JANUARY 2

OUR PERSONAL PROMISES

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2 Cor. 5:7

“For we live by believing and not by seeing”

Hebrews 4:12

“For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

Ps 25:14

“The secret of the Lord is with those who fear Him,  and He will show them His covenant.”

Jn 15:5

““I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.”

Rom 11:36

“For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.”

Rom 14:23

“But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.”

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This month we’re reading  the new devotional   “Becoming New”,  written by  Warren W. Wiersbe and compiled by his grandson.  Pastor Wiersbe was the President of Moody Bible Institute before the current President, Erwin Lutzer. 

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THE WORD OF GOD

Read Genesis 1:1-2:3

The Bible opens with a description of divine transformation as God brought order out of chaos.  Everything that transpired at creation began with God and depended on God. Jesus said, “For apart from me you can do nothing,” (John 15:5).   “for everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory.” (Romans 11:36).

While there are many elements at work in this miracle by which God brought about transformation, it’s fitting to begin with the most repeated element:  THE WORD OF GOD.

In the first 34 verses of Genesis, we read, “God said” ten times, “God called” three times,  “God blessed” three times, and “God declared” one time.  God spoke 17 times!!!

“The Lord merely spoke, and the heavens were created.  He breathed the word, and all the stars were born…..For when he spoke, the world began!  It appeared at his command.”  (Ps 33:6 and 9).  Our spoken words don’t possess this kind of sovereign authority but if we believe God’s promise and are led by the Holy Spirit, our weak words can release transformation power.

Whatever we do must be done by faith and in obedience to the will of God because “whatever is not from faith is sin.” (Romans 14:23).  This means that what we do must be backed by the Word of God, for “faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.”  Faith is not an emotion that we work up but a gift the Spirit bestows as we live in His Word day by day.  People in trouble who frantically turn the pages of the same Bible they’ve repeatedly ignored, yet now desperately look to for help, are not likely to find it.  The believer who feeds on the Word  DAILY, worships, prays to know God’s will,  and waits on the Lord will be given the right promises at the right time and can claim them by faith.

“The Lord is a friend to those who fear him.  He teaches them his covenant.” (Ps 25:14)  The worldly believer is God’s enemy not His friend, and so is the believer who lives to satisfy the old sinful nature.  The Word of God is “alive and powerful.” And when we believe it, obey it, and act upon it, it will transform our lives and empower us to be transformers to God’s glory.

It has been well said that faith is not believing in spite of evidence but obeying in spite of consequence.  We don’t have to preach great sermons or perform miracles to be transformers.  What we must do is yield to God, feed on His Word, pray, and obey when God shows us what to do –all of this in SPITE of feelings, circumstances, opposition, or consequences. 

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