This Week's Focal Passage:
"I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture…I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep." John 10:9, 11 (NKJV)
Strong's:
Door #2374 thura - used of any opening like a door, an entrance, way or passage
Pasture #3542 nome - food
Good #2570 kalos - good, excellence in its nature and characteristics, genuine, approved
The Christmas season is upon us once again and the world is in a frenzy of last minute shopping, parties, social events, wrapping, traveling, and trying to make sure everything is in order and ready for the big event. Unfortunately, the "big event" to some people is based on family, gifts, and time off of work and school. Certainly, those things are not bad things. In fact, each one is actually a reason to celebrate; however, the problem with that is that some people focus their celebrating on those things alone. They miss the true meaning we have Christmas.
I am sure we are all familiar with the Christmas story, but let's take a moment to read through it.
"And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered…So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, for I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!"…And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in the manger…Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, as it was told to them." (Luke 2:1, 3-14, 16, 20)
Christmas is the time for the world to reflect upon the birth of Christ Jesus. Why? "There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God. They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; Their throat is an open tomb; With their tongues they have practiced deceit. The poison of asps is under their lips. Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood, Destruction and misery are their ways; And the way of peace they have not known. There is no fear of God before their eyes." (Romans 3:10-18) "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23) My Friend, without Christ Jesus coming to earth to live, die and rise again, no one would have hope. No one would have peace. No one would escape eternal damnation (hell). And worst of all, no one would have salvation that provides access to the Most High God. By coming to earth in the form of a man, yet being fully God, Christ Jesus became the door by which we have access to the Lord God. "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. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep." (John 10:9- 11)
The Christmas story began way before the birth of Christ. The Christmas story was put into motion before the foundations of the world were formed through Christ Jesus (John 1:1-4). God knew that man would chose to sin against Him, yet His love for man provided a perfect sacrifice that would pay that sin debt. A debt that man himself could never pay. Nothing man does, says, achieves, provides or makes restitution for would erase the sin and provide access to a holy God. Because God is love (1 John 4:8), HE put His prophecies in the mouths of the prophets informing the generations that the Messiah was coming and HE would bear the sins of the world and set His people free from sin and self thus glorifying Himself. Isaiah foretold the coming of the King of kings in verses 6-7. "For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of peace. Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgement and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this."
God's heart toward us is peace (Jeremiah 29:11) and His purpose is to provide for us a way to glorify Him through the salvation that Christ Jesus alone offers. Let's pause here a moment. Did you hear that with your heart? God's heart toward us is peace? How can that be?!?! We are sinners whose sins crucified Christ Jesus His Son, yet God's thinks thoughts of peace, hope, eternal future towards us. That alone is a reason to celebrate, and not just one day a year, but ALL day EVERY day until we draw our final breath!! God's ways are higher than our ways and His thoughts higher than our thoughts (Isaiah 55:8); however, God took the time to record in His Word who HE is, how much HE loves us, and the way in which sinners can be set free and enter into His presence (2 Timothy 3:16-17). My Friend, that Truth should make our hearts sing with overflowing joy, our feet dance in pure delight, and our mouths praise Him forever and ever without ceasing!!
May we each sit at the feet of the One who gave Himself for us and praise Him with a heart of purity, righteousness, and in holy reverence because HE gave us that privilege and that new heart. HE alone made us new creations in Him when we surrendered our life to Him (2 Corinthians 5:17). If you are reading this today, and your heart has been prompted by the Lord God and HE has opened your eyes to your need for His salvation, please do not hesitate. Bow your head and confess that need to the Lord God, ask Him to heal you through the forgiveness of His blood and to make you a new creation in Him and for Him. May God pour Himself upon you and in you and fill you with His Truth.
As we gather with our families and friends during this Christmas season, may the Lord not allow us to open a gift without first recognizing that HE alone is the only gift with eternal worth the only gift worth having or receiving. And that HE alone is the One who came, died and rose again so that we would have a reason to celebrate. "Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God." (Romans 5:1-2)
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Monday Morning Devotion #260
This Week's Focal Passage:
"One thing I have desired of the LORD That I may dwell in the house of the LORD All the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD, And to inquire in His temple." Psalm 27:4 (NKJV)
Strong's:
Desired #7592 shael = beg, pray
Dwell #3427 yashab = to remain, to settle, to sit quietly, to marry, habitation
House #1004 bavith = family, inside, home
Behold #2372 ehazah = mentally to perceive
Inquire #1239 baqar = to inspect, admire, care for, consider, to seek out, search
Nineteen years ago, when Glen and I first met, we spent many hours getting to know one another. We listened and talked to one another (well, for those of you who know me, you know I did most of the talking! Heehee). We enjoyed getting to know one another's likes and dislikes, hobbies and interests, and discovering what we had in common. When we were apart, we eagerly awaited the time that we would be together again and we cherished those moments. When we had to choose between spending time together or spending time apart, we would always choose the former.
As I studied our focal passage this week, the Lord asked me this question, "Michelle, do you desire getting to know me as much as you desire getting to know others in your life?" My heart sank because I knew the Lord already knew that answer. I had to answer honestly, "Not always, Lord." When the Lord first revealed to me my sin and my desperate need of a Savior, I was only six years old. Unfortunately, I did not follow my salvation with earnest study of God's Word or application of His truth in my life. I lived my life for self and spent very little time getting to know the Lord. When I was a teenager, I fell prey to my flesh and rebelled against the Lord God. At 19 years of age, I was a real mess and desperately wanted to end my life. I cried out to the Lord and asked Him to remove this rebellion and replace it with Himself.
For years, the Lord has been faithfully revealing layer upon layer of pride and rebellion. At times, I have eagerly followed Him and allowed Him to do the work necessary for my healing, restoration, reconciliation, and renewal, while other times, I simply refused. "If we are faithless, HE remains faithful, HE cannot deny Himself." (2 Timothy 2:13) God is true to His Word, My Friend. Not once has the Lord walked away from me, ignored me, withheld His love from me, or given up on me. HE loves me with an everlasting love and HE will never allow me to be comfortable in my sin and rebellion. "…For HE Himself has said, "Never will I leave you nor forsake you." (Hebrews 13:5) "And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand." (John 10:28) "Who can separate us from the love of Christ?…For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created things, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which in is Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:35a & 38-39)
The same is true for you today. God loves you with an everlasting love and HE is more than willing and able to transform you into His image. HE is not limited because of your past or even your present. HE is the Lord God and there is none like Him!! "…I AM the First and I AM the Last; Besides ME there is no God!" (Isaiah 44:6) "…For I AM God, and there is no other; I AM God, and there is none like ME." (Isaiah 46:9) If you are drowning today in your sin and shame, come to the Lord. Call upon Him and HE will answer you. Confess your sin and REPENT from it. We must understand; however, that confessing and repenting are two different actions. To confess means that you admit to God that you are a sinner and that you have sinned against Him. To repent means that you not only admit that you have sinned against Him, but that you STOP sinning against Him.
Absolutely, we are not perfect and we will sin from time to time, but when we repent, we commit to leave the former way of life behind and walk faithfully with the Lord. HE knows our weaknesses and HE is more than able to overcome them. "No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape that you may be able to bear it." (1 Corinthians 10:13)
Habitual sin has no place in the life of a Christian. When we are bound by sin, we are not living in the abundance that Christ Jesus came to give (John 10:10). When we are living a life fulfilling our flesh, we miss the opportunity to be used by God for His glory and our eternal purpose. We are a poor testimony to the mighty power, grace, mercy and holiness of the Lord God. And My Friend, HE deserves ALL our honor, praise, worship and attention!! When we are living outside the boundaries that God has established for His children, we place ourselves in danger, spiritually, emotionally, socially, relationally, and physically. God will allow consequences in our lives to bring us back to Him. Not because HE does not care about us, but because HE DOES!!
My Friend, our world is fading. All the "things" that we once held so dear are perishing before our very eyes. Christ is preparing to return and gather His children together and we have to start preparing for His return. "And at midnight a cry was heard: 'Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!" (Matthew 25:6) "And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, "Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns! Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready." And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright…" (Revelation 19:6-8) No matter what this world offers, no matter what false doctrine is preached, no matter how many people refuse to believe in the Lord God, HE is God and HE will judge sin! God's existence is not dependant, nor determined, by man's belief in Him. HE is and was and always will be!! "For it is written: "As I live, say the LORD, Every knee shall bow to ME, And every tongue shall confess to God." So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother's way." (Romans 14:11-13) And when God's children do not live according to God's Word, we ARE stumbling blocks to those around us!! Forgive us, Father!!
Read our focal passage once more. "One thing I have desired of the LORD That I may dwell in the house of the LORD All the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD, And to inquire in His temple." (Psalm 27:4) At the end of our lives or when Christ returns, whichever is first, we will stand before the Lord God and give account of the way we lived - either for the Lord God or for self. If we do not return to our first love - Christ Jesus - we will have nothing to offer Him in eternity. We will stand before Him bare and ashamed. Christ Jesus gave Himself for us because HE desires an intimate relationship with us. In and of ourselves, it is impossible to come to Him, walk with Him, grow close to Him…That is why HE came, lived, died, and rose again!! "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were sinner, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8) "If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31) "Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us." (Romans 8:37)
If we want an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ, we must come to Him according to His Word. The psalmist in our focal passage had a heart for God. His one desire was to spend time in God's Word, listening to Him and meditating on His Truths. Through that discipline in his life, the psalmist got to know the Lord God and he fell in love with Him. He desired to know Him more and to follow His commands, statutes, and precepts. In following the Lord God, the psalmist lived to glorify God and not self. He was able to withstand the temptations of this world and focus on what really mattered - eternity. His life was an example for others to follow and his love for the Lord pointed others to the Lord. At the end of his life, he stood before the Lord God and heard, "Well done, My good and faithful servant."
Is that the desire of your heart today? If not, bow your knees before your Creator and confess that sin to Him. Ask Him to anoint your with His Holy Spirit and cleanse you from all unrighteousness. Ask Him to create in you a heart that desires Him above all else and to equip you with the wisdom, discernment, and commitment necessary to fulfill the purpose for which you were created - to glorify the King of kings, Lord of lords, the Great I AM, the Holy One of Israel, your personal Lord and Savior!! "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon ME and go and pray to ME, and I will listen to you. And you shall seek ME and find ME, when you search for ME with all your heart." (Jeremiah 29:11-13)
"One thing I have desired of the LORD That I may dwell in the house of the LORD All the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD, And to inquire in His temple." Psalm 27:4 (NKJV)
Strong's:
Desired #7592 shael = beg, pray
Dwell #3427 yashab = to remain, to settle, to sit quietly, to marry, habitation
House #1004 bavith = family, inside, home
Behold #2372 ehazah = mentally to perceive
Inquire #1239 baqar = to inspect, admire, care for, consider, to seek out, search
Nineteen years ago, when Glen and I first met, we spent many hours getting to know one another. We listened and talked to one another (well, for those of you who know me, you know I did most of the talking! Heehee). We enjoyed getting to know one another's likes and dislikes, hobbies and interests, and discovering what we had in common. When we were apart, we eagerly awaited the time that we would be together again and we cherished those moments. When we had to choose between spending time together or spending time apart, we would always choose the former.
As I studied our focal passage this week, the Lord asked me this question, "Michelle, do you desire getting to know me as much as you desire getting to know others in your life?" My heart sank because I knew the Lord already knew that answer. I had to answer honestly, "Not always, Lord." When the Lord first revealed to me my sin and my desperate need of a Savior, I was only six years old. Unfortunately, I did not follow my salvation with earnest study of God's Word or application of His truth in my life. I lived my life for self and spent very little time getting to know the Lord. When I was a teenager, I fell prey to my flesh and rebelled against the Lord God. At 19 years of age, I was a real mess and desperately wanted to end my life. I cried out to the Lord and asked Him to remove this rebellion and replace it with Himself.
For years, the Lord has been faithfully revealing layer upon layer of pride and rebellion. At times, I have eagerly followed Him and allowed Him to do the work necessary for my healing, restoration, reconciliation, and renewal, while other times, I simply refused. "If we are faithless, HE remains faithful, HE cannot deny Himself." (2 Timothy 2:13) God is true to His Word, My Friend. Not once has the Lord walked away from me, ignored me, withheld His love from me, or given up on me. HE loves me with an everlasting love and HE will never allow me to be comfortable in my sin and rebellion. "…For HE Himself has said, "Never will I leave you nor forsake you." (Hebrews 13:5) "And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand." (John 10:28) "Who can separate us from the love of Christ?…For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created things, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which in is Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:35a & 38-39)
The same is true for you today. God loves you with an everlasting love and HE is more than willing and able to transform you into His image. HE is not limited because of your past or even your present. HE is the Lord God and there is none like Him!! "…I AM the First and I AM the Last; Besides ME there is no God!" (Isaiah 44:6) "…For I AM God, and there is no other; I AM God, and there is none like ME." (Isaiah 46:9) If you are drowning today in your sin and shame, come to the Lord. Call upon Him and HE will answer you. Confess your sin and REPENT from it. We must understand; however, that confessing and repenting are two different actions. To confess means that you admit to God that you are a sinner and that you have sinned against Him. To repent means that you not only admit that you have sinned against Him, but that you STOP sinning against Him.
Absolutely, we are not perfect and we will sin from time to time, but when we repent, we commit to leave the former way of life behind and walk faithfully with the Lord. HE knows our weaknesses and HE is more than able to overcome them. "No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape that you may be able to bear it." (1 Corinthians 10:13)
Habitual sin has no place in the life of a Christian. When we are bound by sin, we are not living in the abundance that Christ Jesus came to give (John 10:10). When we are living a life fulfilling our flesh, we miss the opportunity to be used by God for His glory and our eternal purpose. We are a poor testimony to the mighty power, grace, mercy and holiness of the Lord God. And My Friend, HE deserves ALL our honor, praise, worship and attention!! When we are living outside the boundaries that God has established for His children, we place ourselves in danger, spiritually, emotionally, socially, relationally, and physically. God will allow consequences in our lives to bring us back to Him. Not because HE does not care about us, but because HE DOES!!
My Friend, our world is fading. All the "things" that we once held so dear are perishing before our very eyes. Christ is preparing to return and gather His children together and we have to start preparing for His return. "And at midnight a cry was heard: 'Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!" (Matthew 25:6) "And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, "Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns! Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready." And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright…" (Revelation 19:6-8) No matter what this world offers, no matter what false doctrine is preached, no matter how many people refuse to believe in the Lord God, HE is God and HE will judge sin! God's existence is not dependant, nor determined, by man's belief in Him. HE is and was and always will be!! "For it is written: "As I live, say the LORD, Every knee shall bow to ME, And every tongue shall confess to God." So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother's way." (Romans 14:11-13) And when God's children do not live according to God's Word, we ARE stumbling blocks to those around us!! Forgive us, Father!!
Read our focal passage once more. "One thing I have desired of the LORD That I may dwell in the house of the LORD All the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD, And to inquire in His temple." (Psalm 27:4) At the end of our lives or when Christ returns, whichever is first, we will stand before the Lord God and give account of the way we lived - either for the Lord God or for self. If we do not return to our first love - Christ Jesus - we will have nothing to offer Him in eternity. We will stand before Him bare and ashamed. Christ Jesus gave Himself for us because HE desires an intimate relationship with us. In and of ourselves, it is impossible to come to Him, walk with Him, grow close to Him…That is why HE came, lived, died, and rose again!! "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were sinner, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8) "If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31) "Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us." (Romans 8:37)
If we want an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ, we must come to Him according to His Word. The psalmist in our focal passage had a heart for God. His one desire was to spend time in God's Word, listening to Him and meditating on His Truths. Through that discipline in his life, the psalmist got to know the Lord God and he fell in love with Him. He desired to know Him more and to follow His commands, statutes, and precepts. In following the Lord God, the psalmist lived to glorify God and not self. He was able to withstand the temptations of this world and focus on what really mattered - eternity. His life was an example for others to follow and his love for the Lord pointed others to the Lord. At the end of his life, he stood before the Lord God and heard, "Well done, My good and faithful servant."
Is that the desire of your heart today? If not, bow your knees before your Creator and confess that sin to Him. Ask Him to anoint your with His Holy Spirit and cleanse you from all unrighteousness. Ask Him to create in you a heart that desires Him above all else and to equip you with the wisdom, discernment, and commitment necessary to fulfill the purpose for which you were created - to glorify the King of kings, Lord of lords, the Great I AM, the Holy One of Israel, your personal Lord and Savior!! "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon ME and go and pray to ME, and I will listen to you. And you shall seek ME and find ME, when you search for ME with all your heart." (Jeremiah 29:11-13)
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Monday Morning Devotion #259
This Week's Focal Passage:
"I say then: 'Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so you do not do the things you wish." Galatians 5:16-17 (NKJV)
Strong's:
Walk #4043 peripateo = to live, to be occupied with
Lust #1939 epithumis = longing for something forbidden, desire
Flesh #4561 sarx = human nature, carnally-minded
Contrary #480 antikeimal = adversary, to be opposed
This past week has been one of victory in my life. Years ago, there was an event in my family's life that truly broke Glen and my heart. We did not react to it properly and I allowed myself to dive deep into the bondage of unforgiveness and fear. About four years ago, the Lord lead us to a body of believers who surrounded our family with love and prayer. When we first entered the doors of that church, we were emotionally and spiritually wounded and we refused to get involved or to serve in the church.
The Lord God used our pastors, the teachers, and the entire congregation to minister truth to us, encourage us and to hold us accountable. We began to move forward in our spiritual walk and Glen quickly began to serve alongside of other godly men. It has taken me a lot longer because I was holding onto to sinful pride, fear, and unforgiveness. Last year, the Lord revealed to me the unforgiveness I was clinging too and HE began peeling away those layers of hurt, shame, guilt, pride and bitterness. Over time, I began to see the Lord's hand as each layer was removed and one by one, I forgave all those who had hurt me. I also confessed and repented of my sin in that situation and asked the Lord to forgive me. The process was difficult and VERY painful at times; however, by God's grace, I was able to continue healing.
A few months ago, our Sunday school class began a Bible study by Nancy Leigh DeMoss and Tim Grissom entitled Seeking Him…Experiencing the Joy of Personal Revival. Through that study, the Lord really brought a Biblical awareness of my sin and revealed deep-seeded hurt, shame, and fear. I was allowing Satan to convince me that because I failed in the past to minister appropriately, that I was no longer usable to the Lord. I was withholding my gifts and talents from the Body for fear that the past would repeat itself.
Two weeks ago, I was faced with the "past", I again began to panic and feel very defeated. This time; however, I chose to run to the Lord and seek His discernment. I cried out to Him and begged Him to show me any unconfessed sin and to help me put the past completely behind me ("But Jesus said, "No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of heaven." Luke 9:62). Over the next four days, the Lord graciously opened my eyes to an area of unforgiveness. I was shocked because I truly thought I had dealt with all that. "For the Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12) For the first time in my life, I understand what Paul meant when he said, "Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:37-39)
Read our focal passage once more. "I say then: 'Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so you do not do the things you wish." (Galatians 5:16-17) In January, we began studying together what it means to live a life surrendered to the Lord Jesus Christ. We have seen in Scripture the destruction and worthlessness that accompanies a life lived for "self". There is no victory in a life lived for the flesh. Each child of God is equipped with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit at the time of salvation. It is our choice whether or not we live by the Spirit or by our flesh. Certainly, the flesh screams to be satisfied and it is often times painful not to "give in." But God's Word is clear that when we live according to the flesh there is death.
Now, for a child of God, our salvation is eternal. Nothing can "snatch" us from the hand of Christ. "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand. I and My Father are one." (John 10:27-30) God's Word promises us that our salvation is secure; however, a Christian can miss out on the blessing of fulfilling their God-given purpose by living their life by the flesh. God created each of us to glorify Him in specific and unique ways. When we allow our flesh to be our guide and ignore the Truth of Scripture, we fail in our ministry. Do not allow Satan to tell you that you do not have a ministry. Each one of us has been called to minister to those around us by loving and living as Christ Jesus did. Keep in mind that "living according to the flesh" does not only mean living a materialistic lifestyle. We also live by the flesh when we refuse to live our lives rooted/based on the Truths of God's Word, thus we live according to our human understanding and rationale.
For about five years I missed many opportunities to minister to others because I was too busy focusing on my past. I was selfish and allowed my fear of being hurt or making mistakes prevent me from using the spiritual gifts God gave me to glorify Him and edify the Body. By the grace of God, I was able to continue this ministry because I am able to write and send out the devotion without being seen. That fear of rejection was decreased because I never know who reads the devotions and who discards it. My rebellion against the Lord was in the area of public ministry, i.e., teaching and speaking. The Lord has been so merciful to allow me a "do over" in ministry. My heart's cry is that I do it right this time!!! To God be the glory forever and ever. Amen!!
My Friend, no matter what your past or your present, the Lord God loves you and has given Himself for you. "For God so loved the world that HE gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved." (John 3:16-17) The blood of Christ offers complete forgiveness, redemption, healing, restoration, renewal, and eternal life. There is nothing that HE withholds from His children (Psalm 84:11) and HE has a specific plan for your life and for the ministry HE has created for you. Please do not allow Satan to convince you that Scripture is not true or that it does not apply to you. Satan is the Deceiver and he does not want you to glorify the Lord (John 10:10). Allow the Lord God to search your heart and reveal any and all sin that you may be harboring in your heart. Be willing to allow Him to show you things you may not be aware of. HE loves you and His heart is for your best interest. And it is in your best interest to deal with your sins openly and honestly before the Lord God.
Time is short, My Friend, and Christ is preparing to return. There is so much work left to be done and so many souls that are lost and in spiritual danger. Christians MUST rise up and repent so that the Lord can renew us and use us to bring light to the darkness. Are you willing to minister in ways that you never imagined possible? God is the God of second chances. HE will restore, renew, and rebuild. Take His hand and allow Him to be that guiding force in your life. Say "NO" to your flesh, no matter the cost. We are warriors in the army of the Almighty!! The victory is ALREADY His, but we have the awesome privilege to walk with Him through this life and bring others to the foot of the cross. No other accomplishment will stand the test of time!!!
"I say then: 'Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so you do not do the things you wish." Galatians 5:16-17 (NKJV)
Strong's:
Walk #4043 peripateo = to live, to be occupied with
Lust #1939 epithumis = longing for something forbidden, desire
Flesh #4561 sarx = human nature, carnally-minded
Contrary #480 antikeimal = adversary, to be opposed
This past week has been one of victory in my life. Years ago, there was an event in my family's life that truly broke Glen and my heart. We did not react to it properly and I allowed myself to dive deep into the bondage of unforgiveness and fear. About four years ago, the Lord lead us to a body of believers who surrounded our family with love and prayer. When we first entered the doors of that church, we were emotionally and spiritually wounded and we refused to get involved or to serve in the church.
The Lord God used our pastors, the teachers, and the entire congregation to minister truth to us, encourage us and to hold us accountable. We began to move forward in our spiritual walk and Glen quickly began to serve alongside of other godly men. It has taken me a lot longer because I was holding onto to sinful pride, fear, and unforgiveness. Last year, the Lord revealed to me the unforgiveness I was clinging too and HE began peeling away those layers of hurt, shame, guilt, pride and bitterness. Over time, I began to see the Lord's hand as each layer was removed and one by one, I forgave all those who had hurt me. I also confessed and repented of my sin in that situation and asked the Lord to forgive me. The process was difficult and VERY painful at times; however, by God's grace, I was able to continue healing.
A few months ago, our Sunday school class began a Bible study by Nancy Leigh DeMoss and Tim Grissom entitled Seeking Him…Experiencing the Joy of Personal Revival. Through that study, the Lord really brought a Biblical awareness of my sin and revealed deep-seeded hurt, shame, and fear. I was allowing Satan to convince me that because I failed in the past to minister appropriately, that I was no longer usable to the Lord. I was withholding my gifts and talents from the Body for fear that the past would repeat itself.
Two weeks ago, I was faced with the "past", I again began to panic and feel very defeated. This time; however, I chose to run to the Lord and seek His discernment. I cried out to Him and begged Him to show me any unconfessed sin and to help me put the past completely behind me ("But Jesus said, "No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of heaven." Luke 9:62). Over the next four days, the Lord graciously opened my eyes to an area of unforgiveness. I was shocked because I truly thought I had dealt with all that. "For the Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12) For the first time in my life, I understand what Paul meant when he said, "Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:37-39)
Read our focal passage once more. "I say then: 'Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so you do not do the things you wish." (Galatians 5:16-17) In January, we began studying together what it means to live a life surrendered to the Lord Jesus Christ. We have seen in Scripture the destruction and worthlessness that accompanies a life lived for "self". There is no victory in a life lived for the flesh. Each child of God is equipped with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit at the time of salvation. It is our choice whether or not we live by the Spirit or by our flesh. Certainly, the flesh screams to be satisfied and it is often times painful not to "give in." But God's Word is clear that when we live according to the flesh there is death.
Now, for a child of God, our salvation is eternal. Nothing can "snatch" us from the hand of Christ. "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand. I and My Father are one." (John 10:27-30) God's Word promises us that our salvation is secure; however, a Christian can miss out on the blessing of fulfilling their God-given purpose by living their life by the flesh. God created each of us to glorify Him in specific and unique ways. When we allow our flesh to be our guide and ignore the Truth of Scripture, we fail in our ministry. Do not allow Satan to tell you that you do not have a ministry. Each one of us has been called to minister to those around us by loving and living as Christ Jesus did. Keep in mind that "living according to the flesh" does not only mean living a materialistic lifestyle. We also live by the flesh when we refuse to live our lives rooted/based on the Truths of God's Word, thus we live according to our human understanding and rationale.
For about five years I missed many opportunities to minister to others because I was too busy focusing on my past. I was selfish and allowed my fear of being hurt or making mistakes prevent me from using the spiritual gifts God gave me to glorify Him and edify the Body. By the grace of God, I was able to continue this ministry because I am able to write and send out the devotion without being seen. That fear of rejection was decreased because I never know who reads the devotions and who discards it. My rebellion against the Lord was in the area of public ministry, i.e., teaching and speaking. The Lord has been so merciful to allow me a "do over" in ministry. My heart's cry is that I do it right this time!!! To God be the glory forever and ever. Amen!!
My Friend, no matter what your past or your present, the Lord God loves you and has given Himself for you. "For God so loved the world that HE gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved." (John 3:16-17) The blood of Christ offers complete forgiveness, redemption, healing, restoration, renewal, and eternal life. There is nothing that HE withholds from His children (Psalm 84:11) and HE has a specific plan for your life and for the ministry HE has created for you. Please do not allow Satan to convince you that Scripture is not true or that it does not apply to you. Satan is the Deceiver and he does not want you to glorify the Lord (John 10:10). Allow the Lord God to search your heart and reveal any and all sin that you may be harboring in your heart. Be willing to allow Him to show you things you may not be aware of. HE loves you and His heart is for your best interest. And it is in your best interest to deal with your sins openly and honestly before the Lord God.
Time is short, My Friend, and Christ is preparing to return. There is so much work left to be done and so many souls that are lost and in spiritual danger. Christians MUST rise up and repent so that the Lord can renew us and use us to bring light to the darkness. Are you willing to minister in ways that you never imagined possible? God is the God of second chances. HE will restore, renew, and rebuild. Take His hand and allow Him to be that guiding force in your life. Say "NO" to your flesh, no matter the cost. We are warriors in the army of the Almighty!! The victory is ALREADY His, but we have the awesome privilege to walk with Him through this life and bring others to the foot of the cross. No other accomplishment will stand the test of time!!!
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Monday Morning Devotion #258
This Week's Focal Passage:
"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Him because HE first loved us." 1 John 4:18-19 (NKJV)
Strong's:
Fear #5401 phobos = to be afraid, exceedingly, fear, terror
Love #26 agape = affection, benevolence, dear, love
Perfect #5046 teleios = complete, completeness
Perfect #5048 teleioo = accomplish, fulfill, make perfect
Casts #906 ballo = throw down, to thrust
First #4413 protos = foremost in time, place, order or importance; before, beginning, best
About a year ago, my pastor lovingly confronted me on my sin of fear. He had noticed that my life seemed to be driven by fear. Everything I did was rooted in trying to control my surroundings so I would not experience pain. This "fear" was evident in every aspect of my life…My relationship with other people, the well-being of my children, my need to "control" events in our marriage and basically in life in general. I know I have shared this with you previously, but allow me to simply state that I was truly not aware of this sin. I was actually shocked when he mentioned it me.
Throughout the following weeks, the Lord began to open my eyes to this truth and show me in His Word why fear was a sin and how it affects the very nature of my relationship with Him. You see, there is no room for fear in the life of a believer. Fear stems from not trusting/believing God. I said I trusted God and I could quote Scripture supporting that truth, but deep within the secret places of my heart, I did not trust God. "The LORD is good, A stronghold in the day of trouble; And HE knows those who trusts in Him." (Nahum 1:7) "For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father". (Romans 8:15) "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of sound mind." (2 Timothy 1:7)
This past week, our nation elected a new president. For those whose heart is to preserve the standards which God's Word established, our prayer seemed to go unheard. As I laid down Tuesday night, I found myself having a very difficult time resting. I cried out to the Lord and asked, "Why, Lord? Your children have prayed, confessed and repented of our sins, and asked You to establish our next president as a man who stands for those things that You command." In the stillness of the night, the Lord God comforted me with His Truth. HE spoke to my heart and reassured me that His children are called to obedience and HE is the Author of the days, the outcome of all things are by His perfect design. HE promises to bless our obedience ("Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be My people. And walk in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well with you." Jeremiah 7:23) and that HE hears and answers the prayer of the righteous ("Then you will call upon Me and go to pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:12-13) His Word also promises us that HE is the One who sets the kings of this world in position and that HE is sovereign and nothing happens without His permission. "For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgement and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this." (Isaiah 9:6-7) "And HE changes the times and the seasons; HE removes kings and raises up kings; HE gives wisdom to the wise And knowledge to those who have understanding." (Daniel 2:21) "…That the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, Gives it to whomever HE will And sets over it the lowest of men." (Daniel 4:17) "…until you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever HE chooses." (Daniel 4:25, 32 & 5:21)
My Friend, the children of God have no reason to fear, even when things appear to be spiraling out of control. God is love (1 John 4:8) and HE loves us with an everlasting love. As we studied last week, everything God does is rooted, established and executed through that love. God did not ignore our prayers. HE did not forget about us. HE was not surprised by the outcome of the election, nor is HE surprised by any trial/circumstance/event that occurs in our lives. HE designs our days and HE orchestrates the events in our lives to bring glory to Himself and to establish our good.
God will use this time in history to teach us more about Himself. We simply need to trust in the Lord God to be who HE promises HE is.
Certainly, we cannot ignore that Scripture is unfolding and all heaven and earth is anticipating Christ Jesus' return. Scripture is true and the end is getting closer with every passing day. What a joy that will be when we hear Christ shout and turn to see Him coming into our presence in all His glory. Everyone, no matter what they claim to believe or not believe, WILL bow their knees in complete surrender and worship of Him who is and was and always will be!!! (Romans 14:11) Christ Jesus will establish His kingdom and call His children to Himself. Our focus at this time must be to come before the Lord God in complete repentance and submission. Allowing His blood to wash over us, cleansing us from all unrighteousness. When we come humbly before the Lord God, we are changed, a new creation in Christ Jesus. Our primary focus will be to live a life worthy of our Lord and to lead others to the cross so they will have the opportunity to surrender their lives to Him who is able to forgive all sin, heal all wounds, and restore us completely to Himself.
Read our focal passage once more. "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Him because HE first loved us." (1 John 4:18-19) In this verse, God promises that His perfect/complete love completes us. His love accomplishes its purpose and upholds us in times of trouble and in times of peace. When a child of God is residing in His perfect love, no fear can reside with us. His love casts out fear and establishes us in Himself. HE is our fulfillment, our comfort, our peace, our hope, our sustainer, our refuge, our life and our very breath.
My Friend, no matter what you are facing today, trust in the Lord. Seek Him above all else. Ask Him to search your heart and know your anxious thoughts. Allow Him to reveal to you what you need to confess and repent and then do that immediately. Trust the Lord to be exactly who His Word promises HE is. Allow Him to wash over you and heal you from the past and/or the present. As children of God, we are more than conquerors in Christ Jesus. We are no longer prisoners of sin. We can walk freely and intimately with our Lord. May that be the prayer of our hearts this week. May we love Him and trust Him alone.
Your Sister in Christ,
Michelle Jones
November 10, 2008
<><
"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Him because HE first loved us." 1 John 4:18-19 (NKJV)
Strong's:
Fear #5401 phobos = to be afraid, exceedingly, fear, terror
Love #26 agape = affection, benevolence, dear, love
Perfect #5046 teleios = complete, completeness
Perfect #5048 teleioo = accomplish, fulfill, make perfect
Casts #906 ballo = throw down, to thrust
First #4413 protos = foremost in time, place, order or importance; before, beginning, best
About a year ago, my pastor lovingly confronted me on my sin of fear. He had noticed that my life seemed to be driven by fear. Everything I did was rooted in trying to control my surroundings so I would not experience pain. This "fear" was evident in every aspect of my life…My relationship with other people, the well-being of my children, my need to "control" events in our marriage and basically in life in general. I know I have shared this with you previously, but allow me to simply state that I was truly not aware of this sin. I was actually shocked when he mentioned it me.
Throughout the following weeks, the Lord began to open my eyes to this truth and show me in His Word why fear was a sin and how it affects the very nature of my relationship with Him. You see, there is no room for fear in the life of a believer. Fear stems from not trusting/believing God. I said I trusted God and I could quote Scripture supporting that truth, but deep within the secret places of my heart, I did not trust God. "The LORD is good, A stronghold in the day of trouble; And HE knows those who trusts in Him." (Nahum 1:7) "For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father". (Romans 8:15) "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of sound mind." (2 Timothy 1:7)
This past week, our nation elected a new president. For those whose heart is to preserve the standards which God's Word established, our prayer seemed to go unheard. As I laid down Tuesday night, I found myself having a very difficult time resting. I cried out to the Lord and asked, "Why, Lord? Your children have prayed, confessed and repented of our sins, and asked You to establish our next president as a man who stands for those things that You command." In the stillness of the night, the Lord God comforted me with His Truth. HE spoke to my heart and reassured me that His children are called to obedience and HE is the Author of the days, the outcome of all things are by His perfect design. HE promises to bless our obedience ("Obey My voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be My people. And walk in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well with you." Jeremiah 7:23) and that HE hears and answers the prayer of the righteous ("Then you will call upon Me and go to pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:12-13) His Word also promises us that HE is the One who sets the kings of this world in position and that HE is sovereign and nothing happens without His permission. "For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgement and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this." (Isaiah 9:6-7) "And HE changes the times and the seasons; HE removes kings and raises up kings; HE gives wisdom to the wise And knowledge to those who have understanding." (Daniel 2:21) "…That the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, Gives it to whomever HE will And sets over it the lowest of men." (Daniel 4:17) "…until you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever HE chooses." (Daniel 4:25, 32 & 5:21)
My Friend, the children of God have no reason to fear, even when things appear to be spiraling out of control. God is love (1 John 4:8) and HE loves us with an everlasting love. As we studied last week, everything God does is rooted, established and executed through that love. God did not ignore our prayers. HE did not forget about us. HE was not surprised by the outcome of the election, nor is HE surprised by any trial/circumstance/event that occurs in our lives. HE designs our days and HE orchestrates the events in our lives to bring glory to Himself and to establish our good.
God will use this time in history to teach us more about Himself. We simply need to trust in the Lord God to be who HE promises HE is.
Certainly, we cannot ignore that Scripture is unfolding and all heaven and earth is anticipating Christ Jesus' return. Scripture is true and the end is getting closer with every passing day. What a joy that will be when we hear Christ shout and turn to see Him coming into our presence in all His glory. Everyone, no matter what they claim to believe or not believe, WILL bow their knees in complete surrender and worship of Him who is and was and always will be!!! (Romans 14:11) Christ Jesus will establish His kingdom and call His children to Himself. Our focus at this time must be to come before the Lord God in complete repentance and submission. Allowing His blood to wash over us, cleansing us from all unrighteousness. When we come humbly before the Lord God, we are changed, a new creation in Christ Jesus. Our primary focus will be to live a life worthy of our Lord and to lead others to the cross so they will have the opportunity to surrender their lives to Him who is able to forgive all sin, heal all wounds, and restore us completely to Himself.
Read our focal passage once more. "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Him because HE first loved us." (1 John 4:18-19) In this verse, God promises that His perfect/complete love completes us. His love accomplishes its purpose and upholds us in times of trouble and in times of peace. When a child of God is residing in His perfect love, no fear can reside with us. His love casts out fear and establishes us in Himself. HE is our fulfillment, our comfort, our peace, our hope, our sustainer, our refuge, our life and our very breath.
My Friend, no matter what you are facing today, trust in the Lord. Seek Him above all else. Ask Him to search your heart and know your anxious thoughts. Allow Him to reveal to you what you need to confess and repent and then do that immediately. Trust the Lord to be exactly who His Word promises HE is. Allow Him to wash over you and heal you from the past and/or the present. As children of God, we are more than conquerors in Christ Jesus. We are no longer prisoners of sin. We can walk freely and intimately with our Lord. May that be the prayer of our hearts this week. May we love Him and trust Him alone.
Your Sister in Christ,
Michelle Jones
November 10, 2008
<><
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Monday Morning Devotion #257
This Week's Focal Passage:
"See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil, in that I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His judgments, that you may live and multiply; and the LORD your God may bless you in land which you go to possess. But if your heart turns away so that you do not hear, and are drawn away, and worship other gods and serve them, I announce to you today that you shall surely perish; you shall not prolong your days in the land…" Deuteronomy 30:15-18 (NJKV)
Strong's:
Life #2416 chay = alive, merry, running, springing
Good #2896 towb =favor, graciously, joyful, loving, most pleasant, prosperity, wealth
Death #4194 maveth - pestilence, ruin, violent
Evil #7451 ra = calamity, distress, exceedingly, great grief, harm, misery, sorrow, trouble, worst wretchedness
Commandments #4687 mitsvah = percept
Statutes #2708 chuqqah = appointed custom
Judgments #4941 mishpat = divine law
Live #2421 chayah = revive, give life, repair, restore, save, be whole
Multiply #7235 rabah = to increase in whatever respect,
Tuesday, November 4th, Americans will raise their voices and bring a new president into the White House. The true heart of America will be revealed and the desires of her people will be shown. Before we head to the voting booths, may each of us bow before the Lord God and allow Him to examine our hearts and reveal to us any sins that we may be harboring in our hearts. May we repent of those sins and ask for His unconditional forgiveness to fall fresh upon us. May we allow Him to do whatever work necessary to change our hearts and make them new. May we seek Him above all else and experience Him in the way that HE has always intended for us to experience Him…As our Life, our Joy, our Hope, our Protection, our King, our Shelter, our Reward, our Comforter, our Sustainer, our Purpose, our Direction, our Freedom, our Best Friend.
May the Lord God look upon His people and see one heart, one mind and one desire. Please Lord, bring about a spiritual revival across this nation in a way that has never been seen before. May Your glory be so evident and so magnificent that it draws the lost to You and Your children into a deeper relationship with You. May our cries be heard and our prayers be answered. My Friend, we deserve nothing, but death and destruction. Nothing in us or about us is good, worthy, or valuable. We are sinners saved by grace and nothing more. The Lord has chosen to extend His love, mercy, grace, forgiveness, and life to each of His children. It is because of His greatness that we exist. His power sustains this universe and everything in it was made by Him and through Him and for Him (John 1:3). Every decision we make as individuals and as a nation must be made with the Lord God and His glory as our first priority. When we live a life that brings honor and glory to God, God pours out His blessings upon us. His heart is to shower His children with blessings beyond our wildest dreams. Not because we deserve it or have earned it, but because HE is love (1 John 4:8) and all His actions are birthed and executed in and through that love.
Over and over in Scripture, we find the Lord God calling His people back to Him. His heart is for each person to repent and to allow the blood of Christ to cleanse them, heal them, renew them, restore them and recreate them into His own image (2 Peter 3:9). Look at our focal passage. "See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil, in that I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His judgments, that you may live and multiply; and the LORD your God may bless you in land which you go to possess. But if your heart turns away so that you do not hear, and are drawn away, and worship other gods and serve them, I announce to you today that you shall surely perish; you shall not prolong your days in the land…" (Deuteronomy 30:15-18)
As a nation and as individuals we have failed to honor and glorify the Lord. We have allowed our world to be filled with vile and sinful concepts, ideas, entertainment, values, morals, and teachings. We call it "freedom of expression" but what the Lord God calls it is SIN. We live in ways that bring shame to the Lord God and to the name of Christ, but we ask Him to protect us, sustain us, prolong our freedoms and comforts. Why do we think that we deserve such things?! God's Word clearly states that God wants to bless us, but we have to make a choice. We have to either choose to live according to His Word or we choose to live in rebellion against Him. There is no middle ground, My Friend. His Word is also clear about the outcome of our choices. If we choose to live according to His Word, HE will bless us with His presence and provisions, but if we choose to live in rebellion against Him, HE will allow us to perish through the destruction we bring upon ourselves.
This election is not about protecting our comforts so we can continue to live unchanged and uninterrupted for the next four years. This election is about electing a man that will uphold the values and morals of Scripture and continue to protect our great nation against those who desire to destroy it, so that God's children will be able to use the next four years to proclaim Christ Jesus to a lost and dying world. Christ Jesus is going to return and call His children home. We know this for certain because God's Word tells us HE is coming again. Jesus promises in Matthew 14:2-3 "In My Father's house are many mansions, if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also." Three times in Revelations, Jesus promises, "Behold, I AM coming quickly…" (Revelations 3:11; 22:7; 22:20) For God's children, Christ return is the best possible gift; however, to the lost, Christ return seals their death and destruction, their complete separation from the Lord God for all eternity.
Oh, My Friend, we are not ready for Christ to return!!! We have so much work that needs to be done. So much that we have allowed to be put on the "back burner" so that we could pursue other things…Wealth, personal success, accomplishments, dreams, hopes, ideas, employment, life in general, and comforts this world offers. My heart is heavy as I think of the time I have wasted and the opportunities that I had to share Christ Jesus and chose not too for whatever reason. May God forgive me and allow me the opportunity to share Christ once more with the lost in my family and in my sphere of influence. Satan is the father of lies and no truth is within him (1 John 2:4). His goal is to deceive us into thinking that Christ is either not returning at all or that His return is so far off that our delay in sharing the Gospel will not have a negative effect on those around us. That could not be farther from the truth. Christ is returning! HE is coming quickly! And every second counts! Our sole purpose for being on this earth at this particular time is to glorify the Lord by living for Him so that others may come to know Him as their personal Lord and Savior.
God is Sovereign and HE alone is worthy of all honor, glory and praise. HE is our life and the length of our days (Deuteronomy 30:20). HE is worth whatever cost. HE is more valuable than gold, more priceless than the most precious jewel. Nothing in heaven or earth satisfies to the very marrow of our souls like Christ Jesus. Nothing is worth living for if HE is not the Center. We have no idea how much we miss and how much those around us miss when we do not live for Him and Him alone. When we allow our eyes to be removed from Him and our hearts begin to stray toward the things of this world. Father God, PLEASE open our eyes and our ears so that we can hear Your Truth and understand it. May we have a heart so broken before You that we pour out our repentance and allow You to restore us and create in us a heart that truly longs for You every moment of the day. May You give us such a passion for the lost that our first priority in every decision that we make will be to live in such a way that draws others to the cross of Jesus. Forgive our sins and the sins of this nation. Bring revival to our nation and throughout the world. Sustain us, protect us, root us and establish us in Your unchanging, unshakable, uncompromising Word. May our lives be exact representations of You, Lord Jesus.
"For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that HE would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height- to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God." (Ephesians 3:14-19) To God be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Your Sister in Christ,
Michelle Jones
November 3, 2008
<><
"See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil, in that I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His judgments, that you may live and multiply; and the LORD your God may bless you in land which you go to possess. But if your heart turns away so that you do not hear, and are drawn away, and worship other gods and serve them, I announce to you today that you shall surely perish; you shall not prolong your days in the land…" Deuteronomy 30:15-18 (NJKV)
Strong's:
Life #2416 chay = alive, merry, running, springing
Good #2896 towb =favor, graciously, joyful, loving, most pleasant, prosperity, wealth
Death #4194 maveth - pestilence, ruin, violent
Evil #7451 ra = calamity, distress, exceedingly, great grief, harm, misery, sorrow, trouble, worst wretchedness
Commandments #4687 mitsvah = percept
Statutes #2708 chuqqah = appointed custom
Judgments #4941 mishpat = divine law
Live #2421 chayah = revive, give life, repair, restore, save, be whole
Multiply #7235 rabah = to increase in whatever respect,
Tuesday, November 4th, Americans will raise their voices and bring a new president into the White House. The true heart of America will be revealed and the desires of her people will be shown. Before we head to the voting booths, may each of us bow before the Lord God and allow Him to examine our hearts and reveal to us any sins that we may be harboring in our hearts. May we repent of those sins and ask for His unconditional forgiveness to fall fresh upon us. May we allow Him to do whatever work necessary to change our hearts and make them new. May we seek Him above all else and experience Him in the way that HE has always intended for us to experience Him…As our Life, our Joy, our Hope, our Protection, our King, our Shelter, our Reward, our Comforter, our Sustainer, our Purpose, our Direction, our Freedom, our Best Friend.
May the Lord God look upon His people and see one heart, one mind and one desire. Please Lord, bring about a spiritual revival across this nation in a way that has never been seen before. May Your glory be so evident and so magnificent that it draws the lost to You and Your children into a deeper relationship with You. May our cries be heard and our prayers be answered. My Friend, we deserve nothing, but death and destruction. Nothing in us or about us is good, worthy, or valuable. We are sinners saved by grace and nothing more. The Lord has chosen to extend His love, mercy, grace, forgiveness, and life to each of His children. It is because of His greatness that we exist. His power sustains this universe and everything in it was made by Him and through Him and for Him (John 1:3). Every decision we make as individuals and as a nation must be made with the Lord God and His glory as our first priority. When we live a life that brings honor and glory to God, God pours out His blessings upon us. His heart is to shower His children with blessings beyond our wildest dreams. Not because we deserve it or have earned it, but because HE is love (1 John 4:8) and all His actions are birthed and executed in and through that love.
Over and over in Scripture, we find the Lord God calling His people back to Him. His heart is for each person to repent and to allow the blood of Christ to cleanse them, heal them, renew them, restore them and recreate them into His own image (2 Peter 3:9). Look at our focal passage. "See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil, in that I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His judgments, that you may live and multiply; and the LORD your God may bless you in land which you go to possess. But if your heart turns away so that you do not hear, and are drawn away, and worship other gods and serve them, I announce to you today that you shall surely perish; you shall not prolong your days in the land…" (Deuteronomy 30:15-18)
As a nation and as individuals we have failed to honor and glorify the Lord. We have allowed our world to be filled with vile and sinful concepts, ideas, entertainment, values, morals, and teachings. We call it "freedom of expression" but what the Lord God calls it is SIN. We live in ways that bring shame to the Lord God and to the name of Christ, but we ask Him to protect us, sustain us, prolong our freedoms and comforts. Why do we think that we deserve such things?! God's Word clearly states that God wants to bless us, but we have to make a choice. We have to either choose to live according to His Word or we choose to live in rebellion against Him. There is no middle ground, My Friend. His Word is also clear about the outcome of our choices. If we choose to live according to His Word, HE will bless us with His presence and provisions, but if we choose to live in rebellion against Him, HE will allow us to perish through the destruction we bring upon ourselves.
This election is not about protecting our comforts so we can continue to live unchanged and uninterrupted for the next four years. This election is about electing a man that will uphold the values and morals of Scripture and continue to protect our great nation against those who desire to destroy it, so that God's children will be able to use the next four years to proclaim Christ Jesus to a lost and dying world. Christ Jesus is going to return and call His children home. We know this for certain because God's Word tells us HE is coming again. Jesus promises in Matthew 14:2-3 "In My Father's house are many mansions, if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also." Three times in Revelations, Jesus promises, "Behold, I AM coming quickly…" (Revelations 3:11; 22:7; 22:20) For God's children, Christ return is the best possible gift; however, to the lost, Christ return seals their death and destruction, their complete separation from the Lord God for all eternity.
Oh, My Friend, we are not ready for Christ to return!!! We have so much work that needs to be done. So much that we have allowed to be put on the "back burner" so that we could pursue other things…Wealth, personal success, accomplishments, dreams, hopes, ideas, employment, life in general, and comforts this world offers. My heart is heavy as I think of the time I have wasted and the opportunities that I had to share Christ Jesus and chose not too for whatever reason. May God forgive me and allow me the opportunity to share Christ once more with the lost in my family and in my sphere of influence. Satan is the father of lies and no truth is within him (1 John 2:4). His goal is to deceive us into thinking that Christ is either not returning at all or that His return is so far off that our delay in sharing the Gospel will not have a negative effect on those around us. That could not be farther from the truth. Christ is returning! HE is coming quickly! And every second counts! Our sole purpose for being on this earth at this particular time is to glorify the Lord by living for Him so that others may come to know Him as their personal Lord and Savior.
God is Sovereign and HE alone is worthy of all honor, glory and praise. HE is our life and the length of our days (Deuteronomy 30:20). HE is worth whatever cost. HE is more valuable than gold, more priceless than the most precious jewel. Nothing in heaven or earth satisfies to the very marrow of our souls like Christ Jesus. Nothing is worth living for if HE is not the Center. We have no idea how much we miss and how much those around us miss when we do not live for Him and Him alone. When we allow our eyes to be removed from Him and our hearts begin to stray toward the things of this world. Father God, PLEASE open our eyes and our ears so that we can hear Your Truth and understand it. May we have a heart so broken before You that we pour out our repentance and allow You to restore us and create in us a heart that truly longs for You every moment of the day. May You give us such a passion for the lost that our first priority in every decision that we make will be to live in such a way that draws others to the cross of Jesus. Forgive our sins and the sins of this nation. Bring revival to our nation and throughout the world. Sustain us, protect us, root us and establish us in Your unchanging, unshakable, uncompromising Word. May our lives be exact representations of You, Lord Jesus.
"For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that HE would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height- to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God." (Ephesians 3:14-19) To God be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Your Sister in Christ,
Michelle Jones
November 3, 2008
<><
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Monday Morning Devotion #256
This week's focal passage:
"The wise shall inherit glory, But shame shall be the legacy of the fools."
Proverbs 3:35 (NKJV)
Strong's:
Wise #2450 - chakam = intelligent, skillful, artful, wise-hearted
Inherit #5157 - nachal = occupy, have, leave for
Shame #7036 - qulown = disgrace, confusion, dishonor
Legacy (promotion in the KJV) #7311 - ruwm = breed worms
As parents, Glen and I often think about what we will leave our children as an inheritance. We do not have many earthly possessions, but we do have something that is FAR more valuable and ETERNAL…We have an intimate, personal, real relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. We are no longer bound to the things of this world, but we belong to the kingdom of God. We are children of the Risen Lord, the Great I AM, the King of kings, the Most High, and all that belongs to Him HE has graciously given to us as an inheritance!! "Giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light." (Colossians 1:12)
God's Word tells us exactly what Christ Jesus has done for us and offers to us through His sacrifice on the cross. "HE has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sin." (Colossians 1:13-14) God's Word goes on to explain exactly who Christ is and the power that is His. "HE is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And HE is before all things and in Him all things consist." (Colossians 1:15-17)
Scripture continues this promise in Ephesians 1:17-23 "That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which HE worked in Christ when HE raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And HE put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him all in all."
My Friend, many of us are walking a very thin line. We say, with our mouths, that we love the Lord God with all our hearts, minds, and souls; however, very little in our daily life reflects that. We allow ourselves to get distracted by the things of this world, i.e., responsibilities, daily chores, employment, successful ventures, children, spouses, our hopes, dreams, expectations, circumstances, etc. Not all of which are "bad" but when they become our focus, our love, our driving motivation, then the "good" things quickly become our idols…They replace our focus and our love for Christ Jesus. When this happens, we begin to live a life that is worthless and void of all meaning and purpose. We were created to bring glory and honor to the Lord God. We must not forget this!!
Forgetting our purpose is detrimental to our walk/relationship with Christ Jesus. Christ will NOT take 2nd place and HE will not be our "genie in a bottle". HE demands complete surrender, absolute abandon to self and sin, and true humility that only comes through His revitalizing work in our hearts. Living a life that has eternal purpose can only be obtained through a daily study of God's Word, allowing ourselves to approach the throne of God with honesty and openness, and a heart that is willing and obedient to the Lord God no matter what the cost.
Time is running out, My Friend. Christ is preparing to return and gather His bride…Are you preparing to meet your Groom? Reread our focal passage once more. "The wise shall inherit glory, But shame shall be the legacy of the fools." (Proverbs 3:35) If Christ Jesus called you home today, what would your legacy be? What would those left behind learn from your life? Would they look at your life as an example of a godly man/woman or would they be "confused" because you said you loved the Lord, but you lived your life for self? Shame in this verse means confusion and legacy here means "to breed worms." Scripture talks about the destruction of worms…"Your pomp is brought down to Sheol, And the sound of your stringed instruments; The maggot is spread under you, And the worms cover you." (Isaiah 14:11) "Then the Angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give glory to God. And he was eaten by worms and died." (Acts 12:23)
When we live a life of hypocrisy, people know it. They may not confront us, but they know that we are not truthful and the Lord is not in us. We destroy ourselves and the testimony that the Lord has for us before men. What are we doing? We only have a short time to prepare for the coming of the King and we allow ourselves to get sidetracked by meaningless things, meaningless accomplishments, meaningless pursuits. When you exit this earth, what do you want to leave behind? May the cry of our hearts be repentance before the Lord God and may HE grant us another day to live for Him and Him alone. May we understand the inheritance that is ours as a child of God and may our sole desire be to bring others to the foot of the cross so they may inherit the glory of God themselves. "…That HE might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy…" (Romans 9:23)
Your Sister in Christ,
Michelle Jones
October 20, 2008
<><
"The wise shall inherit glory, But shame shall be the legacy of the fools."
Proverbs 3:35 (NKJV)
Strong's:
Wise #2450 - chakam = intelligent, skillful, artful, wise-hearted
Inherit #5157 - nachal = occupy, have, leave for
Shame #7036 - qulown = disgrace, confusion, dishonor
Legacy (promotion in the KJV) #7311 - ruwm = breed worms
As parents, Glen and I often think about what we will leave our children as an inheritance. We do not have many earthly possessions, but we do have something that is FAR more valuable and ETERNAL…We have an intimate, personal, real relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. We are no longer bound to the things of this world, but we belong to the kingdom of God. We are children of the Risen Lord, the Great I AM, the King of kings, the Most High, and all that belongs to Him HE has graciously given to us as an inheritance!! "Giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light." (Colossians 1:12)
God's Word tells us exactly what Christ Jesus has done for us and offers to us through His sacrifice on the cross. "HE has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sin." (Colossians 1:13-14) God's Word goes on to explain exactly who Christ is and the power that is His. "HE is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And HE is before all things and in Him all things consist." (Colossians 1:15-17)
Scripture continues this promise in Ephesians 1:17-23 "That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which HE worked in Christ when HE raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And HE put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him all in all."
My Friend, many of us are walking a very thin line. We say, with our mouths, that we love the Lord God with all our hearts, minds, and souls; however, very little in our daily life reflects that. We allow ourselves to get distracted by the things of this world, i.e., responsibilities, daily chores, employment, successful ventures, children, spouses, our hopes, dreams, expectations, circumstances, etc. Not all of which are "bad" but when they become our focus, our love, our driving motivation, then the "good" things quickly become our idols…They replace our focus and our love for Christ Jesus. When this happens, we begin to live a life that is worthless and void of all meaning and purpose. We were created to bring glory and honor to the Lord God. We must not forget this!!
Forgetting our purpose is detrimental to our walk/relationship with Christ Jesus. Christ will NOT take 2nd place and HE will not be our "genie in a bottle". HE demands complete surrender, absolute abandon to self and sin, and true humility that only comes through His revitalizing work in our hearts. Living a life that has eternal purpose can only be obtained through a daily study of God's Word, allowing ourselves to approach the throne of God with honesty and openness, and a heart that is willing and obedient to the Lord God no matter what the cost.
Time is running out, My Friend. Christ is preparing to return and gather His bride…Are you preparing to meet your Groom? Reread our focal passage once more. "The wise shall inherit glory, But shame shall be the legacy of the fools." (Proverbs 3:35) If Christ Jesus called you home today, what would your legacy be? What would those left behind learn from your life? Would they look at your life as an example of a godly man/woman or would they be "confused" because you said you loved the Lord, but you lived your life for self? Shame in this verse means confusion and legacy here means "to breed worms." Scripture talks about the destruction of worms…"Your pomp is brought down to Sheol, And the sound of your stringed instruments; The maggot is spread under you, And the worms cover you." (Isaiah 14:11) "Then the Angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give glory to God. And he was eaten by worms and died." (Acts 12:23)
When we live a life of hypocrisy, people know it. They may not confront us, but they know that we are not truthful and the Lord is not in us. We destroy ourselves and the testimony that the Lord has for us before men. What are we doing? We only have a short time to prepare for the coming of the King and we allow ourselves to get sidetracked by meaningless things, meaningless accomplishments, meaningless pursuits. When you exit this earth, what do you want to leave behind? May the cry of our hearts be repentance before the Lord God and may HE grant us another day to live for Him and Him alone. May we understand the inheritance that is ours as a child of God and may our sole desire be to bring others to the foot of the cross so they may inherit the glory of God themselves. "…That HE might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy…" (Romans 9:23)
Your Sister in Christ,
Michelle Jones
October 20, 2008
<><
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Monday Morning Devotion #255
This Week's Focal Passage:
"Your testimonies I have taken as a heritage forever, For they are the rejoicing of my heart." Psalm 119:111 (NKJV)
Strong's:
Testimonies #5715 'eduwth - witness
Heritage #5157 nachal - inheritance, to take for, divide, to inherit
Rejoicing #8342 sasown - welcome, joy, gladness
To whom do you look when you need a little lift or a shoulder to cry upon? What makes you happy? Where do you find joy? When are you the most content? Most of us have many answers for each of these questions. We have several friends, family, or loved ones to whom we could turn to in our time of need. We have activities, programs, ministries, hobbies and/or careers that bring us enjoyment and/or satisfaction. We find success in the world's eyes when we obtain a certain economic status. Our world is filled with "things" that enhance our life and bring us pleasure.
All of us have been distracted by the "glitter" of the world's promises at one time or another. We have all sought approval, acceptance, and attention from the world and rejoiced when we received those things. We have each traded holiness for immorality, sinful pleasures and wickedness. "There is none righteous, no, not one; There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God…" (Romans 3:10-11) "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23) "But God demonstrated His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)
My Friend, pause here a moment. We have all read/heard Romans 5:8 before but let's just take a moment to really ponder on what God is saying to us. God, the Great I AM, the Most High, Holy of holies, Lord of lords, King of kings, the Creator and Sustainer of the universe, lowered Himself from the glories of heaven to the filthiness of earth and WILLING gave Himself for sinners. That includes you and me!!!! BEFORE we even knew of Him, cared about Him, turned to Him, repented of our sins, Christ died for us. Does that Truth take hold of your heart today? Does that revelation make you drop to your knees in absolute worship and repentance? God's grace is sufficient for us and through that grace we are able to understand God's Word, our eyes and ears are opened to Him, our hearts are drawn to Him and our wills are surrendered to Him.
God loves us with an everlasting love and His glory spills over upon us. HE created us to glorify Him and to live a life that points others to Him. We absolutely waste our lives when we live for any other purpose. When we allow ourselves to be distracted by the world's promises, we sacrifice and destroy ourselves. Our lives become worthless and hopeless, even when everyone around us screams and shouts that we are successful. My Friend, time is short. The Lord Jesus Christ is preparing to return from the riches of heaven, gather His children together, and destroy the earth and everything in and of it. Nothing will last, nothing will stand, nothing will matter when Christ returns and reigns holy judgement out upon everything and everyone who has stood against Him, lived a life without Him, sought to glorify himself/herself, lived a "good" life yet never accepted Jesus Christ as his/her personal Lord and Savior.
God's Word tells us "I Am the LORD, that is My name; And My glory I will not share with another. Nor My praise to carved images." (Isaiah 42:8) "Indeed you (idols) are nothing, And your work is nothing; He who chooses you is an abomination." (Isaiah 41:24) "For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12) "O God, You know my foolishness; And my sins are not hidden from You." (Psalm 69:5) "Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts…" (1 Corinthians 4:5) "Behold, I send My messenger, And he will prepare the way before ME. And the Lord, whom you seek, Will suddenly come to His temple, Even the Messenger of the covenant, In whom you delight. Behold, HE is coming," Says the LORD of hosts. "But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when HE appears? For HE is like a refiner's fire And like launderers' soap. HE will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver…" (Malachi 3:1-3a)
Jesus is coming, My Friend, and we are not prepared. We live in a nation where God's blessings have been poured out upon us for over 200 years, yet we are seeking to destroy the things of God and eliminate Him from our daily lives. We quietly sit by and allowed wicked men and women to dictate to us what we will teach our children and how we will live our lives. We, the children of God, are not residents of this earth! We are foreigners in a pagan land and we are passing through on our way to eternity with the Lord Jesus Christ; however, we were placed here by God to be a light. To be a witness for Him who loves us and gave Himself for us. To be an example of how to live a pure life in the midst of depravity and death. What are we doing?!?! Have we become so blind and/or so cold-hearted that we do not care about the destruction of those around us and to our own families? We have sat quietly on the sidelines while evil men and women pass laws that eliminate our right to worship and speak freely about our Lord. We vote so that other men/women can "fix" the problems.
Absolutely, we must vote and exercise our God-given right and responsibility, but we have to do more than just cast a vote and then sit back while others try to fix this nation. The children of God must arise "and come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in our time of need." (Hebrews 4:16) We must cry out to the Lord God and allow Him to search our hearts and reveal the hidden sins in our lives. We must do more than just agree that we have sinned, we MUST repent from those sins. Allow the Lord God to cut away those areas of our lives, not matter the cost, and allow Him to purify us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. We must live a life that is different than before. God's glory and His grace must be evident in our lives. God's heart is that none should perish (2 Peter 3:9), is that our heart today? Do we care about the eternity of those outside our family and/or friend circle? If so, our life should reflect that in every area. We cannot live for ourselves and the satisfaction of self if we truly desire to share Christ with others. People see through hypocrites all the time. If we "talk the talk", we MUST "walk the walk." Even when no one is looking!!!
Reread our focal passage once more. "Your testimonies I have taken as a heritage forever, For they are the rejoicing of my heart." (Psalm 119:111) The psalmist loves the Lord God and he has taken the Word of God and the promises of God as his very life force. Because the testimonies of the Lord bring his heart the most pleasure, he seeks it day and night. May we ask ourselves this question…Do the testimonies of the Lord, do His promises and His presence in our lives matter more to us than anything else. If the Lord decided to remove everything from us, our health, our wealth, our spouse, our children, our career, our clothes, our car, our home, our looks, our abilities, our talents, our hopes, our dreams, our desires, would we TRULY be content in Him? Would our hearts cry out praises to Him and to Him alone? Would we sit before His feet and worship with a pure heart and joy in Him alone? "And God is able to make all grace abound to you , so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work." (2 Corinthians 9:8)
Your Sister in Christ,
Michelle Jones
October 6, 2008
<><
copyright @MichelleJones2008
Monday, September 29, 2008
Monday Morning Devotion #254
This Week's Focal Passage:
"Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me."
Psalm 51:10 (NKJV)
Strong's:
Create #1254 - bara - to cut down; choose, select; create
Renew #2318 - chadash - to be new, rebuild, repair
Last week, we discussed pride and the devastating effects it has in our lives, our relationships and our walk with the Lord God. Turning from pride is a true challenge for all of us because we were born with a sin nature and that nature wars against the Truth of God continually. Our flesh demands to be satisfied and our will is easily persuaded when we are not rooted and established in God's Word.
This past week, the Lord has been revealing areas of deep-seeded pride and rebellion in my life. I have to admit, I do not respond to the Lord the way I wish I did when HE corrects me. My first response seems to be a defensive approach and "justifying" of my sins. My heart does not openly confess my sin nor repent. In fact, until this past week, I truly did not understand what Biblical repentance looks like. I have always thought that repentance meant realizing my sin and confessing that sin to God. And my entire life has been spent "confessing" "for what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice, but what I hate, that I do." (Romans 7:15)
Our Sunday school class is going through Seeking Him, by Nancy Leigh DeMoss and Tim Grissom. This past week, we studied Biblical repentance…My Friend, it was EYE OPENING!! Biblical repentance is essential to a right relationship with the Lord. Because God is holy, HE cannot excuse sin. Because God is faithful HE initiates revival in our hearts by revealing sin in our lives and giving us the desire to repent and seek Him for complete forgiveness and restoration. "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)
So then, what does Biblical repentance look like? True repentance begins in the mind as conviction of sin ("I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." Romans 12:1-2). Conviction of sin then leads to "repentance which is a change of mind that results in a change of behavior…Repentance cannot be considered genuine unless there is outward change of behavior…The outward manifestation of repentance may be instantaneous or it may be seen over time. The length of time for real change may depend on the nature of the sin and how long one has been involved in that sin..." (Seeking Him, p. 68-69)
Allow me to share a personal experience with you. For 23 years, I was bound in the sin of anorexia. I knew what I was doing was wrong and I truly wanted to stop. When I began practicing anorexia, I felt a sence of control and empowerment. Finally, I could "control" something in my life. Very quickly, however, that "control" became a prison and I lost more of myself than before I began this sin. More times than I can count, I committed that I would stop starving myself. When I committed to that goal, I meant it. But before long, I found myself right back where I started. Why? I mean, I was aware of my sin, I agreed with God that I was sinning, and I wanted to stop. 23 years past and I was still running through that same cycle. It was not until I finally REPEN
You see, the difference was that I finally allowed the Lord to take control of my life and create in me a new heart. A heart that desired to live according to His will and to turn completely from anorexia in all its forms (starving myself, bingeing and purging, and/or overeating). It was not an easy task and I tried to "go back" several times; however, because the power of God lives within me and HE conquered sin and death, I was no longer bound to that sin. I was free and that freedom in Christ, no matter the cost, was now my heart's desire. "Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:37-39) "For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace." (Romans 6:14)
My husband describes sin in this way…He says that we all "want our cake and to eat it too" but the problem with that pursuit is that we allow the world to define what that "cake" is and how we should go about getting that "cake". When and only when, we finally realize that the "cake" that truly satisfies is Christ alone, then we are able to dive into a pursuit that leads to victory and complete contentment. "Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!" (Psalm 34:8) Worldly gain is a self-defeating goal and nothing everlasting comes from it.
Read our focal passage once more. "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me."(Psalm 51:10) Create in this passage means to "cut down" and renew means "to rebuild". My Friend, nothing can be rebuilt unless it is first torn/cut down. That is the work that God desires to do in each of our hearts…To tear down the old sinful ways of our lives and rebuild in us a heart that desires Him above all else. A heart that is pliable and teachable. A heart that seeks the Lord and lives by His Word. A heart that is surrendered to Him and allows His correction/discipline to bring forth new life and a more intimate relationship with Him. A heart that sees the need for Christ in those around them and diligently loves those people with a Christ-like love. A heart that prays for revival and renewal in the life of every Christian and salvation for those who are lost.
Our lives cannot be rebuilt if we are refusing to repent/turn from the old ways of life with its sinful desires and lusts. Rebuild is NOT remodeling…God will not "rebuild" around the remains of sinful strongholds. HE will, however, destroy those strongholds with the power of His blood and rebuild in us a priceless foundation that will stand the test of time and all throughout eternity. "Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit." (Ephesians 2:19-22) Praise be to the Lord God forever and ever. Amen.
Where are you today, My Friend? If the Lord God is revealing sin in your life, do not hesitate to confess that sin and repent. Turn completely from that sin and rely on the Lord God as your strength. HE is faithful and HE will not forsake you (Hebrews 13:5). Victory is in His hand and no other person/thing can satisfy you to the very depth of your soul. There is nothing that compares to the gift we have in Christ Jesus. Do not continue to believe a lie that leads you further and further from the Truth. Call upon the name of the Lord and HE is mighty to save!! HE loves you and HE is reaching out His hand to you. Will you allow Him to do a wonderful work within you? May that be the desire of our hearts!! To God be the glory.
Your Sister in Christ,
Michelle Jones
September 29, 2008
<><>
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Monday Morning Devotion #253
"…God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble." James 4:6 (KNJV)
Strong's:
Resists #498 antitassomai = to range oneself against
Proud #5244 huperephanos = appearing above others; haughty
Humble #5011 tapeinos = base, cast down, of low degree, lowly
Resists #498 antitassomai = to range oneself against
Proud #5244 huperephanos = appearing above others; haughty
Humble #5011 tapeinos = base, cast down, of low degree, lowly
"Humility is a virtue more often praised than sought." (Nancy Leigh DeMoss and Tim Grissom, Seeking Him, p. 21) As I read these words, I had to pause and reread them again. Why did these words ring true? Why do we praise a virtue/character trait yet think it is all right not to seek that character trait for ourselves? After searching God's Word for the answer to this question, I came to the conclusion that it is because we simply do not understand what pride is and how much God hates it. As children of the Risen Lord, the Most High, the Great I AM, we could not entertain pride for a moment, much less a lifetime, if we could truly comprehend the depth of its grip, the devastation that it delivers, and the separation it causes between us and our Lord.
What is pride? C.S. Lewis states in his book, Mere Christianity, "The essential vice, the utmost evil, is pride. Unchasity, greed, drunkenneses, and all that, are mere flea-bites in comparison. It was through pride that the devil became the devil. Pride leads to every other vice; it is the complete anti-God state of mind." Lewis goes on to explain that "everyone's pride is in competition with everyone else's pride…Pride has no pleasure of having something, but pride's pleasure is in having more than all the rest…Pride's very nature is competitive…God is absolute supremacy; however, prideful people cannot see anything above them for they are continually looking down…Prideful people have an "imaginary god"…They say, "I am nothing" but believe that their god thinks high of them…Pride comes straight from hell, other vices come from animal instincts…Pride is a spiritual cancer that eats up the possibility of love, contentment and common sense."
God's Word tells us that God hates pride (Proverbs 8:13), that pride brings shame (Proverbs 11:2), that pride comes before a devastating fall (Proverbs 16:18), that God will bring down the prideful (Proverbs 29:23), that pride is deceptive (Obadiah 1:3), that God will destroy the proud (Matthew 23:12), and that God resists the proud (James 4:6). Because of God's unconditional love, his unspeakable grace, his unfathomable mercy, God promises us "For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy; "I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite." (Isaiah 57:15) Contrite means to be completely broken before the Lord. Understanding that HE alone is God and that we are created to bring glory and honor to Him in every area of our lives and in everything thing we do. Our absolute motivation is to point others to the Savior and to claim nothing for ourselves. A contrite heart understands the destruction of its sin and confesses that sin whole-heartedly to the Lord praising Him for His forgiveness and restoration.
Before I began studying pride in light of Scripture, I truly did not understand what pride was. I guess I thought that pride was thinking too much of oneself and I did not see why that was so terrible. Certainly, I understood that it was sin, but I did not understand why that particular sin was so destructive. The revelation came as I was studying our focal passage. Reread that once more. "…God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble." (James 4:6) Resists in this verse means "to set/range oneself against." When we set ourselves against something/someone, we are on completely different sides. We are no longer walking together, but warring against one another. There is no fellowship.
I am a visual person, so the picture that formed in my mind was of God on one side and me on the other, facing Him and opposing Him. How can that be? A child of God living a life that is in direct opposition to her King? Why would a child of God want to be warring against her Maker? Why would I think for one moment that I know more than God? What makes me think I can run my life better than the Maker of the universe, the Eternal God, the all-knowing, all-powerful Redeemer? What makes me think that I could love myself more or more perfectly than the One who came to die for me and to pay the ransom for my sin? I have been bought with a precious price and restored through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. I am nothing, yet the Lord God loved me enough to sacrifice Himself so that I could have the privilege and the blessing and the honor of having intimate fellowship with Him! Forgive me, Lord, for I have sinned against You!!!
"I Am the LORD, that is My name; And My glory I will not give to another, Nor My praise to carved images." (Isaiah 42:8) God will not share His glory with another, not even His own children. God is the only One worthy of praise, honor and glory. We were created to serve Him in such a way that our lives point others to Jesus Christ, for HE is the only One who can save them from their sins and renew, rebuild, heal, and restore them. So then, how do prideful people turn from their sin? "In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings; with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another and said; "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!" And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. And I said; "Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!" (Isaiah 6:1-5)
An awareness of God's holiness brought Isaiah to his knees. Isaiah had an encounter with the Lord God and HE immediately understood who God is and who he/Isaiah was. "An awareness of God's holiness drives us to acknowledge our sin and receive God's forgiveness." (Seeking Him, p.31) My Friend, if the Lord God is revealing to you the sin of pride in your life, do not hesitate to confess that sin and turn from it immediately. Pride is destructive above all else and it intertwines itself throughout all areas of our lives. God is gracious and HE alone opens our eyes to our need for Him. It is for our good that God convicts us of sin and that HE allows us the desire to confess that sin and turn to Him. A life lived for the satisfaction of selfish desires is a wasted life, but a life lived in pursuit of holiness is a life that reaps eternal rewards! "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." (James 4:7-10)
Your Sister in Christ,
Michelle Jones
September 15, 2008
<><
September 15, 2008
<><
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)