TOPIC: No Preferential Treatment

Monday, August 24, 2015

TEXT: JAMES 2:1-9

KEY VERSE: “But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors” (James 2:9).

There is a point to which the common saying that “success has many friends but failure is an orphan” will be wrongly applied. While it is good and desirable to be rich, it will be wrong to use it as the basis of judgment and treatment of people in the church or anywhere else. Discriminating against people on the basis of their affluence and success is a worldly practice which should not be a part of the church.

This is the point that Apostle James stresses in our passage today. In fact, he calls it an outright sin to be partial in the church of God. Preferential treatment on the basis of wealth, clothing or position displeases God. Such action is not motivated by love but by the inordinate desire to benefit from the wealth of the rich. While there is nothing wrong to be rich or respect those who are highly placed, it will be wrong to use it as the basis for giving them first place attention. This does not however mean that we cannot, in the process of evangelizing and helping them come to Christ, create a comfortable atmosphere that can help them receive the gospel message. Here, we need to apply the scriptural principle of becoming all things to all men so that we can by every means save some (1 Corinthians 9:22).

Let’s get this right. The poor does not get to heaven on the basis of his poverty, neither do the rich go to hell because of their wealth. What qualifies anyone for heaven is a life of holiness and righteousness obtained by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. As much as it is wrong to look down on the poor because of his poverty; so is it wrong to speak evil against the rich because of their wealth. In Christ Jesus, everyone is equal and so should be treated. We must treat one another with equal honour and respect.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: DANIEL 11 - 12

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: In Christ Jesus, there is no big “I” and small “you”.

Higher Everyday for Youths - Link: http://highereveryday.dclm.org/

***Share your thoughts and what you've just learnt in the comments section below. DON'T FORGET TO SHARE

Read More

TOPIC: Serving Through His Spirit

Sunday, August 23, 2015

TEXT: NUMBERS 11:24-30

KEY VERSION: “And Joshua... answered and said, My lord Moses, forbid them. And Moses said unto him, Enviest thou for my sake? would God that all the LORD’S people were prophets, and that the LORD would put his spirit upon them!” (Numbers 11:28,29).

An American, with an English gentleman, was viewing the Niagara whirlpool rapids, when he said to his friend: “Come, and I’ll show you the greatest unused power in the world”. And taking him to the foot of Niagara falls, “there” he said, “is the greatest unused power in the world!”. “No my brother, not so!” was the reply. The greatest unused power in the world is the Holy Spirit of the living God.

Moses, a great man of God, was instructed to appoint “...seventy men of the elders of Israel,... and officers... and bring them unto the tabernacle of the congregation,... and I will take of the spirit which is upon thee; and will put it upon them; and they shall bear the burden of the people with thee...”. The spirit of God in the life of a Christian labourer gives enablement and power for productivity as the work of God cannot be done in the arms of flesh. There is a limit to how far a saint can function in the Lord’s work, without the enduement of the Holy Spirit. It takes unction, inspiration and power from on High to serve the Lord sustainably.

Every believer is born to serve. The only justification for a believer’s continued existence in this sinful world after being born again is to ensure that the work of the kingdom is done to daily win souls to the Lord. We are labourers together with Him. “We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain” (2 Corinthians 6:1).

The importance and place of the Holy Spirit cannot be relegated in the life of a Christian worker, if he or she wants the work done effectively with evidence of fruits abiding. Wonderfully, the blessed Holy Spirit is readily available for the saved and sanctified soul who is keenly desirous, thirsty and hungry for the experience.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: DANIEL 9 - 10

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: It takes the Spirit’s enablement to undertake the work of the Spirit.

Higher Everyday for Youths - Link: http://highereveryday.dclm.org/

***Share your thoughts and what you've just learnt in the comments section below. DON'T FORGET TO SHARE

Read More

TOPIC: Be Grateful Always

Saturday, August 22, 2015

TEXT: EXODUS 17:1-7

KEY VERSE: “Wherefore the people did chide with Moses, and said, Give us water that we may drink. And Moses said unto them, Why chide ye with me? wherefore do ye tempt the LORD?” (Exodus 17:2).

If Martin Rinkart were to evaluate the event of the first half of the 17th century in Germany, he would, without mincing words, conclude it was the worst of times, as the country witnessed wars, famine and pestilence. During the thirty-year period that war wrecked terror on the people, Rinkart conducted up to 50 funerals a day, among whom were members of his family. Yet, during those years of darkness and despair, he could write 66 sacred songs and hymns, which demonstrated that thankfulness does not have to wait for moments of prosperity and peace.

Our text pointed out the disturbing and unwholesome character of the Israelites. They regaled in despising God instead of appreciating Him for His merciful acts and deliverance. While in Egypt, Pharaoh and his kinsmen had afflicted them with heavy burden and determined to squeeze life out of them. But God, through Moses, delivered them. By the Red Sea, they saw the wonderful act of God, when He parted a way for them and drowned their enemies.

Yet, they could not control themselves when they were thirsty at Rephidim. They forgot everything that God did for them. They preferred to go back to Egypt, a land of slavery and suffering.

Many believers, unfortunately, do not take a careful stock of their lives to see what God has done. God has kept them alive, provided wives, husbands and children for them; given them good jobs and promotion, while destroying the activities of Satan upon their lives. But when a little challenge crops up, they become easily discouraged. Dispassionately count your blessings today and name them one by one to see what God has done.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: DANIEL 6 - 8

THOUGHT FOR TH DAY: It is comely and glorious to show forth ceaseless praise to God.

Higher Everyday for Youths - Link: http://highereveryday.dclm.org/

***Share your thoughts and what you've just learnt in the comments section below. DON'T FORGET TO SHARE

Read More

TOPIC: How To Please God

Friday, August 21, 2015

TEXT: HEBREWS 11:1-3

KEY VERSE: “Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear” (Hebrews 11:3).

Thomas, one of our Lord’s apostles, missed the point at a critical time in his relationship with the Master. Jesus had risen from the dead as He said, and had showed Himself to the disciples when Thomas was not present. Thomas doubted when other disciples told him about the risen Christ. He said: “Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe” (John 20:25b).

So, our merciful Lord showed up again with Thomas present. When Thomas saw Him and declared “My Lord and My God”, Jesus gently rebuked the disciple: “...Be not faithless but believing... Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed” (John 20:29).

That is the crux of faith in God: not seeing Him yet resting on every word He utters, even in the face of overwhelming contradictions. Faith is the currency of all transactions with the Lord. The strength of your faith lies in the grand power of the promises of God.

Our text says that even the world in which we live, with the stars, sun and moon “were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear” (verse 3).

Indeed, it is a comforting thought to ponder over this and conclude that the genuine believer has the world in his pocket for great exploits in Kingdom work and in his personal life, by wielding the all purpose instrumentality of faith. All that a believer needs to summon the help of heaven in any situation is to please God by having submissive faith in Him and in His Word.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: DANIEL 3 - 5

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Faith is the currency of the true believer’s transaction with God.

Higher Everyday for Youths - Link: http://highereveryday.dclm.org/

***Share your thoughts and what you've just learnt in the comments section below. DON'T FORGET TO SHARE

Read More

TOPIC: Judgment Is Sure

Thursday, August 20, 2015

TEXT: AMOS 1:1-10

KEY VERSE: “But I will send a fire on the wall of Tyrus, which shall devour the palaces thereof” (Amos 1:10).

Prophet Amos’ message announces that God has absolute control over the entire universe. He watches over all the nations, whether it is Israel which He chose as His people or the heathen lands as Moab, Edom or Tyrus. God judges these heathen as well as the backslidden Israel. Amos thus began by denouncing the countries that were neighbours of Israel. After opening with Damascus, Amos attacked Gaza, Tyrus, Edom, Ammon and Moab.

Their transgressions included wickedness, human trafficking, vindictiveness, greed and bitter dislike of other people. These nations assumed that God had no business stepping into the affairs of people outside the confines of Israeli territory. But from the prophecy delivered to Amos and revelation of other parts of the Scriptures, we learn that this is fatal fallacy.

God expects righteous living from every man or woman. When man fell, He made a plan of salvation, a once-and-for-all propitiation according to Hebrews 9:22. Everyone who desires to have pardon and make peace with God is urged to take advantage of that substitutionary death of our Lord Jesus. Only then can one escape the judgment of God.

Amos warns in our text today, that punishment by fire awaits those nations who went about their way without reckoning that God was watching over all the lands He created. God said that as they were fiery in their passion for iniquity, heaven would release a greater fire that would consume them. The same fate awaits unrepentant sinners and backsliders who are as stubborn in wickedness and rebellion. It is a punishment that would also fall upon the careless believer who handles biblical warnings with levity.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: DANIEL 1 - 2

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: God’s chastisements await all who scorn His immutable dictates.

Higher Everyday for Youths - Link: http://highereveryday.dclm.org/

***Share your thoughts and what you've just learnt in the comments section below. DON'T FORGET TO SHARE

Read More

TOPIC: The Shadow Of Antichrist

Wednesday, August 19, 2015

TEXT: DANIEL 11:36-45

KEY VERSE: “And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done” (Daniel 11:36).

The world is relentlessly preparing the stage for the reign of the Antichrist. Socio-economically, politically, technologically and spiritually, something seems to be speeding the actualization of this prophetic event. The vast majority of the world population is ignorant of the significance of these happenings and simply drifts with the tide. But those who understand God’s timetable, as revealed in the Bible, are not surprised at these goings-on.

The book of Daniel, which dates back to about 2,500 years, contains detailed prophecies that outlines God’s timetable for the present world. Its astonishing accurate prediction of successive world empires, the Babylonian, Medo-Persian, Grecian and Roman, has since been fulfilled and become world history. Daniel also prophesied the first coming of Christ (also now history), the manifestation and activities of the Antichrist and the Second Coming of Christ. Today’s text is a prophecy concerning Antiochus IV Epiphanes, a Grecian king whose profile in many ways tally with that of the coming Antichrist.

As predicted by Daniel, Antiochus (215 – 154 B.C.) like the coming Antichrist, was merciless, crafty (usurped power by deceit), extremely proud (because of his conquests), hated and massacred the Jews and profaned God. He was so ambitious as to seek worship. He would compel people to worship his “strange god”. History recorded the fulfillment of the minutest detail of this prophecy and how Antiochus died suddenly at age 52 as prophesied – “he shall come to his end, and none shall help him.”

The only way to escape the tyranny of the Antichrist is to repent of sin, accept Christ as Saviour and Lord and continue in the resultant righteousness from God. That way, you will book a space in the imminent rapture of the saints.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: JOB 39 - 42

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Whose coming are you preparing for – Christ or the Antichrist?

Higher Everyday for Youths - Link: http://highereveryday.dclm.org/

***Share your thoughts and what you've just learnt in the comments section below. DON'T FORGET TO SHARE

Read More

TOPIC: No Pretentious Love

Tuesday, August 18, 2015

TEXT: ROMANS 12:9-21

KEY VERSE: “Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good” (Romans 12:9).

There are so much insincerity and deception in the world today. Many professions of love are not true because they have hidden motives. Many people have feigned love only to have deceived, defrauded, swindled and jilted those they claimed to love? Many love for what they stand to gain and not what they are in to give. This is the kind of love most practiced in the world.

God’s word calls Christians to unpretentious love. This is one area in which the believer is not to be conformed to the world. The Christian life and love is real and not plastic or fake. Love is a deliberate act of the will. As such, this love is not as a result of what we hope to get but what we desire to give. One of the characteristics of this love is that it is not blind to evil. It does not encourage evil; neither does it close its eyes to evil in the life of the one it loves. Love is practical and expressive. It manifests itself in true and sincere feeling of affection for others. It is not hard, callous and indifferent to the plight and feelings of others. It is practical, fervent, joyful, kind, patient, enduring, forgiving, winsome and not vengeful.

It is clear that the carnal mind does not have the capacity to have and express this kind of love. You can’t give what you don’t have. The Bible reveals man’s heart to be intrinsically evil and selfish (Genesis 6:5, Jeremiah 17:9). So, to be able to have this love and express it, there must be a transforming and renewing of the mind. In other words, there must be a change of heart made only possible when one becomes born again by faith in the saving power of the Lord Jesus.

As Christians, we must daily strive to express this love everywhere we go. It is the mark that identifies us with Christ and makes us His worthy ambassadors. The world is hurting and hurtful; let us soothe it with love.

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: JOB 35 - 38

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Love is a deliberate act of the will.

Higher Everyday for Youths - Link: http://highereveryday.dclm.org/

***Share your thoughts and what you've just learnt in the comments section below. DON'T FORGET TO SHARE

Read More