CRAVE FOR THE GREATEST GIFT!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

SUNDAY JANUARY 15, 2023.

SUBJECT: CRAVE FOR THE GREATEST GIFT!

Memory verse: "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, as I have loved you, that you also love one another." (John 13 vs 34.)

READ: First Corinthians 13  vs 1 - 9 & 13:

13:1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.

13:2: And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

13:3: And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

13:4: Love suffers long, and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;

13:5: does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil;

13:6:does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;

13:7: bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

13:8: Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.

13:9: For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.

13:13: And now abide faith, hope, love,!these three; but the greatest of these is love. 

INTIMATION:

Love is the greatest of all human qualities and is an attribute of God Himself (First John 4 vs 8). Love involves unselfish service to others. Love is more important than all the spiritual gifts exercised in the Church body. Great faith, acts of dedication or sacrifice, and miracle-working power have little effect without love. Love makes our actions and gifts useful. Although people have different gifts, love is available to everyone. 

Love exceeds the value of the miraculous gifts since the miraculous gifts will pass away. Therefore, love must be the center of of our behavior. Since the miraculous gifts will pass away, love will be object that will guarantee the unity of the faithful after the passing of the miraculous gifts. The gifts brought unity because they were the work of the one Spirit. However, love would bring unity of the loving unity of the people. 

Love never fails in comparison to the miraculous gifts that would pass away. Though the ministries that came from the gifts would pass away, the ministries that would spring forth from a heart of love would never pass away. Time will come when the gifts of prophecy, language and knowledge would no longer be available. They would pass away because they weren’t longer needed. The apostle Paul used these three miraculous gifts to represent all miraculous gifts. 

In the passage we read today, the apostle Paul uses the Greek word agape for love. This is the primary Greek word that is used for expressing unconditional love. This is the word that is used in the New Testament to refer to man’s active response to God, as well as his godly relationship with his brother. 

Our society confuses love with lust. Unlike lust, God’s kind of love is directed outward toward others, not inward toward ourselves. It is utterly unselfish. This kind of love goes against our natural inclinations. It is impossible to have this love unless God helps us set aside our own natural desires so that we can love and not expect anything in return. Thus, the more we become like Christ, the more love we will show to others.

Without love the ability to miraculously teach the word of God is empty. Without love the privilege of understanding all things in reference to God’s work among men is useless. Without love that moves us to respond to our brother’s needs, the ability of one to remain personally faithful to God is useless. One could legally perform the duties of his beliefs after a meritorious manner. However, the doings of such is worthless without being moved by a heart of love. One could meritoriously give himself into the hands of those who could persecute him to death for his faith. However, if the giving is not in love response to the grace of God, then it is useless. 

In respect of love (agapao) as used of God, it expresses the deep and constant love and interest of a perfect Being towards entirely unworthy objects, producing and fostering a reverential love in them towards the Giver, and a practical love towards those who are partakers of the same, and a desire to help others to seek the Giver. 

The actions of life the apostle Paul mentions in these first three verses of the passage we read  are good works. However, meritorious performances do not prepare one’s character for eternal dwelling in heaven. One can meritoriously do the works without a heart of love, but he cannot love without doing the works. It is a heart of love that is essential for one to be able to dwell in heaven.

There are fifteen qualities explained in the passage we read today concerning the nature of love. The apostle Paul personifies love as one who manifests specific characteristics. These are qualities that are manifested in one’s relationship with his fellow man. In this case, this should be the nature of the Christians’ relationship with one another in their behavior as disciples of Jesus. 

The qualities of love stated in the passage are: (1)  Suffers long, (2) Kind, (3) Not envy, (4) Not exalt itself, (5) Not puffed up, (6) Not behave unbecomingly, (7) Not seek its own, (8) Not easily provoked, (9) Thinks no evil, (10) Not rejoice in iniquity, (11) Rejoices in truth, (12) Bears all things, (13) Believes all things (14) Hopes all things, (15) Endures all things. 

Faith, hope and love must prevail in order that Christianity continue. Faith and hope refer to the individual’s personal relationship with God. However, love refers to the individual’s relationship with his fellow brother on earth. Since the Church is the fellowship of God’s people on earth, love must prevail in order to offer members an atmosphere of preparation for eternal dwelling. Faith and hope will have no reward of eternal dwelling if there is no personal relationship with one’s brother in Christ. 

It is for this reason love is the primary objective of the faithful, since it is the loving faithful who will be rewarded with eternal life in heavenly environment. Faith and hope keep one pointed in the right direction, the direction of heaven. But it is love that will transition our lives into eternal glory.

Faith is the foundation and content of God’s message, hope is the attitude and focus; love is the action. When faith and hope are in line, you are free to love completely because you understand how God loves. Does your faith fully express itself in loving others?

Prayer: Abba Father, I crave for the greatest gift of love. Endue me with the excellent spirit of love according to Your nature that I will walk in love for You and for my neighbor in fulfillment of Your law, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

The 

PRAISE GOD ALWAYS!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

SATURDAY JANUARY 14, 2023..

SUBJECT: PRAISE GOD ALWAYS! 

Memory verse: "Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name." (Hebrews 13 vs 15.) 

READ: Psalm 103 vs 1 - 6:

103:1: Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless His holy name!

103:2: Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits:

103:3: Who forgives all your iniquities; who heals all your diseases;

103:4: Who redeems your life from destruction, who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, 

193:5: Who satisfies your mouth with good things; so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

103:6: The LORD executes righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed.

INTIMATION:

Praise expresses admiration, appreciation, and thanks. Praise to God is expressing our appreciation and understanding of His worth. When we praise God we help ourselves by expanding our awareness of who He is. It is saying thank You for each aspect of His divine nature. We praise God not only for what He does: His creation, His blessings, His forgiveness, but also for who He is: loving, just, faithful, forgiving, patient. Our inward attitude becomes outward expression. Considering all that God has done for us, what could be more natural than outbursts of heartfelt praise? 

Singing praises to God can have a positive effect in our attitude. We need to always express our gratitude to God, thanking Him, praising Him, and telling others about Him. Songs of praise focus our attention on God, give us an outlet for spiritual celebration, and remind us of God’s faithfulness and character. Whether you are experiencing a great victory or a major dilemma, from the depths of your gratitude, you must praise Him, and you should share the Good News with others. David made a vow to praise God each day (Psalm 61 vs 8). David, the man after God’s heart, continually praised God through both the good and difficult times of his life. 

Praise and thanksgiving should be a regular part of our routine, not reserved only for celebrations. Our worship should begin by acknowledging God’s love. Praise God first, then you will be prepared to present your needs to Him. Recalling God’s love and mercy will inspire you to worship Him daily. Praise God continually, and you will find that you won’t take His blessings for granted. Beginning a task by praising God can inspire us to give Him our best. Develop the practice of giving praise to God, and you will experience greater joy and strength to face anything.

In the passage we read today, David’s praise focused on the good things God was doing for him. It is easy to complain about life, but David’s list gives us plenty for which to praise God. He forgives our sins, heals our diseases, redeems us from death, crowns us with lovingkindness and tender mercies, satisfies our desires, and gives righteousness and justice. We receive all of these without deserving any of them. No matter how difficult your life’s journey, you can always count your blessings—past, present, and future. When you feel as though you have nothing for which to praise God, read David’s list. 

What does praise do? (1) Praise takes our minds off our problems and shortcomings and help us focus on God. (2) Praise leads us from individual meditation to corporate worship. (3) Praise causes us to consider and appreciate God’s character. (4) Praise lifts our perspective from the earthly to the heavenly. (5) Praise prepares our hearts to receive God’s love and the power of His Holy Spirit.

Although the Bible invites us to praise God, we often aren’t sure how to go about it. Several ways are suggested: by singing, dancing, or playing musical instruments. God enjoys His people, and we should enjoy praising Him. Praising God first puts us in the right frame of mind to tell Him about our needs. Too often our prayers are more like shopping lists than conversations. We should consider praise an acts of sacrifice—“sacrifice of our lips” and we could offer it anywhere, anytime. 

No matter what our circumstances, we should praise God. Praise brings God to your situation. In Acts 16, Paul and Silas were stripped, beaten, and placed in stocks in the cell. Stocks were made of two boards joined with iron clamps, leaving holes just big enough for the ankles. Paul and Silas, who had committed no crime and who were peaceful men, were put in stocks designed for holding the most dangerous prisoners in absolute security. Despite this dismal situation, they praised God, praying and singing as the other prisoners listened. Then God showed up, and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken, and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's stocks were loosed. 

The keeper of the prison and his household gave their lives to Christ and the first church in the city was borne in his house. It’s noteworthy that it was in the same prison that John the Baptist was kept, but instead praising God, He was offended in Jesus, and questioned if He was the long awaited Christ. He eventually was beheaded at the request of the King’s daughter.

Prayer: Abba Father, great are You LORD, and greatly to be praised. Endue me the spirit of gratitude to You in all things and at all times, that I will glory in You in all circumstances. And every day I will bless You, and I will praise Your name for ever and ever, in Jesus’ great Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD! 

No Substitute For Prayer

 Jesus said, “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened” (Matthew 7:7-8).

If you need one thing in this life, you can perhaps substitute something else, but there is no substitute for prayer—not eloquence, intellect, energy, enthusiasm, nor intention. There is no substitute for prayer.

I believe the greatest resource in the world is prayer. We think if somehow we could harness lightning, somehow tap into the resources of the mighty tides of the ocean as they ebb and flow, we would have awesome power. But the greatest untapped resource is not earthly energy, it is prevailing prayer.

I don’t have a failure in my life except that of a prayer failure. I don’t have a sin in my life that proper prayer wouldn’t have avoided. I don’t have a need in my life that cannot be met through prevailing prayer. What fools we are if we don’t pray!

GROWTH THROUGH PRAYER

 There is nothing more important than prayer to help you grow as a Christian. You see, when you abide in the Lord Jesus Christ and He abides in you, then you are growing as you pray.

Have you ever wondered why God doesn’t answer your prayer immediately? Because He wants you to grow some more. Sometimes we come to God and we say, “God please do this.” But there is something God wants us to do first.

Prayer is the way of developing our spiritual walk. We pray, then go back to God and ask, “Why didn’t You answer my prayer?” And the Holy Spirit tells you that there is sin in your life. The Holy Spirit tells you that you have been selfish or jealous or prideful, or more.

Romans 8:26 says, “Likewise the Spirit also helps our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”

If God were to just answer our prayers automatically, then there would be no growth. But if we never had to pray, there would be no dependence. The wisest thing we can do is to learn how to pray. Prayer is God’s way of bonding us to Him.

BE IMITATORS OF GOD—WALK IN LOVE!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

FRIDAY JANUARY 13, 2023.

SUBJECT: BE IMITATORS OF GOD—WALK IN LOVE!

Memory verse: "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, as I have loved you, that you also love one another." (John 13 vs 34.)

READ: Ephesians 5 vs 1 - 7:

5:1: Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.

5:2: And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering, and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling aroma.

INTIMATION:

Love concerns the attitude of one toward another. Love is the essential nature of God. It can be known only from the actions it prompts. For instance, God’s Love is seen in the gift of His Son as a propitiation for the sins of the whole world: “In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” (First John 4 vs 9 - 11.)

Love has its perfect expression among us in the Lord Jesus Christ. God’s love is obviously not the love of complacency, or affection, that is, it was not drawn out of any excellency in its objects—not of any good in us; “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5 vs 8.) It was an exercise of the Divine will in deliberate choice, made without assignable cause save that which lies in the nature of God Himself. God sent Jesus to die for us, not because we were good enough, but just because He loved us, in accord with His nature.

In respect of love used for God, it expresses the deep and constant love and interest of a perfect Being—God—towards entirely unworthy objects—us, exchanging what is of limitless value with what is completely worthless! It produces and fosters a reverential love in us towards the Giver—God, and a practical love towards us that are partakers of the same, and should put a desire in us to help others to seek God.

Christian love has God for its primary object, and expresses itself first of all in implicit obedience to His commandments; “If you love Me, keep My commandments.’ (John 14 vs 15.) Self-will, that is, self-pleasing, is the negation of love to God. Christian love, whether exercised toward the brethren, or toward men generally, is not an impulse from the feelings, it does not always run with the natural inclinations, nor does it spend itself only upon those for whom some affinity is discovered; it ought to have no boundaries.

Love seeks the welfare of all (Romans 15 vs 2), and works no ill to any (Romans 13 vs 8 - 10). Love seeks opportunity to do good to all, and especially toward them that are of the household of the faith (Galatians 6 vs 10). See further First Corinthians 13 and Colossians 3 vs 12 - 14.

Our memory verse embodies the concept of walking in love. For the Bible says, “Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not bear false witness,” “You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to a neighbor, therefore; love is the fulfillment of the law.” (Romans 13 vs 8 - 10.)

Love is considered something we owe, because we are permanently in debt to Christ for the lavish love He has poured out on us. The only way we can even begin to repay this debt is by fulfilling our obligation to love others in turn. Because Christ’s love will always be infinitely greater than ours, we will always have the obligation to love our neighbor. Jesus said, “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” (John 15 vs 13.) We may not have to die for someone, but there are other ways to practice sacrificial love; listening, helping, encouraging, giving, and so on.

Walking in love fulfills the law. For the Scripture says, “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6 vs 2.) Look around you today, and you will definitely find someone that needs your love—your help, and seize the opportunity to help the person, and thereby walk in love.

Prayer: Abba Father, You are love and our loving Father, and Your love is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given to us. Give me the grace to walk in love for You and my neighbor, fulfilling Your law, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

GRIEVE NOT THE HOLY SPIRIT!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

THURSDAY JANUARY 12, 2023.

SUBJECT: GRIEVE NOT THE HOLY SPIRIT!

Memory verse: "And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” (Ephesians 4 vs 30.) 

READ: Ephesians 4 vs 25 - 32:

4:25: Therefore putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” For we are members of one another.

4:26: “Be angry, and do not sin”; do not let the sun go down on your wrath,

4:27: nor give place to the devil.

4:28: Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.

4:29: Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.

4:30: And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

4:31: Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.

4:32: And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

INTIMATION:

Grieving the Holy Spirit is willfully thwarting his leading by disobedience or rebellion, tossing aside the gifts the Holy Spirit gives. When you do this, you bring sorrow to the Spirit by the way you live. In our memory verse, the word grieve is used as a verb, meaning: “to cause to feel grief or sorrow.” In other words, the Scripture is exhorting us not to cause the Holy Spirit to feel grief or sorrow as a result of our choices. We grieve the Holy Spirit by not allowing ourselves to be led by Him, but choosing our own ways instead. We grieve the Holy Spirit by not obeying Him.

The Holy Spirit is given to us as our Helper; He is our Leader, Empowerer, Encourager, Advocate, Intercessor, Standby, Strengthener, Counselor, Comforter, Revealer of the truth, and gift-giver. He brings wisdom, understanding, knowledge, and the fear of God (Isaiah 11 vs 2). He also brings abundance (Isaiah 32 vs 15). Therefore, grieving the Holy Spirit puts you at risk of losing His services in the afore-referenced areas.

The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God and knows the things of God; “But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit: for the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? Even so no man the knows the things of God except the Spirit of God.” (First Corinthians 2 vs 10 - 11.)

He reveals the deep things of God, and empowers with the knowledge of the things of God, and encourages us to walk in that knowledge with His help. He is our master Counselor, and is on standby; ever ready to assist us if we cooperate with Him. If we grieve Him, He withdraws His assistance, and consequently, we grope in the dark, walking out of the path of life ordained for us, thereby making mistakes and wrong choices that are unpleasant to God.

It is noteworthy that a Christian cannot lead a fulfilling life, pleasing to God, and in accord to His precepts without the help of the Holy Spirit. We cannot overcome sin without the help of the Holy Spirit, therefore, it is very important how you respond when He speaks to you. When you realize that you cannot live a life of overcoming sin. “Victory over sin” means that you do not commit conscious sin—that which you know would be sin at that time when you are tempted. It doesn’t mean that you are without sin, but that temptation is overcome before it can become sin without the help of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, it becomes very important to you how you respond to the Holy Spirit when He speaks to you. 

You  have to listen to His voice! We live in a fast-paced society, and most of us live a fast-paced lifestyle, with fast travel, fast communication, fast access to a wealth of information, etc. If in the middle of this you do not consciously “set your mind on the things of the Spirit,” you will not be able to hear His still, small voice in your heart of hearts. When you do not listen to Him, you end up grieving the Holy Spirit, because He has so much to tell you that will bring you joy and happiness, and lead you to a life of freedom from sin.

Sin is anything that goes against God’s will and His laws. To commit sin is to transgress or disobey these laws. 

The lust to sin dwells in human nature. In other words, it is contaminated and motivated by the sinful tendencies that dwell in all people as a result of the fall into sin and disobedience in the garden of Eden. Jesus called the Holy Spirit “The Helper,” and also said: “When He, the Spirit of truth is come, He will guide you into all truth.” (John 16 vs 13.) All Christians are called to follow in the footsteps of Jesus, He who did no sin. You need to be led step by step because you cannot find the way by yourself. The Spirit will never force you—He wants to lead you into a life of victory, the happiest and most fulfilling life a person can ever live. The Holy Spirit will always lead you on a path of humility because He knows that is the only access road to an overcoming life. 

You grieve the Holy Spirit by not allowing yourself to be led, but choosing your own way instead. God gives His Holy Spirit to those who obey Him. The Bible makes it clear that the Holy Spirit and the flesh—our human nature—are in total opposition to each other. So you cannot live according to your natural inclinations and at the same time obey the Spirit. That is why we read in the passage today, “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God … let all bitterness, wrath, anger, loud quarrelling, and evil speaking be put away from you with all malice.” You grieve the Holy Spirit by not obeying Him.

The good news is that the Holy Spirit is also the One who gives us power to obey and power to overcome all these tendencies in our nature! When God sees your sincere desire to obey Him, He will send His Holy Spirit to help you do just that. Jesus told His disciples that they would receive power when the Holy Spirit came upon them. Just like a thirsty person in the desert drinks deeply from a spring of fresh water, you must drink deeply of God’s Holy Spirit—be filled with His Spirit—if you want to live an abundant Christian life.

God’s Spirit is in His Word. When you drink deeply of this fountain and of the spirit of faith that is in the Word, you will have power in temptation to overcome sin and do God’s will instead of your own. We grieve the Holy Spirit by wandering around in the desert of our own thoughts and ways, too busy or too lazy to drink from the fountain of faith and power that is in God’s Word.

Therefore, grieving the Holy Spirit is totally unnecessary! He knows that we are weak, and that we don’t even know what to pray for in the right way, but He is there to help us in our need, and to pray for us so that we can find God’s will and do it. (Romans 8 vs 26 - 27.) Then we will truly experience the comfort of the Holy Spirit as well as His power.

Prayer: Abba Father, ever loving and compassionate Father, give me the grace and empowerment never to grieve the Holy Spirit, my great source of help in all things pleasing to God, in Jesus‘ Name I have prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

REAL WEALTH

 Many people think they are wealthy when they’re not. It’s a strange thing. There was a program on television called “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous.” Have you seen it? A better name might be “The Lifestyles of the Rich and Foolish.”

Now, why do you think I’d make such a statement? Because I believe that money doesn’t make a man rich. Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, said, “He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity” (Ecclesiastes 5:10).

One day, a man of modest income said to a man who was very rich, “I have more than you have.” The rich man said, “How is that so?” He answered, “Because I have all I want, and you don’t.” A rich man is a poor man when he tries to find satisfaction in what he has. A rich man is a poor man when his wealth increases his worry.

If you set your goal to be wealthy, you’re going to have difficulty. When wealth is your goal, then money becomes your master rather than your servant.

God’s Word says, “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matthew 6:21).