BE CONTENT WITH HIS REWARD!

Be Content with His Reward!
“Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day.” Matthew 20:12 (KJV)

The children of God have been called to work in the vineyard of God. The vineyard represents the various ministries into which we have been called to work. Beloved, if you have the privilege of been called to work in the children’s ministry, for example, work with all your might and serve faithfully. There are those who will be called into the ministry of giving; give liberally and cheerfully (Romans 12:8). Beloved, the Lord will reward each and every one according to what we have done for Him (Romans 2:6–10). When we are rewarded, we should be content with our reward because the Lord knows what is best for us. What He doesn’t want us to do is to compare ourselves with one another and show dissatisfaction over the reward He has given. We should be each other’s keeper, love the fellowship of the brethren, and be happy for one another. Yes, it is true that the parable in the opening scripture is about our common salvation, which every Christian receives. However, it is applicable to other aspects of our lives in the Kingdom of God. Remember that the Word of God is powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword; it has one interpretation but multiple applications to the glory of God (Hebrews 4:12). Hallelujah! Hosanna in the Highest!

Prayer point: Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for saving me and employing me in Your vineyard. I have learned from Your Word, therefore, I appreciate wherever You put me in Your vineyard. Please give me more grace to overcome the temptation of comparing my reward with others, and always do Your work joyfully and faithfully. 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.

YOUR GIFT(S) IS FOR GOD’S PURPOSE!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

SATURDAY MARCH 27, 2021.

SUBJECT: YOUR GIFT(S) IS FOR GOD’S PURPOSE! 

Memory verse: "He fashions their hearts individually; He considers all their works." (Psalm 33 vs 15.)

READ: Ephesians 1 vs 11:

1:11: 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 Will.

INTIMATION:

God created you to serve His purpose, and gave you the especial gift(s)—talents and abilities—to assist you serve His purpose(s). It is not for you, but for Him. After creation, God was pleased with everything He made, including you, because they were very good. God especially enjoys watching you use the gift(s) He has given you for His predetermined purposes. He intentionally gifted us differently for His purpose and enjoyment. He has made some athletic, some analytical, some extremely strong, some weak, and so on. You may be gifted at mechanics or mathematics or music, or other numerous skills. All these abilities can bring a smile to God's face, and glory to Him when properly employed for His purpose.

God’s purpose for people is not an afterthought; it was settled before the foundation of the world. People are to serve and honor God, and He has gifted us for such. God has fashioned your intellect. He gave you talents and abilities, and is very mindful how you utilize them. He gave you all that for His purpose, and is very pleased when you give Him glory by utilizing them to actualize His course. We are God's inheritance, and were chosen and appointed for His purpose in advance. He has designed and wired us in accordance with His will He ordained from inception. 

Now that God did all these, will it please Him if you don't use those gifts for His purpose? You don't bring glory to, or pleasure to Him by hiding your abilities or by trying to be someone else. You only bring Him enjoyment by being you. Anytime you reject any part of yourself, you are rejecting God's wisdom and sovereignty in creating you.

The Scripture says in Romans 9 vs 20 - 21; "But indeed O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the things formed say to him who formed it, "Why have you made me like this?" Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor?" The Creator has control over the created object. The created object, therefore, has no right to demand anything from its Creator. Its very existence depends on Him.

Utilizing the abilities to please God is an act of worship. You can sing, write poems, repair machine, sell a product, write a computer program, do farming, teach, raise a family, preach the gospel, and so on, for the glory of God. He especially enjoys watching you use the talents and abilities He has given you. He gives you the empowerment to do so. Keeping this perspective removes any temptation to have pride in personal achievement. Any act of priding yourself in those abilities or talents dishonors God, and therefore sinful.

God looks at the attitude of your heart: Is pleasing Him your deepest desire? The Scripture in Second Corinthians 5:9 says, “Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him.” Pleasing God should be our utmost goal. When you live in light of eternity, your focus changes from "How much pleasure am I getting out of life?" to "How much pleasure is God getting out of my life?” Will you make pleasing God your life's goal? There is nothing that God won't do for the person totally absorbed with this goal. In Second Corinthians 5 vs 10, the apostle Paul continues, "For we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad."

The grace of God in freely given us the gift of salvation, and eternal life, not withstanding, each of us will be judged by Christ. The judgement will reward us for how we have lived. God's gracious gift of salvation does not free us from the requirement for faithful obedience. All Christians must give account for how they have lived.

Prayer: Abba Father, You made and gifted me to serve Your purpose on earth. Engrace me to use Your gifts to serve Your purpose, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

THE WORD IS WHAT YOU NEED!

The Word Is What You Need!
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men.  And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.” John 1:1-5 (KJV)

Knowing that the Word is what you need puts an end to every form of lack. The Word of God is God; it had been with God from the beginning (Genesis 1:1). Beloved, the Word of God knows your beginning and your end. It is the most essential thing you need to succeed in life. It has life to sustain you, light to direct you, and power to overcome all forces of darkness that seek to wage war against you. Everything in the world, including you as a human being, was created by the Word of God. It means, therefore, that as a child of God you can use the Word of God to get whatever you need. Beloved, what you need to do is to search the Scriptures to find the Word that has the solution to your needs and speak them continually in faith, and the Holy Spirit will bring it to pass in your life (Proverbs 25:2). Never lose hope in the Word; be patient in faith and you will see the mighty hand of God in your life. Praise the Lord! Be an overcomer!

Prayer Point: My dear Father, thank You for Your undiluted Word. I’m excited to hear that it has everything I need to make life meaningful. As I begin to search Your Word, please lead me to find all the scriptures that minister to my needs. And as I declare them in faith, thank You for bringing them to pass for me to testify to others that Your Word really works, 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 THOUGHT OF DEATH!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

FRIDAY MARCH 26, 2021.

SUBJECT: THE THOUGHT OF DEATH!

Memory verse: “Better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting. For that is the end of all men; and the living will take it to heart." (Ecclesiastes 7 vs 2.)

READ: Psalm 49 vs 10 - 13:

49:10: For he sees wise men die; likewise the fool and the senseless person perish, and leave their wealth to others.

49:11: Their inner thought is that their houses will last forever, their dwelling places to all generations; they call their lands after their own names.

49:12: Nevertheless man, though in honor does not remain; he is like the beasts that perish.

49:13: This is the way of those who are foolish, and of their posterity who approve their sayings.

INTIMATION:

Death is used in the Scripture to denote (a) the separation of the soul (the spiritual part on man) from the body (the material body), the latter ceasing to function and turning to dust. It also means the separation of man from God. Adam died on the day he disobeyed God (Genesis 2 vs 17), and hence all mankind are born in the same spiritual condition (Romans 5 vs 12), from which, however, those who believe in Christ are delivered (John 5 vs 24; First John 3 vs 14). Death, in whichever of the above mentioned senses it is used in Scripture, is always viewed as the penal consequence of sin, and since sinners alone are subject to death. 

God, in His infinite mercy, love, and kindness, made a way for us in Jesus Christ—His only Son—whom He sent as a propitiation for our sins. Those who believed in atonement of sin by Jesus Christ for the world, and have so confessed Him as their Savior and Lord over their lives are known as “Believers.” Those who do not believe are called “Unbelievers.” To those who don’t believe in God, life on earth is all there is, and will strive to live to the fullest. Therefore, it is natural for them to strive for the world’s values: money, popularity, power, pleasure, and prestige. 

For many death is a darkened door at the end of their lives, a passageway to an unknown and feared destiny. But for God’s people, death is a bright doorway to a new and better life, it is just another step in the continuing eternal life we began when we started to follow Jesus. Many people avoid thinking about death, refuse to face it, and are reluctant to even attend funerals. Though it is not encouraging to think morbidly, but it is helpful to think clearly about death. It reminds us that we still have time to change, time to confess our sins and find forgiveness from God. Because everyone will eventually die, it makes sense to plan ahead to experience God’s mercy rather than His justice.

All of us have one similarity. When we die, we leave all we own here on earth. At the moment of death (and all of us will face that moment), we are naked and empty-handed before God. The only things we have at that time are those we have already invested in our eternal heritage. At the time of death, each of us will wish we had invested less on earth, where we must leave it, and more in heaven, where we will retain it forever. To have treasure in heaven, we must place our faith in God, pledge ourselves to obey Him, and utilize our resources for the good of His kingdom. 

For believers, however, death holds no terror because Christ has conquered all fears (see First John 4 vs 18). Death is only the beginning of eternal life with God. Every person must die, but death is not the end; instead, It is the doorway to a new life—eternal life with Christ or eternal condemnation with Satan and his cohorts. While nonbelievers fear death, and are victims of life, swept along by its current and wondering if there is meaning to it, believers can use life well because they understand its true purpose. Realizing that life is short helps us use the little time we have more wisely and for eternal good. 

As believers, we can be secured that God will not forget us when we die. He will bring us to life again to live with Him forever. This provides real security. The psalmist says, “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints.” (Psalm 116 vs 15.) God stays close to us even in death. Believers are precious to God, and He carefully chooses the time when they will be called into His presence. Let this truth provide comfort when death knocks on the door. God sees, and each life is valuable to Him.

Prayer: Abba Father, give me the grace to face death as a believer, realizing it’s the beginning of life in eternity with You, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

RIGHTEOUSNESS BY FAITH!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

THURSDAY MARCH 25, 2021.

SUBJECT: RIGHTEOUSNESS BY FAITH!

Memory verse: “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” (Second Corinthians 5 vs 21.)

READ: Romans 10 vs 1- 5:

10:1: Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved.

10:2: For I bear them record that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.

10:3: For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves to the righteousness of God.

10:4: For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one who believes.

10:5: For Moses writes about the righteousness which is of the law, “The man who does those things shall live by them.

INTIMATION:

Righteousness is the character or quality of being right or just; it was formerly spelt ‘rightwiseness’ which clearly expresses the meaning. It is used to denote an attribute of God. The righteousness of God means essentially the same as His faithfulness, or truthfulness, that which is consistent with His own nature and and promises. 

Righteousness is also found in the sayings of the Lord Jesus; (a) of whatever is right or just in itself, whatever conforms to the revealed will of God, (b) whatever has been appointed by God to be acknowledged and obeyed by man, (c) the sum total of the requirements of God, (d) religious duties; distinguished as almsgiving, man’s duty to his neighbor, his duty to God, his duty of self-control, prayer, and fasting.

The apostle Paul, in most of his writing, gives the meaning of righteousness—right action—as that gracious gift of God to men whereby all who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ are brought into right relationship with God. The righteousness is unattainable by obedience to any law, or by any merit of man’s own, or any other condition than that of faith in Christ. The man who trusts in Christ becomes ‘ the righteousness of God in Him,’ (Second Corinthians 5 vs 21), that is, man becomes in Christ all that God requires him to be, all that he could never be in himself. 

For instance, because Abraham accepted the Word of God, making it his own by the sequel showing, submitting himself to its control, therefore God accepted him as one who fulfilled the whole of His requirements; “For what does the Scripture say? “ Abraham believed God, and it was accounted for him as righteousness.” (Romans 4 vs 3.)  Righteousness is not said to be imputed to the believer save in the sense that faith is reckoned (imputed) for righteousness. The faith thus exercised brings the soul into vital union with God in Christ, and inevitably produces righteousness of life, that is, conformity to the will of God.

It is noteworthy that in order to be saved by the law, a person would have to live a perfect life, not sinning once, and that is impossible. Then why did God give the law since He knew people couldn’t keep it? According to Paul, one reason the law was given was to show people how guilty they are (Galatians 3 vs 19). The law was a shadow of Christ—that is, the sacrificial system educated the people so that when the true sacrifice came, they would be able to understand His work (Hebrews 10 vs 1 - 4). The system of ceremonial laws was to last until the coming of Christ. The law points to our need for a Savior.

Christ has provided our salvation through His incarnation (God in human form) and resurrection. God’s salvation is right in front of us. He will come to us wherever we are. All we need do is to respond and accept His gift of salvation. We can only hold out our empty hands and receive salvation as a gift.

Prayer: Abba Father, Your unparalleled love for us is beyond human reasoning. I greatly rejoice in Your gift of salvation. My utmost heart’s desire is to respond to Your love by my obedience You, Your Word, and service to You and others, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

MAKE THE RIGHT FRIENDS!

Make the Right Friends! “A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” Proverbs 18:24 (KJV) A child of God must show himself or herself friendly. Making the right friends attracts blessings. Jesus Christ was very friendly; He surrounded Himself with twelve good friends called the disciples, or apostles. These friends became the pillars through whom He built the church of God on earth (Matthew 16:18). The children of God should learn from Jesus Christ to make the right kind of friends, who will help build their life and the kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Beloved, to be able to do that, you must be friendly. You should learn to create a friendly atmosphere through your smiles, humor, kindness, trustworthiness, etc. You must also bear in mind that to be able to make the right kind of friends, you must stick closer to Jesus Christ because He is the only friend who is dependable and can give you the grace to keep the right kind of friends around you (John 14:6). Dear beloved, do you have the right kind of friends around you? It is time to ask the Holy Spirit to lead and guide you—to do away with friends that are not helpful to your Christian life and vision and to help you find friends to enhance your Christian life, dreams, and vision. Hallelujah! Be Friendly! Prayer Point: Dear heavenly Father, thank You for blessing me today by Your Word. Please give me the grace to be friendly. Kindly lead me to identify the friends who are not helpful to my Christian life and vision and do away with them. Please lead me to find friends who can help me progress in my Christian life and fulfill my vision and calling 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.

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!