The Devotional - A Look at the Book #723

by Jesse Abel

Delivery systems; there must be numerous ways to deliver people, objects and information in time. All of which take time. But I am aware of another method of delivery; one that man cannot duplicate. Colossians 1:13. For nearly six thousand years men, women and children have been delivered instantly from grip of darkness to the Light of God’s Love. Matthew 17:5

It was Mr. Patrick Henry who said, “Give me liberty, or give me death” he coined those words on March 23, 1775 in a speech he delivered to the Virginia House of Burgesses. I am focused on several of his statements.

“No man thinks more highly than I do of the patriotism, as well as abilities, of the very worthy gentlemen who have just addressed the house. But different men often see the same subject in different lights; and, therefore, I hope it will not be thought disrespectful to those gentlemen if, entertaining as I do opinions of a character very opposite to theirs, I shall speak forth my sentiments freely and without reserve”.

As he continues his plea to the President, he makes another statement; “Besides, sir, we shall not fight our battles alone. There is a just God who presides over the destinies of nations, and who will rise up friends to fight our battles for us. The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave. Besides, sir, we have on election (option). If we were base enough to deserve it, it is now too late to retire from the contest. (War with England).

Today the United States of America is facing a different national enemy, but not unlike the one it faced in 1775. Different men seek to enforce their view on the same subject of freedom in the light of religion, culture and tradition that the citizens of the United States of America are not in agreement with. It is time for “We the people” to stand up and be patriots. It is time to be wise, the battle will be great and the struggle, arduous. But liberty and freedom require our best endurance.

We need to stop having eyes that refuse to see government corruption and ears that refuse to hear governing mandates of personal and national greed. The Lamp that will guide us is the Lamp of Almighty God. In a similar way the writer of Psalm 119 who, in captivity penned these words. “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path” Psalm 119:105.

If we are to continue in freedom and if we intend to preserve the privileges of life and liberty, let us stop pursuing ungodly and temporal ignorance’s of what it means to be happy. Let us return to the LORD and allow Him to revive us in accordance with His Word.

Prayer is a freewill offering of the mouth and when we sincerely turn as a nation to prayer, He will respond. Psalm 119:105-112.

Liberty is better than the death of a nation.

The Devotional - A Look at the Book #722

by Jesse Abel

This small section of one paragraph used to be called “Papa J’s rules for livin” the problem I ran into was that I broke all the rules, you know… Don’t do what I do, do what I say to do. Apparently this is nothing more than two sides of the same coin. Spend it on either side and the coin is no longer of value to you!

Much of the everyday world around us is full of fear, even those who ride around in those pickup trucks with bumper stickers or window stickers that say, “No fear” are full of uncertainty, fear and anxiety. Fear is the result of inward thinking rather than being capable of thinking outside our personal circumstances.

Believers in Jesus Christ, now let me qualify what I said; not those people who say that they believe that Jesus Christ existed as a human being a few thousand years ago, or those who religiously acknowledge Him from the cultish doctrines of men. But those who believe in Jesus Christ because they personally know Him from the HOLY BIBLE from scriptural references like, Romans 10:9-10 or John 11:24-27. These are the only people who can say that they have… NO FEAR!

Well, why is that? Fear is the exact opposite of love. Fear causes torment, love causes kindness. Fear causes blindness of the heart, love opens the eyes of the heart to the needs of others. I am sure we could list a number of things that result when fear in one’s life is replaced with the love of God. Oh! What did you say Jesse? The love of God; what is that?

Man or woman is not capable of having this love apart from personally knowing God, now don’t get me wrong, mankind is capable of love, loving family and friends is what we do as humans and we do it well. Yet there is another element to love that cannot be expressed in full until one comes to personal faith in the death and resurrection of the LORD Jesus Christ.

One verse that is very clear on this is a verse that the world has memorized. John 3:16 in very basic terms the verse says… God loves the world that does not love Him. Then there is another passage in Romans 5 that places the LORD Jesus Christ in our unloving place in order to demonstrate the love that God has toward us. Even while we are dead in trespasses and sin, Christ died for our sin in order that we by believing in Him might be made alive and capable of God’s love. Romans 5:6-11.

So here is the conclusion: If you wish to have “no fear” then you will need to know that element of love that is missing in your walk-a-bout world in which you live. Follow me to 1 John 4:17-18 where the apostle John talks to us about the consummation or completeness of love when God perfects it in those who personally know Him.

Fear is having a lack of boldness, not just in life, in general; but mainly in the Day of Judgment. Jesus lives, so Jesus saves those who believes in Him. He is raised from the dead and so as He is, we who believe in Him are alive in Him. We who have believed in Jesus find then this truth to be very real. Since God showed kindness to us through His love, we can now be fully equipped to show kindness to others. Romans 5:1-5

The Devotional - A Look at the Book #721

by Jesse Abel

Ever think about the partnership that words have with each other? Words like “love and marriage” “joy and peace” “grace and mercy” “man to man” “woman to woman” “love and hate” “war and peace”. In a proper setting or usage partnering words is good; but in our nation today we have allowed paganism to change the meanings and we are corrupting our young people. Genesis 14:21, the king of Sodom is after the souls of this countries children.

Prayer and miracles go together in scripture and it seems to me that in many churches across this land we do not like talking about four subjects from our pulpits. One: Prayer; Two: Miracles; Three: The Holy Spirit and Four: Spiritual gifts. However, if you read your Bible as you need too, you will see that the effectual and fervent prayer of the righteous person will reveal much from the Hand of God. James 5:13-18.

Yes, we are nearly 2,000 years removed from the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and the early church, but I believe that over time choices within church leadership has boxed in the outworking of God in the life of His saints. Notice with me what the apostle Peter has to say about time and the effects of time on the people of God.

He says in 2 Peter 3:1-9 that it is the second time he has attempted to stir up our minds by reminding us of the words of the Old Testament Prophets and the commandments and challenges of the LORD’s holy apostles. Why? Because he believes that, even in his days he sees that the church is becoming “slack” by listening to the doctrines of men who are walking in the lust of their flesh and not in the power of the Holy Spirit.

If you study your Bible and stay close to the LORD you will notice that many scoffers are preaching that the promise of the return of Jesus Christ is not near, but thousands of years away. These men willfully forget that God created the heavens and the earth in six literal days and that He also destroyed it. Genesis 1 through Genesis 8 is a good read and reminder that God is not slack in His Promise regarding creation of which you and I are a part of. The heavens and the earth today are kept by the same WORD, reserved as the apostle says for a Day of Judgment and destruction.

Did you notice that this destruction and judgment has nothing to do with Satan, but has everything to do with ungodly men who are first called scoffers of the imminent return of Jesus Christ to this earth? Now for me; this is the rub. “But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the LORD one day is as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day”. This little verse is so forgotten!

Time has lulled many to sleep; can you get hold of this… “ God’s time table since the recording of history is less than six days away from the day of creation and less than two days from the death and resurrection of Christ. Based on eternity… God has not changed. Jesus is the same, yesterday, today and forever. Hebrews 13:8, but time has changed the church and the man in the church.

So once again, the LORD is not slack concerning the return of Jesus Christ and we should be thankful that He is longsuffering and we should repent from the sin of slacking out on the promises of God.

The Devotional - A Look at the Book #720

by Jesse Abel

Ecclesiastes 3:8 – A time to love and a time to hate; a time of war and a time of peace. Under the motivation and guidance of the Holy Spirit, Solomon puts four principles of life together for deep contemplation. Not for just a day out of every year, but for every moment of freedom. Thank you! Men and Women of the United States of America’s Military; Thank You!

The Prophet Jeremiah laces his books with many promises, or what we can call pivotal challenges. These promises are encouragement to every reader, God has preserved His Word for this very purpose and if you are a saint and avoid reading the Prophets, Priests and Kings of the Old Testament then you are missing out on Jesus the Messiah.

Every writer of the Old Testament testifies of the out working of God in their life and in the lives of the people Israel. These men still speak to us today even though they are dead and buried so we might ask a question or two of why they still speak. The number one answer is that God is not dead and the number two answer is that the promises and challenges of the Holy Bible are very much alive. The writer of Hebrews talks of entering into the “Rest” of God through the promises of God. He does this by the encouraging challenge to allow the Word of God to discover our condition of Spiritual life. Hebrews 4:12

Jeremiah puts this challenge to us in another way, “Call unto Me and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not, Jeremiah 33:3 KJV. Think about this for a brief moment, if the Word of the Living God was not energized by the Holy Spirit every moment of every day, then the Holy Bible would be no more effective than any other so-called sacred writing that false religions are seeking to peddle in their churches, temples and mosques.

War, peace, love and hate are spoken of in the Holy Bible and these have a solid footing in every national and personal life. Why? Because the world around us is subject to; Satan, Sin and Death; God’s promises offer to every man, woman and child release from this. Speaking to Israel and to all who will call upon the LORD, God says through the prophet Jeremiah.

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with your heart” Jeremiah 29:11-13.

This nation; our nation is on the verge of paganism, adopting religious and cultish practices that deify people, places and things these efforts seek to destroy the Living Word of God. Those of us who know and experience the “Joy of the LORD” must continue to pray for the nation’s recovery and for those people in our circle of influence that they will be saved. This is our largest battle ahead and every believer in Jesus is a soldier of the LORD. Put on the LORD Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh. Romans 13:14.

The Devotional - A Look at the Book #719

by Jesse Abel

Ever visit mansions like those in Newport, the original families of these homes have all but vanished. Now many of these are under the care of the state or caretakers of the family estate. These treasured estates only take up space and in real estate terms profit nothing. On the other hand the LORD will not let the righteous starve and He will cast away the desire of the wicked. Proverbs 10:2-3

I have this little booklet of war letters, most of them are from World War One and if it were not for the tugs of the heart in most of these letters, I would share one entirely with us today. Maybe sometime soon I will but for today and as we approach Memorial Day I thought I would simply say… THANK YOU, to the men and women who have served or who are currently serving in the Armed Forces of the United States of America.

Some of us have heard this story before but it is worth a repeat. In 2007 a Sunday School teacher asked his group of seven year olds this question. “How big do you think God is?” After a short pause one person raised their hand. The teacher responded; “Do you know the answer?” The reply was, “I think so!” So with the confidence of faith unfeigned the little one replied. “God is so big, that He does not have to go anywhere!”

I believe that child gave a correct answer; there are many passages in the Holy Bible to prove the child’s statement. For example, Psalm 139 provides insight for those who search the scripture to see and know that God is Omnipotent (All Powerful), Omnipresent (Everywhere), and Omniscient (All knowing). These three attributes of God are not found in any of the so called gods created by man, for me this proves solidly the Oneness and the Truth of God in that He alone is the “Self existing One”

God is not limited to time and space as we are. He is not identified with objects of gold or other material substances and He is not visible via any of the created energies known to the world around us. Notice if you will Acts 17:29 for any believer to think of God in this manner is a serious error because to view Him as an object of affection is idolatry.

Also in Romans 1:20 the three invisible attributes mentioned above have proved the existence of One God since the beginning of Creation. Thus to say that God does not exist by seeking to agree with the lie of evolution leaves this sinning individual without an excuse at the Great White Throne judgment in Revelation 20.

Finally, to reject the truth of Jesus Christ as God and as having the Divine attributes of God is to agree with the philosophies, deceit and traditions of mankind. A good definition of philosophy, tradition and deceit can be summed up in this statement. “False religion is a work of fallen mankind”. Any work of man that denies the Omnipresent, Omnipotent and Omniscient attributes of our One God and revealed in Jesus Christ is FALSE and doomed as the apostle Paul would say. *CURSED” Galatians 1:9

The Devotional - A Look at the Book #718

by Jesse Abel

Many a man will spend time in the Living Word of God; reading and being challenged to walk in the way of faith in God. Some of these will suffer the loss of reward in heaven because they quickly forget that God ponders their daily path. Proverbs 5:21-23.

Of all the material I read, which is not a lot, my favorite publication is the bimonthly magazine called, “Israel My Glory”. If you are interested in true current events, this publication will exceed your expectations. No one knows when the LORD Jesus will return, but He has promised His disciples that He will. If you believe that you are saved, biblically, Romans 10:9-13 or John 11:17-27 then you are His disciple.

The thought that crosses my mind is this. Even if you are reading this and you have not believed in Jesus, He is still coming again, the sad part of this truth is that since you are not a disciple, you will not behold Him as a loving Savior and within the following seven year period you will witness His judgment on a world that has rejected Him.

I know some (even so called believers) who do not believe in the translation of the saints, the tribulation and the judgments. I know that the so called reformed theologies have different doctrines regarding the end times and how these theologies expect to make the world better so that Jesus will have a peaceful return. But here is a base and simple thought.

Who is man and what authority can he use to override God? It is God, is it not who declares the end of things from the beginning. God has in ancient times (that is if time can be measured in eternity) explained the things that are not yet done in time on earth. Not only has God declared these events, He has also said that there is nothing that will change His counsel on the matter.

So let me think… if theology needed reforming, who should do it? There have and will continue to be false prophets, the only success story for these men is that they all have a following, but where in eternity are they going? There are two verses of scripture that comes to my mind from the gospel of Matthew 7. “Enter by the narrow gate for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way leads to life and there are few who find it.

So changing and reforming for my thinking is a dangerous step for man to take. Just one brief look at the United States of America since we turned our back to God should be simple enough to understand that. Also I think that this is part of the religious mess that we find ourselves in these days. Jesus will say one day to many, “I never knew you!” this will not be for one’s lack of religion, but ones lack of biblical faith. Matthew 7:24-29.

The Devotional - A Look at the Book #717

The Devotional - A Look at the Book #717

by Jesse Abel

High walls and gated communities are a common sight in large cities, yet I noticed our smaller township of five thousand that near our home there is another guarded community. We call it the local jail house, kind of ironic I thought how people often move from one to the other, both the innocent and the guilty. There is nothing new under the sun, Genesis 39:1-23 and 40:1-23

The last chapter and verse of the gospel of John reads; “And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen.” John 21:25.

Have you ever considered this thought? I have and if it is true and I believe that it is, I say “oh my”; who am I that God is mindful of me? How can One man accomplish so much in just a few short years that the world cannot contain the full knowledge and wisdom of unless of course He is the God/Man.
Jesus did many things in the presents of His disciples, most of what He did and said is not written, but enough is written that if you take time to read and study, you just may come to faith in Him. This is the message of John’s gospel as in an earlier chapter John explains this in John 20:30-31.

And whether you realize it or not, we read and study people all day long, we study our friends; we challenge them, laugh with them, cry with them and love them. We meet new people, whom we study, we like them or we dislike them, we make them prove their worth and all the while we may be nice or indifferent, yet we do not reveal our true self or get to close.

One of the disciples called Thomas who is commonly called the doubter (didymus) as this Greek word means “double” but not double minded as some have implied but that Thomas may have had a twin brother.

Thomas makes an interesting observation of the Risen Christ (Messiah). Thomas says in John 20:28, “my Kurios and my Theos” or as we understand, my Master and my God. If we were to take the time to see the fullness of these two Greek words joined together in this one statement of Thomas, we would run out of paper and ink trying to explain the joy in our soul at knowing this truth. Thomas is literally saying that He now sees standing in front of Him is the controller and sustainer of heaven and earth.

As man He died and rose again for us and as God He sustains us. Our human mind can go no further than to stand before Him soon and say, “my LORD and my GOD – How great Thou Are” and even in that statement, He is greater still. John 20:24-28

Have a great day… find a Bible and read the Gospel of John.

The Devotional - A Look at the Book #716

by Jesse Abel

God loves you and me. The truth is hard to understand isn’t it? Why is that? Maybe because we know that we are unloving. God does not look upon our unloving nature as we do, so His plan is to give us a new nature, one that is loving, one that even you can love 2 Corinthians 5:17 and Romans 13:14.

As a senior enlisted man and stationed on a Naval Base one of my military duties was Command Duty Officer or CDO as it is more popularly known! In this position of duty which begins at 1600 (4 pm) each evening the individual has all of the power and authority of the Base Commander who is normally a Navy Captain, the duty ends at 0800 (8 am) the following morning.

One evening I was called to a disturbance at the Marine Barracks which also housed a small club, the band that the Marines had hired for the evening entertainment was extremely loud and the music sounded anything but entertaining.

There I was inside this establishment, I did have a couple of sailors with me but I felt alone and a bit unsteady. There were several Marines, some women and the band; at first I was ignored so I took the night stick from the sailor standing beside me and slammed it on a table, a loud noise followed by breaking drinking glasses and grumbling people, then silence.

Now I had their attention the thought of what was I going to do next ran through my mind since the loud bang of hitting the table even startled me! I grabbed my composure and said directly to the band; “the noise you people are making is disturbing the whole surrounding area, you need to turn the volume down on those instruments if you plan on continuing to play music this evening. If you fail to do that I will shut the building down and throw you off the base… forever!”

Someone said, “you can’t do that, you are only the CDO” this was all I needed to hear. I ordered the base police (Marines on duty) to shut the building down and escorted the band off the base. While this was going on I was reminded of another day when as a young petty officer I had Shore Patrol duty and was called to the dance floor to face someone with a knife. I was scared, really scared but somehow I managed to face the man and take the knife from him without incident.

Why am I telling you of these events? As that young Shore Patrol Petty Officer I was an unbeliever of the gospel of the LORD Jesus, but I was very conscious of my need for God’s help; as the CDO I was a believer in the LORD Jesus and I knew that God would help. A small seed of faith is all that is needed for Biblical Faith to be the building blocks to form your every step in life. Thank God for the authority He appoints in our life, it may be that one day soon He will place you in a position of authority. Even if it is temporary it will be yours to glorify Him. How will you fare? Romans 13:1-7

The Devotional - A Look at the Book #715

by Jesse Abel

It does not matter your age. Moses was commissioned to deliver Israel from the bondage of Egypt. He was eight years old and. His brother Aaron was eighty-three. Moses was successful. Yes we need a strong inventory of young people, but who will lead them. God will lead and move the seniors of a land; they need only to be faithful and willing, even if there is but a mustard seed of faith.

I was stationed in Nebraska in the 1980’s and I briefly went to a church where the pastor was very conscious of money. Each Sunday he would spend at least a half hour beating up the congregation over the lack of giving in the church to keep things going. There was a building fund and a meeting every Tuesday evening and he would send out people into the local community asking them to pledge a sum of money to the church for the building fund. It did not matter if the people came to church or not, but he did encourage the people who were asking to invite people if they gave.

When the ushers collected the tithes and offering, he would tell the congregation to give money rather than checks and as he put it, God was interested in seeing the cash. Large bills would be held up and waved over the heads of the ushers and with words like; “Brother Sonso or sister Didso just gave a twenty dollar bill and the congregation responded with Praise the Lord. If the bills were larger than a twenty, the ushers would dance in the isles. Within a short time I left the church because of the way giving was handled, but there was a large congregation.

Jesus Christ is the pattern for spiritual godliness and grace giving. Notice how the apostle Paul helps us to understand the principle of giving in 2 Corinthians 8:9 “For you know the grace of our LORD Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.

We need to look to Jesus for everything that pertains to life and godliness and giving is no exception. He who knew no sin (rich in sinless life) became sin for us (poor as in 2 Corinthians 8:2) deep poverty. We will start with that verse because the Greek word for deep is bathos, meaning a depth so deep that it is mysterious. Jesus took upon Himself a deep poverty in order that we might be made rich in His Righteousness.

Jesus had readiness of mind to give of Himself and this is a key of understanding to all of us when it comes to the giving of our self or the resources of our self, surely we will labor over this but so did our LORD. Matthew 26:36-46, Romans 5:8, yet He reaped for you and me the road to Emmaus in that when we learn of Him our hearts will burn with excitement Allow Jesus through the scripture to talk with you about giving a watch what happens next as it is as exciting to the soul as being saved. Luke 24:28-35 a blessing of joy.

The Devotional - A Look at the Book #714

 

by Jesse Abel

If you are above the age of fifty then you are noticing a few things about your body that can be downright alarming. The apostle Paul uses this thought to look past the temporal state of physical life to our eternal state of everlasting life. For those of us who believe in Jesus Christ; this is a great comfort and confidence, but if you do not believe in Him whatever is seen is temporary and incurable. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

No doubt, I can spend a lot of time in these three chapters; on and off I have studied the subject of “Spiritual gifts” for over thirty years, but I do not want to lose sight of my original intent. Is it coincidence or is it God who guides the hearts of men to teach the subjects that pertain to the current events of our personal and national life in time.

For Bible believing people the answer is simple. One look at His Story or biblical history will explain that God is intimately at work in our personal and national life. The entire Bible is my reference and here is one verse of scripture that proves this since I know many unbelievers who can quote it. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Begotten Son; that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” John 3:16.

Well, let me get back to 1 Corinthians 12; 13 and 14 to finish up. I think (a personal observation) but I think it would be better if our view of these chapters was focused on life in the Spirit rather than the gifts of the Spirit. Believers individually make up the body of Christ, or easier said – the church of Christ. 1 Corinthians 12:27. In 1 Corinthians 6:19 the apostle states that our body is not our own and that the Holy Spirit abides in our temple. One God, but many members; also said in Ephesians 4, One God, One Faith and One Baptism, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace.

So I believe that when churches apply human viewpoint to the subject of the gifts of the Spirit, these leaders destroy the body of Christ. The Holy Spirit seeks to keep the church on the same page of our personal and national life. He does this with the Spiritual Life within the church. He accomplishes this task as outlined by the apostle Paul in Romans 12 wherein the entire chapter focuses on the church; in that each is given a measure of faith; some with permanent gifts of the Spirit and some with temporal.

So yes I believe that God is heartily at work allowing His saints to share scripture, thoughts and all things that pertain to our moment in life to further the gospel of His Son to those who are without hope. God does not use coincidence. He who knows the end from the beginning and does not need that word, nor does He ever use it. Isaiah 46:10. When we speak in likeminded language we then are doing things decently and in order. 1 Corinthians 14:37-40.

The Devotional - A Look at the Book #713

by Jesse Abel

The Devotional – A Look at the Book 713
Many elderly people use a life-line system, a pendant or wristband that can be worn anywhere even in the bath. The intent is to gain immediate help in a time of need. For all of us, including those who need this physical medical device; God has always had a life-line system. For over six thousand years it has been available… yet it does not show wear and tear and it has never been repaired. Jeremiah 33:3

1 Corinthians 12:2-3 – The church is made of believers of all nations and all cultures but this does not give the universal church a free reign. Notice what the apostle says. “You know this, that when you were Gentiles (unbelievers) you were carried away to mute or dumb idols, however you were led. These are key words for the whole thought of how the Spirit of God controls the Church of God in time.

Notice verse 3; since you were led by these traditional false idols and other vain religious beliefs, be careful how you handle the things that pertain to life and godliness within the church of God in Christ. If you are using or mixing false worship and talking, singing or preaching Christ you are involved in cursing God; the Greek word is “anathema” again this is not decent, nor does it provide for the orderly works of God as we will see in later verses.

1 Corinthians 12:4 – I know you are waiting for this verse because we find the word gifts; which can be translated; “allotment of various kinds”. We are taught that all of us have a spiritual gift and it is true we do utilize the gifts of the Spirit. However, the allotment of “Spirituals” is given to the “universal church” and each local church has its own allotment. Revelation 2 and 3 describe the use of these gifts within the seven churches. As you study these seven churches you will see something interesting at the conclusion of each evaluation. “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches”.

So the allotment of “Spirituals” is given to the church and as the needs arise it is the Holy Spirit’s decision to disburse the gifts of the Spirit. You say “aha” well go ahead, but think about this. Over time we have been taught that there are temporal and permanent gifts. I believe this is true in this way; I believe that the section we are dealing with are all permanent to the church and temporal to the individuals within the local body.

Notice the following verses; 1 Corinthians 12:5-6. But first let’s be back up a bit and say just a bit more about the Spirit of God. Is the Spirit of God just a spirit without discretion like some humans; absolutely not therefore the allotment of gifts given to the church needs a biblical foundational and not one of a human viewpoint. Isaiah 11:1-2 , all of the nine allotted ministries assigned to the church are within the control of the Seven Attributes of God the Holy Spirit and He distributes these temporary gifts to members of the local assembly according to His will and not according to man’s will.

Verse 5 – The church of Jesus Christ; that is the title of all local assemblies no matter what name appears on the sign outside. It is simple really; if the church belongs to Him and it does, then the ministries therein belong to Him as well and this brings up that the gifts that are permanent are given to the men that He assigns within the church. Ephesians 4:1-16, please note verse 7 of Ephesians 4.

Verse 6 – The Head of the Church is God who governs the activities. The activity of God is the gospel, which is the death and resurrection of His Son the LORD Jesus, when churches (and they do) move away from the gospel, they move away from the activity that glorifies God which includes the Spiritual wisdom that exalts the LORD Jesus as described in Ephesians 1:15-23. More tomorrow if the LORD tarries.

The Devotional - A Look at the Book #712

by Jesse Abel

If you needed to give a definition of a person that would be an honor to meet and one whom God would bless; what would be the words that you might use? Psalm 1:1-3 is good: the path of this person cannot be improved upon! Please note the remaining three verses of Psalm 1 and consider the path you might be on.

The other day a friend and brother in the LORD used passages of scripture that I had previously used in one of these devotionals. Later he sent me an email asking if I was shocked to see his teaching session begin with the same verses. My answer was yes and I understand too that it is not coincidence that what is prepared by the Holy Spirit when men study the Word of God will often be exhorted and taught by several others within the same week.

The thought that comes to my mind is; does scripture back up these events? In other words is this the work of God or is the coincidence because of current events that focus like- minded people to react with similar results? I am going to give the ending answer to these questions before diving into this study which may take a day or two. And the answer is! Let all things be done decently and in order. 1 Corinthians 14:40. Now that we have the answer we must keep that in mind thought out our adventure in the awesome Word of the Living God (by the way; all of the other so-called gods are either dead or myths, just in case you did not know) no charge for the extra info!

1 Corinthians 12:1 – The apostle Paul has something to say about the ignorance of people; even believers can be ignorant and I am sure you know this; otherwise it could be that you are ignorant. God does not want His children to be like the chaff found in Psalm 1:4-6 when it comes to inheritance and reward, He desire for us is to know His Word and be blessed as the result.

Among the thoughts of 1 Corinthians 12; 13 and 14 is the word gifts found in most translations. There are other words in these chapters too that are italicized, such as the word different in 1 Corinthians 12:10 and as we cover this verse I will use more detail. Basically all words in the Holy Bible that are written in italics are not found in the original writings. Some of these words are included for flow and some are added to give understanding or meaning. Enough said.

If you were to look at 1 Corinthians 12:1 in the language it was written in you would notice that the word spiritual is not singular but plural. While this may not be important to some students of the Word of God, it is very important to me. I believe that the implied word gifts, is misleading and contributes to the cause of much confusion in the universal church of Jesus Christ.

The verse can be translated without the word gifts and give us a better understanding of what the apostle is going to exhort and teach his readers (you and me). Thus the verse would read: Now concerning spirituals, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant. So now you have the ending of this and the beginning of this study, without any of the filling and I am running out of paper and time for the day. Sort of like eating a jelly filled donut after someone stole the jelly. But let me at least show you where I am headed with this.

The apostle Paul is continuing his dissertation to the church of God at Corinth, 1 Corinthians 1:2 and knowing that other churches and the saints within will fall into the sixty-four plus sins recorded in 1 Corinthians he begins his message to the “church” the “ekklesia” the Greek word for the called out ones, the saints of God. His message is then to the many, not to one. Well I have to stop, I do not want to, but time is running out fast and I have already exceeded one piece of paper and I do apologize.

The Devotional - A Look at the Book #711

by Jesse Abel

The Devotional – A Look at the Book 711

The Living Word of God is more than just a tool to have a feel good experience. It is a need for everyone to get to know God personally. I believe that many use the Bible as a source of feeling; like an emotional kick which has no lasting effect or quality of spiritual growth. If you are one of those, I simply say… STOP IT! Or as the writer of Hebrews exhorts us in Hebrews 4:12.

Why do the nations rage and the people plot a vain thing? Psalm 2:1. Do people consider the activity around them? Do people wag their tongue for naught? Do nations really plot to accomplish emptiness of living? The answer is… yes; people and nations who have no personal relationship with the Creator God of the Holy Bible are not only deliberately involved with rage at God, but are nationally in alliance with other nations who are like minded and at war with God. Psalm 2:1-3

There are less than a handful of nations that rightfully submit to the Will of God in time and if you care to study biblically based history you will see that since the fall of the tower of Babel, only one nation has God honored as His children, others like the United States of America, Australia and others of the past have constitutional foundations that support and agree with The Creator.

Presently, cultures of other nations have infiltrated the United States. These cultures are strong in the face of the weakening culture of our nation. While this is not because of our lack of human achievement and technology, it is because we have allowed the culture of heathen influence to break our strong bond with God. We are casting away the cords of spiritual truth that once controlled our land of the free.

Therefore God is not happy with our nation, notice in Psalm 2:1-6, especially in verse 4 as it is said that He who sits in the heavens shall laugh. Now don’t get it wrong here. God is not laughing at our nation for being a nation. He is laughing because we as a nation have traded off peace and joy for distress and deep displeasure. We have accepted the lie of heathenistic human viewpoint, yet God position has not changed and His throne is well established and will not be moved.

Thus I say as the Psalmist; be wise O leaders and governors of this land, serve the LORD with reverence and rejoice with trembling awe. Be ready to reconcile with the Son of God, lest His anger over our rejection of Him should be revealed in the full array of His Power. The battle is the LORD’s and it is one that the heartland knows will not be won if favor of our rebellion.. Psalm 2:1-12

I do like those last few words: “Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him”

The Devotional - A Look at the Book #710

The Devotional - A Look at the Book #710

by Jesse Abel

Richard Emmons recently said that the prophet Isaiah moved with grace in the culture of his day. God has dealt to each one of us a measure of grace that is sufficient for our day, 2 Corinthians 12:7-10. The thought that struck me as I began to read the intro to this article was the word culture. The culture of the American way of life is changing and you and I need God’s sufficient grace. I have asked Him at least three times to restore or repair our culture and His reply… my grace is sufficient!

Someone said over the weekend that some conversations were not worth listening to and it is amazing that I had on Saturday closed a window that had been opened for me to issue parts to the mechanics on duty. I closed the window because of the conversation between the two mechanics and a service person, a young female in her early twenties. Simply put; their mindset and language became vulgar and oppressive.

Later, the girl had to bill out some parts and service to a disgruntled customer and she returned to the mechanics in tears for the way she was treated by the man. Of course my window was opened again as I had been issuing oil filters and other parts to the mechanics and I said to the mechanic she was mostly talking too; just give her a hug, it is what she needs. The mechanic responded, “I’m not hugging her, I’ve been married thirty years and what would my wife think if she got wind of that?”

That sort of spun my mind around a little bit, here less than an hour before he and the girl and the other mechanic were talking about things that are found in Galatians 5:19-20 and they were approving some of those conditions as a normal everyday occurrence in their everyday lives.
In thinking about these things I wonder about the way we justify what we do and I am reminded that we must be living in a great apostasy, in other words our loyalty to the biblical and national framework of our heritage has fallen, we have become an entity of trusting deceiving and seducing spirits, like “dancing with the stars” or “Americas got talent”

Could be too that it is not a national thing, but a worldwide condition of mankind as we approach the end times. What did you say, Jesse? Don’t you know that the world is getting better as the world council of churches teach! Bah humbug on this group of blind guides, the Holy Bible (if you read it) explains the truth; just read it 1Timothy 4:1-5! It would be good if we sanctified everything in prayer and through the Word of God as the apostle Paul teaches in 2 Timothy 4:1-5.

The Devotional - A Look at the Book #709

by Jesse Abel

Comfort is needed by all people. To be consoled when things go wrong is a need; not an excuse to commit some idolatrous and sinful act. Real comfort comes from God and the apostle Paul identifies two important facts in the first chapter of Second Corinthians. One: the tribulations in life will come, and Two: the consoling results are available through Him; but not without personal involvement.

Is there a day that slips by without some concern for the outcome? I think not! If you are saved by the grace of God and I pray that you are, your day should start out with a devoted time in prayer and God’s Word. We have over the years carved out the devotional as a specific period of time; Like, ten minutes in prayer and the Word will make your day, or some other recipe for a great day, you can use whatever filling you would like.

Now don’t get this wrong, I am not saying that ten minutes is not worth it and if ten minutes is all you have, well no doubt you must be asleep the other 2,030 minutes of the day and that ten minutes would be quality time spent with the LORD. Let’s see what the apostle Paul has to say about spending devoted time with the LORD. One could pick just about any section of his epistles and be challenged to devotion in time to Jesus, but I have picked the epistle of Philippians
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Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the LORD always, again I say rejoice. Did you know that if you are not rejoicing in the LORD, then you are not projecting grace to those around you? The word gentleness found in verse 5 can also be translated, graciousness. Another attribute of rejoicing, which the world around you cannot attain, is the attribute of projecting to the world that the LORD, through you is at HAND. Now, can you get a hold of that?

This is important and I am not seeking to be sarcastic. I am as much at fault with this as anyone one of us. We walk about in our spiritual garb with attitudes that do not project the joy of the LORD, or the fact that the Holy Spirit is in us and we bring God into the presence of the unbelieving. Then clothed around all of this “joy” and “power” we put on a cloak that resembles an anxiousness that of the world because we do not have devotional and ongoing time with God.

You and I no doubt have Philippians 4:6-7 memorized and if not you and I do know of it. This is all good but if you stop at just those two verses you miss the whole of Paul’s message.

The world around us views everything as untrustworthy, the believer know the “whatevers” that override worldly thinking. These are; whatever is true, noble, just, pure, and lovely, of good report, of virtue and of being praiseworthy that we are commanded of God to think on these things. Philippians 4:8-9

You know that if the circumstance of life were simply an automobile to steer through traffic, we might understand this a bit. Unbelievers and believers are given a license to drive and drive we do! But if the licensed driver, runs red lights, does not stop at stop signs, does not look you in the eye when the opportunity presents the need, or simply ignores the fact that others are on the road, who could tell the good from the bad?

On the other hand saints and if you are saved, then you are a saint and are given all of the credentials to live life in the joy and presence of the LORD, yet if we do not spend the day in devotion to Him we have no PEACE and without the peace of God we will react to the traffic just as the rest of the world.

The Devotional - A Look at the Book #708

by Jesse Abel

Is it safe to say that a country could be, as a whole; struck with blindness? That even those in high authority are advocates for disobedience and passing laws that corrupt the peoples of every state, city and town? Genesis 19:1-11. The antidote for this blindness is found in Acts 5:29

Yesterday I gave a wrong website for Jack Murphy, there is a lot of information on the web; just type in his name in your search engine.

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it (the gospel) the Righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.” Romans 1:16-17

When any country becomes ashamed of the gospel of God, there will be in due time a spiritual blindness that blankets the land. God does not tolerate disobedience and unrighteous behavior on any level; individually or nationally. The reading of Romans 1:18-32 will reveal some interesting conditions that God places on national unrighteousness.

The wrath of God is REVEALED from heaven. Have you noticed some of the elements of Creation that normally are safe reach out and slap us around lately? If not, then you must be living in another country, one that has not turned it’s backside to God.

One of the characteristics of foolishness is the thought that one could be enlightened by setting aside the attributes of God. Psalm 14:1-7 God in this Psalm is looking at people and their actions. The result is not enlightenment, but as the heart becomes more foolish, it also becomes more darkened, thus what is professed to be good causes more and more foolishness, ignorance and corruption.

God is aware of all of man’s action; from the least of man to the greatest of man; when on a national scale man allows himself to turn inward to his or her sensual pleasures, it is God who turns them over to those vile passions to do whatever they do. This is not the physical blindness found Genesis 19:1-11 this blindness is a hardened condition of the soul that refuses to acknowledge God as his or her Creator. The soul that exchanges the TRUTH of God for the LIE of human disobedience will become spiritually blind.

Also it is necessary to note that in these passages Satan or the devil is not mentioned ONE time, so it is the wrath that God dealing with mankind’s failure in the four Divine Institutions given to man after the fall. (One God; One man for one woman; one family and one national government).

Although Satan is the mastermind behind all personal and national disobedience, he is only the pathfinder to hell. In other words he has placed in the heart of every living soul and national entity the sin of pride and disobedience. Isaiah 14:12-19a and by doing so he has paved the way for mankind to develop his personal and national destruction, a pathway that is littered with the personal sins of men and nations.

If you take the time to study the Living Word of God, you might notice that, “right living” is directed at correcting the disobedient desires of mankind, Romans 1:28-32. We are also commanded to resist the devil and the words found in Hebrews are to flee from him; in other words find another path, the one that returns us personally and nationally back to God. Hold on to our personal and national confessions of faith as it is about to be challenged. Hebrews 10:19-25.

The Devotional - A Look at the Book #707

The Devotional - A Look at the Book #707

by Jesse Abel

Today is a new day and because God is faithful we can be sure that His compassions for us will not fail and that His mercy will be as fresh as a new morning. God does not fail. When saints fail, it will be that soul who cries out; “The LORD is my portion therefore I have hope.” Restoration begins with seeking the LORD. This could be your personal or national reflections this morning; seek the LORD, while He can be found. Lamentations 3:1-51

Someone said that emotions are the spice of life. I would answer that too much spice in any dish will cause heartburn!

The man was a national surfing champion, a concert violinist, tennis pro, and a movie stunt man; and he was also a notorious jewel thief and convicted murderer. His name, you may have already guessed is Jack Roland Murphy. Nicknamed; Murf the Surf! I met him in the nineties with the Bill Glass Prison Ministry called “Weekend of Champions” Of the five events that I went to, Murphy was at all five.

There is a motion picture produced about his life, it is called “The Jack Murphy Testimony” and if you have further interest in the man you might like to pull up http://prisonministry.com/article203.html he is no longer travelling from prison to prison preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ, he is retired, but here is one of the statements he used in his testimony to the inmates. “If you are not doing God’s business, you are just doing time; the way out of doing time is the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ the LORD.”

Looking again at the epistle of Philemon and the man Onesimus there is a likness of these two men; Jack Murphy and Onesimus, both were incarcerated for crimes committed, both had broken the law of man and the Law of God. Both were released and while we do not know the extent of the crimes of Onesimus we do know those of Mr. Murphy, if fact; Mr. Murphy was serving two life sentences and should still be in jail, yet by the grace and perfect Will of God; Mr. Murphy is paroled and to this day is required to report to his parole officer each week.

Because I know the man I see many parallels in Onesimus and Jack. The apostle Paul states that Onesimus is useful in the ministry of the gospel; that he was once unprofitable, but now is profitable. That the attributes of the man that were used for crime were now being put to use from a changed character. The apostle Paul could identify with this too, since in a same manner his life was changed. I am certain that Paul’s plea to Philemon was similar to the plea that Ananias heard first hand from the LORD in Acts 9.

Philemon 1:1-25 gives us instruction on how react like Ananias or Philemon when God changes the heart of a man or woman who has spent a lifetime of sin and rebellion. Now you may be saying… who could that be? Well if you are not saved… go look in the mirror; if you are saved, but living in sin… go look in the mirror. If you are saved and walking in the light of the word and in the power of the Holy Spirit! Don’t forget to go and look in the mirror, and this is not a plug for the song. “The man in mirror” although it is the man in the mirror, isn’t it! James 1:21-27

The Devotional - A Look at the Book #706

by Jesse Abel

In some of the earlier devotions I had this heading, “Papa “J’s” rules for Living” this was number 55. “To reach the outer limits of our galaxy and travelling at the speed of light which is said to be 186,000 miles per hour, it would take a mere 100,000 years to reach the outer limits of our galaxy. Heaven is much farther away; so just what is your plan to get to heaven?” Well never mind; your plan may be too complicated, I will follow the plan laid out by Jesus as recorded by John in John 14:1-6.

In April of 2008 I was thinking about the Prison Ministry of a local church that I had attended for many years. I had always felt a little remorse for having left there in the first place. Yet here I was remembering friends and reflecting on that ministry of four people, a team of two married couples faithfully going into the local jail house every Thursday and Saturday for several years. One of that team recently went home to be with the LORD. He was sick for a long time and now he is in the “Joy of the LORD”

My reflections of this ministry was were directed at the reasons why we stopped going and while there was some spiritual struggles with others who were developing an interest in this ministry the ending did not come about because of the struggles. We stopped going into the prison because the state clamped down on the activities of volunteers in the prison system; especially religious volunteers.

Today I am full of joy and anxious to report that we (my wife and me) are back in the church where the prison ministry began and the LORD has reopened the door for a group of us men to go back into the same prison we were in fifteen years ago. When you remember, please pray for the ministry and the inmates we minister to. Faith increases when people pray and we can all use strengthening faith.

Philemon 1:17-25 is unique in Paul’s way of seeking partnership over the future of Onesimus a former slave of Philemon and ex-prison inmate. Notice, both the apostle and Onesimus were once inmates in the same prison; Paul says; “if then you count me as a partner, receive him as you receive me”.

Our actions speak volumes about who we are in Christ. These two men by faith in God and in each other; was so dynamic in the life of Onesimus that Onesimus is later referred to as a faithful and beloved brother, Colossains 4:9 and tradition says that he even pastored a church.

The Devotional - A Look at the Book #705

by Jesse Abel

There is one recipe that most of us do not consider tasting of. The recipe cannot be reproduced but it is one that always has the aroma of fresh baked bread. One part of the recipe took 1600 years to complete and the second part, 50 years. From BC 4,000 to BC 400 the BREAD of heaven from Genesis to Malachi prepared; then from AD 45 to AD 95 revealed and served from Matthew to Revelation; this serving is the LAMB as in John 5:46-51

Some years ago on a day much like today I was sitting here, developing the morning devotional. It was a calm morning here in New England, the bright sun made for a promising day and as people woke up I am sure they felt at peace. Suddenly my ambulance pager sounded and in those days the pager made a horrible sound, sort of bone chilling. I was immediately moved from a peaceful moment to one of urgency. The pager had done the job intended.

Peace can be in one part of a community; while in another part, just a short distance away, things can be alarming and full of disappointing results. At a local nursing home someone was stepping out of physical life into eternal life. For the dying the Holy Bible has much to say, yet I know that God is more interested in the living then the dead, so this brings up an important subject for you and me to consider. Are you and I prepared for our trip to eternity?

Did you know that there is not one living person on this earth that is not making the trip to eternity! All of us are enroute. Are your bags packed, are you prepared? For the most part we are not prepared; the fact is that if the trip to eternity were a bus ride and buses were leaving in 30 minutes; many of the buses would be empty, not even the drivers would be on the bus. Some of us spend a lifetime with bags packed and prepared, while others spend a lifetime packing their bags. Well Matthew 25:1-13 explains this much clearer.

The apostle Paul wrote that he wanted to finish his spiritual journey as one who runs a foot race and I believe it was Will Rogers who said that; “why do people run?” Since I never saw anyone running with a smile on their face! As a young person I did my share of jogging and I am certain that Mr. Rogers never saw the jogger after the first mile. Usually the first mile is the hardest to complete but after that there is a sense of peace and joy.

This peace and joy is referred to by the apostle in his final letter to Timothy in 2 Timothy 4:6-9. The first mile for the apostle was tough; Notice Acts 9:1-9. If we have no endurance to run the race in time we will not have kept the faith and that crown of righteousness will not be available in the Day of the LORD.

The Devotional - A Look at the Book #704

 

by Jesse Abel

The gift and the promise are of equal value; as humans, everything we have to offer is tainted or tarnished in some temporal way. Have you noticed? “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.” Jesus can say this because His Father is God and He is One with the Father; He cannot lie. The value of the gift is in the promise. Titus 1:2

People of unjust promises. Take for example the unjust steward of Luke 16:1-13. The steward is the overseer of the rich man’s affairs and as time passes, the rich man finds that the steward is shrewd and dishonest. The steward is called to give an account of his actions and believes that he is going to need to find a new line of work and he hopes that it is not – ditch digging!

The steward’s only asset is to keep doing what he knows and does best. Injustices by breaking contracts and promissory notes; Jesus makes a statement in this parable in verse 8. “So the master commended the unjust steward because he had dealt shrewdly. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in their generation than the sons of light.” Now He has a lot more to say about making friends with the world and we should heed His warnings, however I would like to bring more focus to gifts and promises.

The unjust steward gives a discount to all the people who owe the master. The less oil and wheat does not go unnoticed and the event challenges the rich man to reconsider the outcome and future of the steward. The parable does not give a lot of information about the debtors and one could conclude that those who owed had become delinquent, but this does not add up since earlier in the parable the unjust steward calls all of the rich man’s debtors; notice verse 5.

So how does this play out for today? The corporate world cuts deals all day long; i.e. 12 months at this rate then the price goes up! Or this one: $2,000 dollar rebate on a new auto, we will make that up and more on your used car. And there are a host of other shrewd discounts that are visible to the rich man, but as long as the steward does not over step the boundaries of shrewdness and dishonest gain, he or she will be commended and rewarded.

As sons of light, we may be taken in by this shrewd operation and we could lose a buck or two. God in His grace will bless our loses to His glory. However, if we assign our self to participate in these activities our reward will be like that of the unjust steward.
REWARDED IN TIME, BUT NOT IN ETERNITY!

As Jesus says in Luke 16:13, loving your reward in time means that your loyalty to the dishonest promise will cause you to hate or despise the promise of light since we cannot serve God and money of dishonest gain.

The Devotional - A Look at the Book #703

The Devotional - A Look at the Book #703

by Jesse Abel

God is accountable. He is not accountable to you and I, in fact; He only is accountable to Himself. There are the different activities of God, the different ministries of the LORD and the different gifts of the Holy Spirit, yet God is ONE. Therefore His essence (operation) is revealed through His church and not through one individual. This then disqualifies the religious leaders of the current day. 1 Corinthians 12:1-31,

As a nation, we desperately need to return to the basics (not reading, writing and arithmetic) although that would help secularism. We need as a nation to involve our children and grandchildren in a sincere challenge to return to God and place His Word as a top priority in our future. There is at least one problem with this statement even thought is sounds good. We parents and grandparents for the most part are as ignorant of God as they are. What blight! We are like the nation Israel who the Prophet Joel spoke of in Joel 1:1-20.

Well yes, I am going to pick on accountability today (yours and mine)! If you are in the workforce, take a moment and listen to the conversations of others. I know that is hard to do if you are in conversation and then I say this; you just may be a part of the problem! I am surrounded by a dozen other men and women who, at any given moment in the work day give evidence that they are accountable to their work. You say well that is good, yet it is only one part of the whole. When these folks talk about accountability in life, love and family and you here what they are saying, it is enough to make your heart cry.

So, what are the basics? Repentance from dead works and faith toward God, we should be teaching this to our future, yet I am looking at the twelve individuals within my work place; from those in their twenties to those in their sixties who have no clue that they are standing inside the threshold of the doorway to hell. We are a nation bent on teaching our future how to destroy themselves.

Instead of baptizing our children and laying spiritual hands on them that point them to the one and only True God, we baptize them in the chemicals and substances of the world. Our hands of worldly filth direct our children’s future to accept; pornography, abortion, homosexuality, murder and stealing as a normal conduct of life. If you listen to the conversation of the people around you today you will hear, you will hear; sadly you will hear.

While there will be a resurrection of the dead and the eternal judgment (the two basic principles of physical life and death and eternal life and death) we teach our future that there is no hope, no resurrection and no judgment. That reincarnation is real… you know; one day after you die physically you will return until you get it right. I always laugh at this… “Suppose you do get it right someday?” Then what? No one knows!

We were an enlightened nation at one time in the past; we tasted of the power to come and the good word of God. But nationally we have fallen away and this is to our current shame. Shame on you daddy; shame on you mommy; shame on you gramps; shame on you grammie the product you produced is being burned up before your very eyes. As farmers we have failed God’s blessing and we are cultivating thorns and briers, near to being cursed and burned. Hebrews 6:1-8

The Devotional - A Look at the Book #701

by Jesse Abel

Ever go to new employment or to a new school; the employer or teacher comes along side; they show you the rules and assign training. The first few weeks you are under a guardian and your production is limited. But as time goes by you are allowed more freedom and soon you have the liberty of full service and now in return you are a light to someone else. Philippians 2:12-18. Be glad and rejoice God is at work in you.

Ecclesiastes 1:2 – Vanities of vanities says the preacher; all is vanity. You may not think that this is not important but the word is, is in italics meaning that in the original text the word is not found. Now the subject I am after is the word “vanity”. But of course if you are reading some of the lower English versions you may not find the word vanity at all but another word like “meaningless” yet staying with those versions that are translated from the Textus Receptus you should find like I do the added words, “all is vanity”.

Well now, that was not an easy paragraph to put down on paper! So is being implied by the translators changes the impact of what Solomon is saying so I will take out the is! “Vanity of vanity,” say the Preacher; “Vanity of vanities; all vanity.” The verse then becomes more hopeless or depressing and really gives hard evidence of living life under the sun (on this planet) without observation of God in your life.

Our hearts; not the blood pumper that keeps us vertical, but the inner heart that runs the operation of our daily life before God longs for the opportunity to know God. Solomon says in chapter three that God has placed eternity in our hearts and placed Creation all around us to point us to His Love, Ecclesiastes 3:11. Have you ever thought about the awesome detail of what your soul longs for and the revelation of God that is always in our face? O what a joy we fail to see, if we do not search for God in His Creation.

Psalm 19:1-14 is a favorite of mind. David in his wisdom of God and under the power of God writes that the heavens reveal the glory of God. Not just once in a while but every moment of every day. God has repeatedly revealed His Power and Glory every day since the world began. True the perfect beauty is flawed by sin; but even in this, His Mercy will reveal much, when we search the scriptures. Ecclesiastes 3:11b.

Psalm 19 can be divided into two basic parts, but if you are a student of God’s Word there is a lot more that one can do with this Psalm, but for now we will look at the two parts. Our eyes can see the Creation of God and when we see Creation, even for the first time; the sight of it should drive us to His Word, which is the second part beginning in verse 7. The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul. The Word of God which cannot fail has the powerful ability to restore the soul from that which was lost at the fall.

I cannot tell you how much joy the LORD can give you over this truth; you have to taste and see that the LORD is good for your soul. Seek the LORD while He can be found; there may be a day when your heart is all vanity.

The Devotional - A Look at the Book #701

The Devotional - A Look at the Book #701

by Jesse Abel

I’ve been thinking about the temple of God lately and how forbidden it must seem to us. You know how in the Old Covenant that only the High Priest once a year was allowed in the Holy of Holies and how the others were only allowed into the Holy Place, but not without a sin offering. Hebrews 8:1-13 explains that we now have a better covenant with better promises. Visit the Spirit of the LORD in your Temple!

It is so easy for us to bark out an excuse… “I ’can’t do that; don’t bother me; this is not my responsibility; I’m too old; give me a break!” I am sure I could fill the whole page with these, “frankly madam, I don’t care quips”. Most of our attitude toward people, places and property is revealed when we use our tongue to push our agenda over that of others. We do this all the time, even unknowingly. In business relationships, we slow production, in institutions like schools or churches, we bend the standards and with people we cause disappointment and depression.

The apostle Paul states in Romans 7:28 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Earlier he explains that he has tried it all; living for self and living under the mandates of the Law and that both avenues lead to a dead end. Jesus explains also to Paul that all of this activity is like kicking against the goads (a sharp stinging object) Acts 9:5.

Do we not kick against the goads when we excuse our self from things that we know we ought to be doing? I know for a fact that each time I belt out an excuse that the sharp arrows of Satan begin to fly. An excuse is letting your armor down in that while wrestling with the circumstances our shield of faith is the first line of defense to drop. Ephesians 6:10-18. Now for my excuse! “I don’t have to tell you that… do I?” As you already know it!

Well… yes I do since the apostle Peter says clearly that while he is in his tabernacle (physical body) he will tell us again and again reminding us of our need to be faithful to the LORD. 2 Peter 1:12-21. For pastors and teachers who study the Word of God it is great joy to share the revealed truth of the Holy Word of God. This does not mean that there is a new doctrine or revelation and those who say that there is are preaching destructive doctrines. But what does all this mean? It means that we all have the responsibility to remain faithful to the LORD, even when we know that our faith God is being challenged by those who know that we walk by faith and not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7

Have a joyful day in the LORD. Why? Joy lasts forever; but being happy… only for the moment!