But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? James 2:20 REFERENCE James 2:18-24 Yesterday we concluded with the thought that FAITH has some corresponding actions that make it a dominant and conquering force otherwise it will remain inactive. When faith possesses a man’s heart, it manifests itself in different ‘actions of faith.’ Here are some of them: 1. Thinking in line with God’s Word – “As a man thinks so he is…” The woman with the issue of blood kept thinking in her heart (muttering to herself), ‘if I may touch the helm of His...
Every God-begotten person conquers the world’s ways. The conquering power that brings the world to its knees is our faith. I John 5:4 (MSG) REFERENCE I John 5:4 The natural law and system of this world often fails because the world is a fallen place. That is why we see a lot of hardship and evil in the world. As believers, we need to start moving from the natural to the supernatural. We need to operate a system or a law that is higher than the one that is prevalent around us and that system/law is FAITH. Faith...
But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious, long-suffering and abundant in mercy and truth. Psalms 86:15 REFERENCE Psalm 86:15-17 Our Christianity can only be as good as our knowledge or concept of God; and it is only when we have a balanced perception of God’s nature that we can cultivate a healthy and sustained relationship with Him. Some people perceive God to be like their earthly fathers who mete out instant justice by punishing them any time they do wrong. They think God has a short fuse and looks for the slightest wrong in their...
Do you see a man who excels in his work? He will stand before kings; He will not stand before unknown men. Proverbs 22:9 REFERENCE Proverbs 22:29 Diligence can make a man that has been labelled a failure excel and prosper exceedingly, it can revive a dying business and it can restore the lost passion of a dry and tasteless marriage. It will turn a mistake in your life into a miracle. It will take an ‘F’ student to the honor roll and it will make an employee get promoted on his job many times over his colleagues. You cannot...
And when the people of Ashdod arose early in the morning, there was Dagon, fallen on its face to the earth before the ark of the LORD… I Samuel 5:3 REFERENCE I Samuel 5:1-12 The account in this passage reveals God’s omnipotence (unlimited power) over all dominions, gods, rulers and kingdoms. Dagon – the god of Ashdod, had to bow when it came in contact with the ark of the Lord, which represented the presence of God in the Old Testament. The destruction caused by the ark in Ashdod was so bad that the people of Ashdod volunteered to take...
Who, contrary to hope, in hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, ‘So shall your descendants be.’ Romans 4:18 REFERENCE Romans 4:18-21 Having hope in God is not mere wishful thinking; rather, it is ‘absolute belief,’ ‘confident expectation’ or ‘firm assurance’ in the things He has promised. Abraham hoped in God in spite of his hopeless circumstances and this led him to develop strong faith - believing in what could not be seen, and so, he actually became the father of many nations just as it had been told him. When someone...
What is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You visit him? … and You have crowned him with glory and honor. Psalm 8:4-5 REFERENCE Psalm 8:1-9 This is just a beautiful Psalm about how important man is to God. It starts with a focus on the beauty and glory of God, and then onto His amazing creations like the moon, stars and the heavens. Finally, it goes on to talk about how mind-full God is of man, to make man the ruler over all these amazing creations. Verse 5 says, ‘man is crowned with...
For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Romans 8:5-6 REFERENCE Romans 8:1-8 & 12-14 Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 3:1-3 described believers who are sense-ruled, lacking spiritual discernment and carnal, as walking in the flesh. The flesh includes anything that depicts ungodly passions that draw men away from yielding themselves to the Lord and to the things of the Spirit. It...
The ways of right-living people glow with light; the longer they live, the brighter they shine. Proverbs 4:18 (MSG) REFERENCE Proverbs 4:18 (MSG) It is God’s desire for every believer to get better the longer they live. In Deuteronomy 1:6, He expressed His dissatisfaction with the way His children lived in circles, dwelt too long in a particular station in life, and really never made any appreciable progress. To continually make progress in life, I believe, is also the desire of everyone. No right-thinking person would prefer stagnation or immobility to being stepped up. Thus, to step up is a goal we must...
Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and also put it in writing…Ezra 1:1 REFERENCE Ezra 1:1-6 "That the word of The Lord might be fulfilled..." - It is remarkable to see here that God will control political events, and as a matter of fact, all of human events just to ensure that His Word (and prophetic declaration) in the mouths of His servants gets fulfilled. God declares in...