June 2021 week 4
Friday
KEEPING HIS WORD .
If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit (Galatians 5:25).
In John 14:21, the Lord Jesus reveals the secret to winning every day, living triumphantly. He said, “He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.” If you want Him to show up in your life, and for His glory to be manifested in and through you, He says it’s simple: “Keep my words.”
His glory is manifested when you act on His Word. Recall at the wedding in Cana of Galilee; when they needed more wine, Mary admonished the servants saying, “Whatever He tells you to do, do it.” Jesus then told them to fill the water pots with water, and when they did, the water turned into wine. It was Jesus’ first recorded miracle.
John then tells us concerning that miracle, “This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him”(John 2:11). Prove your love by doing His Word, and you’ll experience blessings and miracles in everything about you.
If you’ve found yourself in a situation where everything around you seems hard, don’t despair. Put the things you’ve learnt to practice. We’re Word-practitioners; we do the Word. The challenges you face are your opportunity to demonstrate your trust in the Lord, and prove His Word.
Blessing (祝福):
Thursday
A BALANCED LIFE .
That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God (Colossians 1:10).
The Holy Spirit inspired the Apostle Paul to pray the prayer above for the Church, letting us understand God’s will for our lives. He prayed that you’d walk in the way of true righteousness, pleasing God in all that you do, fruitful and productive, as you mature in the rich experience of knowing Him in His fullness. Hallelujah!
God wants your life to be fruitful in every good work. With this fruitfulness, He wants you increasing in your full, exact and experiential knowledge of Him. What a balanced life! For some people, when they become very productive with their work, business or career, they don’t have time for God anymore. They hardly even study the Bible or participate in church meetings and activities. The more they make progress in their job, the less time they devote to spiritual things; something is wrong.
The life of the Christian is one of ever-increasing glory; all-round success. That is, you’re making good progress in your work, your family is doing fine, your children are growing up strong in faith and in righteousness, and at the same time, you’re increasing in the knowledge of God.
Oh, how important the knowledge of God is! The Bible says, _*“Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord”*_ (2 Peter 1:2). Do you want more grace in your life, and peace multiplied unto you? Go for the knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ!
God doesn’t want you deficient in any area of your life. In the 11th verse of Colossians 1, Paul continued in his prayer declaring that you be strengthened with all might, according to God’s glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness. You can be very fruitful, productive, and strong. God wants your life to be balanced; and you can actualize His desire in your life by walking in the knowledge of His Word.
Wednesday
IN CHRIST YOU’VE OVERCOME
These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world (John 16:33).
In 1 John 5:5, John, by the Spirit asks, “Who is he that has overcome the world?” He immediately gives the answer: it’s the one who believes that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God! In the world, there’s hunger, poverty insecurity, sickness and disease, death and darkness. But you’re “in Christ.” Stay in Christ, for in Christ you’ve overcome Satan, the world and its failing systems.
It’s only when you look outside Christ that you see and are overwhelmed by the troubles, sorrows, distresses and corrupting influences in the world. He said, “In me, there’s peace; cheer up.” That’s His Word unto you. Accept it, and suddenly, you’d realize that nothing in this world can put you down.
No wonder He says, “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:4).
There’s success in life that’s independent of the world’s economics. True peace and prosperity are only found in Christ.
Blessing (祝福):
Tuesday
INSPIRE LOVE
And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works (Hebrews 10:24).
In Christianity, we provoke one another to love, to produce works of righteousness. We don’t provoke to hate, anger, jealousy or malice. Don’t provoke someone else to become resentful of another person. Always say and do things that promote love and peace, for you were created to love.
Jesus said in John 13:34, “A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.” Spread love. When people try to instigate a dislike within you for someone else, know that it’s a wrong spirit working through them, and lovingly let them know that they’re wrong.
Don’t entertain anything that’ll make you bitter or enraged towards someone else. Walk in love and inspire others to love. Jesus said, “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another” (John 13:35). God has given you His love and the ability to express it lavishly. Romans 5:5 says, “…the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit which is given unto us.”
Let love show in your language. Let it reflect in your actions. Walking in love reveals the perfection of your spirit and person. Jesus said in Matthew 5:48, “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.”
But right before that, He said, “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven…” (Matthew 5:44-45). He wants you to love unconditionally like your heavenly Father.
Blessing (祝福):
Monday
ENDLESS JOY .
For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17).
According to the Scriptures, there’s a relationship between joy and the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13 says, “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Spirit”.
Also, in 1 Thessalonians 1:6, the Bible says, “And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit”. And our theme verse says the Kingdom of God is “righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.”
Although some Christians have received the Holy Spirit, their hearts are full of troubles; they’re worried about many things. They’re worried about their children, their health, business, etc. They just seem to have so many reasons to not be happy.
Someone may say, “With the things happening in my life, I need a change of environment; I need to travel somewhere I can really be happy.” No! Don’t look to anything external to give you joy. Joy is one of the fruits of your recreated human spirit. So, it’s in you. Your spirit produces endless joy. It’s called, _*“…joy unspeakable and full of glory”*_ (1 Peter 1:8).
True joy and happiness have nothing to do with what’s going on around you. Our joy is independent of circumstances. We’re joyful in adversity. That’s what the Bible says: count it all joy, when you go through diverse tests (James 1:2).
Some thoughts may come to you to dampen your faith, to douse your joy and dampen your spirit; always be quick to discard such thoughts. Be joyful ALWAYS! The Spirit of God does more for and with us in an atmosphere of joy and happiness. So, make up your mind to be joyful, today, and always.
Blessing (祝福):