Hocus Pocus, Abracadabra, Alakazam!

June 28 & 29, 2025

KEY FROM GOD’S WORD:

1 Kings 22:22
And the LORD said unto him, Wherewith? And he said, I will go forth, and I will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said, Thou shalt persuade him, and prevail also: go forth, and do so.

 

THOUGHTS ON GOD’S WORD:

 

     Hocus Pocus, abracadabra, alakazam! What comes to mind when you hear those words? MAGIC! What we often call magic occurs when something that is not possible seems suddenly to happen. At least it appears to. I do not believe in outright magic. However, optical illusions happen all the time. In the late 1990’s a picture craze came out called 3D Stereogram. They say if you held one of these pictures close to your nose and then moved it away slowly, you would see a 3D image slowly appear in the picture. In some cases, it was easy to see. However, with others, I held it close, crossed my eyes, stood on one foot, howled at the moon, and still was not able to see a thing. The only image to appear was for those around me who saw an idiot sticking his nose on a picture over and over again. Everything is not as it appears.

 

     So, it is in the religious world also. Everyone is not exactly who he or she claims to be. Our verse today told of a prophet who went about lying and persuaded some to believe him. That was thousands of years ago. In the New Testament, the apostles warned the church of false prophets over two thousand years ago. Well, false prophets are still with us today. Not everyone who says they are of God truly is. Not everyone who claims the name of Jesus cares for your soul or your spiritual well-being. Instead, many of them are much more concerned with their own pocketbook. Here is their magic trick. Take out twenty dollars, tuck it in a stamped envelope, put their name and address on it, and mail it off to them. Then it is Hocus Pocus, Abracadabra, Alakazam! Your money disappeared.

 

CARRYING THAT THOUGHT THROUGH THE DAY:

 

     1 John 4:1 says, “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” We must always compare what man may say, to what God’s Word really says.

 

When people look at you do they see a clear picture of god in your life,
or do they have to squint and look really hard to find Him?

 

IF YOU ARE JOURNALING:

Ask yourself, what are MY THOUGHTS concerning this Passage and today’s Devotion?

 

Do I find within this reading a CHALLENGE for my life?

 

What are one or two things I WILL DO today or this week to accept that CHALLENGE?

  

GOD TALKING TO ME:  June 28, 2025

THROUGH THE BIBLE ACCELERATED READING
^{(OT-1,/NT & PS-2,/Prov-Monthly)}
1 Kings 21, 22 / Psalm 148-149
Proverbs 28-29 / Revelations 20-21

 

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
2 Chron. 10-13 / Acts 5:29-42

WHAT TO DO ON SUNDAY:

 

    There will not be a Daily Devotion sent out on Sundays. Instead, we encourage you to attend your church and listen intently to what God has prepared in the heart of your Pastor. Write down all the scriptures he uses in that message, then when you get home re-read those passages for today’s reading. God has given to your Pastor exactly what He desires for you on that day.  

 

GOD TALKING TO ME:  June 29, 2025

THROUGH THE BIBLE ACCELERATED READING
^{(OT-1,/NT & PS-2,/Prov-Monthly)}
NO READINGS ON SUNDAY

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
NO READINGS ON SUNDAY

 

He Has It All

June 27, 2025

KEY FROM GOD’S WORD:

Revelation 19:1
And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God:

THOUGHTS ON GOD’S WORD:

     I was watching TV with some folks and heard someone say of a man on the television, “He has it all. Good looks, fame, and wealth, he has it all.” To most people, that might seem true. Possessions, fame, and good looks sound like a good package. However, let me tell you someone who truly “Has It All.”

     In Heaven, the saints will shout Alleluia to our Lord Jesus Christ, which properly means, “Praise Yahweh,” or “Praise the Lord.” All of heaven will be shouting as the deliverer of all saints steps forth. Why do we Praise Him? We praise the Lord for Salvation. Past salvation, which washed us white as snow from sin and shame. Salvation, which will allow us to be there on that day, will be a testimony to His power over sin. Salvation from the horrors of tribulation that will be taking place on earth. Eternal salvation as we rule, reign, and reside with Him forever.

     Alleluia for the Glory of God who outshines anything we have ever seen. That glory was in the cloud, which led Israel to the promised land. The glory of God, which caused Moses’ face to shine so much, a veil had to cover his face so others could look at him. The glory which was displayed on the Mount of Transfiguration. The glory of God outshines them all. Praise the Lord for the Honor due Him. The true King of Kings has stepped out to claim rightful authority over it all. Alleluia for the power that He has to take what is His, but also to protect all His own. I say Alleluia, Praise the Lord, He has it all. Someday everyone will shout Jesus truly “HAS IT ALL.”

CARRYING THAT THOUGHT THROUGH THE DAY:

     What a day that will be when we can see the One who died for us. The Groom of the church. The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. The King of Kings and Lord of Lords. The Almighty Lord of Creation. Alleluia, Praise the Lord. He has it all and deserves it all. 

Will you give Him your all?

IF YOU ARE JOURNALING:

Ask yourself, what are MY THOUGHTS concerning this Passage and today’s Devotion?

Do I find within this reading a CHALLENGE for my life?

What are one or two things I WILL DO today or this week to accept that CHALLENGE?

  

GOD TALKING TO ME:  June 27, 2025

THROUGH THE BIBLE ACCELERATED READING
^{(OT-1, NT & PS-2, Prov-Monthly)}
1 Kings 20 /- Psalm 147
Proverbs 27 / Revelations 19

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
2 Chron. 7-9 / Acts 5:1-28

Relationship Or Fellowship?
June 26, 2025

KEY FROM GOD’S WORD:

Proverbs 26:11
As a dog returneth to his vomit, so a fool returneth to his folly.

 

THOUGHTS ON GOD’S WORD:

 

     One of the saddest things in the world today is the rotating doors of the church. As I have been blessed and allowed to speak in several churches over the years, I am often saddened to hear of people who once appeared to be so on fire for God, now back living in the world.

 

     In the church I pastored, and churches all across America we find the same thing happening time and again. You will see someone come to the church, get all excited about being there with so many loving people, join in everything they can, and do all types of great work in the church. They talk the talk of the born-again and go to every function that comes along. Then, some little detail of church or outside influence comes their way, and off they go back into the world, living as they did before they came to church.

 

     Ask them if they are saved, and they say, “Oh yes, I’m saved. I remember the date.” However, salvation is not a date, and it is not some magic words you once said. Salvation is a real relationship with Jesus Christ. Once you have that relationship with Him, the world’s sinfulness will taste bad.

 

     The Bible says a dog returns to his vomit and a fool to his folly. The lost will always long for the world, but when a person is saved, the Bible says in 2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” Some say the people who go back into the world have lost their salvation. Friend, you cannot lose what you most likely never had.

 

CARRYING THAT THOUGHT THROUGH THE DAY:

 

     Enjoying church fellowship does not save you any more than in a garage makes you a car. True Christianity is not about fellowship, it is about relationship. A real relationship with Jesus will make you desire the church fellowship. 

 

Do you have a relationship with Jesus
or just a membership with the church?

 

IF YOU ARE JOURNALING:

Ask yourself, what are MY THOUGHTS concerning this Passage and today’s Devotion?

 

Do I find within this reading a CHALLENGE for my life?

 

What are one or two things I WILL DO today or this week to accept that CHALLENGE?

 

  

GOD TALKING TO ME:  June 26, 2025

THROUGH THE BIBLE ACCELERATED READING
^{(OT-1, NT & PS-2, Prov-Monthly)}
1 Kings 18, 19 / Psalm 146
Proverbs 26 / Revelations 18

 

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
2 Chron. 4-6 / Acts 4

 

There Is A Real Hell

June 23, 2025

KEY FROM GOD’S WORD:

Revelation 12:9
And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

 

THOUGHTS ON GOD’S WORD:

 

     I am sure you have said, or heard someone say, “This or that will happen when Hell freezes over.” Can you imagine all the wild and crazy things people must have attached to that phrase? I will get married, sing a solo, give you my car, or whatever wild idea comes up just before the phrase, “when Hell freezes over.” Living in Michigan most of my life there was kind of a joke about the phrase, “when Hell freezes over.” There is a city not far from where I lived in Michigan by the name of Hell. In the winter months, we would get a lot of snow, and as you may have guessed, sometimes Hell would actually freeze over. We were waiting to see if any of those promises would come true on that day. What a crazy day that would be.

 

     Another phrase you hear concerning this place called Hell is, “Hell on Earth.” What a phrase. What a thought. Most often, when someone uses that phase, they are referring to something terrible happening. Like when the hurricane ripped through the southern U.S. and destroyed entire cities, people said, it was like Hell on earth for some.

 

     The hurricane hitting may have seemed like the worst thing that could happen to them. But as terrible as that was, or as bad as your worst possible day has been, it will not compare to the day when God and the angels ban Satan from Heaven, and he takes up residence on this earth. Friends that will be the closest people living on earth will ever come to real Hell on earth.

 

CARRYING THAT THOUGHT THROUGH THE DAY:

 

The good news is, we do not have to be here when it happens. In Thessalonians, the Bible talks of the church being taken away before the tribulation period on earth. All we need to do is accept Christ as our Saviour before that day of real “Hell on Earth.” Some might say, “I will get my life right with God when Hell freezes over.” Well, Hell froze over in Michigan several times. Are you a real person of your word? Why not get things right today?

 

How bad must things get before people realize, all of God’s Words are coming true?

 

IF YOU ARE JOURNALING:

Ask yourself, what are MY THOUGHTS concerning this Passage and today’s Devotion?

 

Do I find within this reading a CHALLENGE for my life?

 

What are one or two things I WILL DO today or this week to accept that CHALLENGE?

  

GOD TALKING TO ME:  June 23, 2025

THROUGH THE BIBLE ACCELERATED READING
^{(O.T.-1,   N.T. & PS.-2,   Prov. – Monthly)}
1 Kings 12, 13 / Psalm 143
Proverbs 22-23 / Revelations 11-13

 

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
1 Chron. 26-27 / Acts 2:1-36

 

Hands And Hearts

June 21 & 22, 2025

KEY FROM GOD’S WORD:

Psalm 141:1-2
LORD, I cry unto thee: make haste unto me; give ear unto my voice, when I cry unto thee. Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.

 

THOUGHTS ON GOD’S WORD:

 

     There are those times in life when we may feel like the author of this Psalm. “Oh Lord, I need you to answer my prayer right now. Not five minutes from now, and not tomorrow, but today!” We have all had those moments in life. However, did we come to the Lord as David did? The verse says, “the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.” What does that mean?

 

     Some denominations lift their hands all the time. Others make no gestures at all in church, or in private from what we gather. Some teach that raising your hands is the only correct posture in which to approach God. Others say it is a prideful motion and people use it to simply draw attention to themselves and therefore it takes away from glorifying God. So, which is right?

 

     It seems the ancient gesture in the Old Testament and some New Testament churches was a sign of surrender and supplication. Total surrender showed they had no weapons in their hands and a state of defenselessness. Supplication in that their hands were empty and waited upon God to fulfill their every need. Most believe it was then, and should still be today, an outward gesture to demonstrate the heart of the individual. A heart lifted to God and open to His will. The Bible records many postures for prayer and worship. The one thing God is always concerned with is your heart.

 

 

CARRYING THAT THOUGHT THROUGH THE DAY:

 

     So, is it right or wrong? Really, God cares more about your heart than your hands. Trying to show you are spiritual by lifting your hands does not impress God nor should it impress man. However, if it is a humble expression of your heart, raise them high. The most important matter is where is your heart with God.

 

Will you lift up your heart in total surrender to God today?

 

IF YOU ARE JOURNALING:

Ask yourself, what are MY THOUGHTS concerning this Passage and today’s Devotion?

 

Do I find within this reading a CHALLENGE for my life?

 

What are one or two things I WILL DO today or this week to accept that CHALLENGE?

  

GOD TALKING TO ME:  June 21, 2025

THROUGH THE BIBLE ACCELERATED READING
^{(OT-1,/NT & PS-2,/Prov-Monthly)}
1 Kings 9-11 / Psalm 141-142
Proverbs 21 / Revelations 8-10

 

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
1 Chron. 23-25 / Acts 1

WHAT TO DO ON SUNDAY:

 

    There will not be a Daily Devotion sent out on Sundays. Instead, we encourage you to attend your church and listen intently to what God has prepared in the heart of your Pastor. Write down all the scriptures he uses in that message, then when you get home re-read those passages for today’s reading. God has given to your Pastor exactly what He desires for you on that day.  

 

GOD TALKING TO ME:  June 22, 2025

THROUGH THE BIBLE ACCELERATED READING
^{(OT-1,/NT & PS-2,/Prov-Monthly)}
NO READINGS ON SUNDAY

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
NO READINGS ON SUNDAY