Morning Devotional January 28, 2018

Lamentations 5:19

“Thou, O Lord, remainest for ever; thy throne from generation to generation.”

Praise God our Lord is on the throne and will reign for ever and ever!!!

Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional January 27, 2018

Lamentations 3:55-59

“55I called upon thy name, O Lord, out of the low dungeon.

56Thou hast heard my voice: hide not thine ear at my breathing, at my cry.

57Thou drewest near in the day that I called upon thee: thou saidst, Fear not.

58O Lord, thou hast pleaded the causes of my soul; thou hast redeemed my life.

59O Lord, thou hast seen my wrong: judge thou my cause.”

O what a glorious thought!!! When we are at our lowest when it seems all is against us. When we have see no hope in the things of this world. Our Heavenly Father says “Fear not”.

O the self inflicted stress and anxiety we bring upon ourselves. Such needless sin!!! Such a wretched lot we are for not following the simple instruction of our Lord. “Fear not”!!! O how often we forget where our hope lies. Our hope, our true hope, is only in our Lord and Savior.

O child of God, when in the dungeons of this life, when we are so caught up in the things of the world and not in the things of God, remember where comest our hope!!! Hope in the things of God. For therein lies our true and only hope!!!

Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional January 22, 2018

Psalm 119:11

“Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.”

O what a joy it is for the child of God to become familiar with His Word. O the blessing we receive when our Heavenly Father teaches us from His Word. And then one of the greatest blessings is when He gives us the ability to remember what He has taught. When trials and tribulations come. In good times and bad. When posed questions about God from others. What a blessing to able to bring those teachings back to memory. But we must remember it is not of our own doing. As with everything, it is our Lord who has instilled these memories with in us and it is Him that gives us the ability to remember what He would have us to remember when the time comes.

O child of God, study the Word of our Heavenly Father. Read of His Son, our Lord and Savior, and of the grace and mercy and love that has been bestowed upon us. Commit to memory those verses that are near and dear to us. Then pray our Lord will use you as a witness for Him to those you are around daily.

Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional January 21, 2018

Isaiah 40:31

“But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”

Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional January 20, 2018

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.”

All through the Old Testament we see the prophecies of the coming of Christ. Yet the people who knew God's Word most, those scholars and priest who had more access to the Word, those who had studied it more and deeper than most, were the very ones who denied Christ when He did come. Even when He came as He said He would. We read in this verse by the Prophet Isaiah and not only here but just in the book of Isaiah there are many verses describing the coming and the life and the death and burial and resurrection of the Son of God. Yet they still denied who He was when He came. When He perfectly fulfilled every prophecy laid out in the Old Testament. They still denied Him.

Are we any better today? No!!! O what a wretched people we are!!! In so many areas of our lives we deny the Christ who gave His all for His people. We read His Word. And yet we still deny Him for who He is. Even when He has made it clear who He is and that we are His. He commands we follow Him and even gives us simple instructions how to follow and what He expects of us. But like rebellious children we follow the lust of the world. We make His commandments grievous when if we would just follow we would suffer no such grief.

So many today a looking for an earthly leader, a politician, a minister, to follow. Someone they can physically see. Others are looking for the coming of the anti-Christ in hopes that his reveling will bring the rapture. But Jesus told us to watch for His coming. He is the Bride-Groom. He is the one the Bride and her party are to be watching for.

O child of God, where is your hope? Who is your hope in? Man? A certain period in time? Or in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ? Look up and seek His face!!! Follow His commandments!!! Pray with out ceasing!!! Remember whose you are and who you are. You belong to the Son of God You are a child of the King. Praise God we have a Savior!!! Praise God for His Sovereign Grace on His elect people!!!

Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional January 18, 2018

Amos 5:10

“They hate him that rebuketh in the gate, and they abhor him that speaketh uprightly.”

In our pride we often think of this verse when it comes to a man of God preaching against the sins of the world and those sinners outside the Lord's churches who cause grief on God's people for them simply being God's people.

But who was this verse originally written to and about? If we do an in-depth study of the books of the prophets in the later half of the Old Testament we see these men were being used of God to preach the sins of Israel and Judah. God would give them the words to say and they would go out and proclaim God's word to the people. God's people.

Over and over we see God tell of the sins of His people in the books. We read of how God instructed His prophets to go preach and warn His people of His impending doom if they did not repent of their sins.

The nations of Israel and Judah had fallen into spiritual adultery and were following after false gods. Yet today, we take no consideration of our own sins against God. We heed not the warnings God has recorded in His Word of how He destroyed a great nation because of their sin. We fail to see the sins of the Lord's churches.

1 Peter 4:17

“For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?”

Just like those in the world, God's people will persecute and hate a man who comes preaching the truth about sin. When the message cuts to the heart. When the preacher touches the pet sins of the people. They will most times rebel and seek to explain away what he preaches. How many of us preachers will forgo preaching on certain sins because we know our closest friends and family and maybe even ourselves will be convicted?

Even as the children of God, we are a wicked lot. We deny our Lord in so many things we do every day. Yet He has grace and mercy on us. The love of our Lord is immeasurable. It is everlasting. Praise God for His loving kindness and His long suffering for His people!!!

I know I say this often, but, if ye love Him, follow His commandments. Praise Him constantly for His grace and mercy on us. Pray without ceasing.

Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional January 15, 2018

Galatians 5:9

“A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.”

The Apostle Paul warned the churches of Galatia of false doctrine and false teachers. This small, short verse speaks volumes! Leaven is added to bread dough to make it rise. A type of leaven is yeast. When yeast is added to dough it permeates the whole lump of dough. Not just part of it but the whole lump. Leaven excites the fermentation process. Another words, leaven speeds up the fermentation process. Again, not just part of the lump of dough but the whole limp is permeated by the leaven and the fermentation process.

We often see leaven being interjected into one of the Lord's churches. Paul recorded it several times in his letters. So it is nothing new. But the same warnings we read from Paul to the churches in his day are still good warnings to heed today.

What we would consider a small, insignificant teaching often times turns into full blown false doctrine. When a pastor or teacher strays from the Word of God and follows the teachings of a man or takes God's Word out of context. Most times all it takes is that initial teaching for the leaven to take hold and spoil the whole lump. When the other men of the church refuse to rise up for the truth and try to correct the false teaching, the leaven creeps in and permeates the whole lump and one by one the the doctrines that the church once held dear and stood strong in are greatly weakened of in some cases, completely gone.

Why do we think Paul warned so much about false teachers and false prophets? Why did our Lord encourage and command us to study His Word daily? In the Old Testament He gives us the example of Israel and Judah. Do we think we are better than they? Do we honestly think we can withstand the whiles of the devil and his temptations?

It very simple. If we love the Lord we are commanded to follow His commandments. He tells us, if we love Him His commandments are not grievous. So why do we, as God's people, struggle so with His commandments to follow Him? As His children our greatest desire should be to follow our Heavenly Father and to do all we can to please Him. Only through following Christ is this possible.

O child of God, Pray without ceasing. Follow Christ. When false doctrine is being taught, search the scriptures for the truth. Pray for boldness to speak up for the truth. Then pray without ceasing.

Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional January 14, 2018

Psalm 33:20-22

“Our soul waiteth for the Lord: he is our help and our shield. For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name. Let thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, according as we hope in thee.”

Where is your hope today? In Christ? Or the things of this world?

Look to Christ for our only real hope. Look to Christ for comfort, peace, and joy. Don't wait till all else fails. Look to Him now. Today. Pray without ceasing. Stay in constant communion with our Heavenly Father. Flee the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life. Follow His statutes and commandments. Show Him the love only He deserves. Give praise to the only one who deserves praise.

Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional January 13, 2018

Proverbs 4:14-22

“14Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.

15Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.

16For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.

17For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.

18But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.

19The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.

20My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.

21Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.

22For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.”

O what a wicked sort we are! What a shame that God's own children, raised in the admonition of the Lord, studied in His Holy Word, and having been given the understanding of the commandments of our Lord, would forsake the very word of our Heavenly Father and follow after the world and all it's wickedness and evil.

So many times we forget who we are and whose we are. So many times we run in open rebellion after those things that are so ungodly that even those in the world stand in astonishment that one who claims the name of Christ would do so.

But why? Why do we lust after the former things that our Lord and Savior bled and died the most horrible of deaths to save His people from? Why, when we have tasted that which is very good, do we fall back into the rottenness of our former life? Why do we seek death when we are given a new glorious life?

Only God can truly answer these questions. It is to much for our finite little minds to comprehend. But, what does God say about all this? Does He tell us in His Word? Of course He does. Praise God He does!!! Romans 7:14-25. Even the great Apostle Paul struggled with sin. But, praise God, Paul was inspired by God to tell us the whys and hows of this great struggle.

O child of God, flee the lust of this world. Seek our Lord. If you love Him, follow His commandments. Follow not after the lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. Follow Christ and Christ alone!!! Read His Word daily. Study His Word. Meditate on His Word. Pray without ceasing.

O that we would all follow His Word!!!

Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional January 7, 2018

Mark 6:4-6

“4But Jesus, said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.

5And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them.

6And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching.”

Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional January 6, 2018

Ecclesiastes 1:4-11

“4One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever.

5The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose.

6The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it whirleth about continually, and the wind returneth again according to his circuits.

7All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again.

8All things are full of labour; man cannot utter it: the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.

9The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.

10Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us.

11There is no remembrance of former things; neither shall there be any remembrance of things that are to come with those that shall come after.”

Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional January 4, 2018

John 6:65

“And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.”

Praise God for this great truth!!! O what a disastrous situation we would be in if our Heavenly Father was waiting for us for us to make a decision to be born again or not. What a moronic and blasphemous doctrine it is to think we can make a decision in our salvation apart from God's grace and election.

Friend if you are feeling conviction for your sin and you have began to seek Christ, the Holy Spirit is working in you. This is not from yourself. You had no say in God's election. You have no say in the timing of your salvation. Only God has this authority. It is all of Him or it is none at all. Just as a new born babe has no say in his conception or the time of his birth. We have no say in such matters concerning our new birth in Christ.

Flee false teaching on these matters. Any who will preach man's free will in salvation is a heretic. Run as far away as you can from them.

Seek Christ and His truth. It is He who has come to seek and to save. Not we ourselves. We only seek His face after He has found us and His Spirit has moved within us.

Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional January 3, 2018

John 1:1-3

“1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

2The same was in the beginning with God.

3All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.”

As a child this was one of the first set of verses we were taught to memorize. While growing up in a Sovereign Grace Baptist church, I heard this passage preached many times. I am sure most of you who grew up in church have had the same experience.

So, with being so grounded in what these verses say why do we, as God's children, deny the very meaning of these verses and why do we deny the One these verses speak of?

If read in their context we can easily see that the theme of these verses is Jesus Christ. So why do we think that the One who created all things, then came and shed His blood for His people is not capable of knowing all things and doing what soever He wills with His creation?

Often times in this life we act as though Christ is nonexistent. Even the most scholarly of Bible teachers will often deny His deity and sovereignty. Then those of us on the lower end of the spectrum. Those of us who desire to know Him and His Word in the common man's understanding. Even we deny the love He has shown the most wretched of sinners.

Our faith falters and weakens for no known reason other than the fact that we are depraved sinners who have nothing and are nothing without our Lord and Savior.

But God, provided a way. God, through His great love and mercy has shown grace on His people and sent the Great Comforter to give us rest and peace in any and all situations. Our hope for rest and peace. Our hope for eternal salvation. Our hope for everlasting life. Is in Jesus Christ and in Him alone!!!

Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional January 2, 2018

Romans 1:8-12

“8First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.

9For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers;

10Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you.

11For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established;

12That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.”

I often wonder if other ministers do as Paul did in these verses? Brethren, do we pray for the people we are about to go fellowship with and/or preach to? Do we desire for the Lord to prepare the people for our visit as He prepares us to preach His Word? Are we concerned not only for the souls of the lost, but what of the feeding of the lambs and sheep?

I am not referring just to the congregation you may be leading each week. But also to those Fellowship Meetings or Bible Conferences you attend and participate in. What of those sick and elderly you may go visit? Do you pray for these before you go? Do you seek God's will for your visit? I am sure you pray before preparing your words to speaking. But what of the hearers? Do you pray the Lord will give them the understanding of the message He has given you? Do you pray the Lord will give you a blessing from them also?

As ministers of the God we must make a practice of praying for these things. It is of utmost importance before going to preach/teach others that we pray to our Heavenly Father for guidance and for liberty to speak the truth. We should be praying the Lord uses the Words He gives us to reach those who He has put in place to listen for His honor and glory and not our own.

I encourage you to pray for the folks you are going before to bring God's Word. Follow the example Paul speaks of in these verses.

Child of God, do you pray for the speaker before he comes to speak? It works both ways. We should begin praying as soon as we find out a visiting preacher is coming. We must pray God gives him the message we need to hear and that the message God gives him will be a blessing to all in attendance. As brothers and sisters in Christ we should desire to be a blessing to the man God sends. Whether he is our pastor or if he is just visiting for a special occasion.

As a minister and having traveled and met many of God's people in many different areas, it is always a blessing to hear them say they have been praying for your visit and that they will pray for you while you are there and even after you leave. What a blessing to know others are praying for you and your family!!!

Ministers, let the people know you pray for them. Brothers and sisters, let the minister know you pray for him. Love one another as Christ set the example. Pray one for another. We all need pray.

Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional January 1, 2018

Philippians 2:13

“For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”

Praise God we are not left to ourselves in this life!!! What a mess we would have!!! In this new year seek His face. If you love Him, follow His commandments. Pray without ceasing. Remember who you are and to whom you belong.

Praise the Lord for another new year that He has given!!!

From my family to all on this list, we pray the Lord blesses you and uses you to bless others in His name and to His glory.

Praise ye the Lord!!!