Devotions - Prayer

TRUE RIGHTEOUSNESS

By Bob / July 25, 2024

Romans 3:10 As the Scriptures say, “No one is righteous—not even one. 11 No one is truly wise; no one is seeking God.

Every follower of Jesus has a certain hunger in his heart. It is a passionate zeal to be holy before God—free from sin, victorious over flesh, pure and spotless before the Lord.

The Holy Spirit actually plants this desire—an innate longing to live uprightlyin the heart of every human being.

*For nonbelievers, the spirit of this world can darken the mind to any sense of rightness.
*For believers, failure to live in a way that honors God can crush the spirit.

This desire to live right is behind the meaning of the word righteousness.
Righteousness means to be in right standing with God—to live with right motives, emotions and behavior—and establish right alignment with His purposes.  (moral orderliness)

To truly be righteous, we have to know what it is and is not.
The Bible describes our righteousness in two words:
1.  Justification-(our position, or right standing, with God).
*Romans 1:17 This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.”

2. Sanctification-(our walk with God, our ongoing relation to Him).
*Romans 6:22 But now you are free from the power of sin and have become slaves of God. Now you do those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life.

 

*Don’t try to impress yourself or others with what you do. Be impressed with what God does.

 

Jesus, may I remember your sacrifice and help me keep my humility so the focus can be on You at all times.  May You receive All the Glory!  Amen

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WHAT HAS GOD GIVEN YOU

By Bob / July 24, 2024

“We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us.” 1 Corinthians 2:12

God desires for us to know what He has freely given to us.

One of the responsibilities of the Holy Spirit is to reveal His plans and purposes to us. They may be hidden for a time, but if we seek Him with our whole heart, we can know what He has given to us.
Once we understand what God has given to us, we can walk freely in our calling. However, if we strive to walk in a role that He never gave us, it will result in frustration and failure.

God wants to reveal His plan to us by His Spirit. This requires a willingness to seek and accept what He gives us. It may be different from what we thought. It may require adjustments to follow His path for our lives.

Ask God to reveal what He has freely given to you. Pray that you receive and embrace only those things He has reserved for you to receive and to accomplish in your life.

Then you can be assured of a life full of meaning and purpose, and you can look forward to hearing those all-important words someday, “Well done, My good and faithful servant.”

FOLLOW THE LEADING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

The Lord is going to reward us based on how well we did, not on how much we did.

Those who are not governed by the Holy Spirit in their actions will see all their good works burned up on the day we stand before the Lord and He tries our works.

Those who acted only under the guidance of the Holy Spirit will find that their works will endure the test and they will receive a reward.

 

Many people choose to do good things thinking that God will be pleased. It is our positive response to God’s direction (faith) that pleases God (Heb. 11:6). We were created with a purpose and every individual has a God-given plan for his life. Unless our actions are in agreement with God’s plan for our life, they will not abide the test of God’s fire.

 

Thank you Jesus for the gifts you have given us.  Help me to discern on how best to use them to Glorify You and not me.  In Jesus Name, Amen.

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The Greatest Act of Love

By Bob / July 22, 2024

Read–Romans 5:6-11

What do you think about when you see a depiction of Christ on the cross?

Most of us are overwhelmed by the physical and emotional suffering that He endured—the scourging, beating, thorns, nails, mocking, and shame. We are horrified at the cruelty of the Romans and the hard hearts of the Jewish rulers.

But during the crucifixion, far more was happening than the eye could see. God was carrying out His plan to rescue mankind, providing everything we need for salvation:

  1. Redemption. Jesus paid the full price of the debt we owed for transgression: death. His payment set us free from bondage to sin.
  1. Forgiveness. God could now release us from the punishment we deserved.
  1. Propitiation. Christ’s payment satisfied
    the Father by fulfilling His demand for justice while letting Him forgive us.
  1. Justification. On the basis of Jesus’ sacrifice, the Lord now declares believers not guilty.

Although we will still sin in this earthly life, our standing before God is one of righteousness. This is a legal declaration that can never be reversed.

  1. Reconciliation. The sin barrier that separated us from the Father was removed by Christ’s death on our behalf. We’re now God’s children—we have open access to Him and fellowship with Him.

The crucifixion was the only way to rescue lost humanity. If there had been any other way, the cross would have been a ugly display of divine cruelty. But because so much was at stake, it can truly be called the greatest act of love by both the Father and the Son.

Thank You Jesus for the Cross which won total Victory over Satan.  Help me to come to know You more and more Jesus so that Your love will fill me to overflowing and then give that same love to others in need.  Amen

 

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True Meaning of Workplace Success

By Bob / July 19, 2024

“But remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms His covenant, which He swore to your forefathers, as it is today” (Deut. 8:18).
“The greater our success, the greater the risk of us thinking too highly of ourselves.”

“Adversity is sometimes hard upon a man; but for one man who can stand prosperity there are a hundred that will stand adversity.”

Oswald Chambers wrote, “Sudden elevation frequently leads to pride and a fall. The most exacting test of all to survive is prosperity.”
• Each of us must view success as a gift from God.
• We must learn to see all of our successes as a gift from God, not our own achievement.
The Lord is the source of all success, all elevation, all blessing.
If you have a good mind and a healthy body, if you live in a land of opportunity, if you have a good education, if you’ve had a few breaks go your way, then you have much to be grateful forand no cause for arrogance.
You didn’t achieve success; you received it as a gift.

I have learned it is better to learn humility voluntarily, than involuntarily!
True Meaning of Workplace Success

5 Truths for our Work being our Worship

1. Belief in the reality of God who has spoken, making the word of God the basis of our understanding and action.

2. Therefore, operate by faith in the Word of God, knowing life in the workplace is just as spiritual as the time we spend in worship.

3. The result is, having confidence in God’s calling and His gifting’s, that makes work worth while and fulfilling.

4. So, God is glorified in the workplace.

5. Resulting in, success being measured by faithfulness to Christ, following him in obedience.

Nothing that happens on earth can ever change the Word of God.
“Heaven and earth will disappear, but My Words will never disappear”. Mark 13:31

5 Myths When Missing God as our Pilot

1. Belief in self – it is all about me!

2. Therefore, we operate from one’s limited perspective.

3. The result is, self-confidence with arrogance leading you.

4. So, the workplace centers on man’s achievements alone.

5. Resulting in, success being measured by pride in material wealth.

Paul tells us: “For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you” (Rom. 12:3).

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Crying Out to the Lord

By Bob / July 18, 2024

“But when they cried out to the LORD, he raised up for them a deliverer. . .” (Judg 3:8-9).

I often receive requests to help someone whose life is in a difficult place.

After a few questions  my prayer is that I am able to discern if the Lord has called me to get involved.

Many times I’m shown this person has not experienced enough pain to want to do anything about their situation, they are not hungry enough yet at that time.

Until they are really ready to cry out to the Lord for a solution to their situation, they will simply talk about desiring change but never take the necessary steps needed for change.” (A Vision Without Action is Only a Delusion.)

If you invest time and time and time into someone who has not yet come to the place of wanting a spiritual solution to their problem, you will become emotionally exhausted.

The apostle Paul understood this principle when he actually turned such people over to Satan for the destruction of their flesh (I Cor. 5:5).

The people of Israel were finally in enough pain to cry out to God for relief from their oppression.

Like so many times throughout the scriptures, God answered by raising up a deliverer. (Judge 3:8-11).”

*Are you in a difficult place in your life?

*Are you only talking about changing or are you really ready to cry out to the Lord for a solution?

Start now the process of changing your situation for the better and asking for help if needed.

God wants us to receive His Love with the open-hearted trust of a little child.

“Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it at all.” Luke 18:17

God will sometimes let us encounter great difficulty, but he never abandons us.
*He never leaves us all alone.
*He always gives us the power and courage we need to face our opposition.

*He finds a way to work it all out and uses it for his glory.
**God never abandons his people!

I Thank you, Father, of how you give courage and boldness to the one’s who are in great trouble. Grant to me the boldness to cry out to You Lord! Amen

Psalms 139

 

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THE PURPOSE OF THE DESERT

By Bob / July 17, 2024

Eccl. 7:14 Enjoy prosperity while you can, but when hard times strike, realize that both come from God.  Remember that nothing is certain in this life.

Distractions prevent us from giving our undivided attention to the messenger.

So too, God has His way of taking us aside to get our undivided attention.
*For Moses, it was 40 years in the desert; for Joseph, it was 13 years in Egypt; for David, it was many years of fleeing from King Saul.

God knows the stubborn human heart. He knows that if He is to accomplish His deepest work, He must take us into the desert in order to give us the privilege to be used in His Kingdom.

In the desert God changes us and removes things that hinder us.
He forces us to draw deep upon His grace.

The desert is only a season in our life.

When He has accomplished what He wants in our lives in the desert, Jesus will bring us out.
He has given us a mission to fulfill that can only be fulfilled after we have spent adequate time in preparation in the desert.
Fear not the desert, for it is here you will hear God’s voice like never before.

*It is here you become His bride.
*It is here you will have the idols of your life removed.
*It is here you begin to experience the reality of a living God like never before.

 

Someone once said, “God uses enlarged trials to produce enlarged saints so He can put them in enlarged places!”
He brought me out into a spacious place; He rescued me because He delighted in me (2 Samuel 22:20).
May you soar in the spirit like an  eagle today as you dwell on God’s goodness bountiful benefits in your life!
“Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget none of His benefits…Who redeems your life from the pit; Who crowns you with loving kindness and compassion; Who satisfies your years with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle.” Psalm 103:2-5  Amen

 

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EVER FEEL LIKE A FAILURE?

By Bob / July 14, 2024

 Two wonderful absolutes.

1. The first absolute: GOD REALLY LOVES ME.
*God is not in the business of condemning His children, failures or not. He is a loving Father, wanting only to lift us out of our weaknesses.
*Sometimes we recognize His great love only when we hit bottom. You will have won a great victory if you can be convinced God loves you even in your wounded, crippled condition.
*Our strength is renewed by His everlasting love.
*Just rest in that wonderful love. Don’t panic. Deliverance will come.

2. The second absolute: IT IS MY FAITH THAT PLEASES HIM THE MOST!
“Without faith, it is impossible to please him” (Hebrews 11:6).
*God counts our trust as righteousness.  “Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness”. (Romans 4:3).
God delights in using failures—men and women who think they can do almost nothing right.
**God sends us to conquer nations but the first battle we have to win is the one against ourselves.
*That’s when we get to know him and we build the foundations of our relationship with him!   (JN 17:3)

*His strength is perfected in our weakness, our inability to obey His commandments in our own strength.

*God calls us to a life of holiness and separation.
*God tells us we can be free from the bondage of sin.

When our heart begins to cry, “Lord, how can we do such great, holy things?”

That is when our Lord takes over!
God comes with such a comforting message:

-”Lay down your weapons.
-Quit trying to be so self–sufficient and strong.
-I am your weapon and your strength.
-Let Me do what you never can do.
-I will give you My righteousness,
-I will give you My holiness, My rest, My strength.
You cannot save yourself or please Me in any way other than by receiving the blessings of the cross by faith.
Let Me be in charge of your growth in holiness.”

 
* Father take over the battle of my life ……… Isaiah 41:14-16

*God, Your Word speaks hope and life to me. It is always right on target and speaks into my life and current situation. I hold onto Your Word and pray for Your strength and courage, for health and peace as I walk through this. And I raise it all up to You, I lift it up to You, trusting and believing in You for what is to come. So I give You the praise, the honor, and the glory, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

 

 

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Salvation

By Bob / July 11, 2024

“And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life” (1 John 5:11-12 NIV).

If you were to ask people if they are going to Heaven or Hell, you’ll likely hear them say, “I hope I’ll go to Heaven.”

But hope just isn’t good enough. I pray that’s not your answer. Your eternal destiny is too important not to know for sure.

Only a fool would be unprepared for what we all know is inevitable: death. The most recent statistics show that mortality rates in the world are 100 percent!

You’re not guaranteed another minute on this planet, much less another hour. Don’t put off the most important choice you’ll ever make.

The Bible says in 1 John 5:11-12,“And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life” (NIV).

That’s about as clear as you can get.

  • If you have Jesus, you have life.
  • If you don’t have Jesus, you do not have life.
  • You have a choice.

You won’t go to Heaven because of someone else’s faith. You’ll never go to Hell because of someone else’s choice.

It’s your choice! You decide where you’ll spend eternity.

This is why Christmas and Easter are so important. If Jesus hadn’t come at Christmas and if he hadn’t died and come back to life on Easter, we’d be hopeless. Nothing we do would matter. You wouldn’t have this choice.

The cross is the answer to our deepest problem — our separation from God.

The Bible says, “When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross”(Colossians 2:13-14).

God nailed everything that separated you from himself to the cross. But God won’t force you to make the most important decision of your life. It’s in your hands.

It’s time to choose.

Lord, Help me to KNOW you more each and every day, because to know You is to have eternal life (JN 17:3).  Amen

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GODLY SORROW

By Bob / July 6, 2024

I believe we can know our true spiritual state by how troubled we become ove our slightest sin against our Lord.

Some Christians only grieve over what they consider the “big sins”—adultery, drug abuse, drinking, cursing.

But the truly spiritual person knows that NO sin is small in God’s sight and so he grieves every time he gossips, tells a dirty joke or has a lingering evil thought.
We know these things spring from our heart, the very center of our being.

You can disobey God in such “small things,” excusing yourself and forgetting all about them.
**But if you do, you will never mature in Christ.

Your righteousness(moral orderliness) is measured by your unwillingness to accept anything that grieves your blessed Savior.

In each moment we sin, the enemy whispers to us, “That little slip-up was no big deal. It was such a small thing.”

**But the Holy Spirit must immediately rise up in my heart to refute the devil’s voice.
Be reassured,  the very fact you’re grieving over a sin is proof Jesus is at work in you.
*The more you grieve over even the smallest transgression against His love, the closer you get to victory.

God sent His Spirit to us to wage war against our flesh and its desires and lusts.

So, if you aren’t troubled when you fail—if you are able to shake off your sin with no sense of guilt, sorrow or regret—then the Holy Spirit is not in you doing warfare.

“ yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us.  Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.” (2 Corinthians 7:9,10).

If you are being convicted by even the lightest transgression, you are close to true victory.  He is winning the battle in your heart by producing a godly sorrow that leads to true repentance.

Lord, Thank you that my sorrows have led me to repentance and have taken the walls down so that we could have a more personal relationship.  Amen

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GOD OPENS OUR EYES

By Bob / July 3, 2024

Elisha prayed for him to receive sight,
“O LORD, please open his eyes that he may see” (2 Kings 6:17).
Then the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

When we can’t see our situation with clear spiritual vision then we tend to fixate on our earthly circumstances.

Each morning we get out of bed:  1. walking by faith in the Son of God or 2. wandering about in unbelief obsessed over our earthly circumstances.

When the eyes of our heart are wide open to God’s truth, then the light of his word cuts through the fog.

Paul prayed for the Ephesians to have spiritual eyes to see.
*He prayed that the Father of glory would give them the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of God, having the eyes of their hearts enlightened (Ephesians 1:17–18).

When God opens the eyes of our hearts then we can see Him for who He is.

And when we see who He is then we understand certain things that will change the way we look at ourselves and our situations.



​*We can know the hope to which God has called us (Eph. 1:18) and we can recognize the fake hope that slides out of our hands.
​*We can know the riches of God’s glorious inheritance in the saints (Eph.1:18) and we can dismiss the fake rewards of the world.
​*We can know the immeasurable greatness of God’s power toward us who believe (1:19) and we can reject the fake power offered to us by the enemy.
​*We can trust in God’s mighty power that raised Jesus from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places (1:19–20).
​*We can see Jesus as he truly is“far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come” (1:21)and happily submit anything and everything to him.

When you open your Bible then you can see the flashes of light refracting from the sword of the one who guards your soul from death.

The sword of God’s word can cut through even the most formidable morning fog of doubt or spiritual laziness.
Since faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ (Rom. 10:17), then we would do well to fill our ears with God’s word every day.

 

Thank You for Truth Lord.  Help me daily to read and meditate on Your Word.  Thank you Jesus that You are the Way, the Truth and the Life and help me start and finish each day giving you all the glory for what you are doing for your kingdom to come.  Amen

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Fifteen Tactics for Joy

By Bob / July 1, 2024

By John Piper
You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. (Psalm 16:11)

How shall we fight for joy?

  1. Realize that authentic joy in God is a gift.
  2. Realize that joy must be fought for relentlessly.
  3. Resolve to attack all known sin in your life.
  4. Learn the secret of gutsy guilt — how to fight like a justified sinner.
  5. Realize that the battle is primarily a fight to see God for who he is.
  6. Meditate on the Word of God day and night.
  7. Pray earnestly and continually for open heart-eyes and an inclination for God.
  8. Learn to preach to yourself rather than listen to yourself.
  9. Spend time with God-saturated people who help you see God and fight the fight.
  10. Be patient in the night of God’s seeming absence.
  11. Get the rest, exercise, and proper diet that your body was designed by God to have.
  12. Make a proper use of God’s revelation in nature.
  13. Read great books about God and biographies of great saints.
  14. Do the hard and loving thing for the sake of others (witness and mercy).
  15. Get a global vision for the cause of Christ and pour yourself out for the unreached.

Lord may we all experience more and more of Your Joy in our lives and families.  Help us spend some time giving back to others the joy you have given us.  Amen

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ETERNAL HAPPINESS

By Bob / June 30, 2024

ETERNAL HAPPINESS= NOT WHAT’S GOING ON AROUND ME—IT’S ABOUT WHAT GOD IS DOING IN ME!

The Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-12)
*Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
*Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

*Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

*Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

*Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

*Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

*Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

*Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

No commands here. Just declarations — declarations of who the blessed/happy people are and where that blessedness leads them.

The Beatitudes
​1. God’s grace in the gospel shows you your moral and spiritual bankruptcy.    (Total dependence on God).
*You must be spirit-poor if the cross is what it took to rescue you.​

2. God’s grace in the gospel makes you mourn.
*To know that your sin nailed Jesus to the cross breaks your heart.​
*I can’t do it without you, God….take this cup…NOT MY WILL but YOURS be DONE!

3. God’s grace in the gospel makes you meek.
*How can you be touchy and defensive now that you’ve seen Jesus dying for you? There’s nothing in you worth defending.​

4. God’s grace in the gospel lets you see how hungry and thirsty you are for a righteousness that will open the door to God’s acceptance.
*Jesus is that righteousness given to you freely as a gift.​

5. God’s grace in the gospel makes you merciful.
*How can you choke your neighbor over what they owe you when both hands are already occupied receiving the mercy of Jesus Christ?​

6. God’s grace in the gospel makes you pure in heart.
*Knowing that God has accepted you on the basis of Jesus blood and righteousness frees you to live honestly before God and people, admitting who you really are and how desperate you are for Christ.​

7. God’s grace in the gospel leads you to be a peacemaker.
*Your experience of God’s grace puts so much joy in your heart that you cannot help but tell others how they can be at peace with God.​

8. And finally, your experience of God’s grace in the gospel will get you persecuted.

*I will be hated because of my faith in Christ…I can take joy though that my reward is not in this life.  Need the Eternal Perspective!

Jesus draws to himself people who realize how weak they are and how powerless they are.
John 17:3 Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.
Amen

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DOES GOD HAVE FAVORITES

By Bob / June 29, 2024

Does our heavenly Father favor certain of his children?

When it comes to salvation and his wonderful promises, God treats ALL alike but He also puts his special favor on those who respond wholeheartedly to his calling and yield their lives to him entirely!

God is all knowing, therefore He knows the good and the bad, those who seek him an those who don’t. If you truly seek him with your heart and through your actions then he will have a place for you in heaven!

Our heavenly Father puts a special garment on those who completely give him their heart:
“I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness” (Isaiah 61:10).
* True saving faith’s object is Jesus alone
* True saving faith results in a changed life.

W are to be looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith! When Satan comes and points at some weakness in our heart, WE  have every right to answer, “My God already knows it all and he still loves me!  He has given me everything I need to attain victory and keep it.”
(See 1JN 4:4 for Fighting From Victory)

 

The Lord leads each of His children along a path that is uniquely tailor made for him or her. Comparing is not only wrong; it is also meaningless.

**Don’t look for affirmation in the wrong places; your own evaluations, or those of other people.
*The only source of real affirmation is the Lord’s unconditional Love.
JESUS died for your sins, so that He might clothe you in His garments of salvation. This is how the Lord sees you: radiant in HIS robe of righteousness.

When the Lord disciplines you, it’s never in anger or disgust; it is to prepare you for face-to-Face fellowship with HIM throughout all eternity.

Romans 8: 32 Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else?
* Paul provides us with a very descriptive manifestation of all that is for those who are in Christ Jesus;
Romans 8:
1. No condemnation! (vs. 1)
2. Live in the Spirit (vs. 9)
3. Life because of righteousness (vs. 10)
4. Are children of God (vs. 14 & 15)
5. Have hope (vs. 23-25)
6. Experience God’s good working (vs. 28)
7, Are called, justified, and glorified (vs. 30
8. Are more than conquerors! (vs. 31 &37)
9. Will never be separated from the love of God! (vs. 35)

This is an amazing Chapter full of the promise that God gives us- His children.

YES WE ARE GOD’S MASTERPIECE. Amen  Thank You Jesus!

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DEPEND ON GOD, NOT THE GIFT

By Bob / June 28, 2024

Mark 11:2 “And saith unto them, Go your way into the village over against you: and as soon as ye be entered into it, ye shall find a colt tied, whereon never man sat; loose him, and bring him.”  (Read more: MARK 11:1-6)
The gifts of the Spirit are not meant to be a substitute for our own faith in the Lord.   (See 1 Corinthians 12:4-11)
*We are not to depend so completely on some individual with a spiritual gift that we neglect our own spiritual growth and maturity.
*We can receive anything we need from the Lord without a gift of the Spirit operating through another individual, if we know how to believe.

 

Dependence on the Lord directly is superior to dependence on the Lord indirectly through someone operating in one of the spiritual gifts.

What if there were no gifts of the Spirit and the Lord established that the only way we could receive from Him was through our own faith?

*They would die if it wasn’t for others interceding for them or someone with the gift of healing praying for them.

That’s why the Lord gave these giftsto keep us encouraged and alive so we can mature.

 

*It is also wrong for an individual not to mature in his personal faith in the Lord and become dependent on the gifts.

 

* It is not right for someone to receive a miracle through someone with the gift of miracles and then just struggle along until the next time that gifted minister comes through town.

 

The Lord wants us to receive His power through these gifts, but then we must mature so that we can walk in God’s best on our own.

 

We are able to mature beyond a total dependency on the gifts to where we can hear and receive from God directly.

*But none of us will ever reach such a level of maturity in the Lord where there is nothing left to learn or receive.

 

Let Him teach you through His Word today.

 

Speaking God’s Word in faith brings the Holy Spirit into action.

In Luke 4, when Jesus was tempted of the devil for forty days, it was the Word of God that Jesus used to defeat the enemy at His temptation.

We must take advantage of God’s Word by placing it in our hearts so that the Holy Spirit may bring it forth at the appropriate time to accomplish a complete and total victory.

“It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts.  He alone decides which gift each person should have.”  1 Corinthians 12:11

Thank You Jesus for the Body.  Thank You Jesus for giving each one of us a gift to be used to build up the Body (the Church) and bring Glory to You.  Help us Lord to see and put into action each day the gifts You have given.  Amen

 

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Defining Your Self-Worth

By Bob / June 27, 2024

Only God’s Love is powerful enough to illuminate the darkness in our hearts.

“For God…is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.”
2 Corinthians 4:6
“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well” (Psalm 139:14).

What measurements do you use to define your self-worth?

*Do you define it based on your financial assets?

*Is it based on what you have achieved professionally?

*Perhaps you define your value based on the number of children you have.

 

There are many things we can use to define our self-worth.  However, the scriptures tell us there is only one measure for our self-worth.

Each of us has self-worth because we are made in the image of God.

And because we are made in the image of God, we are valuable.

Whenever you and I place a value in ourselves that is based on some other performance criteria, we have moved beyond God’s view of our worth as human beings.

You are never more valuable to God than you were the day you were born.  Read Psalms 139

Basing our self-worth on how much money we have or our achievements is an easy trap.

We are bombarded with messages that say we are defined by what we drive, where we live, how many toys we own, and the size of our investment account. The media message is designed to create dissatisfaction and lust for what we don’t have.

 

Paul said the purpose for his existence was…...“to know Christ, and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death” (Philippians 3:10).

 

In what terms do you define yourself? Is it based on knowing Christ alone?

Colossians 2:2 I want them to be encouraged and knit together by strong ties of love. I want them to have complete confidence that they understand God’s mysterious plan, which is Christ himself.  3 In him lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Lord, help me to know You More.  Amen  (see JN 17:3)

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