4-12-2025 Devotion

 We have been looking at striving for personal holiness. From Jonathan Edwards' resolutions we find some guidance to achieve this type of holy walk. We have learned that we are to do all for the glory of God and put away all sin. This may involve a fight against inner corruption. One segment of American Christianity has a gnostic base; by this I refer to those that believe that their spirit is good because it has been renewed but their flesh is corrupt. The thinking goes that they can do whatever in the flesh that they want because God understands that it is just their flesh. This type of thinking is dangerous and un-Biblical. 

 

Edwards understood this and the following resolution explains the importance of fighting: "Resolved, never to give over, nor in the least to slacken, my fight with my corruptions, however unsuccessful I may be. (Resolution 56)." This means that we are to fight when our corruption seeks to sin. We are to fight the way an athlete might struggle in a wrestling match. Edwards exhorts to fight even if you fail. Never give up; never back down; and never forget that you are to be striving for holiness, i.e. being separated to God in every aspect of your life.

 

Today, remember to fight against anything that would tempt you to sin. Walk in love and resist the devil. Watch and pray to avoid temptation. This is a battle that you can win with God's help. Seek Him today for His grace to make this victory a way of life for you.

4-12-2025 Devotion

 We have been looking at striving for personal holiness. Jonathan Edwards' resolutions provide guidance to achieve this objective. The first section has focused on doing all for the glory of God. The second section of resolutions emphasize putting away all sin. You can either have God or sin, but you can't have both. Think about a fork in the road; one fork is the way of holiness with Jesus Christ and the other path is paved with the world and sin. You have a choice; but you can't do both. The true child of God will choose the holiness path and follow Christ. That is to be our destiny and desire.

 

Edwards stated the following: "Resolved, to inquire every night, as I am going to bed, wherein I have been negligent,- what sin I have committed,-and wherein I have denied myself;-also at the end of every week, month and year. Dec. 22 and 26, 1722. (Resolution 37)." This resolution will cause us to keep a close watch over our actions by daily considering which path we are on. Should we see that we have left the path of holiness in some way, we are to go back to where we made the error, repent and head down the highway of holiness. This daily review would prevent us from traveling too far down the wrong path.

 

Today, examine your walk. Which path are you on? Do you need to repent? Is all well with your soul? Wherever you are today, look honestly at your life to make sure that you are on the right path. Make sure you are on the highway of holiness with Jesus!

4-10-2025 Devotion

 We are looking at striving for personal holiness. Hebrews 12:14 says: "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord...." Yesterday we looked at one of Jonathan Edwards' resolutions that focused on doing all for the glory of God. We should want every part of our lives to be fully consecrated to God and bringing Him glory by how we live.

 

A second resolution by Edwards that focused on the glory of God was: "Resolved, never to do any manner of thing, whether in soul or body, less or more, but what tends to the glory of God; nor be, nor suffer it, if I can avoid it. (Resolution 4). We are to promote the glory of God and further, not to allow behavior in our presence that does not glorify God if we can. We are to speak against behavior that brings a reproach to the gospel. Have you ever known someone who professed to be a Christian, yet they practiced sin and thought they were spiritually OK? It can be very difficult and a challenge to approach someone who is in sin and confront them. However, we only have two choices: confront or depart. If we are going to confront, it should be done after much prayer. The confrontation must be for the person's own good as opposed to revenge or arrogance. The approach must be in love; and that love on your part brings glory to God. Understand that when you walk in love, you are bringing glory to God. 

 

Today be aware of your bringing glory to God by what you do, what you don't do, and by what you allow or don't allow. You have many ways to demonstrate God's glory today. So walk in love knowing that God is blessed by your striving for holiness. 

4-9-2025 Devotion

 We are going to spend some time focusing on personal holiness. Hebrews 12:14 says: "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord...." The word "follow" means to strive or pursue with vigor. Holiness is something that we are to be grasping and reaching for. Now some have taken holiness and reduced it down to a set of rules that involve how you dress and what electronics you have, i.e. television, movies or Internet. Holiness is so much more than man made rules; it is being separated to God in every aspect of our lives. We want to make sure that every part of our life is set apart to Him. When we do that, we are pursuing holiness.

 

Jonathan Edwards was a great preacher and theologian in the 1700's in America. Many consider him to be the best theologian born on American soil. He developed 70 resolutions to keep him striving for holiness. Over the next several days we will be looking at some of those resolutions. I have divided them into 6 categories. The first section is whatever you do, do it for the Glory of God. 1 Corinthian 10:31 says: "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God." Edwards' resolution number 1 said: "Resolved, that I will do whatsoever I think to be most to God' s glory, and my own good, profit and pleasure, in the whole of my duration, without any consideration of the time, whether now, or never so many myriads of ages hence. Resolved to do whatever I think to be my duty and most for the good and advantage of mankind in general. Resolved to do this, whatever difficulties I meet with, how many soever, and how great soever. 

Edwards wanted every part of his life to bring glory to God. How does your life bring glory to God? Does it bring glory to God? As we strive for personal holiness, let us commit to do all for His glory. Now we have a part to play in this striving; however, never forget that it is His grace that makes it possible. Today, thank Him for His grace and reach with all your might for holiness, i.e. a separated life that brings glory to the One who saved you!!

4-8-2025 Devotion

 Yesterday we looked at Romans 8:37, which says: "Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us." We saw that a conqueror was one that had gained the victory through Jesus Christ. But the verse says "we are more than conquerors." What does it mean to be more than something? The Preachers Sermon and Outline Bible explains it as follows: "No matter the circumstances and their severity, Christ will carry us through all, strengthening and encouraging us. We cannot lose, no matter the severity of the situation. Christ loves us and is going to look after and take care of us. The believer can rest assured, Christ protects him from the severest circumstances...."

Being more than a conqueror means that you can't lose. Think about an athletic event that the outcome was predetermined. If the outcome is determined then you know what is going to happen in the end. The same is true for us; the outcome has been determined. You can't lose with Jesus Christ. Nothing will be able to separate you from His powerful hand to hold you tight in the midst of troubles. He is the reason you can't lose and not any effort or merit from yourself. That is comforting news because if it depended on you, you might mess it up and lose. But you can't mess it up if you just follow Him!

 

Today know that you have victory because Jesus Christ won the victory for the Father and you are the beneficiary. Enjoy that victory by thanking the Father for loving you enough to send Jesus to die for your sins; thank Jesus for dying for you; and, thank the Holy Spirit for making Him real in your heart and granting you faith and repentance. You have much to be grateful for today. Let it show!

4-7-2025 Devotion

 We have seen that God is on the side of the believer (Romans 8:31). Since He is on our side, we are more than conquerors. Romans 8:37 states: "Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us." What does it mean to be more than a conqueror? The phrase "more than conquerors" is in the present tense and indicative mood. This means that Paul is describing a continuous statement of fact. We are in fact "more than conquerors." Do you feel like a conqueror? If you don't, that is OK because your feelings are irrelevant. Like in a court room, if evidence is ruled irrelevant, it means that it will not be considered because it has no bearing on the issue before the court. In the same way, your feelings about being a conqueror are irrelevant because you are already a conqueror.

 

Albert Barnes New Testament Commentary explains: "We gain the victory. That is, they have not power to, subdue us; to alienate our love and confi- dence; to produce apostasy. We are the victors, not they. Our faith is not destroyed; our love is not diminished; our hope is not blasted. But it is not simple victory; it is not mere life, and continuance of what we had before; it is more than simple triumph; it augments our faith, increases our strength, expands our love to Christ. The word used here is a strong, emphatic expression, such as the apostle Paul often employs, (comp. 2Co 4:17) and which is used with great force and appropriateness here."
 

Today, regardless of how you feel, you are a conqueror in Jesus Christ. You have the victory because He has already won the victory for you. Disregard your feelings and focus on Christ's victory until it becomes real to you. Christ has in fact won the victory and you are a beneficiary! 

Encore presentation: Understanding the Spirit Filled Life

 https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-ebnn7-1740d7d

Bible Study Acts 7: 31-60

 

Commentary of the Book of the Acts of the Apostles

By Dr. Barry L. Jenkins

Text Used: Legacy Standard Bible

Bible Study Acts 7: 31-60

Text:

31 When Moses saw it, he was marveling at the sight; and as he approached to look more closely, there came the voice of the [q]Lord: 32 ‘I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob.’ Moses trembled with fear and would not dare to look. 33 But the [r]Lord said to him, ‘Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground. 34 I have surely seen the oppression of My people in Egypt and have heard their groans, and I have come down to deliver them; [s]come now, and I will send you to Egypt.’

35 “This Moses whom they disowned, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge?’ is the one whom God [t]sent to be both a ruler and a deliverer with the [u]help of the angel who appeared to him in the bush. 36 This man led them out, doing wonders and [v]signs in the land of Egypt and in the Red Sea and in the wilderness for forty years. 37 This is the Moses who said to the sons of Israel, ‘God will raise up for you a prophet [w]like me from your brothers.’ 38 This is the one who, in the [x]congregation in the wilderness, was with the angel who was speaking to him on Mount Sinai and with our fathers; the one who received living oracles to pass on to you. 39 Our fathers were unwilling to be obedient to him, but rejected him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt, 40 saying to Aaron, ‘Make for us gods who will go before us; for this Moses who led us out of the land of Egypt—we do not know what has become of him.’ 41 [y]At that time they made a [z]calf and brought a sacrifice to the idol, and were rejoicing in the works of their hands. 42 But God turned away and delivered them up to [aa]serve the [ab]host of heaven; as it is written in the book of the prophets, ‘Did you present Me with slain beasts and sacrifices forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel? 43 You also took along the tabernacle of Moloch and the star of the god [ac]Rompha, the images which you made to worship. I also will remove you beyond Babylon.’

44 “Our fathers had the tabernacle of testimony in the wilderness, just as He, who spoke to Moses, directed him to make it according to the pattern which he had seen. 45 And having received it in their turn, our fathers brought it in with [ad]Joshua when they dispossessed the [ae]nations whom God drove out before our fathers, until the time of David. 46 David found favor in the sight of God, and asked that he might find a dwelling place for the [af]God of Jacob. 47 But Solomon built a house for Him. 48 However, the Most High does not dwell in houses made by human hands, as the prophet says:

49 

‘Heaven is My throne,
And earth is the footstool of My feet.
What kind of house will you build for Me?’ says the Lord,
‘Or what place is there for My rest?

50 

Was it not My hand which made all these things?’

51 “You men—stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears—are always resisting the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you. 52 And which one of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? They killed those who had previously announced the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become; 53 you who received the Law as ordained by angels, and yet did not observe it.”

Stephen Is Stoned to Death

54 Now when they heard this, they became furious in their hearts, and they began gnashing their teeth at him. 55 But being full of the Holy Spirit, he gazed intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God; 56 and he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened up and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” 57 But crying out with a loud voice, they covered their ears and rushed at him with one accord. 58 And when they had driven him out of the city, they began stoning him; and the witnesses laid aside their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 They went on stoning Stephen as he was calling out and saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!” 60 Then falling on his knees, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them!” And having said this, he [ag]fell asleep.

Verse by verse commentary:

Verse 31: “When Moses saw it, he was marveling at the sight; and as he approached to look more closely, there came the voice of the Lord:”

Can you imagine what Moses was thinking? Whatever the emotions, they did not stop him from moving toward the burning bush, not away from it. Then, the voice.

Verse 32: “‘I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob.’ Moses trembled with fear and would not dare to look.”

This is a quote from Exodus 3: 6, 15. Notice that God states that He is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, not He was the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 

Verse 33: “But the Lord said to him, ‘Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.”

This is a quote from Exodus 3: 5. I am of the opinion that anywhere God’s Presence is would make the ground holy. 

Verse 34: “‘I have surely seen the oppression of My people in Egypt and have heard their groans, and I have come down to deliver them; [a]come now, and I will send you to Egypt.’”

This is a quote from Exodus 3: 7, 8. It is a comfort to know that even when your answers to prayer are delayed, God still sees you and hears you. When the time is right, then He will act.

Verse 35: “This Moses whom they disowned, saying, ‘Who made you a ruler and a judge?’ is the one whom God sent to be both a ruler and a deliverer with the help of the angel who appeared to him in the bush.”

Stephen is making the argument that the rejection of God’s choice of a deliverer, i.e. Moses, was the beginning of a history of the Israelites rejection of God and His deliverers. The quote, “Who made you?” is from Exodus 2: 14.

Verse 36: “This man led them out, doing wonders and signs in the land of Egypt and in the Red Sea and in the wilderness for forty years.”

Moses performed many miracles at God’s direction: the 10 plagues in Egypt, parting of the Red Sea, water from a rock, and the destruction of Korah.

Verse 37: “This is the Moses who said to the sons of Israel, ‘God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers.’”

This is a quote from Deuteronomy 18: 15 and is a reference to the Messiah that would come. Moses was chosen to lead the children of Israel out of captivity and the Lord Jesus Christ was the chosen sin substitute that would deliver His people from sin. 

Verse 38: “This is the one who, in the congregation in the wilderness, was with the angel who was speaking to him on Mount Sinai and with our fathers; the one who received living oracles to pass on to you.”

The word “congregation” is the Greek word ekklesia that is generally translated as church, but I believe the better translation is “assembly”. The reference to “the angel who was speaking to him” is interesting because it reveals that an angel had some part in the conveyance of the ten commandments to Moses. We know that Moses received the Law directly from God, but the angel spoke also.

Verse 39: “Our fathers were unwilling to be obedient to him, but rejected him and in their hearts turned back to Egypt,”

Israel preferred slavery to Egypt than obedience to Moses. Stephen is making the defense that just as the Israelites had rejected Moses, now they are rejecting the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Verse 40: “saying to Aaron, ‘Make for us gods who will go before us; for this Moses who led us out of the land of Egypt—we do not know what has become of him.’”

The request was to make a physical representation of a false god. This is a quote from Exodus 32: 1, 23.

Verse 41: “At that time they made a calf and brought a sacrifice to the idol, and were rejoicing in the works of their hands.”

The people made a god with their own hands and worshipped it. How many today make a god in their own image and worship it? 

Verse 42: “But God turned away and delivered them up to serve the host of heaven; as it is written in the book of the prophets, ‘Did you present Me with slain beasts and sacrifices forty years in the wilderness, O house of Israel?”

The quote is from Amos 5: 25-27. “Delivered them up” refers to God abandoning them to their own selfish interests. “Host of heaven” means heavenly bodies to include the sun, moon and stars. These were worshipped during the Babylonian captivity. The people were given over to idolatry.

Verse 43: “‘You also took along the tabernacle of Moloch and the star of the god Rompha, the images which you made to worship. I also will remove you beyond Babylon.’”

Moloch was a Canaanite title for deities to whom human fiery sacrifices were offered. Many times they were child sacrifices. Rompha comes from the Egyptian name for the god associated with the planet Saturn. 

Verse 44: “Our fathers had the tabernacle of testimony in the wilderness, just as He, who spoke to Moses, directed him to make it according to the pattern which he had seen.”

The “testimony” was the tablets of the Ten Commandments. The Ark of the Covenant and Ten Commandments were in the Old Testament tabernacle. They had God’s Words directing how they should live. However, they rejected and rebelled. Stephen’s defense is that just as their fathers rejected then, now they are rejecting Christ.

Verse 45: “And having received it in their turn, our fathers brought it in with Joshua when they dispossessed the nations whom God drove out before our fathers, until the time of David.”

The fathers brought that testimony with them when they began to take the land that God was providing for them. Jesus is the Greek translation of Joshua. 

Verse 46: “David found favor in the sight of God, and asked that he might find a dwelling place for the God of Jacob.”

It was David’s idea to build the temple, not Solomon’s, his son. What a testimony to say that someone “found favor in the sight of God.” May that be our desire as well.

Verse 47: “But Solomon built a house for Him.”

However, God Sovereignly decreed that David’s son Solomon would build the temple. 

Verse 48: “However, the Most High does not dwell in houses made by human hands, as the prophet says:”

“Most High” was a common title for God in the Old Testament. 

Verses 49-50: “Heaven is My throne,

And earth is the footstool of My feet.

What kind of house will you build for Me?’ says the Lord,

‘Or what place is there for My rest?

Was it not My hand which made all these things?’”

These verses are a quote from Isaiah 66: 1,2. Stephen’s point is that God is greater than a temple. Further, the Jewish council were actually blaspheming God by trying to confine Him to the temple. Now he comes to his condemnation of the religious rulers of that day.

Verse 51: “You men—stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears—are always resisting the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you.”

Stephen states that they are obstinate, like their fathers. To be “uncircumcised” was to be unclean like the uncircumcised Gentiles. “Resisting the Holy Spirit” was to reject the message from God’s chosen messengers. 

Verse 52: “And which one of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? They killed those who had previously announced the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become;”

Stephen is using historical facts to argue that the current Jewish leadership was just like their fathers when they killed the prophets. They rejected Christ and His messengers. The “Righteous One” refers to the LORD Almighty and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Verse 53: “you who received the Law as ordained by angels, and yet did not observe it.”

Scripture does not specify the precise role of the angels in the giving of the Law, but clearly states the fact of their presence.

Verse 54: “Now when they heard this, they became furious in their hearts, and they began gnashing their teeth at him.”

To “gnash their teeth” meant to grind them together and was an expression of deep emotional distress in that culture. 

Verse 55: “But being full of the Holy Spirit, he gazed intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God;”

God is a Spirit so He doesn’t really have a right hand. The “right hand of God” is a place of prominence and honor. Hebrews 1: 3 tells us that when the Lord Jesus had finished His work He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. To be seated means that the work was completed. Here, the Lord Jesus Christ stands to receive His first martyr. 

Verse 56: “and he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened up and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”

Stephen’s vision of the standing Son of Man in heaven would have reminded the Sanhedrin what the Lord Jesus Christ said when he was asked, was He the Christ? He replied, “I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven” (Mark 14:61, 62).

Verse 57: “But crying out with a loud voice, they covered their ears and rushed at him with one accord.”

Gospel rejectors will cover their ears to avoid hearing more Truth. Their anger boiled over into a rage. They wanted blood.

Verse 58: “And when they had driven him out of the city, they began stoning him; and the witnesses laid aside their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul.”

Saul, who would become the Apostle Paul, was a Pharisee and associated with the Sanhedrin. He may have been an instigator of Stephen’s trial.

Verse 59: “They went on stoning Stephen as he was calling out and saying, ‘Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!’”

Stoning was the punishment prescribed in the Law for blasphemy (Lev. 24:16); however, this was not a formal execution based on the Law, but an act of mob violence without justification.

Verse 60: “Then falling on his knees, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them!” And having said this, he fell asleep.”

“Do not hold this sin against them!” is similar to the words of the Lord Jesus Christ from the cross. See Luke 23: 24. To fall “asleep” is to die.