The devotional - 002 - Lovingkindness (grace)

A Thought for the Day – 002 – Lovingkindness (grace)

Life is hard, thus we should keep looking up! Our eyes pointed upward are just not enough since it is our soul that pants for God like the deer for cool water. Hope for your soul is confidence in God; I like Psalm 42:8 – The LORD will command His lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night His song shall be with me – a prayer to God for my life.

 

Comments and challenges

It really does not matter what song He sings to us. Do you ever wake up at night singing a hymn or hearing a gospel tune? I truly hope you do! One of the most important aspects of living in Christ is the knowledge of pleasantness in the soul during the night and knowing that His grace will be sufficient for the coming day. Now think about it! Psalm 42: 8 does not say that God will lullaby you first in the night so that the day following will provide sufficient grace.

The thoughts contemplated by the sons of Korah here in Psalm 42 are focused on the troubles we all face in life. Daily we can be cast down and sometimes it can be the simplest of things that cause the soul to pant. For example, have you ever heard something from a stranger that stirred up worry in heart? Yes of course you have, like a radio station warning of a traffic tie up between you and work.

Maybe it is some evil disease that clings to or within our body, we bath it in medical lotions and potions or we seek medical remedies that often make us more ill than that of the disease. So life is hard to deal with alone and I say alone because the people who care for us can only reach the physical attributes of our surroundings; you know those creature comforts are needed but these only go so far.

“As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God. My soul thirst for God, for the living God! When shall I come and appear before God? Psalm 42:1-2” we all have trouble in this world and far too many of us do not know how to cry out in our soul to God. Yes tears are the food in our day and night during those serious trials of living and I have heard people say as you have. “You know God… ask Him!”

In fact; the day I heard the news that my daughter was dying of Leukemia, I asked the captain of the submarine I was on (he was a Jew and often quoted scripture from the Old Testament in his message traffic to other subs) I asked him why? Why captain is this happening? His reply in comforting words… “You know God; ask Him yourself as He is the only one who can give the right answer”. Yes, he was right, only God can reach the soul within you.

So, here is the point! In order to wake up during the night or in the morning with songs of praise and lovingkindness filling your mind, you must have gone to bed at peace with God the night before. Our soul has only one purpose and that purpose is to return to the God who created it. The soul hopes for eternity, while our flesh hopes for a temporal moment in time. The soul is at peace with God when we are a peace knowing that God is in control.

Does your countenance reflect godliness when people see you? It will if you let God sing to you during the night season since godliness is a reflection of what is in the soul and not an afterthought of the flesh. You know when God explained to Mary that she would conceive the Son of God in her womb by the overshadowing of the Holy Spirit, she heard this news from God through the angel Gabriel. And yes there were troubling thoughts leading up to the day when she visited Elizabeth; but notice the song she sang.

Luke 1:46-55 – My soul magnifies the LORD, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior… now for the sake of time I need to move on, but in your own time let your soul magnify the LORD today and let your spirit rejoice in Him… He has done great things for you in the midst of a troubling moment, and His mercy is on those who fear Him. Every generation since the beginning of time, testifies to this truth and there is nothing that this world can throw at you that is outside of God’s Will for you.

The Devotional - 001 - Random thoughts on Good and Evil

A Thought for the Day – 001 – Random Thoughts on Good and Evil

Proverbs 31:1-9 – The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good. (KJV) and in the (NKJV) the last half of the verse reads; Keeping watch on the evil and the good. It is important to note that God does not deal with sin, sin is forgiven (John 3:16) believing God, satisfies this thought immediately.

 

Comments and challenges

Once a very long time ago I was on Shore Patrol duty in Newport, Rhode Island. In those days there were USO clubs in most every city where there was a military population. These clubs were normally places where the men could go and dance with the local girls and possibly meet someone who would eventually become the misses. USO’s in those days were somewhat conservative since the country according to our modern day bent on evil was not yet there.

As a Shore Patrol Officer, I was part of a four man crew to keep peace in the club. This normally meant to break up a fight over who was dancing with whom and to chase away the drunks who could spoil any party. A young girl came to me and pointed out a sailor on the dance floor that had a large “Bowie” knife tucked in his trousers and covered by his uniform top. She became aware of the knife while dancing with the man.

I approached the young man and asked him for the knife, I had never asked a person to give up a weapon before so I did not know what to expect, I expected the worst so with my night stick at the ready the man reached for the knife. I said; “Stop! Now I know for sure you have the knife, put your hands on top of your head” and I had my backup retrieve the knife.

This action prevented sin by removing the evil. Of course the man was detained and sent to the Shore Patrol Headquarters in Newport for disciplinary action. The event is explained so that we can understand the avenue of good and evil. Sort of like that town in Texas called Texarkana where half of the city is in Arkansas and half is in Texas, where the West side of North State Line Avenue (U.S. Route 71) is Texas and the East side of North State Line Avenue is Arkansas.

Now I am not saying that one U.S. state is evil and the other is good, but I am saying that “good and evil” travel the same road and both the good and the evil is visible God, but invisible to you and me. “Got it?” “Good!” Until sin is exposed in human consciousness for what it is; good or evil cannot be known by human intellect. Only sin can reveal the presence of evil. So what am I saying specifically?

Since the human mind cannot understand these realms (good and evil) how can God reveal this to you and me. He does this by raising a “standard of Righteousness” this banner is His flag of “Perfect Righteousness” God does not have to ask us if we have “sinned” Romans 3:23 states this… “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”. This simply means that since we walk in harmony with “good and evil” a relative righteous standard or flag that reveals to God that all of our works… the good and the evil fall short of the glory of God.

It is hard for us to understand that even the good that we do produces sin under the banner of relative righteousness before our Holy God whose banner is absolute. The apostle Paul speaking to us through his epistle to the Romans says in Romans 3:9 that Jews and gentiles are all seen through the absolute righteousness standard of God as being under sin. Then he goes on to quote several passages in Psalms and Isaiah the reveal this sinful condition of relative righteousness.

So, we have a serious problem, as we walk about in the world; our footprints leave a trail of sin everywhere we go. But do not despair; there is good news, notice one of my favorite verses of scripture. Romans 5:8 – but God demonstrated (proved) His love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us; I would challenge you to read Romans 5:6-11. While we stand before God with our hands on our head revealing our hidden guilt, remember this.

The disciplinary action that we should face was placed on the Son of God; Jesus who in absolute righteousness took upon Himself our sin of relative righteousness and has given us His Righteous standard to live by. This is of course another study for another day, but I leave you with this thought. “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him, 2 Corinthians 5:21.

Change can be good!

Please look for the devotionals on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays beginning with 10/28/2013

Thank You
Jesse

The Devotional – 162 – Faith is the Victory

The Devotional – 162 – Faith is the Victory

 

Going off to church for me is like going to visit a close personal friend or relative, it is even like going home. So if this is true (and it is) then what should we expect going home with the LORD to be any different? Psalm 119:73-80

 

Comments and Challenges

Dr. David Jeremiah… Faith and Fear

When we think of faith, we think of belief. And when we think of the opposite of belief, we naturally think of unbelief. Therefore, we conclude that the opposite of faith is unbelief. And from a dictionary perspective, that is true. But the Bible usually sets something besides unbelief in opposition to faith -- and that is fear. From a grammatical point of view, the opposite of believing may be not believing. But from the perspective of life, the opposite of faith is fear.

Jesus demonstrated this clearly when a Jewish man begged Him to come and heal his sick daughter. On their way, friends of the man met them and said it was too late -- the little girl had died. But Jesus said to the man, "Do not be afraid; only believe." Jesus didn't tell the man not to doubt -- He told him not to fear. Faith and hope are focused on the future. Facing the future without faith and hope is a good reason to be fearful. Going forward, we have two choices: faith or fear.

Whether the future you are focused on is five minutes, five months, or five years away, "Do not be afraid; only believe."

The beginning of anxiety is the end of faith and the beginning of true faith is the end of anxiety.
George Muller

Mark 9:14-29

 

The days in which we live today are much like the days during the life of Jesus. Just a quick look at people today reveals the thoughts and intensions of the world around us. Great multitudes of people around the world are searching for answers to problems that only God can solve. There is only one problem with society it is called SIN.

 

Sin reveals itself in FEAR and fear has a worldly wardrobe of anxiety, aggressive behavior, rigid phobias and crime. Unchecked either personally or nationally this clothing brings death to those who wear who wear it. Dr. David Jeremiah explains in one of his books that the opposite of FAITH in God is FEAR of life. The question that Jesus asks the father of the child who unable to speak, was… “How long has the child been this way”, the father’s answer; “since childhood”!

 

This is a long time for any parent to tend to a child who is ill with seizures, the age of the child is of little importance and if your child has ever been sick with a crushing illness you know the time (what might seem to be quick by the one who observes) can seem like a lifetime for the parent. This time spent in concern will always lead to doubt, fear, unbelief and despair.

 

Jesus asks the father to believe; a simple task really, but to the one who has been challenged with trouble; the fatigue of living in that trouble takes over. Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “LORD I believe; help my unbelief!” Mark 9:24. Life can be difficult, but I know as you do… Jesus takes the difficult (fear) and replaces it with abiding (Faith).

The Devotional – 161 –Just a sandwich!

The Devotional – 161 –Just a sandwich!

 

Happy are those who trust the covenants or testimonies of the LORD as this is the response of a heart in full trust of His grace. To know Jesus; to abide in His Righteousness and hope in the power of His resurrection all of these are testimonial promises from God to us. Psalm 119:2 and Philippians 3:9-11

 

Comments and Challenges

Once as a volunteer firefighter I went to a traffic accident involving a small pick-up truck and a semi-tractor and trailer. a Toyota truck was headed up the sloping strip of icy roadway and the semi was headed down the strip. The small pick-up could not maintain control and slid into the path of the oncoming semi.

 

The driver of the semi shifted to the other lane to avoid the small truck. Things for the driver of the semi went bad, when the trailer shifted and slammed the little pick-up against the Jersey barriers on the side of the road. Normally a small Toyota pick-up is about four and a half feet wide, but as I approached the little truck I could see that it was now about 2 feet wide the full length of the little truck.

 

I said to the others with me “oh; oh” serious injuries in this one. But, to our surprise, the young driver of the pick-up was not injured at all.  As his little pickup collapsed on both sides everything pushed to the middle including the young man’s body. I later learned that he was a student of a local college; also he glorified the LORD who saved him from harm and said he was a believer in Christ.

 

The driver of the semi was very agitated, since he thought the driver of the pick-up would not survive such an impact, yet his agitation turned to elation when he learned that the young man was okay.

 

Mark 9:2-13

 

These are difficult passages to talk through; I have read some of the commentaries of those bible scholars of the past and did not find much, but I did find that Matthew 17:1-13 and Luke 9:28-36 add to Marks account. So my challenge today is that you and I read the three accounts and let the LORD encourage us with the comments of His disciples. These two readings will certainly be less severe than being sandwiched between a large truck and solid Jersey barriers.

 

 

The Devotional – 160 –Undefiled

The Devotional – 160 –Undefiled

 

Blessed are the “blameless” in the way they walk, that would be those who walk in the Righteousness of the LORD Jesus. He did not come to destroy the Law and Prophets but to fulfill. Psalm 119:1 and Matthew 5:17.

 

Comments and Challenges

About once a week I get a thought in mind and decide that the thought is worthy to place in one of the devotionals. However when I go to put it on paper it falls apart like a bubble once its strength dissipates in the air pressure around it; so let me try again… thanks for your patience.

The original thought had to do with taking up one’s cross and following Jesus, yet in the world around us the cross in most people’s lives is not a cross of victory but more like the agony of defeat. We find our complaint in every avenue of life these days and there are many who will gladly toss in the towel and simply give up.

But let me talk to us from the portion of scripture here in our brief look at the gospel of Mark; Mark 8:34-38 through Mark 39:1. If we have been born again, we will have a desire to follow Jesus, to deny our own life and to take up where Jesus left off and follow Him. Yet I believe that we misinterpret the desire, so here is the way I see it.

As God, Jesus temporally denied His rightful position as “King of kings” and became the “Lamb of God”. Philippians 2:7 explains to you and me that He (Jesus) emptied Himself of His positional life in eternity and became a man in likeness and appearance. In verse 5 the apostle Paul does not suggest, but he does command that you and I allow the mind of Christ do this very same thing in us.

This very same thing is actually opposite to Christ coming to earth in this sense. It was out of the norm for Christ to become a man and to die. He is, even in His moment in time God, God does not die; we on the other hand are not God and in our moment of time we expect to die, so here is the point.

Christ came expecting to die as the Lamb of God and in the anticipation of this He willingly learned the obedience of human life, therefore we as being born again and expecting eternal life should be willing to learn the obedience of supernatural life. Matthew 10 and Luke 9 also cover this thought of taking up the cross and follow Jesus thus it is an important matter.

So where did you put the cross? Is it leaning is some small corner of your soul waiting for you to pick it up again and again learning the obedience of the kingdom of heaven which is at hand. Is it covered in the rubbish of the mindset of your little kingdom? I am not saying this from a holier than thou mindset. I have hidden and buried the cross many times, but I know as Job. Job 19:25 – For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:

Therefore we should strive for the excellent and high calling of God found in Hebrews 12:1-11

The Devotional – 159 – Philippians 4:13

The Devotional – 159 – Philippians 4:13

 

Launching from a thought of J.I. Packer “Christian doctrine is grace and Christian living is gratitude” I say that – “Jesus is Grace and living with Him is gratitude”   Philippians 4:21-23

 

Comments and Challenges

I was just thinking this morning of how easy it is to be “double minded”. Some years ago when it was against Navy Regulations to have pornographic material onboard any Navy vessel, I opened one of our less used “parts locker” and found fifty-two magazines of various filth.

The locker normally contained repair parts that seldom failed so some keen sailor or sailors knew how to override the lock (an easy task, by the way) and used the locker to hide their morally unrestrained (licentious) behavior.  Some would agree with those sailors that in the light of reprimand or some other action; hiding ones behavior is “good”! “Humbug”!

There was an investigation of who may have been responsible, but there was little proof so the matter was dropped into the ship’s TDU (Trash Disposal Unit). Here is the rub – in the search for the person or persons, the material of filth found its way through the Chief’s quarters, the Officer’s quarters and into the Captain’s cabin. Each of these temporary lay over stations were obviously challenged by the double-mindedness of man.

Believer and unbeliever alike were being confronted with immorality that actually crippled the ship’s main objective, making all on board vulnerable to satanic influence. How do I know this? Good question! The conversation on board any navy vessel is less than pure on any given day; but when it becomes common knowledge of someone’s impurity even if you do not know who that one is, then this becomes the common conversation of the days ahead.

Now we do not normally dwell of “stuff” like this and that is good, but we should be knowledgeable in our heart of hearts to be careful. The believer in Jesus Christ suffers in much the same manner as the LORD Jesus. Today; saints of Jesus Christ are seeing increased rejection from the elders of the world system and from the religious factions rapidly creeping into our country these days.

Under the cloak of “human good” or “false religious piety” people are increasingly seeking neutralize “faith in God” when we speak openly about “faith in Jesus Christ” they actually say rebuking words that sound much like the words of Peter in Mark 8:31-33. And Peter took Jesus aside and began to rebuke Him for talking about His rejection, death and resurrection.

The faithful believer has “TWO” front lines of battle. One is the battle of influence from secular human viewpoint that says; times have changed, now it is okay to be okay about the sexual viewpoints of others and, Two is the battle to keep the double mind from penetrating the church doctrines of the grace of God and pure faith. Galatians 2:20-21.

The Devotional – 158 – Titus 3:5

The Devotional – 158 – Titus 3:5

 

Mark 8:22-26 – and he looked up, and said, “I see men as trees walking” Has Jesus applied the water of His Living Word to your eyes? It may be that like most of us… you may need another application. Stay in His Word.

Comments and Challenges

The song writer, Mark Pendergrass writes; "The greatest thing in all my life is loving You" Taking a closer look at his song you might notice the progressive wisdom that Mr. Pendergrass applies. One: you cannot love God without knowing Him, and Two: you cannot serve God without loving Him. It is a simple song, but powerful in truth. A passage of interest here is Philippians 3:8-9.

“But indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my LORD, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith”.

In seeking to establish righteousness in the sight of God, many of us fail by applying our own personal goodness to our relationship with the Savior, this is not endurance by knowing and serving, it is striving for approval in the selfish ambition of personal righteousness.

Zechariah records ten visions from God and in the fifth vision: Zechariah 3:1-7 he sees Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at Joshua’s right hand to resist the LORD. Joshua in his righteousness is seen as clothed in filthy rags and the angel says to those standing by: “Take away his filthy garments” and to Joshua the angel said, “See I have caused your iniquity to be removed from you and I will cloth you with a change of raiment”. Also the angel had placed a clean turban on Joshua’s head.

Does this vision show us the behind the scene elements of the things that God does on our behalf and do these not ring loud and clear in our soul? Righteousness does not come to anyone by the things we do, the righteousness of God comes by believing God who is the rewarder of those who diligently seek Him, notice Revelation 3:10-11.

"Because you have kept my Word, (literally; the word of my patience or My command of endurance) I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world to test those who dwell on the earth. Behold I come quickly! Hold fast to what you have, that no one may take your crown”. Our turban is fresh and clean, permanently washed in the Blood of the Lamb, therefore do not take it off and throw in the towel.

A challenge for all of us since we are surrounded daily by much evil in this self-righteous world. “Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full at His wonderful face and the things of this earth will grow strangely dim in the Light of His glory and grace.

The Devotional – 157 – Preparation and the Gospel

The Devotional – 157 – Preparation and the Gospel

 

The "chair" is a useful tool for the "buns", but it is all too often used as a platform for "scorn"! Psalm 1:1

 

Comments and Challenges

Last Monday at the rescue mission I had made mention that the ministry of Jesus Christ was nearly two thousand years ago, at the end of the gospel message, one old timer came up to me and said, “your words touched me, you say that these events of Jesus was nearly two thousand years ago”? “Yes” I responded. His reply was: “That’s the first time I heard that”!

We live in dark days, now that is not because of our struggles as a nation (those struggles we both know) but the dark days that I am referring to are controlled by Satan and his companions. He has skillfully covered creation with lies and deception for nearly seven thousand years and he will continue to do this until the LORD places him in the abyss.

For any elderly man living in the United States of America without the simplest understanding of “you must be born again” is I believe a dis-credit to the churches across the land. Somehow we have allowed our pulpits to be filled with men or women who do not even understand the gospel them self. The gospel is a simple message of truth and once it is understood a decision to believe it or reject it by the individual person will happen. But how can one believe or reject if it is not properly explained?

As a nation; Israel rejected the gospel of Jesus Christ. Notice Romans 10:14-15 “How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? You may want to read the rest of the chapter through verse 21.

Here is the rub? The gospel was not made by man, along with Creation it came to man by the Living God… the gospel was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled of the things pertaining to the word of Life. 1 John 1:1, the gospel is the only declaration of “good news” worthy to believe.

Mark 8:13-21

If you are a baker, leaven (Yeast) is a good ingredient, but if you are a preacher of the gospel; leaven is not so good. We are warned in scripture to refrain from adding or taking away from the truth. The warning; “for I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written I this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of this book of prophesy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book”. Revelation 22:19-20

 

Those who are in need of “good news” when heard will do as the disciples did in these few passages of Mark; they will apply what they heard to something humanly appropriate or say things like the man at the mission, “I never heard that before” so if you do not know how or when to present the good news, it is better for you to say nothing at all, but do study and be ready, 2 Timothy 2:15-16.

 

The Devotional - 156 - Preparation vs. Responsibility

The Devotional – 156 – Preparation vs. Responsibility

 

Proverbs 16:1-2 – The preparations (plans) of the heart of man, belong to man (responsibility), but the answer of the tongue is from the LORD (consequence). Humanly, we are right in the things we do, but it is God who tests the integrity of our good and evil results.

 

Comments and Challenges

Ever notice how important you think you are? It seems to me that every now and then I find myself thinking that I'm okay and the guy next to me is bum. Someone once said that they did not mind people saying bad things about him. In fact; he encouraged it, “say what you want since I know me and you do not”.

This reasoning of knowing self; better than they knew him is actually the problem of seeing others as the bum. Romans 2:1 Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same thing.

That is really the common way of life for most of us, on the outside we look pious while on the inside we look like the homeless soul who has little clothing and no place to rest his or her aching bones. And yes this is the condemning problem with our SOUL since in many of us our love for people is out of focus since our measuring stick base on an inch of “ME”, a foot of “MY SELF” and a yard of “I”.

Also we base our love for one another on outward body language and superficial appearance, this love is based on performance but in our heart of hearts where we live there are those secret creeping thoughts of (I am better than you) that no other human knows. Only you and God share these confidential things and it is God who determines wages given to the character of both the fool the righteous.

 

Mark 8:11-12

 

Mark 8:11-12 – Religion is performance based and extremely untrustworthy. Some churches thrive on performance, one that gets me every time is the man who walks about on the platform with several people kneeling in front of him and ever so often he stops in front of one person and bops the person up-side the head and they fall down. Heeled of some infirmity, but injured because of the “bop” knocked them to the floor.

Well that may be a bit of a stretch, usually there is someone following the “bopper” and standing behind the one being “bopped” to catch them. Well I simply ask you… is this biblical do we read any such thing in any book in the Holy Bible. So then why do people look for a “sign” to prove God is who He says He is? Mark says that Jesus “sighed deeply in His spirit” and said, “why does this generation seek a sign? Assuredly, I say to you, no sign shall be given to this generation.

That statement is as true today as when Jesus spoke around A.D. 32. Matthew in his gospel records a reference from Isaiah 9 that explains that this generation along with all generations of the world, they have seen the only sign necessary to know that God is. Notice Matthew 4: 16 or Isaiah 9:2. The people who sat in darkness saw a Great Light, and upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death, Light has dawned”. Read your Holy Bible, the Bible is the only Light needed!

The Devotional – 155 – Compromising Faith

The Devotional – 155 – Compromising Faith

 

Proverbs 14:1 – She is a country of beauty and full of living color, but there is a deadly fear in the hearts of those who love her. Her resources are not in her beauty, but in the hands of those who are given the task to uphold her. Every wise woman builds her house, but the foolish pulls it down with her hands.

 

Comments and Challenges

 

One year in Halifax, Nova Scotia the U.S. Navy gave a fire truck to the town; I was just a young Third Class Petty Officer on my second ship and was part of the crew to set up the speaking platform. There were IC electricians in charge of the microphones, wiring and speakers who were also putting the final touches on platform. They were testing out the equipment so all systems were on and working very well.

 

Also, the town began filling up with people, already there were at least ten thousand people walking around the Fire Truck and the Destroyer I was on. Some were eagerly speaking with the sailors and the whole assembly of dignitaries was gathering in an area of seating that was off limits to everyone but them.

 

I was in the back of the platform and knew the speakers were operational, my working companion (on cue) belched very loudly, my response was quick. “Bring that bad boy up again and we’ll vote for him in the next election, no doubt his gas is better than what we are getting today.” His burp and my response filled the area. There was a lot of laughter and there were a half dozen “red faced and angry Navy Officers!”

 

We were removed from duty and sent back aboard the ship, this was Saturday evening and we were scheduled to leave port on Monday morning. We lost a couple of days liberty in the town; okay that is not so bad some would say, but it is bad since the testimony of the United States and the United States Navy was marred by two simple minded sailors who foolishly planned the whole thing.

 

Mark 8:1-10

 

Mark 8:1-10 – Our country was founded on Biblical Principals of Faith, this is evident to the most casual of observers (other countries). If there is a crack in this armor (Ephesians 6:10-20) it will show up in the shield of faith. National faith begins to crumble when the children of any nation grow up without biblical knowledge.

There is a remnant of people like those in Mark 8 who seek biblical faith. These folks will listen to the Teacher for very long periods of time; the very point of exhaustion and starving. That remnant in the United States of American has dwindled to just a few; most people today do not even pray over their meal and are very greedy with poor eating habits.

And yet I know that if we did gather on some hilltop and seek to hear from God, He would hear our cries and have compassion. He would heal our land and He would have Seven Baskets of left-overs. Even the leftovers of the Living Word of God are better than the foolish hearts of men and woman who cannot “for a piece of bread” solve a simple problem in government which is too much “Hot Air”

The Devotional – 153 – Working Faith

The Devotional – 153 – Working Faith

 

Proverbs 25:2 – When government looks for answers, leadership must seek the direction and Will of God. When leaders fail Him; God then is not obligated to reveal any workable solution. The result: dissidence (disagreement), disparagement (discredit or belittlement), dissention (disagreement and quarreling) and finally to civil displacement (removal from office).

 

Comments and Challenges

Here is another of those “way back then stories” Once upon a time our family had a pony, a female pony whose name was Phoebe. I do not think she liked her name because she simply ignored us when we called her, she was ornery. The children liked her so we learned to deal with the animal and her attitude.

 

One of the first difficult moments was getting her to go into the small stall we had for her so she could spend a comfortable night. I pulled, pushed, begged and said a few words over her, (no not prayer)! She still would not go. I called my brother Tom and he and his wife came over, we spent all afternoon trying to get her to go in the stall.

 

Simply “NO” was her response and she was strong enough to prove it. With both of us pulling on the reigns from inside the stall and with one jerk of her head, both Tom and I flew out of the stall as if we were nothing more than pieces of paper caught in the breeze of the day. At this I decided to look in the yellow pages for someone who might know what to do. I found a man who lived locally and trained horses so gave him a call.

 

“Sure” he said. “I'll be right over” Within a half hour the guy showed up. He only had one arm; his left arm was missing all the way up to the shoulder. Knowing Phoebe, I thought to myself; “this ain't gonna be pretty”. I said, “Can I help”. “Nope, just watch” he replied as he walked through the yard and grabbed a switch from one of the tree branches.

 

He walked over to the pony and guided her toward the stall and gave her a slap with the switch on her backside and the pony ran into the stall. He turned, smiled and said. Normally I charge five bucks, but the look on your faces gives you a free ride, have a nice day” and he left. “How did you lose your arm I shouted” it was a dumb question I know! His response… “If I tell ya, it’ll cost you five bucks” with that he got into his pick up and left.

 

Mark 7:31-37

 

Mark 7:37 – Jesus astonished the people around Him notice; “and they were astonished beyond measure, saying “He has done all things well “He makes both the deaf to hear and the mute to speak””. Jesus and His disciples departed the towns which is modern day Lebanon and went to modern day Syria; Decapolis which is an area called ten cities (Matthew 4:25) and here in Mark as well.

Jesus walked many miles throughout His ministry on the earth, providing ample evidence that He was and is the Son of God. Some who came in contact with Him was either healed of a physical or demonic condition and all the rest were “astonished” beyond words. Today in those countries we would see rebellion, death, false teaching and national suppression.

It is not that these countries did not hear and see the Messiah, but it is that these countries personally and nationally rejected the True Messiah, even Thee Prophet for the false messiah even the false prophet. Our nation today rejected the True Messiah as well and soon; if we do not repent (change our mind) we too will be like Syria today. Imploding “within” because we believe the LIE and “exploding” without because we have choked on the TRUTH.

Mark 7: 34 – The remnant (if you believe in Jesus you are part of the remnant) needs to take a hint from the LORD. “Then looking up to heaven, He SIGHED AND said to him (the deaf mute) be opened. What am I suggesting? Today the remnant of believing men and women in the United States of America are like the deaf mute, we are selfishly closed minded and we do not speak to God.

We are watching our nation fail and most of us do not pray! Soon and very soon, the cost of a “switch” will be more than five dollars. Phoebe a small American bird, Phobia soon to be a large American pastime.

 

The Devotional – 152 – Preserving Faith

The Devotional – 152 – Preserving Faith

 

Psalm 91:5-8 – You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day. Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday. A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand, but it shall not come near you. Only with your eyes shall you look, and see the reward of the wicked. ( A promise to the Israel of God; with Romans 9:6-12 in focus)

 

Comments and Challenges

The last submarine I was on before retiring was the USS Hyman G. Rickover (SSN-709). It was a Los Angeles Class Fast Attack that was built by General Dynamics, Electric Boat Division in Groton, CT. in August of 1983. It was commissioned for the United States Navy in July of 1984 and placed in service.

The submarine was placed on inactive duty in December 2007 and as a vessel to defend this country, it served 23 years. It will be totally non-existent by the year 2016. What is the point? “To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven” Take the moment or two that you will need to read the rest of this section of scripture in Ecclesiastes 3:1-15. Is this not an awesome section of scripture?

I was reminded of this a year or two ago during Bible Study, notice again Ecclesiastes 3:11. This statement by Solomon is viewing the first eight verses without sin as a focal point; it is why he can say that everything is beautiful in the time appointed. Also he clearly states that God has placed in the heart of mankind, ETERNITY!  Yet, it may very well be that SIN has marred your focus on eternity.

Jesus died and rose again as the sacrificial LAMB to cleanse you and me from sin and restore eternity in our heart. This same Jesus is coming again, not as the LAMB but as the KING and of His Kingdom there shall be no end. So the question! What's in your heart?

 SIN or ETERNITY? Hebrews 9:23-28; 2 Peter 1:11. Like the submarine, this world is passing away; God knows the times and seasons until Jesus returns. The fig tree is blooming and Damascus is failing. Read your Bible and learn what that means.

You might start in Isaiah 17:1 and all of Isaiah 46:1-13 and even Ezekiel 37-39. Summer is near. More to come.

 

The Devotional – 151 – Rewarding Faith

The Devotional – 151 – Rewarding Faith

 

Psalm 119:78 – Pilgrim's Progress authored by John Bunyan, comes to mind. The path of the saint is filled with the deception of the enemy. From saints who live worldly, to those who have never known God. Some attack with words of bitterness and some in sweetness, but the one who meditates on the precepts of God will endure to the blessing of God.

 

Comments and Challenges

Be sober and vigilant; this is a military command found in 1 Peter 5:8. The world is not a sober place, nor is it vigilant to the spiritual conflict that the apostle Peter is focused in this section of 1 Peter 5:5-11. I believe that one of Satan’s strategies is to devour the strength of the gospel of Jesus Christ and that he does this by destroying the testimony of believers.

Peter uses the strategy of a lion to alert all saints to the offensive nature of Satan, the prowl of the lion is to devour everything in its path. Proverbs 30:30. Thus the apostle's comparison of Satan and the lion is accurate. The devil and his demons are strong on offense, but are weak and defeated on defense. Jude 1:9. On the other side of this, we saints living in this fallen world are humanly weak on offense and vulnerable to this spiritual war for our soul.

Our only defense is to put on the whole armor of God, Ephesians 6:10-20. The world looks good to the unbeliever and it even looks good to the weak and the immature believer. The flesh cannot stand against a spiritual enemy. Ephesians 6:12 and we are again commanded to fight the good fight of faith; as faith is the substance of things hoped for and faith is the evidence of things not seen.

We do not see the fallen spiritual world around us and in order for us to gain hope by faith we must be able to comprehend that victory over the roaring lion is through the finished work of Jesus Christ. We are more than conquerors through Him who loves us. God in His love for us gives to each of us victory over the one who hates us. Romans 8:37-39. Finally we are the salt and the light to the fallen world around us. If we lose either of these attributes we are worthless. Matthew 5:17-20.

 

Mark 7

Mark 7:24-30 – it would seem to the casual reader that the LORD Jesus is being a bit harsh with this gentile woman with words like, “Let the children be filled first, for it is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs” but I am reminded of many days gone by when as a child I did not eat all the things that was prepared for me. Many times I gave what was not eaten to our dog and he ate it.

Israel rejected the LORD Jesus as Messiah and as a result tossed much of His favor to them to the dogs, another event in the gospels is the event of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16:19-31.

Solomon says to buy the Truth and sell it not, also wisdom and instruction and understanding, it is readily apparent to Jesus that this gentile woman understood “truth” better than the Jewish people. So let me ask a question here. Why did she understand? And the answer is: “She revealed to Jesus Christ – FAITH and this pleased Jesus. Simple isn’t it!

Without faith it is impossible to please God, for he (or she) who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is the rewarder of those who diligently seek Him, Hebrews 11:6.

 

The Devotional – 150 – Do not Fail

The Devotional – 150 – Do not Fear

 

Proverbs 8:1-36 – Think about it! Failure is learning what to do before success happens… it is okay to make a mistake, but don’t make it the second time and don’t give up! Solomon says through the inspiration of God the Holy Spirit that, “All the words of Wisdom are soak in the Righteousness of God. There is nothing crooked or perverse in them. And all of the words of God are plain to those who understand and right to those who find knowledge. Keep seeking the wisdom of God

Comments and Challenges

 

The military has a language of its own and in using the Navy as an example; let’s look at a few words that are common to these men and women who wear these uniforms. Bulkhead this is not an entry way leading to the basement; but a wall within the structure of the ship. Overhead is not that bird flying over head, but it is the ceiling over your head. One last one: bight this is not the half-moon circle missing in your peanut butter sandwich, but in naval jargon it is a loop in the mooring line.

 

When ships dock; deck hands (sailors) will use the mooring lines to bring the ship to a safe docking position at the side of pier. To do this the mooring line is fastened to bollard on the pier and the cleat on the ship. (Whoops, two more words) The bight in naval language is when the rope is laying on deck and is looped in a circle. Someone standing in the circle is said to be standing in the bight, a very dangerous place to stand when a sudden movement of the ship will cause the rope to tighten.

 

If someone is standing in the bight; life and limb is threatened. The stories of peg-legged sailors are not as glamorous as fighting with man eating whales and sharks, but more like a sailor ignoring the warning of standing with one foot in the bight and losing his leg up to the knee. Here is the rub: Satan disguises himself as an angel of light; 2 Corinthians 11:4-15. There is the light of the world and the blight of religion. Do not get caught up in the bite of life or the blight of Satan, instead let us be prepared and alert for Satan is a roaring lion who uses deception to take a bite  out of your walk with the LORD.

 

Mark 7

Presenting the gospel of God’s grace to the people around us is not complicated, that is unless someone seeks to mix the grace of God with religion. “Oh you say that you would never do that” and I am sure you mean that sincerely. Here in Mark 7 the Pharisees (the religious crowd) are observing the disciples of Jesus as they ate with unwashed hands. Just as religion and tradition go hand in hand to the altar of counterfeit worship; likewise grace and liberty go hand in hand to the throne of God.

Religion finds its yoke heavy and burdensome, Mark 7:6-9 by rejecting grace and adopting tradition. This is because religion and tradition dictates what is really in the heart of man.

And He said, “What comes out of a man that defiles a man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a man” Mark 7:20-23.

There is a strong need in our circle of influence to be steadfast and abounding in the work of the LORD and not in the work of man. In order that when we are challenged by people about our actions that these actions be found in the purity of grace and not of works. Therefore my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the LORD, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the LORD. 1 Corinthians 15:58.

 

The Devotional - 149 - Do not Fear

The Devotional – 149 – Do not Fear

 

Proverbs 7:13 – Young or elderly people be careful, that innocent face of enticement is not so. The Hebrew word for “impudent” here in Proverbs thirteen is Azaz, it is the only time this word is used and it literally means to be STOUT or intoxicating to the point of destruction. The face of an immoral woman or man is deadly.

Comments and Challenges

One night many, many years ago when it was bed time, and before my brothers were born so I must have been around six years old, I crawled into bed. It was dark and as my eyes adjusted to the darkness I was something white floating around at the end of my bed. It tried to be brave and ignore the white object, but the more I ignored it the larger and more daring it got.

 

I became so scared that I could not move and I began to cry, soon my sobs were so detailed that my dad heard my heavy sobs; you know those sounds that your mouth makes when you are trying to stifle fear! He said in that loud voice of his, “Boy, what’s going on in there?” I said “sniff, choke… there is a ghost; choke, sniff, in my room”! His reply “there ain’t no ghost in your room, shut up and go to sleep”! “choke, sniff… okay!”

 

A few minutes later; the same conversation with my dad began again, only this time he decided to come into the room too. He turned on the light and there hanging on the bedpost (I was in one of those four poster beds that are seldom seen anymore) was a white shirt. For me that shirt moved all around the room, but for sure it had not moved at all, even after my dad showed it to me. He left it there and told me to go to sleep. Later my mom came in and remove to shirt (thanks mom).

 

You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day, nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday. A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; But it shall not come near you. Psalm 91:5-7

Mark 6:45-52

Gennesaret, or Ginosar, ("a garden of riches") was a town allotted to the tribe of Naphtali, called "Kinnereth" (Joshua 19:35), sometimes in the plural form "Kinneroth" (Joshua 11:2). In later times the name was gradually changed to Genezareth, Genezar and Gennesaret (Luke 5:1). No trace of the Gennesaret city remains. Flavius Josephus refers to the area as having very rich soil. (This paragraph is taken from Wikipedia).

The land flowing with milk and honey; the greatest commandment of God to Israel also carries the greatest promise to Israel. Deuteronomy 6:1-9. Naphtali, an example of the spiritual condition of the nation nearly two thousand years later; the land remained beautiful, the rich soil still produced the flow of milk and honey, but the people? Awe! The people!

Mark 6:53-56 – When they had crossed over they came to the land of Gennesaret and anchored there. And when they came out of the boat, immediately the people recognized Him ran through that whole surrounding region, and began to carry about on beds those who were sick to wherever they heard He was. Wherever He entered, into villages, cities, or the country, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and begged Him that they might just touch the border of His garment. And as many as touched Him were made well.

We the people of this nation (The USA) are in the same condition of those in Gennesaret (Naphtali). We are physically sick with sin and permanently scarred with fraud, waste and abuse. Individually and as a nation we need to change our mind about God and reach out to Him while He can still be touched.