DAILY DEVOTIONAL: 7.13.24

 StandFast “Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold to the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word,or our epistle.” (2Thessalonians 2:15) Liberals commonly question the authority of the Scriptures on the assumption that they were based on ancient traditions. However, the word “traditions” itself as used here conveys no such idea. It means simply “that which has been delivered.” Paul used the same word in defining the gospel. “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ diedfor our sins according to the scriptures” (1Corinthians 15:3). Paul did not add or subtract anything to what he had received directly from God. “For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ” (Galatians1:12). He made the same claim to the Christians at Thessalonica. He had first taught them “by word” when he preached there in person (Acts17:1-4), then later by “our epistle” in his first letter. Now, in his follow-up letter to them, he was reminding them that, in both instances, he (as an apostle) had communicated to them only those things he had directly received from God by divine revelation.Therefore, it was indeed vital that they should “stand fast, and hold” these great truths “which ye have been taught.” Paul was asserting that God had directly communicated through him the new truths that He wanted them to have. Before the New Testament was written, much had to be conveyed verbally to the early church through the apostles and prophets. Later, the portions of those teachings that were of permanent application were inscripturated (compare Acts 17:3 with 1 Corinthians 15:3-4). The end result of this marvelous process is the inerrant Bible we have today, and it is this completed revelation of God that we must hold fast. HMM ---------------- WhoIs Faithful? “Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?” (Proverbs20:6) Faithfulness is like a rare and precious gem. It is difficult to find such a gem, though there are many who will offer their virtues as a substitute. Moses, however, was one such man. “And Moses verily was faithful in all his house” (Hebrews3:5). So was Abraham. “So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham” (Galatians3:9). Moses and Abraham were full of faith in God’s Word; therefore, they were faithful to God’s Word. The very word “faithful” means “full of faith.” God is not impressed with those who boast of themselves and their qualifications or who belittle others. “It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory” (Proverbs25:27). Actions speak louder than words, and it is better to let one’s works speak for themselves. “Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works” (James2:18). The rare quality of faithfulness—firm and reliable commitment to one’s convictions and responsibilities in accordance with God’s Word and God’s leading—is proved in practice rather than proclamation. May God help us to be faithful servants, for “it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful” (1Corinthians 4:2). It is quality, not quantity, of service that God measures. There is one glorious promise regarding faithfulness—not our faithfulness but the faithfulness of our Savior. “If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself” (2Timothy 2:13). “For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith [literally, ‘faithfulness’] of God without effect? God forbid: yea, let God be [found] true, but every man a liar” (Romans3:3-4). HMM ---------------- Garmentsof Salvation “I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with thegarments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.” (Isaiah61:10) One of the beautiful biblical metaphors of salvation is that of clothing appropriate for coming into God’s presence. Such clothing is not something we ourselves can make or purchase; it must be prepared and provided by God. Adam and Eve tried to dress themselves in fig leaves, but that could not avail. Their Creator God first had to slay two innocent animals, and then He made “coats of skins and clothed them” (see Genesis 3:7, 21). So it is today. If we try to come to God dressed in our works of righteousness, we can never make it, for “all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags” in the presence of a holy God (Isaiah64:6). He must provide the clothing. As our text says, “he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness.” In Jesus’ parable of the wedding feast for the king’s son, there was one man who wanted to participate in the feast but who tried to come in his own attire, disdaining the wedding garment provided by the king for his guests. When the king asked, “How camestthou in hither not having a wedding garment?” he was speechless (Matthew22:12) and was bound hand and foot and thrown “into outer darkness” (v. 13). When “the marriage of the Lamb is come,” His bride must be “arrayed in fine linen, clean and white:...the righteousness of saints” (Revelation19:7-8). But this righteousness will be His, “for we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works” (Ephesians2:10). Therefore, we are exhorted to “put on thy beautiful garments” (Isaiah52:1) and be prepared to meet our King. HMM ----------------------- Kingdomof Priests “And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shaltspeak unto the children of Israel.” (Exodus19:6) These were the words of God to Israel, even before they received the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai. As a priest serves as an intermediary between God and men, so this “kingdom of priests” had been called by God to bring God’s Word to man. As a holy nationwith such a high calling, its people also should have been holy (that is, consecrated to God) in life and witness. But instead, after almost 2,000 years, God had to lament: “All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people” (Romans10:21). A day will come when “all Israel shall be saved” (Romans11:26), but God has, in the meantime, chosen a new people, in whom “there is neither Jew nor Greek...for ye are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians3:28). We are now “one body in Christ, and every one members one of another” (Romans12:5). We now have been given the same high privileges long ago given to Israel. We who belong to Christ have been “born again” into the “kingdom of God” (John3:3), and this is nothing less than a kingdom of priests, a holy nation. Peter said: “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ” (1Peter 2:5). Not only are we a holy priesthood, we are a royal priesthood, a kingdom of priest-kings. “Ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you outof darkness into his marvellous light” (v. 9). We, indeed, have a high calling and should devote our lives to showing forth His praises, for He “hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; unto him be glory and dominion for ever and ever” (Revelation1:6). HMM --------------------- Chastening “Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty.” (Job5:17) One of the fascinating paradoxes of Scripture (and of human life) is the oft-repeated principle that true parental love requires appropriate chastening, and chastening rightly received generates blessing and happiness. “He that spareth his rod hateth his son:but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes” (Proverbs13:24). This is effective child psychology, assuming that the chastening is remedial rather than vindictive and is applied in love rather than anger. But the main teaching of such passages goes beyond parental child-training methods to the grand theme of God’s spiritualtraining of His children for eternity. This thought is often expressed in the Psalms (94:12, etc.), but it is especially clear in Proverbs. “My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction: For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whomhe delighteth” (Proverbs3:11-12). The classic passage on this theme is Hebrews 12:5-11, which begins by quoting the above verses in Proverbs and eventually concludes as follows: “Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceablefruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby” (Hebrews12:11). We are “sons and daughters” of “the Lord Almighty” (2Corinthians 6:18), and it is essential that we be properly trained for our glorious future as “kings and priests unto God” (Revelation1:6). We must learn to behave in ways appropriate to our high calling as children of the King, and this requires the divine rod at appropriate times. In His closing words to the last of the seven churches, Christ reminds us again: “As many as I love, Irebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent” (Revelation3:19). HMM ------------------ ThePlace Where We Got In - by Greg Laurie � www.harvest.org Don�t envy evil people or desire their company. �Proverbs 24:1 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/the-place-where-we-got-in/- Listen A little boy who fell out of bed in the middle of the night identified the cause of his fall this way: �I think I stayed too close to the place where I got in.� It�s the same reason we fall away spiritually. We stay too close to the place where we got in. That is what happened to Peter, and he ended up warming himself at the enemy�s fire. Peter was trying to go undercover as a disciple. Matthew 26:57�58 says, �Then the people who had arrested Jesus led him to the home of Caiaphas, the high priest, where the teachers of religiouslaw and the elders had gathered. Meanwhile, Peter followed him at a distance and came to the high priest�s courtyard� (NLT). The Gospel of John tells us the guards in the courtyard were standing around a charcoal fire, �and Peter stood with them, warming himself� (18:18 NLT). At this point, Peter was worn down, defeated, weak, and vulnerable. Yes, he was following Jesus. But it was at a distance. As a result, he was attracted to the warmth of the enemy�s fire. Why was he even there? The rest of verse 58 gives us the answer: �He went in and sat with the guards and waited to see how it would all end.� Peter had forgotten all that Jesus had said about His resurrection from the dead. He simply waited for the end�the end of Jesus� life, the end of his dream, and the end of everything he helddear. But it was not the end. It would be a new beginning. Here was Peter�s problem: He was in the wrong place with the wrong people, and he was about to do the wrong thing. And that is what happens when we fall into sin. We are always in the wrongplace with the wrong people. And we do the wrong thing. When we hang out with the wrong people at the wrong place, then it is only a matter of time until we do the wrong thing. We need to wise up. Psalm 1 says, �Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditatingon it day and night� (verses 1�2 NLT). Have you ever noticed the progression in these verses? First, there is following. Then there is standing around. And then there is joining in. Have you ever tried to be an undercover Christian? It�s like the man who only went to church on Christmas and Easter. The pastor greeted him at the door and said, �You know, I only see youabout twice a year. You need to join the Lord�s army.� The man leaned forward and whispered, �I�m in the Secret Service.� Is that you? Are you a Secret Service Christian? For Peter, the problem wasn�t the fire itself; it was the people around the fire. He was trying to warm himself there. In the same way, when the passion in our hearts begins to die, the firethat we had for Christ will grow cold. And then we�ll look elsewhere for warmth. ---------------------------- Changing the World in Thirty Years - by Greg Laurie � www.harvest.org Peter replied, �Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the HolySpirit.� �Acts 2:38 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/changing-the-world-in-thirty-years/- Listen The Book of Acts is the original template for the church, the blueprint that Jesus Himself laid down for all of us. And we stray from it at our own peril. This is the church that changed theworld through prayer and preaching. But it seems the opposite is happening in the church today. We have double standards, moral compromise, and little to no power. It was said of the early church that they �turned the worldupside down� (Acts 17:6 NKJV). And that, by the way, was a criticism, not a compliment. The Book of Acts is the story of a handful of men and women who, by the power of the Holy Spirit, didn�t leave their world the same way they found it. They were ordinary people who, empoweredby the Holy Spirit, were able to do extraordinary things. It records the beginning of a movement that continues to this very day. The Book of Acts is an unfinished book in a sense, because it�s the story of the life-transforming movement of the Spirit of God, changing the lives of those who encounter Him. That is notto suggest that we need to add new chapters to the Book of Acts. But we shouldn�t put a period where God has put a comma. God is still working, and in a sense, these acts of the Holy Spirit are still being recorded in our day. Acts covers a period of church history spanning about thirty years. As we read it, we encounter nonstop action as one chapter ends with a miracle and another begins with something supernaturaltaking place. Thus, we might falsely conclude that these first-century believers experienced multiple miracles every day. But most likely, they, like us, had many days of simply walking by faith and applying biblical principles as they sought to obey God. Even so, Acts is a record of the intervention of the HolySpirit as He did amazing things, when and where He chose to do them. In Acts, we see the Spirit of God working through the Word of God in the hearts and lives of the people of God. Think about this simple fact: In a relatively short period of time, thirty years or so, this original group of 120 Christians and their converts were able to turn their world around. And theworld of the first century was a hard place to share the gospel. Everywhere the believers brought the gospel, people harassed them, ridiculed them, persecuted them, physically assaulted them, and, in some cases, even put them to death. Yet the gospel prevailed. How were the first-century Christians able to do it? They understood that every man and woman had a job to do. They recognized that ministry was not just for those select few called apostles.Ministry was for everyone. Everyone was to go and bring this message to their generation and to their sphere of influence. And if we want to change our world, then we need to do the same. ----------------------------- TheThrone of Grace �For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was inall points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.� (Hebrews4:15-16) The Lord Jesus Christ is able to help in every time of need for two reasons. First, as the Creator, He is fully able to do anything. Secondly, He has solved once and for all the dilemma of sin that separates us from God�s holiness by paying the price Himselffor our salvation. To do that, He had to become man so He could first overcome temptations such as those to which we succumb. He could not pay the price for man�s sin if He were not a man, nor could He pay it if He were a sinner. He must be a man, but a sinless man�a criterionno other man could satisfy. Therefore, He was tempted in all points as we are. This does not mean, however, that He felt a real inward temptation to sin. He was �tested� under the most extreme circumstances to which humans could be subjected, and He always passed the test. He could neverhave failed, because He is also God. But now all men, angels, and devils know that He cannot fail. Thus, He fully understands every one of our needs, and He is indeed able and willing to help. As we come boldly to receive His amazing grace, we must first �obtain mercy� (v. 16), confessing and receiving forgiveness for our sins (1John 1:9). Then, we are ready to boldly request grace to help in every other need. Our faithful High Priest has been there before us. He knows (not just �knows about�) our problems and is always there to help, waiting for us to come. Since �he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succor them that are tempted� and can �save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him� (Hebrews2:18; 7:25). HMM ------------------------ An Undeniable Faith - by Greg Laurie � www.harvest.org During the forty days after he suffered and died, he appeared to the apostles from time to time, and he proved to them in many ways that he was actually alive. And he talked to them aboutthe Kingdom of God. �Acts 1:3 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/an-undeniable-faith/- Listen Christianity is not some feel-good belief system that asks you to check your brains at the door. Rather, it is based on reliable and documented evidence of the life, death, and resurrectionof Jesus Christ, thereby justifying His claims and promises. Granted, there is an element of faith that we must apply to believe, but Christianity is based on clear facts. Acts 1:3 tells us, �During the forty days after he suffered and died, he appearedto the apostles from time to time, and he proved to them in many ways that he was actually alive. And he talked to them about the Kingdom of God� (NLT). In the original language, the word for proved in this verse includes the idea of convincing. That�s because, going back to the earliest centuries, some have stated that Jesus never rose fromthe dead. Some have asserted that it was a hoax the disciples concocted. Others have suggested they never saw His risen body but were just hallucinating. But Luke, who wrote the Book of Acts, was saying, �Listen to me. I have done primary research on this topic, and I have proof.� Jesus had been crucified and put to death. They heard the blows of the hammers. They saw the spikes go into His hands and feet. And they saw the blood and water spill from His side. They watchedas His traumatized, beaten body was taken down from the cross. And they knew that He never would live again, much less walk and talk with them. But sure enough, there was Jesus, alive. And He appeared to them not just once or twice. No, He showed up everywhere. Mary saw Him at the empty tomb. Then, He walked with two disciples onthe road to Emmaus. Then, He joined the disciples in the upper room. And because Thomas wasn�t there the first time, He returned to the upper room a second time. And He wasn�t just a spirit. He ate with the disciples. He invited Thomas to put his hand in the wound in His side and examine His hands where the spikes had been. Jesus was in a real body.Yet He could appear in a room and disappear again. Five hundred people witnessed His appearance on a single occasion. That was no mass hallucination; that was evidence. Luke was saying, �We saw Him. We couldn�t deny it was true.� If it were a hoax the disciples had dreamed up, certainly one of them would have given in and admitted as much. Yet every apostle died the death of a martyr except John, who survived a potof boiling oil and was then banished to the island of Patmos. Not one of them broke ranks because they could not deny what they knew was true. Jesus was alive. They had seen Him. It transformed their lives, and they had to go out and share this message with others. They were real people like us, yet God used them to change the world. ------------------------------- TheWorld, the Flesh, and the Devil �This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.� (James3:15) True wisdom is �from above� and is �pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy� (v. 17). False wisdom, on the other hand, may come from the world outside us (�earthly�), theflesh within us (�sensual�), or the powers of darkness tempting us (�devilish�). All such wisdom leads to �envying and strife...confusion and every evil work� (v. 16). Believers, therefore, should be able to recognize the influences of the world, the flesh,and the devil. The good news is that each divine Person of the triune Godhead is on our side. The Father is opposed to the world, the Spirit to the flesh, and the Son to the devil, and they are well able to give victory. �If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him....And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof� (1 John 2:15, 17). Thus, to overcomethe love of the world, we must cultivate the love of the Father in our hearts and lives. Similarly, to overcome the desires of the flesh, we should follow the leadings and convictions of the Holy Spirit, �for the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other� (Galatians5:17). Therefore, �walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh� (v. 16). The devil and his evil hosts use their own dark powers to tempt and destroy the people of God, but �for this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil� (1John 3:8). Christ assured Satan�s defeat when He paid for our redemption on the cross. �And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it� (Colossians2:15). HMM ---------------------- Power to Be a Witness - by Greg Laurie � www.harvest.org But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere�in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the endsof the earth. �Acts 1:8 https://harvest.org/resources/devotion/power-to-be-a-witness/- Listen I�m always interested in the last words of people. What was the last thing you heard someone say before they died? Jesus wasn�t dying, but He was leaving. And these were the final words He gave to the disciples before His ascension: �I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, goand make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age� (Matthew28:18�20 NLT). How would they pull this off from a human standpoint? The apostles were in no way ready for such a task. There were things they still didn�t understand. Their faith was weak. They had failedin their public witness and also in their private faith. After all, Simon Peter, their acknowledged leader, had openly denied the Lord. So, how could Jesus expect Peter and the other disciples to go into all the world and preach the gospel? They would do it with a power they had never known before, a power to change the world. Jesus told them, �But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be mywitnesses, telling people about me everywhere�in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth� (Acts 1:8 NLT). This was power to be a witness, power to share their faith, and power to do what Jesus had called them to do. The same power that God poured out on the Day of Pentecost is available to us today. Speaking on Pentecost about the promise of the Holy Spirit, Peter said, �This promise is to you, to yourchildren, and to those far away�all who have been called by the Lord our God� (Acts 2:39 NLT). That includes us. There are two dangers that we can fall into as we look at these things. The first is to go beyond Scripture or even contradict it. And sadly, much of what some people are doing today in thename of the Holy Spirit has little or nothing to do with Him. Far too often, they attribute their bizarre or aberrant behavior to the Holy Spirit. As a result, we recoil from it. The other danger, which is just as bad, is to neglect to seek something that Scripture clearly offers us. It�s to say, �Well, because I don�t have it, then it must not be real.� Yet the Bible has promised every believer a dimension of power to be a witness for Jesus Christ. Notice that Jesus didn�t tell the disciples He would give the Holy Spirit to those who pleadwith Him or beg Him. We need only to ask Him. And when we don�t receive all that God has for us in our lives, that is called quenching the Spirit. Have you asked for this power?