Five Ways Affliction Helps

 Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word. (Psalm 119:67)

This verse shows that God sends affliction to help us learn his word. How does that work? How does affliction help us learn and obey the word of God?

There are innumerable answers, as there are innumerable experiences of this great mercy. But here are five:

Affliction takes away the glibness of life and makes us more serious, so that our mindset is more in tune with the seriousness of God’s word. And mark this: There is not a single glib page in the book of God.

Affliction knocks worldly props out from under us and forces us to rely more on God, which brings us more in tune with the aim of the word. For the aim of the word is that we hope in God and trust him. “Whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope” (Romans 15:4). “These [things] are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God” (John 20:31).

Affliction makes us search the Scriptures with greater desperation for help, rather than treating it as marginal to life. “You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13).

Affliction brings us into the partnership of Christ’s sufferings, so that we fellowship more closely with him and see the world more readily through his eyes. Paul’s great heart longing was “that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death” (Philippians 3:10).

Affliction mortifies deceitful and distracting fleshly desires, and so brings us into a more spiritual frame and makes us receptive to the spiritual word of God. “Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin” (1 Peter 4:1). Suffering has a great sin-killing effect. And the more pure we are, the more clearly we see God (Matthew 5:8).

May the Holy Spirit give us grace to not begrudge the pedagogy of God through pain.

HAVE YOUR OWN FAITH!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

SUNDAY FEBRUARY 04, 2024.

SUBJECT : HAVE YOUR OWN FAITH!

Memory verse: "So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God." (Mark 11 vs 22.)

READ: Mark 11 vs 23 - 24: 

11:23: For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.

11:24: Therefore I say to you whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them and you will have them.

INTIMATION: 

Faith is a profession for living. It is a spiritual profession that requires spiritual skill development for maximum delivery or effectiveness. Faith empowers you to make the most of life. Accessing life at its best is according to your own faith (Matthew 9 vs 29). One should never trust the great issues of his or her life to another's faith. You should have your own faith in God and His Word; faith that can meet any crisis that may come. 

Everyone should build his or her own faith life. The woman with the flow of blood had her own faith, and she said, “If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well.” (Matthew 9 vs 21.) Note that she didn’t ask even Jesus to pray for her or touch her, but she simply reached out in faith to Jesus, and her faith delivered expressly her healing to her. 

Unfortunately. majority of people float on carelessly until they come to a dangerous position; when they are sick, or some loved one is sick, some financial or heart problem confronts them that may affect their entire future, then they frantically hunt for someone who can cry and sob and quote Scriptures in what they call ‘their prayer,' and it is to no avail. 

It is vitally important to you that you have your own faith in God and His Word to fall back on in these difficult or troubled times. Obviously, your case is vital to you. It may not be vital to this other party on whose faith you look up to. He may have troubles that are unresolved, inward struggles that have never been settled. His faith may be at a low sub when you appeal to him or her for aid.

Here are some facts that will help you to begin to build your own faith life. The Word of God is yours. It is as though there was no other person in the world but you, and any revelations has been given especially to you; you can say, "It is mine. No one has a better right to it than I have. Every promise is mine. Every statement of fact is mine." When Jesus said, ".If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you" (John 15 vs 7), you now can say, "He is talking to me. He is my Father; I am His child. This is His message to me to help me in my earth walk." This message was given to me by the Master from the Father for He said, "The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works." (John 14 vs 10).

Consequently it is the Father who said, "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.” (John 15 vs 7 - 8.)  The fruit is prayer fruit. It is one of the branches that will bear the fruit, and I am that branch." When your heart can speak like this, then you know that as you approach the Throne of grace there is a willing ear listening to you, that whatever you ask (because the Word is living in you) you will receive.

God is love and has inspired His saints who wrote the instructional book called the Bible. Jesus came to unveil love, and the revelation of love is given to us in the Word. Jesus now has spoken a love message to you. He says, "If you abide in Me." If you are a New Creation, you certainly do abide in Him. His words abide in you just as that lover's words would abide in your heart. You go over that lover's words again and again. He has asked you to become His companion for life.

When you make His Word yours and speaking them with sincere believe or faith, I bet you, nothing will be impossible with you. You can say to that mountain be removed and cast into the sea, and that mountain will obey you (Mark 11 vs 23 -  24). This is because you are speaking the words of your Father that He has spoken to you which are sure words because He assured us that His word cannot return to Him void, but will achieve that for which it is sent and will prosper in it. (Isaiah 55 vs 11). And that the Word is forever settled in heaven (Psalm 119 vs 89).

Prayer: Abba Father, thank You, most Faithful Lord, for the privilege of sonship granted me, and the revelational knowledge on Your Word to me. My absolute faith, trust and confidence are in You. May I never falter in unbelief, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD! 

The Greatest Love

I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name’s sake. (1 John 2:12)

Why should we emphasize that God loves, forgives, and saves “for his name’s sake” — for his own glory? Here are two reasons (among many).

1) We should emphasize that God loves and forgives for his own glory because the Bible does.

I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins. (Isaiah 43:25) 

For your name’s sake, O Lord, pardon my guilt, for it is great. (Psalm 25:11) 

Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of your name; deliver us, and atone for our sins, for your name’s sake! (Psalm 79:9) 

Though our iniquities testify against us, act, O Lord, for your name’s sake. (Jeremiah 14:7) 

We acknowledge our wickedness, O Lord, and the iniquity of our fathers, for we have sinned against you. Do not spurn us, for your name’s sake; do not dishonor your glorious throne. (Jeremiah 14:20–21) 

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. (Romans 3:25–26) 

Your sins are forgiven for his name’s sake. (1 John 2:12)

2) We should emphasize that God loves and forgives for his own glory because it makes clear that God loves us with the greatest love.

Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory. (John 17:24) 

God loves us not in a way that makes us supreme, but makes himself supreme. Heaven will not be a hall of mirrors, but an increasing vision of infinite greatness. Getting to heaven and finding that we are supreme would be the ultimate letdown. 

The greatest love makes sure that God does everything in such a way as to uphold and magnify his own supremacy so that, when we get to heaven, we have something to increase our joy forever: God’s glory. The greatest love is God’s giving himself to us for our eternal enjoyment, at the cost of his Son’s life (Romans 8:32). That is what he means when he says that he loves us and forgives us for his own name’s sake.

SATAN HAS NO SUPERNATURAL POWER!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 03, 2024.

SUBJECT : SATAN HAS NO SUPERNATURAL POWER!

Memory verse: “And the LORD said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person.” So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.” (Job 1 vs 12.)

READ: Job 2 vs 1 - 6:

2:1: Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the LORD.

2:2: And the LORD said to Satan, “From where do you come?” Satan answered the LORD and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it.”

2:3: And the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God, and shuns  evil? And still he holds fast to his integrity, although you incited Me against him, to destroy him without cause.”

2:4: So Satan answered the LORD, and said, “Skin for skin! Yes all that a man has he will give for his life.

2:5: But stretch out Your hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will surely curse You to Your face.!”

2:6: And the LORD said to Satan, “Behold, he is in your hand; but spare his life.

INTIMATION: 

Satan has no supernatural power. All supernatural power rests with God, for God created all things, including Satan (Colossians 1 vs 16). The statement that Satan moved God against Job clearly manifests this teaching that is maintained throughout the Bible. Only God has power over the supernatural. Only God can work miraculous happenings. And in this case, it was the power of God that was given to Satan on this particular occasion in order that Satan do the deed against Job. 

Satan was a created angel of God who fell. That which was created cannot have the power of the One who creates. All supernatural beings were created by God, and thus do not have the power of the Creator. All supernatural power originates from God, and thus is controlled by Him. If God had not delegated power to Satan he could have done nothing in reference to taking away Job’s possessions, family, and inflicting his body. God limits Satan, and in this case God did not allow Satan to touch Job’s life. Therefore, Satan is limited to what God allows, and so it is forever.

We must learn to recognize, but not fear Satan’s attacks, because Satan cannot exceed the limits that God sets. Don’t let any experience drive a wedge between you and God. Although you can’t control how Satan may attack, you can always choose how you will respond when it happens. In Job’s case, Satan attempted to drive a wedge between Job and God by getting Job to believe that God’s governing of the world was not just and good. But in all Satan’s schemes, Job never succumbed to his wiles. 

Satan’s greatest power lies in deception and accusing believers before God. But can Satan persuade God to change His plans? Satan is unable to persuade God to go against His character. God is completely and eternally good. But God is willing to go along with Satan’s plan because God knows the eventual outcome. God cannot be fooled by Satan. For instance, God knew the eventual outcome of Job’s story. Job’s suffering was a test for Job, Satan, and us—not God.

Satan schemes in order to deceive the innocent. His deceptive influences are presented to the saints of God through every means. If one is not conscious of the fact that Satan is continually scheming to deceive the righteous, then he will not be vigilant against apostasy. The most common deception of Satan is through the means of misdirecting the religious inclinations of man. The world is full of religions that satisfy man’s religious desires. However, all such religions are false because they are not founded upon the word of truth that has been revealed by and through the Holy Spirit. By smooth and fair speech the religious leaders of the world have thus led astray the hearts of the innocent who are ignorant of the word of God.

The Christian’s strength is maintained if he remains in fellowship with the Lord who is the source of power against Satan. The imperative command places the responsibility for being strong on the shoulders of the Christian. The Holy Spirit does not assume the responsibility for keeping the Christian strong. The responsibility for faithfulness is with free-moral saints who must maintain the spiritual armor of the Lord by which strength is maintained against the wiles of Satan. The Holy Spirit does not work in the life of any individual in a manner that would subject free-moral agents into conforming to the will of God. 

The reason of putting on the whole armor of God is to be able to stand against Satan’s deceptions. Satan has deceived the whole world. Through the intimidation of the environment in which Christians live, they are often drawn away from truth in order to conform to the teaching and behavior of unbelieving friends and neighbors. (James 1 vs 13 - 15). Satan is the ruler of those who have given themselves over to follow after the lusts of the world. Those who make decisions, and live without considering the will of God, are often living and making decisions according to the will of Satan. They are thus being directed by Satan. 

Prayer: Abba Father, my utmost heart desire is to put on Your whole armor, that I may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil, and to remain in fellowship with You all the days of my life, in Jesus' mighty Name I have prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

The Forgiveness Cycle

 “And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation.” (Luke 11:4)

Who forgives whom first? 

On the one hand, Jesus says, “Forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us.” (Luke 11:4)

On the other hand, Paul says, “As the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.” (Colossians 3:13)

When Jesus teaches us to pray that God would forgive us, “for we ourselves forgive,” he is not saying that the first move in forgiveness was our move. Rather, it goes like this: God forgave us when we believed in Christ (Acts 10:43). Then, from this broken, joyful, grateful, hopeful experience of being forgiven, we offer forgiveness to others. 

This forgiving spirit signifies that we have been savingly forgiven. That is, our forgiving others shows that we have faith; we are united to Christ; we are indwelt by the gracious, humbling Holy Spirit.

But we still sin (1 John 1:8, 10). So we still turn to God for fresh applications of the work of Christ on our behalf — fresh applications of forgiveness. We cannot do this with any confidence if we are harboring an unforgiving spirit. (Remember the parable of the unforgiving servant in Matthew 18:23–35. He refused to forgive his fellow servant who owed him ten dollars, though he claimed to be forgiven ten million. He showed by his unforgiving spirit that the king’s mercy had not changed him.)

Jesus protects us from this folly by teaching us to pray, “Forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us” (Luke 11:4). That’s why Jesus says we ask for forgiveness because we are forgiving. This is like saying, “Father, continue to extend to me the mercies purchased by Christ, because by these mercies I have been forgiven, and I forsake vengeance and extend to others what you have extended to me.”

May you know God’s forgiveness afresh today, and may that grace overflow in your heart in forgiveness toward others. And may that sweet experience of grace in your life give you added assurance that, when you go to God to experience fresh, blood-bought forgiveness, you will know that he sees you as his forgiven and forgiving child.

GOD CARES!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 02, 2024.

SUBJECT: GOD CARES!

Memory verse: "Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you." (First Peter 5 vs 7.) 

READ: Psalm 103 vs 8 - 14 & 17:

103:8: The Lord is merciful and gracious. slow to anger, and abounding in mercy. 

103:9: He will not always strive with us, nor will He keep His anger forever. 

103:10: He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor punished us according to our iniquities. 

103:11: For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; 

103:12: As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. 

103:13: As s father pities his children, do the Lord pities those who fear Him. 

103:14: For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust. 

103:17: But the mercy of The Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him. And His righteousness to children's children. 

INTIMATION:

God has deep interest in all that concerns you and I. We are fragile but God's care is eternal. Too often we focus on God as Judge and Lawgiver; seeing the Greek concept of God that was popular in that Old Testament days—a God with no emotions and no messy involvement with humans, ignoring His compassion and concern for us. When God examines our lives He remembers our human condition. His mercy takes everything into account. God deals with us compassionately. 

God is so caring that even when He forgives us our sin, He separates it from us and doesn't remember it anymore. As east and west can never meet so is a symbolic portrait of how God separates us from our sins when He forgives us. We need never wallow in the past, for God forgives and forgets. 

Our loving Father will never leave us; that is His promise to us (see Matthew 28 vs 20; John 14 vs 18). But the enemy of our souls wants us to doubt God, and to question His ability. And this undoubtedly, is the trick the father of lies, Satan, has used from the beginning of human history. In the Garden of Eden our first parents were set up to live happily ever after, having been placed in a paradise-like setting by a Loving, Caring, and Personal God. They had been given everything they could ever want, but with only one small restriction: "Don't eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil." 

We easily will say today, 'What a simple innocuous request and easy to obey.'

But when they were enticed by the “tempter,”—he devil, they fell into his trap of questioning the love and goodness of the One from whom they had only experienced good. What a monstrous lie! But they bought the lie hook, line and sinker! And mankind has been wretched ever since, but for God's intervention through His Son, Jesus Christ! 

We do the same today. We willingly swallow the lie that we cannot trust our Heavenly Father. We allow our unpleasant earthly circumstances, and hurts from parents or others to distrust our view and our understanding of God. Our many feelings, emotions, fears, and human experience effectively block a clean perception, consequently stifling all truth about Him. 

Now, let us look at a scriptural portrait of the caring nature of Jesus. The Scripture says in John 11 vs 33 - 37, “Therefore, when Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping who came with her, He groaned in the spirit, and was troubled. And He said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to Him, “Lord, come and see.” Jesus wept. Then the Jews said, “See how He loved him!” And some of them said, “Could not this Man, who opened the eyes of the blind, also have kept this man from dying?” (John 11 vs 33 - 37.)

Obviously, we have a God who cares. When Jesus saw the weeping and wailing, He too wept openly. Perhaps He empathized with their grief, or perhaps He was troubled at their unbelief. In either case, Jesus showed that He cares enough for us to weep with us in our sorrow. Here we see many of Jesus’ emotions—compassion, indignation, sorrow, even frustration. He often expressed deep emotion, and we must never be afraid to reveal our true feelings to Him. He understands them, for He experienced them. Be honest, and don’t try to hide anything from your Savior. He cares.

Carrying your worries, stresses, and daily struggles by yourself shows that you have not trusted God fully with your life. It takes humility, however, to recognize that God cares, and to admit your needs, and let God take care of you. Sometimes we think that struggles caused by our own sin and foolishness are not God's concern. But when we turn to God in repentance, He will bear the weight of those struggles, including our sins. Hence the Scripture says, “Casting all your care upon Him; for he cares for you.” (First Peter 5 vs 7.)

Pray that God will help you not allow negative human relationships and experiences interfere with having a close relationship with your Loving, and Caring Father, and hindering your enjoying the never ending and limitless benefits of His care.

Prayer: Abba Father, You are so caring and loving that You gave Your only Son, Jesus Christ, to die for my sins. What a supreme sacrifice You made for me! Forever You remain my God. Endue me with the spirit of love, compassion, trust, and complete obedience to You, Who has given all for me, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

Included in the Covenant

 “There I will make a horn to sprout for David; I have prepared a lamp for my anointed. His enemies I will clothe with shame, but on him his crown will shine.” (Psalm 132:17–18)

Who will benefit from the promises God made to David?

Here is Psalm 132:17–18 again: “I will make a horn to sprout for David; I have prepared a lamp for my anointed. His enemies I will clothe with shame, but on him his crown will shine.” 

Now connect that with Isaiah 55:1, 3, “Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! . . . And I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David.”

From this side of the cross, here’s how I would paraphrase that promise: Whoever comes to God through Jesus Christ, his Son, thirsting for what God is for us in Christ, rather than depending on who we are or what we do, God will make with that one a covenant. 

Remember how the Bible comes to an end in Revelation 22:17? “Let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.” This is not just the Jews of Isaiah’s day. This is anyone who comes to Christ to satisfy the thirst of his soul. “I will make with [that one] an everlasting covenant!”

What covenant? A covenant defined and secured by God’s “sure love for David.” Isaiah 55:3, “I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David.” I take that to mean that I am included in the Davidic covenant. What David gets, I will get in Christ Jesus.

And what does that include? 

A horn will sprout for me. That is, great strength will fight for me and protect me. There will be a God-prepared lamp for me. That is, light will surround me and darkness will not overcome me. There will be a crown for me. That is, I will reign with the Son of David and sit with him on his throne. “The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne” (Revelation 3:21).

It is an astonishing thing that we will benefit from the promises made to David. God means for us to be astonished. He means for us to leave our devotions astonished at the power and authority and surety with which we are loved by God.