Anger Antidote I

READ: James 1:19-27
MORE LESSONS: Prov. 16:32
Bible Reading in One Year: John7-10

It is often said that anger is a thief of good moments. This is absolutely true because when we are angry nothing else seems to matter except gratifying the lust of that feeling. A lot of the wars and killings in our world today can be traced to someone's anger against another person. The human being is built with a little of this tendencies but we all have different anger thresholds. Some people can suffer long before they get angry but some others are easily sparked to anger by the slightest stirring. By and large, some degree of anger is important in protecting what is right, but when anger gets out of control, like wild fire it can cause more damage than was originally intended. When anger is out of control, one seems to loose discretion and right judgement. This kind of rage cannot produce the righteousness of God. James 1:20 says; For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.

Fire is not evil, because we need fire to cook and to keep warm in the cold amongst other things. But when fire is out of control, it is the most dangerous thing you ever knew. Anger, like a little flame of fire is not sin but can lead to sin if it is not put in check and appropriate control. The word of God helps us channel our emotions in the right direction. Life would be more productive for us if we channel the wrath of our anger from unedifying arguments and quarrels to the very works of the enemy in our society, family and our future. This is the kind of wrath that leads us to the place of deep intercession and warfare prayer until we can completely halt the activities of Satan around us to a standstill.

Everybody can be angry about one thing or the other. In fact, God too shows anger. He is mad at the devil’s works in your life. So the real question is what you are angry at? Is it your fellow brother that you have the power to forgive or like God, you hate what God hates and are angry at the devil too. I wish we can spend all our anger, wrath and indignation on the devil so when a person hurts us, we'll have no anger left to unleash at them except to love them. One sure antidote to anger is letting the word of God dominate your heart. It will channel all your emotions rightly. It will teach you when to speak and when to be silent. When to say sorry and when to say thank you.

Prayer/Action
* Thank God for releasing a revelation today that will destroy the very grips of anger and wrath over your life.
* Pray that the word of God will dominate your heart and life and cast away the spirit of anger.
* Ask the Holy Ghost to give you wisdom to channel your emotions aright so that you will not make decisions that you regret later.

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Keeping your Salvation

READ: Phil.2:12-16
MORE LESSONS: 1Cor.9:24-27
Bible Reading in One Year: Exodus 5-7

It is one thing to be born again, it is another thing to keep your salvation until Jesus comes. There is no doubt that God who saved you has the will and power to keep you to the end (2Tim.1:12).However, our text urges, Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling: Phil.2:12. Someone may ask, If I was saved by grace through faith, why do I still need to work out my salvation? It is because there is a part you must play to keep the salvation God has wrought for you.

Some steps are helpful in this regard: 1) You are to live a life of obedience to the Word of truth, whether your leader or any other believer is there or not.
2) Don't murmur or complain. God brought out Israel from Egypt with great power to take them to Canaan. But those who decided to give themselves to murmuring and complaining all perished in the wilderness. It was the intention of God to take them to Canaan, but they aborted that plan by their behaviour. 3) Be blameless sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation. Let your conduct be such that even those who hate you will have no ground to fault you.
4) Be the shining light in your corner; dare to be different and unique. The popular saying, if you are in Rome, behave like a Roman or if you can’t beat them, join them, does not apply in the Christian walk. Don't do something because everyone around you is doing it. They could be wrong. When you are in doubt over any matter, ask your pastor.
5) Hold fast the confession of your faith. There are many false teachers and prophets in town, who are agents of satan to confuse young minds. Give yourself to the study of God's Word.
6) Always attend prayer and fellowship meeting where you learn more about God and obtain grace to be obedient to the Word.

God does not intend to abandon you on the way. Yet, as you can see in verse 16, it is possible to run in vain, and void the works of those who laboured over you (preached to you, followed you up, and taught you the way of the Lord). The desire of every spiritual leader is to see his flock blessed here on earth and make it to Heaven. Your success is one of the bases on which he will be rewarded in Heaven. So you are part of the stars on his crown on the last day. If you fail to make it to the end, he will have laboured in vain. You must make up your mind not to disappoint yourself and your spiritual leaders. Run according to the rules. Be focused on the prize for the upward call of God. Indeed, there is an incorruptible crown awaiting you if only you will run steadily to the end.

Prayer/Action
* Give thanks to God for the salvation of your soul.
* Thank Him for His plan to keep you in the faith to the end.
* Receive grace to stay in the faith.
* Rebuke every enemy of your salvation.

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Assurance of Salvation

READ: Eph.2:1-8
MORE LESSONS: Rom.8:14-16
Bible Reading in One Year: Exodus 1-4

Yesterday, we considered what it takes to be truly born again and perhaps you prayed and committed your life to Jesus. Many young converts grapple with the problem of confirming their new status in Christ. A young convert may be faced with questions such as: What makes you believe that you are now born again? Did you see Jesus enter into you? How can mere repetition of the preacher's prayer get you born again? Thus he or she is confused. Perhaps you are also confused about the prayer you made yesterday, but I want you to understand the following from our text:
1. You are saved by grace through faith. Having said the prayer yesterday, believe in the efficacy of the prayer.
2. Jesus does not have to physically walk into your life. The Spirit of God entered into you at conversion. So Jesus is in your heart.
3. You are now a child of God. The Spirit of God will henceforth continue to testify, witness to your own spirit (conscience) that you are born again.

It is the strategy of satan to put doubt in anyone who confesses Jesus to make him think nothing has changed. But from the very moment you made those statements sincerely from your heart, God who sees your heart knew that you meant every word. So He released His Spirit to carry out a work of regeneration on your spirit man. In the spirit realm, you have been rescued from the control and dominion of the power of darkness (Col.1:13). Your name was removed from the books of judgement and boldly written in the Book of life (Rev.20:11-15).

Satan and his agents and the angels of God know this truth. Stand your ground. Your affection for God and things of God will begin to increase. There is a deep-seated joy and satisfaction in your inner being. You feel as if you have everything even though physically, you may have some lack. You feel God is now nearer to you than before. You will also resent sin. You feel odd in the midst of old friends who practise sin, and you desire a new company. These are some of the evidence that you are born again. Go ahead and change those friends because they can pull you down if you continue with them. Go to a Bible believing church and present yourself to the pastor, and ask him to give you someone who can follow you up. Remember, you are born again by grace through faith, not by works.

Prayer/Action
* Thank God for His mercies by which He saved you.
* Ask God to keep you in the faith until Jesus comes.
* Pray against the enemy that makes men to backslide.
Share your salvation experience with a friend today.

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Are You truly Born Again?

READ: John 3:1-8
MORE LESSONS: Acts 8:26-39
Bible Reading in One Year: Mark 14-16

It is interesting to know how much the Gospel of Jesus Christ has prevailed in our time. Some years back, it was a sacrilege in many homes to be born again. You automatically became an outcast, an object of ridicule, one that missed his way in life. Today, it is fashionable to be born again. Even those who are yet to be saved hate to be called unbelievers. While this development in our time is glorious, it is necessary to review what it means to be born again so that no one lives on a false assumption that he or she is saved.

It is possible to be very devout, God-fearing, pray regularly, show kindness to fellow human beings, go on pilgrimage to Jerusalem and read/study the Bible, yet you are not born again. From our text, Cornelius the Centurion was a devout man. Many Church leaders of our time cannot earn the commendation accorded Cornelius. Now consider the commendation: Cornelius (was) 1) A devout man. 2) Feared God with his entire household. 3) Gave much alms to the people, 4) Prayed to God always. 5) Had a vision in which an angel told him his works were noticed by God. Yet he needed to send to Peter at Joppa who had to tell him the way of salvation.

Another personality that God had to intervene in his matter to get him truly saved was the Ethiopian Eunuch (Acts 8:26-39). This man went on pilgrimage to Jerusalem. He was even reading the Bible (the book of Isaiah) on his way back to Ethiopia. The Holy Spirit had to prompt Philip the evangelist along Gaza strip to explain the way of salvation to the eunuch. Are you truly born again? The two examples demonstrate the fact that you are not born again because of your good works or religious activities.

What then does it take to be truly born again? One must:
1. Admit and confess Jesus as Lord and Saviour, and put one’s total trust in His name: Rom.10:9-10; 10:13.
2. Turn from following satan and his agents to God: Acts 26: 17-18; 1Thess.1:9.
3. Be made a new person in character and affection by the power of the Holy Spirit: Titus 3:5; 2Cor.5:17.
4. Live a life that is solely dependent on God's Word and His Spirit: John 3:3-8; 1Pet. 1:23; Matt.4:4. You live by the Bible and are led by the Holy Spirit (this is what it is to be born of water and Spirit).

Think about these facts: Are you truly born again? Does your life manifest the issues raised above? You can surrender your life to Jesus today.

Prayer/Action
* Jesus, I confess You as the Son of God. I believe You died to take away my sins. I surrender my life to You. I renounce every connection with satan and his agents. I surrender my body, soul and spirit to Jesus Christ the Son of God. Jesus, welcome into my heart.

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