Proud Works vs. Humble Faith

 “On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’” (Matthew 7:22)

Consider the difference between a heart of “faith” and a heart of “works.” 

The heart of works gets satisfaction from the ego-boost of accomplishing something in its own power. It will attempt to scale a vertical rock face, or take on extra responsibilities at work, or risk life in a combat zone, or agonize through a marathon, or perform religious fasting for weeks — all for the satisfaction of conquering a challenge by the force of its own will and the stamina of its own body. 

The heart with a works-orientation may also go in another direction and express its love of independence and self-direction and self-achievement by rebelling against courtesy and decency and morality (Galatians 5:19–21). But it’s the same self-determining, self-exalting works-orientation — whether it is being immoral or mounting a crusade against immoral behavior. The common denominator is self-direction, self-reliance, and self-exaltation. In all of this, the basic satisfaction of the works-orientation is the savor of being an assertive, autonomous, and, if possible, triumphant self. 

The heart of faith is radically different. Its desires are no less strong as it looks to the future. But what it desires is the fullest satisfaction of experiencing all that God is for us in Jesus. 

If “works” wants the satisfaction of feeling itself overcome an obstacle, “faith” savors the satisfaction of feeling God overcome an obstacle. Works longs for the joy of being glorified as capable, strong, and smart. Faith longs for the joy of seeing God glorified for his capability and strength and wisdom and grace. 

In its religious form, works accepts the challenge of morality, conquers its obstacles through great exertion, and offers the victory to God as a payment for his approval and recompense. Faith, too, accepts the challenge of morality, but only as an occasion to become the instrument of God’s power. And when the victory comes, faith rejoices that all the glory and thanks belong to God.

WAIT ON THE LORD!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

WEDNESDAY JULY 10, 2024.

SUBJECT : WAIT ON THE LORD!

Memory verse: "Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!” (Psalm 27 vs 14.)

READ: Psalm 37 vs 7; Lamentations 3 vs 24 - 26:

Psalm 37:7: Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass.

Lamentation 3:24: “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul; “therefore I hope in Him!”

3:25: The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him.

3:26; It is good that one should hope and wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.

INTIMATION:

Waiting on the Lord is patiently expecting God to come through to your request in prayer or to bring to pass His promise in the Scriptures after you have done your part of the covenant. We wait on the Lord to act; to deliver, to answer our prayers, to renew our strength, to do what only God can do. We wait on Him because He is God and we are not. As we wait on the Lord, He changes us and strengthens us. 

Waiting on God is not easy. Often it seems that He isn’t answering our prayers or doesn’t understand the urgency of our salvation. That kind of thinking implies that God is not in control or is not fair. But God it worth waiting for. Though one may experience the extremity of calamities, he must have faith that God is there, waiting to deliver the faithful. This is the legacy of Job who waited on the Lord throughout his calamities. In the end, God came to his rescue. 

David knew from experience what it meant to wait on the Lord. He had been anointed king at age 16 years but didn’t become king or ascend to his throne until he was 30 years. During the interim, he had been chased through the wilderness by jealous King Saul. He had to wait on God for the fulfillment of His promise to reign. Later after becoming king he was chased by his rebellious son, Absalom.

Though waiting for God to help us is not easy, but David patiently waited on the Lord and He came through to him. The Bible said of David, “I waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined to me, and heard my cry. He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my steps. He has put a new song in my mouth—Praise to our God; many will see it and fear, and will trust in the Lord.” (Psalm 40 vs 1 - 3.) David received four benefits from waiting: (1) God lifted him out of his despair, (2) God set his feet on solid ground, (3) God established his steps (steadied him as he walked), and (4) God put a new song of praise in his mouth. Often blessings cannot be received unless we go through the trial of waiting.

Simply because a prayer is uttered, does not mean that God must immediately respond. When one waits for God’s answer to prayer, through faith he or she will be lifted from the quagmire of despondency and placed on a solid foundation. Worry, impatience, and envy are tools of the devil to ensnare the righteous. 

Those who would wait for God to work in their lives will not be disappointed. They will be able to accomplish things beyond their dreams, for God is able to work in the lives of those who walk by faith in Him. 

It is good for the faithful to put their requests before God in prayer and patiently wait for Him to answer. Prayer can release our tensions in times of emotional stress. Trusting God to be our rock, salvation, and defense will change our entire outlook on life. When we are resting in God’s strength, nothing can shake us. For instance, no longer must we be held captive by resentment toward others when they hurt us.

Waiting on God is good for us. If God acted immediately every time we cried to Him, we would be in control and not Him. We would call the shots, and we do not possess His wisdom. Having to wait causes us to learn to trust Him, to trust His timing. And God is faithful to the broken because He is compassionate. God is the fullness of all our desires. And because He is such, only in Him is there hope. 

Prayer: Abba Father, I will patiently wait on You in every area of my life because my help comes from You, O Lord, who made the heaven and the earth. In You I live, move, and have my being. Endue with the spirit of patience that I may not do anything outside of You. Your timing is perfect and Your help is the best thing that can happen to me. Anything You cannot do for me, let it remain undone, anything You cannot give me, may I never have it, in Jesus' Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

Six Ways Jesus Fought Depression

 And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. (Matthew 26:37)

The Bible gives us an amazing glimpse into the soul of Jesus the night before he was crucified. Watch and learn from the way Jesus fought his strategic battle against despondency or depression.

He chose some close friends to be with him. “Taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee” (Matthew 26:37). 

He opened his soul to them. He said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death” (Matthew 26:38). 

He asked for their intercession and partnership in the battle. “Remain here, and watch with me” (Matthew 26:38). 

He poured out his heart to his Father in prayer. “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me” (Matthew 26:39). 

He rested his soul in the sovereign wisdom of God. “Nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will” (Matthew 26:39). 

He fixed his eye on the glorious future grace that awaited him on the other side of the cross. “For the joy that was set before him [he] endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2). 

When something drops into your life that seems to threaten your future, remember this: The first shock waves of the bomb in your heart, like the ones Jesus felt in Gethsemane, are not sin. The real danger is yielding to them. Giving in. Putting up no spiritual fight. And the root of that sinful surrender is unbelief — a failure to fight for faith in future grace. A failure to cherish all that God promises to be for us in Jesus. 

In Gethsemane Jesus shows us another way. Not painless, and not passive. Follow him. Find your trusted spiritual friends. Open your soul to them. Ask them to watch with you and pray. Pour out your soul to the Father. Rest in the sovereign wisdom of God. And fix your eyes on the joy set before you in the precious and magnificent promises of God.

THE FEAR OF THE LORD!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

TUESDAY JULY 09, 2024.

SUBJECT : THE FEAR OF THE LORD!

Memory verse: "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” (Proverbs 1 vs 7.)

READ: Psalm 25 vs 12 - 14:

25:12: Who is the man that fears the LORD? Him shall He teach in the way that He chooses.

25:13: He himself shall dwell in prosperity, and his descendants shall inherit the earth.

25:14: The secret of the LORD is with those who fear Him; and He will show them His covenant.

INTIMATION:

The fear of God is a controlling motive of life in matters spiritual and moral, not a mere fear of His power and righteous retribution, but a wholesome dread of displeasing Him. It is a fear which banishes the terror that shrinks from His presence and which influences the disposition and attitude of one whose circumstances are guided by trust in God, through the indwelling Spirit of God. The reverential fear of God will inspire a constant carefulness in dealing with others in His fear.

Fear of God is the healthy respect of a believer for the All-powerful God. Because God is the judge of all the earth, we dare not ignore Him or treat Him casually. We should not assume that our privileged status as God’s children gives us freedom to do whatever we want. We should not be spoiled children but grateful children who love to show respect for our heavenly Father. 

The fear of the Lord is to recognize God’s attributes: He is holy, almighty, pure, righteous, all-powerful, and all-wise. When we regard God correctly, we gain a clearer picture of ourselves: sinful, weak, frail, and needy. When we recognize who God is and who we are, we fall at His feet in humble respect. Only then will He show us how to choose His way.

The first step to wisdom is “fear of the Lord,” to honor and respect God, to live in awe of His power. It is to stand in awe of Him and have a relationship with Him. The only way to become truly wise is to fear (revere) God. Too often people want to skip this step, thinking they can become wise by life experience and academic knowledge alone. But if we do not acknowledge God as the source of wisdom, then the foundation for making wise decisions is shaky and we are prone to mistakes and foolish choices. 

“The fear of the Lord” is a key theme in the wisdom literature of the Bible (The Book of Job through Song of Solomon). It means to have respect and reverence for God and be in awe of His majesty and power. This is the starting point of finding real wisdom. King Solomon said, in Ecclesiastes 12 vs 13, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all.” We should remember that God created and owns all things, and He will review every person’s life to determine how he or she has responded to Him, and He will bring every deed into judgement.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom simply because one can never come to a knowledge of truth unless he recognizes the authority of the Word of God and is obedient to that Word. One can never understand the purpose for the existence of both the world and man without believing in and being obedient to God’s eternal purpose for the world. And the purpose for the existence of the world was to provide man with an environment wherein he could prepare himself for eternal dwelling.

Fear of God is the foundation upon which learning takes place. Recognition of the existence and authority of God in our lives is the foundation upon which all learning should take place. The fear leads to listening to God and obeying His commandments. Those who do not fear God will seek and respond to learning that will lead them away from God. As in ‘Psalms,’ the phrase “fear of the Lord” means obedience to His will. 

God offers intimate and lasting friendship to those who revere Him, who hold Him in highest honor. What relationship could ever compare with having the Lord of all creation for a friend? Your everlasting friendship with God will grow as you respect and honor Him. If one will reference God and submit to His will, then God will teach him His way. The obedient will then live in peace of mind. His posterity through his children will continue throughout generations. He will thus benefit from his covenant relationship with God, enjoying the benefits of a spiritual connection with God. He will ultimately be the friend of God. 

Prayer: Abba Father, I will reverence You all the days of my life. It is my utmost heart desire to obey Your commandments so as to enjoy the covenant relationship with You. Give me the grace, O Lord, for complete obedience to You in my journey in life, and that nothing will ever take away my entire focus on You, in Jesus' Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

THE SECRET OF ULTIMATE JOY!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

MONDAY JULY 08, 2024.

SUBJECT : THE SECRET OF ULTIMATE JOY!

Memory verse: "But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves.” (John 17 vs 13.)

READ: John 15 vs 5 - 11:

15:5: I am the vine, you are the branches: He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.

15:6: If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.

15:7: If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.

15:8: By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.

15:9: As the Father has loved Me, I also have loved you: abide in My love.

15:10: If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father's commandments, and abide in His love.

15:11: These things have I spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.

INTIMATION:

Joy is intense gladness; rapture, delight, rejoicing. It is emotion evoked by well-being, success or good fortune; characterized by gladness or delight. It is a fruit of the Spirit. The secret of joy is God’s presence within you. As you contemplate His daily presence, you will find contentment. As we understand the future He has for us, we will experience joy. Don’t base your life on circumstances, but on God.

Joy is a common theme in Christ’s teachings—He wants us to be joyful. The key to immeasurable joy is living in intimate relationship with Christ, the source of all joy. When you do, you will experience God’s special care and protection and see the victory God brings even when defeat seems certain. The Christian life is the life of the Lord Jesus Christ in a man or a woman (Galatians 2 vs 20 and Colossians 3 vs 4). Christian joy is Christ’s joy in a Christian, and this means that this deep-down, abiding joy is not found anywhere else except in Him. There are other kinds of joy found in other places, but His joy is found in Him alone. 

In the passage we read today, notice the word “abide” (the same as “remain.”) in these verses – 5, 6, 7, 9, 10 & 11. By “abiding or remaining” in Him and His “abiding or remaining” in you means that His joy will always be in you. In Christ our joy is not an intermittent experience, but a permanent one. It is a joy which is unaffected by circumstances. These first followers of our Lord whom He was addressing in this passage, were to pass through many trials and testings, but He told them that nothing could rob them of their joy—His joy in them (see John 16 vs 22). True joy transcends the rolling waves of circumstance, and that joy comes from a consistent relationship with Jesus Christ. 

When our lives are intertwined with His, He will help us walk through adversity without sinking into debilitating lows and manage prosperity without moving into deceptive highs. The joy of living with Jesus Christ daily will keep us levelheaded, no matter how high or low our circumstances. Ultimate joy comes from Christ dwelling within us. Christ is near, and at His second coming we will fully realize this ultimate joy. He who lives within us will fulfill His purposes for us. 

We can only have the ultimate by having Him. When we read the Bible and receive the truth, we experience great joy as the result of fellowship with the Lord as He speaks to us. His joy was the joy of complete and continual submission to the will of His Father in Heaven. Joy results from knowing that one pleases his father by obedience to the father’s will. The joy that Jesus received by keeping the Father’s word would be transferred to the disciples if they would also keep the Will of the Father.

There is a great difference between joy and fullness of joy. The vessel may be partly filled or completely filled. Our Lord’s desire for us is that we should experience fullness of joy continually (Psalm 16 vs 11; John 17 vs 13, and First Peter 1 vs 8). It is a remarkable and a wonderful thing that true Christian joy is not only unaffected by adverse circumstances, but it is actually promoted by such trials and testings (James 1 vs 2).

His desire is that His joy should be complete in us. How can this be, for He is there in heaven and we are here on earth? The answer is by the Holy Spirit. Joy is the fruit of the Spirit. 

Prayer: Abba Father, the secret of joy in Christ is knowing that joy is available to me, and I can rejoice in Him at all times. Endue me with the spirit of joy and give me the grace to continually experience the fullness of joy in Christ through the indwelling Holy Spirit, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD! 

Saving Faith Loves Forgiveness

 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. (Ephesians 4:32)

Saving faith is not merely believing that you are forgiven. Saving faith looks at the horror of sin, and then looks at the holiness of God, and apprehends spiritually that God’s forgiveness is unspeakably glorious, beautiful. We don’t just receive it; we admire it. We are satisfied with our new friendship with such a great, forgiving God.

Faith in God’s forgiveness does not merely mean a persuasion that I am off the hook. It means savoring the truth that a forgiving God is the most precious reality in the universe. Saving faith cherishes being forgiven by God, and from there rises to cherishing the God who forgives — and all that he is for us in Jesus. This experience has a tremendous effect on our becoming forgiving people. 

The great act of purchasing our forgiveness is past — the cross of Christ. By this backward look, we learn of the grace in which we will ever stand (Romans 5:2). We learn that we are now, and always will be, loved and accepted. We learn that the living God is a forgiving God. 

But the great act of experiencing our forgiveness goes on forever into the future. Our joyful fellowship with the great God who forgives lasts forever. Therefore, freedom for forgiveness, flowing from this all-satisfying fellowship with the forgiving God, lasts as long as we do. 

I have learned that it is possible to go on holding a grudge if your faith simply means you have looked back to the cross and concluded that you are off the hook. That’s why I have been forced to go deeper into what true faith is — not just a relief that I’m off the hook, but also a profound satisfaction with all that God is for me in Jesus. This faith looks back not merely to discover that we are off the hook, but also to see and savor the kind of God who offers us a future of endless reconciled tomorrows in fellowship with him. Satisfied fellowship with such a forgiving God is crucial for our being forgiving people.

When Another Christian Hurts You

 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. (1 Peter 2:24) 

What is the basis of our not holding grudges against Christian brothers and sisters who repent? 

Our moral indignation because of a terrible offense done against us does not evaporate just because the offender is a Christian. In fact, we may feel even more betrayed. And a simple, “I’m sorry” will often seem utterly disproportionate to the painfulness and ugliness of the offense. 

But in this case we are dealing with fellow Christians and the promise of God’s wrath against our offender does not apply, because there is “no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). “God has not destined [Christians] for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 5:9). It looks like they are going to get away with it!

Where shall we turn to assure ourselves that justice will be done — that Christianity is not a mockery of the seriousness of sin? 

The answer is that we look to the cross of Christ. All the wrongs that have been done against us by genuine believers were avenged in the death of Jesus. This is implied in the simple but staggering fact that all the sins of all God’s people were laid on Jesus. “The Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6; 1 Peter 2:24).

The suffering of Christ was the real punishment and recompense of God on every hurt you have ever received from a fellow Christian. Therefore, Christianity does not make light of sin. It does not add insult to our injury. 

On the contrary, it takes the sins against us so seriously that, to make them right, God gave his own Son to suffer more than we could ever make anyone suffer for what they have done to us. If we go on holding a grudge against a fellow believer, we are saying in effect that the cross of Christ was not a sufficient recompense for the sins of God’s people. This is an insult to Christ and his cross you do not want to give.