5-31-2022 Devotion: Promises Day 7

 Matthew 17: 20: "If ye have faith as a grain of a mustard seed, ye shall shall say to this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you." I have seen this verse misused over the years. If you believe that Jesus was giving you some type of special power to do the impossible,e.g., move a mountain, you have been deceived. However, when understood in context, this is a beautiful promise for His people. True faith, by Christ’s definition, always involves surrender to the will of God. What He was teaching here is nothing like positive-thinking psychology. He was saying that both the source and the object of all genuine faith—even the weak, mustard-seed variety—is God. And “with God nothing will be impossible” (Luke 1:37). Also, this verse must be read in conjunction with 1 John 5: 14, what we ask for must be "according to His will." When we embrace a complete surrender to His will, and see the source of our faith as in Him, our mustard seed faith when praying in connection with His will, will bring the impossible into reality. 

5-30-2022 Devotion: Promises Day 6

 “Come unto me, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28)  The Lord Jesus Christ has the authority to invite people to Himself. He does not extend His invitation to the strong but to the weary and burdened. Jesus uses the language of the wisdom tradition, calling the burdened to Himself as the incarnate wisdom of God. The strong don't need the Lord, it is the lost sinner that needs Him. This is not about a promise of ease of life. No, this is about receiving spiritual rest from your labor to try and make yourself right with God. Some will take this Scripture out of context to say, "Come to Jesus and you will have it easy." There are some groups that practice legalism in an effort to earn their favor and rest with God. It won't work. Those people are left alone, "to go to hell for their trouble." We are to see ourselves as lost broken worthless sinners, and hear Christ's call to come to Him. If you hear that call, respond immediately and enter into His spiritual rest. 

Playing Church Part 2

 

Paul, writing to the Galations, said, "I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ... If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed" (Gal. 1:6-9). Then Paul wrote to Timothy, saying, "Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away" (II Tim. 3:5). Again he said, "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears" (II Tim. 4:3). The average person attending church today goes through a form of worship. His heart is not touched, and he goes back home or to work to live the same life he always lived. The Gospel is one thing, and one thing only, as stated in I Cor. 15:1-4, "Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand... For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures." The Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, or the Gospel of God, is the fact that Christ died on the cross as our Substitute, was buried as our Scapegoat, rose as our Justifier, and is revealed to the heart by the Holy Spirit. The Gospel is good news only to a guilty, lost sinner. If a sinner never stands before God guilty, with his mouth shut, which indicates he acknowledges he is guilty, the Gospel never becomes good news to that individual. In the average congregation today you do not find guilty sinners. For a sinner to be awakened to the fact he is lost is something unheard of in the average church. They have played church so long, and folks have gotten use to playing church, until they do not want anything else. Then when Holy Spirit conviction falls upon that audience, rebellion against God and His Word begins to be manifested. They have played church so long in their empty religious profession, until when a lost sinner comes into their midst, it is something unheard of. In the average seminary and Bible school they know nothing about lost sinners, or sinners being awakened to their lost condition. This has all resulted in bringing in "another gospel." This "new gospel" is a new type and kind of preaching. It employs the same language, but its content is not the same and its emphasis is not on total depravity, Holy Spirit conviction, and blood redemption in Christ. Its emphasis is on decision for Christ; they know nothing about Holy Spirit conviction and Bible repentance. They will use such expressions as old-time, sin-convicting or mourners' bench revival or heaven-sent revival, but they mean additions to the church and emotional arousement. When you begin to preach and drive the truth home to the hearts of individuals under the power of God's Holy Spirit until they see they have no foundation to rest their hope on, they will rise up in rebellion against you. The Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, which is "the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth," will not bargain with the world. God does not run a bargaining counter. The glory of Adam's flesh must and will pass away, must and will come to an end. The Holy Spirit must and will wither the flesh of every sinner, whether in or out of the church in bringing that individual to Christ. He will come to the end of all flesh, because Gal. 6:14 says, "God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world." When God gets ready to save a sinner, He sets aside everything that sinner is by nature, or ever hopes to be, and makes a new creation. Salvation is wrought in the heart by the Holy Spirit through the Word. Paul said in Gal. 2:20, "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God..." Brother, a sinner coming to Christ comes by the way of death. Salvation is a resurrection from death unto life. You don't play church under Holy Spirit conviction; Holy Spirit conviction breaks up the sinner's playhouse, and that sinner is made to face the fact of his own depraved, lost, wicked, corrupt condition out of Christ, and he is brought to the end of all flesh. The Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ recognizes that the sinner is under the law, has transgressed the law, and God's Word says, "The soul that sinneth, it shall die" (Ezek. 18:4). The Gospel recognizes every sinner as guilty, judged guilty, and the sentence is death, but the Gospel has made provision for that guilty sinner in the death and resurrection of our blessed Lord. Christ died for guilty sinners, but the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus means nothing to that sinner who has never been convicted by the Holy Spirit and made to see and made to feel the keen sword of justice and the sword of total depravity in the depths of his own heart. That sinner will continue to play church until he sees the depths of wickedness in his own heart, and that his own soul is just a bottomless pit of Hell. The Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ recognizes the totally-depraved condition of every man and does not seek to mend or add to or make over or renovate that life, but the Gospel demands and gives a new creation in Christ Jesus. It is the work of the Holy Spirit to make the blessings of the atonement effective and real in the hearts of God's children. But the average church member today has no clear concept of salvation in Christ: it's a "hope so," a "maybe so," a "think so;" and they live under the supposition that maybe they will be saved and go to Heaven when they die. This "new gospel," or "another gospel" that is being preached today, is not opposed to the human race, but rather friendly, and is the source of oceans of good clean fun and innocent enjoyment. The emphasis today is the church for the young people is on the social life. I received an invitation to join the softball league for the boys of our church life. Some of the churches will not allow boys to play on their ball team unless they are members of that church; they use that as a means to get the boys to join the church. What is this, but playing church! That group of boys is on the road to Hell - playing church! It is said that old Nero fiddled while Rome burned - how many of us preachers are playing church when our folks are on the road to Hell and don't know it! There is only one way to hold our young people to the church - preach the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ under the power of God's Holy Spirit until they are awakened to the fact that they are lost and doomed and damned and ought to go to Hell, and then turn to Christ for salvation. Then they are made new creatures in Christ Jesus (II Cor. 5:17). They will not love the world or the things in the world (I John 2:15-17) This "new gospel" preached today does not interfere with Adam's life, nor does it seek to change it, but lets the individual live for his own pleasure. They say, "We must direct the life of the individual." Therefore, they take delight in singing choruses and watching religious movies, instead of singing cabaret songs and drinking hard liquor; and today the converts of Hollywood are going a step farther and putting "be-bop" or "rock and roll" tunes to many of the religious hymns to attract the young people. Furthermore, they are making a move to update our church music, leaving out all the "Blood" songs, the songs of redemption and songs of our Redeemer. This "new gospel" puts emphasis on enjoyment, though the fun is now, they say, on a higher moral plane, if not intellectually. The "new gospel" brings the world into the church to hold its young people, to fill its pews, and to raise its finances. They continue the game of "playing church" while souls slide down to Hell without warning! The Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ demands a complete abdication, surrender, and forsaking of everything in the heart that they might win Christ. Paul said in Phil. 3:7, 8, "But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ." Then Christ, speaking to a group of Pharisees, said in Luke 14:33, "So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple." He said again in Luke 9:23, "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me." These are the demands of the Gospel; you will meet those demands or never be saved. You can't, within yourself; they must be wrought in the heart by the Holy Spirit. This "new gospel" preaches similarities and makes no unpleasant demands, but offers the same things the world does, only on a higher plane. This new gospel seeks to give the sin-mad world what it clamors after on a religious basis. Today, if you are religious, attend your church, do the best you can, they'll preach you into Heaven when you die. But I want you to get this one thing - the cross is a symbol of death. Take the cross out of the Gospel, and you have no power. That is exactly what has been done today. Holy Spirit conviction, which is an ancient mystery, reveals to the sinner his state of corruption, his total depravity, his sentence of death, and the cross stands for the abrupt end of a human being. That sinner must die; he must be slain by the Eternal Spirit of God, and brought to the end of all flesh. Very few know what I mean by that statement. Listen, sinner, before you come to the place of death, after which you are raised to new life in Christ, you have actually said good-bye to the world, you have said good-bye to your family, you have said good-bye to your friends, you have said good-bye to yourself, because you are not coming back. You are not walking down the aisle making a profession of faith to have your life redirected or reconsecrated. You are going to the place of death; you are going to die. You are going to tear up all your blueprints of your life. The person that we once knew, we will never know again. The Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ makes and knows no compromise, bargains with nobody, spares nothing because the glory of man and all that man is in the flesh must be withered and put to death by the Holy Spirit. The Gospel does not and will not try to keep on good terms with anybody; it strikes swiftly and hard, and when the Gospel under the power of God's Holy Spirit has finished its work, the man you once were is no more: you are a new creation in Christ Jesus. This the world hates and fights and despises - the Gospel of the grace of God - I mean, the religious world with religious leaders. Adam's race is under the sentence of death and must die: there is no way of escape. God cannot wink at or pass over any sin. It must be paid for by a Substitute, and that Substitute is Christ; such salvation can only be wrought in the heart by the Holy Spirit. Any type of evangelism or preaching or teaching which puts the emphasis on the good of man or the will of man, and seeks to placate man and lift man up on a higher plane by his decision or by development or teaching or by culture misses the Christ of the cross, leaves the sinner more blinded than he was, and damns every soul that it touches. Brethren, we have played church so long until we don't know anything else, do we? The evangelist or preacher, or personal worker, so-called, who seeks to bring business men or anyone else into the church by telling them it is the manly thing to do has missed Christ altogether, and therefore makes the individual twofold more the child of Hell than he was before. Any individual must, under the convicting power of the Holy Spirit, recognize himself condemned, lost, and at the mercy of Jehovah God. He must forsake everything that he has, leave nothing covered, defend nothing, excuse nothing. He must bow his head, admit that he is lost, condemned to die, and realize that Christ died for him. By the grace of God he must throw himself completely upon the mercy of God in Christ and ask God to save him. The cross that ended the earthly life of our Lord puts an end to the sinner. The resurrection power that raised Christ from the dead raises the sinner to new life in Christ. This is God's Word. How far short we have come today! For God's sake, let's quit playing church, quit drawing our breath and drawing our salaries and letting our people go to Hell. Let's quit being children and trafficking in the souls of men. Let's preach for Holy Spirit conviction, Bible repentance, and regeneration by the power of the Holy Spirit and a new creature in Christ Jesus our Lord.

5-29-2022 Devotion: Promises Day 5

 The Lord Jesus Christ taught: "Ask, and it shall be given you: seek, and ye shall find: Knock, and it shall be opened to you." (Matthew 7: 7) This is a promise regarding answered prayer. The tense of the verbs is to keep asking, keep seeking, and to keep knocking. There is a parallel verse in Luke 13: 9-13. The Luke text states that if you keep asking, seeking and knocking, the Lord will not withhold the Holy Spirit from you. These verses can be taken out of context (and they usually are by prosperity teachers). This is not about asking for a new car, new job, a spouse, or a better life. Instead, the Lord Jesus Christ is telling us to keep seeking Him and if you do, you will receive salvation and the blessings of a Spirit-filled life. At a later time, I will discuss what a Spirit-filled life is, but for now, know that it is about you seeing yourself as a worthless sinner that all you do to contribute to your salvation is to bring your sin. When we understand the truth behind Bible promises, we can see how they are guaranteed. No one that comes to the Lord Jesus Christ will ever be cast away. Don't let cheap charlatans who want your money steal the truth behind these verses.

5-28-2022 Devotion: Promises Day 4

 Today, look at a promise made by the Lord Jesus Christ: “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?  Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.  Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.  But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." (Matthew 6: 25-33) These verses have a central point. We are to make God’s Sovereign rule, and a right relationship with Him, the highest priority in life. Worry is inconsistent with this priority; it doubts the Sovereignty or Goodness of God and distracts from the true goals of life. God will meet all the needs of those who risk all for Him. It is not a 50/50 proposition. This is about being fully committed to the Gospel message and making Jesus Christ Lord of all your life. When you do, this promise from our Lord will manifest in your life. Again, don't fall into the prosperity cult trap. The Lord promises to meet your basic needs but it is not a formula to gain earthly riches.

5-27-2022 Devotion: Promises Day 3

 Today, we consider the promise God made to Abraham: "I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee...." You may ask what has that to do with me? Galatians 3: 13-14 states: "Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith." We receive the blessings promised to Abraham. Don't fall into the false prosperity gospel trap. The blessing we receive is salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ. Some will "cherry pick" a verse, take it out of context, and have you focus on material possessions. People that do this are lost and headed to a devil's hell. The promises are about the Lord Jesus Christ. When we have Christ, we have everything. We have all we need to live a life well pleasing to the Lord. Thank God for the promise for the promise to Abraham and thank God for the Lord Jesus Christ who has redeemed us from the curse of the law.

5-26-2022 Devotion: Promises Day 2

 Today, we look at the promise made by God to Noah. Genesis 9: 12-15: And God said: “This is the sign of the covenant which I make between Me and you, and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations: I set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth. It shall be, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the rainbow shall be seen in the cloud; and I will remember My covenant which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh." God makes a promise to Noah to never flood the earth again. The rainbow is the sign of the covenant promise. This is why the Homosexuals have tried to adopt the rainbow as their symbol. Do you think it is an accident that they would use a symbol of God's promise? Of course not! This is being done to mock God. If you go to a church that supports Gay marriage or a minister that does not call it out for the sin that it is, you should leave immediately. No one is a Christian that embraces an abomination to God. Leviticus 18: 22: "You shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It is an abomination." God's Words, not mine. Let me also be very clear, homosexuality is not what sends someone to hell. It is rejecting the Lord Jesus Christ and the Gospel message that sends people to hell.

5-25-2022 Devotion: Promises

 Today, we begin a 30 day look at the promises of God..Herbert Lockyer wrote what I consider the definite work on the subject. He found over 7000 promises from God. Samuel Johnson stated that "A promise is the declaration of some benefit to be conferred. Webster's Dictionary gives us this definition: "One's pledge to another to do or not to do something...." God made this promise in the Garden of Eden: "I will put enmity between thee and the woman and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise His heel." Satan was responsible for the entrance of sin into the world. I take great comfort that the fall did not catch our LORD by surprise. As soon as the event happened in the Garden, God was ready with His promise.  There would be a curse on Satan. There was a plan for the redemption of men's souls before the foundation of the world. Whatever you are facing, God is in front of it.

5-24-2022 Devotion: Purposes

 We conclude looking at the purposes of prayer by considering the words of our Lord Jesus Christ. The purposes of God in prayer as derived from Jesus’ instruction can be summarized as:

1 To reveal His Fatherhood: We are to acknowledge God as our Father;

2 To proclaim His holiness: We are to sanctify, i.e. separate His name from profane or common use, His name and proclaim His perfect holiness;

3 To affirm His plan for mankind: We are to ask that His kingdom come and His will be done in earth which includes us individually, in our community, in our city, state, and nation;

4 To establish Him as our source for our needs: We are to ask for His provision in meeting our daily needs;

5 To demonstrate His continuing love for us in our imperfection and to enable His community to operate without division: We are to seek forgiveness for transgressions while forgiving those who have offended us; and

6 To acknowledge God’s Sovereignty over evil: We are to ask for deliverance from evil. 

Now, slowly read the Lord's Prayer thinking about each word. Be blessed from the teachings of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Today, we conclude our study on the purpose of prayer. Every time I read what we call the "Lord's Prayer" I am amazed at its depth and content. It includes prayer acknowledging the holiness of God, the Sovereignty of God and the grace and mercy of God. Many great Christians have included a reading of the Lord's Prayer in their daily prayer time. John Wesley spent two hours daily in prayer, and commonly said that ‘God does nothing but in answer to prayer.’ Martin Luther said, ‘If I fail to spend two hours in prayer each morning, the devil gets the victory through the day. I have so much business I cannot get on without spending three hours daily in prayer.’ Prayer is essential to the Christian life.

5-23-2022 Devotion: The Lord’s Prayer

 We continue our study on the purpose of prayer as seen from the Lord's Prayer as taught to His disciples. The next two lines recall the first portion of the synagogue prayer known as Kaddish, which says, ‘Magnified and sanctified be his great name throughout the world which he has created according to his will, and may he establish his Kingdom in your lifetime….’ The plural phrasing---‘Give us…forgive us…lead us’--- is characteristically Jewish, focusing on the group rather than the isolated individual.” As Christians, we have a tendency to think about ourselves individually and not part of a larger group. If you have been converted and Jesus Christ is the Lord of your life, you are part of the body of Christ. We should think more focusing on the entire body as opposed to our individual needs. This is not to say that we should not include personal prayers, but rather we should include more praying for groups. The body of Christ is worldwide and we need to remember that. Are you aware that Ukraine was a center for European evangelism? However, when Russia invaded Ukraine that restricted the work of spreading the gospel. This gave me a different perspective on the Russia (Gog and Magog in the Bible) invasion. Pray for the gospel to go forth from Ukraine. Think and pray for our brothers and sisters in the faith in persecuted lands.

Playing Church Part 1

 This written sermon was by Pastor L.R. Shelton, Sr. He was a Baptist preacher for years before he actually got saved. It has served as an inspiration to me for several of the sermons and articles I have written. 

Playing Church L. R. Shelton, Sr. 1967 BACK TO PRINTED SERMONS I want to bring you a special message on the subject, "Playing Church." I have never witnessed such in all my life as I have in these last few days, as I have watched people playing church. This carries us to the story found in the eleventh chapter of Matthew. John the Baptist was in prison. He sent some of his disciples to question the Lord Jesus Christ, and they came to Him and asked Him this question, "Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?" Then the Lord Jesus said unto them, "Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see." There before that group of disciples of John the Baptist the Lord Jesus opened the eyes of the blind, made the lame to walk, healed lepers, cleansed the vile, opened the ears of the deaf, raised the dead, and preached the Gospel. Christ considered this enough to convince John and said, "Blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me." After this group left, the Lord Jesus gave His estimate of John the Baptist, closing with this statement, "He that hath ears to hear, let him hear." Then He turned to the Pharisees and Sadducees and said to them, "But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows, and saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented. For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil. The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children" (Matt. 11:16-19). As we said, these words were addressed to the Pharisees and Sadducees, the religionists and churchgoers of Christ's day. He said to them, "Whereunto shall I liken this generation" of religious leaders? Then Christ answers His own question, "You religious leaders are like children sitting in the markets, calling unto their fellows, and playing church. You are just playing at the game. You are like a bunch of children who would sit down and play dolls or a game of marbles, or to imitate a dance. You are inventing everything in the world to try to attract the attention of your fellows. Here came John the Baptist fasting and preaching repentance, and you say he has a devil, or he's devil possessed: 'We'll not have him; we do not want his message. Who does he think we are - children.' " Christ said, "That's exactly what you are; just a bunch of children playing church." Then Christ said, "The Son of man came eating and drinking, and you say, Here is a gluttonous man, here is a drunkard; here is a man who is a friend of publicans and sinners. I came preaching the same message John did; you wouldn't have the truth under him, therefore you won't have it under My preaching. Therefore wisdom is justified of her children. You are just a group of children playing church, and you won't have the truth under any consideration." If you will read the remainder of the eleventh chapter of Matthew through the twenty-fourth verse, you will find that the Lord Jesus Christ pronounced judgment and woe upon that group of unsaved religionists who were just playing church.

This scene reminds me of the time when as a child I would get a group of children together and play church. I never dreamed that I would be a preacher, that God would thrust me into the ministry as He has today with the truth of God's Word and the Gospel of a sinner's salvation. As a child I would get a box for a pulpit, and the rest of the children would sit on the ground in a semicircle, while I stood on that box and preached to them. I would take a text and exhort them to give their hearts to Jesus. At the close of my sermon I would call for mourners, and one by one these children would come down to the front and give me their hand, making a profession of faith - playing church. I would then dismiss them; they would go to their homes and get extra clothes, then I would take them down to the creek and baptize them - playing church, We never thought anything about it, because I was brought up in the church from birth, and I did exactly what I had seen done in outward form. When we children grew up, we made professions of faith in a more serious manner in the church building, were then taken down to the baptismal pool and were baptized in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. The outward lives of most of us gave no evidence that we knew Christ. I for one reached the age of forty-three before I was ever convicted by the Holy Spirit that I was a lost sinner and came to Christ for salvation. But between the years of eleven and forty-three, twenty-five of these years were spent preaching. I was ordained by my church at the age of nineteen, and for twenty-five years I played church, only on a higher plane than when I was a child. Thank God, one day the Lord Jesus Christ broke up that church-playing and opened my heart to let me see that I was a lost sinner on the road to Hell and brought me to Christ for salvation. Yes - playing church! I am wondering, if the Lord Jesus Christ should come on the scene today and walk in our midst, whether He would not quote the same words, "You are like children playing church." We gather for services on a Sunday morning in what we call our Sunday School classes, and the opening of the class is taken up with discussion about the parties or dances of the week past, or planning for the socials for the week to come. Very little tine is given to the teaching of the Word. Then in the average class the Bible is not used, they have what is called the Sunday School Quarterly, if they haven't lost it. Down in the classes of smaller children you will find what they call Visual Aid; they are teaching those children with pictures and drawings, and talking to them about the birds and bees and flowers, and how to be good to each other and kind to dumb animals. Those children know nothing about the Word of God. What are we doing? Playing Church, just as I did when I was a kid - just as Christ said those Pharisees and Sadducees were doing. You face those teachers with the truth of God's Word and impress upon their hearts and minds the fact that they must become lost sinners before they can know the grace of God in salvation in Christ Jesus, and they think you are crazy, because this present religious generation knows nothing about Holy Spirit conviction. The average teacher in our Sunday Schools today smokes, dances, plays cards, goes to the movies and a great percent of them are now becoming television addicts. No time for prayer life; no time to develop spiritual life. Just playing church. Then step within our auditoriums at the hour of worship, and you will find the robed choirs; the presence of the Lord is not there, and about the only thing that stands out about the average song is the harmony and sentiment. The Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ is a foreign element in the vast majority of our present-day songs. What is the choir doing? Playing church. In connection with that, most of our congregational singing is not worship, but a device to create an interest or to work up the emotions, preparing them, for what they call the preaching service. My friends, I am trying to get you to think - are we just playing church? Then the preacher in the pulpit comes forth with his joke-telling because he thinks he has to entertain his audience. God never calls a man to entertain sinners on the road to Hell. Who ever heard of Spurgeon telling a joke in the pulpit? Who ever heard of men like the Apostle Paul, or the Apostle Peter, cracking a joke in the pulpit before dying men? No preacher would think about telling jokes to entertain folks at a funeral when the hearts of the loved ones are grieved and mourning. So it is, so it should be, that we preachers standing before the souls of men should be weeping and mourning over sinners going to Hell. Brethren, let's stop playing church! May the Spirit of grace fall upon us at this time and let us see the shallowness and the emptiness of our religious profession, and that the great percent of us are just entertaining our audience, drawing our breath , drawing our salaries and letting our congregations go to Hell. Then our invitations appealing to the minds of men to come forward, give their hearts to Jesus and join the church and be baptized is just playing church. Such converts are not saved, never have been saved, and never will be saved under such invitations. There is not one verse of Scripture in God's Word that would authorize or intimate that any preacher has the right and authority to open the doors of the church and receive members under any consideration. In the second chapter of Acts it says, "And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved." Someone asked me the other night, "Then how would you know when sinners got saved?" My answer was, "The old yellow dog in the backyard will know when a sinner gets saved." In our playing church today we have so confused the minds of the people into thinking that church membership is salvation - that the average individual today in his or her thinking does not and cannot separate church membership and salvation in Christ. It is one mad rush today to get members into the church. If you are invited to hold a meeting in any church, the one thing they are thinking of is getting a number of new members into their church; they are never thinking about the salvation of a lost soul from sin and from Hell, because they do not know the difference between church membership and salvation. It's just a game of playing church.

5-22-2022 Devotion: More Purpose

 We continue looking at the purpose of prayer. The Lord’s Prayer as taught by the Lord Jesus Christ provides us with a model to identify God’s purposes for His children to seek in prayer. Jesus was a Jew, read the Jewish Scriptures, and it can be inferred that He prayed in the method of first century rabbis. His instruction to His disciples would have encompassed a methodology of prayer that was Hebraic. This is consistent with the explanations of the attitude and nature of prayer. As Christians, we should have a proper theology of prayer and it should include understanding prayer from a Hebrew perspective. Jewish prayers generally began with words like "Our Father which is in heaven." We should not quickly pass by these words. Let us stop for a few minutes today and think that you have a Father in heaven that cares for you. He provides your next breath and sustains your heartbeat. Thank Him today.

5-21- 2022 Devotion: More Purpose of Prayer

 One of the purposes of prayer is for us to understand the nature and character of who God is. This purpose includes God’s provision to carry out His work on earth. For example, God demonstrated His “awesome capacity to help” in response to the prayers of George Muller. Muller received and disbursed $2,718,844 by the time of his death in 1898, primarily using the money for supporting the orphanages and distributing nearly two million Bibles and religious texts. He used the money to support other missionaries around the world, such as Hudson Taylor. Through all this, Muller never made requests for financial support, nor did he go into debt. Many times, he received unsolicited food donations only hours before they were needed to feed the children, further strengthening his faith in God. Every morning after breakfast there was a time of Bible reading and prayer, and every child was given a Bible upon leaving the orphanage. The children were dressed well and educated and Muller even employed a school inspector to maintain high standards. Muller understood that God was his source and through prayer, the needs of the ministry were satisfied. 

5-20-2022 Devotion: Purpose of Prayer

 Today, we will begin a few days looking at the purpose of prayer. The purposes of prayer are as broad and diverse as there are individuals that pray. To many, prayer is an opportunity to ask God for their wants or for deliverance from their enemies. Even though prayer is more about introspection than merchandise, seeking God for His assistance in time of need is well documented in the Scriptures. The seeking of Divine benefits should still be accompanied by self-examination and introspection.  The emphasis must be placed on God’s purpose for prayer and not our own. This is critical to a proper understanding for prayer. If we believe it is about our needs, then we will have missed the mark of understanding the purpose of prayer. It is about the character of God to provide for His children, to seek and save the lost, and to bring about His will on earth. We must never allow our circumstances to divert us from the true purpose of prayer. As explained by Rabbi Shraga Simmons:

“If prayer is solely for our benefit, then why (you may ask) does Jewish prayer always begin with praise of G-d? The answer is not because G-d has a frail ego and needs our endorsement. Rather, the purpose of this praise is to sensitize us to G-d's awesome capacity to help.”

5-19-2022 Devotion: Last on Attitude

 Today, we conclude our look at the proper attitude in prayer. One may continue in the attitude of prayer throughout the day as we are to be obedient to Him regardless of the function, we are performing in the material world. Observant Jews are constantly reminded of God's presence and of their relationship with God, because they are continually in an attitude of prayer toward Him. The first thought in the morning, even before they rise from bed, is a prayer thanking God for returning their souls to them. The Jews offer prayers that are recited before enjoying any material pleasure, such as eating or wearing new clothes; prayers to recite before performing any commandment, such as washing hands or lighting candles; prayers to be recited upon seeing anything unusual, such as a king, a rainbow, or the site of a great tragedy; prayers to be recited whenever some good or bad thing happens; and prayers to recite before going to bed at night. In sum, our attitude in prayer is to be that of submission to the will of God and continual introspection. “Hebraic prayer is active; it is the emotional well-spring that must gush forth in action.  It is emotion in motion.” This is to be maintained during our waking hours. An understanding of this proper attitude in prayer will assist us to live our lives continually before the Lord. Why is learning to pray like a Jew important? The short answer is that our Lord Jesus Christ was raised as a Jew and it was how He prayed. If we are His disciple, we should follow Him, and that includes how we pray.

5-18-2022 Devotion: More Attitude

 Today, we continue with our study of the proper attitude in prayer. Another issue concerning the attitude of prayer involves the question of how often should one pray concerning a particular issue: faith versus persistence. For example, one might advocate based on Scripture, that when you pray believing you shall receive, you have received even without seeing the manifestation of the answer. Another might contend that one should keep praying or requesting until the answer is observable. One can see that when the proper attitude of introspection and submission is present, the difficulty disappears. When I pray, I believe I have received although what I have received may not be what I sought. In fact, the answer may represent something currently not capable of being understood. Further, I may pray with importunity (persistence) as I am to earnestly be in a place of self examination before God. As I seek God in prayer it is not inconsistent for me to believe that I have received something I may not yet understand while at the same time continue to seek God by further submitting myself in prayer until I do have comprehension. The key is that obedience precedes understanding; I am to obey regardless of my lack of understanding. Prayer is much more than what you are seeking. It is about your submission to God's perfect will and acknowledging His Sovereignty. The more time you spend in prayer, the less concerned you are over the thing you sought originally.

5-17-2022 Devotion: Attitude

 Today, we will begin looking at the proper attitude in prayer.  “Attitude” has been defined as a state of mind or a feeling; a disposition. An appreciation of what is occurring during prayer will assist one to understand the proper attitude to be practiced. Some see prayer as a time to manipulate God into fixing their respective dilemmas. If the correct words are said often enough, God will be compelled to answer according to the dictates of the one praying. This approach fails to achieve the correct attitude in prayer.  When we approach the Creator of the Universe, we are to have an attitude of yielding to His sovereign will. As stated by one scholar: “the Hebrew prays that his heart will be transformed in such a way that he will be fully prepared to accept what God has to offer.” This conflicts with the practice of many to pray without personal introspection. We should always remember to whom we are praying. Coram Deo is the Latin phrase that means "before the face of God." The proper attitude in prayer is a respectful, humble and submissive approach because of Whom we stand before. Let us never forget who He is.

5-16-2022 Devotion: Prayer of Worship

 Today, we look at the fifth category of prayer: 

5. Prayer of Worship:  We are to pray a prayer of worship by bowing ourselves (not necessarily physically although it is the recommended posture but certainly spiritually) to our Heavenly Father, Son and Holy Spirit and "kissing their collective hand." How do we do this? We do this by not rushing from the encounter. We express our love and adoration for all that God has done for us. We confess His Word as the truth in our lives. We proclaim our commitment to Him and the furtherance of His Kingdom. We acknowledge His Sovereignty and Providence. We do not seek to manipulate Him, but instead to be completely agreeable to whatever His will is in our lives. We are to prayerfully submit to and be desirous of His perfect will. The prayer of worship prepares us to live our lives in obedience to whatever comes into our life.  Remember, worship is about the Lord God and not about you. Too often what passes for worship today is a cheap excuse that sounds like a rock concert or a honky tonk. I remember being in a "revival" once that had a woman evangelist and she sang country style music with a little Jesus thrown in. It wasn't a revival. It was a concert. But that is what happens when you have unsaved people leading a church. Did anyone get saved? No! Was there any conviction of sin? No! It was four days of if you closed your eyes you would have thought you were in a country western bar. God help us. Worship is about Him not us.

Sixth Lesson of the Quarter: Holiness and Judgment

 The Holiness of God Part 6: Holiness and Judgment

This is Part 6 of a series on the Holiness of God. Each week we will study a different aspect of God’s holiness. When you have completed the series, you may experience a change in how you worship, speak, and pray.

Today's study is not on the Great White Throne Judgment as described in Revelations 20: 11-15. That judgment is reserved for unbelievers after the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. This lesson is on God's Holiness and Judgment that He brings on earth to a rebellious and unrepentant people. This topic is contrary to most teaching today that only speak about the love of God. Yes, He is a God of love, but He is also the God that can destroy. 

Consider the following verses:

1. Genesis 7: 21: "And all flesh died that moved upon the earth...." This is the result when God flooded the earth in judgment because "...God saw the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." God brought an end to the evil men, women, and children that lived on the earth.

2. Genesis 19: 24: Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven." The cry of their sin had come unto the LORD, and He rained destruction on the Sodomites killing them.

3. Exodus 12: 12: "For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and I will smite (destroy) all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD." This is the first Passover. Most know the story. The children of Israel had been in bondage for over 400 years and the LORD was going to break down Pharaoh and set the Israelites free. Death of the firstborn would be the judgment on the Egyptians that God would use to bring deliverance. 

The above passages express the idea that the patience of God can come to an end. When it does, severe judgment will come. Why don't we hear this type of preaching anymore? It is because preachers are more concerned about their jobs than truth. They are concerned more with not offending anyone because they might leave and not give money. When is the last time you ever heard a minister say to someone, "Are you saved?" Or "I'm concerned about your soul." You should ask your pastor to tell you how they got saved. If you don't hear about Holy Spirit conviction, personal responsibility and blood redemption, you can safely assume that minster is not a converted man. 

Not too long ago I attended a church board meeting that involved the local church vote for the church board that would be in charge of the business of the church. I had suggested that each candidate give a word of their testimony. Here were some of the responses:

1. I joined the church when I was a young person and I have been a member for over 50 years.

2. I started coming to this church with my family and I have worked as a Sunday School teacher, trustee and I have faithfully supported this church for over 20 years.

3. We were at a revival and my wife went forward and I went with her.

4. My life was messed up with drugs and sex and I knew I needed a change. So, I went forward and gave my heart tm Jesus.

5. I asked Jesus into my heart when I said the sinner's prayer.

6. I made a decision for Jesus when I was at Vacation Bible School.

As you read those "testimonies" what is missing? Repentance, conviction of sin, being broken by the Lord are all evidence that someone has had a real conversion. My point is that many churches today really don't believe in anything but the love of God. There is no real fear for themselves or their lost loved ones. If you really believed the gospel, how might you speak to those who you know are not saved?

I conclude with several Bible verses on the destroying power of God:

Deuteronomy 9:3

Know therefore today that it is the Lord your God who is crossing over before you as a consuming fire. He will destroy them and He will subdue them before you, so that you may drive them out and destroy them quickly, just as the Lord has spoken to you.

Lamentations 2:8

The Lord determined to destroy

The wall of the daughter of Zion.

He has stretched out a line,

He has not restrained His hand from destroying,

And He has caused rampart and wall to lament;

They have languished together.

Jeremiah 15:6

“You who have forsaken Me,” declares the Lord,

“You keep going backward.

So I will stretch out My hand against you and destroy you;

I am tired of relenting!

Isaiah 13:6

Wail, for the day of the Lord is near!

It will come as destruction from the Almighty.

Zephaniah 1:15

A day of wrath is that day,

A day of trouble and distress,

A day of destruction and desolation,

A day of darkness and gloom,

A day of clouds and thick darkness

Ezekiel 5:14

Moreover, I will make you a desolation and a reproach among the nations which surround you, in the sight of all who pass by.

Joel 1:15

Alas for the day!

For the day of the Lord is near,

And it will come as destruction from the Almighty.

1 Corinthians 1:19

For it is written,

“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,

And the cleverness of the clever I will set aside.”

James 4:12

There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and to destroy; but who are you who judge your neighbor?

1 Corinthians 3:17

If any man destroys the temple of God, God will destroy him, for the temple of God is holy, and that is what you are.

There are many more verses but the point is made. Time is at hand. We must preach the truth and not delay. I close with the story of how D.L. Moody delayed giving people the opportunity to be saved and told them to come back the next night. However, the Chicago fire broke out and many died, some who Moody had told to wait. Read the following except and don't delay to press the gospel to the lost:

 

D.L. Moody: The Great Fire and the Last Altar Call

3/26/2018

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The Great Fire of Chicago began about 9 pm Sunday, October 8, until early Tuesday, October 10, 1871.  This rapidly spreading fire killed approximately 300 individuals, destroyed roughly 3.3 square miles Chicago, and left over 100,000 residents homeless.  This devastating fire would greatly impact the life of American evangelist D.L. Moody.

It is believed that the Great Chicago fire spread so quickly because wood was the main building material used in Chicago. This included the building frames, walls, shingles, and even the sidewalks.  To make matters worse, roofs that weren’t topped with wooden shingles were made of flammable tar.  Once the fire started, there were only 185 firefighters with 17 horse-drawn steam engines available to protect the entire city.  The firemen themselves were already worn out from fighting fires earlier in the week and were initially sent to the wrong location.
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Moody’s church was destroyed, as was his family’s home and the homes of many of his congregation.  Moody himself said that he was able to save nothing but his reputation and his Bible.  But there was a more disturbing aspect to the Great Chicago Fire that involved Moody, however. 

D. L. Moody held his usual service the Sunday evening the fire broke out.  At the close of the service, he asked his congregation to evaluate their relationship to Christ and to return the following week to make a decision.  This, he thought, would give them time to really think things over and result in a lasting decision.  He wanted to make sure that they were sure about accepting Jesus Christ, not wanting to pressure them into making a decision they wouldn't stick with.  Sounds reasonable, doesn't it?
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While Ira Sankey was singing the closing hymn, it was drowned out by the sound of fire trucks and church bells.  To his dying day, Moody regretted delaying their decision to the following Sunday. 

5-15-2022 : Corporate Prayer

 Today, we look at the fourth category of prayer:

4. Corporate Prayer: Peter and John were arrested and brought before the Sanhedrin to answer the charges that they were preaching in Jesus' name. They were threatened and commanded not to speak of Jesus again. They refused to obey the authorities because they were in conflict with God's Word and were subsequently released. The prayer offered for them is an example of corporate prayer: they confess God's Sovereignty; they confess God's Creations; they confess God's Providence; they confess that Jesus is God's servant and holy; they ask for boldness to preach God's Word; and they ask for God to heal and perform miracles though the Name of Jesus. It is interesting to note what they did not pray for: that they would be delivered; that they would have an easier way of life; that they would have special purpose; and that they would have their best life now.  Their prayer was for the furtherance of the kingdom of God and not their personal kingdoms. The result: the place was shaken and they were filled again with the Holy Spirit and spoke the Word of God boldly (this was an answer to their prayer). As in all prayer, corporate prayer should be about the kingdom of God and the furtherance of His purposes not ours.

5-14-2022 Devotion: Categories Part 3

 Today, we look at the third category of prayer:

3. Prayer of Commitment:  The prayer of commitment taken from 1 Peter 5:7: "Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. The word "casting" means to cast, to throw or cast upon. The tense of the participle “cast” is aorist and that means it is characterized by its emphasis on simple or singular action in the past.  In plain English this means that it is a definite act. You could write it down on a calendar; you could remember the date each year as an anniversary. It is not a general, "I know it all will work out some day" attitude. To get a visual of this process, one could imagine someone fishing on the side of a lake. The person holds his or her rod and casts the line into the middle of the lake. Now the illustration ends here because in real life, the person fishing reels the line back to the place of casting. We are going to cast and cut. We cast or roll over our cares to the Lord and then we "cut the line" and never have to receive them back again. This type of prayer is a release of those burdens that attempt to weigh us down and prevent us from following the Lord.

5-13-2022 Devotion: Categories Part 2

 Today, we look at the second category of prayer: 

2. A Prayer of Faith: Jesus said, "Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them." This verse describes the prayer of faith. One needs to grasp the idea that Jesus' Words are spiritually alive and not dead; John wrote that Jesus spoke these Words to His disciples and He speaks them to His disciples today. The word "believe" means to "believe, have faith in, trust." What are we to trust in? We are to have trust in Jesus' Words; we are to believe that what He said in this verse is in fact His Words as recorded by John; and if so, they are eternal Words that can be relied on. The word "believe" is a verb in the present tense, imperative mood and active voice. This means that it is a command to do something which involves continuous or repeated action. This means that you are commanded (not requested) to believe and keep believing until you receive the answer to your prayers knowing that if they are according to His Word, the result is guaranteed. It should be recognized that it is quite impossible to command someone to have a mental belief, but it is obviously possible to command someone to act faithfully, i.e. to demonstrate trust. We are to continue to act faithfully regardless of our perceived response to our prayers from a Sovereign God. We are to continue to trust in God's Word even when the circumstances look contrary and this will be observable through our actions. The prayer of faith is to stand in agreement with God’s Word notwithstanding the observable.  It is most important to understand the necessity of corresponding actions with prayer. Our standing in agreement with God is not motionless. There will be no faith without action; mental assent is insufficient alone.

5-12-2022 Devotion: Categories of Prayer

 Today, we begin looking at the categories of prayer. When discussing categories of prayer, one must guard against the creation of legalistic classifications. In a time of prayer one might find themselves flowing across all the divisions as set forth in this section. Not only would such an approach be acceptable, it should be encouraged. I remember watching Michael Jordan dribble a basketball full court and do an amazing dunk. As he would do so, he would not be thinking “right foot left foot right foot left foot.” He would be moving toward the goal appearing to have no identifiable pattern except to stay within the rules. After the principles are learned, the one seeking God in prayer would move toward the goal of communication with the Father without an identifiable method. The first category is:

1. A Prayer of Consecration: This type of prayer is a prayer of dedication. I don't know all the things that tomorrow holds, but I know who holds tomorrow in His hands. I trust His holding and therefore I can pray: "Lord, I commit my tomorrows into your hands. I trust you completely and I want my will to become your will. I want your perfect will in my life. I am Yours regardless of what comes my way." This prayer is a prayer of trust for the uncertainties of tomorrow. In this type of prayer, it is appropriate to pray "if it be Thy will," I shall be a missionary; a minister, or whatever You want me to be.

5-11-2022 Devotion: More Prayer

 Today, we look at points 4 and 5 that serve as a foundation to my teaching on prayer 

4. Prayer for God's help is a way that God has provided for man to seek His assistance. The act of prayer reminds man of his dependence on God and this brings glory to Him. “Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.” “Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.” (emphasis supplied) 

5. The Holy Spirit assists man in prayer and thus, God receives the glory for answered prayer. Prayer brings glory to God because when God answers prayer, and even if He doesn’t, He demonstrates His power over His creation. “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.” (emphasis supplied)

God will assist us in prayer which will in turn bring Him the most glory. The Westminster Larger Catechism describes man’s chief and highest end as being to glorify God. As we pray, we are fulfilling our highest end and fulfilling our intended purpose. However, this does not infer that all prayer is the same. There are different categories of prayer as the next section will examine.

5-10-2022 Devotion: Glory

 Today, we learn the third point of  this foundation of my teaching on prayer. 

3. God will receive the most glory when man, in an exercise of his will, depends on God for the grace and power to serve Him. “Whoever speaks [must do so] as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies-in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” “To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (emphasis supplied)

We see that God receives the most glory when we depend on Him and not something else. From the book of Job, we see that Satan and God may have a dialogue about a specific individual. Do you want our God to be able to say to Satan concerning you: "Have you considered My servant (insert your name)?" What a blessing to pray in a way that brings the most glory to God!

5-9-2022 Devotion: Prayer Foundations

 There are five points that serve as a foundation of this teaching on prayer:

1. God created man to display the riches of the glory of His grace. “Bring my sons from afar and my daughters from the end of the earth, everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made." “[I]n order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory.” (emphasis supplied)

2. Therefore, man has a duty, perhaps a de facto requirement, to act in a way that calls attention to the glory of God's grace. “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (emphasis supplied) 

When we spend time in prayer we are acting consistent with God's purpose in creating us. Prayer is a duty. We must not neglect to pray. Start with 5 minutes and build from there. This will change your life.

Fifth Lesson of the Quarter: The Holiness of Christ

The Holiness of God Part 5: Holiness of Christ

 

This is Part 5 of a series on the Holiness of God. Each week we will study a different aspect of God’s holiness. When you have completed the series, you may experience a change in how you worship, speak, and pray.

Luke 5: 4-11: "Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net. And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake. And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord. For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken: And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men. And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him."

During the Lord Jesus Christ's earthly ministry, there were times that His disciples reacted in fear in His Presence. We see this regarding the storm on the Sea of Galilee when they said, "Who then is this, that even the wind and sea obey Him?" Today, we study why Jesus' closet companions could fear Him and yet still desire to follow Him. 

First, notice how Peter's response ("Depart from me for I am a sinful man.") is similar to Isaiah's response ("I am undone."). Just as Isaiah said that he was a man of unclean lips, so Peter declares himself to be a sinner., even to the point of asking Jesus to depart from him. Like Isaiah, Peter recognized that he was in the presence of the Holy One. 

Second, the response of Jesus' disciples to His calming of the storm reveals something about the human heart. Sigmund Freud believed that the first step in the evolution of religious belief was the personalization of nature to mitigate the fear of natural forces.  As He got into the boat, His disciples followed Him. Suddenly, a violent storm arose on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves. But He was sleeping. So the disciples came and woke Him up, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to die!” But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, you of little faith?” Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea. And there was a great calm. The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this?—even the winds and the sea obey Him!” (Matthew 8: 23-27) If Freud's theory was correct, the disciples would have been relieved after the storm ceased. Instead, rather than being assuaged, the fear of the disciples was intensified because they were in the Presence of the One who is holy. More than fearing an impersonal force of nature, the human heart fears that which is holy. The disciples would not have had an explanation for how the Lord Jesus Christ calmed the sea. They would not understand the display of power they had witnessed. The disciples felt fear because they realized how very different Jesus was from them. They knew He was holy and they were not.

Third, sometimes unsaved people are uncomfortable around real Christians. This is not because we are holy, but because who we represent One Who is. As Christians, we should be a reminder to unbelievers about the reality of God and His Holiness. On occasion, someone has said a curse word around me only to apologize to me for their speech. I say it is not me to who the apology is due. Every believer knows there is a place where one can be vulnerable before the holiness of God while at the same time without fear in the Presence of Christ. By abiding in the Lord Jesus Christ, we are accepted into God's Holiness despite our natural fear of it as sinners.

Finally, let us remember the experience of John, the beloved disciple, when he met the risen Lord Jesus Christ: " And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last...." (Revelation 1: 12-17) What do you think about the description John provides under inspiration of the Holy Spirit? The Lord Jesus Christ is Holy and to be in His Presence is to be reminded of how unholy we are. I know people today in certain groups that think they are holy because of their dress. I believe these people, while sincere, are in a dangerous error. We are not holy except the holiness provided to us through the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ! I am thankful that when the Fathe looks at me, He sees the righteousness of His Son. 

Prayer Points

1. Praise the Lord Jesus Christ for His mighty power over all things, both visible and invisible.

2. Confess your pride and any trust you have placed in your works to be holy. Rely solely on the finished work of Christ.

3. Thank God for the grace given to us that we might believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.

4. Thank God for the gift of His Son that you might receive His Righteousness.

5. Ask God to use you to reach the lost and show them their need to be covered by the righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ.

5-8-2022 Devotion: Your Tongue

 Our mouths can get us in such trouble. A physical bruise will heal in a few days, but an ill word can leave a permanent scar. The tongue is small but deadly. It is good to pray for your tongue. May your words glorify God and be a blessing to others. 

Prayer for Our (My) Tongue

Blessed are You Lord God, Creator of heaven and earth;

You have created me with a tongue, 

One to speak good but it often speaks evil.

We are tempted to gossip, backbite and speak mischief.

Forgive us dear God for allowing our tongues 

To bless You and then curse those made in Your image.

We find it hard to control our tongues;

Sometimes we do not want to control our tongues;

Yet Your grace is sufficient to control our tongues;

We surrender our tongues to You; set a guard over our mouths.

We ask You to forgive our sins of speech

And cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Let us be slow to speak and quick to listen;

Let us work twice as much as we talk.

Let our mouths praise You, Bless You and 

Comfort and exhort our brethren.

In Your Name we pray,

Amen.

5-7-2022 Devotion: Praying for Your Family

 Today, we look at praying for your wife and children. The prayer for your "Ezer" is specifically for the wife. One day I will write a prayer for wives to pray for their husbands. Our family needs our prayers. The world is doing all it can do to steal our children. God wants us to stand firm in the faith and pray.

Prayer for My Ezer

Blessed be your Name Lord God

Who has not left me alone

But has blessed me with an ezer

To be my equal and my partner in life.

Help me to understand the role of my ezer

That I do not hinder or interfere with her God-given purpose.

Help me to encourage her as she walks in obedience to her calling

Given to her by You in Your Divine wisdom.

My ezer is strong and full of courage,

She is a mighty woman of God like Deborah,

She prays like Hannah,

And has the strength of Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, and Leah.

This day I affirm my delight in my ezer

She is my love and my joy.

I thank You Lord God for her blessing my life.

Amen and Amen.

Prayer for Children

Blessed Redeemer, may my children today have Your blessings and protection;

Give each one of them a heart to follow You.

Guard them from the enemy and direct their paths to Your righteousness;

Guide them with Your loving hand that they may follow You closely today.

May my sons be like Ephraim and Manasseh and

My daughters like Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, and Leah.

Keep watch over them I pray,

In Yeshua’s Name.

Amen.

5-6-2022 Devotion: Surrender

 Today, we look at the prayer of surrender. This is a key to living a satisfying life under the Lordship of Jesus Christ. As we surrender to Him, we rest in Him. As we rest in Him, we trust in Him. As we trust in Him, we surrender to Him. We live a life completely dependent on His grace and mercy. That is really your best life now!

Prayer of Surrender

Blessed are You Holy God

We now give our all to You,

Our bodies, souls, and minds together as one without division;

We give our time, talents, and families all to You.

We give our pasts, presents, and futures

All to You for guidance, forgiveness and safekeeping.

Whatever occurs to us today, we will trust in You.

Our very lives are in Your hands.

We thank You for the Torah.

You have provided truth to instruct us how to live for You.

Your ways are perfect.

May we walk in obedience to Your commands and bring Glory to Your Name.

It brings comfort to give our all to such a great God;

You are love. 

Yet, Your love for us remains a mystery.

May we show our love for You by studying and obeying the Torah.

Into Your Hands we commit our all

That Your name may be glorified.

Blessed be Yeshua.

In Your name I pray.

Amen and Amen.

5-5-2022 Devotion: Affirmation

 Today, we look at the "Prayer of Affirmation." This is not some prosperity gospel "name it claim it." This is a prayer that acknowledges who God is and what He has done for us. Speak the words from a grateful heart.

Prayer of Affirmation

Blessed are You Lord God

There is No God like unto You

Your mercy, grace and forgiveness

Is from everlasting to everlasting.

From the depths of our hearts

We praise and worship you with all that is within us.

You have been our fortress, our refuge, and our deliverer.

We confess our shortcomings, failures, and sins 

And admit that they are no way to thank You

For the goodness You have shown us.

We praise and adore You

That Your Torah (Bible) is true.

Your forgiveness and cleansing power knows no end.

We thank You for deliverance and protection.

May We live every day, every hour, every minute,

Every second to glorify You.

In the name of Yeshua, we pray.

Amen and amen. (Saying something twice in Hebrew means you are emphasizing its importance).

5-4-2022 Devotion: Prayer

 Today, I begin posting some sample prayers that are designed to serve as a springboard to your prayer time. Prayer is not so much about asking for things as it is building a relationship with God. We will start with a sample morning prayer and evening prayer. Speak the words slowly and reflectively.

Morning Prayer

Blessed Heavenly Father, we thank You and praise You

That You have protected us through the night

And mercifully restored our souls to us.

We are refreshed and ready for Your calling today.

As we follow Your commandments today

May we show the compassion and love of Christ

To one of Your creations today.

May our lives be a blessing to You today;

And also to someone who needs to see You in us.

No matter what occurs today, let us never forget that 

This is the day You have made and we will rejoice and be glad in it.

All power and authority is with You

And we will praise You today.

In Yeshua’s name,

Amen.

Evening Prayer

Blessed Holy One, my redeemer, God and King;

I thank You for Your guiding hand today

Your protection and faithfulness

To myself, my family, my church and the persecuted.

Allow us to lie down and rest this evening.

May our dreams not trouble our sleep

And may we have Your peace surrounding us.

Let us awake tomorrow refreshed

To do Thy service, trusting in Thy grace,

And mercy to carry us through the dark hours of the night.

All our love to You.

In Yeshua’s Name,

Amen.

5-3-2022 Devotion: He Will

 Psalm 62:11; "...power belongeth unto God." I think with so much fear, uncertainty, anger, frustration, and despair at every level these days on a local, national, and worldwide level, we need to recalibrate ourselves to the wonderful realty of the doctrine of God's Providence. It is a short and direct line from this important doctrine to how we live our lives and respond in difficult times. I would not want to leave the house, fly in a plane, drive my car, or go anywhere if I thought the outcome was left to chance. This is not fatalism. Fatalism believes things just occur randomly without any plan. That is the opposite of the doctrine of Divine Sovereignty. Sovereignty means that God is in charge. He will do as He wills and no person, thing, or devil can stop Him. I hope that gives you the comfort it gives me. I do not fear the economy right now. Many in my industry are in a doom and gloom mood. Not me, I trust the LORD! This is not a passive do nothing excuse to be lazy. To the contrary, believing in Divine Sovereignty encourages me to work as hard as I can and leave the results to Him.That is living a life of faith and it is good.

5-2-2022 Devotion: Liberation

 Ephesians 1: 11: "In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will...." I have heard people say, "I'm not comfortable with a view of divine sovereignty that takes away man's free will." However, Divine Sovereignty does not do that. He does not violate the will of any person. When one embraces Divine Sovereignty, it is the most comforting and liberating truth of all. I would not want to live in a world where God is not in charge. To me, that would be the most frightening terrifying existence possible. The fact that every single event in the universe fits perfectly into the will and purposes of our eternally kind, gracious, and good God, is a massive concept with massive benefits and implications. For example, I get a flat tire and I will be late for a meeting. I could get frustrated and that would not change anything. I prefer to believe that the flat tire was God's will and it kept me from being somewhere other than where I am. Maybe, someone ran a red light and would have hit me and I would have been injured. However, the flat tire kept me from that accident. All of a sudden life becomes much more peaceful because I am in God's hands and He is in charge. This was life-changing for me. Please join me!

Fourth Lesson of the Quarter: The Holiness of God Part 4: Holiness and God’s Name

 The Holiness of God Part 4: Holiness and God’s Name

This is Part 4 of a series on the Holiness of God. Each week we will study a different aspect of God’s holiness. When you have completed the series, you may experience a change in how you worship, speak, and pray.

Leviticus 24: 10-16: “And the son of an Israelitish woman, whose father was an Egyptian, went out among the children of Israel: and this son of the Israelitish woman and a man of Israel strove together in the camp; And the Israelitish woman's son blasphemed the name of the Lord, and cursed. And they brought him unto Moses: (and his mother's name was Shelomith, the daughter of Dibri, of the tribe of Dan:) And they put him in ward, that the mind of the Lord might be shewed them. And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Bring forth him that hath cursed without the camp; and let all that heard him lay their hands upon his head, and let all the congregation stone him. And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, Whosoever curseth his God shall bear his sin. And he that blasphemeth the name of the Lord, he shall surely be put to death, and all the congregation shall certainly stone him: as well the stranger, as he that is born in the land, when he blasphemeth the name of the Lord, shall be put to death.”

We have been studying the holiness of God, but we have not defined exactly what holy means. In this study, we will learn about what holiness is, and the necessity of holiness in our lives, especially in how it relates to God’s name. 

Holy has different meanings. Popularly, holy means moral purity and righteousness. While this is certainly true, it is the secondary meaning in Scripture. The primary meaning of holy in Scripture is “separate.” When the Scriptures speak of God’s holiness, it is primarily referring to God’s transcendence. “Transcendence is a theological term that, when referring to the Christian God, states that God is outside of the universe and is independent of it and its properties. God is ‘other,’ ‘different’ from His creation. He is independent and different from His creatures (Isaiah 55:8-9). He transcends His creation. He is beyond it and not limited by it or to it.”

In reading today’s passage, how does it help you to understand the degree God regards His name as holy? We read that an Israelite is put to death for curing the name of the LORD. This shows you how serious an offense it is to curse God. God holds His Name in such high regard that death was the appropriate penalty for cursing Him. Think about this word when you hear people dishonor God’s Name. 

We need to honor and hold sacred God’s Name. The Lord Jesus Christ taught us about the importance of God’s Name in prayer. In the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6: 5-15), the Lord Jesus Christ taught that “Hallowed be thy name” is the first petition of the prayer. It was not part of the formal address: “Our Father, which art in heaven.” Some believe that there is a connection between the first two petitions in the Lord’s Prayer: “Hallowed be thy Name” and “Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.” The logical connection is that the kingdom will not come, nor His will be done, until His Name is first revered by His people. If it was part of the formal address, it would have been, “Hallowed is thy name.” In the Ten Commandments, God commanded that His Name was not to be taken in vain ever. To blaspheme the LORD, is to commit an offense against His Holiness. How we use God’s name reveals our deepest attitudes about Him. If you have a flippant casual attitude toward His Name, you will have a flippant casual attitude about Him. If we are going to be a Christ disciple, we will reverence God’s Name. God’s people revere His Name. 

God demands that His children love and respect His Name. In prayer, worship and Bible study, we are to enter into the time with a deep sense of awe and respect the sacredness of the occasion. I urge you to take some quiet time just to meditate (literally: mutter to yourself quietly) on God’s Name and His Holiness. In doing so, we are demonstrating how serious the matter is and our respect for the living God. Respecting God’s Name in our private devotional life will support our living our lives as a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ. If we want to walk in holiness, start with how you treat His Name. 

Prayer

1. Praise God that He is both transcendent and close enough to you to hear your prayer and praise.

2. Confess ways you have not honored God’s Name as holy in thought, word, or deed. 

3. Thank God that the Lord Jesus Christ has revealed to you the priority off His Name in prayer.

4. Ask God to manifest His will in your life by His Holy Spirit through your reverence of His Name.

In these studies on the Holiness of God, I have attempted to call the believer to a deeper respect of God’s Name, His Holiness, and the sacredness of the experience of worship. As I write this, it is nine days before April 17, 2022, a day referred to by many as “Easter Sunday.” While this study is not on the subject of Easter, there are many ministers, pastors, church leaders that will have Easter Egg hunts on that day used to remember the celebration of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. Some may even have Easter bunnies as part of the children’s celebration.  Some will even have those egg hunts inside the sanctuary and then proceed to have a service celebrating Christ right after. I am of the opinion that those that have so little respect for the sacredness of the Lord Jesus Christ cannot possibly have the Holy Spirit inside them. Before you say I shouldn’t judge, I want you to know that the Apostle Paul had no difficulties calling out hypocrites and deceivers by name. Moreover, the Lord Jesus Christ had no difficulty calling the Pharisees hypocrites. The point is we must stand for truth. It is too important to just let these things occur without comment. If you attend a church that dishonors the name of God, leave now. There are assemblies of God-fearing believers waiting for you. Go find them.