Wednesday, 24 March 2021
MAKE THE RIGHT FRIENDS!
WALKING BY SIGHT AND NOT BY FAITH!
EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!
WEDNESDAY MARCH 24, 2021.
SUBJECT: WALKING BY SIGHT AND NOT BY FAITH!
Memory verse: “Therefore they said to Him, 'What sign will You perform then, that we may see it and believe You? What work will you do?" (John 6 vs 30.)
READ: John 20 vs 24 - 29:
20:24: Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came.
20:25: The other disciples therefore said to him, 'We have seen the Lord.'
So he said to them, 'Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.'
20:26: And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, 'Peace to you!'
20:27: Then He said To Thomas, 'Reach your fingers here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. do not be unbelieving, but believing.'
20:28: And Thomas answered and said to Him, 'My Lord and my God!'
20:29: Jesus said to him, 'Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet they believed.
INTIMATION:
One of the greatest dangers we face as believers is walking by sight rather than by faith. Walking by sight is “Sense knowledge faith.” The Scripture describes faith thus, “The substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11 vs 1.) Therefore, true or real faith is the faith that holds substantively tight to a future believe. You hold tight to the future occurrence of believed event. The beginning point of faith is believing in God’s character; that He is who He says He is. The end point is believing in God’s promises: He will do what He says. When we believe that God will fulfill His promises even though we don’t see those promises materializing yet, we demonstrate true or real faith.
In the contrary, relying on your sense of touch and sight (sense knowledge faith) before you believe, is no more faith because one cannot hope for what is already seen. This sense knowledge faith (sense of sight and touch) is Thomas' kind of faith as seen in the passage we read today: “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.” (John 20 vs 25). But Jesus retorted, saying, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet they believed.” (John 20 vs 29.)
Most of us can believe in miracles when we see them. In many healing meetings, multitudes have sat in amazement when they saw the sick instantly healed. It gave them faith to dare ask for their own healing. Such persons are walking by sight. They are like the sick man in James 5 vs 14 who calls for the elders to come and pray over him and anoint him with oil, and prayer of the elders heals him. The Scripture says, ”Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.” (James 5 vs 14.) The only faith he had was in the elders. This is typical of walking by sight (Sense knowledge faith). He can see the elders, he can hear them pray, can feel their hands upon his head, and the anointing with the oil.
If the sick believer referenced above has real faith—faith in God’s Word, he wouldn’t had sent for the elders. Instead, he would have looked up and said, "Father, Your Word says in Isaiah 53 vs 5, “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed." You laid this disease on Jesus, and it is unseemly for me to bear it. I dishonor You in bearing this sickness. So in the name of Jesus, I command it to leave me, and I command Satan to take it with him. I have no use for it, I refuse to have it. Amen."
For many Christians, when you read out to them Isaiah 53 vs 5, and ask them, "Do you believe that?" They will say, "Oh yes I have believed that for years." But when they come to a man of God with sickness, reeling in pain, if the man of God prays for them, the pain leaves them instantly, and you will hear, “Thank God I am healed.” And when He is asked, “How do you know you are healed?” He replies, “The pain is gone.” He believed because the pain was gone, not that the Word of God said so. He didn’t believe in the Word of prayer of the man of God, but rather believed in what he felt. This is not real faith that believes in things not seen, and the blessedness of real faith will always elude them. In a few days they will come back and announce that the pain is back.
But the faith that God demands from us is that we accept His Word as it is—the very Word of God—and act upon it, independent of any feelings or any evidence that the eyes can see or feel. Jesus, during His earth walk, met only sense knowledge faith among the Jews. And even the disciples that were with Him had sense knowledge faith until after the day of Pentecost. The greatest enemy of Christians’ faith is believing in our sense knowledge. It eludes us of the blessings inherent in the Word of God.
Prayer: Abba Father, forever Your Word is settled in heaven. Endue me with complete faith in You and Your Word that I may receive the promises therein, in the mighty Name of Jesus Christ I have prayed. Amen.
PRAISE THE LORD!
HE KNOWS HOW YOU FEEL!
“Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:14-16 (KJV)
Knowing that Jesus Christ knows how you feel gives you the confidence to share your feelings with Him. Jesus Christ is our Great High Priest. Before He attained the position of a high priest, He was subjected to all that mankind had been going through and was tempted in all points. And yet, He never sinned (Hebrews 5:8). Beloved, He knows all our infirmities; the pain, disappointment, sickness, death, etc. That is why He is a great and better high priest (Hebrews 7:24). As a high priest, He has prepared the throne of grace for our sake. The throne of grace is our solution center; no matter what your challenges are, there is enough grace for them. Therefore, go to the throne of grace boldly in prayer and humility; receive the grace for your peculiar need by faith, and see yourself become an overcomer. Beloved, don’t wait to find yourself in crisis before going to the throne of grace. Go there every day to fellowship with Him; receive grace for each new day because every day comes with its own challenges and blessings. Thus, you need fresh grace and blessings to overcome the challenges of the day. Remember that, when you are with Jesus Christ, winning becomes your inheritance (John 16:33). Hallelujah! You are an overcomer!
Prayer Point: My Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, I love You for being my Great High Priest. I have decided to come to Your throne of grace to fellowship with You every day and to receive grace and blessings, so I can make all challenges that come my way bread for the world, to know that, with You, winning becomes an inheritance. 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.
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!