LIFE ON EARTH IS BRIEF AND TEMPORAL!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

MONDAY FEBRUARY 15, 2021.

SUBJECT: LIFE ON EARTH IS BRIEF AND TEMPORAL! 

Memory verse: "For we were born yesterday, and know nothing, because our days on earth are a shadow." (Job 8 vs 9.)

READ: Philippians 3 vs 20; First Peter 2 vs 11:

Philippians 3:20: For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

First Peter 2:11: Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul.

INTIMATION:

Life on earth is the brief period between birth and death. And because it has a beginning and an end, it is temporary, and not permanent. The Bible is full of metaphors that teach about the brief, temporal, and transient nature of life on earth. To make the best use of your life, you must never forget two truths: First, compared with eternity, life is extremely brief. Second, earth is only a temporary residence. You won't be here very long, so don't get too attached. Ask God to help you see life on earth as He sees it. David prayed, "Lord, help me to realize how brief my time on earth will be. Help me to know my end, and what is the measure of my days, that I may know how frail I am." (Psalm 39 vs 4.)

Repeatedly the Bible compares life on earth to temporarily living in a foreign country. This is not your permanent home or final destination. You're just passing through, just visiting earth. The Bible uses terms like alien, pilgrim, foreigner, stranger, visitor, and traveler to describe our brief stay on earth. David said, "I am a stranger in the earth..." (Psalm 119 vs 19.) As believers, we are "sojourners and pilgrims" on this earth, because our real home is with God. Our true loyalty should be to our citizenship in heaven, not to our citizenship here, because the earth will be destroyed. 

There is far more to life than just the few years we live on this planet. Believers identity is in eternity, and our homeland is heaven. When you grasp this truth, you will stop worrying about "having it all" on earth. God is very blunt about the danger of living for the here and now and adopting the values, priorities, and lifestyles of the world around us. When we flirt with the temptations of this world, God calls it spiritual adultery: "Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God." (James 4 vs 4.)

We are in the world and constantly in association with the world, its standards, and circumstances. Though we are in the world, but we are not of this world (John 15 vs 19). We are ambassadors of Christ in this world (Second Corinthians 5 vs 20). As an ambassador you will not be able to isolate yourself from the world. To fulfill your mission, you would have to have contact with the world. But suppose you become so comfortable with this world that you fell in love with it, preferring it to your homeland in heaven, your loyalty and commitment would change. Your role as an ambassador will be compromised. Instead of representing your home country, you would start acting like the enemy. You'd be a traitor. Sadly, many Christians have failed to embrace this reality and have betrayed their King and His kingdom. 

God warns us not to get too attached to what's around us because it's temporary, "For the form of this world is passing away" (First Corinthians 7 vs 31). The cares of this world; financial security, self actualization, worldly happiness, marriage, and so on, are not the ultimate goal of life. As much as possible, we should live unhindered by the cares of this world, not getting involved in burdensome life activities that might keep you from doing God's work.

Compared with other centuries, life has never been easier for much of our world today. The advancement in technology has made life much more easier and enjoyable. We are  constantly entertained, amused, and catered to. With all the fascinating attractions, mesmerizing media, and enjoyable experiences available today, it's easy to forget that the pursuit of happiness is not what life is about. Only as we remember that life is a test, a trust, and a temporary assignment will the appeal of these things lose their grip on our lives. 

Prayer: Abba Father, I am a stranger in this world, and needs your guide embedded in Your Word. May the Holy Spirit continually reveal my true path of life, that I may not wonder aimlessly through life and risk missing my real destination, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

ARE YOU A RESPONSIBLE FATHER?

 Are You a Responsible Father? 

“And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” Ephesians 6:4 (KJV)

In the kingdom of God, fathers are highly esteemed; it is a place of great responsibility. Sometimes fathers are so carried away by the demands of their engagement that they neglect their utmost responsibility of bringing up their children in the Lord. As a father, nurture and admonish your children in love; feed them with the Word of God; have time with them to listen to their grievances; treat them with fairness so that you don’t provoke them (Genesis 18:19). Beloved, when your children have done something wrong and you want to chastise them, let them know what they have done wrong and why you are chastising them so that they can learn from their mistakes. The way we train our children will be what they will grow up to be. Nurture them with the Holy Scriptures, prayer, and the fear of God, and they will not depart from the right path (Proverbs 22:6). Dear beloved, what are you teaching your children? Children are fast learners and are quick to learn from their parents and guardians. Thus, they are watching everything you do. Therefore, let your conduct be a good example before them for them to learn. They find it easy to practice what you teach them if they see you living an exemplary life. Beloved, be intimate with the Lord and He will teach how to raise your children. Hallelujah! Be an overcomer!

Prayer Point: Dear heavenly Father, I’m grateful to have You as my Father. Please teach me how to raise my children in the fear of God so that they can become responsible adults for You to use 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.

THE GREAT COMMISSION!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

SUNDAY FEBRUARY 14, 2021.

SUBJECT: THE GREAT COMMISSION!

Memory verse: "And He said to them, Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature." (Mark 16 vs 15.)

READ: Romans 1 vs 16 - 17; First Corinthians 1 vs 18:

Romans 1:16: For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 

1:17: For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "The just shall live by faith.""

First Corinthians 1:18: For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

INTIMATION:

What is “The Great Commission”? It’s the sharing of the “Good News”; the gospel of Jesus Christ—how God sent His only Son as a propitiation for our sin. It is about Jesus’ coming to solve both our spiritual death problem and our physical death problem. It is good news that He died for our sins. It’s good news that He resurrected in order to give us hope of being resurrected when He comes again (First Corinthians 15 vs 50 - 57). Therefore, the gospel—the Good News—the death of Jesus tor our sins and His resurrection for our hope (First Corinthians 15 vs 1 - 4).  

When we trust God's grace to save us through what Christ did, our sins are forgiven, we get a purpose for living, and we are promised a future home in heaven. The Good News—the gospel—shows us both how righteous God is in His plan for us to be saved, and also how we may be made fit for eternal life. By trusting Christ, our relationship with God is made right. 

As a believer, God makes you to be a member of His family, a model of His character, a magnifier of His glory, a minister of His grace, and a messenger of His Good News to others. Of these five purposes, the fifth can only be done on earth, and the only mission Christ has given you on earth. The other four you will keep doing in eternity in some way. That's why spreading the Good News is so important; you only have a short time to share your life message and fulfill your mission for Christ.

Sharing the Good News fully identifies you with Christ in obedience to the “Great Commission,” and emphasizes your acceptance of what Christ wrought for you in redemption. It will be of absolute importance to you when you realize that you have just your short time on earth to fulfill this mission. It is your being convinced of the authenticity of the Good News, and that it’s the power of God showcased to man, that puts you on the go for Christ—makes you share the Good News with others. No amount of training in this world can motivate you to witness for Christ until you internalize the convictions of the Good News. 

In the passages we read today, the apostle Paul had the full conviction of the Good News about Christ, that he was fully persuaded, and not ashamed of sharing his message. It was a message of salvation, it has life-changing power, and it is for everyone. This is what is expected of every believer; to be doing the same. When you are tempted to be ashamed, remember what the gospel is all about. If you focus on God and on what God is doing in the world rather than on your own inadequacies, you won't be ashamed or embarrassed.

The Bible, in Second Peter 3 vs 9, says:-"...Not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance." God does not want anyone to be lost, but He wants all people to renew their hearts and live. As long as you know one person who doesn't know Christ, you must keep praying for them, serving them in love, and sharing the Good News with them. And as long as there is one person in your community who isn't in the family of God, your church and you must keep reaching out. 

What are you willing to do so that the people you know will go to heaven? Invite them to Church? Share your story? Invite them to a fellowship? Give them Christian tracts and/or books? Pray for them every day until they are saved? The choice is yours. Your mission is all around you. Don't miss the opportunities God is giving you. 

Is anyone going to be in heaven because of you? Will anyone in heaven be able to say to you, "I want to thank you. I'm here because you cared enough to share the Good News with me" Imagine the joy of greeting people in heaven whom you helped get there. The eternal salvation of a single soul is more important than anything else you will ever achieve in life. Only people are going to last forever. 

Prayer: Abba Father, You are love, and has poured out Your love in my heart by the Holy Spirit. Engrace me to shower this love on others, especially in sharing the Good News of what Christ wrought for me in redemption, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

 

KREP YOUR ANGER UNDER CONTROL!

Keep Your Anger Under Control! 

“In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the Lord thy Redeemer.” Isaiah 54:8 (KJV)

The children of God must be alert in their spirit to learn from the LORD. Learning from God is the beginning of exercising control over anger. God has his anger under control and so does He expect His children to have control over their anger. In the opening Scripture, we see God having a little wrath: this means that God does get angry and reacts to whoever or whatever is making Him angry. He reacts by hiding His face from the culprit, which means that, as children of God, when we make Him angry, He withdraws Himself from us until we come to our senses to apologize to Him. Afterward, He showers us with His everlasting kindness and mercy; how wonderful to hear this from our Maker: He is just wonderful! As children of God, we must also learn to react to anger in a loving way and have a forgiving heart when the culprit comes to apologize. Yes, our anger should have a limit; it shouldn’t last long, to give an opportunity for the enemy to use it against us or against our offenders (Ephesians 4:26–27). God does not wait for us to apologize but points to us our mistakes; so should we also point to our offenders their mistakes so that the unity and fellowship of the brethren are not affected by offenses (Matthew 5:23-24). Dear beloved, do you get angry? Get angry for the right course, just like Jesus Christ did when He drove out all those who sold in the temple so that the temple could remain sanctified unto the LORD (John 2:14–16). Hallelujah! Glory to the Highest!

Prayer Point: My dear heavenly Father, thank You for educating me on how to treat anger. Please lead me to use my anger for the right course in order to be a blessing to You and to my brethren 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. 

THE DRIVING FORCE OF LOVE!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 13, 2021.

SUBJECT: THE DRIVING FORCE OF LOVE!

Memory verse: "If you love me keep My commandments." (John 14 vs 15.)

READ: First John 4 vs 7 - 14:

4:7: Beloved, let us love one another for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 

4:8: He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 

4:9: In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. 

4:10: In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 

4:11: Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought to love one another. 

INTIMATION:

The major driving force in sharing the “Good News” is the love for God and our neighbors. Learning to love how God loves is the most important aspect of our mission. God has never made a person He didn't love. Everybody matters to Him: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son..” (John 3 vs 16). Therefore, everybody should matter to us, especially the unsaved souls, and we must reach out to them.

Whenever you feel indifferent about others, especially the unsaved souls, and about your mission in this world, spend some time thinking about what Jesus did for you on the cross. What else can you offer in return to Him than obey and serve Him with all your heart, caring about what He cares for, and loving all He loves. Christ's love should compel your actions as it did for the believers in Paul's days: "For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if one died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again." (Second Corinthians 5 vs 14.)

The love of Christ constrained the believers to certain courses of action. They took certain difficult, and delicate steps in the spreading of the Good News. And so shall it be to us this day. They knew that Jesus, out of His great love, had given up His life for their sakes. He had not acted out of His own self-interest, selfishly holding on to the glory of heaven that He already possessed. Instead, Jesus had willingly "died for all." 

We should no longer live to please ourselves; we should spend our lives pleasing Christ. Therefore, you must learn to love other people the way God does. God has never made a person He didn't love. Everybody matters to Him. Therefore, everybody should matter to us, especially the unsaved souls, and we must reach out to them. If you have been indifferent or afraid to share the Good News with those around you, ask God to fill your heart with His love for them.

Jesus gave us the “Great Commission” to go into the world and preach the Good News. And our memory verse gives us Christ’s yardstick of measuring our love for Him—keeping His commandments. How else do we demonstrate our love for Him who loved us first and gave His life up for us than to keep His commandment of preaching the Good News to the world.

However, we need wisdom in reaching out to unbelievers, making the most of our opportunities to tell them the Good News of salvation: "Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one." (Colossians 4 vs 5 - 6.)

When we tell others about Christ, it is important always to be gracious in what we say. No matter how much sense the message makes, we lose our effectiveness if we are not courteous. Just as we like to be respected, we must respect others if we want them to listen to what we have to say.

Prayer: Abba Father, You poured out Your love in my heart through the Holy Spirit indwelling me. Engrace me to respond to Your love by obeying and keeping Your commandments, especially in preaching Your saving grace through Christ to the unbelievers, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

WE HAVE MORE THAN ENOUGH!

 We Have More Than Enough 

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6 (KJV)

The children of God have more than enough: they have received the fullness of God bodily. The greatest miracle and gift for mankind is the birth of Christ Jesus. Mankind could not save itself from the sin of Adam and Eve. It took the holy blood of Jesus Christ to atone for their sin and to open a new chapter for mankind. When you receive Jesus as Lord and Personal Savior, you become part of His government and you are raised above all odds and placed on the pedestal of success (Romans 5:17). Whatever belonged to Jesus Christ becomes yours because you are joint heirs with Him (Romans 8:17). Jesus Christ is Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, and The Prince of Peace: all of these five attributes of Jesus becomes yours. The question is, are you living these attributes in your life? This is a personal question we must answer. If all of us as children of God are living these personal attributes, the world will be a better place for many to live in. Beloved, God is counting on you to learn from Jesus Christ and be a wonderful person in giving good counsel, ensuring that peace reigns in your sphere of contact, and being mighty in good deeds. Remember that God is always looking for a vessel to use, therefore, make yourself available for Him to use. Hallelujah! Glory to God!

Prayer Point: Dear heavenly Father, I’m really blessed by Your Word today. I make myself available to You. Please fill me and use me to bring peace, joy, and lasting change in the lives of people in my sphere of contact 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. 

THE SPIRIT-LED LIFE!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 12, 2021.

SUBJECT:  THE SPIRIT-LED LIFE!

Memory verse:  "For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace." (Romans 8 vs 6.) 

READ:  Romans 8 verse 5 - 8:

8:5: For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.

8:6: For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

8:7: Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be.

8:8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

INTIMATION:

We observe from our memory verse that we relate with two minds in us. These are the mind of the flesh, and the mind of the spirit. That does not mean you and I have two brains, it simply means that we receive information from our natural mind (which operates without the Holy Spirit), and we get information from our spirit (through which the Holy Spirit communicates directly to us).

According to the Scriptures, to be a child of God, we are not to be led by our carnal mind, but by the Holy Spirit: “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God” (Romans 8 vs 14). The evidence of our sonship is being led by the Spirit of God. The Spirit-led life is a life of victory, and conquest of the devil, because it manifests the fruit of the Spirit that has no law against it, therefore, the accuser of brethren has nothing to accuse you of: “For the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. (Galatians 5 vs 22 - 23.)

The fruit of the Spirit is the spontaneous work of the Holy Spirit in us. The Holy Spirit is the only One who knows the mind of God, and is the revealer of the truth. (John 16 vs 13). Therefore, the Spirit produces these character traits that are found in the nature of Christ. They are the by-products of Christ control—we cannot obtain by trying to get them without His help. This Scripture tells us that “we have the mind of Christ.” This is because the Spirit of Christ—Holy Spirit lives in us. The problem is that although we have the mind of Christ and know the Word of God, we don't listen to our spirit which is being enlightened by the Holy Spirit. Instead, we listen to our natural mind, which relies strictly on sense and reason without the Holy Spirit. And this mind “is in enmity against God, hence cannot please Him.”

In every situation of life, our head will be trying to give us information. It will be yelling at us so loudly, and if we don't turn our attention to our spirit we will never hear what the Lord is saying to us in that situation, nor know that which is pleasing to Him. That is why we must learn to live out of our spirit and not of our head—being led by the Spirit. Incidentally, evil spirits constantly bombard us with negative thoughts. If we receive them and dwell on them, they become ours because, according to the Scripture, as we think in our heart, so are we. (Proverbs 23 vs 7.) If we accept the lies of the devil as reality, then they will become reality to us because of our "faith," that is, our believe in them.

That is why in moments of worry, stress and turmoil we have to simply take the time to turn to our inner man, the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit, and say, "Lord, what do You have to say about this?" If we listen in faith, He will speak to us and reveal to us the truth of that situation, and what we will do to please Him. You and I have two huge vats of information within us. One is carnal information that comes off the top of our head. The other is spiritual information which wells up out of our heart. One is muddy. polluted water, and the other is clean drinking water. It is up to us to decide which source we are going to drink from.

Some people try to drink from both sources. That's what the Bible calls being double-minded. (James 1 vs 8.) Do you know what it means to be double-minded? It means that your mind is trying to tell you one thing, and the your spirit is trying to tell you just the opposite. Instead of saying, "I'm not going to believe that of the mind because it's a lie," you get in a cross-fire, going back and forth between the two thoughts.

If you are ever going to live the happy, victorious and successful Christian life the Lord wills for us, you are going to have to decide which fountain of information you are going to drink from. You are going to have to learn to live out of our spirit and not out of our head—you must be led by the Spirit.

Prayer: Abba Father, You have adopted me as Your son, and has graciously given me Your Spirit. Help me to always listen, and take counsel from Your Holy Spirit indwelling me that I may lead a victorious and conqueror’s life, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!