Category: True witnesses

What’s Your Role In the Plan?

On By Ed AlgreenIn True witnesses, Witness, WitnessingLeave a comment

SCRIPTURE  FROM:   Romans 10:13-15 (NLT)

TEXT: 13 For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 14 But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? 15 And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!”

OBSERVATION:   We are taught here that there is a process for someone to receive the Word of God and act on it, and as I read through it I pondered where you and I might fit into the various steps of getting God’s Word to the unsaved. Let’s look deeper into this….

APPLICATION:   Let’s think back to the day we found Jesus. Do you remember the excitement that you felt in knowing the King of all kings and Lord of lords? To know the One who has promised to love you unconditionally for the rest of your life here on earth, then through the joys of heaven as you unite with God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit! Now, imagine keeping that all bottled up inside of you. Will you be able to contain yourself? Well, I don’t believe that God saved you to then force you onto a seat where you could sit, soak and sour. Throughout His Word, He teaches us to go and spread the Good News. So reflect on the verses and notice how someone is anxiously waiting to hear the Good News, if someone will tell them. In fact, they can’t believe in One that they’ve never heard of. I believe that this also means that they need to hear from someone who knows Christ personally and experientially, because they want to believe in someone who’s real. Friends, it’s through hearing the Word of God and your personal experience with Him, that one will come to know Him as Savior and Lord. You can play a vital role by simply sharing what you have. God’s love is given to share with others, not to keep it bottled up inside.

PRAYER:   Lord, please touch the lives of my readers today that have accepted You as their Lord and Savior. Please give us all the opportunity to let the light of Jesus shine brightly through us today, so that all of our unsaved friends might hear about You, see You in action through us, and accept You as their personal Savior today. This is my humble prayer today, especially in light of the verses that we meditated on. Thank You Lord Jesus for being willing to use even us to help grow Your kingdom. 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 Sebring, 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!

 

Basic Truths of the Faith

On By Ed AlgreenIn Good News, New beginnings, True witnesses, WitnessLeave a comment

Post Date:

 Saturday, 2017-12-23
SCRIPTURE

From:

 Acts 4:12-14 (MSG)

Text:

 12 Salvation comes no other way; no other name has been or will be given to us by which we can be saved, only this one (Jesus).”

13-14 They (the Jewish leaders) couldn’t take their eyes off them—Peter and John standing there so confident, so sure of themselves! Their fascination deepened when they realized these two were laymen with no training in Scripture or formal education. They recognized them as companions of Jesus, but with the man right before them, seeing him standing there so upright—so healed!—what could they say against that?
OBSERVATION:
Peter and John were used by God in the healing of a lame man. Fortunately this happened in sight of the Jewish leaders who had put no relevance in the Lord Jesus Christ. In today’s Scripture I bolded some of the basic truths of the Christian faith: Salvation is only possible through faith in Jesus Christ; For those who have received Jesus Christ as their Savior. Their bragging about Him, and encouraging the lost to be saved, is just as effective as the smartest preacher of the largest church on earth. The Jews were amazed by the effectiveness of these simple, uneducated, laymen! Each one of us live right in the middle of this discussion, let’s look closer at how we might apply ourselves…..
APPLICATION:
I believe that way too often we (Christians) give in to the ways and wishes of the world. At Christmas-time we have gotten used to their wish to not have ‘Christ’ included in the word, so it has become Happy Holidays, or Fall Break, instead of Christmas. When everyone is convinced that God is involved in an activity, it becomes ‘the man upstairs’ instead of giving credit to the God of this whole universe. The God who lovingly created the very one trying to ignore His precious name. In our Scripture today, it is refreshing to be reminded that Peter and John were simple ‘laymen’, a title given to those who try to share God’s Word without having been educated in theology or ordained as a pastor or preacher. That explains the title for many of us that will meditate on this devotional today. So pray tell why so many of us cower up and leave the telling of Jesus to the pastor, or the Sunday School teacher? There is a lot of difference in me telling my friends that Jesus touched me and healed me last Sunday while at church, than the pastor telling those same friends that God moved powerfully in our service last Sunday and Ed was healed. My story would be personal, whereas the Pastor’s story would be a third party story that he would relay for me. Our responsibility is to share what God has, and is doing in our lives. Sure we can say what else God is doing in our church, but the thing that will impact our friends is what happened in the first person – to us! The other thing that will impact our witness, is for others to see what God has done for us. If we say that we are saved, friends should see what we are saved from. If from Satan, then they should see God in everything we say or do – every aspect of our character. If from the sin of this world, then they should see us saying ‘No’ to many of the things that we did when controlled by Satan. The Jewish leaders saw that Peter and John had been with Jesus. Can our friends say the same thing about you and I? We shouldn’t have to tell them, they should see it in our ways, our thoughts and our deeds. Evidence of our experience with Jesus will be the same as the healed man standing there between Peter and John – proof positive!
PRAYER:
At this time on our earthly calendar, we celebrate Your birth Lord Jesus. Thank You for the miracles that surrounded your birth, and thank You for the miracle of new birth every time a sinner surrenders their life to Your Lordship. Lord we adore You and worship You with our whole being. May the world see enough of Your love and Your character in us that they would like to also know You personally. There were angels singing and wise me seeking You to worship you. May we hear the angels sing again today and every day as loved ones and friends find You in us and give their lives to You for eternity. 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!

God’s Way Is Perfect

On By Ed AlgreenIn Share, Share God’s Word, True witnesses, Witness, WitnessingLeave a comment

Post Date:

 Tuesday, 2017-11-14
SCRIPTURE

From:

 2 Samuel 22:31-33 (ERV)

Text:

  31 God’s way is perfect.
    The Lord’s promise always proves to be true.
    He protects those who trust in him.
32 There is no God except the Lord.
    There is no Rock except our God.
33 God is my strong fortress.
    He clears the path I need to take.
OBSERVATION:
David had himself a huge praise and worship time with the Lord after he stopped and realized the magnificent God who had brought him safely through the pursuit of Saul to eliminate David. Wouldn’t it speak volumes to your kids to later find your journal where, at least one time in your life, you recorded a celebration of God’s handiwork in your life?
APPLICATION:
Just last night I heard men say that they would never delete the last voicemail from a parent, or the last text from a loved one, because these things bring comfort when they begin to miss that loved one. Fortunately for us, David recorded many of his times of private worship and prayers, because it gives us biblical reminders that if God did it for David, He could very well do the same for us, if we are obedient to Him and have fully surrendered self to Him. Hearing these things from someone we know personally really touches the heart and impacts us tremendously. Recording our experiences will allow God to strengthen and encourage us again as we record the experiences we have enjoyed with God. But for the family member that finds those handwritten notes, it becomes a personal highlight in their life to know that God was so special to their loved one. This, in turn, will give boldness to that loved one who may be facing their own challenges. Friends, you may not feel like you are a proclaimed writer, but recording words that you’ve thought, or prayed or sung out to God, will bring comfort to a relative. You could easily repeat the cycle that David began in our Scripture today! Who knows? Just as I was blessed by David’s recorded words today, our great grandchildren might be blessed by the notes we leave around the house where we recorded our own life-experiences with God. Will you join me in trying that, so that God might be glorified through even us?
PRAYER:
Lord, you’ve strategically placed the words and songs of great saints, like David, so that we might read them, be reminded of the many ways that You have also blessed us, and encourage us to do the same for our ancestors. Lord, make us bold servants to obediently follow Your teachings and Your commands, and help us to unselfishly record many of our blessings, with hopes that others might be lifted up and encouraged to do the same. You are glorious and wonderful in so many ways to each of us every day, please help us to take a moment and record those blessings for the benefit of others being also blessed from our experiences. 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!

A Message of Faith and Hope

On By Ed AlgreenIn Evidence of Faith, Faith in Action, Genuine Faith, Hope, True witnesses, WitnessLeave a comment

Post Date:

 Thursday, 2017-10-19
SCRIPTURE

From:

 John 6:61-65 (TLB)

Text:

 61 Jesus knew within himself that his disciples were complaining and said to them, “Does this offend you? 62 Then what will you think if you see me, the Messiah, return to heaven again? 63 Only the Holy Spirit gives eternal life. Those born only once, with physical birth, will never receive this gift. But now I have told you how to get this true spiritual life. 64 But some of you don’t believe me.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning who didn’t believe and knew the one who would betray him.)

65 And he remarked, “That is what I meant when I said that no one can come to me unless the Father attracts him to me.”
OBSERVATION:
Jesus’ disciples were hearing Him speak of things that they never knew or understood, and they definitely couldn’t see how it would be possible for them to ever accept. For example, Jesus spoke to them about the Lord’s supper, and all that it represents. Many gave up, because they knew that they would never consider eating flesh and drinking blood of anyone. Many give up, or refuse to hear the truth of God’s Word today also, so let’s ‘dig in’…..
APPLICATION:
I believe that ‘Christians’ struggle to understand, or believe, that friends and family wrestle with believing in the God that we love, adore and look forward to spending eternity with. Think about it friends, we are challenged to understand how non-Christians go on in life without a Savior, and they are challenged to understand how we could possibly believe in a God that we have never seen. Let me suggest that, as God’s children, we have no authority over making our friends believe in God. However, if we truly believe in God; love Him; worship and adore Him; obey His commands; and brag on His faithfulness and miracles that touch us, then I believe that our friends will see evidence of what God is actively doing in our lives. They need to know that our God is alive and active today! Of course when we practice drinking the cup and eating the bread, through communion or the Lord’s Supper, we are merely practicing what Jesus taught us to practice, for as we do that we remember His blood that was shed for us and His body that was sacrificed on the cross of Calvary. As we are reminded, we should be re-energized to go out and tell the world that we have a Savior who sacrificed His life and shed His blood, so that we might receive forgiveness of sin, and live eternally in heaven with He and the Father. Friends, the evidence that our friends need concerning the Savior that we believe they need, must be reflected in everything we do or say, otherwise they continue to doubt His effectiveness on humans. If its to be, it’s up to us, friends! Let God fill You so that we may honestly reflect Him in all aspects of our lives.
PRAYER:
Lord, many have predefined ideas of what You look like and what You are capable of doing. Please touch Your representatives (us Christians) once again today, and empower us to reflect You in all aspects of our life, especially in spite of all the sin and strife around us while here on earth. We have friends who are dying and going to Hell Lord, and we want You to make a difference in their lives. My humble prayer is that You might please use us as Your instruments to touch lives today for You. 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!

To Bear Witness

On By Ed AlgreenIn Light, Salvation, True witnesses, Witness, WitnessingLeave a comment

Post Date:

 Tuesday, 2017-09-26
SCRIPTURE

From:

 John 1:6-12 (NKJV)

Text:

  6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. 8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.

11 He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name
OBSERVATION:
Right at the outset of the Gospel of John, he claims that his whole purpose in existing is to be a witness for the King who sent him, and who will return to this earth to rule and reign. Wow, what a witness! Let’s apply that to ourselves…..
APPLICATION:
In our lives we are often compared back to one of our parents. We either look like them or act like them. Often our mannerisms, or our smile, or some of the things we say, or the way we act, might remind people of one or both of our parents. I wonder how often we are mistaken for Jesus? Without going around with a placard around our necks, I wonder how often others see the qualities of Jesus Christ in us? One of the things that we must remember when we feel led of God to be a bold witness for Him, is that we will be so totally different to this world, that they will probably feel like we are crazy, just like John was treated. You see, it was very evident to God that Satan was leading this world totally down the opposite road to what God intended. Think about it: Satan encourages lies to get your own way and try to fool the other party you are dealing with, but God wants us to always tell the truth; Satan will lead us to kill, like he did with several in the Bible stories that we read, but God wants us to value the life that He has provided in each of us, because He wants us go on being living witnesses for Him; Satan encourages trickery and deception, but God leads us to be transparent and loving to our Brothers and Sisters, because He wants us to follow His example. Friends, God sent John as the pre-runner to His first coming. I believe that He has sent us as the pre-runner to His second coming. Are you on track for the task assigned to you? There’s no time for procrastination, for I believe that Jesus could return at any moment to take His bride away to glory – that’s His children who have accepted Him as Lord and are anxiously awaiting His return. Our task is similar to that of the apostle John, let’s be busy about the Master’s work so that many will be ready to go when He returns. The alternative is Hell, a place made only for those who refuses to trust in God. Where will you go, if Jesus returned today, friend?
PRAYER:
Like John the Baptist, I feel like You have given us the heads-up on what’s ahead, Lord Jesus. Like our Brother John, we could only resign ourselves to being Your light in the midst of this dark world of sin. Please give us boldness to do Your will, to be Your witness, and to love others enough to care about their well being and their future. The options are totally opposite, and our desire is that everyone we know will see Your light today and accept You as Lord, because tomorrow may be too late. Use us, Your humble servants to be a living witness, a light to the many who need to have their world enlightened with Your grace and Your 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!

Proud To Be A Christian?

On By Ed AlgreenIn Bold Confidence, Boldness, Obedience, Obedient, True witnesses, Witness, WitnessingLeave a comment

Post Date:

 Saturday, 2017-09-02
SCRIPTURE

From:

 Judges 6:27 (Voice)

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!

What Will You Do With Jesus?

On By Ed AlgreenIn Bold Confidence, Boldness, True witnesses, WitnessLeave a comment

Post Date:

 Tuesday, 2017-06-06
SCRIPTURE

From:

 Mark 15:12-14 (Voice)

Text:

 Pilate: 12 Then what do you want me to do with the King of the Jews?

Crowd: 13 Crucify Him, crucify Him!

14 But now he called to them.

Pilate: Why? What has He done to deserve such a sentence?

Crowd (crying all the louder): Crucify Him, crucify Him!
OBSERVATION:
Barabbas is an active and a militant Jewish leader. In one sense, the choice that the crowd is offered—to have either Jesus or Barabbas released—can be seen as a choice between two types of revolutions. Do they want a revolution of power, a revolution that is easily visible, a revolution that will conquer their enemies in a way they can understand? Or do they want a revolution of healing, a revolution of love, a revolution that will bring the kingdom of God to earth in a mystical, transcendental way? It’s no wonder they make the choice they do. Who wants a gentle revolution in a time of war?
APPLICATION:
I would like for you to assume that you were in the public square of your town, and that a local judge, accompanied by military police on each side of him, with automatic rifles in plain view, is about to take the stage. Having been coached by your pastor and church leaders about what all of this involves, you stand as part of a large crowd before the judge. Now the question is posed to you, what will you have me do with your King – Jesus? The crowd all around you is shouting “Electric Chair”; “Hang Him”; and you see the smile come across the faces of the Military Police as they point their rifles over the crowd. No response is the same as agreeing with the crowd. However, remember that He’s the same Jesus that healed your mother; made your uncle to see again and raised cousin Lazarus from the grave. But what will you do with Jesus under these circumstances? I know, I made that choice extremely challenging for most of you, but allow me to challenge you with very lightly ways that could easily happen to you today. You arrive at work and immediately hear of a meeting that the president of your company has called with all employees. He comes onto the stage and in an obviously angered tone, lashes out about the reports he has received about these, so called ‘Christian’ workers who keep Bibles on their desks and use one of the board rooms at lunchtime to conduct a prayer meeting. You realize that Satan is making a dig at you and your fellow Christian workers, but what will you do? The 8 hours per day you are being paid for is expected to be worked for the company, and not evangelizing. However, you are convinced that you can’t leave Jesus at the door until you knock off. Friends, the Holy Spirit resides inside of you to guide you, protect you, give you wisdom, tip you off to digs from the evil one, love on you when you feel all alone and encourage you when you feel like you’re losing the battle in testifying for your Master. May I remind you that what’s inside of you will come out in the words you speak, your mannerisms and in the actions you take. I love a recent verse God placed before me, and it read something like this: when placed in situations where you don’t know what to say, simply open your mouth and speak what’s on your mind, as the Holy Spirit who lives inside of you will give you the right words! Wow! Let’s learn to stand up for Jesus, knowing that He’s got our back and will lead us in ways that will glorify Him! Glory to God on high!!
PRAYER:
Lord God, thank You for being my Savior, Lord and soon coming King! You were mocked, beaten and suffered pain and embarrassment on a cross for my benefit. You already know the limits that each of us can take before we ‘break’, or cave in to the opposition. Thank You Father for filling us with Your sweet Holy Spirit as our strength, our guide and our deliverer. Please help us to be bold in our witness, and give us the strength to endure all things, for Your name’s sake. May You be glorified in all things that we do, all places that we visit, and all things that we say, 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!

Where’s Your Heart?

On By Ed AlgreenIn Commitment, Obedience, Obedient, Totally committed, True witnesses, Unconditional commitment, Witness, WitnessingLeave a comment

Post Date:

 Friday, 2017-05-19
SCRIPTURE

From:

 Mark 11:7-10 (TLB)

Text:

 7 So the colt was brought to Jesus, and the disciples threw their cloaks across its back for him to ride on. 8 Then many in the crowd spread out their coats along the road before him, while others threw down leafy branches from the fields.

9 He was in the center of the procession with crowds ahead and behind, and all of them shouting, “Hail to the King!” “Praise God for him who comes in the name of the Lord!” . . . 10 “Praise God for the return of our father David’s kingdom. . . . ” “Hail to the King of the universe!”
OBSERVATION:
Many will recognize these verses as a scene that’s often taught or preached in church services leading up to Palm Sunday. Many different people involved in this story: Jesus; His followers; the town’s people; the obedient disciples who went and got the colt; the believing bystanders and the unbelieving bystanders. Very interesting roles that each of these folk took in this story and we will examine this closer to see which group each of us may have fit into.
APPLICATION:
As I read this Scripture this morning, it got my attention as to which group of people I may have been included in, so as you meditate on this devotional I would ask that you do the same. One thing about this exercise is that it is one thing to recognize which group you might fit into today, but an altogether different thing to seek the face of God for the desired group you may want to fit into, or ask Him to place you in the group where you would see the most growth, and be drawn the absolute closest to Him. Let’s think about some of the groups:

  • His followers – Some may have been in this group because they were part of the larger group that Jesus had miraculously fed, and they wanted to hang close in case He did that again. Others perhaps staying close because of the promised kingdom He had told them about, while yet others because of the personal relationship they had developed with Jesus. When the colt arrived, some placed their coats on the donkey for Jesus to sit comfortable on, and some spread their jackets on the ground, while others found palm branches and placed them on the ground ahead for the colt to walk on. I got the impression that there were some that did neither.
  • The town’s people – they didn’t beat up the disciples that snitched the colt, but don’t you imagine that they kept a real close eye on them for anything else they may have touched in their town?
  • The obedient disciples – imagine for a moment the conversation these guys had when they left Jesus and went into the town for the colt. The doubt that arose in their minds, or the reassuring by one to the other. Imagine the looks on their faces when they saw the colt, just as Jesus told them they would? Seeing other town’s people around, I wonder if they went sneaking around to get the colt, or boldly, knowing that they had a response from the Master, should the people question them.
  • The bystanders – some curious, some in doubt, some hoping to find something wrong so they could generate some town gossip, while some may have heard about Jesus and was looking for slightly more proof to convince them to either accept or reject Him.

Friends, I would really like you to take a moment and reflect on which of these groups you would most likely fit into. As you do this, evaluate your personal relationship with Jesus Christ; your boldness in being His witness; your commitment to spending time with Him daily; your lifestyle as seen in the eyes of the unbeliever – do they see enough of Jesus in you, to claim you as His child? Or do they see you as hypocritical because your actions and words do not match who you claim to be? Where’s your heart, friend?
PRAYER:
Lord Jesus, You know us intimately. In fact, You know us better than we know ourselves. As we evaluate our stance in life today, I pray that You will open our eyes of understanding and our stony hearts so that our shortcomings will be evident. Please give us clear thoughts and vision on where we should be in Your plan for our lives, then give us boldness and commitment to follow through, in Your strength. Lord, I pray that my readers and I will draw close to You and allow You to take full control of us, all for Your glory, honor and praise. 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!

Who Is Jesus – In Your Eyes?

On By Ed AlgreenIn Imitate Jesus, Like Jesus, Reflect Jesus, Reflective of Jesus Christ, Share God’s Word, True witnesses, Witness, WitnessingLeave a comment

Post Date:

 Wednesday, 2017-05-10
SCRIPTURE

From:

 Mark 8:27-30 (GNT)

Text:

 27 Then Jesus and his disciples went away to the villages near Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, “Tell me, who do people say I am?”

28 “Some say that you are John the Baptist,” they answered; “others say that you are Elijah, while others say that you are one of the prophets.”

29 “What about you?” he asked them. “Who do you say I am?”

Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.”

30 Then Jesus ordered them, “Do not tell anyone about me.”
OBSERVATION:
Jesus had been preparing the disciples for this very important question that He posed to them in verse 29. He had shared several parables that really got them mentally prepared for the question ‘But Whom Do You Say that I am?’ This remains an important question for us today!
APPLICATION:
How often have you gone home from church and been asked about the service? Most of us tend to respond about what the preacher spoke on, if we remember! Some will tell of the special visitors to the service, while others might tell how the preacher really got on to the parishioners in his challenging words. But what if you were asked to specifically tell what you personally got from the sermon? Now, think about a scenario at work, where Jesus and the local church is being discussed. Having heard you mention the name of Jesus before, you might be asked who He is to you and what is your relationship to Him. That’s a wide open door to share the gospel and your personal relationship with Jesus, friend. Are you prepared in your mind to do that? Jesus got very personal with the disciples when He asked their opinion about, and their relationship with Himself. May I encourage you to mull over in your mind how you would respond if a family member, or a friend, or even Jesus asked you today “So who is Jesus to you?”. I pray that your response would influence an unbeliever to learn more about your Jesus and want to know Him in a personal and meaningful way as you do. I pray that Jesus would be convinced that you are His and He is yours, forever!
PRAYER:
Lord Jesus, You gave up Your life for me, so that I may spend eternity with You and Your Father. You called me to Yourself and I surrendered my life to You. You have loved me, watched and protected me, and the Bible says that You have prepared a place for me! Thank You for being my Lord, my Master, my Comforter, my Redeemer and my soon coming King. May there always be a witness on my lips, love in my heart and excitement over uniting with You when You call me away from this old earth. May others find every reason to want a relationship with my King, because of the evidence they see in my life. May my readers be encouraged, and always prepared to share the reason for their joy in knowing You personally, so that You may be glorified in all things. 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!

Traitor

On By Ed AlgreenIn Betrayal, Bold Confidence, Boldness, True witnesses, WitnessLeave a comment

Post Date:

 Friday, 2017-03-31
SCRIPTURE

From:

 Matthew 26:47-50 (NLT)

Text:

47  … Judas, one of the twelve disciples, arrived with a crowd of men armed with swords and clubs. They had been sent by the leading priests and elders of the people. 48 The traitor, Judas, had given them a prearranged signal: “You will know which one to arrest when I greet him with a kiss.” 49 So Judas came straight to Jesus. “Greetings, Rabbi!” he exclaimed and gave him the kiss.

50 Jesus said, “My friend, go ahead and do what you have come for.” Then the others grabbed Jesus and arrested him.
OBSERVATION:
Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane, spending His last hours in this world before His Father in earnest prayer. He knew the moment that this event would take place and He knew who would be the instigator. In fact it would be one very close to Him, but He also knew the pain, agony and public disgrace that was in store for Him as the following events took place. I’m sure that Jesus was no different to us, in that His greatest hurt came from the betrayal by one who was close to Him, and not a stranger who had always hated Him and protested His ministry. Can this possibly apply to us?….
APPLICATION:
My blog title today is ‘Traitor’, because that’s what Judas is often characterized as. Being specifically called by Jesus to be one of His close followers, who Jesus poured life and ministry into, and who Jesus expected to carry on the ministry after His departure, I believe it is obvious that Jesus had great expectations for Judas and His other disciples. So to see this change in Judas, I’m sure was devastating to Jesus and to the other disciples. In fact, I’m sure that they felt very betrayed by Judas. This part of the Bible is challenging for us to wrap our minds around, isn’t it? In fact, aren’t you glad that the whole event is behind us. Surely there can’t be anyone else around that would do such an awful thing, right? Or is there? Look deeply inside of yourself for a moment. Can you think of a time when you may have been ashamed of something that you said to a friend about the ministry of Christ that you thought was less than godly? Perhaps, instead of calling a prayer meeting to pray for your pastor, or an elder, or a deacon, or another church member, you joined in a conversation intended to bash the individual. Was that showing the same love that Christ offers to you, or do you suppose that you may have betrayed the ministry of Jesus Christ and His mission? Perhaps you’ve had friends praying with you about a personal situation that has really affected your. Were you able to brag with your coworkers about the love of God in answering your prayer, or did you have to ‘mellow’ and tell them what awesome luck came your way? If so, you missed an opportunity to witness to your coworkers about the awesome God who answers even your prayers. You also said to God thanks, but no thanks, for your good luck charm did more good than your prayers to Him. Is that Christ honoring, or is that denying the love and power of the awesome God that You serve? As you reflect on these verses friend, may I encourage you to look inward, instead of beating up on the person and actions of Judas. Don’t be a ‘traitor’ or ‘betrayer’ friend.
PRAYER:
Lord, this is a tough lesson for us, because our eyes are opened to the fact that we still do almost as bad as Judas sometimes. You showed Your love for us publicly on a cross, yet we do our best to keep our relationship with You undercover to the general public, because we don’t want to be rejected just because we are Your follower. Lord, may You rule and reign in our lives, and may we boldly declare Your majesty, love and power to all that we come into contact with.  May You receive honor, praise and glory from our actions and never feel betrayed, but Lord we need Your power daily, so that we may remain strong and eternally faithful. Bless us oh Lord, 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!