What To Expect

On 2023-02-152023-02-15 By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Expectations, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED Wednesday, 2023-02-15
WRITTEN AT: O’Brien, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Luke 10:8-11; 16;
TRANSLATION: Living Bible (TLB)

BIBLE TEXT: ^8-9“If a town welcomes you, follow these two rules:
(1) Eat whatever is set before you.
(2) Heal the sick; and as you heal them, say, ‘The Kingdom of God is very near you now.’
¹⁰“But if a town refuses you, go out into its streets and say, ¹¹‘We wipe the dust of your town from our feet as a public announcement of your doom. Never forget how close you were to the Kingdom of God!’
¹⁶Then he said to the disciples, “Those who welcome you are welcoming me. And those who reject you are rejecting me. And those who reject me are rejecting God who sent me.”

APPLICATION: When going on a trip, we anxiously try to ensure that we have everything packed, all traveling and hotel documents in order, and research on the points of interest we want to visit. For the 70 who were called by Jesus, their travel assignment started out quite differently, and I wonder how we would have accepted the advanced warnings handed to us by Jesus! Here are some interesting points that were quite different for the disciples, than anything we may have ever experienced:
1. I’m sending you out as lambs among wolves – Quite the opposite to what we try to plan for on our trips, right? There are public websites now that will tell you the safe countries to visit, but how many of us would go, if we knew that we were being sent into a country of ‘wolves’ or terrorists, or criminals, or gangs?
2. Take no money, or a beggar’s bag, or shoes, with you – I wonder if any in the civilized world would even consider leaving home for another country without any money?
3. Living accommodations – no hotels or inns, but to strictly live with families who will welcome in strangers. First of all, today it is virtually impossible to find anyone who would have a stranger come and live with them, not even church members or leaders. But there’s more – eat what they offer you and stay there for the duration of your trip. Can’t you hear the questions running through our mind about such an arrangement?
4. Accepted vs Unaccepted – Of course we will worry about whether the townspeople will accept us and our message. We don’t want to get caught in a bad situation. But Jesus knew this would be a worry to His disciples, so He paved the way – the minds and attitudes of the people, and He was therefore able to tell the disciples what to do, depending on how the people would react.
Friends, I believe that Jesus wanted to make sure His disciples knew that they were just messengers. Just follow the Master’s instructions and be ready to share His message of love and hope; heal the sick; live among the people; and tell them of their plight if they reject you and your message. Does that not ease the burden on us individually if we know that Jesus is in control; only He could speak directly to the hearts of the people; He is the great Healer, and He will heal as He sees fit; There’s no burden He can’t lift, and no heart too hard that He can’t soften, so just let Him be God. That’s not our role, and we must never try to assume the God position when it comes to meeting the needs of His people. I am convinced that things are no different today, so why are churches lacking in volunteers to serve around the ministries of the church? Why is there such a scare when missions trips are planned. Oh that we would learn to be like the disciples in our Scripture today – go in Jesus’ name, knowing that we don’t need to be Him, just listen to His voice, obey His call, and allow Him to be God – even through our simplicity and trust.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, thank You for being so considerate as to explain everything in such detail for the 70 disciples as they were commissioned to go, tell, heal and show Jesus to the people. Our mission today sounds so familiar, and since we serve the same God, I am convinced that, since you are the same today as You were in Bible days, then You will calm our minds to understand how You are still in control and will guide, protect and provide for those who go in Your name. Perhaps a reader or listener is dealing with a decision to let go and let God have His way in their ministry and/or mission. I pray that You will speak through these simple devotional thoughts to encourage them and help them make decisions that will be pleasing to You. Use us Lord for Your kingdom work as You see fit. AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: There are two more pages on my blog that will provide you with additional information, one of them being ‘To Know Jesus’. If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please click on the above page, or speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. Please allow someone to pray with you and give you help and/or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Words underlined in my blog might indicate a link to a song that came to mind as I wrote the devotional. Feel free to click on the link and listen as you continue to read or pray. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to Nuggets From God’s Word and read more, or you may freely subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. You may also visit me on Spotify and listen to Nuggets while you’re out and about. I would encourage you to find a church home near by your home, and attend as frequently as you could. Get to know God, and allow His people to encourage and strengthen you in your Christian walk, while making every effort to be a blessing to them. God is at work among His people! Please consider growing in your faith, as you worship with fellow believers!

Faith – Protect It From The Adversary

On 2023-02-142023-02-14 By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Faith, Faith in Action, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED: Tuesday, 2023-02-14
WRITTEN AT: O’Brien, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Matthew 14:29-33
TRANSLATION: The Passion Translation (TPT)

BIBLE TEXT: ²⁹“Come and join me,” Jesus replied. So Peter stepped out onto the water and began to walk toward Jesus. ³⁰But when he realized how high the waves were, he became frightened and started to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he cried out. ³¹Jesus immediately stretched out his hand and lifted him up and said, “What little faith you have! Why would you let doubt win?” ³²And the very moment they both stepped into the boat, the raging wind ceased. ³³Then all the disciples crouched down before him and worshiped Jesus. They said in adoration, “You are truly the Son of God!”

APPLICATION: There are so many things we could learn from this story of Peter. I believe that most of us will share the reflection that this story shows us the faith of a man as he attempted something that defies nature, and that he had never thought possible before. Of his own power, perhaps the disciples expected Peter to jump out of the boat in the middle of the sea, as he prepared himself for the intake of water through his nose and mouth, or if he could swim, perhaps he would quickly assume the swimming position! However, things were a bit different with Peter, for: a). He had already experienced the power of the Almighty, and he knew that it would be this same power that would help him do even the very thing that seemed impossible in the eyes of the world; b). He paid attention to what Jesus was doing, and knew that if Jesus could walk on the water, He had power and authority to empower him (Peter) to do the same; and c). Peter heard the command by Jesus, and in spite of the yelling he could hear from his fellow disciples, he was compelled to obey His Lord. So what happened? Why does Peter’s effort seemed to have failed? I am convinced that Jesus already knew how quickly Peter would become cocky about being given this privilege/miracle, so Jesus seemed to have made it a point to teach Peter, and us, that faith requires that we keep our eyes fixed on the source of all power, the author of our faith – Jesus our Lord. You see, we have no power over such things in the universe, only God does. We have nothing to brag about besides God. I had a friend dying of cancer, and she traveled hundreds of miles to be prayed over by a TV evangelist who showed on public television that he had powers to heal. It just doesn’t work that way. Friends, as demonstrated in this story with Peter, and as we already know about our healing powers – we are reminded that it is God, through His Son Jesus that spoke the word for Peter to walk on the water, and it was Jesus who rescued him as he began to sink; it is God alone who heals a body that He created from dust, and who has the power to restore it to perfect health – so that He may be glorified. Our responsibility is to look to God for all things and keep our eyes fixed on the author and creator of life itself, knowing that through His power, lives might be healed, souls might be restored to the Kingdom, and the unsaved may recognize the grace and power of our God. It’s all about ‘God’, my friend. We are just instruments of His love and servants of our majestic King. The Master deserves all the praise for all that He does, for nothing of our own is merited, or worthy of praise, but only what He has done. Please be careful of the distractions that Satan will place before us. For Peter, it was the wind, the rough waters and perhaps self-confidence, that caused him to take his eyes off the Master. For us, unfortunately we live in a world that is totally filled with distractions that Satan places before us. Remember, our distractions are often those forces that draw us away from God, who is our primary power source. Don’t let Satan win over you my friend. In verse 31 we are reminded to not let ‘doubt’ win in our battle to ‘believe’. Trust in God, and all of this, plus a whole lot more could be yours, child of God!

PRAYER: Oh Lord, You are my God! The same God that created this wonderful world, and also created all of creation. I acknowledge again today that there is nothing that You can’t do. Please forgive me for my doubt and my lack of faith. Thank You for the reminder in today’s Scripture that You had the power to walk on water to get over to Your disciples. I wonder what You must travel over, or through, at times to get to my readers and I, and the trouble we find ourselves in at times. But I am assured that just as we saw where the water didn’t stop You from getting to Your followers, we need not let anything hinder our requests today, for many things will appear to be impossible to us, but with renewed assurance today, we KNOW that we can come before the throne of God and plead our case before an all-knowing, all-powerful, forever-loving God who says that ALL things are possible with God! You are our King, and we adore You and worship You today oh Lord, not just for what You can do for us, but for who You are! AMEN!

What Trophy Will You Present To God

On 2023-02-132023-02-13 By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Evangelism, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, Salvation, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED Monday, 2023-02-13
WRITTEN AT: O’Brien, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: 1 Thessalonians 2:11-12; 19-20;
TRANSLATION: Living Bible (TLB)

BIBLE TEXT: ¹¹We talked to you as a father to his own children—don’t you remember? – pleading with you, encouraging you and even demanding ¹²that your daily lives should not embarrass God but bring joy to him who invited you into his Kingdom to share his glory.
¹⁹For what is it we live for, that gives us hope and joy and is our proud reward and crown? It is you! Yes, you will bring us much joy as we stand together before our Lord Jesus Christ when he comes back again. ²⁰For you are our trophy and joy.

APPLICATION: I have a relative that owns and operates a hunting preserve. While he offers many different hunts, there are a few that add the description, and elite title of ‘Trophy’. Many hunters will stretch to afford a ‘Trophy Hunt’. The animal might be the biggest, or the prettiest or in some way the one considered the most prized by the owner. The Bible refers to man as God’s prized possession. So when we, who are called by His name, see His prized possession straying away from Him, or showing little interest in heaven as their eternal home, don’t you know that God admires the times that we deliberately make an effort to help that one turn from their wickedness and turn to God? That seemed to have been Paul’s intent in today’s Scripture. It seems like Paul’s act of service, his ministry, was so important, and was so dear to his heart, that he considered it a ‘trophy’ to go after, win, and present it to His Master! I believe it was the same prayers, blood, sweat and tears that led to Paul’s imprisonment. It was like Paul poured his very heart into his effort to minister for our Lord. I wonder how many times in our church life have we been so committed to the work of the Lord, that we can honestly tell God that we have poured out our heart through our love, our prayers, our compassion and our deeds for the folk we were ministering to? Some might respond, but I didn’t minister, I just taught Sunday School, or I just helped in the youth group, or I just worked in the kitchen at church. Unfortunately, that may be the problem. If we teach Sunday School so that we can share the love and teachings of Jesus Christ, and not just to fill a position and read a lesson plan, then we subject our hearts to the work of Jesus in and through us. It’s called ‘ministry’. If we work in the kitchen, it’s not because we are unqualified to do anything else, but we want to be the hands and feet of Jesus through every cup of coffee we serve or every piece of bread that we place on a plate. I believe this has caused me to think about ‘what might be something that, throught my years of ministry work, I might kneel at Jesus’ feet and present to Him in token form, as the ‘token’ or grand prize of my ministry! How about you my friend? Are you, or have you been, performing a task that no one else would accept at church, or are you expending your whole heart into facilitating the love of Jesus through you? I don’t believe we have to wait. Why not join me in placing our ‘Token’ at the feet of Jesus today? Yes, there may still be another one coming before God calls you home, but what is your greatest token to date?

BLESSING(S) NOTED: It is so awesome to imagine that God would use simple old us to share His love and His ministry with others who need a Savior! It’s because of His mercy and His amazing love that we ourselves are more than conquerors, and able to extend ourselves to be used by Him in blessing others!

PRAYER: Lord, I admit that only You can save a soul that’s destined for Hell. Thank You Lord for calling me to Your throne of grace, and thank You for Your amazing grace. Lord, as You work through Your Holy Spirit to produce a great work within me and give me the urgency to share my story with others, I pray that You will open their hearts and cause them to also surrender to Your call. Have the mind to share Jesus with others is such an honor, yet You have given me the desire to see folk saved and avoid the pit of Hell at all cost. Please continue to do a good work in me, and in the lives of my readers and listeners so that we might be warriors that will go the extra mile in order to introduce someone to Jesus. AMEN!

It’s Time To Sign Up

On 2023-02-122023-02-13 By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, Surrender, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED Sunday, 2023-02-12
WRITTEN AT: O’Brien, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Luke 9:57-62
TRANSLATION: The Voice (VOICE)

BIBLE TEXT: ⁵⁷ ….a man volunteered to become a disciple.
Volunteer: I’ll follow You to any destination.
Jesus: ⁵⁸Foxes are at home in their burrows. Birds are at home in their nests. But the Son of Man has no home. ⁵⁹You (to another person)—I want you to follow Me!
Another Volunteer: I’d be glad to, Teacher, but let me first attend to my father’s funeral.
Jesus: ⁶⁰Let the dead bury their dead. I’m giving you a different calling—to go and proclaim the kingdom of God.
A Third Volunteer: ⁶¹I’ll come, Jesus. I’ll follow You. But just let me first run home to say good-bye to my family.
Jesus: ⁶²Listen, if your hand is on the plow but your eyes are looking backward, then you’re not fit for the kingdom of God.

APPLICATION: Meditate with me on questions that come to your mind, when, and if, you are challenged by the Lord Jesus, as He did when He called to the follower in verse 59. Jesus said, ‘I want you to follow me’. How did you, or how would you, respond to the Creator and Savior of this world if He called out to you? We could read the responses of those who were literally following Him, perhaps out of curiosity, or perhaps deeply sincere in their efforts to know Him better. Do you suppose that your response, or decision would have been any different? Notice when Jesus called, He didn’t set any prerequisites or conditions to the call, such as being able to finance your own travel costs while on mission with Him. But humans today tend to do the same as the followers in our Scripture did. We worry about what will change in our lives if we drop everything and respond positively to the call of Jesus. Often, we will worry about finances, after all, most of us live from hand to mouth, so where on earth will you find this much extra money to go on mission to a foreign land, or to help the poor and hungry in the next state. We always worry about the unknown – will I be accepted in that culture; Will they see anything in me that might help them? Adequate knowledge is always a concern – knowledge to respond to questions by those you will meet; Is my walk with the Lord strong enough that others will see, understand and want what I have? How will my family and employer manage while I’m away? Can I really afford to miss that special event happening while I’m away? Friends, we can see from Paul’s account that the followers of Jesus addressed some of the questions and concerns I mentioned, and in some cases, some declined Crist’s calling because of the challenges they feared. I will acknowledge that I am far from perfect, and I’m sure that God will make it clear to you that I have a long road ahead to be everything that Jesus desires of me. But I can share with you two opportunities where I accepted the call to short-term mission work. In one case, it was to accompany a group of pastors who left their churches to help spread the Gospel in South Dakota. We heard that churches were dying in a few cities there, so we agreed to allow God to work through us to help in some way. This was thousands of miles away from where I lived, but God moved mightily and blessed beyond anything we were capable of as mere men. In another instance, I accepted a call to a one-week missions’ trip to Mexico. God met the financial needs for the trip, took care of my family and obligations back in Florida while I was away, and He brought revival into the hearts of the team that went in hopes of blessing others! Friends, you may have heard it said before, but we can’t outgive, out bless, or do more than God can do for His people when we dedicate our lives and our ministry to Him. I sincerely believe that Jesus is still looking to those within His sight and saying ‘you, follow me’. Let me encourage you brothers and sisters to take Jesus at His Word – He cares for you; He loves you more than you ever thought possible; He wants to use you to connect with someone who is struggling in this life and who wants to make sure they are ready for the next life where they could be with Jesus in Heaven. Listen for and accept His call on your life today dear friend. Others are deeply in need of the Savior, and they are waiting for you to share the love of Jesus with them. Don’t hesitate to sign up for following the call of Jesus into unknown lands and places, for His glory.

BLESSING(S) NOTED: Make your decision to follow Jesus. Then, make your decision to accept the call of Jesus to help others walk down the path towards Heaven where you will spend eternity in Heaven with the Father, Son and the Holy Ghost!

PRAYER: Thank You Jesus for a few people saying ‘Yes’ to Your call on their life that, in turn, led to me accepting You as my Lord and Savior. One invited me to attend church with them so I could hear the Gospel preached. One was obedient to speak the Gospel message simply and clearly so that I understood the call of Jesus. And one encouraged me to walk the isle in response to a Gospel message and invitation, and he walked the whole way with me to the altar. I realize that many had also prayed for my salvation, so I believe You called several into service just to see this one sinner saved by Your grace. Please help us to not brush aside Your simple call to service on our life, for we never know who You are working on that is right in our circle of friends. Hold our hand Jesus, and please continue to use us in your service, knowing that You not only have a plan for us, but also You are reaching out to win the hearts of those in our circle. Use us Lord and be glorified as You grow Your Kingdom. AMEN!

Prepare For Your Kingdom Work

On 2023-02-112023-02-11 By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Dedicated, Dedication, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED Saturday, 2023-02-11
WRITTEN AT: O’Brien, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: 1 Chronicles 28:9-10
TRANSLATION: Amplified Bible (AMP)

BIBLE TEXT: ⁹“As for you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father [have personal knowledge of Him, be acquainted with, and understand Him; appreciate, heed, and cherish Him] and serve Him with a blameless heart and a willing mind; for the Lord searches all hearts and minds, and understands every intent and inclination of the thoughts. If you seek Him [inquiring for and of Him and requiring Him as your first and vital necessity] He will let you find Him; but if you abandon (turn away from) Him, He will reject you forever. ¹⁰Consider this carefully, ….. Be courageous and strong and do it.”

APPLICATION: I had a boss that told me at least annually that my job was only successful if I had someone trained to continue it in my absence. The first once or twice this was said to me, I didn’t quite get it, but this is really a key point to the continued success of the ministry for which God has called us. David enjoyed a strong relationship with the God who created him and placed him in leadership of His chosen people, the Israelites. Imagine if the success of his leadership served only for a single lifetime. It would probably be fairly self-centered and would not be attractive to future generations to look back on in awe at what God did during the reign of king David. But this is the way it is in the ongoing work of the church today. It serves little purpose in us reflecting on years ago when the ministry of our church was booming and the worship services were filled to capacity, if today we struggle to keep the doors of the church opened. God’s ‘CHURCH’ has a bright and promising future – eternity in heaven with the Father, Son and The Holy Spirit, together with all the saints who have gone on before us. Can you even imagine that God would want His earthly church to be any different? But doesn’t it appear like we operate many of our churches today just for the current time, with the existing team of leaders and workers? When last asked by a church leader to serve in ministry at your church, did they use any of the things that David said to his son, Solomon? I have found that in most cases, we are needed to help out of desperation, or because no one else will do it, or because the particular ministry will shut down if we don’t find adequate workers to man it. What if we were approached by a leader with the heart that seeks to imitate David when he spoke to Solomon? Wouldn’t that help to show us that the task ahead is God honoring, God inspired, God powered, and being given to us by a Holy Spirit infused child of God with a desire to see the kingdom grow in numbers and/or maturity? Wouldn’t it seem that because the spiritual leader approaching you as so much already vested in the kingdom work at your church, that they are encouraging you to join in and celebrate with them as you serve? I believe that the advice David gave to Solomon in verse 10 is still very appropriate for kingdom workers today – consider the request to serve carefully. And if you feel God giving you the nudge to serve – be courageous, strong, and give it all you have, knowing that your efforts will be to glorify God as you introduce Him to others.

BLESSING(S) NOTED: Serve my God, knowing that He knows everything about you, your thoughts and your actions. Be committed and courageous in every endeavor, knowing that it’s all for the glory of God!

PRAYER: Lord, in our own commitment, may we learn to lead others into a life of commitment to serving You with all their heart, soul and mind. May it all be for Your glory alone and for the sake of Your kingdom. It doesn’t matter what the numbers look like, or whether we are accredited for our church leading in baptisms or Sunday School attendance, but Lord, we simply want to see lives changed for Your purpose and for Your good. Teach us Lord to commit ourselves wholeheartedly to Your kingdom work here on earth, so that when we join You in glory, we will rejoice around Your throne with all who benefited from one solitary life fully devoted to our Master and Lord. AMEN!

Please The God Who Knows Your Heart & Thoughts

On 2023-02-102023-02-10 By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Clean Heart, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED Friday, 2023-02-10
WRITTEN AT: O’Brien, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: 1 Thessalonians 2:4
TRANSLATION: Amplified Bible (AMP)

BIBLE TEXT: ⁴But just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel [that tells the good news of salvation through faith in Christ], so we speak, not as [if we were trying] to please people [to gain power and popularity], but to please God who examines our hearts [expecting our best].

APPLICATION: In reading this letter from Paul, I am reminded that not many things and/or attitudes have changed a whole lot over the years, because we – members that make up ‘the church’, are still just as stuck in our ways as the early saints of Paul’s day. It is extremely disappointing to hear ‘saints of God’ say that they will withhold their tithes until that preacher stops preaching on this subject or holding to that belief. It is so sad that members will attend church services with a thirst for the Word of God, and a deep desire to hear of His message – the Gospel of Jesus Christ, only to hear the same biases and personal political beliefs of the teacher/preacher. Often the very One that the church is supposed to represent, receives the least attention. Although many controversial subjects are clearly defined in the Word of God, yet church leaders spend an inordinate amount of time trying to decide what their stand will be on the subject. Friends, I am a firm believer that when we preach the gospel that, as Paul said, was entrusted to us, God will touch our hearts and open our minds to the truth of His Word that dictates how we are to personally handle the worldly affairs that will be hurled at us. Whereas when we expose our personal views on a matter, we will only cause strife and division in the church. Story after story in the Bible will show that Government leaders of Bible times deliberately went after Gospel teachers and preachers. But remember, they (the world) serve a different ‘god’ than we do. The thoughts, plans and future mapped out by our God are much greater than anything they are capable of imagining, so if we stick to His Word, His direction and His example, we will tend to better follow in His footsteps. In the Wilderness, Jesus didn’t respond to Satan with worldly ideas, threats or correction, but instead, He quoted the Word of God to him. As children of the King, please… let us learn to follow in the ways of Jesus and stick to the Word of God. When we commit ourselves to the plan God has in store for us, there is nothing, absolutely nothing, that will upset our applecart, for we know the plans He has for us! I was torn on the translation that best presented this verse today, because I really like the translation that said in the very last sentence – to please the God who examines us and knows our very thoughts! What a sobering thought for us! Pastors and Teachers, please don’t allow Satan to influence you on what is off-limits in the Bible. I’m sure there are subjects that Satan would like for you to stay clear of, and there are probably some subjects that your members or audience may rather not be addressed from your pulpit. But I trust that since the whole Word of God was given to us for leading others to Christ, edifying the Savior of the world, and discipleship of the saints, then I would encourage you to always take God’s lead in what He would have you share with your flock. The very subjects you were threatened not to speak on, or the most controversial topics that tend to upset children of God, are probably the ones they need to hear once again through the living, Holy Spirit who wants their attention once again on that subject. Do it as unto the Lord, dear pastor, with no desire for praise or glory on how well you will tickle the ears of the believers in your listening audience. May God be pleased with your thoughts, and through your words shared for His glory!

BLESSING(S) NOTED: There is absolutely nothing more comforting than to stand in the presence of Almighty God with a clear conscience and hear Him say ‘Well Done Good and Faithful Servant, you were true to my Word in your thoughts and in the very depths of your heart. Come join me and the Father in heaven now, knowing that my Word fell on fertile ground.’

PRAYER: Thank You heavenly Father for making us accountable to our Creator. You placed us here on this earth with a purpose in mind for each of us. You know our hearts and even our thoughts. Please give us a boldness to speak in confidence all that You have taught us through Your Word, while never trying to dilute Your truth or soften its effect because of the company we’re in or with fear of retribution from them. Please help us to know that only You can mend a broken heart and only You can save one from eternity in Hell. So, help us to speak the Word, and allow You to imprint it on the hearts of our hearers where It would make a difference for all eternity. Please have Your will and way in our lives Lord, so that we may stay true to Your commands, and help us to always be ready for a time of celebration when You impact lives because of Your Word being proclaimed. Not my will, but thine oh Lord, be done on earth as it is in heaven. AMEN!

Awe at the Display of God’s Power

On 2023-02-092023-02-09 By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Awe, Healing, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, Stand in awe, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED Thursday, 2023-02-09
WRITTEN AT: O’Brien, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Luke 9:38-43
TRANSLATION: Living Bible (TLB)

BIBLE TEXT: ³⁸ … a man in the crowd called out to him, “Teacher, this boy here is my only son, ³⁹and a demon keeps seizing him, making him scream; and it throws him into convulsions so that he foams at the mouth; it is always hitting him and hardly ever leaves him alone. ⁴⁰I begged your disciples to cast the demon out, but they couldn’t.”
⁴¹“O you stubborn faithless people,” Jesus said to his disciples, “how long should I put up with you? Bring him here.”
⁴²As the boy was coming the demon knocked him to the ground and threw him into a violent convulsion. But Jesus ordered the demon to come out, and healed the boy and handed him over to his father.
⁴³Awe gripped the people as they saw this display of the power of God.

APPLICATION: Back in the beginning of this chapter, Jesus gave His disciples power to go out and preach the Good News and cast out demons. Don’t you know that the crowd was no different then, than we are today, and they just flocked in to see how Jesus would respond to this father who reported that His disciples were unable to cast the demon out of his son? Were they given the power, and now lost it? Did they run out of that supernatural power? But wait, that was covered in Romans 11:29 where it reads that God’s power would never be withdrawn from those He gifted. However, this may be a good time for us to review the origin of our gifts – for it is a gift of God. Divine followers of Jesus Christ may be blessed with a gift of God and they may have power from on high to heal, to counsel others, to teach others, or even have evangelistic gifts, and there may come a time when they find those gifts weaning away from them. Why?? Well, Jesus covered this for us in the Scriptures also, for in Mark 9:29 Jesus said: “This kind [of unclean spirit] cannot come out by anything but prayer [to the Father].” God forbid if we ever take it on ourselves to think that ‘we’ have any healing power. Only through the power, and the blood of Jesus Christ alone, might we ever be honored with Him using us to lay hands on anyone so that He can bring about healing. No matter how gifted we feel that we are, we might have even been one of the most gifted witnesses in the whole country, we will be ineffective today if we have not been maintaining that gift by prayer and fasting, by spending time in the presence of God. Now, being in the presence of Jesus, of course He was able to heal the young boy of the demons that impacted him on a frequent basis. But notice the crowd when they witnessed this healing – they were struck with awe and wonder! They witnessed for themselves the love, compassion and healing power of this man they had heard so much about. One Bible version says that they had a time of clapping and praising God. Do you recall the last time that you were struck with awe at the miracles by God in the life of someone at your church? Hopefully this is not just a private affair that takes place at the altar after a sermon, and not shared with the congregation to celebrate this power of God released in response to the faith of a believer. Friends, we must never forget that the God we serve today, is the same God that we read about in the Bible, learn about in Sunday School and hear from our pulpits when our pastor shares what God has laid on his heart for His people. This is not ‘pie in the sky’, but this is true power from our all-powerful God! Worship Him, my friend. Call on Him for your needs, and call on the pastors and elders of your church to pray over you in faith, believing in the power of Almighty God. Let the church come alive with times of awe and celebration! It will rejuvenate us to go on in victory to win the unsaved and heal the sick – in Jesus’ Name!

BLESSING(S) NOTED: The crowd was struck with awe at the power of Almighty God! I believe that will bring revival to a church that sees this happening on a regular basis!

PRAYER: Praise the Lord God Almighty, our God’s not dead, but very much alive because we see Him at work in our own lives and in the lives of His church! He healed the young man in our story today, and He still has the power to heal today, if only we will give Him the opportunity to use His power in our lives. Thank You Jesus! You are our mighty and awesome God, and we humble ourselves before You like this hurting father did for His demon-struck boy. Needs are numerous in my life, in the life of my family and also in my church, oh God. Please move in miraculous and mysterious ways in these needs so that Your church might be revived and renewed in their mission. I pray that every reader and listener of this devotional will catch a glimpse of the powerful God that we serve and call Father. AMEN!

Pastors, Workers and Servants Praise The Lord

On 2023-02-082023-02-08 By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Church Leaders, Needs, Pastors, Praise, Recognize God, Servants of God, The Church, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED Wednesday, 2023-02-08
WRITTEN AT: O’Brien, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Psalm 135:1-3
TRANSLATION: New International Version (NIV)

BIBLE TEXT: ¹Praise the Lord. Praise the name of the Lord; praise him, you servants of the Lord, ²you who minister in the house of the Lord, in the courts of the house of our God. ³Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good; sing praise to his name, for that is pleasant.

APPLICATION: I have never served as ‘Pastor’ of a local church, but I have filled many servant positions in the local church, so I can speak to the ways that I have seen where this has worked well and also stories from friends where this was a challenge. Before reading on, perhaps stop and have an internal discussion between you and God as to why the Psalmist may have seen importance in this, and because God saw need in having it be a part of His instructions to every generation, why does He see it as important for us. Friends, I firmly believe that in order for me to properly address this, I will need to borrow the words from 2 Chronicles 7:14, because I believe this may be the heart of our God for His people:

If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

Hopefully all church workers are ones who know God and call Him by name each and every day. But think carefully about this, dear ones, when thinking of ministry servants and leaders at your church. Hopefully this includes many in my readership. Remember, applying this personally, we should consider: If we know God personally; if we call Him by name; if we turn away from our wicked ways; if we seek His face, and we are not always after just His gifts to us; is there anything else that might prevent us from being on the same page as God and also hearing from Him? Think about the Sunday School teacher who stands in front of you on Sunday, and they have not done like the Psalmist said, or as was given to us in 2 Chronicles 7:14. Are they truly prepared to share from the depths of their heart relationship with God and the time spent in His Word that week? Could they sahre how we could truly incorporate such blessings into our lives in the following week? This is not picking on Sunday School teachers, because many churches are blessed with dedicated teachers who love the Lord and depend on Him each week in their obligation to fulfill their teaching role. But, just as the Psalmist shared, this example applies to all servants of the Most High God. If our pastors are not enjoying time together with the Lord and lifting up praise to Him in unison and in an effort to place the burden of their ‘sheep’ into the all-powerful hand of Almighty God, can we expect any better on Sunday morning when we show up and depend on them to help uplift our spirits and help us draw close to this God, that they themselves may not be close to? Few churches have choirs these days, but whether it’s a choir member, or a praise team member, if the spirit of our Holy God is not familiar in their hearts from a week of praising and drawing close to God, what is there that’s inside them to share with us on Sunday that would help draw us into worship? Pastors and teachers have an awesome responsibility to their members, and even as the Word says, it is not a position that one should desire. Instead, it must be one to which they are called to by God. In my almost 50 years of banking. If I spent most days doing everything else that was unassociated with my particular position, do you feel like I would have grown in my position? I feel like this is the same with our servants and leaders, and I feel that for all those who are not on the actual team, we have a deep responsibility to pray in earnest as we seek the face of Almighty God and beg His touch on our workers/servants/teachers/pastors of our churches. For what they have in them, from their week of experience and relationship with God, is what will be evident on Sunday morning when we get to church. Both the passage in Psalms today, and the one referenced in 2 Chronicles, apply to all of us. For although we may not have volunteered or been chosen as a named church leader, God chose us collectively in Matthew 28 when He commissioned us to go and tell the world about His saving grace and His love for all humanity. So, take from this today that we all should worship our Master every day, and never neglect humbling ourselves before God, praying, seeking His face, turning from our wicked ways, and watching for His mighty hand as He hears from Heaven and heals our land!

BLESSING(S) NOTED: Blessed be the name of Lord! The more we praise Him, the more joy will bubble from our hearts as we join with others in corporate worship!

PRAYER: So often we give the excuse that we just don’t have time for more activity in our lives, but I thank You Lord for teaching me that the truth of this whole matter is really that we will not give You the priority in our lives that You deserve. It’s easier for us to tell others it’s a matter of time, and then later sit with You in prayer and meditation and apologize for not making You a priority. Forgive us Lord. In the closing sentence of my ‘APPLICATION’ I named a few things that I believe Your Word made clear to my readers, listeners and I today. This can only come about if we commit ourselves to You with all our heart, soul and mind, and if we humble ourselves, pray and turn from our wicked ways. Please grant us Your power to accomplish Your will for us this day, so that we in turn we may honest, sincere and solid believers who will demonstrate Jesus in every word and action. AMEN!

How Will You & Your Church Be Known?

On 2023-02-072023-02-07 By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Example of Christ, Genuine example of Jesus, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, The Church, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED Tuesday, 2023-02-07
WRITTEN AT: O’Brien, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: 1 Thessalonians 1:2-5
TRANSLATION: The Voice (VOICE)

BIBLE TEXT: ²We always thank God for all of you in our prayers. ³Your actions on behalf of the true faith, your tireless toil of love, and your unfailing, unwavering, unending hope in our Lord Jesus the Anointed before God our Father have put you consistently at the forefront of our thoughts. ⁴O brothers and sisters loved by God, we know He has chosen you. ⁵And here is why: what you experienced in the good news we brought you was more than words channeling down your ears; it came to you as a life-empowering, Spirit-infused message that offers complete hope and assurance! We lived transparently before you so that you would know what sort of people we truly are.

APPLICATION: Although I dreaded to see the time come for performance appraisals, or the ones I completed on my staff, I was always tickled to see how the ones who were serious about their job, rated themselves in their self-appraisal, compared to the ratings given by myself, their supervisor. At a church I attended at one time, there was a group who came to town and interviewed residents in the neighborhood surrounding our church. It was AMAZING to hear the number of people in that close proximity who never heard about our church, and some who never recalled ever seeing the building before, even though the church took up about 65% of a city block in that small neighborhood! What must have been going on in the church at Thessalonica for Paul to hear about it? Unfortunately, no matter how much we love our church, and how successful we think it is in meeting our spiritual needs, unless it reaches the ears of the community and provides life to them, they will see little value in what we do. If we don’t meet the spiritual needs that exist in our town, then we must question if we are truly following Jesus’ example. Let’s take a deeper dive into the qualities that Paul saw in this church of his day and compare those to our individual ministries, or those by the church we have settled into for cooperate ministry:

Although not a quality, let your pastor and your church know that they could count on you to pray for them and their ministry. If you can seriously follow thru, then this will encourage them to a deeper and more committed ministry than anything they have done before!
When it is obvious that your work is totally prompted, performed and promoted by your faith;
When your labor is always prompted by love – find a believer passionate about the needs of individuals or communities, and they will wear themselves out trying to meet their needs!
Endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ – in other words, your actions are inspired by our Lord, and you could care less about your actions benefiting you, your church or your finances. Endurance – keep on plugging away until Christ returns! Don’t let the world discourage you or cause you to give up. Christ didn’t give up on us, so let us imitate Him in not giving up!
Chosen by God. Others will recognize your faith by your works! If Christ is in you, He will shine through you and others will soon discern that you were chosen by God for a time and place such as this.

I often wonder, if the world can’t see it, is it truly there? You know what I’m talking about – can Jesus be in you, and it not be evident to those you come into contact with? Are you trying to please the world, or are you obedient to, and totally open to the Master speaking and acting through you to meet the needs of those you come into contact with? My prayer is that this would become more evident each day, and in every word or action, for it’s all about Him – my Master, and not anything prompted by me.

BLESSING(S) NOTED: Praise God, Paul was able to see the fruit of his labor and his prayers in the church at Thessalonica. He ministered, but God produced an awesome return in the work there as He went on to bless others who needed it.

PRAYER: Dear Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, You placed us in this world, sent Your Holy Spirit to rescue us from our sin and an unsaved world who needs exactly what we have. We acknowledge that Satan interferes way too often by distracting us from the mission we dedicated to you, so we need you more and more each day to help us stay on track for the duration of time You have given to us here on earth. Oh Lord, may the meditation of our hearts, the words we speak, and the actions needed in obedience to Your will, be acceptable to You, my eternal Savior and Rock of my salvation. May others see, and believe today because of Your work channeled through me, my readers and my listeners. AMEN!

How The Sin of One Can Effect So Many

On 2023-02-052023-02-05 By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED Sunday, 2023-02-05
WRITTEN AT: O’Brien, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: 1 Chronicles 21:1-3
TRANSLATION: Living Bible (TLB)

BIBLE TEXT: ¹Then Satan brought disaster upon Israel, for he made David decide to take a census. ²“Take a complete census throughout the land and bring me the totals,” he told Joab and the other leaders. ³But Joab objected. “If the Lord were to multiply his people a hundred times, would they not all be yours? So why are you asking us to do this? Why must you cause Israel to sin?”

APPLICATION: In today’s society, we tend to hear of Satan getting to church pastors, that generally results in a setback for the global CHURCH. But the Holy Spirit really pointed out to me through the different folk that were impacted by this move of Satan in the heart of David, that I felt compelled to ask that we all open our minds as we examine this Scripture. Here are the affected parties, as I saw them:

Joab – Although loyal to his master – the king, yet Joab ‘smelt a rat’ – he knew that David’s command was not reflective of what God would do. In looking back from our current view, we know that God reduced the army of Gideon to 300, because God knew that in His power, He could win the battle based on His power and not the army of men that would face the enemy. In today’s Scripture, Joab was an admirable leader, and he didn’t use this nudge from God to incite evil against his king, instead he respectfully took his concern directly to the king.
The people of Israel – Even though it was obvious that Satan was the one who got to David, Joab didn’t confuse the matter when he spoke to David by saying that Satan would cause Israel to sin. Joab placed the sin directly into David’s court. But both in these introductory verses and in the judgment passed down by God, the Israelites were impacted. Why, 70,000 of their countrymen were killed by the uproar brought on by God, because of David’s sin. But can’t this also happen in a church congregation when their pastor commits sin, such as we hear in disturbing news reports way too frequently? If, as a congregation, we are lifting up our pastor in regular prayer, and if our love for our pastor is very evident to him, would he still be tempted, feel unloved and uncared for, and give in to the evil one? Or would he be so protected by the God of our prayers that his eyes would remain fixed on God? Dear friends, just as our pastor feels a deep responsibility for us – his congregation, I believe that we are also to feel a deep responsibility to always keep our pastor close to the throne of grace in our prayers, love and support. Just as in the case of David, when our pastor is defeated in sin, we may very well share in his punishment for that sin, especially if we are lacking in our responsibility to God on his behalf.

Please be careful to note that no matter how awesome we feel Daid was, the only hero in the accounts of this chapter is God. He never changes and is forever true to His Father. If we are seeking to be more like Jesus every day, then we must learn to follow His example – even the difficult ones that he handled with such heroes of the faith, like David. While you may feel like your sneaky sin was committed in private and you are confident that no one else knows about it, please be reminded that God knows all things, sees all things, and hears all things – even to our thoughts. As believers in Christ, it’s Him that we serve, love and adore. We want others to follow in our example, but remember, they will probably still follow – even when we mess up, so be very careful to honor God in all aspects of your life. Stay strong in the faith dear brothers and sisters. It’s all about God, for nothing good have I done to deserve God’s only Son.

BLESSING(S) NOTED: Because of God’s amazing grace, I can be more than a conqueror!

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, because I am of the same human state as David, I can, and I probably do commit the same sin as he did. My readers, listeners and I are standing in Your presence begging for forgiveness for the times that we took the reins and tried to live life in our own strength and with the same misguided qualities that get us into trouble much of the time. Forgive us oh Lord and help us to keep our eyes fixed on You and our daily goal always centered on heaven with You and the Father. I am convinced that the unsaved need to see genuine, Christ-centered lives for them to believe that Jesus is Lord of our lives. Lord may there never be doubt in what they see in us, for You are our strength and our everlasting hope. AMEN!

Nuggets From God's Word

Month: February 2023