TSP DAILY DEVOTIONAL
PRESENT CONTINUOUS
7th June 2020
Dr. Phil Ransom-Bello
KEY SCRIPTURE/MEMORY VERSE: Colossians 1:3-4(NKJV)
We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of your love for all the saints;
Our study yesterday left a reality check, reminding us that if we really believe, then we will inevitably talk about what we believe.
You can’t receive the gospel and keep it to yourself. It’s a too-good-to-be-true news about how the death, burial and resurrection Jesus has brought forgiveness of sins, the gift of righteousness and a change in nature for anyone who believes.
So how can your faith not speak?
Faith is not as technical as we make it sound when we quote Hebrews 11:1 but it’s as simple as accepting the work of Christ on the cross as the only way to be accepted by God and made righteous. Faith is simply receiving the forgiveness of sins and every provision of the gospel.
And this faith is not just something you express to become born-again, you are saved by faith and you live by faith!(Romans 1:17)
How can the believer receive forgiveness by faith, come into a new life in Christ and then plan to sustain it by their own effort?
Hear me, everything Christ died to provide for you is received by faith alone, whether at the initial born-again experience or as you continue in your walk with God which speaks of continuity.
In the course of this conversation on bearing gospel fruits, I realize that when we teach the gospel, many people know the gospel but don’t do the gospel. Many of you have head knowledge of the gospel but you don’t live the gospel. To live the gospel means it has moved from head knowledge to revelational knowledge. When the gospel begins to live and work through you, then it will ultimately bear fruit.
In our text today, we see how Paul gives thanks for the church at Colosse for the fruits of the gospel being expressed in their lives. That their faith was still intact in spite of the challenges they were facing with false teachers.
So the gospel produces genuine faith in Christ that is enduring. You may have raised the dead before or healed the sick but if you are not in faith now, that’s a problem.
We are not thanking God because you had spiritual experiences yesterday, we are thanking God because you are in the faith NOW.
It’s now and continuously.
In Luke 18, Jesus asked the disciples if He would still find faith on the earth when He returns. So what matters is that yours is a faith that perseveres. That nothing shakes your trust and reliance in Christ and His finished works.
Look friends, let this gospel that we have received and believed in, move from head knowledge to heart knowledge, let it move to revelation so that regardless of whatever season comes or goes in our lives, our faith will be deeply rooted and grounded, not shifting from Christ, ultimately bringing glory and praise to God.
Let your faith be present continuous.
REFLECTION
Does my faith persevere? Is it borne out of revelation or head knowledge?
DECLARATION
-I believe in the gospel, therefore the seed of the gospel produces fruit in my life.
-I believe the gospel and I live the gospel. I move from just head to evelation knowledge of the gospel.
-All that the finished work of Christ provides, I receive by faith. From start to finish.
-The gospel produces in me genuine faith in Christ. A faith that perseveres, relying totally on Christ and His finished works.
-Regardless of my past experiences or current circumstances, I keep believing. My faith is present continuous.
-As the gospel produces enduring faith through me, praise and thanksgiving goes to God.
Hallelujah!
HEARING BY THE WORD
(Recommended Listening)
Listen to Fruits of the Gospel 2 >> Dr. Phil by The StandPoint Church on #SoundCloud
