APPLY ACCURATE WORD KNOWLEDGE:

"My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children." 

(Hosea 4:6)

Applying accurate knowledge of God’s Word is indispensable if you must live a successful and victorious life in Christ. God said my people are destroyed, not because Satan is powerful, or because they don’t pray much, but for their lack of revelation knowledge; for not applying accurate knowledge of the Word. Don’t assume the Bible says something you haven’t verified; study to know; and apply yourself to doing what the Lord wants as revealed in His Word. The account of Cain and Abel in the Book of Genesis is very instructive in this regard.

The Bible says Abel’s offerings were accepted, while Cain’s offerings were rejected; why? Because Cain didn’t offer his sacrifice to God according to knowledge; he gave God what he chose to give without considering what he was supposed to give to the Lord. He didn’t function according to knowledge. They were both to give the best of their produce—the first fruits; but Cain merely took whatever he could find from amongst his crops and offered them to the Lord as sacrifice: "…it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord" (Genesis 4:3). Abel, on the other hand, took "…the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof" (Genesis 4:4). 

He gave God the first fruits (the first and the best) as required, and the Lord honoured his offering. This is just like some Christians today; there are things we like to do, but there are things we have been counselled and instructed by the Word of God to do. What God wants is that which He asked you to do; not what you "feel" like doing! Do what His Word instructs, for that is how to walk in His blessings.

FURTHER STUDY

I Samuel 2:3

Proverbs 11:19

Ecclesiastics 7:12

Andy Agim

Christ Realities

THE EFFECTUAL WORD:

"So shall my word be that goes forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it (Isaiah 55:11)."

The Word of God is living and powerful: It is active, operative, energizing, and effective: "…it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the breath of life (soul) and [the immortal] spirit, and of joints and marrow [of the deepest parts of our nature], exposing {and} sifting {and} analyzing {and} judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12). This scripture describes the infallible quality and efficacy of the Word of God.

Despite the effectual nature of God’s Word, Jesus taught that a man could render the Word ineffective in his own life. The Pharisees for one were experts in the Jewish traditions at the expense of following the true teachings of God’s Word. Hence the Word, even though effectual, all-powerful, and operative, didn’t produce results in their lives. They made the Word ineffective.

Many today, like the Pharisees, are either casual with the Word or bound to religion and traditions of men, thereby short-circuiting the power of the Word in them. People with personal traditions and religious opinions, beliefs and thought-patterns that are contrary to new creation realities revealed to us in the Word, will make the Word ineffective in their lives.

Never undermine the power of the Word; don’t get too "familiar" with the Word to the point it no longer makes an impact on you. Have a childlike attitude of delight and hunger for the Word always. Your only recourse in any situation in life should be the Word of God. When you find yourself in any difficult situation where you are wondering what to do, ask yourself, "What does the Word say concerning this situation?" Search the Word for information or instruction that covers that situation and put it to work; that is how to honour the Word and give it pre-eminence in your life, and it will always work for you. 

FURTHER STUDY:

Colossians 2:8

Mark 7:11- 13

Andy Agim

Christ Realities

TODAY! AS THE BEST:

"For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succored thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation." (2 Corinthians 6:2).

Some people are either regretting the failures of yesterday or fretfully dreading the challenges of tomorrow. But God doesn’t live in your yesterday; His name is "I AM," not "I WAS" or "I WILL BE." Hebrews 11:1 says, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Faith is now; and the Bible says without faith it’s impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6).

The life of faith is not about yesterday or tomorrow; it is about today! Faith works now. It is your response to God and His Word—NOW. So instead of having regrets of who you were or what you did in the past, or worrying about what the future holds for you, focus on the now! Ask yourself: "Who am I now?" This is what matters. Make the best of your today.

Regrets of yesterday and fears of tomorrow are enemies of today’s happiness. It doesn’t matter that yesterday’s assessments of you weren’t favourable; that was yesterday and it’s gone. Focus your attention on God’s Word to you now. Meditate on His truth about your personality and identity in Christ, and not on the failures of the past or the fears of tomorrow. A businessman who says for example, "I know my proposal won’t be approved," has already voiced his fears ahead of tomorrow. God doesn’t triumph in your fears; He triumphs instead in your faith.

Instead of anticipating tomorrow’s failures or the negative response you may get from people, choose to be positive and happy about today; make the day a success. When Elijah met with the Lord on Mount Horeb, God asked him: "What are you doing here, Elijah?" (1 Kings 19:9). It didn’t matter where he had been or where he was going; God was concerned about his current location. Today is what counts, so make a move to be your best today because tomorrow isn’t promised you. Tomorrow only belongs to those who take a hold of today because today is the springboard for tomorrow.

Further Study: 

Matthew 6:34

Andy Agim

Christ Realities