HEAVEN IS BELIEVERS ETERNAL HOME!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

SATURDAY JULY 02, 022.

SUBJECT: HEAVEN IS BELIEVERS ETERNAL HOME!

Memory verse: "Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul.” (First Peter 2 vs 11.)

READ: Hebrews 11 vs 13 - 16:

11:13: These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

11:14: For those that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.

11:15: And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return.

11:16: But now they desire a better, that is, an heavenly country. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them. 

INTIMATION:

Believers are “sojourner sand pilgrims” on this earth because our real home is with God. Believers are residents of the world, but the spiritual expatriates of this world. However, their citizenship is not of this world. Their citizenship (membership) is registered in heaven. Heaven is not the pink-cloud-and-harp existence popular in cartoons. Heaven is where God lives. Life in heaven operates according to God’s principles and values, and it is eternal and unshakable. 

The kingdom of heaven came on earth in the symbolism of the Jewish sanctuary (the tabernacle and temple), where God’s presence dwelt. It came in a fuller way in the person of Jesus Christ “God with us.” It spreads through the entire world as the Holy Spirit came to live in every believer. 

The most damaging act of contemporary living is short-term thinking. To make the most of your life, you must keep eternity continually in your mind and the value of it in your heart. The child of God is a citizen of heaven where the child enjoys the best of life unlimited. The devil is not a citizen of heaven, and cannot access such life hence his effort to drag people to his side of total misery. There is far more to life than just here and now! 

What is it going to be like in eternity with God? Although the details of eternity are unknown, we need not fear because Jesus is preparing for us and will spend eternity with us. There are few verses in Scripture that describe everlasting life, but these few verses are rich with promises.

Frankly, the capacity of of our brains cannot handle the wonder and greatness of life in eternity with Christ. It will be trying to describe the Internet to an ant. He will create a new heaven and a new earth (Isaiah 65 vs 17; Revelation 21 vs 1), and we will live with Him forever. There will be no more death, sickness, lack, want etc. The Bible, in the Book of Revelation chapter 21, reveals the idea of the home God is preparing for His children. Words have not been invented that could adequately convey the experience of eternity.

We know that right now God is preparing an eternal home for us. In heaven, we put on our celestial bodies (Spiritual bodies (First Corinthians 15 vs 40 & 44)), we will be reunited with the loved ones who are believers, released from all pains and suffering, rewarded for our faithfulness on earth, and reassigned to do work that we will enjoy doing. We will enjoy unbroken fellowship with God, and He will enjoy us for forever (unlimited, and endless).

God has a purpose for your life on earth, but it doesn't end here. His plan involves far more than the few decades you will live on earth here. God offers you opportunity to live with him beyond your lifetime on earth. 

It is a common knowledge that the only time people think about eternity is at funerals, and then it's often shallow, and sentimental thinking based on ignorance. Most people feel it's morbid to think about death, but actually it's unhealthy to live in denial of death and not consider what is inevitable. The Bible in Ecclesiastes 7 vs 2, says, "Better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for that is the end of all men; and the living will take it to heart." Only a fool would go through life unprepared for what we all know will eventually happen. We need to think more about eternity, 

Just as the nine months you spent in your mother's womb were not an end in themselves but preparation for life, so is life on earth, a preparation for life in eternity with God, or without God. If you have a relationship with God through Jesus, you don't need to fear death. It is the door to eternity. It will be the last hour of your time on earth, but certainly not the last of you. Rather than being the end of your life, it will be your birthday into eternal life. 

The Bible says in Hebrews 13 vs 14, "For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come." This world is not our home; we are looking forward to our everlasting home in heaven. Every moment we spend in this earthly bodies is time spent away from our eternal home in heaven with Jesus. The time we spend on this earth, if measured against eternity, is just a blink of an eye, but the consequences of it will last forever. This calls for serious caution noting that the deeds of this life are the destiny of the next.

It is therefore, wise to listen to the counsel of most preachers; "Prepare yourself each day in life for eternity, living as if each day is your last day of your life on earth, being ready at all times to meet with your Creator."

Prayer: Abba Father, give me the grace to lead a life pleasing to You, preparing myself each day in life for eternity, living each day of my life as the last on earth, so that to die will be gain to me because I will live with You in eternity forever, in Jesus’ Name I prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

 

God’s Pleasure to Do You Good

 “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” (Luke 12:32)

Jesus will not sit by and let us disbelieve without a fight. He takes up the weapon of the word and speaks it with power for all who struggle to believe.

His aim is to defeat the fear that God is not the kind of God who really wants to be good to us — that he is not really generous and helpful and kind and tender, but is basically irked with us — ill-disposed and angry.

Sometimes, even if we believe in our heads that God is good to us, we may feel in our hearts that his goodness is somehow forced or constrained, perhaps like a judge who has been maneuvered by a clever attorney into a corner on some technicality of court proceeding, so he has to dismiss the charges against the prisoner whom he really would rather send to jail.

But Jesus is at pains to help us not feel that way about God. He is striving in Luke 12:32 to describe for us the indescribable worth and excellency of God’s soul by showing the unbridled pleasure he takes in giving us the kingdom.

“Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” Every little word of this stunning sentence is intended to help take away the fear that Jesus knows we struggle with; namely, that God begrudges his benefits; that he is constrained and out of character when he does nice things; that at bottom he is angry and loves to vent his anger.

Luke 12:32 is a sentence about the nature of God. It’s about the kind of heart God has. It’s a verse about what makes God glad — not merely about what God will do or what he has to do, but what he delights to do, what he loves to do and takes pleasure in doing. Every word counts. “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”

DEATH IS THE BEGINNING OF LIFE IN ETERNITY!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

FRIDAY JULY 01, 2022.

SUBJECT: DEATH IS THE BEGINNING OF LIFE IN ETERNITY! 

Memory verse: "He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end." (Ecclesiastes 3 vs 11.)

READ: Ecclesiastes 12 vs 5; John 17 vs 3:

Ecclesiastes 12:5: Also they are afraid of height, and terrors in the way; when the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper is a burden, and desire fails. For man goes to his eternal home, and the mourners go about the streets.

John 17:3: And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.

INTIMATION:

You are created to live forever. Life on earth is not all there is. It is just the beginning of life, it is the preparation for the next. Death marks the beginning of life on the other side—in eternity. You will spend far more time on the other side of death than you will here. Earth is only a tryout for your life in eternity. It is a practice workout before the actual game. 

Death is not the end of you. It isn't your termination because you can't be terminated. Death is only a transition into eternity, and there are eternal consequences for everything you do on earth, leading to the part of the eternal divide you will forever live.

Even though we know that everyone will eventually die, death always seems unnatural and unfair, even at a hundred and twenty years. The reason we feel we should live forever is that God wired our brains with that desire! (Ecclesiastes 3 vs 11.) One day your heart will stop pumping, and that marks the end of your body and your time on earth, but it will not be the end of you. Your earthly body is just a temporary residence for your real self—your spirit.

At most, you will live a hundred and twenty years on earth (Genesis 6 vs 3), but you will live forever in eternity. Your time on earth is but a small parenthesis to eternal life. You are made to last forever. 

The plain truth is that while life on earth offers many chances, eternity offers only two; heaven or hell. Your relationship with God on earth will determine your relationship with Him in eternity. If you learn to love and trust God's Son, Jesus, accept His finished work on the cross for you, and confess Him as your Lord and Savior, you are given the legal right to be the child of God, heir of God, joint heir with His Son, and will spend the rest of eternity with Him. On the other hand, if you reject Him, reject His love, forgiveness, and salvation, thereby committing the only unforgivable sin, you will spend eternity away from God—in hell. 

There are two kinds of people: those who say to God, 'Your Will be done,' and those to whom God says, 'All right then, have it your way.' Tragically, many people will have to endure eternity without God because they chose to live without Him here on earth. 

When you fully comprehend that there is more to life than just here and now, and you realize that life is just a preparation for eternity, you will start living in the light of eternity, and that will color how you handle every relationship, task, and circumstance you are involved in on earth. Suddenly many activities, goals, and even problems that seemed so important will appear trivial, petty, and unworthy of your attention. 

The closer you live to God, the smaller everything else appears. Eternity focused life changes your value system. You use your time and money wisely. You place higher premium on relationships and character instead of fame or wealth or achievements or even fun. Your priorities are reordered. Keeping up with trends, fashions, and popular values just doesn't matter as much anymore. 

The Scripture in Philippians 3 vs 7 says, "But what things were gain to me, I have counted loss for Christ." The apostle Paul said he thought his past achievements were very important, but now he considers them worthless when compared with what Christ has done for him. If our time here on earth is all there is to life, we would live as if there is no tomorrow. You could exploit life as much as you could, forget being good and ethical, and wouldn't have to worry about any consequences of your actions. You could indulge yourself in total self-centeredness because your actions would have no long-term repercussions. 

Unfortunately, life is beyond our days on this earth. Lead your life in consciousness of eternity with God as your driving force.

Prayer: Abba Father, one thing I have desired of You, that I will seek after, that the eyes of my understanding being enlightened; that I may know what is the hope of Your calling, and what the riches of the glory of Your inheritance in the saints, and I may dwell in Your house forever, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

FINANCIAL FREEDOM AND STEWARDSHIP!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

THURSDAY JUNE 30, 2022.

SUBJECT: FINANCIAL FREEDOM AND STEWARDSHIP! 

Memory verse: "No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon." (Luke 16 vs 13.)

READ: Luke 16 vs 9 - 13:

16:9: And I say to you, make friends for yourselves by unrighteous mammon, that when you fail, they may receive you into an everlasting home.

16:10: He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much. 

16:11: Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? 

16:12: And if you have not been faithful in what is another man's, who will give you what is your own?

16:13: No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.

INTIMATION:

The discussion on financial stewardship, and financial freedom is strictly based on the Scriptures. Financial relates to money or financial matters. A steward is one entrusted with managing of another person's property or affairs. Financial stewardship deals with handling or managing of money or financial matters. 

Many misunderstand stewardship. When they read or hear that word they think of hard work or obligation. In fact, the truth is just the opposite. As you will learn, seeing yourself as  a steward of God's resources is the only way to true financial freedom.

The importance of this subject is reflected in how much the Scriptures teach about it. The Bible has more to say about finances than most Bible doctrines like heaven, hell, faith or prayer. The influence of money in our lives is very real, so it isn't surprising that Jesus taught more on the subject of money than any other single topic. In fact one quarter of Jesus' teachings is based on finances. He taught more of managing resources than He did on prayer or even faith; and this tells us that the topic of money, and how we handle it, is very important.

I know that money is a sore subject that a lot of people want to avoid, but in my considered opinion, learning how God views finances is basic Christianity. Let us look at what Jesus said in the passage we read today. Jesus said in Luke 16 vs 9, “And I say to you, make friends for yourselves by unrighteous mammon, that when you fail, they may receive you into an everlasting home.” 

Your selfishness with money is ungodly. God has only entrusted the financial resources in your hands. It is not yours. God owns all  resources.  We are to make wise use of the financial opportunities we have. And proper use of the resources entrusted in our care by the Owner is paramount in how we use it to earn eternal benefit. For instance, If we use our money to help those in need or to help others find Christ, our earthly investment will bring eternal benefit. Unselfish use of the possessions entrusted into our care by God is inherent in our obeying God’s Will. 

In the verses 10 - 12, Jesus emphasized on our integrity on money matters. Our integrity often meets its match in money matters. Jesus used money and people's attitude towards money to reveal their hearts. God calls us to be honest even in small details we could easily rationalize away. Heaven's riches are far more valuable than earthly wealth. But if we are not trustworthy with our money here (no matter how much or little we have), we will be unfit to handle the vast riches of God's kingdom.

Money has the power to take God's place in our life. It can become your master. How can you tell if you are a slave to money? (1) Do you think or worry about it frequently? (2) Do you give up doing what you should do or would like to do in order to make more money? (3) Do you spend a great deal of your time caring for your possessions? (4) Is it hard for you to give money away? (5) Are you in debt? (6) Is your value system money oriented? (7) Is your measure of success on financial,possessions?

In our memory verse, Jesus talked about serving two masters—God and mammon, that is serving the Creator, and the created. You cannot serve both the created (money) and the Creator (God). Money is a hard master and a deceptive one. Its deception is enormous. Wealth promises power and control, but often it cannot deliver. Great fortunes can be made, and lost overnight, and no amount of money can provide health, happiness, or eternal life.

Obviously, what the Bible has to say about financial stewardship is different from most of what you will hear from business sources that teach on "asset management." God doesn't operate by this world's system, and it's more important for us to understand how God's financial system works than it is to understand London Stock Exchange or Wall Street.

How much better it is to let God be your Master. His servants have peace of mind and security, both now and forever. God has let us with a choice. Who do you serve? God or mammon?

Prayer: Abba Father, all things are Yours, and You have given us all things for our enjoyment. Give me the grace for proper management of the resources You entrusted into my care, that I may use it for Your purposes and Your eternal glory, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

Heaven’s Relief in the Coming Wrath

 

God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to grant relief to you who are afflicted . . . when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. (2 Thessalonians 1:6–8)

There will come a time when the patience of God is over. When God has seen his people suffer for the allotted time, and the appointed number of martyrs is complete (Revelation 6:11), then a just and holy vengeance will come from heaven.

Notice that God’s vengeance on those who have afflicted his people is experienced by us as “relief.” “God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to grant relief to you who are afflicted.” In other words, the judgment on “those who afflict” us is a form of grace toward us.

Perhaps the most remarkable picture of judgment as grace is the picture of Babylon’s destruction in Revelation 18. At her destruction, a great voice from heaven cries, “Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you saints and apostles and prophets, for God has given judgment for you against her!” (Revelation 18:20). Then a great multitude is heard saying, “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, for his judgments are true and just; for he has judged the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her immorality, and has avenged on her the blood of his servants” (Revelation 19:1–2).

When God’s patience has run its long-suffering course, and this age is over, and judgment comes on the enemies of God’s people, the saints will not disapprove of God’s justice.

This means that the final destruction of the unrepentant will not be experienced as a misery for God’s people.

The unwillingness of others to repent will not hold the affections of the saints hostage. Hell will not be able to blackmail heaven into misery. God’s judgment will be approved, and the saints will experience the vindication of truth as a great grace.

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LIFE AS A TRUST!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

WEDNESDAY JUNE 29, 2022.

SUBJECT: LIFE AS A TRUST! 

Memory verse: "The earth is the Lord's and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell therein." (Psalm 24 vs 1.)

READ: John 3 vs 27; James 1 vs 17; First Corinthians 4 vs 7:

John 3:27: A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven.

James 1:17: Every good and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.

First Corinthians 4:7: For who makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?

INTIMATION:

Our time on earth, our energy, intelligence, opportunities, relationships, and resources are gifts from God that He has entrusted to our care and management. We are stewards of whatever God gives us. This concept of stewardship begins with the recognition that God is the Owner of everything and everyone on earth.

We never really own anything during our brief stay on earth. It is for this reason we come into the world bringing nothing with us at birth, and takes nothing away with us at death. God loans the earth to us while we're here. The Owner is God, and has only given us right to use when we come in. And He will give the same right to another when you depart in death. You just get to enjoy it for a while. Because the earth is the Lord's, all of us are stewards, or caretakers. We should be committed to proper management of this world and its resources.

In the beginning, God created the world—the heaven and the earth, and all therein. He created man last, and empowered man to have dominion over all other creations of His. When God created Adam and Eve, He entrusted the care of His creation to them and appointed them trustees of His property. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth." (Genesis 1 vs 28.) 

The first assignment God handed over to humans was to manage and take care of His property while here on earth. This role has never been rescinded. This stewardship Is the major part of our purpose on earth. Everything is in our care, every gifts are all from God, and should be treated as a trust that God has placed in our hands. 

Unfortunately, the common culture amongst us is to careless about what you don't own. But that is not God's idea. Christians should live by a higher standard: "Because God owns it, I must take the best care of it to the best of my ability." The apostle Paul stated this in First Corinthians 4 vs 2, "Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful."

The faithful servant does the master's bidding, he does what the master tells him to do. We must do what God (our Master) tells us to do in His Owner’s Manual—the Bible, and through our Helper—the Holy Spirit. Each day God presents us with needs and opportunities that challenges us to do what we know is right.

Jesus often referred to life as a trust and told many stories to illustrate this responsibility toward God. In the story of the loaned money (the talents), in Matthew 25 vs 14 - 29, a businessman entrusts his wealth to the care of his servants while he’s away. When he returns, he evaluates each servant's responsibility and rewards them accordingly. Those who did well, in line with his expectations, he says, "Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy your Lord." (Matthew 25 vs 21.)

At the end of your life on earth you will be evaluated and rewarded according to how well you handled what God entrusted to you. That means everything you do, even simple daily chores, has eternal implications. If you treat everything as a trust, God promises three rewards in eternity. First, you will be given God's affirmation: He will say, "Good job! Well done!" Next, you will receive a promotion and be given greater responsibility in eternity: "I will make you ruler over many things." Then you will be honored with a celebration: "Enter into the joy your Lord." 

Prayer: Abba Father, You are faithful and forever remains faithful. Endue me with the spirit of faithfulness to You in all things, that I may be found worthy of Your approval, and be given the crown of glory in eternity, in Jesus’ matchless Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!