Saturday, 20 March 2021
YOU HAVE THE POWER IN TURN THINGS AROUND!
CHRIST’S VICTORY IS FOR US—THE CHURCH!
EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!
SATURDAY MARCH 20, 2021.
SUBJECT : CHRIST’S VICTORY IS FOR US—THE CHURCH!
Memory verse: "I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body', which is the church. (Colossians 1 vs 24.)
READ: Colossians 2 vs 9 - 10; 14 - 15:
2:9: For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily;
2:10: and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.
2:14: Having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.
2:15: Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.
INTIMATION:
After Jesus’ victory over Satan, accomplished in His death and resurrection, all authority has been given to Him in heaven and on earth (Matthew 28 vs 18). All that authority belongs to, and is for the benefit of His body—the church. If He conquered all the forces of darkness and left them paralyzed and broken before He arose from the dead, it is as though the church (and we are the church) had accomplished the mighty work. It is reckoned for us as our credit, because He accomplished all that in His body, of which the church consists.
The question is, ‘When will our hearts take it in, and our minds become fruitful with this mighty unveiling of what we are in Christ?’ God put all things under the feet of Jesus, and had appointed Him the universal and supreme Head of the church—His body, and that in His body lives the full measure of Him Who fills all in all. We are His body—the church, therefore, all these malignant, wicked influences are beneath our feet. We have been made masters of them all. He did not defeat them for Himself, but for us. He did not fight that battle for His glory, but for our good. Hence He gave us authority over them; “Behold, I gave you authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you” (Luke 10 vs 19).
Adam had sold us out in his sin of high treason. Jesus redeemed us, defeated our enemy and put him beneath our feet. That knowledge should become as common to us, and as usable as the multiplication table. And when this is done believers will spend less or no time glorying the devil. Instead, they should use that time to glorify Jesus Christ for His triumph over Satan and his cohorts. I hardly give the devil any room to minister his usual lies to me because, by God's grace, I have embraced the truth of what I am in Christ.
We are the fullness of God; "Of His fullness have we all received" (John 1 vs 16). In Jesus Christ is the whole fullness of Godhead, that is, complete expression of the divine nature. And we are in Him, made full, and having come to fullness of life, we too are filled with the Godhead—Father, Son and Holy Spirit, the full spiritual stature. He is not only our fullness, but we are His fullness also. The word, "fullness" comes from a Greek word that is almost untranslatable: "pleroma," which means "completeness," "perfectness," or any other synonym that suggests fullness.
God in Christ Jesus gave us the triumph over Satan; "But thanks be to God, who always lead us in triumph in Christ." (Second Corinthians 2 vs 14.) That is the Hallelujah chorus of the new creation, and it never becomes real until we begin to confess it, begin to tell to the world what we are in Christ. This redemption wrought for us in Jesus Christ is eternal (Hebrews 9 vs 12). Not just a redemption for the hour in which it was done, but that Satan is as much defeated now as he was when Christ arose from the dead; that he is as much a subject today to the Name of Jesus as he was when Jesus conquered him.
Prayer: Abba Father, thank You most gracious Lord for Your triumph over Satan in Christ for us, and for given us Your fullness in Him. You have given us all that pertains to life and godliness. May Your Name forever be praised, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.
PRAISE THE LORD!
Friday, 19 March 2021
THE DEEP THINGS OF GOD REVEALED TO BELIEVERS!
EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!
FRIDAY MARCH, 2021.
SUBJECT : THE DEEP THINGS OF GOD REVEALED TO BELIEVERS!
Memory verse: "But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they foolishness to him, nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." (First Corinthians 2 vs 14).
READ: First Corinthians 2 vs 10 - 12:
2:10: But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.
2:11: For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God.
2:12:Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.
INTIMATION:
Through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, God revealed to the apostles the plan of redemption for all men. The revelation was precious to those who had obedient heart. The same concept has continued till this day. The revelation of the plan, therefore, depended on the work of God to reveal such, but also on the hearts of humble people who would recognize the work of God through the cross. Those who have a rebellious heart will not recognize the work of God through the cross. Therefore, they do not accept the message of the gospel to be from God.
The knowledge of the "deep things of God" refers to God's un-fathomable nature and His wonderful plan; Jesus' death and resurrection, and the promise of salvation, which is revealed only to those who believe that what God says is true. Those who believe in Christ's death and resurrection and put their faith in Him will know all they need to know to be saved.
The things that were revealed were “deep” because they couldn’t have been discovered through the intellectual abilities and wisdom of man. They had to be revealed through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to those who are searching for the truth and deliverance from sin. Therefore, it was, and is still, only by direct revelation from God that believers could know the mystery concerning the incarnation of Jesus and the salvation that was provided through the cross. No one could have known the mind of God if it were not for the work of the Holy Spirit to reveal God’s mind to man. It’s beyond the ability of man alone to comprehend the true nature of God. The knowledge, however, can't be grasped by even the wisest people unless they accept God's message. All who reject God's message are foolish, no matter how wise the world thinks they are.
As Christians, having the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, these things are spiritually revealed to us. The apostle Paul, in writing to the church in Corinth, stated that the deep things of God are revealed to us through the Spirit of God indwelling the believers. He clearly stated that these revelations come from the divine wisdom imparted in the believer by the Spirit of God: "However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory." (First Corinthians 2 vs 6 - 8.)
The principalities, the powers, the rulers of the darkness of this age, who are under the headship of Satan—the ruler of this world, never in their wisdom knew Christ's mission. Jesus was misunderstood and rejected by those whom the world considered wise and great. He was put to death by the rulers in Palestine; the high priest, King Herod, Pilate, and the Pharisees and Sadducees. They were dominated by their sense knowledge, and they thought that killing Him will achieve their aim of dominating the world. They had no part in the spiritual wisdom and revelation given to believers in the knowledge of Him.
Prayer: Abba Father, thank You so much for the divine wisdom and revelation of the knowledge of You imparted in us by Your indwelling Spirit. Let our eyes of understanding be opened to know our inheritance in Christ’s redemptive work for us, and be partakers of the rich spiritual blessings, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.
PRAISE THE LORD!
DO YOU WANT TO PROSPER?
Thursday, 18 March 2021
YOU GIVE ACCOUNT YOUR STEWARDSHIP!
LIFE IS A CHOICE!
EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!
THURSDAY MARCH 18, 2021.
SUBJECT: LIFE IS A CHOICE!
Memory verse: "I call heaven and earth as witness today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live." (Deuteronomy 30 vs 19.)
READ: Deuteronomy 30 vs 19 - 20:
30:19: I call heaven and earth as witness today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live;
30:20: that you may love the Lord your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days; and that you may dwell in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them.
INTIMATION:
In life we are faced with choices. God has ordained our paths in life to enable us accomplish His predetermined purposes for our life in accordance with His Will for us. God doesn't force His Will on anyone. He lets us decide whether to follow Him or reject Him, obey Him or disobey Him. This decision, however, is a life-or-death matter. God wants us to realize this, for He would like us all to choose life. Daily, in each new situation, we must affirm and reinforce this commitment.
The Will of God is packaged in His “instructional manual”—the Bible. Within the pages of the Bible we find a purpose for everything under the sun, even the tests we face in life. In our memory verse today, God spoke to His children, and presented them with a multiple choice test: the choice between life and death. He tested them with problems while they were in the wilderness. God tests us to ascertain we hear Him, obey His commandments, and walk in accordance with His Will for us, that we will be blessed beyond measure.
God knows the future, and His plans for us are good and full of hope. As long as God who knows the future, provides our agenda and goes with us as we fulfill His mission, we can have boundless hope. This does not mean that we will be spared pain, suffering, or hardship, but that God will see us through to a glorious conclusion. It is easy to obey when everything is falling in place, and going grand for us. But what about obeying God when you are on a crossroad, or in the middle of the most severe problem of your life?
We all have unique personalities, and we all have our own individual purposes. Our paths of life, in accordance with God’s Will for us, are unique, and our tests are different and predetermined by Him for His purposes. We may not like the way we are tested, but God chooses the test, and He is the One who issues the final grade. No one likes problems. Consequently, no one likes to be tested, and no one likes to take the same test over and over again. The only way we can avoid taking a test the second time is to pass it the first time around.
It is only in ensuring that you play appropriately your own part in the relationship with God that you may pass the test the first time. And to be able to do that, you should regularly go through your spiritual checklist to ensure you are not the architect of your problem by not walking in line with His purpose for you. How then do you that?
The “Instructional Manual”—the Bible guides us through life and it's obstacles. When you are then in the midst of a problem, it is vital to go through your spiritual checklist within the Bible, to make sure you are not the source of the problem. If you are not the source of the problem by ensuring you have done or is doing your part, then be patient, God will definitely do His part, He is not a man that He should lie nor the son of man that He will repent, He does what He says, and makes good what He has spoken (Numbers 23 vs 19). Though it might tarry, but be patient, it must surely come to pass! (Habakkuk 2 vs 3).
Prayer: Abba Father, Your ways are excellent, and Your thoughts past finding out. Your counsel stands forever. Your Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. Show me the path of life that I may walk in it, and be in Your presence, enjoying the fullness of joy, and accompanying pleasures at Your right hand forever, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.
PRAISE THE LORD!
Wednesday, 17 March 2021
LIFE WITHOUT END!
EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!
WEDNESDAY MARCH 17, 2021.
SUBJECT: LIFE WITHOUT END!
Memory verse: "He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end." (Ecclesiastes 3 vs 11.)
READ: Psalm 133 vs 3:
133:3 It is like the dew of Hermon, descending upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing—Life for evermore.
INTIMATION:
You are created to live forever. Life on earth is not all there is. It is just the beginning of life, it is the preparation for the next. Death marks the beginning of life on the other side—in eternity. You will spend far more time on the other side of death than you will here. Earth is only a tryout for your life in eternity. It is a practice workout before the actual game. Death is not the end of you. It isn't your termination because you can't be terminated. Death is only a transition into eternity, and there are eternal consequences to everything you do on earth, leading to the part of the eternal divide you will forever live.
Even though we know that everyone will eventually die, death always seems unnatural and unfair, even at a hundred and twenty years. The reason we feel we should live forever is that God wired our brains with that desire! (Ecclesiastes 3 vs 11.) One day your heart will stop pumping, and that marks the end of your body and your time on earth, but it will not be the end of you. Your earthly body is just a temporary residence for your real self—your spirit. At most, you will live a hundred and twenty years on earth (Genesis 6 vs 3), but you will live forever in eternity. Your time on earth is but a small parenthesis to your life in eternity as you are made to last forever.
The plain truth is that while life on earth offers many chances, eternity offers only two: heaven or hell. Your relationship to God on earth will determine your relationship to Him in eternity. If you learn to love and trust God's Son, Jesus, accept His finished work on the cross for you, and confess Him as your Lord and Savior, you are given the legal right to be the child of God, heir of God, joint heir with His Son, and will spend the rest of eternity with Him. On the other hand, if you reject Him, reject His love, forgiveness, and salvation, thereby committing the only unforgivable sin, you will spend eternity away from God—in hell.
There are two kinds of people: those who say to God, 'Your Will be done,' and those to whom God says, 'All right then, have it your way.' Tragically, many people will have to endure eternity without God because they chose to live without Him here on earth. When you fully comprehend that there is more to life than just here and now, and you realize that life is just preparation for eternity, you will start living in light of eternity, and that will color how you handle every relationship, task, and circumstance. Suddenly many activities, goals, and even problems that seemed so important will appear trivial, petty, and unworthy of your attention.
The closer you live to God, the smaller everything else appears. Eternity focused life changes your value system. You use your time and money wisely. You place higher premium on relationships and character instead of fame or wealth or achievements or even fun. Your priorities are reordered. Keeping up with trends, fashions, and popular values just doesn't matter as much anymore.
The Scripture in Philippians 3 vs 7 says:-
"But what things were gain to me, I have counted loss for Christ." The apostle Paul said he thought his past achievements were very important, but now considers them worthless when compared with what Christ has done for us. If our time here on earth is all there is to life, we would live as if there is no tomorrow. You could exploit life as much as you could, forget being good and ethical, and wouldn't have to worry about any consequences of your actions. You could indulge yourself in total self-centeredness because your actions would have no long-term repercussions. Unfortunately, life is beyond our days on this earth. Lead your life with eternity with God as your driving force.
Prayer: Abba Father, one thing I have desired of You, that I will seek after, that I may dwell in Your house forever, Amen.
PRAISE THE LORD!