1-31-2025 Devotion

 We are continuing to look at 1 Peter 5:5: "Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble." What does it mean to receive grace from God? Most know the grace that leads to salvation; however, this is something different. Grace means "particularly that which causes joy, pleasure, gratification, favor, acceptance, for a kindness granted or desired, a benefit, thanks, gratitude. A favor done without expectation of return; the absolutely free expression of the loving kindness of God to men finding its only motive in the bounty and benevolence of the Giver; unearned and unmerited favor." This is the grace that God gives us on a daily basis to enable us to live lives that glorify Him. His grace gets you through the tough times as well as brings abundance in others. 

 

The Preachers Sermon and Outline Bible explains this grace as: "God gives grace to the humble. Grace means the favor and blessings of God. The person who walks humbly before God, recognizing and acknowledging the value of others, shall receive the favor and blessings of God. He shall be highly favored and blessed—rewarded beyond all imagination. The humble person shall bear the fruit of God's spirit in this life." What a tremendous promise to those who are clothed with humility. This passage gives us abundant reason to walk in humility. God's grace is the great blessing.

 

Today, examine your life. Would you say that humility is a character trait? Is it observable? Is it in your mind to specifically walk in humility? If not, you are most likely missing some of God's grace that He desires to bless you with. Make a real effort today to think, meditate and live in humility as God directs you. When you do, the benefits will become readily apparent. 

1-30-2025 Devotion

 We will continue to look at 1 Peter 5:5: "Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble." Today will focus on the phrase "for God resisteth the proud." This should be warning enough to remove pride from us, but many people still struggle with it. Should we take Peter seriously when he penned these words? What does it men that God will resist the proud? The word "resist" means "to set an army in array against, to arrange in battle order." The clear meaning of the word is that God is coming against the proud like an army coming to engage in battle. This should be enough to persuade us to eliminate pride from our lives. Who wants God to come against them to battle?

 

William Burkitt explains this verse as follows: "For God resisteth the proud, sets himself as in battle-array against them, but giveth fresh supplies of grace to the humble; because more grace is promised to the humble, and the humble soul is more fitted, prepared, and disposed to receive farther measures of grace from God. God sets himself against proud men to bring them down, but the humble he doth countenance and exalt."

 

Today in your quiet time before the Lord, search your heart for pride. If you find some, ask God to take it away from you. You don't want pride because pride will cause God to come against you in full battle array. We desire God to fight our enemies and know this, that pride is an enemy of your soul. Cry out to God if you find pride in your heart. Seek Him and His deliverance from pride; He is faithful and will answer your heart cry for freedom.

1-29-2025 Devotion

 Today we will look at what the word humility means. Again our study verse is 1 Peter 5:5: "Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble." The word "humility" means lowminded, base, lowly, and humble. It is having a lowliness of mind and the esteeming of ourselves small. I want you to notice that humility starts in the mind. Yesterday, we saw that humility has observable actions. None of those actions will take place until true humility is in the mind. You will think humility before you act humility.

 

The Preachers Sermon and Outline Bible describes humility as: "Subjection takes concentration and effort. It takes a deliberate decision to subject to someone else. But this is just what Scripture is demanding. Every believer is unique to God and has a very special gift and contribution to make to the world and to the church. All believers are to subject themselves to one another, to each one's uniqueness and gift. All believers are to acknowledge, respect, and honor one another, all because of who each one is and because of the gift God has given each one of us." Humility is going to take some effort on our part becomes it goes against the way the world has instructed us from our youth. The world says to get ahead. Peter is telling us to let them go in front of you. Humility frees you from so much conflict in the mind. We are to humble the way Jesus Christ was humble. He washed the disciples feet but never lost His authority. Remember that humility will not interfere with God given authority. It is the genuine putting the needs of others before you.

 

Today, think humility. Let your mind meditate on the lowly Christ as He washed the disciples feet. Think about how He put others first in the way He lived, died and rose again. As you ponder His life, ask Him to make you humble. Then you choose to walk in humility by putting it on like a coat in cold weather. It will take an adjustment, but it is worth it. 

1-28-2025 Devotion

 1 Peter 5:5 says: "Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble." Today we focus on being clothed with humility. The word "clothed" means "to gather or tie in a knot, hence to fasten a garment." We can get the idea that humility is something that needs to be attached to us. Just like a shirt will not jump out of your closet onto your body; neither will humility just happen. As you choose what to wear everyday, you choose to fasten some humility to yourself. 

 

The Albert Barnes NT Commentary explains the humility of the early Christians: "They were to be willing to take any place, and to perform any office, however humble, in order to serve and benefit others. They were not to assume a style and dignity of state and authority, as if they would lord it over others, or as if they were better than others; but they were to be willing to occupy any station, however humble, by which they might honour God. It is known that not a few of the early Christians actually sold themselves as slaves, in order that they might preach the gospel to those who were in bondage. The sense here is, they were to put on humility as a garment bound fast to them, as a servant bound fast to him the apron that was significant of his station." Please notice the underlined portion above. That is commitment; that is humility. Is there any wonder with that type of humility the early church was successful in taking the Gospel message around the world?

 

Now today, we don't have that type of slavery; but we do have many opportunities to serve others in a fashion that would demonstrate humility. Just like clothes are observable to the eye, so is humility. Look for opportunities to clothe yourself in humility like the early Christians. People will notice eventually and that will give you a chance to tell them of the transforming power of Jesus Christ (notice you will tell them after you have shown them). Telling the Gospel after you have shown the Gospel is always easier and also the method generally chosen by Jesus.

1-27-2025 Devotion

 We are going to spend a few days looking at 1 Peter 5:5: "Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble." Our society and formal education seems to stress our getting ahead. We are always trying to be better than the next person. While there is nothing wrong with personal achievement, it must not displace the requirement of service and humility. We are to be subject to one another. The word subject is a present participle and this means that the action of being subject to one another is to be continuous and ongoing. The word "subject" means to place in submission. We are to look for ways to be in submission to each other. What would this do for marriages? How would this approach affect church disagreements? What about disputes among the children of God? If we practiced this type of submission, life would be more Christlike.

 

William Burkitt describes this mutual submission as follows: "He adds--yea, all of you be subject one to another; intimating thereby that there is a duty of mutual subjection, which all Christians owe one to another in love: they ought to condescend to the meanest offices one towards another; to bear with the infirmities of each other."

 

Adam Clarke says: "Strive all to serve each other; let the pastors strive to serve the people, and the people the pastors; and let there be no contention, but who shall do most to oblige and profit all the rest."

 

Our lives are to be characterized by mutual submission. While this may require a shift in thinking, I recommend that you start the process today. Look for an opportunity to submit to a fellow believer in love. Try to find a chance to serve. As you do, you are developing a Christ like character as well as a Christ like lifestyle. Now that is what we call being a disciple!

Amazing Stories Part 7: Dying Testmonies

 https://pathwaytopurityandpower.podbean.com/e/faith-in-the-face-of-death-triumphant-and-awful-last-words/

Bible Study Jude 14-25

 

Commentary of the Book of Jude

By Dr. Barry L. Jenkins

Text Used: Legacy Standard Bible

Bible Study Jude 14-25

Text:

Contend Earnestly for the Faith

1 [a]Jude, a slave of Jesus Christ, and brother of [b]James,

To those who are the called, beloved in God the Father, and kept for Jesus Christ: 2 May mercy and peace and love be multiplied to you.

3 Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you exhorting that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the [c]saints. 4 For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand [d]marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

5 Now I want to remind you, though you know all things, that [e]Jesus, having once saved a people out of the land of Egypt, [f]subsequently destroyed those who did not believe. 6 And angels who did not keep their own domain, but abandoned their proper abode, He has kept in eternal bonds under darkness for the judgment of the great day, 7 just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities around them, having indulged in the same way as these in gross sexual immorality and having gone after [g]strange flesh, are exhibited as an [h]example in undergoing the punishment of eternal fire.

8 Yet in the same way these men, also by dreaming, defile the flesh, and reject authority, and blaspheme [i]glorious ones. 9 But Michael the archangel, when he, disputing with the devil, was arguing about the body of Moses, did not dare pronounce against him a blasphemous judgment, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” 10 But these men blaspheme the things which they do not understand; and the things which they know by instinct, like unreasoning animals, by these things they are [j]destroyed. 11 Woe to them! For they have gone the way of Cain, and for pay they have poured themselves into the error of Balaam, and perished in the rebellion of Korah. 12 These are the men who are [k]hidden reefs in your love feasts when they feast with you without fear, caring for themselves; clouds without water, carried along by winds; autumn trees without fruit, [l]doubly dead, uprooted; 13 wild waves of the sea, casting up their own [m]shame like foam; wandering stars, for whom the [n]black darkness has been reserved forever.

14 But Enoch, in the seventh generation from Adam, also prophesied about these men, saying, “Behold, the Lord came with [o]many thousands of His holy ones, 15 to execute judgment upon all, and to convict all the ungodly of all their ungodly deeds which they have done in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.” 16 These are grumblers, finding fault, following after their own lusts; and their mouth speaks arrogantly, [p]flattering people for the sake of their own benefit.

Keep Yourselves in the Love of God

17 But you, beloved, must remember the words that were spoken beforehand by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, 18 that they were saying to you, “In the last time there will be mockers, following after their own ungodly lusts.” 19 These are the ones who cause divisions, [q]worldly-minded, not having the Spirit. 20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life. 22 And on some, who are doubting, have mercy; 23 and for others, save, snatching them out of the fire; and on others have mercy with fear, hating even the tunic polluted by the flesh.

24 Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, 25 to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, might, and authority, before all time and now and [r]forever. Amen.

Verse by verse commentary

Verse 14: “But Enoch, in the seventh generation from Adam, also prophesied about these men, saying, “Behold, the Lord came with many thousands of His holy ones,”

Jude quotes almost verbatim from a popular apocryphal work, the Book of Enoch or 1 Enoch. This is not an endorsement of 1 Enoch as being canonical, but rather he is using a source most likely familiar to his readers. “Prophesied” refers to both the quote from 1 Enoch and many other Old Testament prophets that taught that God will come with His heavenly hosts to judge the wicked. Jude’s condemnation of these apostates is justified in applying this biblical idea to the specific situation involving the false teachers. “Holy ones” most likely refers to the angels that will accompany Christ when He returns.

Verse 15: “to execute judgment upon all, and to convict all the ungodly of all their ungodly deeds which they have done in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.”

The repetition of the term “ungodly” four times  is significant. It is the same Greek word that is used in verses 4 and 18. The false teachers’ rebellion was against God and His authority, and it will meet with God’s certain judgment and eternal punishment. A time is coming when everyone will either pay for their sins or have a substitute pay for them. We that have been born again have Christ as our sin substitute.

Verse 16: “These are grumblers, finding fault, following after their own lusts; and their mouth speaks arrogantly, flattering people for the sake of their own benefit.”

Just like the children of Israel grumbled and complained after being set free from Egyptian bondage, these apostate preachers grumble and complain about God’s commandments. Those commandments interfere with their desire to satisfy the flesh in sexual immorality and other lusts. Their teaching is arrogant in that it does not respect the authority of God’s Word. Many would claim to have special visions and dreams to make themselves appear very spiritual. They flatter people to make money off them and to create a following for themselves. These apostates favor the wealthy to get their money for their benefit. 

Verse 17: “But you, beloved, must remember the words that were spoken beforehand by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ,”

The apostles had warned the future generation (that includes us as well) about apostates, so that they would be prepared and not be taken by surprise and fall into error. God’s Word is sufficient to warn and protect the believers that study, memorize, meditate, and speak it. It is in His Word that we find true Apostolic doctrine. It doesn’t need to be supplemented by someone bringing a “fresh word” which is actually from the pit of hell. The Word of God is sufficient to enable us to live a Godly and fruitful life for Him.

Verse 18: “that they were saying to you, ‘In the last time there will be mockers, following after their own ungodly lusts.’”

The “mockers” rejected the moral law of God and the certainty of divine punishment on the disobedient. They taught this to justify their attempts to live lives according to the flesh, including sexual immorality and perversions. If the moral law of God is removed, there is no prohibition on their sinful practices. However, and hear this, the moral law of God has not been eliminated. The moral law can be defined as: “such a rule or group of rules conceived as universal and unchanging and as having the sanction of God's will, of conscience, of man's moral nature, or of natural justice as revealed to human reason.” Christians are still bound to obey God’s moral law. You don’t murder, commit adultery, covet, etc. The new creation in Christ is just that, a new creation. That new creation lives a life of habitual obedience and occasional sin versus one of habitual sin and occasional obedience. 

Verse 19: “These are the ones who cause divisions, worldly-minded, not having the Spirit.”

Division in the church was an inevitable result of the false teachers’ rejection of God’s commandments that still existed, i.e. the moral law. Apostate teachers promoted themselves as having the special spiritual knowledge, but were actually attracted to the lusts of the flesh. They were carnal and worldly, not “spiritual.” “Not having the Spirit” meant they were unbelievers.

Verse 20: “But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit,”

“Building yourselves up on your most holy faith” refers to following the truths of the Christian faith which have been provided in the teaching of the apostles and prophets as found in the Word of God. There are no supplements to the Word of God. There are no “fresh words” or “new revelations.” These come from the pit of hell to undermine God’s Word. These false teachers, like the ones in Jude’s time, have not the Spirit. “Praying in the Spirit” is not speaking in some ecstatic language, i.e. tongues, but rather a call to pray consistently in the will and power of the Spirit, as one would pray in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Verse 21: “keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life.”

In this verse, Jude turns from denunciation of the false teachers to positive exhortation of his readers. “Keep” is a command for the believer to be obedient and faithful by living out his salvation. “Waiting” is an eager anticipation of the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. When He returns, our eternal life with Him will begin. 

Verse 22: “And on some, who are doubting, have mercy;”

Jude recognizes that different ministerial strategies are to be employed with different people with different issues. Some can profit from gentle counseling and we should show them mercy. 

Verse 23: “and for others, save, snatching them out of the fire; and on others have mercy with fear, hating even the tunic polluted by the flesh.”

“For others, save, snatching them out of the fire,” refers to sinners whom we consider hopeless. It seems impossible that they will ever be saved. Jude does not want his readers or us to give up on them. There is no one who is beyond redemption, if they want to be saved. We must continue to be faithful to the souls of men. Preach the Word of God as it is to men as they are. “On others have mercy” means we should have a gentler kinder response to those that are in error if that is an appropriate response to their situation. The point is that there is not a one size fits all to people in sin. We must be sensitive to the Holy Spirit. I have said for years, before you confront someone in sin, spend a few days in prayer for them. It could change your approach. The word “flesh” refers to the psychological part of man, the part of man that can go only so far. The fact is that the child of God should hate “even the tunic polluted by the flesh.” God will not use anything that the flesh produces. Carnality is hatred toward God. 

Verse 24: “Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy,”

Jude’s conclusion is a doxology showing confidence in God’s power and authority to preserve His people to the end, and acknowledging God’s eternal Sovereignty and Providence. We cannot keep ourselves from falling back into sin, only He can and He will. It is only because of Him that we will be blameless in glory. God starts the work of salvation in our hearts with grace, we respond to that grace in repentance and faith, and He sees to it that we cross the finish land into Glory.

Verse 25: “to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, might, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.”

God is by nature a saving God, unlike the reluctant and indifferent false deities of human and demon invention.  All religions, except Biblical Christianity, require you to earn your salvation by what you do. Only the true Gospel recognizes that salvation is 100% of the Lord. Once saved, we work. We work because we are saved, not to earn salvation. Jude on earth, the angels and the saints in heaven ascribe these qualities to our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. Notice it is the Lord Jesus Christ, not just “Jesus.” The demons call Him “Jesus” but never Lord. This is a litmus test to another’s heart. Do they call Him “Jesus” or “Lord Jesus.” The former are most likely lost and the latter born again believers headed to the glories of eternity with Him.

1-26-2025 Devotion

 We are continuing to look at those times that we feel like God has forgotten us. Psalm 13:1 says: "How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me?" David is asking how much longer he will have to endure the silence of God. Do you ever feel like God is silent towards you? God may appear silent but He is still very near to you. It is in these times of apparent loneliness that we must draw close to Him in faith. These times of silence can become times of tremendous spiritual growth.

 

Matthew Henry wrote of this verse: "God sometimes hides his face, and leaves his own children in the dark concerning their interest in him: and this they lay to heart more than any outward trouble whatever. But anxious cares are heavy burdens with which believers often load themselves more than they need. The bread of sorrows is sometimes the saint's daily bread; our Master himself was a man of sorrows. It is a common temptation, when trouble lasts long, to think that it will last always. Those who have long been without joy, begin to be without hope. We should never allow ourselves to make any complaints but what drive us to our knees." Henry points out our appropriate response to the silence; we are to pray. We are to seek God in these times of difficulty. Do not despair because God has not forgotten you.

 

Today spend time seeking God. I recommend that you start with silence and as you sense it is appropriate, open your heart and tell your Heavenly Father all that is on your mind. Let it be a time of total transparency. Quit playing religion and enter into relationship. Be silent and be honest before Him.

1-25-2025 Devotion

 Do you ever have times that God seems far away? You pray and don't see the answers. You feel like either you have done something wrong to bring God's ire upon you or that He doesn't care about your situation. John of the Cross (not the John of the Bible) was a Carmelite monk in the 1500's. He wrote a book entitled The Dark Night of the Soul. In this book, he described the work of God on the soul, not through joy and happiness, but through sorrow and darkness. The Psalmist wrote: "I will say unto God my rock, Why hast thou forgotten me? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?" (Psalm 42:9) God may take you through some difficult times to teach you something about Him and you.

 

The Family Bible Notes explains the verse as follows: "Though God may long delay to answer the prayers of his people, or appear for their deliverance from trouble, they will not despair, but continue to call upon him, to hope in his mercy, and expect that in due time he will grant them complete and enduring relief." No matter the delay in the answer to your prayers, you are to hold on in faith trusting in God. This may seem difficult, especially if you are used to quick answers. However, the darkness will cause you to grow spiritually and be molded into the image of Christ.

 

Today, do not fear those times of darkness. Embrace the times where it seems that God has forgotten you; because you know that He has not. He may be taking you through some dark times but know that He will take you through and the light of day is upon the horizon.

1-24-2025 Devotion

 We will spend one more day considering being silent before the Lord. Psalm 4:4 says: "Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah." The word "still" means "to be silent, to be still; to stand still; it depicts the state of being motionless; it can be used to command something to be motionless, it means to refrain from speech." The Psalmist is giving some clear instruction about being silent before the Lord; be still, be motionless and do not speak. He is suggesting that this may be done while on your bed. I suggest that you try the following: before you leave your bed in the morning and before you go to sleep at night, try focusing on the Lord and being still. Don't think about the day ahead or the day just lived. Only focus on God Almighty; try it for 10 minutes to start. This is not a substitute for your prayer time but in addition to it. 

 

We live such busy lives with many responsibilities. It may seem difficult to be silent and still but the benefits of such a practice will be quickly realized. Find a time to be silent and still. Meditate on a Bible verse and then even cease from that and focus on God Himself and all that you know about Him. He is love, justice, mercy, grace, and holy. After a session alone with Him thank Him for Jesus and the plan of redemption that has redeemed you from sin. Spend some time contemplating how much God hates sin. Develop an intense hatred of sin also. If there is a sin that you struggle with, tell Him of your desire to be set free from it. He is faithful and will change you. Yes; that thing that you think you will never be free from will be defeated.

 

God desires our time. It seems we may want to give Him everything but that. However, it is our time and obedience He seeks. Today, spend a time of quiet before Him and tell Him of your desire to please Him. Start on your bed and when your feet hit the floor be prepared to walk out a day of obedience unto the Lord. 

1-23-2025 Devotion

 We are continuing to look at being silent before the Lord. Psalm 37:7 says: "Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. The word "rest" in Hebrew means to be silent to." Are you surprised that the Bible has so much to say about just being silent before the Lord? How does this contradict our practice of prayer that involves our constant speaking. The best prayer can be silence. Now it certainly is not wrong to speak in prayer; the point is that it is not wrong and it is desirable to sometimes just be quiet in prayer. There is an old expression: "silence is golden." Yes; sometimes in prayer silence is golden. We need times of absolute silence before the Lord; to just wait and receive from Him whatever He desires to communicate to us.

 

The Treasury of David explains this verse as follows: "To hush the spirit, to be silent before the Lord, to wait in holy patience the time for clearing up the difficulties of Providence -- that is what every gracious heart should aim at.  "Aaron held his peace:" "I opened not my mouth, because thou didst it." A silent tongue in many cases not only shows a wise head, but a holy heart." When things seem to be going wrong, when the mountains appear to be growing larger, a good approach is to go before the Lord and just be silent. He told us to speak to the mountain (Mark 11:22-24), but when we are before Him we can just be quiet. He will minister to us and our hearts will be encouraged in these times of silence.

 

Today, it is so important that you find times of quiet before the Lord. Go somewhere and get silent before Him. Wait on Him; He is faithful and will not let you down. As you are silent in prayer, your devotional life will take on new meaning and purpose.