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Post Date: |
Wednesday, 2017-02-15 |
| SCRIPTURE | |
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From: |
Matthew 14:29–33 (AMP) |
|
Text: |
29 He said, “Come!” So Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw [the effects of] the wind, he was frightened, and he began to sink, and he cried out, “Lord, save me!” 31 Immediately Jesus extended His hand and caught him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 Then those in the boat worshiped Him [with awe-inspired reverence], saying, “Truly You are the Son of God!”
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| OBSERVATION: | |
| Peter was known as the bold one, or the one to speak up first. This was evident the night that he saw, for the first time ever, someone defying nature itself and actually walking on water. Having been around Jesus and witnessed His other miracles, I believe that Peter and his fellow disciples knew that it could only be Jesus who could possibly be capable of such a feat. However, unlike the others, Peter knew that if Jesus could do such a miraculous thing, He could also extend that power to him to also walk on water. And as long as Peter believed on Jesus and followed His instruction, he was fine. However, as soon as Satan put doubt in Peter’s mind and he started looking around at all that could cause trouble for him, he started to sink. Faith is the substance of things hoped for but not seen. Jesus immediately knew that Peter’s faith was failing. | |
| APPLICATION: | |
I believe it would be good for us to consider the impact we have seen in our own lives when we stay focused on Jesus, vs the evil one:
Friends, when Peter took his eyes off Jesus, the only One known to ever walk on water or command another to do the same, he started to sink into the water – the pit from which he came that was filled with failure and despair. I love that old hymn that includes the words “Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace”. May that be our prayer-song today. |
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| PRAYER: | |
| Lord, may we keep our eyes fixed on You, the author and finisher of our faith. Thank You for providing the way for us to overcome the vile of Satan; the evil of this world, and the despair of having no hope for a brighter tomorrow. Lord Jesus, as we look full into Your wonderful face, may the things of this world grow strangely dim in the light of Your wonderful face, Your glory, and Your grace. 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: peace
God’s Way vs Man’s Ways
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Post Date: |
Tuesday, 2017-02-14 |
| SCRIPTURE | |
|
From: |
Matthew 14:15–17 (NLT) |
|
Text: |
15 That evening the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away so they can go to the villages and buy food for themselves.”
16 But Jesus said, “That isn’t necessary—you feed them.” 17 “But we have only five loaves of bread and two fish!” they answered.
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| OBSERVATION: | |
| Man’s Way: Send the crowds away…. God’s Way: It’s not necessary to send them away, you feed them! Man’s Way: BUT, we don’t have enough food for all of them… |
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| APPLICATION: | |
| In verse 14, the Scripture says that Jesus saw the needs of the people and He had compassion on them. He was concerned about their needs, just as I believe He is also concerned about our needs today. Friends, you could be the most wealthy person around, but in the presence of Jesus, my King, you will be reminded of how needy you truly are. In our quoted verses, I was reminded of the decisions we make in life today, and how those choices also carry forward into our churches. Seeing us in the world setting vs seeing us make decisions as church leaders, I wonder if our people actually sees a difference. I believe that we are so much like the disciples, for we are quick to judge, and make decisions based on our emotions and how the individual, or crowd is impacting our space, or our personal lives. The disciples saw the crowds and probably knew of their many and varied needs, so they thought to head off one more obvious need, and that was the worry of feeding the crowd. I learnt very early in my marriage that I didn’t just pop up on my wife, with one or more people, around lunch time, without giving her hours of preparation time to clean the house and prepare a nice meal! I wonder how much food the disciples would have taken to the hillside for a hungry crowd the size they were facing! The disciples saw the crowd as an inconvenience, but Jesus saw their needs. Also, even after proving Himself over and over before, yet when He told the disciples that they would feed the crowd, there was a rebuttal because they could not see the miracle that was possible by and through the hand of God. So how might we identify with this story today in our world? Do we have those times that we want the crowds to go away, so that we could…. Are there times that the needy approach us and all we look at is their physical condition and assume what their physical needs must be? Do we stop to consider what Jesus might say to those same individuals, or what He might say about our decision to ignore them or send them away? Would you compare your compassion for the needy to be in line with the compassion of Jesus, or are you at the opposite ends of the spectrum on how you might react, compared to Jesus? Friends, perhaps we should consider this Scripture in view of the personal decisions that we make regarding the physical needs of others, and imagine just for a moment that we might also be rejecting their spiritual needs when we turn the needy away. Oh that Jesus might penetrate our hearts so that we may see needs as He would, so that we may express love in ways that exemplify Him. | |
| PRAYER: | |
| Lord Jesus, just as You have opened my eyes to being more compassionate of the needs of those around me, or the needs of folk that might walk through our church doors, I pray that You would also tender the hearts of my readers. As Your representatives, I sincerely believe that we must desire the heart and compassion of our Master. Please humble us to look beyond our expectations and our image of the poor and needy, and help us to instead be concerned about their heart and their readiness to meet You, should You call them home today. Lord, teach us to imitate You and to gain the heart of Christ as we approach the needs of individuals today. Oh that they may see Jesus and want to know Him personally! May we not be a stumbling block to hinder such decisions today, is my humble prayer, oh 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! | |
How To Live in The Hope of Tomorrow
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Post Date: |
Monday, 2017-02-13 |
| SCRIPTURE | |
|
From: |
Romans 15:4 (Voice) |
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Text: |
4 … everything written in the days of old was recorded to give us instructions for living. We find encouragement through the Scriptures and a call to perseverance that will produce hopeful living. |
| OBSERVATION: | |
| God used Paul to not only share with the Romans, but also with us, the importance of looking to the Word of God for instruction on how to live godly and upright in a wicked and sinful world. Yes, Paul encountered life among his people to be very demanding, very stressful and very much designed around selfish desires and personal gain. I know, that sounds so much like today in so many ways. That’s why I believe God wants me to remind you of the hope that He has put in place for us around this very subject. | |
| APPLICATION: | |
We might often become disheartened about the struggles we face, until we stop and consider the even deeper struggles that a friend or neighbor might face. I feel loved and encouraged to know that God knows all about our challenges of life, so much so, that He sent His messenger, Paul, to deliver a word of hope for us. In the hyperlink for our Scripture today, I included a few extra verses so that you could grasp the whole context, and understand how today’s verse fits in. It is so obvious that God was, and still is concerned about the ‘whole’ man. He is not just concerned about us living a happy life, although I’m sure that He could not be more pleased than to see His children that He created from dust, enjoying the blessings of all that He has provided for us. He knew in advance that there would be days that I might be down and out, but He ordained folk who are bound to have a super exciting day that would ‘rub shoulders’ with me and encourage, and lift me up. He also knew that we would need to be reassured of the hope that lies within us, a hope for the future that God has prepared for us to be in glory with He and the Father. So He had saints record their God-encounters that we might read and be encouraged. He called this accumulation of writings ‘The Bible’, and He has made that available to all who will read it and gain hope from it. In our verse today, we are reminded that His Word contains the following attributes that will especially help us through the tough times of life:
So friend, if there is ‘Hope’ produced from reading the Word of God, may I encourage you to get your dose of it today so that as you approach the evil and discouragement this world tends to pour upon us, you will boldly declare ‘but greater is He (God) that is in us, than he (Satan) that is in the world’! With this hope friends, you can confidently face the world with all that it will challenge you with today and tomorrow. |
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| PRAYER: | |
| When we consider all that the world will throw at us every day, we can only praise God for His wonderful assurance of being with us each and every step. Lord how we need to be comforted with that assurance every day, and thank God, You have shown us exactly where and how to gain that ‘Hope’ and assurance. Your Word is a light unto our path; encouragement to our troubled souls; love to our loneliness of heart; strength to our often weak and troubled hearts; and everlasting hope that our future is drenched in everlasting joy as we worship at Your feet throughout eternity. Keep driving us towards the source of our encouragement and hope dear Lord. Help us to make it ours, so that we may spend our days glorifying You instead of worry about where the next piece of trouble will originate from! 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! | |
‘Good Seed’ or ‘Weeds’?
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Post Date: |
Friday, 2017-02-10 |
| SCRIPTURE | |
|
From: |
Matthew 13:40-42 (GNT) |
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Text: |
40 Just as the weeds are gathered up and burned in the fire, so the same thing will happen at the end of the age: 41 the Son of Man will send out his angels to gather up out of his Kingdom all those who cause people to sin and all others who do evil things, 42 and they will throw them into the fiery furnace, where they will cry and gnash their teeth. |
| OBSERVATION: | |
| This is two days in a row now that I’ve read where Jesus was asked to explain a parable that He shared, and in both cases the explanation was very pointed, but yet very clear. In the story today Jesus had shared the parable of the weeds, that left the disciples scratching their heads, as to the point that Jesus was really aiming for them to grasp and apply to their lives. Not trying to hide anything, Jesus went on to explain the ‘good seed’ and the ‘weeds’ and the application. Let’s look at how this can be applied to our lives even today. | |
| APPLICATION: | |
| It has always been clear that those who sin will never enter the kingdom of God, but some additional words popped off the page at me, when Jesus explained who all His angels will gather together and throw them into the pit of Hell. At least two Bible translations explained very vividly all who would be included in that group. Friends, we often remind ourselves that none are perfect, and that we all sin – children of God and non-believers. You might recall that in another scripture Jesus referred to the children, and He said that He would not tolerate anyone who causes one of these little ones to sin. I believe that statement and the one used in verse 41 above relays the same message. In other words, whether you sin (disobey God’s commands in mind or deed), or if you cause another to sin (in mind or deed), you will be weeded out – much like a gardener would remove weeds from their garden. Jesus said that ALL weeds would be thrown into the fiery furnace for Satan to punish and devour. May I suggest that we may cause others to sin way more often than we would care to accept responsibility for? Friends, let’s remember that although the world may see what would appear to be jest and perhaps even mockery, yet God knows the heart and mind of man, and He knows exactly the intent of the individual doing the act or saying the words. God also knows the impact that our ill-gotten intentions have on the individual to whom we are delivering our evil intentions. Imagine with me for a moment if you knew how badly words might hurt or discourage a person, would you really say them? Imagine how your actions or untimely or hurtful words might distract a person from sharing or possibly hearing the truth of God’s words, and question yourself as to whether you should have created the distraction for that friend. Friends, please join me in committing to always remember that if what we say or do in the presence of others, serves no purpose in drawing them closer to God, then we are probably doing just the opposite. God is our judge, and He knows our deepest intentions. Will He place us with the ‘Weeds‘, or are we truly ‘Good Seed’? I believe you know the answer to that question already. May I encourage you to seek God’s face and His helping hand to help place you on the right track before it is eternally too late? | |
| PRAYER: | |
| Father, we sincerely need Your help today, especially after being reminded of how often we may place an obstacle in the way of others that may separate them from You. Please dear Lord, help us to never be a stumbling block for anyone else truly seeking Your face, or seeking to hear Your tender voice. Forgive us Lord for the times we discourage others, or place a roadblock in their path to a closer relationship with You, or even from accepting You as Lord in the first place. There was a tremendous forgiveness afforded to us when we bowed before You and asked for forgiveness of our sin. Please help us to stay directed towards being examples of Your forgiving spirit, and the kind of love that You expressed at Calvary for us. This will mean loving others right where they’re at, and not how we want them to be. May we be usable vessels in Your service and never a stumbling block for any of Your children, is my humble prayer. AMEN! | |
| FOOTNOTE: | |
| There are two more pages on my blog that will provide you with additional information, one of them being ‘To Know Jesus’. If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please click on the above page, or speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. Please allow someone to pray with you and give you help and/or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Words underlined in my blog could indicate a link to a song that came to mind as I wrote the devotional. Feel free to click on the link and listen as you continue to read or pray. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to Nuggets From God’s Word and read more, or you may freely to subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. If you are anywhere near the Highlands County, Florida area and do not have a church home, I would be thrilled to welcome you at Bible Fellowship Church, located at 3750 Hammock Rd, Sebring, FL 33872! Click the link to check out service times and/or other special activities. God is at work among us! Please consider coming to worship with us! | |
Our Heart’s Content Exudes from our Mouth
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Post Date: |
Monday, 2017-02-06 |
| SCRIPTURE | |
|
From: |
Matthew 12:34-35 (NLT) |
|
Text: |
34 … How could evil men like you speak what is good and right? For whatever is in your heart determines what you say. 35 A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. |
| OBSERVATION: | |
| In the context of these verses, some folk were referred to as a ‘brood of snakes’ or ‘vipers’ because there was so much evil in them. And because there was evil in them, they often spoke evil words, especially about the things of God. Knowing that folk would often reflect on this and wonder how would God know about what they speak, Jesus assured His hearers, and those of us that would follow, that we had best be careful what our hearts are filled with, as it will infest the words that we speak and therefore make us accountable before God for every evil word spoken. That’s a scary thought, isn’t it? So what then shall we do? | |
| APPLICATION: | |
| It is often said that our eyes are the mirrors into our souls, because folk can determine the honesty of what we say and the sincerity from which we say it. Now, Jesus said that there’s another way that He determines the content of our heart, and it also becomes very apparent to those we make contact with. We could never find something uplifting, or encouraging, or Godly to say when our minds are filled with the filth of this world and the evil of its ruler. It just doesn’t work that way. The evil one is out to kill, steal and destroy those who find joy in the Lord. When we make contact with someone who has nothing encouraging, loving, uplifting or Godly to say, then we had best protect ourselves with the full armor of God, because we are facing the evil one, or one of his cohorts. The Bible tells us that we are to flee from the presence of evil, and that’s because God wants to protect His children from the contamination of Satan himself. Why is that? It’s really pretty simple, for if you fill yourself with the evil attitude and character of an agent of Satan, your mouth will begin transmitting words that hurt, destroy, breakdown, discourage and humiliate – and the love of God will no longer prevail through the words you speak or the actions that you portray. Friends, these things have a very serious impact on the good that God is endeavoring to accomplish in and through us, and that’s why I believe He told us to therefore be prepared to account for every evil thing that comes from our mouth. I want to build up, and never tear down, so I must protect myself from all that might hinder me in my goal, or that would aid the very thing that I want to steer away from. Will you join me in asking God to renew within us a fresh desire to be filled with His love, His goodness and His words, so that the unsaved might hear, know and believe? Oh that we might return to our mission and fight off every inkling of evil. | |
| PRAYER: | |
| Lord Jesus, our hearts and our minds are filled with whatever we bring into them. May we who are called by Your name, be so indulged in Your Word that we will have a strong desire to fill our hearts and minds with even more words from our Master each and every day. Lord teach us to meditate on Your Word and to communicate with You often, so that we might be filled with Your goodness and be obedient to Your commands. We want others to know You personally, and we have a strong desire that You use us in Your work here on earth. As we are filled, so may we share with those looking to fill their cup. May the lost come into contact with believers who are filled with the Spirit of God and not a mixed bag of goods that confuse them. Lord, may we be usable vessels for Your great work here on earth, is my humble plea, all for Your glory and praise, 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! | |
Evidence of Your Gifts
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Post Date: |
Friday, 2017-02-03 |
| SCRIPTURE | |
|
From: |
1 Corinthians 12:7-11 (Voice) |
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Text: |
7 Each believer has received a gift that manifests the Spirit’s power and presence. That gift is given for the good of the whole community. 8 The Spirit gives one person a word of wisdom, but to the next person the same Spirit gives a word of knowledge. 9 Another will receive the gift of faith by the same Spirit, and still another gifts of healing—all from the one Spirit. 10 One person is enabled by the Spirit to perform miracles, another to prophesy, while another is enabled to distinguish those prophetic spirits. The next one speaks in various kinds of unknown languages, while another is able to interpret those languages. 11 One Spirit works all these things in each of them individually as He sees fit. |
| OBSERVATION: | |
| Notice what the Word of God does not say: It doesn’t say that some will receive a gift from God; or that some who are really blessed will receive more, or better gifts; or that our gift is given to help us look better or get richer; nor dies it say that because some will have better upbringing, they will develop better gifts. In fact, the Scripture says just the opposite to all these things, for it declares in verse 11 that the Spirit works which gift each will receive, as He sees fit, and not if He will decide to give them one. | |
| APPLICATION: | |
| OK, so having concluded that each believer in Jesus Christ has been blessed by God with a gift that should be used for His glory, you can appreciate why today’s blog title never questions whether you have a gift or not, but rather, what are you doing with that gift. Throughout the Bible we’ve seen where believers have questioned God about their gift, for Moses was adamant that he could not speak well, although He was ordained by God to lead the Israelites (a huge crowd of them) out of Egypt; Saul (Paul) was struck down on the road to Damascus and spoken to by God, only for Saul to question “who, me?”, yet from the biggest persecutor of the church, Paul became the biggest evangelist and even wrote much of the New Testament for our benefit. So what’s your excuse friend? Hopefully you are not guilty of doing the same with your gift as Jesus taught about ‘Light’ when He cautioned us to not hide our ‘Light’ under a bushel where it is ineffective. I believe that our first excuse is to talk ourselves out of a task that would showcase our gift. Fortunately, I believe that is also Biblical, for Scripture tells us that we are not to think more highly of ourselves than we should. However Scripture also says that ‘greater is He that is in us, than he that is in the world’. Scripture also teaches that through our weakness and inabilities, He becomes strong – in other words, His worthiness is recognized in and through our weaknesses and inabilities. Ever noticed how God will many times use the most uneducated pastor to reach the lost, than some who have been to seminary and knows all the right words to say? Friends, I believe that there is perfection in what God declared through the words written by Paul. There are family and friends that you will rub shoulders with, or eat with, or play sports with, that I will never know here on this earth. So of course He wants His holiness, and His sanctification to be evident through you, so that those lost ones might know about Jesus and believe on Him. Please don’t underestimate your gift. No matter what God has blessed you with, just allow Him to use that gift through you, for His glory. Giving excuses is like saying that God is unworthy, or incapable of blessing you with your gift. Seek God’s face and recognize His voice, so that when the opportunity arises to use your gift, you will know without a shadow of doubt that God is merely using you as His instrument through whom He could accomplish His work. | |
| PRAYER: | |
| While our talents and our gifts are a blessing from You dear Lord, please humble us to allow You to accomplish Your will and Your work through everything that we attempt to do in Your name. Thank You for entrusting us with gifts that could help us accomplish Your work here on earth. We are so unworthy, and so inadequate in and of ourselves, no matter how much education we might have, or how smart we are in other earthly ways. Unless You build the house – unless You accomplish Your work, it will fail. Likewise, please help us to never underestimate the power of our God. It is so easy for us to conclude that we can’t, or we are incapable, or we have not been educated for that, or we can’t speak comfortably in front of others much more educated than us. Lord, we are questioning, or doubting Your abilities when we do that. Shame on us, for You are more than able to accomplish every good work and to reach every mortal man. Thank You for making us a part of Your plan, so that we may realize that our time here on earth is well worth it! Thine be the glory, for ever and for ever, 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! | |
Relief For Your Burdens
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Post Date: |
Thursday, 2017-02-02 |
| SCRIPTURE | |
|
From: |
Matthew 11:27-30 (CEV) |
|
Text: |
27 My Father has given me everything, and he is the only one who knows the Son. The only one who truly knows the Father is the Son. But the Son wants to tell others about the Father, so that they can know him too.
28 If you are tired from carrying heavy burdens, come to me and I will give you rest. 29 Take the yoke I give you. Put it on your shoulders and learn from me. I am gentle and humble, and you will find rest. 30 This yoke is easy to bear, and this burden is light. |
| OBSERVATION: | |
| Jesus makes His relationship to the Father very clear in these verses, and He shares His purpose for the world. He knew there would be many things that mankind would be faced with, and He also knew that there would be only One who could do anything about that. However He makes it clear that His gift of mercy is only extended to those who ask for it, for He said in verse 28: “Come to me and I will give you rest”. | |
| APPLICATION: | |
| Many may look at these verses and say that they have no burdens or concerns, so why should they yoke themselves together with God. Friends, I find it very interesting how the poor seems burdened with debt and wish they were rich; How the rich are constantly worried about who will take advantage of them, or steal from them, or if the stock market is safe enough for them to risk investing their money in it. These are just two comparable financial reasons for concern, or that may appear as burdens. This idea even filters down to the church, as one translation reads that if you feel burdened by all the dictates of church or religion, then come to Jesus. I believe it is very apparent that we all need the Savior, because the Bible tells us that the only way to heaven, and eternal peace with the Father, is through accepting the free gift of eternal life through the Son of God (Jesus), who was sent to this earth, humbled among mankind, for the sole purpose of saving us from our sin. Friends, for everything here on this earth, we either feel an obligation yo reciprocate, to obey certain rules or laws, or a deep sense of commitment to someone – so that they might remain your friend. Jesus tells us that He knows the Father intimately, and that He came to rescue us from the slavery of man’s rules and regulations. We can trust Him, for His rules, or yoke, is very light and easy for all. Furthermore, we know that we can trust Him to look out for our best interest only, with love and admiration. For we are His chosen ones for whom He personally sacrificed His very own life for. So friends, what are you worried about today? What are you burdened with, or about? Jesus loves us unconditionally and with the sincere purpose of saving us so that we could one day be with Him in glory. There are no strings attached, or no fine print that negates His desire for His kids. Are you prepared to trust Him in that and surrender your life totally and completely over to Him? Consider reading my footnote and the noted scriptures to help you understand how to take advantage of this very special offer from the Creator of this universe! | |
| PRAYER: | |
| Lord, we thank You for not giving up on us. You have provided the greatest sacrifice for us, so that we might be relieved of our burdens and have the assurance of eternal life in heaven with You and the Father. Thank you Jesus! Please forgive us for often choosing those things that restricts our opportunity to fully trust and worship You. Please open our eyes to those things today and allow us to clearly see, and be reminded of, the love that You have for us. May we lay our burdens at Your feet and welcome the joy that comes from fully trusting in, and leaning on, You. Lord, we welcome You as our Mediator; Savior; Deliverer; Friend and everlasting Father. May we be faithful to the call You have placed on us. AMEN! | |
| FOOTNOTE: | |
| There are two more pages on my blog that will provide you with additional information, one of them being ‘To Know Jesus’. If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please click on the above page, or speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. Please allow someone to pray with you and give you help and/or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Words underlined in my blog could indicate a link to a song that came to mind as I wrote the devotional. Feel free to click on the link and listen as you continue to read or pray. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to Nuggets From God’s Word and read more, or you may freely to subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. If you are anywhere near the Highlands County, Florida area and do not have a church home, I would be thrilled to welcome you at Bible Fellowship Church, located at 3750 Hammock Rd, Sebring, FL 33872! Click the link to check out service times and/or other special activities. God is at work among us! Please consider coming to worship with us! | |
The Spirit of Our Father Speaks Through Us
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Post Date: |
Saturday, 2017-01-28 |
| SCRIPTURE | |
|
From: |
Matthew 10:18–20 (NLT) |
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Text: |
18 You will stand trial before governors and kings because you are my followers. But this will be your opportunity to tell the rulers and other unbelievers about me. 19 When you are arrested, don’t worry about how to respond or what to say. God will give you the right words at the right time. 20 For it is not you who will be speaking—it will be the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
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| OBSERVATION: | |
| It seems like Jesus faced His chosen men – His disciples, who realized that they were called to go out and share the love of Jesus with those that they came into contact with, even to kings and rulers. Now imagine for a moment that the only times you may have seen some of these men would have been along the seashore as they sold their fish, or chatted with their fellow fishermen. These guys were some who would now go out and preach the gospel! But I believe it is also important to note that the same Jesus who gained their confidence to drop their nets, leave their boats, and follow Him, is the same Jesus now comforting them that everything will be OK, and that they WILL have the words to speak when it becomes necessary. Wow, what a thought to imagine! | |
| APPLICATION: | |
| Some of you reading this devotional today may have been challenged by a pastor or evangelist to surrender your heart to the Lord. This may have followed with an invitation to meet with a small group of believers to study the Word of God and pray, and this may have been a chore that you almost got sick over, because you had been used to staying in your little corner and could never imagine trying to find words to say in front of saints of God, as these type words are just not in your vocabulary. However, you were also approached by members of the group and made to feel at ease joining them. Before too long, you are invited to join with your small group to meet in a public square where there would be government officials present. The rest of the group is excited that the newcomer may have an opportunity to share Jesus with the Mayor, or possible even a Senator or two, or even the Governor. Are you feeling a little nervous yet about the possible encounters you may face? Can you think of all the things you might share with them about your newest, very best friend, Jesus? However, the leader of the small group has encouraging words for you: “Just as Jesus gave confidence to His disciples to go, in His name, and His Holy Spirit will fill them with the words to speak to the rulers and other unbelievers, He will also do the same for you”. I believe you will acknowledge that this requires a bit of faith to grasp hold of, and depend on this, when personally faced with the dilemma yourself, right? Friends, as children of God, we are called on each and every day to do the same thing, for we never know when we will be faced with an opportunity to share a witness for our Lord. It may very well be in the presence of a public figure, or it may be with that family member or coworker who is always outspoken about their dislike of Christians or the nonexistence of a holy God. Furthermore, over in the New Testament we are also encouraged to always be prepared to share the hope that lives inside of us. Friends, may I encourage you to remember that the same Lord who heals a broken heart, or mends a broken limb, or encourages a couple looking at divorce, is the same Lord whose Holy Spirit came to dwell inside of us at our conversion. Therefore have faith that He could also guide us through every situation of life, including words to say so that God might be best represented. Let’s learn to trust Him for who He is, and for all that He has promised. He can, and will accomplish a great work through even us, as we willingly open up our lives to Him for His glory. | |
| PRAYER: | |
| Father, please give us daily strength to never doubt Your Holy Spirit, whom You sent to live inside of us. We have no words to share with unbelievers that would make a difference in their lives, but You have the words of eternal life. So I ask that You might use us to speak to unbelievers of every walk of life and at every level of society, regardless of where we might place them in our minds. Please help us to never be intimated by the status placed upon those we will meet, for we all need the love of Jesus in our hearts. Please help us to never attempt to do this life alone, for You have promised to always be with us and to guide our every step. Into Your hands I commit myself again today. Lord, I pray that my readers will do the same so that Your work may not be hindered in any way today. 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! | |
Self-Prepared and Confident In Prayer
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Post Date: |
Wednesday, 2017-02-22 |
| SCRIPTURE | |
|
From: |
Psalm 17:3-6 (NLT) |
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Text: |
3. …. I am determined not to sin in what I say. 4. I have followed your commands, which keep me from following cruel and evil people. 5. My steps have stayed on your path; I have not wavered from following you. 6. I am praying to you because I know you will answer, O God. Bend down and listen as I pray. |
| OBSERVATION: | |
| David went before the Lord in prayer, not as a stranger, but one who had already aligned himself with the laws and will of God. Because of this, he went confidently before God, KNOWING that God would answer his prayers. | |
| APPLICATION: | |
| Oh to have the heart, determination and will of David! Too often we barge into conversations with God, demanding our own way and expecting God to respond like a puppet would, to all of our wishes and demands. But what if God truly responded to us exactly in the same way that we think things should go? What an awful mess that would be friends! I believe our attitude for prayer must be one of honor and gratitude for who God truly is. Then there is Scripture that guides us into the remaining attributes of prayer, for in 2 Chronicles 7:14 we are told that if we are truly known as His children, in fact, if we are called by His name, and if we get off our ‘high horses’ and humble ourselves and pray with every intention and determination to turn from our wicked and sinful ways, then He would hear from the Father and heal us and all there is around us (our land). Friends, this is not rocket science, nor is it unreasonable, for which of you will walk up to a total stranger and ask for anything substantial with full confidence that they would reach into their treasury of physical assets and just start handing them over to you? May I suggest to you that although my Savior knows each of us intimately and, while I am convinced that He will hear your cry, I believe that He is wanting most of all to know that your greatest need is first and foremost and that need is attended to first. Friends, if you are not seeking God’s face as your own personal Savior and Lord, then no matter what your other needs are today, there is one that stands out in priority – you must be born again – new birth in Jesus Christ. This requires a conversation (prayer) with the Master, where you would surrender self to Him, and invite Him to rule and reign in Your life. There is no greater need of mankind today friend, and there is none more important, for what if you gained the whole world through your own efforts and finances, but yet have no hope of tomorrow, or a Savior that you would know is your very own Lord and Father over all the earth? Jesus is the key to heaven friend, know Him and know total peace for today and always. I would be tickled to death to introduce my Lord to you! Drop me a note using the contact information below. I might also suggest that you click on the link below ‘To Know Jesus’ and there you will find scriptural references on what you might do to have eternal life. I look forward to meeting you in the most exciting worship service ever – at the feet of Jesus when we graduate to heaven!! Oh, what a day that will be!! | |
| PRAYER: | |
| Lord You are good, and Your mercies are everlasting. You have opened the means of us communicating with You and seeking Your face. You have shown us the way to Your throne and ultimately to the glories of heaven with You and Your Father! What a blessed people we are! Lord, I am concerned about my friends that might read this devotional and brush off the truths of Your Word. There may be some that will seek Your hand for all they may need or want, but who may ignore the fact of first knowing You intimately. Please soften the hearts of the hardened, and please touch the hearts that simply read and choose to ignore a relationship with You. Thank You Lord for being available to us, and for loving us enough to demonstrate it through the sacrifice You made on Calvary. I am eternally thankful, and I desperately want to see all my readers, friends and family accept You as Lord, so that we may one day rejoice together around Your eternal throne. I commend them to You Lord. Thank You dear Lord Jesus! AMEN! | |
| FOOTNOTE: | |
| There are two more pages on my blog that will provide you with additional information, one of them being ‘To Know Jesus’. If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please click on the above page, or speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. Please allow someone to pray with you and give you help and/or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Words underlined in my blog could indicate a link to a song that came to mind as I wrote the devotional. Feel free to click on the link and listen as you continue to read or pray. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to Nuggets From God’s Word and read more, or you may freely to subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. If you are anywhere near the Highlands County, Florida area and do not have a church home, I would be thrilled to welcome you at Bible Fellowship Church, located at 3750 Hammock Rd, Sebring, FL 33872! Click the link to check out service times and/or other special activities. God is at work among us! Please consider coming to worship with us! | |
Walk the Talk
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Post Date: |
Friday, 2017-01-27 |
| SCRIPTURE | |
|
From: |
Matthew 10:5-8 (NLT) |
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Text: |
5 Jesus sent out the twelve apostles with these instructions: “Don’t go to the Gentiles or the Samaritans, 6 but only to the people of Israel—God’s lost sheep. 7 Go and announce to them that the Kingdom of Heaven is near. 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cure those with leprosy, and cast out demons. Give as freely as you have received! |
| OBSERVATION: | |
| I found it interesting that for the first task Jesus would give to His disciples, His helpers, His ministers, He would tell them to go and minister to the church – His chosen people – the Jews. | |
| APPLICATION: | |
| There is a powerful message for pastors and evangelists in these verses today, as well as to the churches, I feel, for I’m afraid that many are attending church meetings with a false sense of security, feeling like they must be ‘OK’ to stand before God if they, at least attend church. Friends, we could spend as many nights sleeping in our garage as we want, but we will never become a car! Therefore, no matter how many church services we attend, if we have not been obedient to the gospel, we may have merely warmed a seat at the church for an hour or so each week. The Word of God is very clear that heaven is a place for those who have surrendered their lives to the lordship of Jesus Christ. Like the Jews to whom Jesus sent His disciples, although they are God’s chosen people, they too will not see heaven unless they also have accepted Jesus as Lord of their individual lives. You see, this is not something the king, or president could bestow upon their people, it’s not something every pastor could pray down for you, or that grandma’s excellent reputation as a very godly person could pass on to you. It’s all about a personal decision you made, and a personal relationship with Jesus that you live out each and every day. I believe that another reason Jesus wanted to see His chosen people saved, and our church-goers today saved, is that it would never work to evangelize the lost outside of the fold, and have them join a fellowship of church-goers only to be poisoned by their lack of faith and evil living. Friends, to truly believe that the church has an awesome responsibility to not only see the lost saved, but to be conditioned to disciple, encourage and bless them as they come to the church for fellowship and growth in the new Christian walk. Pretense not only sends a person to Hell, but it also harms the one who is trying to live a true and sincere Christian life. Perhaps Jesus is asking you to examine yourself, in the light of His presence, and confirm that your heart is sold out to the Lord Jesus and that you are wholly and solely living the walk that you sometimes talk about. Please be sure that you not harm your chance of heaven and be a stumbling block to others trying to do the same. If there is guilt, may I suggest that you use the advice and Bible references given in my Footnote to clear up your position with Jesus Christ? If you are confident in your claim as a believer in Jesus Christ, may I encourage you to walk daily in the light of His Word, so that He will not be ashamed of You when you see Him face to face, nor will you be a stumbling block to anyone following your example. | |
| PRAYER: | |
| Lord Jesus, we live each day in a way to honor our parents; honor our spouse; or honor our boss; and I believe that many times we succeed at that. Please help us that we will live in Your way, so that when we stand before You we will hear ‘well done good and faithful servant’, because we have represented You well each day and that You were honored to send lost ones our way so that You could use us to ‘rub off’ on them. Lord there have been so many disappointments in Your churches over the years that unbelievers probably look at us as a bunch of hypocrites. Oh how I pray today that Your church will represent You fairly and squarely in every aspect of our walk and talk so that we may be effectively used by You to reach the lost. I am convinced that the work must start within the church. Beginning with me, please give us a renewed mission to be Your witness in our communities. 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 