Amazed at the Resurrection

 This is now the second letter that I am writing to you, beloved. In both of them I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder. (2 Peter 3:1)

As Easter approaches, let’s stir up our thankfulness and joy and admiration and amazement at what the resurrection of Jesus means for us. The curse of our fallen nature is that what once thrilled us becomes ordinary. The reality hasn’t changed. We have changed.

This is why the Bible exists. Peter says of his two letters that they are written to “stir up” or “arouse” by means of “reminder.”

So, let’s stir up our sincere minds by way of reminder.

What has God done in raising Jesus from the dead? Here are a few biblical answers.

Because of the resurrection of Jesus, we are born again to a living hope.

1 Peter 1:3: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”

Because of Jesus’s resurrection, he now has the glory for which we were made. Our ultimate destiny is to see him as he is.

1 Peter 1:21: “God . . . raised him from the dead and gave him glory.” 

John 17:5, 24: “And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed. . . . Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.”

May the risen Lord Jesus himself awaken and arouse your sincere mind to new depths of worship and allegiance and joy.

THE WORD OF GOD YOU BELIEVE PERFORMS IN YOUR LIFE!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

TUESDAY FEBRUARY 20, 2024.

SUBJECT: THE WORD OF GOD YOU BELIEVE PERFORMS IN YOUR LIFE!

Memory verse: "And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.” (Luke 1 vs 45.)

READ: Romans 4 vs 17 - 24:

4:17: (as it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations) in the presence of Him whom He believed—God, who gives life to the dead and calls things which do not exist as though they did;

4:18: who, contrary to hope, in hope  believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, “So shall your descendants be.” 

4:19: And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body now already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah's womb.

4:20: He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;

4:21: And being fully persuaded that, what He had promised, He was able also to perform.

4:22: And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.

4:23: Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;

4:24: But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on Him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead.

INTIMATION:

To believe is to be persuaded of, to place confidence, to trust in; it is to put a reliance upon, not mere credence. Therefore, when you believe the word of God, you are persuaded of its efficacy, and truthfulness. And because it is God’s Word, you are certain of its performance if you believe.

God is the same with His Word—immutable or unchangeable, and remains forever. God’s Word has the backing of His Throne, hence the Scripture says, “..For you have magnified  Your  word above all Your name” (Psalm 138 vs 2). And consequently, He says, “...For I will hasten my word to perform it” (Jeremiah 1 vs 12). In Numbers 23 vs 19, the Scripture says, “God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent: has He said, and will He not do? or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?” God’s Word is forever settled in heaven.

Performance of God’s Word in our lives is hinged upon our faith or believe in the Word. Therefore, knowing the certainty in God’s word, our responsibility for having His Word performed in our lives is hinged on our faith or believe in it.

In the passage we read today, Abraham had great faith in God and His Word, and that was credited to him as righteousness. He never doubted that God would fulfill His promise made to him; that he will be the father of many nations, even when he had no child, and had grown old. Abraham had to his credit that he consistently trusted God, His imperfections in his life not withstanding. His life was marked by mistakes, sins, and failures as well as by wisdom and goodness, but he consistently trusted God. 

He was strengthened in faith by the obstacles he faced, and his life was an example of faith in action. For instance, if he had looked only at his own resources for subduing Canaan and founding a nation, he would have given up in despair. But Abraham looked up to God, obeyed Him, and waited for God to fulfill His Word. And God did! Or if he had considered his age of about a hundred years—his own body now already dead, and the age of his wife Sarah—her womb also already dead, he would never believed they can bear a child. 

However, the Word of God never fails. God says, “For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and do not return there, but water the earth, and make it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall My Word be that goes forth from My mouth, it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.” (Isaiah 55 vs 10 - 12.)

Nonetheless, to ensure the performance of God’s Word in our lives, we must do the following; (1) Receive the Word (2) Believe the Word in your heart, (3) Confess your believe with your mouth, (4) Walk the talk, that is, walk in the consciousness of that Word you believed, (5) Be expectant to reap the promise in the Word, (6) Continually walk in that consciousness and expectancy, (7) Give thanks to God for the expected provisions.

In the case of Abraham, he received the Word; “I have made you a father of many nations” and believed the Word in his heart; “in the presence of Him whom he believed—God, he confessed the Word with his mouth; “So shall your descendants be,” he walked in the consciousness of that Word he  believed; “so that he became the father of many nations,” he was expectant; “he did not waver at the promise through unbelief, he continually walked in the consciousness of his believe; “but was strengthened in faith,” and was giving thanks; “giving glory to God. And there was a performance of those things that the Lord said to him. Hallelujah!!

Abraham’s believe or faith was imputed to him as righteousness, and the Scripture says, “For You, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; with favour will You compass him as with a shield” (Psalm 5 vs 12). God Blessed him in all things (Genesis 24 vs 1). 

The Scripture says, “And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; but for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead.” (Romans 4 vs 22 - 24.) If you believe just as he did, it will be counted for you as righteousness, and will be blessed by God, and there will also be a performance of the Word of the Lord in your life!

Prayer: Abba Father, You said it, I believe it, and that settles it. Give me the grace never to waver at Your promise through unbelief, and strengthen me in faith and confidence in You and Your Word, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

The Kind of Cold That Kills

 He sends out his command to the earth; his word runs swiftly. (Psalm 147:15)

Tonight it will be forty degrees warmer in our kitchen freezer than it is outside here in Minneapolis. The high temperature tomorrow will be five degrees below zero (Fahrenheit). We receive this from the Lord’s hand.

He sends out his command to the earth;

his word runs swiftly.

He gives snow like wool;

he scatters frost like ashes.

He hurls down his crystals of ice like crumbs;

who can stand before his cold?

He sends out his word, and melts them;

he makes his wind blow and the waters flow.

(Psalm 147:15–18)

This is the kind of cold you do not play with. It kills. 

When I came to Minnesota from South Carolina, I dressed for it. But I did not prepare life-saving support in my car in case of a breakdown. 

One Sunday night on the way home from church, in this kind of cold, my car died. This was before cell phones. I had a wife and two small children in the car. 

There was no one on this road. I suddenly realized, this is dangerous. 

Soon it was very dangerous. No one came. 

I saw in the distance through a fence a house. I am the father. This is my job. I climbed the fence and ran to the house and knocked on the door. They were home. I explained that I had a wife and two small children in the car, and asked if they would let us in. They did.

This is a kind of cold you do not play with. 

It is one more way God says, “Whether hot or cold, high or deep, sharp or blunt, loud or quiet, bright or dark . . . don’t toy with me. I am God. I made all these things. They speak of me, just like the warm summer breezes do, and the gentle rains, and the soft moonlit nights, and the lapping of the lakeside, and lilies of the field and the birds of the air.” 

There is a word for us in this cold. May the Lord give us skin to feel and ears to hear.

WE ARE CREATED IN CHRIST FOR GOOD WORKS!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

MONDAY FEBRUARY 19, 2024.

SUBJECT: WE ARE CREATED IN CHRIST FOR GOOD WORKS!

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: Acts 9 vs 36 - 42:

9:36: At Joppa there was a certain disciple named Tabitha, which is translated Dorcas. This woman was full of good works and charitable deeds which she did.

9:37: But it happened in those days that she became sick and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room.

9:38: And since Lydda was near Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent two men to him, imploring him not to delay in coming to them.

9:39: Then Peter arose and went with them. When he had come, they brought him to the upper room. And all the widows stood by him weeping, showing the tunics and garments which Dorcas had made while she was with them.

9:40: But Peter put them all out, and knelt down and prayed. And turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up.

9:41: Then he gave her his hand and lifted her up; and when he had called the saints and widows, he presented her alive.

9:42: And it became known throughout all Joppa; and many believed in the Lord.

INTIMATION:

Good signifies that which is morally honorable, pleasing to God, and beneficial. Good works therefore, are works honorable, pleasing to God, and beneficial to all. God had prepared believers beforehand to walk in those good works. God, by His nature, is an epitome of goodness. For instance, we become believers through God’s unmerited grace, not as the result of any effort, ability, intelligent choice, or acts of service on our part. 

However, out of gratitude for this free gift, we will seek to help and serve others with kindness, love, and gentleness, not merely to please ourselves. While no action or work we do can help us obtain salvation, God’s intention is that our salvation will result in acts of service. We are not saved merely for our own benefit but to serve Christ and build up His church.

To do good is the will of God for all believers, and they are to take thought of things good, prove it by doing them (Romans 12 vs 2), and cleve to it (Romans 12 vs 9). Good works are not only pleasing to God but also to man, and makes you outstanding in your society. The Scripture, in Romans 13 vs 3, says, “For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise for the same.” 

The good works does not only earn you praise only in the society, but is also rewarded by God. And being conscious of this fact, the Bible says, “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of God” (Galatians 6 vs 10). Obviously, sometimes your good works are not recognized, and it is discouraging to continue to do good or right and not receive no word of thanks or see no tangible results. But keep on doing good knowing that God will come with His reward, and in due time you will reap a harvest of blessing. 

When you do good, you receive the same from God (Ephesians 6 vs 8), and He rewards good works with glory, honor, and peace (Romans 2 vs 10). Therefore, Christians are to take thought for things honorable and do them, and also to follow after them. The Scripture instructs us thus, “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), and not to be wary in well doing (Galatians 6 vs 9), and to hold fast that which is good (First Thessalonians 5 vs 21).

We should be zealous of good works for it is for the reason that Christ saved us; “Who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works” (Titus 2 vs 14). We are redeemed and purified to imitate Him in good works, and maintain them according to the Scripture; “This is the faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men.” (Titus 3 vs 8.)

Now, knowing all the benefits of doing good, which includes avoidance of harm (First Peter 3 vs 13), and overcoming evil with it (Romans 12 vs 21), Christians must devote themselves to doing good works—faithful service, acts of charity, and involvement in civil affairs, and so on, for this is the will of God for us; to be more like Christ.

While good works cannot save us, or even increase God’s love for us because God had already loved and saved us with or without good works, they are true indications of our faith in, and love for Christ. We should then provoke them among ourselves (Hebrews 10 vs 24),  to bear testimony by them as children of God (First Peter 2 vs 12), knowing that if our actions are good and above reproach, even unbelievers will end up praising God, and consequently turning to Him.

In the passage we read today, Dorcas made an enormous impact on her community by her good works and charitable deeds—walking in the will of God; always doing kind things for others and helping the poor, by making coats and other garments. When she died, the whole community was thrown into mourning. They were very sorrowful they lost a good woman known for her good works which they will greatly miss in her passing. They were desirous of having her back, and searched for the apostle Peter, believing he can pray to God to bring her back to life.

When Peter came, the room was filled with mourners, very likely many of the people she had helped. He knelt down and prayed, and God restored her life. And when she was brought back to life, the news raced through the town, and obviously, there would have been jubilation all over the town and many believed in the Lord.

This passage teaches us that we all have our individual gifts God has endowed us with, for His use for building and edification of the body of Christ. Though, God uses great preachers amongst us to accomplish His will, but we can’t all be preachers, and we are all witnessing for Christ. He also uses those who have gifts of kindness like Dorcas (Tabitha) to accomplish His will. Rather than wishing you had other gifts, make good use of the gifts God has given you.

The pertinent question for us all is, “What are people saying about you now?” And “What will people say about you in your passing?“ “Will you be missed, and wished to come back to life?” Truthful and sincere answers to these questions will be a quick reminder to you, to know if you are walking in the will of God. May you never walk out of God’s will in Jesus mighty Name!

Prayer: Abba Father, endue me with the spirit of excellence in good works, that I may never relent in using the gifts, possessions, and talents You bestowed on me for service to You and others in good works, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

DO NOT DESPAIR!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

SUNDAY FEBRUARY 18, 2024.

SUBJECT: DO NOT DESPAIR!

Memory verse: "For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life.” (Second Corinthians 1 vs 8.)

READ: Second Corinthians 4 vs 8 - 10:

4:8: We are hard pressed on every side; yet not crushed, we are perplexed, but not in despair;

4:9: persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed—

4:10: always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.

INTIMATION:

Do not despair or lose hope in following Christ, the circumstances you may find yourselves nothing withstanding. It is in situations of hopelessness in our lives that God shows up for us, If we do not despair but rather hold tight to our trust in Him. God will never abandon those who seek Him with all their hearts. His promise doesn’t mean that those who trust in Him will escape loss or suffering. Rather it means that God Himself will never leave them no matter what they face. Regardless of how life looks now, God controls the future. He has promised to make everything right when we trust Him with our lives. The Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will never be put to shame” (Romans 10 vs 11). 

In our memory verse, and in the passage we read today, the apostle Paul enumerated their encounters during their missionary journeys in Asia. They were faced with so many trials, and were entangled with several dangerous circumstances that at some point the apostle Paul felt that they were going to die and lost hope. They knew not what else to do than to put their hope in God. They realized that they could do nothing to help themselves—they simply had to rely on God, and He never failed them.

He reminds us that though we may think we are at the end of our rope, but with God we are never at the end of our hope. All our risks, humiliations, and trials are opportunities for Christ to demonstrate His power and presence in, and through us. Circumstances are never so bad that they are beyond God’s help. 

Daniel and his friends; the three Hebrew young men—Shadrach, Meshach, and Aded-Nego— never despaired in the face of trials, even with their lives glaringly at stake. They pledged their utter obedience to, and trust in God, and God showed up for them. In Daniel chapter 3, the young men determined not to worship the golden image of the king or any other god, and they courageously took their stand in the presence of the king, even when they risked execution in the fiery furnace. 

King Nebuchadnezzar was enraged when they disobeyed him and ordered that they throw the young men into the fiery furnace after heating it twice the former temperature. The young men never despaired. God showed up for them in the furnace; they were unburnt and came out without even the smell of smoke on them.

Daniel also, in Daniel chapter 6, never despaired in praying to his God three times a day, even when faced with penalty of being thrown into the lions’ den if he should pray to His God within the 30 days period stipulated by the king for everybody under his rulership to offer prayers to the king alone. When he was thrown into the lions’ den, God showed up for him, and shut the lions’ mouth. He came out the following morning unhurt.

 

We need not despair, the circumstances we are in not withstanding, because we belong to a loving God. And with Him nothing is difficult nor impossible. He knows the end from the beginning, and we don’t yet know what good He may bring out of a seemingly hopeless situation. For the Scripture says, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8 vs 28.) God works in “all things”—not just isolated incidents—for our good. And He who called us is faithful and will never deny Himself.

We often depend on our own skills and abilities when life seems easy, and only turn to God when we feel unable to help ourselves. But as we realize our own powerlessness without Him and our need for His constant help in our lives, we come to depend on Him more and more. God is our source of power, and we receive His help by being constantly in touch with Him. With this attitude of dependence, problems will drive us to God rather than away from Him. Learn how to rely on God who controls all circumstances.

Prayer: Abba Father, give me the grace to anchor my whole trust in You without despairing no matter the circumstances I face in life, knowing that You will never leave nor forsake me, in Jesus’ Name I prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

When You Are Immortal

 When it was day, the Jews made a plot and bound themselves by an oath neither to eat nor drink till they had killed Paul. (Acts 23:12)

What about those hungry fellows who promised not to eat till they had ambushed Paul?

We read about them in Acts 23:12, “When it was day, the Jews made a plot and bound themselves by an oath neither to eat nor drink till they had killed Paul.” It didn’t work. Why? Because a string of unlikely events happened. 

A boy overheard the plot. The boy was the son of Paul’s sister. The boy had the courage to go to the Roman centurion guarding Paul. The centurion took him seriously and brought him to the tribune. The tribune believed him and prepared “two hundred soldiers, with seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen” to take Paul to safety. 

Every one of those events was highly unlikely. Strange. But that’s what happened.

What had those hungry men lying in ambush overlooked? They failed to reckon with what happened to Paul just before they made their plot. The Lord appeared to Paul in prison and said, “Take courage, for as you have testified to the facts about me in Jerusalem, so you must testify also in Rome” (Acts 23:11).

Christ said Paul was going to Rome. And that was that. No ambush can stand against the promise of Christ. Until he got to Rome, Paul was immortal. There was a final testimony to be given. And Christ would see to it that Paul would give it.

You too have final testimony to give. And you are immortal until you give it.

The Sweet Designs of God

 He set me apart before I was born, and called me by his grace. (Galatians 1:15)

Ponder the conversion of Paul, the sovereignty of Christ, and what Paul’s sins have to do with your salvation.

Paul said that God “set me apart before I was born,” and then, years later, on the Damascus road, “called me by his grace” (Galatians 1:15). This means that between Paul’s birth and his call on the Damascus road he was an already-chosen, but not-yet-called, instrument of God (Acts 9:15; 22:14).

This means that Paul was beating and imprisoning and murdering Christians as a God-chosen, soon-to-be-made-Christian missionary.

As I was on my way and drew near to Damascus, about noon a great light from heaven suddenly shone around me. And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” (Acts 22:6–7) 

There was no denying or escaping it. God had chosen him for this before he was born. And now he would take him. The word of Christ was sovereign. There was no negotiating. 

Rise, and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all that is appointed for you to do. (Acts 22:10)

Damascus was not Paul’s final, free will yielding to Christ after decades of futile divine effort to save him. No. God had a time for choosing him (before he was born) and a time for calling him (on the Damascus road). God called, and the call produced the yielding.

Therefore, the sins that God permitted between Paul’s birth and his calling were part of the plan, since God could have called him sooner. 

Do we have any idea what the plan for those sins might have been? Yes, we do. They were permitted for you and me — for all who fear that they might have sinned themselves out of grace. Here’s the way Paul relates his sins to your hope: 

Formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. . . . But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. (1 Timothy 1:13, 16) 

Oh, how sweet are the designs of God in the sovereign salvation of hardened, hopeless sinners!