HOW TO BE DECLARED “NOT GUILTY” BEFORE GOD!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

THURSDAY DECEMBER 23, 2021.

SUBJECT : HOW TO BE DECLARED “NOT GUILTY” BEFORE GOD!

Memory verse: "For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.” (Romans 1 vs 17.) 

READ: Romans 3 vs 21 - 29:

3:21: But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets,

3:22: even the righteousness of God, through faith of Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference;

3:23: for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God, 

3:24: being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,

3:25: whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God has passed over for the sins that were previously committed,

3:26: to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness: that He might be just, and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

3:27: Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? No, but by the law of faith.

3:28: Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law.

3:29: Or Is He the God of the Jews only? Is he not also the God of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also:

INTIMATION:

God gave humanity laws that will govern them in accordance with the principles of life obtainable in His kingdom. And to be justified before God one has to be flawless in keeping all the laws. The law of works demanded that man live flawlessly in order to gain his acquittal from sin. Through law one cannot be acquitted of sin simply because he has committed sin against law, and consequently, is guilty before God. 

All humanity has fallen short of that which is required for one to dwell in the presence of God. The result of law is that all are made sinners. The result of sin is the separation from God. And the result of separation from God is spiritual death which eventually lead to a second death. Since all men sin, then apart from the grace of God, no man can stand justified—not guilty—before God on the basis of law alone

God sent Jesus Christ as a propitiation for our sins. In His death, Jesus was God’s offering to appease His wrath that would eventually have to be poured out on sinners. In order for God to stand just in judgement of free-moral humans, there had to be a choice for humanity to be saved from condemnation. Through the offering of the blood of Jesus, God gave that choice. Though the offering had to be made at a point in time of human history, the required response to God by faith on the part of man has always been in existence.

God promised that He would send the Savior into the world for the blessing of all nations. Through the Sanai law and the Prophets the promises were made. And through the faithfulness of God the promises were accomplished by His gift of His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, as a propitiation for our sins. The promises were not fulfilled because of man’s perfect obedience of law, but because of the grace of God to do such regardless of the sinfulness of man. 

Salvation has come to man by the blood offering of Jesus on the cross, not through the meritorious efforts of men. The sacrificial blood offering of Jesus was for the sins of humanity from creation to the consummation of this world. The righteousness of God is the justification of those who obediently respond to the grace of God that was revealed on the cross. It is the righteousness (justification) that is accredited to those who seek God by faith. God is just because He has revealed the means by which men can be made righteous.

It was through Jesus’ faithfulness to go to the cross that the righteousness of God was accomplished. Justification was also accomplished because of the faith of those who believed in the cross. Both the faithfulness of Jesus in going to the cross, and man’s faith response to the cross, were necessary in order to accomplish God’s eternal plan to reconcile men to Himself through Jesus.

Christ died in our place, for our sins. God declares Christ’s death to be the appropriate, designated sacrifice for our sin. Christ then stands in our place, having paid the penalty of death for our sin, and He completely satisfies God’s demands. His sacrifice brings pardon, deliverance, and freedom. We are, therefore, declared not guilty by trusting Jesus Christ to take away our sins. Trusting means putting our confidence in Christ to forgive our sins, to make us right with God, and to empower us to live the way He taught us. God’s solution is available to all of us regardless of our background or past behavior. 

Why does God save us by faith alone? (1) Faith eliminates the pride of human effort, because faith is not a deed that we do. (2) Faith exalts what God has done, not what we do. (3) Faith admits that we can’t keep the law or measure up to God’s standards—we need help. (4) Faith is based on our relationship with God, not our performance for God.

Prayer: Abba Father, thank You for the gift of Your Son as a propitiation for our sins. I completely and wholeheartedly accept the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross for my sins, and declares Him as my personal Lord and Savior. I anchor my faith completely on Him, and pray that nothing will be able to take my guess off Him, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

That You May Believe

 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. (John 20:30–31)

I feel so strongly that among those of us who have grown up in church and who can recite the great doctrines of our faith in our sleep, and yet who can yawn through the Apostles’ Creed — that among us something must be done to help us once more feel the awe, the fear, the astonishment, the wonder of the Son of God, begotten by the Father from all eternity, reflecting all the glory of God, being the very image of his person, through whom all things were created, upholding the universe by the word of his power.

You can read every fairy tale that was ever written, every mystery thriller, every ghost story, and you will never find anything so shocking, so strange, so weird and spellbinding as the story of the incarnation of the Son of God.

How dead we are! How callous and unfeeling to your glory and your story, O God! How often have I had to repent and say, “God, I am sorry that the stories men have made up stir my emotions, my awe and wonder and admiration and joy, more than your own true story.”

Perhaps the galactic movie thrillers of our day can do at least this good for us: they can humble us and bring us to repentance, by showing us that we really are capable of some of the wonder and awe and amazement that we so seldom feel when we contemplate the eternal God and the cosmic glory of Christ and a real living contact between them and us in Jesus of Nazareth.

When Jesus said, “For this purpose I have come into the world” (John 18:37), he said something as crazy and weird and strange and eerie as any statement in science fiction that you have ever read.

Oh, how I pray for a breaking forth of the Spirit of God upon me and upon you; for the Holy Spirit to break into my experience in a frightening way, to wake me up to the unimaginable reality of God.

One of these days lightning is going to fill the sky from the rising of the sun to its setting, and there is going to appear in the clouds the Son of Man with his mighty angels in flaming fire. And we will see him clearly. And whether from terror or sheer excitement, we will tremble and we will wonder how we ever lived so long with such a domesticated, harmless Christ.

These things are written — the whole Bible is written — that we might believe — that we might be stunned and awakened to the wonder — that Jesus Christ is the Son of God who came into the world.

THE HEART THAT GOD HEARS!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 22, 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:

11:22: Jesus answered and said to them, "Have faith in God. 

11:23: 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.

11:24: Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.

11:25: "And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. 

11:26: 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. We may not be able to remember every sin we have committed, but our attitude should be one of confession and obedience. Our confession of sin must be continual because we continue 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.

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. You cannot be on the two sides of the divide at the same one time. 

Effective prayer involves; an attitude of faith—complete dependence on God. 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. Our prayers are often motivated by our own interests and desires. When we pray, we can express our desires, but we should want His Will above ours. For instance, Jesus, our role Model, prayed thus; "Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will" (Mark 14 vs 36). Jesus prayed with God's interests in mind.  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 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. I come to You with a heart of love and peace. I forgive all that have offended me, believing You have forgiven me my trespasses. Therefore, attend to my cry, and deliver to me my needs according to Your Will, not mine, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

The Birth of the Ancient of Days

 Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world — to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” (John 18:37)

This is a great Christmas text even though it comes from the very end of Jesus’s life on earth, not the beginning.

Notice: Jesus says not only that he was born, but that he “came into the world.” The uniqueness of his birth is that he did not originate at his birth. He existed before he was born in a manger. The personhood, the character, the personality of Jesus of Nazareth existed before the man Jesus of Nazareth was born.

The theological word to describe this mystery is not creation, but incarnation. The person, not the body, but the essential personhood of Jesus existed before he was born as man. His birth was not a coming into being of a new person, but a coming into the world of an infinitely old person.

Micah 5:2 puts it like this, 700 years before Jesus was born:

But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.

The mystery of the birth of Jesus is not merely that he was born of a virgin. That miracle was intended by God to witness to an even greater one; namely, that the child born at Christmas was a person who existed “from of old, from ancient days.”

And, therefore, his birth was purposeful. Before he was born he thought about being born. Together with his Father there was a plan. And part of that great plan he spoke in the last hours of his life on earth: “For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world — to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice” (John 18:37).

He was the eternal Truth. He spoke only the truth. He acted out the greatest truth of love. And he is gathering into his eternal family all those who are born of the truth. This was the plan from ancient days.

BE SINCERE IN YOUR WORSHIP!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

TUESDAY DECEMBER 21, 2021.

SUBJECT : BE SINCERE IN YOUR WORSHIP!

Memory verse: "For our boasting is this, the testimony of our conscience, that we conducted ourselves in the world in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, and more abundantly toward you." (Second Corinthians 1 vs 12.)

READ: Matthew 15 vs 8 - 9:

15:8: “These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me.

15:9: And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’”

INTIMATION:

Sincerity is the quality of being open and truthful; not deceitful or hypocritical. It is the quality or state of being sincere; honesty of mind or intention; freedom from simulation, hypocrisy, disguise, or false pretense.  Sincerity is a quality possessed by God, as that which is to characterize the conduct of believers. If your worship is correct but not sincere, it will not be accepted and if it is sincere but not correct it will not be accepted 

Sincerity is the virtue of one who communicates and acts in accordance with the entirety of their feelings, beliefs, thoughts, and desires in a manner that is honest and genuine. When we claim to honor God while our hearts are far from Him, our worship means nothing. It is not enough to study about religion or even to study the Bible. It is not enough to act religious. Our actions and our attitudes must be sincere. You may know a lot about God but do not know God, therefore, you’re insincere in your worship to Him.

Sincerity in worship has to do with our spirit's relationship with God. We have to first establish a relationship with God by inviting Christ Jesus into our lives as Lord and Savior. Now we have a relationship established with God. Thus, as we worship, we do this through our regenerated spirit, given to us after accepting Christ as stated above. Our spirit worship the Lord as we sing worship song, appreciate Him in our heart, praying to Him, declaring His glory, and exalting His name in our life.

The Bible, in Zechariah 7 vs 5 - 7, tells about the Israelites. While in exile they had lost their sincere desire for loving relationship with God. Zechariah told them that they had been fasting without a proper attitude of repentance or worship. The fasts of both the fifth and seventh months were fasts instituted by the people, not God. The fasts were based on their own desires, for both represented fasts in reference to the loss of their city and their rulers. 

The fasts were not over the loss of their faithfulness to God. It had nothing to do with repentance. They fasted and mourned during their exile with no thought of God or their sins that had caused it in the first place. Instead of fasting in repentance to take heed of the call of the prophets to repent, they were fasting over something they had lost. Consequently, their worship was insincere and not acceptable to God.

When you go to church, pray or have fellowship with other believers, are you doing these things from habit or for what you can get out of them? God says that an attitude of worship without a sincere desire to know and love Him will lead to ruin. 

Sincerity and truth are extremely valuable because they are so rare. Many people are deceivers, liars, flatterers, they think they will get what they want by deception. With God this will lead to ruin. When we feel as though sincerity and truth have nearly gone out of existence, we have one hope—the Word of God. God’s Word is as pure and flawless as refined silver. So listen carefully when He speaks to you through His Word. And do the same when you worship Him.

Sincerity is a mix of seriousness and honesty. If you do things with sincerity, people will trust you, and God will be pleased with you. Along with patience and compassion, sincerity is one of those qualities we all probably wish we had more of—and wish other people had more of, too. People who show sincerity are being serious, kind, and truthful. 

Prayer: Abba Father, give me the grace to worship You in sincerity of heart at all times, knowing that it is pleasing to You, and in so doing You will answer me whenI call, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

BE SELFLESS AS CHRIST!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

MONDAY DECEMBER 20, 2021.

SUBJECT : BE SELFLESS AS CHRIST! 

Memory verse: "Bear one another's burdens, and fulfill the law of Christ." (Galatians 6 vs 2.)

READ: Philippians 2 vs 3 - 5; First Corinthians 10 vs 24:

Philippians 2:3: Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.

2:4: Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

2:5: Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.

First Corinthians 10:24: Let no one seek his own, but each one the other's well-being. 

INTIMATION:

Being selfless is laying aside right; putting others first. Selflessness is having no regard to self, being altruistic—living and acting for the interest of others. It is inconveniencing yourself for the happiness, and benefit of others. Jesus Christ, our Messiah, is a classic example of a selfless life. He was humble, willing to give up His rights in order to obey God and serve people. Consequently, the apostle Paul advises us thus: "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus." Like Jesus, we should have a servant's attitude, serving out of love for God and others. 

Everyone chooses his or her attitude. You can approach life expecting to be served, or you can look for opportunities to serve others. Jesus Christ's ministry on earth was anchored on selflessness, and was the basis for our salvation. He died for us; paid a ransom for us because we could not do it ourselves. His death released us from our slavery and bondage to sin. Jesus remarked in Mark 10 vs 45; "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many." 

Living a selfless life as Christ did brings about spiritual unity. We must love one another and be one in spirit and purpose. When we co-operate in working together, caring for the problems of others as if they were our problems, we demonstrate Christ's example of putting others first, and consequently, fulfill the law of Christ. Always think of yourself the way Jesus thought of Himself. Though He is God, and equal with God in status, but didn't think so much of Himself that He had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.

Many people, even Christians, live only to make a good impression on others or to please themselves. However, selfish ambition or conceit (overbearing, having a high opinion of oneself) brings discord. Unfortunately, selfishness abound in the Body of Christ. Christians—members of the Body of Christ—compete amongst themselves with the motive to undo the other; backbiting, gossiping, witch-hunting, working against the interest of others etc. such evil behaviors are the products of selfishness. Even the leaders who should lead by example even struggle in traffic jam, in fuel cue, in difficult circumstances to take the first turn etc. Though it is difficult to lead such a lifestyle but we need to start from somewhere and let the Holy Spirt help us accomplish the rest.

Someone would say, “Can a selfless lifestyle of service be possible.” Yes it can! Worthy of note was the Christlike selfless service of the late Mother Teresa; a unique personality who devoted her life to the service of God and others as a nun in the Roman Catholic faith. In 1950, Teresa founded the Missionaries of Charity, a Roman Catholic religious congregation that had over 4,500 nuns and was active in 133 countries in 2012. The congregation manages homes for people who are dying of HIV/AIDS, leprosy and tuberculosis. It also runs soup kitchens, dispensaries, mobile clinics, children's and family counseling programs, as well as orphanages and schools. Members take vows of chastity, poverty, and obedience, and also profess a fourth vow—to give “wholehearted free service to the poorest of the poor.” 

Prayer: Abba Father, my trust is in You. Give me the grace to lead a selfless lifestyle of service to You and fellow humans. treating others with respect and common courtesy, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

Christmas Solidarity

 The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. (1 John 3:8)

The assembly line of Satan turns out millions of sins every day. He packs them into huge cargo planes and flies them to heaven and spreads them out before God and laughs and laughs and laughs.

Some people work full-time on the assembly line. Others have quit their jobs there and only now and then return.

Every minute of work on the assembly line makes God the laughingstock of Satan. Sin is Satan’s business because he hates the light and beauty and purity and glory of God. Nothing pleases him more than when creatures distrust and disobey their Maker.

Therefore, Christmas is good news for man and good news for God.

“The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15). That’s good news for us.

“The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8). That is also good news for God.

Christmas is good news for God because Jesus has come to lead a strike at Satan’s assembly plant. He has walked right into the plant, called for the Solidarity of the faithful, and begun a massive walkout.

Christmas is a call to go on strike at the assembly plant of sin. No negotiations with the management. No bargaining. Just single-minded, unswerving opposition to the product. We won’t be a part of making it anymore.

Christmas Solidarity aims to ground the cargo planes. It will not use force or violence, but with relentless devotion to Truth it will expose the life-destroying conditions of the devil’s industry.

Christmas Solidarity will not give up until a complete shutdown has been achieved.

When sin has been destroyed, God’s name will be wholly exonerated. No one will be laughing anymore.

If you want to give a gift to God this Christmas, walk off the assembly line of sin and don’t go back. Take up your place in the picket line of love. Join Christmas Solidarity until the majestic name of God is cleared, and he stands glorious amid the accolades of the righteous.