By Pastor William Y. K. Brown Ph.D
(Resident Pastor)
Seventh-day Adventist Church
Osu-Bethel.
Tel: 0244165628/0243310773.
wykbrown@gmail.com
THURSDAY
THEME: VICTORY THROUGH GOD’S FAITHFULNESS
SCRIPTURE: 1 Corinthians 10:13
“No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”
REFLECTIONS
Sin is a major setback in human lives. No one is born righteous—we were conceived and born in sin (Psalm 51:5). Clearly, except God, no one “can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? No one!” (Job 14:4). From the day of our birth to the time of our demise, we struggle with sin and its repercussions. As Christians, we know and understand the controversy between God and Satan. Thus, while God seeks our salvation, Satan is an enemy who seeks our destruction. Daily and moment by moment, our decisions are shaping up our destiny and consolidating our position in either God or Satan. But our goal is to be with God.
In the Christian experience, we are engaged in a daily physical and spiritual battle that revolves around worship, allegiance, and loyalty. For us, we cast our lot for God, who is our creator and redeemer. He must have our unalloyed and unadulterated loyalty. However, we do not have power unless we seek help from God. Paul puts the struggle more practically in Romans 7:18-20 – “[18]For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. [19]For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. [20]Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.” Then Jeremiah 17:9 adds, “The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?” That is the actual condition of even the believer.
Praise God. Heaven’s support in this warfare is fully assured. God’s faithfulness is our surety for victory over the enemy. Paul wrote in 2 Thessalonians 3:3, “But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one.” God will establish and guard us, but He requires our cooperation. We are assured further: “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” To God be the glory; after all, we can overcome temptations with His help.
Therefore, in 2 Corinthians 4:7-10, Paul says, “[7]But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. [8]We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; [9]persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed— [10]always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.” Never forget that we have all the assurances for victory in Christ. If we fail, it is because we failed to take advantage of the opportunities and privileges we have been given. Indeed, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” God’s faithfulness is our joy, hope, and victory.
MY SONG OF COMMITMENT
SDAH 523 – “My Faith Has Found a Resting Place” – by Grace Community Church
LET US PRAY
– Praise and thank God for His sure promises; thank God for His faithfulness in fulfilling His promises in your life; pray to put God first, last, and best of all in your actions daily;
– Pray for those who are struggling with sin that God will give them the power to overcome; pray for the salvation of those who are involved in all kinds of addictions, wickedness, and vices;
– Pray for the newly born in Christ to remain faithful to God, commit to study the word of God, and spend time to pray for strength; pray for those who have fallen to rise in Christ;
– Pray for peace and righteous living in the country; pray for hope in the worsening socio-economic situations of most citizens; pray for young people without hope and healing for the sick.
