Radical Recompense

 Radical Recompense

“Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life.” (Mark 10:29–30)

What Jesus means here is that he himself makes up for every sacrifice.

If you give up a mother’s nearby affection and concern, you get back one hundred times the affection and concern from the ever-present Christ.

If you give up the warm comradeship of a brother, you get back one hundred times the warmth and comradeship of Christ.

If you give up the sense of at-homeness you had in your house, you get back one hundred times the comfort and security of knowing that your Lord owns every house.

To prospective missionaries, Jesus says, “I promise to work for you, and be for you, so much that you will not be able to speak of having sacrificed anything.”

What was Jesus’s attitude to Peter’s “sacrificial” spirit? Peter said, “We have left everything and followed you” (Mark 10:28). Is this the spirit of “self-denial” commended by Jesus? No, it is rebuked. 

Jesus said to Peter, “No one ever sacrifices anything for me that I do not pay back a hundredfold — yes, in one sense even in this life, not to mention eternal life in the age to come.”

YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

MONDAY OCTOBER 28, 2024.

SUBJECT : YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW! 

Memory verse: "And, behold, I am come quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according as his work." (Revelation 22 vs 12.) 

READ: Galatians 6 vs 7 - 10; Ephesians 6 vs 8; Colossians 3 vs 25:

Galatians 6:7: Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.

6:8: For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.

6:9: And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.

6:10: Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those where of the household of faith.

Ephesians 6:8: Knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free.

Colossians 3:25: But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is no partiality.

INTIMATION:

It is a principle of life that one reaps what he sows. One must not deceive himself into thinking that he can escape the consequences of his behavior. To think one can, is to mock God, for God says that we reap what we sow, not only in this life, but also in that which is to come (Romans 2 vs 6). It would certainly be a surprise if you planted corn in your farm and pumpkins came up. It's a natural law to harvest what we plant. It's true in other areas, too. If you gossip, and guile found in your tongue, know it now, you will definitely reap what you sow, and God's final judgement will find you out. 

Every action has result. If you plant to please your own desires, you'll harvest a crop of sorrow and evil. If you plant to please God, you'll harvest joy and everlasting life. Our God is certainly not a partial God, His reward is with Him, to give to everyone according to his works. There is God's judgment awaiting everybody. Although, His judgement is already working in our lives, there is a future, final judgement when Christ returns (Matthew 25 vs 31 - 46), and everyone's life will be reviewed and evaluated. Jesus will look at how we handled gifts, opportunities, relationships, and responsibilities in order to determine our rewards.

The Word of God in Luke 6 vs 37 - 38 says:

"Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you." How is your relationship with other people? What do you give to others? What  do you give to God? Are you resentful? speaking guile? gossiping about others? Do you give love and care to others? Are you judgmental? Are you always returning to others as they did to you, especially in wrong doing? 

Remember whatever you do will be returned to you in full measure. If we are critical rather than compassionate, we will also receive criticism. If we treat others generously, graciously, and compassionately, however, these qualities will come back to us in full measure. If you forgive it demonstrates that you have received God’s forgiveness. We will be dealt with in final judgement by God in the same manner by which we treat our fellow man. Therefore, when we measure mercy to others, God will in turn measure mercy to us. 

Christians must be zealous to do good works, for this is one reason why they have been brought forth in Christ (Ephesians 2 vs 10). They must not become lazy or discouraged in doing that which brings glory to the Father. Christians do good, not for the purpose of putting God in debt of reward one with heaven (Romans 4 vs 4). They do good because they are saved, not in order to become saved. They do good because they are in Christ, not in order to come to Christ. 

Prayer: Abba Father, let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to You at all times. And let me do to others as I will want them to do to me, and be zealous to do good works, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

Possible with God

 Possible with God

“I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice.” (John 10:16)

God has a people in every people group in the world. He will call them through the gospel with Creator power. And they will believe! What a power is in these words for overcoming discouragement in the hard places of the frontiers!

The story of Peter Cameron Scott is a good illustration. Born in Glasgow in 1867, Scott became the founder of the Africa Inland Mission. But his beginnings in Africa were anything but auspicious.

His first trip to Africa ended in a severe attack of malaria that sent him home. He resolved to return after he recuperated. This return was especially gratifying to him because this time his brother John joined him. But before long, John was struck down by fever.

All alone, Peter buried his brother in African soil, and in the agony of those days recommitted himself to preach the gospel in Africa. Yet his health gave way again, and he had to return to England.

How would he ever pull out of the desolation and depression of those days? He had pledged himself to God. But where could he find the strength to go back to Africa? With man it was impossible!

He found strength in Westminster Abbey. David Livingstone’s tomb is still there. Scott entered quietly, found the tomb, and knelt in front of it to pray. The inscription reads:

OTHER SHEEP I HAVE WHICH ARE NOT OF THIS FOLD; THEM ALSO I MUST BRING.

He rose from his knees with a new hope. He returned to Africa. And today, over a hundred years later, the mission he founded is a vibrant, growing force for the gospel in Africa.

If your greatest joy is to experience the infilling grace of God overflowing from you for the good of others, then the best news in all the world is that God will do the impossible through you for the salvation of the unreached peoples.

GOD CONVICTS, AND NEVER CONDEMNS!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

SUNDAY OCTOBER 27, 2024.

SUBJECT : GOD CONVICTS, AND NEVER CONDEMNS! 

Memory verse: "And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgement." (John 16 vs 8.) 

READ: John 3 vs 17 - 19:

3:17: For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved.

3:18: He who believes in Him is not condemned: but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

3:19: And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 

INTIMATION:

In the passage we read today, Jesus said He didn't come into this world to send sinners to their death (to condemn the world), but to deliver them from sin so that they could be saved, and live the abundant life. This could only happen when He convicts us of our sins. The Holy Spirit would convict the world of sin through the truth that He would reveal to the believers. The truth that would be revealed would be the standard by which sin, righteousness, and judgement would be determined. The truth would be the words of Jesus by which He would judge the world. 

God uses the Holy Spirit indwelling all believers to achieve the three important tasks: (1) convicting the world of its sin and calling it to remembrance. Those who do not accept the atoning sacrifice of Jesus for their sins will remain in a state of condemnation because of sin, (2) revealing the standard of God's righteousness to anyone who believes. Because Christ would no longer be physically present on earth, through the preaching of the believers, the world would be convicted of not doing that which is right in the eyes of God, and (3) demonstrating Christ's judgement over Satan. Through the believers, the Holy Spirit would reveal that all men must give account of their behavior before God. 

Now, in the story of the woman caught in adultery in John 8 vs 1 - 11, Jesus demonstrated to the crowd His mission in this world; He didn't come into this world to send sinners to their death, but to deliver them from sin. The woman caught in adultery was given the opportunity to rest in the safety of Christ's name. By law she was guilty of breaking a commandment from God, and the Pharisees wanted to stone her. Jesus showed the crowd that they were all guilty of breaking the law in some way. He invited the woman's accusers to proceed with the stoning, but only if they themselves were guiltless of breaking the law. 

The Scripture says: "Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, "Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Had no one condemned you?" She said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said to her, neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more." (John 8 vs 9 - 11.)

Jesus didn't condemn the woman accused of adultery, and He also did not ignore nor condone her sin. He told her to 'go and sin no more.' Jesus stands ready to forgive any sin in our lives, but we must do our part; confession and repentance of our sins, indicating a change of heart. With God's help, we can accept Christ's forgiveness and stop our wrongdoing. Jesus proved that condemnation only leads to death, but conviction delivers us to a new life free from sin. The accusers were convicted of their own sins in their consciences until, one by one, from the oldest to the last, they learned not to judge the woman caught breaking the law.

The Holy Spirit works to enlighten our awareness of what we are doing that leads to death, and what we need to do to enjoy the abundant life. Condemnation is the work of the devil, 'the accuser of our brethren,' whose main aim is "to steal, and to kill, and to destroy." But thanks be to God for He sent His Son into the world that the world through Him might be saved, and have life, and abundant life indeed! (See John 10 vs 10.)

The Holy Spirit speaks to our conscience—our inner man—to convict us of sin and convince us of righteousness. His conviction is intended to convince us to repent, which means to turn and go in the right direction rather than the wrong one in which we are currently going. The devil's condemnation fills people with hopelessness and futility. The devil, through condemnation, wants to steal, or kill, or destroy anything good in our lives, and most especially our relationship and trust in the Lord. His aim is to severe our relationship with God, to win us over to his side.

It's important for believers to discern the difference between conviction and condemnation. Many Christians still have the two mixed up. They think they are being condemned when they are being convicted. The more time we spend in the presence of God, the more aware we become of His love for us, and the more sensitive we become of our own actions that do not reflect God's heart. 

Prayer: Abba Father, show me my sin. Convict me of what I am doing wrong that breaks Your law. Convict me when I deviate from Your precepts. Keep my inner man tender to hear Your voice. Give me power to walk in Your precepts, and be free from sin, in Jesus' Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

Medicine for the Missionary

 Medicine for the Missionary

“All things are possible with God.” (Mark 10:27)

Sovereign grace is the spring of life for the Christian Hedonist. For what the Christian Hedonist loves best is the experience of the sovereign grace of God filling him, and overflowing for the good of others.

Christian Hedonist missionaries love the experience of “not I, but the grace of God that is with me” (1 Corinthians 15:10). They bask in the truth that the fruit of their missionary labor is entirely of God (1 Corinthians 3:7; Romans 11:36).

They feel only gladness when the Master says, “Apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). They leap like lambs over the truth that God has taken the impossible weight of new creation off their shoulders and put it on his own. Without begrudging, they say, “Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God” (2 Corinthians 3:5).

When they come home on furlough, nothing gives them more joy than to say to churches, “I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me to bring the Gentiles to obedience” (Romans 15:18).

“All things are possible with God!” — in front the words give hope, and behind they give humility. They are the antidote to despair and the antidote to pride — the perfect missionary medicine.

PRAYER, AND OUR NEED FOR PRAYER ALWAYS!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

SATURDAY OCTOBER 26, 2024.

SUBJECT : PRAYER, AND OUR NEED FOR PRAYER ALWAYS!

Memory verse: "Men ought always to pray and not faint." (Luke 18 vs 1.) 

READ: Matthew 26 vs 41; Luke 21 vs 36; Ephesians 6 vs 18; Colossians 4 vs 2:

Matthew 26:41: Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

Luke 21:36: Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.

Ephesians 6:18: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit. Being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.

Colossians 4:2: Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving. 

INTIMATION:

What is prayer? It is an evolving means of interacting with God, most frequently through a spontaneous, individual, unorganized form of petitioning and/or thanking. It is an object of worship, a spiritual communion with God or an object of worship, as in supplication, thanksgiving, adoration, or confession. Ultimately, the main purpose of prayer is worship. When we pray to the Lord, recognizing Him for who He is and what He has done, it is an act of worship. Prayer also can be a solemn request for help or expression of thanks addressed to God.

The Father's heart is hungry for the companionship of His children. His heart hunger is the reason for man and his redemption. God wants a constant fellowship with His children. It was His plan from the beginning hence He visited Adam everyday in the Garden. He loves us and that love impels Him to call us to prayer. Therefore, prayer is the voice of faith to the Father, and the call of love of the Father to come and fellowship with Him. It’s the desire of the Father that His children approach Him in prayer. 

It is God's intention that His children will always be with their Father, an the children coming joyously into the presence of their Loving Parent are welcome. He  taught us to pray, He is one with us in this prayer life. Prayer is part of God's program for us. It is the natural response of those who recognize their need for the help of God in their lives. 

Prayer is an important part of the Christian life, and one’s prayer life should be developed. Not only does prayer affect our lives and the lives of others, but it is also a way to communicate with the Lord and grow in our relationship with Him. At the heart of prayer is an act of worship to the Lord. God’s Word places an emphasis on the power and purpose of prayer, and, therefore, it should not be neglected.

Prayer is calling constantly for the leading of the LORD, and such leading helps us avoid temptation, and deliverance from evil (Matthew 6 vs 13). It helps us overcome the weakness of the flesh, and empowers us to escape all the things that will come to pass, making us worthy to stand before Christ.  Christians should maintain a lifestyle that lends itself to prayer. It is through prayer that not only the inward man is strengthened, but also the work of God is called upon by the disciple to function in his life. 

Christians should be of an attitude at all times that is conducive to offering prayer to God. They are not only to pray continually, they must be fervent in prayer with thanksgiving. Emphasis here is not on a continued action of prayer, but on a continued attitude of prayer. In other words, the Christian should be in a state of mind that he can at all times take part in the action of praying to the Father. And since all that the Christian has is the result of God’s blessing, then it is reasonable to conclude that Christians should give thanks to God for all they are and have. 

Prayer is the vital contact with the Father, and we are near enough to breathe in His very presence. Prayer means that we have come boldly into the Throne room and are standing in the presence of the Father and Jesus in an executive meeting, worshipping them, laying our needs before them, and making our requisitions for ability, and grace to meet whatever our needs may be.

Therefore, to remain in the presence of God, and be lead by Him always calls for persistence in prayer. To persist in prayer and not give up, or praying without ceasing, does not mean endless repetition or painfully long prayer sessions. Always praying means keeping our requests constantly before God as we live for Him day by day, believing He will answer. When we live by faith, we are not to give up. As we persist in prayer we grow in character, faith, and hope. 

Prayer: Abba Father, give ear to my words, and to the voice of my cry, consider my meditation my King and my God. To You will I pray, my voice You shall hear in the morning, and at all times I will direct it to You, and will look up to You, from where my help comes, O LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. Give me the grace to continually commune with You in prayer, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD.

The Great Missionary Hope

 The Great Missionary Hope

Even when we were dead in our trespasses, [God] made us alive together with Christ — by grace you have been saved. (Ephesians 2:5)

The great missionary hope is that when the gospel is preached in the power of the Holy Spirit, God himself does what man cannot do: he creates the faith that saves. The call of God does what the call of man can’t. It raises the dead. It creates spiritual life. It is like the call of Jesus to Lazarus in the tomb, “Come out!” And the dead man obeyed and came out. The call created the obedience by creating life (John 11:43). That is how anyone is saved.

We can waken someone from sleep with our call, but God’s call can summon into being things that are not (Romans 4:17). God’s call is irresistible in the sense that it can overcome all resistance. It is infallibly effective according to God’s purpose — so much so that Paul can say, “Those whom [God] called he also justified” (Romans 8:30), even though we are only justified by our faith.

In other words, God’s call is so effectual that it infallibly creates the faith through which a person is justified. All the called are justified according to Romans 8:30. But none is justified without faith (Romans 5:1). So the call of God cannot fail in its intended effect. It irresistibly brings into being the faith that justifies.

This is what man cannot do. It is impossible. Only God can take out the heart of stone (Ezekiel 36:26). Only God can draw people to the Son (John 6:44, 65). Only God can open the spiritually dead heart so that it gives heed to the gospel (Acts 16:14). Only the Good Shepherd knows his sheep, and calls them by name with such compelling power that they all follow — and never perish (John 10:3–4, 14). 

The sovereign grace of God, doing the humanly impossible, through the gospel of Jesus Christ, is the great missionary hope.