A man named Saul is threatening and murdering the disciples of the Lord. He is hunting Christians with the goal of caging them. Putting them in prison! Then, suddenly, he encounters the resurrected Jesus Christ. His response, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” [1]
Saul spends some days with the disciples of the Lord, then, immediately begins preaching that Christ is the Son of God in the Jewish synagogues. People are amazed at the very tangible transformation in Saul’s life. He is now proving to his fellow Jews that this Jesus is the Christ. [2]
Twice, Saul is delivered by the Lord from assassination plots. [3] Saul continues to preach boldly in the name of Jesus.
The outcome of Saul’s conversion to Christianity is that the churches in his region experience peace and growth. Christians now walk in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit. [4]
Then, there’s Peter. Jesus heals a man that was paralyzed and bedridden for eight years via Peter. Many people in that region turn to Jesus. After this miracle, Jesus empowers Peter to raise a woman from the dead. News of this miracle spreads throughout the region and many believed in Jesus. [5]
“Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Your Son into the world! Please continue to do miracles so that people turn to You and believe in You. Please grace Your churches with growth via the preaching of Your Word. In the Name of Jesus I pray. Amen.”
[1] Acts 9:6
[2] Acts 9:19-22
[3] Acts 9:23, 29
[4] Acts 9:31
[5] Acts 9:35, 42
Thursday, August 29, 2019
Wednesday, August 28, 2019
Saved From My Sin
A traveling man pondered these words of God’s prophet: “He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so He opened not His mouth. In His humiliation His justice was taken away, and who will declare His generation? For His life is taken from the earth.
...Beginning at this Scripture, Philip preached Jesus to him.” He explained to the man how Jesus fulfilled this prophecy. When Philip asked the man if he believed. The man answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”
What about you? Have you believed in the Son of God? The Lamb of God! The One who takes away sin and gives everlasting life?
If not, what’s stopping you? Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world and your Savior. He gave His life for you so that you can live with God. Today, is the day of salvation. Believe in Him and He will save you from your sin.
[1] Acts 8:32-33, 35, 37
[2] Isaiah 53:6-8
...Beginning at this Scripture, Philip preached Jesus to him.” He explained to the man how Jesus fulfilled this prophecy. When Philip asked the man if he believed. The man answered and said, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”
What about you? Have you believed in the Son of God? The Lamb of God! The One who takes away sin and gives everlasting life?
If not, what’s stopping you? Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world and your Savior. He gave His life for you so that you can live with God. Today, is the day of salvation. Believe in Him and He will save you from your sin.
[1] Acts 8:32-33, 35, 37
[2] Isaiah 53:6-8
Wednesday, August 21, 2019
Relationships that Yield God–Worship
“If I have made gold my hope, or said to fine gold, ‘You are my confidence;’ if I have rejoiced because my wealth was great, and because my hand had gained much; this also would be an iniquity deserving of judgment, for I would have denied God who is above.” [1]
Placing hope and confidence in gold; rejoicing in wealth and achievements; Job said this was iniquity. What is iniquity? Iniquity refers to an unjust balance. Gold and personal achievement cannot compare to the value meaningful relationships with God and people.
Once, the devil took Jesus up on an exceedingly high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. He said to Jesus, ‘All these things I will give You if You fall down and worship me.’ But Jesus said to him, ‘Away with you, Satan! For it is written, you shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’” [2]
Things are lifeless. God is full of life. Love, joy, and peace are from God. Healthy relationships spring forth from people who are in fellowship with God.
The majority of addicts and alcoholics that I have listened to have cited a lack of meaningful relationships, or a loss of a meaningful relationship as the starting point from which their substance abuse began.
Jesus asked us a good question. We do well to consider it. He asked, “What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” [2]
The bottom line is the devil uses “things” to lure us away from the blessings of God that yield life. Our Lord Jesus Christ gives us meaningful relationships with God and others. He gives to us life eternal with God and with all love God.
Therefore, let us daily choose to: “Worship the Lord our God, and serve Him only.” Let us invest in relationships that yield worship towards God.
[1] Job 31:24-25, 28
[2] Matthew 4:8-10
Placing hope and confidence in gold; rejoicing in wealth and achievements; Job said this was iniquity. What is iniquity? Iniquity refers to an unjust balance. Gold and personal achievement cannot compare to the value meaningful relationships with God and people.
Once, the devil took Jesus up on an exceedingly high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. He said to Jesus, ‘All these things I will give You if You fall down and worship me.’ But Jesus said to him, ‘Away with you, Satan! For it is written, you shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’” [2]
Things are lifeless. God is full of life. Love, joy, and peace are from God. Healthy relationships spring forth from people who are in fellowship with God.
The majority of addicts and alcoholics that I have listened to have cited a lack of meaningful relationships, or a loss of a meaningful relationship as the starting point from which their substance abuse began.
Jesus asked us a good question. We do well to consider it. He asked, “What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” [2]
The bottom line is the devil uses “things” to lure us away from the blessings of God that yield life. Our Lord Jesus Christ gives us meaningful relationships with God and others. He gives to us life eternal with God and with all love God.
Therefore, let us daily choose to: “Worship the Lord our God, and serve Him only.” Let us invest in relationships that yield worship towards God.
[1] Job 31:24-25, 28
[2] Matthew 4:8-10
Tuesday, August 13, 2019
Victory Over The Beast
“And I saw... those who have the victory over the beast, over his image and over his mark and over the number of his name, standing on the sea of glass, having harps of God. They sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying: ‘Great and marvelous are Your works, Lord God Almighty! Just and true are Your ways, o King of the saints! who shall not fear You, O Lord, and glorify Your name? For You alone are holy. For all nations shall come and worship before You, for Your judgments have been manifested.’” [1]
The above words are from “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants—things which must shortly take place.” [2]
Victory! Victory! Victory!
The revelation God gives us is victory over the beast. That beast, that anti-Christ, that instead-of-Christ-one! That which is instead of Christ is a beast. Not a good shepherd, but a spirit that tears and devours its prey! The beast wanted to brand God’s servants with his name. He wanted to steal God’s precious treasure, that is, His faithful servants, but he failed.
God gives His servants the victory. We shall stand on a sea so clear that it looks like a sheet of glass. We shall sing and celebrate God with musical instruments along with people from every nation!
Jesus said that when we see these signs of the end... to... “Look up. Lift up your heads because your redemption draws near.” [3]
So, we look up! We lift up! Christ is coming!
“Dear Heavenly Father, Jesus the Son and Precious Holy Spirit, Triune God, thank You for Your great and marvelous works. Thank You for victory!”
[1] Revelation 15:2-4
[2] Revelation 1:1
[3] Luke 21:28
The above words are from “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants—things which must shortly take place.” [2]
Victory! Victory! Victory!
The revelation God gives us is victory over the beast. That beast, that anti-Christ, that instead-of-Christ-one! That which is instead of Christ is a beast. Not a good shepherd, but a spirit that tears and devours its prey! The beast wanted to brand God’s servants with his name. He wanted to steal God’s precious treasure, that is, His faithful servants, but he failed.
God gives His servants the victory. We shall stand on a sea so clear that it looks like a sheet of glass. We shall sing and celebrate God with musical instruments along with people from every nation!
Jesus said that when we see these signs of the end... to... “Look up. Lift up your heads because your redemption draws near.” [3]
So, we look up! We lift up! Christ is coming!
“Dear Heavenly Father, Jesus the Son and Precious Holy Spirit, Triune God, thank You for Your great and marvelous works. Thank You for victory!”
[1] Revelation 15:2-4
[2] Revelation 1:1
[3] Luke 21:28
Saturday, August 10, 2019
GOD Is AWESOME!
“How can a man be righteous before God?” [1]
The Lord answered Job’s question, namely, “How can a man be righteous before God?”
After the Lord spoke to him in Job 38:1-40:2, Job replied, “Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer You? I lay my hand over my mouth. Once I have spoken, but I will not answer; Yes, twice, but I will proceed no further.” [2]
Instead of questioning God, Job listened to God.
God continued to speak to him in Job 40:6-41:36.
When he listened to God, Job realized the supremacy and the sovereignty of God and repented. He said, “I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.” [3]
When Job changed his disposition towards God, God blessed him… “The Lord had accepted Job. And the Lord restored Job’s losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed, the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.” [4]
May the Lord bless each of us with a good disposition towards Him. We could have all the riches of the world, but if we do not know God or recognize His supremacy and sovereignty, we are poor. Quite often in movies, haunted houses are depicted as dirty run down and spider infested buildings. However, the real haunted house is a palace that is clean and ornate but has people in it who have no sense of the awesomeness of God their Creator.
“The Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning…” [5]
How wonderful that God blessed Job with a close relationship with Him! The rest was just icing on the cake!
Praise the Lord! GOD is AWESOME!
[1] Job 9:2
[2] Job 40:4-5
[3] Job 42:6
[4] Job 42:9-10
[5] Job 42:12
The Lord answered Job’s question, namely, “How can a man be righteous before God?”
After the Lord spoke to him in Job 38:1-40:2, Job replied, “Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer You? I lay my hand over my mouth. Once I have spoken, but I will not answer; Yes, twice, but I will proceed no further.” [2]
Instead of questioning God, Job listened to God.
God continued to speak to him in Job 40:6-41:36.
When he listened to God, Job realized the supremacy and the sovereignty of God and repented. He said, “I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.” [3]
When Job changed his disposition towards God, God blessed him… “The Lord had accepted Job. And the Lord restored Job’s losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed, the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before.” [4]
May the Lord bless each of us with a good disposition towards Him. We could have all the riches of the world, but if we do not know God or recognize His supremacy and sovereignty, we are poor. Quite often in movies, haunted houses are depicted as dirty run down and spider infested buildings. However, the real haunted house is a palace that is clean and ornate but has people in it who have no sense of the awesomeness of God their Creator.
“The Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning…” [5]
How wonderful that God blessed Job with a close relationship with Him! The rest was just icing on the cake!
Praise the Lord! GOD is AWESOME!
[1] Job 9:2
[2] Job 40:4-5
[3] Job 42:6
[4] Job 42:9-10
[5] Job 42:12
Friday, August 9, 2019
Thriving In Christ
“Can the papyrus grow up without a marsh? Can the reeds flourish without water? So are the paths of all who forget God; and the hope of the hypocrite shall perish.” [1]
Just as a plant needs water to thrive, we need Jesus. When we are in communion with Him, we are in the water of life. He is the Vine, and we are the branches, as we commune with Him through the Word and Spirit, we bear good fruit in this world.
“They overcame him [the devil] by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.” [2]
By His death on the cross for our sins, Christ cancelled Satan’s claims against us. The devil cannot condemn us or claim us as long as we are in Christ because we are not trusting in our own merits, but in the merits of Christ. In Christ, life is not about us. We must not fear death. Death is the portal to heaven. We are redeemed by the blood of the Lamb.
[1] Job 8:11, 13
[2] Revelation 12:11
Just as a plant needs water to thrive, we need Jesus. When we are in communion with Him, we are in the water of life. He is the Vine, and we are the branches, as we commune with Him through the Word and Spirit, we bear good fruit in this world.
“They overcame him [the devil] by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.” [2]
By His death on the cross for our sins, Christ cancelled Satan’s claims against us. The devil cannot condemn us or claim us as long as we are in Christ because we are not trusting in our own merits, but in the merits of Christ. In Christ, life is not about us. We must not fear death. Death is the portal to heaven. We are redeemed by the blood of the Lamb.
[1] Job 8:11, 13
[2] Revelation 12:11
Tuesday, August 6, 2019
Divine Protection During Evil Days
“Satan answered the Lord and said, ‘Does Job fear God for nothing? Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land.” [1]
The devil had just come from roaming the earth. [2] He had been afflicting people everywhere he went. He complained because God had put a hedge of protection around and blessed Job. This is what God does! He protects and blesses His own. He is the good Shepherd.
“This poor man cried out, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him and delivers them.” [3]
We need God’s angels to encircle us. To protect us from sudden attack and to deliver us!
“They [the locusts with scorpion stingers) were commanded not to harm the grass of the earth, or any green thing, or any tree, but only those men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads.” [4]
The truth that God protects His own against evil is seen throughout the Bible.
“But the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, that they should not worship demons, and idols of gold, silver, brass, stone, and wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk. And they did not repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts.” [5]
We people tend to be gamblers. We see others dying and suffering harm but bet that it will not happen to us. We continue to live as though we don’t need the Good Shepherd. All the while, He watches on, ready to help. Our choices reveal our loyalties. If we want the Holy God to be with us, to protect us and to bless us, we need to ask Him to forgive our sins and help us to repent (change our thinking) about Him. We need to embrace Christ and all that He has done for us… coming into the world as a baby… living among us… healing our people… dying on the cross for our sins… rising from the dead for our victory over sin, death, and the devil. Yes, relationship is a two-way street. If we want the Lord to be our Good Shepherd, we must ask, confess, and proclaim Him to be our good Shepherd. Ask Him to intervene; to protect us from the evil one. Jesus taught us to pray, “Keep us from temptation and deliver us from evil.” [6]
“Thank You Jesus for being a Good Shepherd to whosoever is Your sheep.”
[1] Job 1:9-10
[2] Job 1:7
[3] Psalm 34:6-7
[4] Revelation 9:4
[5] Revelation 9:20-21
[6] Matthew 6:13
The devil had just come from roaming the earth. [2] He had been afflicting people everywhere he went. He complained because God had put a hedge of protection around and blessed Job. This is what God does! He protects and blesses His own. He is the good Shepherd.
“This poor man cried out, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him and delivers them.” [3]
We need God’s angels to encircle us. To protect us from sudden attack and to deliver us!
“They [the locusts with scorpion stingers) were commanded not to harm the grass of the earth, or any green thing, or any tree, but only those men who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads.” [4]
The truth that God protects His own against evil is seen throughout the Bible.
“But the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, that they should not worship demons, and idols of gold, silver, brass, stone, and wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk. And they did not repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts.” [5]
We people tend to be gamblers. We see others dying and suffering harm but bet that it will not happen to us. We continue to live as though we don’t need the Good Shepherd. All the while, He watches on, ready to help. Our choices reveal our loyalties. If we want the Holy God to be with us, to protect us and to bless us, we need to ask Him to forgive our sins and help us to repent (change our thinking) about Him. We need to embrace Christ and all that He has done for us… coming into the world as a baby… living among us… healing our people… dying on the cross for our sins… rising from the dead for our victory over sin, death, and the devil. Yes, relationship is a two-way street. If we want the Lord to be our Good Shepherd, we must ask, confess, and proclaim Him to be our good Shepherd. Ask Him to intervene; to protect us from the evil one. Jesus taught us to pray, “Keep us from temptation and deliver us from evil.” [6]
“Thank You Jesus for being a Good Shepherd to whosoever is Your sheep.”
[1] Job 1:9-10
[2] Job 1:7
[3] Psalm 34:6-7
[4] Revelation 9:4
[5] Revelation 9:20-21
[6] Matthew 6:13
Friday, August 2, 2019
Following Jesus
“My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? Why are You so far from helping Me, and from the words of My groaning? O My God, I cry in the daytime, but You do not hear; and in the night season and am not silent.” [1]
Jesus quoted from the above passage while He hung on the cross. The Bible tells us that He who knew no sin became sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. [2] So, God denied His own Son’s plea for rescue, not for any wrongdoing on His part, but for the sins of humanity.
“…They pierced My hands and My feet; I can count all My bones. They look and stare at Me. They divide My garments among them, and for My clothing they cast lots.” [3]
These words were written long before Jesus was crucified but describe accurately what happened to Him. Have you ever been mistreated as a result of your obedience to God? Most of God’s servants have been at one time or another. Peter wrote, “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial, which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.” [4]
“All the ends of the world shall remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations shall worship before You.” [5]
On crucifixion day, Jesus looked like a loser. He did not have a mega-church. He was not personally rich materialistically-speaking. However, the faith He died for… the Christian faith… did spread to all the ends of the earth. People in every generation since His first coming, have turned to Him and become Christians. Every week on planet earth, families worship before Him. I am one of them.
One of the wisest men who ever lived, Solomon, advised us this way…
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” [6]
The Bible is about trusting in the Lord. It is about acknowledging God. Letting go and letting God! May the Lord help each one of us in this way, both for our sake, and for the sake of the people we hope to see in eternity with us.
[1] Psalm 22:1-2
[2] 2 Corinthians 5:21
[3] Psalm 22:16-18
[4] 1 Peter 4:12-13
[5] Psalm 22:27
[6] Proverbs 3:5-6
Jesus quoted from the above passage while He hung on the cross. The Bible tells us that He who knew no sin became sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. [2] So, God denied His own Son’s plea for rescue, not for any wrongdoing on His part, but for the sins of humanity.
“…They pierced My hands and My feet; I can count all My bones. They look and stare at Me. They divide My garments among them, and for My clothing they cast lots.” [3]
These words were written long before Jesus was crucified but describe accurately what happened to Him. Have you ever been mistreated as a result of your obedience to God? Most of God’s servants have been at one time or another. Peter wrote, “Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial, which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.” [4]
“All the ends of the world shall remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations shall worship before You.” [5]
On crucifixion day, Jesus looked like a loser. He did not have a mega-church. He was not personally rich materialistically-speaking. However, the faith He died for… the Christian faith… did spread to all the ends of the earth. People in every generation since His first coming, have turned to Him and become Christians. Every week on planet earth, families worship before Him. I am one of them.
One of the wisest men who ever lived, Solomon, advised us this way…
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” [6]
The Bible is about trusting in the Lord. It is about acknowledging God. Letting go and letting God! May the Lord help each one of us in this way, both for our sake, and for the sake of the people we hope to see in eternity with us.
[1] Psalm 22:1-2
[2] 2 Corinthians 5:21
[3] Psalm 22:16-18
[4] 1 Peter 4:12-13
[5] Psalm 22:27
[6] Proverbs 3:5-6
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