Matthew 4:4 NKJV “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.”

God’s word is the truth and has the power to make you free when you believe and act on it (John 8:32, James 1:22). There are things you must know and believe about God’s word (the Bible): It is life changing. In the parable of the Sower, Jesus said, “The seed is the word” (Luke 8:11). You may not understand the power within a seed, but you know that when you sow it in good soil, it will spring to life; it will not just sit there and do nothing, it will produce fruit. Likewise, your Bible is “the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe” (1Thessalonians 2:13 NKJV). It works. “My word…will not return to me empty but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it” (Isaiah 55:11 NIV). Note the word “sent.” Every word God speaks is on a mission and is guaranteed to accomplish it in accordance with His will, His strategy, and His timing. It is creative. “By God’s word the heavens came into being and the earth was formed” (2Peter 3:5 NIV). God’s Word was powerful enough to create everything that exists. God did not strive or sweat, He just spoke, and it was accomplished. So, speak God’s Word! It is authoritative. “They were astonished at His teaching, for His word was with authority…they were all amazed…saying, ‘What a word this is! For with authority and power He commands the unclean spirits, and they come out” (Luke 4:32, 36 NKJV). The forces of darkness around you today must recognize and submit to God’s Word, so stand and act on it!

PHILIPPIANS 2:3-4 NKJ “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.”

Selfishness is self-centeredness, self-serving, self-importance, self-seeking. It is mankind’s deep-seated defect inherited from Adam. If God were to allow it, all it will take to change heaven to hell is selfishness. Selfishness is the root of all conflicts in relationships, especially marital relationship. Selfishness is the cause of every evil, meaning that every evil proceeds from selfish actions. Pride and selfishness always go together. Pride produces and feeds selfishness. Every selfishness is a manifestation of pride. In fact, the Bible says, “By pride comes nothing but strife” (Proverbs 13:10). A truly humble person cannot be selfish. Unconditional love is the opposite of selfishness. Giving is the opposite of acting selfishly. Fortunately, there is a remedy to selfishness: submitting to the Lordship of Jesus Christ especially in our relationships. I want to encourage you today to do a sincere examination of your relationships: are you selfish? If yes, it is time to yield yourself to the love of Christ. There is no cure for selfishness apart from Christ living His life through you!

Colossians 2:6 “As ye have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him.”

The Lord Jesus Christ came to deliver us from complications that Satan could potentially bring into our lives (Colossians 1:13). You are delivered from the power of darkness. You are made free from the yoke (oppression) of bondage (Galatians 5:1). You are delivered from a complicated life into a simplified life in Christ Jesus (John 10:10). The key to maintain this simplified lifestyle is to “walk in him”; in order words continue to live your life in him. Over and over the scriptures instruct us to walk (conduct our lifestyle) as new creations in Christ Jesus. We are instructed to walk as children of light (Ephesians 5:8) so we do not stumble; to walk in love (Ephesians 5:2) so we are failure proof (1 Corinthians 13:8); to walk in wisdom (Colossians 4:5) so we do not act foolishly; to walk in the truth (3 John 1:3), so we are not deceived by the devil; to walk in the Spirit (Galatians 5:16), so we do not fulfill the lust of the flesh. God wants us to walk worthy of the Lord, so we can be fruitful in every good work (Colossians 1:10). The ultimate is for us to walk in the simplicity that is in Christ Jesus, whom we have received as Lord. If we stop walking in Him, then we will start sinking into sin, carnality, and sadly become subject again to the power of darkness. God forbid!