KEY SCRIPTURE: Jeremiah 29:11 “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.

God’s goodness makes Him have a very positive disposition towards all His creatures. His desire is constantly for our good and never for our destruction.

Rev 4:11 tells us the reason for creation. “Thou art worthy O Lord to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things and for thy pleasure they are and were created:” God created all things for His pleasure. What is God’s pleasure? His pleasure is that creation would function to please Him. In pleasing Him all should go well with His creation.

 When He created all things for the first time, everything was good. (Gen 1:31) God has consistently sought for everything to be good. Remember God does not change Malachi 3:6. Your good is His delight. At the birth of Jesus, the angels announced. ” Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill towards men”. Luke 2:14. He says glory to God in the highest. What brings Him glory? The peace and goodwill of men. Stop feeling bad about life. Stop looking at the bad side of issues. His ultimate program is for your good.

Let’s look at what the Spirit spoke through Jeremiah in our opening verse “For I know the thought that I think towards you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end”. O! What a Father. No matter what happens never get gloomy and picture a bleak, defeated, shameful end. No. It is a glorious end. Cooperate with Him by your faith. Doubt and unbelieve are cooperating with demons. Cooperate with the Lord by agreeing with His word, acting on the word, and rejoicing in the word. An end of shame and defeat is the devil’s picture. Refuse it.

God is forever good. Evil normally comes to people because they refuse His goodness: Deuteronomy 28:47,48, The Lord said if they would not serve Him in joy and gladness for the abundance of all things, then they would serve their enemies in hunger, in thirst and want of all things.

 Please take a good look at the scripture, He says serving Him wholeheartedly enjoins them to have the abundance of all things, wonderful! God indeed is amazingly good. Go after Him with all your heart and enjoy His Goodness.   

CONFESSION

God my Father is good. His plans and destination in life is for my good. I constantly submit to His word to remain in His good program for my life.

FURTHER STUDIES.

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”.

Deuteronomy 28:47-48 “Because thou servedst not the LORD thy God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things; Therefore, shalt thou serve thine enemies which the LORD shall send against thee, in hunger, and in thirst, and in nakedness, and in want of all things: and he shall put a y…

KEY SCRIPTURE: Psalms 145:7 “They shall abundantly utter the memory of thy great goodness, and shall sing of thy righteousness.”

A deep study of the nature of God and His perfections establishes a breeze of calmness in our soul during the changing scenes of life. God is good. He is absolute goodness. 1st John 1:5 reveals God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all.  There is nothing bad about Him.  The title God is an old English word for ‘the Good’. He is perfect goodness.

Every form of goodness demonstrated by men is only a reflection of communicating with the goodness of God.

Creation is a manifestation of God’s goodness. Genesis 1:31 “And God saw everything he made and behold it was very good……”. The harmony, beauty, and the perfect order of creation making everything coexist is a manifestation of God’s perfect goodness. The worst thing that ever happened to God’s wonderful handiwork was the introduction of sin, which brought disorder and a natural conflict in creation. God’s reaction to the fall of man, after man had partaken of the forbidden fruit, also revealed His absolute goodness. What would have been man’s state if he had also eaten of the Tree of Life in addition to eating from the Tree of Knowledge of good and evil.? Can you imagine a sinful and diseased man who would never die?

The psalmist says in Psalm 139:14, I will praise thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made, marvelous are thy works and that my soul knows right well. The creation of man is a display of God’s goodness. Everything about our make-up is a masterpiece. Just consider your hair, and your eyes, we’ve got to continually praise the Lord for how we are.

God’s goodness is not only confined to men but to all other creation. ” The eyes of all wait upon thee, and thou givest them their meat in due season. Thou openeth thine hand and satisfies the desire of every living thing. (Psalm 145:15-16). Jesus said “Look at the birds of the air, they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much better than they? (Matt 6:26)

 If God takes so much care of the birds, how much more do you and I. God is good and will always meet every need.

  CONFESSION

What a good God my Father is. His goodness reaches the ends of the universe. I will never live to worry about a need not met, for His goodness remains a sure guarantee for the ultimate fulfilment of every need.

THOUGHT: GOD IS   ‘ THE GOOD’

FURTHER STUDIES.

Psalms 23:6 ” Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.”

Psalms 144:2 ” My goodness, and my fortress; my high tower, and my deliverer; my shield, and he in whom I trust; who subdueth my people under me.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: 1 Corinthians 14:4 “He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church.”

God our Father speaks to us always but unfortunately, most of us do not hear Him. Each one of us needs to strengthen our spiritual sensitivity to be able to quickly pick messages that the spirit would be communicating to us.

Our key scripture says he that speaks in an unknown tongue edifies himself. The word ‘edify’ means to build oneself up. The idea it carries is, raising a building from its foundation up.

In 1st Corinthians 14:14, the bible says “for if I pray in an unknown tongue my spirit prayeth (prays) but my understanding is unfruitful. By this, the bible is teaching that the man who prays in an unknown tongue prays with His spirit without any part played by his mind. It comes from his spirit man. Praying in an unknown tongue builds up this spiritual man. The Bible calls this inner man the hidden man of the heart (1st Peter 3:4). When we pray more in the unknown tongue we embolden or build up this hidden man or inner man of the heart. A built-up inner man has its senses developed to relate effectively in the spirit.

Please understand that as our outer man has eyes, ears, and hands, our spirit man, that is the immortal part of us also has eyes, ears, hands, and a form just as our outer man is. The only difference is our outer man is physical and fleshy and our spirit man is spiritual and not physical. Anyone who prays a lot in the spirit builds up the spirit man, making its senses like eyes, ears, and other features alert to hear, see, and know information from the spirit realm.

Such a person can easily hear the voice of God and also discern the voice of the devil because he or she has built up his spirit nature. Apostle Paul says in his private moment of prayer he speaks a lot in tongues (1st Corinthians 14:18). Apostle Paul was a giant in the spirit because he prayed more in tongues.

Build up your spiritual senses by praying in tongues.

 CONFESSION

My spirit is built up as I pray in tongues. This helps my senses to be alert and agile. I would pray more in an unknown tongue so I would be alert to the guidance of the spirit of God.

THOUGHT: HE WHO PRAYS MORE GROWS TO BE LIKE GOD WHO HE PRAYS TO.

FURTHER STUDIES.

1 Corinthians 14:39. “Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues.”

Jude 1:20 ” But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,”

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 8:28 “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.”

A life fully guided by the Lord is victorious all the time. This life must consciously seek the guidance of the Lord. ‘he that seeketh, findeth.”(Matt7:8b)

Our Lord Jesus led a very successful life. He depended on the guidance of His father. Please note, that Jesus Christ, did not walk on the earth in His capacity as God. He put aside His reputation and glory as God and took on the nature of a man (Phil 2:5-7, John 17:5) His outstanding success was a result of His closeness to the Father.

In our key scripture, the Lord said, when He is crucified then would men know that He is the Messiah and that all that He did was as a result of the guidance of the Father.

How did He get the father’s leading.? Jesus sought it, through a committed consistent devotional life.

The Lord was a man of prayer. Mark 1:35 ” And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.” Jesus received most of His divine counsel through His prayer times. He prayed meditatively. Pray always with the awareness of the presence of the Lord with you in the form of the Holy Spirit. (Heb 13:5)

When you pray meditatively, you will be able to receive instructions from the Lord. (Acts 13:2) Most people pray with their minds not fully focused on the Lord. They do not expect the Lord to speak back to them. Prayer is a two-way thing. We speak to the Lord and He speaks back to us. God always meets our righteous expectations. Proverbs 23:18 ” For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off”

Ask the Lord for His counsel about whatever concerns you. Is it about your business, ask Him. Does it have to do with your ministry, ask Him. His answer may come as thoughts in your mind. They may come to you through a dream. (Acts 10:10) You grow in sensitivity to the Spirit of God as you get more consistent with your prayers.

If you are not receiving an answer, wait for it. (Isaiah 40:31). Do not go ahead of the Spirit. Always seek the Lord’s guidance in all you do and your life will keep shining. Proverbs 3:6   ” In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”

CONFESSION

Thank you, heavenly Father, that you are always ready to give me counsel on every issue of life. My way shall keep brighter as I keep in step with the Spirit.

FURTHER STUDIES

Acts 13:2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. Isaiah 40:31” But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

KEY SCRIPTURE: Romans 8:14” For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God”.

Our key scripture states clearly that God leads His children. You are not His child if you are not led by His Spirit.

Some children of God are often in a dilemma about what the will of God is in a particular matter. Some even seek a prophet or seer who will reveal the mind of God about a matter to them. How does God guide us?

We would look at God’s general guidance for now. In His general guidance, we take every action, and decision to be in harmony with the Word. Is what we seek to do enjoined by the scriptures. Does what we are doing agree with the rule God has given us to walk by? Is it in consonance with the example our Lord Jesus left us to follow? If what we are doing is following His word then it should be His will. When you do what the scripture instructs then you are prompted by the Holy Spirit. Note, that Satan would not ask anyone to love his neighbour (except for a wrong motive) or pray for the salvation of souls. The psalmist said, “He leads me in the path of righteousness, for His name’s sake. Psalm 23:3b.

God’s word is given to us not just for information, but to regulate our conduct, to enlighten our minds, and to mold our hearts. God’s word supplies us with an infallible counsel by which we steer through the dangerous part of life. Proverbs 4:8 instructs us to exalt the counsel of scripture for the scriptures would promote you and would bring you honour when you embrace her.

Dear brother or sister, if you sincerely follow the scriptures, they will deliver you from disastrous rocks and direct you safely to the heavenly shore. The word of God has every good instruction we need for every problem, and every emergency we may be called upon to face. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. That the man of God may be perfect thoroughly furnished unto every good work”. 2nd Timothy 3:16-17.

God’s word is a perfect guide to help us navigate our way through life.

   CONFESSION

God’s word is profitable to guide me in all matters of faith and conduct. Indeed, it is the perfect counsel for life. My life is built up on it and I continually move upward and forward in life.

FURTHER STUDIES.

Acts 20:32 ” And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.”

James 1:25 ” But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed”.

KEY SCRIPTURE: Galatians 3:27 “For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.”

In our previous study, we considered the fact that our faith in the finished work of our Lord Jesus gives us access to the grace of God. Romans 5:2.

We would look at how God identifies us with Christ in all that He did, which makes us benefactors of the grace of God.

Our key scripture tells us that as many of us as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. The word baptize is a Greek word which was translated into English. It is the word “baptizo” which means “to dip”,  “immerse” or “to submerge”. This scripture reveals that when we came to Jesus we were dipped or immersed into Christ. This is a work of the Holy Spirit as revealed in 1st Corinthians 12:13a ” For by one spirit are we all baptized into one body….”. This is not just water baptism; it is a spiritual immersion into the Spirit of Christ. By this work of the spirit, we become partakers with Jesus in everything he did, including His suffering, burial, defeat of the devil, resurrection ascension into heaven, and His seat at the right hand of God (Eph 2,5&6).

 Please note this, it is not the right-hand side, which is a location, it is the right hand which is a place of authority. The right hand of God is His authority and strength. (Exodus 15:6). Romans 6:4a says “Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so, we should walk in newness of life”. Through this spiritual act of immersion into Him, we have become one with Him in everything He did and has obtained. This is what has brought us into the grace of God.

By this act of spiritual immersion which has made us share in whatever He did and has attained, there is an inseparable union between us and Jesus. (1st Corinthians 6:17) We represent Him on earth and He represents us in Heaven when Jesus appeared to Saul when he used to persecute the church, Jesus did not say why are you persecuting them but rather ” He said Saul, Saul why are you persecuting me? (Acts 9:4b).

Beloved stop looking down on yourself and being scared of the devil, you are one with Jesus. This is the Grace of God.

    CONFESSION

Thank you, heavenly Father, for making me one with Jesus through the spiritual immersion into Him. I am not an ordinary individual. My life would only shine to His glory.

THOUGHT: OUR IMMERSION INTO CHRIST MEANS WE LIVE IN CHRIST AND FUNCTION FROM THERE

FURTHER STUDIES.

Colossians 2:12 ” Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.”

1 Corinthians 12:13 ” For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.”

KEY SCRIPTURE: Romans 5:2 “By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”

The grace of God is a world of amazing abilities and potential that is beyond human conception. Indeed, it makes available to the Christian the very potential that our Lord Jesus carried. (John 14:12)

Faith is access to the world of God’s grace with unlimited potential.

Our key Scripture reveals that by Jesus Christ or through our Lord we have access by faith to the grace wherein we stand.  The supply of supernatural abilities for us to be victorious by grace comes to us by faith.

This is faith in the death and resurrection of our Lord. Anything done by the Christian without identifying with the death and resurrection of the Lord leaves him or her empty of divine ability.  Carnality is simply doing anything without reference to the input of the death and resurrection of Jesus or not recognizing that it is Jesus acting through you. **

In Romans chapter 7, the apostle Paul lamented about his failure to overcome sin. He acted from his natural abilities. He came to his wits end and claimed, who shall deliver me from the body of this death? He then declared his victory. ” I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with my mind I myself serve the law of God but with my flesh the law of sin ” (Rom. 7:25). He experienced victory when he had his mind acknowledge the finished work of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faith in the victory of our Lord Jesus is that which releases God’s grace to us. To be spiritually minded is simply to let your mind acknowledge the victory of Jesus as yours. Carnality is therefore to refuse to make Jesus’ victory yours. Rom. 8:6-8

Other fleshly actions like fornication, lies, and lust of all wrong things are all products of refusing to acknowledge Jesus’ victory as your victory!

As our key Scripture reveals the access, to this world of supernatural power and divine abilities to conquer, called ‘the grace of God,’ is faith in the victory of our Lord Jesus on the cross. As long as the Christian maintains Jesus’ victory in his or her consciousness, he or she will remain victorious in all engagements of life.

 THE CHRISTIAN SINS WHEN HE STEPS OUT OF GRACE. (THAT IS NOT TO COUNT ON THE JESUS VICTORY AS YOURS.  WE ARE NOTHING IN OURSELVES, OUR VICTORY IS TO COUNT ON JESUS’ VICTORY) 2nd Cor 3:5

 CONFESSION

My Lord Jesus conquered sin and death, that I might also conquer in His name. I fully identify with Him in His victory always so I would remain victorious all the time.

THOUGHT: OUR INHERITANCE IN CHRIST IS ALL THAT HE ACHIEVED THROUGH HIS DEATH AND RESURRECTION.

FURTHER STUDIES:

John 14:12 ” Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father”.

Galatians 5:4 ” Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace”.

KEY SCRIPTURE: John 1:17 ” For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.”

Today is Christmas day, and I wish all patrons of simple truth devotional a very merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year.

The Bible reveals from our key scripture that the law was given or came through Moses, while grace and truth came by Jesus our Lord.

What is the law? The law is God’s righteous requirement that He demands from all men. It is holy. Romans 7:12 “Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good”. If the law was holy and just and good, why was the need for grace?

The Bible teaches that although the law was good, men were spiritually dead and therefore could not meet the righteous requirements of the law. Rom 8:3&4, tell us what the law could not do because man was spiritually dead, our Lord Jesus died for us to condemn sin in the flesh of men. This made the righteous requirements of the law to be automatically fulfilled in us who believe in what our Lord Jesus did. Those who believe in what Jesus did on the cross are described as those who ‘walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit’. Rom 8:4.

The grace of God is, therefore, the supernatural power of the Spirit working in us who have faith in what the Lord Jesus did for humanity on the cross.

Any man who claims to live by the law means he has no faith in the finished work of the Lord Jesus and therefore would not have this supernatural power working in him or her. He or she would meet the holy laws with his weak, sinful body.

This is the reason Rom 6:14 says, “For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace”. To be under the law means sin has dominion over you. To be under grace, therefore, means you are filled with a power that overcomes sin.

To be under grace therefore cannot be a license to sin. It is a misunderstanding of what the grace of God is all about.

The law demands effort or works, and grace demands faith in the finished work of our Lord Jesus. Galatians 3:12 ” And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.” It is a curse to claim to live under the law and not to believe in the Lord Jesus. A curse means to be empowered to fail, and a blessing also means to be empowered to succeed. Grace brings you blessing while living under the law brings you under a curse. Which one would you choose?

You have the greatest privilege on earth to place your faith in Jesus, so His mighty power would work in You today and forever.

CONFESSION

I thank God for allowing Jesus to give His life for all mankind. I have yielded my whole being to Him and, therefore, have overcome sin and the power of the enemy.

THOUGHT: ANY MAN STRUGGLING WITH SIN HAS NOT ACCEPTED GOD’S PROVISION OF GRACE, AND SO IS LIVING BY HIS WORKS.

FURTHER STUDIES

Galatians 3:10” For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is everyone that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.”

Romans 8:3-4  ” For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh.

KEY SCRIPTURE: Ephesians 3:2 ” If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:”

Please read   Ephesians 3:1-10

We would consider the grace of God as revealed to the elect of God as well as some of the benefits of this grace.  From Eph 1: 5, by the grace of God, we have been predestinated unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself according to the good pleasure of His will”.

 To be adopted as a son means to be placed as a full-grown son of God whereby, we have received full rights of His Son Jesus Christ. This adoption makes us joint heirs with the Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 8:17. This implies we share a hundred percent access to the power and authority Jesus has.

 Apostle Paul writing by the inspiration of the Spirit describes this grace as a fellowship of the mystery which from the beginning of the world has been hidden in God. Ephesians 3:9.

 Is it not a mystery that He that is joined to the Lord Jesus is one spirit with him”? 1st Corinthians 6:17. Is it also not a mystery to be seated together with our Lord Jesus in heavenly places far above all principalities and power?

What an act of love demonstrated to us that “now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God” God has so elevated us that, the powers and authorities in the spirit realm would come to know the many-sided wisdom of God, through you and I, that is the church.

Our Father God, through our Lord Jesus, has made us a wonder. All these are not a result of anything we have done, nor anything we have or are. It is purely after the good pleasure of His will.

 This amazing grace has also made us who were enemies in our minds to be reconciled to the Father, such that ” in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, unblameable and unreprovable in His sight”. You have been made holy, unblameable, and unreprovable in His sight. You are in Christ, sharing His nature and state, so God sees you just like His Son Jesus. This makes you Holy, unblameable, and unreprovable.

Please throw away from your mind, the sin consciousness and the guilt consciousness and accept that, through the Lord Jesus, you are now a Holy, unblameable, and unreprovable person, acting like Jesus.

CONFESSION

This grace bestowed on me is beyond my conception, what a love, what a favour, and what an honour. I respond with all my heart to love Him and live totally for Him.

THOUGHT: INDEED THROUGH CHRIST JESUS  , WE HAVE RECEIVED GRACE UPON GRACE

FURTHER STUDIES.

Colossians 1:27 “To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory”:

Ephesians 2:5-6 ” Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:”

KEY SCRIPTURE: 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.”

In our previous study, we looked at the manifestation of God’s special grace revealed to specific individuals or groups of persons, through the sovereign will of our Father God.

We now consider the grace for salvation that has appeared unto all men. Titus 2:11 ” For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men”, The Lord Jesus died for all persons and the Lord extends His hands of love to all. This was made available, not because anyone deserved it. The scripture puts it beautifully in 2nd Cor 5:19, “To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.”

Dear brother and sister, please note that the Lord says because of His grace, He is not counting your sins against you, because through Jesus He has reconciled or changed all men thoroughly (the word in Greek is “Katallasso”). By taking away the sins of the world He has potentially changed all men. All that God requires of men, is that they would accept this great offer of love.

If you have not made Jesus Lord over your life, you can make Him Lord, right now, and you will receive eternal life.

Eternal life is a gift and no one’s good works could earn it. In Mark’s account of the man who came to Jesus and requested how to earn eternal life. (Mark 10:17-27) Some have taught that, from Jesus’ answer, eternal life could be earned by works.  (Read through the whole story.) The disciples asked, (after the man had sadly left because he could not forsake his riches), who then could be saved or earn eternal life? The Lord Jesus answered. “….. With men it is impossible, but not with God, for with God all things are possible”. By this answer, the Lord establishes that salvation or eternal life is never by the effort of men, for it is always impossible with men. No man could earn salvation by his works.

We are saved by grace through faith. Not by works lest any man should boast.

 CONFESSION

No man can earn salvation by his efforts or works. I accept God’s provision through our Lord Jesus’ death and resurrection. I have made Him my Lord and so I am saved.

THOUGHT: THE GRACE OF SALVATION IS AVAILABLE TO ALL, YET ONLY THOSE WHO RECEIVE IT WILL BE SAVED.

FURTHER STUDIES.

2 Timothy 1:9 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,

Titus 2:11 ” For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,”