The Devotional - 016 - LORD, do you hear me?

A Thought for the Day – 016 – LORD, do you hear me?

Psalm 55:1-2 Give ear to my prayer, O God, and do not hide Yourself from my supplication. Attend to me, and hear me; I am restless in my complaint, and moan noisily.

 

Comments and challenges

Of course David the writer of this Psalm goes on to explain the discomfort in his soul as a contemplation concerning treachery. A treachery not from enemies but from friends! Now do friends find ways to bring trouble, anguish and sleepless nights into our lives? Well not all the time, but it does happen. Take the time read down through verse 14 of Psalm 55.

If you have been a believer in the LORD Jesus Christ for any length of time you may have run into a friend; a brother or sister in the LORD who has simply turned on you an became the enemy. These are tough periods of time in our walk. Crushing our faith even redirecting our walk and in most cases the aftershock of these battles leads an individual to thoughts of death, either against someone or self.

In verse 3, these promoters of evil toward David are causing him to think of revenge, in verse 4, fear grips him and his heart aches for a moment of hope; either sweet revenge or death for himself. These are tough moments in the heart of anyone going through these times. Of course the answer is always to seek the LORD, but it seems that the LORD is not listening to the complaint. We may even feel that the LORD is on the wrong side of the battle.

The LORD uses moments like these to build up our dependence on HIM, so what is dependence? It is FAITH! Here is the rub; if we take the matter into our own hands and become so angry as to destroy the life of the one who is seeking harm, or if we choose to end our personal life, whether it be physical or just to fly away like a bird in the sky, there would be a temporary “Selah” in this peace we could hide our self from the tempest and storm being produced.

This is not FAITH, it is a work that destroys rather than builds and it takes a long time to recover and return to the LORD. Now it may be that we never drift far from the LORD, we may do churchy things, even pray and seek the LORD. we may even involve ourselves in ministry and be sincere. But our active FAITH (our original walk) in Christ was harmed when we turn our back and ran away. There are many examples of this in scripture, the best example is that of the disciples of the LORD when He was taken captive, rejected and murdered by the religion of His day.

But, please note… did this religious crowd, while thinking victory, did they swallow up these men and the women who were following Jesus while He was alive. No! All but one returned to FAITH when Jesus ROSE from the grave. And the one that did not return; but hung himself, he had no FAITH to begin with even though he was a disciple and friend of Jesus. Read the gospels and see for yourself. These troubling moments in time for the SAINTS of God are events that are FAITH builders. When the saints of God go through the “fire” God does not leave their side, He is in the thick of it with them.

Isaiah 43:1-3a – Speaking to Israel God says: “But now, thus says the LORD, who created you O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel; “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are mine””. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you, when you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you; for I am the LORD your God.

Again, notice Psalm 55: 20-21 – the words of the religious are pious even peaceful in sound, but these men and women have not broken a covenant with you or me personally, they have broken it with God before they took the left over pieces and wrecked your day! David responds correctly in verse 22 – Cast your burden on the LORD, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved. Literally “shaken” this is the same thing the Apostle Peter tells us. God promise is “Not Slack”, 2 Peter 3:9 and 1 Peter 5:7. “Roll your cares onto the LORD as He cares for you

The Devotional - 015 - Thanksgiving, Amen!

A Thought for the Day – 015 – Thanksgiving

Romans 11:36 – That we should read from verse 28 through 36 is true, but notice these wonderful words concerning the Character of God that will never fade away for those who believe the Gospel “For of HIM and through HIM and to HIM are all things, to WHOM be glory forever, Amen!”

 

Comments and challenges

For most of us who read devotionals and there are many on the World Wide Webb; thanksgiving is an everyday expression of the joy and love experienced by people resulting from the grace and mercies of God. If God were to put all of these people together in one large place, the expressions of “joy and love” would be heard throughout the universe.

Want to see this from scripture? Notice then Revelation 5:11-12; just after the rapture of the saints of God; we are in the Throne room in the presence of the LAMB, notice! “Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice: “Worthy is the LAMB who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!”

So the event takes place in heaven, but it is heard throughout the universe; this then for me is the greatest Thanksgiving Service; notice Revelation 5:13; “And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: Blessing and honor and glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!” This will not be the sound of “brass or a clanging cymbal” but it will be the Love of the saints of God who have suffered long, 1 Corinthians 13.

As many, tomorrow we will involve our families in a day that began for American’s as a day of giving thanks to the LAMB. The sounds of tomorrow will sadly resemble the voices of selfishness and pride; “Americans have lost their way” instead of a nation of God fearing men and women we are now a people group of immoral conduct with a remnant of people who say, “for of HIM and through HIM and to HIM are all things, to WHOM be glory forever, Amen!”

We have had our national day of THANKS and our national day of PRAYER but I am fearful “brothers and sisters” that we are about to have a national day of MOURNING; but in the meantime and while we have the FREEDOM to do so… let us give thanks to God for the gifts and the calling of God for (His saints) are irrevocable! Romans 11:29.

Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil > Cling to what is good > Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love > in honor giving preference to one another. Romans 12:9-10 and one day soon the sound of thanksgiving in heaven will turn the creatures of the world from mourning to rejoicing; note Romans 8:21-22 – because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God, for we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.” And if you have time please read Romans 8:18-30.

Blessing and Glory to you all as we give Thanks to God; God willing I write again on Friday – 11/29/13.

 

The Devotional - 014 - Whose Listening!

A Thought for the Day – 014 – Whose Listening?

Psalm 100:3 – Psalm 100 gets a lot of attention at this time of the year and rightly so since verses four and five provide two reasons to be thankful to our Creator… Mercy and Truth is available to everyone and this drives me back to verse three. KNOW THAT THE LORD, HE IS GOD; it is He that has made us and not we ourselves; we are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Apart from God; mercy and truth is relative; but with God – Absolute!

 

Comments and challenges

On approach to the Long Beach Airport from a flight beginning at San Pedro, California; and at 15,000 feet, Lawrence Walters began shooting his pellet gun at the forty five weather balloons attached to his lawn chair. He successfully managed to down his makeshift aircraft but it did tangle up in some electrical wires causing a 20 minute blackout in a small Long Beach neighborhood. If you like you might read the whole story in Wikipedia. There is little comedy in the whole event, Larry was born on April 19, 1944 and died October 6, 1993 committing suicide. His life was one of trial and error so in time he just gave up.

One of the problems we face is the problem of listening to the voice of one in need. Here is how it goes. “Dad I had a great day at school today, I painted a nice picture of the mountains in our state, during gym I scored a goal in hockey and we had pizza for lunch. “Dad, did you hear me?” His father was intently reading the newspaper and replied; “O yes son I heard you; you painted a picture of the state’s mountains, scored a goal playing hockey and had pizza for lunch!”

“Yes” the boy replied, but that’s not it, you were listening with your ears but your eyes, you were not listening with your eyes”. This then is the fault of many parents; but it is not just in family relationships that this happens. In happens in fellowships, friendships and familiar people everywhere who get together.

Sometime we feel that it is this way with God as well, we call out to Him and it seems as if God does not hear and we say things to Him like; “LORD can’t you see what is going on here with me?” “It takes bravery, or maybe a lot of beer to strap your-self to a lawn chair and fly off into the wild blue” but it only takes a moment of selfishness to bring life to an end because the dreams of one’s life do not materialize. Also it takes bravery to tell your earthly father that he is not listening to you even though his ears hear you.

God hears every call of His children, not only with His ears, but also His eyes and His heart. We have His full attention. In Jeremiah 33:3 we read these words; “Call upon Me and I will answer you, and I show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.” Fearing the LORD is not keeping silent, fearing the LORD is coming boldly to the throne of grace to find help in times of need. There is a time of need and no doubt you and I will have one today. In order for God to respond, we do need to be spiritual. For me this is seeking God with our whole heart, mind and soul.

James 4:7-10 – Therefore submit to God, resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners and purify your hearts you double minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the LORD, and He will lift you up.

The Devotional - 013 - A heart of Wisdom!

A Thought for the Day – 013 – A heart of Wisdom!

Psalm 90:2-12 – To most of us God is the “go too” guy when we are in any sort of trouble, even the atheist will cry out to God for help in times of need. This is simply the response of a soul that knows God much better than our flesh does. It is far greater to recognize God for who He is since properly numbering our days will calm our flesh and establish our thoughts aright!

 

Comments and challenges

Psalm 90:1-3 – A prayer of Moses the man of God. LORD, You have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever You had formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God. You turn man to destruction, and say, “Return, O children of men.” (And we return.)

Verses 4- 6 – For a thousand years in Your sight are like yesterday when it is past, and like a watch in the night You carry them away like a flood (we do not die alone, there is a flood of people returning to God at the same moment); They are like a sleep, in the morning they are like grass which grows up; in the morning it flourishes and grows up; in the evening it is cut down and withers. (Death is as real as birth so if birth is “beautiful” and it is, then why is death viewed as “ugly”? A well-kept lawn is beautiful after mowing as is the well-kept soul of the child of God)!

Verses 7 – 9 – For we have been consumed by Your anger, and by Your wrath we are terrified, You have set our iniquities before You, Our secret sins in the light of Your countenance. For all our days have passed away in Your wrath; We finish our years like a sigh. (If this thought is the epitaph on the tombstone of Moses ((if there was one) and was there not an argument concerning Moses, between the devil and Michael the archangel in a dispute over the body of Moses))? Take a look in the epistle of Jude in the first half of the chapter.

Verses 10-11 – The days of our lives are seventy years; and if by reason of strength they are eighty years, (Oh! by the way I know this one since I am well past seventy and strength is on the decline, and I rather dislike admitting it). Yet their (mankind’s) boast is only labor and sorrow; for it is soon cut off and we fly away. (Yea, LORD we will one day FLY AWAY) PRAISE GOD! I have had enough of this labor and sorrow, most of which I have placed on myself and yet it is in this very thing that reveals God’s wrath over SIN that most of us to believe the following two verses).

Psalm 90:11-12 – Who knows the power of Your anger? For as the fear of You, so is Your wrath. So teach us to number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom. (So how is your heart doing these days? If you look around as we ought, we would see multitudes of people being consumed in a wrath from God that began in the garden of Eden. A condition that is fixed and cannot be overturned by angels or men; However God loves us and He has overturned this curse or conviction by allowing His Son to be the propitiation (Favored One) to remove the wrath of God. Notice in closing:

John 1:29 – The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world; and.

John 3:36 – He who believes in the Son has everlasting life (a heart of wisdom) and he who does not believe in the Son (the heart of the fool) shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides (currently) on him.

Hebrews 9:28 - so Christ was offered to bear the sins of many, and unto them that look for Him shall He appear a second time without sin unto salvation.  Jesse <><

The Devotional - 012 - Requital! What is that?

A Thought for the Day – 012 – Requital! What is that?

Psalm 20:22 – Do not say, “I will recompense evil”; Wait for the LORD, and He will save you. When evil is present in our lives; only the LORD can remove it! Human flesh has NO power over spiritual wickedness. Ephesians 6:12-13.

 

Comments and challenges

Yesterday while reviewing Psalm 139 I was thinking of the capacity of all that God is and wouldn’t you know it; Dr. David Jeremiah in his morning devotional of today is reviewing this very same thing. Here are the first two paragraphs of his devotional.

“What would you tell someone who asked for a definition of God? One person aptly replied: "God is the One who exists beyond all definition."

Another person, the well-known theologian Charles Hodge, suggested the best definition of God that was ever penned is in the Westminster Shorter Catechism: "God is a Spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable, in His being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth."

Yesterday, while I was thinking on the subject, the only thoughts that I could muster up were those found in John 4:23-24. “But the hour is coming and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is a Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit and truth.”

I do not like the first definition given by the unidentified person in Jeremiah’s devotional. God is a Spirit with lots of definition. Charles Hodge does better agreeing with the Westminster Catechism. Most of us see the Character of God in scripture and agree that He is Spirit, He is Infinite, Eternal and Immutable; also we agree with His Character as having the attributes of All Wisdom, All Power, Justice, Goodness, Truth… thus He is Holy. He is God!

Those who are not saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ do not see God through the eyes of faith, therefore their definitions of God are absent of His character and attributes. This is not a minor problem in witnessing to the lost, it is major since all of the unsaved live under the power of “spiritual deception” so the question might be. What is spiritual deception? Good question! Spiritual deception is the absence of “absolutes”. Faith is an absolute condition of the saved soul.

Notice: Romans 1:16-17 – For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power (His character and attributes) to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith (a Jews faith or a Gentiles faith); “as it is written, the just shall live by faith”. And Habakkuk puts it in perspective in Habakkuk 2:4 “Behold the proud, His soul is not upright (absolute) in him; But the just shall live by faith.

God is a Spirit; He does not have to go anywhere since He is everywhere. For our finite mind this is hard to understand and thus impossible to explain; however. Hebrews 11:1 – Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. So when we witness to someone and they believe God, they go from a mind that is without “absolutes” to the power of God that brings salvation by faith.

Substance does not need to be seen with the human eye to be “evidence” any good detective or faithful disciple will tell you that! Have a good and Godly day, but know this; God is in your day even if you do not absolutely believe it.

The Devotional - 011 - Turkey Day - careful with that expression!

A Thought for the Day – 011 – Turkey Day – careful with that expression!

Life in the Spirit of God is – Love; then Joy: promoting Peace, followed by Patience, resulting in Kindness, expressing Goodness, revealing Faithfulness, providing Gentleness and characterizing Self-control. One problem I see with most of us believers is that we know the effects of the Holy Spirit on the lives of others, but we fail to allow the Holy Spirit to be effective in our own life… we fail: Ephesians 5:25-26.

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Comments and challenges

Ouch? Why I wonder has God allowed thorns to grow on rose bushes? Our grumbling nature is always at work to take the beauty of Creation and turn it into something evil, sinister even. Would we not rather understand that behind all of the thorns of life is a rose, either beginning to bloom or is in full bloom! The original thought behind my though is the words of the French novelist Alphonse Karr who wrote, "Some people are always grumbling because roses have thorns; I am thankful that thorns have roses."

You might be like me and sense a growing concern in our churches to put the brakes on grumbling. I believe that “grumblers” occupy most of the seats in churches today. Those who understand that living apart from the grace of God will cause reversion to the hypocrite of yonder years are “slim pickens” in churches today. Now again don’t take me wrong in this, I can be guilty and often are of showing a lack of the Love of God for others; thus I am dead in the Spirit and alive in flesh at these times! Yes these are strong words, but listen to the Psalmist in Psalm 1:1-3. So are you being blessed in these positions or cursed? God has already provided you with the answer.

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly nor stands in the path of sinners nor sits in the seat of the scornful.

But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night.

He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water that brings forth its fruit in its season.

Whose leaf also shall not wither: And whatever he does shall proper.

I believe that the Holy Bible is very clear; Spiritual Prosperity is available to any saint of God who gives chase for the Word of the Living God. However and just as important is that the pursuit of biblical wisdom without the guidance of the indwelling Spirit and the Righteous clothing of the LORD Jesus Christ is useless so let us look for a bit at the scriptures. In scripture we see the attributes of men and women who practiced godliness, sin accountability and esteeming others better than themselves and we should learn.

John 1:47 – Early in the ministry of Jesus Christ, He was choosing His disciples and when He saw Nathanael He said these words that John records for us. Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him, and said of him. “Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile” (cunning) now on your own please read the context verses 43 through 51 and note that God (Jesus) knows us individually, He knows us while we meditate on Him. He see us daily coming to Him in prayer, saints who are full of guile are not out of His sight either, but they at that moment in time will not be selected as His disciple. O woe is me if I am not in the Spirit when Christ needs me!

In the Old Testament we hear of the man Daniel and his three companions, King Nebuchadnezzar took the nation Israel into captivity and resolved to train up some of the young men to become fluent in the language of the Babylonians and to eat the food of the Babylonians. He even had their names changed to Babylonian names. These young men were to be “brainwashed” of any and all things Jewish. Daniel and the three with him refused or resolved to go against the king’s decree and not defile themselves with the idolatries of Babylon.

Go ahead and think that this event in the history of Israel has nothing to do with the counsel of the ungodly, the path of sinners or the seat of the scorners. Bah Humbug; do not think that way! Because they refused the kings counsel, because they refused the Babylonian path of life and because they chose not to sit in the seat that would eventually scorn the God of the Israelites. Their action and witness changed the path of King Nebuchadnezzar’s self-admiration. God interrupted his walk, his counsel and his kingdom seat by a seven year trial, placing him in a field with bulls and cows to graze like an animal. And for seven years he did live like a bull. After seven years he was a changed man and understood that God is to be feared and worshipped; not scorned. Had Nebuchadnezzar chose to remain ungodly, surely he would have ended up like the remainder of Psalm 1:3-6; a sourpuss!

The ungodly are not so, but are like the chaff which the wind drives away.

Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the Judgment, nor sinners in the congregations of the righteous.

For the LORD know the way of the righteous. But the way of the ungodly shall perish.

The Devotional - 009 - Thanks - Giving

A Thought for the Day – 009 – Thanks - Giving

I can think of no greater call in life then for man or woman to give thanks to God.

Ephesians 5:20-21 – giving thanks always for “all things” to God the Father in the name of Our LORD Jesus Christ, submitting to one another in the fear of God.

 

Comments and challenges

Some of you may not have seen a Bud Abbott and Lou Costello movie, but there are some that remember these films of long ago and sometimes the things in life today remind me of those things of long ago. I used to believe that these two actors in the late1940’s were funny and comical, but in recent years by revisiting a movie or two I find that the men were actually cruel and abusive. Both men enjoyed this behavior by disguising it with humoristic and cowardice acts of valor.

We read the following in Isaiah 1:21-26 – How the faithful city has become a harlot! It was full of justice; Righteousness lodged in it, but now murders. Your silver has become dross, your wine mixed with water. Your princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves; Everyone loves bribes, and follows after rewards. They do not defend the fatherless, nor does the cause of the widow come before them.

Therefore the LORD says, The LORD of Hosts, the Mighty One of Israel, “Ah, I will rid Myself of My adversaries, and take vengeance on My enemies. I will turn My hand against you, and thoroughly purge away your dross, and take away all your alloy. I will restore your judges as at the first, and your counselors as at the beginning. Afterward you shall be called the city of righteousness, the faithful city”.

Do not get your hopes up! I playact these two comics in the first paragraph, that out of one side of the mouth speak truth and out of the other side spread deceit. God, through Isaiah is talking to the nation Israel and not to the United States of America. You see Isaiah 1:21-23 parallels the conditions of Israel at time when the wickedness in Israel is very large, like the wickedness in the United States today. Also note that God promises Israel a future restoration as this passage in Isaiah 1:24-26 does.

But a search of the entire Living Word of God will reveal no such promise to the citizens of the United States of America; for our future you will find no such promise of national restoration. Oh! Yes we may survive our current wicked approach to life, but we will not be called by God a city of righteousness or the faithful city ever again. We will not be able to claim, “The Land of the Free and Home of the Brave” as a national slogan; as we have become cowardly and hopelessly wicked we prepare to meet God; the JUDGE!

Is there opportunity for you and me to give thanks to God for this coming judgment? O yes! O yes! If you are hopelessly lost in wickedness, or sad due to our shameful “state of the Union” look “up!” as redemption is but a word or two away. Yes transgressors and sinners will be consumed by the anger of our Holy God, but those who look up to the Living Christ will be rewarded and not put to shame.

Romans 10:8-13 – but what does it (The Word) say? “The word is near you, even in your mouth and in your heart” (that is the word of FAITH which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the LORD Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him (Jesus) from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes to righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made to salvation. For the Scripture (Old Testament) says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame” (Jeremiah 17:7-8). For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same LORD over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For whoever calls upon the name of the LORD shall be saved, (Joel 2:32).

Oh! Give Thanks to the LORD for He alone is God, and He gives good things to those who by faith look to Him for that Eternal City whose Builder and Maker is the LORD. Hebrews 11:8-13.

The Devotional - 008 - Troubling the Water

A Thought for the Day – 008 – Troubling the water

I have never liked saying that I have a favorite verse or Book of the Holy Bible, yet and I suppose if I were to pick verses or Books from the Holy Bible the verses would be from Philippians or James; there you have it so please, don’t ask me again, no doubt my mind will change since God the Holy Spirit will see to it. For now notice James 1:17 – Every good and perfect gift; that is: Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of Lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.

 

Comments and challenges

Of his own life the apostle James states the following: “Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of first-fruits of His creatures”, James 1:18. James the half-brother of Jesus Christ the Son of the Living God gives us wonderful insight and access to God the Father. Even though James does not identify God the Holy Spirit throughout his epistle he is cognizant of the gifts of the Spirit and the sanctifying power of abiding in Christ through trials and testing.

While I was working for a housing authority in one of our local towns here in Connecticut there was a young woman in her mid-thirties who was on total disability. The current state laws of the time were to place her on our list for elderly and disabled housing. During her qualifying appointment I learned that her disability was that she was mentally challenged and was determined by a physician to be non-threatening while on medication.

A state ruling, to save lots of money, in recent years had granted such persons full disability, compensation, housing and other gifts. This action closed most mental institutions and returned these folks to family and community. The burden of caring for these men and women shifted from those expensive institutions to the families of those individuals and to local townships or communities. These entities were not then and still today are not professionally equipped to handle these growing disturbances in the United States of America.

Three months into her living at our local elderly housing unit her stay was aborted and I gave her back to her parents. She became a life threat to those elderly people who had placed their final years in the hands of public housing designed for them and for those who are handicapped with physical health issues and not mental or other dysfunctional issues that plague our current system.

There is no need to give details or to condemn states for seeking to save money. However, it is my intent to say that school shootings, outbursts of public anger and the demonic activity we see in today’s news is not a new beginning of things that we do not understand. If we did not understand that extreme evil exists in some people, then why did we have institutions to assist these people to live twenty to twenty five years ago in the controlled environment of institutionalization?

Also, today the power of the church is crippled by the secular power existing in our state and federal governments. Some states have gone so far as to ban local secular high schools from using church grounds and property as graduation platforms! What? And the federal government makes legal the killing of babies while upholding other non-essential laws like making it a crime to kill a dog! Again! What? What is wrong Citizens… have we fallen off the cliff like so many demented hogs? Understand: this whole matter is that our society is fallen and some cannot be sent home until they meet with Jesus; please read Mark 5:1-20 there is healing for us as a nation but it is a healing that comes from God and not from man-made laws that have no power.

Our country is rapidly finding ways of making it illegal for churches to preach in the NAME OF JESUS CHRIST OF NAZERETH. (yes my liberal friend; that is if you care… the truth)! But let me warn those who believe otherwise just as the apostle Peter warned the criminal activist of his day. Acts 4:10 – 12 “Let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man speaks before you today”. There is NO salvation in any other (religions or persons), for there is NO other name given among men by which we must be saved”. NOW THIS IS GOOD NEWS, GOOD LIGHT AND GOOD GIFTS from the Father above.

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above and coming down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning”. James 1:17 KJV

The Devotional - 007 - Of Love

A Thought for the Day – 007 – Of Love

Philippians 2:1-4 – Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being likeminded, having the same love being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out – not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

 

Comments and challenges

Oswald Chambers 1874 – 1917 was only 43 when the LORD took him home so we never know the day or the hour when we are called to depart from this land of the flesh to our eternal destination. Here is a quote from this man that is interesting. Also you may as well know ahead of time that the books written claiming him as author were written by his wife Gertrude who is called by the nickname “Biddy” and some of the material in his books were also written by his daughter, Kathleen.

The quote: “I feel I shall be buried for a time, hidden away in obscurity; then suddenly I shall flame out, do my work, and be gone.” And when you review the life of this man you will come to understand why a friend of his introduced Mr. Chambers as the “Haphazard Apostle” and used John 3:8 as the type of man Oswald was. His service to God was fervent, moving from one ministry to another. In his final years he felt obligated to join the Army as a chaplain and sailed with the troops to Zeitoun, Egypt, where he ministered until his untimely death in November 1917. He had appendicitis and did not know it; peritonitis set in and his life could not be saved.

The most well-known book of this man is titled: My utmost for His Highest Mr. Warren Wiersbe of whom I am getting this information from says that it is a hard read. Mr. Wiersbe told a friend that he was getting nothing out of the book and she said; “it is something you have to grow into.” Mr. Wiersbe’s quote: “She was right: the problem was not the complexity of the book but the spiritual immaturity of the reader.”

The Rub: In our lives as believers in Jesus Christ we like very much to read about men and woman who seem to be pillars of spiritual strength. Their lives encourage us and some of the personal tidbits seem to fit into the things revolving around our own personal life. Mr. Chambers gave himself totally to the LORD and this included his sense of humor. En route to Egypt he wrote in his daily journal. “LORD, keep me radiantly and joyously Thine.” He was well known as one who brought humor into all of his messages. Hmmn! let me think; do I know anyone like that?

One of the soldiers said, “Your jokes and lightheartedness plough the mind like the planting season on the farm, then when plowed you plant the Seed.” Chambers emphasized “holy living” so I am thinking as I record what is already known about the man, what has all of this to do with Philippians 2:1-4. “Very much, very much indeed.” To set oneself aside for others, to esteem others over self is the utmost sacrifice one can offer to our God. Sadly, it is the sacrifice that few of us practice.

Consolation, comfort, fellowship, affection and mercy; and we say, but Oh; I do this all the time so just what are you driving at? Let me add the words that make the difference. Consolation in CHRIST, Comfort of LOVE, Fellowship in the SPIRIT, Affection and Mercy, fulfill my joy by being LIKE MINDED. Let me add too that I would say that when serious trials and tribulations hammer one of our like-minded saints we respond with all of the spirit filled attributes of esteeming others better than ourselves and yes we ought to do just that.

But what about our daily walk with our Living God who always puts you and me at the head of line when it comes to consolation, comfort, fellowship and spiritual like-mindedness? Does this mean that we have the privilege to reap this blessing of God daily and share it only to select few of “really hurting saints”? While we allow our self to set others aside or even gossiped over them in a causal spiritual way?

It does seem to me that we are a bit like “part timers” when it comes to placing others above our own agenda, we say and do not follow through with what we say, since selfish ambition and conceit find the front stage of life in our minds. Our mind is not lowly but haughty and I say “bah humbug” God is not pleased with what my mind expresses, He is only pleased with what we do in the Like-mindedness abiding in Christ and the expression of the Spirit that lives in us, this then is the sacrifice of esteeming others better than our self while we look out as well for our interests too.

It is the mind of Christ, don’t you know? Yes you do and knowing this we should also practice this too!

The Devotional - 006 - Kingdom Authority

A Thought for the Day – 006 – Kingdom Authority

Philippians 1:21-22– For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor, yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. (I do not know) Fruit is a labor of godliness by living in Christ, while a labor in the flesh are the results of the deeds of the flesh or ungodliness.

 

Comments and challenges

On his deathbed, Matthew Henry said to a friend, “You have been asked to take notice of the sayings of dying men – this is mine: that the life spent in the service of God and communion with Him is the most pleasant life that anyone can live in this world.”

The depth of life lived in this world can run deep into the ruins of darkness and if you have any longevity of life you know where those depths can take you. For some of us we come to know that those depths can be used of God to bring us to His Throne… notice Psalm 51:17 – The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and contrite heart – These, O God, You will not despise.

And yet there remain many who see God as an angry deity who is the cause for their path of darkness. Now for me this sets up a thought or two. Whether true or false the reader should decide. The first thought is that all of mankind is subject to death of which we can all agree… death is certain; life is not. Thus the pathway of life from the very day of birth is death. For example and some would argue that a babe on mom’s breast has no fear of death, but take the babe away from mom for just a short season and observe the reaction.

In doing such a thing two noticeable things happen very quickly. One; the babe cries out and becomes insecure and, two: the one who took the child from his or her secure position becomes guilty and sorrowful. This beginning of woes for the infant is the ongoing path into darkness that one day, as an adult; would think to steel the milk from the babe.

Notice if you will King David’s acknowledgement of this in the opening words of Psalm 51:1 – Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your lovingkindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions. King David does not have one transgression to confess to God, notice in Psalm 51:3 – “For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me” his path of life like all of us; whether saved or unsaved can lead us to depths of darkness that drive us to our knees. This is a good thing!

No it is not God who is the destroyer of life; it is we ourselves who are born to die. Now for the second thought. If death is certain and God is Life then the force of death must have a ruler? The answer is that we are born into the kingdom of Satan, he is our authority, or more meaningfully put, he is our god. Thus when we say things like, “God is an angry god who seeks to kill and destroy, we are correct. The god we follow is not the God of the Holy Bible, but he is (Satan) the god of this world, who stole your life and mine.

And Jesus said to them again: “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” John 10:7-10

For me the choice to live abundantly is the only clear choice, I hope in some way that if you are trucking down the darkness path that you may come to know that your life is not abundant and that what you now have is the certainty of death and the angry god who seeks to destroy you and cannot say… “for me to live is Christ and to die is gain”. Nor is your labor in life “fruitful!”

Hebrews 9:28 - so Christ was offered to bear the sins of many, and unto them that look for Him shall He appear a second time without sin unto salvation.  Jesse <><

The Devotional - 005 - Biblical Faith

A Thought for the Day – 005 – Biblical Faith

Philippians 3: 12 – Not that I have already attained or am already perfected, but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.

 

Comments and challenges

When D.L. Moody was on an evangelistic tour in Denver, a young lad wanted to hear the evangelist but could not get into the building. “I’ll get you in!” said a heavyset man at the back door. “Just hold on to my coattail.” The man was D.L. Moody, and the boy was Paul Rader, who grew up to become one of America’s greatest preachers and also the pastor of Moody Church from 1915 to 1921.

I am looking at a little book sitting on the file cabinet here in my study, Titled: 10 people every Christian should know and written by Warren W. Wiersbe. A sub-heading; learning from Spiritual Giants of Faith. The contents of the book are as follows: Matthew Henry (1662-1712); Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758); John Henry Newman (1801-1890); J.B. Lightfoot (1828-1889); J. Hudson Taylor (1832-1905); Charles H. Spurgeon (1834-1892); Dwight L. Moody (1837-1899); Amy Carmichael (1867-1951); Oswald Chambers (1874-19170) and A.W. Tozer (1897-1963).

Over time we read books, biographies or even hear about people of the past who are considered pillars of faith in God and from our faith (based in Christ) we understand the victories and the defeats of the men and women who were the spiritual leaders to bring faith to the world around us.

Over the course of a year I have prayed for an opportunity to speak to a young Catholic boy who just began his first year of college. Over the weekend the LORD provided about an hour of time in the middle of a family gathering for the two of us to have a private one on one conversation about the LORD. He is somewhat strong in his belief in Catholic doctrines and can hold a challenging conversation, but one or more things have happened in his young life to rock the boat.

I, as others of faith in God know that God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should be saved. Salvation is at the top of the list of spiritual things that glorifies our God. “The LORD is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” 2 Peter 3:9.

My young friend in his Catechism training learned of Spurgeon, Moody and others; he also learned Bible Truth and related to these truths as stories in the Bible. In his understanding the KJV of the Bible was to be rejected because it was not the Catholic version, nor was it blessed by the Catholic Church. We covered a lot of thoughts and isms related to faith in God and faith in the Catholic Church, it seemed to me that I was getting nowhere, then the LORD open his spiritual awareness.

He (the boy) had a bad experience with one of his Catholic mentors, this raised doubt and also raised a strong awareness for my friend to begin searching out other “religions” and as his first semester in college he decided to take a religious course even after his college counselor advised against it. His first study in this class was a book entitled. “How Jesus of Nazareth ripped off Buddha”. My friend clings to Catholic doctrine because of the tradition of his family who are very Catholic so he understood that Jesus was not a thief.

Here is the point of the matter: God opens the eyes of the blind and I was able to see this young man’s eyes begin to light up when I asked him to take a look at the progression of his world. Is it getting better, is it staying the same or is it getting worse? His answer was, no it is not better, no it is not staying the same and yes it is getting worse. God does not work through the religious effort of man to gain God’s favor. God has already completed the work for man to come to Him through faith in Jesus. This is God’s favor to man, we call it grace.

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God. But made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a servant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name. that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is LORD, to the glory of God the Father - Philippians 2:5-11.

The Devotional - 004 - Grace and Peace

A Thought for the Day – 004 – Grace and Peace

Philippians 1:1-3 – Paul and Timothy, servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons: grace to you and peace from God our Father and the LORD Jesus Christ.

 

Comments and challenges

Once while traveling with my parents to Florida from Kentucky we approached a town where we were planning to spend the night, on the road map the insert that expanded the town gave the names of the streets and some of the advertisement indicated that a motel was on a street called Margret. My dad who was very superstitious explained harshly that he was not about to bed down in some motel on a street called Morgue. Now it did not matter to him that she straightened him out about the name, his mind was set, and we are not sleeping in that motel was his final comment. About two hours later and after 10pm in a town further south we found another motel and bedded down for the night.

What controls our mind is what drives our way of life and sadly there are many of us who cannot get over the fact that fear controls the way of life they live. I cannot go into all of the ways fear expresses itself in our lives but I am sure of this, if you have fear in some area of life you know what it is, but you do not know how to deal with it. Fear is a lack of peace over one or more issues and the book of Philippians deals with most of the fears of life as these relate to God and the people around us.

As long as God permits I will take a look at the subject of fear and no doubt since Dr. David Jeremiah is presently doing a series on fear, I will be using some of his material. In Philippians 1 and starting in verse 3 we read. “I thank my God upon every remembrance of you” I use this in signing off of an email or letter to someone and it is true that when I remember a person I will give thanks to God for them. Am I totally faithful in this, well no but I would like to be and I think that the reason is as found in verse 4. “Always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy.” Sometimes I am missing the joy we daily need, have you ever been a half quart low in “Joy”?

So grace, peace, joy confidence, the gospel, fellowship and good works are good topics; we need joy and I believe we need this in our daily walk with the LORD and not just ever so often. Even in suffering Jesus had joy, not for the moment in time, but for what that moment in time provided for in eternity. We will be focusing on Philippians 2:5-8; Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God. But made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a servant and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man; humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.

Suffering and death when it is not filtered through God, grace, peace and joy is a fearful way of life.