I Can Be Content in Every Circumstance

 

I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:11–13)

God’s provision of day-by-day future grace enables Paul to be filled or to be hungry, to prosper or suffer, to have abundance or go wanting.

“I can do all things” really means “all things,” not just easy things. “All things” means, “Through Christ I can hunger and suffer and be in want.” This puts the stunning promise of Philippians 4:19 in its proper light: “My God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”

What does “every need of yours” mean in view of Philippians 4:11–12? It means “all that you need for God-glorifying contentment.” Which may include times of hunger and need. Paul’s love for the Philippians flowed from his contentment in God, and his contentment flowed from his faith in the future grace of God’s infallible provision to be all he needed in times of plenty and want.

It’s obvious then that covetousness is exactly the opposite of faith. It’s the loss of contentment in Christ so that we start to crave other things to satisfy the longings of our hearts which only the presence of God himself can satisfy. And there’s no mistaking that the battle against covetousness is a battle against unbelief in God’s promise to be all we need in every circumstance.

This is so clear in Hebrews 13:5. Watch how the author argues for our freedom from the love of money — freedom from covetousness — the freedom of contentment in God: “Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’” Faith in this promise — “I will never leave you” — breaks the power of all God-dishonoring desire — all covetousness.

Whenever we sense the slightest rise of covetousness in our hearts, we must turn on it and fight it with all our might using the weapons of this faith.

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THE NEED FOR CONFESSION OF SIN!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

FRIDAY JUNE 23, 2023.

SUBJECT : THE NEED FOR CONFESSION OF SIN!

Memory verse: "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (First John 1 vs 9.)

READ: Psalm 32 vs 5 - 6; Proverbs 28 vs 13::

Psalm 32:5: I acknowledged my sin to You, and my iniquity I have not hidden.

32:6: I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and You forgave the iniquity of my sin.

Proverbs 28:13: He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.

INTIMATION:

To confess our sin is to agree with God, acknowledging that He is right to declare what we have done as sinful and that we are wrong to desire or do it. It means affirming our intention of forsaking that sin in order to follow God more faithfully. The feeling of guilt cannot be disregarded by those who seek to be godly. Such people cannot continue to be living in the knowledge that they have deliberately sinned against God. Relief can only come when you acknowledge your sin, and ask for forgiveness from the Lord who only can forgive sin.

Honest confession should precede worship to the Lord because we cannot have a right relationship with God if we hold on to certain sins. And anything you do to honor God is an act of worship. However, reading and studying God’s Word should precede confession because God can show us where we are sinning. The psalmist said in Psalm 66 vs 18, "If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear." When we refuse to repent or when we harbor and cherish certain sins, we place a wall between us and God. We may not be able to remember every sin we have ever committed, but our attitude should be one of confession and obedience. 

As imperfect being we are, we are always sinning; knowingly or unknowingly. Therefore, we need to continually be confessing our sins so as to receive forgiveness of our sins from the Lord, and to ensure continued fellowship with the Lord. As enumerated in our memory verse, God is so faithful that if we confess our sins, we are assured of His forgiveness and cleansing from all unrighteousness, and our fellowship with Him is restored.

Most believers are plagued by guilt; they may have committed a sin unknowingly; done something good with selfish intentions, failed to put their whole heart into a task, or neglected what they should have done. With an attitude of confession, we will always present ourselves to God as sinners that needs forgiveness. God fully and completely forgives us—even for those sins we do unknowingly.

We must take full responsibility, admit our wrong, and ask God for forgiveness. Many people want to add God and the benefits of Christianity to their lives without acknowledging their personal sin and guilt. But confession and repentance must come before receiving forgiveness. We must take full responsibility for our actions and confess them to God before we can expect Him to forgive us and continue His work in us.

God cannot be found by those who refuse to repent. It is not that God has hidden Himself from the sinner, but that the sinner with unrepentant heart seek to hide from God. God will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we are able to endure, and thus one can always come to Him through repentance. (First Corinthians 10 vs 13.) When our sins are forgiven, we can stand boldly in His presence and make our petition. Therefore, it is to our own advantage that we ask for forgiveness of sins, so that our Heavenly Father can hear our prayers.

David confessed his sin and prayed, "Cleans me from secret faults. Keep back Your servant from presumptuous sins (Psalm 19 vs 12 - 13.) Presumptuous sins are the sins we commit unknowingly, or when we take certain things for granted; when we believe that something is true without proof. Most times we end up apologizing for the wrong done unwittingly.

Christ has made it possible for us to go directly to God for forgiveness. But confessing our sins to each other still has an important place in the life of the church—the Body of Christ. (1) If we have sinned against an individual, we must ask him or her to forgive us. (2) If our sin has affected the church, we must confess it publicly. (3) if we need loving support as we struggle with a sin, we should confess that sin to those who are able to provide that support. (4) If we doubt God’s forgiveness, after confessing a sin to Him, we may wish to confess that sin to a fellow believer for assurance of God’s pardon. In Christ’s kingdom, every believer is a priest to other believers (First Peter 2 vs 9.)

Prayer: Abba Father, I will stop at nothing to confess my sins to You, knowing that You are so faithful to forgive my sins and cleanse from all unrighteousness, that my fellowship with You is restored. Endue me with the spirit of humility and total obedience to You in all things, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

Faith Honors Him Whom It Trusts

 No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith giving glory to God. (Romans 4:20)

Oh, how I long for God to be glorified in our pursuit of holiness and love. But God is not glorified unless our pursuit is empowered by faith in his promises. 

And the God who revealed himself most fully in Jesus Christ, who was crucified for our sins and raised for our justification (Romans 4:25), is most glorified when we embrace his promises with joyful firmness because they are bought by the blood of his Son. 

God is honored when we are humbled for our feebleness and failure, and when he is trusted for future grace. That’s the point of Romans 4:20 where Paul describes Abraham’s faith, “No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith giving glory to God.”

He grew strong in his faith, thus giving glory to God. Faith in God’s promises glorifies him as supremely wise and strong and good and trustworthy. So, unless we learn how to live by faith in the promises of God’s future grace, we may perform remarkable religious rigors, but not for God’s glory. 

He is glorified when the power to be holy comes through humble faith in future grace. 

Martin Luther said, “[Faith] honors him whom it trusts with the most reverent and highest regard, since it considers him truthful and trustworthy.” The trusted Giver gets the glory. 

My great desire is that we learn how to live for God’s honor. And that means living by faith in future grace, which, in turn, means battling unbelief in all the ways it rears its head.

How We Must Fight for Holiness

 

Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. (Hebrews 12:14)

There is a practical holiness without which we will not see the Lord. Many live as if this were not so.

There are professing Christians who live such unholy lives that they will hear Jesus’s dreadful words, “I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness” (Matthew 7:23). Paul says to professing believers, “If you live according to the flesh you will die” (Romans 8:13).

So, there is a holiness without which no one will see the Lord. And learning to fight for holiness by faith in future grace is supremely important.

There is another way to pursue holiness that backfires and leads to death. Paul warns us against serving God any other way than by faith in his enabling grace. God is not “served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything” (Acts 17:25). Any effort to serve God that does not, in that very act, depend on him as the reward of our hearts and the power of our service, will dishonor him as a needy pagan god.

Peter describes the alternative to such self-reliant service of God, “Whoever serves, [let him do so] as one who serves by the strength that God supplies — in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 4:11). And Paul says, “I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me” (Romans 15:18; see also 1 Corinthians 15:10).

Moment by moment, grace arrives to enable us to do “every good work” that God appoints for us. “God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8).

The fight for good works is a fight to believe the promises of future grace.

DO NOT LUST FOR RICHES!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

THURSDAY JUNE 22, 2023.

SUBJECT : DO NOT LUST FOR RICHES!

Memory verse: "Do not overwork to be rich; because of your own understanding, cease!" (Proverbs 23 vs 4.)

READ: First Timothy 6 vs 9 - 10:

6:9: But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.

6:10: For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

INTIMATION:

Lust is have a craving, appetite, or great desire for. Therefore, to lust for riches is to have a craving, appetite, or great desire for it. The reason people are so stressed out about riches is that they think they are in control of their lives. People tend to think they are responsible for all of the factors that lead to prosperity and the money needed to survive. They are worried about losing their jobs or a downturn in the economy because they see themselves as the source of their provisions.

The materialistic heart that lust after possessions is evil. In the desire to satisfy their lust for riches, they produce sorrows through striving for riches which manifest in the greedy motives of their hearts. Many have marginalized their relationships with friends, family and other believers to satisfy their thirst for riches. If one sacrifices his good works in relationships because he has no time for others as a result of running after riches, then his spiritual life is void of the very foundation of the community of God. One should never allow anything of this world to hinder his relationship with his fellow believers.

The believer seeking to be rich will lose the contentment with the necessities of life. In his worldly desire, he will lose sight of that which brings spiritual fulfillment. The snare into which he falls is the fact that he leads himself to believe that if he surrounds himself with possessions and involves himself in activities, he will be happy. His thirst for financial affluence will bankrupt him spiritually. It is not wrong to possess things of this world. However, one should never allow the possessions of this world to possess him.

Christians must understand that God takes care of His people. The contented life comes from realizing that possessions do not bring happiness. Treasured relationships are more important than any earthly treasure. And above all, one’s relationship with God is the true foundation upon which a contented life is built.

We have heard of many turned to money rituals, armed robbery, cheating, stealing, and many other evil tendencies, just in the quest to get rich. We become so obsessed with our pursuit for riches that we push God right out of our lives. But it is God who gives us everything we have, and He asks us to manage it for Him:

Seeing yourself as the source of blessing in your life puts a lot of pressure on you to control circumstances that are really beyond your control. When you know God is your source, you aren't worried about the natural circumstances. If God can prosper Abraham and feed his flocks and herds in a desert, then He can bless and prosper you in any economic situations. It doesn't matter what is going on around you. 

Sometimes it's hard to look beyond the physical or natural challenges you face and see into the spiritual realm, but you can do it with the steward's mentality, knowing that all you have is entrusted to your care by God; they are not really yours. Being a steward gives you a sense of confidence that ordinarily you will never have as long as you see yourself as the source and owner of the things you have.

A sister, during the wartime in Liberia, had nothing left with her—no food, no money, and didn't know where to run to when the rebels invaded their city. She turned her cares over to the Lord and was praising God. The rebels came and camped in her apartment with their food items in bags, beverages in cartons and what is more. They ordered her to be of service to them, preparing their meals. 

After a few days the government troops invaded the city and the rebels were forced to leave the city and eventually abandoned all they came with in her apartment. She then had in abundance all she needed more than what she could ask or think! (Ephesians 3 vs 20.) Can you comprehend such divine supply? Our God is awesome! Therefore, “Delight yourself also in the Lord; and He will give the desires of your heart.” (Psalm 37 vs 4.)

The human tendency is often to take credit for our prosperity and become proud that our smartness, hard work, and power have made us rich. Therefore, we get so busy pursuing after riches that we may want to do anything to succeed. In pursuing riches, we “fall into temptations and a snare” that ultimately lead only to “destruction and perdition.”

When you hasten after riches, the tendency is to do things in disobedience to God’s leading, and against His will, and eventually lose your relationship with Him that ends you up in eternal condemnation. Therefore, the short time you live on earth, if spent pursuing after earthly possessions that you cannot take with you at the time of passing to meet with your Maker, and which will eventually be destroyed (Second Peter 3 vs 10), will rub you of eternity with Him.

Prayer: Abba Father, endue me with the spirit of contentment in godliness, that I may not trust in uncertain riches, but completely in You—my Maker and Owner of the whole world, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!

HAVE A STRONG AFFECTION FOR GOD’S KINGDOM!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

WEDNESDAY JUNE 21, 2023.

SUBJECT : HAVE A STRONG AFFECTION FOR GOD’S KINGDOM!

Memory verse: "Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." (Matthew 6 vs 10.)

READ: Matthew 6 vs 31 - 33:

6:31: Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'

6:32: For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.

6:33: But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

INTIMATION:

A kingdom is a state having a king as its head. The king's word is a law to be obeyed. God already reigns as the King in heaven, and desires that His spiritual sovereignty is established here on earth. God's kingdom has been long in existence in heaven. God created the world for a purpose, out of His love and goodness, and created man for the purpose of taking care of His new kingdom. His desire is that His spiritual reign is extended to the earth, as it is in heaven. 

Then, when we pray "Your will be done," we are asking in consonance with His will, that God's purpose of creation be accomplished in this world as well as next—in heaven.

Praying for His will to be done shows our reference of Him as the Creator, and the supremacy of God's will over all things. Therefore, kingdom-oriented praying gives you special audience with God. 

The Bible says, "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." (Matthew 6 vs 33.) To “seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness” means to put God first in your life, to fill your thoughts with His desires, to take His character for your pattern, and to serve and obey Him in everything. When you do these things, all other of your needs, that others are clamoring and dying for, will be added to you.

If you desire breakthroughs in your personal life, one of the fastest ways to achieving it is to have a strong affection for God and His kingdom. It is noteworthy that how much you take pleasure in the affairs of the kingdom that determines the quality of response you enjoy from God. When you are interceding on kingdom matters, let it be from the depth of your heart, as if you are praying for your only child who is dying. Let it mean much to you than your personal matters. God will even answer your prayers in such a way that “before you call He will answer, and while you’re still speaking He will hear” (Isaiah 65 vs 24).

Many people are dying in their prayer rooms because they are self-oriented in their prayers. It is all about self in their prayers. They are the "needy-stars" of the kingdom. They always pray, "Lord, give me this; Lord, bless me; Lord bless my husband, bless my wife and Children," and their demands are numerous, not wanting any form of discomfort. They are least concerned about the welfare of anybody else or on any issue that does not touch them personally.

It has been observed that when a kingdom prayer point is raised in church, a lot of people just mumble through; not knowing what to say, and you can hardly hear what they are saying. But when it comes to personal supplication for their needs, the whole congregation is charged, and vibrating. Nevertheless, the prayer strategy that moves heaven to rain down favor on you, so much so that you will not need to pray for most things before you get them, is kingdom advancement prayers.

Your Heavenly Father already knows your needs, and requests that you concern yourselves less with these needs of yours, but rather take pleasure in things that concerns Him; fill your thoughts with His desires, to take His character for your pattern, and to serve and obey Him in everything, and He will give you the desires of your heart. (Psalm 37 vs 4.)

People, objects, goals, pleasures, and other desires all compete for priority. Any of these things can bump God out of first place if you don't actively choose to give Him first place in every area of your life. This will eventually leave you with a life of struggles, and make you miss all the ‘additions’ promised by Him if you seek His kingdom first, and His righteousness. (Matthew 6 vs 33.) The things the world struggle to get comes to you on a platter.

When we communicate with God, we don’t demand what we want; rather we discuss with Him what He wants for us. If we align our prayers to His will, He will listen; and because we have not been selfish in our prayers; but rather desired His own interest—His will, He will definitely concern Himself with providing these our needs He is already aware of—adding them to us.

Prayer: Abba Father, let the zeal of Your kingdom eat me up, that I may put You first in everything in my life, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!