HUMILITY IS PROFITABLE TO ALL THINGS!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

FRIDAY JULY 19, 2024.

SUBJECT : HUMILITY IS PROFITABLE TO ALL THINGS!

Memory verse: "By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, and honor, and life" (Proverbs 22 vs 4).

READ: Luke 14 vs 7 - 11:

14:7: So He told a parable to those who were invited, when He noted how they chose the best places, saying to them; 

14:8: When you are invited by anyone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in the best place, lest one more honorable than you be invited by him;

14:9: And he who invited you and him come and say to you, 'Give place for this man,' and then you begin with shame to take the lowest place.

14:10: But when you are invited, go and sit down in the lowest place, so that when he who invited you comes he may say to you, 'Friend, go up higher.' Then you will have glory in the presence of those who sit at the table with you.

14:11: For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.

INTIMATION:

Humility signifies lowliness of mind. It is always used in good sense in the Scripture to denote low-lying; not to think too highly of oneself; to bring low in meekness or gentleness. It is being modest, unpretentious, and having a low opinion of oneself or one's claims. Humility is a character trait dominant in all real servants of the LORD. Christ Himself is humble. Though gentleness, or humility, is a very elusive character trait, yet the Bible regards it as a highly important quality.

The apostle Paul gave the clearest definition of humility in Romans 12 vs 3: "For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly…."

Each believer should not think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly; calm, self-controlled, exercising cool, dispassionate reason, self-possessed, not proud. 

Pride is destructive. In Proverbs 16 vs 18, the Scriptures says: "Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall." Pride usually makes us self-centered and leads us to wrongly conclude that we deserve all we can see, touch, or imagine. This wrong feeling creates greedy appetites for far more than we need. Only in being humble before God that we can be released from our self-centered desires, realizing that all we really need is God's approval. When the Holy Spirit fills us, we see that this world's seductive attractions are only cheap substitutes for what God has to offer.

God hears the humble, and does not forget his cry (Psalm 9 vs 12). He dwells in the high and holy place with him who has a contrite and humble spirit, and revives the spirit of the humble (Isaiah 57 vs 15). He gives grace to the humble (James 4 vs 6; First Peter 5 vs 5), and grace is all we need, and grace (free and unmerited favour of God for sinful humanity) is God’s greatest gift. When you humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, He will exalt you in due time (First Peter 5 vs 6) and His timing is the best since the end is known to Him from the beginning, and He wants the very best for you.

Abraham was humble and believed God, and ensured he would not offend God in any way. Any instructions given to him by God was strictly obeyed by him because of his believe in Him, and this was counted to him for righteousness. He was one of the few the persons in the Bible called “friend of God.” Moses was very humble, more than all men who were on the face of the earth (Numbers 12 vs 3). 

However, that was before the coming of Jesus Christ. Jesus is an epitome of humility. He was humble so much so that He was willing to give up His rights in order to obey God and serve humanity. His obedience in humility was unto death, even a shameful death on the cross.  Jesus described Himself as "gentle and low in heart" (Matthew 11 vs 29). If we say we follow Christ, we must also say we want to live as He lived. We should develop His attitude of humility as we serve, even when we are not likely to get recognition for our efforts. 

Like Christ, we should have a servant's attitude, serving out of love for God and for others, not out of guilt or fear. Everyone has the right of choice. You can choose your attitude. You can approach life expecting to be served, or you can look for opportunities to serve others and it takes humility to operate in this realm. Choose to be humble, and God will exalt you in due time.

Be clothed with humility (First Peter 5 vs 5) both old and young. It is the cure of evil desires in us. Pride often keeps older people from trying to understand young people and keeps young people from listening to those who are older. Both young and old should be humble and serve each other; old people leading the young ones, and the young ones respecting the old. Be humble enough to admit you can learn from each other.

Prayer: Abba Father, endue me with the spirit of raw obedience and humility exemplified in Christ Jesus our Messiah, that I may obtain Your greatest gift of grace needed to lead a life pleasing to You, and You will exalt me in due time with riches and honor, in Jesus Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

God’s Grace in Spiritual Gifts

 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace. (1 Peter 4:10)

When we use our spiritual gifts, we are stewarding grace — not yesterday’s grace, but today’s, arriving in every moment of need. And this future grace is “varied grace.” It comes in many colors and shapes and sizes. This is one of the reasons spiritual gifts in the body are so diverse. The prism of God’s gifts in your life will refract shades of divine glory that would never come through my prism. 

There are as many future graces as there are needs in the body of Christ — and more. The purpose of spiritual gifts is to receive and dispense the future grace of God to those needs. 

But someone may ask, “Why do you take Peter to refer to future grace? Doesn’t a steward manage a household store that is already on hand?” 

The main reason I take Peter to refer to future grace is because the next verse illustrates how this works, and the reference there is to ongoing supplies of future grace. He says, “Whoever serves, [let him serve] by the strength that God supplies — in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 4:11). The word is “supplies,” not “supplied.” As you serve, serve in the power of the ongoing supply of God’s grace to do what you need to do.

When you fulfill your spiritual gift to serve someone tomorrow, you will be serving “by the strength that God supplies” — and the supply will be tomorrow, not today. “As your days, so shall your strength be” (Deuteronomy 33:25).

God goes on, day-by-day, moment-by-moment, supplying the “strength” in which we minister. He does this because the ongoing, inexhaustible supplier of power gets the glory. “Whoever serves, [let him serve] by the strength that God supplies — in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ.”

IDEAL PRAYER FOR MONEY!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

THURSDAY JULY 18, 2024.

SUBJECT: IDEAL PRAYER FOR MONEY! 

Memory verse: "Give us this day our daily bread.” (Matthew 6 vs 11.)

READ: Proverbs 30 vs 7 - 9:

30:7: Two things I request of You (Deprive me not before I die):

30:8: Remove falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches—feed me with the food allotted to me; 

30:9: Lest I be full and deny You, and say, “Who is the LORD?” Or lest I be poor and steal, and profane the name of my God.

INTIMATION:

The Scripture recognizes that money is necessary for survival, but it warns against the love of money: “For the love of money is the root of all kinds 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.) Money is dangerous because it deceives us into thinking that wealth is the easiest way to get everything we want. 

However, having too much money can be dangerous, but so can having too little. Being poor, in fact, can be hazardous to spiritual as well as physical health. On the other hand, being rich is not the answer. As Jesus pointed out, rich people have trouble getting into God’s kingdom (Matthew 19 vs 23 - 24). Like the apostle Paul, we can learn “how to be abased” of “how to abound” (Philippians 4 vs 12), but our lives are more likely to be effective if we have neither too much nor too little money.

Abundant possessions can make many feel self-sufficient, and consequently, turn their back on God and forget Him. Self-sufficiency is as destructive today as it was in biblical time. In times of plenty, we often take credit for our prosperity and become proud that our hard work and cleverness have made us rich. It is easy to get so busy collecting and managing wealth that we push God right out of our lives. But it is God who gives us everything we have, and it is God who asks us to manage it for Him. If you are traveling along a smooth and easy path right now, beware of forgetting who gave you your good fortune. Don’t depend on your gifts; depend on the Giver. 

In the passage we read today, Agur, the psalm’s writer prayed that he not fall victim of falsehoods and lies. He asked that he be given only that which would sustain his life. He had seen the curse of wealth, and the despair of poverty. In order to live a life of contentment without the worry of riches, or the desperation of poverty, Agur’s prayer was for a life that was without the frustrations of either riches or poverty. This should be the ideal prayer of the Christian; to have enough that will make him lead a sustainable life and be content with such that he has. We must pray for those things that are necessary for the sustenance of life.

Being content results from proper perspective of life—seeing life from God’s perspective. When you do that, you will focus on what is available to you per time, and not what you feel you should have. This helps you put your priorities right and straight, and be grateful for everything God has given you. Like the apostle Paul, we should detach ourselves from the nonessentials so that we could concentrate on the essentials with eternal values. Often the desire for more or better possessions is really a longing to fill an empty place in a person’s life. 

Most people are continually greedy for more money, regardless of their financial state of being. Regardless of whether one is poor or rich, most people continually seek to acquire more things of this world. Those Christians who are poor must learn not to complain and murmur about their situation and blame others for their predicament. Contentment of mind must be learned by those who are poor. When you are rich, learn how to possess money without money possessing you. Therefore, the rich must also learn to be content with their own financial well-being. They must learn not to allow money to become the idol of their lives. 

The Scripture states that it is difficult for the rich to be about kingdom business because their minds are continually directed and controlled by that which is of this world. Their wealth diverts their attention away from those spiritual things that will exist long after the material has been destroyed. It is difficult for the rich and influential rulers of this world to become obedient subjects of the kingdom reign of God.

Prayer: Abba Father, my utmost heart desire is to serve You with the talents, abilities, and possessions You entrust me with. May I never have anything that will drift me away from You, nor have anything that will cause me put my trust in any other thing than You, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

Prayer for Forgiveness

 Today we're praying for Forgiveness one the obstacle to unanswered prayer no matter how righteous you're if can't forgive your offenders your prayer God will not answer your prayer. Let's search our hearts forgive and release our offenders as God's children. Matthew 6:12

Romans 8:7 [That is he] because the mind of the flesh [with its carnal thoughts and purposes] is hostile to God, for it does not submit itself to God's Law; indeed it cannot.

PRAYER POINTS

1. Oh Lord, forgive me today and set my heart free from all fears and doubt’s because of my iniquities in Jesus name.

2. Oh Lord, forgive me in any way I trespassed against your commandment that leads to defeat in my life in Jesus name.

3. Oh Lord! Let your mercy prevail over your judgment in my life in Jesus name.

4. Oh Lord! help me to rebuke the power of sin in my life before it expose me openly in Jesus name.

5. Oh Lord, In humility, I turn from my wicked ways today, forgive me and heal my land in Jesus name.

6. Oh Lord! Show me your unconditional mercy, do not let sin drag me into self destruction in Jesus name.

7. Oh Lord forgive me for all the evil deeds carried out by my hands in Jesus name.

8. Oh Lord, have pity on me for my sins, do not let the consequences of my past sins overwhelm me in Jesus name.

9. Oh Lord, By the blood of your Son Jesus Christ, consume all sins in my life that go contrary against the laws of God in Jesus name.

10. Oh Lord, I reject every evil thoughts and desires that lives in me today,i cleanse my heart with the blood of Jesus and the word of God in Jesus name.

11. Oh Lord, let every addiction of the sins of my youth that is still tormenting me today come to an end today, give me a new page so that my past will not continue to haunt me in Jesus Name.

12. Oh Lord that is full of grace and mercy, pardon all my sins so that I will see your face today in Jesus name.

13. Oh Lord, let your mercy cover up my sins today and forever in Jesus name.

14. Father, i come against every evil spirit of deceit that bring iniquity into my life, let them be destroyed today in Jesus name

15. Oh Lord, save me from every iniquity in my life that make me rise and fall in Jesus name.

16. Oh Lord, every work of iniquity in my life that will bring me back to the world I destroy them in the name of Jesus.

17. Oh Lord, let me receive your thorough cleansing by your Blood from all my sins today so that I will be victorious in my prayers in Jesus name.

18. Oh Lord, deliver me from the spirit of lying in Jesus name.

19. Oh Lord, deliver me from the sin of fornication in Jesus name.

20. Oh Lord deliver me from the sin of the lust of the eyes in Jesus name.

The Power to Profess Christ

 With great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. (Acts 4:33)

If our ministry is to witness to Christ tomorrow in some unsympathetic situation, the key will not be our brilliance; the key will be abundant future grace. 

Of all people, the apostles seemed to need least help to give a compelling witness to the risen Christ. They had been with him for three years. They had seen him die. They had seen him alive after the crucifixion. In their witnessing arsenal they had “many proofs” (Acts 1:3). You might think that, of all people, their ministry of witnessing, in those early days, would sustain itself on the strength of the past glories that were still so fresh. 

But that is not what the book of Acts tells us. The power to witness with faithfulness and effectiveness did not come mainly from memories of grace; it came from the new arrivals of “great grace.” “Great grace was upon them all.” That’s the way it was for the apostles, and that’s the way it will be for us in our ministry of witnessing. 

Whatever added signs and wonders God may show to amplify our witness to Christ, they will come the same way they came for Stephen. “And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people” (Acts 6:8). Grace was arriving from God for all that Stephen needed — eventually all that he would need to die.

There is an extraordinary future grace and power that we may bank on in the crisis of special ministry need. It is a fresh act of power by which God “bore witness to the word of his grace” (Acts 14:3; see also Hebrews 2:4). The ever-arriving grace of power bears witness to the ever-given grace of truth.

BE SELFLESS TO BE CHRISTLIKE!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

WEDNESDAY JULY 17, 2024.

SUBJECT : BE SELFLESS TO BE CHRISTLIKE! 

Memory verse: "Bear one another's burdens, and fulfill the law of Christ." (Galatians 6 vs 2.)

READ: Philippians 2 vs 3 - 5; First Corinthians 10 vs 24:

Philippians 2:3: Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.

2:4: Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

2:5: Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.

First Corinthians 10:24: Let no one seek his own, but each one the other's well-being. 

INTIMATION:

Being selfless is laying aside right; putting others first. Selflessness is having no regard to self, being altruistic—living and acting for the interest of others. Many people, even Christians, live only to make a good impression on others or to please themselves. However, selfish ambition or conceit (overbearing, having a high opinion of oneself) brings discord. Selflessness is inconveniencing yourself for the happiness, and benefit of others.

Jesus Christ, our Messiah, led a classic example of a selfless life while on earth. He was humble, willing to give up His rights in order to obey God and serve people. Consequently, the apostle Paul advises us thus: "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus." Like Jesus, we should have a servant's attitude, serving out of love for God and others. 

Everyone chooses his or her attitude. You can approach life expecting to be served, or you can look for opportunities to serve others. Jesus Christ's ministry on earth was anchored on selflessness, and was the basis for our salvation. He died for us; paid a ransom for us because we could not do it ourselves. His death released us from our slavery to, and bondage of sin. Jesus remarked in Mark 10 vs 45; "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many." 

Living as Christ did—being selfless—brings about spiritual unity. We must love one another and be one in spirit and purpose. When we co-operate in working together, caring for the problems of others as if they were our problems, we demonstrate Christ's example of putting others first, and consequently, fulfill the law of Christ. The law of Christ is to love one another (John 13 vs 34 - 35). 

Selfishness is seen among Christians and abound in our churches (the Body of Christ). Christians—members of the Body of Christ—compete amongst themselves with the motive to undo the other; backbiting, gossiping, witch-hunting, working against the interest of others etc. such evil behaviors are the products of selfishness. Selfish ambition and conceit lead one to seek his or her own ends. One is not considerate of the desires of others. Those who have confidence in themselves will have no problem in building up others. 

Always think of yourself the way Jesus thought of Himself. Though He is God, and equal with God in status, but didn't think so much of Himself as to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men to save mankind. He was completely obedient even to His detriment to the point of a shameful death on the cross.

How many of us can practice such lifestyle. Christians, even men of God, struggle in simple discomforts like traffic jam, in fuel cue, and many other minor difficult circumstances to take the first turn and so on. Though it is difficult to lead such a lifestyle but we need to start from somewhere and let the Holy Spirt help us accomplish the rest.

Prayer: Abba Father, my trust is in You. Help me to lay aside my right in order to serve others selflessly and treat others with respect and common courtesy, for I know that such selflessness endears me to You, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

Energy for Today’s To-Dos

 Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. (Philippians 2:12–13)

God is the decisive worker here. Work out your own salvation . . . for it is God who works in you, the willing and the working. God wills and he works for his good pleasure. But believing this does not make Christians passive. It makes them hopeful and energetic and courageous.

Each day there is a work to be done in our special ministry. Paul commands us to work at doing it. But he tells us how to do it in the power that God supplies: believe him! Believe the promise that in this day God will be at work in you to will and work for his good pleasure. 

It is God himself, graciously at work each moment, that brings the promise of future grace into our present experience. It is not the gratitude for past grace that Paul focuses on when explaining how we work out our salvation. I mention this simply because so many Christians, when asked what the motive is for obedience, will say gratitude. But that is not what Paul emphasizes when he talks about motive and power for our working. He focuses on faith in what God is yet to do, not just what he has done. Work out your salvation! Why? How? For there is fresh grace for every moment from God. He is at work in your willing and doing every time you will and do. Believe that for the challenges of the next hour and the next thousand years.

The power of future grace is the power of the living Christ — always there to work for us at every future moment that we enter. So when Paul describes the effect of the grace of God that was with him, he says, “I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to bring the Gentiles to obedience — by word and deed” (Romans 15:18). 

Therefore, since he would not dare to speak of anything but what Christ accomplished through his ministry, and yet he did, in fact, speak of what grace accomplished through his ministry (1 Corinthians 15:10), this must mean that the power of grace is the power of Christ. 

Which means that the power we need for the next five minutes and the next five decades of ministry is the future grace of the omnipotent Christ, who will always be there for us — ready to will and ready to work for his good pleasure.