Not Nearly Hedonistic Enough

 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.” (Matthew 6:19–20)

The message that needs to be shouted from the houses of high finance is this: Secular man, you are not nearly hedonistic enough!

Quit being satisfied with the little 2% yields of pleasure that get eaten up by the moths of inflation and the rust of death. Invest in the blue-chip, high-yield, divinely insured securities of heaven.

Devoting a life to material comforts and security and thrills is like throwing money down a rat hole. But investing a life in the labor of love yields dividends of joy unsurpassed and unending:

“Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. [And thus] provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail” (Luke 12:33).

This message is very good news: Come to Christ, in whose presence are fullness of joy and pleasures forevermore. Join us in the labor of Christian Hedonism. For the Lord has spoken: It is more blessed to love than to live in luxury! More blessed now, and forever.

DO NOT LET GUILT FEELINGS KEEP YOU FROM PRAYING.

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 19, 2021.

SUBJECT : DO NOT LET GUILT FEELINGS KEEP YOU FROM PRAYING.

Memory verse: "Come now, let us reason together," says the LORD, though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool" (Isaiah 1 vs 18).

READ Isaiah 1 vs 18 - 20:

18: "Come now, let us reason together," says the LORD, though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

19: If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land;

20: But if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured by the sword", for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.

 

INTIMATION:

Never let guilt feelings of sin keep you from praying (seeking the face of God), which is your only means of restoration, because only God forgives sin. Do you feel that you could never come close to God because you have done something terrible? God can and will forgive you of any sin, except the sin against the Holy Spirit (Matthew 12 vs 31 - 32).

What then is the sin against the Holy Spirit? The unforgivable sin is the deliberate refusal to acknowledge God, and His power in Christ, expressed through the Holy Spirit. It indicates a deliberate and irreversible hardness of heart. It reveals a heart attitude of unbelief and unrepentance, that attributes to Satan the work that the Holy Spirit accomplishes. Such people have turned their backs on God and rejected all faith, and are unwilling to ask for forgiveness. Even when they receive the prompting of the Holy Spirit, convicting them of sin, they reject it. And the deliberate rejection of the work of the Holy Spirit is blasphemy, because it is rejecting God Himself. Such person removes himself or herself from the only force that can lead him or her to repentance and restoration to God.

No matter how long you have been away from God, He is ready to hear from you and restore you to a right relationship with Him. Every situation can be salvaged if you are willing to turn to God. In Judges 16 vs 28 - 30,  we would observe that in spite of Samson's past, God still answered his prayer and destroyed the philistines' heathen temple and worshipers. He killed more people at his death than he did in life because of the mercy of God when he turned to Him in prayer.

One of the effects of sin in our lives is keeping us away from praying, but it is noteworthy that perfect moral behavior is not a condition for prayer. Though the stain of sin seems permanent, but only God can remove such stain of sin from our lives. We don't have to go through life permanently soiled. God's Word assures that if we are willing and obedient in turning to Him, Christ will forgive and remove our most indelible stains of sin.

Christ came for sinners like you and I (Matthew 9 vs 12 - 13), and He expects us, the sinners, to come to Him for mercy. We can only go to God in prayer, acknowledging our need and admitting that we don't have all the answers, and God will come to our help. He desires to show mercy and His mercy endures forever.

Prayer: Abba Father, You are the only God, there is no other, abundant in mercy and love. Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Your loving kindness; according to the multitude of your tender mercies. Blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleans me from my sin, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

Our Unspeakable Privilege

 

God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” (Exodus 3:14)

One implication of the magnificent name, I AM WHO I AM, is that this infinite, absolute, self-determining God has drawn near to us in Jesus Christ.

In John 8:56–58 Jesus is answering the criticism of the Jewish leaders. He says, “Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day. He saw it and was glad.” The Jews then said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?” Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.”

Could Jesus have taken any more exalted words upon his lips? When Jesus said, “Before Abraham was, I am,” he took up all the majestic truth of the name of God, wrapped it in the humility of servanthood, offered himself to atone for all our rebellion, and made a way for us to see the glory of this infinite, absolute, all-sufficient God — without fear.

In Jesus Christ we who are born of God have the unspeakable privilege of knowing Yahweh as our Father — I AM WHO I AM — the God

who existswhose personality and power is owing solely to himselfwho never changesfrom whom all power and energy in the universe flowsand to whom all creation should conform its life.

May those who know the name of God put their trust in him (Psalm 9:10).

WORSHIP IS PLEASURABLE TO GOD!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 18, 2021.

SUBJECT : WORSHIP IS PLEASURABLE TO GOD!

Memory verse: "The Lord takes pleasure in those who fear Him, In those who hope in His mercy.” (Psalm 147 vs 11.)

READ: Matthew 4 vs 8 - 10:

4:8: Again the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 

4:9: And he said to Him, "All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me."

4:10: Then Jesus said to him, "Away with you, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.

INTIMATION:

Worship is paying great honor to; to love and admire very greatly. Worship is the appropriate response to God's self-revelation. You worship because you know the worth of what you worship. You worship God because you know who He is. When you catch the revelation of God and His worth, the appropriate response is to reverence Him in worship. 

God created us for His pleasure, therefore, we should bring pleasure to Him. God takes pleasure in our recognition of who He is. He lays great emphasis on who He is. The statement, "I am the Lord," is made over 350 times by the Lord in ‘Old Testament’ alone. Anything you do that brings pleasure to God is an act of worship. Worshipping God is one of our lives’ purposes. He takes pleasure in it.

God desires our worship in spirit and in truth (John 4 vs 23). True worshippers worship God in spirit. "God is Spirit" means He is not a physical being limited to one place. He is present everywhere and He can be worshipped anywhere, at any time. It is not where you worship that counts, but how you worship. Is your worship genuine and true? Whatever you do anytime, anywhere, and anyhow that gives God pleasure is an act of worship. God desires our reverence and trust. Have you ever imagined who God is? Have you ever sat down to appreciate nature, and all the natural things you see around you? How did they come into being? Take a little time and do this, starting with imagining how you were made. It is in so doing, you catch the self-revelation of who created all these things, and worship Him. 

Even the devil knows the essence of worship, and wants to be worshipped. He took Jesus to an 'exceedingly high mountain,' and showed Him "all the kingdoms of the world and their glory," (all are God's creation). He requested that Jesus should worship him for all these, which, of course, are not created by him. Jesus answered him well, 'You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve." God created us to worship Him, and only Him we shall serve. The devil, the greatest enemy of God, wanted that which is due to God alone. He offered the whole world to Jesus in exchange of worshipping him. You can now realize the value of worship—worth more than the whole world.

The understanding of "worship" defers among religious backgrounds. Some think that praises during church services with singing constitute worship, some think that praying, and listening to a sermon as worship. Some think of ceremonies, candles, and communion as worship. Others think of healing, miracles, and ecstatic experiences as worship. Worship include these elements, but worship is far more than these expressions. Worship is a lifestyle. It is not a part of your life; it is your life. Worship is not just communion with God, or church services. It is your whole life given for service to God, and His pleasure. 

The psalmist, in Psalm 105 vs 4 says, "Seek the Lord and His strength; Seek His face evermore." And, "From the rising of the sun to it's going down the Lord's name is to be praised." (Psalm 113 vs 3.) God is worshipped continually, therefore, praise God in worship at all times; at work, at home, in battle, in jail, and even in bed! Praise should be the first activity when you open your eyes in the morning and the last activity before you close them at night. Ensuring that you worship Him continually knowing it is the first purpose of your creation.

Every activity can be transformed into an act of worship when you do it for the praise, glory, and pleasure of God. The Bible, in First Corinthians 10 vs 31, says "Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." How is it possible to do everything to the glory of God? By allowing God's love to permeate our motives so that all we do will be to His glory. By doing everything as if you were doing it for Jesus and by carrying on a continual conversation with Him while we do it. You can keep as a guiding principle the question to self, "Is this action glorifying God?" Or "How can I honor God through this action?"

The Bible, in Colossians 3 vs 23 says, "And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not to men." This is the secret to a lifestyle of worship—doing everything as if you were doing it for Jesus. Since creation, God has given us work to do. If we could regard our work as an act of worship or service to God, such an attitude should be regarded as the cost of discipleship. The apostle Paul noted this in Romans 12 vs 1 when he said, "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service." We should daily lay aside our own desires to follow him, putting all our energy and resources at His disposal and trusting Him to guide us. 

Prayer: Abba Father, my utmost heart desire is for an intimate relationship with You. Endue me with Your excellent spirit that I may worship You all the days of my life, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

The Only True Freedom

 Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31–32)

What is true freedom? Are you free?

Here are four things that need to be true if we are going to be fully free.

If you don’t have the desire to do a thing, you are not fully free to do it. Oh, you may muster the willpower to do what you don’t want to do, but nobody calls that full freedom. It’s not the way we want to live. There is a constraint and pressure on us that we don’t want.And if you have the desire to do something, but no ability to do it, you are not free to do it.And if you have the desire and the ability to do something, but no opportunity to do it, you are not free to do it.And if you have the desire to do something, and the ability to do it, and the opportunity to do it, but it destroys you in the end, you are not fully free — not free indeed — when you do it.

To be fully free, we must have the desire, the ability, and the opportunity to do what will make us happy forever. No regrets. And only Jesus, the Son of God who died and rose for us, can make that possible.

If the Son shall set you free, you shall be free indeed (John 8:36).

Worship in a Lightning Storm

 “For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his day.” (Luke 17:24)

I was flying at night from Chicago to Minneapolis, almost alone on the plane. The pilot announced that there was a thunderstorm over Lake Michigan and into Wisconsin. He would skirt it to the west to avoid turbulence.

As I sat there staring out into the total blackness on the east side of the plane, suddenly the whole sky was brilliant with light, and a cavern of white clouds fell away four miles beneath the plane and then vanished.

A second later, a mammoth white tunnel of light exploded from north to south across the horizon, and again vanished into blackness. Soon the lightning was almost constant, and volcanoes of light burst up out of cloud ravines and from behind distant white mountains of clouds.

I sat there shaking my head almost in unbelief. O Lord, if these are but the sparks from the sharpening of your sword, what will be the day of your appearing! And I remembered the words of Christ: “As the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his day” (Luke 17:24).

Even now as I recollect that sight, the word glory is full of feeling for me. I thank God that again and again he has awakened my heart to desire him, to see him, and to sit down to the feast of Christian Hedonism and worship the King of Glory. The banquet hall is very large. Come.

THE HEART THAT GOD HEARS.

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 17, 2021.

SUBJECT : THE HEART THAT GOD HEARS.

Memory verse: "If I regard iniquity in my heart, the LORD will not hear me." (Psalm 66 vs 18.)

READ Mark 11 vs 22 - 26:

22: Jesus answered and said to them, "Have faith in God. 

23: For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.

24: Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.

25: "And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. 

26: But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses."

 

INTIMATION:

When we fail to confess our sins, and repent of them, or when we harbor and cherish certain sins, we place a wall between us and God. Because we may not be able to remember every sin we have committed, our attitude should be one of confession and obedience. Our confession of sin must be continual because of our imperfections, and the tendency of our continuing to do wrong. 

A heart filled with the spirit of heaviness receives nothing from God. Let go, lighten your heart, free your heart to create space to receive from God. A heart crowded, and burdened with iniquity; wickedness, unforgiveness, injustice, evil, hatred etc, is so filthy, and crowded with negativities that it cannot receive anything good, especially from the LORD. Such heart attitude quench the Spirit, thereby dampening the fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Forgiving others is tough work, so much so that many people would rather do something totally distasteful in vengeance than offer forgiveness to someone who has wronged them. For a person to pray with a heavy heart, bearing grudges, is, however, like a tree sprouting leaves and bearing no fruit, fruitful in appearance only, but is spiritually barren. Such hearts are cursed. (See Mark 11 vs 13 - 14.)

You cannot be on the two sides of the divide at the same one time. The heart bearing grudges, can never at the same time harbor blessings. Don't deceive yourself; God cannot be mocked; for whatever you so in your heart, that you shall also reap (Galatians 6 vs 7). Therefore, make your choice.

Effective prayer involves; an attitude of faith—complete dependence on God—not faith in the object of our prayers. Faith filled prayer changes the heart, dismantles pride and vengeance, filling the holes—the spaces occupied by grudges, hatred, injustice, wickedness etc,—with love, and speaks peace, forgiveness, and harmony. Our prayers must have a bias for God's kingdom, and must not be with selfish motives. 

For instance, Jesus, our Messiah, and our role model prayed, "All things are possible for You....Nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will" (Mark 14 vs 36). Jesus prayed with God's interests in mind. When we pray, we can express our desires, but we should want His Will above ours. Our prayers are often motivated by our own interests and desires. Check yourself to see if your prayers focus on your interests or God's.

The attitude of faith in God is not something we can obtain without help from Him. Faith is a gift from God. The Scripture, in Ephesians 2 vs 8 - 9, clearly says, "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast." No matter how much faith we have, we will never reach the point of being self-sufficient. Growing in faith is a constant process of daily renewing our trust in Jesus Christ. 

Therefore, God will answer your prayers, not as a result of your mental attitude, but because the following other conditions must be met: 1. You must a believer. 2. You must not hold a grudge against another person. 3. You must not pray with selfish motives. 4. Your request must be for the good of God's kingdom.

Prayer: Abba Father, my total trust, and confidence is in You. Give me the grace to always come to You with a heart of love and peace, in obedience to Your word, that my heart may be set free for the manifestation of the fruit of the Spirit, and that I may receive answers to prayers according to Your Will, not mine, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!