The Danger of Jealousy

 The Danger of Jealousy

For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind. James 3:16(NLT)

Anger caused by jealousy is one of the first negative emotions mentioned in the Bible. Genesis 4 tells us that Cain killed his brother Abel because he was jealous to the point of being angry. Although this is one of the more extreme results of jealousy, it reminds us of how dangerous jealousy can be.

In today’s society many people feel their status is dependent on their job or position in the church. Because of this mindset, they’re afraid someone else may get promoted ahead of them. Jealousy causes them to try to be important in the eyes of man.

If you have this problem, understand that God has you where you are for a reason. He knows what’s in your future, and He may have you in training for it right now.

Don’t despise the days of small beginnings. Our rewards come from obeying the specific callings He’s placed on our lives, not from jealously trying to achieve things that you think will impress people. Don’t let jealousy grow in you. Trust God to place you where you need to be.

Prayer Starter: God, jealousy is dangerous and I don’t want to have any part of it. My status isn’t dependent on worldly positions and recognition. All I nee

d is You.

THE HOLY SPIRIT'S CONVICTION IS FOR OUR GOOD!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

THURSDAY APRIL 04, 2024.

SUBJECT : THE HOLY SPIRIT'S CONVICTION IS FOR OUR GOOD! 

Memory verse: "And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgement." (John 16 vs 8.) 

READ: John 16 vs 7 - 11:

16:7: Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.

16:8: And when He has come, He convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgement.

16:9: Of sin, because they do not believe in Me;

16:10: Of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more;

16:11: Of judgement, because the ruler of this world is judged.

INTIMATION:

What is conviction? It's to prove guilty; to pronounce guilty; a person found guilty of crime or sin. It's usually convincing or persuading by evidence to satisfy as to truth or error. Conviction is a veritable tool employed by the Holy Spirit for our betterment. Conviction is meant to convince us of sin, lift us out of it, and to help us move higher in God's will and plan for our lives. He convinces us to repent, which means to turn and go in the right direction rather than the wrong one in which we are currently going. How wonderful it is to have close fellowship with the Holy Spirit, to have Him in our lives to let us know when we are going the wrong way.

When we are convicted by the Holy Spirit, it is God speaking to us because He wants to help us in some areas. He is not condemning us, but He's trying to let us know that He wants us to live a better and healthy life. The Holy Spirit works to enlighten our awareness of what we are doing wrong that leads to death, and what we need to do to enjoy abundant life. When He speaks to our conscience about changes that are needed, we should pray right then, asking God to deliver us and bring about those changes through our faith in Jesus.

When Holy Spirit reveals to you an issue that needs to be dealt with in your life, you can trust that the anointing is also present to break the yoke of bondage over  you. If you put off confronting the behavior until you want to deal with it, you may have to face change without the anointing, which is very difficult. When God convicts, He also anoints, so that it is the best time to yield to His help in changing. We often wants to do things in our own timing, and we struggle and struggle because we're not asking for God's help. 

Holy Spirit reveals the result of sin and the result of righteousness so that people can see life and death set before them and call on God to help them choose life. People who has chosen the life of sin have wretched, and miserable lives, which makes them look ugly and older than their age. The rough, rugged lifestyle they have chosen has taken a toll on them. 

The power of God can make us look better and keep us feeling younger, because we are not living the hard life of sin. This power of God is at work in the world today demonstrating the results of sin and the results of righteousness. The line between the two is becoming vividly distinct. It is no longer difficult to tell who belongs to God and who doesn't. The world that we live in is full of gross darkness (Isaiah 9 vs 2). But God gave Jesus "for a light to the nations" (Isaiah 42 vs 6). His light is visible in the faces of true believers.

It is healthy and normal to feel guilty when we are initially convicted of sin; but to keep the guilty feeling after we have repented of the sin is not healthy, nor is it God's will. Conviction from the Lord never fills us with condemning shame. Shame fills us with a painful sense of disgrace and humiliating regret, often for something that we couldn't help. 

When God works in people's lives, He condemns the sin, but He never condemns the sinner, rather He gives mercy to the sinner, so we never need to be afraid to let God show us what we are doing wrong. The Holy Spirit lives in us, and can't get much closer to us than that. He doesn't come just to take up space, or because He has nowhere else to stay or go. The Holy Spirit lives in us because He has a job to do, which is to help (empower, encourage, advocate, strengthen, counsel, teach, comfort, intercede) and lead us to God's plan for our lives.

Prayer: Abba Father, thank You for the gift of the Holy Spirit. I surrender to His leading and earnestly desire His convictions to instigate the necessary repentance and forgiveness of sin. I pray that nothing will break my fellowship with Him, in Jesus' Name. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

From Seedtime to Harvest

 From Seedtime to Harvest

A Time for Everything

For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. Ecclesiastes 3:1(NLT)

Ecclesiastes 3:1 tells us that there is a season for everything. We don’t all live in the same season at the same time. You should never be jealous of someone who is enjoying harvest while you’re still in the planting season. Remember, they had to go through a season of planting just as you are.

Seedtime represents learning the will of God. Each time I choose God’s will instead of my own, I’m planting a good seed that will eventually bring a harvest in my life.

Between seedtime and harvest comes a time of waiting. Roots shoot down, digging their way through the ground. It takes time for this to happen, and it takes place underground. Above the ground, you can’t tell anything is happening.

After we plant seeds of obedience, we feel like nothing is happening, but all kinds of things are happening inside where we can’t see. And like the seed that finally bursts through the ground with a beautiful green shoot, our seeds of obedience will finally break forth into a beautiful manifestation of God in our lives.

Prayer Starter: Lord, because seedtime is necessary for harvest time, I won’t get discouraged while I’m waiting and feeling like nothing’s happening. I will continue to obey and trust You, knowing that You will bring me into my harvest at just the right time.

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AT THE APPOINTED TIME!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

WEDNESDAY APRIL 03, 2024.

SUBJECT: AT THE APPOINTED TIME!

Memory verse: "And he said, “Look, I am making know to you what shall happen in the latter time of the indignation: for at the appointed time the end shall be.” (Daniel 8 vs 19.)

READ: Habakkuk 2 vs 2 - 3:

2:2: Then the Lord answered me and said: “Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who sees it.

2:3: For the vision is yet for an appointed time; but at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.

INTIMATION:

God has a plan for all of His creation according to His predetermined purposes. His consistent purpose is to carry out what He has planned. He provides cycles of life, each with its work for an appointed time. God does not work to make us happy, but to achieve His predetermined purposes, which may involve unpleasant or difficult times. Although we may face many problems that seem to contradict God’s plan, these should not be barriers to believing in Him, but rather opportunities to discover Him more, and that without God, life’s problems have no lasting solutions! 

Events or things happen exactly at the right time in history according to God’s own plans and schedule. God controls all history, and He controls the timing, method, and events surrounding us all. God’s timing is perfect. We may sometimes be discouraged by the seemingly delay in God’s response, and may wonder if God will ever respond to our prayers. Though, your request may be in consonance with God’s plan for you, but it will only come through to you at His appointed time. Therefore, haven known this fact, we ought to be patient with Him, and wait for His perfect timing.

It’s obvious our feelings or reactions does not move God nor alter His plans and purposes. 

According to Scripture, everything about you is predetermined by God. God is 'All-Knowing.' He already knows everything about us, even to the number of hairs on our heads (Matthew 10 vs 30). He knows the thoughts of our hearts, even when they are evil, and yet He accepts and loves us. 

For all believers God is with us through every situation, in every trial; protecting, loving, guiding us (Psalm 46 vs 1; 59 vs 16), and has promised He would never leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13 vs 5), and will be with us always, even up to the end of age (Matthew 28 vs 20). He knows and loves us completely.

God is able and willing to bless us according to His timing. Humbly obey God regardless of present circumstances, and in His due time you will reap a harvest of blessings, either in this life or in the next. Yes, in the next life because here is not our home. Your security is in heaven, not on earth. Jesus said He will go to prepare a place for us in His Father’s house of many mansions (See John 14 vs 2 - 3).

But God’s promises are sure to come, though it might seem slow in coming, wait patiently, for it will surely take place, in line with His perfect and appointed time. It isn’t easy to be patient, but it helps to remember that God is absolutely in control of all things. We must trust Him even when we don’t understand why events occur as they do. His promises are public and the fulfillment is sure. He is a God of truth and righteousness, and does His bidding according to His perfect plans, purposes, and timing.

In concluding, please note, “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.) You are in God’s plans, and He works in “all things”—not just isolated incidents—for your good. All He created are in His plans and purposes according to His predetermined timing. 

Often we waver between faith and fear, but God is able to turn every circumstances around for our long-range good. Even in our deepest sorrow, God cares! He knows every problem and sees every fear. At His appointed time He will come through to you.

Prayer: Abba Father, Your timing is perfect, Your wisdom and knowledge are unsearchable, and your ways past finding out! Let it be to me according to Your thoughts, plans, purposes, and timing, to bring me to the expected end—eternal life with You, in Jesus Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

A Perfect Heart

 A Perfect Heart

The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. What a fool you have been! From now on you will be at war. 2 Chronicles 16:9(NLT)

Time and time again in my life, the Lord has reminded me that He doesn’t look for perfect performance from us, but perfect hearts.

A lot of people think God won’t use them until every area of their life is perfected. That type of thinking keeps people from allowing God to use them. He uses us in spite of us, not because of us.

People usually love you based on your performance. If you do what they want you to do, they accept you; but if you don’t, they reject you. God’s love is based only on God. He loves you and accepts you as you are.

This doesn’t mean we should have a loose attitude and not desire to live a holy life. A person whose heart is perfect toward God is always going to earnestly and zealously desire to please God in all things, yet they understand that God will never reject us because of our weaknesses or mistakes. He wants to love us and help us when we’re weak.

Let God love you, and in return, give Him your love with a perfect heart!

Prayer Starter: God, I know that you love me despite my weaknesses and flaws. I thank You for this love and turn my heart to You, knowing that You can use me when I follow You with a pe

rfect heart.

GIVING UNDUE RECOGNITION TO SATAN!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

TUESDAY APRIL 02, 2024.

SUBJECT: GIVING UNDUE RECOGNITION TO SATAN!

Memory verse: "Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.” (Second Corinthians 2 vs 14.)

READ: Colossians 2 vs 13 - 15:

2:13: And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses,

2:14: having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.

2:15: Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.

INTIMATION:

Everything that Jesus did is accredited to us. The entire substitutionary work of Christ was for us. He didn't conquer Satan for Himself. He didn't put sin away for Himself. He didn't suffer the judgement that would have fallen upon the sinners for Himself. But He suffered it on our behalf, and we have entered into His victory, it is accredited to us. So Satan now is a defeated enemy. The enemy of our souls—the Adversary, the ruler of this world, who always leads us to sin, that is, to rebel against God, and constantly accusing us before God for our sins, was flatly defeated when God sent His Son, Jesus, to legally pay the penalty of sin on our behalf. 

Satan was defeated before Jesus arose from the dead. We are seen as crucified with Christ (Romans 6 vs 6; Galatians 2 vs 20), died with Christ (Romans 6 vs 8), buried with Christ (Romans 6 vs 4), suffered with Christ (Romans 8 vs 17; First Peter 1 vs 4; 4 vs 13), justified with Christ (Romans 5 vs 1), made alive with Christ (Romans 6 vs 8), conquered the Adversary with Christ, and then were raised together with Him (Ephesians 2 vs 5 - 6; Colossians 2 vs 13), and now we are seated together with Him (Ephesians 2 vs 6). That shows us our utter oneness and union with Christ.

In the passage we read today, the Scripture says that Jesus wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. That is, one the legal demands of the Old Testament Law. The law opposed us by its demands for payment for our sin (Ezekiel 18 vs 4; Romans 6 vs 23). And Jesus Christ has taken it out of the way, haven legally paid the penalty, and nailed the requirements to the cross.  

The war against Satan was fought and won for us by Christ on the cross. Christ disarmed Satan and his demons on the cross, and stripped the defeated enemy of his armor on the battlefield. He triumphed over them and made a public spectacle of them on the cross for all to see, Therefore, there is no denial of the fact, and hence God declared us not guilty, and we need no longer live under sin’s power—the devil’s power. He delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love (Colossians 1 vs 13).

We are recreated in Christ when we accepted the substitutionary work of Christ for us. We war not with flesh and blood, not with humans, but with demons who know that we are, in Jesus' Name, their masters. Every demon knows that you, the recreated one, is his master. We enjoy our new lives in Christ because we have joined Him in His death and resurrection. Our evil desires, our bondage to sin, and our love of sin died with Him. Now, joining Him in His resurrection life, we may have unbroken fellowship with God, and we can be clean and new. 

Satan and his cohorts rule us by subterfuge, by bluff, by deception. For instance, they put diseases upon us and hold us in bondage through our ignorance of what we are in Christ and what belongs to us. Once they know you know your rights in Christ, you are free from their attacks. Let us know, claim, and exercise our rights in Christ.

However, God does not take us out of the world or make us robots, we will still feel like sinning, and sometimes will sin. The difference is that before we were saved, we were slaves to our sinful nature, but now we are free to live for Christ.

Jesus Christ was glorified when He finished the work and declared so (John 19 vs 30), Now He sits at the right hand of the Father—the hand of authority, in the heavenly places, and with all the authorities handed over to Him (Matthew 28 vs 18). He is the head of the body—the church (Colossians 1 vs 18), and He sits in heaven with His body far above principalities and powers. And the head cannot be without the body. The Father has qualified us, as the body, to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.

Prayer: Abba Father, thank You for the wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption You gave us in Jesus Christ. Give me the grace to always exercise my rights in Christ thereby putting the Adversary far away from me, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

THE WINNING PRAYER!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

MONDAY APRIL 01, 2024.

SUBJECT : THE WINNING PRAYER!

Memory verse: "This Book of the Law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success." (Joshua 1 vs 8.)

READ: Isaiah 1 vs 18; 41 vs 21; & 43 by 2:

1:18: “Come now, and let us reason together,” says the LORD, “though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

41:21: “Present your case,” says the LORD. “Bring forth your strong reasons,” says the King of Jacob

43:26: Put Me in remembrance; let us contend together; state your case, that you may be acquitted.

INTIMATION:

The winning prayer is the prayer anchored on reasoning with the Lord in His Word. Therefore, a winning prayer is richly prepared in God’s Word, presenting His Word back to Him that He may hasten to perform it (Jeremiah 1 vs 12). As 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.” (Numbers 23 vs 19.) 

The Word of God is forever settled in heaven (Psalm 119 vs 89.) Therefore, a Christian wins in prayer if he or she prepares very well in God’s Word before prayer so as to present his prayer and supplication in tandem with God’s Word.

The apostle Paul told the believers in Colosse in Colossians 3 vs 16, "Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom..." You must have a word-stuffed heart, to maintain a hotline communication with God. Emotional displays in prayer does not move God. No amount of tears from your cry will move God if your communication is void of adequate Word preparation. God is only moved when you ask according to His Will—His Word. So, all you need is the right Words and your communication with Him will be through. 

One thing is needful for every other thing to fall in place—the right Word of God. If you check through Scriptures, you will find out that everything is hooked to, and rooted in the Word. Faith, effectual prayer, and success etc, are all rooted in it. Being outstanding in Christianity is a function of your Word content, and not the amount of religious exercises you engage in. 

I have seen many heavy prayer warriors who are weary, but I am yet to see a Word warrior who is not a conqueror. When you are wordless in God’s Word, your prayers can't be genuine. You will either be under pressure, or just be playing games. 

It is God's Word that connects you to the Throne for response. No matter how long you have been cheated by the devil, when you cry to God and say, "Lord, can't You see how I am being cheated? Can't You see how long I have been a Christian?" All He will say is, "My son, my daughter, talk sense! What do you want Me to do for you?" He wants you to bring your strong reasons from His Word and put Him in remembrance of them. So until you remind Him of His Word that commits Him to perform, your prayers will continue to remain unanswered. 

The Bible in John 1 vs 1 & 14 says, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father) full of grace and truth." Jesus is the Word of God. Therefore, locating the Word for any situation, is locating Jesus for that situation.

Now, the Bible says in Matthew 21 vs 42 & 44, "Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the Scriptures: 'The stone which the builders rejected, has become the chief cornerstone. This was the Lord's doing, And it is marvelous in our eyes?” And whoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder." 

The stone referred to here is Jesus—the Word. If any opposition falls on it, that opposition will be broken; and when it falls upon any opposition, it grinds it to powder. Anytime you locate Scriptures that address any issues of concern in your life, and use them, you are spiritually hauling stones against the opposition, breaking them first and then grinding them to powder. And it is obvious the Scriptures cannot be broken (John 10 vs 35).

The Bible in Hebrews 4 vs 12 says, "For the Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Embedded in the Word is the power and might of God. It is living and dynamic as it works in us. Locating the Word is bringing God to the scene, and that marks the end of any oppositions in your life. 

The Lord said, “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 out 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 - 11.) 

Rather than spend time doing some religious exercises that won't profit you, spend it in the Word, to gather the appropriate stones that will bring down your Goliath. Go by the River of Life (the Bible), carefully choose and pick up those lively stones (Scriptures), put them in your bag (your heart) and then move against the opposition and you are sure to bring it down.

Prayer: Abba Father, You have given us all that pertains to life and godliness in Your Word. Give me the grace to be richly endowed with the deep knowledge of Your Word, and that I will confess it at all times. to overcome all oppositions of the devil by the words of my testimony, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!