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Post Date: |
Saturday, 2017-11-04 |
| SCRIPTURE | |
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From: |
John 10:9-10 (Voice) |
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Text: |
9 I am the gate; whoever enters through Me will be liberated, will go in and go out, and will find pastures. 10 The thief approaches with malicious intent, looking to steal, slaughter, and destroy; I came to give life with joy and abundance. |
| OBSERVATION: | |
| Jesus faced an issue that may seem to some as being unheard of today. The leaders of the day made it look like they were out to do the best for their people, but it was known, and was very obvious to Jesus, that they were out for personal gain; recognition; and holding the people hostage to only their belief and lifestyle. Jesus saw straight through this, and took the opportunity to tell the leaders through parables. Let’s see what the application might be in this for us….. |
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| APPLICATION: | |
I’m not sure what the estimated percentage of Christ believers are in each country represented by my followers of this blog, but I believe that each of us are probably ashamed of that percentage, and wish that the numbers were reversed between Christians and unbelievers. So let’s take a moment and see what the challenges may be that’s causing the thieves to get to so many family members, friends, work associates and even church attendees. See if you would agree with me on some of the ‘thieves’ I will list:
I believe that until you are willing to state your Christian beliefs, and be willing to stand up for the principles of Christ, the world will consider you yet another counterfeit. Jesus referred to the Pharisee leaders as thieves that have come to steal and destroy good people. If you were challenged by God on any of the above things, or perhaps others, may I suggest that you revitalize your relationship with the Master and allow Him to direct your path and your priorities. He wants an intimate relationship with you, my friend. He particularly designed you for this. |
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| PRAYER: | |
| Lord Jesus, please enlighten us to the distractors in our life. Lord, we want to draw close to You and we know that we can’t do this when we have so many other things distracting us. It is so important that others see Jesus in us, and not the things of this world. Please give us boldness to stand firm in our beliefs and our commitment to You. Today may be a day for someone to see Jesus. Lord shine through each of us so that they may see You. AMEN! |
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| 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: master
Our Strength and Our Guide
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Post Date: |
Friday, 2017-11-03 |
| SCRIPTURE | |
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From: |
2 Timothy 1:7-8a (ERV) |
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Text: |
7 The Spirit God gave us does not make us afraid. His Spirit is a source of power and love and self-control.
8 So don’t be ashamed to tell people about our Lord Jesus. |
| OBSERVATION: | |
| Paul was mentoring his son in the faith, Timothy, and doing everything possible to warn him about situations he would possibly face as he entered his mission field. To face the challenges, Paul found it important to remind Timothy who his ‘support arm’; ‘encourager’; ‘strength’ and ‘guide’ would be. Perhaps we need to be reminded of this as we enter each day and face the many challenges that await us! |
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| APPLICATION: | |
There are probably two or more types of people today. Those who face each day with vigor and vitality, knowing that they have been given another opportunity to bless others and celebrate God. While the other group probably moans over the mistakes of yesterday and can’t imagine how much worse it will be today in their world. Friends, we are reminded in the Scripture today that God’s Holy Spirit resides inside those of us that have surrendered our lives to His lordship, and that we have nothing to be afraid of. Through Paul, God is reminding us that His Holy Spirit:
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| PRAYER: | |
| Thank You Father for Your Holy Spirit. You knew from the very beginning that we could not live in this world under our own strength and still win over the ills of Satan. You have blessed us with power, love, self-control and bravery to not be afraid in this world, for You are with us in every way. What a joy and oh what peace, to know that our Savior is also our Master and Lord. We need your strength each day Lord, please help us to represent You in every part of our character. AMEN! |
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| 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! | |
Ready To Defend Jesus?
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Post Date: |
Friday, 2017-11-02 |
| SCRIPTURE | |
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From: |
John 9:30-33 (ERV) |
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Text: |
30 The man answered, “This is really strange! You don’t know where he comes from, but he healed my eyes. 31 We all know that God does not listen to sinners, but he will listen to anyone who worships and obeys him. 32 This is the first time we have ever heard of anyone healing the eyes of someone born blind. 33 This man must be from God. If he were not from God, he could not do anything like this.” |
| OBSERVATION: | |
| A blind man was miraculously healed by Jesus, when He mixed mud with spittle, placed it on the blind man’s eyes and told him to go and wash in the pool. In these verses the man who was once lost is having to defend Jesus before the local leaders. Let’s see how this might apply to us today…. | |
| APPLICATION: | |
| Does the general population hear about what goes on in your church? Do they know how your child go well again? Do they ask about the difference in your character compared to most of your coworkers? I would imagine the answer to most of these questions might be: ‘sometimes’; or ‘when I feel safe, I tell them; or ‘we’re not allowed to talk about religion around work’. Isn’t that strange, when it doesn’t matter that employees talk about baseball games, or lotto winners, politics or just about anything else? This blind man was probably a ‘nobody’ before this healing incident, but when he started to praise God for all that Jesus did for him, it soon got the attention of the religious leaders who couldn’t identify with, or believe that God would change anything in the religious order of their day. In fact, they were so convinced of this that they called Jesus a sinner who just happened into their town. I wonder if this is not one of the things that interfere with folk accepting Jesus today? Perhaps some cannot understand why God would love them so much that He would allow His only Son to die a cruel death as a substitute for the sin of those who surrender their lives over to His lordship. Perhaps some see the lack of reaction of Christians to such an awesome God, that they are convinced there is no big deal to this Christian life and that they barely hear of any miracles or ‘God moments’ with the Christians they know. Friends, I believe the same thing happens in marriage if one of the partners chooses to continue doing everything they did as a single person. The truth is that if we love Jesus, the world will recognize that love. If we adore our King and worship Him at every opportunity, the world might become curious about the source of our happiness. If we stay in God’s Word and make every effort to obey His commands and live according to His precepts, then the world will see the difference and want to know this Jesus who made a change in us. Is there any difference in your life that’s evident to those you come into contact with? | |
| PRAYER: | |
| Lord Jesus, You are my Savior, my Lord and my everlasting King. Thank You for being so merciful, wonderful and miraculous in my life, and I pray that You will give me perfect moments to share that with someone who needs to know You personally. I would specifically petition You to touch the lives of Christians once again with a fresh dose of Your love, mercy and grace, so that the world might know that Jesus lives, and that He lives in our heart. AMEN! | |
| FOOTNOTE: | |
| There are two more pages on my blog that will provide you with additional information, one of them being ‘To Know Jesus’. If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please click on the above page, or speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. Please allow someone to pray with you and give you help and/or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Words underlined in my blog could indicate a link to a song that came to mind as I wrote the devotional. Feel free to click on the link and listen as you continue to read or pray. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to Nuggets From God’s Word and read more, or you may freely to subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. If you are anywhere near the Highlands County, Florida area and do not have a church home, I would be thrilled to welcome you at Bible Fellowship Church, located at 3750 Hammock Rd, Sebring, FL 33872! Click the link to check out service times and/or other special activities. God is at work among us! Please consider coming to worship with us! | |
So That God May Be Glorified!
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Post Date: |
Wednesday, 2017-11-01 |
| SCRIPTURE | |
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From: |
John 9:2-3 (GNT) |
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Text: |
2 His disciples asked him, “Teacher, whose sin caused him to be born blind? Was it his own or his parents’ sin?” 3 Jesus answered, “His blindness has nothing to do with his sins or his parents’ sins. He is blind so that God’s power might be seen at work in him. |
| OBSERVATION: | |
| Jesus happened across a blind man sitting along the edge of the road. His followers had become such students of their master that they decided to ask about the reason for the man’s blindness. Jesus’ response may have been more than they expected, because He told them how His Father would be glorified even through this man’s blindness. Let’s look into the reasons why God may have particularly had this story included in the Book for us….. |
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| APPLICATION: | |
| It seems like we thrive on things that make us feel sorry for ourselves, and especially those things that might help others to feel sorry for us. Furthermore, we tend to always look for an explanation on why things are the way they are. This is why the followers of Jesus needed to have the matter resolved in their minds, about why the man was made blind. And they realized that it made no sense asking anyone else that question because no one else but God knew the reason, or cause, for his blindness. Now let’s look closer at the response by Jesus: ‘so that God might be glorified in his life‘. Suppose the crippled or the dumb recognized that they were made the way they are ‘for God’s glory‘, instead of them feeling cursed. Suppose you and I recognized this fact each and every day, instead of wishing that we were as pretty/handsome as the neighbor, or as rich as our employer, or as lucky as the lotto winner? Oh that we might recognize and be constantly reminded that we are made meticulously by God and for His glory. Would we not quickly learn to praise Him for our good times, and for those times that we know God is at work in our lives, even though we sure wish that life would be so different for us? Friends, our God made no junk. Each of us are precious in His sight and we are made for His glory. Let’s work hard to avoid distraction from His almighty and glorious plan for our lives. To God be the glory for all He has done, and for all that He continues to do in our lives, especially when we feel like the world is against us and our health is failing, or no one else cares about us. |
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| PRAYER: | |
| Lord, please forgive us when we feel down and out because of feeling less than someone else. Even in our handicap, we have no reason to whine or complain, because we must quickly remember that we are children of the King – the King of all kings. Father, I pray that You might humble those who are proud and those who feel sorry about who they are. I am reminded that we are precious in Your sight and that as Your royal children, we are loved immensely by you. Oh that You may be glorified in all that we do and say, especially when we look inward at ourselves. AMEN! |
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| 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! | |
Importance of The Father and The Son
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Post Date: |
Tuesday, 2017-10-31 |
| SCRIPTURE | |
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From: |
John 8:19-20 (TLB) |
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Text: |
19 “Where is your father?” they asked.
Jesus answered, “You don’t know who I am, so you don’t know who my Father is. If you knew me, then you would know him too.” 20 Jesus made these statements while in the section of the Temple known as the Treasury. But he was not arrested, for his time had not yet run out. |
| OBSERVATION: | |
| It is difficult to see the truth or know the man when you don’t trust him or spend time with him. This is what happened to the Pharisees when they were looking for ways to arrest Jesus. They were so intent in looking for the worst in Jesus, and for possible reasons to arrest Him, that their eyes were blinded to the fact that the God of this universe was actually one with His Son, Jesus. I believe that God still wants His children to seek after His Son. Let’s develop an appropriate application for this Scripture…. | |
| APPLICATION: | |
| Often when a person is in trouble, their first instinct is to call on God. This will often include non-Christians and saints. I believe that one of the messages included in this Scripture today is that you are to know Jesus, if you truly want to know the Master of this universe, God. We will hear friends and loved ones asking for our prayers when there is trouble going on in their lives or in the lives of their loved ones. Who is this ‘God’ to them? One who stands ready to save the lives of those who crucify Him again and again each day through mocking and despising His Son? Friends, when there is One who loves you so much that He was born with a specific purpose in mind – His Father wanted to provide a means for us to make it to heaven. He saw where the sacrifice of animals was just not cutting it, so He miraculously sent His Son through a human mother, so that we could see and understand that He was just like us – born of a woman. The Bible records many miracles so that we could see that Jesus was also God. However, just as recorded by the prophets of old, Jesus also died a very cruel death at the hands of mankind who despised Him and didn’t want Him around. We tend to practice a type of crucifixion ourselves when we want to do our own thing, without the accountability of God – the One who loves us beyond anything we could ever imagine. To my readers, some of whom might be my own blood relatives, I want to plead with you to reconsider this Jesus who showed ultimate love for us, through His death on the cross at Calvary, so that we might enjoy life abundantly with He and His Father in heaven for all eternity. If you have yet to surrender your life to Jesus and receive this ultimate gift of love, please do that today. Our time here on earth is not assured beyond the very moment that you read this blog, so please don’t procrastinate, bow your head and invite Jesus into your heart right now and ask Him to forgive you of your sin. |
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| PRAYER: | |
| Lord Jesus, thank You for providing the means for us to spend eternity with You and Your Father, God. A sacrifice that we will probably never fully understand. However, for those of us that have accepted that free gift of love, we are eternally grateful to You and we look forward to the day that we can look full into Your wonderful face and enjoy the sweet communion with You and our Father, God. Please give us wisdom on ways that we could help to touch the hearts and lives of those that have yet to make this decision, for we want to see all of our family, friends, coworkers and acquaintances joining with us in celebration around the throne on that great homecoming day! AMEN! |
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| 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! | |
Obedience In Spite Of Proven Methods
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Post Date: |
Thursday, 2017-10-26 |
| SCRIPTURE | |
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From: |
2 Samuel 5:22-25 (NIV) |
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Text: |
22 Once more the Philistines came up and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim; 23 so David inquired of the Lord, and he answered, “Do not go straight up, but circle around behind them and attack them in front of the poplar trees. 24 As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the poplar trees, move quickly, because that will mean the Lord has gone out in front of you to strike the Philistine army.” 25 So David did as the Lord commanded him, and he struck down the Philistines all the way from Gibeon to Gezer. |
| OBSERVATION: | |
| Through obedience to God, David had already defeated the Philistines in the valley of Rephaim. However, when their army returned to the same place, David didn’t assume that the instructions God had given him earlier still applied. He went back before God in prayer again. This time, and in spite of different instructions, David never questioned God, but simply obeyed. Let’s see if we are as careful to ask and then obey, even if the instruction are different the second of successive times. |
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| APPLICATION: | |
| We hear the stories all the time how habitual ways of doing something is the best way. Another common phrase, or piece of worldly advice is that: ‘if it ain’t broken, don’t try to fix it’! Words of advice from a mother to a daughter might be: ‘you can only cook that roast in the manner that I taught you, because grandmothers recipe always works’, however stoves/ovens have changed drastically since the old wood-burning stoves of our ancestors! Friends, church is no different, for we take on some of these same attitudes as just mentioned. The world of electronics and everyday life has changed so much over the years. So, considering some of these things that I have just reflected on, how likely are we to change our tried and proven methods. especially if it results in bringing glory to God? Some folk bring their old King James Bible to church to study from or follow with the pastor’s sermon, while younger generations might bring one thing with them – their cell phone, or a tablet. Can we appreciate both without being judgmental? Look at how much wars have changed. In older movies we see nothing but men on the ground fighting from fairly close range. Today we watch as missiles are fired from miles away and hit a target with precision. Would our military be willing to change their course of action when a general tells them that God told him to do this war quite differently, because He would guide and protect the army into unbelievable success. Really give some thought to what David did in this story. God gave David instructions and because he obeyed, the battle against the Philistines was a huge success. Not long after, the Philistines presented themselves for battle in much the same way and in the same place. Wouldn’t you assume that David would have looked to God and said: ‘OK God, I got this. You showed me how to do this successfully already, and I still remember all of the details’. That is definitely not the course David followed. Just like each day presents itself differently, David went back to God and asked for His approval and His directions. When given different instructions, there is no record of David questioning God. He simple obeyed, and was successful once again. Friends, we need to be very dependent on God. Let’s go to Him every day and on every subject. What worked for us yesterday, may be under totally different circumstances today. God knows that before we take time to ask Him. Seek His face and be obedient to His voice Brothers and Sisters. His decisions are not based on a spin of the dice, for He is God and everything He created is under His control. Work on letting Him be God, and you being the obedient servant. It works – every time! |
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| PRAYER: | |
| Lord God, the Creator and Master of this universe, including all human beings, thank You for accepting me as one of Your children, and for taking the time to listen and direct even me. In facing this challenging world, we are pulled in so many ways. However Lord, we know that only You have the keys to the kingdom of heaven and the answers to all of this old world’s problems. Please help us to remain faithful, and never take the chance of making personal decisions without first being blessed by Your approval and Your direction. May we once again today surrender all at Your feet and allow You to fill us afresh for all that we will face today, for I ask this in the precious and all-powerful name of Jesus, AMEN! |
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| 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 Savior Who Is Intolerant To Sin
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Post Date: |
Wednesday, 2017-10-25 |
| SCRIPTURE | |
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From: |
Psalm 68:19-21 (NIV) |
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Text: |
19 Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens. 20 Our God is a God who saves; from the Sovereign Lord comes escape from death. 21 Surely God will crush the heads of his enemies, the hairy crowns of those who go on in their sins. |
| OBSERVATION: | |
| David found peace in knowing that it was unnecessary for him to constantly fight his enemies and those who showed hatred towards God, for he knew that vengeance belongs to God. Not a bad lesson for us to find peace in today, so let’s dig in to how we may apply this lesson…. |
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| APPLICATION: | |
| Way too often Christians miss many opportunities to enjoy God’s blessings, because we become so caught up in concocting ways that we could get back at that person who didn’t do or say what we wanted them to do or say. Friends, David realized in today’s Scripture that vengeance is God’s. In another scripture God tells us that ‘vengeance is mine’. I find it more than challenging to keep myself in tuned with God’s Word and obeying His commands, especially in being the instrument that He could use without being embarrassed of my words, actions and evil thoughts. Why would I add to that the additional sin of trying to take the ‘speck’ out of my brother’s eye? May I suggest that God’s Word indicates that we are to love even the brother or sister that dispitefully uses us, and to pray God’s richest blessings on them. I believe you will find it virtually impossible to hate that person on whom you are praying God’s rich blessings on. In fact, from experience I can tell you, that it is strangely amazing how things begin to clear up between the two of you. I’m sure that it’s the amazing touch of God on both individuals, because even though we clearly see the wrong in the other person, it is very challenging to remove that ‘board’ from our own eye long enough to see what God sees in us. Unfortunately, most issues are caused by two or more individuals and not just one. There’s a song that really sums up my thoughts today: ‘Open the eyes of my heart Lord’! Please remember to always ask God to help you see your heart first, before taking the needs of another before Him. |
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| PRAYER: | |
| Lord Jesus, most of our issues with others, begin with ourselves. Please give us boldness and humbleness of heart to first look inward for cleansing before we try to get someone else straight. Lord, You are King over all things and all people who would allow Your sovereignty. Please begin a cleansing in my own heart and life, so that I might be a witness of Your purity and love. May You rule and reign in every part of my life. Please also impact the lives of each person that reads this blog, for these blessings I give You praise oh Lord. AMEN! |
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| FOOTNOTE: | |
| There are two more pages on my blog that will provide you with additional information, one of them being ‘To Know Jesus’. If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please click on the above page, or speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. Please allow someone to pray with you and give you help and/or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Words underlined in my blog could indicate a link to a song that came to mind as I wrote the devotional. Feel free to click on the link and listen as you continue to read or pray. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to Nuggets From God’s Word and read more, or you may freely to subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. If you are anywhere near the Highlands County, Florida area and do not have a church home, I would be thrilled to welcome you at Bible Fellowship Church, located at 3750 Hammock Rd, Sebring, FL 33872! Click the link to check out service times and/or other special activities. God is at work among us! Please consider coming to worship with us! | |
How To Handle Praise
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Post Date: |
Monday, 2017-10-23 |
| SCRIPTURE | |
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From: |
Proverbs 27:21 (NCV) |
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Text: |
21 A hot furnace tests silver and gold, and people are tested by the praise they receive. |
| OBSERVATION: | |
| It is natural for us to give praise to others who have done a good job, because it serves to encourage them. It is also good for us to thank them for doing a good job. On the receiving end, it is often embarrassing to the one who did the job, because they would rather see God receive the praise. Let’s look at this dilemma and see how we believe God prefers to see this done. |
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| APPLICATION: | |
| I believe that we must always seek God’s face when we are searching for biblical material to use in our teaching or preaching. The reason for this is that we want to be obedient to God, in seeking His will for that particular class or congregation. For we could find things to say that would make them feel good about themselves, but only God knows what they need to touch their hearts and their current, private situation. So then, having been directed by God, or through research in various documents or websites, is it really fair to soak up the praises of our listeners without sharing with them our source of information? The best advice that I have heard on this, came just recently when a gentleman said that each evening after he has spoken to, or taught, an audience, he commits all praise to his Father. I like that, for our speaker was blessed by us thanking him and sharing our praises with him, but knowing where the real praise belongs, he passes it on to God! Friends, I would love to think that as a teacher/preacher/writer, we depend wholly and solely on the Holy Spirit to guide our thoughts so that they may speak to someone who needs to hear from Jesus – either for healing, restoration, or just to feel loved and secured by Him. Please don’t be selfish in withholding all the praise from Him as it was given to you! To those on the giving end of praise, please pray for your teachers, preachers and leaders that they may be used by the Holy Spirit to speak words of encouragement and instruction to you, then as they succeed, please thank God for speaking to you through His servant, and for answering your prayers.. |
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| PRAYER: | |
| Lord, please help us to minimize pride in our lives by habitually passing along all praise received, to You, the originator of all knowledge and wisdom. We are but instruments in Your hands dear Father, use us for Your glory. AMEN! |
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| 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! | |
The Way To Know Truth
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Post Date: |
Saturday, 2017-10-21 |
| SCRIPTURE | |
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From: |
John 7:16-18 (GNT) |
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Text: |
16 Jesus answered, “What I teach is not my own teaching, but it comes from God, who sent me. 17 Whoever is willing to do what God wants will know whether what I teach comes from God or whether I speak on my own authority. 18 Those who speak on their own authority are trying to gain glory for themselves. But he who wants glory for the one who sent him is honest, and there is nothing false in him. |
| OBSERVATION: | |
| Jesus knew that His audience were questioning, or doubting, what He said, do He gave them a sure way of always knowing, or recognizing the truth. It seems like today we are more opinionated than ever, so I’m sure there was good reason that God authorized this discourse to be included in His Word. Let’s examine that closely and try to apply it to our lives… |
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| APPLICATION: | |
I believe there are two types of people that sit in our church congregations each weekend, and that they were represented at the location where Jesus spoke, as mentioned in this Scripture. Think about this and consider where you stand, and if this is your ultimate goal in life:
I believe that each of us probably fit into one of the above groups. Perhaps choose the group that you feel best describes you, then try and honestly answer the point that Jesus made in the Scripture today. Those who listen to and obey the commands and will of God are more lightly to listen to, understand, discern truth and obey the teaching they hear coming from God, or the individual standing in front of them. Do you feel like all things are equal in the above two groups? Of course there is one other group, and that’s the group that never has a desire to attend church or only attends for special occasions. Friends, may I encourage you to do a self examination today, asking God to point out where you might improve in your relationship with Him. In the right relationship, you will automatically acquire the desire to be with other children of God, and possible discern truth. Without the right relationship with God, your friends and family will know that you are faking it and merely going through the motions. You will only be able to help others, if you have the real thing living and operating inside of you. This is a personal decision you must make between you and our Maker. Others will see the difference, but they can’t save you or make it all right for you. |
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| PRAYER: | |
| Lord Jesus, we are convinced of the importance to know You personally, and be in a right relationship with You. Without this, it is impossible for us to clearly understand Your Word or be in a close and intimate relationship with You. Lord, we want others to see Jesus operating in our lives so that they also may have a desire to accept You as Lord. May we be obedient to Your Word, so that we may clearly understand what we are being taught, and that it comes directly from You! AMEN! |
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| 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! | |
The Solid Rock!
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Post Date: |
Friday, 2017-10-20 |
| SCRIPTURE | |
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From: |
Matthew 7:24-29 (NLT) |
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Text: |
24 “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. 25 Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. 26 But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. 27 When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.” 28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, 29 for he taught with real authority—quite unlike their teachers of religious law. |
| OBSERVATION: | |
| Jesus had just taught that there’s a difference between those who simply call on His name. and those who trust in Him personally and obey His Word. I believe the difference is that even those who are led by Satan can call the name of our blessed Lord, but there’s a big difference when Jesus hears His saints calling on His name, for He knows that they have been faithful in the good times, and obedient even in the rough times. Unfortunately there are many today who are similar to what Jesus described in our Scripture, so I believe that wants us to really understand and pay attention to this. |
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| APPLICATION: | |
| There’s a story in the Old Testament about a mother who was speaking to king Solomon about her baby, that another woman was claiming to be her baby. Based on the heart of the individual, and the cry of the real mother, Solomon quickly resolved who the real mother was. There are many who call the name of Jesus, sometimes to even abuse it in cursing. While those who have truly trusted in Jesus as their Lord and Savior, and strive to obey His commands each day, they approach Him in great respect, in love, in admiration, willing to accept His will and His decision for our situation. Friends, unless Christians surrender self and accept Jesus as their Master, their friend, their Provider, and their soon coming King, we too might walk away from His commands and His will for us, until we crash against the shores of this evil world, like the house built on the sand, as illustrated by Jesus in our focal verses. In some countries that are plagued by hurricanes, many of their homes are built on foundations where the foundation walls go right down to solid rock, wherever possible, so that when the strong winds come, and the bay waters rise, the house most often stands. Houses whose foundations are not grounded properly, will quickly wash away/collapse/fail. Marriage relationships are much the same. In our vows, we invite God to join our union with each other. When we leave Him out of our decisions and our daily lives, we suddenly feel our marriage failing, as in many cases today. Friends, to those who truly attach themselves to ‘The Rock’; our Savior; our Master and our Lord, and who are sincere enough to obey His commands and seek His will, to these He has promised to help us through life’s storms and a safe landing at the ‘lighthouse’ (heaven) at the end of time. I trust that each one reading this devotional today can safely feel anchored in the ‘Rock’ of our salvation and not merely call the name of Jesus without any personal attachment. |
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| PRAYER: | |
| Lord, You are my ‘Rock’ and my salvation; my eternal King. Thank You for the assurance of my salvation and for the Solid Rock on whom I can stand each and every day. Lord, please touch the heart of each reader today that they might personally know the Joy of their salvation, and the Rock on which they can stand through all of life’s challenges and opportunities. You are precious in our sight oh Lord. Thank You from the bottom of our heart. AMEN! |
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| 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 