Tag: In Christ Alone

The Role of the Holy Spirit in Christian Teaching

On By Ed AlgreenIn Accept Jesus NOW, Acknowledge God, All have sinned, Awesome God, God Cares For Us, God’s Word, TeacherLeave a comment

DATE POSTED
Thursday, February 13, 2025, and I was blessed to be at Mariposa at Hunter Road, San Marcos, TX when God inspired me to prepare this devotional. My Footnote will tell you how to find and read any and all episodes that I have shared over the years.

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
Read it in your Bible or click James 3:1-10 to read it in The Message (MSG).

APPLICATION – as inspired by the Holy Spirit
As you read the Scripture today, some might remember a Christian Nursery song that had lyrics something like ‘Oh, be careful little eyes what you see’, and also added verses like ‘Oh, be careful little tongue what you say’! But for today, I believe that the Holy Spirit is challenging us as adults, through James, to apply this principle to all aspects of our lives, especially in what we say and teach. Since our Scripture today makes reference to Christian teachers, I must share my curiosity in knowing the reasons why some accept the invitation to teach, especially in church? In my past church leadership, I am guilty of accepting an invitation to teach a Sunday School (SS) class because the SS Superintendent put me on a guilt trip about them having to shut a class down if they didn’t find a teacher for the current year! I know, that sounds almost comical, but I have no hesitation in also saying that God has blessed me tremendously in teaching SS over the years. I felt so inadequate at times, for I knew there would be former pastors, elders, deacons and/or others in my class who have been in the Word much longer than me. But let’s get to the point of our lesson from James. I believe that we are being challenged to think ahead about opening our mouths without the leadership of the Holy Spirit. As a teacher, we stand before students who may be challenged in life in many different ways. To open our mouths without the power of the Holy Spirit, we will:
—> Spoil a lesson, or message, with way too much of self, and everything we are about personally.
—> Respond to honest and heartfelt questions from students only from personal experiences and knowledge, rather than from a Biblical, or Holy Spirit inspired perspective.
In each of the above cases, I believe we would be a better servant of God if we were to use His Word to respond with. For a few years in my working career, I was an auditor/examiner. My lead examiner would insist that his team members never criticize a branch or employee without quoting the exact location of the rule, or standard, they defiled. Wouldn’t it be awesome to also do the same when responding on God’s behalf to a student hungry for the wisdom of God on how they could live their life pleasing to God? Now, unless we jump to the conclusion that James was discouraging one from teaching or preaching, let me be quick to remind you that many of us would still be unsaved, had it not been for a good Bible teacher or preacher. So, I firmly believe that James is instead warning us to not try and teach God’s Word without Him being front and foremost in our lives, our Bible Study, our lesson preparation and in our classroom. You see, we must always remember that God is the author of a book He gave to us, The Bible, for encouragement, correction, direction and answers to all life’s quandaries. Because He is God, we must only promote His instructions, and not try to change them, nor minimize their effectiveness nor exaggerate their meaning with hopes of convincing our unsaved friends. Furthermore, let’s be careful to live the godly life that we are teaching others to live. They will tend to follow our actions much more than our teachings, and we would never want God’s discipline for the hypocrisy in our teaching if we are disobedient to the very things that we teach. If we know it, let’s live it!

PRAYER
Lord Jesus, You set a perfect example for us, by living in full obedience to the Father’s will and instruction. But as we try to duplicate that example here on earth, it is extremely challenging, for our sin and selfish desires kick in while also trying to please others with what we respond. Please direct our thoughts, actions and especially the words that spew from our lips, sometimes without thought, and often without seeking Your direction. Shame on us for using the same tongue that we sing out praises to You with, to also put down our neighbor or totally turn one off from knowing You personally. We desperately need Your help dear Lord. May the words from our mouth and the meditation of our heart be acceptable in Your sight at all times dear Lord, and may our output be incentive for others to praise You today and always. AMEN!

FOOTNOTE
If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please take advantage of the information provided on my page ‘To Know Jesus’. Alternatively, consider speaking with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. One of God’s servants will pray with you and offer help and encouragement as you begin or continue your walk with Jesus. If you would like to read more of my devotionals or subscribe to receive a daily email containing each new devotional, please visit NuggetsFromGodsWord.org. Friends, I encourage you to find a church home near your residence and attend as frequently as possible. Get to know God and allow His people to encourage and strengthen you in your Christian walk while you make every effort to be a blessing to them. God is at work among His people! Please consider being a part of that while also growing in your faith as you worship with fellow believers!

Guard Your Heart

On By Ed AlgreenIn Clean Heart, Heart, Know God's Heart, On guard, Righteous, Righteous LivingLeave a comment

Post Date:

 Saturday, 2017-04-01
SCRIPTURE

From:

 Proverbs 4:20-23 (Voice)

Text:

 20 My son, pay attention to all the words I am telling you.
    Lean in closer so you may hear all I say.
21 Keep them before you; meditate on them;
    set them safely in your heart.
22 For those who discover them, they are life.
    They bring wholeness and healing to their bodies.
23 Above all else, watch over your heart; diligently guard it
    because from a sincere and pure heart come the good and noble things of life.
OBSERVATION:
Solomon was able to share these Godly words to us, but also speak from the experience of his father about the results of letting our minds and imagination run wild, and how it impacts the heart and controls your actions. This matter was close to home for him, experientially, plus you might remember that Solomon was the benefiter of very Godly wisdom. So even though most people feel like they have life under control, Solomon’s advice is still rock solid even today.
APPLICATION:
From the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks! That’s one of many sayings that come to mind as we meditate on this Scripture today. I realize that the first barrier each of us will face with this advice, is that we think we are all ‘good’ people and our intentions are always good, very clear, and abundantly obvious to the person we are dealing with, correct? If you answered ‘yes’ to that question, then I would suggest that after you get up from kneeling before your Maker in sincere repentance, that you re-read the Scripture and possibly this blog! Friends, in case you haven’t noticed: if you hang around drunks, they will soon have you drinking; if you hand around company that curse at every opportunity, you will soon be sneaking in a few curse words in almost  every  sentence; if you hang around children of God and hear about their many blessings that they attribute to Jesus’ love and mercy, then you will soon be wanting to know about the same and apply it to your life. When you see the scales tipping towards righteous thoughts, words and deeds, then I believe that it will confirm that you are on the right track. If not, I believe that God is opening your mind and heart to realize that something is lacking – perhaps inadequate time in His Word, or perhaps way too much time hanging around folk that answer to a different leader than you do. Yes, I am saying that you will deal with a spiritual battle, if the Holy Spirit lives within you and is leading you in the right path. Friends, if your heart is filled with the love, actions and thoughts of our Lord, then you will act like Him and talk as He would. Conversely, if your heart is polluted with the devil and his evil attitudes and deeds, then you find yourself frustrated, because you have asked Jesus to come and live within you, yet you are heating up the internal battle by pouring in the ways of the world and it’s ungodly leader – Satan. There’s a little chorus I sang in children’s Sunday School “O be careful little eyes what you see”. If you know that chorus, you will remember that it also includes what you hear, what you do and where you walk. In other words, learn, speak, act and look at things that are Godly so that you may guard your heart – the internal barometer of your whole being!
PRAYER:
Lord Jesus, thank You for not only living among us and showing us how to live in a way that is pleasing to Your Father, but also for leaving with us the Comforter – the Holy Spirit, who will guide us into righteous living, and help us guard our hearts that belong to You. Lord, may we be found righteous and sold out to You in every aspect of life. May it be evident to everyone that we come into contact with, and may You be glorified because of everything that You accomplish in us, and through us. 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!

In Christ Alone

On By Ed AlgreenIn direction, Follow Christ, Follower of Christ, In Christ, SalvationLeave a comment

Tuesday, 2016-09-13

Scripture

Bible Reference: Galatians 2:19-21

Bible Text:  19 It was the law itself that caused me to end my life under the law. I died to the law so that I could live for God. I have been nailed to the cross with Christ. 20 So I am not the one living now—it is Christ living in me. I still live in my body, but I live by faith in the Son of God. He is the one who loved me and gave himself to save me. 21 I am not the one destroying the meaning of God’s grace. If following the law is how people are made right with God, then Christ did not have to die.

Bible Translation: Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)

My Take

As we read these verses today, we must realize that this teaching is coming from Paul, a man who was so convinced of the ‘law’ (the world) that he chose to condemn the church and its followers for the first part of his life. However, Paul then had a personal encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ and his life was never the same again. In fact, he was so different that he was accused of being a maniac. Friends, there’s a couple things that really need out attention in this passage today:

  1. A personal experience – Jesus Christ is only able to impact your life after you have made a personal decision to surrender your life totally to Him. As part of this decision, you will surrender your personal (worldly) will to the perfect will of Christ. He then sends His Holy Spirit to take up residence inside of you, and help you live this changed life!
  2. A changed life – Through this newly gained power of the Holy Spirit, you are able to devote yourself fully to the things of Christ, which in most cases will be totally opposite to the evil ways of the world. The change that occurs is likened to traveling north on a local highway, then you reach a point where a definite decision is made for a complete change, and you turn back to traveling south on that same highway.

Friends, I believe it is evident that you will see in the old life, the worldly dependent life, that you are dependent on circumstances and individuals with all sorts of evil mindsets, that are out to serve their own personal needs, often at the expense of all those that they come into contact with. In the ‘new life’, I believe that you could easily see that there is only One that you would be dependent on, and that is the same Christ who willingly sacrificed His very life so that you and I could one day live eternally with He and His Father in heaven. The same Christ who has the power to not only rightly guide you in this wicked world, but also provide the means for you to travel through this life with ‘out of this world’ rewards awaiting you at the end of your journey! The choice seems evident to me friend! What will you do about your eternity as you travel down life’s tough road? With God’s help, and at your request, He can help you redirect your life today. Please let Him do that, won’t you?

Prayer

Lord Jesus, we are so undeserving of such grace and mercy, yet You surrendered Your very life for our eternal future. Thank You for loving us to such extremes. Please soften the hearts of Your children today who need a new direction in their lives. They need You! Touch the lives of those that already know You so that we will not be a stumbling block to those who need You. In Christ Alone I Take My Stand! And I pray that my Brother or Sister reading this devotional will do the same today! Praise the name of the Lord forever! AMEN!

Footnote

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