BE SELFLESS LIKE CHRIST!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

THURSDAY DECEMBER 3, 2020.

SUBJECT: BE SELFLESS LIKE CHRIST!

Memory verse: "Let this mind be in you which was in Christ.” (Philippians 2 vs 5.)

READ: Luke 9 vs 23 - 25: 

9:23: Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.

9:24: For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but who whoever loses his life for My sake will save it.

9:25: For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost?

INTIMATION:

Having the mind of Christ is being selfless. Jesus Christ is selfless; He voluntarily set aside His divine rights and privileges, and the right to His glory and power, as equal to God, and became a human being for the sake of submission to the Father’s Will out of love for Him. Selflessness is the mark of a true Christian. A Christian should have the attitude that enables him or her to set aside rights in order to serve others. If we say we follow Christ, we must also say we want to live as He lived. We should develop His attitude of humility, and selflessness as we serve, even when we are not likely to get recognition for our efforts.

It was for this reason that the apostle Paul, in his letter to the believers in Philippi, said, "Let this mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus." The entire Christian experience should be one of continued acts of selflessness. This attribute took our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, to the cross to die for our sins, and we also are enjoined to 'deny self daily’ while following the Lord. As human beings born into this world, we’re all selfish by nature. We’re born with a sinful nature that daily bows before the deity called self and until we acknowledge the need for the crucifixion of the Adamic nature, we’ll continue to struggle with selfishness.  

With the word picture in the passage we read today, Jesus presented a clear and challenging description of the Christian life. Being His followeR means putting aside selfish desires, shouldering one’s cross every day, and following Him. It is simple and yet so demanding. For believers today, it means understanding that we belong to Him and that we live to serve His purposes. Consider this: Do you think of your relationship with God primarily in terms of what’s in it for you (which is considerable) or in terms of what you can do for Him? Are you willing to deny yourself, take up your cross daily, and follow Him? Anything less is not discipleship; it is merely superficial lip service. When one denies himself, all things of this world are put into their correct perspective in reference to the kingdom. 

A selfless Christian does not seek to be known, praised or rewarded for the good he does because he doesn’t glory in the flesh. All he or she seeks is for Christ to be seen and glorified in his or her attitude and actions which when faithfully executed, will draw all people to Christ. The natural consequence of the truly surrendered, spirit-led life is selflessness. And this must be seen in our attitude and actions if we are to proclaim the testimony of the finished work of the cross. Since the mind of Christ is selfless, can we claim we have Christ if this attribute is not in us? We’ll surely be found out as pretenders, no matter how much we feign our allegiance to Christ, if this attribute is lost in our day to day activities. 

We should do well to take heed to Peter’s advice in First Peter 2 vs 12 that says, "Having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation." The Christians’ conduct must be honorable among other people in the world; being a mirror reflecting Christ to the world, so that we may actually show ourselves as children of the heavenly kingdom. Let it be such that when they even speak against your faith as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God, and turn to Christ.  Selflessness must be the watchword in our dealings with everybody—Christians and non Christians alike. 

Selflessness will make us willingly give up comforts so our neighbor can have little of what God has blessed us with. It will make us think twice before abusing a position of responsibility entrusted to us in the Church of God, public service, or business. Selflessness will make Church leaders promote the gospel more than they promote themselves and their denominations. It will make us allocate Church resources more to places where it will benefit the Church rather than projects which massage our ego and buttress our vanity. Let us not be moved by the promise of instant gratification of the self to destroy the good work God has called us to do. We’ll be more effective carriers of the good news of the gospel if our individual lives become examples of selflessness. 

Prayer: Abba Father, endue me with the mind excellent spirit of selflessness. that I may have mind of Christ, to serve You, and others in love, and with total obedience to You, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

KEEP LIVING THE OVERCOMING LIFE

 Keep Living the Overcoming Life! 

“And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.” Revelation 12:11 (KJV)

Living the overcoming life is an indication of putting your weapons to good use. The born again Christian is born into the victory of Christ Jesus, so living as a weakling is unacceptable in His Kingdom (Matthew 28:18). Dear beloved, it is worthy to know that living the overcoming life is dependent on your knowledge in Christ Jesus and how you put such a knowledge to work (2 Peter 1:3). The opening scripture reveals two keys to apply to continually win in life. The keys are the blood of Jesus Christ and the word of our testimony. Remember that the children of Israel who applied the blood of the lamb on their door posts in Egypt were spared from being killed by the destroyer, or angel of death (Exodus 12:22­–30). Thus in the New Testament, we are also encouraged to continually apply the blood in warfare over our adversary, the devil, and we will overcome him. Additionally, the testimonies of the Lord shouldn’t be hidden but declared daily to the praise of His name. Therefore, never be silent over the breakthroughs or miracles that God does in your life; the more you testify and celebrate Him, the more victorious you are over the enemy. Beloved, when the Samaritan woman shared her testimony, a whole city came to the know of Jesus Christ (John 4:28–30, 39–42). Keep applying the blood of Jesus Christ and sharing your testimonies, and enjoy the overcoming life all the days of your life. Hallelujah! Glory to God!

Prayer Point: My loving Father, thank you for the blood of Jesus Christ. I will continually apply it to my life as well as share the testimonies of the good work you are doing in my life for many to come to the knowledge of Jesus Christ and be saved. Let me never be ashamed to share any of my testimonies, in Jesus’ name. Amen!

Were you blessed by today's message? Kindly go to the comment section and share your comments, and testimonies. Let's also know your challenges so that we can pray for you. 

GOD’S POWER IN OUR WEAKNESSES!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 2, 2020.

SUBJECT: GOD'S POWER IN OUR WEAKNESSES!

Memory verse: "But He said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness. Therefore, most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me." (Second Corinthians 12 vs 9.)

READ: Romans 7 vs 15 - 25:

7:15: For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do.
7:16: If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good.
7:17: But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.
7:18: For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find.
7:19: For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice.
7:20: Now if I do what I not to do, it is no longerI who do it, but sin that dwells in me.
7:21: I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good.
7:22: For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man:
7:23: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
7:24: O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?

7:25: I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.

INTIMATION:

Our limitations or weaknesses are perfect tools in God’s hands, and He uses them for great works and achievements if we allow Him to work through our weaknesses. We need to be courageous enough to admit our weaknesses to attract God’s help. Don't pretend to have it all together, and be honest about yourself. Instead of trying to protect yourself, or living in self-deceit of denial or making excuses, take the time to identify your personal weaknesses, and own them up. You can make a list of them as a reminder.

One of the intriguing confessions recorded in the Scripture is the apostle Paul's inability to deal with his sinful desires as enumerated in the passage we read today. God demonstrates His power in our weaknesses just as He did in apostle Paul's, and this is an encouragement to us. Normally, we recognize our weaknesses, and will not congratulate ourselves and rest at that. We will want to be freed from our weaknesses, not be content with them! Therefore, in our weaknesses or limitations, we will turn to God to seek pathways for effectiveness, rather than relying on our own energy, effort, or talent. Our weaknesses not only helps us develop Christian character; it also deepens our worship, because in admitting our weakness, we affirm God's strength.

All God's giants were weak people: Moses' weakness was his temper. It caused him to murder an Egyptian, strike the rock he was supposed to speak to, and break the tablets of the Ten Commandments. Yet God transformed Moses into "the humblest man on earth (Numbers 12 vs 3). Gideon's weakness was low self-esteem and deep insecurities, but God transformed him into a "mighty man of valor (Judges 6 vs 12). Abraham's weakness was fear. Not once, but twice, he claimed his wife was his sister to protect himself. But God transformed him into "the father of those who have faith (Romans 4 vs 11). 

Impulsive, weak-willed Peter became "a rock" (Matthew 16 vs 18). The adulterer David became "a man after God's own heart" (Acts 13 vs 22). And John, one of the arrogant "Sons of Thunder," became the "Apostle of Love." This list could go on and on. Consequently, God specializes in turning weaknesses into strengths. He wants to take your greatest weakness and transform it to a major strength. God wants to use your weaknesses, not just your strengths. Your life becomes a testimonial when people see God using you in spite of your weaknesses, and they are encouraged, and they will then think that God can use them too. Our strengths create competition, but our weaknesses create community.

The fact that God's power is displayed in weak people should give us courage. When Satan points out your weaknesses, agree with him and fill your heart with praise for Jesus, who "understands every weakness of ours," and for the Holy Spirit, who "helps our weaknesses."(Romans 8 vs 26.) As a believer, God will not leave you to your own resources to cope with problems. Even when you don't know the right words to pray, the Holy Spirit prays with and for you, and God answers. When we are weak, allowing God to fill us with His power, then His power makes us stronger than we could ever be on our own. God wants us to depend on Him in the face of life's challenges and obstacles. Only His power will make us effective for Him and will help us do work that has lasting value.

Prayer: Abba Father, Your loving kindness is inexplicable, and undeniable. In our unfaithfulness, You have always remained faithful. Even when we were neck-deep in sin, You showered Your love on us exceedingly. You have always demonstrated Your strength in our weaknesses. My Loving Father, make Your strength perfect in my weaknesses, and strengthen in my inner man to serve You diligently, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

YOUR MONTH OF JOY

 Your Month of Joy! 

“Deceit is in the heart of them that imagine evil: but to the counsellors of peace is joy.” Proverbs 12:20 (KJV)

This month is your month of joy. Living in joy is a choice that one has to make. We cannot live in this world and be joyful without making a conscious effort to make it happen. Living in joy as revealed in the opening scripture is choosing to be a counselor of peace. Thus, joy is the product of making a good choice (Deuteronomy 30:19). Dear beloved, what choice would you make? Allowing your heart to be filled with deceit cannot produce any joy in your life but only cause you to imagine or plot evil. The consequences of the evil plot are sadness, sorrow, bitterness, anger, pain, suffering, and death. On the other hand, choosing to be the counselor or promoter of peace will produce joy in your own life and in the lives of others. Remember that, as a child of God, the Holy Spirit is in your heart, so it shouldn’t be difficult to promote peace wherever you find yourself. When you gave your life to Christ Jesus, He made you a peacemaker, so cooperate with the Holy Spirit through His Word and fellowship, and He will live His life through you (2 Corinthians 5:18–20). Thus you will preach, teach, and share the gospel to people in your sphere of contact for their hearts to be convicted, thereby having peace with God, and their fellow human beings. Where there is peace, joy is present, and progress is seen in the lives of many. Hallelujah! God bless you!

Prayer Point: My righteous and holy Father, I’m so grateful for Your Word. I have made up my mind to cooperate with Your Spirit, and fellowship with You so that You can use me to bring about peace wherever I find myself, thereby producing joy and progress in the lives of many people in Jesus’ name. Amen!

Were you blessed by today's message? Kindly go to the comment section and share your comments, and testimonies. Let's also know your challenges so that we can pray for you. 

GIVE MOREE, HAVE MORE

 Give More, Have More

One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. 

(Proverbs 11:24, NIV)

In the natural, it doesn’t make sense that you will have more if you give more. But God’s kingdom operates on the principle of sowing and reaping. This is one of the first things He established with Adam and Eve in the book of Genesis. He said, “As long as the earth remains, there will be seedtime and harvest.”

We have to realize that everything we need in this life has been given to us in seed form. We set the blessing of God into motion in our lives when we plant those seeds and give what we have. Galatians tells us that whatever we sow, we will reap. Seeds produce after their own kind. If you sow apple seeds, you reap apple trees. If you sow kindness and blessing, you reap kindness and blessing in the future. If you sow financial seeds, you’ll reap a financial harvest.

Today, no matter what you need, you have it in seed form. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you how to plant and water that seed. Trust Him because He is faithful to His Word. Know that when you give, it will come back to you in greater measure. When you give more, you have more. So sow a seed and watch what God will do!

Father, thank You for Your Word which is truth that sets me free! Today, I choose to sow good seeds so I can reap a good harvest. Guide my thoughts today. Direct my path. Use me for Your glory in Jesus name. Amen

by: Pastor Joel Osteen

THE IDEAL CHRISTIAN CONDUCT!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

TUESDAY DECEMBER 1, 2020.

SUBJECT: THE IDEAL CHRISTIAN CONDUCT!

Memory verse: "But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you," (Matthew 5 vs 44.)

READ: Romans 12 vs 9 - 21:

12:9: Let Love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.

12:10: Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;

12:11: not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;

12:12: rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer;

12:13: distributing to the needs of the saints, giving to hospitality.

12:14: Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.

12:15: Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.

12:16: Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.

12:17: Repay no evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men.

12:18: If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.

12:19: Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath: for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.
12:20: Therefore if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him drink; for in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.”
12:21: Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

INTIMATION:

The ideal Christian conduct is the one that reflects Christ’s traits; being Christlike in behavior. The character that the Scripture enumerates identifies those who are of the spirit of the Father, and thus, sons of the Father. For instance, God’s Love is impartial. He loved us when we were His enemies. There is no reward in a love that acts out of selfish motives to do something for others for the purpose of receiving something in return. God calls us to real and genuine love that goes far beyond being hypocritical and polite. Genuine love requires concentration and effort. It means helping others become better people. It demands our time, money, and personal involvement. 

If we love someone the way Christ loves us, we will be willing to forgive. If we have experienced God’s grace, we will want to pass it on to others. By giving an enemy a drink, we’re not excusing his misdeeds. We’re recognizing him, forgiving him, and loving him in spite of his sins—just as Christ did for us. A true heart is not one of malice or hate. Hearts of malice and hate identify those individuals who are of the world.

Forgiveness may break a cycle of retaliation and lead to mutual reconciliation. It may make the enemy feel ashamed and change his or her ways. By contrast, repaying evil for evil hurts you just as much as it hurts your enemy. Even if your enemy never repents, forgiving him or her will free you of a heavy load of bitterness. Forgiveness involves both attitudes and actions. If you find it difficult to feel forgiving toward someone who has hurt you, try responding with kind actions. 

In the passage we read today, the apostle Paul enumerates the ideal Christian conduct. You are to love your neighbor genuinely from your heart, don’t fake it. Be steadfast in doing good, and eschewing evil, and hold tightly to it. Never get weary in serving God,  and serving others, keep yourself fueled and aflame, ready to serve, and be cheerfully expectant. Never quit in hard times, praying all the harder, helping the needy Christians, and given to hospitality. We must never consider others as being beneath us. We need to live in harmony with others and not be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. 

You should bless your enemies, and there should be no curse under your breath. Laugh and rejoice with those who are rejoicing, and share tears with them when they are down. Get along with everyone, both big and small, don’t be snobbish, rather make friends with nobodies, and don’t be the great somebody. Never hit back at anybody, or insist on getting even, that’s not for you to do. Instead, discover beauty in everyone, and if you have got it in you, get along with everybody.

Christians should not have enemies, but should any exists, love such from the center of who you are. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God created selves. This is what God does. He gives His best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, regardless of the good and the bad, the nice and the nasty. As Christians, we honor people because they have been created in God’s image, because they are our brothers and sisters in Christ, and because they have a unique contribution to make to Christ’s church. 

As you bless others with your service, you will be blessed. When you give generously for God's work or help the needy, those who received your gifts will be helped by those gifts, they will praise God, and also pray for you. You are blessed by your giving when you give as a response to Christ, not for anything you can get out of it. How you give reflects your devotion to Christ.

While you are shaped to serve God and to serve others, it is noteworthy that you can't please everybody by meeting the needs of everyone. Even Jesus, during His earth walk, did not meet the needs of everyone. Knowing your gifts and talents, you have to know the best application of your service, and know whom you can best help. You need to ask, "Who do I have the gift and talent to help?" And don’t delay nor hesitate to render your service.

Prayer: Abba Father, You loved and chose me even when I was neck-deep in sin and in enmity with You. I am mindful of the privilege of Your calling, and sonship. Endue me with the excellent spirit of sonship; to be Christlike in behavior, to serve You, serve others, and bearing abiding fruit, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

JOYFUL MOOD

 Has It Affected Your Joyful Mood? 

“And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” Romans 5:3–5 (KJV)

Maintaining a consistent atmosphere of joy is possible in the Kingdom of God. What makes it possible is the love of God deposited in us by the Holy Spirit. Remember that Jesus Christ didn’t promise a cozy and rosy Christianity without challenges. No wonder He said a servant is not greater than his master; therefore, if He was persecuted, we will also go through it (John 15:20). What He promised is the reward we will receive when we go through it faithfully till the end (Revelation 3:12). Beloved, meditate on the opening scripture, and gain a heart of wisdom. You will notice that God has a good reason for the challenges or tribulations we go through as His children. The good reason is to make us patient, experienced, hopeful, and bold without shame. Beloved, let the benefits of challenges or tribulations rekindle your love for God, and never allow the challenges to affect your joyful mood. Anyone who keeps praising God, even in the midst of challenges, is unlikely to allow their mood to be tilted toward sadness and bitterness. Therefore, praise Him and rejoice in Him at all times (Philippians 4:4). Be like the psalmist, and speak to your soul to lighten up any time sadness wants to creep in (Psalm 42:5). Feed yourself with things that will create joy in you, such as the Word of God, books and videos, and keeping company with people who talk about faith and inspire others. Before long, your challenges will give way to your reward and promotion. Hallelujah! Glory to God!

Prayer Point: My loving and holy Father, thank you for the challenges I’m going through. Please lead me to feed on the aspect of your Word that will give me hope, stir up faith in me, create joy in me, surround me with things that are inspiring, and help me to fellowship with people who are motivating in order to triumph over my challenges and keep rejoicing in you, in Jesus’ name. Amen!

Were you blessed by today's message? Kindly go to the comment section and share your comments, and testimonies. Let's also know your challenges so that we can pray for you.