The Overcomer

 The Overcomer

To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God. (Revelation 2:7)

No man may turn his back in the day of battle or refuse to go to the holy war. We must fight if we would reign, and we must carry on the warfare till we overcome every enemy, or else this promise is not for us, since it is only for "him that overcometh." We are to overcome the false prophets who have come into the world and all the evils which accompany their teaching. We are to overcome our own faintness of heart and tendency to decline from our first love. Read the whole of the Spirit's word to the church at Ephesus.

If by grace we win the day, as we shall if we truly follow our conquering Leader, then we shall be admitted to the very center of the paradise of God and shall be permitted to pass by the cherub and his flaming sword and come to that guarded tree, whereof if a man eat, he shall live forever. We shall thus escape that endless death which is the doom of sin and gain that everlasting life which is the seal of innocence, the outgrowth of immortal principles of Godlike holiness. Come, my heart, pluck up courage! To flee the conflict will be to lose the joys of the new and better Eden; to fight unto victory is to walk with God in paradise.

PROPER CONDUCTS IN PRAYER!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

SUNDAY JANUARY 02, 2022.

SUBJECT : PROPER CONDUCTS IN PRAYER!

Memory verse: "Therefore I say to you whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.” (Mark 11 vs 24.)

READ: First Samuel 1 vs 10 - 13:

1:10: And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore.

1:11: And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.

1:12: And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli marked her mouth.

1:13: Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken.

INTIMATION:

The proper conducts in prayer include the following:-

1. We must be candid in our prayers.

God is “All-knowing,” therefore, go to Him in prayers with total sincerity of heart, and frankness in all intents and purposes. Don't keep anything back. In the passage we read today, Hannah had no child for her husband who really loved her. She was greatly discouraged and bitter because the husband's other wife had children and ridiculed her. Her loving husband could not solve her problem. She then turned in prayer to the Provider of solutions to all problems. The antidote to discouragement is telling God honestly of your problem, how you feel, and then leave your problems with Him.

It is difficult to pray in faith when we feel so ineffective, but Hannah did. We should always be careful what we promise in prayer because God may take you up on it. Hannah so desperately wanted a child that she was willing to strike a bargain with God. God took her up on her promise, and to her credit, she did her part, even though it was painful. Hannah made a vow in return for having a mail child, to dedicate him to God for lifetime service. God gave her a son named Samuel. She lived up to her promise, and God even blessed her with five more children excluding Samuel. 

2. Pray simply and directly. 

God is pleased with our sincerity, and uprightness. We can never pray vainly if our prayers are honest and sincere. Christ condemns vain repetitions in prayer (Matthew 6 vs 7). Repeating the same words over and over is no way to ensure that God will hear your prayer. Remember, God knows your needs even before you ask for them (Matthew 6 vs 8). However, you can come severally with the same request to God. In Matthew 26 vs 39 - 44, Jesus persistently prayed to the Father three times saying the same thing, even when He knew the Will of the Father. If you will say the same prayer Jesus said now, it will take you less than twenty seconds, because it is simple, sincere, and direct. 

3. Pray audibly and in alignment with His Word—His Will.

Align your prayer with God’s Word. Put Him in remembrance of His Word (Isaiah 43 vs 26), He is always ready to perform His Word (Jeremiah 1 vs 12). The Word of God is our blueprint for life, the architectural plan for our divine destiny. The utterance of God's Word helps to activate our faith. If you can hear yourself when you pray, you are loud enough. You really don't need to shout. God expects you to speak to Him, not shout. In Isaiah 65 vs 24 God says, "It shall come pass that before you call, I will answer; and while you still speaking, I will hear." Not while you are shouting.

4. Pray passionately.

Your prayer, and supplication should be passionate. It is the "effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man that avails much" (James 5 vs 16). The Christian's most powerful resource is communing with God through prayer. The results are often greater than we thought were possible.

5. Don't mock God.

Do not ask God to do for you what He has already mandated you to do for yourself. Continuing to pray about what God has already told you to do is rebellion against the known Will of God. For instance, in Psalm 50 vs 15, God says, "Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me." If you are then in any trouble, the proper prayer is, "God I am in the day of trouble, I believe you will deliver Me as I call upon You," not "O God I am in trouble, will You deliver Me? I am Your child...." 

6. Pray believing.

God is never far from the person who seeks Him, and is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. The Bible in Hebrews 11 vs 6 says, "But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." Have faith in God (Mark 11 vs 22). Have faith that His promises are true and that they apply to you.

7. Pray without ceasing.

The door to prayer is always open; you should take full advantage of walking through that sacred gate often. In First Thessalonians 5 vs 17, the Bible says, "Pray without ceasing." We cannot spend all our times on our knees praying, but it is possible to have a prayerful attitude at all times. This attitude is built upon acknowledging our dependence on God, realizing His presence within us, and determining to obey Him fully. Then we will find it natural to pray frequent, spontaneous, short prayers. A prayerful attitude is not a substitute for regular times of prayer but should be an outgrowth of those times.

8. Pray with thanksgiving.

It is the spirit of thanksgiving that makes your prayer supernatural. The apostle Paul, in Philippians 4 vs 6 says, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God." Naturally, the best way to ask for more is to always be thankful. When you thank Him for what He has done, He will do more as you are reminding of what has not been done.

Prayer: Abba Father, give me the grace for proper conduct in prayer, that my prayer will come to You as a sweet smelling savor, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

WHY WE FAST AND PRAY!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

SATURDAY JANUARY 01, 2022.

SUBJECT : WHY WE FAST AND PRAY!

Memory verse: "However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.” (Matthew 17 vs 21.)

READ: Luke 2 vs 37; Acts 14 vs 23:

Luke 2:37: And this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.

Acts 14:23: So when they had appointed them elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they had believed.

INTIMATION:

A fast is a voluntary abstinence from food or drink or both for the purpose of calling on God to respond to one’s request. It is a period of time when no food or drink was eaten and people approached God in humility, sorrow for sin, and urgent prayer. Fasting, though not a command, is noble and difficult. It gives us time to pray, teaches us self-discipline, reminds us that we can live with a lot less, and helps us appreciate God’s gift. Fasting is both an outward sign of humility and regret for sin, it is a sign of mourning for sin, and an inner discipline that clears the mind and keeps the spirit alert. 

Fasting indicates our seriousness with God. By separating ourselves from the daily routine of food preparation and eating, we could devote that extra time to considering our sin and praying to God for help. Hunger pangs would reinforce our penitence and remind us of our weaknesses and our dependence upon God. Fasting is always helpful as we seek God’s will in special situations. People often fast during the time of calamity in order to focus their attention on God and to demonstrate their change of heart and their true devotion. 

Fasting is an understood practice of the disciples of Jesus. Jesus said to His disciples, “When you fast,” it is not if the disciples would fast. Fasting is the natural response of those who respond with discipleship to the lordship of Jesus. It is the response of those who depend on God’s work in their lives, for in fasting one is calling on God to respond to his pleas for help. Fasting is done in order to to take one’s mind off the physical needs of the body in order to concentrate on the spiritual needs of the inner man. 

Fasting not only strengthens our self-discipline, it also helps us to focus our attention on the work of God in our lives. The purpose of fasting is to inwardly humble oneself before God in order to proclaim one’s dependence on the work of God in his or her life. In humbling ourselves before God, we manifest our dependence on God in order to plead for His work in our lives. 

Prayer is an expression of one’s most inner feelings of thanksgiving to God and request for His help. In the Bible, prayer is often combine with fasting on the part of the one who prepares his or her mind in prayer. Praying is to speak reverently to God in order to express thanks or make a request. It is earnestly entreating God in sincerity of your intention, always rendered "supplication." Prayer is one of the greatest opportunities given to man by God. It is one of the greatest privileges and ministries available to all Christians. Indeed, everyone who seeks to take his or her place in the Kingdom of God should seek or learn how to pray effectively. 

Fasting and praying are spiritual preparations necessary for seeking the face, and help of God in our journeys of life, especially in situations beyond our control. It also shows our dependence on God for protection and leading, indicative of our faith that God is in control, and our affirmation that by our strength we cannot prevail. When we take time to put God first in any endeavor, we are preparing well for whatever lies ahead. It’s also an indication that we are not taking God’s promises to us for granted. 

God’s blessings are appropriated through prayer, and fasting humbles one because going without food is a reminder of our complete dependence on God. It gives one more time to pray and meditate on God. Prayer and fasting increase the faith of the believers. Therefore, Christians who wants to grow in faith must give themselves to prayer and fasting. 

Prayer: Abba Father, engrace me with spirit of supplication, and total dependence, loyalty, and complete trust, in You. For I know the thought You think toward me, thought of good and not of evil, to bring me to the expected end. You created me for Your purpose here on earth, and let the purpose, expressed in Your Will for my life, be accomplished in Jesus Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

Mouth Confession; Heart Belief

 Mouth Confession; Heart Belief

If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (Romans 10:9)

There must be confession with the mouth. Have I made it? Have I openly avowed my faith in Jesus as the Savior whom God has raised from the dead, and have I done it in God's way! Let me honestly answer this question.

There must also be belief with the heart. Do I sincerely believe in the risen Lord Jesus? Do I trust in Him as my sole hope of salvation? Is this trust from my heart? Let me answer as before God.

If I can truly claim that I have both confessed Christ and believed in Him, then I am saved. The text does not say it may be so, but it is plain as a pikestaff and clear as the sun in the heavens: "Thou shalt be saved." As a believer and a confessor, I may lay my hand on this promise and plead it before the Lord God at this moment, and throughout life, and in the hour of death, and at the Day of Judgment.

I must be saved from the guilt of sin, the power of sin, the punishment of sin, and ultimately from the very being of sin. God hath said it–"Thou shalt be saved." I believe it. I shall be saved. I am saved. Glory be to God forever and ever!

GRACE OF GOD VERSUS WORK OF LAW!

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

FRIDAY DECEMBER 31, 2021. 

SUBJECT: GRACE OF GOD VERSUS WORK OF LAW!

Memory verse: “And If by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work.” (Romans 11 vs 6.)

READ: Romans 4 vs 1 - 8:

4:1: What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh? 

4:2: For If Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about, but not before God.

4:3: For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.

4:4: Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt.

4:5: But to him  who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, His faith is accounted for righteousness,

4:6: just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputed righteousness apart from works.

4:7: “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered:

4:8: Blessed is the man to whom the Lord shall not impute sin.”

INTIMATION:

Grace and works are diametrically opposed to one another. They cannot fellowship or have anything to do with each other. In other words, grace and works are mutually exclusive. Where one exists, the other cannot exist. The Bible, in Romans 11 vs 6, says, "But if it is by grace (His unmerited favor and graciousness), it is no longer conditioned on works or anything men have done. Otherwise, grace would no longer be grace [it would be meaningless]."

If you and I are into works, then we are out of grace. If we are in grace, then we are out of works. Any time we get into works, the grace of God ceases to operate on our behalf. God has no choice but to back off and wait until we have finished trying to handle things ourselves. As long as we continue to try to figure out our own problems, we will only get more and more frustrated and confused. The reason is because we are trying to operate without grace of God which will never going to be successful. 

The teaching of the apostle James in James 2 vs 21 - 24, has always confused many by thinking that one needs to be justified by works: “Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.” 

The works James is referring to are the works of faith. Abraham was justified by works of faith, but not by meritorious deeds of law and good works. He was justified by works in that he responded to the righteousness of God. It was his obedient faith to God that justified him before God, and James is saying that he was justified by works of faith. it is the obedience of faith in God that James calls works. Abraham was not performing a meritorious work of law when he sought to offer Isaac. It was because of his faith that he responded to the will or commandment of God. The fact that he would obey God without question was evidence of his obedient faith. 

Those who respond to the will of God because of faith and love are not seeking to meritoriously justify themselves before God. Therefore, justification by works does not mean that one works in Christ in order to meritoriously earn his salvation. Through the blood of Jesus one is considered righteous (justified) in the eyes of God on the basis of his faith in God’s grace to forgive all sin. One is not so accredited with righteousness because he has put God in debt to forgive him by meritorious works of law. One is accredited righteous or justified on the basis of obedient faith.

The works listed in this context do not refer specifically to keeping the commandments of law. For this reason one must not confuse the works of faith that James discussed with the works of law that the apostle Paul discusses. Reference here is to good deeds toward one’s fellow man. Such deeds are the manifestation of one’s faith. Therefore, one’s faith must be manifested by his benevolent actions toward others. True love of God cannot be seen without obedience to the commandments of God. True faith in God  can be seen with benevolent actions toward one’s fellow man.

We gain entry into the realm of God’s grace through Jesus in whom we must have faith. It is grace that brings assurance, for upon it we base our spiritual and emotional stability. Upon it we base our salvation. Our faithful acceptance to the grace of God, our obedience to will and commandments of God is considered as our works of faith. 

Prayer: Abba Father, You are my all in all. By my strength and efforts I cannot achieve the desires of my heart, but by Your grace I can do all things. Endue me with Your grace, O Lord, that I may accomplish all things through Your power, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

 

Death Rehearsal

 You sweep them away as with a flood; they are like a dream, like grass that is renewed in the morning: in the morning it flourishes and is renewed; in the evening it fades and withers. . . . So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom. (Psalm 90:5–6, 12)

For me, the end of a year is like the end of my life. And 11:59 pm on December 31 is like the moment of my death.

The 365 days of the year are like a miniature lifetime. And these final hours are like the last days in the hospital after the doctor has told me that the end is very near. And in these last hours, the lifetime of this year passes before my eyes, and I face the inevitable question: Did I live it well? Will Jesus Christ, the righteous Judge, say “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21)?

I feel very fortunate that this is the way my year ends. And I pray that the year’s end might have the same significance for you.

The reason I feel fortunate is that it is a great advantage to have a trial run at my own dying. It is a great benefit to rehearse once a year in preparation for the last scene of your life. It is a great benefit because the morning of January 1 will find most of us still alive, at the brink of a whole new lifetime, able to start fresh all over again.

The great thing about rehearsals is that they show you where your weaknesses are, where your preparation was faulty; and they leave you time to change before the real play in front of a real audience.

I suppose for some of you the thought of dying is so morbid, so gloomy, so fraught with grief and pain that you do your best to keep it out of your minds, especially during holidays. I think that is unwise and that you do yourself a great disservice. I have found that there are few things more revolutionizing for my life than a periodic pondering of my own death.

How do you get a heart of wisdom so as to know how best to live? The psalmist answers:

You sweep them away as with a flood; they are like a dream, like grass that is renewed in the morning: in the morning it flourishes and is renewed; in the evening it fades and withers. . . . So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom. (Psalm 90:5–6, 12)

Numbering your days simply means remembering that your life is short and your dying will be soon. Great wisdom — great, life-revolutionizing wisdom — comes from periodically pondering these things.

The criterion of success, that Paul used to measure his life, was whether he had kept the faith. “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing” (2 Timothy 4:7–8). Let this be our test at year’s end.

And if we discover that we did not keep the faith this past year, then we can be glad, as I am, that this year-end death is (probably) only a rehearsal, and a whole life of potential faith-keeping lies before us in the next year.

Outfitted and Empowered

 Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. (Hebrews 13:20–21)

Christ shed the blood of the eternal covenant. By this successful redemption, he obtained the blessing of his own resurrection from the dead. That is even clearer in Greek than it is in English, and here it’s clear enough: “God . . . brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus . . . by the blood of the eternal covenant.” This Jesus — raised by the blood of the covenant — is now our living Lord and Shepherd.

And because of all that, God does two things:

he equips us with everything good that we may do his will, and he works in us that which is pleasing in his sight.

The “eternal covenant,” secured by the blood of Christ, is the new covenant. And the new covenant promise is this: “I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts” (Jeremiah 31:33). Therefore, the blood of this covenant not only secures God’s equipping us to do his will, but also secures God working in us to make that equipping successful.

The will of God is not just written on stone or paper as a means of grace. It is worked in us. And the effect is: We feel and think and act in ways more pleasing to God.

We are still commanded to use the equipment he gives: “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” But more importantly we are told why: “For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure” (Philippians 2:12–13).

If we are able to please God — if we do his good pleasure — it is because the blood-bought grace of God has moved from mere equipping to omnipotent transforming.