Devotionals
A daily word of encouragement, exhortation and edification, drawn from the Scriptures.
The Medicine Of Praise
I wonder if a key ingredient lacking in our Christian walk is that of praise and thanksgiving.
The city of man or the city of God?
Revelation 21 and 22 tells us about the heavenly city, the New Jerusalem. This, I believe is the place that Jesus said He went to prepare for His people. When was the last time that you read those chapters beloved? I mean, read them slowly and prayerfully until you...
Born of The Spirit
Until a person is born of a the Spirit, he or she remains unconverted. That which is born of the flesh is flesh (human birth), and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit (spiritual birth). While every human being bears the image of God by creation, none are His...
My presence shall go with you, and I will give you rest
These precious words were spoken by God to his servant Moses in that incredible 33rd chapter of Exodus. The entire chapter is a good read, and I would encourage you to do so. The purpose of God speaking these words to Moses was to encourage him as he carried out the...
Current Events and the Sovereignty of God
I was engaged in a conversation with a few brothers the other day about current events, dangerous political leaders, terrorism and an ever increasing occurrence of devastating weather phenomenon. Now please do not get me wrong, those things are of real concern to me....
Dead faith and real faith
In James 2.14-26, we find a distinction between genuine, saving faith and dead faith. Now the bottom line is this. It corresponds to what Jesus said. A good tree will bring forth good fruit, while a bad tree will bring forth bad fruit. Brother James tells us that a...
True and False Repentance
The very first words of Jesus in Mark's gospel are. "the time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel." Please note that Jesus says, repent and believe, not accept and receive. What does it mean to repent? It is a Greek word...
Little Things Matter
Man usually notices big things, as if the size of someone or something is a measure of its worth. But God, thankfully, is quite different. By man’s standards the poor widow’s offering and the little lad’s lunch were not much at all. But look how Jesus both looked upon...
Jesus IS The Resurrection
Matthew 28:1-6 In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled...
The Risen King!
Today marks the celebration of the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ.1 The Lamb that was slain2 for our sins3 has risen from the dead!4 He has gone ahead into that Holy Place5 where He ever lives to make intercession for us.6 “It is Christ who died, and furthermore...
Jesus, Our Living Lord
Today, we celebrate the day that Jesus Christ rose from the dead.1 He said that He would rise again.2 The resurrection of Jesus is what separates the Christian faith from all the religions of the world.3 The “founders” of Islam, Hinduism, etc., have all died - and...
His Workmanship
God is not the work of our hands; we are the work of His.
To Worship God
I’m afraid that many Christians misunderstand the meaning of worship. The normal thought is that worship is singing to the Lord with adoration and thanksgiving. That can indeed be a part of what worship is, but it is far from a complete definition of worship. We have...
Information or intimacy?
The prophet Jeremiah wrote, Jer 9.23 "Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise [man] glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty [man] glory in his might, let not the rich [man] glory in his riches: 24 but let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and...
Kingdom Facts or Fellowship with The King?
Matthew 2:1-2 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. It...
The Realm of God’s Kingdom
Matthew 19:16-24 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the...
The Realm of Gods Kingdom
Matthew 19:16-24 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the...
Kingdom Power
Matthew 12:28 But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you. A vital part of the kingdom of God is understanding that devils, or demonic forces of darkness, are cast out by The Spirit of God. The Lord Jesus said in Luke...
A Kingdom Study
Mark 1:14-15 Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel. What is the kingdom of God? It is a realm...
Divine Power
Ephesians 3:20,21 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. Paul seemed to want to use...
Godward, Christ-centered Looking
An integral part of a healthy walk with Christ stems from what we choose to focus on in life. The Christian life is a supernatural life that is lived in the natural realm. When the apostle Paul was writing to the church at Corinth about being at home in the body, but...
What is sin?
Outside of the Holy Scriptures, one of the most convicting and compelling definitions of sin that I have come across is this by John Piper, courtesy of a Desiring God Ministries. I used this at the end of my Resurrection Sunday Message yesterday. Thanks to all those...
Who is like Me?
In Micah 7:18 we read Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy (loving-kindness; stedfast love). 7:19 He will turn again,...
GO!
In Matthew’s gospel, we read these words. "Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted." This was not their first meeting with the risen Jesus; but it was...
Forgiven and forgiving
Psalm 32 is a psalm of David. It’s called a Maschil which means that it is a Psalm of instruction. It is a Psalm that instructs us about the right way and wrong way to deal with sin. The right way is to bring it into the light, the wrong way is to seek to justify it,...
Taking God's Name in vain
Prov 30.88 "Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: 9 Lest I be full, and deny [thee], and say, Who [is] the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God [in vain]." We see here in...
Peace, quietness and assurance forever
Isaiah 32:17 "And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever." Good morning, loved ones. I am actually writing this devotional while waiting for some blood work to be taken. I did not mention that to make...
Grace to help
Heb 4.16 "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." What is the difference between mercy and grace? Mercy is not getting what we deserve. Grace is getting what we do not deserve. Because of...
A pastor looks at the 23rd Psalm
One of the most beloved Psalms in the Bible is the 23rd Psalm. This morning beloved, I urge you to get alone with Jesus and read this breakdown of this Psalm and what it means for those who turn to Jesus as Savior and Lord. The Lord is my Shepherd - That's...
The fullness of God for the glory of God
The Spirit-inspired prayer of Paul in Ephesians 3.14-21 is breathtaking, beloved. There is no way that I could even scratch the surface of the weightiness and vastness of what is being taught here. Human language falls so far short of this revelation of God towards...
God's Lovingkindness
Psalms 143:8 "Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee." May this verse be a part of your morning prayers, beloved. Lord, cause me to hear your...