PRIDE AND ARROGANCE

04- 30- 11 MI DAILY DEVOTION (I Peter 5:5- 6)

PRIDE AND ARROGANCE

5- “Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. 6- Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:”

Lee Iacocca in his Book, “Where Have All The Leaders Gone?” TRY A LITTLE VIRTUE wrote “… Instead of living by the deadly sins, corporate America should try living by some of the virtues. Instead of greed, how about generosity, instead of envy, try a little charity. Instead of pride, show some humility, Instead of wrath, let’s see composure.” (Page 145)

The November 14, 2001 issue of Our Daily Bread; “Known for Humility”- “…I can’t be too critical, though. I’ve seen pride in my own life. I was standing by the literature table of a church when someone picked up a copy of Our Daily Bread. “Do you read that?” I asked. “I start every day with it,” came the reply. “Well, I write for it,” I heard myself say. Pride-ugh! As servants of Christ, we should be known for humility. In (I Peter 5: 5) tells us to “be clothed with humility, for God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” We should be unpretentious, talk about other people’s accomplishments, and focus on serving others.

‘There’s a TV ad for a first-aid ointment that says, “Stop hurting… start healing.” Another offers a bandage that takes the “ouch” away. That’s good counsel. Let’s be gentle and sensitive when we are touching the tender feelings of others.’ (Dr. Chuck R. Swindoll, “Come before Winter…” pages 459- 460). And notice what it says in (Philippians 2:3- 5) 3- “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 4- Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. 5- Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6- Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7- But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8- And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”

A good friend of mine one day reminded me of this, he said, “Ely, be careful with what you say or do… because your words and deeds can be used against you someday…” May this be our prayer- “Lord help me to stay focus on You and not in myself, help me be a Bible centered and not self centered, I will let You guide my heart and not letting me, myself, and my BIG ‘I’ guide my own heart.  And please teach me to be humble for YOU and YOU alone.” (Proverbs 11:2; 8:13) 2- “When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom. 13- The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.”

WHY YOU CAN BE SURE OF YOUR SALVATION?

04- 29- 11 MI DAILY DEVOTION

WHY YOU CAN BE SURE OF YOUR SALVATION?

14- “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15- For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16- The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17- And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.”

One of the debated doctrines in the Christian community is the issue of the assurance of salvation. There are those who called themselves Christians and yet they don’t believe in the assurance of salvation. What is assurance of salvation anyways? Let me share to you in the layman’s term the meaning of the assurance of salvation. In my personal belief and my personal definition of the assurance of salvation would simply means; “It is an act of faith in Christ and what He has done on the Cross with the promise of giving us eternal life. And this eternal life which was given to those who came to Him by repentance and faith will be in the hands of God which cannot be taken from Him by anyone, anything and any circumstances.” Notice here the 7 practical reasons why you know you are saved: 1- Because of changed life. That is 1 of the best argument that you can have as Christian. It’s one of the greatest proof and evidence of God’s miracle in your life without using a Bible reference. 2- The peace of mind that we experienced after we accepted Christ as our Lord and Savior or after we became a Christian. We have peace of mind in the midst of pain and sorrow. We have peace of mind even when we walk through the valley of the shadow of death. 3- We began to have a different perspective as we desire to know the Lord more and more. You desire to be a better father/mother, you wanted to be a good husband/wife or if you’re single, you wanted to be a good son/daughter. 4- We desire to live a holy life. Before we came to know Christ, we don’t care if we have sinned or if we have displeased the Lord by the way we live, but the day after we came to know Him… our hearts, our mind and to some even their lifestyle has changed. 5- We have satisfaction and contentment. That’s one of the things that I can remember beside from the peace that I felt from the inside out when I was a newborn babe in Christ. 6- You can feel the joy in your heart that’s never been there when you did not have that faith in Christ. Even in spite of our religious ritual before we have Christ, we were living a life that’s empty, no purpose and a life with a heavy heart. The joy that no one can give, not even the riches of this world. 7- The clean conscience and the clean heart. The burden of our heart and the guilt of sins are all gone. Those are the 7 things that happened to my life which gave me the assurance of salvation. It tells me that I’m saved forever; I’m a Christian, a child of God and bound for Heaven. You can have them too.

Here’s a Bible reference to claim for your assurance of salvation. (Romans 8:38- 39) 38- “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39- Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

GOD’S FORGIVENESS ON SINNERS

04- 28- 11 MI DAILY DEVOTION
GOD’S FORGIVENESS ON SINNERS
We are not worthy to stand before God. We are unfit for the Kingdom of God. We don’t deserve the love and grace of God. We are not worthy of His mercy and death on the Cross. We are like dust, mud, dirty and like leprosy in the sight of God. We are nothing in spite of our accomplishments in life and in spite of our educational attainment. We don’t deserve this life and the life to come in Heaven. And we are not fit to communicate to a Holy God because of our sins. But God the Father put all our sins in the hands of Jesus when He was crucified on the Cross of Calvary. He laid it on Him and made Him sin for us. (Isaiah 53:6; II Corinthians 5:21) 6- “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. 21- For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” God was not hard on us or was He hard in dealing with our sins. He was merciful to us sinners. We cannot measure the distance between Heaven and earth; so is the mercy of God towards us, sinners. (Psalm 103: 10- 12) 10- “He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. 11- For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. 12- As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.” When we come to Him for forgiveness, He is faithful and just to forgive us and He will remember our sins no more. (Isaiah 44: 22; I John 1: 8- 9) 22- “I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions, and, as a cloud, thy sins: return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.”  8- If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9- If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” The Lord will not turn His back from us. His own creations and His own chosen Nation have turned their back from the Lord, but God is faithful and true and He will not turn His back to a repenting sinners. He will not look back to our sins and call to remembrance on what we have done against Him and His Word. Imagine the Lord having our sins in His hands and throwing them all behind Him. And the Book of Hebrews said that, “He will remember our sins no more…” That’s a great blessing and promise from the Lord. (Isaiah 38:17) “Behold, for peace I had great bitterness: but thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption: for thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back.” Here’s another great assurance from the Lord about our sins from the Book of (Micah 7:19) “He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.” Man had been to the moon but no one has ever been to the floor of the deepest ocean in the world. And I’m glad that God cast all my sins into the depths of the sea.
In the Book of Romans, Apostle Paul gave us the assurance that God’s grace is sufficient for us. (Roman 5:20- 21) 20- “Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: 21- That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.”

I CAN’T IMAGINE ME… WITHOUT YOU, LORD!

04- 27- 11 MI DAILY DEVOTION (Isaiah 41:9- 10)

I CAN’T IMAGINE ME… WITHOUT YOU, LORD!

9- “Thou whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called thee from the chief men thereof, and said unto thee, Thou art my servant; I have chosen thee, and not cast thee away. 10- Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”

Where would I be without the Lord Jesus Christ? It’s because of Him and because:

We have faith in the purposes of God. (Romans 8:28) “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

We trust in the power of God. (I Corinthians 1:24- 25) 24- “But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. 25- Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.”

We believe in the promises of God (Romans 4:18- 21) 18- “Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. 19- And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb: 20- He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; 21- And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.”

We rely on the provision of God. (Philippians 4:19; Matthew 6:25- 26) 19- “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” 25- “Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? 26- Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?”

We entrust our life and future in the hands and plans of God. (Jeremiah 29:11- 13) 11- “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. 12- Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. 13- And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.”

We rest in the presence of God. (Exodus 33:14) “And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.”

We are pleasing the Lord our God when we exercise our faith. (Hebrews 11:6) “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”

CONFESS YOUR SINS TO GOD

04- 26- 11 MI DAILY DEVOTION (Romans 10:9- 11)

CONFESS YOUR SINS TO GOD

9- “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10- For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11- For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.”

Speaking of “confession”, it has different meaning and interpretation to different religions or religious denominations. Confession according to Unger’s Bible dictionary, from the “(Hebrew word yadah, literally, to use, extend the hand) is used in the Old Testament in the sense of acknowledging one’s sin (Leviticus 5:5) “And it shall be, when he shall be guilty in one of these things, that he shall confess that he hath sinned in that thing:” (Job 40:14) “Then will I also confess unto thee that thine own right hand can save thee.” (Psalm 32:5) “I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.” In the prayer of Solomon at the dedication of the temple he uses the expression “confess thy name” (I Kings 8:33, 35) 33- “When thy people Israel be smitten down before the enemy, because they have sinned against thee, and shall turn again to thee, and confess thy name, and pray, and make supplication unto thee in this house: 35- When heaven is shut up, and there is no rain, because they have sinned against thee; if they pray toward this place, and confess thy name, and turn from their sin, when thou afflictest them) (II Chronicles 6:24, 26) 24- “And if thy people Israel be put to the worse before the enemy, because they have sinned against thee; and shall return and confess thy name, and pray and make supplication before thee in this house; 26-When the heaven is shut up, and there is no rain, because they have sinned against thee; yet if they pray toward this place, and confess thy name, and turn from their sin, when thou dost afflict them;”

The Greek word rendered “confession” is “homologeo”, literally, to say the same thing, i. e., not to deny, and so to admit or declare one’s self guilty of what he is accused. It is also used in the sense of a profession, implying the yielding or change of one’s conviction (John 12:42) 42- “Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue:” (Acts 23:8) 8- “For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both.” (I Timothy 6:13) 13- “I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession;” (Unger’s Bible Dictionary by, Merrill F. Unger, Moody Press Chicago)

JESUS- THE LAMB AND THE GOOD SHEPHERD OF THE SHEEPS

04- 25- 11 MI DAILY DEVOTION (Psalm 23:1- 6)

JESUS- THE LAMB AND THE GOOD SHEPHERD OF THE SHEEPS

1- “A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2- He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3- He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 4- Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. 5- Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 6- Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.”

I relations to a study about the Lord Jesus Christ as the Lamb of God and the Shepherd of our soul, Mr. Matthew Henry has a very good point about such great lessons from the Book of (Psalms 23). Notice his explanations taken from The Bible Collection. He said: “1. How highly he magnifies God’s gracious vouchsafements to him (v. 5): "Thou preparest a table before me; thou hast provided for me all things pertaining both to life and godliness, all things requisite both for body and soul, for time and eternity:’’ such a bountiful benefactor is God to all his people; and it becomes them abundantly to utter his great goodness, as David here, who acknowledges, (1.) That he had food convenient, a table spread, a cup filled, meat for his hunger, drink for his thirst. (2.) That he had it carefully and readily provided for him. His table was not spread with any thing that came next to hand, but prepared, and prepared before him. (3.) That he was not stinted, was not straitened, but had abundance: "My cup runs over, enough for myself and my friends too.’’ (4.) That he had not only for necessity, but for ornament and delight: Thou anointest my head with oil. Samuel anointed him king, which was a certain pledge of further favor; but this is rather an instance of the plenty with which God had blessed him, or an allusion to the extraordinary entertainment of special friends, whose heads they anointed with oil, Lu. 7:46. Nay, some think he still looks upon himself as a sheep, but such a one as the poor man’s ewe-lamb (2 Sa. 12:3), that did eat of his own meat, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom; not only thus nobly, but thus tenderly, are the children of God looked after. Plentiful provision is made for their bodies, for their souls, for the life that now is and for that which is to come. If Providence do not bestow upon us thus plentifully for our natural life, it is our own fault if it be not made up to us in spiritual blessings.”

Jesus as the Lamb and the good Shepherd of the fold in which the Christians could claim and be assured of, that the Lord Jesus Christ did not only died for our sins, but also love us to the uttermost. That’s one of the blessings that no other religion can offer or teaches. Apostle John talked about His love and how He laid down His life for us. Peter talked about how He cares and that Christ has chosen us as a royal priesthood and a chosen generation. And you will love what the Apostle Paul said in the Book of Philippians when he talked about God’s provision. In (Philippians 4:17- 19) 17- “Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account. 18- But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God. 19- But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

THE SOLID FOUNDATION, THE SOLID ROCK-JESUS!!!

04- 24- 11 MI DAILY DEVOTION (II Timothy 1:9)

THE SOLID FOUNDATION, THE SOLID ROCK-JESUS!!!

9- “Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,”

The Hope of eternal life… The Grace, Mercy, Love and the Peace of the Lord Jesus Christ were the components or the reasons that made the Hope of eternal life so easy to believe in. We have a promised to discover and we can be certain of what we have in Christ Jesus our Lord. This is God’s general blessing for the lost world. We can have God’s salvation through the Death, Burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. But someone has to decide to believe in and to receive that promised by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. You can’t have that life unless you take a step of faith. Notice here the Hope of our salvation is the Solid Rock. This is one of my favorite hymns that really ministered to my heart.

“My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame
but wholly trust in Jesus’ Name.

On Christ the solid Rock I stand
all other ground is sinking sand
all other ground is sinking sand.

His oath, His covenant, His blood
Support me in the whelming flood.
When all around my soul gives way
He then is all my Hope and Stay.” By: Edward Mote

Praise God!!! Our salvation is in the good, right and Solid Foundation; the Lord Jesus Christ our Blessed Hope. He is the Rock of Ages. Why would you trust and even entrust your life to a man made religion, when you have a Heaven made religion through our Lord Jesus Christ. Why would you put your trust and even entrust your life and the life to come to something, when you can put your trust to Someone- Jesus our Savior. Why would you love the sinking sand, when you have the Solid Rock- the Lord Jesus Christ; He is the King of Glory, the Lord God Almighty! (Isaiah 28:16) “Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.” (I Corinthians 3:10-11) “According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. 11- For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.”

CHRIST IS THE CENTER OF THE BIBLE, OF THE GRAVE AND OF HEAVEN

04- 23-11 MI DAILY DEVOTION (John 3:13-15)

CHRIST IS THE CENTER OF THE BIBLE, OF THE GRAVE AND OF HEAVEN

13- “And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. 14- And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15- That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.”

What a beautiful message in verse 13- “…but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.” He came down… which means Jesus was from Heaven. It shows that He has control of everything and as human being, there’s no way we can come down from heaven once you’re up there without the Lord’s intervention. And there’s no way a person can get out of Hell without the Lord’s hand. The Lord Jesus Christ was pictured in the Old Testament through the life of Joseph. He is the center of the story of Joseph’s life. If you will examine the life of Joseph in the Old Testament, It’s very clear that Joseph was Jacob’s beloved son. Joseph as the Son: He was beloved of a father. In (John 3:16) “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (Genesis 37:3) ”Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours.”

Compare this verse with (Matthew 3:17) “And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I well pleased.”

Before God the Father talked about Jesus as His beloved Son in the New Testament, He was already talking about Him (Jesus) in the Old Testament through Joseph’s life. Joseph was a picture of the Lord Jesus Christ. It means you can see Jesus’ life in the life of Joseph in the Old Testament. We can see Jesus in the life of Joseph and the evils that he went through by the evil plots of his selfish brothers. We can see Jesus in the life of Joseph through his sufferings and darkest moments and even his betrayal. He was betrayed by his own brother when they sold him to the merchants. Jesus was betrayed by Judas and Peter and was sold by Judas for 30 pieces of silver. And we can read and see the life of the Lord Jesus Christ in the Old Testament even in the life of Moses. And Moses even said about the Lord Jesus Christ in the Pentateuch and the prophets prophesied about Him in the Scriptures. Jesus sealed it and confirmed it in the Book of (John 15:25) “But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.” It’s just so amazing how God put the Bible together with Jesus His Son as the Center of it. Can you make Jesus as the Center of your life? (Act 24:14, 15) 14- “But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets: 15- And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.”

HIS NATURE TO LOVE, HIS DEATH FOR THE LOST

04- 22- 11 MI DAILY DEVOTION (I John 4:7- 10)

HIS NATURE TO LOVE, HIS DEATH FOR THE LOST

7- “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. 8- He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. 9- In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. 10- Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”

“Where there is love there is life…” Mohandas Gandhi

“Love is life… And if you miss love, you miss life.” Leo Buscaglia

LOVE, I believe it’s God’s greatest nature. God loves us in spite of our sinfulness. God did not look at us as a thing to love. God look at us as a human being, although we’re unworthy of His Great love, yet He loves us unconditionally. He could have loved the universe and its beauty or He could have loved the deepest depth of the sea and its beauty, yet God choose to love us. He even could have loved His other creation like the animals and nature but God choose to love us. And because of His Great Love for us, He gave us His only Begotten Son. (John 3:16) “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Jesus, the Son of God gave His Life for us. (John 15: 9-10) 9- “As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. 10- If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.”

God the Father showed us His love through the Lord Jesus Christ. It was not a cheap kind of love like what we see and heard in Hollywood or in the movie. It cost God the Father His one and only Son. And it was not a cheap cause for Christ, it did not only cost Him His life but He also suffered that no man has ever went through. This Holy week, may we all ponder upon His death, Burial and Resurrection and to what He has done for us, so we could have eternal life in Heaven!

(I John 5: 10-15) 10- “He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. 11- And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

12- He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. 13- These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. 14- And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: 15- And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.”

IS HE JUST A LAMB, THE LAMB OR YOUR LAMB?

04- 21- 11 MI DAILY DEVOTION (Exodus 12:3- 5)

IS HE JUST A LAMB, THE LAMB OR YOUR LAMB?

3- “Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house: 4- And if the household be too little for the lamb, let him and his neighbour next unto his house take it according to the number of the souls; every man according to his eating shall make your count for the lamb. 5- Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats:”

Before you came to know the Lord Jesus Christ, He was just “a Lamb” to you. And one day, He was introduced to you as “the Lamb” who takes away the sin of the world. And then, when you accepted Him as your Lord and Savior who died for your sins and mine; He became “your Lamb”. And I’m glad He is my Lamb too. In the Bible, especially in the Old Testament, there were thousands of lambs that were slain as a sin offering. Someone made a comment that there were at least 2 lambs that were slain everyday in the temple or tabernacle during the Old Testament times and before the death of the Lord Jesus Christ. He was God’s Lamb and not man’s Lamb. He was chosen by God the Father and not by men or prophets. He takes away the sin of the world and NOT just covered them with His precious Blood. (Hebrews 10:4; 10) 4- “For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. 10- By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.” Jesus volunteered to die; He laid down His life, while those lambs in the Old Testament were chosen by men. (John 10:15) “As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.”

At the Cross of Calvary; He was humiliated, He was tortured, He was scourge and laughed at and ridiculed; but one day every tongue shall confess that JESUS is Lord to the glory of God the Father. Every creature will worship the Lamb of God that was slain. (Revelation 5:12- 13) 12- “Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. 13- And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.” If you will use your imaginations and if you would just think what it would look like when we all get to Heaven and everyone both believers and non believers will stand before God and will give an account to Him. Imagine if you would be there standing in the midst of millions and millions of saved people worshipping the Lamb of God who gives light not only to this darkened world, but to Heaven of heavens. (Revelation 21:23) “And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.”

“BEHOLD! THE LAMB OF GOD…”

04- 20- 11 MI DAILY DEVOTION (John 1:29)

“BEHOLD!  THE LAMB OF GOD…”

The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

“Lamb” is one of the greatest, pleasant and humble names of the Lord Jesus Christ. If you would picture the scenario in (John 1:29), The Lord Jesus Christ Himself as what the verse says was coming unto him. And, as Apostle John was pointing to Jesus, he called Him (Jesus) “Lamb of God…” Jesus called Himself the door of the sheep and the good Shepherd in (John 10:7; 11) 7- “Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. 11- I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.”

In the Bible as well as in our modern era, we have what we called “the shepherds, the under shepherds and the good shepherd”. The under shepherds are the pastors and church leaders, but Jesus is our good shepherd. Let me take you to (Genesis 22:6- 8) 7- “And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together. 8- And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together. 9- And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood.” God never asked and He will not ask for human sacrifices like giving yourself up, up to the point of killing or committing suicide for His cause, for what you believe in or for the cause of religion and its belief. He condemned those who gave their children as sacrifices as well as those who killed themselves in the name of God. What God wanted from Abraham was his heart not Isaac. The answer on Isaac’s question about the offering is in verse 8 and it’s the same answer we can get from the Lord if we will ask Him regarding the offering. Isaac was asking about the present offering, but Abraham was talking about the offering of Christ’s body and the shedding of His Blood on the Cross of Calvary. Isaac was talking about the present while Abraham was talking about the future. Abraham answers the question of Isaac while he was probably looking for that blessed and glorious day where the Lamb of God will be crucified at the Cross of Calvary. Isaac’s and Abraham’s trip to Mount Moriah and their casual conversation about the offering and worship to God was actually a drama of redemption. In verse 8, it says; “My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering…” but in verse 13, it says; “And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son.”

I love this verse from (Hebrews 9:26) “For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.”

THE LORD’S PRAYER IN THE GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE (Thy will be done)

04- 19- 11 MI DAILY DEVOTION (Matthew 26:36- 39)

THE LORD’S PRAYER IN THE GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE (Thy will be done)

36- “Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder. 37- And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. 38- Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me. 39- And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.”

When you pray to God, “Lord, Thy will be done,” it means that in humility and full obedience, you are really willing to submit your will to His will and your want to what God wants for you. You let God do what’s best for you. We have no will of our own as God’s servants but only His will. It shows the recognition of our frailty and of our love for the one who gave His life for us and for the salvation of our souls. We always want the best for ourselves and we always desire the best in answer to our prayers. Everyone desires the best for themselves and for their family. There’s nothing better than God’s will in our lives and there’s nothing better than what God has in stored for us. I like this beautiful Hymn about prayer.  In The Garden

I come to the garden alone, While the dew is still on the roses
And the voice I hear falling on my ear, The Son of God discloses.

And He walks with me, and He talks with me, And He tells me I am His own.
And the joy we share as we tarry there, None other has ever known.

He speaks, and the sound of His voice, Is so sweet the birds hush their singing,
And the melody that He gave to me, Within my heart is ringing…
 (Charles Austin Miles- 1912)

His will not my will; notice what John said in the Book of John: (John 15: 7) “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” 

 (Jeremiah 29:11-13) 11- “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. 12- Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. 13- And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.”

Notice what Jesus prayed for when he was in the Garden of Gethsemane the night before he was arrested to be put to death. Jesus already knew the pain and suffering that he will go through for our sins. (Matthew 26:39) “39- And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.”

THE PRECIOUSNESS AND THE POWER OF CHRIST’S ATONEMENT

04- 18- 11 MI DAILY DEVOTION (Romans 8:31- 34)

THE PRECIOUSNESS AND THE POWER OF CHRIST’S ATONEMENT

31- “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 32- He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? 33- Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. 34- Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.”

1- It was God’s perfect plan and work. (Galatians 4:4- 5)

2- It was God’s perfect will and time. (Galatians 4:4- 5; Romans 5:1- 21)

3- It was prophesied in the Word of God. (Genesis 3:15, 22:7- 8)

4- It is God’s will for all men to be saved. (II Peter 3:9; Luke 19:12; John 3:16)

5- It has the power to save. (Acts 4:10- 13; Ephesians 1:7; Philippians 2:5- 13)

6- It has the power to cleanse us from all our sins. (I John 1:1- 10)

7- It has the power to give life. (John 3:16; I John 5:9- 13)

8- It has the power to overcome. (Revelation 12:9- 11; Ephesians 6:10- 19)

9- It has the power over sin. (Romans 8:1- 16; 6:23)

10- It has the power over Satan. (Revelation 12:9- 11)

11- It has the power over any other power through the Blood of the Lamb. (Revelation 12:9- 11; Ephesians 6:10- 17)

12- It has the power over death. (Romans 5:12; 6:23)

He died so we would live, He suffered so we would have His joy and happiness and He was chastised and afflicted so we could have peace and healing.

As the Holy Thursday and Good Friday is just a few days away, may we ponder upon the blessings of Christ’s death, burial and resurrection, and the blessing of freedom from sin. The Apostle Paul gave us the comfort of the Lord’s blessings of Atonement as according to the Book of (Romans 5:11) “And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.”

ATONEMENT IN THE LIGHT OF THE SCRIPTURES

04- 17- 11 MI DAILY DEVOTION (Galatians 4:3- 5)

ATONEMENT IN THE LIGHT OF THE SCRIPTURES

3- “Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: 4- But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, 5- To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.”

When the first man (Adam) was in the Garden of Eden, he stood before God in perfect position or sinless condition. The first man has all the gift of freedom and freewill in the Garden.  Until one day he committed sin when he yielded to Satan’s temptation, then things began to be different for him. He broke the law and became a servant of sin and Satan. Let us study Atonement in the light of the Scriptures:

1- Atonement in the person of God the Father. (Galatians 4:4) “But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,”

2- Atonement in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. (Galatians 3:26- 29) “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. 27- For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28- There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. 29- And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.”

3- Atonement in the person of the Holy Spirit of God. (Galatians 4:6- 9) 6- “And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. 7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. 8- Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods. 9- But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?”

The Holy Spirit’s part to us Christians was when we first came to Christ by faith and He (the Holy Spirit) continues to work in us and through us as we live the Christian life and in fellowship with God. Atonement is the work of the Holy Trinity. It was the Holy Trinity’s planned and work for the redemption of men. It was God’s desire to save us and to forgive us of our sins. (John 16:7- 8; 13) 7- “Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. 8- And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:  13- “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come.”

JOSEPH’S HURDLES AND BLESSINGS TO SUCCESS

04- 16- 11 MI DAILY DEVOTION (Genesis 39:1- 4)

JOSEPH’S HURDLES AND BLESSINGS TO SUCCESS

1- “And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hands of the Ishmeelites, which had brought him down thither. 2- And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. 3- And his master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand. 4- And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand.”

We know that Joseph made it to the top but it was not an easy climb for him. Joseph actually went through a lot of pain and sorrow and along with that are some of the positive things that came along his way. Let’s check on some of the hurdles and blessings that Joseph went through. These are just the first 12 hurdles and blessings.

1- The Lord was with him. (Genesis 39:1- 4)

2- He was loved (Genesis 37:3)

3- He was a hard worker (Genesis 37:2)

4- He was a dreamer (Genesis 37:5)

5- He did not took revenged (Genesis 37:4, 8)

6- He kept the communication open (Genesis 37:8; 10)

7- He was available and obedient to his parents (Genesis 37:13)

8- He did not complain and he did not have the wrong attitude towards his brethren in spite of what they did to him. (Genesis 37:23- 24)

9- He did not resist and fought back to his brethren’s evil plot and evil deeds. (Genesis 37:23- 24)

10- He did not try to escape from the merchants’ hands. (Genesis 37:28)

11- He did not boasts neither was he proud of what he possesses. (Genesis 39:1- 6)

12- He refused the lust of the flesh and to commit adultery. He also refused to take advantage of his employer’s goodness and faithfulness. (Genesis 39:7- 9) Again notice what it says in (Genesis 39:23) “The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand; because the LORD was with him, and that which he did, the LORD made it to prosper.”

GOD’S MERCY AND GRACE THAT LEADS TO JOSEPH’S SUCCESS AND PROSPERITY

04- 15- 11 MI DAILY DEVOTION (Genesis 39:20- 23)

GOD’S MERCY AND GRACE THAT LEADS TO JOSEPH’S SUCCESS AND PROSPERITY

20- “And Joseph's master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king's prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison. 21- But the LORD was with Joseph, and showed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison. 22- And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph's hand all the prisoners that were in the prison; and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it. 23- The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand; because the LORD was with him, and that which he did, the LORD made it to prosper.”

Here are some of the best ideas and words of wisdom from people who experienced success in life. This was taken from the book of Wynn Davis, The Best of Success (A Treasury of Success Ideas). “Success means doing the best we can with what we have, success is the doing, not the getting- in the trying, not the triumph. Success is a personal standard- reaching for the highest that is in us- becoming all that we can be. If we do our best, we are success.”

Zig Ziglar; “Success is the Maximum utilization of the ability that you have.”

H. G. Wells; “The only true measure of success is the ratio between what we might have done and what we might have been on the hand, and the thing we have made and the thing we have made of ourselves on the other.”

Michael Korda; “Success has always been easy to measure. It is the distance between one’s origins and one’s final achievement…”

Mack R. Douglas; “When a man has done his best, has given his all, and in the process supplied the needs of his family and his society, that man has made a habit of succeeding.”

Abraham Lincoln; “I do the very best I know how- the very best I can; and I mean to keep on doing so until the end.”

Colonel Harland Sanders; “I made a resolve then that I was going to amount to something if I could. And no hours, nor amount of labor, nor amount of money would deter me from giving the best that there was in me. And I have done that ever since, and I win by it, I know.”

No one can refute the Word of God from the Book of (Romans 8:31; 37) 31- “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 37- Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.” The words of Apostle Paul should serve as an encouragement to all of us that God is in control and we can conquer… by His grace and mercy.

GOD’S GRACE AND PROSPERITY IN JOSEPH’S LIFE

04- 14- 11 MY DAILY DEVOTION (Genesis 39:1- 5)

GOD’S GRACE AND PROSPERITY IN JOSEPH’S LIFE

1- “And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hands of the Ishmeelites, which had brought him down thither. 2- And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. 3- And his master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand. 4- And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand. 5- And it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the LORD blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; and the blessing of the LORD was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field.

From the verses that we have, I have observed that some of the words are mentioned at least twice. First the word “brought”; “brought down was mentioned twice in verse 1; “And Joseph was brought down to Egypt…” …which had brought him down thither…” In the Scriptures, the words “went down” or “brought down” may be in the physical terms, but we must also be aware of its spiritual truth, spiritual significance or meaning. It could be a physical place or events but has a spiritual message or meaning. The phrase “the LORD was with…” in verses 2 and 3 is also of importance. It’s very clear that the Lord was with Joseph from the time he was with his father Jacob, until he was thrown down in the pit and when he was sold to the merchants up to the point where he was taken to Egypt. The third things I want for you to notice would be the phrases from those verses; “the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand.” “And Joseph found grace…” “…that the LORD blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake;” “and the blessing of the LORD was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field.” We can see here how the Lord made him (Joseph) prosperous and very successful. This was just the beginning of what God would be doing in his life and in the life of the people of Egypt and his whole family. God’s blessings and grace, and the success of Joseph have touched thousands of people and the whole nation of Egypt. Charles Popplestone said; “The successful man is prosperous, because he has developed ninety – five percent of his ability. The failure is poor, because only five percent of his natural talents have been utilized.” Napoleon Hill said; “It has always been my belief that a man should do his best, regardless of how much he receives for his services, or the number of people he may be serving or the class of people served.”

In (Genesis 41:57; 47:25; 50:20) “And all countries came into Egypt to Joseph for to buy corn; because that the famine was so sore in all lands.” “And they said, Thou hast saved our lives: let us find grace in the sight of my lord, and we will be Pharaoh's servants.” “But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.”

WHY WE NEED GRACE IN THE MIDST OF SUCCESS

04- 13- 11 MI DAILY DEVOTION (Genesis 37:3- 4)

WHY WE NEED GRACE IN THE MIDST OF SUCCESS

(God humbled Joseph by extremities so he could practice humility in his prosperity)

3- “Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours. 4- And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him.”

In the Book of (Genesis 37: 3- 4) I should say; this was the start of the hardest part in Joseph’s struggles in life.

1- He was born in a problematic family. (Genesis chapter 34)

2- He was persecuted by his brothers. (Genesis 37:4- 5; 8) 4- “And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him. 5- And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more. 8- And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words.”

3- He was cast into an empty pit. (Genesis 37:20; 28) 20- “Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit, and we will say, Some evil beast hath devoured him: and we shall see what will become of his dreams. 28- Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt.”

4- He was planned to be killed but instead was sold to Potiphar, “an officer of Pharaoh's, and captain of the guard.” (Genesis 37:36) “And the Midianites sold him into Egypt unto Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh's, and captain of the guard.”

5- He was pressured to commit the sin of adultery. (Genesis 39:7- 8) 7- “And it came to pass after these things, that his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me. 8- But he refused, and said unto his master's wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand;”

6- He was put in prison. (Genesis 39: 20- 21) 20- “And Joseph's master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king's prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison. 21- But the LORD was with Joseph, and showed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.”

7- He was treated poorly and lightly by a friend. (Genesis 39: 22; 40:4; 23)  22- “And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph's hand all the prisoners that were in the prison; and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it.” 4- “And the captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he served them: and they continued a season in ward. “ 23- “Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgat him.”

GRACE IN OUR SUFFERING AND GRACE IN OUR SUCCESS

04- 12- 11 MI DAILY DEVOTION (Psalm 69:1- 3)

GRACE IN OUR SUFFERING AND GRACE IN OUR SUCCESS

1- “To the chief Musician upon Shoshannim, A Psalm of David. Save me, O God; for the waters are come in unto my soul. 2- I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing: I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me. 3- I am weary of my crying: my throat is dried: mine eyes fail while I wait for my God.”

“In these verses David complains of his troubles, intermixing with those complaints some requests for relief. I. His complaints are very sad, and he pours them out before the Lord, as one that hoped thus to ease himself of a burden that lay very heaven upon him. 1. He complains of the deep impressions that his troubles made upon his spirit (v. 1, 2): "The waters of affliction, those bitter waters, have come unto my soul, not only threaten my life, but disquiet my mind; they fill my head with perplexing cares and my heart with oppressive grief, so that I cannot enjoy God and myself as I used to do.’’ We shall bear up under our troubles if we can but keep them from our hearts; but, when they put us out of the possession of our own souls, our case is bad. The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but what shall we do when the spirit is wounded? That was David’s case here. His thoughts sought for something to confide in, and with which to support his hope, but he found nothing: He sunk in keep mire, where there was no standing, no firm footing; the considerations that used to support and encourage him now failed him, or were out of the way, and he was ready to give himself up for gone. He sought for something to comfort himself with, but found himself in deep waters that overflowed him, overwhelmed him; he was like a sinking drowning man, in such confusion and consternation. This points at Christ’s sufferings in his soul, and the inward agony he was in when he said, Now is my soul troubled; and, My soul is exceedingly sorrowful; for it was his soul that he made an offering for sin. And it instructs us, when we are in affliction, to commit the keeping of our souls to God, that we may be neither soured with discontent nor sink into despair. 2. He complains of the long continuance of his troubles (v. 3): I am weary of my crying.” (The Bible Collection, Matthew Henry)

The writer has very well explained the verses and it’s very relevant to our present situation and economic condition; especially that the whole world is suffering from calamities and economic depression. God may show us His grace and humble us through extremities or sufferings and He may do the same to us as we experience success. We have seen people who were humbled by God when He made them succeed. It was the grace of God who made them such, as the Lord gave them the grace to humble themselves before Him, when they were either suffering or in a mountain top experienced. If we would only trust the Lord and ask God for grace in times of suffering as He humbles us; the Lord will be there with us, with His grace as we go through the fire. And the great things are; He hears us as we come before His presence in our desperate prayer and praise. (Psalm 69:32- 33) 32- “The humble shall see this, and be glad: and your heart shall live that seek God. 33- For the LORD heareth the poor, and despiseth not his prisoners.”

GRACE IN SUPPLICATION

04- 11-11 MY DAILY DEVOTION (Psalm 37:3- 4; 25- 26)

GRACE IN SUPPLICATION

3- “Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. 4- Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. 25- I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. 26- He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.”

We have the witnessed of the Lord’s provision from the time of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden after the fall up to this present time. The Lord’s provision was on the kings, prophets, pastors and servants of God from the Old Testament times up to the New Testament era. The Holy Bible is a Book of miracles and blessings and it is also a Book of God’s provision and grace. We can see in the Bible how the Lord provided the needs of His people by His grace and power. It is something that the people and believers back then and the Christians right now have witnessed and experienced, even as we see His hands of provision through His grace in us. God has supplied our needs for our salvation and He also supplied our daily needs. God in His grace has provided us of our general needs such as sun, rain, air and many other things that we overlooked as human being. Some Christians calls it “general blessings”; in which the whole world is the recipient of such blessings.

Abraham experienced God’s grace in supplication when he offered Isaac to the Lord and God honored His obedience and faithfulness when God provided the offering by giving Abraham the ram. (Genesis 22:13, 15- 16) 13- “And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son. 15- And the angel of the LORD called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time, 16- And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son:” The Lord made Moses the testimony of God’s grace in supplication when He provided all the needs of Moses and the children of Israel when they were in the wilderness. In (Exodus 16:35) “And the children of Israel did eat manna forty years, until they came to a land inhabited; they did eat manna, until they came unto the borders of the land of Canaan.”

You may have heard these verses over and over at church or from your Christian friends, but notice what Paul was telling the Christians during his times and Paul has the same message for us all. The Lord gave him this message so we can be partaker of it. It’s in (Philippians 4:18- 19) 18- “But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God. 19- But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

THE GRACE TO SATISFY

04- 10- 11 MI DAILY DEVOTION (James 4:1; 6)

THE GRACE TO SATISFY

1- “From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? 6- But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.”

A song by Lanny Wolfe is a great song about satisfaction; “Only Jesus can satisfy your soul” “The world will try to satisfy that longing in your soul, You may search the wide world over, but you'll be just as before; You'll never find true satisfaction until you've found the Lord, For only Jesus can satisfy your soul

Only Jesus can satisfy your soul; And only He can change your heart

And make you whole, He'll give you peace you never knew

Sweet love and joy and Heaven too, For only Jesus can satisfy your soul,

If you could have the fame and fortune, All the wealth you could attain.Yet, you have not Christ within, Your living here would be in vain. There'll come a time when death will find you, Riches cannot help you then. So, come to Jesus, only He can satisfy.”

Have you ever asked yourself a question like; “if I have everything in my hands and at the end of the day or of my life, can I look back and say; was it a worthy life?” Apostle James said, “We lust and have not…” And it’s really true, we lust for something and when we have it, it seems that there’s something missing again and we longed for more. (James 4:2) “Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.” After your salvation, what will come along with that is God’s grace of satisfaction. Notice what the last parts of Leviticus 26:26 says; “…and they shall deliver you your bread again by weight: and ye shall eat, and not be satisfied.” This verse is true to some out there who don’t have Christ in their life.

We have the grace of God and the satisfaction in spite of poverty, difficulties and problems or trials in life. We have a different longing and desire from those who do not have Christ in their life. God gave us the grace of comfort and peace in the midst of the storm. I used to have some friends before I came to know the Lord Jesus Christ, who were very wealthy and you can say that they almost have everything in their hands and power, but they were not satisfied. They don’t have the “peace that passeth all understanding” as what Apostle Paul said in His Epistle.

Let me share to you some of the Scripture verses that would really encourage us in our walk with God as He gave us the grace of satisfaction as you serve Him. The key is the Holy Spirit of God working in us and through us. (John 14:26- 27) 26- “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. 27- Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

ASK THE LORD FOR GRACE

04- 09- 11 MI DAILY DEVOTION

ASK THE LORD FOR GRACE

The Bible mentioned different kinds of grace. We are living in a grace generation and some theologians called it “grace period’. And I agree, we are living in a church age and in the same way, let me call it “grace period”. Let me give you the kinds of grace that we need in this difficult times.

I- “Saving grace”, it is in reference to the grace that we have in Him when we came to know Him as our Lord and Savior by faith. Everyone who humbly comes to God by faith will be saved by His grace on Calvary’s tree where Jesus died for you and me. (Ephesians 2:8- 9) 8- “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9- Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Romans 4:16) “Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,”

II- “Sufficient grace”, we are what we are because of the grace of God. (I Corinthians 15:10) “But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.” You can ask God for His sufficient grace in whatever situations you are in. (II Corinthians 12:7- 9) “And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.” When Paul was suffering and struggling on his “thorn in the flesh, 8- For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 9- And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

III- “Singing grace”, Can you sing in spite of the pain, suffering or the difficult times that you’re going through right now? Playing the right tunes in the midst of the storm is next to impossible to many. It’s hard to sing the right tunes and music when you’re facing the foreclosures of your home or you’re in bankruptcy. (Colossian 3:16) “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” If you are in the midst of fiery trials, music to you is beyond your mind. But Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were on fire for the Lord and in their music while they (the trio) were in their fiery trials. They made their enemies their captive audience watched and listened to them while they were singing for the Lord in their sufferings and persecution. Paul and Silas had the same experienced; they made their captive audience watched them while they have their Concert in prayer and songs of deliverance in spite of imprisonment and in spite of being in the dark room of uncertainty and persecution. (Acts 16:22-25) 22- “And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them. 23- And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely: 24- Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks. 25- And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.”