Devotions - Prayer
Philippians 1:6 And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.
*God has a plan for everyone, but we just have to remember to let him lead us in the right direction and not let our judgment cloud His.
We should all live as ambassadors of Christ, and through our works glorify The Lord our GOD. Live by example.
God has a plan for you and only He alone can fulfill His purpose for you.
Psalm 138:8 The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your love, O LORD, endures forever – do not abandon the works of your hands.
It’s good to know that God has a purpose for each one of us.
The Scripture there does not say that the Lord will fulfill my purpose; it says the Lord will fulfill His purpose for me. There’s a great difference.
*I may have one purpose; God may have another.
*God does not guarantee that He will fulfill my purpose, but He does promise that He will fulfill His purpose.
And then the psalmist goes on to say, “Your love, O LORD [and that means ‘your covenant-keeping faithfulness’], endures forever.”
When God commits Himself to us to fulfill His purpose in our lives, that is a commitment for time and for eternity.
***And then, maybe out of a situation of desperation, the psalmist says, “Do not abandon the works of your hands.”
We have a strong assurance as we read these words: “You made me; don’t abandon me.”
This is for each one of us. God made us; He will not abandon us.
God has a purpose; He’s going to fulfill it. Maybe it won’t be your purpose, but it will be His purpose.That purpose will stand sure and unshakable no matter what you go through.
John 15:8 When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.
What is that Fruit? The Fruit of the Spirit. Fruit is something we can easily see. The evidence of Godly fruit is not found in word, deed, talent, success or accomplishment, but rather in the humble qualities of:
*Galatians 5:22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
Lord, Help me see that my purpose is to glorify You through holy living and service. Amen
John 6:29 Jesus told them, “This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one he has sent.”
Pray that God will allow you to walk as Jesus did. Experience His power and love in your life today so that others will see the hope that lies in you.
“Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.” 1 Peter 5:7 (NLT)
When life gets overwhelming, do you ever wonder if God notices all you have going on? Does He see how hard you’re working and trying to take care of everyone and everything?
Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her'” (Luke 10: 41-42).
In that moment, Jesus showed Martha just how much He cared.
*Not just about how hard she was working, but about the rest He knew she needed.
*Instead of giving her what she demanded, Jesus showed Martha what she needed and the choice she could make to receive it.
Jesus helped Martha see that Mary hadn’t abandoned her to do the work by herself.
*Instead, Mary chose to walk away from distractions and preparations so she could take hold of something that couldn’t be taken away from her.
It was the one thing that would last even after Jesus was gone: time with Him resting in His presence, listening from His perspective, and listening to His promises.
1 Peter 5:7 says to “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.”
John 17: 3 And this is the way to have eternal life—to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth.
Christ is actively working within you and me to shape our character and empower our obedience.
Jesus lives to intercede for those who believe in Him (Hebrews 7:25). He makes requests on our behalf and brings our prayers before the Father.
Then, we see in 1 John 2:1–2 that Jesus is our Advocate when we sin. Positioned between us and holy God, Christ declares our righteous standing because of His sacrifice and our faith in Him.
What’s more, Christ is preparing a place for us in heaven (John 14:1–3). He is also arranging all the events necessary for His return.
We are His body—His eyes, ears, voice, feet, and hands—pointing others to Him
Jesus, help me seek You as much as I serve You and others. I want to balance my life and my workload with You, knowing with confidence that You care about me and are good at taking care of me! In Jesus’ Name, Amen
Read MoreMy only comment is: Does Halloween bring glory to God? No! It glorifies the devil! Nuff said.
Read the verse below and ask yourself what and where are your treasures?
Matthew 6:21, “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
Is your heart after–Earthly wealth, flesh, or is your heart after spiritual wealth?
If after spiritual wealth, then your heart and desire will follow.
If isolated from the rest of God’s Word, there are some scriptures that could be interpreted to mean that having money or wealth is wrong.
*However there are other scriptures that speak of riches as a blessing.
**The harmony between these two apparently opposite positions is that money is neither good nor bad.
*It is the love of money that is the root of all evil, and many have committed the sin of loving money who don’t even have a dime.
1 Tim. 6: 10. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.
The “Love of Things” (covetousness) is idolatry, and this is what Jesus is addressing.
Because it is so easy to lust after money and the things it can provide, the Lord established a system whereby prosperity is a by-product of putting God first.
As Matthew 6:33 states, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you.”
We should no more reject the blessing of prosperity than we should covet it, which is idolatry.
The reason for not laying up treasures on this earth is so that we will not have our hearts drawn away from the things of God.
A key to success in the Kingdom of God is singleness of purpose. (Eternal Perspective).
We don’t have the capacity to do our best in two areas at the same time.
If we will simply put God and His Kingdom first in every area of our lives, He will add to us all the wealth that we NEED.
What is more valuable or important than knowing Him? (see John 17:3)
Father, I look to you for direction. You are the only one who has the way that will not fail. Teach me those ways so that your kingdom will grow and you will get the glory. Help me see too that: Every spending decision is a spiritual decision.
YES—KNOWING YOU IS OUR GREATEST TREASURE!!! Amen
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By John Piper
Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (James 4:7)
The more real Satan appears in our day, the more precious the victory of Christ will become to those who believe him.
The New Testament teaches that when Christ died and rose again Satan was defeated. A time of limited freedom is granted to him, but his power against God’s people is broken and his destruction is sure.
“The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.” (1 John 3:8)
“[Christ] himself likewise partook of the same things [flesh and blood], that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil.” (Hebrews 2:14)
“[God] disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.” (Colossians 2:15)
In other words the decisive blow was struck at Calvary. And one day, when Satan’s time of limited freedom is over, Revelation 20:10 says, “The devil . . . [will be] thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur . . . and will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.”
What does this mean for those of us who follow Jesus Christ?
“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1)
“Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies!” (Romans 8:33)
“[Neither] angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38–39)
“He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” (1 John 4:4)
“They [the saints] have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony.” (Revelation 12:11)
Therefore, “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you!” He has been defeated, and we have been given victory.
Our task now is to live in that victory and make Satan know his defeat.
Thank You Jesus! Help me live in that Victory each and every day. Amen
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We cannot show forth God’s Life and self-life at the same time.
“Does a fountain send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water?” James 3:11
How do you walk in the Spirit?
The way you do this is through living by, conducting your actions according to, and following the leading of the Word of God as quickened to you by the Holy Spirit.
**The Holy Spirit and the Word of God agree perfectly because the Holy Spirit is the one who inspired the written Word of God.
Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 Thessalonians 5:18)
More specifically, how is it possible to obey 1 Thessalonians 5:18 and “give thanks in all circumstances,” especially if our circumstances are horrible?
What fuels thanksgiving when life seems to be one discouragement, disappointment, disease, disaster, and death after another?
There is only one way. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life (John 14:6).
Future Joy Fuels Your Thankful Endurance
Jesus was fueled by his belief in future grace. That’s what the author of Hebrews meant when he wrote that, Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith…for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:2)
That’s where God wants your and my eyes: on the future joy he has promised us. ETERNITY
*You will have the free gift of complete forgiveness of all your sins extending into forever (Romans 6:23).
*You will have all your real needs provided while on earth (Philippians 4:19).
*God will complete the good work he began in you (Philippians 1:6).
*You will be raised from the dead and never, ever die again (1 Corinthians 15:52–53).
****That means someday soon you will see Jesus, be with him (2 Corinthians 5:8), and be like him (1 John 3:2).
*In that day you will know for the first time full, unpolluted joy (Psalm 16:11).
*You will be completely free from all corruption (Romans 8:21).
*You will have God forever (1 Peter 3:18) as your exceeding joy (Psalm 43:4).
And that’s just a small sampling!
The joy set before you is the same joy Jesus had set before him, because you are an heir of the kingdom with him (Romans 8:17).
So how can you give thanks in all circumstances?
There’s only one way: Jesus’ way.
*If the future joy Jesus promises (ETERNAL LIFE) is real and you believe him, there is no circumstance that can steal your thanksgiving.
May all your Holiday celebrations be soaked in Grace, Joy, Freedom and Love!
Thank You God for the ONE—JESUS! Amen
Read MoreBetter Than Everest
By John Piper
We know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)
If you live inside this massive promise, your life is more solid and stable than Mount Everest.
Nothing can blow you over when you are inside the walls of Romans 8:28.
Outside Romans 8:28, all is confusion and anxiety and fear and uncertainty. Outside this promise of God’s all-encompassing future grace, there are straw houses of drugs and pornography and dozens of futile diversions. There are slat walls and tin roofs of fragile investment strategies and fleeting insurance coverage and trivial retirement plans. There are card-board fortifications of deadbolt locks and alarm systems and antiballistic missiles. Outside are a thousand substitutes for Romans 8:28.
Once you walk through the door of love into the massive, unshakable structure of Romans 8:28, everything changes. There come into your life stability and depth and freedom. You simply can’t be blown over anymore. The confidence that a sovereign God governs for your good all the pain and all the pleasure that you will ever experience is an incomparable refuge and security and hope and power in your life.
When God’s people really live by the future grace of Romans 8:28 — from measles to the mortuary — they are the freest and strongest and most generous people in the world.
Their light shines and people give glory to their Father in heaven (Matthew 5:16).
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The Bible never says we won’t have negative thoughts, emotions or desires, but it does says we can have victory over “the flesh” if we choose to continually walk by faith.
“Blessed is a man who perseveres under the trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.” James 1:12
The sin that makes God cry is being committed daily, not by pagan workers of iniquity but by multitudes of Christians—
**the sin of doubting God’s love for His children.
Jesus Christ was God in the flesh, and according to the book of John He wept when those closest to Him doubted His love and concern. (John 11:35)
*That was God incarnate at the tomb of Lazarus, crying over friends who failed to recognize who He was.
Jesus spoke to God in the presence of those around him. He wanted them to see that God is in the midst of their pain and hurt.
**God is present in our pain and suffering. He mourns with us when we are sad; he limits himself to feel these losses with us. He does listen to our cries when we are hurt.
Jesus says: “Here I Am.”
“He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away .” Revelation 21:4
Time and time again Christ’s dearest associates on this earth doubted His love for them.
*Think of the disciples in a storm-tossed boat that was taking on water.
*Jesus was in the stern of the boat, sound asleep. Fearing for their
lives, His followers shook Him awake and then accused Him of outrightunconcern. “Master, carest thou not that we perish?” (Mark 4:38).
*How their accusation must have grieved the Lord! That was God Almighty in their boat!
How could He not care?
***But whenever men take their eyes off the Lord and concentrate
instead on their circumstances, doubt always takes over.
*Jesus was astounded! He said:
“How can you be afraid when I am with you? How can you question My love and care?”
Christians today grieve the Lord in this matter even more.
Let us look for His exceeding mercy and love, admit the sinfulness of our unbelief, and recognize who He is!
In John 11:25 Jesus makes what may be His most COMFORTING claim of all:
“I AM THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE“.
Lord, Help my faith to sit solidly on Biblical Truth. Thank You Jesus! Amen
Read MoreEven when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me” (Psalm 23:4).
What are the things you’re worried about? The election? Your health? Your bills? Your kids? Are you worried about the future? The fact is there are lots of reasons to be afraid in today’s world. But God’s promise is that, even in your darkest valleys, he is walking beside you. (see Psalms 23)
It’s interesting to note that there are 365 verses in the Bible that say, “Fear not.”
God provided us with one “Fear not” message for every day of the year! Don’t you think God is saying, “Get the message. Don’t be afraid.” It’s interesting that almost every time God talks to someone in the Bible, the first thing he says is, “Don’t be afraid!”
Why? Because our hurts and hang-ups can often cause us to think that God is out to get us, that all he wants to do is condemn us and punish us. But that simply isn’t true. Jesus is the proof of that.
When we understand God’s grace and mercy, then we have no need to fear the future. God isn’t trying to get even with you.
- Jesus has taken the penalty for everything you’ve ever done wrong or will do wrong.
- Jesus paid for the penalty for everything you’ve ever done wrong on the
So when a bad thing happens, you don’t have to think, “God’s getting even with me.” Instead, remember, “Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me”(Psalms 23:4 ).
Fear not! Thank You Jesus! Amen
Read MoreAfter we have relinquished our sin to God, we must replace the lies with truth from His Word. Meditating in Scripture is a critically important part of this sanctifying process.
* “He sent His word and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.” Psalm 107:20
Luke 1:37, “For with God nothing shall be impossible.”
What a statement! If we just believed this, how different our lives would be!
From birth we are trained to know our limitations.
*You can’t have this.
*Don’t touch that.
*Don’t put things in your mouth.
*You can’t touch the fire.
*On and on the list goes.
As we grow up, it’s actually a sign of maturity to recognize our limitations and learn to live within them.
There are limits to everything. It’s a fact of life.
BUT God has NO limits.
We have to renew our minds with the truth that God is not like us. He can do anything.
We have an awesome God whose power is so great that we can’t even comprehend it.
*God created the universe and it didn’t even tax His ability. Yet many times we find ourselves wondering if our situation is too hard for the Lord. We can’t see how even God can pull us through.
The Lord said to Jeremiah, “Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?” (Jer. 32:27)
*The answer is a resounding NO! The only thing that limits God is our unbelief (Dt. 7:17).
Today, let’s honor God by believing that nothing is too difficult for Him.
When we seek to acquire anything that God has not given us, we can expect God to respond to us like any good father would to a child. He will remove that which the child is not supposed to have.
David understood this principle. When he was preparing to furnish the temple, he told God in his prayer, “Everything comes from You, and we have given You only what comes from Your hand” (1 Chron. 29:14b).
Our God does the impossible day in and day out! It’s no big deal to Him.
Thank You Lord for loving me and doing the impossible in my life! Lord, never let me be boastful or proud. For you are the Almighty God, creator of all things, and everything that is good in my life and every gift I have is from you. Help me to always search for ways to use what you have given me to bring more and more glory to You. Amen
Read MoreThe natural human loves inspired by God (Agape) is the only love essential to human survival.
Only God’s Divine Love can give us the identity, value, dreams and purpose we need to live life to the fullest.
God’s Love for us IS Jesus as Our Substitute.
John 3:16 “For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
On the cross, God treated Jesus as if He had committed every sin ever committed by every person who would ever believe.
Did you get that? Let it soak in. Jesus took on EVERY SIN!
**God treated Him as if He committed, personally, every sin ever committed by every person who would ever believe though the fact is He committed none of them.
That’s the great doctrine of substitution. —And that’s the first side of imputation.
*God imputed our sins to Jesus.
*Jesus was guilty of none of them.
*God treated Jesus as if He committed all of them.
*And God just unloaded His fury for all the sins of all the people who would ever believe in Him in the history of the world.
***God unloaded all His fury against all their sins on Christ.
To borrow the language of Leviticus 16, Jesus became the “scapegoat.”
The scapegoat was guilty of nothing. But the High Priest, as it were, laid all the sins of the people on the scapegoat and sent him away. He was without sin. But sin was credited to His account as if He had personally committed it and then God punished Him though the fact is He never committed any of it.
On the cross, God treated Jesus as if He lived your life so He could treat you as if you lived His life. That’s the Gospel. That’s substitution.
Only God’s Divine Love can give us the identity, value, dreams and purpose we need to live life to the fullest.
Dear Lord, will You help me notice things for which I can be thankful in each circumstance I face today? Will You help me remember to pause and acknowledge this as evidence of Your presence and love for me? And will You help me remember to choose to focus on Your presence until Your powerful peace rushes into my heart and helps me see everything more clearly? Amen
Read MoreThe phrase “forgive and forget” is not found in the Bible. However, there are numerous verses commanding us to “forgive one another” (e.g., Matthew 6:14 and Ephesians 4:32). A Christian who is not willing to forgive others will find his fellowship with God hindered (Matthew 6:15) and can reap bitterness and the loss of reward (Hebrews 12:14–15; 2 John 1:8).
Forgiveness is a decision of the will. Since God commands us to forgive, we must make a conscious choice to obey God and forgive. The offender may not desire forgiveness and may not ever change, but that doesn’t negate God’s desire that we possess a forgiving spirit (Matthew 5:44). Ideally, the offender will seek reconciliation, but, if not, the one wronged can still make a decision to forgive.
You’ve heard this phrase over and over: “Forgive and forget.” There’s only one problem with it: You can’t do it. It’s impossible! You really can’t forget a hurt in your life. In fact, you can’t even try to forget it. Because when you’re trying to forget, you are actually focusing on the very thing you want to forget.
Forgetting is not what God wants you to do. Instead, he wants you to trust him and see how he can bring good out of it. That’s more important than forgetting, because then you can thank God for the good that he brought out of it. You can’t thank God for things you forget.
Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” .
It doesn’t say that all things are good, because all things are not good. Cancer is not good. Disease is not good. Death is not good. Divorce is not good. War is not good. Rape and abuse are not good. There are a lot of things in life that are evil. Not everything that happens in this world is God’s will.
But God says he will work good out of the bad things in life if you will trust him.
When you come to him and say, “God, I give you all the pieces of my life,” he will return peace for your pieces. He gives you peace in your heart that comes from knowing that even if you don’t understand the hurt in your life, you can still forgive, knowing that God will use that pain for good.
The ideal is to forgive and forget. Love keeps no record of wrongs (1 Corinthians 13:5) and covers a multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8). However, changing hearts is God’s business, and, until an offender has a true, supernatural heart change, it is only wise to limit the level of trust one places in that person.
Being cautious doesn’t mean we haven’t forgiven. It simply means we are not God and we cannot see that person’s heart.
Proverbs 20:22 Do not say, “I’ll pay you back for this wrong!” Wait for the Lord, and he will deliver you. Amen
Read More“Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and prayfor one another, so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.” James 5:16
“Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins” (Mark 11:24-25).
What Jesus is saying is, “The great hindrance to having faith in God is pride, the pride that refuses to forgive (an inflated sense of one’s personal status or accomplishments).
*You have the power to have that removed if, when you stand and pray, you will forgive those who have offended you.” Because the only thing that stops us from forgiving one another is pride.
We feel justified in wanting others to forgive us but also in feeling that we have to exact a price for the hurt they have caused us. So, in many ways—subtle, or direct and open—we insist that we will not forgive, that our offenders have to pay for what they have done to us. Somehow, we are going to make them crawl, make them beg or plead for forgiveness.
“And that,” Jesus says, “is a great mountain that needs to be removed, for it is blocking the flow of the life of God to your faith.” So when you stand and pray, life will flow from God when you are able to recognize that you, too, need forgiveness. God has forgiven you. God has offered it freely to you; give it just as freely to the one who has offended you.
The one thing above all else that seems to block the flow of the life of God to an individual, to a church, or to a nation, is:
- this unwillingness to forgive, this holding of grudges,
- this desire to put somebody down in order to feel good yourself,
- this unwillingness to set these things aside and let God heal all the hurts of life.
The Lord brings us through a time of testing and adjustments. There are corrections to be made to our path of life, and those corrections will begin to bear fruit as soon as we let go of the things that have been a distraction and a hindrance to our progression.You will now be able to see with greater clarity and understanding, as you walk in the Spirit.
Proverbs 10:17 He who keeps instruction is in the way of life, but he who refuses correction goes astray.
Father, how many times I have refused the forgiving word, the restoring act, only to be tormented by fears and anxieties and worries. Thank You for the forgiveness that is mine in Jesus Christ. Teach me to extend it to those around me. Take my pride from me! Amen
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Ephesians 2;10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
God rested on the 7th Day of his work.
Gen 2: 2 On the seventh day God had finished his work of creation, so he rested from all his work. 3 And God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, because it was the day when he rested from all his work of creation.
** God didn’t rest because he was tied, but because it was a blessed day?
*Activity does not indicate productivity.
*Action does not mean production.
*Just because it looks quiet now does not mean God has stopped work in your life.
He has not abandoned the project.
*Just because you cannot see anything happening does not mean nothing is happening.
God is still on the throne and He is doing a work in your life.
* He has not stopped working.
*He is still working.
Remember you are the clay and He is the potter.
It may look like the more you have prayed the more nothing has happened. Not so. The Master is at work and He is working on a masterpiece. Masterpieces often take awhile.
You are beginning to ask.
*Has God forgotten me?
*Is He acting on my prayer request or requests.
*Has he changed his mind?
Remember He is not man to lie or the son of man to change His mind.
Philippians 1:6 And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.
Jesus the same yesterday, today and forever. He is the Ancient of days. Strong as ever. More than reliable and dependable forever.
*He is still God even though you cannot feel or perceive Him.
*He is still God even though you have not seen the miracle.
*He is working for your good.
You may not see it now but in the end you shall see that all along He was working for your good.(Romans 8:28)
If Jesus, who was God in the flesh (1 Tim. 3:16), could humble Himself and value our good above His own welfare, then we should certainly be able to do the same. It can happen when we die to self and live to God.
Prayer is seen by God in your actions. It is what “We Choose” to do each day.
You ARE GOD’S MASTERPIECE!!!! (Ephesians 2:10)
Lord, thank You for hearing my cry for help. Thank You for Your steadfast love, which rescues me from my restless wandering and leads me in the straight way. Amen
Read MoreMatthew 24:14 “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.”
As we in Mark 16:15, Jesus Christ commissioned His Church to preach the good news of the Kingdom of God in all the world.
Here in Matthew 24:14 Jesus gives a prophecy of the effects of that preaching in the end time just before His return to save humanity from self-destruction (Matthew 24:21-22).
“A witness” here can mean “testimony” or “a declaration of facts”. The word is neutral—it can include both giving a message of hope and a message of warning. “The Gospel will bring either salvation or a curse, depending on how it is received” ( Matthew 24:14).
The “end” Jesus referred to is the end of this evil age of human misrule. When it ends, something much better will come in its place—the peaceful Kingdom of God.
The night is far gone; the day is at hand. (Romans 13:12)
- This is a word of hope to suffering Christians.
- It’s a word of hope to Christians who hate their own sin and long to be done with sinning.
- It’s a word of hope to Christians who long for the last enemy death to be overcome and thrown into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:14).
How is it a word of hope for all these?
“The night” stands for this age of darkness and all its sin and misery and death. And what does Paul say about it? “The night is far gone.” The age of sin and misery and death is almost spent.
The key way it is different is that the day has dawned in Jesus Christ. Jesus is the end of this fallen age. He defeated sin and pain and death and Satan. The decisive battle is over. The kingdom has come. Eternal life has come. Amen
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- Psalm 139:13–16-For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. Some years ago, God began to speak to me about the marvel of the physical body, about the marvel of my own body, that it is a masterpiece of divine workmanship(see Ephesians 2:10). And I began to be concerned that I treated that masterpiece right, that I did not abuse it, that I did not neglect it.
Your body has a very special purpose.
- God provided the material in the depths of the earth. He fashioned it together.
- He had a blueprint before it ever came into being, and He worked it out in every detail.
And, you know, the purpose for that body, the supreme purpose is to be God’s temple – the temple of the Holy Spirit.
The Most High doesn’t dwell in temples made with hands. We can’t fashion a building that will hold Him, but in His infinite grace and mercy God predetermined that He would fashion a body and that that body would become His dwelling place.
Paul says, in 1 Corinthians 6:19 “Don’t you know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own.20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.”
Thank You Jesus, that I am Your child, heir, established, anointed, sealed by You and a citizen of heaven-Chosen, Holy, Blameless in You, forgiven. Yes, I have hope, purpose, redemption, been shown the incomparable riches of God’s grace, have access to the Father, have a new attitude, new lifestyle and have been called by YOU! What Love! Amen (See Ephesians 1:4, Ephesians 2:1-10)
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