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Post Date: |
Thursday, 2017-05-25 |
| SCRIPTURE | |
|
From: |
Mark 12:28-31 (ERV) |
|
Text: |
“Which of the commands is the most important?”29 Jesus answered, “The most important command is this: ‘People of Israel, listen! The Lord our God is the only Lord. 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.’ 31 The second most important command is this: ‘Love your neighbor the same as you love yourself.’ These two commands are the most important.” |
| OBSERVATION: | |
| A teacher of the law wanted to ‘cut to the chase’ and get the short answer by asking Jesus to tell them the most important commandments. Although I’m sure that Jesus could very easily have said that they all were important, knowing their hearts and the struggles that they dealt with each day, Jesus shared the two that, if closely followed, all other commandments would fall into place for them. | |
| APPLICATION: | |
| Like the teacher of law who approached Jesus, we often do this in conversation, especially when someone is known to be long-winded, for we would ask them to give us the short answer, or the 30,000′ high-level answer. Because we are so like the Sadducees, Jesus immediately knew that if they, or we, would commit ourselves to honoring God, and loving Him with all of our being, then our priorities would be in order, for there is no other God but He. Furthermore, our God is a jealous God, for He formed us in His likeness and desires our praise, worship and adoration. It’s not easy for us to apply this if our eyes are on other gods, or if we attend a worship service and our hearts are elsewhere. In the case of the second commandment, let’s not think for a moment that we could love our God and not love and honor His children – our neighbors. Friends, when we have these two things aligned in our lives, can’t you see where it would be especially challenging to commit sin against our God and our neighbors? In other words, we will easily honor the other commandments if we are truly committed to dealing with these two. So based on this Scripture, I believe that God wants us to evaluate our relationship with Him, and with our neighbors. What might He say about that if you stood before Him today? | |
| PRAYER: | |
| Lord Jesus, may it be evident to You and to the world that we love and adore You and that we honor you with our worship at every opportunity. May our relationship with our neighbor be one that is filled with love, just as You first loved us, and may we encourage each other towards love and good works. Lord, as this becomes evident to others, may You receive honor, glory and acceptance by those in our circle of family, friends and coworkers. 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: King
The Lens Through Which You See Life
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Post Date: |
Wednesday, 2017-05-24 |
| SCRIPTURE | |
|
From: |
Proverbs 7:1-3 (VOICE) |
|
Text: |
My son, live according to what I am telling you; guard my instructions as you would a treasure deep within you. 2 Stay true to my directives, and they will serve you well; make my teachings the lens through which you see life. 3 Bind cords around your fingers to remind you of them; meditate on them, and you’ll engrave them upon your heart. |
| OBSERVATION: | |
| In all of life’s decisions there is a plumb line by which we make decisions. In many work areas we are governed by city, state and national regulations. We are reminded in this Proverb that we who are called by God’s name, should be governed by His teachings. | |
| APPLICATION: | |
| My mom often said that you could tell if a child was brought up or drug up, by the way they acted in public and whether they obeyed what they were told by their parents in public, without stumping their feet as a demand to have it their way! I love this translation that says in verse 2 that we should view life and live it through the lens of God’s teachings. So let’s look closer at this today, by evaluating a few examples. If you fill yourself of the world all week and only find time to hear a few verses from God’s Word when your pastor takes his text from it on the weekend, which lens is most prevalent for you to view the things of this world or the decisions you make? To put this in perspective, there are 168 hours in every week. If only 1 hour is spent learning of God’s directives and 167 in filling your eyes, your ears and your mind, don’t you think that you would be 99.4% more likely to follow the ways of the world? In addition to looking like a parent, a child can often be recognized by the way they act, and the decisions they make, because they imitate their parents. They look at the world through the same lens that their parents did. The Word of God says that to know the Word of God and to defy it and do our own thing is sin. Let me remind you that sin cannot enter into God’s presence or into His heaven. Although we may be imperfect vessels here on this earth, God knows our heart. He knows the lens through which we make our decisions and our very intentions. It’s easy to fool some people into believing anything you say to them, but God not only knows the truth, but He also knows your intentions – the lens through which you made your decisions. Are you a child of God seeking daily to live for Him, living through the lens of His Word, and looking forward to the rewards of Heaven? If so, then I am so looking forward to being with you around the throne of God. If you are not one who has invited Jesus to be your Lord and King, then looking through the lens of your god – Satan, will unfortunately, not only cause you to act irrational and ungodly here on earth, but your future leads to hell and damnation for eternity. Not a pretty destination friend. Please read my Footnote for information that could help you make a change today. | |
| PRAYER: | |
| Dear Father, thank You for accepting me as Your very own son. Thank You for giving me parents and a community that led me towards the cross, where I found Your Son and accepted Him as my Savior. Thank You for churches and Christian family and friends that taught me more of Your teachings so that I would have the correct lens through which to live this life, as I prepare for meeting You in the next! Please help me to live this life more through the lens of Your teachings and expectations than the influence of this wicked world. Lord, please draw the unsaved unto yourself today, so that You may rule in their lives and direct them along the paths directed by You. May You be glorified in every way today, is my humble cry, 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! | |
Strive For Peace
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Post Date: |
Saturday, 2017-05-20 |
| SCRIPTURE | |
|
From: |
Psalm 34:13-16 (GNT) |
|
Text: |
13 Then keep from speaking evil and from telling lies. 14 Turn away from evil and do good; strive for peace with all your heart. 15 The Lord watches over the righteous |
| OBSERVATION: | |
| No doubt the people of David’s day were no different to us, for he pleaded with them, as he does for us, to look for ways to live in peace. In fact, David tells us that our God is a God of love and He therefore blesses those who love one another, and who creates an atmosphere of love. David assures us that God is so opposed to those who don’t follow His plan to love and live peaceably together, that He does nothing to bless them here on earth, and that He ensures that they are soon forgotten when they die. | |
| APPLICATION: | |
| I’m sure that as you read these verses, there are some folk who come to your mind. In fact you may even be reminded of how it feels in your own home, or church, or workplace when there is unrest. Countries go to war over unrest and many are often killed as a result of the battles that ensue. Homes are destroyed, bringing ill fate to couples and this often results in troubled children. Families are separated, with years of unhappiness and many situations of losing touch with each other. Friends, unless we live in peace with one another, we tend to create unrest instead of peace and love. Please let’s learn to hold our tongue and look for ways to promote peace. When we do this under the guidance and help of our Lord, and live in a manner that imitates His life here on earth, we are bound to create peace instead of strife. Verse 14 is God’s words to us, telling us to strive for, and make every effort to, ignore what the world or the devil tells us to do, and promote peace, in as much as we are concerned. Please notice that nothing is said about conditions for us to act this way. In other words, the Bible teaches just the opposite, for we are taught to love and live peaceably in every way that we can, and that means that we do this when folk are loving and kind back to us, or even if they continue to act like Satan himself. That’s why we need the overflowing love, and power of Christ inside of us, for only through His awesome grace and power can we strive for peace with folk who are bound and determined to destroy us or break down our good intentions. So friends, it’s up to us. With God’s help we can do this! | |
| PRAYER: | |
| Lord, it is very evident that what the world needs most is to have more folk living exactly as described through Your servant David. Please humble and enable us to be more like You every day, and give us the strength and grace to do this in spite of the attitude or intent of the other party. Lord, please unite our families, our churches, our towns and our country, so that we may one day look more like, and act like You in every way. Most will know that You are King when they see us allowing You to rule and reign through our lives. Please grant us the will to live in peace and love with one another. 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! | |
Give The Lord A Chance
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Post Date: |
Thursday, 2017-05-18 |
| SCRIPTURE | |
|
From: |
Psalm 34:8-10 (ERV) |
|
Text: |
8 Give the Lord a chance to show you how good he is. Great blessings belong to those who depend on him! 9 The Lord’s holy people should fear and respect him. Those who respect him will always have what they need. 10 Even strong lions get weak and hungry, but those who go to the Lord for help will have every good thing. |
| OBSERVATION: | |
| Speaking from firsthand experience, David is challenging his readers to just give God a chance, then we will see how awesome He truly is, and how trustworthy He is. For those of us who have already placed our faith and trust in Jesus, we are to respect and honor Him, knowing that all good and worthwhile things come from the Father above. | |
| APPLICATION: | |
| I find it amazing how faithful, appreciative and praiseworthy we become to those who help us in one way or the other when we are in need. Yet when we put our feet on the floor each morning and actually have feet to stand on, air to breathe and the warmth and comfort of a home, we tend to take that for granted – as if all that is due to us. But that’s only ‘good’ for those of us that could ignore the news reports of folk starving, homeless, and many without vital limbs to give them mobility. Friends, the Word of God says that we could expect rich blessings if we love Him, respect Him, honor Him and call on Him in every aspect of life. As for that very last item, we must do a better job of allowing God to steer us throughout our day, for I believe that as we do that, we will become less desperate when the repercussions of the crazy, sinful choices that we make on our own. I am fascinated by the fact that we have a Savior who willingly gave His life so that we might have eternal life with He and His Father. A Savior who made the ultimate sacrifice to show His love for us. How could I but love Him? How could I but serve Him? How could I but thank Him, my Savior and my Lord! I know Him, call Him Lord and rest all my cares in His loving, but strong and powerful hands. Do you, friend? | |
| PRAYER: | |
| Lord, thank You for this reminder from the Psalmist. You created us, created everything around us to enjoy, and then also offered Your precious Son as a sacrifice so that we might live eternally with You. More love than we could even imagine or comprehend. Oh that we might learn to accept that love, that sacrifice and that gift offered to undeserving sinners in need of a Savior. Lord, please speak to the hearts of those who will meditate on this devotional, just as You have already done to me. Please continue to draw us close to You. AMEN! | |
| FOOTNOTE: | |
| There are two more pages on my blog that will provide you with additional information, one of them being ‘To Know Jesus’. If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please click on the above page, or speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. Please allow someone to pray with you and give you help and/or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Words underlined in my blog could indicate a link to a song that came to mind as I wrote the devotional. Feel free to click on the link and listen as you continue to read or pray. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to Nuggets From God’s Word and read more, or you may freely to subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. If you are anywhere near the Highlands County, Florida area and do not have a church home, I would be thrilled to welcome you at Bible Fellowship Church, located at 3750 Hammock Rd, Sebring, FL 33872! Click the link to check out service times and/or other special activities. God is at work among us! Please consider coming to worship with us! | |
Holding On Tightly
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Post Date: |
Wednesday, 2017-05-17 |
| SCRIPTURE | |
|
From: |
Mark 10:20-23 (MSG) |
|
Text: |
20 He said, “Teacher, I have—from my youth—kept them all!”
21 Jesus looked him hard in the eye—and loved him! He said, “There’s one thing left: Go sell whatever you own and give it to the poor. All your wealth will then be heavenly wealth. And come follow me.” 22 The man’s face clouded over. This was the last thing he expected to hear, and he walked off with a heavy heart. He was holding on tight to a lot of things, and not about to let go. 23 Looking at his disciples, Jesus said, “Do you have any idea how difficult it is for people who ‘have it all’ to enter God’s kingdom?” |
| OBSERVATION: | |
| This rich young man felt like there was something missing in his life, in spite of all his riches. Having heard the stories about Jesus, and especially about this kingdom of which Jesus spoke, he decided to ask Jesus what it would take for him to make the cut. Jesus gave him a list of commandments, and the man felt like he had been obeying them from a very early age. Then Jesus got to the very core of this man’s issue – his riches. Because he was holding tight to his riches, he stopped asking Jesus further questions and instead left very saddened. | |
| APPLICATION: | |
| I believe that if each of us went to Jesus today on our own, there would be something that we are holding on to tightly that He could draw to our attention. For some, it might be riches, but for others it might be your job/business, or perhaps your family or friends or parties or sports or internet, etc, etc. I believe another way to analyze your own situation is to imagine Jesus asking you to go to a mission field that might be hundreds of miles away – what would be your biggest excuse to Him as to why you can’t leave in a few days? Now that you have figured that one out, what if God told you to get up and spend a few days with a poor lonely person a few blocks away as He is calling them to salvation and wants your influence in their life for a while? What might be the factor or excuse that would cause you to decline God’s request? I know, these things that I’ve mentioned are very challenging for some to even think about, so I’ll tell you what, why not just invite your neighbors to church with you this weekend? Oh you can’t because you have a fishing trip planned? Or is it a beach day, or family in town, or your favorite team is playing on Sunday and you can’t miss one minute of the game? Friends, I believe you are probably getting the idea by now, for if God is truly a priority in our lives, because we have said ‘Yes’ to His lordship, then what would truly prevent us from responding to the Master’s call? I would suggest that although many of us are not ‘rich’ financially, we are ‘rich’ in the things of this world. Try attending a retreat out in the wild, away from internet, television and worldly hindrances and see how close you can draw to God. While there, consider the things of this world that claim your attention and hinders your time and/or obedience to God. Those things are your ‘riches’ that Jesus might be asking you to diminish in your life so that He might claim your full attention. Singing that song ‘Draw me close to You’ will not do the job friend, only your willingness to let go of those things that you hold on to more tightly than God. | |
| PRAYER: | |
| Lord, I am convicted through this Scripture today that there are things of this world that Satan has used to distract us from holding You first in our lives, or having You as our priority in life. If we fought as hard to make You a priority, as we do for work, or church meetings, or family, or riches, then we might be like a large ship controlled by a very small rudder, for we would be way more sensitive to Your voice and Your commands. We may not be rich, as the young ruler was, but we do have distractions galore, so please Lord, draw our attention to the things that hinder our close walk with You and draw us close to You. We need You every hour dear Lord, stay close to us and encourage us to always stay close to You. AMEN! | |
| FOOTNOTE: | |
| There are two more pages on my blog that will provide you with additional information, one of them being ‘To Know Jesus’. If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please click on the above page, or speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. Please allow someone to pray with you and give you help and/or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Words underlined in my blog could indicate a link to a song that came to mind as I wrote the devotional. Feel free to click on the link and listen as you continue to read or pray. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to Nuggets From God’s Word and read more, or you may freely to subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. If you are anywhere near the Highlands County, Florida area and do not have a church home, I would be thrilled to welcome you at Bible Fellowship Church, located at 3750 Hammock Rd, Sebring, FL 33872! Click the link to check out service times and/or other special activities. God is at work among us! Please consider coming to worship with us! | |
Accept THE GIFT Like a Child
|
Post Date: |
Tuesday, 2017-05-16 |
| SCRIPTURE | |
|
From: |
Mark 10:14-16 (ERV) |
|
Text: |
14 …. So he said to them, “Let the little children come to me. Don’t stop them, because God’s kingdom belongs to people who are like these little children. 15 The truth is, you must accept God’s kingdom like a little child accepts things, or you will never enter it.” 16 Then Jesus held the children in his arms. He laid his hands on them and blessed them. |
| OBSERVATION: | |
| The disciples did exactly like we would still do today. When the crowds came pressing in on the center of attention, Jesus, they thought to begin reducing the confusion by keeping the children at bay. Surely Jesus would want to speak with the town authorities, or possibly the indigent, or even the known rebels in the town, But to their surprise, Jesus got upset at them, because He wanted the children to come to Him. | |
| APPLICATION: | |
| One translation reads that adults must learn about and accept Jesus in the simplicity of a child. I know that some adults still get pretty excited on Christmas morning, but really nothing to compare to the excitement of a child. Ever notice how a child never meets a ‘stranger’? For those that are not too sheltered, they will walk up to a total stranger and talk to them just like they would to a family member. Ever notice how children absorb everything they are taught, while adults must prove it first? Google has become our greatest friend, because when we can’t trust what the pastor said in church, we could prove him wrong by checking it out on Google! Our children are so trusting that we have to teach them at a very early age that there are some bad people out there that they must be careful of. Adults often have to be retrained that there are some good people out there that they can trust and befriend! In our text today, Jesus is teaching us that adults are to receive kingdom things like little children, with trust and dependence on Him. Our personal abilities, riches, or effort does nothing to enhance our personal relationship with Jesus. Ever notice how within a few days of being with their school or Sunday school teacher, a child will greet them each time with a great big hug and a smile, because they have found someone who cares for them and loves them in return. That’s the same way it is with Jesus Christ. He has already proven His love for us, for with arms stretched from east to west on the cross at Calvary He showed us how much He loved us. And although our eternal life was very costly to Jesus, He made the sacrifice so that we would not allow personal cost to be a hindrance to accepting Him and entering heaven’s portals. Spend some time around a child today and at the end of the day, review your relationship with the King of Glory in light of the faith, trust and love that you witnessed as you observed that child. | |
| PRAYER: | |
| Heavenly Father, You created us as children so that, as adults, we could appreciate the qualities in little people. I’m sure that as You grew us into adulthood You expected us to maintain some of what we learned as a child, but I believe that we have taken on so many bad qualities of this world, that we have lost much of our faith, trust, humility and love. These are not only qualities we see in our children, but they are key qualities we see in our Savior, and qualities that help us to draw close to You, dear Lord. Please continue to draw us to yourself and please continue to strengthen the qualities that we need in order to draw close to You and be a living witness of You with all that we come into contact with. We are Your children Lord, please help us to love, trust, honor and worship You as child would, 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 Guide For Living
|
Post Date: |
Monday, 2017-05-15 |
| SCRIPTURE | |
|
From: |
Psalm 119:33-35 (MSG) |
|
Text: |
God, teach me lessons for living so I can stay the course. Give me insight so I can do what you tell me— my whole life one long, obedient response. Guide me down the road of your commandments; |
| OBSERVATION: | |
| The Psalmist realized that life is way more challenging than anything man could expect, or deal with. He knew that his hope rests in the Eternal God. He also realized that everything that God had laid out in His Word is more than sufficient to lead the person committed to God and wanting to live like He taught us and commanded us. However, David was well aware that although the mind is willing to read, and the heart wants to obey the Word, that Satan’s plan is to derail that at every opportunity. | |
| APPLICATION: | |
| I believe it is evident that things have not changed a whole lot for mankind today. For although we may recognize the need for God, we are also easily distracted by the things of this world. First and foremost I must share with you from first hand experience that although I may have been classified as a ‘good man’ it came a point in my life that I realized that I didn’t have everything I needed to handle all aspects of life and still try to live a life that would be pleasing to God. I just couldn’t do it on my own. It was at this time of searching, that Jesus became very evident to me, and through the preaching of His Word one Sunday evening in 1976, I walked forward in a well populated church to say ‘yes’ to Jesus. Since that time, I have learned principles for living in His Word, through the preaching and teaching of His Word, and from role models who demonstrated the Christian life and showed me by example, what it meant to live like Jesus. The Psalmist asked that God direct him to just be able to stay the course. I would suggest adding to that: “so that not only I would see You in glory, but all those who follow in my example”. Friends, the Bible is the perfect ‘How-to’ Book of Instruction for us to read and follow. For those, like me, who need a Guide, a Protector, a Stronghold and a Savior in your time of weakness, I would encourage you to invite Jesus into your heart and allow Him to have His will and His way in your life. He not only has the power to save you from your sin and damnation, but He alone has the power to help you overcome the temptations of Satan that is laced with sin, and will set your feet on higher ground – one that is capable of living a godly life and for witnessing to the world the power that lies within you, for greater is He that is in us, than he that is in the world! | |
| PRAYER: | |
| Dear Jesus, I need thee every hour. That great old hymn contains the words of many that will read this devotional today, for I don’t believe that any of us feel like we have things under control already, nor confident that we could handle whatever comes our way today or tomorrow. Lord, we need You every step and every day. You alone are worthy, and You alone are powerful enough to protect us from the attempts of Satan to distract us and ultimately destroy us. David was not alone in needing Your touch in every aspect of his life, for we need you more today than any other time in history. Thank You Lord for being our Master, but yet our Friend and our Father. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from all evil, is my humble plea for all your children today Lord, AMEN! | |
| FOOTNOTE: | |
| There are two more pages on my blog that will provide you with additional information, one of them being ‘To Know Jesus’. If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please click on the above page, or speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. Please allow someone to pray with you and give you help and/or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Words underlined in my blog could indicate a link to a song that came to mind as I wrote the devotional. Feel free to click on the link and listen as you continue to read or pray. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to Nuggets From God’s Word and read more, or you may freely to subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. If you are anywhere near the Highlands County, Florida area and do not have a church home, I would be thrilled to welcome you at Bible Fellowship Church, located at 3750 Hammock Rd, Sebring, FL 33872! Click the link to check out service times and/or other special activities. God is at work among us! Please consider coming to worship with us! | |
God Can!
|
Post Date: |
Friday, 2017-05-12 |
| SCRIPTURE | |
|
From: |
Mark 9:28-29 (ERV) |
|
Text: |
28 Then Jesus went into the house. His followers were alone with him there. They said, “Why weren’t we able to force that evil spirit out?”
29 Jesus answered, “That kind of spirit can be forced out only with prayer. |
| OBSERVATION: | |
| On the first read of this passage of Scripture, one might assume that the disciples didn’t have enough faith, or perhaps they didn’t have the necessary power to command the evil spirit out of the boy brought to them by his father. But we will have a closer look at what Jesus told His disciples so that we might also know how to handle these situations today. | |
| APPLICATION: | |
| TV evangelists will tell you that you must bring the sick to them for healing. Some churches have healing services, while others barely bring the subject up. Jesus had performed many miracles in the presence of His disciples, and He even told them that they had power to do what they had seen Him do. However in this instance, Jesus told the disciples that this type of issue could only be handled through prayer. And prayer is directed to whom? Jesus is telling the disciples that only God could handle this type of a situation. In other words, be careful how you go about thinking that you can do anything. Notice in verse 18 the father told Jesus that he took the child to His followers and they couldn’t get rid of the evil spirit from his son. Friends, today we are no different. We are advocates of the Father, and we had best remember who is in charge. May we never assume that we could do anything in our own strength. Our job is to communicate (pray) to the Father. It is He who does the healing, if within His perfect will, He sees and understands that this would be the best thing for the individual, and that it might bring praise and honor to His Son, Jesus. The other thing that we must be careful of, is the manner in which we approach the throne of grace and speak with our Father. We are not His boss, so we don’t approach Him as such. Servants approach their Master in humility, thanksgiving and with petitions that He alone may choose to respond to. Notice in verse 29 Jesus said that the Father must be approached in prayer, meaning that we should plead our case/requests with Him, Remember, we do the asking, God does the healing. I don’t believe that God would be very happy at all with us if we try to reverse the rolls, for after all, He alone is God. As His workmanship, we are simply tools that He could use to accomplish His will and His work, if He so chooses. | |
| PRAYER: | |
| Lord Jesus, it is so easy for us to pick pieces of Scripture and hang our hats on those nuggets, as they may better fit the situation we are facing at the time. Lord, please get our attention to the fact that You are in control and that You alone are capable of the miraculous works of the Master. We are simple, humble servants and we must approach Your throne with that simplicity. Servants ask, not tell their Master what to do. May we never forget the authority You have over us, nor forget the absolute lack of authority we have over You. Thank You Lord for loving us anyway and for allowing us to represent You before a lost world. Thank You for Your discipline when its necessary to remind us who’s in control! With much love, appreciation and submissiveness I ask these things dear 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! | |
Who Is Jesus – In Your Eyes?
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Post Date: |
Wednesday, 2017-05-10 |
| SCRIPTURE | |
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From: |
Mark 8:27-30 (GNT) |
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Text: |
27 Then Jesus and his disciples went away to the villages near Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, “Tell me, who do people say I am?”
28 “Some say that you are John the Baptist,” they answered; “others say that you are Elijah, while others say that you are one of the prophets.” 29 “What about you?” he asked them. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.” 30 Then Jesus ordered them, “Do not tell anyone about me.” |
| OBSERVATION: | |
| Jesus had been preparing the disciples for this very important question that He posed to them in verse 29. He had shared several parables that really got them mentally prepared for the question ‘But Whom Do You Say that I am?’ This remains an important question for us today! | |
| APPLICATION: | |
| How often have you gone home from church and been asked about the service? Most of us tend to respond about what the preacher spoke on, if we remember! Some will tell of the special visitors to the service, while others might tell how the preacher really got on to the parishioners in his challenging words. But what if you were asked to specifically tell what you personally got from the sermon? Now, think about a scenario at work, where Jesus and the local church is being discussed. Having heard you mention the name of Jesus before, you might be asked who He is to you and what is your relationship to Him. That’s a wide open door to share the gospel and your personal relationship with Jesus, friend. Are you prepared in your mind to do that? Jesus got very personal with the disciples when He asked their opinion about, and their relationship with Himself. May I encourage you to mull over in your mind how you would respond if a family member, or a friend, or even Jesus asked you today “So who is Jesus to you?”. I pray that your response would influence an unbeliever to learn more about your Jesus and want to know Him in a personal and meaningful way as you do. I pray that Jesus would be convinced that you are His and He is yours, forever! | |
| PRAYER: | |
| Lord Jesus, You gave up Your life for me, so that I may spend eternity with You and Your Father. You called me to Yourself and I surrendered my life to You. You have loved me, watched and protected me, and the Bible says that You have prepared a place for me! Thank You for being my Lord, my Master, my Comforter, my Redeemer and my soon coming King. May there always be a witness on my lips, love in my heart and excitement over uniting with You when You call me away from this old earth. May others find every reason to want a relationship with my King, because of the evidence they see in my life. May my readers be encouraged, and always prepared to share the reason for their joy in knowing You personally, so that You may be glorified in all things. AMEN! | |
| FOOTNOTE: | |
| There are two more pages on my blog that will provide you with additional information, one of them being ‘To Know Jesus’. If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please click on the above page, or speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. Please allow someone to pray with you and give you help and/or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Words underlined in my blog could indicate a link to a song that came to mind as I wrote the devotional. Feel free to click on the link and listen as you continue to read or pray. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to Nuggets From God’s Word and read more, or you may freely to subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. If you are anywhere near the Highlands County, Florida area and do not have a church home, I would be thrilled to welcome you at Bible Fellowship Church, located at 3750 Hammock Rd, Sebring, FL 33872! Click the link to check out service times and/or other special activities. God is at work among us! Please consider coming to worship with us! | |
Answers to Life’s Dilemmas
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Post Date: |
Tuesday, 2017-05-09 |
| SCRIPTURE | |
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From: |
Psalm 32:6-8 (TLB) |
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Text: |
6 Now I say that each believer should confess his sins to God when he is aware of them, while there is time to be forgiven. Judgment will not touch him if he does.
7 You are my hiding place from every storm of life; you even keep me from getting into trouble! You surround me with songs of victory. 8 I will instruct you (says the Lord) and guide you along the best pathway for your life; I will advise you and watch your progress. |
| OBSERVATION: | |
| Clicking on the Scripture reference above will give you all of the verses in chapter 6. You will see that before David went into telling his readers what they should do, he shared his own personal experience. David knew from first hand experience that a life fully surrendered to God is one that rests peacefully in the arms of Jesus, blessed by, and enjoying His love and protection both here in this life and in the next. | |
| APPLICATION: | |
| The words of many preachers ring in our ears, “if ever we needed a Savior like the one described by David, it is now”. I believe we hear those words and quickly brush them off our shoulders convinced that they are meant for the person behind us or besides us, because of all the issues they currently have. However, I have also heard saints of God rejoice in the fact that they are ever so thankful that they had a loving and caring God by their side as they went through various aspects of life that might otherwise have taken some people under. Friends, because of my relationship with my Savior, I can safely say that it is well with my soul. My sins have been forgiven, and I am not only a child of the King of all kings, but He has given to me His very own Protector and Guide, through the Holy Spirit that has taken up residence within me. I am destined for a perfect place with a perfect God, and regardless of anything that might come my way here on this earth, nothing can change my eternal destination nor my Master and Lord. With that kind of peace and eternal security, I am constantly concerned for those in my family and circle of friends who have decided to do this life on their own. I can therefore identify with David in verse 6. For I too am concerned about all that are outside of the fold, without hope, without security and without relationship with the Savior of the world. Friends, know God and be convinced about who’s in charge of your life today and throughout eternity. Without God, your suffering and complexities of life are only beginning, for there is no mercy, no love and nothing to look forward to under Satan’s control. | |
| PRAYER: | |
| Thank You Father for making provisions for us to find peace in this world through Your Son Jesus. Thank You also for the bright hope that we have in tomorrow when we have a personal relationship with Your Son. Please touch the hardened hearts of family and friends who have yet to accept You as their Savior and Lord. Please don’t give up on them for, like David, it is my desire to see them overcome the tug of Satan on their lives and to see them give total control to You. Lord, please find ways to once again speak to them today. May this be the day of salvation for all in need of You, who will read this and need the hope of eternity. May they find peace in knowing You, AMEN! | |
| FOOTNOTE: | |
| There are two more pages on my blog that will provide you with additional information, one of them being ‘To Know Jesus’. If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please click on the above page, or speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. Please allow someone to pray with you and give you help and/or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Words underlined in my blog could indicate a link to a song that came to mind as I wrote the devotional. Feel free to click on the link and listen as you continue to read or pray. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to Nuggets From God’s Word and read more, or you may freely to subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. If you are anywhere near the Highlands County, Florida area and do not have a church home, I would be thrilled to welcome you at Bible Fellowship Church, located at 3750 Hammock Rd, Sebring, FL 33872! Click the link to check out service times and/or other special activities. God is at work among us! Please consider coming to worship with us! | |
Nuggets From God's Word 