WHAT DO YOU OCCUPY YOUR MIND WITH?

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 28, 2024.

SUBJECT : WHAT DO YOU OCCUPY YOUR MIND WITH?

Memory verse: "Finally brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things." (Philippians 4 vs 8.)

READ: Romans 12 bs 2:

12:2: And not be conformed to this world: but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

INTIMATION:

The mind is the seat of reflection, consciousness, comprising the faculties of perception, understanding, feeling, judging and determining. The activities of the mind, therefore, is usually expressed outwardly, and determines our attitudes. Our attitudes color our whole personality. Essentially, what we feed our minds is absolutely very important, just as important as what we feed our bodies to be good and healthy. 

The secret to a happy heart is filling our minds with thoughts that are true, lovely, and pure; thoughts that dwell on the good things of life. And the secret of a spiritually healthy life—the Christlike life—is to be spiritually minded; filling our minds with things that are heavenly and eternal.

What we put into our mind determines what comes out in our words and actions. The apostle Paul tells us to program our minds with thoughts that are true, noble, right, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous, and praiseworthy. Always examine what you are putting into your mind through television, Internet, books, conversations, movies, and magazines. The kinds of books we read, the people we talk with, the music we listen to, and the films we watch are all part of our mental diet. 

Be discerning because what you feed your mind influences your total health and spiritual well-being. Be careful to replace harmful inputs with wholesome materials. Above all, read God's Word and pray. Ask God to help you focus your mind on what is good and pure. It takes practice to effect perfection, and know it can be done. 

Do you have problems with impure thoughts and daydreams? The Bible gives an antidote to this problem—renewal of your mind: “And do not be conformed to this world,  but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” (Romans 12 vs 2.) God has good, pleasing, and perfect plans for His children. He wants us to be transformed people with renewed minds, living to honor and obey Him. 

We live in a corrupt world with behavior and customs that are usually selfish and often corrupting. The worldly behavior should be off-limits for ever child of God. Our refusal to conform to this world’s values, however, must be even deeper than just behavior and customs; it must be firmly planted in our mind: 

It is possible to avoid most worldly customs and still be proud, covetous, selfish, stubborn, and arrogant. Only when the Holy Spirit renews, re-educates, and redirects our mind are we truly transformed. Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. The transformed mind helps us face the struggles of daily living, being completely focused on God. It is noteworthy that we cannot always choose what happens to us, but we can choose our attitude toward each situation. 

Prayer: Abba Father, give me the grace to renew my mind to be in union with the mind of Christ, and not in conformity with the world’s standards, that I may do Your will at all times, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed. Amen. 

PRAISE THE LORD!

Jesus Will Trample All Our Enemies

 Jesus Will Trample All Our Enemies

Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. (1 Corinthians 15:24)

How far does the reign of Christ extend?

The next verse, 1 Corinthians 15:25 says, “He must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.” The word all tells us the extent. 

So does the word every in verse 24: “Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power.”

There is no disease, no addiction, no demon, no bad habit, no fault, no vice, no weakness, no temper, no moodiness, no pride, no self-pity, no strife, no jealousy, no perversion, no greed, no laziness that Christ will not overcome as the enemy of his honor. 

And the encouragement in that promise is that when you set yourself to do battle with the enemies of your faith and your holiness, you will not fight alone.

Jesus Christ is now, in this age, putting all his enemies under his feet. Every rule and every authority and every power will be conquered. 

So, remember that the extent of Christ’s reign reaches to the smallest and biggest enemy of his glory in your life, and in this universe. It will be defeated.

THE SIN OF EVIL DESIRES!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

TUESDAY AUGUST 27, 2024.

SUBJECT: THE SIN OF EVIL DESIRES!

Memory verse: "But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.” (First Timothy 6 vs 9.)

READ: Matthew 5 vs 27 - 30:

5:27: You have heard that it was said by those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’

5:28: But I say to you that whoever looks on a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

5:29: If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out, and cast it from you; for it is profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.

5:30: And if thy right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.

INTIMATION:

A desire is a craving or longing for something. Some desires are evil or sinful and is frequently translated as “lust.” Some desires are good. For instance, the apostle Paul had the good desire to be with Christ; “For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better” (Philippians 1 vs 23). Just as the Lord’s desire concerning the last Passover; “Then He said to them, “With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.” (Luke 22 vs 15.)

For evil desires, or inordinate affections, the apostle Paul says, such should not be tolerated by believers because, “Those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passion and desires.” (Galatians 5 vs 24.) When we accept Christ as our Savior, we need to turn from our sinful ways and willingly nail our sinful nature to the cross. This doesn’t mean, however, that we will never see traces of evil desires again. As Christians we still have the capacity to sin and sometimes sin, but we have been set free from sin’s power over us and no longer have to give in to it. We must daily commit our sinful tendencies to God’s control, daily crucify them, and moment by moment draw on the Spirit’s power to overcome them. 

“Lust” is a devilish desire. Jesus said “lust” is as good as the “deed” itself. For instance, the Old Testament law says that it is wrong for a person to have sex with someone other than his or her spouse (Exodus 20 vs 14). But Jesus said that the desire to have sex with someone other than your spouse is mental adultery and thus sin. Jesus was emphasizing here that if the act is wrong, then so is the intention. In the passage we read today, Jesus is condemning the deliberate and repeated filling of one’s mind with fantasies that would be evil if acted upon. Therefore, desires that will lead you to wrongdoing should not be accommodated. 

Some people may desire to be rich, which in itself, is not wrong or evil, but the desire to be rich at all costs will definitely build up ideas in their minds that will expose them to temptations, snares, and many foolish things that are harmful and destructive. For instance, somebody might desire to make wealth by all means, and will be harboring stealing, money rituals, or obtaining by false pretenses, and if such desires are acted upon, the person may be committing murder, and other heinous crimes that are evil in themselves. Sinful actions are more dangerous than sinful desires, hence desires should not be acted out. Nevertheless, sinful desires are just as damaging to obedience as the actions proper. Left unchecked, wrong desires will result in wrong actions and turn people away from God.

In the Scriptures we read today, Jesus was speaking figuratively when He said you should get rid of your hand or your eye, He didn’t mean literally to gouge your eye, because even a blind person can lust. But if that were the only choice, it would be better to go into heaven with one eye or hand than to go to hell with the two. It takes the help of the Holy Spirit to resist any actions on our evil desires. 

The world is full of enticements. Daily we are confronted with subtle cultural pressures and overt propaganda. The only way to escape these destructive influences is to ask God to help crucify our interest in them. Evil acts begin with evil desires. It isn’t enough to ask God to keep you away from temptation, make you stronger, or change your circumstances. You must ask Him to change you on the inside—at the level of your desires.

The Scripture says, “Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it springs the issues of life.” (Proverbs 4 vs 23.) We should keep our hearts with all diligence, making sure we concentrate on those desires that will keep us on the right path. Make sure your affections push you in the right direction. Put boundaries on your desires: Don’t go after everything you see. And don’t get sidetracked on detours that lead to temptation.

“Finally brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things that are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things that pure, whatever things that lovely, whatever things that are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.” (Philippians 4 vs 8.)

Prayer: Abba Father, give me the grace to put boundaries on my desires, to concentrate on those desires that will keep me on the right path of obedience to You, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed. Amen. 

PRAISE  THE LORD!

Shadows and Streams

 Shadows and Streams

May the glory of the Lord endure forever; may the Lord rejoice in his works, who looks on the earth and it trembles, who touches the mountains and they smoke! I will sing to the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praise to my God while I have being. May my meditation be pleasing to him, for I rejoice in the Lord. (Psalm 104:31–34)

God rejoices in the works of creation because they point us beyond themselves to God himself.

God means for us to be stunned and awed by his work of creation. But not for its own sake. He means for us to look at his creation and say: If the mere work of his fingers (just his fingers! Psalm 8:3) is so full of wisdom and power and grandeur and majesty and beauty, what must this God be like in himself!

These are but the backside of his glory, as it were, darkly seen through a glass. What will it be to see the glory of the Creator himself! Not just his works! A billion galaxies will not satisfy the human soul. God and God alone is the soul’s end. 

Jonathan Edwards expressed it like this:

The enjoyment of God is the only happiness with which our souls can be satisfied. To go to heaven, fully to enjoy God, is infinitely better than the most pleasant accommodations here. . . . [These] are but shadows; but God is the substance. These are but scattered beams; but God is the sun. These are but streams; but God is the ocean.

This is why Psalm 104 comes to a close in verses 31–34 with a focus on God himself. “I will sing praise to my God while I have being. . . . For I rejoice in the Lord.” In the end it will not be the seas or the mountains or the canyons or the water spiders or the clouds or the great galaxies that fill our hearts to breaking with wonder and fill our mouths with eternal praise. It will be God himself.

GOD’S WORD MAKES US WISE!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

MONDAY AUGUST 26, 2024.

SUBJECT: GOD’S WORD MAKES US WISE!

Memory verse: "Every word of God is pure: He is a shield to those that put their trust in Him.” (Proverbs 30 vs 5.)

READ: Luke 4 vs 3 - 12:

4:3: And the devil said to Him, “If You be the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.”

4:4: But Jesus answered him, saying, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.’”

4:5: Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.

4:6: And the devil said to Him, “All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish.

4:7: Therefore, If You will worship before me, all will be Yours.”

4:8: And Jesus answered and said to him, “Get behind Me, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’”

4:9: Then he brought Him to Jerusalem, and set Him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down from here.

4:10: For it is written: “He shall give His angels charge over You, to keep You,’

4:11: and, ‘In their hands they shall bear You up, lest You dash Your foot against a stone.’”

4:12: And Jesus answered and said to him, “It has been said, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’”

INTIMATION:

God’s Word makes us wise—wiser than our enemies and wiser than any teachers who ignore it. Knowing God’s Word equips us to navigate through life’s circumstances in victory. In this life we walk through a dark forest of evil. But the Bible can be our light to show us the way ahead so we won’t stumble as we walk. It reveals the entangling roots of false values and philosophies. It’s an effective weapon against temptation, and it is the only offensive weapon in the believers’ armor (Ephesians 6 vs 17). The Scripture notes that, “The entrance of Your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.” (Psalm 119 vs 130.) 

True wisdom goes beyond amassing knowledge; it is applying knowledge in a life-changing way. Intelligent or experienced people are not necessarily wise. Wisdom comes from allowing God’s teachings to guide us. We gain wisdom through constant process of growing. First, we must trust and honor God. Second, we must realize that the Bible reveals God’s wisdom to us. His wisdom is infinite. The Scripture notes, “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out!.” (Romans 11 vs 33.) But God has revealed Himself and wisdom in His Word. Therefore, through constant study and meditation in the Word of God we are enriched in wisdom and understanding. 

People don’t develop all aspects of wisdom at once. For example, some people have more insight than discretion; others have more knowledge than common sense. But we can pray for all aspects of wisdom and take steps to develop them in God’s Word. Resolve to set aside time each day to read and think about God’s Word. Remind yourself of God’s words day and night, applying what you know that God has said in your daily living, and God’s Word will build you up in wisdom and understanding in this life.

Knowing and obeying God’s Word is an effective weapon against temptation, the only offensive weapon provided in the Christian’s armor (Ephesians 6 vs 17). In the passage we read today, Jesus used Scripture—the Word of God—to counter Satan’s attacks, and so also we should. But to use it effectively, we must have faith in God’s promises because Satan also knows Scripture and is adept in twisting it to suit his purposes. Obeying the Scripture is more important than simply having a verse to quote, so read them daily and apply them to your life. Then your “sword” will always be sharp.

The Word of God is not simply a collection of words from God, a vehicle for communicating ideas: it is living, life-changing, and dynamic as it works in us. God’s Word reveals who we are and what we are not. It penetrates the core of our moral and spiritual life. It discerns what is within us, both good and bad. The demands of God’s Word require decisions. We must not only listen to the Word; we must also let it shape our lives. Study the Bible so you will be able to see your way clear enough to stay on the right path.

Prayer: Abba Father, You have magnified Your Word above all Your name. Divine wisdom is embedded in Your Word. Give me the grace to study and meditate on Your Word daily that I may be wise, and toe the right path at all times, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

When God’s Love Is Sweetest

 When God’s Love Is Sweetest

Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word. (Ephesians 5:25–26)

If you only hope for unconditional love from God, your hope is great, but too small.

Unconditional love from God is not the sweetest experience of his love. The sweetest experience is when his love says, “I have made you so much like my Son that I delight to see you and be with you. You are a pleasure to me, because you are so radiant with my glory.”

This sweetest experience is conditional on our transformation into the kind of people whose emotions and choices and actions please God.

Unconditional love is the source and foundation of the human transformation that makes the sweetness of conditional love possible. If God did not love us unconditionally, he would not penetrate our unattractive lives, bring us to faith, unite us to Christ, give us his Spirit, and make us progressively like Jesus.

But when he unconditionally chooses us, and sends Christ to die for us, and regenerates us, he puts in motion an unstoppable process of transformation that makes us glorious. He gives us a splendor to match his favorite kind: his own.

We see this in Ephesians 5:25–27. “Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her [unconditional love], that he might sanctify her . . . and present the church to himself in splendor” — the condition in which he delights.

It is unspeakably wonderful that God would unconditionally set his favor on us while we are still unbelieving sinners. The ultimate reason this is wonderful is that this unconditional love brings us into the everlasting enjoyment of his glorious presence.

But the apex of that enjoyment is that we not only see his glory, but also reflect it. “The name of our Lord Jesus [will] be glorified in you, and you in him” (2 Thessalonians 1:12).

WORSHIP THE CREATOR NOT THE CREATION!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

SUNDAY AUGUST 25, 2024.

SUBJECT : WORSHIP THE CREATOR NOT THE CREATION!

Memory verse: “And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who  have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." (Revelation 19 vs 10.)

READ: : Acts 14 vs 8 - 15:

14:8: And in Lystra a certain man without strength in his feet was sitting, a cripple from his mother's womb, who had never walked.

14:9: This man heard Paul speaking. Paul observing him intently and seeing that he had faith to be healed,

14:10: said with a loud voice, “Stand up straight on your feet!” And he leaped and walked.

14:11: Now, when the people saw what Paul had done, they raised their voices, saying in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!”

14:12: And Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermès, because he was the chief speaker.

14:13: Then the priest of Zeus, whose temple was in front of their city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, intending and to sacrifice with the multitude.

14:14: But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard this, they tore their clothes, and ran in among the multitude, crying out

14:15: and saying, “Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men with the same nature as you, and preach to you that you should turn from these useless things to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all things that are in them,

INTIMATION:

Worship is to make obeisance, do reverence to. It is used as an act of homage or reverence. Regarding God Almighty, it is the appropriate response to God’s self-revelation. The worship of God is nowhere defined in the Scripture. Broadly it may be regarded as the direct acknowledgement to God; of His nature, attributes, ways and claims, whether by the outgoing of the heart in praise or thanksgiving or by deed done in such acknowledgement. 

God is Supreme, and there is none like Him (Exodus 9 vs 14; Isaiah 46 vs 9). In recognition of God’s supremacy and unique attributes, the Scripture says we should worship Him alone. In our memory verse, this truth is reiterated; the angel instructs John to “worship God,” and worship is a major emphasis in the book of Revelation. The Scripture says, “Now I, John, saw and heard these things. And when I had heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things. Then he said to me, “See that you do not do that. For I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book: worship God.” (Revelation 22 vs 8 - 9.) 

In the passage we read today, the apostle Paul, after performing a miracle of raising the crippled man in Lystra, observed that the people wanted to honor and sacrifice to them as gods. Paul and Barnabas refusing to allow such, tore their clothes, and ran in among the multitude, cried out in a loud voice and said to the people, “Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men with the same nature as you...” 

In the same manner, the apostle Peter corrected Cornelius when he visited him at Caesarea as instructed by the Spirit of the Lord: “As Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshipped him. But Peter lifted him up, saying, “Stand up; I am also a man.” (Acts 10 vs 25 - 26.)

However, this wrong practice of not worshiping God alone is common among believers. They put aside worshiping the Creator in order to worship the creation. Their reverence and worship of their spiritual leaders are far more pronounced than what the angel and apostles admonished their followers not to do. It is a common site in our churches and fellowships where the congregants fall on their knees before the spiritual leaders to acknowledge them, even in ordinary greetings. 

While the name of Jesus is often called in vain and without reverence by many; a small occurrence in their lives, like something falling off their hands, occasions the shout of the name ‘Jesus.’ Where is the reverence of the name in such circumstance? The Lord says in Malachi 1 vs 6, “A son honors his father, and a servant his master, If then I am the Father, where is My honor? And if I am a Master, where is My reverence?”  

God should be worshipped alone. That we do not see Him, is not an excuse not to honor and worship Him appropriately. Reverence to His name should be at all times, and in all situations. Never use His name in vain: “You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.” (Exodus 20 vs 7.) 

God’s name is special because it carries His personal identity. Using it frivolously or in a curse is so common today that we may fail to realize how serious it is. The way to use God’s name conveys how we really feel about Him. We should respect His name and use it appropriately, speaking it in praise or worship rather than in curse or jest. We should not take lightly the abuse or dishonor of His name.

Prayer: Abba Father, You are the only God, there is no other. You alone will I worship. Give me the grace to acknowledge You always for who You are, in all my ways, and to thank You for all You do, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!