Day 11 Pursuit Of His Presence

Ephesians 2:4-10 

4 But God–so rich is He in His mercy! Because of and in order to satisfy the great and wonderful and intense love with which He loved us,

5 Even when we were dead (slain) by [our own] shortcomings and trespasses, He made us alive together in fellowship and in union with Christ; [He gave us the very life of Christ Himself, the same new life with which He quickened Him, for] it is by grace (His favor and mercy which you did not deserve) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ's salvation).

6 And He raised us up together with Him and made us sit down together [giving us joint seating with Him] in the heavenly sphere [by virtue of our being] in Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed One).

7 He did this that He might clearly demonstrate through the ages to come the immeasurable (limitless, surpassing) riches of His free grace (His unmerited favor) in [His] kindness and goodness of heart toward us in Christ Jesus.

8 For it is by free grace (God's unmerited favor) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ's salvation) through [your] faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [of your own doing, it came not through your own striving], but it is the gift of God;

9 Not because of works [not the fulfillment of the Law's demands], lest any man should boast. [It is not the result of what anyone can possibly do, so no one can pride himself in it or take glory to himself.]

10 For we are God's [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live].

 

Devotional

The Household of Faith

by Kenneth Copeland

“As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.” Galatians 6:10
According to Galatians 6:10, if you are born again, you are a member of the household of faith.
“But, Brother Copeland, I just don’t think I have any faith.”
You have to! You couldn’t possibly be of the household of faith unless you had faith! And you can’t be born again and not have faith. Settle it right now in your mind and your heart that God has given you His faith. He hasn’t shortchanged you. He has put in you enough faith to blast through every mountain that gets in your way.
He expects you to use it, and He will develop it to the point where it can keep your body healed and your family prosperous and blessed. He expects you to use it to get your kinfolk saved and obtain every other promise given you in the Word of God.
If you haven’t had much success in those areas, it isn’t because you don’t have enough faith. It’s because what you have has never developed. You’ve been lying around on your sofa, eating spiritual junk food and watching videos all day. So when the devil kicked your door in and announced he was taking over your household by bringing sickness and calamity to it, you didn’t have enough strength to stop him.
But don’t let that discourage you. Come over to God’s gym with the rest of us and start working out. Start studying your Bible, listening to tapes, fellowshiping with the Lord and exercising your faith until you’re a spiritual Schwarzenegger.
Then, the next time the devil comes bursting through your door, you can stand up, flex those faith muscles and say, “Stop, thief! You’re not taking over this household. It belongs to me and don’t you touch one thing in it. I’ll cut you up one side and down the other with the Word of God. Now, get out and don’t let me see your ugly face on this block again!”
Now that’s what I call acting like who you are...a member of the household of faith!
Speak the Word
“My heavenly Father provides me with the measure of faith and I am determined to build my faith by meditating on His Word.” —Romans 12:3
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