CONFESSION OF OUR SIN RESTORES FELLOWSHIP!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 18, 2021.

SUBJECT: CONFESSION  OF OUR SIN RESTORES FELLOWSHIP!

Memory verse: "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (First John 1 vs 9.)

READ: Psalm 32 vs 1 - 5:

32:1: Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.

32:2: Blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.

32:3: When I kept silent, my bones grew old through my groaning all the day long.

32:4: For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; my vitality was turned into the drought of summer.

32:5: I acknowledged my sin to You, and my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,” and You forgave the iniquity of my sin.

INTIMATION:

To confess our sin is to agree with God, acknowledging that He is right to declare what we have done as sinful and that we are wrong to desire or to do it. It means affirming our intention of forsaking that sin in order to follow Him more faithfully. God wants to forgive sinners. Forgiveness has always been part of His loving nature, and He dramatically showed it to the world through the offering of His only Son, Jesus Christ, for our sins. The instant you confess your sin, He is faithful, just, and righteous to forgive you restore fellowship you. 

Confession is supposed to free us to enjoy fellowship with Christ. It should ease our consciences and lighten our cares. But some Christians do not understand how it works. They feel so guilty that they confess the same sin over and over; then they wonder if they might have forgotten something. These Christians do not understand that God wants to forgive us. He allowed His beloved Son to die so He could offer us pardon. God forgives disobedience, puts sin out of sight, and cleans our record of guilt. Now you are to forgive yourself and forget your sins and go on in love with Him. For you to continually remind yourself of your past errors and sins is to deny the efficacy of His forgiveness and the value of His Word.

When we come to Christ, He forgives all the sins we have committed or will ever commit provided we confess our sins and ask for His forgiveness. We don’t need to confess the sins of the past all over again, and we don’t need to fear that God will reject us if we don’t keep our state perfectly clean. Of course we should continue to confess the sins we commit thereafter, not because failure to do so will make us lose our salvation since our relationship with Christ is secure. Instead, we should confess so that we can enjoy maximum fellowship and joy with Him. Joy cannot be made full without full fellowship. 

One may say, “God has forgiven us our sins because of Christ’s death, why must we confess our sins?” In admitting our sins and receiving Christ’s cleansing, we are (1) agreeing with God that our sin truly is sin and that we are willing to turn from it, (2) ensuring that we don’t conceal our sins from Him and consequently from ourselves, and (3) recognizing our tendency to sin and relying on His power to overcome it.  

There is no need walking in broken fellowship a minute after you have committed sin. The devil is the author of that sin. Then to walk in broken fellowship, grieving over your blunder, is only adding joy and glory to the devil. The instant you have done wrong and your fellowship is impaired, ask for the Father's forgiveness and go on in fellowship with Him. 

In First John 2 vs 1, the Scripture says, 

"My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." Jesus Christ is the righteous Advocate. He can go into the Father's presence when we are under condemnation and shrink from meeting Him. He is always righteous, and can always plead our case. The instant we ask the Father's forgiveness, Jesus takes up our case before the Father and our fellowship is restored.

However, true confession also involves a commitment not to continue in sin. We wouldn’t be genuinely confessing our sins to God if we planned to commit them again and just wanted temporary forgiveness. We should also pray for strength to defeat temptation the next time we face it. For the sin(s) that easily beset you, seek the power of the Holy Spirit to help you overcome it; humbly go to God in prayer for His help through the Holy Spirit indwelling you.

Prayer: Abba Father, You are our sacrificial Savior, our faithful Companion, and ever Merciful Father. In Your loving nature, You gave us Your only begotten Son to die for our sins, and paid the price of sin we owed. Forever I remain deeply grateful to You for the free gift of salvation. Engrace me with the spirit of delightsome obedience to You in all areas of my life, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

THE NEW CREATION MAN IN CHRIST!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 17, 2021.

SUBJECT: THE NEW CREATION MAN IN CHRIST!

Memory verse: "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 WillI.” (Ephesians 1 vs 11.)

READ: Ephesians 1 vs 3 - 9:

1:3: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,

1:4: just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in Love,

1:5: having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His Will,

1:6: to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.

1:7: In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.

1:8: which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence,

1:9: having made known to us the mystery of His Will, according to His good which He purposes in Himself,

INTIMATION:

In the “new creation” in Jesus Christ, God has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in the heavenly places. This means that in Christ we have all the benefits of knowing God. These include; being chosen for salvation, being adopted as His children, forgiveness of our sins, insight into our inheritance as His children, the gift of the Spirit, the power of God’s Will in our lives, and the hope of living forever with Christ. And because we have an intimate relationship with Christ through the new creation, we can enjoy these blessings now, and also eternally.

In Christ we have our redemption from Satan's dominion and authority, for "we have been translated into the kingdom of the Son of His love;" (Colossians 1 vs 13), and Jesus has become our new Lord, our love Master. He is our caretaker, the guarantor of our ability to reign over the forces that ones dominated us. There has been remission of all our trespasses, and that remission has been according to the riches of His grace (the unmerited favor to us, not of any good works of us). That is an unfathomable expression of love.

Do you ever imagine what "the riches of His grace" means to us? And He made this abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, for Christ has been made wisdom to us. We then have the wisdom to face life's problems with prudence, and this wisdom, prudence, and ability of God is His Will toward us. But how can you know that fact if you are not a hearer and doer of the Word. The Bible is available to us for studying and meditation. Teachers of the Word abound as well as places of worship, for those who can't read, and understand the Bible. 

Let's look at what James said in James 1 vs 21 - 25. "Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror, for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does."

It is only in learning (hearing, reading, meditating on) the Word of God, and practicing what you have learnt that you can appreciate what you are in Christ. And it is only in so doing that you can free yourself from the dominion of the sense realm. It is important to listen to what God’s Word says, but it is much more important to obey it and to do what it says. We can measure the effectiveness of our Bible study time by the effect it has on our behavior and attitudes.

Every believer should make out a list on a little card or in a notebook of what he is in Christ. Then read it over and over like this: “In Him I have my redemption. In Him I am a New Creation, and Satan has no dominion over me. Jesus alone is my Lord. I am the righteousness of God in Christ. I am the son of God, a joint heir with Jesus Christ. I have as much right in the Father's presence as Jesus has in His presence. And I have a standing invitation to the throne room to come boldly and take my place as a son. I should remember that "It is God who is at work within me, willing and working His own good pleasure. I should never allow myself to forget what manner of man He made me in Jesus Christ.” It is in so doing that the full realization of what manner of man you are made of in Christ will be donned by you.

The New Creation man forgets what manner of man he is in time of stress or crisis, unless he has gotten a clear understanding of what he is in Christ. Most Christians have lived so long in the realm of the senses and religion that it is difficult for them to realize what they are in Christ. Even after the new birth (confessing Jesus as their Lord and Savior) they will unconsciously lapse into the old life, seeing themselves as they were, and not as they are in the New Creation. In this attitude, the new creation is not a workable reality for them. 

Prayer: Abba Father, endue me with the spirit of wisdom and revelation of the knowledge of what I am in Jesus Christ, let my eyes of understanding be enlightened to know what is the hope of Your calling, what are the riches of the glory of Your inheritance in the believers, and what is the exceeding greatness of Your power toward us who believe, according to the working of Your mighty power, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

NO COMPLETE SATISFACTION ON EARTH!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

TUESDAY FEBRUARY 16, 2021.

SUBJECT: NO COMPLETE SATISFACTION ON EARTH! 

Memory verse: "For we are aliens and pilgrims before You, As were our fathers; our days on earth are as a shadow, and without hope." (First Chronicles 29 vs 15.)

READ: Hebrews 11 vs 13 - 16:

11:13: These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 

11:14: For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. 

11:15: And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they have come out, they would have had opportunity to return. 

11:16: But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.

INTIMATION:

Have you ever imagined why human wants are insatiable? This is because this earth is not our ultimate home. In our home, there are no wants, therefore, there is no insatiableness. And the fact that earth is not our ultimate home explains why, as followers of Jesus, we experience difficulty, sorrow, and rejection in this world. It also explains why some of God's promises seem unfulfilled, some prayers seem unanswered, and some circumstances seem unfair. Such situations are not operative in our home.

In the passage we read today, the Scripture talks about God's Hall of Fame. These people of faith in the passage, were “strangers and pilgrims” on earth—this world is not their home. Embracing this truth, they lived and died without seeing the fruit of their faith on earth, not receiving all that God promised, but they never lost their vision of their heaven country. On the contrary, at the present time, many Christians become frustrated and defeated because their earthly needs, wants, expectations, and demands are not immediately met when they accept Christ as Savior. They become impatient and want to quit. Many think that pain is an exception in the Christian life. When suffering occurs they say, "Why me?" They feel as though God deserted them, or perhaps they accuse Him of not being as dependable as they thought in reality. 

In God's eyes, the greatest heroes of faith are not those who achieve prosperity, success, and power in this life, but those who treat this life as a temporary assignment and serve faithfully, expecting their promised reward in eternity. While we are on earth, we may never see the purpose of our suffering. But we know that God will keep His promises to us. Your time on earth is not the complete story of your life. You must wait until heaven for the rest of the chapters. It takes faith to live on earth as a foreigner. The end of life is not the end! 

However, we live in an evil world filled with suffering, even for believers. But God is still in control. He allows some Christians to become martyrs for the faith, and He allows others to survive persecution. We should be comforted when we remember that Jesus is God, and suffered persecution, and death by hanging, in the evil world. He understands our fears, weaknesses, and disappointments (see Hebrews 2 vs 16 - 18; 4 vs 14 - 16). He promised never to leave us (Matthew 28 vs 18 - 20), and intercedes on our behalf (Hebrews 7 vs 24 - 25). 

In order to keep us from becoming too attached to earth, God allows us to feel a significant amount of discontent and dissatisfaction in life—longings that can never be fulfilled on this side of eternity. We're not completely happy here because we're not supposed to be! Earth is not our final home; we were created for something much better. Realizing that life on earth is just a temporary assignment should radically alter your values. Eternal values, not temporal ones, should become the deciding factors for your decisions. It is a fatal mistake to assume that God's goal for your life is material prosperity or popular success, as the world defines it. The abundant life has nothing to do with material abundance. 

An old story is often repeated of a retiring missionary coming home to America on the same boat as the president of the United States. Cheering crowds, a military band, a red carpet, banners, and the media welcomed the president home, but the missionary slipped off the ship unnoticed. Feeling self-pity and resentment, he began complaining to God. Then God gently reminded him, "But my child, you're not home yet," When recognition is not given to your perseverance, when you suffer neglect, when life gets tough, when you're overwhelmed with doubt, or when you wonder if living for Christ is worth the effort, remember that you are not home yet. At death you won't leave home, you'll go home.

A fish will never be happy living on land, because it was made for water. An eagle could never feel satisfied if it wasn't allowed to fly. You will never feel completely satisfied on earth, because you were made for more. You will have happy moments here, but nothing compared with what God planned for you. You will not be in heaven two seconds before you cry out, "Why did I place so much importance on things that were so temporary? What was I thinking? Why did I waste so much time, energy, and concern on what wasn't going to last?"

Prayer: Abba Father, this world is not my home, I am just passing through. I am persuaded that You have prepared a place for me in our Father’s mansion, to welcome me into at my appointed time of coming home. Endue me with the right spirit of wisdom and understanding, to live on earth conscious of my home country, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

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.