RETURN GOOD FOR EVIL! - PART 1

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

FRIDAY MARCH 17, 2023.

SUBJECT : RETURN GOOD FOR EVIL! - PART 1

Memory verse: "See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all." (First Thessalonians 5 vs 15.)

READ: Matthew 5 vs 38 - 44; First Peter 3 vs 8 - 9:

Matthew 5:38: "You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.'

5:39: But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. 

5:40: If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also.

5:41: And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.

5:42: Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.

5:43: You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'

5:44: But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,

First Peter 3:8: Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous;

3:9: not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing.

INTIMATION:

Evil is associated with the devil, and good is associated with God. "Devil" is a translation of the Greek word "Diabolos," that means; an accuser, a slanderer, a maligner. "Devil" is one of the names of Satan, the malignant enemy of God and man. He accuses man to God (Job 1 vs 6 - 11; 2 vs 1 - 5; Revelation 12 vs 9 - 10), and God to man (Genesis 3). He afflicts men with physical suffering (Acts 10 vs 38).

Satan, the devil, is himself sinful, and never practices righteousness, that is, never just or right. Anybody who does such things enumerated above is of the devil; "He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning..." (First John 3 vs 8). Satan, the devil, instigated man to sin (Genesis 3), and tempts man to do evil, and encouraging him thereto by deception:

"In which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others." (Ephesians 2 vs 2 - 3.) 

It is often fashionable, in this our fallen world, to tear people down verbally or get back at them, if we feel hurt. God encourages us to pay back wrongs by praying for the offenders. In God's kingdom, revenge is an unacceptable behavior, and therefore, is ungodly. Rise above getting back at those who hurt you. Instead of reacting angrily to these people, pray for them.

In our memory verse, the apostle Peter warns us against returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling (abusing, maligning, belittling, defaming, or deriding). But, on the contrary, we should bless our offenders, knowing that God called you to this, and in so doing, we inherit a blessing: "But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you." (Matthew 5 vs 44).) 

It is difficult or near impossible, in this fallen world to love your enemies, or bless those who curse you, or do good to those who hate you. When we are wronged or feel wronged, often our first reaction is to get even. Instead, Jesus said we should do good to those who wrong us! Our desire should not be to keep score but to love and forgive. However, this is not natural, but supernatural! 

If you love your enemies and treat them well, you will truly show that Jesus is Lord of your life, and this is only possible for those who give themselves fully to God, because only Him can deliver people from natural selfishness. Only Him gives us strength to love as He does. Instead of planning vengeance pray for those who hurt you. Our praying for our offenders rather than revenge helps us not to take laws into our hands and we then overcome evil with good.

Jesus, our Messiah, and 'role model,' prayed for His enemies, His accusers, His persecutors, who abused, maligned, belittled, defamed, and derided Him, even on the weight of excruciating pains as He hung of the cross; "....Father forgive them, for they know not what they do...." (Luke 23 vs 24.)

To be continued!

Prayer: Abba Father, give me the grace to live justly and practice righteousness. Strengthen me to pay back evil with good, above all, to obey Your Great Commandment, "to love my neighbor as You loved me," in Jesus' Name I prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

Jesus Will Finish the Mission

 

“This gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” (Matthew 24:14)

I don’t know any more inspiring missionary promise than this word from Jesus.

Not: This gospel should be preached.
Not: This gospel might be preached.
But: This gospel will be preached.

This is not a great commission, nor a great commandment. It is a great certainty, a great confidence.

Who can dare talk like that? How does he know it will? How can he be sure the church will not fail in its missionary task?

Answer: The grace of missionary service is as irresistible as the grace of regeneration. Christ can promise universal proclamation because he is sovereign. He knows the future success of missions because he makes the future. All the nations will hear!

A “nation” is not a modern “country.” When the Old Testament spoke of nations, it referred to groups like Jebusites and Perizites and Hivites and Amorites and Moabites and Canaanites and Philistines. “Nations” are ethnic groups with their own peculiar language and culture. Psalm 117:1: “Praise the Lord, all nations! Extol him, all peoples!” Nations are peoples — people groups, as we call them.

As the sovereign Son of God and Lord of the church, Jesus simply took up this divine purpose and stated as an absolute certainty, “This gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations” (Matthew 24:14).

The cause of world missions is absolutely assured of success. It cannot fail. Is it not reasonable, then, that we pray with great faith, that we invest with great confidence, and that we go with a sense of sure triumph?

YOUR PRAYER CAN CHANGE EVENT AND ATTITUDE!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

THURSDAY MARCH 16, 2023.

SUBJECT : YOUR PRAYER CAN CHANGE EVENT AND ATTITUDE!

Memory verse: "Therefore He said that He would destroy them, had not Moses His chosen one stood before Him in the breach, to turn away His wrath, lest He destroy them." (Psalm 106 vs 23.)

READ: Exodus  32 vs 9 - 14:

32:9: And the LORD said to Moses, "I have seen this people, and indeed it is a stiff-necked people!

32:10: Now therefore, let Me alone, that My wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them. And I will make of you a great nation."

32:11: Then Moses pleaded with the LORD his God, and said: "LORD, why does Your wrath burn hot against Your people whom You have brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand?  

32:12: Why should the Egyptians speak, and say, 'He brought them out to harm them, to kill them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth'? Turn from Your fierce wrath, and relent from this harm to Your people.

32:13: Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, Your servants, to whom You swore by Your own self, and said to them, 'I will multiply your descendants as the stars of heaven; and all this land that I have spoken of I give to your descendants, and they shall inherit it forever.'"

32:14: So the LORD relented from the harm which He said He would do to His people.

INTIMATION:

In response to fervent prayer God may change the course of our lives or His attitude toward us. Although we do things that deserve God's anger, but we receive God's forgiveness from sin by asking Him in prayer for it. When we pray He is always willing to forgive us and restore us to Himself because His mercy endures forever. 

God is just, and there is no injustice with Him. He is also, a merciful God, and His mercy endures forever. These two natures of God came to the fore when the children of Israel angered Him. God was ready to punish them to remain consistent with His nature of justice. But when Moses interceded for the people, God relented in order to act consistently with His nature of being a merciful God. He changed His behavior to remain consistent with His nature.

This is one of the countless examples in the Bible of God's mercy. Although we deserve His anger, He is willing to forgive and restore us to Himself. We can receive God's forgiveness from sin by asking Him. Like Moses, we can pray that God will use us to bring to the world the message of His mercy. We can also pray that He will forgive others and use us to bring them the message of His mercy. In the passage we read today, God was ready to destroy the whole nation of Israel because of their sin, but Moses interceded and pleaded for mercy and God spared them. 

In Second Kings chapter 20 vs 1 - 6, Hezekiah the king was sick and near death. God sent Isaiah the prophet to him telling him to set his house in order, for he shall surely die. Hezekiah prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly, reminding God how he has walked before Him in truth and with a loyal heart, and has done what is good in God's sight. God heard his prayer and saw his tears. Not only did God spare his life and added more fifteen years to him, He also healed him of his sickness and saved his city from the Assyrians. 

His faith and prayer changed the course of events. You too can make a difference, even if your faith puts you in the minority. Faith and prayer, if they are sincere and directed toward the one true God, can change any situation. Never hesitate to ask God for radical changes if you will honor Him with that changes.

God has asked us to bring forth our strong reasons for whatever we ask Him in prayers. He is a just God, and ready to reason with us. He is also, ready to grant your prayers if your reasons are strong, convincing, and good enough: "Come now, and let us reason together, says the LORD....."Present your case," says the LORD. "Bring forth your strong reasons," says the King of Jacob......"Put Me in remembrance; let us contend together; state your case, that you may be acquitted." (Isaiah 1 vs 18; 41 vs 21; 43 vs 26.)

Prayer: Abba Father, hear me O LORD, and attend to my cry. Let my prayer come to You as sweet smelling savor, and give me an answer of peace. Turn my situation around for there is nothing impossible nor difficult with You. You are the God that listens to the cry of Your children. To You be all the glory for the great things You have done, is doing, and is yet to do. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

Subversive for the Savior

 

When Jesus met the man filled with demons at Gadara, the demons cried out, “What have you to do with us, O Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?” (Matthew 8:29)

Demons learned a mystery here. They knew they were doomed. They knew the Son of God would be the victor. But they didn’t know until it happened that Christ was coming before the time of final defeat.

Christ is not going to wait for the end of the war to lead his troops into combat. He has begun to lead a subversive force into the territory of Satan. He has trained a “life-squad” to perform daring rescue operations. Christ has plotted many tactical victories before the time of the final strategic victory.

The resulting wartime mentality is this: Since Satan’s doom is sure, and he knows it, we can always remind him of it when he tempts us to follow him. We can laugh and say, “You’re out of your mind. Who wants to join forces with a loser?!”

The church is the liberated enemy of “the god of this world” (2 Corinthians 4:4). We are the guerrillas and the gadflies. We are the insurgency against the rebel kingdom of “the prince of the power of the air” (Ephesians 2:2).

It is not safe. But it is thrilling. Many lives are lost. Satan’s forces are ever on the lookout for our subversive activity. Christ has guaranteed resurrection for all who fight to the death. But he has not guaranteed comfort, or acceptance from the world, or prosperity in enemy territory.

Many have gladly given their lives behind the lines running errands for the Commander. I can think of no better way to live — or die!

UNDERSTANDING THE GRACE OF GOD!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

WEDNESDAY MARCH 15, 2023.

SUBJECT: UNDERSTANDING THE GRACE OF GOD! 

Memory verse: "But by the grace of God I am what I am: and His grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me." (First Corinthians 15 vs 10.)

READ: Ephesians 2 vs 4 - 10:

2:4: But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,

2:5: even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),

2:6: and raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus,

2:7: that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

2:8: For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God, 

2:9: not of works, lest anyone should boast.

2:10: For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

INTIMATION:

The dictionary definition of grace is; beauty, kindness, good-will, mercy, reprieve, and pardon. God's grace will then be His beauty; kindness; good-will; mercy; reprieve; and pardon for sinful humanity. These attributes of God are freely, and undeservedly given to sinful humanity. Grace therefore, is the free, and unmerited power of God available to sinful humanity to meet our needs without any costs to us. it is received by believing rather than through any human efforts. The simple and uncomplicated nature of God's grace, and being a free gift, make many people to miss it. 

There is nothing more powerful than grace. In fact, everything in the Bible—salvation, the infilling of the Holy Spirit, fellowship with God and victory in our daily lives are all based upon the grace of God. Without grace, we are nothing, we have nothing, and can do nothing. In fact, we would all be miserable and hopeless. Everything we are and do and have is by the grace of God. We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which He prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. We become Christians through God’s unmerited grace, not as a result of any effort, quality, intelligent choice, or act of service on our part. The writer of Hebrews tells us that our works were prepared for us by God and finished from the foundation of the world (Hebrews 4 vs 3).

Revelation and understanding of the grace of God starts with the understanding the Word of God. The Word of God could be frustrating when we try to work the Word rather than the Word work in us. The most frustrating aspect of the Word of God is that it keeps convicting most believers. Incidentally this is what the Word should do to us. But how do we take and handle the conviction?

As the Word would convict us of our wrong doings, we turn completely to our Lord for the grace to change. The devil would take that thing (conviction) that was intended for our good and would begin to beat us over the head with it as condemnation. We would look in the Word and see our need to change, but we didn't know anything about the grace of God to bring about that change in us. We don't know how to allow the Spirit of the Lord come into our lives and cause the things to happen that needed to happen as we believed Him and exercised our faith. We thought we have to do it all by our own power.

The problem here is that most believers don't understand the difference between conviction and condemnation. When the Word convicts you in one thing or the other (which it ought to do), turn to God completely to accomplish the change you desire through His grace (unmerited favor). Do not get frustrated when the devil will come to minister condemnation (which it ought to) because it is his mission (John 10 vs 10). We cannot suffer condemnation because Jesus Christ has already justified us as believers: "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit." (Romans 8 vs 1.)

When you try to change yourself; trying to make yourself be everything the Word said you are supposed to be, you get frustrated because you cannot do it by your heart will-power, but only000 by the grace of God. You have to submit yourself to the list to Lord and wait patiently on Him to accomplish all He planned for you. Trying to do something about something you can't do anything about is frustrating. It takes the grace of God to change to what the Word wants you to be. It is not automatic but gradual; being changed from glory to glory (Second Corinthians 3 vs 18). When convicted by the Word, allow God (trust and surrender yourself to Him) to walk His perfect Will in your life.

The psalmist in Psalm 139 vs 13 - 16 clearly states in those verses that God chose us and laid out our life work for us before we were born, before the world was even created. That is why we must not trust our own abilities, and initiatives because cut off from vital union with Him we can do nothing (John 15 vs 5).

We should start each day by saying, "Here I am, Lord, ready for whatever You have for me to do. I empty myself, as much as I know how, to allow Your grace to flow in my life, to cause me to be able to do whatever it is that You desire for me. I cast myself totally upon You. I can be only what You allow me to be, I can have only what You will for me to have, I can do only what You empower me to do, and each victory is to Your glory, not mine."

Prayer: Abba Father, thank You for Your manifold gift of grace to me. In You I live, and move, and have my being. Engrace me to have only what You will for me to have, I can do only what You empower me to do, and each victory is to Your glory, not mine," in Jesus’ Name I have prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

The Triumph Is Sure

 

Therefore strong peoples will glorify you; cities of ruthless nations will fear you. (Isaiah 25:3)

Isaiah sees the day coming when all the nations — representatives from all the people groups — will no longer be at odds with Yahweh, the God of Israel and his Messiah, whom we know to be Jesus.

They will no longer worship Bel or Nebo or Molech or Allah or Buddha or utopian social programs or capitalistic growth possibilities or ancestors or animistic spirits. Instead they will come in faith to the banquet on God’s mountain.

And they will have the veil of sorrow removed and death shall be swallowed up and the reproach of God’s people will be removed and tears shall be gone forever.

That’s the setting for understanding the vision of Isaiah 25:3: “Therefore strong peoples will glorify you; cities of ruthless nations will fear you.” In other words, God is stronger than the “strong peoples” and he is so powerful and so gracious that in the end he will turn ruthless nations to revere him.

So the picture Isaiah gives us is one of all nations turned to God in worship, a great banquet for all the peoples, the removal of all suffering and grief and reproach from the nations, who have become his people, and the final putting away of death forever.

This triumph is sure because God is doing it. Therefore we can be certain of it.

Not one life spent in the cause of world evangelization is spent in vain. Not one prayer or one dollar or one sermon or one letter of encouragement or one little light shining in some dark place — nothing in the cause of this advancing kingdom is in vain.

The triumph is sure.

THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

TUESDAY MARCH 14, 2023.

SUBJECT: THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT!

Memory verse: "So that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure,” (Second Thessalonians 1 vs 4.) 

READ: Acts 2 vs 1 - 4:

2:1 When the day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

2:2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

2:3 Then there appeared to them divided tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.

Acts 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. 

INTIMATION: 

The power of the Holy Spirit is the power of God. The Spirit, the third Person of the Trinity, has appeared throughout Scripture as a Being through and by whom great works of power are made manifest. His power was first seen in the act of creation, for it was by His power the world came into being (Genesis 1 vs 1 - 2; Job 26 vs 13). 

The Holy Spirit also empowered men in the Old Testament to bring about God’s will: “So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came upon David in power” (First Samuel 16 vs 3; see also Exodus 31 vs 2 - 5; Numbers 27 vs 18).

Although the Spirit did not permanently indwell God’s people in the Old Testament, He worked through them and gave them power to achieve things they would not have been able to accomplish on their own. All of Samson’s feats of strength are directly attributed to the Spirit coming upon him (Judges 14 vs 6, 19; 15 vs 14).

Throughout history God has revealed His power through mighty miracles over nature. He promises to continue to reveal His power. The apostle Paul urged us to understand how great God’s power is (Ephesians 1 vs 18 - 23). The same power that raised Jesus from the dead is available to help us with our daily problems. 

When you feel weak and limited, don’t despair. Remember that God can give you strength. The same power that control creation and raises the dead is available to you. The Holy Spirit is the manifestation of God who works in and through Christians in this dispensation of time in order to accomplish the work of God on earth through the church. 

Jesus promised the Spirit as a permanent guide, teacher, seal of salvation, and comforter for believers (John 14 vs 16 - 18). He also promised that the Holy Spirit’s power would help His followers to spread the message of the gospel around the world: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1 vs 8). The salvation of souls is a supernatural work only made possible by the Holy Spirit’s power at work in the world.

At Pentecost (Acts 2 vs 1 - 4) the Holy Spirit was made available to all who believed in Jesus. We receive the Holy Spirit (are baptized with Him) when we receive Jesus Christ as our Savior. The baptism of the Holy Spirit must be understood in the light of his total work in Christians: (1) The Spirit marks the beginning of the Christian experience. We cannot be Christians without His Spirit (Romans 8 vs 9); we cannot be joined to Christ without His Spirit (First Corinthians 6 vs 17); we cannot be adopted as His children without His Spirit (Romans 8 vs 14 - 17; Galatians 4 vs 6 - 7); we cannot be in the Body of Christ except by baptism in the Spirit (First Corinthians 12 vs 13).

(2) The Spirit is the power of our new lives. He begins a lifelong process of change making us more like Christ (Galatians 3 vs 3; Philippians 1 vs 6). When we receive Christ by faith, we begin an immediate personal relationship with God. The Holy Spirit works in us to help us become like Christ. 

(3) The Spirit unites the Christian community in Christ (Ephesians 2 vs 19 - 22). The Holy Spirit can be experienced by all, and he works through all (First Corinthians 12 vs 11; Ephesians 4 vs 4). The kingdom Jesus preached about was, first of all, a spiritual kingdom established in the hearts and lives of believers (Luke 17 vs 21). God’s presence and power dwell in the person of the Holy Spirit. 

The “power” the believers receive from the Holy Spirit includes courage, boldness, confidence, insight, ability, and authority. If you believe in Jesus Christ as your Savior, you can experience the power of the Holy Spirit in your life. 

During His earthly ministry, Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit (Luke 4 vs 1), led by the Spirit (Luke 4 vs 14), and empowered by the Spirit to perform miracles (Matthew 12 vs28). After Jesus had ascended to heaven, the Spirit equipped the apostles to perform miracles, too (Second Corinthians 2 vs 12; Acts 2 vs 43; 3 vs 1 - 7; 9 vs 39 - 41). The power of the Holy Spirit was manifest among all the believers of the early church through the dispensation of spiritual gifts such as speaking in tongues, prophesying, teaching, wisdom, and more.

Jesus had instructed His disciples to witness to people of all nations about Him (Matthew 28 vs 19 - 20). But they were told to wait first for the Holy Spirit (Luke 24 vs 49). God has important work for you to do for Him, but you must do it by the power of the Holy Spirit. We often like to get on with the job, even if it means running ahead of God. But waiting is sometimes part of God’s plan. Are you waiting and listening to God’s complete instructions, or are you running ahead of His plans? We need God’s timing and power to be truly effective.

All those who put their faith in Jesus Christ are immediately and permanently indwelt by the Holy Spirit (Romans 8 vs 11). And, although some of the spiritual gifts have ceased (e.g., speaking in tongues and prophecy), the Holy Spirit still works in and through believers to accomplish His will. His power leads us, convicts us, teaches us, and equips us to do His work and spread the gospel. The Holy Spirit’s powerful indwelling is an amazing gift we should never take lightly.

PRAYER: Abba Father, thank You for the unparalleled gift of the Holy Spirit and the subsequent manifestation of His power in the lives of believers in Christ. I covet earnestly the constant leading of the Holy Spirit in my life at all times and in all things, in the Jesus’ mighty Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!