Devotionals
A daily word of encouragement, exhortation and edification, drawn from the Scriptures.
The Presence of His Glory
Breathtaking! Astonishing! Our God and Savior Jesus Christ is going to present us faultless before His presence with exceeding joy. What is that going to be like, when we are in the presence of the undiluted, undiminished glory of God. Such glory will outshine even...
The Normal and Supernatural Presence of God
"The glory of the Lord" is a phrase that is found in every verse of this passage from 2 Chronicles 7. The temple had been dedicated, the fire of God came down from heaven and consumed the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the house. How did the people...
The Upright Shall Dwell in His Presence
As we focus on the theme of the presence of God, this passage from Psalm 140 identifies the people of God as being righteous and upright. That is who we are in Christ beloved, righteous and upright. David, the man after God's own heart declares that “the upright...
Sweet Hour of Prayer
One of the most beloved hymns is entitled "Sweet Hour of Prayer". That is the theme of our meditation today. I find it interesting how the words "prayer" and "incense" are found together in Scripture. The Psalmist David wrote, “Let my prayer be set forth before thee...
Are You Hiding From the Presence of God?
We learn in Genesis 3 that after Adam and Eve sinned, they hid from the presence of God. Or at least they thought that they hid themselves from the presence of God! The Psalmist said in Psalm 139:7, "Whither shall I go from thy spirit? Or whither shall I flee from thy...
The Cure for Sin
Numbers 21.4-9 And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way. And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of...
And it shall come to pass
Zech 11.11 And it was broken in that day: and so the poor of the flock that waited upon me knew that it was the word of the Lord. Nothing happens by chance in God's universe. Though the mystery of iniquity and the wheels of divine providence are not easy to...
Who is your father?
John 8.42-44 If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your...
Faith in Christ: medicine for the troubled heart
John 14.1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. Sounds to me like a troubled heart is a choice. That is what the words "let not" mean. Jesus had taught these 12 men for three years, Judas, the traitor has left them. Jesus is about to...
Faith and Hope: Confident Expectation in the Goodness of God
Hebrews 11.1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. The biblical meaning of faith and hope is not some passive resignation to my circumstances, but a confident expectation that God will do what He says He will do. We see in...
The God of Elijah
“Then he took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him … and said, ‘Where is the LORD God of Elijah?’ And when he also had struck the water, it was divided …and Elisha crossed over.” 2nd Kings 2:14 Many people question the whereabouts of God as they experience...
Weeping Saints
Mark 9.24 And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief. We are living in an age of dry eyes and selfish crying. It is indicative of the self-love of the last days. Hearts of men are both hardened by...
How do we honor The Lord?
1 Samuel 2.30 For them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed. These words were spoken by the man of God to the priest Eli regarding the unholy behavior of his sons, Hopni and Phineas, who also were priests. The word of God...
The slippery slope of success
2 Chronicles 11.17 For three years they walked in the way of David and Solomon. 11.23 and he gave them victual in abundance. 12.1,2 And it came to pass, when Rehoboam had established the kingdom, and had strengthened himself, he forsook the law of the Lord, and all...
The Miracle and Assurance of Conversion
John 6.44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. Salvation is of The Lord. Fallen man is incapable of coming to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ apart from The Father's divine drawing. This is...
By My Spirit saith The Lord
Zech 4.6,7 - This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts. Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with...
Religion without devotion
The material in quotes in today's blog is actually taken from the notes of The Reformation Heritage Bible on Zechariah 7 that I was reading this morning. I couldn't say it any better. "Perfunctory religious rituals without a genuine heart for the Lord never pleases...
Free!
Webster tells us that the word “free” means to be at liberty, no longer enslaved. What a beautiful picture of the Christian life! Jesus Christ indeed makes His people free (John 8:32-36). Three times in Romans 5 (verses 15,16,18) we are told that eternal life is a...
Trusting in God
Psalm 2.12 Blessed are all they that put their trust in Him. There is a serious lack of trust in our world today. Every area of our lives, be it political, financial or even spiritual, is suffering from an absence of absolute trust. Because of the uncertainty of...
Purified unto Himself
Titus 2.14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. Please note, beloved, that prior to our call to good works, we find that Jesus gave Himself for us that we might be...
Is God's glory threatened by human responsibility?
Proverbs 25.28 He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls. God is not threatened by mankind's ability to exercise discipline. We were created by God with the ability to choose life and not the knowledge of good and...
What Does Theology Look Like?
The most important aspect of all theology or Bible study is obedience and practical application (Matthew 7:24-27). The Scriptures not only tell us what to believe, but they also tell us how to behave (2 Timothy 3:16- 17). The only valid expression of conversion is...
Presumptuous sin and God’s timing
Deuteronomy 1.41-43 Then you said to me, We have sinned against the Lord. We will go up and fight, as the Lord our God commanded us. And you girded on every man his battle weapons, and thought it a simple matter to go up into the hill country. And the Lord said to me,...
When we are overwhelmed
Psalm 61.1,2 Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer. From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. Notice David writes "When" my heart is overwhelmed, not if. Let me repeat. When my heart is...
Wisdom is a Verb
Proverbs 8:20-21 I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment: That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures. Scripture gives much place to the importance of walking in wisdom. Far too often,...
The Resurrection of Jesus… The Great Commission
Matthew 12:39-40 …there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonah: For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The bodily resurrection of The...
Bearing the Fruit of The Spirit
Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. Note that the fruit in the life of the believer is not self made; it comes from The Spirit of God Who...
Listening for God
Psalm 68:33 To him that rideth upon the heavens of heavens, which were of old; lo, he doth send out his voice, and that a mighty voice. Of course we know that as followers of The Lord Jesus we are commanded to listen to God. But my thought for you to ponder today,...
God’s Witness Protection Program
Revelation 11.3-7 "And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth. These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth. And if any man will...
Beware of Intruders
Proverbs 4:23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. This proverb does not suggest, but commands us to keep or guard our hearts with all diligence. The word keep can also be translated guard. Think of a soldier or armed officer...
Spiritual Discipline
Proverbs 25.28 He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls. One of the most important parts of the walk of faith is resonate discipline. A disciple is a disciplined person. In Proverbs 16.32, we read "He that is slow...
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.