What Happens When You Boast In Self

Text: Matthew 23:12; Galatians 6:3; Ezekiel 28:2

Key Verse: “Therefore, as it is written: let the one who boasts boast in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 1:31)

One day a local evangelist bragged during a crusade that his God was more able than all the other gods in the town and the powers of the universe that the villagers worshiped put together. Just then, a rainstorm started, threatening the progress of the crusade. The evangelist lifted up his voice and declared with confidence that if the rains fell, then he wasn't a man of God; he would stop preaching!

Before he could finish his bluff, the rains began to hit the crusade grounds so vehemently, apparently in disregard to his declarations. The whole town left the crusade grounds to their houses, shaking their heads in disappointment and dismay.

The evangelist, so distraught and angry, packed his belongings and left the town the next day. On his way through the next town, he checked into a local drinking spot and drank himself to stupor. As he laid on the ground cursing God, an old seedy looking man tapped him gently on the shoulder. "Man of God", the old man began. But the evangelist quickly cut in, "don't mention the name of God to me. He is fake. He is unreliable. I am no longer a believer in this God. A God who chooses to disgrace his servants. Leave me alone!"

But the old man would not let him be. He continued,"I am the fetish priest in the village you just preached at. During your one week stay in that village, you destroyed all the charms I had made on the people for 45 years. Your prayers and your words always came with some fearful fire and power. I tried so many times to eliminate you but I couldn't. My last chance came yesterday.

I had loaded my gun with gun powder lying in wait on the mountaintop where I had a very clear view of you. My plan was to shoot you from a distance since I couldn't get close enough to you due to the fire around you. But just when I lifted the gun, the rains came from nowhere, wetting my gunpowder and covering you in a cloud so that I couldn't even see you. All I saw was a bright man holding a sword in front of you.

I was so terrified. I concluded that your God was indeed all powerful and Almighty. That is why I have been looking for you since then. I want to follow this your God!" The ex-evangelist bowed his head in shame!

Beloved in Christ, sometimes, it is just wise for us to believe that our Father knows the way He is taking us. We should just trust His leading. Let our boast be in the Lord, not in ourselves. If we decree a thing and it doesn't happen, let us not see it as disappointment or dishonor from the Father. Let us just believe that the Father wants his perfect will to be done in all things.

Please share this if you feel it's worth sharing. You just might bring a brother or sister in Christ back to light and revive his or her faith in the Lord.

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Fellowship With The Father

Text: 1 John 1:1-4

Key Verse: “We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ” (1 John 1:3).

Why is it that some Christians seem to be transformed by contact with Jesus Christ, but others are not? Some Christians, even Christians of long standing, still seem to be very much conformed to the world around them, even deformed in their views and outlooks. Yet all of them stoutly assert that they are Christians, that they too have been born again by faith in Jesus Christ. It is not strange that the world asks, What is wrong? Why is this condition true? The secret, John says, is fellowship.

What is fellowship? In the Navy we used to say it was two fellows on the same ship, and there is a sense in which that is true. They do have something in common—the same ship. That is the basis of fellowship, for essentially this word means to have all things in common. When you have something in common with another, you can have fellowship with that person. If you have nothing in common, you have no fellowship.

We all have things in common. We share human life in common. Most of us share American citizenship in common. But John is talking about that unique fellowship that is the possession only of those who share life in Jesus Christ together. This makes them one, and this oneness is the basis for the appeal of Scripture: to live together in tenderness and love toward one another. Not because we are inherently wonderful people or remarkable personalities or that we are naturally gracious, kind, loving, and tender all the time—for at times we are grouchy, scratchy, and irritating to others. But we are still to love one another. Why? Because we share life together. We have something in common. We share the life of the Lord Jesus, and therefore we have fellowship with one another.

We must understand the difference between relationship and fellowship. Relationship is becoming a member of the family of God by faith in Jesus Christ. It is established by asking Him to come into your life and heart. John makes that clear at the end of this letter. He who has the Son has life (that is relationship); he who does not have the Son of God does not have life (he does not have a relationship) 1 John 5:12.

The Christian life starts right there with this matter of relationship. Relationship is accepting Christ; fellowship is experiencing Him. You can never have fellowship until you have established relationship, but you can certainly have relationship without fellowship. Relationship puts us into the family of God, but fellowship permits the life of that family to shine through us. That is what marks the difference between Christians.

Fellowship is the key to vital Christianity. That is why this letter of Apostle John, which calls us back to fundamental issues, focuses first on that. The important question is, as a Christian, are you enjoying fellowship with the Father and with His Son?

*** Culled from Ray Stedman Ministry Daily Devotional | www.raystedman.org ***

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Welcome To May!

From The Truth Media family,

Happy New Month!!!

All your worries, all your pains,

The Lord has promised they won't stay;

He knows the height you wish to gain,

He feels your woes of yesterday,

He understands your every fear,

He sees them all: your sighs and tears

And only asks you trust, obey

His Word today and everyday;

To daily walk with Him by faith,

To simply trusting everyday.

At you the world has mocked and called a wraith,

Just keep on trusting everyday.

As you enter this month of May,

Please don't relent to watch and pray,

And miracles only shall you see

In all your ways in Jesus' name. Amen.

*** Written by Jacobs Adewale (Admin) ***

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Religious Or Righteous?

Text: Matthew 23:1-7

Strict observation of religious activities like giving of alms, praying and fasting, regular church attendance, payment of tithes and offering, and so on, without genuine repentance should not be mistaken for righteousness.

There are many church people who practice these things and still continue in sin – secret and open. The Lord will not accept any of them in lieu of godliness.

However, righteousness comes when a sinner hears the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, becomes convicted of sin and makes a decision to turn to God for pardon and forgiveness. God has promised to forgive every repentant sinner. He says: ‘If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness’ (1 John 1:9).

Those who refuse to accept Christ but continue in religious activities which do not save will eventually regret at the end of their lives. According to the Scripture, God is angry with such people and if they die in that condition, they will spend eternity in hell where Satan will torment them forever.

But the sinner who believes God’s promise to forgive and cleanse, he or she will receive pardon on the merit of Christ’s atonement on the Cross. The pardoned believer will have a witness of the Holy Spirit that he or she is born again and has become a child of God. Therefore, a new lifestyle will begin: ‘Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new’ (2 Corinthians 5:17).

In this renewed state of being, the believer will not only be religious but righteous, godly, holy, kind, loving, gracious and God-fearing. His everyday life will be different from what it used to be. His passion and pursuit will be centered on God and he will labour to get to heaven on the last day.

The question now is this: ‘are you merely religious or righteous?’ This is a question for you and me and for everyone who professes to be in Christ. Now is the best time to ‘examine yourself to know whether you are in the faith; prove your own self… (2 Corinthians 13:5). Yet, don’t deceive yourself thinking nobody knows and sees you; ‘God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap’ (Galatians 6:7).

And ultimately, ‘…the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, the Lord knoweth them that are His. And let everyone that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity’ (2 Timothy 2:19).

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Fear Not

Text: Isaiah 35:4; John 14:27; 2 Timothy 1:7

Fear not, fear not, O be not dismayed,

For I am thy God and will still give thee aid.

I will strengthen and guide thee, and help thee to stand,

Upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand.

When through fiery trials thy pathways shall lie,

My grace, all sufficient, shall be thy supply.

The flame shall not hurt thee; my only design

Is to make you more holy, more pure, and refined.

The soul that on Jesus has leaned for repose,

I will not, I cannot desert to its foes;

That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,

It mattereth not, for I’ll never, never forsake.

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Stop And Behold

The Bible teaches that "old things have passed away, behold, all things become new" (2 Corinthians 5:17). This verse is telling you to stop what you're doing and take notice of what God is doing. If you don't like what's been happening, then behold, stop and take notice.

This is precisely what you are to do on this first day of the rest of your life. God is telling you that now is the time to stop and behold. Do not look at what is seen but stop and look at what is unseen. Look at life through the eyes of faith.

There is a physical world and there is a spiritual world. The physical world is temporary and the spiritual world is eternal. Why look at what is here today and gone tomorrow? No, with eyes of faith stop and behold that which lasts forever. Look into the world of the eternal.

Sometimes the bad things in life can overwhelm you. It appears that your problems are bigger than you are and, in truth, sometimes they are. But how much more in awe should you be and overwhelmed by what takes place in the realm of the spirit?

The difference between a natural person and a spiritual person is what's on their mind. The natural person looks at what is temporary and the spiritual person looks at what is eternal. The question to be asked is, "What's on your mind?"

What you think about determines the direction your life will take. "As a man thinks in his heart, so is he" (Proverbs 23:7). Your life is programmed to go in the direction of your most dominant thought. What you think about determines what you'll do, where you'll go, and what you will become. Never minimize the value of a Godly thought. Your thoughts become your desires and the Bible says that God will give you the desires of your heart. The key is to stop and behold.

When you woke up this morning did you like everything you saw around you? If not, then stop and behold. Those things are subject to change. They probably won't change instantly. The Bible says old things "become" new. And when does this change occur? When you look at life through the eyes of faith.

You may not like everything you see in your life today. Most likely there are many things in your life that are not as they should be. But when you look into the eternal you will see God moving on your behalf. What you don't like in the natural world will soon be gone and will be replaced by that which no man can touch. You must not look at where you've been but must stop and behold where you're going. This is the key to success.

As you look ahead you will see a future that is bright, a future fueled by and sustained by the glory of God. With eyes of faith you will see His goodness and His favor overwhelming you like never before. You also will see the devil stepping in and trying to put a damper on those plans. Rest assured, he will not be successful as long as you look at the situation with eyes of faith.

You can counter his evil schemes by taking a moment to stop and behold all that God has already done for you. As you do that, old things pass away and the things of God become new. Before long you will see them manifesting before your very eyes. The things of the devil don't have a ground to stand on but the things of God are founded on a Rock!

The reason many people are vagabonds and drift around in life aimlessly is because they haven't taken the time to stop and behold. They do not know which direction their life will take because they don't know where they're going. They focus too much on the past and present and never take the time to stop and see where God is taking them.

Their attitude is "whatever will be, will be" and "it is what it is." They believe they have no power to control their future but they are wrong. This power comes when they take the time to stop and behold. This power is supernatural and like a giant locomotive it has the ability to pull you through your current circumstances to a life that is filled with the glory of God.

Sad to say, the world is filled with people who like to be controlled like a puppet on a string. It's easier to let other people and certain events dictate which direction their life will take. Do not let this happen to you. God has given you one life to live and you must rise up and take stewardship of that which you've been given. You do that when you see into the realm of the spirit and by faith allow the Lord to order your steps accordingly.

Your responsibility is to obey the direction of the Lord and have the courage to put one foot in front of the other. As you do that consistently, in time you will arrive at the place you saw when you took the time to look at life through the eyes of faith.

For sure, this is a glorious place. It has to be because the Lord brought you here. A heavenly aroma fills this place and the smell of victory is everywhere. There are no weights holding you down and in the spirit you feel light as a feather.

You have come to be in the perfect will of God for your life and there is no more glorious place to be. It's wonderful! It's radiant! It's exciting! It's glorious! You have no worries here, no frets or concerns. You are in the arms of your beloved Jesus. He is your shepherd and you shall not want. Old things have indeed passed away and most certainly all things that pertain to your life have become new.

With the arms of Jesus around you it really doesn't matter what your circumstances are. What matters is that you let Jesus take you where He wants you to go. What you think is important today won't be important tomorrow. What is important is that you find your "secret place" where the presence of God dwells and by faith and obedience you go where He tells you to go and stay where He tells you to stay.

This is what the spiritual life is all about. God always leads you in triumph and in Him you go from glory to glory. Is there a better future than this? Certainly not!

Never let yourself get too caught up in the hustle and bustle of life. Your life and the days you live are more important than that. Stop and smell the roses. There is a whole other life out there waiting to be lived and you can live it when you slow down and take notice of what's out there.

Your godly thoughts and faith-filled imagination will become a photograph of the direction your life is taking. It tells you where you're going and what your life will become. There are no limits here and you can go as far as you want. Don't accept second best. Slow down, stop and behold, and become all you were meant to be. It's called living the good life.

*** Written by Randall J. Brewer ***

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Christian Humour – As Jesus Did

Text: Philippians 4:4; Psalm 32:11; 1 Thessalonians 5:16

***Blessed are those who can laugh at themselves for they shall never cease to be amused. Those who can't laugh at themselves leave the job to others. ***

Old Pastor McTavish was dying. He sent a message for an IRS agent and his lawyer, both church members, to come to his home. When they arrived they were ushered up to his bedroom.

As they entered the room, Pastor McTavish motioned for them to sit on each side of the bed. Then he grasped their hands, sighed contentedly, smiled and stared at the ceiling.

For a time, no one said anything. Both the IRS agent and Lawyer were touched and flattered that the old preacher would ask them to be with him during his final moments. But they were also puzzled because Pastor McTavish had never given them any indication that he particularly liked either of them.

They both remembered how his many long, uncomfortable sermons about greed and covetousness had made them squirm in their seats.

Finally, the lawyer said, "Preacher, why did you ask the two of us to come?"

Pastor McTavish smiled weakly and said, "Jesus died between two thieves, and that's how I want to go, too."

*** Copyright David Tait | 'Laughing At Ourselves' | Walking With Jesus Ministries ***

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Christian Humour - Only One Miracle Today

Text: Philippians 4:4; Psalm 32:11; 1 Thessalonians 5:16

***Blessed are those who can laugh at themselves for they shall never cease to be amused. Those who can't laugh at themselves leave the job to others. ***

Grandma Deanie took her little grandson Billy to the beach. They were having a good time until a huge wave came in and swept Billy out to sea. Grandma Deanie fell down on her knees and pleaded to the heavens, "Please return my grandson, - that's all I ask! PLEASE!!!"

A moment later, lo and behold, a wave swelled from the ocean and deposited the wet, yet unhurt child, at her feet. She checked him over to make sure that he was okay. He was fine. But still she looked up at the sky with an annoyed expression and said, "When we came he had a hat!"

*** Copyright David Tait | 'Laughing At Ourselves' | Walking With Jesus Ministries ***

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Ananias: A Man Whom God Could Use

Text: Acts 9:10-17

One of the most humbling truths revealed in Scripture is that God uses believers to accomplish His divine purposes.  Ananias, who was wonderfully used by the Lord, was the man who sought out and led Saul of Tarsus into fullness of blessing.  We read of him only twice in the New Testament, in Acts 9:10-17 and 22:12-16, but he is presented to us as the type of Christian whom God can use. Let’s consider the following points for a better understanding of the topic:-

THE MAN WHOM GOD USES MUST BE A MEMBER OF THE BODY OF CHRIST.

God works through those who by the miracle of the New Birth and the baptism of the Holy Spirit have been made members of His Church, which is His Body (1 Corinthians 12:13).  In Acts 9:4 the Lord told Saul of Tarsus that in persecuting Christians he had been persecuting the Lord Himself, for believers are members of the Body of Christ. He is the Head and they are members of the Body – therefore, the disciples of the Lord and the Lord Himself are one.

During His earthly ministry Jesus had an earthly body and worked through that, but now His body is the Church, and from Heaven He (the Head) works through the individual members of that body. Ananias was a member of that body, and if you and I are to be used by the Lord we too must be members of that body. This is the first qualification of a successful soul-winner.

THE MAN WHOM GOD USES MAY BE A VERY ORDINARY AND UNLIKELY PERSON.

When God reached Naaman He did it through “a young girl” (2 Kings 5:2).  When God wanted to lead Saul of Tarsus into the assurance of salvation He used Ananias. But who was he? He was a disciple (Acts 9:10) – not an apostle, not an outstanding man, and not necessarily a leader. The fact that God delights to use ordinary people should be a great encouragement to many – look up 1 Corinthians 1:26-29.

THE MAN WHOM GOD USES MUST BE LIVING A DEVOUT, CONSISTENT CHRISTIAN LIFE.

In Acts 22:12 we read that Ananias was “devout” and “highly respected by all the Jews”. This means that his life was above reproach, his conduct was blameless and there was no insincerity about his testimony; he showed forth the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ in his actions and words and made “the teaching about God our Saviour attractive” – look up Titus 2:10. God will only use those whose lives are consistent and glorifying to Him.  Is yours glorifying Him daily?

THE MAN WHOM GOD USES MUST BE AVAILABLE TO THE LORD TO DO WHATEVER HE WANTS.

Unfortunately some Christians are not at the disposal of the Lord; if He told them to invite their neighbour to come to church they would not be willing to do it; if He told them to leave their job and go far away as a missionary they would not obey; if He told them to give a certain portion of “their” money to His work they would not be prepared to do it. 

Ananias, however, was wholly at God’s disposal. How do we know this?  Acts 9:10 tells us that he was living so close to the Lord that he could hear Him speaking to him.  Read verses 10-14, and notice the note of intimacy in this conversation between Ananias and the Lord.

He was on speaking terms with God. Can the same be said about you? Also, Ananias was willing to obey the Lord without question.  It is true he did ask the Lord some questions, but immediately God told him that his job was to “go” (verse 15) we read that Ananias “went” (verse 17).  Instant obedience!

THE MAN WHOM GOD USES MUST BE FULL OF TENDER AFFECTION AND LOVE; HE MUST BE A CHRIST-LIKE MAN.

Notice from verse 17 that Ananias did not go to Saul and say, “You’re a wicked persecutor of the Church! You have done much evil!” (verse 13). No – he put his arms round Saul and said, “Brother Saul…” – and surely there was emotion in his voice and compassion in his heart when he said this! Here is a great test:  when another Christian has hurt you, are you able to go to him and say, “Brother…”?  Your answer will determine whether God can or cannot use you.

THE MAN WHOM GOD USES MUST BE WELL-INFORMED.

We infer this from verses 13 and 14 – and look up and compare 1 Chronicles 12:32 and Esther 1:13.  There is, however, a yet more important knowledge that we must possess if we are to be ready for God to use us in soul-winning service, and this is indicated in 2 Timothy 2:15.  We must know how to use our Bible in pointing someone to Christ.

Can you turn to the portions and verses which show why we need a Saviour…why Jesus Christ is the Saviour we need…why He is the only Saviour…and how, when and on what conditions He saves…keeps…and satisfies…?

THE MAN WHOM GOD USES MUST BE QUALIFIED TO LEAD OTHERS INTO FULLNESS OF BLESSING

Look at verse 17. On the very threshold of his new life Ananias led Saul of Tarsus into the fullness of spiritual blessing, for he showed him how to be “filled with the Holy Spirit”. Ananias was obviously in the enjoyment of this fullness himself, and he knew how imperative it is for any Christian to be filled with the Holy Spirit if he is to live graciously and serve effectively – look up Acts 2:4 and Ephesians 5:18.

We can never lead others into blessings which we have not experienced ourselves. Are you enjoying the blessing of a Spirit-filled life?

*** Written by Francis W. Dixon | Words of Life Ministries ***

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A Testimony Of God’s Love And Faithfulness

Text: John 3:16; John 15:9-13; 2 Timothy 2:13

August 1^st, 2008 is a day I will forever remember in my lifetime. It was a day my dad and I narrowly escaped death; that was before my dad eventually was caught up into the clouds in May, 2015. Not that we were truly worthy to be alive that day but ‘God commandeth His love towards us…’ and showed us His grace, mercy and faithfulness.

I was trying to gain admission into a University in my state of origin. I had done the Post University Matriculation Examination and got a good grade that surpassed even the cutoff marks. Later did I discover that I couldn’t gain the admission because my choice of course was one of such that hadn’t been accredited by the National University Regulatory body. Hence, no student could be admitted to the University for that course.

My dad and I had traveled to meet a sister-in-law of his nephew, who was one of the University’s Heads of Departments at that time if she could assist in any way. Our effort was futile and I believed and still believe today that the disappointment was to fulfill God’s purpose and plan for my life.

On our way back home, a truck at a distance away was slowly coming towards our direction but at the left lane of the road. We were at the right and on seeing a terrible pothole at our lane, my dad sped up so as to take the left lane before the truck was close and avert the pothole. We had almost gotten to the spot of the pothole while on the left lane, only for the truck driver to also open the throttle and aimed for a collision.

My dad was caught unawares but managed to swerve back to the right lane. And because we were at top speed, my dad couldn’t balance the car and had to make several swerves to the right and to the left and to the right and so on till the car somersaulted into a roadside ditch.

Truth be told, I was dumbfounded and good as gone in my mind. I had felt that was the end but somehow, I was breathing and because we had out seat-belts on, we didn’t sustain any major injuries. My dad regained composure and asked if I was okay. I simply nodded in the affirmative and on realizing that something terrible had just happened the tears couldn’t be caged. They came freely. And the rest was history.

This indeed is a testimony of God’s love and faithfulness towards me and dad. Those who lose their lives on daily basis on the road sometimes don’t necessarily go through similar ordeal and they are no more. But here I am sharing this testimony, having no doubt whatsoever that God loves me. And He loves you too!

Our death has been paid for at the Cross by our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. And no sudden death can ever overcome a true child of God. I can tell you that this incident strongly reaffirms my faith in believing that death by accident (in whatever shape or form) has no power over me.

Undoubtedly, everyone has a testimony to share about God’s love and faithfulness in their lives and family. Only an ingrate would say God hasn’t been good and faithful to him or her. For by what power and might do we breathe and sustain our heartbeats if not for God’s? By what intelligence do we go out and come in daily without being hurt and harmed if not for God’s?

A retired pastor when asked to talk about the greatest lesson he had learnt during his over fifty years of preaching and ministry. He said, “I have thought about it… and boiled it down to the one thing that has made the most difference in my life and sustained me through all my trials.

“The one thing I can rely on when tears, heartbreak, pain, fear and sorrow paralyze me… the one thing that always comforts me: Jesus loves me! This I know, for the Bible tells me so. Little ones to Him belong. They are weak but He is strong. Yes, Jesus loves me. Yes, Jesus loves me. Yes, Jesus loves me. The Bible tells me so.”

It’s no doubt that Jesus loves you and me. He loves us enough to lay down His life for you and me at Calvary. For “greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends”. And “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 15:13; 3:16).

We are alive today only because of His grace. “It is of the Lord’s mercy that we are not consumed, because his compassion fail not. They are new every morning, great is thy faithfulness (Lamentations 3:22-23). Great is thy faithfulness O God!

I have experienced His faithfulness and still do. I am a living testimony; O, yes I am. Have you also experienced God’s faithfulness, love and kindness in your life? Has He been good to you, to your friends and your family? Then don’t keep it to yourself. Tell of His goodness and bless His holy name.

“Let us lift up our hearts with our hands unto God in the heavens” to praise and worship His Majesty. “O, give thanks unto the Lord; for He is good and His mercies endureth forever… To Him alone who doeth great wonders: for His mercy endureth forever…” (Lamentations 3:41; Psalms 136:1-26).

Blessed be the name of the Lord! Amen.

*** Written by Jacobs Adewale (Admin) ***

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