Authentic vs. Phony Faith

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

LAY UP FOR YOURSELF TREASURES IN HEAVEN!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

FRIDAY MAY 27, 2022.

SUBJECT : LAY UP FOR YOURSELF TREASURES IN HEAVEN!

Memory verse: “So When Jesus heard these things, He said to Him, “You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven, and come, follow Me.” (Luke 18 vs 22.)

READ: Matthew 6 vs 19 - 21: 

6:19: Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal;

6:20: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.

6:21: For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

INTIMATION:

A “treasure” is anything considered to be valuable. Such things are, by natural instinct, adequately cared for, and stored in safe places in order not to lose them. What are your treasures? And where are you laying them up for safety? Jesus made it clear that having your treasures wrongly laid up, leads to our hearts being in the wrong place. But when they are properly laid in safety, you are sure of not losing the stored value in them. Laying up your treasures on earth and earthly things is considered unsuitable because such earthly treasures are temporal; they can perish, stolen, become obsolete, and eventually be destroyed when the earth passes away (Mark 13 vs 31; Second Peter 3 vs 10.) 

Heavenly treasures are not in physical or material substances. They are values stored up in good deeds, and are the only thing you take along with you to eternity. God is not interested in your possessions, money, and wealth. He is only interested in what you use them to do while it lasted here on earth. He is interested on how you used your wealth to build up your relationship with Him and your neighbors. 

It is noteworthy that all the “Ten Commandments” of God are relationship based, none is materialistic. Therefore, having riches carries great responsibility. If you have been blessed with wealth, then thank the Lord. Don’t be proud and don’t trust your wealth. Use your wealth to do good. Be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share. Consequently, building for yourself lasting treasures in heaven due to the value God attaches to your good deeds. 

No matter how mush money you have, your life should demonstrate that God controls the wealth that He has placed under your care. When your treasures are heavenly bound, definitely your heart will be heavenly bound also. What we treasure most controls us and our thought, whether we admit it or not. If possessions or money become too important to us, we must re-establish control or get rid of them. Hence, Jesus calls for a decision that allows us to live contentedly with whatever we have because we have chosen eternal values over temporary, earthly treasures.

In our memory verse, Jesus said to the rich young man; “You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” This man’s wealth made his life comfortable and gave him prestige and power. By telling him to sell everything he owned, Jesus was touching the very basis of his security, trust, and identity, which are earthly temporal treasures, instead of trusting in God. The man did not understand that he would be more secure if he followed Jesus than he was with all his wealth. 

When Jesus told this young man that he would “be perfect” if he gave everything he had to the poor, Jesus wasn’t speaking in the temporal, human sense. He was explaining how to be justified and made whole or complete in God’s sight. He was explaining to the young man God’s value system—what you used your possessions to build up your relationship with Him and others which God place great value on. Jesus does not ask believers to sell all they have. He did not ask most of His followers to sell everything, but rather use their possessions to serve God and others. Although this may be His Will for some who are controlled by their possessions, He does ask us all, however, to get rid of anything that has become more important in life than God. If your possessions take first place in your life, it would be better for you to get rid of them. We must remove all barriers to serving Him fully. 

Don’t spend your time chasing fleeting earthly treasures. Instead store up treasures in heaven, for such treasures will never be lost. The key to using money wisely is to see how much we can use it for God’s or kingdom purposes. Does God’s love touch your wallet? Does your money free you to help others? If so, you are storing up lasting treasures in heaven. If your financial goals and possessions hinder you from giving generously, loving others, or serving God, sell what you must to bring your life into line with His purposes. Laying up treasures in heaven is accomplished by all acts of obedience and service to God. 

If Jesus would ask, ‘Could you give your house? Your car? Your level of income? Your position in the society? Your position on the ladder of promotion? for His course.’ Definitely your response will show your attitude toward earthly treasures—whether it is your servant or your master, and would reveal who you serve—whether God or mammon. Where do you put your time, money, and energy? What do you think about most? How should you change the way you use your resources in order to reflect kingdom values more accurately? The sincere answers to these questions will reveal your real self!

Prayer: Abba Father, all things are Yours. You have only entrusted to our care things that are Yours. Give me the grace to manage all that You have put in my care adequately, as is pleasing to You, that I may lay up lasting treasures for myself in heaven, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

Strength to Wait with Patience

 

May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy. (Colossians 1:11)

“Strengthened” is the right word. The apostle Paul prayed for the church at Colossae, that they would be “strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience” (Colossians 1:11). Patience is the evidence of an inner strength.

Impatient people are weak, and therefore dependent on external supports — like schedules that go just right and circumstances that support their fragile hearts. Their outbursts of oaths and threats and harsh criticisms of the culprits who crossed their plans do not sound weak. But that noise is all a camouflage of weakness. Patience demands tremendous inner strength.

For the Christian, this strength comes from God. That is why Paul is praying for the Colossians. He is asking God to empower them for the patient endurance that the Christian life requires. But when he says that the strength of patience is “according to [God’s] glorious might” he doesn’t just mean that it takes divine power to make a person patient. He means that faith in this “glorious might” is the channel through which the power for patience comes.

Patience is indeed a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22), but the Holy Spirit empowers (with all his fruit) through “hearing with faith” (Galatians 3:5). Therefore Paul is praying that God would connect us with the “glorious might” that empowers patience. And that connection is faith.

RELY NOT ON YOUR OWN STRENGTH!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

THURSDAY MAY 26, 2022.

SUBJECT : RELY NOT ON YOUR OWN STRENGTH!

Memory verse: “It is God who arms me with strength, and makes my way perfect." (Psalm 18 vs 32.)

READ: : Isaiah 40 vs 29 - 31:

40:29: He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength.

40:30: Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall,

40:31: But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run, and not be weary, and they shall walk and not faint. 

INTIMATION: 

Strength is the capacity for endurance or exertion; it is the power of a person or of God, measured variously in terms of wealth, wisdom, military might, physical prowess. However, we are not called to rely on our own strength. Even the strongest people get tired at times, but God’s power and strength never diminish. He is never too tired or too busy to help and listen. His strength is our source of strength. When you feel all of life crushing you and you cannot go another step, remember that you can call upon God to renew your strength.

Those who are strong, attractive, or talented often find it easier to trust themselves than in God, who gave them their gifts. Self-sufficiency is a handicap when it causes us to believe we can do what needs to be done in our own strength. We must recognize the danger of fighting in our own strength. One’s accomplishments are limited to working things out according to the abilities of men. However, we can be confident of victory against life’s challenges and temptations only if we put our confidence in God and not ourselves. 

It is easy to trust God when we see His mighty acts, but after a while, in the routine of our daily life, His strength may appear to diminish. God doesn’t change, but our view of Him often does. The monotony of day to day living lulls us into forgetting how powerful God can be, and His strength is always available. God has unlimited power and control of all the world’s events. We cannot see all that God is, and we cannot see all that God will do. But we can be assured that He is God and will do what is right. Knowing this can give us confidence and hope in a confusing world. 

No matter how big an obstacle in front of us may seem, if we rely on God's power, we can overcome it. In addition, God's strength acts as a shield from feelings of anxiety we may experience. When we fully put our trust in Him, He walks alongside us. God doesn’t promise to eliminate challenges, instead, He promises to give us strength to meet those challenges. If He gave us no rough roads to walk, no mountains to climb, and no battles to fight, we would not grow. He does not leave us alone with our challenges, however. Instead, He stands beside us, teaches us, and strengthens us to face them. 

When we feel as though we cannot handle what is to come, we can turn to God. We are not called to rely on our own strength. No matter how big an obstacle in front of us may seem, if we rely on God’s power, we can overcome it. In addition, God’s strength acts as a shield from feelings of anxiety we may experience. 

When we fully put our trust in Him, He walks alongside us. Psalm 55 vs 22 says, “Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken.” Whatever trials we may be going through, we can take them to the Lord, and He will give us the strength to walk through them. When we fully put our trust in Him rather than ourselves, we will not be shaken.

When it comes to feelings of doubt, we can turn to Hebrews 4:16, which says, “Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Even when we feel incompetent, we can find confidence in knowing that when we call upon the Lord, He will help us. Rather than being confident in our own abilities, we can be confident in God’s abilities.

Though men may grow weak, God’s sustenance always abounds. Those who will wait on God to work in their lives will not be disappointed. They will be able to accomplish things beyond their dreams, for God is able to work in the lives of those who walk in faith. God is a shield and defense only to those who put their faith in Him to protect them. 

Prayer: Abba Father, my trust is in You, my shield and buckler, my very present help in trouble. Yours I am and Yours I want to be. By my strength I can do little, but by Your strength I can do all things. O Lord, daily load with Your strength to maneuver the difficult terrains of this world, in Jesus’ Name I Have prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

God’s Design in Detours

 

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Colossians 3:17)

Have you ever wondered what God is doing while you are looking in the wrong place for something you lost and needed very badly? He knows exactly where it is, and yet he is letting you look in the wrong place.

I once needed a quote for a new edition of my book Desiring God. I knew I had read it in Richard Wurmbrand. I thought it was in his devotional book, Reaching Toward the Heights. I could almost see it on the right hand side of the facing pages. But I couldn’t find it.

But while I was looking, I was riveted on his devotional for November 30. As I read it, I said, “This is why the Lord let me keep looking for my quote in the ‘wrong’ place.” Here was a story that illustrated perfectly that nothing is wasted that we do in the name of Jesus — nothing, not even looking for a quote in the wrong place. Here’s what I read:

In a home for retarded children, Catherine was nurtured twenty years. The child had been [mentally handicapped] from the beginning, and had never spoken a word, but only vegetated. She either gazed quietly at the walls or made distorted movements. To eat, to drink, to sleep, were her whole life. She seemed not to participate at all in what happened around her. A leg had to be amputated. The staff wished Cathy well and hoped that the Lord would soon take her to Himself.

One day the doctor called the director to come quickly. Catherine was dying. When both entered the room, they could not believe their senses. Catherine was singing Christian hymns she had heard and had picked up, just those suitable for death beds. She repeated over and over again the German song, “Where does the soul find its fatherland, its rest?” She sang for half an hour with transfigured face, then she passed away quietly. (Taken from The Best Is Still to Come, Wuppertal: Sonne und Shild)

Is anything that is done in the name of Christ really wasted?

My frustrated, futile search for what I thought I needed was not wasted. Singing to this disabled child was not wasted. And your agonizing, unplanned detour is not a waste — not if you look to the Lord for his unexpected work, and do everything in his name (Colossians 3:17).

WORSHIP GOD ONLY!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

WEDNESDAY MAY 25, 2022.

SUBJECT : WORSHIP GOD ONLY!

Memory verse: “And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who  have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." (Revelation 19 vs 10.)

READ: : Acts 14 vs 8 - 15:

14:8: And in Lystra a certain man without strength in his feet was sitting, a cripple from his mother's womb, who had never walked.

14:9: This man heard Paul speaking. Paul observing him intently and seeing that he had faith to be healed,

14:10: said with a loud voice, “Stand up straight on your feet!” And he leaped and walked.

14:11: Now, when the people saw what Paul had done, they raised their voices, saying in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!”

14:12: And Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermès, because he was the chief speaker.

14:13: Then the priest of Zeus, whose temple was in front of their city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, intending to sacrifice with the multitude.

14:14: But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard this, they tore their clothes, and ran in among the multitude, crying out

14:15: and saying, “Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men with the same nature as you, and preach to you that you should turn from these useless things to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all things that are in them,

INTIMATION:

Worship is to make obeisance, do reverence to. It is used as an act of homage or reverence. Regarding God Almighty, it is the appropriate response to God’s self-revelation. The worship of God is nowhere defined in the Scripture. Broadly it may be regarded as the direct acknowledgement to God; of His nature, attributes, ways and claims, whether by the outgoing of the heart in praise or thanksgiving or by deed done in such acknowledgement. 

God is Supreme, and there is none like Him (Exodus 9 vs 14; Isaiah 46 vs 9). In recognition of God’s supremacy and unique attributes, the Scripture says we should worship Him alone. In our memory verse, this truth is reiterated; the angel instructs John to “worship God,” and worship is a major emphasis in the book of Revelation. The Scripture says, “Now I, John, saw and heard these things. And when I had heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which showed me these things. Then he said to me, “See that you do not do that. For I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book: worship God.” (Revelation 22 vs 8 - 9.) 

In the passage we read today, the apostle Paul, after performing a miracle of raising the crippled man in Lystra, observed that the people wanted to honor and sacrifice to them as gods. Paul and Barnabas refusing to allow such, tore their clothes, and ran in among the multitude, cried out in a loud voice and said to the people, “Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men with the same nature as you...” 

In the same manner, the apostle Peter corrected Cornelius when he visited him at Caesarea as instructed by the Spirit of the Lord: “As Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshipped him. But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Stand up; I am also a man.” (Acts 10 vs 25 - 26.)

However, this wrong practice of not worshiping God alone is common among believers. They put aside worshiping the Creator in order to worship the creation. Their reverence and worship of their spiritual leaders are far more pronounced than what the angel and apostles admonished their followers not to do. It is a common site in our churches and fellowships where the congregants fall on their knees before the spiritual leaders to acknowledge them, even in ordinary greetings. 

While the name of Jesus is often called in vain and without reverence by many; a small occurrence in their lives, like something falling off their hands, occasions the shout of the name ‘Jesus.’ Where is the reverence of the name in such circumstance? The Lord, in Malachi 1 vs 6, says, “A son honors his father, and a servant his master, If then I am the Father, where is My honor? And if I am a Master, where is My reverence?”  

God should be worshipped alone. That we do not see Him, is not an excuse not to honor and worship Him appropriately. Reverence to His name should be at all times, and in all situations. Never use His name in vain: “You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.” (Exodus 20 vs 7.) 

God’s name is special because it carries His personal identity. Using it frivolously or in a curse is so common today that we may fail to realize how serious it is. The way to use God’s name conveys how we really feel about Him. We should respect His name and use it appropriately, speaking it in praise or worship rather than in curse or jest. We should not take lightly the abuse or dishonor of His name.

Prayer: Abba Father, You are the only God, there is no other. You alone will I worship. Give me the grace to acknowledge You always for who You are, in all my ways, and to thank You for all You do, in Jesus’ Name I Have prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

The Bedrock of Your Assurance

 

God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit. (2 Thessalonians 2:13)

The Bible speaks of our election — God’s choosing us — in Christ before the foundation of the earth (Ephesians 1:4) before we had done anything good or evil (Romans 9:11). Therefore, our election is unconditional in the strictest sense. Neither our faith nor our obedience is the basis of it. It is free and utterly undeserved.

On the other hand, dozens of passages in the Bible speak of our final salvation (as opposed to our election in eternity past) as conditional upon a changed heart and life. So, the question arises, How can I have the assurance that I will persevere in the faith and holiness necessary for inheriting eternal life?

The answer is that assurance is rooted in our election. Second Peter 1:10 says, “Be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.” Divine election is the foundation of God’s commitment to save me, and therefore that he will undertake to work in me by sanctifying grace what his electing grace has begun.

This is the meaning of the new covenant. Everyone who believes in Jesus is a secure beneficiary of the new covenant, because Jesus said in Luke 22:20, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.” That is, by my blood I secure the new covenant for all who are mine.

In the new covenant God does not merely command obedience; he gives it. “The Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your offspring, so that you will love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live” (Deuteronomy 30:6). “I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes” (Ezekiel 36:27; cf. 11:20). Those are new covenant promises.

Election is God’s eternal commitment to do this for his people. So, election guarantees that those whom God justifies by faith he will most assuredly glorify (Romans 8:30). This means that he will unfailingly work in us all the conditions laid down for glorification.

Election is the final ground of assurance because, since it is God’s commitment to save, it is also God’s commitment to enable all that is necessary for salvation.