Daily Bible Reflection

ACCESS THROUGH THE SPIRIT

EPHESIANS 2:18-22

"For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father." (Eph. 2:18).

Imagine you being invited to meet with His Sovereign Majesty, and access granted to you by his son, the crown prince and heir apparent to the throne. You were taken to His Sovereign Majesty by a guide who leads you and tells you what to do.

In chapter 2, verse 18, the apostle Paul tells us that, as believers, we have access to God the Father because of the death of Jesus Christ, thereby reconciling us to God. This access to God is not based on tribe, color, or race, but on faith in Christ Jesus. It is the Holy Spirit who admits the believers, and guides and leads them to the Father.

In addition, this access makes the believer no longer a stranger and foreigner, but a fellow citizen with the saints and of the household of God. He can share in the rights and privileges of the saints.

Furthermore, the believer is built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets (v. 20). This foundation is the revelation they received regarding Christ and the church, which serves to build the church. This means you are also built on that revelation of Christ which they received.

All of this access opens the believer to a wonderful privilege, and only through the Holy Spirit can the believer enjoy it. Make use of your opportunity as a citizen of the household of God, come daily into His presence through His Spirit, and let God be glorified.
SHALOM

SEPTEMBER 23
ISAIAH 41:17—43:13
EPHESIANS 2:1-22
PSALM 67:1-7 PROVERBS 23:29-35

SEPTEMBER 22
ISAIAH 39:1—41:16
EPHESIANS 1:1-23
PSALM 66:1-20 PROVERBS 23:26-28

BE NOT AFRAID

ISAIAH 37

"AND ISAIAH SAID UNTO THEM, THUS SHALL YE SAY UNTO YOUR MASTER, THUS SAITH THE LORD, BE NOT AFRAID OF THE WORDS THAT THOU HAST HEARD, WHEREWITH THE SERVANTS OF THE KING OF ASSYRIA HAVE BLASPHEMED ME." (Isaiah 37:6).

Sennacherib, the Assyrian king, had threatened King Hezekiah and his people. He made an outrageous boast of his defeat of other nations and their gods, and also defied the God of heaven (10-13).
Upon hearing Sennacherib's words and receiving a letter from him (1, 14), Hezekiah rent his clothes and went to the house of the LORD. Twice, the Scripture noted that Hezekiah entered the temple (37:1, 14).

The temple is a sacred place and an epicenter of worship. It is also a place where the presence of God tabernacles, where God dwells among His people. It is a place where heaven and earth are united. This was the place where King Hezekiah went. He knew that his help was not in Egypt or another nation but in God. He sent messengers unto Isaiah the prophet to hear what the LORD would say.

The prophet Isaiah said unto them, Thus shall ye say unto your master, Thus saith the LORD, Be not afraid of the words that thou hast heard, wherewith the servants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me.

What have you heard that is troubling your heart, and what have you seen that is making you afraid? What is it that people have said, and the evidence is glaring before your very gaze, without any atom of doubt? What is the threat to your life? Don't panic, God can handle it. Don't consult men; don't seek help elsewhere. Your help doesn't come from abroad but from above. The word of the LORD for you this day is, "Be not afraid." God can handle it. No matter what the doctor has said, God has the solution. No matter the voices speaking against you, God is on your side. He will disgrace every Sennacherib in your life. All you need to do is take it to Him in prayer, and He will defend you.
SHALOM

SEPTEMBER 21
ISAIAH 37:1—38:22
GALATIANS 6:1-18
PSALM 65:1-13 PROVERBS 23:24-25

A NEW SONG

ISAIAH 35:10

"And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away."

Isaiah 35 is a poetic word of comfort and assurance to those in exile. They had lost their temple and their land. They were suffering in a strange land. Their suffering is manifested in "weak hands," and "feeble knees," (v.3), "fearful heart," (v.4), "blind eyes," and deaf ears" (v. 5), "the lame" and "the dumb" (v. 6). The experiences they were going through were not pleasant ones.

Amid these sufferings, the LORD gave them words of assurance; they were about to sing a new song. Their sorrow would come to an end. They will not perish in a strange land. The LORD will redeem His people and bring them back to Zion. Though they left their land with affiliations, they were returning with singing unto Zion. The LORD will crown them with an everlasting joy. In addition, sorrow and morning, which they were acquainted with, shall flee away.

Whenever God restores His people, He gives them a new song to sing. Because you are the redeemed of the LORD, you are entering your Zion with singing. An unending joy shall be upon your head. You will obtain gladness and joy. Whatever has caused you sorrow and sighing is gone from you in the name of Jesus Christ.
It's your season of New Song. Enter into your Zion with singing and rejoicing, for the LORD has redeemed you.
SHALOM

SEPTEMBER 20
ISAIAH 33:13—36;22
GALATIANS 5:13-26
PSALM 64:1-10 PROVERBS 23:23

ESTABLISHED BY LIBERALITY

ISAIAH 32:8

"But the liberal deviseth liberal things; and by liberal things shall he stand."

We become what we make of others. We are not called to live for ourselves but for others. It is in the blessing of others that we become blessed. This is a principle established by God. We are a product of what we do to others.

The word liberal means generous, noble, large-hearted, benevolence, a person of large views and public spirit, a person above covetousness.
According to the scripture, this individual proposes measures that will promote the public welfare. This person does not pursue a selfish purpose but looks out for the good of others

As a result of this liberality, this individual shall be confirmed and established; that is, the acts of generosity shall establish the character, reputation, and hopes of this person.

It is only by acting liberally that we can make progress. Note that the liberal soul shall be made fat: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself (Prov. 11:25).

Perhaps your generosity has been exploited and taken for granted, and you have vowed not to be generous again or extend help to those whom you intend to bless. Beloved, let your generosity persevere steadily and let it not exhaust in a sudden and feeble flame. Remember the words of the apostle Paul to the Galatians in chapter 6, verse 9, "And let us not lose heart and grow weary and faint in acting nobly and doing right, for in due time and at the appointed season we shall reap, if we do not loosen and relax our courage and faint. Keep up that good work of generosity, and God shall establish you. Bless someone today, and let God bless you.
SHALOM

SEPTEMBER 19
ISAIAH 30:12—33:12
GALATIANS 5:1-12
PSALM 63:1-11 PROVERBS 23:22

THE CERTIFICATE OF THE SPIRIT

GALATIANS 4:1–7

"And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ" (vv. 6–7).

Beloved, have you ever paused to ponder the wonder of your heavenly birth? At birth a certificate is issued that records and verifies the birth of a child, it is a written proof of a person's registration into this world. But child of God, you possess a far greater certificate, one inscribed not by the hand of man but by the Spirit of the living God.

Have you ever reflected on how and why God made you His child? He did this purposefully, lovingly, by sending His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, so that you might receive the adoption of sons (vv. 4–5). Jesus alone is the Son of God from birth. Our adoption is a gift of grace. Both Jews and Gentiles are adopted. None has the prior claim on the Father.

When you surrender your life to Jesus Christ and accept Him as your Lord and Savior, God makes you His son. He sends the Spirit of His Son into your heart. It is the Holy Spirit within you who confirms your birth certificate and your birthright. He bears the inner witness that you are God's child. This is why He gave you the Spirit of His Son. The Spirit is the evident reality of sonship. The same Spirit Jesus has is the very Spirit He has given to you. That is the Spirit who enables you to cry out to God as your Father (v. 6).

In addition, you are made an heir of God through your union with Jesus Christ. This means you are a joint heir with Jesus Christ. It means that all that belongs to Jesus Christ belongs to you. You are entitled to share in all the inheritance that is due Him through the Father.

You are not an illegitimate child. You are a child of the Most High God. All that God has created belongs to you. You own your Father's wealth. Step out today with the mindset of God as your Father and take charge of all that belongs to your Father. Rule as a Son and enjoy your Father's wealth as His Son because you have the certificate of the Spirit and operates under the guidance of God's Spirit.
SHALOM