OUTWARD APPEARANCE DECEIVES!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

SUNDAY MAY 26, 2024.

SUBJECT : OUTWARD APPEARANCE DECEIVES!

Memory verse: "But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." (First Samuel 16 vs 7.)

READ: Matthew 23 vs 25 - 28:

23:25: Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence.

23:26: Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also. 

23:27: Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful  outwardly, but inside are full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.

23:28: Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

INTIMATION:

Outward impression or appearance can mislead. It can mislead or deceive because it may be pretentious in order to make a good impression; the appearance outwardly does not give the real expression of the intent of the heart of a person. The heart, sometimes translated “mind” or “soul,” constitutes the center of human reasoning and thoughts, and reveals what people are really like or what their true value is. The heart is the locus of feelings and intuitions; it’s, figuratively, the seat of emotions—the place or origin of affections, understanding, and thoughts. Things of the heart are inward and hidden, and may not be outwardly expressed in appearance of a person.

The prophet Jeremiah stated thus; “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17 vs 9.) The intent of the heart is invisible or unknown to any other except the owner and God. Consequently, every plans, thoughts, activities, etc. of a person is consummated in the heart, and nobody knows it except the owner and God. And the outward expression of the person may not be the actual impression of the heart.

Your outward appearance might be superb and admirable, while inwardly you may be devilish. For instance, in today’s memory verse, God told prophet Samuel not to look at the outward appearance. God had rejected Saul as king of the Israelites, and sent prophet Samuel to go and anoint a new king He has chosen for the nation of Israel. Saul was tall and handsome; he was an impressive-looking man. Samuel may have been trying to find someone who looked like Saul to be Israel’s next king, but God warned him against judging by appearance alone. 

Saul was tall, handsome, strong, rich, and powerful, but all of this was not enough to make him someone to be emulated because of his disobedience to God. He was tall physically, but he was small in God’s eyes. He was handsome, but his sin made him ugly. He was strong, but lack of faith made him weak. He was rich, but he was spiritually bankrupt. He could give orders to many, but he couldn’t command their respect or allegiance. Saul looked good on the outside, but he was decaying on the inside. 

When people judge by outward appearance, they may overlook quality individuals who has the inner qualities required by God, but rather they may be influenced by the outward physical qualities that society currently admires. A right relationship with God and a strong character are much more valuable than a good looking exterior. 

Jesus, in admonishing the Pharisees, said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God.” (Luke 16 vs 15.) In the passage we read today, Jesus also condemned the Pharisees for their deep concern about their outward appearance, while their inward attitude is rotten: “Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.” (Matthew 23 vs 28.)

The Pharisees acted piously to get praises from others, but God knew what was in their hearts. Fortunately God judges by faith and character, not appearance. And because only God can see on the inside, only Him can accurately judge people. Most people spend hours each week maintaining their outward appearance; while they should do even more to develop their inner character. While everyone can see your face, only you and God know what your heart really looks like. 

Nothing can be hidden from God. He sees and understands everything in our hearts. It makes no sense trying to hide any thoughts from an All-knowing God. Instead, heed the advice of the apostle Paul: “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” (Romans 12 vs 2.) However, knowing that God knows sinful heart and still loves us should be a thing of joy, not fear, because He knows even the worst about us and loves us anyway.

Never judge anybody by the outward appearance. The outward piety may not really be the inward attitude of the person. Many people pretend to be what they are not, and deceive others by their outward appearance. The intent of their hearts may be devilish while they outwardly appear pious, nice, unassuming and so on. They are ‘wolves in sheep’s clothing’ (Matthew 7 vs 15). 

All Christians should strive to develop the mind of Christ (Philippians 2 vs 5); to do the will of God and receive His approval and the “crown of glory”—eternal life with Him. My prayer is that we should all strive to be Christlike in thoughts and character.

Prayer: Abba Father, let this mind be in me, which was also in Christ Jesus, that I will do Your will, and my appearance be a true reflection of my inner man, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

Strength to Wait with Patience

 May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy. (Colossians 1:11)

“Strengthened” is the right word. The apostle Paul prayed for the church at Colossae, that they would be “strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience” (Colossians 1:11). Patience is the evidence of an inner strength. 

Impatient people are weak, and therefore dependent on external supports — like schedules that go just right and circumstances that support their fragile hearts. Their outbursts of oaths and threats and harsh criticisms of the culprits who crossed their plans do not sound weak. But that noise is all a camouflage of weakness. Patience demands tremendous inner strength. 

For the Christian, this strength comes from God. That is why Paul is praying for the Colossians. He is asking God to empower them for the patient endurance that the Christian life requires. But when he says that the strength of patience is “according to [God’s] glorious might” he doesn’t just mean that it takes divine power to make a person patient. He means that faith in this “glorious might” is the channel through which the power for patience comes.

Patience is indeed a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22), but the Holy Spirit empowers (with all his fruit) through “hearing with faith” (Galatians 3:5). Therefore Paul is praying that God would connect us with the “glorious might” that empowers patience. And that connection is

 faith.

God’s Design in Detours

 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Colossians 3:17)

Have you ever wondered what God is doing while you are looking in the wrong place for something you lost and needed very badly? He knows exactly where it is, and yet he is letting you look in the wrong place.

I once needed a quote for a new edition of my book Desiring God. I knew I had read it in Richard Wurmbrand. I thought it was in his devotional book, Reaching Toward the Heights. I could almost see it on the right hand side of the facing pages. But I couldn’t find it. 

But while I was looking, I was riveted on his devotional for November 30. As I read it, I said, “This is why the Lord let me keep looking for my quote in the ‘wrong’ place.” Here was a story that illustrated perfectly that nothing is wasted that we do in the name of Jesus — nothing, not even looking for a quote in the wrong place. Here’s what I read:

In a home for retarded children, Catherine was nurtured twenty years. The child had been [mentally handicapped] from the beginning, and had never spoken a word, but only vegetated. She either gazed quietly at the walls or made distorted movements. To eat, to drink, to sleep, were her whole life. She seemed not to participate at all in what happened around her. A leg had to be amputated. The staff wished Cathy well and hoped that the Lord would soon take her to Himself.

One day the doctor called the director to come quickly. Catherine was dying. When both entered the room, they could not believe their senses. Catherine was singing Christian hymns she had heard and had picked up, just those suitable for death beds. She repeated over and over again the German song, “Where does the soul find its fatherland, its rest?” She sang for half an hour with transfigured face, then she passed away quietly. (Taken from The Best Is Still to Come, Wuppertal: Sonne und Shild)

Is anything that is done in the name of Christ really wasted? 

My frustrated, futile search for what I thought I needed was not wasted. Singing to this disabled child was not wasted. And your agonizing, unplanned detour is not a waste — not if you look to the Lord for his unexpected work, and do everything in his name (Colossians 3:17).

YOU CAN BE PERFECT!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

SATURDAY MAY 25, 2024.

SUBJECT : YOU CAN BE PERFECT!

Memory verse: "Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.” (Matthew 5 vs 48.)

READ: First John 3 vs 2 - 3: 

3:2: Beloved, now we are the children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is.

3:3: And Everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.

INTIMATION:

Being perfect signifies wholeness and completeness; the highest level of maturity or morality. In the Scriptures, the word perfect means “mature or complete,” not “flawless.” The Apostle Paul wanted to see each believer mature spiritually. Like Paul, we must work wholeheartedly like an athlete, but we should not strive in our own strength alone. We have the power of God’s Spirit working in us. We can learn and grow daily, motivated by love and not fear or pride, knowing that God gives the energy to become mature. We can be perfect if our behavior is appropriate for our maturity level, yet with much room to grow. 

The Christian life is a process of becoming more and more like Christ (see Romans 8 vs 29). This process will not be complete until we see Christ face-to-face (First Corinthians 13 vs 12; Philippians 3 vs 21), but knowing that it is our ultimate destiny should motivate us to purify ourselves. To purify means to keep morally straight, free from the corruption of sin. God also purifies us, but there is the action we must take to remain morally fit (see First Timothy 5 vs 22; James 4 vs 8; First Peter 1 vs 22).

Our tendency to sin must never deter us from striving to be more like Christ. Christ calls all of His disciples to excel, to rise above mediocrity, and to mature in every area, becoming like Him. Those who strive to become perfect will one day be perfect, even as Christ is perfect. All phrases in perfection is grounded in our faith in Christ and what He has done, not what we can do for Him. We cannot perfect ourselves, only God can work in and through us. “He who has begun a good work in You will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1 vs 6.)

How can we be perfect? (1) In character: In this life we cannot be flawless, but we aspire to be as much like Christ as possible. (2) In holiness: Like the Pharisees, we are to separate ourselves from the world’s sinful values. But unlike the Pharisees we are to be devoted to God’s desires rather than our own and carry His love and mercy into the world. (3) In maturity: We can’t achieve Christlike character and holy living all at once, but we must grow toward maturity and wholeness. Just as we expect different behavior from a baby, a child, a teenager, and an adult, so God expects different behavior from us, depending on our stages of spiritual development. (4) In Love: We can seek to love others as completely as God loves us. 

Jesus is portrayed as haven lived a perfect life according to God’s plan. As a child, He was obedient to His parents and amazed the religious leaders in the temple. As an adult, He served God and others through preaching and healing, and finally as a condemned man, He suffered without complaint to save the whole world.

There are three stages of perfection for a child of God: (1) Perfect Relationship; We are perfect because of our eternal union with the infinitely perfect Christ. When we become His children, we are declared “not guilty” and thus righteous because of what Christ, God’s beloved Son, has done for us. The perfection is absolute and unchangeable, and it is this perfect relationship that guarantees that we will one day be “completely perfect” 

(2) Perfect Progress: We can grow and mature spiritually as we continue to trust Christ, learn more about Him, draw closer to Him, and obey Him. Our progress is changeable (in contrast to our relationships, above) because it depends on our daily walk. At times in life we mature more than at other times because we are growing toward perfection if we “press on.” Our good deeds do not perfect us; rather, as God perfects us, we do good deeds for Him (See Philippians 3 vs 1 - 15.)

(3) Completely Perfect: When Christ returns to take us into His eternal kingdom, we will be glorified and made completely perfect (See Philippians 3 vs 20 - 21).

Prayer: Abba Father, my trust is in You for I know that without You I can do nothing, and by my strength I cannot prevail. I am persuaded that You who has started the good work in me will perfect it, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

THE MINISTRY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT - MAY 24

 THE MINISTRY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT - MAY 24

Mark 8:12, "And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and saith, Why doth this generation seek after a sign? verily I say unto you, There shall no sign be given unto this generation."

MARK 8:11-13

The Greek word used here for "sighed deeply" means an intense grieving, inaudible prayer, or groan. This is intercession of the Holy Spirit, with groanings that cannot be uttered. Some Spirit-filled Christians believe this means groanings that cannot be uttered in normal speech and that this refers to speaking in tongues. However, this actually refers to a type of intercession different than speaking in tongues.

In John 11:33 and 38, Jesus groaned in the Spirit twice, and in those cases there were no words uttered. It was exactly as the Scripture states, a groaning in the Spirit. Everyone who has the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit has or will have this happen to them. Paul was referring to this in Galatians 4:19 when he spoke of travailing in birth for the Galatians. This groaning of the Holy Spirit is not just a grief but a groan of anger and resistance against Satan's devices in our lives. Many times, Christians don't discern this because they think it is just their own grief over the situation. But, this is the Holy Spirit desiring to intercede with us against our problems.

Jesus drew on this ministry of the Holy Spirit. John 11:33 and 38 says, that Jesus groaned in the Spirit twice when He raised Lazarus from the dead. What infirmity did Jesus have that He needed this ministry of the Holy Spirit? Jesus had no sin, but He did have an infirmity. It was His physical mind.

Even a sinless human mind could not comprehend raising a man from the grave after four days. If Jesus needed the Holy Spirit to help Him when He didn't know how to pray, then this should certainly be an important ministry of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

DO NOT FEAR CHRIST!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

FRIDAY MAY 24, 2024.

SUBJECT: DO NOT FEAR CHRIST!

Memory verse: "Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry, and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all districts, from two years old and under, according to the time he had determined from the wise men.” (Matthew 2 vs 16.)

READ: John 3 vs 15 - 21:

3:15: That whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.

3:16: For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

3:17: For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

3:18: He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

3:19: And this is the condemnation, that light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

3:20: For everyone practicing evil hates the light, and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.

3:21: But he who does truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.

INTIMATION:

The problem of mankind is that from the beginning we have all done things that are wrong, and have failed to obey God’s laws. This, however, caused our separation from God our Creator. The consequence of that separation from God is death; condemnation by our Creator that we have no solution by ourselves—we can do nothing to become united with God. He is a fair and just God who will not break His own laws. His law says, “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6 vs 23), “The soul who sins shall die” (Ezekiel 18 vs 4 & 20). Bud God, in His infinite mercy and love nature, provided a remedy by the gift of His only begotten Son—Jesus Christ—as a propitiation for our sins.

Therefore, Jesus came to save us. He could help us because He was not only a man; He was God’s unique Son. Because Jesus never disobeyed God and never sinned, only Him can bridge the gap between the sinless God and sinful people. Jesus freely offered His life for us, dying on the cross in our place, taking all our wrongdoing upon Himself, and saving us from the consequences of sin which includes God’s judgement and death. Jesus said, “...I have come that they may have life and that they may have it more abundantly.” (John 10 vs 10.) Jesus gives life. The life He gives right now is abundantly rich and full. It is eternal, yet it begins immediately. Life in Christ is lived on a higher plane because of His overflowing forgiveness, love, and guidance. Don’t be afraid of Christ, take His offer of life. 

Many people don’t want their lives exposed in God’s light because they are afraid of what will be revealed. They don’t want to be changed because they feel that the evil in their lives if exposed or revealed will earn them condemnation from God. But no sin is beyond God’s forgiveness except the sin of denying the power of God in Christ for the forgiveness of sin: “Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of man, it will be forgiven him: but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age, or in the age to come.” (Matthew 12 vs 31 - 32.)

The unpardonable sin is the deliberate refusal to acknowledge God’s power in Christ. It indicates a deliberate and irreversible hardness of heart. Those who have turned their backs on God and rejected all faith can’t be forgiven, not because their sin is worse than any other, but because they will never ask for forgiveness. Whoever rejects the prompting of the Holy Spirit removes himself or herself from the only force that can lead him or her to repentance and restoration to God.

In our memory verse, Herod was afraid of Jesus, he thought that the newborn king would one day take his throne. He completely misunderstood the reason for Christ’s coming. Jesus didn’t want Herod’s throne; He wanted to be king of Herod’s life. Jesus wanted to give Herod eternal life, not take away his present life. Today people are often afraid that Christ wants to take things away from them, in reality, He wants to give them real freedom, peace, and joy. Don’t fear Christ—give Him the throne of your life.

The truth is that Jesus took our past, present, and future sins upon Himself so that we could have new life. Because all our wrongdoing is forgiven, we are reconciled to God. Furthermore, Jesus’ resurrection from the dead is the proof that His substitutionary sacrifice on the cross was acceptable to God, and His resurrection has become the source of new life for those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God. All who believe in Him may have this new life and live it in union with Him.

Some people are repulsed by the idea of eternal life because their lives are miserable. But eternal life is not an extension of a person’s miserable, mortal life. Eternal life is God’s life embedded in Christ given to all believers now as a guarantee that they will live forever. In eternal life there is no death, sickness, enemy, evil, or sin. When we don’t know Christ, we make choices as though this life is all we have. In reality, this life is just the introduction to eternity. Receive this new life by faith and begin to evaluate all that happens from an eternal perspective. 

Put your trust and confidence in Jesus, He alone can save you. Put Him in charge of our present plans and eternal destiny. Believing is both trusting His words as reliable, and relying on Him for the power to change. If you have never trusted Christ, let this promise of everlasting life be yours, and believe. We believe in God by recognizing the insufficiency of our own efforts to find salvation and by asking Him to do His work in us. When Jesus talks about unbelievers, He means those who reject or ignore Him completely, not those who have momentary doubts.

Prayer: Abba Father, thank You for the sacrifice of Your Son, Jesus, as a propitiation for our sins. In Him I live, and move, and have my being. I confess Christ as my Lord and Savior, and forever puts my unequivocal trust in Him, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD! 

JESUS TRIED HER FAITH - MAY 23

 JESUS TRIED HER FAITH - MAY 23

Matthew 15:27, "But Jesus said unto her, Let the children first be filled: for it is not meet to take the children's bread and cast it unto the dogs."

MATTHEW 15:21-39; MARK 7:24-37; 8:1-10

It is very clear in scripture that Jesus was sent to fulfill God's covenant to the Jews. However, it was equally clear that Jesus would open up faith unto the Gentiles. Jesus certainly knew this, and had already ministered to numerous Gentiles without the apparent disdain that we see here with the Syro-Phoenician woman. Jesus could not have been forced into ministering to this woman's daughter if it was not His will to do so. Therefore, His silence and rough answer to this woman must have been designed to accomplish a positive result.

Humility is an important ingredient of faith. This woman was a stranger to the covenants of promise and had no right to demand anything. Jesus' silence and then comparison of her to a dog would certainly have offended an arrogant person, and it is possible that for this very reason, Jesus tried her faith. Jesus didn't need to do this with the centurion in Luke 7:6-7 because the centurion had already humbled himself.

An integral part of faith is seeking God alone with your whole heart. If we are concerned about what people think and gaining their approval (or honor), we will never take a stand in faith for anything. After all we might be criticized for it. This one thing has probably stopped as many people from receiving from God as anything else. You cannot be a "man-pleaser" and please God at the same time. Satan uses persecutions to steal away God's Word and, thereby, stop our faith. To see faith work, we must say with Paul, "let God be true, but every man a liar" (Rom. 3:4).