How To Deal With Enemies of God

On 2018-01-252018-01-25 By Ed AlgreenIn Evil, True to the WordLeave a comment

SCRIPTURE FROM: Acts 13:9-12 (ERV)

TEXT: ⁹But Saul (also known as Paul), filled with the Holy Spirit, looked hard at Elymas ¹⁰and said, “You son of the devil, full of lies and all kinds of evil tricks! You are an enemy of everything that is right. Will you never stop trying to change the Lord’s truths into lies? ¹¹Now the Lord will touch you and you will be blind. For a time you will not be able to see anything—not even the light from the sun.” Then everything became dark for Elymas. He walked around lost. He was trying to find someone to lead him by the hand. ¹²When the governor saw this, he believed. He was amazed at the teaching about the Lord.

OBSERVATION: Earlier in this chapter we read about how Paul and Barnabas were send out under the direction of the Holy Spirit. Being divinely inspired and empowered, I believe they were keenly aware of any that were opposed to the ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ, as evident with their intolerance with Elymas. There is no doubt that the church today faces some who are just like Elymas. The big questions is whether we should seek to save them, or seek to silence them. Let’s pursue this.

APPLICATION: I believe that most churches today are faced with enemies of God that sneak in to the church to kill, steal or destroy the child of God or His church as a whole. Think about this, how often have you heard about church members already serving as Elders, Deacons, Teachers, Church workers and/or faithful members being convicted of their sin and then finally surrendering their lives totally to the Lord Jesus Christ at a late stage in their lives? So friends, what kind of decisions do you suppose they made while sitting on committees during their years of pretense, or what type of Bible truths do you suppose they delivered as they taught Sunday School? So just for a moment today, stop and put yourself in the shoes of Paul and/or Silas: for now you might be faced with the challenge of what may have tricked your own church leader into thinking they were saved while they served your church. Handled like many church leaders may tend to do, and you may see a church split over the disciplinary action taken. However, when this is handled in God’s way, like Paul did, churches could stand to be effective in reaching others, as in the case of the governor mentioned in verse 12. I believe there are two things at work here, and the results would be impacted based on which one is used. If Paul had barreled into the church with every intent to correct the wrongs in his way, he probably would have had Elymas persecuted – after all that was Paul’s (Saul’s) background experience. However, Paul was Spirit led and directed, and He wanted to handle this situation in total obedience to God. Like Paul, I am convinced that when we depend on God’s wisdom, leadership and direction, God will work His all powerful hand in the scenario we are facing, and as we act in obedience to Him, His perfect will would result in bringing glory to God. May we learn from the best, and be obedient to His instructions in our everyday cases, even ones like Elymas.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, I acknowledge again today that You are Lord over everything, especially over Your church, and over the ones who have surrendered and committed their lives to You. Please help us to be sensitive to the evil affecting our churches, and please give us Spirit-led leaders willing to deal with the Elymas’ of our day, but leaders who will first wait first for your Spirit to lead in ways that will ultimately please You and draw others to You. Lord, we want to see Your church flourish, even when there is trouble knocking at our doors more often than we wish. Your church is for Your glory, oh Lord, but it will only survive and flourish with You as our head. Bless us our Lord, for Your sake. AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: There are two more pages on my blog that will provide you with additional information, one of them being ‘To Know Jesus’. If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please click on the above page, or speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. Please allow someone to pray with you and give you help and/or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Words underlined in my blog could indicate a link to a song that came to mind as I wrote the devotional. Feel free to click on the link and listen as you continue to read or pray. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to Nuggets From God’s Word and read more, or you may freely to subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. If you are anywhere near the Sebring, Florida area and do not have a church home, I would be thrilled to welcome you at Bible Fellowship Church, located at 3750 Hammock Rd, Sebring, FL 33872! Click the link to check out service times and/or other special activities. God is at work among us! Please consider coming to worship with us!

God’s Loving Response To Obedience

On 2018-01-23 By Ed AlgreenIn Humble, Humbleness, Humility, Obedience, Obedient, Victorious LifeLeave a comment

SCRIPTURE FROM: Psalm 81:11-14 (ERV)

TEXT:   ¹¹“But my people did not listen to me.
    Israel did not obey me.
¹²So I let them go their own stubborn way
    and do whatever they wanted.
¹³If my people would listen to me
    and would live the way I want,
¹⁴then I would defeat their enemies.
    I would punish those who cause them trouble.

OBSERVATION: In this Psalm, you can hear the hurt from God, that no matter how hard He tries, yet His children refuses to listen, and insists on doing their own thing. This often results in pain and heartache to His precious children. This is probably very real to many parents, as they remember what they went through with a son or daughter. In fact, I bet it also gives many parents a pretty good idea about how much pain it must bring to God when He looks upon us in love, and reflects on all that He did at the cross for us, yet to see us turn our backs on Him or totally disregard the love of our Savior in every aspect of our lives.

APPLICATION: We often talk about the unconditional love of Jesus, and I have no doubt about the truth in that statement, for He willingly went to the cross, even while we were yet sinners, and freely gave up His life to prove the extent of His love. This loving act brought about the means of purification for our sins so that we may present ourselves clean and sinless before the Father. Compare this to the love that parents have for a child born to them – of their own flesh and blood. Parents love their children, and nourish them through childhood days as they prepare them for life, with its full potential. In fact they begin college plans for them and have dreams of them taking over local businesses when they graduate. However somewhere along the way, those dreams and plans might change, as that child takes on a will of their own, which could sometimes be contrary to the dreams of the parents. This often brings serious tension between parents and children. Feeling the disappointment in the scenario I just gave you, may help you feel some of the hurt and disappointment that God must experience when His children also ignores all that He has in store for them, yet they decide to peel away and do their own thing? In fact, the Psalmist says that God has many plans to prosper His children, yet they chose to leave and accept much less. Can you even imagine the hurt of our heavenly Father? On a very positive note: these verses remind me so much of 2 Chronicles 7:14, because both indicate that if we will do our part and draw close to God, in response to the love He demonstrated for us, and if we will seek His face and listen to His instruction, then He will hear our prayer, hear from heaven, heal our land and magnify our faith in the One who loves us unconditionally, but also deliberately. This wonderful Savior can be your Lord and Savior today, friend! Please have a look at my Footnote for directions.

PRAYER: Precious Lord, please take the hand of your children today and lead us through this tough world that is out to block the works of the One who created us, and loved us enough to be crucified, so that we may live eternally in heaven with You and the Father. Lord, in these verses today, and in the verse I quoted above, You promised that You would basically change our world, if only we would humble ourselves and seek after You. Lord, may today be the beginning of something new for us. May we obey Your Word and seek Your face as we wait for You to do Your miraculous work in each of our lives. I believe the world needs to see Jesus in order to believe in Him. May they see Jesus in us today! AMEN!

Who Are We To Judge?

On 2018-01-202018-01-20 By Ed AlgreenIn Christian love, Love of God, Love others, Love your Neighbor, The Father's Love, The love of God, Unconditional loveLeave a comment

SCRIPTURE FROM: Acts 11:17 (TLB)

TEXT: 17.… since it was God who gave these Gentiles the same gift he gave us when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to argue?”

OBSERVATION: Peter returned after celebrating the saving of souls – ones that the Jews thought were beyond God’s reach, for they were Gentiles. Ordinarily you would think that it would be party time as Peter returned with such great news, but instead his friends hit him immediately with all of the negative they could imagine from what they heard. I love how Peter responded, for he explained what the Holy Spirit did; and he declared that whatever happened was so real and so clear, that it was evident that it was more than anything he could ever do, or argue with.

APPLICATION: In reading this whole event that Peter was involved in, I believe that our first impression is to probably lash out on the disciples for searching for something negative, rather than having a celebration time planned for Peter’s return. In fact, it sounds like a huge praise service would have been a good way of saying ‘thank you’ to God for using their Brother to minister to the Gentiles, a group that the Jews thought God would reject, just like they did. But before we get too critical of the disciples, let’s reflect on our natural instincts today. I am a part of a program going on in our county right now called ‘Pursuit 21’. This is a 21-day season of prayer by several local churches, where people from our county are invited to gather at a designated place – 1 of about 12 locations strategically chosen around the county, and pray alongside other believers for the spiritual condition, and needs of our county. In most cases, the church that we attend never comes up, for we are Brothers and Sisters who serve the same Master, praying for the concerns of each other and our communities. What a glorious time as we reflect on how this might imitate what we will do in heaven! Let us always remember that exclusivity is something that we induce, when it comes to believers in Christ. At the foot of the cross, we are all the same in the eyes of Jesus – from the holiest and best pastor or priest who ever served the Lord, to the newest Christian who surrendered their lives to Jesus. And when we see God at work, let’s try hard to recognize, thank God for, and celebrate the work of the Holy Spirit, and stop picking everything apart that we see in whomever may have communicated with God through prayer for our miracle. Let’s not shroud the blessings of the Almighty with the human frailties of those touched by God in any miracle He sees fit to extend. If I am healed by God, and a friend who never shared their spiritual condition with me, tells me that they had prayed for that healing, my heart should always be fixed on praising God for His miraculous touch, and never complain or gripe about who He may have received the request from. To God be the glory, for all that He chooses to do for His children!

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, please forgive us for our littleness in always trying to prove our worth, instead of looking for, and celebrating Your unlimited worth, and for all that You choose to bless us with. I love the song that includes these words: I have a Father, He calls me His own, He’ll never leave me, No matter where I go. He knows my name….. These words remind me that You are my personal Savior, and no matter how many may call on Your name today, You will never leave me helpless. Please help me to praise You when I see this same miracle happening in the lives of others also, for I am reminded that all of Your children are special in Your eyes. Thank You for all who witness, teach and preach about Your never ending love for all who believe on the name of Jesus Christ. To You be all glory, honor and praise, precious Jesus. AMEN!

Bless Me Lord

On 2018-01-182018-01-18 By Ed AlgreenIn Testify, TestimonyLeave a comment

SCRIPTURE FROM: 1 Chronicles 4:10 (NIV)

TEXT: ¹⁰Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted his request.

OBSERVATION: Jabez was named because of the great pain that his mom encountered in childbirth, and while I’m sure that he probably prayed diligently for his mom, church leaders and all of those causing evil in his land, yet his prayer for his personal desires has become one that many preachers choose to use in their sermons, and it is referred to by many Christians. So I believe that God deliberately directed me to this prayer as I read this, and He caused such a tug on my heart to share it in Nuggets today.

APPLICATION: For most of us, we hear about so much going on in our nation, in our state, and also in our own little county, each and every time that we listen to the evening news, that we sometimes wonder where would we ever find enough time to pray about it all. Oh, and don’t forget about the medical condition of our blood and church families. But I don’t believe that Jabez had it any different in his day, yet God wanted us to know that Jabez made it a point to pray for his own welfare as well. Friends, I realize that when we pray for our family, friends and co-laborers in the work of the Lord, we place them in good hands and rest our faith in him to rescue them from whatever ills that they are concerned about. However, don’t you often wish that you could help them, or at least wish that you don’t become quite as burdened as they are? Don’t you wish that you could shine so brightly that nonbelievers will see the light of Jesus in you and ask about what’s so different in your life? I’m not one of those who believe that Christians will always be the healthiest and wealthiest of all people, but I do believe in the almighty power of God and that He could do more than we could imagine or ask for, even in our meek and humble lives. I believe that often we have not, because we ask not. The last words in verse 10, says that God granted his (Jabez’) request! I wonder what the last words might be on our epitaph? If you were to choose one of your own, what might your words be, based on your first-hand knowledge of yourself? May I challenge you to pray for God’s hand on your life in a very bold way, so that you may be His hand extended here on this earth? Ask Him to bless you so that you may bless others. Imagine you being able to brag on God and visibly show God’s rich blessing on you, instead of the usual whining and complaining that we hear from so many Christians. Wouldn’t that be a welcomed change to those looking at your life and following in your footsteps?

PRAYER: Precious Lord, take my hand, lead me through a broken world in a glorious body, so that others may see your hand at work in and through me. Please help me to always keep my eyes fixed on You and always subordinate to Your perfect will and desire for my life. I realize that there are many folk out there just like me, for we are needy before our all-powerful, gracious Lord. Please begin a good work in me, and show me how to share that with others in a way that you will receive ultimate glory. People need the Lord, and the workers are few. Please use me as needed to impact my home, my church, my workplace, my family and my friends for You Lord. Be glorified today oh Lord because of Your willing sons and daughters. AMEN!

What Helps Others Gain Confidence in You and Your Message?

On 2018-01-17 By Ed AlgreenIn Dedicated, Effective MinistryLeave a comment

SCRIPTURE FROM: Acts 10:42-43 (ERV)

TEXT: ⁴²“Jesus told us to go and speak to the people. He told us to tell them that he is the one God chose to be the Judge of all who are living and all who have died. ⁴³Everyone who believes in Jesus will have their sins forgiven through his name. All the prophets agree that this is true.”

OBSERVATION: In the preceding verses Peter went into great detail to show the people where, and how the power was given to he and his fellow disciples to spread the news of Jesus Christ. He also tried very hard to help the people understand where and how the power of Jesus Christ came about. These are challenges that we face today, for unless we know who is proclaiming the Word to us, and know something of their background and understanding of the Bible, we can easily be tricked into believing something that sounds like the truth, but clearly comes with little twists inserted by the speaker. What if you were challenged about something you believe about the Bible and teach or preach? What is your background that prepared you for proclaiming the Word?

APPLICATION: By now I hope that you have given some thought towards how you would answer questions that prompted Peter’s responses to his audience, that were based on what Peter knew must be going through their minds. You know, we hear it all the time: “Who do you think you are, to be speaking to us like some ‘holier than thou’ saint?” “Who made you king over everything?”. Friends, for those in authority, they have to earn their trust by the people. This is especially achieved when you live the life you are preaching. However when you can support your teaching or preaching with some credible material such as other scripture, or respected reference material. Imagine a missionary going overseas from our country, what do you suppose would help the people to gain trust in this stranger from another land? The same question is true when a new pastor comes into your state and city for the first time, then he stands in front of your congregation for the first time. When, and what causes you to build trust in that individual? This is the same challenge you would have in trying to witness to a stranger, they will look at you strangely and with some degree of doubt, until they learn to trust you. This is always a consideration when walking up to a stranger. They will hear what you have to say, but it will be laced with doubt until they learn that a life deeply grounded in the Word of God supports the mind and the words of the one speaking to them. They will also look to see if your life supports your teaching. Be careful that others will read your life as the best Bible they ever read.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, You have allowed humble and meager men to share your gospel with this lost world. Thank You for entrusting us with such an awesome responsibility. Whether it be our pastors, our church leaders or mere Christians saved by grace, You Holy Spirit resides within us and will lead us to sharing all truth with the lost. Please work miraculously through us, so that Your work might be accomplished through even us. Lord, may Your perfect will be done in and through us. AMEN!

How God Prepares Us For His Service

On 2018-01-162018-01-16 By Ed AlgreenIn God's Will, Humility, MissionsLeave a comment

SCRIPTURE FROM: Acts 10:33 (VOICE)

TEXT: ³³I wasted no time, did just as I was told, and you have generously accepted my invitation. So here we are, in the presence of God, ready to take in all that the Lord has told you to tell us.

OBSERVATION: In the preceding verses, in a dream, God caused Peter to see a sheet with many kinds of animals. Peter was astonished by this because some of these animals were ones that they (the Jews) didn’t approve of eating or being around. However God was working on Peter’s attitude, because there were certain people that they (the Jews) looked down on. This lesson was very practical, and very much needed by Peter. I wonder what God needs to work on in our lives to make us ready for His service to everyone, no matter where He sends us?

APPLICATION: We have become so accustomed to the things that we eat, the places that we sleep and the friends that we hang out with, that it might be challenging for us to overcome those familiarities and adjust to a different culture. Let me give you an example: let’s assume that you were saved in your local church, and within a year or two you made it know that you felt God was dealing in your heart to work in His vineyard overseas. Your church sent you for some local training to help you understand the culture and the language of the country to which you have been assigned. Not long into this training you realize that there will probably be some huge adjustments that you would need to make, that you never thought possible. Perhaps it’s the food that they eat, or the plain mud houses that they live in without air conditioning, or perhaps no electric at all. Of course, no doctor within a 50 mile radius is frightening, and so is the lack of telephones or internet. In fact you are beginning to wonder how on earth does people survive in that type of environment. However, you are quickly reminded of a missions trip that you took part in when you were just a teenager. It took you into a very poor third world country where you were challenged with some very strange food, and where you really doubted if you would ever survive that short trip. However, you remembered the sweetest people there, and when it was time to leave you had the hardest time leaving them behind. Suddenly the ‘stuff’ they didn’t have became a fading memory for you. Friends, we quickly assume that when we are called to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ, and especially to a third world country, that it’s not just ‘those poor people’ there that we need to go and try to help, but as we open up our hearts and minds to the Gospel, Jesus will also use those same ‘poor people’ to pour into us the richness of His unconditional love, under very different circumstances to those we are used to. Let’s be very careful to not place any conditions on the places we will go, or the types of people we will help. God sent Jesus for the sins of all who would believe in Him. That’s unconditional! We should love in the same way if we are striving to be more like Jesus everyday.

PRAYER: Lord, thank You for dying for sinners, even though many are just like me, and deserve nothing more than Hell itself. But Lord, You reached down in love and heard my prayer for salvation and responded to me in love. Having been personally forgiven and loved beyond all measure, who am I to put others in a box and place them below me? Lord please help me to love others in much the same way as You loved me. Please help Your children to humble themselves and be willing to step into the place where unbelievers live, so that we could feel their pain and heartache and then show them Your unconditional love. To touch a heart for You, we should be willing to do anything that You direct us to do. May that be the case dear Lord, for I ask this in the precious name of Jesus, my Lord, AMEN!

How To Safely Reach The End of Your Road

On 2018-01-152018-01-15 By Ed AlgreenIn Heaven, King, SalvationLeave a comment

SCRIPTURE FROM: Proverbs 4:25-27 (Voice)

TEXT:   ²⁵Keep your head up, your eyes straight ahead,
    and your focus fixed on what is in front of you.
²⁶Take care you don’t stray from the straight path, the way of truth,
    and you will safely reach the end of your road.
²⁷Do not veer off course to the right or the left;
    step away from evil, and leave it behind.

OBSERVATION: Words of wisdom is being shared by the writer of Proverbs, on what it takes to walk a straight and narrow road as a Christian. Taking our lead from the world is easy, because anything goes, and there are no boundaries – other than man-made laws designed for order and safety reasons. Realizing that most of us want something more out of life, we will have a look at God’s Word for more refined instructions than just those offered by our laws.

APPLICATION: I want to layout the road that God’s children travel, compared to the traveling we might do here on earth. I believe that seeing the comparison may help us to better understand how we could move along from point A to point B:

Towards Point ‘B’ On Earth	Towards Point ‘B’ (Heaven)
If traveling in a vehicle, you would first sit down and either map out your driving instructions or make sure that your GPS is programmed to show you the way.	God will place someone in your path to help you recognize your sin, and to share with you the love of Jesus, the Savior of the world – the clear path to heaven!
To ever make the trip possible, you will need to commit yourself to making the trip. Submit yourself to travel the directions from the map research or the GPS, and then get started.	Knowing about the way to heaven is good, but to make it your a part of your life plan, you will need to follow the design outlined in the Bible. Surrender your life to Jesus and invite Him to be Lord of your life.
Traveling most efficiently might require you to unload unwanted, or unneeded stuff from your vehicle, in order to lighten the load. It will also require that you have faith in your co-pilot/navigator. Upon arrival at your final destination (Point ‘B’) you will then search for your hotel and begin making preparation for your return trip.	Sin is not allowed at your final destination, so the Bible teaches about the only way to rid yourself of all sin that burden you down here on earth. This exercise will not only lighten your load, but build your anticipation for seeing the King of all kings and Lord of heaven and all of the earth! Upon arrival at your new eternal home, you will be greeted by Jesus and all of His saints and angels. Oh what a glorious day that will be!

Friends, go back to the Scripture now and read the verses again. Notice that in verse 26 we are admonished to stay on the straight path – the path that’s outlined for us by Jesus in His Word, for He is the way, the Truth and the Way, and all that travel that road will have eternal life – life everlasting with the Father in heaven for evermore! We know the way, and we know how to get there. Why should any perish?

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, we are a blessed people. You have provided the means of salvation and You have outlined in Your Word the road to Heaven. Please help Your children to be obedient and deeply desirous of the home You have prepared for us. Please be our shield from the sin of this earth and help us to always depend on You as our guide and our strength to keep our eyes fixed on the straight road that will lead us to heaven and peace forevermore with You and the Father around the throne. Lord we love You, and we want to be where You are. Please forgive us of our unbelief and weaknesses that hold us back from seeking heaven and place us in separation with You. We want to see Jesus! AMEN!

Our Response To Miracles

On 2018-01-122018-01-12 By Ed AlgreenIn Give thanks, Miracles, Power of Prayer, Prayer, Thank You Jesus, Thankful, Thankfulness, ThanksgivingLeave a comment

SCRIPTURE FROM: Psalm 79:13 (MSG)

TEXT: Then we, your people, the ones you love and care for, will thank you over and over and over.
We’ll tell everyone we meet how wonderful you are, how praiseworthy you are!

OBSERVATION: In this Psalm by Asaph, he and his people had pleaded with God for several things that they felt very strongly about. These things were mostly in regards to abuse of the temple, so they felt really bad about the disrespect being shown towards God and His holy temple. However, after going through all this, and in confidence of God’s mighty hand, they immediately started praising the Lord! I wonder, does the church of God (that’s you and I) here on earth remember to return thanks?

APPLICATION: At one time I was a part of Wednesday Night Prayer meetings, where the very first thing that we did was to celebrate things for which we should praise God. It was interesting in that we could verbalize the items fairly good, however when it came time to praise God for them in prayer, it became very challenging to just praise God, celebrate and rejoice in our gifts without slipping in our petitions. Mind you, there was always time later to take our petitions before the Lord! It was very challenging to JUST praise the Lord and give thanks. You know, in corporate prayer, some of our challenge today might be because we rush into our prayers, say very quickly what we feel others want to hear, then we finish so that others might have time. This verse that we are meditating on today seems like it may be showing us that we should savor our time with the Lord. Can you imagine sitting around in a circle, knowing that God is in our midst, and start with the words of this verse before naming a few of the things that each of us are thankful for? Imagine if we could do that without watching our clocks and feeling the need to rush through our time with the Lord. Wow, I could see us turning that time together into a great time of praise and thanksgiving, in the very presence of our Lord and Savior. Furthermore, I believe that by the time we have finished praising God for His gifts and blessings to us, our needs that we felt so burdened with when we first came into that Prayer Meeting would be minimized and not worth mentioning anymore. Friends, those of us that have an awesome relationship with our Savior already take advantage of these times with Jesus. Attending corporate prayer meetings allow us to share that celebration with others who may be slipping in their relationship with their Lord. Together, we could help each other draw closer to God. Are you attending your church prayer meetings? Others need you, and you may need strength from the experiences of others. Check out the designated time for your church Prayer Meetings, and be there!

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, for those who have accepted You as Lord, we thank You for accepting us as Your precious children, and Your blessings in so many ways. How could I but praise you, my Savior and my Lord? Thank You for reminding us of this area of our lives that we are probably the weakest in. Please help us to always remember the source of our help and to always be in a state of Thanksgiving. Lord, we love You and we praise You for being so good to us! AMEN!

With Praise and Honor to God

On 2018-01-112018-01-11 By Ed AlgreenIn Forgiven, Forgiveness, God our Helper, Help, Honor, Our Help comes from God, SavedLeave a comment

SCRIPTURE FROM: Psalm 79:9 (NCV)

TEXT: God our Savior, help us
so people will praise you.
Save us and forgive our sins
so people will honor you.

OBSERVATION: Asaph, the writer of Psalm 79, felt like God was punishing the nation of Israel for all their past sins. So in his petitions to God, he included this verse while pleading with God to save his nation. Oh that we may be so concerned about the sins of our respective nations where we live, and so deeply moved to write a similar verse to God asking Him to use us as instruments of change, instead of us adding fuel to the already hot fire of sin.

APPLICATION: I believe it is evident from everything we see, hear and do, that Satan has turned up the heat on our young people and on our adult population. Unfortunately, the church – members and attendees, have become so lukewarm, selfish, segregated and standoffish that the church has lost its impact on our society. More and more laws and rules have been implemented because Christians have not been active before the throne in prayer. Why would children of God ever settle in their faith knowing that their leaders have approved and are ok with the killing of unborn babies. Why would we ever settle in our faith knowing that the drugs that have either killed loved ones or totally destroyed their minds, are now becoming mainstream, and approved drugs? First approved for apparent medical use, but in many states of America quickly being followed with approval for recreational use. Friends, when are we ever going to follow the example of 2 Chronicles 7:14. When are we ever going to surrender to God as Asaph did in our focal Scripture today? Oh friends, where does our help come from? We do not resort to crime against the criminals, we have a Savior that loves them just like He loves us. Fortunately He can also touch their hearts and convince them of their sin. Our part is to encourage those who are slaves to the sins of this world, and to follow the example of 2 Chronicles 7:14. To do this, we can plead with God like the Psalmist did: Help us Lord, so that the people (those that we pray with, and for) will praise You. Save us from our own weaknesses and desire to sin so that the people may honor You. Notice that in both Scriptures that I referenced, that prayer is more than going before God for our own selfish desires. We can all look around us and see things that are happening that really hurts our soul. What are we doing about it? I know, we are so small in the whole scope of things, and that there is very little that we can do, right? Please friends, don’t let Satan pull that one on you, because we serve the God that put this whole world together. He created the complex bodies that we live in, and He loves us enough that He willingly went to the cross, knowing that it would be through His shed blood that we could have eternal life in glory. He brought the dead back to life, and He intervened in battles and saved very small armies from very large opposers. Don’t you think that we can trust Him with the issues that we face today? You better believe it! I don’t believe that there is anything bearing on our hearts that God won’t listen to, care about, and seek to answer if appropriate.

PRAYER: Thank You Lord for caring about Your children and all that we are concerned about. We are so sorry for the mess that is evident in our world today. As I read the Old Testament and see the awful things that You dealt with there, I am astonished….. until I reflect on the awful things that You are still dealing with today – even in my country, state and city. Lord, please impress the seriousness of the hour to all ‘Christians’. Please impress upon us the need to clarify and commit our own lives fully to You and Your service, so that when ‘Your people’ decides to humble themselves and pray, You will hear our prayer. As the Psalmist said, may all glory be Yours in whatever is accomplished. 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, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. Please allow someone to pray with you and give you help and/or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Words underlined in my blog could indicate a link to a song that came to mind as I wrote the devotional. Feel free to click on the link and listen as you continue to read or pray. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to Nuggets From God’s Word and read more, or you may freely to subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. If you are anywhere near the Sebring, Florida area and do not have a church home, I would be thrilled to welcome you at Bible Fellowship Church, located at 3750 Hammock Rd, Sebring, FL 33872! Click the link to check out service times and/or other special activities. God is at work among us! Please consider coming to worship with us!

But Lord?

On 2018-01-102018-01-10 By Ed AlgreenIn Excuses, God's Will, Obedience, ObedientLeave a comment

SCRIPTURE FROM: Acts 9:11-16 (MSG)

TEXT: ^11-12“Get up and go over to Straight Avenue. Ask at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus. His name is Saul. He’s there praying. He has just had a dream in which he saw a man named Ananias enter the house and lay hands on him so he could see again.”

^13-14Ananias protested, “Master, you can’t be serious. Everybody’s talking about this man and the terrible things he’s been doing, his reign of terror against your people in Jerusalem! And now he’s shown up here with papers from the Chief Priest that give him license to do the same to us.”

^15-16But the Master said, “Don’t argue. Go! I have picked him as my personal representative to non-Jews and kings and Jews. And now I’m about to show him what he’s in for—the hard suffering that goes with this job.”

OBSERVATION: Interesting how God shocks His servants with challenges, that they feel, are so outlandish! Moses was shocked, and found excuses when asked to take charge of the Israelites. Having never seen or heard of rain, Noah was shocked to receive orders to build a huge boat up on dry land. In our Scripture today, Ananias is being asked to go and minister to a murderer of Christians. One who had always fought Christianity and all that it stood for. Although God was the one telling Ananias to ‘Go’, Ananias was sure there must be some mistake, and he had to be sure that was cleared up before he agreed to do anything. Aren’t we just as quick in coming up with excuses why we can’t or shouldn’t do certain parts of ministry today?

APPLICATION: Do you remember the anxiety the first time that you were asked to read a few verses of Scripture, or pray aloud in public? Did the fear of that happening, keep you from attending certain services, or from sitting near the front? Did that fear worsen when you were asked to go and visit a shut-in or a hospitalized member of the church? Ever felt led of God to visit a friend who was not a believer, hoping that you would find the opportunity to witness to that person, but at the last minute you got ‘cold feet’ and started to find multiple excuses why you couldn’t go? If any of these things bring back vivid memories, then you may have had a mild Ananias experience. I say ‘mild’, because in the case of Ananias, he was being asked to go and lay hands on one of the biggest threats in his time. We would hate to think about being near to a mass murderer, even if given the opportunity to witness to them, but it was a well known fact that Saul was out to eliminate those who might minister for the Lord Jesus, and Ananias was one of those. Wouldn’t that be the same as placing the ‘bait’ right at the feet of the ‘lion’? Friends, I believe that this Scripture shows us several facets of God’s amazing plan. Who else would be more effective in speaking to the folk that opposed God, than one of their own? Who else would show the power of God to save even the vilest of sinners, as in the case of Saul? Who else could better show a life transformed by the blood of Jesus, like Paul did? In listening to the news every day of our lives, we hear of so many forms of evil that, in most cases, we cringe at it happening very close to many of our home towns. God has called us to proclaim His Word and to be His witnesses at home and abroad. Stop finding excuses and saying “But Lord…..”, for He knows the plans He has for you. Don’t disappoint Him by trying to correct or remind the King of all kings and Lord of all lords, that you may know something that He may have overlooked. Let me remind you again what He said back to Ananias, ‘Just GO’. Let’s learn to be more obedient friend.

PRAYER: Unfortunately, I believe that we are just as doubtful today, even after seeing the after results of Your demands on several unsuspecting servants in Your Word. There is no doubt that You hold the world in Your hands and that it moves at Your command. The same is true for the individuals that You alone created. Lord, please have mercy on us and continue to strengthen us with the help of the Holy Spirit, to obediently follow Your commands and Your will for us, especially in using us to touch the lives of others, especially those who seem so unlikely to us. Lord, may Your perfect will be achieved in and through Your saints today, even me Lord. AMEN!

Nuggets From God's Word

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