THE UNPARALLELED LOVE OF GOD FOR US!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

MONDAY JUNE 20, 2022.

SUBJECT : THE UNPARALLELED LOVE OF GOD FOR US!

Memory verse: "Who can separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?" (Romans 8 vs 35).

READ: Romans 8 vs 31 - 39:

8:31: What then shall we say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

8:32: He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?

8:33: Who shall bring a charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies.

8:34: Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes Intercession for us.

8:35: Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

8:36: As it is written: "For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter."

8:37: Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

8:38: For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor Angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 

8:39: nor height nor depth, nor any other created things, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

INTIMATION:

Have you ever imagined a separation of you from God? Your answer might be yes, because you have considered yourself not good enough for God. You will then say, "God will not save me." Your thought is that your sinful life will be a hindrance for you to receive salvation from Him. But it is not true!

Christ had already chosen you, not you chosen Him, and gave His life for you because of His love for you, and quest for you to have life, and have it more abundantly. Have you ever imagined this show of love for us by God? And have you ever heard of any parallel, or equal show of love in history, and now?

Christ was spotless, perfect and rich. For His love for you and I, He became poor, chose to be a propitiation for our sins, took all our sins, past, present, and future, on Himself, and paid the wages of our sin, which is death (Romans 6 vs 23; Ezekiel 18 vs 4). His death was even a shameful death on the cross, just for us.

By His death for our sins, He justified us, legally setting us free from sin after haven paid the price for us. He did not stop at that. He descended to hell and met with our accuser, and greatest enemy, Satan. He engaged him there, defeated him, and stripped him of all powers. He took back His life and ascended into heaven where He sits at His position of authority—the right hand of God, and making intercession for us continually, as our advocate before the Father. He is our High Priest who sympathizes with our weaknesses, and ever ready to help us through the journey of life.

God loves us so much so that He exchanged His Son's life of inestimable value with our worthless sinful lives. Whenever I imagine this act of God, I feel a chill run through my spines, with goose-pimples all over my skin. It is awesome!

No matter what happens to us, no matter where we are, we can never be separated from His love. Though believers may have to face hardships in many forms: persecution, illness, imprisonment, and even death. These sometimes cause us to think that Christ has abandoned us. But far be it from the truth, it is impossible to be separated from Christ. His death for us is proof of His unconquerable love, which is an overwhelming assurance of our being totally secure in Him. Nothing can separate us from His presence.

Consequently, in Christ we are super-conquerors, and His love will protect us from any forces in the universe; principalities and powers, unseen evil forces like Satan and his fallen angels—the demons. We are completely secured in Him.

How else can we reciprocate such love but to follow Him, and be in complete obedience to His commands, knowing that His thought for us is forever good. If he has given His life for us, what else can He not give to us to ensure we live for Him.

Prayer: Abba Father, I thank You for all You wrought for me in redemption out of Your unparalleled love for me. It is my desire to reciprocate this love You showcased for me. Give me the grace, me O Lord, for raw and complete obedience to You in my journey in life, in Jesus' Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

Grace Is Pardon — and Power!

 

By the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. (1 Corinthians 15:10)

Grace is not simply leniency when we have sinned. Grace is the enabling gift and power of God not to sin. Grace is power, not just pardon.

This is plain, for example, in 1 Corinthians 15:10. Paul describes grace as the enabling power of his work. It is not simply the pardon of his sins; it is the power to press on in obedience. “I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.”

Therefore, the effort we make to obey God is not an effort done in our own strength, but “by the strength that God supplies — in order that in everything God may be glorified” (1 Peter 4:11). It is the obedience of faith. Faith in God’s ever-arriving gracious power to enable us to do what we should.

Paul confirms this in 2 Thessalonians 1:11–12 by calling each of our acts of goodness a “work of faith,” and by saying that the glory this brings to Jesus is “according to the grace of our God” because it happens “by his power.” Listen for all those phrases:

To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

The obedience that gives God pleasure is produced by the power of God’s grace through faith. The same dynamic is at work at every stage of the Christian life. The power of God’s grace that saves through faith (Ephesians 2:8) is the same power of God’s grace that sanctifies through faith.

The Offense of Fearing Man

 Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice.” (1 Samuel 15:24)

Why did Saul obey the people instead of God? Because he feared the people instead of God. He feared the human consequences of obedience more than he feared the divine consequences of disobedience. He feared the displeasure of the people more than the displeasure of God. And that is a great insult to God.

In fact, Isaiah says it is a kind of pride to be afraid of what man can do while we disregard the promises of God. He quotes God with this piercing question: “I, I am he who comforts you; who are you that you are afraid of man who dies, of the son of man who is made like grass, and have forgotten the Lord, your Maker?” (Isaiah 51:12–13).

Fear of man may not feel like pride, but that’s what God says it is, “Who do you think you are to fear man and forget me your Maker!”

The point is this: If you fear man, you have begun to deny the holiness, the worth of God and his Son, Jesus. God is infinitely stronger than man. He is infinitely wiser and infinitely more full of reward and joy.

To turn from him out of fear of what man can do is to discount all that God promises to be for those who fear him. It is a great insult. And in such an insult God can take no pleasure.

On the other hand, when we hear God’s promises and trust him with courage, fearing the reproach brought upon God by our unbelief, then he is greatly honored. And in that he has much pleasure.

PRAYER, AND OUR NEED FOR PRAYER ALWAYS!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

SUNDAY JUNE 19, 2022.

SUBJECT : PRAYER, AND OUR NEED FOR PRAYER ALWAYS!

Memory verse: "Men ought always to pray and not faint." (Luke 18 vs 1.) 

READ: Matthew 26 vs 41; Luke 21 vs 36; Ephesians 6 vs 18; Colossians 4 vs 2:

Matthew 26:41: Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

Luke 21:36: Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.

Ephesians 6:18: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit. Being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.

Colossians 4:2: Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving. 

INTIMATION:

What is prayer? It is an evolving means of interacting with God, most frequently through a spontaneous, individual, unorganized form of petitioning and/or thanking. It is an object of worship, a spiritual communion with God or an object of worship, as in supplication, thanksgiving, adoration, or confession. Ultimately, the main purpose of prayer is worship. When we pray to the Lord, recognizing Him for who He is and what He has done, it is an act of worship. Prayer also can be a solemn request for help or expression of thanks addressed to God.

The Father's heart is hungry for the companionship of His children. His heart hunger is the reason for man and his redemption. God wants a constant fellowship with His children. It was His plan from the beginning hence He visited Adam everyday in the Garden. He loves us and that love impels Him to call us to prayer. Therefore, prayer is the voice of faith to the Father, and the call of Love of the Father to come and fellowship with Him. It’s the desire of the Father that His children approach Him in prayer. 

It is God's intention that His children will always be with their Father, an the children coming joyously into the presence of their Loving Parent are welcome. He  taught us to pray, He is one with us in this prayer life. Prayer is part of God's program for us. It is the natural response of those who recognize their need for the help of God in their lives. 

Prayer is an important part of the Christian life, and one’s prayer life should be developed. Not only does prayer affect our lives and the lives of others, but it is also a way to communicate with the Lord and grow in our relationship with Him. At the heart of prayer is an act of worship to the Lord. God’s Word places an emphasis on the power and purpose of prayer, and, therefore, it should not be neglected.

Prayer is calling constantly for the leading of the LORD, and such leading helps us avoid temptation, and deliverance from evil (Matthew 6 vs 13). It helps us overcome the weakness of the flesh, and empowers us to escape all the things that will come to pass, making us worthy to stand before Christ.  Christians should maintain a lifestyle that lends itself to prayer. It is through prayer that not only the inward man is strengthened, but also the work of God is called upon by the disciple to function in his life. 

Christians should be of an attitude at all times that is conducive to offering prayer to God. They are not only to pray continually, they must be fervent in prayer with thanksgiving. Emphasis here is not on a continued action of prayer, but on a continued attitude of prayer. In other words, the Christian should be in a state of mind that he can at all times take part in the action of praying to the Father. And since all that the Christian has is the result of God’s blessing, then it is reasonable to conclude that Christians should give thanks to God for all they are and have. 

Prayer is the vital contact with the Father, and we are near enough to breathe in His very presence. Prayer means that we have come boldly into the Throne room and are standing in the presence of the Father and Jesus in an executive meeting, worshipping them, laying our needs before them, and making our requisitions for ability, and grace to meet whatever our needs may be.

Therefore, to remain in the presence of God, and be lead by Him always calls for persistence in prayer. To persist in prayer and not give up, or praying without ceasing, does not mean endless repetition or painfully long prayer sessions. Always praying means keeping our requests constantly before God as we live for Him day by day, believing He will answer. When we live by faith, we are not to give up. As we persist in prayer we grow in character, faith, and hope. 

Prayer: Abba Father, give ear to my words, and to the voice of my cry, consider my meditation my King and my God. To You will I pray, my voice You shall hear in the morning, and at all times I will direct it to You, and will look up to You, from where my help comes, O LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. Give me the grace to continually commune with You in prayer, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD.

BOLDLY DECLARE THE WORD OF GOD WITH FAITH!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

SATURDAY JUNE 18, 2022. 

SUBJECT : BOLDLY DECLARE THE WORD OF GOD WITH FAITH!

Memory verse: "And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, 'I believed and therefore I spoke,' we also believe and therefore speak." (Second Corinthians 4 vs 13.)

READ: Acts 14 vs 1 - 3:

14:1: Now it happened in Iconium that they went together to the synagogue of the Jews, and so spoke that a great multitude both of the Jews and of the Greeks believed.

14:2: But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles and poisoned their minds against the brethren.

14:3: Therefore they stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who was bearing witness to the word of His grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands.

INTIMATION:

Bold declaration of the Word of God with faith is agreeing with Him, and only in so doing will God work with you. Prophet Amos asked the very important question, "Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?" (Amos 3 vs 3.) You agree with God by saying what He says in His Word. This defines true faith. If one truly believes, then he will speak forth the word of God. 

When you speak lack, sickness, fear, defeat, and inability, you are disagreeing with God because, "He is your shepherd, and you shall not want" (Psalm 23 vs 1), "He supplies all your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4 vs 19). "By His stripes you are healed" (Isaiah 53 vs 5), and "He sent His Word and healed you, and delivered you from your destructions" (Psalm 107 vs 20), "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and of a sound mind" (Second Timothy 1 vs 7). 

God has "given you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you" (Luke 10 vs 19). He made the spirits subject to you (Luke 10 vs 20). And "you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you" (Philippians 4 vs 13).

As 'Believers' we should boldly be speaking the Words of our Father, and the power in the Word will manifest in your lips as though is the Father speaking them. It is not you or in your power, but God who hastens to perform His Word (Jeremiah 1 vs 12). As a child of God, and a believer in Christ's work of redemption for you, God, "Has given you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist" (Luke 21 vs 15). 

It should be in the heart of all Christians to walk closely with God. The Bible records the testimony of Enoch: "[He] walked with God" (Genesis 5 vs 24). Enoch wasn't the only person who could walk with God, you and I also can walk with Him. Hebrews 11 vs 5 says that Enoch "pleased God" by agreeing in faith with God. We can walk just as closely with God as Enoch did if we choose to agree with Him in faith.

How do we agree with God? We agree by saying what God says while disagreeing with the wicked, lying devil. Know it that when your word is not in agreement with God's Word, you weary Him with your word. (Malachi 2 vs 17). And your confession is harsh against God. (Malachi 3 vs 13.) Our relationship with the Lord should be in humility, obedience, and trust. It should not be of weariness and harshness in words. 

In the passage we read today, we have seen that even with the accompanying signs and wonders, not all would be convinced about Christ. God gave these men power to do great wonders as confirmation of the message of grace, but people were still divided. The important thing is to sow the seeds of the Word on the best ground you can find in the best way you can, and leave the convincing to the Holy Spirit - the Teacher, and Revealer of the truth (John 16 vs 13.) 

In our memory verse, the apostle Paul reveals that the release of power of God is consequent upon bold declaration of the Word in faith. Now that you know, begin to declare boldly the Words of your Father. 

Prayer: Abba Father, You have magnified Your Word above all Your Name. Confirm my bold declaration of Your Word with signs following, in Jesus' Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

How to Plead for Unbelievers

 Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. (Romans 10:1)

Paul prays that God would convert Israel. He prays for her salvation! He does not pray for ineffectual influences, but for effectual influences. And that is how we should pray too.

We should take the new covenant promises of God and plead with God to bring them to pass in our children and our neighbors and on all the mission fields of the world.

God, take out of their flesh the heart of stone and give them a new heart of flesh. (Ezekiel 11:19)
Circumcise their heart so that they love you! (Deuteronomy 30:6)
Father, put your Spirit within them and cause them to walk in your statutes. (Ezekiel 36:27)
Grant them repentance and a knowledge of the truth that they may escape from the snare of the devil. (2 Timothy 2:25–26)
Open their hearts so that they believe the gospel! (Acts 16:14)

When we believe in the sovereignty of God — in the right and power of God to elect and then bring hardened sinners to faith and salvation — then we will be able to pray with no inconsistency, and with the confidence of great biblical promises for the conversion of the lost.

Thus, God has pleasure in this kind of praying because it ascribes to him the right and honor to be the free and sovereign God that he is in election and salvation.

THE SOURCE OF STRIFE IN US!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

FRIDAY JUNE 17, 2022.

SUBJECT : THE SOURCE OF STRIFE IN US!

Memory verse: "Where do wars and fights come among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members?  (James 4 vs 1.) 

READ: James 4 vs 1 - 3:

4:1: Where do wars and fights come among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members?

4:2: You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask.

4:3: You ask and you do not receive,,because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.

4:4: Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend to the world makes himself an enemy of God.

4:5: Or do you not think that the Scripture says in vain, "The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously"?

4:6: But He gives more grace. Therefore He says "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.

INTIMATION:

Christians or Believers ought to be members of the Body of Christ - one body. But quarrels, strife, fights, competition, and so on, is found amongst Christians. Instead of members of one body of Christ existing and working together: "For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of the one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ" (First Corinthians 12 vs 12).

The Body of Christ (The Body of Believers)—the Church, is composed of many types of people from a variety of backgrounds with a multitude of gifts and abilities. It is easy for these differences to divide people, as is the case amongst believers today. But despite the differences, all believers have one thing in common; faith in Christ. On this essential truth the church finds unity.

Quarrels and fights among believers are always harmful, and results from evil desires battling within us. We want more possessions, more members of our church, more money, higher status, more recognition. Such competitions drive us into fights, and quarrels in order to have it. How does all this disturbance get started within us? We know that it is not God's will for us because His thoughts for us is for good and not of evil (Jeremiah 29 vs 11). The Lord does not want His children to live in the midst of a constant interior war zone. 

That is the nature of this world in which we live, but it is not supposed to be the nature of the Kingdom of God. Jesus has told us that the Kingdom of God is within us. (Luke 17 vs 21.) The Kingdom of God is not like an earthly kingdom with geographical boundaries. Instead, it begins with the work of God's Spirit in our lives and in our relationships. 

One reason you and I came to Christ in the first place is because we want to escape all that kind of endless strife and conflict. That is why we became citizens of the Kingdom of God. The Bible tells us that the Kingdom of God is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost (Romans 14 vs 17). As followers of Jesus Christ, that is our heritage and our inheritance. 

Why is it, then, that so many of us who truly love God, who are going to heaven, who are called according to His divine purpose, still spend our earthly existence in the midst of what we are trying so desperately to escape from? What is the source of this strife? Where does it originate?

But notice the second part of the verse. James tells us that all these negative things arise from the sensual desires that are ever warring in our members. Do you know that you and I can get into conflict by wanting something that is clearly God's will for us? If we go about trying to get it in the wrong way, we will only produce strife and war and conflict.

The apostle James portrays divisive attitudes that centered around selfish ambition and materialism. As James turns to portray the carnal hearts of the materialists, he is stern by using words that clearly identify the selfish hearts of those who manifest wisdom that is earthly, sensual, and demonic. He reveals the struggles that go on among those who harbor attitudes that are earthly, sensual, and demonic. 

Strife and conflict arise within us because our desires, even our righteous desires, are warring in our bodily members because we want to achieve them by our own efforts outside the grace of God, and this is impossible. Consequently, we do not ask, and even when we ask, we ask for wrong reasons.

The Scripture observes that it is pride that causes our not asking from the Maker and Owner of those things we desire. Instead we strive to do it our own way. And even when we ask, pride makes us ask for wrong reasons; to spend in our pleasures. "God resist the proud," therefore, the grace to obtain that which you desire, and is known to God as your need, is not given to you.

The cure for the evil desires is humility. Pride makes us self-centered and leads us to conflicts with others. We can be released from our self-centered desires by humbling ourselves before God, realizing that all we really need is His approval. 

Prayer: Abba Father, Your thought for us is of good, and it is Your will we live in peace with one another. Give me the grace to eschew strifes and quarrels with other people, but rather live in peace with one another, and helping one another, in Jesus' Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!