Morning Devotional December 30, 2016

Jeremiah 24:5-7

“Thus saith the Lord, the God of Israel; Like these good figs, so will I acknowledge them that are carried away captive of Judah, whom I have sent out of this place into the land of the Chaldeans for their good. For I will set mine eyes upon them for good, and I will bring them again to this land: and I will build them, and not pull them down; and I will plant them, and not pluck them up. And I will give them an heart to know me, that I am the Lord: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto me with their whole heart.”

Let us concentrate on the words “for their good” this morning. At this time in history, many of the people of Judah have been captured by Babylon and forced to move to the land of the Chaldeans. But notice, God says “Whom I have sent out of this place.” So, God has caused this captivity. God has purposely caused this great affliction on His people. But why? He simply says “for their good.”

Is not this a great example of God's love for His children? Through all the times Israel has run from God and followed after false gods and turned their backs on the God of their salvation, He still loves them. And though, as a parent punishes their child for their wrongs, so does God chastise His children for theirs. Why? “For their good.”

In these three short verses we see the word “I” used nine times. Always referring to God. Also notice “I will” is used six times to describe what God will do for His people. Notice it is not their will but His.

So many times we forget that it is God who commands and we go. Or it is God who draws us to Him not us drawing Him to us. Or it is God who seeks us not us seeking Him.

It is only by His will that our trials and tribulations are for our good. What a glorious Heavenly Father we have!!! O the love He shows us by teaching us through the many trials we go through in this life. O how our afflictions and persecutions strengthen our faith in Him and what a teaching of patience we get at the hand of our Great God!!!

Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional December 25, 2016

Matthew 6:24

“No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”

As the “Christian” world claims to celebrate the birth of our Savior today by following a Roman holy day, let's not forget who we serve. It has always amazed me how that so many of our brothers and sisters will make a stand for the truths of God's Word all through the year but will follow after the biggest lie being told today. Besides the fact that Christmas has it roots in paganism. It has become the most glutenous and greed filled time of the year. What a shame to turn our backs on our Lord and Savior and follow a holy day that has been built on so many lies. What a shame that God's own people would turn their backs on His very Word.

The fact that we are never commanded in His Word to observe the birth of our Savior is mild compared to the idolatry and lies that permeate this day. We are told we should be kind to one another this time of year. Yet we see so many filled with hatred when we go shopping or just driving sown the street. Many will use this time of year to claim the name of Christ but as soon as the day is over they forget His very name.

O child of God, I beg you, follow God's Word always!!! Stray not from His teachings and commandments. Be ye separate from the world. Love not the world nor the things of the world.

Over and over we are commanded to separate ourselves from the world. Yes we are in the world. But we do not belong to this world. We are children of God!!! We have another home. Not of this world. Not made with hands. And with this being the case then we should act like children of God. Not children of the world.

Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional December 17, 2016

Isaiah 7:14

“Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”

It is that time of year again when the vast majority of those who claim Christ as Savior will claim to observe His birth. Yet year after year we see so many drawing further and further away from the true Christ. The Son of God. Immanuel. The one who was and is God with us.

We see what is called Christianity falling deeper and deeper after the world's false religion. We see so called churches worshiping idols and false holy days. We see those who make a stand for the truths of God's Word the rest of the year all of a sudden fall for some of the most rank paganism and false doctrines ever devised by satan himself.

Please understand. If you are a child of God and you observe these holy days, I am not doubting your salvation. I too have my own faults. But to purposely deny the Word of God over and over every year is a very serious matter we need to all consider and flee from.

I challenge you all to study God's Word. What did God say on these matters? Are we instructed to observe our Savior's birth? Are we commanded to follow the world or to follow God? Are these things pleasing to our Heavenly Father?

As you prepare for the upcoming holidays think on these things. Pray God will show you the truth through His Word.

Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional December 12, 2016

Romans 9:20

“Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?”

We live in a day and time where many question God and things of God. Even those of us who claim the name of Christ question whether certain things in God's Word are truth or not. But God, in His Word, very simply tells us to trust Him. And in all reality what choice do we have but to trust Him? As our Creator and our Heavenly Father He gives us no choice. We are commanded over and over in His Word that if we love Him we will follow His commandments. Yet, in our sinful earthly bodies we rebel against even the simplest commands from our God. O what a shame we are!!! O how we deserve eternal death and hell!!! But God, loves us still. Even in our rebellion, He loves us. O what a God we serve!!! O what a Savior!!! Praise Him continuously for His undeserving love toward us!!!

Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional December 10, 2016

John 14:22-31

“22. Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?
23. Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
24. He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.
25. These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.
26. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
27. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
28. Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.
29. And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe.
30. Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.
31. But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence.”

O what a question!!! “Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?” A question that prideful man is still refusing the Lord's answer even today. And Jesus laid out an answer long but simple. An answer anyone could understand but O so many have refused to admit it as the true answer. In short? The answer? He will not manifest Himself unto those who are not His. Those who are not His chosen people will never know Him or His everlasting love. Only those who love Him and follow His commandments.

O what a glorious thought to know that we are His chosen people!!! His elect !!! Chosen by God, the creator of all things!!! The Father of our Lord and Savior!!! One in the same with the Son and the Holy Spirit!!! O what love our Heavenly Father has bestowed upon us a wicked and wretched people!!! Before time began He loved us. Even knowing what sins we would commit before we committed them. O Hallowed be thy name!!!

And O what a Savior!!! O what love hath no man but this that He would lay down His life for His friends!!!

And O what a Great Comforter He has sent us. His own Holy Spirit to dwell within us while we travel this pilgrim land. To give us comfort and peace and joy while we fight the battles of this life and to reassure us that through Him our Heavenly Father walks with us and when needed carries us.

Praise God for His ever loving kindness and mercy on us an O so sinful people!!!

Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional December 6, 2016

Jonah 2:10

“And the Lord spake unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land.”

I am sure we have all read the story of Jonah. Where God commanded Jonah to go to Nineveh but instead Jonah decided to disobey God and go to Tarsus. How in Jonah's rebellion God sent a great fish that would swallow Jonah and take him to the bottom of the sea and Jonah would spend three days and three nights in the fish's belly.

All this because Jonah did not want to follow the plan God had for him. Yet, our God, being Sovereign, had Jonah do just as He planned. But not before the Lord had the fish vomit Jonah out on to dry land.

Have you ever been vomited upon dry land? Not literally but figuratively. We know the literal story of Jonah. But is this not an example of how our Lord does us when we rebel and try to run from what He has planned for us. He takes us to the depths of the sea. Inside the most disgusting, most depressing place we could imagine. And when He has us ready and willing and begging to give into His will and plan that He has set forth for us, just like being vomited out of a fish's belly, sometimes the end of our rebellion is filled with us being disgusted with our-self for not following our Lord.

O but when He has cleaned us off and put us on the road to where He wants us, what joy fills our hearts!!! What a glorious Lord and Savior we belong to!!! What joy to know that even in our rebellion that He loves us enough to chastise us then clean us off and use us to His glory!!!

Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional November 27, 2016

Deuteronomy 32:4

“He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.”

O what a glorious God we serve!!! Praise God for His perfect work and for His truth!!! Praise God His judgments are just and right!!! Praise God, as His chosen people, His wrath is not on His children but are rather on the children of darkness.

O friend, is He your Rock today? Do you know the Savior? Has His Holy Spirit pricked your heart and is He convicting you of your sins? Believe on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved!!!

Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional November 22, 2016

Psalm 121:1-2

“I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.”

O child of God, from whence cometh our help? Our help cometh from the Lord!!! The Lord, who made heaven and earth. Not from some therapist. Not from some mood altering pill in a bottle. Not from some philosopher. Nothing man can offer will be true help to the child of God.

O child of God, when it seems the whole world is against you. When you are feeling low and down trodden. When all seems over whelming and more than you can handle. Lift your eyes towards the hills. Look to the Lord. Remember who you are and whose you are. You are a child of God!!! You are a joint heir with the Son of God!!! You belong to the Lord which made heaven and earth!!!

Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional November 20, 2016

Colossians 1:15-18

“Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.”

O what a glorious Lord and Savior we serve!!!

Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional November 16, 2016

Colossians 1:15-18

“Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.”

O what a glorious Lord and Savior we serve!!!

Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional November 13, 2016

Acts 14:7

“And there they preached the gospel.”

What is our main duty as members of the Lord's churches? In Matthew, Mark and Luke Jesus told His church to preach the gospel. Beginning in Jerusalem then going out into the whole world. In John He told Peter to feed the sheep. Why? So they would be equipped to preach the gospel to the whole world.

Down through the ages God's churches have spread the gospel to the whole world. Everywhere they were established they preached the gospel. His churches have sent missionaries all over the world spreading the gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and teaching their members to do the same.

Yet today in our own land we find ourselves to busy for this great commandment. We seek after the things of this world. We live in a time where God's people trust more in their leaders and their sports heroes than they do the God of their salvation.

Our lavish life styles have become more meaningful to us than spreading the gospel to a lost and dying world. We have lost our compassion for the lost souls of God's elect. We have become what our forefathers, not long ago, preached against. What a shame to our Heavenly Father we have become. What blasphemy we commit on a daily bases.

We are at a time where persecutions and tribulations seem to be just around the corner for the churches. Yet we clamor to be accepted by the world. All because we are afraid of loosing our worldly possessions. We are afraid of not being accepted by our piers in this life. We are afraid of what our life will become if we make a stand.

O child of God, look up!!! Our redemption draweth nigh!!! Place your thoughts and faith on things above and not things here in this life. Our Lord is our Salvation not the things of this world!!! Pray without ceasing!!! Turn to the one who has given you eternal salvation!!! Praise the God for His goodness and mercy on us and when trials and tribulations come praise Him even more!!!

Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional November 6, 2015

2 Timothy 1:12

“For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.”

Dear child of God, do you know whom you have believed? Are you studying His Word daily? Are you communing with Him constantly? Are you following His commandments?

O I encourage you to follow Him! Pray without ceasing! Read His Word. But not only read it but study it. Learn about our Savior and our God!!! Know without a doubt whom you have believed!!! Know Christ and Him crucified!!!

Know the one who gave His all for your eternal soul. Love the One who loved you first. Seek His face in all that you do. Seek His guidance in everything. Search His Word for it will reveal to us His truth and love. Know whom you have believed!!!

Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional October 26, 2016

Acts 17:22-31

“Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious. For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, To The Unknown God. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you. God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device. And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.”

In our society today we see many alters “TO THE UNKNOWN GOD”. Our nation has fallen so far from following God that many have not even heard of Him and many are so afraid of what they don't know of Him that they are on a crusade to remove every mention of Him from public view. But little do they realize nor do they understand that you cannot simply remove the names of God and His Son Jesus Christ from public view. How silly to think man the creation can remove God the Creator from His own creation. The very evidence of God is all around us. Man has tried to remove God from the story of the creation by inventing evolution and the big bang theory. Man has tried to remove God from the miraculous birth of a child by murdering the child in the womb and claiming he controls life and death. And man has even tried to remove God from His people by polluting religion.

Where does it stop? O praise God their day is coming!!! With all the atrocities man has inflicted on the true people of God and all the attempts to stamp out the name of the very Creator of all things they have done nothing more than shown He is alive and is control!!!

Child of God, I challenge you. Proclaim the name of God and His Son with every opportunity that arises. Proclaim His Gospel to a lost and dying world. Let them know who this “UNKNOWN GOD” is they seem to want to destroy.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow!!!

Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional October 22, 2016

Acts 15:18

“Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.”

O child of God what a glorious thought that we serve the all knowing God!!! O what a blessing to know that nothing ever happens that He did not know was going to happen and has prepared us, many times unknowingly to us, for whatever it is.

Whether it is trials and persecutions or it what we consider as blessings and happiness. Even what we see in our world today as one big mess, God knew about it from the beginning. All that has happened down through history, our Heavenly Father planned and permitted to happen. Man nor fallen angels nor even the god of this world, satan, could have orchestrated things the way they have come about.

Praise God He is in control and He will get the glory for all!!! Even the acts of this evil present world are proof that God is in control. We see the situations in our own lives and the lives of our loved ones, family and friends and yet God knew from the beginning it was going to be so. And for those of us that are His, we the Great Comforter Jesus spoke of and His Apostoles wrote of and taught. The very Holy Spirit of God to guide us and give us comfort. All the time knowing before it happens what we will go through in this live. Preparing us all the way by teaching us from God's Word.

O what a love our Heavenly Father has for His children!!! O what a Savior we have!!! O what a Great Comforter we have within us!!!

Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional October 21, 2016

1 Peter 1:6-9

“Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.”

O dear Christian, praise God for the trying of our faith!!! Praise God that He loves us so much that He would send trials in our life to strengthen our faith in Him!!!

Brother and Sister if you are going through trials today, look to our Heavenly Father. Pray without ceasing. Give Him the glory for His grace and mercy through these trials that He sends to strengthen our faith and that build patience. Count it an honor to be so loved by our Heavenly Father that He would draw us closer to Him through trials.

Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional October 15, 2016

Acts 3:19-21
“Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.”



O what a glorious Savior we have!!! O how glorious is His gospel!!! Friend if you are not saved today and the Holy Spirit of God is convicting you of your sin, REPENT of that life of sin!!! Follow that conviction. Be CONVERTED!!! O what a blessing you are missing!!! O what a Savior His is!!! O what love hath no man than this that He would lay down His life for His friends!!!
O child of God, rejoice in the fact that all our sins are covered by the blood of Jesus Christ. Pray without ceasing. Give God the glory for all things. Even the trials we go through. Praise the Lord for His continued goodness. Even though we deserved eternal hell He chose us before the world began to be His sons and daughters forever!!! O what love He has bestowed upon us!!!



Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional October 8, 2016

Acts 3:12-26

“And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk? The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go. But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses. And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all. And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers. But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled. Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you: Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began. For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people. Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days. Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed. Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.”

Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional October 5, 2016

Luke 1:46-55

“And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name. And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation. He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away. He hath helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy; As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.”

In these verse we see Mary, the mother of Jesus, talking with her cousin Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist. Elizabeth is about 6 months pregnant with John and Mary has recently found out that she is pregnant with Jesus. Both pregnancies were miracles of God. Elizabeth because of her age and being barren all of her life and Mary because she was a virgin and had not been with a man.

Notice as Mary speaks. Who does she give the glory to for what has been placed on her? Does she take credit for her faithfulness to God? Does she brag about being the mother of the Messiah? No!!! She starts off praising God!!! “My soul doth magnify the Lord, And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.”

No self gratification at all in her words. No self glory. No self praise. All of her words are praising God the Father. She understands and is humbled by the fact that God chose her to bare His Son, her Savior and the Savior of His people. Yet so many will give Mary more glory and place her higher even than God Himself. Songs have been written about her. Images of worship to her have been made by the hands of man. Whole religious ceremonies praise her. Holy days set aside to give her glory for being the mother of Jesus.

But Mary, never sought this glory. She never asked for praise. God never told us to worship her.

I encourage you to study the words of Mary. As a child of God, she followed the commandments of God and praised Him and gave Him the glory for all. As should we. Follow the commandments of God. Give Him and only Him the glory and praise for all in our lives. Only He is worthy of our praise and glory!!!

Praise ye the Lord!!!

Sermon on Prayer

This is a sermon I preached at Sovereign Grace Baptist Church in Mansfield, Ohio Oct. 02, 2016. The pastor there is Bro. David Green. He is Pastor Hobbs' grandson. Bro. David and I have been friends for many years now. 

Bro. Steve

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02fg0wd6xPc&feature=em-subs_digest

Morning Devotional September 25, 2016

Jeremiah 17:9

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”

O how wicked our hearts can be. Deceiving us at every turn. Yet the Holy Spirit of God comes and changes us. Jeremiah 24:7: “And I will give them an heart to know me, that I am the Lord: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto me with their whole heart.”

O child of God rely on the Lord. Not your heart. Our world today has made popular the feelings of the heart. It is in many of the sayings lovers say to each other. We make promises to others by crossing our heart. But remember what God said: “The heart is deceiful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”

Psalm 51:10

“Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.”

Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional September 21, 2016

2 Timothy 3:1-5

“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.”

Paul Tells the young preacher Timothy what we are to be looking for in men in the last days. And O how we are seeing these things all around us.

Yet all these sins that Paul lists here can be traced back to the first on the list. “For men shall be the lovers of their own selves” All these are the result of self worship by man. The result of all these is the last. “Lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God.” Man is so wrapped up in himself that he has no love of God in him. And yet we see those who seem godly on the surface but when we study them more deeply they have “a form of godliness” only. Their actions quickly proof they deny the very power of God. And Paul instructs that we “turn away”. Another words, have nothing to do with them.

O child of God, where are your thoughts and dreams? Are they with the pleasures of this life? Are you building on the things of this world our on the next? Look to God!!! Follow Him in all things!!! Look to the coming of our Lord our only true inheritance.

Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional September 18, 2016

Psalm 135:1

“Praise ye the Lord. Praise ye the name of the Lord; praise him, O ye servants of the Lord.”

Praise ye the Lord continuously!!! Without ceasing. Not just today. Not just when you go meet with the church. Not just when things are not going well in this life. But Praise His name always!!!

I pray you all have a blessed Lord's day.

Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional September 16, 2016

Hebrews 1:1-4

“1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,

2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high:

4 Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.”

The writer of Hebrews opens this book with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Telling us who He is, what He did, and where He is know.

I want to concentrate on part of verse 3 this morning. “when he had by himself purged our sins,”. Notice the words “by himself”. How much more simply put can it be?

We hear men today, religious men, preach that we have to pray a prayer to Jesus to be saved. Or “it is all up to us to find Christ”. Or “Jesus can't do it with out you”. Or we have to live a good life. Or we have to this or we have to do that. What hogwash!!! What blasphemy!!!

God tells us Jesus did it by Himself!!! No help from us. No pleading for us to come. There is not even anything said in all of God's Word about a prayer of salvation or a sinners prayer for salvation.

So where do these thoughts and doctrines come from? Well if they are not of God there is only one other place they could come. Satan, our great adversary.

Paul warned Timothy of doctrines of devils in 1 Timothy 4:1”Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;”

Child of God, I encourage you, when presenting the gospel to the unsaved, preach the truth. Leave behind the false doctrines, the doctrines of devils spread by the disciples of satan. Preach the truth. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved!!!

Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional September 15, 2016

1 Timothy 6:10

“For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”

Two things I want us to look at in this verse this morning. 1. Paul tells Timothy that it is the love of money that is the root of all evil. Notice he did not say money but he said the love of money. So take a look at the world around us today. This is so prevelant in everything we see. From every level of politics to our families and even in the Lord's churches. In general, people love money more than they do themselves, their families, their neighbors, and even God. Our whole world seems to revolve around the love of money. We can't seem to want more and more. We just can't seem to get enough money. Our dreams and our life goals are saturated in the love of money.

2. Notice Paul says “which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith.” So if they have erred from the faith then that would mean that at one time they were true to the faith would it not? So if that is the case Paul is reffering to God's people here. Not the world. Fore notice he ends the verse with “and pierced themselves throgh with many sorrows.” I challenge you. Watch unsaved people who love money. Then watch those who are children of God who love the same. There is no conviction in the hearts of the unsaved. They have no regretes or sorrow for their love of money. But in the child of God, God will at some point chastise them for their unfaithfulness to Him. A child of God who has fallen into the trap of loving money more than everything else in life especial God, will have great sorrow over this.

O child of God where is your love today? Is it on money or on the things of this life? Or is your love directed to our Savior Jesus Christ? Don't fall for the love of money. Seek Christ. Follow His commandments.

Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional September 13, 2016

Psalm 119:169-176

“Let my cry come near before thee, O Lord: give me understanding according to thy word. Let my supplication come before thee: deliver me according to thy word. My lips shall utter praise, when thou hast taught me thy statutes. My tongue shall speak of thy word: for all thy commandments are righteousness. Let thine hand help me; for I have chosen thy precepts. I have longed for thy salvation, O Lord; and thy law is my delight. Let my soul live, and it shall praise thee; and let thy judgments help me. I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek thy servant; for I do not forget thy commandments.”

Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional September 12, 2016

Psalm 119:161-168

“Princes have persecuted me without a cause: but my heart standeth in awe of thy word. I rejoice at thy word, as one that findeth great spoil. I hate and abhor lying: but thy law do I love. Seven times a day do I praise thee because of thy righteous judgments. Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them. Lord, I have hoped for thy salvation, and done thy commandments. My soul hath kept thy testimonies; and I love them exceedingly. I have kept thy precepts and thy testimonies: for all my ways are before thee.”



As children of God our love for His Word should be paramount in our lives. We must read His Word daily. Meditate on His word. Study His Word. His Word should permeate our every thought and the very words we speak. Our lives should be proof of all this. We all know the old saying “You are what you eat”. This applies to our spiritual food as well. What we eat spiritually will make us who we are.
The Psalmist writes here “Seven times a day do I praise thee because of thy righteous judgments.” Do we praise Him or do we dread His righteous judgments? If we truly love His law and keep His testimonies and His precepts His righteous judgments will come as blessings. If not they can come as chastisement.
Praise the Lord without ceasing!!! Read His Word!!! Keep His precepts and His testimonies!!! Love His law!!! Seek His peace in all these!!!



Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional September 11, 2016

Psalm 119:153-160

“Consider mine affliction, and deliver me: for I do not forget thy law. Plead my cause, and deliver me: quicken me according to thy word. Salvation is far from the wicked: for they seek not thy statutes. Great are thy tender mercies, O Lord: quicken me according to thy judgments. Many are my persecutors and mine enemies; yet do I not decline from thy testimonies. I beheld the transgressors, and was grieved; because they kept not thy word. Consider how I love thy precepts: quicken me, O Lord, according to thy lovingkindness. Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.”

O what a loving God we serve!!! Even in our worst time of trials and tribulations He is there guiding us, protecting us, and making His tender mercies known to us. No matter how bad our enemies treat us. No matter how much the persecution grieves us. If we will seek His statutes and follow His Word His love and grace and mercy will He show us.

O how the actions of our enemies should grieve us. Not for what they do to us. But the fact that they do these things against our Lord and because they have not kept His Word. We should be grieved by the unholiness of our persecutors. We should plead God save their souls as He did ours.

Remember the Apostle Paul. Remember what persecutions he did to the early churches. Yet our Lord saved his soul while he was on the way to do more harm to God's own people. Remember Paul believed he was doing God's work by persecuting the churches.

Pray for your enemies. Show them a godly love by praying for their salvation.

Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional September 10, 2016

Psalm 119:145-152

“I cried with my whole heart; hear me, O Lord: I will keep thy statutes. I cried unto thee; save me, and I shall keep thy testimonies. I prevented the dawning of the morning, and cried: I hoped in thy word. Mine eyes prevent the night watches, that I might meditate in thy word. Hear my voice according unto thy lovingkindness: O Lord, quicken me according to thy judgment. They draw nigh that follow after mischief: they are far from thy law. Thou art near, O Lord; and all thy commandments are truth. Concerning thy testimonies, I have known of old that thou hast founded them for ever.”

As God's children O how we should strive and have a great desire to keep the statues and testimonies of our Lord!!!

In times of sorrow and grief. In times of peace and joy. No matter the situation O how our greatest desire should be to follow our Lord in word and dead. O how we must stay in His Word. Day and night. Continuously in prayer. Ever communicating with our Heavenly Father.

And when those come that are full of ungodliness and strive not after the laws of God, O how our Lord will protect us from their mischief!!!

Study to show thyself approved unto God!!! Follow after the truths of God's Holy Word!!! Give Him all praise and glory!!!

Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional August 29, 2016

Psalm 119:137-144

“Righteous art thou, O Lord, and upright are thy judgments. Thy testimonies that thou hast commanded are righteous and very faithful. My zeal hath consumed me, because mine enemies have forgotten thy words. Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it. I am small and despised: yet do not I forget thy precepts. Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth. Trouble and anguish have taken hold on me: yet thy commandments are my delights. The righteousness of thy testimonies is everlasting: give me understanding, and I shall live.”

Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional August 23, 2016

Psalm 119:129-136

“Thy testimonies are wonderful: therefore doth my soul keep them. The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple. I opened my mouth, and panted: for I longed for thy commandments. Look thou upon me, and be merciful unto me, as thou usest to do unto those that love thy name. Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me. Deliver me from the oppression of man: so will I keep thy precepts. Make thy face to shine upon thy servant; and teach me thy statutes. Rivers of waters run down mine eyes, because they keep not thy law.”

Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional August 21, 2016

Psalm 119:121-128

“I have done judgment and justice: leave me not to mine oppressors. Be surety for thy servant for good: let not the proud oppress me. Mine eyes fail for thy salvation, and for the word of thy righteousness. Deal with thy servant according unto thy mercy, and teach me thy statutes. I am thy servant; give me understanding, that I may know thy testimonies. It is time for thee, Lord, to work: for they have made void thy law. Therefore I love thy commandments above gold; yea, above fine gold. Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way.”



Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional August 8, 2016

Psalm 119:113-120

“I hate vain thoughts: but thy law do I love. Thou art my hiding place and my shield: I hope in thy word. Depart from me, ye evildoers: for I will keep the commandments of my God. Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may live: and let me not be ashamed of my hope. Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe: and I will have respect unto thy statutes continually. Thou hast trodden down all them that err from thy statutes: for their deceit is falsehood. Thou puttest away all the wicked of the earth like dross: therefore I love thy testimonies. My flesh trembleth for fear of thee; and I am afraid of thy judgments.”

Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional August 7, 2016

Psalm 119:105-112

“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. I have sworn, and I will perform it, that I will keep thy righteous judgments. I am afflicted very much: quicken me, O Lord, according unto thy word. Accept, I beseech thee, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O Lord, and teach me thy judgments. My soul is continually in my hand: yet do I not forget thy law. The wicked have laid a snare for me: yet I erred not from thy precepts. Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever: for they are the rejoicing of my heart. I have inclined mine heart to perform thy statutes alway, even unto the end.”

Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional August 5, 2016

Psalm 119:97-104

“O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day. Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts. I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word. I have not departed from thy judgments: for thou hast taught me. How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.”

Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional August 2, 2016

Psalm 119:89-96

“For ever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven. Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: thou hast established the earth, and it abideth. They continue this day according to thine ordinances: for all are thy servants. Unless thy law had been my delights, I should then have perished in mine affliction. I will never forget thy precepts: for with them thou hast quickened me. I am thine, save me: for I have sought thy precepts. The wicked have waited for me to destroy me: but I will consider thy testimonies. I have seen an end of all perfection: but thy commandment is exceeding broad.”



Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional August 1st, 2016

Psalm 119:81-88

“My soul fainteth for thy salvation: but I hope in thy word. Mine eyes fail for thy word, saying, When wilt thou comfort me? For I am become like a bottle in the smoke; yet do I not forget thy statutes. How many are the days of thy servant? when wilt thou execute judgment on them that persecute me? The proud have digged pits for me, which are not after thy law. All thy commandments are faithful: they persecute me wrongfully; help thou me. They had almost consumed me upon earth; but I forsook not thy precepts. Quicken me after thy lovingkindness; so shall I keep the testimony of thy mouth.”
Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional July 30, 2016

Psalm 119:65-72

“Thou hast dealt well with thy servant, O Lord, according unto thy word. Teach me good judgment and knowledge: for I have believed thy commandments. Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word. Thou art good, and doest good; teach me thy statutes. The proud have forged a lie against me: but I will keep thy precepts with my whole heart. Their heart is as fat as grease; but I delight in thy law. It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes. The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver.”



Notice here that he says “Before I was afflicted I went astray:”. Notice there is no pause or comma after “Before”. So what he is saying here is that he went astray before he was afflicted. Notice where the affliction comes from. It comes from our Lord.
Have you ever noticed how when we go astray it is usually when we think all things are going well in our life. Or when it seems our Lord is blessing us. It is at those times that we will become lax in our faith. We become so comfortable with our life and everything that God seems to be blessing us with that we fall into temptations or we follow after the world.
When our Heavenly Father comes to chastise us for not following His Word it is not a chastisement unto death or a form of His wrath. No, it is a show of His love toward us. It is Him teaching us that we can do nothing without Him. Even when we go astray and follow the world, He comes and breaks our leg like a shepherd would a lamb that has gone astray. And He carries us in His arms until we are healed. While that leg is broken and healing He teaches us His precepts. Then when we are healed and He is ready to turn us back with the rest of His flock the first thing we want to do is tell the others of the love of the Great Shepherd.
O what a wonderful experience to have that time with our Lord while we heal ! O what great lessons He teaches us during that time! O how He makes us willing to learn His laws and precepts!
Through affliction our Lord teaches us His statutes. “The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver.” His law should be more precious to us than any wealth this world could afford. What a glorious God we serve!!!



Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional July 29, 2016

Psalm 119:57-64

“Thou art my portion, O Lord: I have said that I would keep thy words. I intreated thy favour with my whole heart: be merciful unto me according to thy word. I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies. I made haste, and delayed not to keep thy commandments. The bands of the wicked have robbed me: but I have not forgotten thy law. At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee because of thy righteous judgments. I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts. The earth, O Lord, is full of thy mercy: teach me thy statutes.”

 

Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional July 28, 2016

Psalm 119:49-56

“Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope. This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me. The proud have had me greatly in derision: yet have I not declined from thy law. I remembered thy judgments of old, O Lord; and have comforted myself. Horror hath taken hold upon me because of the wicked that forsake thy law. Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage. I have remembered thy name, O Lord, in the night, and have kept thy law. This I had, because I kept thy precepts.”



I encourage you all to read God's Word daily. Study what you read. Think on what you read all through the day. Meditate on these things. What we read every morning should permeate our very pores. We should continuously have His Word on our minds and on our lips. It should be the very focus of our day and it should be what puts us to sleep every night.
What a shame that we have all this modern technology with so many different ways to read or listen to some else read God's Word and we waste it on games or on gossip or whatever sin comes to mind. What music and songs are we listening to? Are they godly? Are they spiritual? Are the words and the music Biblical?
God told us to do all things for His glory. Are we? We need to examine ourselves. Are we truly spending enough time in God's Word? Are we truly follow His precepts and commandments?
O child of God my prayer today is that we would all follow Him in everything we do. Give God the glory!!!



Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional July 24, 2016

Psalm 119:41-48

“Let thy mercies come also unto me, O Lord, even thy salvation, according to thy word. So shall I have wherewith to answer him that reproacheth me: for I trust in thy word. And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth; for I have hoped in thy judgments. So shall I keep thy law continually for ever and ever. And I will walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts. I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed. And I will delight myself in thy commandments, which I have loved. My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will meditate in thy statutes.”



O child of God, stay close to His Word. Follow His commandments. Be not ashamed to of the truth of His Word. Meditate on the things God has written us in His Word.



Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional July 21, 2016

Psalm 119:33-40

“Teach me, O Lord, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end. Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart. Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight. Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness. Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in thy way. Stablish thy word unto thy servant, who is devoted to thy fear. Turn away my reproach which I fear: for thy judgments are good. Behold, I have longed after thy precepts: quicken me in thy righteousness.”

O how this ought to be our prayer every morning. Praise God for His teaching and understanding of His Word.       

Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional July 19, 2016

Psalm 119:25-32

“My soul cleaveth unto the dust: quicken thou me according to thy word. I have declared my ways, and thou heardest me: teach me thy statutes. Make me to understand the way of thy precepts: so shall I talk of thy wondrous works. My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen thou me according unto thy word. Remove from me the way of lying: and grant me thy law graciously. I have chosen the way of truth: thy judgments have I laid before me. I have stuck unto thy testimonies: O Lord, put me not to shame. I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart.”

Praise ye the Lord!!!