KEY SCRIPTURE: Matthew 8:3 KJV” And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.”

Our Lord Jesus demonstrated that He was very much concerned about the sick, and was ready to heal anyone who came to Him, for healing.

It has been an important question among many Christians over the years whether our Lord Jesus will heal the sick who come to Him. Some even say, God makes people sick, so He would teach them humility or get them closer to Himself. What was Jesus’ real attitude to the sick? Jesus is the living word. He is the thoughts of God in action. In our key scripture, we see a leper who came to Him and said, Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.

The Lord did not only say be healed, rather, but He also reached forth His hand and TOUCHED him, saying, be thou clean. According to the law, no one was to touch a leper, because they were unclean.  The Lord expressed His ever readiness to heal. He showed that when it came to healing legalities should not be a barrier.

The Lord continued to show that, sickness was an assault of satanic power on men, made in the image of God. The Lord said the following concerning the woman bound low by the spirit of infirmity. Luke 13:16 KJV “And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?” He revealed that it was Satan who put her in that state, and the works of the devil should not be allowed to prevail. 1 John 3:8 also shows that the Lord Jesus was manifested to destroy the works of the devil.

In many other cases, the Lord came against the hypocrisies of the Pharisees, who opposed His healing of the sick. Please remember that the Lord Jesus is the living word of God. This meant He was the thoughts of God, going somewhere to happen and He always brought healing to all who needed and believed Him for it.

Dear child of God, please settle it that Jesus wants you well. Believe in the word of God and receive the Lord’s healing for your life.

CONFESSION

Thank you, Father, for giving your only begotten Son, who demonstrated that healing of the sick is your will for all the oppressed. I always agree with your word to enjoy your provisions of healing for me. Thank you, Father.

THOUGHT: JESUS WANTS YOU WELL.

FURTHER STUDIES

Acts 10:38 KJV “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.”

Matt 4:24 KJV “And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers’ diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy, and he healed them.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 8:28 KJV” Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things”.

We learnt from our previous study that our Lord Jesus was dedicated to the Father in perfect humility. Humility led Him to experience the most humiliating moment of His life on earth, yet, it sent Him to the highest height of glory. The bible said because of what He did, God likewise has given him a name that is above every name. Philipp 2:11.

What is in humility that endears so much of God’s approval and exaltation of the humble man.? Humility is a practical way of declaring that God is God and that, you are surrendered and submitted to Him.

Humility is also a form of giving worship unto God. Worship has the idea in Hebrew, to bow down or to prostrate before the Father Ps 95:6. This is what attracts the Lord God to arise to show His approval for such a person.

 Pride is not just an isolated action of an individual or something remote from God, but a direct rebellion against the very throne of God. God opposes the proud with the greatest fury and an outright dislike.

 All men, whether religious or not are dependent on God, and therefore are accountable to Him.

It is only to your advantage to be humble and receive God’s full approval and blessings. The question about who is fitting to be used by God is rooted in whether the person is truly humble or not.

 GOD, USES ONLY HUMBLE VESSELS In God’s eyes the humble man is the one who trembles at the word of God. Humility as a way of submission to God also shows dependence on God. Humility gives faith in God the grounds or right to stay in the heart of an individual. Faith is the decision of an individual to accept or yield to the word. That act of yielding to God is humility.

 Humility is simply one’s positive disposition towards God.

Humility has nothing to do with whether a person is an introvert or an extrovert. It is all about how prepared one is ready to yield to God, irrespective of the cost, danger or rewards. God also cherishes dearly a man with a humble heart. He will always lift such a person into significance or make special provisions for him.

 A humble attitude toward men is always a result of true humility towards God. A man who is not humble towards God cannot be humble towards his fellow men.

PRAYER

Thank you, Father, for the Holy Spirit. Fill my heart with a great sense of submission and fear for thee, Help me to act always with one motive that is to please you alone.

THOUGHT: IT APPEARS FOOLISH TO ACT, HUMBLY, YET YOU WILL STAND OUT GLORIFIED IN THE END

FURTHER STUDIES

Prov 15:33 KJV “The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.”

Prov 22:4 KJV By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life.

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 8:28 KJV” Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.”

From our key scripture, the Lord reveals that the people would know who He is when He is lifted, that is when He is crucified. He reveals that He would be glorified through His humiliation. He added that at that time they would know that He never did anything by Himself, but did everything on the instruction of the Father. He expressed total submission or humility unto the Father. Philip 2:5-11 admonishes us to let the mind of Jesus be in us. He demonstrated total humility, and God also has highly exalted Him, above every name, condition or situation. God gives grace to the humble, yet, He resists the proud James 4:6.

 Pride is a very serious act, because, it rebels against the very throne of God, yet many Christians walk in pride.

Why is this so? Before we answer that question, let’s look at some symptoms of pride.

1.            Envy against the success of anybody is a symptom of pride.

2.            Entertaining the desire for praise because of some achievement you have made in Christ is a symptom of pride. For example, healings and miracles were done through you.

3.            When offended because somebody ‘lower’ spoke to you roughly. Is also a sign one is proud.

4.            When you would not forgive a wrong done to you.

5.            Every offence that you take personally instead of getting offended for God, for an act against God, is a symptom of pride.

6.            Those who always speak with the phrase, ‘as for me’ are all symptoms of pride.

7.            Those who compare themselves with others, is a symptom of pride.

There are many more yet space would not permit me.  The simple yardstick to identify pride is any act that makes you the centre of importance is motivated by pride. Jesus should always have the pre-eminence.

To answer the question why is there so much pride? The answer is, that many sons of God, do not acknowledge the death of their flesh. You should be able to say with Paul and mean it, that you are crucified with Christ, and it is no longer you who is living but Christ who is alive. YOU DO NOT MATTER ANY LONGER.

When I say you do not matter, I mean your true identity is Jesus. He is the one who takes all the glory. He also bears the reproaches that come against you Rom 15:3. No more any sense of shame or personal glory. It is the glory of Christ who is in you. You are now free of any personal offence. Philip 1:20. Apostle Paul says according to his Earnest expectation and hope that in nothing he would be ashamed; why, because Jesus must be magnified in him. Our humility must be absolute.

CONFESSION

I am crucified with Christ, and it is Christ who presently lives in me. I am not ashamed about anything, and neither do I take glory for anything, it is Jesus in me who takes all the glory and also bears the reproaches, glory be to His name.

THOUGHT: MAKING JESUS FIRST IS ABSOLUTE HUMILITY

FURTHER STUDIES

Rom 15:3 KJV “For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.”

Phi 1:20 KJV” According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Proverbs 15:33” The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility”.

I will want us to take another topic from the scriptures and study it. This time we will look at HUMILITY.

Once again you would need your bible, a concordance, a bible dictionary, your pen, and a notebook. The Bible dictionary (strong dictionary) defines humility as meekness or condescension. The Oxford Learner’s Dictionary defines humility as a lack of pride.

We would consider various scriptures that talk about humility. The first to look at is our key scripture.

Proverbs 15:33. The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility. This verse shows one of the benefits as well as the functions of humility. Humility always precedes honour. Anytime a man acts sincerely in humility, honour and promotion is the next event in his life.

Proverbs 22:4 says, “By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, and honour and life” In this instant, we see humility coupled with the fear of the Lord. There can be no fear of God without humility and there can’t be humility without the fear of God. The Bible says these give birth to riches, honour, and life. All these benefits are the provisions from the Spirit of God and not any man. God is in love with the humble.

Col 2:18, speaks about voluntary humility. This is an act of the flesh to satisfy the mind. True humility always proceeds from the fear of God. It is a desire in the heart to please God in all instances. This gives us a working definition of humility. A humble man or woman has resolved in his heart to always do that which pleases God no matter the cost or the reaction of men. This implies the disposition of a man does not in any way show whether he is humble or not. A man may look very calm and of few words, yet very proud. It is the condition of the heart towards God and His word that shows whether a man is humble or not.

 PRAYER

Heavenly Father I submit my will to honour you in all that your word may say.

THOUGHT: HUMILITY IS WHEN OUR HEARTS BOW BEFORE THE LORD.

FURTHER STUDIES.

1 Peter 5:5” 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”.

James 4:6” But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble”.

KEY SCRIPTURE: James 1:4” But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”

We continue with our discussion on having a bible study, by considering the topic, of PATIENCE. From. our previous study we defined patience” as a characteristic of a man, who is not swayed from his deliberate purpose and his loyalty to faith and piety by even the greatest trials and sufferings.”  We first look at Romans 5:3,4 “Tribulation works patience….”. We learnt in our previous discussion that patience is very necessary even for the word of God to produce results in our lives. It takes tribulation, trials, and challenges to produce patience in us. Patience gives us experience and experience results in hope. Great Christians with stable hearts that conquer are people of experience. Experience is always a product of patience. Note, that you can’t be patient with simply making demands or praying to be patient, rather, we allow the situations we go through to perfect patience in us.

Romans 8:25 reads “But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with, patience wait for it. “Patience always looks beyond you and beholds the faithfulness of God. It is this foresight that makes the heart assured to wait without any agitation.

Romans 15:4 “For whatsoever things were written afore time were written for our learning that we through patience and the comfort of the scriptures might have hope” From this verse we realise patience is built up in a Christian who has taken time to learn the word of God. Right information develops proper Christian character. The scriptures also comfort us. All these culminate in having hope. Be a learner of the scriptures.

Romans 15:5 describes God as a God of patience and consolation. It is His nature to bear long with his people. Although he is almighty, he never moves on impulse, that would have been the destruction of all men. He sees a victorious end from the beginning and so He can wait. Lesson, never act on impulse, or out of how you feel about a person that seems to make you satisfied. But act on the principle of what God expects from you concerning the individual you are dealing with.

2nd Corinthians 6:4 “But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God in much patience, in affliction in, necessities, in distresses”.  The earlier verse says “and giving no offence in anything that the ministry be not blamed”. As servants of God, of which every child of God is, we must not allow anyone to reproach God’s work because of the way we behave. Patience is one ingredient to prevent the name of our God from being drawn into the mud. Patience to stand and overcome, distress, afflictions, insults mistreatments, lack and all kinds of conditions that have the potential to affect God’s work is what we have to employ.

 We realized that as we go through various scriptures that talk on the topic of study, we come to an understanding of the topic.

PRAYER

Oh God, may your word and the events of life build in us patience to keep winning.

THOUGHT: IT IS THE UNDERSTANDING OF GOD’S WORD THAT STIRS PATIENCE IN OUR HEARTS

FURTHER STUDIES.

Colossians 1:11” Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;”

2 Thessalonians 1:4” So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure”:

KEY SCRIPTURE: James 1:4. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

 Today, we look at having a TOPICAL STUDY. This is an aspect of Bible study that considers various biblical topics of interest to you. In this study, you would require a Bible, a Concordance, a bible dictionary, your pen, and your notebook to put down all that you study. If you have the bible up on your laptop or phone, it would have all these. The Bible dictionary explains patience as follows: steadfastness, constancy, endurance, also it is a characteristic of a man who is not swayed from his deliberate purpose and his loyalty to faith and piety by even the greatest trials and sufferings.

We now consider the role that patience plays in certain verses of scripture, giving us a better understanding of what it is. Matthew 18:23-34. This is a story about a man who owed ten thousand talents and his whole family, that is, his wife, children including himself, and all that he had was to be sold to pay the debt. This man pleaded for patience, and the Lord forgave him all the debt. He also found a friend who owed him a hundred pence. This man held his throat and threw him into jail, although he pleaded for patience. When this issue got to the master or Lord, He got furious and delivered the wicked man to the tormentors. From this story, we learn that to be patient with those who offend us we’ve got to consider how much God has had patience with us. From verse 33, the Lord said the man could not express patience because he had no compassion. A compassionate heart is very necessary for patience with others.

In Luke 8:15, the Lord talked about those who receive the word and are patient to allow it to grow to fruition. You may ask what part did patience play in this instant? It was patience that helped him not to give up on the seed (the word) in the waiting period when nothing seemed to be happening. God’s word at certain times needs patience to bring results to us.

The next verse on patience is Luke 21:19. “In your patience possess ye your souls”. In the context of this statement, the Lord talked about the period of great trials and persecutions that would befall the church. Our souls, that is, our minds, emotions, and will could easily be shattered in times of trials. Patience always looks beyond oneself: it considers the mightiness of God, his faithfulness, and love. Patience then assures you of a better day, so keep calm (Note: Patience is always a product of looking beyond yourself to God, focusing on the faithfulness of God and the fact that He changes not.

 PRAYER

Oh God, open my eyes to the reality of your mind. Strengthen my trust through whatever period BY your word.

THOUGHT: PATIENCE IS STRENGTHENED BY FAITH, WHILE FAITH IS URGED ON BY PATIENCE

FURTHER STUDIES.

1 Timothy 6:11.” But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

2 Timothy 3:10” But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,”

KEY SCRIPTURE: James 1:4 KJV” But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”

In this life, challenges and temptations will never cease. Each one will have his or her kind of them. The word of God teaches us our response and attitude to them as they show up. The scriptures teach us that, we should not face them with fear, anxiety, or desperation, but to count it as joyful moments. (James 1:2,3, Phil.4:6) The Bible adds that that condition comes to try or test our faith. In the test of faith, there would be the need for patience, or the test of faith would produce patience. Patience must be allowed to do her work.

Patience is the act of waiting for a promise you have believed to come to pass. The work of patience is to produce the will of God in you. Heb 10:36 KJV “For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise”. The will of God in such moments is to hold on to the word of God that brings you to a place of absolute trust and confidence in God. It involves making bold declarations about what God has said, concerning that thing. Patience means maintaining your stand in the Word while waiting. In such moments you declare that the word of God is true and that it is fulfilled in your case.

We take a clue from the example of Abraham. In the period of the test of his faith, he kept calling himself, I am the father of many nations. He also gave glory and praise to God (Romans 4:20-21) The work of patience demands; that you keep declaring the faithfulness of the word of God. This will build a strong confidence in God, making you strong in the face of later life challenges (James 1:4) When patience completes its work, you will want nothing, and the answer will be delivered into your hands. Let patience complete its work in you. (In the period of WAITING, never say any word that is contrary to the word of GOD, for that will nullify the work of patience.)

CONFESSION

In any moment of trial, I allow patience to have her perfect work. The word of God is faithful and produces what it talks about. I maintain my stance in the Word and always come out very victorious. I am making great strides and doing exploits in life, in Jesus’ name.

THOUGHT: PATIENCE WORKS TO PERFECT US

FURTHER STUDIES

James 1:2 & 3KJV My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers’ temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience”.

Romans 5:3 – 4 KJV. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience And patience, experience; and experience, hope:

KEY SCRIPTURE:2 Pet 1:6 KJV” And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;”

We learnt from our previous study that to stand strong in Christ, one ought to be diligent to add to his faith in Christ, knowledge, and to knowledge, temperance. Today we consider some extra qualities that we have to add up to make us strong and unmovable in our faith. Our key scripture says we add patience to temperance.

 Patience is the ability to bear or endure contrary situations without getting bitter, murmuring, or complaining, but with an inner assurance that through the power of God’s word, everything is well.

2 Thess 1:4 KJV “So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:” Patience is always based on the comfort of the word of God.

 To add patience to our faith, means, to accept whatever the word says or promises about any situation and to declare that, if the word says so, then it is settled. Hebrews 6:12.

In addition to patience is godliness. Godliness is the act of living by the counsel of the scriptures. It involves approaching every matter in life from the scriptural point of view.

 Godliness is simply, being scriptural in your dealings.

The call to add up godliness is to strictly adhere to biblical counsel in everything. Some people try to suggest that according to the scripture, we must give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and give to God what is God’s (Matt 22:21).

By this statement, they mean you can honour certain traditional demands even if it opposes God’s word.

This is a subtle work of Satan to deceive many. There should be no occasion you act contrary to God’s word. That scripture was ONLY referring to paying taxes to the government which was a godly act, and not to pour libation, or do any other things unto demon spirits, which is an ungodly act.

The scripture says further, that “And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. (2 Peter 1:7). This time the word talks about brotherly kindness and love. Kindness and love are basically about the same thing. Kindness in the Greek language is brotherly love, or Philadelphia in the Greek language. This is to place a very high value on all persons and cherish them dearly.

 You can’t love what you treat as common.

It is the strong ones who go out of their way to support the weak.

 The selfish are very inward-looking and that leaves them with much sorrow.

This makes the selfish person very weak, vulnerable, and hurting. Free yourself from such bondage to genuinely love all persons, thereby stabilising your inner strength.

Dear one, if these qualities abound in you, you will be very fruitful and will never give up your grounds or faith in Christ.

THOUGHT: MAINTAIN YOUR LOVE FOR IT IS THE BOND OF PERFECTION.

FURTHER STUDIES

Hebrews 6:12 KJV” That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises”.

Hebrews 6:1 KJV” Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,”

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 6:67 KJV Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?

Life events always offer us challenges that give us the option to make certain choices. Jesus’ disciples forsook him en mass after He talked about giving His flesh to the world. He then turned to the twelve and asked them, will you also go away? I believe this was a very pensive moment. “Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life.”  John 6:68. Simon Peter and the rest of the twelve were resolved to stand with Jesus and also knew the truth about the Lord, but the rest of the disciples did not know.

In the second epistle of Peter, he shared certain thoughts that would help every sincere follower of Jesus stand firm in Christ. 2 Peter 1: 5-11. He listed certain qualities that one must have.

 He added that if these traits stay in increasing measure in an individual, that person would never fall.

They are as follows.

1. Vrs 5: You must add virtue to your faith. Virtue is to have a sense of moral excellence. To do the right thing always, and do it well.

It is to maintain an upright attitude or a sense of giving your best to achieve the best in everything you do.

2. He must also add knowledge to the virtue. Knowledge means to be enlightened by the truth, so the darkness of the devil will not envelope you. The people who forsook Jesus did so because of a lack of knowledge which gave them a very wrong understanding, of Jesus’ teaching.

There are three main aspects of Christian knowledge that every child of God must have. These are

1.            A general knowledge of the bible. This is acquired by reading through the bible and other Christian literature.

2.            A knowledge of Christian apologetics. This is a knowledge of how to appropriately defend the faith. Knowing about the validity of scriptures, evidential truths about Christ, His birth, death resurrection.

3.            A knowledge of the power and presence of God. This comes through seeking the face of God and acting on His word, which allows God to reveal His power and presence to you. A man with these three aspects of Christian knowledge cannot be confused by adversity, people’s misdeeds, or those who wrongly attack the scriptures.

4.            The next trait that must be added to knowledge is temperance. Temperance is self-control or self-discipline. Temperance is to bring yourself to live within the stipulated rules. Failure to be disciplined could cause your ultimate disqualification from receiving your ultimate rewards in the presence of God.

 Temperance is gained by conditioning your mind with the scriptures, as well as taking certain physical actions like abstinence from certain places, books, videos, and persons, and rather undertaking practices like fasting, meditation, and controlling the mind to think scripturally always.

TO BE CONTINUED

THOUGHT:  TAKING DILIGENT STEPS TO STAND WILL HELP A LOT.

FURTHER STUDIES

2Peter 1:5 KJV” And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;”

2Peter 1:6 KJV “And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;”

Prayer has been defined as, uniting the natural with the supernatural to effect changes in the natural. Anytime the natural encounters the supernatural, the natural receives an impartation from the supernatural. There comes a transformation of the natural. Jud 1:20 KJV” But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost”, The call to build ourselves up is not talking about our physical body, but our spirit man. 1 Corinthians 14:14 KJV” For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful”. Our spirit does the praying when we pray in an unknown tongue.

We are built up spiritually as we pray. The Bible uses. The word ‘edify’, which means to build up. 1 Corinthians 14:4 KJV “He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself, but he that prophesieth edifieth the church”. In the manifestation of the spirituals, we have those who function purely by the gifts of the Holy Spirit, as well as those who have developed their spirit man such that they manifest the supernatural through their built-up spirit man (please note, all these are done by the agency of the Holy Ghost). Some people begin to receive the ability to see visions and do other supernatural abilities, after praying for some hours. Some start healing the sick after fasting and praying for many days. These abilities function in these people as a result of the sensitivity of a built-up spirit through prayer.

Evangelist Sadhu Sundar Singh who lived between 1889 to 1929, and was used mightily by the Lord, once taught that, praying as a Christian can be compared to a mother hen, brooding over the eggs. As the mother sits on the egg, it develops to become a chicken. He said the longer we stay in the presence of the Father His Spirit broods over us, making us more and more like Him. Don’t be lazy to spend time before the Lord in prayer. It is one of the avenues to build yourself up, to be used effectively in the Lord’s vineyard.

PRAYER

Thank you, Father, for the privilege of prayer. As I pray in the Spirit my spirit man is built up, making me more effective in the Spirit. As the physical man is built up through exercise, my spirit is also built up to do more as I pray.

THOUGHT: PRAY CONSISTENTLY TO BUILD YOURSELF

FURTHER STUDIES

Luke 6:12 & 13 KJV “And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them, he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles”;

1 Corinth 14:2 KJV” For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries”.