THE ‘WHEN’ OF SALVATION

‘… if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus,and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation’ – Romans 10: 9-10.


LIGHT FOR THE NOW: The birth of Christ was good, but His resurrection was the best.


An understanding of the subject of salvation is crucial to appropriating what Christ has done for man. Many professed Christians cannot tell when they were saved. Some erroneously recall incidence when they had miracles at church conferences. Others relate occasions when they were delivered of demons at crusades. These incidences are not the ‘When of Salvation. Recall that the Apostle Paul delivered demons from a girl in Ephesus; and the scripture does not record that she was saved. Many who received miracles when Jesus’ walked the Earth were not saved!

In the light of today’s text, when you believe in Christ Jesus and confess that God raised Him from the dead, you are saved. The birth of Christ was good, but His resurrection was the best. The essence of His birth was to save His people so they could believe Him (Matthew1:21; John 1:29).By His resurrection the whole world is saved, including the past dead saints of the Old Testament. After His resurrection, paradise was evacuated; every believer in Christ was moved to His eternity. Christ was wounded because of you, so He took care of you. Paul says at … ‘that I may know him and the power of His resurrection’. The resurrection is the seal of salvation – without the resurrection, there is no salvation. Romans 1:1-4, The hope of the believer is in resurrection. The power of believers is in resurrection.

1 Corinthians 15:1-4. If there is no resurrection, there is no salvation. Since the scriptures tells you that Christ died. By this understanding, nobody will toss you around.If you don’t understand salvation, it will affect the way you relate with Him. In all your do, have an understanding of salvation. Halleluiah!


INSTRUCTION: Having understood that Christ died for you, let nobody toss you around.

PRAYER: Lord I thank you for the light. I believe right, and I know I am saved, in Jesus name.

QUOTE: if resurrection is not in place, there is no salvation.

DAILY BIBLE READING: MORNING: 1 TIMOTHY CHAPTER 4; EVENING: ISAIAH CHAPTER 55

THE ‘WHY’ OF SALVATION

‘And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth’ - Genesis 1:26.


LIGHT FOR THE NOW: Once you know why you are saved, your relationship with God will change. 


In all of God’s creatures, only man is redeemable. The angels are perfect and therefore, are not redeemable or pardonable. This is because they are expected not to err. Man is redeemable by nature. This is because you are in the class of God, and not in the class of angels. God knew you will make mistakes, hence He made salvation available for you.

Man is made in the image and likeness of God. God made man in His nature.  Hebrews 11:3 says something of great interest ‘Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the Word of God’. Man is the most expensive creature of all that God ever created. In the world system, education is the solution, but in the plan of God, salvation is the solution. Once you know why you were saved, your relationship with God will change.

 A believer does not have faith on his own. Your faith is His faith. He said to Paul and to all believers ‘My grace is sufficient for you’. That faith is your daily Christian life. The faith is your identity. When you received Him, you received power at the same time. But in order for you to make progress and manifest what has been deposited in you, you have to bring yourself to be taught. The Amplified Version of the Bible say in Isaiah 54:13-14 ‘And all your [spiritual] children shall be disciples [taught by the Lord and obedient to His will], and great shall be the peace and undisturbed composure of your children. You shall establish yourself in righteousness (rightness, in conformity with God’s will and order): you shall be far from even the thought of oppression or destruction, for you shall not fear, and from terror, for it shall not come near you’. These and many more are the reasons for your salvation in Christ. One who is save does not have the spirit of fear but that of a sound mind. A saved soul is at peace with God.


INSTRUCTION: You are the only person in the image and likeness of God.

PRAYER: I know why I am saved. I have a relationship with you as a Son, in Jesus name.

QUOTE:A saved soul is one at peace with God.

DAILY BIBLE READING: MORNING: 1 TIMOTHY CHAPTER 4; EVENING: ISAIAH CHAPTER 54

THE ‘HOW’ OF SALVATION

‘Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life’ - John 5:24


LIGHT FOR THE NOW: If you don’t believe you cannot receive.


The ‘How’ of Salvation is ‘Believe’; it is a belief system. It addresses the question How were you saved? Or How is salvation attained? Jesus Christ while addressing the Jews on His authority for miraculous works and His claims as the Son of God, made it known to them that God had given Him the power to heal, raise dead and to execute judgement. Furthermore, jesus Christ made it publicly known to the Jews that all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. At this juncture, Jesus cleared the air on‘the How of salvation’. He stated‘He that heareth my word and believeth on him that sent me … is passed from death unto life’ (John 5:1-27). If you don’t believe you cannot receive. Whosoever believes in Him shall not perish. John 5:24. He that hears my words and believes me has everlasting life and shall pass from death to life. Belief system functions in hearing.

You must consciously believe in Christ. John 3:36 says ‘He that believes on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth  on him’. He came and His own did not receive Him. But as many as receive Him, to them gave he the power to become his son, even to them that believe (John 1:11-12). Salvation is not you going to God. Salvation is God coming to you. He went to His people; His people did not go to Him. Rom 10:6-8. You have no work to do in order to be saved. You just need to believe. The Word of Faith that we preach is Believe. This text does not indicate that we have to confess our sin in order to be saved! You need only to confess the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God raised Him up. This is salvation – you are saved!

In Christyou live, move, and have your being. Thinking otherwise shows that you doubt the Scripture, you doubt Christ and you doubt your salvation. Christ was made our sin, and we were made His righteousness(2 Corinthian 5:21). Confess the Lord Jesus Christ with your mouth. Whosoever believes in Him shall not see shame (Romans 10:10-11). Praise the Lord!!!



INSTRUCTION: Confess the Lordship of the resurrected and highly exalted Jesus Christ.

PRAYER: I believe that Christ died me, and was raised the third day, in Jesus name.

QUOTE: Salvation is in confessing Christ Jesus.

DAILY BIBLE READING: MORNING: 1 TIMOTHY CHAPTER 4; EVENING: ISAIAH CHAPTER 53

THE ‘WHAT’ OF SALVATION

‘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’. - (John 3:16)


LIGHT FOR THE NOW: Salvation is the unconditional love of God to man.


Summarily, salvation is the unconditional love of God given to man. John 3:16. It is the unearned love of God. Salvation is God’s redemptive plan for man. He worked it out all by Himself. Paul speaking in Romans 5:6-8saya‘For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. Foe scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.But God commended his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us’. God extended His love for us even when we were sinners. He did so by sending His only begotten Son, Christ to die for us. This is called salvation. To this end, a song writer wrote, I was once lost, but now I am found. Man was deserving of death, but Christ took the initiative and became a substitute for man. Man did not have what it takes to bail himself, Christ voluntarily bailed man out from his death sentence. It takes a freeman to bail a bond man. Salvation is Christ’s death on behalf of man. What is salvation? It is Christ becoming sin in the stead of man. Christ was made sin, so that man was made righteous by Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:21)

Every man was subject to death by reason of sin ‘For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God’. Man was deserving of death, because the penalty of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life(Romans 6:23). By the mercy of God, salvation showed up!Romans 5: 21 says ‘That as sin hath reigned unto death; even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord’. The reign of sin ushered in death but at the emergence of grace, eternal life was accessible to man through Christ Jesus. This is what salvation is all about!

INSTRUCTION: Be grateful to God for His unconditional love for man.

PRAYER:  Lord I thank you for your love for me, in Jesus name.

QUOTE:Love is the basis for salvation.

DAILY BIBLE READING: MORNING: 1 TIMOTHY CHAPTER 4; EVENING: ISAIAH CHAPTER 52

THE IDENTITY OF A BELIEVER

That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.’ - Philemon 1:6


LIGHT FOR THE NOW: You cannot appropriate what you don’t know!


The sharing, fellowship, participation of your faith may be effectual because you acknowledge or have accurate knowledge or revelation of what He has done for you. If you don’t know what He has done for you how would you appropriate it? This is why knowledge is important in salvation.  For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?’ (Romans 10:13). Until you know, you cannot acknowledge it!

This was one of the Pauline prayers to Philemon his son. He said the same prayers at Philippians 1:9-11. It reads ‘And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgement; That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ. Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God’. Again, to the church in Colossae Paul wrote ‘For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that you might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in e very good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness’ (Colossians 1:9-11). All of Paul’s prayers were focused on the believers’ need for the precise knowledge of Christ. He said that by this the Christian life of such believers will be effectual. This way, every believer in Christ must of a necessity come into this knowledge, lest their lives will not be effective.

The believer must know the what, why, when and how of salvation, which will be considered in the proceeding days. If you miss these four facets of salvation, your work here on Earth will be ineffective; and you will be a minus to humanity. Certainly, you will get to a point where you will be doubting your salvation. This is evident on events where people say that ‘they gave their lives to Christ’. This is the product of wrong teachings; their teachers do not have the insight, or an understanding of what salvation is all about. Right believing stems from right teachings! You cannot believe what you don’t know. Your belief is your identity!

INSTRUCTION: In all you get, get accurate knowledge of salvation by Christ.

PRAYER:  Lord I thank you for the light. I believe right, and I know I am saved, in Jesus name.

QUOTE: Right Teachings Produce Right Beliefs.                      

DAILY BIBLE READING: MORNING: 1 TIMOTHY CHAPTER 4; EVENING: ISAIAH CHAPTER 51

CHRIST OUR HIGH PRIEST (2)

 –“seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession”  Hebrews 4:14

LIGHT FOR THE NOW: The work of Christ as our intercessor is still ongoing.

The moment you accept Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, He becomes your High Priest and mediator speaking on your behalf. The work of Christ as our intercessor is still ongoing (Hebrews 7:25). The ministry of Jesus as our intercessor is to help our infirmities or weaknesses; to enforce the victory that He has obtained on the cross for us. Our victory is only in Christ. It is only through Christ that we are continually sanctified and we stay sanctified. Christ is our sanctification. We now enjoy His glory and become glorified. We now become a function of God’s glory. Glory is not feeling. Glory is tangible. As our High Priest, we now have the right to share in the glory. We are glory personified. In the glory, there is neither sickness nor lack. In the glory, nothing is impossible. We are perfected in Christ.

As our mediator, Christ communicates the love of God to us. We understand the Father’s love only in Christ. Without an understanding of the love of God, you abuse the character of God. It is only through Christ that the love of God flows from us to others. When we come to God through Christ, we have a guarantee to His attention. God does not answer our prayers based on our good works but only through Christ (John 16:23). We engage the intercessory work of Christ by exercising our faith through the finished work of Christ on the cross.

INSTRUCTION: Exercise your faith through the finished work of Christ on the cross.

PRAYER: I am in Him justified and He is in me glorified, in Jesus Name. Amen.

QUOTE: You cannot engage what you do not know

CHRIST AS OUR HIGH PRIEST (1)

“seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession” –  Hebrews 4:14

LIGHT FOR THE NOW: Jesus is our mediator.       

Adam by his disobedience twisted the plan of God for man. He handed over universal dominion of God’s creation to Satan. Adam successfully brought man under the authority of Satan. He brought a curse upon the animals and the plants of the earth. By Adam’s disobedience, man lost his immortal nature and became mortal. He made man dead doomed or Satan’s servant. Man died spiritually and became an enemy of God. The whole nature of man rebelled. He lost fellowship and a right standing with God. Man could no longer have access to God and became lost to the love of God. By the fall of man, man needed a mediator before he could approach God. He needed the blood of animals before he could gain access to God and command God’s attention. Man became a stranger to God’s covenant and had no covenant claims on God as he had lost all his legal rights. Man now lived in the fear of death as he now became aware of judgment and execution of punishment.

By the fall of Adam, man became an enemy to God. Man became helpless and hopeless without a right standing with God (Jeremiah 30:1). This is the reason for the diverse religions in the world today. Man started looking for a way to approach God and stand before Him. This is because by the fall of Adam, man left the presence of God (Genesis 3:9-10). Man became restricted from his realm of life. He lost access to God and was in need of a mediator. God had to send Jesus to be a substitute for man. No man can reach the Father outside the Son, Jesus Christ (Acts 4:12). To stand before God not condemned, you must come through Jesus. You cannot be in Christ and still be condemned. Christ is our mediator. Halleuyah!!!

 INSTRUCTION: Accept that Christ is your mediator.

PRAYER: Father, I thank you for giving me a right standing before you, in Jesus Name. Amen.

QUOTE: You cannot be in Christ and still be condemned.

WALKING IN VICTORY

“But thanks be unto God, which giveth us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” –


LIGHT FOR THE NOW: A believer does not pray for victory. He is already in victory.

When you are in Christ, you live a life of victory. This is why the believer in Christ does not pray for victory; he enforces or stands fast in the victory given to him in Christ Jesus. A believer in Christ is born of faith and he is called born again. So, because Jesus came out victorious on our behalf, we are also victorious. “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world even our faith”. Circumstances and situations of life should not define you. Our identity is defined by the victory established in the Word of God which is expressed in Jesus Christ. The believer in Christ or the born again man is the man who is already a victor and is more than a conqueror, because he is in Christ. Your present life is the same with the current state of Christ, not as he was but, “as he is over there so are we in this world” (1John 4:17).

This is because we rose with Him from the dead and our life is now hid in Christ with God (Colossians 3:1-3). We have been united and made one with Christ the Son of God. This is the reason despite the challenges and persecution of the church, it is still waxing stronger because the church which is you is a triumphant and victorious church which the gates of hell shall not prevail against. Therefore, you cannot afford to give in or give up now. Hold onto God and believe His word, for therein is your victory made manifest.

 INSTRUCTION: Enforce the victory handed over to you in Christ Jesus.

PRAYER: Lord, I enforce my victory, in Jesus Name. Amen.

QUOTE: A believer in Christ walks in constant victory.

DAILY BIBLE READING: MORNING: 1 TIMOTHY CHAPTER 4; EVENING: ISAIAH CHAPTER 48  

YOU ARE THE DEMONSTRATION OF GOD’S LOVE

‘And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us’ - Roman 5:5 [NIV].


LIGHT FOR THE NOW: Christ’s love consoles and wipes away tears eternally.


The moment a person believes Christ, instantly he receives the Holy Ghost. And the Holy Ghost helps us to express the love of God, which is shed abroad in our hearts. In other word, the love of God persuades us to God. If we were saved by hearing about God, we would by love tell others about the gospel. At John 14:15 Jesus Christ is reported of saying ‘If you love me, keep my commandments’. You can do this by preaching the gospel to people. We read in 2 Corinthians 5:14‘For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead’. Christ’s death was indeed the communication of the love of God.

In His incarnation, He taught the people and also attended to their physical needs. The synoptic gospel documents numerous occasions where Christ yielded to the immediate physical needs of people. Luke 7:10-13 ‘And they that were sent, returning to the house, found the servant whole that had been sick. And it came to pass the day after, that he went into a city called Nain; and many of his disciples went with him, and much people. Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, t here was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her. And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, weep not’. When Christ saw the woman, love enveloped Him and He consoled her, attended to her need by resurrecting the boy.

Real love wipes away tears. The love of Christ does not only condole with the broken-hearted; He consoles and wipes away tears eternally! His love is beyond an expression of sympathetic sorrow. His love moves Him to take dynamic actions which cause positive changes in people’s lives. Christ’s love is an eternal solution to all problems.


INSTRUCTION: Spread the Gospel. Tell people about the Love of God.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, I thank you for your love for me, in Jesus Name.

QUOTE: Real love wipes away tears.

DAILY BIBLE READING: MORNING: 1 TIMOTHY CHAPTER 4; EVENING: ISAIAH CHAPTER 47

JESUS CHRIST LOVES YOU

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’. - John 3:16

LIGHT FOR THE NOW: It is not your love that counts; it is God’s love that matters. God does not wait for your love. He covers your love with His own.


The love of God is expressed in the gift of Christ. Many people claim to love but do not have the ability to prove their love. Men love because of what they stand to benefit, others love those who have already shown them kindness. Oh, how conditional is the love of man!Unfortunately, when the desire is not met, disappointment sets in.

In contrast, the love of God is unconditional. Christ was made sin, so that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him (2Corinthians 5:21). Romans 5: 8 (NLT) God sent His great love for us so that while we were yet condemned sinners, Christ died for us. God loves us the way we are. He used His own love to destroy your sin (Romans 3:10-11). We did not love Him, yet God loved us by covering us with His love.

Jesus Christ says that whosoever believes and trusts in His love shall not perish but have eternal life. You just have to believe in His love. In His love there is life, wealth, riches, healing and perfection (Isaiah 53:3-5). So, everything you need in this life, and hereafter is found in His love. You should wisely believe in that love. Salvation is a total package - in Him, you have peace, love, joy. Men only love when they are to gain respect. Once a woman receives care, she feels loved. To men, when they receive respect, they feel loved. Once they are deprived from them, they no longer feel loved. However, the scripture does not define respect this way. If men had love, the scripture would not have deliberately instructed them to love their wives. Agape is the extravagant love that God pours on man. In this love, your color, height, nationality, educational background, social and economic backgrounds do not matter. The only standard for this love is Christ crucified and Christ resurrected. If you can have the love of God, then you have everything. It is not your love that counts; it is God’s love that matters.


INSTRUCTION: You are under a command to believe the love of Christ.

PRAYER: Lord, I believe in your love. By this knowledge, I stand justified in you, in Jesus Name.

QUOTE: Love is the most powerful weapon that silences Satan’s missiles.

DAILY BIBLE READING: MORNING: 1 TIMOTHY CHAPTER 4; EVENING: ISAIAH CHAPTER 46

THE TIMELESS LOVE OF GOD

The Lord hath appeared of old unto me saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee’- Jeremiah 31:3


LIGHT FOR THE NOW: Christ is the proof of God’s love. In His love, you are marked right.


God loves you with an everlasting love.  God’s love is an unfailing love. God’s love stands the test of time – always. The love of God comes with kindness to Himself. In the Love of God you don’t pray to receive kindness – it comes to you naturally and continuously. In God’s love you find life, wealth and good health. As He loved you before, He loves you now and He will continue to love you eternally. Hebrews 13:8 speaks of the unfailing, Divine Love of Christ ‘Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever’. Christ loved you even before you were born; and He will never change His mind towards you. You are His beloved and the apple of His eye!

If when you were once useless to him, yet He loved you, how much more now that you are useful to Him.‘For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly’ (Romans 5:6).Youwere wicked, helpless, powerless, far too weak and rebellious; despite these, Christ died for you. He loves you. He came and gave you voice. So, you can speak audibly. Go and tell the world about His love for humanity.is









Due to this love, His mercies are new every morning. His mercies do not allow the devil to defeat us. No man can show you mercy except he loves you. In the love of God there is justification. The love of God justifies you and draws you closer to Him. ‘His sins I will remember no more’. 1 Peter 4:8 ‘Above all things, have intense love or one another … love covers a multitude of sins’. Prov 10:12 love covers all transgression’ love is not fault-finding. God does not need people’s approval to love you. YOU ARE THE ONLY OPTION IN GOD’S LOVE. He loves you the way you are – even in your sinful state. God loves you beyond words. Christ is the proof of God’s love. In His love, you are marked right; in His love you are complete.

Give Jesus a chance in your life. If you have not received Christ, it is advisable that you do so.

We have nothing to exchange with the love of God (1Peter 1:18-19). I am in Him justified and He is me glorified.


INSTRUCTION: Christ loves you the way you are. Show appreciation. Be thankful to Him.

PRAYER: Lord, I thank you for your love for me. I adore and praise you, in Jesus Name.

QUOTE: You are complete in Christ’s love.

DAILY BIBLE READING: MORNING: 1 TIMOTHY CHAPTER 4; EVENING: ISAIAH CHAPTER 45

CHRIST IS OUR MEDIATOR

“For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, that man Christ Jesus” –

1Timothy 2:5


LIGHT FOR THE NOW: By the redemptive work of Jesus Christ, He is the mediator between God and men.

Prophet Isaiah in Isaiah 59:2 cried out, “But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you that he will not hear”. This was in the Old Testament when man was still under the bondage of sin. But thanks be unto God, the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ has taken care of the problem of sin. In Romans 6:14, the Bible says, “For sin shall not have dominion over you”. By the redemptive work of Jesus Christ, He has now become the mediator between God and men. The Bible records that God was in Christ reconciling the world – the world of sinners unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them. God is not holding sin against you because of Jesus. Our sins were laid on him. The Bible says that He was made sin. He was not a sinner but the sins of the world were laid upon Him. Nobody today should pay the punishment for his or her sins, because Jesus Christ has already paid the penalty for sin. He was judged for our sake (Isaiah 53:5). Because of the sacrifice of Jesus on our behalf, the process of reconciling man back to God began. Man had been separated from God through Adam’s disobedience, but Christ Jesus reconciled us back to God through obedience even to death on the cross.

Colossians 1:21 declares, “And you, that were sometimes alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight”. You are now qualified to appear before the throne of grace boldly without any guilt, condemnation or inferiority complex. You have been justified by grace. This is the gospel. You are justified not because of what you did or did not do but because of what Jesus did. His death, burial and resurrection has reconciled us back to the Father and brought us into oneness and fellowship with Him.

INSTRUCTION: Stay with the new Priesthood.

PRAYER: Father, I thank you for the gift of Christ Jesus to give me a right standing before you, in Jesus Name. Amen.

QUOTE: In the new priesthood, everyone is a priest.

DAILY BIBLE READING: MORNING: 1 TIMOTHY CHAPTER 4; EVENING: ISAIAH CHAPTER 44

HONOUR GOD’S INSTRUCTION

 ‘The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean”. - Acts 10:15 [NIV]


LIGHT FOR THE NOW: What God pronounced as holy is holy and must be treated as such.


Whatever God instructs must be treated as sacred. Whatever God says is holy and must be treated as holy. Whatever God has put a seal upon, we must treat with honour.The message in today’s text is making reference to animals. For instance, pork was treated as unclean.

Those in Christ are already sanctified. Mary was not holy, but by reason of that Holy thing (Jesus) coming out of her womb, she became holy!Whatever comes out of you is superior, and you have to see yourself as such! Greater is he that is in me than he that is in the world. Paul speaking to the church in Colossae made them understand that Christ stripped all the spiritual tyrants on the streets naked (Colossians 2:15). Never you be afraid of what is afraid of you. In Him you live and move and have your being.

What God pronounced holy is holy and we must treat it holy. In this respect we are referring to humans. Fellow believers are holy. God delivered believers and He calls them holy. ‘But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light’(1 Peter 2:9 [NIV]). Christ is not about to call you;He had already called you. By this knowledge, you and your household are out of disease, sickness and frustration. You are a peculiar (or special) person. Believers are a holy class of people that when they lift their holy hands in worship, the earth shakes.

The Bible speaks of an incredible quality of love the Father has given us… we shall see Him just as he really (1 John 3:1-2 [AMP]). I resemble Him, I am in Him. We are God’s children, we are Priests. So, we must treat our brothers in Christ with respect. This knowledge frees you from fear. (Galatians 6:10, KJV, NLT). This refers to moral kindness, caring for one another.

We are to treat believers better and holy (1 Peter 2:17, AMP, NLT, MSG). Must show respect and love to the brotherhood, we must also respect the King, the Authority, or the Government. (Romans 16:1).



INSTRUCTION: Honour God’s instruction.

PRAYER: I receive the grace to honour your vessels, in Jesus Name.

QUOTE: You are complete in Christ’s love.

DAILY BIBLE READING: MORNING: 1 TIMOTHY CHAPTER 4; EVENING: ISAIAH CHAPTER 43

HONOUR IS AN ATTITUDE

‘Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him. But Jesus, said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house’.- Mark 6:1-6:


LIGHT FOR THE NOW:The anointing you don’t respect cannot add value to you.


The kinsmen and town-men of Jesus communized the anointing of Jesus Christ. They refused to recognize Him as their Messiah and thus disdained His authority. Consequently, Christ did not do mighty works in His home town because of their lack of respect. Jesus referred to their attitude as unbelief. This text is an instruction for all the believers today. The anointing you don’t respect can never add value to you. Christ accomplished so much in other places because they placed Him on high regard or high esteem.

We must note that it was not a case of lack of power on the part of Jesus, rather, it was the negative attitude of the people.Christ was ready to release what He carried. The problem was the attitude of the people. The attitude of the people towards Christ stopped the gift from flowing to them. Hence, He could not do mighty works. Thus, the unbelief here is referred to as dishonor, lack of respect that they displayed on Jesus. If the house be worthy, let my peace come upon it … but whosoever does not hear your word, shake off the dust of your feet (Mark 10:11-14). This was Christ’s instructionto the men that He sent to the people. When Christ sends His anointed Son to you, your attitude matters a lot. Welcome him, honour him and receive him. The word ‘peace’ is referred to as ‘blessing’. Any time God send His man to you, that man carries all that it takes to settle your situation. Your situation has no authority to resist him. This is why some church people get poorer and poorer; this is because these ones donot honor men sent by God to them. Once you don’t respect them, the consequences are there as clearly spelt out by Christ in the above scripture.

The woman with the issue of blood did not want Jesus’ prayer. She healed herself through her respect for Jesus. When she established a point of contact with Christ, she received the healing. He who receives one sent by Christ, receives Christ Himself(Matthew 10:40-42). And this one receives God Himself. He who receives a prophet will have a prophet’s reward and will in no wise lose his reward. A dishonour to God’s son is a dishonor to His son. We have to receive in the name of the Lord – and this is an authority.

INSTRUCTION: You are under a command to believe the love of Christ.

PRAYER: Lord, imbue in me, honour for those in authority, in Jesus Name.

QUOTE:A king is not by age but by office.

DAILY BIBLE READING: MORNING: 1 TIMOTHY CHAPTER 4; EVENING: ISAIAH CHAPTER 42

WE NOW HAVE PEACE WITH GOD

“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” – Romans 5:1


LIGHT FOR THE NOW: We can only have peace with God when we are justified by faith.

The faith of a believer in the finished work of Christ brokers peace between him and God the Father. The mission of Christ on earth and even now in heaven was, and still is, to reconcile man with God and bring man back into the union of the Spirit with the Father. In our text for today, Apostle Paul by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit explains that what makes us to have peace with God is the justification that comes by faith. This is why in Hebrews 11:6, the Bible says that without faith, it is impossible to please God. Having believed in the finished work of Christ, you are justified and therefore have peace with God by your faith. After the fall of Adam, man could not do anything to please God. God had to send Christ to be man’s substitute so man as Christ pleases Him, whosoever is in Christ can please Him too.

The Bible says in Hebrews 2:13, “But now in Christ Jesus ye who were sometimes far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ”. Also, Colossians 1:20-23 says, “And having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven….” The death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ has created a platform for man to have peace with God through his shed blood, and is seated right now on the right hand of His Father, your Father, making intercessions for you. God has made available His perfect peace to you in Christ.

 INSTRUCTION: Enjoy the peace Christ has wrought for you.

PRAYER: The Lord of peace Himself will give you peace by all means, in Jesus Name. Amen.

QUOTE: You cannot please God outside Christ.                 

DAILY BIBLE READING: MORNING: 1 TIMOTHY CHAPTER 4; EVENING: ISAIAH CHAPTER 41

THE PRICE HAS BEEN PAID

“For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures” 1 Corinthians 15:3-4.


LIGHT FOR THE NOW: By the sacrifice of Jesus, you have been made righteous.


Jesus paid the price at the cross for your sins. His blood was all that was required. At death, Jesus’ body died but His soul and spirit rose again. At resurrection, he rose with a new body. This is why he appeared physically to His disciples and showed them the new body. The death of Christ brought about the redemption of man. Paul addressing believers states in 2 Corinthians 5:21, “ For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him”. Remember that, “the soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him” (Ezekiel 18:20). That was the verdict. Justice demanded that man should die for his sin. There was no room for mercy; neither was there any provision for substitution. A son was not permitted to die for the father’s sin and vice versa. In Romans 6:23, Paul says, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord”. So, by the sacrifice of Jesus, you have been made righteous. Christ substituted Himself for you by accepting to bear your sins and consequently died in your stead. Righteousness is not purchasable but receivable. It is a gift from God.

There is no resurrection without death and there could be no death without sin. Jesus willingly accepted your sins. He bore the sins and died for the whole world. He knew that He had conquered death. This is why He told Martha, “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live” (John 11:25). Everyone who believes in Christ should be eternally grateful to Him. Through the redemption that Christ wrought for you, you have been completely delivered from the hand of the enemy. The sacrifice of His blood was the ultimate price. The thickness of His blood did not just cover your sins but completely wiped it away from the eternal record of death. If you are in Christ Jesus, you have no sin anymore. The death, burial and resurrection of Christ completely gives you a clean slate. 

INSTRUCTION: Stay in the liberty that redemption has wrought for you.

PRAYER: Lord, the price of my redemption can never be in vain, in Jesus Name.

QUOTE: Redemption is the eternal plan of God.

DAILY BIBLE READING: MORNING: 1 TIMOTHY CHAPTER 4; EVENING: ISAIAH CHAPTER 40

YOU HAVE BEEN JUSTIFIED

“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” – Romans 5:1



LIGHT FOR THE NOW: Now that you have been justified, you have no record of sin.

To be justified is to be discharged and acquitted. It is to declared not guilty and have a right standing with God. To be justified is to be united, to be in union with God. This means that we are no longer enemies to God. Christ was made to be sin for us. David spoke about Christ and gave a good report about Him (Hebrews 11:23). In Christ, we have been declared free and acquitted. The Old Covenant scolds, exposes and institutes all forms of legislations. The old covenant was anti-human. In the New Covenant, there is now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus. Hebrews 8:10 says, “For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more”. This simply means that you have been found not guilty and discharged and acquitted. You do not have any record of sin anymore. It will therefore be a serious violation of agreement and gross injustice to repeat a punishment that was already put on someone.

Life is now strictly based on faith in Christ. Faith in the finished work of Christ is what makes life beautiful. Jesus is not just sitting on the mercy seat, He is the Mercy Seat.  The confession and belief that Christ was raised from the dead is what guarantees your redemption and it is your redemption that guarantees your justification. The work is grace is possible only because Christ made Himself available. Until your belief system is established in Christ, you cannot be justified. Therefore, you need to have an honest belief in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

INSTRUCTION: Believe in Christ and you are justified.

PRAYER: I am in Him justified and He is in me glorified, in Jesus Name. Amen.

QUOTE: Until you are justified, you cannot be glorified.

DAILY BIBLE READING: MORNING: TITUS CHAPTER 3; EVENING: ISAIAH CHAPTER 39

CHRIST OUR STRENGTH

“And as such as do wickedly against the covenant shall he corrupt by flatteries: but the people that do know their God shall be strong and do exploits” – Daniel 11:32


LIGHT FOR THE NOW: God is able to do more than enough if only you believe.

The almightiness of God is what makes for his dependability. This is why we can depend on Him for anything (Matthew 6:33). Salvation is comprehensive. But it is not enough to just be saved. You must know what is yours in salvation. The knowledge you have about God determines how far you can go (Philemon 1:6). When you know that Christ is your strength, you go about daily living with a renewed confidence and vigor knowing that you can always lean on Him. To lean on Christ is to shift to God’s side, casting all your burdens on Him. When you lean on Christ, you can defy all difficulties and challenges that come your way and break impossible records. To lean on Christ is to rely on Him for support and inspiration. Jesus admonishes us to cast all our loads upon him. It is a call of assurance, that He can handle all matter. Our victory in Christ Jesus is always.

When you lean on Him, you have divine support (2Corinthians 12:19). You cant miss your target. When you discover how much support you enjoy from Him, you will recover all (Psalms 32:8). When you rely on Him, your safety and security is assured (Psalms 125:2; Psalms 32:6). When Christ is your strength, He will remain the source of your total supply (Psalms 36:8; Mark 9:23).

INSTRUCTION: Make God the only source of your strength and protection.

PRAYER: I declare that impossibilities are far from my realm because Christ is my source, in Jesus Name. Amen

QUOTE: All that we need in life has already been provided in Christ.

DAILY BIBLE READING: MORNING: TITUS CHAPTER 3; EVENING: ISAIAH CHAPTER 38

THE RICHES OF HIS GLORY

“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” – Colossians 1:27


LIGHT FOR THE NOW: Christ in you is the hope of glory.

The mystery behind every believer is Christ in him, which is the hope of glory. In other words, once you receive Christ into your life, you become a carrier of God’s glory. The strength of the Christian faith is Christ in him. Our text for today tells us that when Christ lives in a man, he becomes a partaker of God’s glory. So, a believer in Christ Jesus does not hope for the worst in life. No! The hope of every believer is glorious. Hallelujah! What defines your hope is not any kind of situation or condition you are facing, but Christ does.

Remember that Christ Jesus was reproached so that you might be glorified. You must be consistent in what you are hoping for. Hope is the confident expectation of something. The Bible records in Romans 5:18 that Abraham “against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations; according to that which was spoken”. Also, Apostle Paul in Romans 5:2 says, “By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in the hope of the glory of God”. When Christ is not the hope of your glory, you may easily be distracted by the greed for material things. And when your expectations are not met, you may become depressed. In the contrary, when you focus on Christ and not on material things, the joy of the Lord becomes your strength. Hallelujah!!!

INSTRUCTION: Let your hope be in Christ.

PRAYER: I am in Him justified and He is in me glorified, in Jesus Name.

QUOTE: Glory is not a feeling, but tangible.

DAILY BIBLE READING: MORNING: TITUS CHAPTER 3; EVENING: ISAIAH CHAPTER 37