Dear Friend can you remember that day when everything was going wrong. You got angry or depressed just hoping this day would be over and you could go back to bed.
We don’t want to remember those days but they did exist last year. But now we can go to the Bible and comfort ourselves with God’s Word.
"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful." (Col 3:15)
This verse is very good to start off a new year. Instead of giving in to your emotions, be strong, shout “Stop!” and let the Peace of the Lord serve you and fill you. On the other hand if you let your emotions rule your day, you may suffer with worry, insecurity, fear and doubt. Actually the decision is yours in this new year.
When you let God rule your heart your body and your mind then “be ye thankful.”
The “Peace of God” can be a watchman over our emotions and should be our watchman. Since His Peace can serve us and fill us, we can rise above the flesh and our emotions. Those dark days will be overcome by the light of Truth. The flesh does not have to steal our joy, our health or our peace if we refuse to surrender to those dark days. Turn it around giving thanks for the presence of the Holy Spirit which fills us with the “Peace of God” and have a happy year. Amen.
JAN 2
WHO IS YOUR BENEFACTOR
Staying strong and feeling great everyday can be a problem for all of us. After all we all need someone to step in and be our benefactor when we feel weak or ”done in.” But the foremost concern I have about my day is just how close I am with the Holy Spirit.
"For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ." (Php 1:19)
Actually it is when we are close with Holy Spirit that our strength returns; He is our best benefactor for our spirit. Physically tired and mentally exhausted we can carry on with whatever God has planned for us today accompanied by His Spirit. In His Word Paul encourages us that through prayer our strength can be renewed. Through prayer we can tap into a Super Natural Source of power. This power gives us an unlimited supply to answer our daily needs.
The Greeks used the word supply differently than we do today. A comment “on the behalf of the choir.” There is a tale about Greek actors committed to their theatrical performance, they practiced and had no money and could not pay for the theatre. A wealthy man heard of the dilemma and came to their rescue. Paid the theatre and extra for themselves, he was their benefactor, he didn’t even want them to pay him back, he just wanted to help them. Therefore he supplied their need “on behalf of the choir."
Paul wrote “and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, that supply is on behalf of us. That is an enormous contribution of the Holy Spirit, (our Benefactor) to meet our daily needs, to restore our strength and to encourage our spirit.
When we start our day, armoured from Eph 6, prayed up and covered with the Blood of Christ, our benefactor, the Holy Spirit will lead us throughout the day.
Jesus is our wealthy Benefactor. His walking with us and talking with us, fills us with joy, peace and thanksgiving. Jesus Christ is our supply of Faith when we are in doubt, of Power when we are weak, and with Joy when we are sad. Jesus is our Benefactor and supplies us with all we need and desire today. Amen.
JAN 3
BROTHER REBOOT
Sometimes things can look very dark and hopeless. How many times do you see them like that and turn around and count your blessings. In other words you “reboot”. When things don’t seem to be moving forward, we need to rewind or reboot and get a new start and new look on the situation.
"Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands." (2Ti 1:6)
To reboot spiritually is to recall the way in which God has been in control in the past. To remember how He faithfully answered your needs in the past.
Our minds get blurry when confronted with a new challenge, a new problem or circumstance that we really can’t cope with.
When we are struggling in the valley we forget about the light behind the mountain, the sun is shining but we can’t see it because we are so low down in the valley behind the mountain. In other words we need a new start button a reboot to see what God has done in the past and know He is ready to do it all over again for us.
Timothy was so fearful for his life along with other persecuted Christians; he needed encouragement from Paul sitting in prison. Wow was that who would encourage him absolutely, Timothy was just looking at the mountain but Paul remembered the sun shining behind it. In fact Paul reminds him of the faith of Lois his grandmother and Eunice his mother, that same faith was instilled in him. That faith was Timothy’s family inheritance. As he rewinds his memory he can reboot and start again. New day climbing the mountain out valley to see the light on the other side. Hallelujah.
There are always memories for us Christians that will stand out in our mind and that will lighten those dark days, those valley struggles. We will find remembrance of God's faithfulness as it builds up our faith that He will do it again and together we get to the top of the mountain.
We can also use our testimonies to help others that are struggling in the valley. That is why the Lord is so awesome and why we can just reboot and those gifts from Him will show up again and be back on Page One today. Amen.
JAN 4
DAILY PRAYER
I am not sure about everyone I know on Face Book, but I am sure about the majority of them, that prayer is the walk they have daily with Jesus. I said “daily" because I take the time in the morning to check up those prayer warriors I am friends with. Not a day goes by that there are not at least 5 prayer requests on Face Book and I pray for them. Then my church has prayer requests on our prayer chain and I pray for them. Prayer is a part of our Christian nature when we love others. We don’t need to know them,
God knows them and sent them our way to love and pray for.
"And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints." (Eph 6:18)
When I wake up( which is always too early to get up) and these requests are dinging on my phone, I make that my first half hour of prayer, then I close my phone, I lie back in my chair and pray in the Spirit until I fall asleep again. In my way of thinking I have laid the foundation for the day ahead of me
Then I put on the music, read the Word of the Day or just talk to the Father about anything, and everything. That is when He starts telling my tasks for that day and what He wants me to write about as well. OK, so it is not the same for everyone, but that nature we develop of daily prayer is for everyone with training. Yes, training and choice, making prayer a central and significant, part of your daily life. here's an example of that; what do you think when you hear a siren? I have trained myself to pray a short prayer when I hear a siren.”Father please intervene in this problem help them Lord and bring Jesus into it. Amen.” The siren is gone and the prayer has been said. Training to pray is very important for a Christian to please God. This training requires discipline also.
My dear husband Pastor Al (who is now with Jesus) and we fortunately had 10 yrs together and we lived a prayerful life. In fact our last words were prayer, we had nothing more to say at that last time we were together except to talk with Lord. His last words to me, “We will trust in the Lord as always." From that day to this that is still my life.
Why is prayer sometimes the last thing that we say when we are in a dark area or our burdens are very heavy and we forget who told us to unload them at the foot of His cross and give thanks? Nope, we think if we carry our burdens that it will be easier for Him to answer prayers more serious than ours. How foolish is that?
Paul told us to” pray always”. Perhaps you are having difficulty understanding how he meant that. He meant it in the Spirit. Our minds or not capable of capturing every need that Spirit knows of. He can pray through us in tongues covering more area of needs that we can count. That also takes training to turn to Him for prayer and release your human thoughts surrendering to Him. I believe I have covered what Paul was saying about prayer, but when we developed our trained prayer habits we understand even more of what he was teaching us on daily prayer today. Amen.
JAN 5
ARE YOU HURTING HIM?
How close are you with the Holy Spirit? Is He your friend? Is He your best friend? Most Christians will quickly say, ”Oh yes I believe in Him." Well I believe in the President, but I have never had a meal with him or a trip with him, I haven’t even had a conversation with him; I cannot call him a friend because I believe in him and voted for him. No, to call someone my friend, I must have a relationship with them and an ongoing relationship.
"And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption." (Eph 4:30)
Paul has a very important message here in this verse. In fact I think survival in a Christian life would depend on this verse. How could we survive without the Holy Spirit? What does your best friend mean to you? How careful are you to not upset them, because you know what would upset them. Some friendship can go so far as to telling lies, living a lie, or using a lie to keep a friendship. I am sorry to tell you that your best friend can hurt you or hate you.
Paul had many good friends and sadly they hurt and fell away from his friendship, out of disbelief or fear. That is why Paul considered the Holy Spirit his closest and best friend. His goal was to share this with all his friends, but unfortunately it didn’t happen.
Paul tried to tell the churches about how the Holy Spirit can be a friend or a foe. He wanted to explain how that could happen.
Sharing the goodness and fruits of the Holy Spirit, he wrote, ” But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,” (Gal 5:22)
Paul wanted all the churches to receive the Holy Spirit as their first love from the day they got saved. But on the other hand they must understand when the Holy Spirit has something to say, they must let Him speak. Ignoring Him or as Paul said “grieving Him," will reduce the power that is available to those that are saved.
The Holy Spirit loves the saved, He longs to spend time with them and bless them with all the goodness of God. So why are not Christians benefiting from His fellowship? Obviously the problem is that Christians don’t recognize Him ‘Churches' don’t teach on the Holy Spirit, they don’t expect to receive the miraculous gifts He has for all believers.
Some Christians do not honour the Holy Spirit as a person, so therefore they have no chance to honour Him as a friend. The Holy Spirit is grieved and therefore so is God. There is no separating the Trinity it is one equals three. When one is honoured all three are honoured.
Another way to grieve the Holy Spirit is deliberate sin. When we are saved, washed and sanctified because we surrendered all to Christ for our salvation, then back-slide to the world, sin becomes our sense of right. That is what happened to my good friend after about 25 yrs. She back-slid back into the world. We have no fellowship now, but I pray she will come back to Jesus.
That same pain I felt and feel is how the Holy Spirit feels when we grieve Him. Therefore our first thought in the morning should be how I can please You today Holy Spirit and be sure I won’t hurt You. Amen.
JAN 6
LISTENING TO A SMALL VOICE
I have a small voice inside of me that brothers me. That voice is always nagging at me, telling me what I shouldn’t do that I want to do. I want it to be more quite and leave me alone.
Actually I have to admit that voice keeps me on the right path. All those temptations that I need to pass up are the one that voice nags me about. Sometimes I thank it, because I didn’t fall for those temptations.
James reminds us that we need to check ourselves and our thoughts and actions every day. We need to nourish ourselves on God’s Word the “bread of life” and push away the worldly desires. In fact when we read it as he wrote it sounds very undesirable to me.
"Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you." (Jas 1:21)
I don’t like the way James worded that. If I fall to temptations I am in a pit of “moral filth and evil”. No, No, I am a child of God; I couldn’t fall into such a pit, could I? I need that “small voice “on my side, if only I listened to it.
Ah, there you have it we are in control we have a choice to stay on solid ground or mauler in the filthy pit. Yes as a saved Christian that was our first good choice, but we have to always be on the lookout for the enemy whispering ”sin is fun’’. He hangs on until we blast him away with God’s Word.
Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'" (Mat 4:10)
If I have filthy rags on me I can quickly disrobe and push them away and put them in the rubbish. Or I can wear them one more day. What a choice? These filthy rags will not fall off on the own, you must act and discard them from your life.
The Lord has a new suit of clothes for you; actually He has armour for your protection. This armour is ever so much stronger than that small voice that has been helping you. This armour can resist all temptations and all evil.
"Put on the full armour of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes." (Eph 6:11)
When we read what Paul tells us about our amour in Eph.6 11-17 we will be so encouraged and so grateful for how we can be dressed. We will so enjoy wearing it that we will no longer need a small voice to tell right from wrong and the enemy can’t even shout at us, because with our Helmet we can’t even hear him anymore. As long as we stay clothed with God’s gift, with God‘s armour we are protected and sanctified against the world today. Amen.
JAN 7
SPIRITUAL BOREDOM
I can remember my husband feeling very low and confused for him the harvest was the most important task of the week. He spent many hours every Tuesday preparing his sermon for Sunday. But for him having a person give their life to Christ was his greatest weekly achievement, he was sure that was why he was called to his ministry and it thrilled him when we had a new convert on our prayer list. I too was thrilled with him for the harvests. That was encouraging but it was not growth.
"Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says." (Jas 1:22)
One of the favourite sayings of mine is, ”practice what you preach." Truly believing with all your heart the Word of God is not always so easy. The world, in other words the flesh, work on our logic not on our faith. Because of this our faith suffers and diminishes. Our Spiritual life ceases to grow.
I have a dear Christian sister that has been to all the big churches and knows all the well known ministers. In fact she has ten boxes of Christian books in storage. She has served with many charities and lived at many Christian Missions. When I suggested that we attend a new Bible Study, well it was new for me, her answer was I’ve done that Study why do it again?
Truly I am sorry for her; she is so spiritually bored that she doesn’t think she can get anything new and exciting from a study of God’s word. Every discipleship teaching has a hidden golden nugget. That is what I always want to discover each time there is a new teaching a new golden nugget. That is what excites me and as long as I am excited about studying God’s Word, I can’t get spiritually bored.
James is referring to those who attend Sunday services and other fellowships but although they are present and hear what is being shared, they have not listened to the extent that it makes a different in their thinking and their Spiritual life. In time stagnant water will begin to stink. Nothing can survive in that water; nothing can be refreshed in the water. The same for our Spiritual life nothing can survive, nothing can live without a new refreshing from the Holy Spirit and God’s Word.
James is saying don’t be there to fill your seat, don’t just be there to show you have attended. Now attend with your whole being to listen and revive your Spiritually bored life to a thriving faithful, joyful and God pleasing life today. Amen.
JAN 8
UNDERGARMENT OF SIN
Honestly I remember being in school and seeing by best friend remove her dress and her undergarments were dirty. I wanted to say something but I couldn’t I was only 10 and didn’t know how to say anything and still not hurt her feelings. Now I am older I can make myself understood but not always liked when I comment on something that is dirty and needs cleaning. I can also comment on something I hate, although I never use the word hate.
"Go after those who take the wrong way. Be tender with sinners, but not soft on sin. The sin itself stinks to high heaven." (Jud 1:23)
Jude tells us when we see something wrong or unclean, speak up and offer kindness but do not tolerate the sin. He says hate the sin. The sin stinks. Back to undergarments, they are the closest apparel we wear next to our heart, soul and spirit. These make up our inward man. If our inward man is penetrated with sin then in time it will presently thrive with sin. Taking no notice of the filth that consumes it. Because of the habit of just covering it up with the pleasant outward man or garment. It will work for a while until the stink comes and the cover-up no longer covers the filth.
Jude tells us that we, as saved sinners, have to approach these stinky sinners. He always is speaking to believers in the church, how sad to know that there are believers with filthy undergarments.
Through the Holy Spirit we can, if we want to, kindly but firmly show these believers the right way, the clean way and the sweet way to come to church and discard the Undergarments of Sin today. Amen.
JAN 9
THANKSGIVING EVERY DAY
How often do you give thanks? Perhaps you give thanks at the table before eating, or you give thanks for your relationships, your family, your home and work as well as your church. Well if you are thankful for all that you are a very good person.
Paul had a different idea when he spoke of thanks.
"I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers." (Eph 1:16)
The most obvious things to give thanks for are all the above, but the most heartfelt thing to give thanks for we learn from Paul, he said he was thankful for the prayers that others prayed for him. He knew that his strength under those horrible circumstances of being in prison and with that horrible treatment, could only keep him going with the prayers of those who truly loved him. His priorities were thinking of others before himself. Giving thanks to others when you have little food, no warmth and chains on your feet is almost an impossibility, yet his thanksgiving never ceased.
"We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you." (Col 1:3)
In this verse Paul turns around giving thanks to the Lord for answering his prayer for his loved ones in the church. He tells them he is always praying for them and mentioning them in his prayers, and for that he gives thanks to Lord for them.
Paul gives us a perfect teaching of how to prioritize our manner of thanksgiving. His example is there for us to follow with our thanksgiving every day. Amen.
JAN 10
FOLLOW THE LEADER
When I was little we played “follow the leader “I was the tallest, I was the oldest so everyone had to follow me. I was not always nice to my friends. But for some reason I always had friends. They looked at me as their leader and more, their protector.
Paul speaks kindly of the Holy Spirit as our leader, but even better he declares us as the “Sons of God."
"Because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God." (Rom 8:14)
First we have to choose who we are willing to follow. My friends choose me not because I was the best leader, but because they had no other one to follow at the time. As ”sons of God” we still have a choice to who we are willing to follow. First we have given our lives to Christ, and then we must learn from the Word of God how to surrender to the Holy Spirit as our leader. Learning from our daily reading God’s Word we keep our thoughts and our eyes on our leader and willingly follow Him. At times following the Holy Spirit can be agonizing as you may have to suffer to obey His leadership. Perhaps that is what the Lord meant when He said, "Take up my cross”; He was referring to our obedience.
Our place is to follow the Holy Spirit. We are to be obedient to His commands and to put Him first and stay in our proper place behind Him. We learn true humility as we practice to put ourselves and our own agendas in second place and put the Holy Spirit in first place of our lives, that is the best way to consent to Him and “follow the leader“ today. Amen.
JAN 11
RUBBISH TO RIGHTIOUSNESS
What rubbish do Christians carry with them that deny them righteousness? The stinking attitudes that we may have can separate us from the blessings we should have from relationships with other Christians. We may have these attitudes without being aware of what is keeping us from enjoying others company. Ask yourself why I am not included in that relationship. James wrote to us in this verse.
"Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls." (Jas 1:21)
Examining ourselves to see if we are carrying our rubbish to church or our workplace can only be revealed with the Holy Spirit through prayer.
We are naturally praying for others but how often do we pray for ourselves in heartfelt repentance. When we pray for ourselves after that manner we give the Holy Spirit the opportunity to show us our faults and rubbish attitudes that need healing. We can then check ourselves and discard those attitudes that are disliked from others in our environment.
Little by little those stinking outside garments that others see on us will fall away. We will be so aware, with the help of the Holy Spirit, of what is uncomfortable with others that we will begin to shine through our bad attitudes to revel the righteous man that is saved and sanctified with Christ. That is our goal to shine for Jesus.
Most of those distasteful attitudes are always directed to “myself” therefore others feel that we have no concern for them or their needs and will retreat from our company. Daily prayer and repentance will start to bring Jesus forward in our lives and conversation. We will shine for Him and the rubbish will vanished when the righteousness appears today. Amen.
JAN 12
PHENOMENAL POWER
As you know the Power of God is phenomenal, that is His power. Although the Bible, in the Old Testament, we read of His power far beyond anything man could possibly achieve. We all need a source of power to resist the darts the enemy has direct in our path every day. When we surrender all to Christ is when we receive His power. He cannot fill us if we are not empty of “self." We repent and ask forgiveness the day of our salvation, but that same manner of prayer should be our daily prayer. The filling of the Holy Spirit is the filling of God’s Power in us. I need the Holy Spirit to pray for me every day, He does that in “tongues." As my direct messenger to the Father I can feel His strength filling my mind and spirit. Also I sense the power of God strengthening my body in my senior’s years. Paul writes like this.
"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might." (Eph 6:10)
Our soul, spirit and body are in need of that supernatural strength, that phenomenal power of God.
Successful combat against the enemy on a daily bases can only succeed with that supernatural power. To be strong in the Lord is to be close to Him walking in His path and when we stumble He will lift us up and renew our strength. Prayer is the direct contact we must use daily to stay in His presence, to receive His power and to regain His strength. All our efforts will fail if only we regard our acts to impress God. Today He wants our hearts and in return He gives us His Phenomenal Power. Amen.
JAN 13
ENCOURAGEMENT VERSES DISCOURAGEMENT
When we know of someone in our church that is having some problems, do we always offer help? In other words when we see someone discouraged do we try to encourage them?
Even when a person feels that their Faith is not as strong as it should be they need encouragement. Perhaps they are struggling with something that they prefer not letting everyone know of. Paul tells us how we should encourage others.
"Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more." (Heb 10:25)
As Christians we must always look after family in Christ. We have brothers and sisters that need our love and strength to encourage them out of dark situations in their lives. We don’t forsake them, we assemble ourselves with them.
When we miss someone in church, we need to concern ourselves of why they were absent?
Take time and call or text to reassure them you care about them. If you don’t contact them the enemy will. The enemy knows when he can cause someone to be on their own away from Christians, he can tell them lies that they will start to believe. Depression, discouragement and disbelief can all be linked together keeping them out of church. Christians must link together to demine such feelings in others. Church is for fellowship; therefore it is the fellowship today that must show engorgement to reverse discouragement. Amen.
JAN 14
SPIRITUAL BATTLE
Christians that love the Lord and their family in Christ all have a Spiritual battle in our walk with Jesus. The enemy keeps watch for every opportunity to cause chaos and misery in our lives. The way in which he does this is attacking our spirit. He knows when he can break us down to disbelief and doubt; he has a strong hand on us. With Paul he knew well of the enemies tricks.
"Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another." (Heb 10:25)
Knowing a brother or sister is dealing with a spiritual battle it is our Christian love to help that person. Perhaps giving a testimony, encouraging them to understand, we all have these problems but that although we have these battles we also can claim our victory winning over the enemy. Spiritual battles strengthen our Faith as we take our banner of victory and grow in our spirit closer to the Lord. Only with our church warriors standing together until together we claim that win.
When the enemy faces the Church of Christian Soldiers he must back down and bow down. His evil spirit attacking our Christian spirit is actually challenging the Holy Spirit within us. He knows he has no power against the Holy Spirit so he attacks our spirit. As a legion of soldiers bearing the banner of Jesus clothed in the Amour of God and proclaiming the Word of God we go as victors over the Spiritual battle today. Amen.
JAN 15
PREACH, ACTION
There is a comment, “practice what you preach” I can change to what you preached. We all as Christians go to church read the Word of God and perhaps listen to some service on You Tube. That is all very well, but what actions do we take afterwards? Are we practicing what we have been hearing or reading?
"But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves." (Jas 1:22)
James puts it like are we doing what we have been instructed to do through the Holy Spirit? Are we doers in action to follow God’s leading or are we just lingering back hoping someone else will do what is needed. In the church there are many things to do and there is always a need of more volunteers to help. Paul also comments on this.
"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." (Eph 2:10)
He goes a little bit further into it. Not just doers but workmanship means we have talents in doing special tasks. Those tasks are to do good works for others benefit, for God designed it for us to use talents for His Glory. Yes for His glory not for ours, recognition for obedience will be our reward in Heaven. We don’t need that recognition when we can rejoice for the talents God has given us. Also we must remember God created those talents by the millions so each of us has at least one to be grateful for. Paul says each of us are ordained to our ministries, tasks and talents, therefore we must not waste any of them.
We need to take action and practice what has been preached today. Amen.
JAN 16
YOUR PRIORITIES
We know that Paul had to be a very good spiritual father to Timothy. Timothy was a fine minister and leader of the church, but he was wearing himself out for all tasks he took upon himself to keep the church going properly. Paul was very concerned for Timothy’s spiritual well being as well as his physical health. Paul wrote to him.
"Take heed unto yourself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this you shall both save yourself, and them that hear you." (1Ti 4:16)
The first thing Paul says is that he wants Timothy to look to himself and his ministry. Christ’s ministry can’t survive without daily substance from God’s Word.
Church leaders must be nourished daily with “the bread of life” from the Word. Also to strengthen our prayers we need time to spend with the Lord. Paul instructs Timothy to take heed for his spiritual welfare and those under him. Paul knew Timothy may have lost track of his priorities. Serving the Lord can be so time consuming that we are so busy serving we have no time to examine our priorities and arrange them in proper order. Perhaps there are some that will say that the time we spend in our quite time, our prayer time and reading the Word is selfish, but we will have nothing to give if we don’t take something for ourselves first. It is in that time that we develop growth and sustain our place in God’s Kingdom, and that is to be our First Priority today. Amen.
JAN 17
BRIDGE IS OUT!
Well we all come to paths in our lives where we find we can go no further. We find that if the “bridge is out “our plans come to an abrupt halt. We have two choices wait for a new bridge or go back to where we started. Both of these are very disappointing and we cry out to the Lord, “Why has this happened?” With fervent prayer we started out quite sure all our plans are God’s plans also. Paul has been up against this circumstances many times, twice when he wrote to his friends in the church of Thessalonica.
"Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us." (1Th 2:18)
Actually Paul was hindered because the journey was very dangerous for him to be recognized on the road. He was a man that served God Jehovah and yet he was considered a “wanted man." He knew that Satan was hindering him from making this journey. Are we disappointed with the Lord when reach a sign “bridge out “or are we aware that it wasn’t God that broke the bridge. So back to start, we pray and take the Bible for more instructions. What I find is amazing that although we only had two choices seeing the bridge, God has many choices. Instead of going back to start we can call on Him at the bridge and wait to see what He will do. He can fix it today, build a new one or dry up the creek. Satan never has the last word. Even when his big sign says “bridge is out.“ Amen.
JAN 18
DEAD END
There is a comment ”between a rock and a hard place” not much comfort in that. We all have been there in our lives; we have very emotional experiences physical and spiritual things that can be very hard to come through. We find ourselves not knowing which way to turn to get some consolation for the pain we are going through. In fact many times we think we come to a “Dead End” to a full stop.
"But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raises the dead:" (2Co 1:9)
Paul speaks of death, like he and his friends are all sentenced to death already. No judge has done this but it is the emotional state of suffering that he and his friends are going through that brings him to these devastating thoughts. You ask where his faith was.
Although at the time Paul was thinking this was a ”dead end” for him, that is when he wrote to encourage his and their faith. They knew that God raised the dead and if for some reason his work would be stopped by death God would raise the dead again. Paul wanted his friends, the brothers and sisters, in church to not lose heart in their Holy work. What they were doing was serving the King of Kings therefore they must not come to an abrupt end. God would let them know when they were finished with their servant hood. God changed their situations so Paul was rescued. Once again their faith was alive and they experience the resurrection power of the Holy Spirit. As long as we cling to our Heavenly Father who we can call on and stand in hope of Him to bring us through the darkness into light. So when find ourselves at the “dead end” we can look beyond and there will be a new path from the Lord for us to follow today. Amen.
JAN 19
THROUGH THE SAME BLOOD
Paul loved so many of his friends and comrades who were serving the Lord as he was. He loved them like brothers, so therefore he called them “brethren."
"I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren." (1Th 5:27)
Paul knew that his “born again” friends and comrades were saved by the same Jesus that saved him. He knew that the same blood that cleansed him also cleansed these men. Therefore through that same blood he called them all his brothers. This also means two men born of the same blood of Jesus “brethren” In this epistle Paul wanted them to remember how they are bound together.
Paul and the majority of his brethren were suffering in prison or in hiding from the authorities; even their neighbours could be their enemy. I am sure this reminds you of the news today of the “persecuted church” and our brethren that are living under persecution daily. In the days of Paul the term “brethren” was used in the military. The General would imply that his soldiers were brothers in battle and therefore they would be more concerned to watch out for each other. They always marched two and two instead of single file. They met the battle for one cause for their king, Paul and his brethren met their battle for King Jesus with their lives and through their inseparable blood line. His blood. When we meet our battles, we need our brethren through the blood of Christ today and forever. Amen.
JAN 20
CLAIM YOUR WIN
How many times I have heard people say “I never win”. How sad to have that outlook on life. These same people always play the game or the lottery. But why play without believing you may win.
"Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us." (Rom 8:37)
Self confidence is a very important attitude one must have to be a conqueror. Not only do you expect to win but you also expect to win big. Winners always have a future goal to conquer. It was not very easy sitting in prison or in chains with rats and the cold around him and yet with a winners attitude Paul can write “we are more than conquerors through Christ” he was overcoming what some people may say ”there is no hope," Paul writes we are already winners or conquerors. At bad times in our lives we would not be thinking that someone loves us. But Paul continues to encourage by stating Jesus loves us. Paul was a conqueror and so were many others in his church. The converts are adding to the church daily and the Jews and Gentiles were living in brotherly love. Paul tells us, he fought a good fight and ran a straight race, and he knew when his work was coming to an end. He also knew he could claim his win and the reward waiting for him with Lord. Today we too are conquerors fighting a good fight when we claim our win” as the good and faithful servant. Amen.
JAN 21
GIFTS FROM THE FATHER
How many times do we get a revelation? Maybe you say never. But that is not really true because we all get revelations. Revelations are when we touch on wisdom, which we all have done in our daily lives. Perhaps we get an idea that saves us money or is good for our health or good for our home. You see we all get revelations that come to us to help us have a better life. A revelation is not something new, but only to you, because you were given the wisdom to see it.
"That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him." (Eph 1:17)
Paul always wants to encourage his church, writing this to them lifts up their spirits. We all want wisdom and we also all want wisdom from God to increase our knowledge and walk with Christ. This verse from Paul is his way of showing his love to them, giving them a blessing. He wants them to grow so the world around them will seem smaller and their environment with Christ will be bigger. Their faith will grow with spiritual wisdom and revelations.
They always need encouragement and prayer in their dangerous positions. Spiritual wisdom was the supernatural insight they needed from God for their own protection every day. The revelations they get securing them in Christ and helping their ministries in all areas gave them increase in knowledge of the Heavenly Father and His Kingdom. This knowledge is what spread throughout Christians and created a stronger Christian message throughout Europe and Asia. That same knowledge and wisdom is available today to all of us. Our Heavenly Father loves us and wants us to take hold of all His gifts. Amen.
JAN 22
THIS IS NO GAME
Can you think of anything more dangerous than risking your life for game? There are those that will take a pistol with one bullet in the chamber and play the game. This person is so bored of life that they may have to risk all to be satisfied. A one to five chance that the bullet is not in the next chamber and they are dead. You may call them a fool but they are no more foolish than a believer in Jesus playing with sinful fire.
"Snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear--hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh." (Jud 1:23)
Wow! Jude gave a strong command here; he is speaking to the church, to believers. He knows there are those in attendance that are compromising with good and evil. He is giving a direct order to those that are consistently on the narrow path, to be aware of their loved ones or sisters and brothers that are on that wide path.
A believer that is in church because it is a social gathering is not there for the right reason. He needs to recommit his life to Christ and repent for his manner in which he has compromised good and evil in his life. How can this come about? Jude has told us how “snatch them out of the fire." To do that we must pray for them, love them and witness to them about the Kingdom. They know who Jesus is, but they don’t really know about His Kingdom. Perhaps they have not been baptized and took their public stand of commitment to Him. I always make sure when that person that has just been baptized gets a big hug and I welcome them into the Kingdom.
For those that are not living or walking with Christ are in need of our daily prayers. How many of us pray for our children prodigals once saved and they are back in the world. Once you are born again through the blood of Christ you never lose that identity, but the consequences can be very hard and painful if you go back into the world and live accordingly.
The fervent prayer of a parent, waiting for their child to return to Jesus, is never wasted. Some time that prayer is for years but it is never wasted. Whether that child or that loved one suffers consequences, emotional, financial, and physical, with an addiction, poverty, or sickness, they can always come back. They will recognize in time that life is not a game to play without having to pay. Never give up on them, pray for them today to bring them to God and back in the Kingdom. Amen.
JAN 23
GOD’S WORD ABIDES
How often does the Word of God come up in your conversation? Do you feel there are Bible verses abiding in your spirit? When I come to your house will I see for myself the way in which you live your life? When I hear your conversation or your music and TV, will I hear what is important to your heart? When I see what you read, will I see what is important to your mind? This also goes for me if it was you visiting me.
"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching." (Col 3:16)
This verse from Paul covers all I have said above. There is no other place we are more intimate than in our house. All we own is in there; all of importance to us is under the roof of our home. Therefore the Word of God should be in each little space in our home, and in our lives. Our fellowship is important also to be with other Christians that love God’s Word. We can remember many things, titles, address, and phone numbers, names, with all this in our memories, do have room for God’s Word to be there also. Do we have a special place for God’s Word to abide in us or dwell in us? To have that special place, we have to work with the Bible every day, to have God’s Word Abide in us and we can start today. Amen.
JAN 24
FEATS OF FAITH
The Old Testament has the most beautiful records of Faith among the Patriarchs of old. Just reading the eleventh chapter of Hebrews is so encouraging at the time when we feel very alone or faraway from the Lord.
"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." (Heb.11:1)
The author of Hebrews was claiming the truth of how these Old Testament men and women embraced their faith and obedience to Lord. They hoped and they believed in most cases long before they saw what they believed for. Therefore they were undoubtedly believers that what God had call them before their faith manifested itself in their lifetime, no matter how many hardships they endured. They endured fights and conquests with enemies, family and nations, but their faith faltered not.
Perhaps our fights are not so serious outwardly but inwardly we are in strong battles against emotions, relationships and physical and spiritual needs. If this is true then we need to recall some of the hardships mentioned in chapter eleven.
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses," (Heb.12:1)
As we read this chapter we need to also go back to their stories and lives in the Old Testament, so that we stop regretting our own self-pity. Oh yes, when we begin to go back today to these men and women, our Feats of Faith can be strengthened by their Faith. Amen.
JAN 25
ENSNARED IN MATERIALISM
How much do our belongings mean to us? Whatever are our belongings comes under the heading of materialism.
"No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs--he wants to please his commanding officer." (2Ti 2:4)
I don’t know how a Roman soldier stayed out of civilian affairs. They had houses for their wives and children; to me I look at that as their civilian lives. But they also had their commander that they must obey and put his orders first before any others thing in their lives. Their duty as a soldier came before homeowner, husband and father.
What a dedication they had to the cause they were to fight for. Paul wants us to have that same dedication to the Lord before our materialistic lives consume us. He wants us to stay free of being ensnared of the worldly temptations and pleasures that can eventually lead us out of our dedication to the Lord and into false god servants. Even our own family and loved ones can occupy to much of our time that needs to be concerned with what our Commander Jesus requires of us staying away from sin in the form of materialism. Even today ensnared in Materialism can trip us up so we will not reach our goal to be the ”good and loyal soldier of Christ." Amen.
JAN 26
HAS GOD CALLED YOU?
If God has called you, you will know it. The evidence of His calling is the results of your afflictions. Well that does not bring very good news to a believer that wants to serve Christ. When that word from God comes to you giving you direction, in most cases it is a direction out of your comfort zone.
"Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you stood your ground in a great contest in the face of suffering." (Heb 10:32)
We all love the Lord and truly believe that when the He calls there will be smooth sailing, but not so. When He calls we will find ourselves on a bumpy road, but not on our own, He does not smooth the road, but He walks it with us. That is if we are willing to take on our task He has called us to do. The Lord knows if we were on a smooth road we would not be strong enough to travel the bumpy road which would delight the devil. Oh no! God always provides and protects. Sometimes we are not looking where we are going then we will trip up and in some cases fall down. That will hinder our progress to full fill God’s call for us. When we do fall that does not indicate failure, we only persevere, to get up, shake off that dust, anoint our wounds and continue with the Lord.
Has God called you? Are you sure the way you are going in the way He has called you? If you find yourself today slowly moving on a bumpy road, hallelujah, you’re going in the right direction with Him. Amen
JAN 27
DELIVERANCE FROM YOUR ENVIRONMENT
Your environment can be one of two things for you. If your environment is decided by other people, that could be very dangerous for you as a Christian. Sometimes the people that are creating this bad environment for you can be family or loved ones. Therefore that can present a life of compromise that is fatal for a Christian.
"Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross." (Heb 12:2)
There is only one way that we can save ourselves from being influenced by these bad environments such as smoking, drinking, cussing, and sexual activities that we may have enjoyed earlier in life. That one way is focusing on Jesus and the cross, which will take away our interests in this environment the devil and world presents to us for our own pleasure. Our pleasure should be based on the joy that Jesus redeemed us from the clutches of the devil. Our Faith in Jesus and our acknowledgement of His love can overcome the world and the pleasures of man. So the one environment is destructive for a Christian’s failure. The other environment focused on Christ is constructive for a Christian’s growth.
Yes our salvation through Christ Jesus has given us deliverance from that sinful environment and has established a sanctified environment for the children of God today. Amen.
JAN 28
UNTIL DEATH DO WE PART
When Jesus was with His disciples, they had no idea what the future was going to be for their master and teacher. They only knew as long as they had Jesus with them in their everyday lives, they had more healings, miracles, adventures than we can imagine being with Him. But then He took the Viva Rosa path to the cross, and they were alone without their teacher.
"I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you." (Joh 14:18)
We have lived more than 2000 years after Jesus died. The disciples thought now Jesus is dead we are left on our own, in other words they felt like orphans. On the other hand Jesus told them He wouldn’t leave them as orphans, He said, "I will not leave you comfortless, I will send you a comforter that will be your new teacher, and guardian." When He ascended to His Father taking His place as the King of Kings, He sent the Holy Spirit to empower His followers and that includes us this 2000 years later. Today we have the Holy Spirit, the comforter, our guardian here on earth until death do we part and then we will live again. Amen.
JAN 29
ROYAL REPRESENTIVIES
Who are we speaking of as royal representatives? Don’t be shocked but that is you and me, Heavenly representatives of Christ Jesus here on earth. Well as we know we all have a Heavenly Father which makes us children of God, which also makes us royalty perhaps that is a lot to take in when we look to our own lives here on earth. As for me I get excited just while writing this.
"We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us." (2Co 5:20)
It is so true that the Heavenly Father and Jesus have Heavenly business here on earth and they need us to carry out our tasks that are assigned to us through the Word or messages from Heaven.
Ambassadors live in foreign lands, they are born in one land and assigned to work in another land. Like us we are born in the Spirit and we are citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven, assigned here on earth to work for our King. What we have to do here on earth is to please our King. That is up to us and our decisions to serve Him.
Oh what Joy, when we are waking in morning and starting our day as His ambassadors, as royal representatives of the King of Kings, we should be giving thanks to the Lord, thanks that we can be His servants, and thanks that we are His Royal Family today. Amen.
JAN 30
STEADY SINNERS
Sadly there are steady sinners in the church. What I mean by this is there are believers in Jesus that have not given up sinful lifestyles. Saved, Sanctified believers need to live separated from the worldly temptations that still already exist with Christians.
"And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire;" (Jud 1:23)
The Apostle Jude was very concerned about the believers that were still compromising their Christian lives with sinful lives. He was so direct in correcting this problem in the church that he tells the leaders to put fear in these believers. What fear he his referring to is respect to God and the life God wants for them if only they will willingly give up their sin. Then he also tells the leaders to” pull them out of the fire” that is not a request that is an order.
Jude wants these believers to understand how dangerous their double lives will take. They will burn. The leader’s prayers and guidance with the Holy Spirit needs to find a breakthrough in their church. Recognizing these sinful lifestyles to the assembly, hoping that will wake up these believers that are steady sinners. The church today would horrify Jude with the compromising they have developed with sin and the world. If you are compromising with your first love with Christ, you may burn. I want to pull all steady sinners out of the fire for their salvation and Christ’s sake today. Amen.
JAN 31
DOOMED TO FAIL
Have you ever felt like you were doomed to fail because of all the problems around you? I did before I got saved through the blood of Christ. I think that was the best day of my life. No, I take that back, today is the best day of my life telling others of my love for Jesus. 1975 Jesus became my King, my Lord and my Master.
"But thank God you've started listening to a new master." (Rom 6:17)
Enough about me what about you, are you doomed today? If so I have another name for your problems, you are a slave to sin. Sin is the reason you are doomed. Failure also comes with fear and doubt, sin is the base for both of these. Nothing is impossible for God if you make it possible to Him. Giving over your heart to Jesus is freeing you from your slavery to sin. Therefore you are doomed to success instead of failure.Jesus can free you from the master of sin and claim you as His own. Change your situation today from being doomed to failure to success and be strengthened in Faith. Amen.
