THE WISDOM YOU NEED!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

SUNDAY JUNE 02, 2024.

SUBJECT : THE WISDOM YOU NEED!

Memory verse: "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask from God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him." (James 1 vs 5.)

READ: Psalm 119 vs 97 - 104:

119:97: Oh, how I love Your law! it is my meditation all the day.

119:98: You through Your commandments, make me wiser than my enemies; for they are ever with me.

11:9:99: I have more understanding than all my teachers, for Your testimonies are my meditation.

119:100: I understand more than the ancients, because I keep Your precepts.

119:101: I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I may keep Your word.

119:102: I have not departed from Your judgments, for You Yourself have taught me.

129:103: How sweet are Your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!

119:104: Through your precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.

INTIMATION:

Wisdom is simply defined as the ability to discern right from wrong. It is the ability to apply knowledge or experience or understanding or common sense and insight. Wisdom is the ability to see life from God’s perspective and then to know the best course of action to take. Most people would agree that wisdom is a valuable asset, but how can we acquire it? Proverbs 9 vs 10 teaches that the fear (respect and honor) of the Lord  is the beginning of wisdom. 

The wisdom that we need is not only gotten by acquiring knowledge, that is, it’s not just sensual. But we need both knowledge—an understanding heart (the ability to discern what is best in every circumstances), and the strength of character to act upon that knowledge. Therefore, wisdom is the ability to make good decisions based on proper discernment and judgement, and applying such decisions to the peculiar circumstances confronting you. Knowledge refers to the practical know-how necessary for handling everyday matters. Wisdom therefore, is applied knowledge. 

However, this required wisdom comes from God, and the first step to such wisdom is the “fear of God,” to honor and respect God, to live in awe of His power. Therefore, we need the ability to see life from God’s point of view, and to know the best course of action to take. This ability can only be given to us by God, and He gives it liberally and without reproach when you ask. Faith in God should be the foundation for your understanding of the world, your attitudes, and your actions. You can’t be wiser than the Creator and Owner of the world itself. We should ask God to give us the wisdom to know what to do and the courage to follow through on it. Wisdom is both the ability to discern what is best and the strength of character to act upon the knowledge. 

The wisdom that we need has three distinct characteristics: (1) It is practical: The wisdom from God relates to life even during the most trying times. It is the ability to make good decisions based on proper discernment and judgement, and applying such decisions to the peculiar circumstances confronting you. It is applied to all facets and circumstances of life, even in suffering and trials. For instance, an intelligent person may have profound ideas, but a wise person puts profound ideas into action. Intelligence will allow someone to describe several reasons why the car broke down, the wise person chooses the most likely reason and proceeds to take actions. 

(2) It is divine. God’s wisdom goes beyond common sense. Common sense will let us sorrow in the midst of troubles or trials, but divine wisdom leads us to choose joy in the middle of trials, and giving thanks to God in negative circumstances. This wisdom begins with respect for God, leads to living by God’s direction, understanding that God is Supreme and controls all things, including the negative circumstances confronting us, and results in the ability to tell right from wrong. Such wisdom leads us to do good to those who hate, or don’t wish you well. This wisdom is the tool by which trials are overcome. 

(3) It is Christlike. Asking for wisdom is ultimately asking to be like Christ. The Bible identifies Christ as the “wisdom of God.” Knowing Christ personally is the greatest wisdom anybody can have. Christians don’t have to grope around in the dark, hoping to stumble upon answers. We can ask for God’s wisdom to guide our choices. We seek the wisdom of being lead by the Hoy Spirit in every area of our lives. We should never trust on our intellect or speaking ability, but on the knowledge of God. 

Wisdom is both God-given gift and the fruit of an energetic search—the pathway to wisdom is strenuous. Wisdom’s starting point is God and His revealed Word—the source of knowledge and understanding. Therefore, we must trust and honor God, and also, realize that the Bible reveals God’s wisdom to us. This gift of God is given only to those who earnestly seek it. With God is true wisdom—Divine wisdom, and we cannot create it by our own efforts. And because God’s wisdom is hidden from the rebellious and foolish, it takes effort to find it and use it.

True wisdom can be measured by a person’s character. Just as you can identify a tree by the type of fruit it produces, you can evaluate your wisdom by the way you act. Foolishness leads to disorder, but wisdom leads to peace and goodness. Are you tempted to escalate the conflict, pass on the gossip, or fan the fire of discord? Careful, winsome speech and wise, loving words are the seeds of peace. God loves peacemakers (Matthew 5 vs 9.)

Prayer: Abba Father, You give liberally wisdom when asked and without reproach, bestow on me wisdom from above that I may see life from Your perspective, and I will know the best course of action to take in all circumstances, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

The Faith That Magnifies Grace

 I do not nullify the grace of God. (Galatians 2:21)

When I lost my footing as a little boy in the undertow at the beach, I felt as if I were going to be dragged to the middle of the ocean in an instant. 

It was a terrifying thing. I tried to get my bearings and figure out which way was up. But I couldn’t get my feet on the ground, and the current was too strong to swim. I wasn’t a good swimmer anyway. 

In my panic I thought of only one thing: Could someone help me? But I couldn’t even call out from under the water. 

When I felt my father’s hand take hold of my upper arm like a mighty vice grip, it was the sweetest feeling in the world. I yielded entirely to being overpowered by his strength. I reveled in being picked up at his will. I did not resist.

The thought did not enter my mind that I should try to show that things aren’t so bad; or that I should add my strength to my dad’s arm. All I thought was, Yes! I need you! I thank you! I love your strength! I love your initiative! I love your grip! You are great!

In that spirit of yielded affection, one cannot boast. I call that yielded affection “faith.” And my father was the embodiment of the future grace of God that I desperately needed and craved under the water. This is the faith that magnifies grace. 

As we ponder how to live the Christian life, the uppermost thought should be: How can I magnify rather than nullify the grace of God? Paul answers this question in Galatians 2:20–21, “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not nullify the grace of God.” 

Why does his life not nullify the grace of God? Because he lives by faith in the Son of God. Faith calls all attention to grace and magnifies it, rather than nullifying it.

PRAISE YOUR WAY THROUGH!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

SATURDAY JUNE 01, 2024.

SUBJECT : PRAISE YOUR WAY THROUGH!

Memory verse: "But You are holy, enthroned in the praises of Israel" (Psalm 22 vs 3).

Read: Psalm 67 vs 3 - 7; 145 vs 3 - 7 & 10:

67:3: Let the people praise You, O God; let all the peoples praise You.

67:4: Oh let the nations be glad and sing for joy! For You shall judge the people righteously, and govern the nations on earth.

67:5: Let the people praise You, O God; let all the people praise You.

67:6: Then the earth shall yield her increase; God, that our own God, shall bless us.

67:7: God shall bless us; and all the ends of the earth shall fear Him.

145:3: Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; And His greatness is unsearchable. 145:4: One generation shall praise Your works to another, and shall declare Your mighty acts. 

145:5: I will meditate on the glorious splendor of Your majesty, and of Your wondrous works. 

145:6: Men shall speak of the might of Your awesome acts, and I will declare Your greatness. 

145:7: They shall utter the memory of Your great goodness, and shall sing of Your righteousness.

145:10: All Your works shall praise You O Lord, and Your saints shall bless You.

INTIMATION:

Praise is to be ascribed to God, in respect of His glory (the exhibition of His character and operations). Praise is the expression to God of our admiration, appreciation, thanks, approval, and understanding of what He does—His creation, His blessings, His forgiveness. It is also to give great honor to God for each aspect of God's divine nature—loving, just, faithful, forgiving, patient, and the revelation of Himself to us. In praise, we outwardly express our inward attitude toward God. When we praise God we help ourselves by expanding our awareness of who He is. 

Praise is vocal, it is uttered and should be offered in proportion to God's own Person. He is great—great in wisdom, great in power, great in His creative works, great in His redemptive acts and great in His dealings with us. Everything that God does is great and therefore should be greatly praised. Considering all that God has done and does for us, what could be more natural than outbursts of heartfelt praise? 

Praise stimulates God into action. Acknowledging Him for who He is and what He does stimulates Him to take over our battles, and come through to us in our petitions to Him. Because it’s one thing God cannot do for Himself, He is very pleased when we offer our sincere praise to Him. Offering praise to the Lord draws His attention to us. Praise engenders the manifestation of God’s greatness, and the outpouring of His blessings on our lives. Praise brings God down in His Might to attend personally to our situation.

In our memory verse, we observe that God is "enthroned in the praises of Israel." The nation of Israel (the descendants of Jacob) was special to God because to its people God brought His laws, and through its people He sent His Son, Jesus Christ. Now any individual who follows God is just as special to Him. In fact, the Bible says that the nation of Israel is not a specific people or geographic place but the community of all who believe in and obey God; "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise" (Galatians 3 vs 28 - 29).

God's enthronement on the praises of His people was showcased when Paul and Silas were in jail in Philippi, where the jailor thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks. And at midnight they prayed, and sang praises to God. The Great God showed up in His Might, in response to the praises of His children; "And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's bands were loosed." (Acts 16 vs 23 - 26.)

Praise should be continuously offered to God as a sacrifice. In so doing you will realize that you won't take His blessings for granted. Praise God first in your prayer, then you will be prepared to present your needs to Him. Songs of praise focus our attention on God, give us an outlet for spiritual celebration, and reminds us of God’s faithfulness and character. Prophet Hosea said that in prayer and praise our iniquities are taking away; “Take words with you, and return to the Lord, say to Him, “Take away all iniquity; receive us graciously, for we will offer the sacrifices of our lips” (Hosea 14 vs 2).

In our worship to God, praise does the following:-

(1) Praise first puts us in the right frame of mind to tell about our needs.

(2) Praise takes our minds off our problems and shortcomings to focus on God.

(3) Praise leads us from individual meditation to corporate worship.

(4) Praise causes us to consider and appreciate God's character.

(5) Praise lifts our perspective from the earthly to the heavenly.

(6) Praise prepares our hearts to receive God's love and power of His Holy Spirit.

(7) Praise brings God down in His Might to attend personally to our situation. Therefore, praise Him now and always, then He will come through to you.

Prayer: Abba Father, endue me with the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness, that I may praise You all the days of my life for who You are, and all You do, and it shall be counted to me as righteousness, and Your blessings poured out on me, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

The Gain of Serving God

 “They shall be servants to him, that they may know my service and the service of the kingdoms of the countries.” (2 Chronicles 12:8)

Serving God is utterly different from serving anyone else. 

God is extremely jealous that we understand this — and enjoy it. For example, he commands us, “Serve the Lord with gladness!” (Psalm 100:2). There is a reason for this gladness. It is given in Acts 17:25. God is not “served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything.” 

We serve him with gladness because we do not bear the burden of meeting his needs. He has no needs. So, serving him can’t mean meeting his needs. Instead we rejoice in a service where he meets our needs. Serving God always means receiving grace from God to do what we have to do.

To show how jealous God is for us to understand this, and glory in it, there is a story in 2 Chronicles 12. Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, who ruled the southern kingdom after the revolt of the ten tribes, chose against serving the Lord and gave his service to other gods and other kingdoms. 

As judgment, God sent Shishak, the king of Egypt, against Rehoboam with 1,200 chariots and 60,000 horsemen (2 Chronicles 12:2–3).

In mercy God sent the prophet Shemaiah to Rehoboam with this message: “Thus says the Lord, ‘You abandoned me, so I have abandoned you to the hand of Shishak’” (2 Chronicles 12:5). The happy upshot of that message is that Rehoboam and his princes humbled themselves in repentance and said, “The Lord is righteous” (2 Chronicles 12:6).

When the Lord saw that they humbled themselves, he said, “They have humbled themselves. I will not destroy them, but I will grant them some deliverance, and my wrath shall not be poured out on Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak” (2 Chronicles 12:7). But as a discipline to them he says, “They shall be servants to him, that they may know my service and the service of the kingdoms of the countries” (2 Chronicles 12:8).

The point is plain: serving the enemy and serving God are very different. How so? Serving God is a receiving and a blessing and a joy and a benefit. Serving Shishak is exhausting and depleting and sorrowful. God is a giver. Shishak is a taker.

This is why I am so jealous to say that the worship of Sunday morning and the worship of daily obedience is not at bottom a burdensome giving to God, but a joyful getting from God. That is the true service that God demands. In all you do, trust me as the giver.

JESUS WELCOMES SINNERS!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

FRIDAY MAY 31, 2024.

SUBJECT : JESUS WELCOMES SINNERS!

Memory verse: "Come now, 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" (Isaiah 1 vs 18).

READ: Matthew 9 vs 10 - 13:

9:10: And it happened, as Jesus sat at the table in the house, that behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples.

9:11: And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

9:12: When Jesus heard that, He said to them, “Those who are well  have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.

9:13: But go and learn what that means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

 INTIMATION:

Do you feel that you could never come close to God because you have done something terrible? God can and will forgive you of any sin, except the sin against the Holy Spirit (Matthew 12 vs 31 - 32). Never let guilt feelings of sin keep you from praying (seeking the face of God), which is your only means of restoration, because only God forgives sin.

Jesus said He came for the sinners; to call them to repentance. 

If there were no sinners He wouldn’t have come. But because sinners abound on earth He came. The Scripture says, “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3 vs 23). Jesus welcomes those He came for. Therefore, you are welcomed at anytime you come to Him, and He is ever ready to offer His free gift of salvation—of redemption, of righteousness, and of sanctification—to you.

No matter how long you have been away from God, He is ready to hear from you and restore you to a right relationship with Him. Every situation can be salvaged if you are willing to turn to God. In Judges 16 vs 28 - 30,  we would observe that in spite of Samson's past, God still answered his prayer and destroyed the philistines' heathen temple and worshipers. He killed more people at his death than he did in life because of the mercy of God when he turned to Him in prayer.

One of the effects of sin in our lives is keeping us away from fellowshipping with God in  prayers, but it is noteworthy that perfect moral behavior is not a condition for prayer. Though the stain of sin seems permanent, but only God can remove such stain of sin from our lives. We don't have to go through life permanently soiled. God's Word assures that if we are willing and obedient in turning to Him, Christ will forgive and remove our most indelible stains of sin.

Christ came for sinners like you and I, and He expects us, the sinners, to come to Him for mercy. We can only go to God in prayer, acknowledging our need and admitting that we don't have all the answers, and God will come to our help. He desires to show mercy and His mercy endures forever. 

Only God clears the guilty, and it is for this reason Christ came. The unforgivable sin is the deliberate refusal to take advantage of His invitation to come to Him, acknowledge Him, and His power in Christ, expressed through the Holy Spirit. It indicates a deliberate and irreversible hardness of heart. It reveals a heart attitude of unbelief and unrepentance, that attributes to Satan the work that the Holy Spirit accomplishes. 

Such people have turned their backs on God and rejected all faith, and are unwilling to ask for forgiveness. Even when they receive the prompting of the Holy Spirit, convicting them of sin, they reject it. And the deliberate rejection of the work of the Holy Spirit is blasphemy, because it is rejecting God Himself. Such person removes himself or herself from the only force that can lead him or her to repentance and restoration to God.

Prayer: Abba Father, You are the only God that forgives and blots out our sins. You are so merciful and loving that you are ever ready and willing to welcome me to Your presence, and cleans me from my sins. Give me the grace to forever dedicate my life to You, in Jesus name I have prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

Something to Boast About

 By grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. (Ephesians 2:8–9)

The New Testament correlates faith and grace to make sure that we do not boast in what grace alone achieves. 

One of the most familiar examples is Ephesians 2:8. By grace, through faith. There’s the correlation that guards the freedom of grace. By grace, through faith.

Faith is the act of our soul that turns away from our own insufficiency to the free and all-sufficient resources of God. Faith focuses on the freedom of God to dispense grace to the unworthy. It banks on the bounty of God. 

Therefore faith, by its very nature, nullifies boasting and fits with grace. Wherever faith looks, it sees grace behind every praiseworthy act. So it cannot boast, except in the Lord. The author of grace.

So Paul, after saying that salvation is by grace through faith, says, “And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Ephesians 2:8–9). Faith cannot boast in human goodness or competence or wisdom, because faith focuses on the free, all-supplying grace of God. Whatever goodness faith sees, it sees as the fruit of grace. 

When it looks at our “wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption,” it says, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 1:30–31).

BE SLOW TO ANGER!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

THURSDAY MAY 30, 2024.

SUBJECT : BE SLOW TO ANGER!

Memory verse: "He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city." (Proverbs 16 vs 32.)

READ: Matthew 5 vs 21 - 24:

5:21: You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment:

5:22: But I say to you, That whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council:. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire.

5:23: Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you,

5:24: leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

 INTIMATION:

Anger is a strong emotion; a feeling that is oriented toward some real or supposed grievance. It’s a belligerence aroused by a real or supposed wrong (personified as one of the deadly sins). Anger is a powerful emotion. Often it may drive people to hurt others with words or physical violence. It is a dangerous emotion that always threatens to leap out of control, leading to violence, emotional hurt, increased mental stress, and spiritual damage. Anger can be like a fire out of control. It can burn everything in its path. Anger divides people. It pushes us into hasty decisions that only cause bitterness and guilt. 

Yet anger, in itself, is not wrong, especially when directed at sin and the mistreatment of others. It can be a legitimate reaction to injustice and sin. When you feel yourself getting angry, look for the cause. Are you reacting to an evil situation that you are going to set right? Or are you responding selfishly to a personal insult? Pray that God will help you control your anger, and channel legitimate anger into affective action for needed changes, and to conquer selfish anger through humility and repentance.

The Bible doesn’t tell us that we shouldn’t feel angry, but it points out that it is important to handle our anger properly. If vented thoughtlessly, anger can hurt others and destroy relationships. If bottled up inside, it can cause us to become bitter and destroy us from within. The Bible says we should deal with our anger immediately in a way that builds relationships rather than destroy them. If we nurse our anger, we will give the devil an opportunity to divide us. 

For instance, in First Samuel 11 vs 1 - 11, the Ammonites planned to humiliate the Israelites (the men of Jabesh) when they asked for a covenant with them to serve them. They accepted a covenant with the Israelites on the condition of putting out all the right eyes of the Israelites in order to bring reproach on all Israel. Saul was enraged and greatly angered by such demand from the Ammonites. His anger culminated in his organizing the Israelites for a war against the Ammonites and he conquered them. The Holy Spirit used Saul’s anger to bring justice and freedom. When injustice or sin makes you angry, ask God how you can channel that anger in constructive ways to help bring about a positive change.

The Scripture says, “The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger, and his glory is to overlook a transgression.” (Proverbs 19 vs 11.) It’s glorious to control your emotions of anger. Self-control is superior to conquest. Success in business, school, or home life can be ruined by one who has lost control of his or her temper. So it is a great personal victory to control your temper. When you feel yourself ready to explode, remember that losing control may cause you to forfeit what you want the most.

Again, The apostle James says, “So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of a man does not produce the righteousness of God.” (James 1 vs 19 - 20.) His counsel is on anger that erupts when our ego is bruised. In such situations we hear such things as, “I am hurt;” “My opinions are not being heard.” However, when injustice and sin occur, we should become angry because others are being hurt. But we should not become angry when we fail to win an argument or when we feel offended or neglected. 

In the passage we read today, Jesus gave the similitude in the terrible sin of killing and anger. Both violate God’s command to love. Anger in this case refers to a seething, brooding bitterness against someone. Anger keeps us from developing a spirit pleasing to God. Have you ever been proud that you didn’t strike out and say what was really on your mind? Self-control is good, but Christ wants us to practice thought-control as well. Jesus said that we will be held accountable even for our attitudes.

It’s noteworthy that when you lose something of great value, or if others conspire against you and succeed, anger is the first and most natural reaction. But you can control your feelings by (1) recognizing your reaction for what it is, (2) praying for strength, and (3) asking God for help to see the opportunities that even your bad situation may provide. Jealous anger blinds us from seeing the benefits we have and makes us dwell on what we don’t have. 

Selfish anger never helps anybody. The Scripture says, “Do not hasten in your spirit to be angry, for anger rests in the bosom of fools.” (Ecclesiastes 7 vs 9.) Are you angry with someone right now? What can you do to resolve your differences? Don’t let the day end before you begin to work on mending your relationship. 

Prayer: Abba Father, give me the grace and unction to function in the fruit of the Spirit at all times, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!