Devotionals
A daily word of encouragement, exhortation and edification, drawn from the Scriptures.
Scholar or Soldier?
2 Timothy 2.1-4 Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. Thou therefore endure hardness, as a...
Blessed Expediency
Jesus said, “Nevertheless I tell you the truth; it is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send Him unto you.” (John 16:7) The Greek word that is used for the English word “expedient”...
The Purpose Of His Coming
Our texts that we are looking at this morning remind us of the divine purpose of Christ coming into the world. First of all John tells us that Jesus “was manifested to take away our sins” (1 John 3:5) This is one of the great mysteries of Scripture (1 Timothy 3:16)....
Wormwood
I am taking the liberty this morning to use a word from our study in Revelation chapter 8 to present an exhortation for our devotional. The word that I am speaking about is “wormwood” (Revelation 8:11). Webster’s dictionary describes it this way: “a bitter, aromatic...
He Shall Wipe Away All Tears
My exhortation this morning is regarding a promise of God for all of His people who have shed tears on earth. God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes (Revelation 7:17). Think about that, beloved. There is a time coming when you and I as children of The Living...
Salvation Belongs To Our God
It is so easy to get discouraged and lose perspective when the world around you is falling apart at the seams. But God’s Word gives to us as believers a hope that is real even in the midst of trials and tribulations (John 16:33; Romans 5:1-5). God’s Word gives us a...
Real Freedom
For over 200 years our nation has enjoyed a freedom that is envied by the majority of other nations. As wonderful as it is to live in a free nation, the greatest need for every human being is the need for spiritual freedom. The Bible says that we are born in sin...
Sealed And Secure
Today we are looking at the account of the sealing of the 144,000 male Jews from the 12 tribes of Israel (Revelation 7:2-8). Who are these individuals who are sealed? Some say that they are the spiritual seed of Abraham, thus seeking to identify them as the Church or...
Who Is Able To Stand?
In light of the intense effects of the 6th seal judgment seen in Revelation 6:12-17, our study this morning ends questioning who is able to stand the day of the Lamb’s wrath. Contextually, the flow of the book leads right into the sealing of 12,000 male Jews from the...
The Testimony Of Jesus
With the opening of the fifth seal in Revelation 6:9-11, we read about the intense persecution and martyrdom that the faithful in Christ Jesus will suffer. During this seven year time period, multitudes of people are going to come to the saving knowledge of The Lord...
The Gospel In Numbers 21
As we come before the Lord this morning, let's look at an incident in the journeys of the nation of Israel that Jesus cited as a picture of His work of redemption on the cross of Calvary. God’s plan of redemption for fallen man did not simply appear in the New...
Don't stagger; Stand on the Promises of God
2 Corinthians 1.20 For all the promises of God in Him are “Yes,” and in Him “Amen,” to the glory of God through us. When we read the New Testament, it is important for us to remember that what have before us is the fulfillment of the revelation that was recorded in...
Delivered From The Wrath To Come
One of the most comforting promises in Scripture is that the regenerated child of God, because of the merits of The Lord Jesus Christ, will never face the wrath of God. Paul told the new saints at Thessalonica that they were delivered from the wrath to come (1...
The Doctrine Of Eternal Punishment
One of the most sobering doctrines taught in Scripture is the doctrine of hell (Matthew 5:22, 18:9) and eternal punishment (2 Thessalonians 1:9). Liberal “scholarship” finds this teaching of Scripture so offensive that they have sought to turn this literal place,...
The Redeemer Of Man
One of the most oft quoted passages from the book of Job is Job 19:25: “For I know that my Redeemer lives, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth.” Therein we find the main theme of Scripture — The Redeemer of man, The Lord Jesus Christ. “You search...
All Glory Unto God
One of the 5 principles of the Protestant Reformation is Sola Deo Gloria, which basically states that all glory and praise belongs unto God (Psalm 115:1). No place in Scripture makes this point more clear than the heavenly scenes in Revelation 4 and 5. Think of all...
Saving grace at work
Romans 2.7-11 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, Tribulation and anguish, upon every...
Believing God in the storms of Life
Acts 27.22-25 And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man's life among you, but of the ship. For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before...
Extreme Sovereignty and Human responsibility
Revelation 22.17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. John 6.37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to...
Heavenly Expectation
Psalm 62.5 My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from Him. David, the man after God's own heart, commands his soul to wait upon God. We do not know what the situation was that David was in, but this we know for sure, his expectation was in God and...
Set your eyes upon The Lord
2 Chronicles 20.12 O our God, wilt thou not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee. In this passage, the people of God were in a dire situation. They were outnumbered...
Two Responses To Jesus
I was challenged and gently corrected by The Lord this week. Being the first Sunday of the month, we traditionally observe The Lord’s Supper. I must confess that my thinking was that if we leave our current study and do a topical on our sins being forgiven by the...
With The Lord
One thing that can so easily be overlooked in our curiosity to rightly divide eschatology (the timing and mechanics of end time events) is this one most certain promise: we shall be with The Lord! Paul told the saints in Corinth: “We are confident, I say, and willing...
“Behold The Lamb Of God!”
In the heavenly scene of Revelation chapter 5 there can be no doubt as to Who The Lamb is that John sees. He is Jesus Christ, “The Lamb of God, Who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). He is The Exalted Son of God (Philippians 2:8-11), The Lion of the tribe...
The presence of God in our "how long’s?"
Psalm 13.1,2 How long wilt thou forget me, O Lord? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me? How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? How long shall mine enemy be exalted over me? These are the words of David, whom God...
Unveiled Face
Paul the apostle wrote, “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” (2 Corinthians 3:18) The reason that believers are able to see The Lord...
The Risen Lord…The Living Savior
John 11:25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: Jesus is the summation of whatever the “theology” of the resurrection is all about. Jesus came, He died on the cross, He was buried,...
Don't blame God
Jeremiah 7.9 "Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, burn incense to Baal, and walk after other gods whom you do not know, 10 "and then come and stand before Me in this house which is called by My name, and say, 'We are delivered to do all these...
The Folly Of Self-Rule
Judges 21:23 And the children of Benjamin did so, and took them wives, according to their number, of them that danced, whom they caught: and they went and returned unto their inheritance, and repaired the cities, and dwelt in them. 24 And the children of Israel...
The peril of not delighting in God’s Word
Jeremiah 6.10 To whom shall I speak and give warning, That they may hear? Indeed their ear isuncircumcised, And they cannot give heed. Behold, the word of the LORD is a reproach to them; They have no delight in it. Well, you know, Pastor Ray, I just can't seem to find...
The Life-Changing Gospel Of Jesus Christ
We pause in our study of Revelation to celebrate The Lord’s Supper. We have learned that this ordinance of God was portrayed in the Old Testament story of the children of Israel being delivered by the blood of the lamb applied to the doorposts of their homes (Exodus...
About Me
I am the Lead Pastor of Koinonia Fellowship, a husband, father and grandfather. I also serve on the worship team as one of the drummers.