Something to Boast About

 By grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. (Ephesians 2:8–9)

The New Testament correlates faith and grace to make sure that we do not boast in what grace alone achieves.

One of the most familiar examples is Ephesians 2:8. By grace, through faith. There’s the correlation that guards the freedom of grace. By grace, through faith.

Faith is the act of our soul that turns away from our own insufficiency to the free and all-sufficient resources of God. Faith focuses on the freedom of God to dispense grace to the unworthy. It banks on the bounty of God.

Therefore faith, by its very nature, nullifies boasting and fits with grace. Wherever faith looks, it sees grace behind every praiseworthy act. So it cannot boast, except in the Lord. The author of grace.

So Paul, after saying that salvation is by grace through faith, says, “And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Ephesians 2:8–9). Faith cannot boast in human goodness or competence or wisdom, because faith focuses on the free, all-supplying grace of God. Whatever goodness faith sees, it sees as the fruit of grace.

When it looks at our “wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption,” it says, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 1:30–31).

By grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. (Ephesians 2:8–9)

The New Testament correlates faith and grace to make sure that we do not boast in what grace alone achieves.

One of the most familiar examples is Ephesians 2:8. By grace, through faith. There’s the correlation that guards the freedom of grace. By grace, through faith.

Faith is the act of our soul that turns away from our own insufficiency to the free and all-sufficient resources of God. Faith focuses on the freedom of God to dispense grace to the unworthy. It banks on the bounty of God.

Therefore faith, by its very nature, nullifies boasting and fits with grace. Wherever faith looks, it sees grace behind every praiseworthy act. So it cannot boast, except in the Lord. The author of grace.

So Paul, after saying that salvation is by grace through faith, says, “And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Ephesians 2:8–9). Faith cannot boast in human goodness or competence or wisdom, because faith focuses on the free, all-supplying grace of God. Whatever goodness faith sees, it sees as the fruit of grace.

When it looks at our “wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption,” it says, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 1:30–31).

WE ARE REDEEMED TO BE PROSPEROUS!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

SUNDAY MAY 30, 2021.

SUBJECT : WE ARE REDEEMED TO BE PROSPEROUS!

Memory verse: "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life and that they may have it more abundantly" (John 10 vs 10.)

READ: Second Corinthians 3 vs 5; 8 vs 9:

3:5: Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God.

8:9: For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.

INTIMATION:

Prosperity is a part of our salvation. The Word says that Jesus became poor so that we, through His poverty, might be made rich (Second Corinthians 8 vs 9.) Yes, Jesus came to make us rich emotionally, spiritually and physically. It was for this reason He said, in John 10 vs 10, "....I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." He came that we may have life in ample sufficiency; great plenty. What an awesome God. Jesus Christ did all these, including eternal life for you and I. 

Jesus became poor by giving up His rights as God and becoming man—the person Jesus of Nazareth. As a man, He was subject to human limitations. Though He did not give up His eternal power when He became human, but He did set aside His glory and His rights in order to accomplish our redemption from sin and the powers of darkness: “Who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.”  

(Philippians 2 vs 6 - 7.)

No one can claim to be adequate without God’s help. No one is competent to carry out the responsibilities of God’s calling on His or her strength. Without the Holy Spirit’s enabling, our natural talent can carry us only so far. The apostle Paul remarked that our sufficiency is of God, and not of ourselves.Paul, having full knowledge of that revelation said again that God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that we will always be sufficient in all things, and may abound to every good work:

"And God is able to make all grace (every favor and earthly blessings) come to you in abundance, so that you may always and under all circumstances and whatever the need be self-sufficient [possessing enough to require no aid or support and furnished in abundance for every good work and charitable donations]." (Second Corinthians 9 vs 8, Amplified Version.)

Our redemption package—our inheritance in Christ, is such that God has so much empowered us in Christ; making us complete in Him, and giving us His fullness in Him. As His adopted children, we are heirs to His kingdom and joint-heirs with Jesus, and all that Jesus received in victory over Satan, He received for us: “Worthy is the Lamb Who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!” (Revelation 5 vs 12.)

We have been made kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth (See Revelation 5 vs 10). The needed empowerment to reign has been received for us. Physical, spiritual, and emotional prosperity are our inheritance in Christ. We are redeemed to live a struggle-free life, knowing that God, through His divine power has given us everything that pertains to life and godliness through the knowledge of Him and of Jesus our Lord. (see Second Peter 1 vs 3.)

Though He has called us to glory and virtue, but the onus is on us to dig deep in the Word to know Him the more, praying for the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, and that our eyes of understanding be enlightened, that we may know the hope of His calling, and what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the believers. (see Ephesians 1 vs 17 - 18.)

Prayer: Abba Father, how great and awesome You are! You have given us all things for a victorious and triumphant life on this earth. O Lord endue me with the excellent spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of my inheritance in Christ, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

When God Goes Against His Will

 But they would not listen to the voice of their father, for it was the will of the Lord to put them to death. (1 Samuel 2:25)

The sons of Eli the priest would not obey their father when he rebuked them for their sin. There are three implications of this text for our lives.

1) It is possible to sin so long and so grievously that the Lord will not grant repentance.

That is why Paul said that after all our pleading and teaching, “God may perhaps grant them repentance” — not, “will grant them repentance” (2 Timothy 2:25). There is a “too late” in the life of sin. As it says of Esau in Hebrews 12:17, “He found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears.” He was forsaken; he could not repent.

This does not mean that those who truly repent even after a whole lifetime of sinning cannot be saved. They certainly can be, and will be! God is staggeringly merciful. Remember the thief on the cross. Jesus said to him, “Today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43).

2) Sometimes God does not permit a sinning person to do what is right.

“But they would not listen to the voice of their father, for it was the will of the Lord to put them to death.” Listening to the voice of their father was the right thing to do. But they would not. Why? “For it was the will of the Lord to put them to death.”

The reason given for why they did not obey their father was that God had other purposes for them, and had given them up to sinning and death. This shows that there are times when the will of God’s decree is different from the revealed will of God’s command.

3) Sometimes our prayers for God’s revealed will to be done will not be done because God has decreed something different for holy and wise purposes.

I suppose that Eli prayed for his sons to be changed. That is how he should have prayed. But God had decreed that Hophni and Phinehas not obey, but rather be slain.

When something like this happens (which we do not ordinarily know ahead of time) while we are crying out to God for change, the answer of God is not: “I don’t love you.” Rather the answer is: “I have wise and holy purposes in not overcoming this sin and not granting repentance. You do not see these purposes now. Trust me. I know what I am doing. I love you.”

But they would not listen to the voice of their father, for it was the will of the Lord to put them to death. (1 Samuel 2:25)

The sons of Eli the priest would not obey their father when he rebuked them for their sin. There are three implications of this text for our lives.

1) It is possible to sin so long and so grievously that the Lord will not grant repentance.

That is why Paul said that after all our pleading and teaching, “God may perhaps grant them repentance” — not, “will grant them repentance” (2 Timothy 2:25). There is a “too late” in the life of sin. As it says of Esau in Hebrews 12:17, “He found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears.” He was forsaken; he could not repent.

This does not mean that those who truly repent even after a whole lifetime of sinning cannot be saved. They certainly can be, and will be! God is staggeringly merciful. Remember the thief on the cross. Jesus said to him, “Today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43).

2) Sometimes God does not permit a sinning person to do what is right.

“But they would not listen to the voice of their father, for it was the will of the Lord to put them to death.” Listening to the voice of their father was the right thing to do. But they would not. Why? “For it was the will of the Lord to put them to death.”

The reason given for why they did not obey their father was that God had other purposes for them, and had given them up to sinning and death. This shows that there are times when the will of God’s decree is different from the revealed will of God’s command.

3) Sometimes our prayers for God’s revealed will to be done will not be done because God has decreed something different for holy and wise purposes.

I suppose that Eli prayed for his sons to be changed. That is how he should have prayed. But God had decreed that Hophni and Phinehas not obey, but rather be slain.

When something like this happens (which we do not ordinarily know ahead of time) while we are crying out to God for change, the answer of God is not: “I don’t love you.” Rather the answer is: “I have wise and holy purposes in not overcoming this sin and not granting repentance. You do not see these purposes now. Trust me. I know what I am doing. I love you.”

TITHING DEMONSTRATES YOUR FAITH AND LOVE FOR GOD!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

SATURDAY MAY 29, 2021.

SUBJECT : TITHING DEMONSTRATES YOUR FAITH AND LOVE FOR GOD!

Memory verse: "You shall truly tithe all the increase of your grain that the field produces year by year.” (Deuteronomy 14 vs 22.) 

READ: Malachi 3 vs 10 - 12:

3:10: Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may food in My House, and try Me in this, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it.

3:11: “And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, so that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,” says the Lord of hosts.

3:12: And all nations shall call you blessed, for you will be a delightful land,” says the Lord of hosts.

INTIMATION:

Tithe means a tenth part, and tithing is the act of giving a tenth of your increase (income) back to God. Tithing is a biblical principle that has been practiced long before the law came through Moses. Even in some heathen religions, it was traditional to give a tenth of one's earnings to the gods.

Tithe was first mentioned in the Scripture in Genesis 14 vs 20 when Abraham paid tithe to Melchizedek, King of Salem, priest of the Most High God. This incidence happened more than 400 years before Moses gave the Law of tithing to Israel. It is noteworthy that Abraham wasn't living under the Law, yet he tithed.

The Bible makes the purpose of tithing very clear—to teach us to fear the Lord and put  him first in our lives. We are to give God the first place in our lives to show our faith in Him. And we give first part of our earnings to demonstrate our love for Him. For example, what we do first with our money shows what we value most. Giving the first part of our paycheck to God immediately focuses our attention on Him. It also reminds us that all we have belongs to Him. A habit of regular tithing can keep God at the top of our priority list and give us a proper perspective on everything else we have.

God really has no needs for our money! All the gold, silver, and riches in the earth already belong to Him. (Haggai 2 vs 8.) He doesn't need our donations. God could have set up church finances differently. He could have made every minister of the Gospel independently wealthy like He made Abraham, Isaac, David, Solomon, and all the rest. The tithe exists for our benefit, not God's.

It all comes down to faith, and that's why God told us to give. God could establish His kingdom using other principles. He could give every person in ministry creative ideas that would generate incredible wealth. He could have done all sorts of things, but God set up His kingdom around giving because He wants you to remember that even though you have money, you didn't get it by your own power. Remember nothing is either difficult for, or impossible with Him.

Giving to God demonstrates our love for Him and His place in our lives. Giving Him the first place in your life puts Him under obligation to care for you, and always come through to you. He will return to you as the Owner of all things both in heaven and on earth. The blessedness of giving, especially to God, is exceedingly overwhelming. For instance, God demanded that Abraham should give Him His only son Isaac. God's intention then was to find out how Abraham loved Him. Abraham was very willing to offer his son in a sacrifice to God as requested without any form of hesitation because of his love and faith in God. When God saw really that Abraham loved Him, He came through for Abraham, spared his son, and gave him the animal for the offering to Him:

"Then the Angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time out of heaven, and said: "By Myself I have sworn, says the Lord, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son - blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gates of their enemies. In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice." (Genesis22 vs 15 - 18.)

God doesn't need your money any more than He needed those Old Testament sacrifices. The point of the tithe is for you to demonstrate your love and faith in God, recognizing Him as the source of all you have. It's one thing to say you believe God is your source, but it's another thing to prove it. The way you prove to yourself, not God, that you believe God is your source is to give a portion of what you make back to Him. People who don't really see God as their source are going to balk at giving part of what they have away. They are going to think, I need that money! But giving back some of what God has already given you is nothing when you see God as your source.

Prayer: Abba Father, thank You for all You have given to me. Endue me with the spirit of giving that I may never hesitate to return to You a little part of all You have given me to demonstrate my love for You, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

The Payout for Patience

“As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive.” (Genesis 50:20)

The story of Joseph in Genesis 37–50 is a great lesson in why we should have faith in the sovereign, future grace of God.

Joseph is sold into slavery by his brothers, which must have tested his patience tremendously. But he is given a good job in Potiphar’s house in Egypt. Then, when he is acting uprightly in the unplanned place of obedience, Potiphar’s wife lies about his integrity and has him thrown into prison — another great trial to his patience.

But again things turn for the better, and the prison keeper gives him responsibility and respect. But just when he thinks he is about to get a reprieve from Pharaoh’s cupbearer, whose dream he interpreted, the cupbearer forgets him for two more years. Another painful trial to his patience.

Finally, the meaning of all these detours and delays becomes clear. Joseph is raised up to be the leader of Egypt, second only to Pharaoh. He ends up saving from starvation the very brothers who sold him into slavery. Joseph says to his long-estranged brothers, “God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors. . . . As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive” (Genesis 45:7; 50:20).

What would have been the key to patience for Joseph during all those long years of exile and abuse? The answer is: faith in God’s sovereign, future grace — the sovereign grace of God to turn the unplanned place and the unplanned pace into the happiest ending imaginable.

That’s the key to our patience as well. Do we believe that God is working for us in the strangest and most painful turns of our lives?

GIVING—THE SURE WAY TO PROSPERITY!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

FRIDAY MAY 28, 2021.

SUBJECT : GIVING—THE SURE WAY TO PROSPERITY!

Memory verse: "I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’" (Acts 20 vs 35.) 

READ: Proverbs 11 vs 24. -25:

11:24: There is one who scatters, yet increases more, and there is one who withholds more than is right, but it leads to poverty.

11:25: The generous soul will be made rich, and he who waters will also be watered himself.

INTIMATION:

The two verses in the passage we read today present a paradox—statement that contradicts itself. We become richer by being generous. The world says to hold on to as much as possible, but here the Scripture says that God blesses those who give freely and generously of their possessions, time, and energy. 

When we give, God supplies us with more so that we can give more. In addition, giving helps us gain a right perspective on our possessions. We realize that they were never really ours to begin with, but were entrusted to us by God to be used to serve His purposes, and help others in need. 

Possessions are difficult to come by when you think of yourself as the provider. Possessions reminds you of how hard to work just to get by, and giving it away would only seem to put you further away from the goal of having all your needs met, and the societal approval that you have arrived. All of that would be true if God wasn't your source. In God's economy, you move closer toward your goals by giving than you do by clinging to everything you have. 

Now, let us look at the apostle Paul’s counsel to the believers in Corinth, in his second letter to them; “But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as He purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have abundance for every good work.” (Second Corinthians 9 vs 6 - 8.)

Many people hesitate to give generously to God and others because they worry about having enough left over to meet their needs. The apostle Paul assured the believers in the Corinthian church that God was able to meet their needs. The person who gives only a little will receives a little in return. But a generous and cheerful giver, God makes all grace abound toward him or her that such person will have abundant resources, making the person sufficient at all times to carry on the good works of generosity. 

And remember that your giving must neither be out of necessity, for instance, giving to get rich, nor giving grudgingly because they said we should give. Kingdom principles for prosperity doesn’t work that way. Your giving must be from a willing and cheerful heart with faith in God. 

The apostle Paul’s prayer for those with the right heart of giving, is also quite revealing, “Now, may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruit of your righteousness, while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God.” (Second Corinthians 9 vs 10- 11.) 

The apostle Paul has the revelation of the ‘Giving’ nature of God, especially as it relates to a generous heart. He knows that God will never allow such God-natured persons to lack anything, but He will ensure uninterrupted supply and multiplication of his or her seed, consequently, enriching the person in everything in order to continue and increase his or her liberal giving in bearing fruit of righteousness. God sees the heart and knows the intent of the heart. 

Therefore, give so that the word of God will manifest in your life; “Give and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the measure that you use, it will be measured back to you." (Luke 6 vs 38.) Remember, you can never out-give God! If you are in doubt ask King Solomon.

Prayer: Abba Father, Your thoughts for us is of good, and have given us all that pertains to life and godliness. Endue me with giving spirit that I may utilize the resources You put in my care adequately to serve You and others, thereby making me abundantly sufficient in all things, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

Authentic vs. Phony Faith

 Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him. (Hebrews 9:28)

The question before us all is: Are we included in the “many” whose sins Christ bore? And will we be saved at his second coming?

The answer of Hebrews 9:28 is, “Yes,” if we are “eagerly waiting for him.” We can know that our sins are taken away and that we will be safe in the judgment, if we trust Christ in such a way that it makes us eager for his coming.

There is a phony faith that claims to believe in Christ, but is only a fire insurance policy. Phony faith “believes” only to escape hell. It has no real desire for Christ. In fact, it would prefer if he did not come, so that we can have as much of this world’s pleasures as possible. This shows that a heart is not with Christ, but with the world.

So, the issue for us is: Do we eagerly long for the coming of Christ? Or do we want him to stay away, while our love affair with the world runs its course? That is the question that tests the authenticity of faith.

Let us be like the Corinthians as we “wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 1:7), and like the Philippians whose “citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 3:20).

That’s the issue for us. Do we love his appearing? Or do we love the world and hope that his appearing will not interrupt our plans? Eternity hangs on this question.

Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him. (Hebrews 9:28)

The question before us all is: Are we included in the “many” whose sins Christ bore? And will we be saved at his second coming?

The answer of Hebrews 9:28 is, “Yes,” if we are “eagerly waiting for him.” We can know that our sins are taken away and that we will be safe in the judgment, if we trust Christ in such a way that it makes us eager for his coming.

There is a phony faith that claims to believe in Christ, but is only a fire insurance policy. Phony faith “believes” only to escape hell. It has no real desire for Christ. In fact, it would prefer if he did not come, so that we can have as much of this world’s pleasures as possible. This shows that a heart is not with Christ, but with the world.

So, the issue for us is: Do we eagerly long for the coming of Christ? Or do we want him to stay away, while our love affair with the world runs its course? That is the question that tests the authenticity of faith.

Let us be like the Corinthians as we “wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 1:7), and like the Philippians whose “citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 3:20).

That’s the issue for us. Do we love his appearing? Or do we love the world and hope that his appearing will not interrupt our plans? Eternity hangs on this question.