GUARD AGAINST PRIDE!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

TUESDAY MARCH 05, 2024.

SUBJECT : GUARD AGAINST PRIDE!

Memory verse: "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall." (Proverbs 16 vs 18.)

READ: Psalm 12 vs 3; 101 vs 5; Proverbs 8 vs 13; 11 vs 2; 16 vs 5; 29 vs 23: 

Psalm 12:3: May the LORD cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaks proud things.

Psalm 101:5: Whoever secretly slanders his neighbor, him I will destroy, the one who has a haughty look and a proud heart, him I will not endure.

Proverbs 8:13: The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; pride and arrogance and the evil way and the perverse mouth I hate.

11:2: When pride comes, then comes shame; but with the humble is wisdom.

16:5: Everyone proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD; though they join forces, none will go unpunished.

29:23: A man's pride will bring him low, but the humble in spirit will retain honor.

INTIMATION:

Pride is inordinate self-esteem or conceit; disdainful treatment of others. Pride, in the Scripture, also denotes being boastful, haughty, vainglory, presumptuous, and puffed up. Many believers are lofty in their thoughts. They always believe that to surrender to Jesus Christ is all that is required, and all other things will by itself fall into places. Consequently, a humble and contrite spirit, which are the major requirements for believers, are grossly lacking in them.

When they have been driven by pride into wrong doing, they try their best to rationalize their actions, using such words as; "He spoke to me harshly and I gave it back to him," "I was provoked to anger, and I reacted the way I did." It is often their desire to return evil for evil, tear people down verbally or get back at them, if they feel hurt. But this is ungodly, God encourages us to pay back wrongs by praying for the offenders, to seek peace and pursue it. If we love life and desire to see good days, we should eschew evil and do good.

"I was wrong" or "I am sorry" are difficult phrases to utter because they require humility. Pride is an ingredient in every quarrel. It stirs up conflict and divides people. Examine your life truthfully, and you will acknowledge that pride has been leading you to quarrels. Humility, by contrast, heals. If you find yourself constantly arguing, always trying to rationalize your actions and behaviors, examine your life for pride. Be willing to admit your mistakes, and be open to godly advice of others, and ask for help when you need it.

Pride is the inner voice that whispers, "My way is best." It is resisting God's leadership, negating His concepts, and believing that you are able to live without His help. Whenever you find yourself doing this, or wanting to do it your way and looking down on other people, you are being pulled by pride. Only when you eliminate pride can God help you become all He meant you to be. Proud people take little account of their weaknesses and do not anticipate stumbling blocks. They think they are above the frailties of common people, but they are always caught in that web. In this state of mind they are easily tripped up. Ironically, proud people seldom realize that pride is their problem. 

Humility is the cure of pride. Pride leads to disgrace, punishment, destruction; it produces quarrels, ends up in downfall, and brings one low. In contrast, humility leads to wisdom, honor, and takes advice. The proud attitude heads the list of seven things God hates: "These six things the LORD hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him: A proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, a false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren." (Proverbs 6 vs 16 - 19.)

Pride and lies go hand in hand. The proud will always seek to defend their actions, requiring to put up a defense. Such defense are fraughted with lies in other to drive home their point. We may be tempted to believe that some lies are relatively harmless, even useful at times. But God does not overlook lies, flattery, deception, or boasting. Each of these sins originates from a bad attitude that is eventually expressed in our speech. The tongue can be our greatest enemy because, though small, it can do great damage (See James 3 vs 5 - 6). Be careful how you use yours.

Avoid pride when God prospers you, and makes you powerful. It is true that "pride goes before destruction." If God has given you wealth, influence, popularity, and power, be thankful, but be careful. God hates pride. While it is normal to feel elation when we accomplish something, it is wrong to be disdainful of God or to look down on others. Give God credit of what you have, and use your gifts in ways that pleases Him. Remember, no matter what your position in society, God expects you to honor, worship, and obey Him.

Prayer: Abba Father, endue me with a humble spirit, that I may constantly examine my ways, thoughts, and actions to eliminate any form of pride. Give me the grace to admit my faults, my wrongs, and to boldly say "I am sorry," in Jesus' Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

HOW TO DISCOVER YOUR DESTINY!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

MONDAY MARCH 04, 2024.

SUBJECT : HOW TO DISCOVER YOUR DESTINY!

Memory verse: "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.” (Jeremiah 1 vs 5.)

READ: Psalm 139 vs 15 - 16:

139:15: My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.

139:16: Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them. 

INTIMATION:

Destiny simply means God’s plan and purpose for his children conceived long before we were born. God has a plan and purpose for creating each one of His children, and He has assignments laid out for us to accomplish here on planet earth. Our destiny is God's purpose for our lives. It is our God ordained future. It is what God has destined us to become in His divine will and wisdom. Each of us is also destined to play specific roles in the ordering of His world. This is why we are on the earth.

God knew you, as He knew Jeremiah, long before you were burn or even conceived. He thought about you and planned for you, and has a purpose in mind for you. God has a purpose for each Christian, but some people are appointed by God for specific kinds of work: Samson (Judges 13 vs 3 - 5), David (First Samuel 16 vs 12 - 13), John the Baptist (Luke 1 vs 13 - 17), and Paul (Galatians 1 vs 15 - 16) were also called to do particular jobs for God. 

Whatever work you do should be done for the glory of God (Philippians 1 vs 11). If God gives you a specific task, accept it cheerfully and do it with diligence. If God has not given you a specific call or assignment, then seek to fulfill the mission common to all believers—to love, obey, and serve God—until His guidance becomes more clear. 

The believer’s true life is embodied in our relationship, and fellowship with God, and His begotten Son, Jesus Christ. Although, people often base the reality of their lives on their self-conceptualized accomplishments, but our relationship with God and His Son Jesus Christ is far more important than our jobs, successes, wealth, or knowledge. Here lies the key to your destiny. 

We have been chosen by God Himself as His very own. The undeniable truth is that your value comes from being one of God’s children—sons and daughters of God, heirs of the kingdom, and joint heirs with His Son, Jesus Christ, who is the firstborn among many brethren (Romans 8 vs 29). 

A person’s life is like a large house, full of stories and experiences. There are various levels and rooms reserved for certain seasons of life, each one unique in style, complex in design and purpose. Within each house are many doors that open and close throughout the course of its existence. Some are easier to open than others. Some require a little prying. Some are best left closed forever. Others, however, require a key. The door to your destiny is one that requires a key—one that can seem very difficult to find. It cannot be created instantly or reproduced in any way. It cannot be bought with money, although it does come at a price. 

Many Christ-followers wander through their houses—their lives—never able to open the door to their destiny because they simply do not know their true identity in Christ; not being able to find the key to the door of their destiny. Although people ask themselves what their purpose in this world is, they rarely live out the answer. 

To find the key to the door of your destiny, and knowing your true identity in Christ requires first and foremost that you know Him—the Key Molder and Possessor personally. As cliché as it sounds, it is the truth! How can one really know himself or herself without first intimately knowing the One who created him in her? He created you for a purpose which only Him can determine. 

It’s a known fact that the manufacturer of any product has a purpose in mind, and only the manufacturer can give the facts of its purpose. Our journey to knowing ourselves begins with knowing God’s nature and character. He is the One who carefully molds the key of destiny and will reveal the key by Himself in your life as you pursue Him. As you grow in your knowledge of Him, three significant things begin to take place:

1. Knowing Him causes you to know what He says about you. If you truly desire to know what the Lord says about your destiny and identity, dive into His Word! 2. Knowing Him reveals your authority in Him; knowing the person He has divinely called you to be sets the precedence for understanding and operating in His authority. 3. Knowing Him gives you eternal perspective, especially when you wholeheartedly understand the fact that you will spend eternity with Him!

The wisdom and revelation of the knowledge of these three things will cause you to obtain the ever-desired key to the door of your destiny. I truly believe that in this time of history—in a season of worldly chaos and profound self-anonymity—the Lord is calling His Bride to know her true identity and to live out her purpose, effectively advancing the Kingdom of God here on earth as it is in heaven.

Prayer: Abba Father, impart me with the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of You, the eyes of my understanding being enlightened; that I may know the hope of Your calling, and the riches of the glory of Your inheritance in me that believe, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

CRAVE FOR DIVINE DIRECTION!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

SUNDAY MARCH 03, 2024.

SUBJECT : CRAVE FOR DIVINE DIRECTION!

Memory verse: "Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, The Holy One of Israel: "I am the Lord your God, Who teaches you to profit, Who leads you by the way you should go." (Isaiah 48 vs 17.)

READ: Second Samuel 5 vs 17 - 20:

5:17: Now when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David King over Israel, all the Philistines went up to search for David. And David heard of it and went down to the stronghold.

5:18: The Philistines also went and deployed themselves in the Valley of Rephaim.

5:19: So David inquired of the Lord, saying, “Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will You deliver them into my hand?” And the Lord said to David, “Go up, for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into your hand.”

5:20: So David went to Baal Perazim, and David defeated them there, and he said, “The Lord has broken through my enemies before me, like a breakthrough of water.” Therefore he called the name of that place Baal Perazim.

INTIMATION:

God's ability to direct our lives well is infinitely beyond our ability. Divine direction is our heritage in Christ, because when you receive Him as your Lord and Savior, He gives you the right to become a child of God. (John 1 vs 12.) A child of God enjoys the leading of the Father. Though divine direction is your heritage, but you must seek it in order to enjoy it because God created us as free moral individuals, therefore, allows us to make our choices. 

Divine direction can be obtained through prayer of inquiry. In Matthew 7 vs 7, Jesus said, "Ask and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock; and it will be opened to you." If the path you are going on seems like a dead end, ask Him, "Lord, where is the right side of this venture?" When you locate the path of life, you enjoy fullness of joy and pleasures forevermore, which is our ultimate goal in prayer.

God is committed to leading you in the path of life He has ordained for you even before you were born. But inquiring in prayer ensures your access to His leading. David was a man who understood superbly that nature of God, and used it greatly. The power of the prayer of inquiry was outstanding in his life, hence God called him a man after His heart. 

In the passage we read today, we saw David’s exploits through inquiry and receipt of  divine direction from the Lord. Further in the same chapter, David again inquired of the Lord about the Philistines, and the Lord instructed him on what to do; “And David did so, as the Lord commanded him and he drove back the Philistines from Geba as far as Gezer.” (vs 25) 

When you ask, God gives liberally, because He is committed. He is a loving Father, so be relaxed in His presence and ask as many questions as you need to be clear on every vital issue of your life. David wrote of the Lord in Psalm 16 vs 11, "You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore." 

When God leads you, you can't but become outstanding in life. Some people are not cut out for business, but have chosen to do it, either because of social influence or personal affection. Others are into all manner of professions where their star may never shine, because they haven't located the right path. They just keep groping around. 

However, you can't afford to go through life doing what seems right to you. It is too risky! "There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death." (Proverbs 16 vs 25.) The apostle James said, "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him." (James 1 vs 5.)

We are often confused by the events around us. Many things we will never understand, others will fall in place in years to come as we look back and see how God was working. You need not understand God's ways (His ways are beyond our understanding), or worry if you don't understand everything as it happens. Instead, we should trust that God knows what He is doing, even if His timing or design is not clear to us. 

Don't give up in your efforts in seeking God. Continue to ask Him for more knowledge, patience, wisdom, love, and understanding. He will give them to you. When you ask, God is committed to answer; He knows that without His direction your destiny is not secured. But until you ask Him, you will just keep doing what seems right, not what is right, and until you do what is right, you can't be marked right in life. David, in Psalm 37 vs 23, gives us the reassuring promise of God's direction in our lives; "The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, And He delights in his way."

When God leads you, He makes a leader out of you. But one wrong step can lead to a 40-year setback in life, as was the case of Moses and the children of Israel. Jesus tells us to persist in pursuing God. People always give up after a few halfhearted efforts and conclude that God cannot be found. But knowing God takes faith, focus, and follow-through (I call it the three 'Fs'), and Jesus assured us that we will be rewarded. (Matthew 7 vs 7 - 8.)

Divine direction was what rescued the disciples from an all-night futile toiling on the sea. Jesus came and said to them, "Cast your net on the right side of the ship and you shall find." They did, and were not able to draw in the net, for the multitude of fishes (John 21 vs 3 - 8).

Do you want breakthroughs? Then inquire of God in prayer concerning any issues before you take any steps. He will answer you, because He is interested in everything that concerns you. God is the only One who can lead you to true pastures and He is set to do so. If only you will let Him. He said; "Call upon Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know." (Jeremiah 33 vs 3.)

Remember, you can't wish problems away, you must rise up to the challenge, and effect a change. You don't have to accept the status quo, you are a child of destiny! Where you are now may not be God's ultimate for you. You can get to the top, if only you will push in prayers. You too can  live a problem-free life, and I see you getting there, in Jesus' name!

Prayer, Abba Father, You are my Loving Father, and Faithful Companion. Outside of You, I can do nothing, and without Your direction, I can never fulfill my destiny. Give me the grace, O Lord, to constantly inquire from You concerning any issues in my life, that I may obtain Your leading through the Holy Spirit indwelling me, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

BE A TRUE WORSHIPER OF GOD!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

FRIDAY MARCH 01, 2024.

SUBJECT: BE A TRUE WORSHIPER OF GOD!

Memory verse: "God is a Spirit: and those that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth." (John 4 vs 24.)

READ: John 4 vs 23 - 24:

4:23: But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.

4:24: God is a Spirit: and those that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth.”

INTIMATION: 

True worshipers are those that worship God in spirit and in truth. And God seeks such worshipers. “God is Spirit” means He is not a physical being limited to one place. He is present everywhere, and He can be worshiped anywhere, at anytime. It is not where we worship that counts, but how we worship. 

In worshiping God in spirit, Jesus is speaking of worship that comes from within the individual as opposed to the ritualistic or ceremonial worship. As the time of this encounter with the Samaritan woman, both the Jews and Samaritans had digressed into a worship that was ceremonial and located. But this would change. Jesus came to reinstitute true worship that did not depend on the location of the worshiper, or the ceremonies through which one goes through in order to inspire worship. The worship He was bringing would be according to the Word of God and from the heart of man.

In truth: The worship would not be the invention of men who created their own worship of a god they had created after their own image. God does not accept worship that is invented after either the traditions of men or the uncontrolled outburst of emotionally hysterical people typical of the sabbatarians. The worship about which Jesus is speaking in this context is the worship that is truth directed. It is directed to the God who has revealed Himself through inspired words of revelation. When one comes to the knowledge of this God and His desires through His revealed Will, the worship is directed according to the Will of God. 

This worship is opposed to worship that is invented after the emotional desires of men or the ritualistic ceremonies of those who seek a manifestation of worship through performances. What Jesus is saying in the most profound statement is that one must know the Word of God in order to worship the God of the Word. Ignorance of God’s Word leads to one worshiping a god who is the creation of one’s mind. Such is idolatry.

God is spirit: it is not that God is a spirit, He is spirit (Second Corinthians 3 vs 17). He cannot be seen by mortal eyes. Neither can He be conceived to be a physical being after the form of man. Those who would conceive God to be in the form of a man are seeking to make an idolatrous god with whom they can physically identify. Such is the spirit of idolatry. Since God is spirit, then those who worship Him cannot do so after material means. True worshipers approach God on a spiritual basis, realizing that He is everywhere, sees all things, and knows all things. 

Christians are those who worship God in the spirit (Philippians 3 vs 3). This is one of the greatest arguments against worshiping God through mechanical means, performance of ceremonies, or even the outburst of hysterically misguided emotions. Such things may appeal to the carnal desires of men and manifest a presence of worship, but such are useless in communicating the worship of one’s heart to the God who is above the physical environment of man. The more one focuses on performance of worship, the environment of worship, and ceremonies, the more the worshiper focuses on himself. His worship, therefore, becomes inward focused, and often entertainment that is masked as worship.

We must remember that true worship originates first with the heart and is directed according to how God has determined that our worship toward Him should be conducted. We must also remember that the heart is motivated by love. A loving heart worships God because God has stimulated such by His own love. And if you love Him, you should keep His commandments (John 14 vs 15). Anything you do, remind yourself that He is present with you and sees what you are doing. Therefore, your conduct should be truthful, sincere, lovely, and in keeping His commandments. And do all things in true worship to the Lord!

 

Always seek the leading of our Helper—the Holy Spirit—in your genuine and true worship. How does the Holy Spirit help us worship? The Holy Spirit prays for us (Romans 8 vs 26), teaches us the words of Christ (John 14 vs 26), and tells us we are loved (Romans 5 vs 5).

Prayer: Abba Father, my utmost heart desire to lead a life of true worship to You. Give me the grace to accomplish this in my life; living for You, and engaging the leading of the Holy Spirit at all times, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

FAITH IS A POTENT FORCE!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

SATURDAY MARCH 02, 2024.

SUBJECT : FAITH IS A POTENT FORCE!

Memory verse: "But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he that comes to God, must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him." (Hebrews 11 vs 6.)

READ: Hebrews 10 vs 19 - 23:

10:19: Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, 

10:20: by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh,

10:21: and having a High Priest over the house of God,

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.

INTIMATION:

Faith is a potent force without which prayer will be absolutely unproductive. Building up your faith is a prerequisite for effectual communication with God. The Bible calls faith "The substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." (Hebrews 11 vs 1.) You are holding in confidence the things you have asked in prayers, and perceiving as real facts what is not revealed to the senses. It is the ticket on which you take delivery of anything from heaven.

Your confidence in God must first be in place before you ask Him for anything, because though His Word presented before Him grants you audience in the Throne Room, your faith in Him (in His Word) is what motivates Him to act on your behalf. Therefore, it is you, not God, who determines whether your prayer gets answered or not. Though ‘He is ready to perform His Word’ (Jeremiah 1 vs 12), He demands your faith that leads to a personal, and dynamic relationship with Him.

You don't only approach God with His Word, you must come with an unwavering assurance that ‘He abides faithful and cannot deny Himself’ (Second Timothy 2 vs 13). Therefore, your approach to the Throne Room must be with unwavering faith. The Scripture in James 1 vs 6 - 7, says, "But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord."

Once your faith and trust in God is established, you can rest assured of results when you pray. You will not only believe in the existence of God, but also believe in His loving care. That is relying on God with full  expectations that He will hear and answer when you pray and that He is who He says He is and will do what He says He will do.

In Matthew 9, two blind men prayed to Jesus for the restoration of their sight. Even though Jesus heard them, He did not heal them until He was assured of their faith in Him: "When Jesus departed from there, two blind men followed Him, crying out and saying, "Son of David, have mercy on us!" And when He had come into the house, the blind men came to Him, and Jesus said to them, "Do you believe that I am able to do this? They said to Him. Yes, Lord. Then He touched their eyes, saying, "According to your faith let it be to you." And their eyes were opened...." (Matthew 9 vs 27 - 30.)

Jesus didn't respond immediately to the blind men's pleas. He waited to see if they had faith. They followed Him all through to the house, pleading with Him to heal them, and that shows believe and commitment. Not everyone who says he wants help really believes God can help him or her. Jesus may have waited and questioned these men to emphasize and increase their faith. When you think that God is too slow in answering your prayers, consider that He might be testing you as He did the blind men.

Jesus, by His death and offering of His blood in atonement for our sins, has made it possible for us to approach God in the Throne Room directly. We must come not halfheartedly or with improper motives or pretense, but with pure, individual, and sincere worship in faith. We can know that we have “a true heart” If we evaluate our thoughts and motives according to His Word. Christians can approach God boldly, free from our “evil conscience” and in full assurance because of the work Jesus Christ did for us in redemption.

Under the new covenant of accepting the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross, our hearts and consciences are cleansed completely, not partially or temporarily, from dead works to serve the living God (Hebrews 9 vs 14). Christ’s sacrifice transforms our lives and hearts and make us clean on the inside. Our clean conscience allow us to enter God’s presence with boldness. We have a personal access to God through Christ and can draw near to Him without an elaborate system, and growing in faith to deepen our relationship with God.

Prayer: Abba Father, my trust is in You who made heaven and earth. In You I live, and move, and have my being. My faith is forever anchored in You. Whatever You cannot give me, let me not have it. Whatever You cannot do for me, let it remain undone, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!