fall over himself as he deals with people. 

Only when you eliminate pride can God help you become all He meant you to be.  God cuts off the pride from His grace. 

Pride cripples us in our quest for a proper relationship with God. Only God must be exalted is the first step toward developing that relationship with Him. 

The Scripture says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5 vs 3.) Happy are those who are not proud, conceited or arrogant, especially concerning their spiritual relationship with God. One must empty himself of self-reliance and learn to humble himself before God. Those with such an attitude of mind will submit to the kingdom reign of God, therefore, theirs is the kingdom of heaven. The tax collector’s prayer should be our prayer because we all need God’s mercy every day. Don’t let pride in your achievements cut you off from God. 

Prayer: Abba Father, take away any spirit of pride and self-righteousness in me. Everyday of my life I humble myself before You as a sinner that needs your mercy. Let Your humble spirit dwell in me richly, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

THE TRUTH

 

November, 28

“For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth.”

3 John 3 

The truth was in Gaius, and Gaius walked in the truth. If the first had not been the case, the second could never have occurred; and if the second could not be said of him the first would have been a mere pretence. Truth must enter into the soul, penetrate and saturate it, or else it is of no value. Doctrines held as a matter of creed are like bread in the hand, which ministers no nourishment to the frame; but doctrine accepted by the heart, is as food digested, which, by assimilation, sustains and builds up the body. In us truth must be a living force, an active energy, an indwelling reality, a part of the woof and warp of our being. If it be in us, we cannot henceforth part with it. A man may lose his garments or his limbs, but his inward parts are vital, and cannot be torn away without absolute loss of life. A Christian can die, but he cannot deny the truth. Now it is a rule of nature that the inward affects the outward, as light shines from the centre of the lantern through the glass: when, therefore, the truth is kindled within, its brightness soon beams forth in the outward life and conversation. It is said that the food of certain worms colours the cocoons of silk which they spin: and just so the nutriment upon which a man’s inward nature lives gives a tinge to every word and deed proceeding from him. To walk in the truth, imports a life of integrity, holiness, faithfulness, and simplicity—the natural product of those principles of truth which the gospel teaches, and which the Spirit of God enables us to receive. We may judge of the secrets of the soul by their manifestation in the man’s conversation. Be it ours today, O gracious Spirit, to be ruled and governed by thy divine authority, so that nothing false or sinful may reign in our hearts, lest it extend its malignant influence to our daily walk among men. 

WHEN YOU WILLINGLY RECEIVE JESUS!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 27, 2020.

SUBJECT : WHEN YOU WILLINGLY RECEIVE JESUS! 

Memory verse: "Then they willingly received Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land where they were going." (John 6 vs 21.)

READ: John 6 vs 16 - 21:

6:16: Now when evening came, His disciples went down to the sea,
6:17: got into the boat, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was already dark, and Jesus has not come to them.
6:18: Then the sea arose because a great wind was blowing.
6:19: So when they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near the boat; and they were afraid.
6:20: But He said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.”
6:21: Then they willingly received Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land where they were going.

INTIMATION:

It’s only in Jesus that we can find the purpose of our lives. God sent Him to the world as a revelation of Himself, and we can only truly know God through Jesus. Therefore, receiving Jesus willingly into your life immediately takes you to the source of the revelation of your purpose of being created. The Bible says in Ephesians 1 vs 11, "In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His Will." It is in Christ that we find out who we are (we obtain an inheritance), and what we are living for (the purpose of Him for us), and He did it all according to His Will. He works all things according to his overall plans and purposes in everything and for everyone.

Jesus means “the Lord saves.” Jesus came to earth to save us because we can’t save ourselves from sin and its consequences. No matter how good we are, we can’t eliminate the sinful nature present in all of us. Only Jesus can do that. Jesus didn't come to help people save themselves, He came to be their Savior from the power and penalty of sin. Receiving Jesus willingly into your life is the only immediate way to receiving salvation. Thank Christ for His death on the cross for your sin, and then ask Him to take control of your life. Your new life begins at that moment.

Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life,” (John 14 vs 6). He is the only way to God. By uniting our lives with His, we are united with God. Trust Jesus to take you to the Father, and all the benefits of being God’s child will be yours. As the way, Jesus is our path to the Father. The Scripture says, “And there is salvation in no other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4 vs 12). Jesus is the only means through which we can be saved. One cannot devise his or her own system of religion and expect to be saved on his or her own conditions. One cannot be saved outside the atonement that has been provided by Jesus on the cross. 

As the truth, He is the reality of all God’s promises. Jesus is the revelation of the grace and truth that proceeded from God for the salvation of all men. Salvation, therefore, must be accomplished through the revelation of the mystery of God that was revealed through Jesus (Ephesians 3 vs 3 - 5). Jesus Himself is the truth that sets us free. He is the source of truth, the perfect standard of what is right. He frees us from continued slavery to sin, from self-deception, and from deception of Satan. He shows us clearly the way to everlasting life with God. Thus Jesus does not give us freedom to do what we want, but freedom to follow God. As we seek to serve God, Jesus’ perfect truth frees us to be all that God meant us to be. 

Jesus is the Creator of life, and His life brings light to humankind. In His light, we see ourselves as we really are (sinners in need of a Savior). When we follow Jesus, the true Light, we can avoid walking blindly and falling into sin. He lights the path ahead of us so we can see how to live. He removes the darkness of sin from our live. If He guides your life, you’ll never need to stumble in darkness. Jesus gives life. The life He gives is abundantly rich and full. It is eternal, yet it begins immediately. Life in Christ is lived in higher plane because of His overflowing forgiveness, love, and guidance. 

He who is life can surely restore life. Whoever believes in Christ has a spiritual life that death cannot conquer or diminish in any way. The answer to man’s mortality is found only in Jesus. One cannot find life outside the sacrificial blood of Jesus (John 8 vs 13). In order to have life throughout eternity, one must come into a covenant relationship with Jesus. Jesus says that the only way to live a truly good life is to stay close to Him, like a branch attached to the vine. Apart from Christ our efforts are unfruitful.  Are you receiving the nourishment and life offered by Christ, the vine? 

Prayer: Abba Father, thank You for gift of Your only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, and the revelation of the purpose of our lives in Him. I have willingly received Him into my life, and have confessed Him as my personal Lord and Savior. In Him I live and move and have my being. Give me the grace to stay absolutely and everlastingly focused on Him, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!