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Post Date: |
Monday, 2017-07-10 |
| SCRIPTURE | |
|
From: |
Deuteronomy 11:1-2; 7 (ERV) |
|
Text: |
1 “So you must love the Lord your God. You must do what he tells you to do and always obey his laws, rules, and commands. 2 Remember today all the great things the Lord your God has done to teach you. It was you, not your children, who saw those things happen and lived through them. You saw how great he is. You saw how strong he is, and you saw the powerful things he does.
7 It was you, not your children, who saw all the great things the Lord did. |
| OBSERVATION: | |
| I believe that Moses realized that the younger generation of Israelites might be entering into the Promised Land without ever having witnessed the powerful hand of God through the many miracles in Egypt, and in the wilderness. I believe that the older generation were probably content in their tents knowing that they had witnessed a lot in their day and that hopefully their children would never have to face those challenges again. We will consider the application to our current day situation, as we reflect on the dilemma Moses saw with his people, at such a celebrative time in their history…. | |
| APPLICATION: | |
| Gossip generally starts when one is trying to relay a story based on something they thought they heard someone else say. Exaggerations are generally added, especially to slant the belief of the hearer towards the feelings of the story teller. But if experiences are never shared with others, the lessons that you learned will not help others, or give them a ray of hope through all that they are facing. God brought the Israelites through so much that their experiences are spread across several books in the Bible, yet this younger generation was preparing to enter into uncharted territory, facing huge obstacles, and Moses was afraid that they would probably face these with little hope or trust in the God from whom their forefathers witnessed miracle after miracle. Has things changed? Do our kids know about the miracles in the lives of our parents and grandparents? Do they know about the faith as demonstrated by your uncle? Do they know that the same God who raised Lazarus from the grave, is the same God available to them today and they too can experience His awesome grace and power? Don’t forget friends, there are folk that will deliberately get into conversation with you today, because they may have seen your faith at work, or they’ve heard of the faith that you may have in your Master. Don’t brush them off because you’re at work, or you’re at the grocery store. God arranged the meeting place and the circumstance so that someone might hear your story today. Don’t let Him down! Family will probably call or stop by today and although there might be several reasons for their visit, one might be that they want some of your faith to rub off on them. Let me encourage you to share wherever and whenever you can. The obvious place is at church friends, for most people attend, looking for hope, for answers, for a better way. Be interested in those that you speak with, and not just a casual handshake or smile, for they may enter their future without ever having been touched by the blessings God showered on you. Your sharing with them might be the final thing that convinces them to meet the originator of miracles – our God! Do your part by share what God has done for you personally friend. There is nothing like an eyewitness account! | |
| PRAYER: | |
| Lord Jesus, You bless us immensely each and every day, and You have not only performed miracles in our own lives, but also in the lives of relatives that have shared experiences with us. Please help us to share with others how You have blessed us, and Lord, please use those circumstances to draw folk to you. Help us to share in simple form what You have miraculously done for us. No need for exaggeration, Your power is enough to draw folk to You and to save the most hardened sinner. Lord, I look forward to sharing with others today, God being my helper, 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! | |
Tag: Bible Fellowship Church of Sebring FL
Gifts From God!
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Post Date: |
Saturday, 2017-07-08 |
| SCRIPTURE | |
|
From: |
Deuteronomy 9:4-6 (VOICE) |
|
Text: |
4 When the Eternal your God has driven them out ahead of you, then don’t begin to believe He gave you this land because you’re so good and righteous! It’s just the opposite; He is giving you their land because those other nations are so bad! 5 It’s not because you’ve conducted yourselves so well or because you have such pure hearts that you’re going to take the land; the Eternal your God is driving out those other nations ahead of you because they’re so wicked. He’s keeping His word, the promise He made to your ancestors, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 6 I’ll say it again: the Eternal One your God isn’t giving you this good land because you’re so good. You’re stubborn, obstinate people. |
| OBSERVATION: | |
| Moses wanted his people to be reminded who was in charge of the mission they were about to take, for there was nothing they could have said or done that could warrant the overthrowing of the much larger towns they would encounter on entering into the Promised Land. If God was to act based on the goodness of the Israelites, they probably would never have made it out of the wilderness. I believe that we could see where there would be lots of lessons in this story for us also! Let’s apply this Scripture to our lives… | |
| APPLICATION: | |
| We may tend to look at this story as such an obvious case. After all, we remember from reading the story about how the Israelites turned their hearts away from God right from the very beginning of their journey, and very soon after seeing God’s miraculous hand at work at various times. I believe that God knew that as these people entered the land, overcame towns and settled in, there would be a higher likelihood of them pitching a party to celebrate, rather than a huge praise service to give God the glory. So I feel like God inspired Moses to warn them ahead of time. So friends, what is God pointing out to us through this scripture? I believe that a fair number of us are willing to help the poor; visit the sick; encourage the depressed and console the mourning, but what do we expect back? Please don’t quickly respond ‘nothing’, because we gloat in our achievements when we hear our names mentioned in recognition, or mentioned in the newspapers for having helped someone. May I suggest that you try seeking God’s face for Him to show you where the needs are? Then try meeting those needs without calling your pastor to see if he approves, for you are following God’s instructions. If you can meet the need anonymously and not tell anyone else that you did it, I believe you will have something to celebrate with God. Think about it, when God blessed you with the income and abilities to help others, He didn’t send a message to your pastor so he could have the church celebrate your income and talents. Therefore, when you give, as unto the Lord, give in His precious name, so that He might be glorified! He gave it to you and you shared some it. Since it all originated with Him, then He deserves the credit and the praise! Start by tithing to your local church, as instructed in Scripture. When you’re comfortable with that, and realize the praise that God receives through the work of the local church, and that you survived financially in spite of giving a tenth right off the top, then you will be comfortable taking that to the next level. God told us to test Him and see if He wouldn’t bless us beyond anything we could give or imagine. Try it friend! | |
| PRAYER: | |
| Father, who are we that a King should die for us and provide the only means into heaven to live eternally with our awesome God? The love, the gift of eternal life, the provisions of each day and the gift of family and friends, way exceed anything we could ever have thought or planned. The gift of the Holy Spirit to help us in our daily walk, makes this whole journey on earth possible. Thank You Lord Jesus for every gift You have given to me. May I live the life You have designed for me, so that all that I do and all that I am, may bring glory to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. 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! | |
Why Me Lord?
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Post Date: |
Friday, 2017-07-07 |
| SCRIPTURE | |
|
From: |
Deuteronomy 8:2-6 (NET) |
|
Text: |
2 Remember the whole way by which he has brought you these forty years through the desert so that he might, by humbling you, test you to see if you have it within you to keep his commandments or not. 3 So he humbled you by making you hungry and then feeding you with unfamiliar manna. He did this to teach you that humankind cannot live by bread alone, but also by everything that comes from the Lord’s mouth. 4 Your clothing did not wear out nor did your feet swell all these forty years. 5 Be keenly aware that just as a parent disciplines his child, the Lord your God disciplines you. 6 So you must keep his commandments, live according to his standards, and revere him. |
| OBSERVATION: | |
| As part of his final pep talk to the Israelites, Moses reminded them of where they came from, and what it took to get them to the challenge they were now about to encounter. Moses pointed out the times that the Israelites were about to kill him for all they were going through, yet as they reflect back, they could very easily see how God was actually maturing them and preparing them for this very moment. I know that we can also see very clearly how we encounter the same challenges today…. | |
| APPLICATION: | |
| I believe that you too may have heard the words used in our title today over and over, especially when one seems to be going through a rough time. It might be a loss of employment; or financial issues; or loss of a loved one; or nobody loves me; or perhaps not enough food for your family for the week. In fact, there are times that we look around and see others flourishing in just the same things that we feel like we are losing the battle in. This may lead us to feel picked on, or perhaps feel like God has forsaken us, or even feel like He is punishing us for something. ‘Why me’ is often the cry, by even the greatest saints at times. Moses knew that his people would need to face the changes they were about to encounter, by reflecting on the strength and endurance of all that God had brought them through up to this point. In fact, Moses wanted them to see that their God loved them so much that He was not just providing for them in very challenging circumstances, but He was teaching them to have faith in Him, endurance in even the most difficult or impossible times, and a determination to go on, knowing that as they obeyed God’s commands, worshipped only Him and sought His face in every circumstance, that they could eventually say to the downtrodden. ‘Why Not Me Lord’! Friends, I believe that way too often when we feel left out or downtrodden, we are so focused on self that it is extremely challenging to look for the good that God is accomplishing in our circumstances and through our victories. I trust that today saints of God could sing to God a new song of victory, of total surrender to Him, and of praise for His immense blessings, without ever stopping to moan and complain by focusing on self and feeling like God has forsaken His own. That’s totally contrary to His perfect design and something not supported by Scripture. | |
| PRAYER: | |
| Why not me Lord? Why not choose me to show the world how much You love them, care for them and want to bless them. Please help each saint today to look into Your wonderful face and to give You praise for all that You have accomplished in our lives, and for the glory that will be ours as we continue to obey Your commands, worship, praise and lift You up each and every day. Lord, You have been so good to me, and I have every reason to believe that, as Your very own son, You will continue to bless, encourage and lift me up each day, for Your honor and glory from all those that may be touched by You through me, 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 | |
|
From: |
Deuteronomy 6:4-9 (Voice) |
|
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! | |
A Refreshing From God!
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Post Date: |
Wednesday, 2017-07-05 |
| SCRIPTURE | |
|
From: |
Psalm 42:1-3 (Voice) |
|
Text: |
1 My soul is dry and thirsts for You, True God, as a deer thirsts for water. 2 I long for the True God who lives. When can I stand before Him and feel His comfort? 3 Right now I’m overwhelmed by my sorrow and pain; I can’t stop feasting on my tears. People crowd around me and say, “Where is your True God whom you claim will save?” |
| OBSERVATION: | |
| It seems like the Psalmist had come to a time in his life where he may have plateaued in his relationship with God. I don’t feel like he had lost faith in Him, but things were just not as fresh, or alive, or active as it used to be. In fact, it seems like his contemporaries had even noticed that he was not on fire for the Lord as he once were. Let’s analyze whether these times come to Christians today…. | |
| APPLICATION: | |
| It seems like at the moment that a Brother or Sister accepts the Lord, they are so on fire for the Lord that it may appear like they are definitely the saint who will save the world. Then, like I heard one preacher say, older Christians rub off on them and they lose their enthusiasm! Why do you suppose this happens? I believe that new Christians have just been transformed from a life of sin, to a life on fire for the Lord. They realize the total opposite impact on life compared to their life before Christ when they were simply led by the crowd, beat up by the world, and felt no sense of accomplishment nor hope for heaven. Christians who are out of touch with Jesus Christ, could feel just as helpless and unfulfilled, for they are back to their previous life of self fulfilment and self satisfaction. Fellow Christians, just as the Psalmist shared in verse three, it is amazing how quickly your friends will notice the void or lacking element in your life. They might quickly question if you have lost touch with God or had a massive interruption in your relationship with your God. So I bet you might be asking how might we overcome this or avoid this disconnect. I firmly believe that when you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior, He sticks to His promises 100%. So guess where the disconnect comes in? It’s you and I friends. You cannot stay close to God and stand on His promises when you live out the promises of this world and are constantly suffering the consequences of that lifestyle. There must come a time when, like the Psalmist, you have such a desire to refresh your relationship with your God, that your whole being feels like it is suffering from an unquenchable thirst for Him. Like a deer that pants for water, you may even feel like your whole body is panting for more of God. Once that thirst is satisfied, an animal settles down, breathes much easier, and is much more amicable towards others. I believe you will do the same friends. But this begins with recognizing your need, seeking the face of Jesus to receive the help you need, and actually stepping in there to make it happen. I trust that might be the sincere desire of those who have drifted away from God or feel the need of refreshment from God so that you might be more effective in your ministry for the kingdom of God. | |
| PRAYER: | |
| Precious Lord, we feel dry, parched and thirsty for You, when we realize that we have lost touch with You and have become ineffective in our witness for You. Please be a constant reminder to us that You will never leave nor forsake us, and that we should set a daily goal to do the same. Help us to pray in the good times, as well as the times of need and distress. Help us to habitually get into Your Word, so that we might hear words of affirmation, love and promises to encourage us and draw us closer to you each day. Our relationship is not one where we do nothing and You constantly cram blessings and words of wisdom into our life. It’s about relationship! Please help us to be alert to, and actively pursue, actions that will draw us closer to You each day, so that You might be glorified even by those that we witness to each day. I ask these things in all hope and honesty, all for Your glory alone dear God, 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! | |
Praise Be to God – Our Creator!
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Post Date: |
Tuesday, 2017-07-04 |
| SCRIPTURE | |
|
From: |
Proverbs 8:27-29 (NCV) |
|
Text: |
27 I was there when God put the skies in place, when he stretched the horizon over the oceans, 28 when he made the clouds above and put the deep underground springs in place. 29 I was there when he ordered the sea not to go beyond the borders he had set. I was there when he laid the earth’s foundation. |
| OBSERVATION: | |
| This whole chapter reminds us of the importance of wisdom, and that it existed from the very beginning of time when God was creating this earth. God really caught my attention in the above verses, for Solomon was reflecting on how awesome it must have been for one to watch God in action as he put this whole earth together. Reflecting on this could easily prompt one to worship the Creator! I could only imagine how Solomon must of welled up in praise as he reflected and put his feelings into words. I believe Solomon, just like all other Biblical writers, was led by the Holy Spirit to write these words so that we who have come behind him would also be reminded and lift up our hands and voices in praise and amazement to our awesome God! | |
| APPLICATION: | |
Solomon was known as the wisest man on earth, yet we can tell from this chapter in Proverbs, that he respected where wisdom really originated. In fact right at the beginning of the book, he asked God for wisdom, and God blessed him with this wonderful gift. While I have the utmost respect for wise people, God got my attention in these verses to just imagine how exciting it was to see God in action as He created this earth. Here are a few of the things that spoke to me:
Friends, these are the things that we need to remember as we have our individual praise times with our Master! Let’s be diligent to not always make it a gripe session or one of begging or complaining. Let’s praise Him for who He truly is – King of all kings and Lord of all lords! Our loving and caring Savior who provides for us in advance! |
|
| PRAYER: | |
| Lord, thank You for setting the stage for our arrival on earth. You prepared the earth with such beauty, provisions and awesome wonder for mankind to enjoy and be blessed by. As we recognize Your goodness, may we well up in glorious praise to You, for the awesome God that You are. Thank You for being so good to us 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! | |
Our Greatest Need
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Post Date: |
Monday, 2017-07-03 |
| SCRIPTURE | |
|
From: |
Luke 5:18-20 (TLB) |
|
Text: |
18-19 Then—look! Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a sleeping mat. They tried to push through the crowd to Jesus but couldn’t reach him. So they went up on the roof above him, took off some tiles, and lowered the sick man down into the crowd, still on his sleeping mat, right in front of Jesus.
20 Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the man, “My friend, your sins are forgiven!” |
| OBSERVATION: | |
| There are a few powerful lessons here in this Scripture, beginning with the audacity of the paralyzed man’s friends to get their friend in front of Jesus in spite of any obstacles that might present itself. The second thing is to notice that Jesus’ first priority was to meet the man’s greatest need – forgiveness of his sin. Let’s apply this to our challenges of today…. | |
| APPLICATION: | |
| I am very convinced that Jesus is the same today as He was yesterday. I am therefore convinced that when we are called on to pray for someone’s health; someone’s battle with evil; or someone’s battle with finding a job. In fact, no matter what the request is for prayer, we who know the Lord personally, must take the example of Jesus and seek to know the spiritual condition of the individual first and approach God for their greatest need(s) before any other physical need they could possibly have. Although given the facts in this Scripture today, let me encourage you to think this through in a logical manner also. What would it profit a man to be healed, if his soul is destined for eternal damnation in Hell. Miracles happen so that the Son of God might be glorified. What glory might God receive for an unbeliever to be healed and then attribute his ‘miracle’ to happen-chance, or some other good luck charm, or ‘positive thoughts’ from a friend? Would this not be making a mockery of our Lord Jesus? What impact would healing have on a person whose soul is destined for Hell? Jesus immediately recognized that this paralyzed man wanted to be seen by Him, because the man allowed, or possibly even asked his friends to place him at the feet of Jesus. But Jesus also knew that the man’s greatest need was to have his sins forgiven so that he might be assured of his eternal destination, whether lying on a mat or walking about like you and I. Friends, many folk may present their needs to us today in hopes that we would pray for them. Unless you know about their spiritual relationship with God, may I suggest that you pray for that most urgently, then possibly for their physical needs? I believe that will fall more in line with what we were taught in the Scripture here today. In closing, let me suggest that we remember the determination of these friends to get the paralyzed man at the feet of Jesus. The didn’t let things like: his weight, their back issues, the crowd, possible security at the entrance of the meeting place, or even a means of how to get onto the roof interfere with their far-out alternate plan. Remembering this determination might help us the next time we are looking for excuses not to attend church and worship the Lord corporately, or going to the hospital to pray with a friend. We come up with lots of excuses that may sound OK to a friend, but let me assure you that God knows your heart, and the very thoughts that run through your mind! Make Him priority in your life, if He truly is your King! | |
| PRAYER: | |
| Lord God, thank You for Your faithfulness to us. Thank You for Your healing power displayed to the paralyzed man in this Scripture today. I am confident that the same love and power shown to this man, is only a glimpse into what You can actually do for us. Please help us to daily recognize Your amazing grace and miraculous works in our lives. Please help us to also be much more mindful about what others truly need first and foremost in their lives, in spite of what they may have called us to do for them, or pray with them about. Thank You Lord for saving my soul, and thank You for Your miraculous touch in my life through many circumstances way beyond anything I or the doctors could do for me. Lord, may You continue to amaze me with Your power and invincible hand, for I ask these things in and through the precious name of Jesus, my 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! | |
Overwhelmed By God’s Presence
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Post Date: |
Saturday, 2017-07-01 |
| SCRIPTURE | |
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From: |
Luke 5:4-9 (TLB) |
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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! | |
A Changed Heart
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Post Date: |
Thursday, 2017-06-29 |
| SCRIPTURE | |
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From: |
Luke 3:7-9 (MSG) |
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Text: |
7-9 When crowds of people came out for baptism because it was the popular thing to do, John exploded: “Brood of snakes! What do you think you’re doing slithering down here to the river? Do you think a little water on your snakeskins is going to deflect God’s judgment? It’s your life that must change, not your skin. And don’t think you can pull rank by claiming Abraham as ‘father.’ Being a child of Abraham is neither here nor there—children of Abraham are a dime a dozen. God can make children from stones if he wants. What counts is your life. Is it green and blossoming? Because if it’s deadwood, it goes on the fire.” |
| OBSERVATION: | |
| It was becoming quite a popular thing for people to go down to the river and be baptized by John the Baptist, and John quickly recognized that it was becoming quite the popular thing for folk to do in following the crowd. John felt an obligation to Jesus Christ to make sure that this was not becoming a popularity thing but rather one that followed the teachings of Jesus. We will explore how applicable this is to us today…. | |
| APPLICATION: | |
| As a very young child, my daughter saw a friend baptized, and for weeks afterwards she tried to convince her mom and I on why she should be baptized. I believe that there may be lots of younger people that want the attention of parents, Bible School teachers and friends, or they may run to the pastor without fully understanding the purpose of baptism. There are others that are willing to take this step as a way to get mom, spouse, or perhaps a friend who had been witnessing to them, off their back. In our Scripture reading today we can see how John addressed this, and I’m sure we could follow his example on how to handle similar questions by others. However, we must feel comfortable sharing this in our own words. May I encourage you to click on the Scripture link above and read what Paul taught on this? The main emphasis is that the prospective candidate can clearly tell you how they were Spiritually saved, and also how Jesus has changed their way of living, because now they are about to show witness to the church at large and the world, that there has been a mega change in their life since inviting Jesus to be their Lord and Savior. The candidate must know clearly that baptism has no saving grace, but is scriptural because it demonstrates to the world an inward decision that you made at some point in your life. Friends, in following the commands of Jesus, I pray that you will demonstrate a full understanding of what He demands of you in His Word and not just follow the crowd as the popular thing to do, otherwise God may send another ‘John’ to rebuke you, like he did in this scripture. I encourage you to be brave in declaring to the world that you are a child of the King and that you don’t mind anyone knowing that. Being ashamed of the Lord here on earth might be reason for Jesus to disclaim you before His Father, according to His words in Scripture. If you haven’t surrendered your life to Jesus, then baptism is a mockery to the church and you are telling the world a lie. However, baptism is encouraged for those who have sincerely surrendered their heart and life to Jesus. | |
| PRAYER: | |
| Lord Jesus, You know how much we love baptismal services, because as a church, we celebrate with the candidates the decisions that have been made, and the miraculous change that God has made in their lives! It re-enforces the necessity for the church and personal evangelism. It confirms Your work dear Lord, because only You could truly touch and change broken and sinful lives. May we continue to be about Your work oh Lord, and may You continue to touch the hearts of those that are in need of a Savior. We long to celebrate baptism often as a means of celebrating the wondrous works of our Lord. To You we give hearts filled with glory, honor and praise for all that You do in the center of our family, friends and loved ones. 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! | |
Jesus – Our ROCK!
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Post Date: |
Wednesday, 2017-06-28 |
| SCRIPTURE | |
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From: |
Psalm 62:1-2 (TLB) |
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Text: |
1 I stand silently before the Lord, waiting for him to rescue me. For salvation comes from him alone. 2 Yes, he alone is my Rock, my rescuer, defense and fortress. Why then should I be tense with fear when troubles come? |
| OBSERVATION: | |
| It seems very evident that the Psalmist spent some valuable time alone with God. It is also evident that David experienced very intimate times with God, that helped him to conclude that God had not only saved him, but been his rescuer, defender and his very fortress. I am convinced that we serve an awesome God! | |
| APPLICATION: | |
Based on our personal experiences with God, I wonder what words we might use to describe our God. Let’s look deeper at the adjectives of David and decide whether we have witnessed any of these same characteristics of God in our lives:
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| PRAYER: | |
| Thank You Father for sending us Your Son to be our Salvation; our Rock; our Rescuer; our Defender; and our Fortress! Lord, I pray that today many will come to the foot of the cross and accept You as Lord and Savior, for all the reasons already mentioned in this devotional. I am proud to know that You accepted my plea for forgiveness and acceptance into Your kingdom, and I thank You from the bottom of my heart for being all of these things mentioned, and much, much more. Lord I look forward to being with You in glory some sweet day, but while allowed to remain here on earth, I ask that You continue to watch over me and lead me to help another beggar looking for bread – the Bread of Life! 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! | |
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