A teaching by Rev. Barbara Williams, President of the Ministry of the Watchman International
Week of December 11-15, 2023
MONDAY
What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 6:21-23
There is a work that is done on earth, whether we know it or not. When God set man in the garden, He gave man a command to work: “be fruitful, multiply, replenish the earth, tend the garden, and take care of the animals.”
Every act of man draws a paycheck. Our words draw a paycheck. We are sowing seeds all the time. We are either sowing to the spirit or to the flesh. When we sow seeds of sin, there is a wage paid for that, just as there is a blessing for obedience to the word of God.
We actually receive a paycheck for the wrong done by us and by others. Man never likes this aspect of dominion and authority. We must know that we are responsible for what happens on the earth, because we are made in God’s image, and God is faithful. Faithful people are responsible people.
If you are in need of healing, there is good news! Proverbs 4:20-22 SAYS:
My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.
So there is life and health in God’s word. Since God’s word is medicine, we must take it like we would a prescription. I suggest three times a day, like you would your food. Remember, healing is the children’s bread. Consider this your “dose” for today. Remember, read, and meditate three times a day the following:
Rx: 1 John 3:8b ~ For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.
“Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
2 Timothy 2:15
If you’ve never studied the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, we invite you to join us as we read through the Bible in a year. Read and meditate on these chapters this week:
December 11: 2 Chronicles 11-12, Revelation 1-2, Zephaniah 3, John 1
December 12: 2 Chronicles 13, Revelation 3, Haggai 1, John 2
December 13: 2 Chronicles 14-15, Revelation 4, Haggai 2, John 3
December 14: 2 Chronicles 16, Revelation 5, Zechariah 1, John 4
December 15: 2 Chronicles 17, Revelation 6, Zechariah 2, John 5
December 16: 2 Chronicles 18, Revelation 7, Zechariah 3, John 6
December 17: 2 Chronicles 19-20, Revelation 8, Zechariah 4, John 7
TUESDAY
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 6:23
But sin does not have the final word. If that were true, Satan would be God. He is presently the god of this world, but that place is his by default and is only temporary, since Jesus is Lord of eternity. Satan tricked man into giving him that place, but because sin is born of weakness (in this case, deception), it is easily overcome by righteousness. In the case of man, righteousness is imputed when we accept the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ. So even though we have racked up a huge paycheck of eternal damnation for our sins, eternal life is offered in the same breath that the penalty is levied. God has the final word.
WEDNESDAY
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 6:23
Jesus tells us there is trouble in this present world and its’ system. Then He tells us to cheer up about it. This is the mercy of God in action, because sin does not have the final word. When we know that the wages of sin is death, we need to know that resurrection life is possible. God is so loving and merciful that He never lets us wonder if there is an answer. Our only job is to decide if we want to receive the answer He provides. When we receive the answer, then we are placed in Christ where there is only salvation because He has paid the wages of sin for us.
THURSDAY
Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? Indeed the hour is coming, yes, has now come, that you will be scattered, each to his own, and will leave Me alone. And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me. These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
John 16:31-33
Imagine this: You have lived your life the way most people do. You have tried to be good. You try not to hurt anyone. You try to share what you have. You do some good deeds. You may even attend church, and give some to the poor. You give to the Salvation Army and even do a little volunteer work at the local shelter. You help out with the parent-teacher group at school, and participate in the car pool. You do everything you know to do to be a good person. But like everybody else, you make mistakes. You get angry, sometimes you are provoked, and sometimes not. You buy too many things your husband tells you not to. You don’t get along well with his mother, etc., etc. Guess what? Even though you are doing the best you can, your paycheck for this has one word written on it: DEATH.
FRIDAY
So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”
“O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?”
The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 15:54-57
The eternal life of God has overcome the wages of death. Death is swallowed up in victory! Your sin does not have the final say in your eternal destiny. In fact, the wages of sin are so cancelled over our lives that God gives us the faith for Heaven the moment we are born again. There is no guesswork or false assurance as to our eternal destination. We are secure in what He has provided and paid for us. We know that we have eternal life, because the Spirit of eternal life dwells in us. When God lives in us, we have all that we need.
We have the final word. We have the gift of ETERNAL LIFE!