Weekly Word Devotion

Religion

1 Coronicles 29:14 “For all things come from You.” There are some 150,000 Life Coaches (personalized helper who for a fee, will partner with you in designing your future). For Christians, our Life Coach is the indwelling Holy Spirit. Einstein wrote, “Any intelligent fool can make things more complicated.” Isaac Newton once wrote, “Truth is found in simplicity.” Jesus is simply all we need (John 14:6).

Weekly Word Devotion

Religion

In 1995 the U.S. Stock Market experienced a modern record downturn. Investors lost 37.6% of their investments. In 2008 investors lost 37%. Market experts caution investors, warning of possible negative results due to uncertain economic relations with China.

I recall my study of economics in college, and how stocks and bonds chart up and down at a fast pace. There is one investment that will always pay positive returns: invest our time, talents, and treasure in growing the Kingdom of God. Mark 10:30 ” . . . and in the age to come eternal life.”

Weekly Word Devotion

Religion

Continuing with John 14:6, Jesus said, “I am the way . . ” There is only one way to be physically born. Whether it’s in the womb or test tube, there has to be a natural union of a sperm and egg to produce birth. When Jesus said, “You must be born again…” (John 3:3), He was speaking of the super-natural union of a soul with the Savior. Being born of the Holy Spirit makes us a new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Weekly Word Devotion

Religion

John 14:6, Jesus said, “I am the way . . .” If we say Jesus is the only way to God, we risk being labeled intolerant. When Larry King interviewed Billy Graham and his son Franklin, he asked them if Jesus was in fact the only way. Both replied YES, and explained that Jesus stated He was the only way, and He is not a liar. You and I know who is the LIAR. Other religious leaders interviewed by Larry King stated there were many paths to God. A South American missionary hired a guide to lead him to a remote village. After several hours of slashing their way through the thick jungle, the missionary asked his guide if he really know the way. The guide dropped his large knife, opened his hands to display scars, and said, “Follow me for I know the way.”

Weekly Word Devotion

Religion

The TV show TMZ consist of a platform where the host calls on entertainment reporters with celebrity news. On one episode, a picture was shown of a female movie star with a Bible in her hand. The host asked why she would take a Bible to lunch with her friend. The reporter responded, “the Bible makes for good reading in the Old Testament when David the warrior is really dramatic, but when Jesus shows up in the New Testament, its all downhill from there.” The Lord’s miracles were really dramatic, and His is the greatest love story ever told. Pray for the host, reporters, and producers of TMZ.

Weekly Word

Religion

Hebrews 4:12, “The word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword . . .” In 1921, a New York doctor, Evan O’Neill, operated on himself. Using a local anesthetic, he removed his inflamed appendix. The surgery was successful. In like manner, we need soul surgery. Using the scalpel of Scripture (Sword of the Spirit), we can remove the deadly disease of sin.

Weekly Word Devotion

Religion

Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 1:22 that Christ SEALED us and gave us the Holy Spirit in our hearts as a deposit. Imagine a fruit bar inside a protective wrapper. Once opened and left exposed, the bar begins to decay. However, if the bar is sealed in a zip-lock bag, the sweet fruit is preserved. Jesus has sealed our soul, preserving us from the rot of sin. 2 Timothy 2:19, Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those that are His.”

Weekly Word Devotion

Religion

As a boy I wanted more freedom of choice. My mom would say, “You’re acting too big for your britches” meaning act your age. When we’re too big for our britches, the answer is not bigger britches, its fitting into the size we have. It takes time to grow up. The best growth comes from the Word of God. 2 Timothy 3:16, “All Scripture is inspired by God, and is profitable for teaching , for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness.”

Weekly Word Devotion

Religion

In Proverbs 28:2 , King Solomon points out that with sensible government leaders there is stability. On 12/6/18 NASA launched a space shuttle with experimental worms to study the human aging process. Seriously? Spending tax dollars when faced with what would become the longest government shut-down in U. S. history. Thousands of unpaid federal employees could have used those funds to feed their families and pay bills. What’s in your wallet?

Weekly Word Devotion

Religion

We celebrated EASTER SUNDAY, victory in Jesus over sin and death. In 2018 Jeremy Sutcliffe killed a rattlesnake in his backyard, cutting off its head. He got a plastic bag, and when he picked-up the head, the snake closed its fangs in his hand. A helicopter rushed him to a hospital where he received antivenom that saved his life. The ER doctor told Jeremy that decapitated snakes can bite for up to an hour. Jesus decapitated satan at Calvary, but the old serpent still strikes. In John 10:10 Jesus tells us that the thief comes to KILL. Stay clear of his deadly bite by staying in the Word.

Weekly Word Devotion

Religion

Psalm 1:7 ” . . . fools despise wisdom and instruction.”

Today is April Fools: Tricks played on others that are based on a lie. As a young husband and father, I played April Fool pranks on my family. My father-in-law once called my wife the night before to warn her, but I still pulled it off! Then it all changed when I was on the receiving end. We were at a beach rental during Spring Break, and told not to flush the hallway toilet or it would flood the condo. One morning my youngest daughter in a panic told me she forgot and flushed that toilet. I ran to the toilet and while bent over, my family yelled, “April’s Fool”. After my blood pressure returned to normal, I promised no more tricks. Don’t be fooled by fakers.

Weekly Word Devotion

Religion

Stephen A. Brown, Marketplace Ministries, inc.

A news company reported a human interest story about a 69 year old lady who used her DNA to identify her birth mother. She discovered the name and address of a cousin who informed her that her mom was 88 years old and living in a nursing home. Their reunion was tearful as her mom shared that she had been told her daughter was still-born, and for almost seven decades, believed her only child was dead. There was no mention of a criminal investigation; but you can be sure satan was at work. In John 10:10, Jesus said, “A thief comes only to steal and to kill and to destroy; I have come that they may have life and have it in abundance.”

Weekly Word Devotion

Religion

Stephen A. Brown, Marketplace Ministries, inc.

John Winthrop, Governor, Massachuetts Bay Colony, in a letter to his church, wrote, “We must delight in each other; make the conditions of others our own; rejoice together, mourn together, labor and suffer together as members of the same body, to keep unity in the bond of peace.” The lyrics of a Christmas song, “Peace on earth, goodwill to man” will be a reality when the Prince of Peace returns. Until then, let us claim Ephesians 3:14, “For He is our peace.”

Weekly Word Devotion

Religion

Charles “Chuck” Colson was Attorney General for President Nixon. He was sentenced to prison for his part in the WATERGATE scandal. Chuck came to Christ while in jail, and upon his release, formed a prison ministry. While visiting inmates, he noticed one man in an unclean cell in the fetal position. Chuck shared the gospel with the man, and told him to say aloud the name of Jesus daily. Upon his return visit, Chuck noticed the man’s cell was clean. When asked about the change, the man replied, “Jesus lives here now.”

The Great Victory

Religion

 When Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist, the Spirit of God came upon Him, and all the Spirit and power of God  in heaven and earth would soon be given to Him; that is as soon as He beats satan. “For what the law could not do,in that, it was weak through the flesh, God sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh [like us] and for sin, [because of sin] condemned sin in the flesh,” (Rom8:3) Sin started in the flesh. It must be overcome by the flesh.” But when the fulness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law.” (Gal 4:4 )To know Jesus, as we should ,we must understand we were not made like Him, but He was made like us.  When Jesus went into this battle, he was a man. Isaiah said,”   For unto us a child is born, unto us, a son is given.” (Isaiah9:6) The child is Mary’s son. The son of man, every time you see the son of man, He is the man, Christ Jesus. The son given is the son of God from heaven.[perfect man ,perfect God]  Jesus was led into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit to be tried and tested by the devil for forty days and nights.  (Luke4:2) It was as though He was thrown in the ring with Satan and with the wild beasts! This is a very tense time. I believe this is the greatest battle in the history of the world.  Jesus, the man in the flesh, against the devil for forty days and nights! Jesus is the first sinless man standing on the earth since the fall of Adam. He has the new sinless bloodline from the Father which Adam had in the beginning before sin. Jesus is the only man in the history of the world not fathered by the sinful bloodline. He has stood the test. Jesus never sinned. He has a perfect, sinless body, and perfect, sinless blood. He bypassed the sinful bloodline. The devil beat Adam in what seems to be just one try.  Jesus is called the second Adam. We can read this story in Matthew chapter four in about five minutes, but let’s slow down and try to see it as the Lord Jesus lived it. Jesus is fasting forty days and nights while in the wilderness alone and with the wild beasts. The Word says afterward He was hungry. At His weakest point, the tempter tempted Him with bread. What I am trying to do here is show you the battle that Jesus went through for your soul. Our everlasting, eternal life is free for us, but it was by no means free to Jesus! It was fought for and won. What can we say but thank you, Father? Thank you, Jesus!

 Father God is now starting over. It has been about 5,000 years since God had a man on the earth to confront the devil. Since the fall of Adam, until now, there has not been a man who was not of the sinful bloodline of Adam and sin can never take away sin.There has not been one recorded fight between the devil and man from Adam to Jesus.  Job never entered the fight. Satan dealt with Job by permission from God. Job never put up a fight because he thought it was God dealing with him. Jesus came out of the wilderness after forty days of temptation by the devil. The devil promised Him the world, but Jesus rebuked him as a man with The Sword of the Spirit which is the written word of God. It is written in Matthew and Luke; when it was all over angels came and ministered to Him. Everything changed that day. God now has a champion, Jesus. Jesus said, “All power in heaven and earth has now been given unto me.” (Matt28:18) Jesus now has the keys to heaven and hell. All the Spirit and power of God  upon the earth is now His. Satan has been judged and defeated.

 What do you think your chances are of beating the devil if you fail to join yourself to the faithful, overcoming one, Christ the Lord Jesus?  How tough it must be for the poor sinner out there being steamrolled by demons and blinded about it all.  Get going, be a witness. Help somebody. Paul said, “The god of this world has blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.” (2Cor 4:4) Help somebody get their eyes open.

( Jesus)” Who being the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had (by himself purged our sins) sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high (Heb1:3) He has blottedout the handwriting of ordinances that was against us. (Col 2:14.) How about you? Are you blotted clean?

The wages of sin is death. (Rom6:23) For he hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; [killed in our place] that we might be made the righteousness of God, in Him. (2Cor 5:21)  Spiritual death is separation from God for all eternity.

Peter, speaking of Jesus said, “Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree.” (1Pet2:24a )Try to remember; your sins should be history. Keep your eyes on the Master. Paul said, “Lest Satan should get an advantage on us, for we are not ignorant of his devices (2Cor2:11).  If you leave a door open satan will stick his foot in it. Don’t forget to fight for your family and loved ones.

For Christ also hath once suffered for sins,[yours and mine] the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh,” ( Pet3:18)

 “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh [soul] but after the Spirit.”(Rom8:1)

THE POWER OF THE WORD

Religion

  The power of God’s word

I want to give you a word of encouragement today. Perhaps some of you are going through fiery trials even now.  Stand firm, keep trusting the Lord.

I have noticed most people I know who truly live the Christian life, and not just go to church, but have the word of God working in their lives, seem to have a noticeable peace and rest about them. I believe, and I share this from experience, that rest may well be the highest order of the blessings of God. The blessed people seem always to know in depth the word of God.  I concluded that the word of God must have strength, power, and wisdom in it.  If it were not of great value, we would not pursue it.

Exodus 33:13-14  Moses said to God, “ Now, therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, show me now thy way, that I may know you, that I may find grace in thy sight, and consider that this nation is your people.” I am thinking here, did anyone ever know God like you did Moses? The guy is standing in miracles up to his knees. He had just led millions of people out of Egypt after practically destroying the country by the hand of God. Now he is saying, “I don’t really know you.”

Moses was God’s man of the month. God’s man of the hour, but he did not feel like he truly knew God.

 And God said, “My presence shall go with thee, and I will give you rest.”What a promise Father God made to Moses: I will be present with you, and you will have rest. My friend rest comes from believing the promises of God. The greatest promise God could make to Moses was to give him rest.

Listen to this wonderful promise from the Lord Jesus to us.

John14:16-18 “ And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever. Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive because it sees him not, neither knows him: but ye know him; for He dwells with you, and shall be in you.

 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.” His spirit will always go with you, and He, The Holy Spirit, will give rest to you.

Ps119:105  The Psalmist  said, “ The word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.” God’s word takes the load off and shows you the next step I will take that every time.

The word of God is Spirit, and it is life. I will take that kind of life. Come and let it light up your life.

John10:27,” My sheep hear My voice.” His word, as well as his Spirit, is His voice.

The Word will protect you. It will be your rear guard.

The Psalmist said, “Thy word have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against you.”  The word will keep you clean, and pure.

The word is what Father God desires to say to all mankind.  He knows everything and owns everything. It is His world. He inspired all the words of the Bible. It is His story.

 Jer.15:16 ( Don’t forget what Jeremiah said)”Thy words were found, and I did eat them, and the word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of my heart.” Father God responds and gives rest to His children who know his word and is secure in Him.

2: Peter1:3 the word says he has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness; through the knowledge of Him, that has called us to glory and virtue.  We get His knowledge by hearing what He has to say. It is a great thing to be able to apply His knowledge to your situation. I am trying to tell you God wants to talk to you through His word today.

The entrance of the Word brings light. Has it entered you, my friend? Is your path lit up? It should be.

How are things, how is your life? Listen as I tell you about God’s plan and see if it is working well for you. And if not, you are probably missing out on what He is saying.

If the Word has priority in your life, it will shine a light on your path. Your thinking will change for the better, and you will make better decisions and better choices in life. That will help you to prosper in every area of your life.

The Word will show your feet where to step, and it will keep you on the right path. Even a flashlight can be king in a dark room.

Have you thought of the Word as power for life? It can be. It powers my life. The Lord quickened the Word to me years ago, and I have ordered my life by it. God’s Word is the greatest treasure and the greatest value of my life. It has delivered everything that it’s promised.

Psalms12:6,” the words of the Lord are pure words as silver tried in a furnace of earth purified seven times.” That’s big.

Think about the power of the Word. When your heart is full of the Words of God, it will overcome your old sorry, sinful life.

If you have a sin problem, the infilling of the Word in your heart will push it away. It leaves very little room for sin.

Ps119:89, “Forever, O Lord thy word is settled in heaven”. Let’s talk about this. It is a rope you can hang on to, an anchor that will secure you and a stabilizer that will keep you in balance.

Isaiah 40:8, “The word of our God shall stand forever.”

Matt 24:35 Jesus said, “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my word shall never pass away.”Nothing else has this kind of shelf life..

John 14:24 “Jesus said, and the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s which sent me.” We could say, all of the heavens back His Word.  I heard a statement from a Rabbi that goes something like this, “the words of men that represent God today have overpowered and overshadowed the Word of God.” Men are starving us out. There is a true famine of the true Word of God.

John 4:24 Jesus said, God is a spirit.” Jesus said My Word is a Spirit, and it is Life, so the Life of God flows out of the Word of God to us.  Paul called him The Invisible God in Col 1:15

God is a Spirit, so His Spirit, His Word must touch our spirit and influence our flesh to work.  If you pick up His Words and run with them, you will score every time.

John 17:7Jesus said,” Father I have given them the words that you gave me. I finished the work that you gave me to do”. Think about that. Jesus gave you the Words of Life, for your life.

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