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Post Date: |
Thursday, 2017-10-26 |
| SCRIPTURE | |
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From: |
2 Samuel 5:22-25 (NIV) |
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Text: |
22 Once more the Philistines came up and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim; 23 so David inquired of the Lord, and he answered, “Do not go straight up, but circle around behind them and attack them in front of the poplar trees. 24 As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the poplar trees, move quickly, because that will mean the Lord has gone out in front of you to strike the Philistine army.” 25 So David did as the Lord commanded him, and he struck down the Philistines all the way from Gibeon to Gezer. |
| OBSERVATION: | |
| Through obedience to God, David had already defeated the Philistines in the valley of Rephaim. However, when their army returned to the same place, David didn’t assume that the instructions God had given him earlier still applied. He went back before God in prayer again. This time, and in spite of different instructions, David never questioned God, but simply obeyed. Let’s see if we are as careful to ask and then obey, even if the instruction are different the second of successive times. |
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| APPLICATION: | |
| We hear the stories all the time how habitual ways of doing something is the best way. Another common phrase, or piece of worldly advice is that: ‘if it ain’t broken, don’t try to fix it’! Words of advice from a mother to a daughter might be: ‘you can only cook that roast in the manner that I taught you, because grandmothers recipe always works’, however stoves/ovens have changed drastically since the old wood-burning stoves of our ancestors! Friends, church is no different, for we take on some of these same attitudes as just mentioned. The world of electronics and everyday life has changed so much over the years. So, considering some of these things that I have just reflected on, how likely are we to change our tried and proven methods. especially if it results in bringing glory to God? Some folk bring their old King James Bible to church to study from or follow with the pastor’s sermon, while younger generations might bring one thing with them – their cell phone, or a tablet. Can we appreciate both without being judgmental? Look at how much wars have changed. In older movies we see nothing but men on the ground fighting from fairly close range. Today we watch as missiles are fired from miles away and hit a target with precision. Would our military be willing to change their course of action when a general tells them that God told him to do this war quite differently, because He would guide and protect the army into unbelievable success. Really give some thought to what David did in this story. God gave David instructions and because he obeyed, the battle against the Philistines was a huge success. Not long after, the Philistines presented themselves for battle in much the same way and in the same place. Wouldn’t you assume that David would have looked to God and said: ‘OK God, I got this. You showed me how to do this successfully already, and I still remember all of the details’. That is definitely not the course David followed. Just like each day presents itself differently, David went back to God and asked for His approval and His directions. When given different instructions, there is no record of David questioning God. He simple obeyed, and was successful once again. Friends, we need to be very dependent on God. Let’s go to Him every day and on every subject. What worked for us yesterday, may be under totally different circumstances today. God knows that before we take time to ask Him. Seek His face and be obedient to His voice Brothers and Sisters. His decisions are not based on a spin of the dice, for He is God and everything He created is under His control. Work on letting Him be God, and you being the obedient servant. It works – every time! |
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| PRAYER: | |
| Lord God, the Creator and Master of this universe, including all human beings, thank You for accepting me as one of Your children, and for taking the time to listen and direct even me. In facing this challenging world, we are pulled in so many ways. However Lord, we know that only You have the keys to the kingdom of heaven and the answers to all of this old world’s problems. Please help us to remain faithful, and never take the chance of making personal decisions without first being blessed by Your approval and Your direction. May we once again today surrender all at Your feet and allow You to fill us afresh for all that we will face today, for I ask this in the precious and all-powerful name of Jesus, AMEN! |
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| 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 could 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 to subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. If you are anywhere near the Highlands County, Florida area and do not have a church home, I would be thrilled to welcome you at Bible Fellowship Church, located at 3750 Hammock Rd, Sebring, FL 33872! Click the link to check out service times and/or other special activities. God is at work among us! Please consider coming to worship with us! | |
Category: Obedience
Consequences For Our Sin
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Post Date: |
Friday, 2017-10-06 |
| SCRIPTURE | |
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From: |
1 Samuel 15:27-29 (ERV) |
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Text: |
27 When Samuel turned to leave, Saul caught Samuel’s robe. The robe tore. 28 Samuel said to Saul, “In this same way the Lord has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today. He has given the kingdom to one of your friends, a man who is a better person than you. 29 The one who lives forever, the God of Israel, does not lie and will not change his mind. He is not like a man who is always changing his mind.” |
| OBSERVATION: | |
| Saul sinned against God, and the very man who crowned him king, had to go and confront him about his sin. In obedience to God, Samuel went to Saul and challenged him on what he had done. There is a great lesson for us in verse 28, for God decided not to accept Saul’s apologies and let him remain king, so I believe that we have a lot to consider in this Scripture today… |
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| APPLICATION: | |
| I’m sure you have noticed that some people are quick to say they are sorry, and some will even add to their apology, that they will never do the same thing again. While it is exceptional that you would agree to reconcile with another individual, this Scripture is teaching us that a mistake is something that should never happen again. however when we know deep inside that we are disobeying the law or a commitment that we have made to the contrary, then we are deliberately sinning and have no intention of trying to change our ways. In return, wouldn’t it really hurt to hear God say that you have sinned, and although He will forgive you, you cannot serve in the position He ordained you for? Add to that, God has already found someone better than you? Oh my, that would hurt to the innermost parts of your body and soul! Friends, I believe the message in this for us, is that if we claim Jesus as our Lord and Savior and seek to serve Him, we will seek to follow His ways. When we continue to act as we’ve always done and make our own decisions in spite of what we feel God is saying to us, then we need to go back to step one and make sure that we actually accepted Jesus as Lord, or did we just go through the motions. It is unfortunate, but I believe that in the same way we tend to give God orders in our prayer life, we also commit sin with the intent of pleasing friends, and hoping to immediately afterwards tell God you are sorry. Whose side are you on friend? If you claim Jesus as you Lord, then His Holy Spirit will work in your life to prompt you of right and wrong. You won’t just continue sinning and then run back to God on a regular basis asking for His forgiveness for you ‘taking the wheel’ again. Remember, God is not a robot, He wants to have a personal relationship with you and I, so that we might learn His ways and do His will. He wants others to see Jesus when they talk with us, or in response to the way we act with them. How are you doing with this friend? Let me recommend that you concentrate more on ways that you can please Jesus and be more like Him, rather than worry about the consequences for your sin! For as you become more like Jesus, the things of this world will grow strangely dim! |
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| PRAYER: | |
| Lord Jesus, we are a work in process. For as long as we are here on this earth, we will be impacted by its evil thoughts and deeds – things that we used to do. Please touch Your children today, starting with me, to have such a glow on our faces that reflect the joy of the Lord in our hearts, that the lost will recognize Jesus in us and want to know Him personally. Help us to not stray from the only way You have paved for us, so that we will not be a stumbling block to others. You are our King, Lord, and as Your humble servants, we want to serve You with everything we have, or can gain from You. Please have Your will and way with us even today, so that You may be glorified, AMEN! |
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| 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 could 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 to subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. If you are anywhere near the Highlands County, Florida area and do not have a church home, I would be thrilled to welcome you at Bible Fellowship Church, located at 3750 Hammock Rd, Sebring, FL 33872! Click the link to check out service times and/or other special activities. God is at work among us! Please consider coming to worship with us! | |
A Test of Obedience
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Post Date: |
Thursday, 2017-10-05 |
| SCRIPTURE | |
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From: |
1 Samuel 15:22-23 (MSG) |
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Text: |
22-23 Then Samuel said,
Do you think all God wants are sacrifices— |
| OBSERVATION: | |
| Saul’s excuse for not killing all of the livestock of the Amalekites is that he would use them in his sacrifices to God. Saul also saved the king. Saul disobeyed God and did what he thought was best. How often does this happen to us? Let’s have a look…. |
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| APPLICATION: | |
| We’ve heard it said after some have attended Sunday morning service: “well I went to church this morning and got that out of the way”. In other words I got that obligation done, so now I can go on to other things for myself. Others might say “Please don’t ask me to attend another service this weekend, because I want to be there Sunday morning to hear Rev. XYZ preach. In other words, don’t let’s overdo this church thing. Since when do we track good honest relationships like that, friends? I also believe that while we do a pretty good job of showing the pastor and other church leaders that we are fairly honest, or obedient to God’s commands, as long as we are around church people, we tend to be much more open to the things of the world when away from home and from our normal crowd of friends. So what does this say about the inner man? Do we have a personal relationship with the Creator, the Savior of the world, the King of all kings? In a true relationship, we can be trusted to please the other party in their presence, or when we are out of their sight. We do things that would please the other person, even though we may cut corners at times, especially when out of their sight. There are things that we must be reminded about our relationship with God. He is everywhere at all times, so He knows when we are disloyal or disobedient. We may hide our actions from the pastor, but God knows what we did, and He knows our heart – therefore the reasons why we did something contrary to His commands. Friends, if we are going to change the world through our actions, then it is vital that we are very transparent in our relationship with God. If we say that we love God, then let’s give it all we have. Let’s not just listen to, or read His commands, but obey them, knowing that God wants to know that we could be trusted to do that in, or out of His perceived presence. The world must see the honest and dedicated Christian, for them to know it’s OK to follow our example. We can’t fool the world either. |
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| PRAYER: | |
| Thank You Father for placing the example of Saul before us today in this Scripture. This reminds us so much of what we do, or are tempted to do, every day. Lord, please help us to stay steadfast in our walk and our talk so that the world might see Jesus in us, and not mistake us for yet another hypocrite. The world need Jesus. May we influence their need for the Savior, and never be a stumbling block oh Lord. AMEN! |
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| 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 could 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 to subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. If you are anywhere near the Highlands County, Florida area and do not have a church home, I would be thrilled to welcome you at Bible Fellowship Church, located at 3750 Hammock Rd, Sebring, FL 33872! Click the link to check out service times and/or other special activities. God is at work among us! Please consider coming to worship with us! | |
When God Answers Prayer
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Post Date: |
Monday, 2017-09-18 |
| SCRIPTURE | |
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From: |
Psalm 59:16-17 (TLB) |
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Text: |
16 But as for me, I will sing each morning about your power and mercy. For you have been my high tower of refuge, a place of safety in the day of my distress. 17 O my Strength, to you I sing my praises; for you are my high tower of safety, my God of mercy. |
| OBSERVATION: | |
| David had a way of expressing himself about the relationship that he had with God, and how God answered his prayers in the very miraculous ways that only God could do! In these verses today David was acknowledging through praise, how God heard his prayers and protected him against Saul’s men that surrounded his home. Let’s look into the ways that we can apply this in our own lives…. | |
| APPLICATION: | |
| No doubt there have been times of desperation in our own lives where we have knelt before our Maker in desperation and prayed over very critical moments for a family member, or perhaps a parent, or even a friend. Often we can remember the growth and encouragement that came when our prayers were answered just like we asked of God. However, we tend to get our noses a little ‘out of joint’ when we tell God to do such and such, and He decides that there are alternate ways that He would prefer handling things. This might be a good reminder that the whole reason that we ask God, is that we know that there could be more than one outcome to a situation. For example, in David’s scenario, God could have left Saul’s men hidden for a longer period of time which would have allowed Him more time to work on David; He could have used these men, yes even the opposition, to take David out; or of course He could have stricken the enemies blind so that David could walk away unscathed. I believe that God will gladly listen to our personal desires, or wishes, in a scenario, but I also believe that when we ask that His perfect will be done, that we should strap ourselves in and prepare for the strong, all-knowing, mighty hand of God to be applied in our best interest, or that might bring praise to the Almighty. I believe that most Christians are good about asking, but we may be way too caught up in telling God how to answer our prayers. Additionally, we are way too quick to say that God didn’t, or won’t, answer our prayers, when in fact He answered in line with His perfect will for us. Friends, if we truly know God personally, and we are willing to take Him at His word, then we need to follow the words of an old hymn, ‘Just take it to the Lord, and leave it there’. The other challenging thing for us, is to be ready to obey Him and follow His perfect plan for us, no matter which way He answers. This type of obedience is probably one of the most challenging for mankind, because our tendency is to snarl our noses up when we may have to do something differently than what we asked for. I believe that we need to decide that if God is truly in control, it’s our responsibility to listen and obey Him, knowing that He has our best interest, and His glory, at the center of our heart. | |
| PRAYER: | |
| Precious Savior, thank You for being patient with us as we learn from Your Word, and through our own personal experiences. You are a God who loves and cares for us, and who can be trusted with perfect decisions for us so that You may be glorified. Please help us to take our burdens, cares and concerns to the foot of the cross and leave them there. Please help us to be obedient, even when Your perfect response is different to our personal desires. Lord, may our faith increase everyday because of the awesome working of Your hand, 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 could 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 to subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. If you are anywhere near the Highlands County, Florida area and do not have a church home, I would be thrilled to welcome you at Bible Fellowship Church, located at 3750 Hammock Rd, Sebring, FL 33872! Click the link to check out service times and/or other special activities. God is at work among us! Please consider coming to worship with us! | |
Proud To Be A Christian?
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Post Date: |
Saturday, 2017-09-02 |
| SCRIPTURE | |
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From: |
Judges 6:27 (Voice) |
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Text: |
27 So Gideon took 10 of his servants and did as the Eternal had told him; but since he was worried about what his family and the people of the town might think, he did it at night while they all slept. |
| OBSERVATION: | |
| Gideon was an interesting character. He asked for God to clearly prove Himself when He first spoke to Gideon. Now when asked to prove his allegiance to God by completing an order to destroy the idols of his dad and his town, he agreed, but he completed the task in his own time, to be the least possible conspicuous. Do we try to hide behind something when we serve God, so that we are not faced with challenging questions about our belief? We will discuss this further…. | |
| APPLICATION: | |
| Do your family and friends know that you’re a Christian? Do you know if they are? They are perfect as a practice target! If you can’t speak with them about their faith, how will you manage with a complete stranger? You might remember that Peter, one of the close disciples of Christ, was challenged about his relationship with Jesus, and he did exactly what he had earlier told Jesus that he would not do, he denied being associated with Jesus or even knowing Him. Gideon never said anything, but what do you suppose that his actions said? Perhaps: I value my life way too much than to be killed by my own people for tearing down their gods; or what will these people, that I’ve known all my life, think of me when I rebel against them by replacing their gods with my own altar of the living God? What does your words and actions say to others about your faith? One of the most challenging things in living a life pleasing to God, is that the ways of the world is often totally opposite. Are you bold enough to ‘go against the grain’ and show that you are different because of Jesus? Another challenge is that you show that you are different, in complete humility. Not to show the other person up. You never put down an unbeliever so that you might look better in your beliefs. Simply live the life that God expects from you and allow Him to do His work in the lives that you are impacting. Words of encouragement and trying to be available for an unbeliever might be a start. Following the example of Christ is the best witness. Friends, Gideon did what he was asked to do, but he also wanted to stay on the good side of his family and townspeople. In being willing to obey God, we may have to obey God’s commands in spite of any sort of compromise. Are you willing to try that today? | |
| PRAYER: | |
| Lord, we are challenged every day with all that we should do, but way too often we allow our pride to override, or our desire to keep all parties happy. Please help us to be so committed to You Lord, that we will be willing whatsoever You ask of us. We need Your power, strength and boldness every day. Please help us to be images of our God who loves us beyond everything else. 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 could 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 to subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. If you are anywhere near the Highlands County, Florida area and do not have a church home, I would be thrilled to welcome you at Bible Fellowship Church, located at 3750 Hammock Rd, Sebring, FL 33872! Click the link to check out service times and/or other special activities. God is at work among us! Please consider coming to worship with us! | |
Godly Results from Obedience
Monday, August 27, 2017
Scripture
Bible Reference: Proverbs 3:1–4
Bible Text: 1 My child, never forget the things I have taught you. Store my commands in your heart. 2 If you do this, you will live many years, and your life will be satisfying. 3 Never let loyalty and kindness leave you! Tie them around your neck as a reminder. Write them deep within your heart. 4 Then you will find favor with both God and people, and you will earn a good reputation.
Bible Translation: New Living Translation (NLT)
My Take
In our scripture today we are given some pointers on how we might be blessed by God. Let me share these things in a very simple format so that we might easily get the point and begin to align our lives for blessings from our awesome God:
- ACTION: Never forget the things taught to you by your parents; your Bible School teachers; your Pastors; the Bible. In fact, store those things deep in your heart so that your words, and your actions will reflect what you have stored, and not what the world teaches or expects from you.
- REWARD: You will live many years, and your life will be satisfying. So many people live in misery, because they have no hope, or because they have caved in to every whim of this world. Let me encourage you to be obedient to the above ‘Action’, and live in expectation of your rewards from God.
- ACTION: Be loyal and kind. Some translations also use the characteristic ‘love’. These are so important, that God instructed us through the writer to tie these around our neck and write them deep into our heart. I find that the easiest way for me to do this with a Bible verse, is to type it out and place it on my computer screen, the refrigerator door, or somewhere that will catch my attention throughout my day. To embed these things into our heart is best done through memorization or reading the words repeatedly throughout your day.
- REWARD: You will find favor with God and those that you hang around. Your character will then earn you a good reputation by those who know you. I don’t believe there is anything that a Christian would desire more, than to know that our lives are pleasing to God. Re-read the above ‘Action’ and practice it every day friends!
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for giving us Your Word so that we might catch a glimpse of Your heart for us. It is evident that you want so bad for us to succeed in our Christian walk that You have given us everything we need to know about what pleases You. Lord, we long to live in total obedience to You. Please touch our hearts and help us to be strong and determined to shun Satan and to live our lives in total obedience to You. May these commands today impact us so that we might willingly live totally obedient lives to Your will and way. Forgive us Lord for our inadequacies and unwillingness of the past. AMEN!
Footnote
If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. 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 could 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 www.nuggetsfromgodsword.org and read more, or you may freely to subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. If you are anywhere near the Highlands County, Florida area and do not have a church home, I would be thrilled to welcome you at Bible Fellowship Church, located at 3750 Hammock Rd, Sebring, FL 33872! Click the link to check out service times and/or other special activities. God is at work among us! Please consider coming to worship with us!
Benefits/Consequences For Decisions
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Post Date: |
Thursday, 2017-07-27 |
| SCRIPTURE | |
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From: |
Deuteronomy 28:1-2; 15 (MSG) |
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Text: |
1-2 If you listen obediently to the Voice of God, your God, and heartily obey all his commandments that I command you today, God, your God, will place you on high, high above all the nations of the world. All these blessings will come down on you and spread out beyond you because you have responded to the Voice of God, your God:
15 Here’s what will happen if you don’t obediently listen to the Voice of God, your God, and diligently keep all the commandments and guidelines that I’m commanding you today. All these curses will come down hard on you: |
| OBSERVATION: | |
| Moses was not permitted to enter the Promised Land, but he was given last minute instructions for the Israelites that would help them understand how God would react to their decisions and actions once they receive their freedom to live in their new and exciting country. Benefits and/or consequences is generally something we look at in hindsight, but with God instructing Moses, he could tell them in advance what to expect. We’ve been given that same advantage through the Bible, let’s look at that! | |
| APPLICATION: | |
| As parents, we will generally give our children choices, and we may even add what the benefits and/or consequences are if they obey, or if they disobey what we told them. As I read this chapter, I believe that God pointed out to me the parallel between the instructions that He gave to the Israelites through His servant Moses, and the equivalent of what He gave to us through His Word regarding our destiny, based on our level of obedience today. This is all declared in the New Testament with the birth, death and resurrection of His precious Son, Jesus. You see, when God introduced His new covenant offered through the shed blood of Jesus, He assured us that the benefit for those of us who accept that free gift of salvation, would be that we could look forward to eternity in heaven with our Savior; our Father – God; and the Holy Spirit. In chapter 28 today, there were 14 verses of benefit descriptions for the Israelites that obeyed the commands of God. For the person who accepts Jesus as Lord and Savior, I would dare say that the benefits are endless, and they are greater than our wildest imagination. Imagine being face to face with Jesus, who performed miracle after miracle; who also showed His love for us with outstretched arms on a cruel cross; but praise be to God, He arose from the dead three days later and reigns with His Father forevermore! However, for the unconcerned or disobedient, the Bible also gives us the equivalent for what people today can expect, just as God did in the case of the Israelites, beginning in verse 15 above. For those who decline the offer of salvation, and continue to live contrary to the instructions given by God in His Word, they could expect to spend eternity in the pit of Hell with Satan and his demons, being tormented for all eternity. So friends, just like the Israelites who knew the game rules as they entered the Promised Land, we have the game Book available to us. If we obey, I reminded you of the benefits. If we disobey, I reminded you of the consequences. May I encourage you to know Jesus and know peace and hope regarding your eternity? No Jesus will result in no peace my friend. The choice is yours alone, please insure your peace and security in my Savior, Jesus Christ, today! See my Footnote below for help with this. | |
| PRAYER: | |
| Lord Jesus, Your Word is very clear for us today, just as Your word through Moses was clear for the Israelites. We claim to be a very smart generation, so please touch our hardened hearts so that we may make wise decisions and follow in obedience to all that You have taught us through Your Word. Thank You for the promise of eternity in heaven with You one day! Please help us to encourage as many as possible while here on earth until that day You call us home to glory, 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 could 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 to subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. If you are anywhere near the Highlands County, Florida area and do not have a church home, I would be thrilled to welcome you at Bible Fellowship Church, located at 3750 Hammock Rd, Sebring, FL 33872! Click the link to check out service times and/or other special activities. God is at work among us! Please consider coming to worship with us! | |
Make God a Priority
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Post Date: |
Thursday, 2017-07-06 |
| SCRIPTURE | |
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From: |
Deuteronomy 6:4-9 (Voice) |
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Text: |
4 …The Eternal is our True God—He alone. 5 You should love Him, your True God, with all your heart and soul, with every ounce of your strength. 6 Make the things I’m commanding you today part of who you are. 7 Repeat them to your children. Talk about them when you’re sitting together in your home and when you’re walking together down the road. Make them the last thing you talk about before you go to bed and the first thing you talk about the next morning. 8 Do whatever it takes to remember them: tie a reminder on your hand and bind a reminder on your forehead where you’ll see it all the time, 9 such as on the doorpost where you cross the threshold or on the city gate. |
| OBSERVATION: | |
| God had just brought the Israelites through 40 years of ups and downs in the wilderness, but years filled with miracle after miracle where God showed Himself supreme in taking care of, and providing for, His special people. This was at the stage where Moses would soon die, so he was leaving his last reminders with the people as they prepared to cross over the Jordan river to their final destination. I believe he is obviously reminding the people, because he is not so sure that they discerned that this was an important step in their continued dependency on God. Did we learn from the Israelites, or even our past experiences with God? | |
| APPLICATION: | |
| We might spank, or otherwise discipline a child, and as soon as we turn our head away, the child tries that same thing all over again, hoping for a better reaction from us, if they are successful! Often we will throw our hands up and ask if they will ever learn! Kids will be kids, right? But isn’t it amazing how little we learn from those childhood experiences? Our prisons are filled with people who thought they could do it their way once again, but got caught in the act. Friends, there should come a time in our lives where Jesus affirms His faithfulness to all who believes in Him. There comes a time where Jesus will tender the hearts of unbelievers once again, and make the gospel of Jesus Christ very personal and inviting to the unbelievers. At these times it will be our responsibility and/or privilege to develop a close relationship with Jesus, and make that relationship more than a point of convenience that we surrender to when in trouble, but rather to make that relationship a priority upon which we make decisions, commitments, and on which we base our decisions as we seek to serve Him more fully. How is it with you today friends? Are you still ‘winging it’ and doing life alone? Making decisions that seem best for you and your family? Or are you fully trusting in Jesus, obeying His Word, seeking His direction, and surrendering self to Him? As one of the very last things that Moses was able to share with the Israelites, he told them to make God first in their lives and to prove who rules and reigns in their lives through their obedience to His commands and their sweet relationship with their Lord. Is He first in your life friend? Have you surrendered full reign to the Almighty God? Are you committed to making Him top priority in your life, so that He may have full reign, and show you His will for your life? | |
| PRAYER: | |
| Father God, You have been so good to us! Thank You for watching over us and filling us with Your awesome goodness and love for one another. Please forgive us for always wanting to take the reins and do life ‘our way’. We acknowledge that our efforts are nothing better than a good guess, while knowing deep inside that we could call on the Creator Himself to direct our path and show us the way. Lord, I’m Yours and I need You to always control my thoughts and my ways, so that I might be a pleasing aroma in Your nostrils. I surrender my will to Yours, and I ask these things in teh precious name of Jesus, 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 could 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 to subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. If you are anywhere near the Highlands County, Florida area and do not have a church home, I would be thrilled to welcome you at Bible Fellowship Church, located at 3750 Hammock Rd, Sebring, FL 33872! Click the link to check out service times and/or other special activities. God is at work among us! Please consider coming to worship with us! | |
Overwhelmed By God’s Presence
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Post Date: |
Saturday, 2017-07-01 |
| SCRIPTURE | |
|
From: |
Luke 5:4-9 (TLB) |
|
Text: |
4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Now go out where it is deeper and let down your nets and you will catch a lot of fish!”
5 “Sir,” Simon replied, “we worked hard all last night and didn’t catch a thing. But if you say so, we’ll try again.” 6 And this time their nets were so full that they began to tear! 7 A shout for help brought their partners in the other boat, and soon both boats were filled with fish and on the verge of sinking. 8 When Simon Peter realized what had happened, he fell to his knees before Jesus and said, “Oh, sir, please leave us—I’m too much of a sinner for you to have around.” 9 For he was awestruck by the size of their catch, as were the others with him, |
| OBSERVATION: | |
| I feel pretty sure that Simon had heard about Jesus and he had heard about the miracles that he performed. He had just heard the wisdom in His teaching right from his very own boat to a crowd on the shore. But then Simon was faced with a test of his faith. In spite of having fished all night and caught nothing, Jesus told him to go and do the exact thing that brought no results after hours and hours of self efforts. However after seeing the difference in obeying Jesus, Simon became very embarrassed of his initial hesitation. Let’s put ourselves in the position of Simon and consider if we would have done any differently. | |
| APPLICATION: | |
| Don’t you love it when you are trying to help a child and you give them instructions, based on your proven experience, only to see them look up at you with a large question mark on their faces, as if to say “are you sure about this”? I would imagine that similar thoughts must have haunted Simon, for he had heard of Jesus’ teachings, His healings, and the love He showed to all mankind, but where would He have gathered such knowledge to tell a seasoned fisherman where to go and what to do? Like most of us, Simon hesitated, and actually tried to clarify why he was hesitating by telling Jesus of the endless efforts the night before. We do the same thing friends, because how many of you jump to it and move into action when asked to do something around your church, or are invited to go on a missions trip? Our usual excuse is that we need to go home and pray about it, and I believe that’s an excellent move. But I wonder how often it’s merely giving us time to build a case as to why we can’t do the job or make the mission’s trip! Friends, I believe that it should always be our goal to seek God’s face and ask for His guidance in helping us do what He desires, when He desires it. He is the One that has a divine will and direction for our lives. He knows where we need to be and where we need to go, so that His glory might shine through us. Oh what joy will be ours when we are obedient and see God being glorified because of our obedience. Can’t you imagine how Simon must have felt after hesitating on an order from Jesus, then to only witness that He indeed is God, and that everything happened just as He said it would? Can you imagine the disappointment on God’s face when He has a plan for us; gives us direction towards achieving that plan, and then for us to decline, because we think we know better than He knows? Can you truly turn around and celebrate in praise to the God that you just disappointed? I can only imagine that as we are obedient and see the wondrous works of Christ materialize through us, that we would act very similar to Simon: Oh Lord, please forgive this doubting man and multiply my faith so that I might be more obedient and draw ever closer to You. You alone are God and in total respect and honor to You, I want to be Your obedient servant because of the strong faith I believe You will develop in me. | |
| PRAYER: | |
| Lord, we are thankful that You consider us Yours, for those who have placed their faith and trust in You. Thank you for your direction in our lives and leading us each day. Just as our Scripture reading shows a turning point in Simon’s life, I pray that You will also touch the lives of each reader today so that we might willingly and obediently follow Your will and design for us. Lord, may we be humble and usable vessels through which You can work, and let Your glory shine. 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 could 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 to subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. If you are anywhere near the Highlands County, Florida area and do not have a church home, I would be thrilled to welcome you at Bible Fellowship Church, located at 3750 Hammock Rd, Sebring, FL 33872! Click the link to check out service times and/or other special activities. God is at work among us! Please consider coming to worship with us! | |
Thoughts on Listening To God
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Post Date: |
Thursday, 2017-06-22 |
| SCRIPTURE | |
|
From: |
Psalm 81:8 (NLT) |
|
Text: |
8 “Listen to me, O my people, while I give you stern warnings. O Israel, if you would only listen to me! |
| OBSERVATION: | |
| God had miraculously rescued Israel from their slave masters in Egypt and had taken care of their every need during their 40 long years in the wilderness as they traveled to the land of milk and honey that God promised to them. Yet right up to the very end of their journey they were still rebellious and obstinate about listening to God. Learning from the lessons of the Israelites, surely we have this obedience thing under control today, right? ….. we’ll see….. | |
| APPLICATION: | |
| Evidence of more obedient people today because we have learned from the lessons of the Israelites, might be: Children of God who are in the Book every day seeking direction from God; Christians who spend quality, quiet time with God in prayer at least once every day; Getting along with everyone because of being taught by God to follow His example; Churches filled to capacity as indicators of so many being filled to overflowing with the Holy Spirit; Obedience to the Word of God and the Spirit of God causing others to see Jesus in every fiber of our being. Friends it is virtually impossible to accomplish any of these things under our own power, for to fight spiritual battles, we must surrender earthly things, and assume a right relationship with the God of this universe, the One who has all spiritual power, the One who guides us to do things that He commands, and say things ordained by Him. To be like God, we must spend more time with Him than we do with the leader of this world, Satan. God told us in vs 14-16 that if His people would humble themselves and pray and seek His face, then He would intervene and save them and bless them. In verse 8, let’s try removing the word Israel and replacing it with our name, or the name of our church, or our city or state or country. This is what it takes to replace the evil of our land with the good, the blessings and the peace of God that surpasses all human understanding. Are you willing to let it start with you and I? God never said that it would take an army to get His attention or His action, I am convinced that He would move mountains for just one or two, if that’s all that are prepared to follow His commands. | |
| PRAYER: | |
| Lord Jesus, You have proven Your love for us in so many ways, and I thank You again for that amazing love. You sacrificed the most dearest thing to Your Father, to prove Your love for us, yet we are so lackadaisical in commitment to You and in our walk for You. When troubles or challenges come, we try every idea thrown at us before we bow the knee in humility before You and seek Your face and Your miraculous touch. Please forgive us Lord, and as reminded in this Scripture today, please help us to listen carefully and follow Your perfect will for our lives so that we might honor You and allow You priority in our lives. I have every reason to believe that You will send opportunities to us today where someone will need to hear about Jesus, or feel Your sincere love, or be guided by Your all knowing and powerful hand. Fill us with so much of Yourself Lord, that we may be usable vessels for You in this world today, 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 could 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 to subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. If you are anywhere near the Highlands County, Florida area and do not have a church home, I would be thrilled to welcome you at Bible Fellowship Church, located at 3750 Hammock Rd, Sebring, FL 33872! Click the link to check out service times and/or other special activities. God is at work among us! Please consider coming to worship with us! | |
Nuggets From God's Word 