BENEFITS OF CONSISTENT DEVOTION TO GOD!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

THURSDAY APRIL 10, 2025.

SUBJECT : BENEFITS OF CONSISTENT DEVOTION TO GOD!

Memory verse: "Those who trust in the LIRD are like Mount Zion which cannot be moved, but abides forever." (Psalm 125 vs 1.)

READ: Psalm 91 vs 9 - 12; 14 - 16:

91:9: Because you have made the LORD, who is my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place.

91:10: No evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling;

91:11: For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways.

91:12: in their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone.

91:14: Because He has set His love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name.

91:15: He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. 

91:16: With long life I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation.

INTIMATION:

The person who trusts in God and obeys His commands is untouchable until God takes him or her. If we dwell and abide with Him, by entrusting ourselves to His protection and pledging our daily devotion to Him, we will be kept safe. To trust God is to have immeasurable peace.

No other scenario in the Scriptures, perhaps, most buttresses this point than the story of Daniel. Daniel was one of three governors set over his kingdom by King Darius. Daniel distinguished himself above other governors and satraps that the king gave thought to set him over the whole realm of his kingdom. Daniel had an excellent spirit in him, and consequently made enemies at work, and they sought to find a charge against him. He was, at that time, over 80 years old.

Daniel was a determined man, consistent in his devotion to God. He wouldn't bow to just any wish, even if it came from the emperor himself. Daniel kept praying to the God of Israel, the God he believed in. He stood for his convictions and would not redirect his prayers to a person he knew was a mortal.

In Babylon, the kings word was law. In the Medo-Persian empire, however, when a law was made, even the king couldn't change it. King Darius was an effective government administrator, but he had a fatal flaw—pride. By appealing to his vanity, the men talked Darius into signing a law effectively making him a God for 30 days, and that whoever petitions any god or man except king Darius, shall be cast into the lions' den. For praying to God, Daniel was guilty, and was to be food for hungry beasts in the king's special execution pits.

So Daniel was sentenced to the lion pit, and the sentence was carried out. But the lions did not disturb him. Although he sat right beside them, they didn't touch him. Daniel himself, walked out of the pit the next morning, alive and well. Why would lions suddenly go on a hunger strike? Lions eat only when hungry, not for recreation. And the whole point of having a bunch of lions caged up was to keep them hungry. The ancients would typically starve lions so they could watch the ferocious lions tear up the ones convicted. 

In accordance with Persian custom, this cruel punishment was transferred to those who had conspired against the king by provoking him into an unjust action (See also Esther 7 vs 9 - 10). The king’s great anger resulted in the execution of the evil officials and their families. The fact that these lions were starving is proven by how they savagely tore apart Daniel's accusers. These were hungry lions. Evil deeds often backfire on those who plan cruelty.

Then what kept these lions from devouring Daniel? Though, to many It remains a mystery how Daniel survived a night trapped in a pit filled with hungry lions. Nonetheless, the Almighty God, whom Daniel worship consistently, sedated the lions’ wild instincts for just that night. Daniel himself put it more directly: "My God sent his angel to shut the lions' mouths so that they would not hurt me, for I have been found innocent in His sight" (Daniel 6 vs 22). 

Prayer: Abba Father, You are ever faithful, and Your companionship is sure for those who consistently obey, and put their trust in You. Endue me with the spirit of complete obedience , and devotion to You, that I may stand sure of Your protection, and fellowship with You at all times, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

Talk to God, Not Just About Him

 Talk to God, Not Just About Him

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me. (Psalm 23:4)

The form of the 23rd psalm is instructive.

In Psalm 23:1–3 David refers to God as “he”: 

The Lord is my shepherd . . .

he makes me lie down . . .

he leads me . . .

he restores my soul.

Then in verses 4 and 5 David refers to God as “you”: 

I will fear no evil, for you are with me;

your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me.

You anoint my head with oil.

Then in verse 6 he switches back:

I shall dwell in the house of the Lord.

The lesson we can learn from this form is that it is good not to talk very long about God without talking to God. 

Every Christian is at least an amateur theologian — that is, a person who tries to understand the character and ways of God and then put that into words. If we aren’t little theologians, then we won’t ever say anything to each other, or to God, about God, and will be of very little real help to each other’s faith.

But what I have learned from David in Psalm 23 and other psalms is that I should interweave my theology with prayer. I should frequently interrupt my talking about God by talking to God. 

Not far behind the theological sentence, “God is generous,” should come the prayerful sentence, “Thank you, God, for your generosity.”

On the heels of, “God is glorious,” should come, “I adore your glory.”

This is the way it must be, if we are feeling God’s reality in our hearts as well as thinking it in our heads and describing it with our lips.

THE SPIRIT-LED LIFE!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

WEDNESDAY APRIL 09, 2025.

SUBJECT:  THE SPIRIT-LED LIFE!

Memory verse:  "For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace." (Romans 8 vs 6.) 

READ:  Romans 8 verse 5 - 8:

8:5: For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.

8:6: For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

8:7: Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be.

8:8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

INTIMATION:

We observe from our memory verse that we relate with two minds in us. These are the mind of the flesh, and the mind of the spirit. That does not mean you and I have two brains, it simply means that we receive information from our natural mind (which operates without the Holy Spirit), and we get information from our spirit (through which the Holy Spirit communicates directly to us).

According to the Scriptures, to be a child of God, we are not to be led by our carnal mind, but by the Holy Spirit: “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God” (Romans 8 vs 14). The evidence of our sonship is being led by the Spirit of God. The Spirit-led life is a life of victory, and conquest of the devil, because it manifests the fruit of the Spirit that has no law against it, therefore, the accuser of brethren has nothing to accuse you of: “For the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. (Galatians 5 vs 22 - 23.)

The fruit of the Spirit is the spontaneous work of the Holy Spirit in us. The Holy Spirit is the only One who knows the mind of God, and is the revealer of the truth. (John 16 vs 13). Therefore, the Spirit produces these character traits that are found in the nature of Christ. They are the by-products of Christ control—we cannot obtain by trying to get them without His help. 

This Scripture tells us that “we have the mind of Christ.” This is because the Spirit of Christ—Holy Spirit lives in us. The problem is that although we have the mind of Christ and know the Word of God, we don't listen to our spirit which is being enlightened by the Holy Spirit. Instead, we listen to our natural mind, which relies strictly on sense and reason without the Holy Spirit. And this mind “is in enmity against God, hence cannot please Him.”

In every situation of life, our head will be trying to give us information. It will be yelling at us so loudly, and if we don't turn our attention to our spirit we will never hear what the Lord is saying to us in that situation, nor know that which is pleasing to Him. That is why we must learn to live out of our spirit and not of our head, that is being led by the Spirit. Incidentally, evil spirits constantly bombard us with negative thoughts. If we receive them and dwell on them, they become ours because, according to the Scripture, as we think in our heart, so are we. (Proverbs 23 vs 7.) If we accept the lies of the devil as reality, then they will become reality to us because of our "faith," that is, our believe in them.

That is why in moments of worry, stress and turmoil we have to simply take the time to turn to our inner man, the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit, and say, "Lord, what do You have to say about this?" If we listen in faith, He will speak to us and reveal to us the truth of that situation, and what we will do to please Him. You and I have two huge vats of information within us. One is carnal information that comes off the top of our head. The other is spiritual information which wells up out of our heart. One is muddy. polluted water, and the other is clean drinking water. It is up to us to decide which source we are going to drink from.

Some people try to drink from both sources. That's what the Bible calls being double-minded. (James 1 vs 8.) Do you know what it means to be double-minded? It means that your mind is trying to tell you one thing, and the your spirit is trying to tell you just the opposite. Instead of saying, "I'm not going to believe that of the mind because it's a lie," you get in a cross-fire, going back and forth between the two thoughts.

If you are ever going to live the happy, victorious and successful Christian life the Lord wills for us, you are going to have to decide which fountain of information you are going to drink from. You are going to have to learn to live out of our spirit and not out of our head—you must be led by the Spirit.

Prayer: Abba Father, You have adopted me as Your son, and has graciously given me Your Spirit. Help me to always listen, and take counsel from Your Holy Spirit indwelling me that I may lead a victorious and conqueror’s life, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

Make Satan Know His Defeat

 Make Satan Know His Defeat

Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (James 4:7)

The more real Satan appears in our day — the more obviously active — the more precious the victory of Christ will become to those who trust him. 

The New Testament teaches that when Christ died and rose again, Satan was decisively defeated. A time of limited freedom is granted to him, but his power against God’s people is broken and his destruction is sure.

“The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.” (1 John 3:8)

“[Christ] himself likewise partook of the same things [flesh and blood], that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil.” (Hebrews 2:14)

“[God] disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.” (Colossians 2:15)

In other words, the decisive blow was struck at Calvary. And one day, when Satan’s time of limited freedom is over, Revelation 20:10 says, “The devil . . . [will be] thrown into the lake of fire . . . and will be tormented day and night forever and ever.”

What does this mean for those of us who follow Jesus Christ? 

“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1)

“Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies!” (Romans 8:33)

“[Neither] angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38–39)

“He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” (1 John 4:4)

“They [the saints] have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony.” (Revelation 12:11)

Therefore, “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you!” He has been defeated, and we have been given victory. Our task now is to live in that victory and make Satan know his defeat.

THE HINDRANCE OF UNBELIEF!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

TUESDAY APRIL 08, 2025.

SUBJECT: THE HINDRANCE OF UNBELIEF!

Memory verse: "Now He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.” (Matthew 13 vs 58.)

READ: Hebrews 4 vs 2 - 3: 

4:2: For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it.

4:3: For we who have believed do enter that rest, as He has said: “So I swore in My wrath, ‘They shall not enter My rest,’ although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. 

INTIMATION:

The most common hindrance to receiving God’s blessings is unbelief. The unbelievers are guilty of not believing that God will do what He says He will do; they hardly confess in faith what God says, and that He will do what He has promised He will do. When you continue to confess positively, your spirit will be influenced by that confession. 

Unbelief is the root cause of why God's Word bless some people and not bless others. In the passage we read today, the Scripture says that, when people hear God's Word but do not believe it, then the word preached will profit them nothing. This is because it’s not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. Unbelief blinds people to the truth and robs them of hope. 

Christ has done everything that needs to be done about our sins, and obtained a clean bill of health for us. Our own work is to believe in Him and His finished work in redemption for us. Jesus said that the work of God we have to do is to believe in Him whom God sent (John 6 vs 29). And those who have believed enter into God’s rest. 

So many Christians turn back from their promised rest in Christ because of the difficulties of the present moments which overshadow the reality of God’s promise, and their doubts that God will fulfill His promises. Consequently, they try doing things on their own efforts. When we trust on our efforts instead of Christ’s power, we are in danger of turning back. Our own efforts are never adequate; only Christ can see us through.

Many Christians know a great deal about Christ, but they do not know Him personally—they don’t combine their knowledge with faith. The Good News about Christ they hear benefits them nothing in their lives because it’s not mixed with faith. Believe in Him and then act on what you believe. Trust in Christ and do what He says.

It’s in believing that the glory of God is made manifest to us. Our faith triggers the grace—power of God to help us in our times of need. Jesus said to Martha at the tomb of Lazarus; “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?” (John 6 vs 40.) God’s glory is the backing of His Word. Not believing God and His Word is regarded as disobedience (Hebrews 4 vs 6). 

Jesus said that “all things are possible to him who believes,” because “for He is faithful that promised” (Hebrews 10 vs 23). With faith in Him, we can have everything we need to serve Him. It’s the attitude of trust and confidence that the Bible calls “belief” or “faith,” and it is not something we can obtain without help. Faith is a gift from God (Ephesians 2 vs 8 - 9). Jesus said, “Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.” (Mark 11 vs 23 - 24.)

“Faith” or “belief” is the first sure step to receiving from God. Not believing in God leads to disobedience. And disobedience is regarded as rebellion and stubbornness against God, tantamount to witchcraft, and it is regarded as the most serious of all sins because as long as a person rebels, he or she closes the door of forgiveness and restoration with God. (First Samuel 15 vs 23.)

Prayer: Abba Father, my absolute trust is in You. Sieve off any form of unbelief in me concerning You and Your Word, that I may have all things possible with me, and live a triumphant life as Your child, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

What It Means to Pray for Your Enemy

 What It Means to Pray for Your Enemy

“Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” (Matthew 5:44)

Prayer for your enemies is one of the deepest forms of love, because it means that you have to really want that something good happen to them. 

You might do nice things for your enemies without any genuine desire that things go well with them. But prayer for them is in the presence of God who knows your heart, and prayer is interceding with God on their behalf. 

It may be for their conversion. It may be for their repentance. It may be that they would be awakened to the enmity in their hearts. It may be that they will be stopped in their downward spiral of sin, even if it takes disease or calamity to do it. But the prayer Jesus has in mind here is always for their good.

This is what Jesus did as he hung on the cross:

Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. (Luke 23:34)

And it’s what Stephen did as he was being stoned:

Falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them!” (Acts 7:60)

Jesus is calling us not just to do good things for our enemy, like greeting them and helping supply their needs (Matthew 5:47); he is also calling us to desire their best, and to express those desires in prayers, even when the enemy is nowhere around. 

Our hearts should desire their salvation and desire their presence in heaven with us and desire their eternal happiness. May God give us grace to pray like the apostle Paul for the Jewish people, many of whom made life very hard for Paul:

My heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. (Romans 10:1)

THE GIVING INVESTMENT!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

MONDAY APRIL 07, 2025.

SUBJECT : THE GIVING INVESTMENT!

Memory verse: "But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal." (Matthew 6 vs 20.)

READ: Second Corinthians 9 vs 6 - 11; :

9:6: But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.

9:7: So let each one give as He purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.

9:8: And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.

9:9: As It is written; “He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever.”

9:10: Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness,

9:11: while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God.

INTIMATION:

Giving is an investment into your future. It’s a seed if sowed now, may ensure bountiful harvest, continuous flow of resources your way, and above all, crowned with eternal life with Christ. God loves you when you delight in giving. When He sees your delight in abounding in generosity, He can pour out the blessings in astonishing ways to you so that you are ready for anything, and ineverything more than just ready to do what needs to be done. 

Clearly, there are seasons for everything as the Scripture says, ‘Times for sowing and reaping’ (Ecclesiastes 3 vs 4). When God sees your delight in giving, that is, investing in your future, building an everlasting treasury with your resources, He will also provide and multiply your resources for giving, and increase the fruits of your rightful accomplishments that manifest itself in active goodness, kindness, and charity. 

Those habitual givers, who throw caution to the winds, giving to the needy in reckless abandon, abounding in their right-living, and right-giving ways, God ensures they never run out or wear out. Hence the saying, “Givers never lack.” God, Elshadai—the Giver, is extravagant with them. When their giving have grown in them as full-formed lives, and robust in God, He ensures that they always have something to give away, they will be wealthy in riches, so that they can be generous in every way, producing in the beneficiaries great praise to God. 

Habitual givers have no boundaries. Their giving is not restricted to helping meet the bare needs of poor Christians; they give out to all needy people, and for any acts of relief to the society. In so doing, they ‘Bear the burden of others, and so fulfill the law of Christ’ (See Galatians 6 vs 2). This relief offering is a prod to live at your very best, showing your gratitude to God by being openly obedient to the plain meaning of the Message of Christ; “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

You show your gratitude to God through generous offerings to your needy brothers and sisters, and really toward everyone. The beauty of such generosity is that the receivers, when they have seen the extravagance of giving in your life, they’ll respond by praying for you in passionate intercession for whatever you need, and God will provide! 

In the passage we read today, the Scripture, in verse 10 - 11, says; "And [God] Who provides seed for the sower and bread for eating will also provide and multiply your [resources for] sowing and increase the fruits of your righteousness ["which manifests itself in active goodness, kindness, and charity]. Thus you will be enriched in all things and in every way, so that you can be generous, and [your generosity as it is] administered by us will bring forth thanksgiving to God." (Amplified Version.)

This verse isn't really about farming; it's an illustration of a spiritual principle. A single kernel of corn planted in the ground will sprout up a plant that bears thousands of kernels of corn. When you give money, it's like planting a seed. In the same way that planting a seed gives rise to a new plant that bears many more seeds, likewise, giving money away causes finances to grow in your life. 

God gives us resources to use and invest for Him. The resources God gives us are not to be hidden in selfishness, foolishly devoured, or thrown away. Instead they should be cultivated in order to produce more. When we invest what God has given us wisely, especially in His work, He will provide us with even more to give in His service. When you give money, it's like planting a seed. God gives money to people if they are givers.

Some people will say "Let God give me first, and I will give." It's a pity. That is not trusting God and His promises. That is purely unbelief—lack of faith, and "without faith it is impossible to please God." If you are coming to God, you will come with the believe that He is who He says He is, and a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him for who He is. (See Hebrews 11 vs 6.)

Prayer: Abba Father, endue me with the spirit of boundless generosity, that I may bear the burden of others in fulfillment of Your law, and that I will be blessed sufficiently with more resources from You to continue abounding in my generosity, increasing in my fruit of righteousness, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!