OUR PART IN GOD’S BLESSINGS!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

THURSDAY AUGUST 17, 2023.

SUBJECT : OUR PART IN GOD’S BLESSINGS!

Memory verse: "Praise the Lord! Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who delights greatly in His commandments." (Psalm 112 vs 1.)

READ: Deuteronomy 28 vs 1 - 2; Psalm 34 vs 1, 8 - 10; Ephesians 1 vs 3 - 4; Second Corinthians 9 vs 8 - 9:

Deuteronomy 28:1: “Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the Lord your God will set you on high above all nations of the earth.

28:2: And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you because you obey the voice of the Lord your God:; 

Psalm 34:1: I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.

34:8: Oh taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man who trusts in Him!

34:9: Oh fear the LORD, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him.

34:10: The young lions lack, and suffer hunger, but those who seek the LORD shall not lack any good thing.

Second Corinthians 9:8: And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.

9:9: As it is written: “He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever.” 

INTIMATION:

Blessing is a fortune, grace, or gift from God. Blessings are spoken of frequently in the Bible, don’t come from luck or chance, but come from God as a direct result of our thoughts and actions. God promises great blessings to His people, but many of these blessings require active participation on the part of the people. For instance, the Scripture says, “Give and it will be given to you”, Luke 6 vs 38. 

To be blessed is to have a share in the glory of God’s grace. Most people talk of being blessed with reference to good health, family, wealth, happiness, status, and material goods.

But if we look to the Bible, we can see that being blessed means something different entirely, and those who are truly blessed aren’t the ones you might expect. The Bible in Matthew 5 vs 5 -12 lists those who are blessed, which includes the meek, the righteous, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, and the persecuted. These are the kind of characteristics that beget blessings from the Almighty. 

From this, we can understand that a blessing isn’t a simple stroke of good fortune but rather a state of being that exemplifies Christianity’s compassionate principles. In this sense, you’re already blessed if you’re forgiving, kind, just, joyful, and peaceful. And by inhabiting a kindly Christian nature, you open yourself up to more spiritual blessings, like forgiveness of sins, the Holy Spirit, the power to do God’s will, and ultimately, salvation—the greatest blessing that will bring you to heavenly places. 

So, how does one get to be ‘blessed’? What are the practical actions and steps you must take to openly receive God’s blessings? In Psalm 34, the Bible says, He will set us free from fears, deliver us from trouble, guard and defend us, show us goodness, supply our needs, listen when we call on Him, and redeem us. And we can appropriate these blessings when we have the fear of the Lord in us, seek Him, cry out to Him, trust Him, refrain from lying, turn from evil, do good, search for peace, and serve Him. 

Beyond living your life as a good Christian, there are the ways in which you can open yourself up to receive an abundance of God’s grace. Bible study reveals more important instructions from the Lord on how to receive God’s blessings. Across the four canonical gospels and beyond in the New Testament, we are encouraged to surrender ourselves to the Lord Jesus Christ. This means: (1) Understanding the teachings of Christ. (2) Listening to the word of God. (3) Offering devotionals. (4) Giving as generously as we receive. (5) Asking God Himself for blessings (6) Maintaining your faith in the Lord God throughout your life. 

In one of the passages we read today, we are enjoined to keep His commandments. Many blessings are available to us—honor, prosperity, security, freedom from fear—if we fear the Lord and delight in obeying His commands. If you expect God’s blessings, you must revere Him and gladly obey Him. The Bible often connects the fear of the Lord (love and reverence for Him) with obedience. King Solomon said that the conclusion of the matter on the whole duty of man is to “Fear God and keep His commandments” (Ecclesiastes 12 vs 13). 

The commandments of the Lord aren’t abstract rules scattered across the pages of the Bible. They’re clearly stated in Exodus and Deuteronomy of the Hebrew Bible in the form of the “Ten Commandments.” I urge us to be revisiting the commandments regularly and considering the ways in which you might be in violation of them. It is interesting to note that all the “Ten Commandments” are relationship based, none of them has anything to do with possessions or materialism.

We could deduce from the opening verses of the epistle of the apostle Paul to the saints in Ephesus that, in reality, we are already blessed. Earth’s creation and our redemption is a blessing of the Lord, without whom we wouldn’t be here. Therefore, we should remember to be grateful for our existence. The verse in the epistle to the Corinthians is a sobering reminder of God’s power and ability in blessing His creations. If you feel you aren’t receiving enough of God’s gifts, ask yourself, are you being righteous? In what ways can you bring yourself closer to Christian ideals?

God can provide to you all your needs and wants (Philippians 4 vs 19). His omnipotence and giving nature knows no limits, so you should never fear that what you have is all you will ever get. But to open oneself up to God’s blessings requires sturdy faith and commitment to the principles of Christianity: Remember to pray, be of a kind and compassionate nature, give generously, and be grateful. That gratitude should be not only for your mere existence but also to God and the Lord Jesus Christ. Endeavor to always stay connected to God’s word and the power of the Holy Spirit,

Certain things keep us from God’s ultimate blessings. These include; ungrateful hearts, not worshiping or submitting to Him, hardening our hearts, trying God’s patience because of stubborn doubts. Don’t harden your hearts, but reject the glamour of sin and anything else that would lead us away from God. Along with God’s blessings comes the responsibility to live up to His demands of fairness, honesty and justice. 

Prayer: Abba Father, endue me with the spirit of complete obedience to You, that I will do Your will and keep Your commandments at all times, and be Christlike in my conducts, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

YOU ARE GOD’S WORKMANSHIP!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 16, 2023.

SUBJECT: YOU ARE GOD’S WORKMANSHIP! 

Memory verse: "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2 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 are 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 the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,

2:7: that in ages to come He might show His 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:

What assurances it gives to the heart when we come to know that the Father loves us even as He loved Jesus, that He is vitally interested in us as He was in His Son when He walked the earth. Consequently, He made us one with Christ—we are the body of Christ—the church. The body starts with the head, consequently, the Church is headed by Jesus. In Colossians 1 vs 18, the Scripture says, "And He is the head of the body, the church; who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence."

Jesus was the first person ever born again. He was born twice. He was born of the Virgin Mary; then on the cross He was made sin with our sin, as our substitute. He was crucified on the cross. God, in accordance with His plan of redemption, accepted His death as a propitiation for mankind. Consequently, He satisfied the claims of justice, He was justified in spirit, made righteous in spirit, and made alive in spirit. This was the new birth. It was for this reason God said "....You are My Son, Today I have begotten You," (Acts 13 vs 33). God was speaking of the resurrected Jesus Christ. And when we confessed Jesus, and accepted His substitutionary work for us in redemption, we were recreated—made New Creation, and adopted as sons and daughters of God.

In the substitutionary work of Jesus, He was actually made sin with our sins, was forsaken of God, a curse because He had hung upon the tree. After meeting every demand of justice, in accordance with God's law, He was born again out of death, recreated and becomes a partaker of Eternal Life. Now He is called the firstborn out of death, the Head of the New Creation. It was that morning when Jesus was recreated that the whole church by faith came into being. In reality it began on the Day of Pentecost and it has continued until now. Our salvation is something only God can do. It is His powerful creative work in us. 

One of the most graphic pictures of what Jesus wrought for the believers is given in John's gospel, John 1 vs 16. The Amplified Version Bible gives a clearer picture of the verse: "For out of His fullness (abundance) we have all received [all had a share and we were all supplied with] one grace after another and spiritual blessing upon spiritual blessing and even favor upon favor and gift [heaped] upon gift."

The grace (unmerited favor) gives us the gifts of His love life, wisdom, His very being, and substance. We are the branch of the vine; we are partakers of the Divine Nature. His fullness here means His ability, His love, His righteousness, His utter completeness, and we have received them all. All the gifts and favors are now piled on us one after another, and all by His grace. We have been chosen by God as His very own, and His jewels, a special treasure to Him above all people, and we are to Him a kingdom of priests, as Christ has made us kings and priests to our God that we shall reign on the earth. 

He has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenlies in Christ (Ephesians 1 vs 3). We are blessed. We are rich in Him. We have His fullness. We are sufficient in His sufficiency. All that He is, we have. We are what He says we are. And the Father has told us that we are in the Beloved. The Father sees us as His own righteousness in Christ Jesus. "And you are complete in Him," and this completeness is over and above all that we can ask or think or desire. We have been called to represent Him to others. We are united with Christ as members of His body, and we join in His priestly work of reconciling God and people.

Prayer: Abba Father, I am complete in You, and have Your fullness in Christ. You have blessed me with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. I am in You, and You in me. Strengthen me with might according to Your glorious power that I may be fruitful in every good work, worthy of Your calling and fully pleasing You, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

THERE IS NOTHING HARD FOR THE LORD!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

TUESDAY AUGUST 15, 2023.

SUBJECT: THERE IS NOTHING HARD FOR THE LORD! 

Memory verse: "Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there anything too hard for Me?" (Jeremiah 32 vs 27.)

READ: Genesis 18 vs 14; Jeremiah 32 vs 17: 

Genesis 18:14: Is anything too hard for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.

Jeremiah 32:17: Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, You have made the heaven and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You:

INTIMATION:

Have you ever felt stuck in a season of life, confused and without purpose? But through it all, God has never ceased from being God!  For He delights in taking the seemingly impossible and with His limitless power, makes things possible! God has displayed many times throughout the Bible the power of His strength. In the Book of Genesis, God tells Abraham and Sarah that they will have a child. Both were skeptical of God’s power. From their perspective, it seemed impossible or “too hard” for them to have a child at their old ages. With this suggested thought Abraham was puzzled.  And seeing him in his puzzlement God asked, "Is anything too hard for the LORD?" 

Despite Abraham and Sarah’s skepticism, God blesses them with a baby boy, who they named Isaac. When Isaac was born, Abraham was 100 years old and Sarah was 90 years old. It is understandable as to why Abraham and Sarah would be doubtful of God’s promises; however, just as God says, nothing is too hard for Him. If God can provide the way for an elderly couple to have a child, then God can do anything.

Also, Jeremiah the prophet gives the answer: "There is nothing too hard for You." So I say to you, God’s power is limitless, and thus His promises are providentially secure, therefore, there is no promise too hard for Him to keep. In the Bible, there are over thirty thousand promises, and God will keep His Word. If God made the promise, He cannot lie. There is no promise too hard for God to keep.

Nothing is too hard for God, including being incarnate as a man, living on the earth, dying for the sins of the world, and being resurrected from the dead. If God could do this, then He can do anything. It’s amazing how much we can doubt God in the little things of life, yet we know we can rely on Him for salvation and forgiveness. Since God can do anything and nothing is too hard for Him, we can trust Him and rely on Him.

In addition, there is no prayer too hard for God to answer. Jesus said in Matthew 21 vs 22, "And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive." When you ask in prayer and believe, you will receive. Because there is no situation too hard for God to solve. But if you have an unwilling spirit, or an unconcerned attitude, you can limit our Almighty God. Because with such an ungodly attitude, being that there is nothing too hard for God, let me tell you, that you are binding the hands that want to bless you!

Sometimes in life, we will question, as to, why some things take so long.  God’s Word say it best, “… My thought are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways says the LORD” (Isaiah 55 vs 8). So in life, there are lessons to be learned, and that no matter what the circumstance might be, God is molding and shaping us for His purpose. Faith is the channel through which the risen Lord pours His life into you. If you refuse to believe, you refuse God entry!

I am a big dreamer. I have a lot of big dreams in my life, and I have seen God fulfill many of them in my life. In essence He says, “I do not care how much you dream, I can still top what you are dreaming. I am bigger than the thought that I gave you, because, I can dream bigger than your mind can ever conceive! So yesterday’s impossibilities are today’s miracles. God specializes in the impossible! He is a competent Father, and there is nothing too hard for Him! When men come to the point of human impossibility God’s grace is manifested. God specializes in working through us to achieve the impossible situations in our daily lives that would be hopeless if we need to handle them with our limited strength. 

God doesn’t need much from us to accomplish His plan for our lives. Focusing on our human predicament may paralyze us because the situation may appear humanly impossible. But concentrating on God and His power will help us see the way out. Right now you may feel unable to see through your troubles. Focus instead on God, and trust Him for the way out. That is all He needs to begin His work in you. 

“Is there anything too hard for the Lord?” The obvious answer is, “Of course not!” The question reveals much about God. Make it a habit to insert your specific needs into the question. “Is this day in my life too hard for the Lord?” “Is this habit I’m trying to break too hard for Him?” “Is the communication problem I’m having too hard for Him?” Asking the question this way reminds you that God is personally involved in your life and nudges you to ask for His power to help you. 

If you are going through a difficult time today, understand that nothing is too hard for God. Whether that be an illness, a job interview, or a declining friendship, God can work miracles. Nothing is too hard for God — nothing.

Even if it seems too difficult for us, it is not too difficult for God. The Lord created the earth, the heavens, the animals, and mankind. He has also provided the way for us to obtain eternal life by placing faith in His death, burial, and resurrection. If God can do all these, He can truly do anything. 

In our own abilities, many things seem too hard. On a daily basis, it is easy for us to forget God’s unlimited power, but this should not be. We need to be constantly looking back to God and trusting in His mighty power. As Christians, we cannot be tossed and thrown around anytime something bad happens. Instead, we have to stand firm in the faith and not give up.

We will come across many difficult times over the course of our lives, and we will be discouraged at times; however, we need to remember the truth that nothing is too hard for God.

Whenever you find yourself doubting God, remind yourself of this truth — nothing is too hard for God. His love for you far exceeds anything in all creation. Nothing can separate us from God’s love (Romans 8 vs 35 - 39). Since God has so much love for all of us, we can be certain that He will always come to help us. Nothing is too hard for God. Everything that happens in our life is not allowed without God’s permission.

Even bad things that happen in our lives have a purpose. God works all things out for our good even if we don’t understand it at the time (Romans 8 vs 28).

Prayer: Abba Father, nothing is too hard for You to accomplish. By You all things consist. Your love for me is inexplicable though undeniable. My absolute trust, and total confidence is in You. What You cannot give me, may I never have it. What You cannot do for me, let it remain undone, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

God Forgives and Is Still Just

 Nathan the prophet comes to David after his adultery and murder and says, “The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die. Nevertheless, because by this deed you have utterly scorned the Lord, the child who is born to you shall die.” (2 Samuel 12:13–14)

This is outrageous. Uriah is dead. Bathsheba is raped. The baby will die. And Nathan says, “The Lord has put away your sin.” 

Just like that? David committed adultery. He ordered murder. He lied. He “despised the word of the Lord” (2 Samuel 12:9). He scorned God. And the Lord simply “put away [his] sin”?!

What kind of a righteous Judge is God? You don’t just pass over rape and murder and lying. Righteous judges don’t do that. 

This was one of Paul’s greatest theological problems — very different from the ones people struggle with today: how can God forgive sin and still be righteous? Here is what Paul said in Romans 3:25–26:

God put [Christ] forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

In other words, the outrage that we feel when God seems to simply pass over David’s sin would be good outrage if God were simply sweeping David’s sin under the rug. He is not. 

God sees, from the time of David, down the centuries to the death of his Son, Jesus Christ, who would die in David’s place, so that David’s faith in God’s mercy and God’s future redeeming work unites David with Christ. And in God’s all-knowing mind, David’s sins are counted as Christ’s sins and Christ’s righteousness is counted as his righteousness, and God justly passes over David’s sin for Christ’s sake. 

The death of the Son of God is outrageous enough, and the glory of God that it upholds is great enough, that God is vindicated in passing over David’s adultery and murder and lying. And ours.

And so God maintains his perfect righteousness and justice while at the same time showing mercy to those who have faith in Jesus, no matter how many or how monstrous their sins. This is unspeakably good news.

THE JOY OF THE LORD IS YOUR STRENGTH!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

MONDAY AUGUST 14, 2023.

SUBJECT: THE JOY OF THE LORD IS YOUR STRENGTH! 

Memory verse: "Then he said to them, “Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy to our LORD. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the LORD is your strength." (Nehemiah 8 vs 10.)

READ: Psalm 37 vs 4 - 5; Isaiah 12 vs 3; Philippians 4 vs 4:

Psalm 37:4: Delight yourself also in the LORD, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. 

37:5: Commit your way to the LORD, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass.

Isaiah 12:3: Therefore with joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.

Philippians 4:4: 4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.

INTIMATION:

Joy is the quiet, confident assurance of God's love, and works in our lives; that in all circumstances He will be there for us! Joy is lasting because it is based on God’s presence within us. And as we contemplate His daily presence, we will find contentment. As we understand the future He has for us, we will experience joy. Don’t base your life on circumstances, but on God who controls all circumstances.

The demeanor of a Christian lifestyle is one of rejoicing. Joy is a common theme in Christ’s teaching—He wants us to be joyful always. People who are filled with the joy of the Lord understand the grace of God. The joy is based on the fact that they realized that they were forgiven through what Christ wrought for us in redemption. True joy, therefore, is based on mourning over our past sins, understanding God’s forgiving grace, and obedience to the word of God. It is not based on the social environment in which one lives. It is only in being joyous that “you will draw water from the wells of salvation.” 

The key to immeasurable joy is living in intimate relationship with Christ—the source of all joy. When we do, we will experience God’s special care and protection and see the victory God brings even when defeat seems certain. The fullness of our joy comes from a consistent and intimate relationship with Christ, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit—the rivers of living water (John 7 vs 37 - 39). Ultimate joy comes from Christ dwelling within us, and a consistent relationship with Him, that is, abiding in Him, and Him in you; being a branch of the vine that you may bear fruit. 

When our lives are intertwined with His, He will help us walk through adversity without sinking into debilitating lows, and manage prosperity without moving into deceptive highs. The joy of living with Jesus Christ daily will keep us levelheaded, no matter how high or low our circumstances. True joy transcends the rolling waves of circumstances. We are not unduly elated when things go well, and when hardships come, we do not sink into depression. 

Our inner attitudes do not have to reflect our outward circumstances. Christians should be full of joy because they know that no matter what happens, Jesus Christ is with them. Though, it’s easy to get discouraged about unpleasant circumstances or to take unimportant events too seriously, it’s joyful to look at life from the right perspective—God’s perspective. 

Salvation is a gift from God that ensures our overwhelming and unparalleled inheritance in Jesus Christ. You can only access this by your delighting (being joyful) in the Lord. When you delight in the Lord, you will commit your ways to Him, completely trusting in Him, and surely He will give you the desires of your heart, and ensures they are accomplished. To delight in someone means to experience great pleasure and joy in his or her presence. This happens only when we know that person well. Thus, to delight in the LORD, we must know Him better. Knowledge of God’s great love for us will indeed makes us delight in Him, committing ourselves to Him; entrusting everything—our lives, families, jobs, possessions—to His control and guidance. 

Prayer: Abba Father, You are my everything. My joy is complete in You. My total confidence is in Your assured presence and fellowship with me always, I am persuaded that Your goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life as I dwell in Your presence forever, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

Three Examples of How Faith Fulfills Good Resolves

 Three Examples of How Faith Fulfills Good Resolves

To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power. (2 Thessalonians 1:11)

When Paul says that God fulfills our good resolves by his power through faith (he calls our acts “works of faith”), he means that we defeat sin and we do righteousness by faith, that is, by being satisfied with all that God promises to be for us in Christ in the next five minutes, five months, five decades, and into eternity.

Here are three examples of how this might look in your life: 

If you set your heart to give sacrificially and generously, the power of God to fulfill this resolve will come to you as you trust his future grace in the promise, “My God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19). And the promise, “Whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully” (2 Corinthians 9:6). And the promise, “God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8).

If you set your heart to renounce pornography, the power of God to fulfill this resolve will come to you as you trust his future grace in the promise, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8). “It is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell” (Matthew 5:29). Much better. Wonderfully better. All-satisfyingly better.

And if you set your heart to speak out for Christ when the opportunity comes, the power of God to fulfill this resolve will come to you as you trust his future grace in the promise, “Do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour” (Matthew 10:19).

May God increase our daily faith in the precious promises of God — promises of his inexhaustible, blood-bought, Christ-exalting future grace.

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