Morning Devotional March 10, 2014

I Chronicles 16:34

“O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever.”

On this first day of the work week we should be thanking the Lord for all that He has given us. Our job, a way to get to that job, our home, the means to pay for that home, our family, the means to provide food, clothing ,and shelter for that family, our friends, and let us not forget the day the Lord gave us yesterday. That glorious day of worship.

That day that many of us have off from our job to sing praises to our Lord and to listen to His Word preached. The day our Lord has set aside for us to worship Him along with His people in one of His churches. What a wonderful experience we have, what a glorious blessing our Lord has provided for us by placing us in one of His churches with people of like faith where we can all come together and worship our Heavenly Father and sing the praises of our Lord and Savior.

Yet God has His people all over this world who have no place of worship or have no one to preach to them or to teach them the wondrous Word of our Heavenly Father. I find it very sad that we here in the United States, a nation founded on Biblical principles, would have so many of the Lord's true churches that are without a man of God to preach the Word to them. The nation which for the past 200 years has sent out more missionaries around the world than any other nation has now become the nation that has the greatest need for missionaries of any nation in our world today.

Our nation, which claims to be “One Nation Under God” is starving to death for the true teachings of the Word of God. We have been so blessed by God with material things and finances that we, as a nation, have forgotten where and who we came from. The sins of our nation are great. Possibly greater than any nation since the flood of Noah's day. Speaking of Noah, did not our Lord warn us that in the days just before His coming again things would be like it was in the days of Noah? (Matt. 24:37)

Sadly in my travels the last two years I have seen very few men that the Lord has raised up to preach His Word. Fewer men of God to preach the Word and more and more churches searching for a Pastor. What can this mean? Brother and Sisters I believe this can mean only one thing. Our Lord's coming is soon!

Do we give up? Do we stop preaching and teaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ because He is not sending out new pastors and teachers? No! Our Lord instructed us to work till He came. We are to work the fields of our Master until His coming to take us to that glorious home He has prepared for us.

I encourage you all to carry on the fight! Carry on with the Lord's work He has given unto you! Never surrender to the temptation of the devil by giving up! Continue to wage the war against this old world  full of sin and death! Pray that the Lord stands with you and for you in this fight!

For this is not a battle for the weak but for the strong. We must be strong in His Word and strong in the faith He has given us. As the Apostles and the first church did in Acts 4:24-31 pray for boldness to stand-up for and to speak the Word of God. Pray for the boldness of those men of God who are out there in different parts of our nation and the world, that the Lord will give them boldness to carry on with the preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and with the teaching of His people no matter what the conflict may be where they are.

As men we can not fight this fight alone. Only by the Grace of God can we have the proper armor our Lord has provided for His children. 

Remember our main verse; “O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever.” Give thanks unto the Lord daily! Why? Because He and He alone is the only one that deserves our praise! He and He alone is the only one who shows us true mercy for ever! He and He alone provides us with the boldness to fight the fight!

Praise Ye the Lord!!! 

Morning Devotional March 8, 2014

I Chronicles 16:23, 24, 25

“Sing unto the Lord, all the earth; shew forth from day to day his salvation. Declare his glory among the heathen; his marvellous works among all nations. For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised: he also is to be feared above all gods.”

As the children of God we are to show the world our gratitude to our Heavenly Father constantly. Here in these verses we are told to sing to our Lord and to show daily what His salvation means to us or has done for us. We are to declare His glory to even our harshest enemies. We are to proclaim His Word and His works to all the world. Why? Because our Lord, above all others, above all the false gods the world over, is the only one worthy to be praised! Praise Him in every aspect of your life. Praise when you down. Praise Him when you are up, Praise Him when the world seems to be coming down around you and there seems no way out. Praise Him! Praise Him!

 

Praise Him! Praise Him! By: Frances J. Crosby

 

1.    Praise Him! Praise Him! Jesus, our blessed Redeemer!
Sing, O Earth, His wonderful love proclaim!
Hail Him! Hail Him! Highest archangels in glory;
Strength and honor give to His holy Name!
Like a shepherd, Jesus will guard His children,
In His arms He carries them all day long.

•       Refrain:
Praise Him! Praise Him! Tell of His excellent greatness;
Praise Him! Praise Him! Ever in joyful song!

2.    Praise Him! Praise Him! Jesus, our blessed Redeemer!
For our sins He suffered, and bled, and died.
He our Rock, our hope of eternal salvation,
Hail Him! Hail Him! Jesus the Crucified.
Sound His praises! Jesus who bore our sorrows,
Love unbounded, wonderful, deep and strong.

3.    Praise Him! Praise Him! Jesus, our blessed Redeemer!
Heav’nly portals loud with hosannas ring!
Jesus, Savior, reigneth forever and ever;
Crown Him! Crown Him! Prophet, and Priest, and King!
Christ is coming! over the world victorious,
Pow’r and glory unto the Lord belong.

 

Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional March 2, 2014

Proverbs 31

Proverbs 31 is the one chapter most Christians turn to when they think of what is supposed to be the “perfect” wife or the example of the “perfect” wife. I like many of my preacher brethren have preached and taught this many times. But after going back and reading this chapter again by the encouragement of another pastor, I see where I for one have missed some very important aspects of this chapter. For one I have usually started my sermons/lessons with verse 10 and went through the end of verse 31. Now that being said, let's go back and look at verse 1.

“The words of king Lemuel, the prophecy that his mother taught him.”

Notice who this chapter is about. King Lemuel. Also notice it is him telling what he learned from his mother. A prophecy or lesson she learned from the Lord. Notice she starts by telling him not to give his strength unto women in verse 3 and that kings are not to drink wine and princes are not to drink strong drink in verse 4. Two of the things of the world that had ruined many a king in Israel. Look at the kings down through history and even the world leaders today. Women and strong drink are very much a part of their lives and at times are their down-fall.

Now to the real reason I bring up this chapter. Notice after Lemuel's mother is finished talking about strong drink she to telling him about a woman would is to be the example of a king or ruler's wife. Yes that is right, I said a king or ruler's wife. Something I think we have some many times missed here in this chapter is the fact that this story of the “perfect” wife is being told to the king by his mother. Not to the every day citizen. So many times we as Christians have taken the last 22 verses of this chapter and assumed this is God's example of the “perfect” wife. We assume this is how God wants all wives to be. But read verses 13-27. The things we see this woman seeking after, buying, and doing are the things of a woman who has great wealth. She is not poor by any means. Also notice in verse 15. She has “maidens” or servants. Another sign that she is wealthy. But also notice she does a lot of the work herself. It tells in verses 13, 16, 17, 19, 22, and 24 that she works with her hands. This was the custom of the day when this was written. Though the king's wife had servants if she was a godly woman she would not be to good to work herself. Setting an example for her children and servants.

Morning Devotional February 17, 2014

I Chronicles 16:8

“Give thanks unto the Lord, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the people.”

We, as God's children should be continually giving thanks to our Lord. There is so much we owe Him for. Much more than we can ever repay. Our Lord has given us so much. Our very life depends upon Him and Him alone. Our very existence in this world comes from Him. Without Him we have nothing, we are nothing.

“Call upon His name”, Call upon the name of the Lord often. Never forsake the one we owe our all. Make His name known to everyone around us, to everyone we know, and come in contact with. Make known to them the blessings He has bestowed upon us. Be not afraid or ashamed to praise His name no matter where you are or who you are with.

 

Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional December 2, 2013

Psalm 143:9

“Deliver me, O Lord, from mine enemies: I flee unto thee to hide me.”

The enemy is out to destroy us. That old advisory the devil is roaming the earth seeking whom he may devour. God's people are not exempt from the hand of satan. Just look at Job. God removed the hedge of protection from Job and satan had a field day, killing Job's children, stealing his possessions and wreaking havoc on Job's life. But God did not let satan touch Job's soul. Job was a man of God and God knew of Job's faithfulness to God. Without the faith that God had instilled in Job, Job would have no doubt given up. Even Job's wife and closest friends tried to get Job to turn his back on God. But Job, even though he questioned God for what was going on around him, he still turned to God.

So many times we flee to the ways of the world and not to our Lord for hiding during times of despair. Most times what we see on television or read in novels has more of an impact on our life than the Word of God. The very Word of God and prayer to our Heavenly Father should be our first reaction to a trial.

Paul referred to himself as the “Chiefest of Sinners”. The Apostle to the Gentiles, the one whom the Lord used to pen more of the New Testament than any other writer. Paul wrote most of his letters while in prison or under house arrest. And yet while it may seem that Paul was under constant trial, he understood that he was a sinner.

Sometimes we forget that as the children of God that we are greatly vulnerable to the great deceiver and a father of lies. If we will study and follow Ephesians 6:10-17  the Lord teaches us how to fight these spiritual battles we have from time to time. And yes we must remember when in the midst of battle to most importantly keep our eyes, heart, and soul on our Lord, because without Him the battle would be lost.

 

Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional November 25, 2013

Psalm 143:6

 

“I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land. Selah.”

“I stretch forth my hands unto thee” Have you ever been so distraught with things in your live that when you go to the Lord in prayer that you cry out and reach up to Him as a child would their mother or father? What a time those are when we reach out to our Heavenly Father and He grabs us up in His arms and comforts us and consoles us and just lets us know He is there and cares for our every worry and burden. Those are the times we cherish. Those are the times, like with our own children, we feel His undying love. All though we may not get the answer we wanted or maybe the problems are not solved right away, we can have that peace in the middle of the storm.

Praise God He is our Heavenly Father!!!

In those times of great despair when we long for our Father's attention and love, our very soul thirsteh after Him. David says here “as a thirsty land”. Have you ever seen the ground soak up the rain water after there has been a long dry spell or a drought?  At first the soil will soak up the water like a sponge, but when it gets its fill and it can hold no more the water will begin to run off of the soil. After the rains have gone plants will bloom with the most beautiful flowers. That's like us in these times. Our very souls are dry as the desert. But when the Lord begins to flood us with His love and mercy and grace, we begin to fill up on those things He provides. Our cups runneth over with His love. We no longer are a desert but a blooming garden. The Lord takes our desert condition and turns it into the most beautiful garden we have ever seen. And why? All because of His love for us. All because He will get the glory for it all. And yes we must give our Heavenly Father the glory for it all!

 

Praise ye the Lord!!!

Morning Devotional October 27, 2013

Acts 2:16-21

“But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;

AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS IN THE LAST DAYS, SAITH GOD, I WILL POUR OUT OF MY SPIRIT UPON ALL FLESH: AND YOUR SONS AND DAUGHTERS SHALL PROPHESY, AND YOUR YOUNG MEN SHALL SEE VISIONS, AND YOUR OLD MEN SHALL DREAM DREAMS: AND ON MY SERVANTS AND ON MY HANDMAIDENS I WILL POUR OUT IN THOSE DAYS OF MY SPIRIT; AND SHALL PROPHESY: AND I WILL SHEW WONDERS IN HEAVEN ABOVE, AND SIGNS IN THE EARTH BENEATH; BLOOD, AND FIRE, AND VAPOUR OF SMOKE: THE SUN SHALL BE TURNED INTO DARKNESS, AND THE MOON INTO BLOOD, BEFORE THAT GREAT AND NOTABLE DAY OF THE LORD COME: AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS, THAT WHOSOEVER SHALL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD SHALL BE SAVED.”

 

Wow! What a time of great sorrow that will be for those unsaved in the world and a glorious time for the nation of Israel. What Peter is describing here is the days leading up to the salvation of the nation of Israel and the final destruction of the armies of the world. Notice in verse 22 “Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:” Notice who Peter is talking to here. Peter is talking to the men of Israel. The Jews.

Turn to Joel 2:28-32. This is the scripture Peter is quoting. In both places the scripture is referring to the end times. It is referring to the time just before the Lord saves the nation of Israel towards the end of the Great Tribulation Period. Notice Peter and Joel both say: “Before that great and notable day of the Lord come.” This is referring to the day when our Lord along with us will descend from Heaven and our Lord will destroy the armies of the world at the battle of Armageddon.

Notice in verse 32: “And it shall come to pass, that whosever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered: for in the mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the Lord hath said, and in the remnant whom the Lord shall call.” Notice Joel says “in the mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance,”. Not all the earth, but in Zion and Jerusalem. This prophecy is for the nation of Israel. Not the Gentiles or the nations as a whole but for Israel. And not just Israel but notice Joel also says: “And in the remnant whom the Lord shall call.” So not only is this prophecy for the nation of Israel, but it is for those that the Lord will call out of the nation of Israel. God's elect nation. Paul said that not all that say they are Jews are true Jews. So not all that claim to be Israel are of the true Israel. There are many in the land of Israel and many around the world who claim to be of Israel who are not truly from Israel. It is only those whom the Lord has and will call. It is only those chosen few, elect of God that are the true Israel.

Now all that being said, there is another misconception about these verses. There are those today who take verse 17 in Acts 2 and try to say it is for today. But as I have pointed out these verses have nothing to do with our day and time and are not for the Lord's Churches or the Gentiles. These passages in Acts and Joel are strictly for the true Jews that the Lord will call out in the last days of the Great Tribulation Period.

Many have taken verse 17 and claim that this means the gift of prophecy is alive and well today. Yet in I Corinthians 13:8-10 Paul said: “Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.”

“ when that which is perfect is come,” refers to the complete Word of God. Which we have today. Which was complete when the Apostle John finished writing the book of Revelation. What we have as Genesis-Revelation, the Old and New Testaments combined are the Perfect, Complete Word of God. Now with that complete Word we have all the Prophecies that were told that God intended for us to know. And in His time, He will reveal those prophecies to us. It may be before the thing happens or it may be after. That is up to God.

Many today have taken this verse 17 and claimed it as the reason for women to preach or to teach in the church. But to take this view is to take the verse out of context and out of it's original intent. Remember I have already taken the scripture and proven this verse is not for the church or for Christians today. To say that it is for today is to totally deny the Word of God. The Holy Scripture is plain on this.

Also to say that this verse gives the okay for women to speak in the church is to cause a contradiction in the scriptures themselves. Paul said in I Corinthians 14:34 and 35 “Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church.” Now how much plainer can you get than that? I will say here that there are some who carry this to far in my opinion. There are those who claim this also means that the women are not to sing in the church service. I do not believe this is what these verses say at all. These verses plainly say “speak”. There is a big difference in speaking and singing. On the other hand there are those who will say these verses came about because some of the women in the church in Corinth were speaking out and/or asking questions during the service while the preacher was trying to preach and thus interrupting the service. Verse 35 does seem to look like that might have been the case. And I can see where that would be a problem that would need to be handled in this manner.

I Timothy 2:11-14 “Let the women learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.” Now if you go back to the first part of chapter 2 you will see Paul is teaching Timothy on public worship. So Paul is teaching how women are to conduct themselves in the public worship service. But also notice here in verse 14: “For Adam was not deceived,”. We can not put all the blame on the woman. We can not degrade the woman in any way. For Adam, the first man, though he was not deceived by the serpent, he still knowingly sinned. So Adam or man has only himself to blame for our sins not the woman.

Now after all this does this mean that men are not to learn from women? I think not. Remember Paul commended Timothy's mother and grandmother for teaching Timothy when he was younger. Also in many places in the scripture the Lord used women to teach men a lesson. Look at Ruth and Naomi. Look at the women of the first church. They were the last to leave the Lord at His death on the cross, the first to go to His tomb the third day to finish the embalming process, the first that the angel spoke to announcing the Lord's resurrection, and the first to go tell the men of the church of the good news of His resurrection. So yes the Lord has used women in great ways in the past and in the present and will in the future. But when it comes to the public worship service the Word of God is very plain and very strict on the difference in the roles of the man and of the woman.

In I Corinthians 11:8-12 “ For the man is not of the woman; but the woman of the man. Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man. For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels. Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord. For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things are of God.” So we must remember that  as far as the Lord is concerned woman was created as a help-meet for the man and they are to be inseparable in this life. Notice that no where does the Lord say the woman is to be the footstool of the man, or his slave. But his helpmeet and partner in life. The Lord also told us they are to be one flesh and the man is to love his wife as the Lord loves the church (the Lord's future wife).

As husbands we are to love, cherish, care for, provide for, and honor our wife. However, just like in the church, men and women have different roles in the marriage. The husband is to be the primary caregiver. Does this mean the wife cannot work outside the home? No, read Proverbs 31. But it is the husbands job as the head of the household to support his family. Does this mean the wife is to not have a say in important decisions involving the home and the family? No, both husband and wife must be a part of any such decisions. All though the husband is to take the lead he should be seeking godly counsel from his wife on matters that affect the family. This goes back to God saying in Genesis 2:24 “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.”

I realize this is a very touchy subject with some on this list and with most of those out there we know who would consider themselves Christian today. That is why I challenge each of you before you pass judgment on anything I have written here that you take a King James Version of the Bible and study what has been written. There is much more to this topic and this discussion than I could have written in this short devotion. If you desire to learn more and want to discuss this please contact me. I am willing to peaceably discuss this with one.

I pray you all take this with all seriousness and study to show thyselves approved unto God.   

 

Praise ye the Lord!!!