Faith Expels Guilt, Greed, and Fear

 The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. (1 Timothy 1:5)

Paul is aiming at love. And one of the essential sources of this great effect is sincere faith. The reason faith is such a sure source of love is that faith in God’s grace expels from the heart the sinful powers that hinder love.

If we feel guilty, we tend to wallow in self-centered depression and self-pity, unable to see, let alone care about, anyone else’s need. Or we play the hypocrite to cover our guilt, and so destroy all sincerity in relationships, which makes real love impossible. Or we talk about other people’s faults to minimize the guilt of our own, which love does not do. So, if we are going to love, the destructive effects of guilt must be overcome.

It’s the same with fear. If we feel fearful, we tend not to approach a stranger at church who might need a word of welcome and encouragement. Or we may reject frontier missions as a vocation, because it sounds too dangerous. Or we may waste money on excessive insurance, or get swallowed up in all manner of little phobias that make us preoccupied with ourselves and blind us to the needs of others. All of which are the opposite of love.

It’s the same with greed. If we are greedy, we may spend money on luxuries — money that ought to go to the spread of the gospel. We don’t undertake anything risky, lest our precious possessions and our financial future be jeopardized. We focus on things instead of people, or see people as resources for our material advantage. So love is ruined.

But faith in future grace produces love by pushing guilt and fear and greed out of the heart. 

It pushes out guilt because it holds fast to the hope that the death of Christ is sufficient to secure acquittal and righteousness now and forever (Hebrews 10:14). 

It pushes out fear because it banks on the promise, “Fear not, for I am with you. . . . I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10). 

And it pushes out greed because it is confident that Christ is greater wealth than all the world can offer (Matthew 13:44).

So when Paul says, “The aim of our charge is love that issues from . . . sincere faith,” he is speaking of the tremendous power of faith to overcome all the obstacles to love. When we fight the fight of faith — the fight to believe the promises of God that kill guilt and fear and greed — we are fighting for love.

SCRIPTURAL VIEW OF MONEY!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

FRIDAY JULY 12, 2024.

SUBJECT: SCRIPTURAL VIEW OF MONEY!

Memory verse: "For the love of money is the root of all kind of evil: for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows." (First Timothy 6 vs 10.)

READ: Matthew 6 vs 24:

6:24: No man can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will be loyal to the one, and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.

INTIMATION:

I know that money is a sore subject that a lot of people want to avoid, but in my considered opinion, learning how Scriptures view money is basic Christianity. The importance of this subject is reflected in how much the Bible teaches about it. The Bible has more to say about money than most Bible doctrines like heaven and hell. The influence of money in our lives is very real, so it isn't surprising that Jesus taught more on the subject of money than any other single topic like prayer or faith. 

It's a common scenario in our present time to see those who love money take exception to the Lord's teaching on money. We are in an age that measures people's worth by how much money they have. God doesn't operate by the world's value systems, and it's more important for us to understand how God's financial system works. One’s money cannot buy a relationship with God. Some people are so obsessed with money that they will change their God-given standards and lifestyle to get it. If money is a controlling force in your life, it must be curbed, or it will harm others and destroy your relationship with God. 

Money is a hard master, a deceptive and dangerous one. It is dangerous because it deceives us into thinking that wealth is the easiest way to get everything we want. It is so deceptive that it can take God's place in your life. Most people will trust in money rather than God to solve their problems. This is sinful, and those who pursue its empty promises will one day discover that they have nothing because they are spiritually bankrupt. Wealth promises power and control, but often it cannot deliver. Great fortunes can be made, and lost, overnight, and no amount of money can provide health, happiness, or eternal life.

Scripture recognizes that money is necessary for survival, but it warns against the love of money. Money is not evil. What is evil is the materialistic heart that is obsessed with obtaining it. In some people’s desire to satisfy their thirst for wealth, they had marginalized their relationships with friends, family and others. The sorrows that they produced through their striving to be rich manifests the error of the greedy motives of their hearts. If one sacrifices his or her good works in relationships because he or she has no time for others as a result of running after money, then his or her spiritual life is void of the very foundation of the community of God. 

In the passage we read today. Jesus used money and people's attitude towards money to reveal their hearts. Our integrity often meets its match in money matters. We are to make wise use of the money we have, geared toward realizing our eternal inheritance in Christ. If we use our money to help those in need or to help others find Christ, our earthly investment will bring eternal benefit. Heaven's riches are far more valuable than earthly wealth. When we obey God’s Will, the unselfish use of possessions will follow.

Jesus said we can have only one master. We live in a materialistic society where many people serve money. They spend all their lives collecting and storing it, only to die and leave it behind. Their desire for money and what it can buy far outweighs their commitment to God and spiritual matters. Whatever you store up, you will spend much of your time and energy thinking about. Don’t fall into the materialistic trap because “the love of money is the root of of all kinds of evil.” Can you honestly say that God, and not money, is your master? One test is to ask yourself which one occupies more of your thoughts, time, and efforts.

Whatever you store up, you will spend much of your time and energy thinking about. If you store up your treasures in heaven, definitely your thoughts will be heavenly bound. Don’t fall into the materialistic trap of busy pursuing after money to acquire wealth because “the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.” Many who chase after money, to be riche at all cost, fall into temptations, traps, and many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition; piercing themselves through with many sorrows. 

Jesus made it clear that having the wrong treasure leads to our hearts being in the wrong place. What we treasure the most controls us, whether we admit it or not. If money become too important to us, we must re-establish control or get rid of unnecessary acquisition of riches. Jesus calls for a decision that allows us to live contentedly with whatever we have because we have chosen eternal values over temporary, earthly treasures. Heaven’s riches are far more valuable than earthly wealth.

Always aspire to a spiritual vision of money, that is, visualizing it from God’s perspective. Spiritual vision is our capacity to see clearly what God wants us to do and to see the world from his point of view. But this spiritual insight can be easily clouded. Self-serving desires, interests, and goals block that vision. Serving God is the best way to restore it. A ‘good’ eye is one that is fixed on God.

Money can become your master. How can you tell if you are a slave to money? (1) Do you think or worry about it frequently? (2) Do you give up doing what you should do or would like to do in order to make more money? (3) Do you spend a great deal of your time caring for your possessions? (4) Is it hard for you to give money away? (5) Are you in debt?

Prayer: Abba Father, You are above all things and by You all things consist. My aspiration is to love You and adore You above all things. I will serve You the Creator. None of Your creations can ever take first place in my life, rather they will serve me as I serve You, in Jesus' Name I have prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

We Experience the Spirit Through Faith

 Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith? (Galatians 3:5) 

Every Christian is indwelt by the Holy Spirit. The apostle Paul said, “Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him” (Romans 8:9). The Spirit came to you the first time when you believed in the blood-bought promises of God. And the Spirit keeps on coming, and keeps on working, by this same means.

So Paul asks, rhetorically in Galatians 3:5, “Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith?” Answer: “By hearing with faith.”

Therefore, the Spirit came the first time, and the Spirit keeps on being supplied, through the channel of faith. Whatever he accomplishes in and through us is by faith.

If you are like me, you may have strong longings from time to time for the mighty working of the Holy Spirit in your life. Perhaps you cry out to God for the outpouring of the Spirit in your life or in your family or church or city. Such cries are right and good. Jesus said, “How much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Luke 11:13). 

But what I have found most often in my own life is the failure to open myself to the full measure of the Spirit’s work by believing the specific promises of God. I don’t mean merely the promise that the Spirit will come when we ask. I mean all the other precious promises that are not directly about the Spirit but, perhaps, about God’s provision for my future — for example, “My God will supply every need of yours” (Philippians 4:19). God’s Spirit is supplied in an ongoing and powerful way precisely through specific acts of faith in specific promises for specific situations. Do I trust him right now to do what he has promised to do?

This is what is missing in the experience of so many Christians as they seek the power of the Spirit in their lives. The Spirit is supplied to us “by hearing with faith” (Galatians 3:5) — not just faith in one or two promises about the Spirit himself, but about all the soul-satisfying presence of God in our future to do for us, and be for us, whatever we need.

THE UNDESERVED MERCY OF GOD!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

THURSDAY JULY 11, 2024.

SUBJECT: THE UNDESERVED MERCY OF GOD!

Memory verse: "But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth." (Psalms 86 vs 15.)

READ: Zechariah 3 vs 1 - 4:

3:1: Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the Angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to oppose him.

3:2: And the LORD said to Satan, The LORD rebuke you, Satan! The LORD who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! is this not a brand plucked from the fire?”

3:3: Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and was standing before the Angel.

3:4: Then he answered and spoke to those who stood before him, saying, “Take away the filthy garments from him.” And to him He said, “See, I have removed your iniquity from you, and I will clothe you with rich robes.”

INTIMATION:

Mercy is defined simply as “not giving a person what he or she deserves in punishment.” It’s an outward expression of pity; it assumes need on the part of him who receives it, and resources adequate to meet the need on the part of him who shows it. It’s used of God, who is rich in mercy (Ephesians 2 vs 4). This is exactly what God does for us (sinful humanity). Our disobedience demands judgement! But God shows mercy toward us by providing an escape from sin’s penalty through Jesus Christ, who alone saves us from sin. When we pray for forgiveness, we are asking for what we do not deserve. Yet when we take this step and trust in Christ’s saving work on our behalf, we can experience God’s forgiveness.

God must punish sin, but He is also merciful to sinners. This is because God does not take pleasure in destroying the wicked, but He must punish sin. Therefore, He is both just and merciful. God, in His mercy, can hold us back from committing sin in ways we can’t even detect. We have no way of knowing—we just know He can. God just works as often in ways we can’t see as in ways we can.

God’s mercy is unbelievable. It goes beyond what we can imagine. Even if we deliberately walk away from Him and ruin our lives, God would still take us back. God would give us inward spiritual renewal. God wants to forgive us and bring us back to Himself, too. Some people will not learn this until their world has crashed in around them. Then the sorrow and pain seem to open their eyes to what God has been saying all along. 

Countless times throughout the Bible we see God showing His love and patience toward men and women in order to save them. Although He realizes that their hearts are evil, He continues to try to reach them. When we sin or fall away from God, we surely deserve to be destroyed by His judgement. But God has promised never again to destroy everything on earth until the judgement day when Christ returns to destroy evil forever. Now every change of season is a reminder of His promise.

In the passage we read today, Satan accused (“opposed”) Joshua, who here represents the nation of Israel. The accusations were accurate—Joshua stood in filthy garments (sins). Yes God revealed His mercy, stating that He chose to save His people in spite of their sins. Satan is always accusing people of their sins before God (Job 1 vs 6). But He greatly misunderstands the breadth of God’s mercy and forgiveness toward those who believe in Him. Satan the accuser will ultimately be destroyed (Revelation 12 vs 10), while everyone who is a believer will be saved (John 3 vs 16).

Zechariah’s vision graphically portrays how we receive God’s mercy. We do nothing ourselves to deserve it. God, in His mercy and loving kindness removes our filthy garments (sins), then provides us with fine, new clothes (the righteousness and holiness of God—Second Corinthians 5 vs 21; Ephesians 4 vs 24; Revelation 19 vs 8). All we need to do is repent and ask God to forgive us. When Satan tries to make you feel dirty and unworthy, remember that the clean clothes of Christ’s righteousness make you worthy to draw near to God. 

God could have left us spiritually dead, in rebellion against Him and in bondage to our sins. But He didn’t. He didn’t save us because of, but rather in spite of, what He saw in us. Are you separated from God by sin? No matter how far you have wandered, God promises a fresh beginning if only you will turn to Him. 

How fortunate we are that God gives us mercy and grace rather than only justice. The next time you ask God for fair treatment, pause to think what would have happened if God gave you what you really deserve. Plead instead for His mercy.

Prayer: Abba Father, You are so loving, full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy. You have always showed us love and patience and will not give us the judgement we deserve for our sinfulness. Nothing I do can adequately compensate for Your lovingkindness. Endue me with the spirit of raw obedience to You in every area of my life, that I will obey and cherish You forever, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

Success in Examination

 Today, we're praying for success in examination. May God grant many that study and facing examination with success in Jesus Name. May come out in flying colours in Jesus Name 🙏🙏🙏

PRAYER POINTS

1. Father, thank you for given me fresh wisdom, understanding and redemptive memory, in the name of Jesus.

2. Father, I cover all my courses/subjects in the blood of Jesus.

3. Let every difficult course becomes easy and simple for me, in the name of Jesus.

4. Holy Spirit, give me the power to answer all questions with your divine revelation, in Jesus name.

5. O Lord, cover my errors and expose my good points to my teachers, lecturers etc, in Jesus name.

6. I break every curse of forgetfulness during exams, in the name of Jesus.

7. Powers that want me to eat and suck my biro during exams, die by fire, in the name of Jesus.

8. Every garment of academic failure, catch fire, in the name of Jesus.

9. I shall not forget what to write in exams and remember them after the exams, in the name of Jesus.

10. Holy Spirit give me the direction on what to read and study for this examination, in Jesus name.

11. I receive the spirit of distinction over my exams, in the name of Jesus.

12. Father, baptize me with your wisdom and guidance of focusing relevant pages for my exams, in Jesus name.

13. Lord plant academic success in my life, in the name of Jesus.

14. I reject every spirit of carryover and slow learning, in the name of Jesus.

15. The powers that disgrace people at the prime of their career will not disgrace me, in Jesus name.

16. Let the strength of the Lord make me strong during my exams, in Jesus name.

17. I shall not collapse and die on the day or ending of my exams, in the name of Jesus.

18. Every arrow of sickness assigned to frustrate my exams, go back to the sender, in Jesus name.

19. Bad news fired against my exams, backfire, in the name of Jesus.

20. I receive the power of focus and concentration towards my exams.

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!