THE GRACE TO LIVE HOLY!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

MONDAY JANUARY 31, 2022.

SUBJECT: THE GRACE TO LIVE HOLY!

Memory verse: "For God did not call us to uncleanness but in holiness.” (First Thessalonians 4 vs 7.) 

READ: First Peter 1 vs 13 - 16:

1:13: Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

1:14 as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance;

1:15: but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 

1:16: because it is written, “Be Holy, For I am holy.”

INTIMATION:

Grace, as undeserved (unmerited) favor, is one aspect of grace, we are probably most accustomed to hearing about, and it is wonderful. But we have also seen that grace is power—the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives that enables us overcome our problems. It is the power of God available to meet our needs without cost to us. There is nothing more powerful than grace, and it is received by believing rather than through human effort.

What is holiness? Holiness is being "separated to God,"—being consecrated or set aside for sacred use. It is standing apart from sin and evil. It is a separation that should result in "conduct befitting those so separated." It is the characteristics or nature of God especially the third person of the "Trinity." Holiness is a demand on us by God. We are to separate ourselves from the world's sinful values, and be devoted to God's desires rather than our own, and carry His love and mercy into the world.

God's plan for us ab initio, is to be like Him, hence His creating us in His own image and after His likeness (Genesis 1 vs 26). He wanted us to live like Him. Unfortunately, sin separated us from Him. In His love, mercy, and grace He sent His Son, as a propitiation for our sins (First John 4 vs 10), and through His blood reconciled us back to Himself, to live for Him and be like Him. But while God wants us to be holy, He realizes our weakness and inability. He knows that without help we can never be what He desires for us to be or wants us to do. That is why He has sent His Spirit to help us to fulfill His design and purpose for us.

Jesus has gone to prepare a place for us, and the Holy Spirit has been sent to prepare us for that place. That is not a Scripture, but it is scriptural; that is, a truth based on the Word of God. This process through which the Holy Spirit makes us holy, or leads us into holiness is called sanctification. Sanctification therefore, refers to the process that God uses to do a work in us by His Holy Spirit to make us more and more holy until finally we become just like His Son Jesus. It is God's grace (the power of the Holy Spirit) we receive that enables us to meet the need of sanctification—the transformation process to holiness.

In Hebrews 10 vs 14, the Bible says, "For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified." We have been made perfect, yet we are being sanctified (made holy). Through His death and resurrection, Christ once for all, made His believers perfect in God's sight. At the same time He is making them holy (progressively cleansed and set apart for His special use) in their daily pilgrimage here on earth. We should not be surprised, ashamed or shocked that we still need to grow. God is not finished with us yet.

Sanctification is a progressive venture. The finality of that process will never occur while we are in these earthly bodies. But we don't need to be concerned about that. The only thing we need to be concerned about is progress. The question we must ask ourselves is: “are we making progress toward holiness?” “Are we cooperating with the Holy Spirit and allowing Him to do what He wants to do in our lives?” 

As believers we are not to be anxious about holiness or the process of sanctification ('be anxious for nothing' (Philippians 4 vs 6)), but we are to be serious about it. We are to recognize that it is God's Will for us. We are to desire and thirst for it with all our hearts, and sincerely ask God for it in our fellowship with Him. We are to make every effort to cooperate with the Holy Spirit Who is working to bring it to pass in us day by day.

Prayer: Abba Father, in Your loving kindness, and the riches of Your grace You saved us from the bondage of sin and Satan to live for You, and be like You. I thirst for, and surrender myself to, the sanctification by Your Spirit to enable me lead a holy life as You desire, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

Five Purposes for Suffering

 

For those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)

We seldom know the micro reasons for our sufferings, but the Bible does give us faith-sustaining macro reasons.

It is good to have a way to remember some of these so that, when we are suddenly afflicted, or have a chance to help others in their affliction, we can recall some of the truths God has given us to help us not lose hope.

Here is one way to remember: 5 R’s (or if it helps, just pick three and try to remember them).

The macro purposes of God in our sufferings include:

Repentance: Suffering is a call for us and others to turn from treasuring anything on earth above God. Luke 13:4–5:

“Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”

Reliance: Suffering is a call to trust God and not the life-sustaining props of this world. 2 Corinthians 1:8–9:

We were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.

Righteousness: Suffering is the discipline of our loving heavenly Father so that we come to share his righteousness and holiness. Hebrews 12:6, 10–11:

“The Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” . . . He disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

Reward: Suffering is working for us a great reward in heaven that will make up for every loss here a thousandfold. 2 Corinthians 4:17:

This light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.

Finally, Reminder: Suffering reminds us that God sent his Son into the world to suffer so that our suffering would not be God’s condemnation but his purification. Philippians 3:10:

. . . that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings.

So, it is understandable that the Christian heart would cry out in suffering, “Why?” since we don’t know most of the micro reasons for our suffering — why now, why this way, why this long? But don’t let that ignorance of the micro reasons cause you to overlook the massive help God gives in his word by telling us his macro purposes for us.

“You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful” (James 5:11).

BECOMING HEIR OF RIGHTEOUSNESS!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

SUNDAY JANUARY 30, 2022.

SUBJECT : BECOMING HEIR OF RIGHTEOUSNESS!

Memory verse: ""By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith." (Hebrews 11 vs 7.)

READ: Romans 3 vs 21 - 26:

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 in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who before them that believe. For there is no difference,

3:23: for all have sinned, and come 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 to be a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over 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.

INTIMATION:

An heir is one who obtains a lot or portion, especially of an inheritance; one who receives something other than by merit. It also denotes someone to whom something has been assigned by God. Therefore, “an heir of righteousness” denotes someone who inherited righteousness, or has righteousness assigned to him by God through faith in Him. 

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

The passage we read today expressed God’s faithfulness—righteousness—as exhibited in the Death of Jesus Christ, as a propitiation for our sins. God’s law established the penalty for sin as death. And all of us inherited sin from our first parents—Adam and Eve—deserving of the penalty of sin. Hence the Scripture noted, “for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3 vs 23). And the wages we owed for our sins is death (Romans 6 vs 23). 

God cannot deny Himself. The penalty of sin must be paid to show man that God is neither indifferent to sin nor regards it lightly. It also demonstrates that quality of God’s holiness which He expresses in His condemnation of sin. However, God showed His faithfulness—His righteousness—that is consistent with His nature as merciful, which was revealed by His gift of His only Son—Jesus Christ—as a propitiation for the sins all of the whole world.

From the beginning, we’ve compiled this long and sorry record as sinners (both our parents and us) and proved that we are utterly incapable of having the glorious lives God wills for us. God, in His nature of being ever merciful, did it for us; out of sheer generosity He put us in right standing with Himself—giving us His own righteousness in Jesus Christ. This is a pure gift hence our being heirs of righteousness which is according to our faith in Him. He got us out of the mess we are in and restored us to where He always wanted us to be. And He did it by means of Jesus Christ His Son. 

God sacrificed Jesus on the altar of the world to clear the world of sin. God decided on this course of action in full view of the public, to set the world in the clear with Himself through the sacrifice of Jesus, and finally taking care of the sins He had previously endured. Therefore, God sets things right by Himself, and also makes it possible for us to live in His rightness. Ordinarily, the position of being in right relationship with God wouldn’t be possible by our own works or acts of obedience. 

The apostle Paul in his epistles frequently uses ‘the righteousness of God,’ to express that gracious gift of God to men whereby all who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ are brought into right relationship with God. This righteousness is unattainable by obedience to any law, or by any merit of man’s own, or any other condition than that of faith in Christ. The man who trust in Christ becomes “the righteousness of God in Him.’: “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (Second Corinthians 5 vs 21). God made us—the believers— to become in Christ all that God requires a man to be, all that he could never be in himself. 

Now, it is clear that the righteousness—the right action—that God demands from us is believe in His Word and all that Christ wrought for us in redemption. Consequently, because Abraham accepted the Word of God, making it his own by that act of his mind and spirit which is called faith, and, as he subsequently showed, submitting himself to its control, therefore, God accepted him as one who fulfilled the whole of His requirements: “For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness.” (Romans 4 vs 3.) 

Righteousness is not said to be imputed to the believer save in the sense that faith is reckoned (imputed) for righteousness. For the Scripture says, “But to Him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, His faith is accounted for righteousness.”( Romans 4 vs 5.) The faith thus exercised brings the soul into vital union with God in Christ, and inevitably produces righteousness of life, that is, conformity to the will of God. Just as our memory verse recorded, Noah became an heir of righteousness because of His faith in God. My prayer is that you believe in Christ and His substitutionary work for you, and have righteousness reckoned for you very through faith in Him.

Prayer: Abba Father, outside of You I am nothing and can do nothing. Thank You for the righteousness reckoned for me in Christ. In Him I live and move and have my being. May I never miss my heirship of righteousness, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

Prevailing Grace

 

“I have seen his ways, but I will heal him; I will lead him and restore comfort to him and his mourners.” (Isaiah 57:18)

Learn your doctrine from biblical texts. It stands up better that way, and feeds the soul.

For example, learn the doctrine of irresistible grace from texts. In this way, you will see that it does not mean grace cannot be resisted; it means that when God chooses, he can and will overcome that resistance.

In Isaiah 57:17–19, for instance, God chastises his rebellious people by striking them and hiding his face: “Because of the iniquity of his unjust gain I was angry, I struck him; I hid my face and was angry” (verse 17).

But they did not respond with repentance. Rather, they kept backsliding. They resisted: “But he went on backsliding in the way of his own heart” (verse 17).

So grace can be resisted. In fact, Stephen said to the Jewish leaders, “You always resist the Holy Spirit” (Acts 7:51).

What then does God do? Is he powerless to bring those who resist to repentance and wholeness? No. He is not powerless. The next verse says, “I have seen his ways, but I will heal him; I will lead him and restore comfort to him and his mourners” (Isaiah 57:18).

So, in the face of recalcitrant, grace-resisting backsliding, God says, “I will heal him.” He will “restore.” The word for “restore” is to “make whole or complete.” It is related to the word shalom, “peace.” That wholeness and peace is mentioned in the next verse which explains how God turns around a grace-resisting backslider.

He does it by “‘creating the fruit of the lips. Peace, peace (shalom, shalom), to the far and to the near,’ says the Lord, ‘and I will heal him’” (Isaiah 57:19). God creates what is not there — peace, wholeness. This is how we are saved. And this is how we are brought back from backsliding — again and again.

The grace of God triumphs over our resistance by creating praise where it did not exist. He brings shalom, shalom to the near and the far. Wholeness, wholeness to the near and the far. He does it by “restoring,” that is, replacing the disease of resistance with the soundness of submission.

The point of irresistible grace is not that we can’t resist. We can, and we do. The point is that when God chooses, he overcomes our resistance and restores a submissive spirit. He creates. He says, “Let there be light!” He heals. He leads. He restores. He comforts.

Therefore, we never boast that we have returned from backsliding. We fall on our faces before the Lord and with trembling joy thank him for his irresistible grace that conquered all our resistance.

OPERATING IN THE SPIRIT OF FAITH

EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

SATURDAY JANUARY 29, 2022.

SUBJECT: OPERATING IN THE SPIRIT OF FAITH!

Memory verse: "For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith (Romans 4 vs 13.)

READ: Romans 4 vs 17 - 24:

4:17: (As it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations”) in the presence Him whom he believed—God, who gives life to the dead, and calls those things which do not exist as though they did;

4:18: who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, “So shall your descendants seed be.”

4:19: And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead, (since he was about an hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah's womb.

4:20: He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God,

4:21: and being fully convinced that, what he had promised, He was also able to perform.

4:22: And therefore, “it was accounted to him for righteousness.”

4:23: Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him,

4:24: but also for us, it shall be imputed to us who believe on Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead,

INTIMATION:

Faith in the context of the Scripture, is reliance, loyalty, or complete trust in God, and His Word. The Word of God is spirit and life (John 6 vs 63); It’s the God in the Spirit available to the believer that gives life in the affairs of the believer. The Bible based faith is the spirit of faith, and It is the principal weapon of war for a child of God; the victory that overcomes the world: "For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world - our faith." The spirit of faith sees the invisible God in any challenge in life. 

The spirit of faith is the predominant faith for exploits. This spirit is encountered through the Word of God. Therefore, faith is a spiritual force; a living force, drawn from the living Word of God, to produce living proves. The main elements in faith in its relation to the invisible God, as distinct from faith in man, are especially brought out in the use of this noun and corresponding verb. These elements are (1) a firm conviction, producing a full acknowledgement of God’s revelation or truth, (2) a personal surrender to Him, (3) a conduct inspired by such surrender. 

Prominence is given to one or other of these elements according to the context. All this stands in contrast to belief in its purely natural exercise, which consists of an opinion held in good faith without necessary reference to its proof. For instance, the object of Abraham’s faith was not God’s promise of a child to an aged and weak man—a hundred years old, with a wife with dead womb—90years of age, which is remotely impossible in reality. Instead, his faith rested on God Himself, knowing that He who promised is faithful, and will do it.

Therefore, if you want to receive the promises of God in His Word you must have faith in God Himself, and the Spirit of God—the spirit of faith—must be operational in you. The Scripture 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.” (Hebrews 11 vs 6.) God promises that all who honestly seek Him—who act in faith on the knowledge of God that they possess—will be rewarded. 

Many of us would have acted otherwise if we were in Abraham’s position, thinking it is impossible for a man of 100years and a wife of 90years to give birth. Some would have thrown such prophesy to the bin. But Abraham held tightly to his faith in God—the spirit of faith was alive in Him—he never wavered on the promise, and fully persuaded that He who promised is faithful and will do it. How He will do it is not his concern.

Many will pray for healing, using relevant Scriptures of God’s promise of healing, but will still not be persuaded they have received their healing according to the Word of God. The devil will throw the dart of doubt their way, they are hit, and their spirit of faith is dampened. With such wavering in faith, it is obvious they will not receive anything (James 1 vs 6 - 7).

Faith makes you share responsibility of your life with God through His Spirit indwelling you. The responsibility is shared with God in the light of His Word in the Scripture. God, our Creator, has given us His operational manual—the Bible. If we have faith in God, then we should have faith in His Word, and obey them. Consequently, we commit God's integrity to perform on His Word—His promises. He is committed to honoring His promises in the light of your obedience, and is ever ready to perform His Word (Jeremiah 1 vs 12).

For instance, the Scripture, in Isaiah 53 vs 5, says, “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.” How do you obtain by faith the healing virtue enshrined in verse above by faith? Now, the three elements of receiving faith must be at work; (1) a firm conviction, producing a full acknowledgement of God’s revelation or truth that by Christ’s stripes we are healed of any illness or disease, (2) a personal surrender to Christ, accepting His works for you in redemption, and (3) to conduct yourself in a manner inspired by such surrender—the Scripture says you are healed, and you exercise you faith in the healing so obtained. 

Faith is one of the mysteries of the kingdom of God. It is a potent force, with power to quench the fiery darts of the devil; "Above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one." (Ephesians 6 vs 16.) Those fiery darts include; fear, doubt, unbelief, anger etc. When he throws such darts on you, and you are weak in faith to resist it, you succumb to his lies, and miss the provision in your promise. Therefore, be fully persuaded of the truth in the Word of God, give yourself to raw and strict obedience to it, and you will behold the manifestation of the fulfillment of the promises of God in your life.

Prayer: Abba Father, my trust is in You, who does the impossible, and makes a way where there is no way. What You cannot do does not exist. Endue me with the spirit of faith in You, and Your Word, that I may overcome the world, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

Caused to Return

 

Cause us to return, O Lord, that we may return! (Lamentations 5:21, my translation)

There is no hope for God’s people unless God causes them to return from their sliding and leaping into sin and unbelief.

The book of Lamentations is the bleakest book in the Bible. God himself had decimated the apple of his eye: Jersualem.

The Lord gave full vent to his wrath; he poured out his hot anger, and he kindled a fire in Zion that consumed its foundations. (Lamentations 4:11)He has killed all who were delightful in our eyes. (Lamentations 2:4)The Lord has afflicted her for the multitude of her transgressions. (Lamentations 1:5)

So how does the book end?

It ends with the only hope there is:

Cause us to return, O Lord, that we may return! (Lamentations 5:21)

That is my only hope — and your only hope!

Jesus said to Peter, “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers” (Luke 22:31–32).

Not if you return. But when you return. I have prayed for you! You will return. And when you do, it will be my sovereign grace that brought you back from the precipice of apostasy.

Christian, this is true for you. This is your only hope of perseverance in faith. Glory in it.

Christ Jesus is the one who . . . is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. (Romans 8:34)

He will cause us to return. Therefore, “to him who is able to keep you from stumbling . . . be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever” (Jude 1:24–25). Amen!

YOU CAN RESIST THE DEVIL!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

FRIDAY JANUARY 28, 2022.

SUBJECT : YOU CAN RESIST THE DEVIL!

Memory verse: “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” (First Peter 5 vs 8.)

READ: James 4 vs 7 - 10:

4:7: Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

4:8: Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

4:9: Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.

4:10: Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

INTIMATION:

The Christian must remember that Satan cannot voluntarily consume anyone he so chooses. God has never given Satan the power to voluntarily subject people to his will. The Christian has the responsibility to resist the devil. If one desires to seek God, then Satan has no power to subjectively keep one away from God. The apostate Christian has simply given himself over to Satan because of his own ignorance of the word of God or willingness to forsake the fellowship of the community of God’s people. For this reason, each person will give account of himself or herself before God. 

Satan has no power over the one who voluntarily keeps himself or herself close to Jesus. However, Satan roams about as a nervous lion looking for his lunch. Those who are ignorant of his warning roars will fall victim to his hunger for the souls of men. Therefore, it is necessary that the Christian learn how the devil seeks to destroy the lives of men. One must be aware of how he stalks his prey. The sober and vigilant Christian is constantly listening for the roar of the hungry Satan. He can identify how Satan works. However, if he or she becomes ignorant of God’s word, or enticed by the lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and pride of life, he will be ensnared by Satan and consumed. 

The Christian has the voluntary power to stay away from the consuming hunger of Satan to devour souls. The context in which one is more apt to fall is when he is under trials and persecution. Therefore, it is in such a state that one must be sober and vigilant to resist Satan. Christians can withstand the temptations that are presented by Satan by exercising faith in God through prayer, Bible study, and good works toward others.

Our power to resist Satan is exemplified in the fact that we can make him flee. Since God will not allow the individual Christian to be tempted beyond that which he is able to endure, then we must assume that we have the power to make the devil flee from us. Since we have the power, then we will all stand before God in judgement and be held directly accountable for our deeds. Our power to resist Satan makes us responsible for our actions. However, we must keep in mind that no man has this power within himself. God is the source of power to resist the devil. The individual must take the initiative to keep himself or herself in the love of God. It is through the power of the gospel and Christ working in us, that we are able to resist the devil. We must choose to unleash the power in our lives in order to flee all temptations that come to us through the work of the devil.

How can one come close to God and keep oneself in His love? (1) Submit to God; yield to His authority and will, and commit your life to Him and His control, and be willing to follow Him. Consistent faith is the way to defeat Satan. (2) Resist the devil; don’t allow Satan to entice and tempt you. It is Satan’s strategy to get us to doubt God at exactly our moments of trial and persecution. (3) Cleanse your hands and purify your heart, that is, lead a pure life. Be cleansed from sin, replacing your desire to sin with your desire to experience God’s purity. (4) Lament and mourn and weep. Don’t be afraid to express deep heartfelt sorrow for what you have done (5) Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up in honor. 

Humbling ourselves before the Lord means recognizing that our worth comes from God alone. To be humble involve leaning on His power and His guidance, and not going on our own independent way. Although we cannot deserve God’s favor, He wants to lift us up and give us worth and dignity, despite our human shortcomings. 

You must purify your heart. This is the problem with the materialist. His or her heart is seeking the things of this world. He or she must become pure with the wisdom from above in order to remain in the grace by which he or she is saved. Those who have made their hands dirty by becoming a friend of the world, must repent. One will not come to repentance if one does not recognize one’s sinful condition. One must recognize one’s spiritual poverty in order to seek the riches of God’s grace.

Prayer: Abba Father, endue with the wisdom to withstand the temptations and lies of the devil. And arm me with Your whole armor to resist the wiles of the devil, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!