FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT OF FAITH!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

MONDAY JANUARY 16, 2023.

SUBJECT: FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT OF FAITH!

Memory verse: "Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses." (First Timothy 6 vs 12.)

READ: Second Timothy 4 vs 6 -8:

4:6: For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand.

4:7: I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

4:8: Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge will give me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.

INTIMATION:

Christianity is a religion that anchors on our faith in God the Father and Jesus Christ—His Son, and in what Jesus wrought for us in redemption—death on the cross for our sins and remission of the sins of those who believe in His substitutional work for us. It’s also faith in His resurrection from the dead for our hope in eternal life with Him. Our faith is exercised in our day to day lives as we commit to doing all the commandments of Jesus as the adequate response to what He did for us. Christianity is not a passive religion that advocates waiting for God to act while we watch. Your believe or faith must be active; training, working hard, sacrificing, and doing what is right. 

Christianity is a faithful calling by God into relationship with Him, and fellowship with His Son. He is calling us to come and walk with His Son, to live with Him, to carry on the Son's work in His absence. The obedience and discipline associated in this “calling” is hard work. But the beauty of the work is that we are not alone; an Helper—the Holy Spirit, has been freely given to us by God the Father and the Son to help us in the fight. To fight the good fight of faith is to allow faith do its work in us. It’s to contend perseveringly against opposition and temptations of your faith in God. 

The main elements of faith in its relation to the invisible God, as distinct from faith in man, are; (1) a firm conviction, producing a full acknowledgement of God’s revelation or truth; (2) a personal surrender to Him; (3) a conduct inspired by such surrender. In fighting a good fight of faith, all these elements are given prominence in the life of the believer.

As followers of Christ, our goal is to know Him, to be like Him, and to be all He has in mind for us. This goal should take all of our energies, and not let anything take our eyes off our goal. With the single-mindedness of an athlete in training, we must lay aside everything harmful and forsake anything that may distract us from being effective Christians. Therefore, we should give up whatever endangers our relationship with God, run with endurance, and engage the power of the Holy Spirit in our struggle against sin. 

As Christians, we are running toward our heavenly reward. The essential disciplines of prayer, Bible study, and worship equip us to run with vigor and stamina. To run effectively, we must keep our eye on Jesus. We will stumble if we look away from Him to stare at ourselves or at the circumstances surrounding us. The winning streak in our faith fight is self-discipline, and it requires an honest look at your strengths and weaknesses, with emphasis on the latter. It means building the will to say no when a powerful appetite inside you screams yes. For example, when you have self-discipline, you can (1) say no to friends or situations that will lead you away from Christ, and (2) say no to casual sex, saving intimacy for marriage. 

Self-discipline is a long, steady course in learning attitudes that do not come naturally, and requires our channeling natural appetites toward God’s purposes. We all have our weak points, and should pray for God’s help to redirect weaknesses into strength. We can lose our privilege of telling others about Christ in our self-disqualification by not living rightly. It is easy to tell others how to live then not to take our own advice. We must be careful to practice what we preach.

The Scripture, in Hebrews 12 vs 1 - 2, says, “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” We have read in the Bible of many that fought the good fight of faith and prevailed, and even now we have so many great cloud of witnesses around us today. This simply tells us it is doable. To effectively run the race, we must not let anything deter us; life’s circumstances, worldly pressures, and pleasures. We must strip off the excess weight that slows us down. 

How can we do that? (1) Be God-focused, “looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.” (2) Drop certain activities that are distractions to your heavenly race, choose friends who are also committed to the race. Wrong friends will have values and activities that may deter you from the course. Much of your own weight may result from the crowd you run with. Make wise choices. (3) Get help for addictions that disable you. For instance, if you have a secret weight such as pornography, gambling, or alcohol, admit your need and get help today.

Prayer: Abba Father, endue me with a warrior spirit to enable me fight the good fight of faith, drawing strength from the advocacy and intercession of the Holy Spirit, with my eyes focused on my final destination—eternity in heaven with You, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

NEVER WOULD I MAKE IT BY MARVI SAAP

 

Unasked Prayer

 Do you know the greatest problem in prayer is not unanswered prayer? It is unasked prayer. Most of us don’t even get to the asking part. James 4:2c says, “Ye have not, because ye ask not.”

Unoffered prayer is not merely a tragedy, it is a sin. Samuel said, “Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way” (1 Samuel 12:23).

Over and over again, the Bible not only invites us to pray—the Bible commands us to pray. The Bible says of Jesus, “And He spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint” (Luke 18:1).

The Lord Jesus said in Mark 14:38, “Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak.” The Apostle Paul said, “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God” (Philippians 4:6).

One reason you are so full of care right now is because you have not truly learned how to pray. You are to ask God for everything that you need.

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.