Monday, 22 March 2021
ARE YOU LIVING AN EXAMPLARY LIFE?
WHAT KIND OF FRUIT DO YOU BEAR?
EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!
TUESDAY MARCH 23, 2021.
SUBJECT: WHAT KIND OF FRUIT DO YOU BEAR?
Memory verse: "You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?" (Matthew 7 vs 16.)
READ: Matthew 7 vs 17 - 20:
7:17: Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.
7:18: A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.
7:19: Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
7:20: Therefore by their fruits you will know them.
INTIMATION:
In the passage we read today, fruit metaphorically denotes works or deeds. The fruit being the visible expression of power working inwardly and invisibly, and the character of the fruit being evidence of the character of the power producing it. Our speech and actions largely reveal our true underlying beliefs, attitudes, and motivations which is the fruit we bear in our lives. What is in your heart will come out in your speech and behavior. And usually the good impressions we try to make cannot last If we are being deceptive. God abhors such life that bears bad fruits or no fruits.
Now, see what Jesus did to a fig tree in Matthew 21 vs 18 - 19; “Now in the morning, as He returned to the city, He was hungry. And seeing a fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it but leaves, and said to it, “Let no fruit grow on you ever again.” Immediately the fid tree withered away.” The question is why did Jesus curse the fig tree? Jesus was showing His anger on religion without substance—Christianity without results. Just as the fig tree looked good from a distance but was fruitless on close observation, so is Christianity without commensurate works. If you only appear to have faith without putting it to work in your life, you are like the fig tree that withered and died because it bore no fruit; fruitful in appearance only but spiritually barren. Genuine faith means bearing fruit for God’s kingdom.
The Scripture, in John 15 vs 16, Jesus said, “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.” As Christians, we are evaluated by the kind of fruit we bear. Good Christians consistently exhibit good behavior and high moral standards as they seek to live out the truths of the Scripture. Jesus is not expecting a perfect character, but rather a show of genuine commitment in the works of the Christian toward His kingdom. It’s only Jesus that will perfect us on His return, but our sanctification is continuous until His return (Hebrews 10 vs 14).
The Scripture in John 15 vs 1 - 8, Jesus gave us requirements for a fruit bearing believer. “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away, and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. As the branch cannot bear fruit unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me and I in him, bears much fruit, for without Me you can do nothing.” (John 15 vs 1 - 2; 4 - 5.)
Christ is the vine, the branches are His followers, and God is the vinedresser who cares for the branches to make them fruitful. The fruitful branches are true believers who by their living union with Christ produce much fruit. But those who become unproductive—those who turn back from following Christ after making a superficial commitment—will be separated from the vine because they are as good as dead and will be cut off and tossed aside.
The fruit of Christian life are; godliness (crucified flesh with its passion and desires), faith, virtue, knowledge, perseverance, soul winning, answered prayer, love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, self-control. All these are unified character of the Lord, hence the Scripture usually refers to them singularly as “fruit,” instead of “fruits.” They are all in contrast with the confused, and often mutually antagonistic “work of the flesh.”
They are referred to in the Scripture as “The fruit of righteousness,” that is, all of the character traits flowing from a right relationship with God (Philippians 1 vs 11). In Hebrews 12 vs 11, the fruit of righteousness is described as “peaceable fruit”; the outward effect of Divine chastening sown in peace in the believer. It is also called the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5 vs 22 -24).
The fruit of the Spirit is the spontaneous work of the Holy Spirit in us. The Spirit produces these character traits that are found in the nature of Christ. They are the by-products of Christ’s control. To obtain the fruit, we must abide in Him —join our life to His—we must know Him, believe in Him, receive Him as our Savior and Lord, love Him, obey Him, remember Him, and imitate Him. As a result we will fulfill the intended purpose of the law—to love God and our neighbors.
Our desire as Christians should be to produce fruit in likeness of Christ, acceptable to God, and that outlasts death. The Scripture, in Revelation 14 vs 13, says, “Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on’” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “that they rest from their labors, and their works follow them.” God’s people should produce fruit that survives even death. Yes God will only remember our love, kindness, faithfulness, and our kingdom advancement endeavors. While it is true that money, fame, and possessions are good, but they are abandoned here on earth when you die, and God does not reckon such for you. But God is only mindful of what you achieved with the money, fame, and possessions in your relationship with Him and others while you lived on earth. Now, the choice is yours. What kinds of fruit are you bearing?
Prayer: Abba Father, engrace me to bear fruit that survives even death, and are remarkable and approved by You, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed. Amen.
PRAISE THE LORD!
DO YOU KNOW WHOM YOU HAVE BELIEVED?
EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!
MONDAY MARCH 22, 2021.
SUBJECT: DO YOU KNOW WHOM YOU HAVE BELIEVED?
Memory verse: "For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and I am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day." (Second Timothy 1 vs 12.)
READ: Romans 8 vs 38 - 39:
838: For I am persuaded that neither death nor life nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come,
8:39: nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
INTIMATION:
How many of us can proudly say, "I know Whom I have believed." When you know whom you have believed, you become unstoppable, your confidence in Him is unshakable. Today’s memory verse was written when the apostle Paul was in prison, but that did not stop his ministry. He carried it on through others like his spiritual son Timothy. He had lost all his material possessions, but he would never lose his faith. He trusted God to use him regardless of his circumstances.
He so trusted God that he was not bothered about his bleak situation. He gave all his concerns to Christ, trusting Him to guard his faith and safely guard all he has entrusted to Him until the day of His return. In spite of the suffering that might have caused him to despair, he affirmed his confidence in God’s protection. This was not a claim of strong faith; rather, it was a trust in One so powerful that even a weak faith was sufficient. Hence Christ said, “If your faith is a small as a mustard seed,” it comes with tremendous power in Him.
Paul based his confidence in Christ on his intimate relationship with Him. He knew the One in Whom he trusted with personal knowledge; he knew Christ so well that no earthly experience could break the bond of love by which Christ held him.
Christians have always had to face various unfavorable life’s circumstances. These sometimes cause them to fear that they have been abandoned by Christ. But in the passages we read today, the apostle Paul exclaims that it is impossible to be separated from Christ. His death for us is proof of His unconquerable love. Nothing can separate from Christ’s presence. God tells us how great His love is so that we will feel totally secure in Him. If we believe these overwhelming assurances, we will not be afraid.
The Scripture, in Romans 5 vs 3 - 4, says, “And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, Character; and character; hope.” God’s thoughts for us is of good. Our future in Christ is excellently superb, but we have to overcome now to become later what He has in stock for us. This means we will experience difficulties that help us grow.
When suffering comes our way, we rejoice, not because we like pain or deny its tragedy, but because we know whom we have believed and trusted, and He is using life’s difficulties and Satan’s attacks to build our character. The problems that we run into will develop our perseverance; which in turn will strengthen our character, deepen our trust in God, and give us greater confidence about the future. You probably find your patience tested in some way every day. Thank God for those opportunities to grow, and deal with them in His strength.
The apostle James counsels us in James 1 vs 2 - 4, saying, “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” We can’t really know the depth of our character until we see how we react under pressure. You can’t really say, “I know whom I have believed” until trials come, and your reactions to them are weighed.
Many Christians when facing trials may even begin to question God, “God where are You?” “You can’t be on Your throne and I am going through this situation.” In my considered opinion, such comments come from those who do not know whom they believed, For If they do, they will realize that “All things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8 vs 28). God cannot be any other place than on His Throne. He is an “All knowing God,” and knows all about you and Your circumstances, and in all these things you are a conqueror through Him who loves you. (Romans 8 vs 37.)
Prayer: Abba Father, Your love for me is unquestionable, undeniable, and unfathomable. What You cannot do for me, let it remain undone. What You cannot give me, let me never have it. Engrace me to never shift my focus from You because I know whom I believed, in Jesus’ Name ai have prayed. Amen.
PRAISE THE LORD!
Sunday, 21 March 2021
THINK BIG!
WHO WILL THE LORD SAY YOU ARE?
EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!
SUNDAY MARCH 21, 2021.
SUBJECT: WHO WILL THE LORD SAY YOU ARE?
Memory verse: "Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?” (Job 1 vs 8.)
READ: Matthew 16 vs 13 - 17:
16:13: When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?”
16:14: So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, Some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
16:15: He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
16:16: Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 16:17: Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.
INTIMATION:
Have you ever thought of such idea or bothered about who God will say you are? Interestingly, this should be the most important question in every believer’s life, and requires a sincere answer from the believer. This is because the day—the judgement Day—will come when every one will appear before Christ; ”For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what He has done, whether good or bad.” (Second Corinthians 5 vs 10.) “As it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9 vs 27).
Christ will judge each and everyone of us, both the living and the dead, and He will reward us for how we have lived. Although judgment is already working in our lives, there will be a future, final judgment when Christ returns (Matthew 25 vs 31 - 46), and everyone’s life will be reviewed and evaluated. For the believers, their eternal destiny is secure, but Jesus will look at how they handled gifts, opportunities, and responsibilities in order to determine their heavenly rewards. God’s gracious gift of salvation does not free us from the requirement of faithful obedience. Everybody, Christians and non-Christians, must give account of how they lived before Christ.
The question is, “How will Christ see you?” Can He testify of your goodness, obedience, and faithfulness? In our memory verse, God testified about Job; He inquired from Satan if he had seen His servant Job. God’s servants are faithful to Him in all they do. They serve Him with their whole lives. It was a great honor to Job; it placed him amongst His known servants as Moses and David. God was boastful about His servant Job, and reposed great confidence in him.
Job was a model of trust and obedience to God, and because of God’s confidence in him, He permitted Satan to attack him in an especially harsh manner. God trusted Job not to cave in to Satan’s wicked ploys to make him doubt whom he believed. Can God say this of any of you? Can God repose such confidence in you as a believer? This calls for concern to each and every one of us.
Satan attacked Job with the false impression that Job was blameless and had integrity before God, because he had no reason to turn against God that had blessed him exceedingly. Ever since he had started following God, everything had gone well for Job. Satan wanted to prove that Job worshiped God, not out of love, but because God had given him so much. Although, it was an obvious falsehood about Job’s motives, Satan accurately analyzed why many people trust God. They are fair-weather believers, following God only when everything is going well or for what they can get.
Adversity destroys this superficial faith. But adversity strengthens real faith by causing believers to dig their roots deeper into God in order to withstand the storms. How deep does your faith go? Put the roots of your faith down deep into God so that you can withstand any storm you may face. Although God loves us, believing and obeying Him do not shelter us from life’s calamities. Setbacks, tragedies, and sorrows strike Christians and non-Christians alike. But in our tests and trials, God expects us to express our faith in Him to the world. How do you respond to your troubles? Do you ask God, “Why me?” or do you say, “Use me!”?
The conversation between God and Satan teaches us an important fact about God; He is fully aware of every attempt by Satan to bring suffering and difficultly upon us. While God may allow us to suffer for a reason beyond our understanding, He is never caught by surprise by our troubles and is always compassionate.
Jesus was also mindful of who people say He was during His earth walk. He inquired from His disciples who people say about Him—who He is. However, He was concerned about whom His Father says He is, and eventually, when Peter answered correctly, He noted that this was revealed to him by His Father in heaven. We should also be mindful of who our Father in heaven says we are.
We should be concerned about how we live, and lead our lives hear on earth; our obedience, faithfulness, and trust in God, both in words and in deeds. We should also be mindful of what our fellow believers say or think of us, knowing that those who are faithful to the end will reign with Him as He judges the world. (See Revelation 2 vs 26 - 27).
Prayer: Abba Father, endue me with the spirit of raw obedience to You and Your Word, that I may be found worthy on the day of judgment, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed. Amen.
PRAISE THE LORD!