OUR MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION.

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 13, 2024.

SUBJECT : OUR MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION.

Memory verse: "Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation." (Second Corinthians 5 vs 18).

READ: Second Corinthians 5 vs 18 - 21:

5:18: Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation;

5:19: that is, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them; and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

5:20: Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, to be reconciled to God.

5:21: For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

INTIMATION:

The Amplified Version Bible rendering of our memory verse is, "But all things are from God, Who through Jesus Christ reconciled us to Himself [received us into harmony with Himself] and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation [that by word and deed we might aim to bring others into harmony with Him].”

The Amplified Bible further explained in verse 19 thus, "It was God [personally present] in Christ, reconciling and restoring the world to favor with Himself, not counting up and holding against [men] their trespasses [but canceling them], and committing to us the message of reconciliation (of the restoration to favor). 

The word “reconciliation” refers to a restoration in relationship. In this context, it is the reconciliation of man to God. This message of reconciliation has been entrusted to those who proclaim to the lost the means by which all men can be restored to a saving relationship with God. The opportunity of reconciliation to God is not in the power of the messenger, but in the power of the message he bears (Romans 1 vs 16). The messenger simply provides the opportunity for the hearers to respond to the gospel, and thus be reconciled to God.

God is present, and at work in Christ reconciling the whole world to Himself, canceling out their trespasses, not counting them anymore against them. For the believers in Christ, God has reconciled us to Himself by the mediation of Jesus Christ. All three members of the Trinity are involved in salvation: The Father loved us so much that He sent His Son to bridge the gap between us (John 3 vs 16). The Father and the Son sent the Holy Spirit to fill our life with love and to enable us to live by His power (Acts 1 vs 8). 

In like manner, God has appointed those who believed and accepted Christ and what He wrought for us in redemption, as His representatives (ambassadors of Christ), and has commissioned us to do the same thing He is doing; reconciling the world to Christ. He has given us, through Christ, the ministry of reconciliation; not the ministry of condemnation which we have had before this time, but a ministry of reconciliation. He has also, given us the word (message) of reconciliation, to preach to the world as Christ's personal representatives in the world.

What then do we preach? And what are we to preach? In most of the preaching, we have reckoned unto men their trespasses. We have kept them "trespass-minded." We have kept them conscious of their weaknesses and failings, constantly preaching sin, and judgement to them. That is not wrong in itself, but God has not given us such ministry. He has instead given us the ministry of reconciliation; to preach Eternal life in Christ.

It is proper to remind us of where we are coming from, but it is much more proper to recount to us what God has wrought for us in Christ Jesus, and where we, as believers in Christ and His work in redemption, are heading to. For believers in Christ, the remission of sin is a reality, God has blotted out our past records, and made them nonexistent. Where we are coming from has seized to exist in God's memory, haven given us His righteousness in Christ (vs 21). It was for this reason He commissioned us as Christ's ambassadors with the message of reconciliation. We have the word, and we have the message, It is therefore, ours to give to the world. 

As Christ's representatives, a new commandment has been given to us in John 13 vs 34 - 35; "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."

That is the pivot on which the life of the "New Creation" man revolves. God, by His Nature, is love, and He showcased His love nature when He gave to the world His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, as a propitiation for our sins (John 3 vs 16). He came and paid the debt we ought to have paid for our sins. and legally set us free from that debt.  When we were set free, He blotted out the records of our past, and made them nonexistent. He recreated us to be now in conformity to His love nature that was lacking before now, hence His pouring out His love out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us (Romans 5 vs 5). 

It is after the impartation of His 'Love Nature' in the new creation, that He gave us the new commandment. Out of love for one another, we are to joyfully and freely let others know about Jesus, and the immeasurable worth of what He wrought for us in redemption, that they may come to partake of it.

As ambassadors of Christ, reconciled to God, we have the privilege of encouraging others to be reconciled to God in accordance with the ministry given to us. As ambassadors of reconciliation, we have very important responsibility of delivering the message of entreating the world to be reconciled to God. We dare not take this responsibility lightly. The question then is, 'How well are you fulfilling your commission as Christ's ambassador?

Prayer: Abba Father, let the zeal of 'Your Commission' burn in me that I may be an ambassador of Christ worthy of my calling, and that I may obtain the crown of rejoicing, and righteousness, which the Lord will give to me at the day of His coming, in Jesus Name I have prayed, Amen. 

PRAISE THE LORD!

How Satan Serves God

 How Satan Serves God

Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful. (James 5:11) 

Behind all disease and disability is the ultimate will of God. Not that Satan is not involved — he is probably always involved in one way or another with destructive purposes (Acts 10:38). But his power is not decisive. He cannot act without God’s permission.

That is one of the points of Job’s sickness. The text makes it plain that when disease came upon Job, “Satan . . . struck Job with loathsome sores” (Job 2:7). His wife urged him to curse God. But Job said, “Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?” (Job 2:10). And again the inspired author of the book (just as he did in 1:22) commends Job by saying, “In all this Job did not sin with his lips.”

In other words: This is a right view of God’s sovereignty over Satan. Satan is real and may have a hand in our calamities, but not the final hand, and not the decisive hand. 

James makes clear that God had a good purpose in all Job’s afflictions: “You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful” (James 5:11).

So even though Satan was involved, the ultimate purpose was God’s, and it was “compassionate and merciful.”

This is the same lesson we learn from 2 Corinthians 12:7, where Paul says that his thorn in the flesh was a “messenger of Satan” and yet was given for the purpose of his own holiness — to keep him from becoming conceited. “Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited!”

Now, humility is not Satan’s purpose in this affliction. Therefore, the purpose is God’s. Which means that here Satan is being used by God to accomplish his good purposes in Paul’s life. In fact, for God’s elect children, Satan cannot destroy us, and God turns all his attacks finally against him and for us.

OBSERVE TIMES OF SILENCE BEFORE GOD!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

TUESDAY NOVEMBER 12, 2024.

SUBJECT : OBSERVE TIMES OF SILENCE BEFORE GOD!

Memory verse: “When He opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour." (Revelation 8 vs 1.)

READ: First Kings 19 vs 11 - 13:

19:11: Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountain and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind, and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; 

19:12: and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice. 

19:13: So it was, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. Suddenly a voice came to him, and said, “What are you doing here Elijah?”

INTIMATION:

Silence is the state of remaining quiet and still; an absence of sound. This necessitates concentration and attentiveness. Observing a quiet or silent time before God is reverently honoring Him and His power and majesty. Concentration and attentiveness is a prerequisite for hearing God’s still small voice, and this can only be achieved in a state of silence. 

How proper, then for us to be still in honor and reverence to Him, and in patience to hear from Him. Take time each day to be still and honor God. This is a command from God. In Psalm 46 vs 10, God said, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” God is exalted and reverenced in quietness, and His works are also done quietly. 

In communing with God in prayers, we often dump our requests on Him, and end our prayers with ’in Jesus’ name,’ without really waiting to hear from Him. We hardly allow Him to speak in the conversation, but do all the speaking while He listens. But we require to hear what He has to say to us. And when He speaks, we can only hear Him in quietness because He speaks in a still small voice. We must wait for God “in quietness and confidence.” No amount of fast talking or hasty activity could speed up God’s grand design. 

God does not need to appear in great physical events as earthquakes and fires in order to initiate His work. In the passage we read today, Elijah knew that the sound of a still small voice belonged to God. He realized that God doesn’t reveal Himself only in powerful, miraculous ways. To look for God only in something big (rallies, churches, conferences, highly visible leaders) may be to miss Him because He is often found gently whispering in the quietness of a humble heart.  

Our memory verse notes that when Christ opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour. With all the activities, this dramatic pause must have seemed to last for an eternity. During this time, the only activity was prayers of the saints; “Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of saints ascended before God from the angel's hand“ (Revelation 8 vs 3 - 4). 

Are you listening for God? Step back from the noise and activity of your busy life and listen humbly and quietly for His guidance. It may come when you least expect it. We must seek God in times of silence. How proper for us to be quiet and honor God for His power and might. Take time each day to be silent and exalt God. Silence also conveys trust and confidence in God. We can trust God, and be peacefully confident that He will give us strength to face our difficulties, and provide the justice against oppressors that we seek. 

In Habakkuk 2 vs 20, the Scripture says, “But the Lord is in His Holy temple. Let all the earth keep silence before Him.” We who worship the living God come to Him in silent awe and reverence. In so doing we acknowledge that God is in control and knows what He is doing. 

Prayer: Abba Father, endue me with the spirit of quietness and confidence in You, that I may humbly come to You daily in reverential silence, and hear You speak to me, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

 

We Are His House

 We Are His House

Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses — as much more glory as the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself. (For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.) Now Moses was faithful in all God’s house as a servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later, but Christ is faithful over God’s house as a son. And we are his house, if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope. (Hebrews 3:3–6) 

The people who boast and hope in Jesus Christ are the house of God. Which means that Jesus this very day — not just back in Moses’s day or in his own days on earth — but this very day is our Maker, our Owner, our Ruler, and our Provider. 

Jesus is called the “builder” of this house. Moses was not the builder. He was part of the house. So it says, “Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses — as much more glory as the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself.” So Moses, as great as he was in leading the house, and giving God’s word to the house, was still just a part of the house. But Jesus built the house. 

So if we boast in Jesus and hope in Jesus, we are the house, and Jesus is our Builder, and Owner and Ruler and Provider. He does not let his house be destroyed or fall into ruin.

Then the writer changes the imagery — from builder and house, to son and servant. “Moses was faithful in all God’s house as a servant . . . but Christ is faithful over God’s house as a son.” So Christ did become part of the house — part of the household — he built. But even so, his honor is far above Moses. Moses was a servant. Christ is the Son. The heir. 

And we are part of this household. Hebrews 3:6: “And we are his house, if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope.” By all means, let us respect and give Moses his due. But the point of the whole book of Hebrews is: Christ is greater. Greater in every way. He is the builder of the house of God’s people. And he is the Son in the house of God’s people. Let us respect Moses. But let us worship Jesus — our Maker, our brother.

SCRIPTURAL VIEW OF MONEY!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

MONDAY NOVEMBER 11, 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 19 - 24:

6:19: Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust do corrupt, and where thieves break in and steal:

6:20: but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal:

6:21: For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

6:22: The light of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light.

6:23: But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you  is darkness, how great is that darkness!

6:24: No man can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will 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 the Scriptural view of 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 or faith and prayer. 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. 

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 to realize 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.

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 make. God doesn't operate by this world's value system, and it's more important for us to understand how God's value system works. 

Jesus says that 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, and would not know what happens to all that wealth thereafter.  For many, 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. 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. 

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 manifested 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 riches, then his or her spiritual life is void of the very foundation of the community of 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.

Jesus made it clear that having the wrong treasures leads to our hearts being in the wrong places. What we treasure the most controls us, whether we admit it or not. If possessions or 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? A sincere answer to the following questions will indicate if money is your master: (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. All my aspiration is to love You and adore You above all things, and serve You wholeheartedly. Your creation can never 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!

Wipe Your Fears Away

 When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. (Psalm 56:3)

One possible response to the truth that our anxiety is rooted in unbelief goes like this: “I have to deal with feelings of anxiety almost every day; and so I feel like my faith in God’s grace must be totally inadequate. So I wonder if I can have any assurance of being saved at all.”

My response to this concern is: Suppose you are in a car race and your enemy, who doesn’t want you to finish the race, throws mud on your windshield. The fact that you temporarily lose sight of your goal and start to swerve does not mean that you are going to quit the race.

And it certainly doesn’t mean that you are on the wrong racetrack. Otherwise, your competitor — your adversary — wouldn’t bother you at all. What it means is that you should turn on your windshield wipers.

When anxiety strikes and blurs our vision of God’s glory and the greatness of the future that he plans for us, this does not mean that we are faithless, or that we will not make it to heaven. It means our faith is being attacked.

At first blow, our belief in God’s promises may sputter and swerve. But whether we stay on track and make it to the finish line depends on whether, by grace, we set in motion a process of resistance — whether we fight back against the unbelief of anxiety. Will we turn on the windshield wipers?

Psalm 56:3 says, “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.”

Notice: it does not say, “I never struggle with fear.” Fear strikes, and the battle begins. So the Bible does not assume that true believers will have no anxieties. Instead, the Bible tells us how to fight when they strike. It tells us how to turn on the windshield wipers.

LAY UP FOR YOURSELF TREASURES IN HEAVEN!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

SUNDAY NOVEMBER 10, 2024.

SUBJECT : LAY UP FOR YOURSELF TREASURES IN HEAVEN!

Memory verse: “So When Jesus heard these things, He said to Him, “You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven, and come, follow Me.” (Luke 18 vs 22.)

READ: Matthew 6 vs 19 - 21: 

6:19: Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal;

6:20: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.

6:21: For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

INTIMATION:

A “treasure” is anything considered to be valuable. Such things are, by natural instinct, adequately cared for, and stored in safe places in order not to lose them. What are your treasures? And where are you laying them up for safety? Jesus made it clear that having your treasures wrongly laid up, leads to our hearts being in the wrong place. But when they are properly laid in safety, we are sure of not losing the stored value in them. 

Laying up your treasures on earth and earthly things is considered unsuitable because such earthly treasures are temporal; they can perish, be stolen, become obsolete, and eventually be destroyed when the earth passes away (Mark 13 vs 31; Second Peter 3 vs 10.) 

Heavenly treasures are not in physical or material substances. They are values stored up in good deeds, and are the only thing you take along with you to eternity. God is not interested in your possessions, money, and wealth. He is only interested in what you use them to do while it lasted here on earth. He is interested on how you used your wealth to build up your relationship with Him and your neighbors. 

It is noteworthy that all the “Ten Commandments” of God are relationship based, none is materialistic. Therefore, having riches carries great responsibility. If you have been blessed with wealth, then thank the Lord. Don’t be proud and don’t put your trust on your wealth. Use your wealth to do good. Be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share. Consequently, building for yourself lasting treasures in heaven due to the value God attaches to your good deeds. 

No matter how mush money you have, your life should demonstrate that God controls the wealth that He has placed under your care. When your treasures are heavenly bound, definitely your heart will be heavenly bound also. What we treasure most controls us and our thoughts, whether we admit it or not. 

If possessions or money become too important to us, we must re-establish control or get rid of them. Hence, 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.

In our memory verse, Jesus said to the rich young man; “You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” This man’s wealth made his life comfortable and gave him prestige and power. By telling him to sell everything he owned, Jesus was touching the very basis of his security, trust, and identity, which are earthly temporal treasures, instead of trusting in God. The man did not understand that he would be more secure if he followed Jesus than he was with all his wealth. 

When Jesus told this young man that he would “be perfect” if he gave everything he had to the poor, Jesus wasn’t speaking in the temporal, human sense. He was explaining how to be justified and made whole or complete in God’s sight. He was explaining to the young man God’s value system—how you used your possessions to build up your relationship with Him and others which God place great value on. 

Jesus does not ask believers to sell all they have. He did not ask most of His followers to sell everything, but rather use their possessions to serve God and others. Although this may be His Will for some who are controlled by their possessions, He asks us all, however, to get rid of anything that has become more important in life than God. If your possessions take first place in your life, it would be better for you to get rid of them. We must remove all barriers to serving Him fully. 

Don’t spend your time chasing fleeting earthly treasures. Instead store up treasures in heaven, for such treasures will never be lost. The key to using money wisely is to see how much we can use it for God’s kingdom purposes. Does God’s love touch your wallet? Does your money free you to help others? If so, you are storing up lasting treasures in heaven. 

If your financial goals and possessions hinder you from giving generously, loving others, or serving God, sell what you must to bring your life into line with His purposes. Laying up treasures in heaven is accomplished by all acts of obedience and service to God. 

If Jesus would ask, ‘Could you give your house? Your car? Your level of income? Your position in the society? Your position on the ladder of promotion? for His course.’ Definitely your response will show your attitude toward earthly treasures—whether it is your servant or your master, and would reveal who you serve—whether God or mammon. 

Where do you put your time, money, and energy? What do you think about most? How should you change the way you use your resources in order to reflect kingdom values more accurately? The sincere answers to these questions will reveal your real self!

Prayer: Abba Father, all things are Yours. You have only entrusted to our care things that are Yours. Give me the grace to manage all that You have put in my care adequately, as is pleasing to You, that I may lay up lasting treasures for myself in heaven, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed. Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!