GOD EMPOWERS YOU TO BUILD HIS KINGDOM

International Bible Baptist Church

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GOD EMPOWERS YOU TO BUILD HIS KINGDOM

Day 169

June 18, 2024 • 2 Corinthians 6:4, 2 Corinthians 6:7

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2 Corinthians 6:4,7

But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, By the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left,

All Christians have a responsibility both to practice and to proclaim their faith. Evangelism is not optional. But what about when hard times come? Don’t we get a break? Aren’t we exempt from the “Great Commission”—at least until our lives calm down?

Not really. Trials aren’t an excuse for not sharing our faith; on the contrary, they are an opportunity to speak out for God. The apostle Paul says as much in the passage above. It is during these times that God gives us the strength to endure in order to keep going in our task of kingdom building. In fact our endurance fuels our message.

Trials didn’t stop Paul from announcing the Good News; they should not deter us either.

GOD’S PROMISE TO ME:

• I have forgiven your sin and reconciled you to myself.

• I have given you Good News to share with others.

MY PRAYER TO GOD:

God, you have given the gospel to me so that I might show it and share it. Help me to see beyond my problems today, to my real purpose—building your kingdom. Give me creativity in using my struggles to speak for you. Amen.

THE HOLY SPIRIT GUARANTEES FUTURE PROMISES

June 25, 2024 • Ephesians 1:13–14

Ephesians 1:13-14 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. Who are the “you also” to whom Paul referred? This meant all non-Jews who had become believers. Christ came to die for everyone—not just Jews, but Gentiles too. God had promised that through one of Abraham’s descendants, “and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.” (Genesis 12:3). Jesus fulfilled that promise when he opened the way of salvation to everyone. When we believe the Good News, God saves us. In that moment God gives us his Holy Spirit, who is like a security deposit. The fact that we have the Holy Spirit means that all the rest of God’s promises will come true. God’s promises about eternity are as certain as our salvation. There is no need to doubt what God says. While we may not understand everything in our lives or even agree on how the future will play out, we can agree that Jesus is coming back to take us to heaven to be with him forever. We can have confidence in God’s promises for the future. The Holy Spirit testifies daily to the fact that all of God’s promises will come true “to the praise of his glory.” GOD’S PROMISE TO ME: • I gave you my Spirit as a guarantee that I will give you everything else I promised. • You can be confident in all of my promises for the future. MY PRAYER TO GOD: God, thank you for giving me your Holy Spirit and for identifying me as your child. Thank you for the glorious future you have in store for me. Amen.

GOD’S LOVE ENDURES FOREVER

June 24, 2024 • Psalm 136:1

Psalm 136:1 O give thanks unto the Lord ; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. Every other line in Psalm 136 has the words, “His love endures forever.” As the psalmist briefly recites parts of Israel’s history, each act is followed by these words. God showed his love in creation (136:1-9); in bringing his people out of Egypt (136:10-15), in protecting them in the wilderness (136:16-22) and in providing for them (136:23-26). When you look back over your life, what choices, changes, trials or great joys come to mind? Perhaps you didn’t always sense God’s love, but the perspective of time shows that God’s faithful love was in each situation. That means that the situations of today are bound up in God’s faithful love as well. You can trust him today because you have experienced his loving hand in the past. Make a list of key times across the span of your life. Then, after each, write “His love endures forever.” God is at work. His love endures forever. GOD’S PROMISE TO ME: • My faithful love for you endures forever. MY PRAYER TO GOD: Nothing can stop you from loving me, Lord. Your love works through every situation today just as your faithful love carried your people Israel. I can trust your love today, tomorrow and for the rest of my life. Thank you that your love endures forever. Amen.

GOD’S LOVE NEVER FAILS

June 23, 2024 • Psalm 103:11–12, Psalm 103:8–9

Psalm 103:8-9,11-12 The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. God is full of unfailing love. It is seen in his mercy and grace toward us. Just as he got angry with his people the Israelites, so he gets angry with us today when we turn away from him. Yet he is slow to anger and does not remain angry forever. The psalmist knew that God was merciful and forgiving. God’s love is as high as the heavens and his forgiveness is boundless. Only a God so loving would not punish us as we deserve but instead take our sins and remove them as far as the east is from the west. In other words, our sins are completely separated from us and are remembered no more. God’s love never falters or fails. We may make him angry; we may face punishment, but we can always count on his forgiveness, mercy and love. Even in his anger God does not stop loving us. GOD’S PROMISE TO ME • I am merciful, gracious, slow to anger and full of unfailing love. • My love for you is greater than the height of the heavens. • I take your rebellious acts and remove them as far as the east is from the west. MY PRAYER TO GOD: Thank you for your love and mercy, Lord. Even when I am rebellious, I can return to you and find forgiveness and love. Your love is greater than I can comprehend. Amen.