Tag: Bible Fellowship Church of Sebring FL

The Solid Rock!

On By Ed AlgreenIn Jesus, Reflect Jesus, Rock, TrustLeave a comment

Post Date:

 Friday, 2017-10-20
SCRIPTURE

From:

 Matthew 7:24-29 (NLT)

Text:

24 “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. 25 Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. 26 But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. 27 When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.”

28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, 29 for he taught with real authority—quite unlike their teachers of religious law.
OBSERVATION:
Jesus had just taught that there’s a difference between those who simply call on His name. and those who trust in Him personally and obey His Word. I believe the difference is that even those who are led by Satan can call the name of our blessed Lord, but there’s a big difference when Jesus hears His saints calling on His name, for He knows that they have been faithful in the good times, and obedient even in the rough times. Unfortunately there are many today who are similar to what Jesus described in our Scripture, so I believe that wants us to really understand and pay attention to this.
APPLICATION:
There’s a story in the Old Testament about a mother who was speaking to king Solomon about her baby, that another woman was claiming to be her baby. Based on the heart of the individual, and the cry of the real mother, Solomon quickly resolved who the real mother was. There are many who call the name of Jesus, sometimes to even abuse it in cursing. While those who have truly trusted in Jesus as their Lord and Savior, and strive to obey His commands each day, they approach Him in great respect, in love, in admiration, willing to accept His will and His decision for our situation. Friends, unless Christians surrender self and accept Jesus as their Master, their friend, their Provider, and their soon coming King, we too might walk away from His commands and His will for us, until we crash against the shores of this evil world, like the house built on the sand, as illustrated by Jesus in our focal verses. In some countries that are plagued by hurricanes, many of their homes are built on foundations where the foundation walls go right down to solid rock, wherever possible, so that when the strong winds come, and the bay waters rise, the house most often stands. Houses whose foundations are not grounded properly, will quickly wash away/collapse/fail. Marriage relationships are much the same. In our vows, we invite God to join our union with each other. When we leave Him out of our decisions and our daily lives, we suddenly feel our marriage failing, as in many cases today. Friends, to those who truly attach themselves to ‘The Rock’; our Savior; our Master and our Lord, and who are sincere enough to obey His commands and seek His will, to these He has promised to help us through life’s storms and a safe landing at the ‘lighthouse’ (heaven) at the end of time. I trust that each one reading this devotional today can safely feel anchored in the ‘Rock’ of our salvation and not merely call the name of Jesus without any personal attachment.
PRAYER:
Lord, You are my ‘Rock’ and my salvation; my eternal King. Thank You for the assurance of my salvation and for the Solid Rock on whom I can stand each and every day. Lord, please touch the heart of each reader today that they might personally know the Joy of their salvation, and the Rock on which they can stand through all of life’s challenges and opportunities. You are precious in our sight oh Lord. Thank You from the bottom of our heart. 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!

Carefully Obey When The Master Calls

On By Ed AlgreenIn Glorify, Learn from God, Teach1 Comment

Post Date:

 Wednesday, 2017-10-18
SCRIPTURE

From:

 John 6:43-45 (ERV)

Text:

  43 But Jesus said, “Stop complaining to each other. 44 The Father is the one who sent me, and he is the one who brings people to me. I will raise them up on the last day. Anyone the Father does not bring to me cannot come to me. 45 It is written in the prophets: ‘God will teach them all.’ People listen to the Father and learn from him. They are the ones who come to me.
OBSERVATION:
Jesus was accomplishing great things, and He had quite a following. This irritated the Jewish leaders and they began to have little conversations around the subject of ‘Who does Jesus think He is anyway’. Knowing their very thoughts, Jesus  went on to explain the importance of really accepting Him and following Him in response to God’s call on a person’s life. Let’s have a closer look….
APPLICATION:
There are several reasons someone would follow a leader or sit under their teaching: To improve their personal skills, with hopes of one day becoming someone like the teacher; Improving personal skills to enhance their ability to help others; To discern missing attributes of their leadership skills. Spiritual skills and attributes of Jesus is often quite different, and more challenging, because the ways of Jesus is more often totally opposite to the ways of the world. This totally different concept is intentional, I believe, because our use of these added skills is for enrichment of the kingdom and not for any personal gain. Friends, I believe that it is important that we sense God’s leadership in ways that we can grow closer to Christ, learn more about Him, and seek to serve Him more faithfully through serving and encouraging others. This will bring glory to God as we encourage others to be more sensitive to the voice and will of God. Remember, those whom God calls to Himself will seek to learn more of Him and faithfully serve Him until the end. You are forced into learning at work, are you not anxious to learn more from Jesus for the advancement of the kingdom?
PRAYER:
Father in heaven, You designed us much like You, yet we easily allow the world to reshape us. Please touch Your children once again today and draw us unto the Son so that we may sit at His feet and drink from His fountain of knowledge. Lord we want to glorify You, and it is especially important to us to touch the lives of others so that they may be drawn to You also. Please lead us closer to the cross so that we may soak in every word that You would have us share with others who need You. May Your kingdom grow today as a result of Your mighty touch on the lives of Your children, 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!

Your Response To God’s Testing

On By Ed AlgreenIn Miracles, Miraculous, Protection, Protector, SubmissionLeave a comment

Post Date:

 Tuesday, 2017-10-17
SCRIPTURE

From:

 John 6:5-9 (GNT)

Text:

5 Jesus looked around and saw that a large crowd was coming to him, so he asked Philip, “Where can we buy enough food to feed all these people?” (6 He said this to test Philip; actually he already knew what he would do.)

7 Philip answered, “For everyone to have even a little, it would take more than two hundred silver coins to buy enough bread.”

8 Another one of his disciples, Andrew, who was Simon Peter’s brother, said, 9 “There is a boy here who has five loaves of barley bread and two fish. But they will certainly not be enough for all these people.”
OBSERVATION:
The disciples had been following Jesus for sometime and had seen many miracles performed, yet when approached with a new challenge they were bewildered as to what they could do. It seems like Jesus never ceased to amaze them, for He often showed His miraculous work in new and innovative ways when faced with new  circumstances, That’s why Peter could not fathom the idea of feeding 5,000+ individuals without a large truck of groceries. Today we are also faced with similar dilemmas, so I thought we should look a little closer into this.
APPLICATION:
Things come our way that we least expect. Often we are made to feel like we have no control whatsoever over what happens, and often we feel out of control as to what results from life’s circumstances. Have you ever felt like Philip where something very challenging presented itself, and you were left with you hands outstretched and your mouth open, wondering what to do next? I was faced with very challenging circumstances a few times in my life, and I could do nothing but look to God for His wonder-working, miraculous touch in the situations. In each case, I needed His ministry as much as the individuals involved, for I felt helpless and to some degree hopeless that the outcome would be what I was wishing for. I’m sure that many of you can reflect on similar circumstances in your life also, and while I can’t vouch for all that you may have gotten out of your situation, I’m sure that if you surrendered it to God, your faith was tested, and so was your confidence in Him to do what He felt was best for you in the long term. Friends, we can generally do a fair job encouraging another Brother or Sister, but what about the times when it’s you who need lifting up, or need wisdom to handle a situation in God’s timing and in His will and way? Are you able to wait on the Lord at times like that, and accept what He has in store for you? Philip’s faith was tested that he would surrender the feeding of the 5,000 by, the Master who created them, and provided their needs each and every day. Unfortunately. Philip very quickly resorted to earthly ways of helping others. May God give us wisdom to not feel like we have to save the whole world and it’s many, many challenges, for we have a Savior who has already done this for us and has promised to never leave us alone, but to faithfully care for His loving children, until we join up with Him in glory! Let’s learn to submit to His helping and caring hand, and just celebrate with praises as we see Him work miracle after miracle. To God be the glory, for the great things He has done, and will do, until He returns to take us home to glory where He is! AMEN!
PRAYER:
Precious Father, You are awesome in every way! Please forgive us for being doubtful of that and therefore looking madly for the answers ourselves. Lord, I sincerely believe that as we surrender all to You and allow You to work miraculously in our lives, then we will gain every confidence to surrender the circumstances that concern us, over to You, knowing that the same God who turned water into wine; made the blind to see,  and the lame to walk again, is the same God who could still take care of our worrisome challenges. The answer to all of our tests is always ‘JESUS’, may our faith be strengthened by that reminder oh Lord, our rock and our everlasting Father and soon coming King! 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!

How To Win Praise From God

On By Ed AlgreenIn Dedicated, Dedication, Love, Praise, Praise-worthy, Unconditional loveLeave a comment

Post Date:

 Friday, 2017-10-13
SCRIPTURE

From:

 John 5:41-44 (GNT)

Text:

  41 “I am not looking for human praise. 42 But I know what kind of people you are, and I know that you have no love for God in your hearts. 43 I have come with my Father’s authority, but you have not received me; when, however, someone comes with his own authority, you will receive him. 44 You like to receive praise from one another, but you do not try to win praise from the one who alone is God; how, then, can you believe me?
OBSERVATION:
As Jesus continued to speak with the Jewish leaders, He was really speaking from an insider perspective, because unlike their priests, Jesus was speaking from a first-hand knowledge of their attitudes, actions and thoughts. He knew of their jealous ness, and He knew of their selfish intentions. This, friends, is the same God that we serve today, so let’s see how this may apply to us….
APPLICATION:
There are some pretty awful names that we call people who try to please others to gain favor with them and get what they want, yet we see that happening all the time, especially in the workplace. We are good at making it up to our spouse, or good friends, when we know that we have done something that would upset them. In our Scripture today, we are being challenged by Jesus Himself that we don’t do anything to win praise from our Savior; the Creator of this world, and you and I. Let that sink in for a moment, then I would like for you to continue in thought with me as we contemplate what it is that we might do to please God, and gain His praise. I know that some will disagree with me on some of these things, but I just want to share with you some of the things that my heart is troubled by, when either I do these things, or others do them. Troubling my heart is nothing friends, but I am speaking from a perspective of what I feel God may be troubled by, especially from those who have accepted Him as Lord (Christians):

  • When we find it a chore to meet with other believers  – going to church;
  • When we put limitations on how often we are prepared to go to church – one service, or perhaps one hour per week;
  • When our Bible study consist of whatever is studied or discussed at church. Friends, God’s Word is alive and represents God’s voice back to us. Reading the Word allows God to speak back to us. Listening to the Word corporately is a lesson in obedience and in teaching to help us understand what the Word is really saying;
  • When it’s time to make a decision whether to attend church or do something else. Church attendance will not save anyone, but those attending church stand a much better chance of being saved, and/or learning the depths of God’s Word, and/or learning to fellowship and help other believers who are struggling in life, just like you. When other decisions win out over attending church, what message is God receiving from that? Can He praise you for that distraction from church?

Friends, as you all can imagine, I’m not God, so for each of the above and so many other reasons, you will personally settle that with God, and I won’t even know the resolution, for I have many of my own that I need to deal with God on. This is merely written to encourage you to look full into the loving eyes of Jesus and answer the question He posed in this Scripture today: Do you believe in Me (Jesus)? If so, how are you showing that I am top priority in your life and how much you really do love Me? Is it more than anything, or anyone else in the world? Can I praise you for the dedicated love that you show towards Me every day?
PRAYER:
Dear Lord, we are humbled by Your love for us, and for all that You did to prove that love for us. Please touch our lives to rid ourselves of all personal desires, other than the one to serve You with all of our heart, mind and soul. From a heart filled with unconditional love for You, may we learn to obey Your commands and please You in every way possible. Oh how we look forward to the day when we see You face to face and hear those words “Well done good and faithful servant”. This is my desire Lord. May I serve you faithfully and love You intensely all the days of my life here on earth. Please touch the lives of all of my readers so that they may make similar statements to you today, based on their renewed allegiance. 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-Based Decisions

On By Ed AlgreenIn Biblical Decisions, Decisions, Jesus led decisionsLeave a comment

Post Date:

 Thursday, 2017-10-12
SCRIPTURE

From:

 1 Samuel 16:6-7 (NLT)

Text:

 6 When they arrived, Samuel took one look at Eliab and thought, “Surely this is the Lord’s anointed!”
7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
OBSERVATION:
God sent Samuel to pick the next king from the sons of Jesse, but it’s a good thing that God stayed in charge of the choice, as Samuel was very impressed with the very first son presented to him. However the lesson God taught to Samuel that day, still rings through to us as we seek His face for decisions we make today, so let’s examine this closer….
APPLICATION:
No doubt we make decisions that we later reflect on and sometimes wonder what on earth were we ever thinking of when we made that kind of decision. Christians sometimes pray over challenging decisions they need to make, because they want to make sure that they follow God’s plan for their lives. Often we can reflect back on those decisions and see how God must have been in control, as we could see  how His plans materialized for everyone involved and for His good. I have a personal experience that fits this scenario, that I will briefly share with you. Some thirty years ago my family and I moved to the United States from the Bahamas. We bathed our decision in prayer and felt like God was in control during the whole process. That’s until I went to tell my parents that we were moving away from their country. They were getting on in age by then, and my dad let me know that it seemed strange to him that I would move away at such a time in their lives. Within a year of us moving, I received a call from my sister that dad was not doing well. We jointly made the decision to get him over to Florida for advanced care. In about a month, after my dad had received a heart stint, Dad sat with me and acknowledged that now he could understand what God was doing in getting me moved to the US! In the example with Samuel, he saw in Eliab (the oldest son) all the attributes of what he through a king should look like, and he was convinced to choose him. However, God not only knew the one He had chosen, but He also knew the heart of the other sons and why they were not suitable as His leader for His people. Friends, we could do a little to improve our outward appearance, but often it takes God to help us change the inward appearance. Just a tip… if we alway strive to be like Jesus, and live our lives according to His will for us, then perhaps we will gain the attributes of our loving Lord. This takes surrendering our hearts and lives to Jesus, because only then will we accept His leadership and His guidance. Will you consider doing this today friend? 
PRAYER:
Precious Lord, on behalf of all my fellow Christian Brothers and Sisters, we approach Your throne asking that You grace us with Your presence today. May Your wisdom fill our hearts and our minds so that the decisions that we make will align with Your will for our lives. We acknowledge that in our human eyes, we often see things differently than You can when looking deep into the heart and thoughts of people that we deal with. Help us therefore to look to You in all of our decision making so that we will make decisions pleasing to You and aligned with Your will. Only You can do this Lord, so we ask this in Your precious name, and patiently await Your direction. 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!

Future Prospects

On By Ed AlgreenIn Righteous, Righteousness, Salvation, SecurityLeave a comment

Post Date:

 Wednesday, 2017-10-11
SCRIPTURE

From:

 John 5:24; 28-30 (NLT)

Text:

 24 “I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life.
28 Don’t be so surprised! Indeed, the time is coming when all the dead in their graves will hear the voice of God’s Son, 29 and they will rise again. Those who have done good will rise to experience eternal life, and those who have continued in evil will rise to experience judgment. 30 I can do nothing on my own. I judge as God tells me. Therefore, my judgment is just, because I carry out the will of the one who sent me, not my own will.
OBSERVATION:
Jesus had done a good job explaining to the Jewish leaders how their lives on earth should exemplify Him, but now He is sharing how their decisions today will impact their eternity. He showed them the effect this would have on the living and on the dead. This acts as a warning to us today, because the rules have not changed.
APPLICATION:
All ears were attentive to the radio and television as recent hurricanes headed our way in the southern United States. Homeowners went and bought plywood to protect large windows in their homes, while other owners tied down add-on porches and Florida Rooms. They did all they could to protect their investment and ultimately, their future. Jesus shared in the Bible how we could best protect our own lives, and our future life. Pastors and other Bible scholars have come along and have continued to share the words of Jesus, just in case folk have not read the Bible. In this blog, my aim is to get out the words of Jesus so that we might know, or at least be reminded of what we should be doing in order to protect our future. My deep desire is that all my readers will be as careful to secure their own destiny, as they were about securing their properties during the storms on earth. This requires having a secure connection to the Creator of you and I, and of this earth. God sent His Son so that we might seek Him for the forgiveness of our sin for all eternity. Let me encourage you to seek ye first the kingdom of God and all His righteousness. Ask God’s forgiveness of your sin and to make you right with Him. That sincere request secures His gift of eternal life and unites your unholy and unworthy soul to be one with Him. Praise be to God!
PRAYER:
Father God, in our world of temporary and half-hearted gifts it is hard for us to fathom that You would simply forgive us of our sin and give us life eternally with You in heaven! Wow! Oh what a Savior! Blessed be Your holy name forever! Thank You Lord from the bottom of our hearts. Oh that we may be as forgiving, as caring, as loving and as giving as You are. Please help us to keep our eyes fixed on You and Your righteousness until we see You face to face in 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!

So That Nothing Worse Will Happen to You

On By Ed AlgreenIn Control, Dependence, Dependence on God, HealingLeave a comment

Post Date:

 Tuesday, 2017-10-11
SCRIPTURE

From:

 John 5:14 (NCV)

Text:

  14 Later, Jesus found the man at the Temple and said to him, “See, you are well now. Stop
sinning so that something worse does not happen to you.”
OBSERVATION:
Jesus had healed a man who had been crippled for 38 years. He went away walking and had an encounter with the town leaders who questioned him about how he became well. The man eventually found his way to the temple, and it is there that This Scripture picks up the encounter Jesus had with him. Jesus didn’t question the man too much but simply said the words recorded in verse 14.
APPLICATION:
 I found this interesting, although it is very much in line with what we find throughout the Bible. For Jesus spoke often about ill coming to those who are evil, or have total disregard for His commands. Friends, I know this in no way implies that Christians don’t encounter health challenges, but at least we have a Master to pray to about our maladies and in whom we could petition for healing. Unbelievers have not acknowledged Jesus enough to accept Him as Lord, therefore they would have no reason to turn to Him when challenges abound. With all my heart, I would humbly plead with unbelievers to seek out the One who loved you so much that He gave His only Son as a sacrifice for our sins, if we surrender our lives to Him. May I encourage you friends to keep your eyes fixed on Jesus, the author and finisher of your faith. Allow Him to control your life and your health. Know that you have a Savior who cares about you and will care for you whether you are well enough to serve Him, or whether you are patiently waiting for His healing touch. To my fellow Christians, be encouraged that we serve such a great big God. Praise Him for who He is and for how He blesses your life everyday. Share that love with others so that they may have a greater desire to know our Savior and allow Him control of their lives. He wants to love, protect and heal them also, if they will let Him.
PRAYER:
Precious Lord, please take control of our lives and allow Your healing hand to carefully rest upon our lives. Many are hurting today with many strange illnesses that doctors seem to struggle with understanding, or have the ability to help them. Our biggest illness is that of sin, so we need You to touch our hearts most of all and draw us ever close to You. We need You Lord. May You receive glory and honor from every aspect of Your touch on our lives, and we’ll be ready to praise 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!

How To Handle Your Giant

On By Ed AlgreenIn Bold Confidence, Confidence, Godly Confidence, Miracles, TrustLeave a comment

Post Date:

 Monday, 2017-10-09
SCRIPTURE

From:

 1 Samuel 17:45-47 (NET)

Text:

 45 But David replied to the Philistine, “You are coming against me with sword and spear and javelin. But I am coming against you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel’s armies, whom you have defied! 46 This very day the Lord will deliver you into my hand! I will strike you down and cut off your head. This day I will give the corpses of the Philistine army to the birds of the sky and the wild animals of the land. Then all the land will realize that Israel has a God 47 and all this assembly will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves! For the battle is the Lord’s, and he will deliver you into our hand.”
OBSERVATION:
David’s father sent him to the battlefield to check on his older brothers, or shall I say that God prompted Jesse to send David, because He had a great work for him to do. As a shepherd boy, David had been dependent on God whenever large vicious animals threatened the flock of sheep under his care. To arrive on the battlefield and see an army of trained men standing back from the Philistine giant as he mocked their God, seemed unbearable to David, so he volunteered to take on the giant. Understanding the power of the almighty God that he served. There was absolutely no giant too big for his God!
APPLICATION:
When facing ‘giants’ in our lives, we often worry because we can’t see how we personally can overcome that ‘giant’. Sometimes we may have faced other ‘giants’ before, so we have some experience to go on. For those of us that have accepted Jesus as our Savior, we may have experienced a test of our faith before so we may start praying that God would ‘do it again’. Perhaps we heard a testimony of another saint who faced similar ‘giants’ to what we are facing, so we might call them for comfort and, knowing that their prayers worked for them, perhaps we might ask them to pray for us. Friends, it is evident that David was very close to God. I believe he had an intimate relationship with God, and through various tests and proven miracles that he witnessed out in the hillsides minding his sheep, he knew that there was nothing too big for his God. One of the quickest ways to get a man upset, is to talk bad about something, or someone that he holds close to his heart. When David arrived on the battle field, this is exactly what he found Goliath doing – obnoxiously bad mouthing the God that David served, revered, trusted, and dearly loved. Today, this happens around our workplaces, restaurants and other meeting places, I wonder if it irritates us into action like David did? In David’s story, look at the number of doubters that tried to discourage David from taking on the giant. Please note that you will face the same, or similar doubters who will try to hold you back from allowing God to perform miracles through or for you, so in addition to taking on your ‘giant’ you may have to also take on the friends, pastors, elders and even praying friends who try to distract your confidence in God to handle your ‘giant’. Let’s always keep in mind that our giants were created by God, or may have been placed in our way to build our strength and our confidence. God might rather build our faith in Him by facing our ‘giants’, rather than eliminating them at our request, without impacting our lives at all. Talk to God about that one ‘giant’ that challenges your walk with the Lord every day, and be ready to learn, trust and obey, for there may be no other way.
PRAYER:
Lord Jesus, thank You for satisfying the biggest ‘giant’ in the lives of Your children, the forgiveness of our sin that burdened us more than any giant like Goliath could ever manage to do. Oh what a Savior! Lord, please give us confidence to always trust in You when faced with those ‘giants’ that tend to overwhelm us and unnecessarily overburden us. You are bigger than any giant, so I place my faith and trust in You Lord, and ask that You touch the lives of my readers and I today, to help us to always look to You, regardless of what may come our way – whether a mustard seed, or a huge mountain. You are our Lord, and we love and adore You today 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!