A Scripture Based Devotional for Overcomers

11 June
2 Tim. 1:12
It pays to know Jesus personally
Here Paul explains why he is not ashamed to suffer for the gospel. According to him, he is not ashamed to suffer for the gospel because he knows whom he has believed (2 Tim. 1:12). Paul is not ashamed to suffer for the gospel because he met the Christ of the gospel (Acts 9:5-6). He is not ashamed because he is not suffering on account of a cleverly invented fable, myth, but on account of one whom he met personally. Like Paul, the early disciples were courageous in the face of suffering because they knew Jesus personally (Acts 4:13).Anyone who knows Jesus personally will not be ashamed or afraid to suffer for Him. One who does not know Jesus personally will not have the courage or reason to suffer for Him. Knowing Jesus personally is the primary basis for courage to suffer for Him. An unbeliever cannot suffer for Christ. Our personal relationship with Jesus should drive or encourage us to suffer for Him, if and where this is necessary.
PRAYER: 1. Father, please enable me to know Jesus personally.
2. Father, please deepen my personal relationship with Jesus.
12 June
Jn. 1:12-13
How to become God’s child
According to this passage, the right to become God’s child belongs exclusively to the one who receives Jesus and believes in Him as the Messiah (Jn. 1:12; cf. Jn. 1:29). Anyone who becomes God’s child through Jesus Christ is truly born of God (Jn. 1:13; 1 Jn. 5:1). Anyone who is not God’s child through Jesus Christ does not belong to God (see 1 Jn. 2:23; 2 Jn. 9). Although the right to become God’s child is universal, it is only the one who believes in Jesus Christ who attains it (Jn.1:12; Jn. 3:16). Anyone who rejects Jesus as the Christ forfeits the right to become God’s child. This right is available through Jesus Christ only (Acts 4:12; cf. Jn. 1:29; Jn. 3:16). God has only provided this one means alone for becoming His child (Acts 4:12; cf. Jn. 1:29; Jn. 3:16). To become God’s child through Christ is a unique experience (Jn. 1:13). There is no experience similar to it (Jn. 1:13; cf. 2 Cor. 5:17). It is an experience no one can afford to miss (cf. Matt. 16:26). Even if one possesses the whole world but does not possess this right, he possesses nothing (see Matt. 16:26).
PRAYER: 1. Father, please make me your child through Jesus Christ.
2. Father, please take the spirit of unbelief from me.
13 June
2 Tim. 1:11
The purpose of our gifts
Paul states that he was appointed a herald, an apostle and a teacher of the gospel (2 Tim. 1:11). As a herald, he is to bear or proclaim or announce the gospel. As an apostle, he is sent with and for the gospel. As a teacher, he is to teach the gospel. The offices are meant for the gospel (2 Tim. 1:11). His appointment in these capacities is not meant to serve any other purpose than that of the gospel. This is true, not only of Paul, but of all believers. Whatever gift God gives us, it is meant for the service of the gospel (see 1 Cor. 12:7ff.). Anyone who exercises his gift for any other cause or purpose is not using it for the cause or purpose it was given. Spiritual gifts are gifts of the gospel, for the gospel. All gifts must be exercised to serve the purpose or cause of the gospel, nothing more, nothing less. Spiritual gifts that are exercised for another purpose are exercised in vain (cf. Gal. 1:8-9). The gospel is the sole motif for all spiritual gifts (cf. Acts 1:21-23).
PRAYER: 1. Father, please enable me to exercise my gifts to your glory alone.
2. Father, please keep me from exercising my gifts for any other purpose than for your glory.
14 June
Rev. 2:18
Jesus is all seeing
This passage describes the Son of God, Jesus Christ, as one whose eyes are like blazing fire (Rev. 2:18). This means that like the Father, His eyes are everywhere (Prov. 15:3; cf. 2 Chron. 16:9), and nothing in all creation is hidden from His sight (Heb. 4:13). The fact that He knows the deeds of the Thyatira believers confirms this (Rev. 2:19). It is His nature that Jesus is all seeing. Everything is indeed uncovered or laid before His sight (Heb. 4:13). He sees everything that everyone does. None of our actions or activities is hidden from Him (Heb. 4:13). Since He sees all our actions, He will call us to account for them (2 Cor. 5:10). Whatever we do, we must bear in mind that Jesus sees everything and will demand us to account for it (2 Cor. 5:10).
PRAYER: 1. Father, please enable me to please you with all my life.
2. Father, please keep me from doing anything that is not pleasing to you.

15 June
Exod. 33:14-17
God’s Presence
God promised to be with His children always, even to the end of the age (see Matt. 28:18-20; Jos. 1:5; Matt. 18:20). The presence He promised His children is everlasting (see Matt. 28:18-20). He promised never to leave or forsake them (see Jos. 1:5). This means that there is no time or moment when He is not present with them (see Ps. 139:7-12). His ever-abiding presence means success and victory for His children (see Acts 18:9-11; Exod. 14:19-20). His presence is enough for His children (see Exod. 14: 19-20; Jn. 15:4-6). Everyone needs God’s presence all the time. No one can do without His presence. The absence of His presence even for a second would mean complete catastrophe (see Exod. 33:14-17). Anyone without God’s presence is dead, even though he lives (see Jn. 15:4-6). Only sin can cause His presence to be withdrawn from His children (Is. 59:1-20; Is. 50: 1-2).
PRAYER: Father, please grant me the fullness of your presence.

16 June
Num. 12:6-8
God still speaks to His children
The Lord is the God who speaks to His children (see Exod. 20:1-21). He is not an unspeaking or dumb God but the speaking one. He is indeed the living God (see Rev. 1:18). The Scripture is full of instances or cases of God speaking to His children (see Gen. 1:29-30; Gen. 6:13-21; Gen. 7:1-5; Gen. 9:8-17; Exod. 8:1-5, 16, 20-21; Exod. 9:1-4, 8-9, 13-19; Exod. 10:1-2, 21; Jos. 1:1-9; 1Sam. 3:1-18). God speaks in various ways (see Heb. 1:1). He speaks through His Word (Exod. 20:1-21), through dreams (Gen. 41:1-32; Acts 2:17; Num. 12:6), through visions and revelations (Num. 12:6; Acts 2:17), and through His only Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ (Heb. 1:1-2). He still speaks today. No one can do without God’s speaking in his life. If anyone desires God to speak to him, he must clear away everything that can hinder Him from doing so (see Heb. 12:1). But God’s written Word is His final, ultimate and complete speaking to man (see Rev. 22:18-19). Any alleged speaking of God that conflicts with His written Word must be completely and roundly discarded (see Rev. 22:18-19).
PRAYER: Father, please speak to me and enable me to listen to you.

17 June
Acts 12:11
God is able to rescue His own
King Herod put Peter in prison, intending to bring him to trial, and do with him as he did with James, the brother of John (Acts 12:1-5). But the night before Peter’s trial, God sent His angel to deliver him from Herod’s clutches and from everything that the Jews were anticipating (Acts 12:6-11). God miraculously rescued Peter from prison and death (Acts 12:6-10). This shows that God is able to deliver any child of His from every evil situation. He has done it time and again (Dan. 3:1-30; Dan. 6:1-28; Exod. 14:5-31; 1Sam. 17:1-54). He is able, ready, and willing to perform even the most dramatic or spectacular miracle in order to save His children (Dan. 3:1-30; Dan. 6:1-28; Exod. 14: 5-31; 1 Sam. 17:1-54). Nothing is indeed impossible with Him (Lk. 1:37). And indeed not even a hair can fall to the ground from His children’s heads unless He authorizes it (Lk. 12:7). What God did for Peter, He is able, ready, and willing to do for us today (see Matt. 28:18-20). He is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Heb. 13:8). Only sin can hinder the outpouring of His mighty power on our behalf (see Is. 50:1-2).
PRAYER: Father, please rescue me from all evil.

 

Our Daily Key: A Scripture Based Devotional for Overcomers

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