WHY THE LAW WAS GIVEN!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

THURSDAY JUNE 01, 2023.

SUBJECT: WHY THE LAW WAS GIVEN!

Memory verse: "What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made, and it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator." (Galatians 3 vs 19.) 

READ: Romans 7 vs 7 - 9:

7:7: What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! On the contrary, I would not have known sin except through the law. For I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, “You shall not covet.”

7:8: But sin, taking opportunity by the commandment, produced in me all manner of evil desire. For apart from the law sin was dead.

7:9: I was alive once without law, but when the commandment came, sin revived and I died.

INTIMATION: 

Te ostensible aim of the law is to restrain the evil tendencies natural to man in his fallen estate. Yet in experience law finds itself not merely ineffective, it actually provokes those tendencies to greater activity. 

In the passage we read today, the apostle Paul says that he would not have known that sin existed in his life unless the law stated that his behavior was against the law. Therefore, the law “was added because of transgressions” (Galatians 3 vs 19). It made us realize that we were all sinners (Romans 3 vs 23). When men followed after the lusts of the flesh, the coming of the law exemplified the sinful behavior of the individual. 

When there was no law, one would not be aware of the intensity of the sin of his life. Where there is no law, there is no violation of law. Without the presence of the written law, one is deceived into thinking that his life is right with God. Where there is no law, there is no sin, because people cannot know that their actions are sinful unless a law forbids those actions. God’s law makes people realize that they are sinners doomed to die, yet it offers no help. Sin is real, and it is dangerous. 

Imagine a sunny day at the beach. You plunge into the surf, then you notice a sign on the pier: “No swimming. Sharks.” Your day is ruined. Is it the sign’s fault? Are you angry with the people who put it up? The law is like the sign. It is essential, and we are grateful for it—but it doesn’t get rid of the sharks.

The law still has an important role to play in the life of a Christian. The law (1) guards us from sin by giving us standards for behavior; (2) convicts us of sin, leaving us the opportunity to ask for God’s forgiveness, and (3) drives us to trust in the sufficiency of Christ, because we can never keep the Ten Commandments perfectly. The law cannot possibly save us. But after we become Christians, it can guide us to live as God requires. 

God gave rules to His for people for some reasons. He did not withhold good from them; He only prohibited those acts that would bring them to ruin. All of us understand God’s physical laws of nature. For example, jumping off a 10-story building means death because of the law of gravity. 

But some of us don’t understand how God’s spiritual laws work. God forbids us to do certain things because He wants to keep us from self-destruction. The next time you are drawn to a forbidden physical or emotional pleasure, remind yourself that it’s consequences might be suffering and separation from God, who is trying to help you.

Most of us chafe under rules, for we think they restricts from doing what we want. But God’s laws were given to free us to be all He wants us to be. They restrict us from doing what might cripple us and keep us from being our best. God’s guidelines help us follow His path and avoid paths that lead to destruction.

In the Old Testament there were three categories of law: ceremonial, civil, and moral:

(1) The ceremonial law related specifically to Israel’s worship. Its primary purpose was to point forward to Jesus Christ; these laws, therefore, were no longer necessary after Jesus’ death and resurrection. While we are no longer bound by ceremonial law, the principles behind them—to worship and love a holy God—still apply.

(2)) The civil law applied to daily living in Israel. Because modern society and culture are so radically different from that time and setting, all of these guidelines cannot be followed specifically. But the principles behind the commands are timeless and should guide our conduct. Jesus demonstrated these principles by example.

(3) The moral law (such as the Ten Commandments) is the direct command from God, and it requires strict obedience. The moral law reveals the nature and will of God, and it still applies today. Jesus obeyed the moral law completely,

The functions of God’s law is first, to show us where we go wrong. Because of the law, we know that we are helpless sinners and that we must come to Jesus Christ for mercy. Second, the moral code revealed in the law can serve to guide our actions by holding up God’s moral standards. We do not earn salvation by keeping the law (no one except Jesus ever kept or could keep God’s law perfectly), but we do please God when our life conforms to His revealed will for us.

We miss the intent of God’s Word when we read His rules for living without trying to understand why He made them. Most people do keep God’s rules but close their eyes to His intent. For example, God’s moral and ceremonial laws were given to help people love God with all their hearts and minds. 

Prayer: Abba Father, Your law is holy, good, and just; a great compass to direct my path in life in righteousness and moral uprightness with You. Though meritorious law-keeping cannot earn me salvation but enables me to be in constant fellowship with You after been saved by grace in Jesus Christ. Empower me in my inner man to live above those presumptuous sins that usually have dominion over me that I may lead a life pleasing to You at all times, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD! 

The Gain of Serving God

 “They shall be servants to him, that they may know my service and the service of the kingdoms of the countries.” (2 Chronicles 12:8)

Serving God is utterly different from serving anyone else. 

God is extremely jealous that we understand this — and enjoy it. For example, he commands us, “Serve the Lord with gladness!” (Psalm 100:2). There is a reason for this gladness. It is given in Acts 17:25. God is not “served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything.” 

We serve him with gladness because we do not bear the burden of meeting his needs. He has no needs. So, serving him can’t mean meeting his needs. Instead we rejoice in a service where he meets our needs. Serving God always means receiving grace from God to do what we have to do.

To show how jealous God is for us to understand this, and glory in it, there is a story in 2 Chronicles 12. Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, who ruled the southern kingdom after the revolt of the ten tribes, chose against serving the Lord and gave his service to other gods and other kingdoms. 

As judgment, God sent Shishak, the king of Egypt, against Rehoboam with 1,200 chariots and 60,000 horsemen (2 Chronicles 12:2–3).

In mercy God sent the prophet Shemaiah to Rehoboam with this message: “Thus says the Lord, ‘You abandoned me, so I have abandoned you to the hand of Shishak’” (2 Chronicles 12:5). The happy upshot of that message is that Rehoboam and his princes humbled themselves in repentance and said, “The Lord is righteous” (2 Chronicles 12:6).

When the Lord saw that they humbled themselves, he said, “They have humbled themselves. I will not destroy them, but I will grant them some deliverance, and my wrath shall not be poured out on Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak” (2 Chronicles 12:7). But as a discipline to them he says, “They shall be servants to him, that they may know my service and the service of the kingdoms of the countries” (2 Chronicles 12:8).

The point is plain: serving the enemy and serving God are very different. How so? Serving God is a receiving and a blessing and a joy and a benefit. Serving Shishak is exhausting and depleting and sorrowful. God is a giver. Shishak is a taker.

This is why I am so jealous to say that the worship of Sunday morning and the worship of daily obedience is not at bottom a burdensome giving to God, but a joyful getting from God. That is the true service that God demands. In all you do, trust me as the giver.

LET YOUR CONSCIENCE BE CLEAR!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

WEDNESDAY MAY 31, 2023.

SUBJECT : LET YOUR CONSCIENCE BE CLEAR!

Memory verse: "Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly.” (Hebrews 13 vs 18.)

READ: Hebrews 10 vs 22 - 24:

10:22: Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

10:23: Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.

10:24: And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and to good works:

INTIMATION:

Conscience is a knowing with oneself. It’s that faculty by which we apprehend the will of God, as that which is designed to govern our lives. It is that process of thought which distinguishes what is considers morally good or bad, commending the good, and condemning the bad, and so prompting to do the former, and avoid the later. Your conscience is your first judge, and imprisons you if you are not acting appropriately. We escape the gnawing accusations of our consciences by acting in love, and setting our hearts on God's love. Not by ignoring them or rationalizing our behavior. Do good, act appropriately, and you will then free yourself by clearing your conscience.

Many feel guilty because they think they are not doing enough to show proper love to Christ, and others. Their conscience bother them. If they ignore their consciences, then they sin because they have compromised their faith by doing something they believe is wrong. One must not allow his faith to be led astray by a violation of what he or she conscientiously knows to be what is right. 

How can you keep your conscience clear? Treasure your faith in Christ more than anything else and do what you know is right. Each time you deliberately ignore your conscience, you are hardening your heart. Over a period of time your capacity to tell right from wrong will diminish. As you walk with God, He will speak to you through your conscience, letting you know the difference between right and wrong. Be sure to act on those inner tugs so that you do what is right—then your conscience will remain clear. Do not ignore those inner tugs nor rationalize your behavior, but set your heart on God’s love. 

When you come to God with a clear conscience, you are coming to Him without fear, confident that your requests will be heard. When you say, "God You know that I am walking in the light of love, I am doing Your Word," then persuade your heart. If you go into His presence for intercession, your heart is not fearful; your heart does not condemn you. Your heart is in perfect fellowship with this living Word and you have boldness in His presence, conscious that you are welcome. You make your petition in the name of Jesus, and you know that the Father hears you and that you have the petition of your heart.

We try to steer clear of actions forbidden by Scripture, of course, but sometimes Scripture is silent. Then we should follow our consciences, and be faithful in your doings. “Whatever is not from faith is sin” means that to go against a conviction will leave a person with a guilty conscience. When God shows us that something is wrong for us, we should avoid it. 

Job said, “My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go. My heart shall not reproach me as long as I live.” (Job 27 vs 6.) In the midst of all accusations, Job was able to declare that his conscience was clear. Only God’s forgiveness and the determination to live right before God can bring a clear conscience. How important Job’s record became as he was being accused. Like Job, we can’t claim sinless lives, but we can claim forgiven lives. When we confess our sins to God, He forgives us. Then we can live with clear consciences (First John 1 vs 9.) 

Sometimes after confessing our sins, we still feel guilty. However, when such guilt feeling rise up in our hearts, we should remind ourselves that God knows our motives as well as our actions. His voice of assurance is stronger than the accusing voice of our conscience. If we are in Christ, He will not condemn us (Romans 8 vs 1; Hebrews 9 vs 14 - 15). So if you are living for the Lord but feeling that you are not good enough, remind yourself that God is greater than your conscience. 

Prayer: Abba Father, endue me with the spirit of obedience to Your Word; hearing and doing Your Word, that my conscience may be clear in all things, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD! 

Something to Boast About

 

By grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. (Ephesians 2:8–9)

The New Testament correlates faith and grace to make sure that we do not boast in what grace alone achieves.

One of the most familiar examples is Ephesians 2:8. By grace, through faith. There’s the correlation that guards the freedom of grace. By grace, through faith.

Faith is the act of our soul that turns away from our own insufficiency to the free and all-sufficient resources of God. Faith focuses on the freedom of God to dispense grace to the unworthy. It banks on the bounty of God.

Therefore faith, by its very nature, nullifies boasting and fits with grace. Wherever faith looks, it sees grace behind every praiseworthy act. So it cannot boast, except in the Lord. The author of grace.

So Paul, after saying that salvation is by grace through faith, says, “And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Ephesians 2:8–9). Faith cannot boast in human goodness or competence or wisdom, because faith focuses on the free, all-supplying grace of God. Whatever goodness faith sees, it sees as the fruit of grace.

When it looks at our “wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption,” it says, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 1:30–31).

CRAVE FOR THE HIDDEN MANNA!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

TUESDAY MAY 30, 2023.

SUBJECT: CRAVE FOR THE HIDDEN MANNA!

Memory verse: "He who has an ear, Let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes I will give some of the hidden Manna to eat. And I will give him a white stone, and on the stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it.” (Revelation 2 vs 17.)

READ: John 6 vs 31 - 35:

6:31: Our fathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’

6:32: Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give gave you the bread from heaven; but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven.

6:33: For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

6:34: Then said they to Him, “Lord, give us this bread always.” 

6:35: And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life: he who comes to Me shall never hunger; and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.

INTIMATION:

“Hidden manna” suggests the spiritual nourishment that the faithful believers in Christ will receive. Christ is our daily bread who satisfies our eternal, spiritual need. In John 6 vs 48 - 51 Jesus compares Himself to manna: “I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and are dead. This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world.”

Jesus is the Living Bread (the hidden manna), which provides spiritual nourishment that satisfies our deepest hunger. To eat living bread means to accept Christ into our lives and become united with Him. We are united with Christ in two ways: (1) by believing in His death (the sacrifice of His flesh) and resurrection for our hope, and (2) by devoting ourselves to living as He requires, depending on His teaching for guidance, and trusting in the Holy Spirit for power.

The bread from heaven (the manna) was a special meal from God to His people that sustained them for forty years in the wilderness. Manna was the survival food given to Israel in the desert during their wilderness wanderings. It gave them life. As the Israelites travailed in the wilderness for forty years, traveling toward the Promise Land, God provided the bread from heaven (manna) for their physical nourishment. 

The bread—Manna—that God provided for the Israelites in the desert satisfied a temporary hunger that returned the following day. In contrast to the physical bread provided in the wilderness, the bread that comes from the Father in heaven through Jesus will satisfy one’s spiritual thirst for eternity. Jesus is the bread of life that was sent from the Father in order to nourish the spiritual poverty of humanity.

Every morning, the desert floor east of the Red Sea was white with this mysterious substance. Like snow it lay evenly on the ground. Like frost it began to crystallize and evaporate in the midday sun. The wandering Israelites harvested the manna each day of their 40-years trek in the wilderness of Sanai. On the day it first appeared, their leader Moses declared this unusual seedless crop "bread from heaven." Most of the people were so hungry that they spent less time questioning the dietary value of the manna than they did collecting it. It tasted sweet like honey. It resembled coriander seed with a waferlike consistency. 

The manna was nutritious enough. Men, women, and children survived on this bread substitute. But "bread from heaven" was an awesome creation of God, a customized never-before-heard-of food just for His chosen people, the Israelites. The manna kept a whole nomadic nation of Israel alive when their survival seemed in jeopardy. It even fueled the amazing growth of the nation of Israel so that they could supplant the people's living on the edges of the desert—the Edomites, the Midianities, and eventually the Canaanites. 

People eat bread to satisfy physical hunger and to sustain physical life. We can satisfy spiritual hunger and sustain physical life only by a right relationship with Jesus Christ. No wonder He called Himself the bread of life. But bread must be eaten to sustain life, and Christ must be invited into our daily walk to sustain spiritual life. 

Jesus was both the bread of life and the water 

of life. The two things that man needs to sustain his physical life are bread and water. The two things that man needs to maintain his spiritual life are the bread and water that flow from Jesus. He is the bread of life that would preserve all who came to Him. They would be preserved for eternity.

The same perplexing nature and nutritional value associated with manna in sustaining the life of the nomadic Israelites, is inherent in our believe in Christ. Our believe in Him is the hidden manna which satisfies our deep spiritual and eternal needs. In the hidden manna do all our need to live for God consist. Therefore, crave to have it.

Prayer: Abba Father, I crave for the hidden manna. Satisfy my thirst and quest for spiritual nourishment to eternity. Jesus Christ, I invite You into my life as Lord and Savior. Feed me with the bread and water from heaven, that I may never thirst again, and consequently live for You forever, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

When God Goes Against His Will

 

But they would not listen to the voice of their father, for it was the will of the Lord to put them to death. (1 Samuel 2:25)

The sons of Eli the priest would not obey their father when he rebuked them for their sin. There are three implications of this text for our lives.

1) It is possible to sin so long and so grievously that the Lord will not grant repentance.

That is why Paul said that after all our pleading and teaching, “God may perhaps grant them repentance” — not, “will grant them repentance” (2 Timothy 2:25). There is a “too late” in the life of sin. As it says of Esau in Hebrews 12:17, “He found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears.” He was forsaken; he could not repent.

This does not mean that those who truly repent even after a whole lifetime of sinning cannot be saved. They certainly can be, and will be! God is staggeringly merciful. Remember the thief on the cross. Jesus said to him, “Today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43).

2) Sometimes God does not permit a sinning person to do what is right.

“But they would not listen to the voice of their father, for it was the will of the Lord to put them to death.” Listening to the voice of their father was the right thing to do. But they would not. Why? “For it was the will of the Lord to put them to death.”

The reason given for why they did not obey their father was that God had other purposes for them, and had given them up to sinning and death. This shows that there are times when the will of God’s decree is different from the revealed will of God’s command.

3) Sometimes our prayers for God’s revealed will to be done will not be done because God has decreed something different for holy and wise purposes.

I suppose that Eli prayed for his sons to be changed. That is how he should have prayed. But God had decreed that Hophni and Phinehas not obey, but rather be slain.

When something like this happens (which we do not ordinarily know ahead of time) while we are crying out to God for change, the answer of God is not: “I don’t love you.” Rather the answer is: “I have wise and holy purposes in not overcoming this sin and not granting repentance. You do not see these purposes now. Trust me. I know what I am doing. I love you.”

GIVE YOUR ENTIRE ATTENTION TO TODAY!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

MONDAY MAY 29, 2023.

SUBJECT : GIVE YOUR ENTIRE ATTENTION TO TODAY!

Memory verse: “This is the day the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it.” (Psalm 118 vs 24)

READ: Proverbs 27 vs 1; Matthew 6 vs 34: 

Proverbs 27:1: Do not boast about tomorrow for you do not know what a day may bring forth.

Matthew 6:34: Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about it’s own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

INTIMATION:

There are two days in every week that we should not worry about, two days that should be kept free from fear and apprehension. One is yesterday, with its mistakes and cares, its faults and blunders, its aches and pains. Yesterday has passed forever beyond our control. All the money in the world cannot bring back yesterday. We cannot undo a single act we performed. Nor can we erase a single word we’ve said. Yesterday is gone. 

We may have done things for which we are ashamed, and we live in the tension of what we have been and what we want to be. Because of our hope is in Christ, however, we can let go of past guilt and look forward to what God will help us become. Don’t dwell on the past. Instead, grow in the knowledge of God by concentrating on your relationship with Him now. 

The other day we shouldn’t worry about is tomorrow. Tomorrow is beyond our control. Tomorrow’s sun will rise either in splendor, or behind a mask of clouds but it will rise. And until it does, we have no stake in tomorrow, for it is yet unborn. Because there is no guarantee on how tomorrow will turn out, one should be careful not to worry about it, but rather fully appreciate each day of his or her life. 

Obviously, we all plan for the future which is good. But living as if tomorrow is in your hands to control is wrong. Planning for tomorrow is time well spent, worrying about tomorrow is time wasted. Careful planning is thinking ahead about goals, steps, and schedules, and trusting in God’s guidance. When done well, planning can help alleviate worry. Worriers, by contrast, are consumed by fear and find it difficult to trust God. 

In one of the passages we read today, Jesus is not here condemning one’s planning for the future. In order words, we must not add worries about the future to the responsibilities of today. Worry works against faith. We must assume through faith that all things work together for good (Romans 8 vs 28). And thus, we must walk by faith (Second Corinthians 5 vs 7). The more one walks by faith, the less worry there is in his or her life.

Now, we are left with “Today.” Give your entire attention to what God is doing today. Every day is a privilege in the life of frail men. Therefore, one should live today to the fullest—leaving the past days behind where they belong, and allowing future to take its turn, while rejoicing for the privilege of seeing today. 

There are days when the last thing we want to do is rejoice. Our mood is down, our situation is out of hand, and our sorrow or guilt is overwhelming. When you don’t feel like rejoicing, tell God honestly how you truly feel. And as you talk to God in prayer, He will give you a reason to rejoice. God has given you this day to live and to serve Him—be glad! 

However, any person can fight the battles of just one day. It is only when we add the burdens of yesterday and tomorrow that we break down. It is not the experience of today that drives people mad, it is the remorse of bitterness for something which happened yesterday and the dread of what tomorrow may bring. 

Experience has shown that many things we worry about never come out as dreadful as we would have thought. Worry has its negative effects on us; it may damage your health, cause the object of your worry to consume your thoughts, disrupt your productivity, negatively affect the way you treat others, reduce your ability to trust in God. 

Prayer: Abba Father, thank You for the gift of today. Give me the grace to live today to the fullest—rejoicing with gladness of heart for the privilege of being a partaker of Your gift of today, and giving my entire attention to what You are doing today, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!