DEVOTIONS

Quickly Intercede

OCTOBER 18, 2023
Daily Reading – Isa. 42-44 / Col. 3

GOD’S WORD:

Isaiah 44:18 They have not known nor understood: for he hath shut their eyes, that they cannot see; and their hearts, that they cannot understand.

 GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD:

        Do you think; “Aspirants for literary advancement should religiously eschew polysyllabic orthography?” I know some of you are saying, WHAT? These are all English words; completely understandable, nevertheless, the meaning may escape many of you. Which by the way, the meaning of the phrase is “To promote talking always use small words?” Communication is not just the sounding out of words, but it is the understanding of the words that are said. Sometimes, like in the example above, the words are not understood because they are not well known or clear. Other times, the words are not understood because the listener has tuned out the speaker. All they really hear is WAH WAH WAH…, and they toss in an occasion uh huh, or yup. However, they really are not listening.

        In today’s verse we find an idol worshiper, so intent on what he is doing that he does not seek any other truth. “They have not known…” Someone did not tell them, or did not tell them clearly and, “nor was understood.” Instead of asking, “What,” and seeking the truth, they have hardened their heart against God. Not only do they not understand, but they also see no reason to change. In their eyes everything is ok. Then it says he shut their hearts that they cannot understand. Since they see no problem, they are not seeking a solution. Someone needs to interrupt their life with the truth of the Gospel. 

 GETTING GOD’S WORD INTO ME:

        Seek wisdom, desire understanding, look at every situation with more than physical eyes. Look at others with your heart. Some, who are blinded by the world and do not see, need someone with the light of the gospel to quickly intercede.

Will you shine a gospel light to quickly intercede?

Quenches Our Fears

OCTOBER 17, 2023
Daily Reading – Isa. 40-41 / Col. 2

 

GOD’S WORD:

Isaiah 41:10 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

 

 GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD:

        In times of doubt and fear in our life, we need real help. People often say things like, “Don’t worry, it will be ok.” Yet, we walk away with no real help. Our friends really do not know for sure that it will be ok. They might say, “Hey, I would not worry about that if I were you.” Yet again, that is not really much help. They are not me, and they are not living my life. They just do not know if they would worry or not until it happens to them. What we need in those moments of life are not friends who mean well with their words of comfort, we need help. God promises that help.

 

        In Isaiah 41:9 God says to Abraham; “…Thou art my servant; I have chosen thee, and not cast thee away.” Jesus told the disciples the same thing in John 15:16 when He said, “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you…” He says again in John 6:37 “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” As a servant of the Lord, we can then believe Isaiah 41:10 as a promise to us as well when God says; “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God:” He says this again in Hebrews 13:5 “…I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” He will walk through our trials with us. He also said, “I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” That is the real help we need. 

 

 GETTING GOD’S WORD INTO ME:

        We all know there will be trials in life. They are going to come. As a believer in Christ, we can take comfort in knowing, we do not walk through them alone. God also promised to strengthen, help, and uphold us. This should help quench all our fears.

 

Does knowing God is there help?

 

Quiet Pain

OCTOBER 16, 2023
Daily Reading – Isa. 37-39 / Col. 1

 

GOD’S WORD:

Isaiah 38:5 Go, and say to Hezekiah, Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will add unto thy days fifteen years.

 

 GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD:

        A part of life is sorrow. We would all like our world to be great every day. Yet that is not real life. Real life has problems, discouragements, anguish, and pain. Let’s face it, life sometimes stinks. It feels even worse if it seems as though we are going through it alone. When those around you do not understand the emotions flooding through your heart. When your prayers to God are so simple and all you are asking for is it to be over. Yet it seems like an eternity between the asking and the answer. Can you remember a day like that? A week? A season in your life? Then let me give you just a glimmer of truth that may make it a little more bearable.

 

        God is listening to every word you say. In our verse today Hezekiah was crying out to God. It was a near death situation. No hope except God. He turns his face to the wall, gets alone with God and begins to cry and beg God to hear him. The Bible says he wept sore. In other words, he was crying his heart out to God. It says God heard him. Even more important, it says God saw his tears. He was not an absentee God that only heard a voice crying, He is a personal God moved by the cry of Hezekiah’s heart, but also the sight of his tears. God is moved by our tears. It should help a little to know you are not alone. Not for a moment. In Hebrews 13:5 God has said, “…I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” When God says never, He means never.  

 

 GETTING GOD’S WORD INTO ME:

        One reason God puts homes together is so He can be Jesus in that home with flesh on. God needs to show His love through you more than you might know. Be God’s arms of love in a time of need. It may amaze you how God’s love will come back to you.

 

Will you show God’s love?

 

Positioned to Win

 OCTOBER 14 & 15, 2023
 OCTOBER 14 – Daily Reading – Isa. 32-36 / Phil. 4
 OCTOBER 15 – NO READING

 GOD’S WORD:

Isaiah 35:4 Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you.

 

 GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD:

        In today’s world, it may seem at times as if Christians are fighting a losing battle. Television displays homosexuality as the norm and gives this group not only prominent airtime, but also now title programming with their slogans of “Gay” and “Queer.” We have judges who are supposed to uphold the constitution who instead will stand up for artwork on display of nudity and profanity in front of our children in public. They say it is because it is called art and freedom of speech. However, these same judges will remove a monument of the Ten Commandments because the wording on it might “influence someone.” Pornography is everywhere you look from television, magazines, and on the Internet. If someone tries to block it from our youth in places like public libraries, we are then called narrow-minded. The lyrics to songs and the language on almost all media are what was called “gutter language” when I was a child. Cussing and swearing is to our children now just normal speech. There is sin everywhere. Moreover, as bad as it seems in the United States, reports from around the world seem worse.

 

        What can we do? Where do we turn? The answer today is the same as it has been since Christ rose from the tomb. We keep sharing the gospel and turn to other believers and to Christ. God gave us the church for just such a time as this. In Him, we are positioned to win.

 

 GETTING GOD’S WORD INTO ME:

        We can all rest assured, there will come a time when every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ Is Lord of all. Until then we must keep on keeping on for the glory of God. Vengeance is His. Until then, let’s share Him with all we can.

 

Did you know the battle is won?

 

THE WEEK IN REVIEW:

        What people desire most in life is to know that they are loved. God has given us His Promise of Love. The future displays His love as we saw in:

  ● Purposeful Thoughts
  ● Perfectly Clear Now
  ● Prophecy In View
  ● Peace
  ● Placing Your Trust
  ● Positioned To Win

 

      For those who put their trust in God’s Son Jesus Christ, the Promise of Love is secure.

 

       Enjoy today with your church and hear what God has prepared in the heart of His man for you this week.

   See you tomorrow.  

 

 SUNDAYS:

       Today we suggest you read and study whatever the Lord has laid on your Pastors heart. Whatever scripture he uses for today’s messages were given to him by God for your specific needs.

 

October 16, 2023	Isa. 37-39	Col. 1
October 17, 2023	Isa. 40-41	Col. 2
October 18, 2023	Isa. 42-44	Col. 3
October 19, 2023	Isa. 45-48	Col. 4
October 20, 2023	Isa. 49-52	1 Thess. 1-2
October 21, 2023	Isa. 53-58	1 Thess. 3-4
October 22, 2023	No Passages Assigned

Promise Of Love

Placing Your Trust

OCTOBER 13, 2023
Daily Reading – Isa. 29-31 / Phil. 3

GOD’S WORD:

Isaiah 31:1 Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help; and stay on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many; and in horsemen, because they are very strong; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the LORD!

 GETTING INTO GOD’S WORD:

        We all need a measure of help now and again. I know this is true by all the insurance companies that are out there trying to get you to buy their policies. Insurance is there when you need help. Medical insurance for your health, auto insurance for your car and truck problems, homeowners’ insurance for your home, etc. When we buy these policies, we place our trust in them that they will pay up if we have a problem. Then you come to life insurance. I heard it said, the smartest salesperson that ever lived was the guy who first said, “if you give me money every month for all your life, when you die, I will give it back.” The Life insurance policies we purchase are really not for us as much as they are for those we leave behind. Yet who are you trusting with your life today and your eternal life to come?

        In today’s verse Isaiah’s reference is to people who have been blessed by God, but then turn back to the world. God had once overthrown Egypt and told Israel’s King in Deut. 17:16 “But he shall not multiply horses to himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt, to the end that he should multiply horses: forasmuch as the LORD hath said unto you, Ye shall henceforth return no more that way.” God, who is mightier than all, and over all, desires that we as believers place our trust in Him. When things go wrong, and we know they will, seek God’s leading in life first. 

 GETTING GOD’S WORD INTO ME:

        So, what about soul insurance and assurance. Psalm 34:22 says, “The LORD redeemeth the soul of his servants: and none of them that trust in him shall be desolate.” The Lord will give us eternal insurance and assurance. We can trust Him.

Where do you place your trust?