DAILY DEVOTIONALS: 4.29.21

A Spirit of Power by Ryan Duncan “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” – Joshua 1:9 Sometimes, the world can be a scary place. Scratch that, sometimes it can be downright terrifying. War, sickness, corruption, injustice, death, every day brings something new to worry about. As Christians, we know God has a plan for our lives, but we alsoknow that doesn’t make us immune to pain and suffering. So how can we possibly go about our lives when faced with so much uncertainty? We might start by looking at the apostle Paul. Paul knew what it was like to live in uncertainty. Throughout his life he was blinded, beaten, shipwrecked, exiled, and imprisoned on multiple occasions. The temptation to give in, and let fear ruin him, musthave been enormous. Yet, look what he writes in his letter to Timothy, “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel,by the power of God, who has saved us and called us to a holy life--not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through theappearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.” – 2 Timothy 1:7-10 Yes, there are many frightening things out in the world, but God did not give us a spirit of timidity. God gave us a spirit of power. His Holy Spirit lives in us, and it reminds us in that still, small voice to be brave even in the face of danger. Paul knew that his life would be hard, and that in following Christ he would likely lose it, but that knowledge didn’t take away his courage. Instead,he strove to live in a way that glorified God. None of us know what the future may hold. We might find ourselves facing challenges we never thought we’d have to endure. When that happens, we must remember to have courage like Paul. If we do, we will be able to meet whatever comes and not be ashamed. ----------------------- Ancient Times “I have considered the days of old, the years of ancient times.” (Psalm77:5) The Bible provides for us a fascinating perspective on the passage of time. Three thousand years ago, the psalmist was reflecting on God’s ways in even earlier times and was seeking to understand God’s ways in his time. Each new generation seems to think thatit is the “new wave,” leading the world out of its past darkness into a new age of enlightenment. There is need for scientific research, of course (in fact, this is implied in the “dominion mandate” of Genesis 1:26-28), but we need to keep in mind that true science is really “thinking God’s thoughts after Him.” The results of our scientific “discoveries” should always be to glorify the Creator and to draw men closer to Him, not lead them away from Him. The same is true of history. We are merely the children of ancient patriarchs, and our moral natures are the same as theirs, all contaminated by inherent sinfulness and the need for divine salvation. God dealt with them as He does with us, so that every latergeneration needs to study and learn from the generations of ancient times and from God’s inspired histories of them in the earliest books of the Bible—especially Genesis, as well as Exodus, Job, and other ancient books. “For whatsoever things were writtenaforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope” (Romans 15:4). God is the same today as He was in Eden, on Mount Ararat, in Babel, and Canaan, and Sinai, and Calvary. “Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world,even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God” (Psalm 90:1-2). HMM ------------------- TheSpirit and the Word “But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if anyman have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.” (Romans8:9) As we see in our text, the Holy Spirit indwells every one who is a true believer, a child of God. Each believer is born again through “the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls” (James1:21), for “faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans10:17). But the role of the Spirit of God and the Word of God in our salvation only begins the Christian’s relationship to them, for we are enjoined to “be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians5:18) in the same sense that a drunkard is filled with and controlled by wine, and to “let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom” (Colossians3:16). These two entities equip us to be effective representatives of Him here on Earth. Note, however, that in both of these passages the immediate results of such controlling input are the same. “Speaking to yourselves in psalms [primarily the Old Testament psalms] and hymns [songs of praise directed to God] and spiritual songs [a generic wordfor song, but here ‘spiritual’ songs], singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord” (Ephesians5:19), and “teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” (Colossians3:16). A Spirit-filled Christian, knowledgeable in the Word, just can’t quit singing! Nor can he stop “giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians5:20; see also Colossians 3:17). May we always manifest the work of the Spirit and the knowledge of the Word by our thankful hearts and the songs on our lips. JDM ---------------------- TheWorks of the Lord “Praise ye the LORD. I will praise the LORD with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, and inthe congregation.” (Psalm111:1) The first phrase of this majestic psalm of praise, “praise ye the LORD,” translates the compound Hebrew word hallelujah. The psalm in its entirety boasts about the works of the Lord (i.e., Jehovah) in various realms. The psalmist promises to praise the Lord with his entire being, wholeheartedly extolling His works. He will do so in two spheres. First, in “the assembly of the upright,” where “assembly” refers to an intimate circle of friends of like faith. Secondly, in thelarger “congregation” called together for that purpose. The next three verses identify some of the praiseworthy acts of God, each verse employing a different word for “works.” The word translated “works” in verse two usually refers to God’s “great” handiwork in creation, well suited for careful study (i.e., “soughtout”), bringing “pleasure” to all those who recognize that “the heavens declare the glory of God” (Psalm19:1). (Incidentally, this verse two of Psalm 111 is inscribed on the entrance to the famous Cavendish Physics Laboratory in Cambridge.) The word for “work” in verse three implies an ongoing practice and carries the connotation of His providential acts. He reigns in righteousness, honor, and glory over all His creation. Finally, the phrase “wonderful works” (v. 4) usually refers to God’s great redemptive acts on behalf of His people Israel (vv. 5-6, 9), as well as all those who put their trust in Him (see Psalm 107:8, 15, 21, 31, for example). Surely “the LORD is gracious and full of compassion” (v. 4). “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom:...his praise endureth for ever” (v. 10). JDM ---------------- Jesus’ Encouragement to Our Troubled World By Debbie McDaniel “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage, I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 In John 16 we find Jesus speaking to his disciples of events that would soon unfold. They needed to hear His words of encouragement and Truth more than ever, for He knew the darkness of the hour still to come. He taught them about the power of praying in Hisname. He told them how they would soon be scattered, but that those who belong to Him would never be alone. For God is always there, close. He reminded them that they should not be surprised at the tension they would feel in an unbelieving world. “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace (security, safety, undisturbed, blessed state). In the world you have tribulation (trouble, oppression, pressure, affliction), but take courage (be of good cheer, take heart),I have overcome (carried off the victory, conquered) the world.” John 16:33 Words that have such meaning, that hold such power still today. These were some of the last words Jesus spoke to His disciples before his journey to the cross. Last words always contain rich meaning. These are important for us to hold onto today. He reminds us that only in Him can true peace be found. He reminds us that in spite of the struggles we will face in this life, we never walk alone, for He is with us. He will never abandon us in our trials or leave us to work it all out on our own. He reminds us to take courage. He reminds us He has overcome. He has won the victory, and through Christ, we too are more than conquerors. Jesus never called us to embrace the world and all it offers. But He calls us to follow Him, to be salt and light, and to walk in love. It’s a whole new day ahead. And He has plans for you, for me, to make a difference in these days, in the life of another soul, for His purposes. To be a friend. To encourage. To offer care and show compassion in a world that is broken. Praying that His huge grace, wisdom, and strength cover us today. And that in Him, we will find freedom from worry, letting go of the stress that clings too tightly, the pressing needs of tomorrow, and struggles we battle today, and fully embrace His peace. Take courage my friends… For He’s the Overcomer. And we are never alone. Peace. ------------------------------ TheGodhead “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.” (Colossians2:9) The term “Godhead” occurs three times in the King James translation. Each time it translates a slightly different Greek noun, all being slight modifications of the Greek word for “God” (theos, from which we derive such English words as theology). Itessentially means the nature, or “structure,” of God, as He has revealed Himself in His Word. The first occurrence is in Acts 17:29: “We ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device.” Men have been guilty throughout the ages of trying to “model” the Godhead, but this leads quickly to idolatry,whether that model is a graven image of wood or stone or a philosophical construct of the human mind. What man cannot do, however, God has done, in the very structure of His creation. “The invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead” (Romans1:20). His tri-universe (space, matter, and time, with each component unique in definition and function, yet permeating and comprising the whole) perfectly “models” His triune nature (Father, Son, Holy Spirit—each distinct, yet each the whole). This analogy can be carried much further, for this remarkable triunity pervades all reality. The tri-universe is not God (that would be pantheism), but it does clearly reflect and reveal the triune nature of His Godhead. The last occurrence of the word is in our text. Although we cannot see the Godhead in its fullness, that fullness does dwell eternally in the Lord Jesus Christ. All that God is, is manifest in Him. “And ye are complete in him” (Colossians2:10). HMM ---------------------- Joyin the Christian Life “These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.” (John 15:11) The word “fun” is never mentioned in the Bible, and “entertain” is used only in reference to being hospitable. Such activities as “reveling” and “playing” receive nothing except condemnation in the Scriptures (with the exception of little children at play). Yet, there is growing emphasis today in many churches and parachurch organizations on providing “entertainment” and “fun times” for their members—especially for teenagers and young adults. This is the way to reach them and keep them for the Lord, so they say.Perhaps so, but one wonders why neither the Lord nor the apostles nor the prophets ever told us so. Is this a program kept in reserve by the Lord just for the young people of this generation? Actually, Christians can have something far better, more effective, and more lasting than fun and entertainment. In Christ they can have heavenly joy! “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine” (Proverbs17:22), where the word for “merry” is more commonly translated as “joyful” or “rejoicing.” While the Bible never mentions “fun,” it has many references to “joy” and “rejoicing.” Here are just a few. “Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of my heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts” (Jeremiah 15:16). “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” (1 Peter 1:8). “For the joy of the LORD is your strength” (Nehemiah8:10). We must remind ourselves continually that the Lord Jesus daily, through His words, shares His joy with us, “that [our] joy might be full.” HMM ------------------------ High Infidelity by Alex Crain "…you also were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, so that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God." Romans7:4 NASB Usually, we think of "having faith"as simply "trusting, believing." And while that is true, it can be incomplete if we forget that, as Christians, we are also joined to Christ as our Bridegroom. In other words, there is a real relationship with Him—the living Christ—that is at stake. It is not just a matter of possessing correct content of what we believe about the person and work of Christ. And although we never have a legitimate cause to do so, we often break faith with and betray our faithful Bridegroom. Francis Schaeffer talks about this in chapter seven of True Spirituality where we continue ourjourney with him this week. Citing the passage above, he notes that since we have been rescued from the tyranny of the devil and placed safely in the arms of the Lord Jesus Christ—we are now positioned to bring forth His fruit. -------------------------- WhereAre the Nine? “And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?” (Luke17:17) Ten lepers, hopeless and incurable, came to Jesus, begging for His help, and He miraculously healed them. All 10 should have fallen down to worship and thank Him, but only one praised God and thanked Him for His marvelous deliverance. We are at first amazed at such ingratitude, until we realize that not more than 10 percent of even those people who know about Christ ever stop to give Him thanks for His innumerable blessings—life, freedom, food, shelter, health, family, and especially easyaccess to the Bible and His gracious offer of salvation—far greater in value than the gift of special healing received by the 10 lepers. The thankful leper received a much greater gift than the others. “Thy faith hath made thee whole” (Luke17:19). They had received an outward cleansing of the body, he an inward cleansing of the soul! These words spoken by Christ are found four other times in the New Testament (Matthew9:22; Mark 5:34; 10:52; Luke 8:48), plus two times where the word for “made whole” is translated “saved” (Luke7:50; 18:42). This word (Greek sozo) occurs many other times. For example: “He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him” (Hebrews7:25). Ten lepers were healed, but only one was saved, and the proof of his salvation, received through genuine faith in Christ, was his gratitude, giving glory to God. The primary evidence of being “filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians5:18) is that the one so controlled by God’s regenerating Spirit will be “giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians5:20). Those who are not thankful to their saving Lord are the 90 percent who have not been made whole. HMM ----------------------------- Preachedin All Creation “If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, whichye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister.” (Colossians1:23) Many times Christians piously say, “Why get worked up over creation, why don’t you just preach the gospel?” But such a question reveals a faulty knowledge of what “the gospel” consists of, for, as has been noted many times on these pages, the gospel consistsnot only of the redemptive work of Christ but His entire person and work as well. The message of the “everlasting gospel” is to “worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters” (Revelation14:6-7). Elsewhere, the gospel includes His coming Kingdom (Matthew4:23, for example). From creation to redemption to ultimate restoration, all is “good news,” all the work and person of Christ. In our text we see that the gospel “was preached to every creature,” or perhaps better translated “in all creation.” What was the message of the gospel for which Paul was so jealous? The answer is found in the preceding verses. Christ is preeminent, literally “the firstborn of every creature” (v. 15), totally God (v. 19). He is the Creator of all things, both physical and spiritual (v. 16), and continues to maintain His creation (v. 17). He leads the church, assuring victory overdeath (v. 18). He is the Redeemer, the perfect sacrifice for sins (vv. 20-22), providing each believer total sanctification (v. 22). He will ultimately restore all of creation to its original created intent (v. 20). Only as we recognize and believe the teachings of His Word on the entire “good news,” from creation to consummation, can we hope to victoriously “continue in the faith grounded and settled.” JDM --------------------- Miraclein the Desert - by Greg Laurie � www.harvest.org As Pharaoh approached, the people of Israel looked up and panicked when they saw the Egyptians overtaking them. They cried out to the Lord, and they said to Moses, �Whydid you bring us out here to die in the wilderness? Weren�t there enough graves for us in Egypt? What have you done to us? Why did you make us leave Egypt?� �Exodus 14:10�11 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/miracle-in-the-desert/Listen Moses no longer was the prince of Egypt. He no longer was a member of the royal family. But after forty years in the wilderness thinking that his life was ruined, God recommissionedhim. He called Moses to lead the Israelites out of their bondage in Egypt. So, Moses took his brother Aaron along and demanded that Pharaoh release the Hebrews. But Pharaoh dug in and refused. As a result, God sent a series of plagues upon Egypt,and finally the Israelites were free. As they made their way to a new land, they came to what looked like an insurmountable obstacle: the Red Sea. Then the Bible tells us, �As Pharaoh approached, the people of Israel looked up and panicked when they saw the Egyptians overtaking them� (Exodus 14:10 NLT). They took theireyes off God and put them on the Egyptian army, which, by the way, was the mightiest army on Earth at the time. Moses began to pray, but God said, in effect, �This isn�t a time to pray. This is a time to move.� Did you know there could come a moment in your life when you don�t need to pray about something any longer? You just need to act on it. That time had come for Moses. God told him to hold his staff over the Red Sea, and when he did, the waters parted, and the Israelites traveled through the middle of it.When they reached the other side, the waters collapsed on the pursuing Egyptian army. And in response, the Israelites gave glory to the Lord. When we need something from God, we�re passionate in prayer, and there�s nothing wrong with that. But after He has answered our prayers, let�s be just as passionate aboutgiving Him thanks. Remember to give thanks to God for His faithfulness to you. ----------------- God�s Endgame - by Greg Laurie � www.harvest.org No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening�it�s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way �Hebrews12:11 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/gods-endgame/- Listen If He had wanted to, God could have simply taken the Israelites directly to the Promised Land. But immediately on the heels of parting the Red Sea, God led them into thewilderness. Why did He do that? We find the answer in Deuteronomy 8:2, where Moses said, �Remember how the Lord your God led you through the wilderness for these forty years, humblingyou and testing you to prove your character, and to find out whether or not you would obey his commands� (NLT). Trials often follow blessings. Sometimes we come to valleys immediately after our mountaintop experiences. Have you ever had that happen? Maybe you went to a retreat thatimpacted your life, and when you returned home, there were all kinds of troubles waiting for you. Sometimes difficulties even come our way right after we leave a church service. We find a precedent for this in Scripture. After Jesus was baptized by his cousin John in the Jordan River, Jesus saw the Holy Spirit descend on Him like a dove (see Mark1:9�11). And what happened after that? The Bible tells us, �Immediately the Spirit drove Him into the wilderness. And He was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan� (Mark 1:12�13 NKJV). Notice the word immediately. For Jesus, after the dove came the Devil. For us, after the blessing may come the trial. That is what was happening to Israel because there are truths that can only be learned in a wilderness, so to speak. However,the Israelites were in their wilderness longer than they needed to be. God wanted them there for a time, but they made it a lot harder than necessary. Our spiritual roots grow deep when the winds around us make us strong. That�s because God�s endgame is to make us more like Jesus. --------------------------- FortyDays �To whom also he showed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them fortydays, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.� (Acts 1:3) It is interesting how often the Scriptures refer to a 40-day period. There are nine different 40-day periods noted in Scripture (the phrase itself occurs 17 times), and it may be noteworthy that 40 days is 1/9 of the original (and prophetic) lunar/solar yearof 360 days (note Genesis 7:11; 8:3-4; Revelation 11:2-3). Thus, the total of the nine 40-day periods equals the ideal year. The periods are as follows: the intense rainfall at the Flood (Genesis 7:12, 17); the first giving of the law (Exodus24:18; Deuteronomy 9:9, 11); the second giving of the law (Exodus 34:28; Deuteronomy 9:18, 25); the searching of Canaan by the fearful spies (Numbers 13:25; 14:34); the defiance of Israel by Goliath (1Samuel 17:16); Elijah�s journey to Horeb (1Kings 19:8); Jonah�s reluctant preaching in Nineveh (Jonah3:4); Christ�s temptation in the wilderness (Matthew 4:2; Mark 1:13; Luke 4:2); Christ�s post-resurrection ministry (Acts 1:3). Each of these periods was a time of intense testing for one or more of God�s people, except the last. The final 40-day period, encompassing Christ�s ministry to His disciples after His resurrection, was a time of triumph and great blessing. He had come victoriouslythrough the most intense time of testing that anyone could ever experience, and now He could show Himself alive eternally to His disciples and promise them the same victory. Forty days of testing, then 40 days of triumph! Even a lifetime of testing is morethan balanced by an eternity of blessing. �The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us� (Romans8:18). HMM ----------------------------- TheTask of a Lifetime - by Greg Laurie � www.harvest.org And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. �Philippians 4:19 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/the-task-of-a-lifetime/- Listen The great British preacher Alan Redpath said, �The conversion of a soul is the miracle of a moment, the manufacture of a saint is the task of a lifetime.� That is called sanctification. Salvation is instantaneous. But sanctification, which is becoming more like Christ, takes a lot of time. In fact, it takes a lifetime. Just one month after God parted the Red Sea for the Israelites and delivered them from their enemies, they basically said to Moses, �Oh, great. You just brought us out hereto die! We remember how awesome it was back in Egypt. We had pots filled with meat. And there was so much bread!� Actually, that wasn�t true at all. They suffered in Egypt. They were in pain. It was hard for them. But the Devil is cunning, and sometimes he will bring back certain memoriesfrom our past. But they�re never the miserable memories, of course, when we faced the repercussions of our sins. In the same way, the Israelites had memories that weren�t even based on reality. And the first step to going back is looking back. God told Moses, �I have heard the Israelites� complaints. Now tell them, �In the evening you will have meat to eat, and in the morning you will have all the bread you want.Then you will know that I am the Lord your God�� (Exodus 16:12 NLT). The Israelites had never read the book of Exodus, so all this was happening in real time. God was saying, �I�ll give you meat,� and it rained quail. Then came the bread,a sweet, flaky substance called manna. God has promised to supply all our needs �according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus� (Philippians 4:19 NKJV). But He has not promised to supply all of our wants.God always will provide what we need, when we need it�sometimes before, but never after. ------------------------- When Reading Isn�t Enough - by Greg Laurie � www.harvest.org But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night. �Psalm 1:2 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/when-reading-isnt-enough/- Listen There�s nothing as good as freshly prepared food, is there? Sometimes my wife doesn�t have everything on hand for what she wants to make, but she still can go into the kitchen,take all the ingredients, and make something fantastic. That�s how it was with the manna God provided for the Israelites in the wilderness. They needed to prepare it. They didn�t just eat this manna; they made things with it. It�s the same way with the Word of God. We need to read it, but then we must internalize it. Interestingly, we find this promise in the book of Revelation: �Blessed is hewho reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near� (Revelation 1:3 NKJV). This is referring to the book of Revelation, but I think this promise also applies to the Bible in general. The person who reads, hears, and keeps the Word of God will experienceblessings as a result. It isn�t enough to simply read the Bible. We need to hear the Bible, and by that, I mean as Jesus said, �He who has ears to hear, let him hear!� (Matthew 11:15 NKJV). Youcan read an entire chapter of the Bible without comprehension. That�s why we not only need to read God�s Word, but we need to hear it, think about it, internalize it, memorize it, and meditate on it. The word �meditate� might bring to mind the Eastern form of meditation, but biblical meditation is different. In Eastern meditation, they try to empty their minds, but inbiblical meditation, we�re filling our minds with the Word of God. There�s a significant difference. We can find everything we need to know about God in the pages of Scripture. We can find everything we need to know about life there as well. So take time to read, hear,and keep God�s Word.