Tag: Savior

Overcoming Stagnant Ministry

On By Ed AlgreenIn Dependable, Dependence on God, Effective Ministry, HumilityLeave a comment

SCRIPTURE  FROM:   Jeremiah 15:19-20 (NET)

TEXT: 19 Because of this, the Lord said,

“You must repent of such words and thoughts!
If you do, I will restore you to the privilege of serving me.
If you say what is worthwhile instead of what is worthless,
I will again allow you to be my spokesman.
They must become as you have been.
You must not become like them.
20 I will make you as strong as a wall to these people,
a fortified wall of bronze…..

 

OBSERVATION:   I believe that there are times that we all face what seems to appear like stagnancy in our respective ministries. Of course, we question God as to why He left us ‘hanging’, or why have those we minister to become so arrogant and hateful to us, but how often do we imitate Jeremiah and actually seek God out to help us see inside of our sinful selves for the actual problem? Let’s look closer at this…..

APPLICATION:   I understand that studies will show that more ministers of the gospel resign on a Monday than any other day of the week. Primarily because of their inside view of failure the day before in the pulpit, or in what was communicated between themselves and a parishioner. This is very indicative of what Jeremiah did, for he felt like he was in a ‘dead zone’ with no positive results outwardly or inwardly. Based on what God had to say to Jeremiah, it is apparent that Jeremiah was communicating negatively and portraying a negative attitude about the God who rescued him from a burning hell and promoted him to the heights of glory. I know, you would NEVER do anything like that, right? Unfortunately, it seems like we easily degrade ourselves into grumbling about things that didn’t go just like we had planned, or at least projected. We are quick to find fault, when we are just as vulnerable to sin and failure as the other person. Unlike the case of Jeremiah, we have one more thing that we would try today when trying to ‘fix’ everyone else, or every situation, for we have ‘Google’ where we could research the problem, and find hundreds of ideas on corrective measures! Friends, I trust that we will learn from Jeremiah, for when he came to his wits end, he went to God and asked for help and understanding for the situations at hand, especially the challenge of him feeling like God had forsaken him. I believe it would behoove us to ofen do a reality check with God, asking Him to open our eyes, our hearts, our emotions and our innermost feelings, so that we could receive an answer from the only One that we trust as having all of the answers. There is a saying that we use a lot in Christian circles: ‘we are sinners saved by grace’. Please let’s remind ourselves that the order of what is said in that clause remains true. We ARE sinners who sin. Praise God, many of us have surrendered our hearts to Jesus, and we are saved by His marvelous grace, but as long as we remain here on this earth, we will cave in to sin. Let’s be quick to seek the face of Jesus so that He might hear our regrets and disappointments about our sin and, in turn, help us to overcome our weaknesses so that we might glory in the cross of Jesus. Like in the case of Jeremiah, when God has cleaned us up and returned us to His glory, then He is able to use us again for His ultimate glory. Be encouraged friend, for when it seems like our ministry has become stagnant, we need to look no further than inside our own heart as we seek the face of the only One who could help us to overcome the challenges of this world and assume our rightful place with the Master.

PRAYER:   Lord Jesus, we come humbly at Your feet and seek Your holy presence in our lives. We need You to direct our every thought, word and deed, and we need Your constant reminder to always come to the cross when things seem out of control all around us. We need You, because we want to see You worshipped and adored by everyone all around us, and we personally tend to mess that up way too often. Please be our guide, our strength and our provider, so that You may be glorified in everything we do or say. AMEN!

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

 

The Meaning of ‘Salvation’

On By Ed AlgreenIn Accept Jesus NOW, Follow Jesus, Know Jesus, SalvationLeave a comment

SCRIPTURE  FROM:   Colossians 2:13-15 (TLB)

TEXT:  13 You were dead in sins, and your sinful desires were not yet cut away. Then he gave you a share in the very life of Christ, for he forgave all your sins, 14 and blotted out the charges proved against you, the list of his commandments which you had not obeyed. He took this list of sins and destroyed it by nailing it to Christ’s cross. 15 In this way God took away Satan’s power to accuse you of sin, and God openly displayed to the whole world Christ’s triumph at the cross where your sins were all taken away.

OBSERVATION:   We are taught in God’s Word that who ever surrenders his/her life to Jesus Christ and ask for the forgiveness of their sin, WILL BE SAVED. But what does that truly mean? In our Scripture today, Paul explains this for us. Let’s understand this fully, so that our hearts might be overjoyed, and therefore happy because of the transformation, or change that occurs in our life when we commit ourselves to the lordship of Jesus Christ.

APPLICATION:   I’m pretty sure that for those who have surrendered their lives to Jesus Christ, we knew that it was for the purpose of obedience to God’s call on our life, and also in accordance with God’s precious Word. But please reread the chosen Scripture for today again and be reminded that there were some deliberate acts by Jesus when we made our commitment: He made us a very integral part of His life; He forgave us of our sin (meaning that our sins are no longer remembered by Him); He wiped out all charges against us for our sin and disobedience of His commands; His sacrifice on the cross was not in vain, for Satan now sees that sacrifice when he looks for the sin in our lives. Friends, we, who know Jesus and have accepted Him as our Lord and Savior, we are a privileged people. We have a brand new start in life – a new life where Jesus stands in front of us and protects us as His very own! Will we still encounter problems and challenges? Yes we will, for as long as we tarry here on this earth, however we have our Protector, our Guide, our Stronghold, our Warrior, our comforter – the living God, the Creator of this world, standing front and center as He looks out for His own. We are indeed a privileged people. Children of the King of all kings! Do you fit into this description friend? Would you like to be included? Please read the tips I have provided in my Footnote and follow the simple steps to salvation in Jesus Christ. Life will never be the same for you!

PRAYER:   Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of salvation, given as a sacrifice through Your very own son, Jesus Christ. Thank You for accepting even me to be Your beloved son. Thank You for accepting my relatives and friends as they sought salvation. Thank You for being available, and willing to accept those who have rejected You and showed no sign of needing or wanting help. Lord, I pray that You may use my words today to touch the hearts of those who will read this blog. If they have never surrendered their lives to You and invited You to be Lord of their lives, may this be the day of salvation for them. The day they will realize the importance of having You front, center and in ultimate control of their lives. Only You can satisfy our deepest emotions and needs, and only You can save us from the critical sentence for our sins. Please speak to Your children again today Lord, especially those that I hold near and dear in my life, and those who will read this blog. AMEN!

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

 

The Reason We Preach and Teach

On By Ed AlgreenIn Preach, Preaching, Teach, TeacherLeave a comment

SCRIPTURE  FROM:   Colossians 1:27-29 (TPT)

TEXT: 27 Living within you is the Christ who floods you with the expectation of glory! This mystery of Christ, embedded within us, becomes a heavenly treasure chest of hope filled with the riches of glory for his people, and God wants everyone to know it!  28–29 Christ is our message! We preach to awaken hearts and bring every person into the full understanding of truth. It has become my inspiration and passion in ministry to labor with a tireless intensity, with his power flowing through me, to present to every believer the revelation of being his perfect one in Jesus Christ.

OBSERVATION:   Some do it for money, some for prestige, and others do it because of their ancestors being in the ministry, but the Word of God clearly tells us what God expects from our preaching and our teaching. We will look more fully into this, but I wonder if we are wasting our time if we preach or teach for any other reason? Think about this as you study this scripture and speak with God about it, will you?

APPLICATION:   In schools, I believe that we teach with expectations of seeing our kids graduate with best possible grades, and therefore able to obtain good jobs to support themselves and their families, plus make this world a better place to live in. Paul gave us the reason that we preach and teach, so that we ensure that we keep our whole ministry focused on the ultimate goal. Friends, this advice will apply to each and every believer, for whether we carry the title of ‘preacher’ or ‘teacher’, we are reminded of what we should be looking for in a church, in a teaching class, or better still – portraying in our lives. In verse 28 we are told that Christ is the reason and the message that we preach/teach. However, for this to have its fullest impact on others, notice that Paul shared that this whole purpose has become his inspiration and his passion. In other words, if its inside of you to start with, then it will be revealed and evident in everything that you preach or teach. Notice also that Paul wanted to teach with intensity and such purpose that believers would desire a closer and more intimate walk with their Master. In other words, Paul was not looking for a name for himself, although that’s exactly what happened, but he spent his life ministering so that others might see Jesus and be drawn to Him, so that God would be glorified through His people as they surrendered their lives to Him. I believe that ministry requires the most unselfish person to declare its benefits, otherwise we may tend to leave the impression that its because of us, or something we said, or we could do, that would lead them to the Savior. I believe the best that we could do is to obediently lead the lost to Christ and leave them at His feet, for it is He that will save them, and His Word that will direct their paths and mature them to a point where they also will preach and teach Jesus! So in recap, let us conclude that we are merely a messenger, a servant, a sinner saved only by God’s grace, and all we could do is to share His glory with our friends. Keep self out of the equation as we try to connect unbelievers with the only One who could save them and deliver them from Satan’s doom. Let’s learn to let go, and let God have His way with His children, for their good and His glory!

PRAYER:   Lord Jesus, Your Word declares that we are to live as You lived, and today we are reminded that we are to preach and/or teach in a way that would help others to see Jesus and know Him personally. Please help us to remove self out of the way, so that there are no hindrances for the child that Jesus is drawing to Himself. We are Your instruments Lord, use us for Your work that leads to Your glory. May Your kingdom come on earth, as it is in heaven. AMEN!

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

 

How To Stand Against Satan

On By Ed AlgreenIn direction, God's Guidance, Guidance, Love, Love of God, The Father's Love, The love of GodLeave a comment

SCRIPTURE  FROM:   Ephesians 6:10-12 (TLB)

TEXT:  10 Last of all I want to remind you that your strength must come from the Lord’s mighty power within you. 11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand safe against all strategies and tricks of Satan. 12 For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against persons without bodies—the evil rulers of the unseen world, those mighty satanic beings and great evil princes of darkness who rule this world; and against huge numbers of wicked spirits in the spirit world.

OBSERVATION:   Facing the same issue as we face today, Paul had some great advice on how to stand against, and overcome the strategies and tricks of Satan. This is still a very real problem today, so I would like for us to spend some time looking at this, knowing that there is help available to us.

APPLICATION:   In verse 10 we are reminded of the source of our power to overcome Satan and his attacks. First of all, we must acknowledge that we do not personally have the strength to overcome Satan’s attacks, and that there is only One who does – Jesus Christ. We must therefore approach the throne in response to these attacks, and not to make things worse by adding our own worldly efforts to fight against the ‘evil one’. So as we place our faith in the Lord and ask Him for power to overcome, let us also put on the armor of God, as detailed beginning in Ephesians 6:10, and per God’s Holy Word, we will stand safe against the strategies and tricks of Satan. Friends this sounds like a storybook resolution to our challenges from the ‘evil one’, but may I encourage you to place your faith in our Lord Jesus. Not only will He save us from our sins and award us life eternal in Heaven with He and His Father, but this same Savior also has the power to heal, the wisdom to  guide us through every challenge that may face us each day, but He also has all power over the ‘evil one’. Why would God do this for us? I believe, based on the Word of God, that we are the ‘apple of His eye’; we are His child; He demonstrated His love for sinners, like you and I, who stood by and watched Him being brutalized on the cross, yet He followed through on His sacrifice to show His love for us. This is the God who also promised us that He would deliver us from the ‘evil one’, and give us power to stand firm against the fierce arrows of all that he might send our way. Friends, this is the God that I present to you as the only One to help us overcome Satan. Do you know Him? Have you placed your faith and trust in Him? Have you trusted Him with your life, and therefore have the necessary confidence to believe that you could stand firm against Satan? Please reassess your belief system, and your faith. Be sure that you are anchored safe in the arms of Jesus.

PRAYER:   Heavenly Father; Glorious Son of God; our Lord and Savior; thank You for watching over Your kids and being willing to listen to our frequent cries, often for the silliest things and perhaps things that may appear so insignificant to many. Lord, we have faith to believe that if something is important and concerning to us, then You make it a priority in helping us to overcome our concerns. Lord, we lift Your name on high, and we acknowledge that we can do nothing without Your power and direction in our lives. Thank You Jesus, that we have a Savior who loves us so! AMEN!

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

 

Benefits of Peace with God

On By Ed AlgreenIn Control, Dedication, Live in peace, Peace, RelationshipLeave a comment

SCRIPTURE  FROM:   Philippians 4:5-7 (VOICE)

TEXT:  5 Keep your gentle nature so that all people will know what it looks like to walk in His footsteps. The Lord is ever present with us. 6 Don’t be anxious about things; instead, pray. Pray about everything. He longs to hear your requests, so talk to God about your needs and be thankful for what has come. 7 And know that the peace of God (a peace that is beyond any and all of our human understanding) will stand watch over your hearts and minds in Jesus, the Anointed One.

OBSERVATION:   Paul, a coworker and friend had worked alongside the Philippians, and had seen their struggles, weaknesses, and their needs and wants. Paul also heard from God that for his Philippian followers, or any of us today, to succeed in staying close to the Savior, of whom he preached and wrote about, we need to be reminded that it all begins, endures and ends with the relationship we develop with God. Let’s look into where and how this may help us today…

APPLICATION:   Based on our distractions today, and our selfish desire for more personal time, things and belongings, I believe that we could identify with where the Philippians may have been in their life-standards. So placing ourselves squarely at Jesus’ feet, and listening intently to His precious Word that He provided for our growth and benefit, how might we grow from this scripture today? Friends, I believe that although we may frequent our respective churches and the many services and programs they have developed in order to enrich our lives here on earth, yet we tend to become engulfed in the wants and desires of this world. We tend to constantly want more, go more places and be the kind of person that our society looks on as ‘successful’. However, as a child of God, we surrendered our lives to the Savior so that His goodness, mercy and grace may be evident in our daily walk. So as we meditate on this scripture, I believe we must look deeply into all that Paul is teaching us, so that we may look more like Christ than anything this world has to offer. First of all, I believe that Paul is teaching about the importance of having a gentle spirit, so that people around us would know what a true son/daughter of God really looks like. Now as you meditate on that, you may ponder what do you need to change in your life. Friends, if you change something, it will most lightly be a change from one bad habit or character flaw, to another much like it. I believe that what Paul is teaching here, is that we surrender our will to that of our heavenly Father, and allow Him to change us from the inside out. It is only then that the world begins to see God in us. Notice some of the other things that we are to concentrate on: a). Don’t be anxious about anything – after all, if we allow God to take control, then we must depend on Him, and accept the good and the bad – all as part of His perfect will. And if that be the case, what’s the need in worrying? Let’s learn to let go, and let God! b). Pray about everything – When dealing with a child, we want them to run everything by us so we could be sure they make decisions and do things that align with our principles. If we truly want God to have full control of our lives, then we will follow the same principles that we expect of our children. Communicating with God is through prayer. Let’s make it commonplace in our lives. c). Thankfulness – It’s good to ask God for direction and help, but even better to celebrate in return, through expressing our thankfulness to Him and making it evident in our actions with others, that we are a thankful people. Friends, there is one huge thing that results from living a life dedicated to Jesus Christ – He fills us with a peace way beyond our wildest expectations. And Paul declares that our Savior watches over our hearts and minds – in other words: He controls the gateway, or the origination of our words and actions! I need this peace each and every day friends, how about you? It takes surrender to the Master, for we can’t do our own thing and expect Him to do His thing through us also.

PRAYER:   Lord Jesus, we are your masterpiece, for we were created in the image of God. I believe that you intended that to especially be in word and deed. We have lots that we could blame our failures on in these areas, but I believe it is more important that we cut to the chase and seek Your face so that we may be better aligned with Your will for our lives. Lord, please resume control of our lives, both for our peace and for Your glory. May this world be drawn to You because of what they see in us, and may they never be hindered in their walk with You, because of our weaknesses. AMEN!

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

 

The Only One With The Answers

On By Ed AlgreenIn Creator, God Cares For Us, HumilityLeave a comment

SCRIPTURE  FROM:   Isaiah 55:6-9 (VOICE)

TEXT: 6 So turn your attention and seek the Eternal One while it is still possible; call on Him while He is nearby. 7 Let those who are busy plotting violence and doing wrong stop right now, turn, and do right. Let them turn back to the Eternal so they can experience His compassion. God will excuse our past wrongs. Our God’s forgiveness is inexhaustible. Eternal One: 8 My intentions are not always yours, and I do not go about things as you do. 9 My thoughts and My ways are above and beyond you, just as heaven is far from your reach here on earth.

OBSERVATION:   I believe that each of us could benefit from the words of the prophet Isaiah, because very often we come to crossroads in our lives where we just don’t know which way to turn, or what decisions to make under the current circumstances. In these verses today, God is saying that He has left us here long enough to call on the Creator of this Universe, the One who has all the answers to all of life’s dilemmas, including the understanding of, and answers to, eternity itself. Our God is an awesome God friends!

APPLICATION:   As a child, dad would tell me to do certain things that seemed so far out. Without hesitation, I would often question: but why, dad? I’m sure you also remember those days! Often the response would be something like this: because I said so! Sounded ridiculous and often, very condesending, but now that I’m grown I can tell that it was because dad had been there and done that, and in some cases had the scars to prove it. Our Father is very proud of the children He has placed on this earth, and because He loves us unconditionally, I believe that He wants so badly to see us just listen and obey Him, because He has our best interest at heart. One advantage that our Heavenly Father has, is that He knows what tomorrow holds and what lies ahead in our future, so I believe that He is anxiously awaiting our turn to truly get all that He has in store for us. The Word says that our God is near, and all we need is to call out to Him. We don’t need to go searching, for He’s as near as the mention of His name. Isn’t it interesting how we live in this world with others who struggle just like us, yet it seems like we are constantly developing schemes to get our neighbor in trouble, or to place a stumbling block in their way. I believe that it will serve us all well to be reminded that this God of ours that we strive to be more like every day, He is constantly looking out for our best interest and for our eternal good. When I say that I want to be more like Jesus every day, this means that I want to see the very best for my neighbor, my family and my friends. When I’m stuck with decisions to make or with options that are available to me, there is only One in whom I will place my trust, for He cares for me and is constantly looking out for my very best interest. Jesus is the answer my friend, to all of life’s peculiarities and strangest decisions we may be faced with. There is no other that deserves our obedience and our praise. Won’t you join me in taking our needs before our Maker? He cares for us!

PRAYER:   Lord You are good! Thank You for loving us enough to care about what happens to us, and for the decisions we make. Please humble us to always seek Your face and Your outstretched hand that is constantly looking out for our good. Lord, we have no idea what tomorrow holds, but we sure know who holds tomorrow, so please help us to always seek You in times of decision and to always hold You in high esteem in our worship and adoration. Thank You Jesus that we have access to the Creator of this universe and the everlasting God who has all the answers! AMEN!

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

 

Indicators of Whose You Are

On By Ed AlgreenIn Character, Characteristics, Our CharacterLeave a comment

SCRIPTURE  FROM:   Ephesians 5:1-5 (NLT)

TEXT: 1 Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. 2 Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God. 3 Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people.4 Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God. 5 You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. For a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world.

OBSERVATION:   Paul gave to the Ephesians, and to us, a gift. He gave us some indicators that help direct us in our attitudes and character so that the world might know who we truly are; the principles that we stand for; and the influences that drive us in all of these things. What does the world think of you, friend?

APPLICATION:   Ever find yourself talking to someone and reflecting on how much they remind you of someone else? They may look nothing alike, and they may not be related, but there is something about them that makes you think of the two while chatting with them or dealing with them in some way! I believe this is something like what Paul shared with us in these focused verses today, for folk will look at us and feel pretty convinced that we are a child of the King, or they may look at us and know that there is no likeness in us of the Prince of Peace. Let’s be reminded of what characteristics they may see in us if we know Jesus as Lord and we are striving to live like Him in every way:

  • Imitate God in everything we do – the Bible is filled with the character of God;
  • Life filled with love – the kind of love that Jesus showed when He offered (sacrificed) His life for us out of obedience to His Father;

Likewise, there are characteristics that others will see in us that confirms in their mind that we are not in a serious relationship with Jesus Christ, or we may know know Him at all:

  • Sexual immorality – Generally, as used here, it means physical sexual behaviors, including premarital sex, adultery, and same-sex acts;
  • Impurity;
  • Greed – For a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world.
  • Obscene stories;
  • Foolish talk;
  • Coarse jokes;

PRAYER:   Father, we approach our day and we encounter individuals each day knowing that they are left with an impression of us. I pray that after studying Yoor Word today, we will be much more conscious of our character, and that we will be good representatives of Yours. I believe the most crucial opportunities tend to be when we go unprepared and meet people we never expected to, for it is then that our real character comes through. Touch Your children oh Lord and help us to awaken each morning being reminded of Your grace and Your life demonstrated while here on earth. At the end of each day, may we reflect on the value of each word we spoke and each action that we took, and may we in good conscience be able to praise You and thank You for being our constant guide throughout our day. May You be glorified each day because of our actions and interaction with others. AMEN!

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

 

How To Make One Another Stronger

On By Ed AlgreenIn Encourage, Servants of God, Serve, Service, StrengthLeave a comment

SCRIPTURE  FROM:   Ephesians 4:11–13 (ERV)

TEXT:  11 ….. Christ gave these gifts to people: He made some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to go and tell the Good News, and some to care for and teach God’s people. 12 Christ gave these gifts to prepare God’s holy people for the work of serving, to make the body of Christ stronger. 13 This work must continue until we are all joined together in what we believe and in what we know about the Son of God. Our goal is to become like a full-grown man—to look just like Christ and have all his perfection.

OBSERVATION:   While many of us wish that we could help others more than we feel like we have the ability, or capacity to, I believe that we are challenged with ideas on ways to accomplish this feat. Look again at verse 12 above. God gave each of His children important gifts – but notice that they are given so that we may serve others in order to make the body of Christ stronger. To help one another achieve their best in God. Wow!

APPLICATION:   Wow, how often do we receive a gift, told how to use it, and then rewarded for using it? I believe the part that really touches me, is that God would trust me enough to bless me with a gift from His precious hand. I believe it is awesome that God would then direct me to use that gift to enrich the life of one that I might come into contact with! Ever thought of the fact that God is constantly looking for ways to touch His children and make us stronger in the faith? Ever thought about the fact that when we accepted Jesus as Lord of our lives, we committed ourselves to be more like Him every day, and live to mirror His ways and His character before a lost world? So would it be impossible to think for a moment that God could actually prepare us to be a ‘holy people’ who will serve others for the benefit of making the church stronger? Friends, we might tend to think that we are nobodies and that we don’t count in God’s big scheme of saving the world, but did you also consider that the angels in heaven rejoice over one sinner who repents! Friends, we will find that a sinner repents after receiving convicting evidence that Jesus is alive and that He loves and cares for all who will call on His name in repentance. Often that conviction will come through you and I, as friends of the individual, or even as an acquaintance. God can and will use all means possible to reach the hearts of His lost children. I truly believe that you and I are a vital part of that team, fellow Christian! So when we read the Word and read the exciting news that God will strengthen and embolden us to serve His church and make it stronger, please don’t brush that aside as being the responsibility of the pastor, or the elder or deacon. Take it personally, as He can and will use all of us who are trying to be just like Him in every way to actively work in His service and strengthen the lost who are searching for the Savior of the world.

PRAYER:   Lord I believe in You, so I take my role seriously that You could use even me to serve Your church and make it stronger. Lord, I can only imagine the awesome work that a ‘STRONG’ church can do in it’s community, and the impact it could have on the lost, who need a Savior. Please help us to take our role seriously. It may be as simple as sharing Your love with those who feel unlovable, or it may be as extreme as preaching or teaching Your Word, so that the world will know about You. Our abilities mean very little, but our availability to be used by the King of kings is the ultimate soul winner and encourager. May You be glorified in all that You accomplish through us, and may Your kingdom be enriched from every possible thing accomplished through us. AMEN!

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

 

A Personal God who Cares about YOU

On By Ed AlgreenIn Boldness, Christian Living, Exemplary Living, Forgiven, Holy Living, Living with purpose, Righteous LivingLeave a comment

SCRIPTURE  FROM:   Isaiah 43:1-3 (TLB)

TEXT:  1 …… I have called you by name; you are mine. 2 When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up—the flames will not consume you. 3 For I am the Lord your God, your Savior, the Holy One of Israel….

OBSERVATION:   Notice the personal involvement of God in the phrases throughout these 3 short verses! Notice the person to whom these blessings pertain – you, not ya’ll; not the church in general; not the city of ???, but ‘YOU’. Now theologians might want to correct me and say that this was specifically spoken to the family of Jacob and of Israel, but when I read Ephesians 2:15, I am reminded that we are all children of the King, not just Jacob and the country of Israel. God is bold enough and personal enough to pinpoint His intention to us personally, and has no need to generalize. He’s my God, and I’m His child! You can say the same if it pertains to your commitment with Jesus Christ. How awesome is that?!!

APPLICATION:   I wonder how personal we become with God? I wonder how often we stop to think that He created us and placed us in a world that He created. He saw the challenges we had in living life to the fullest and in line with the glorious provisions that He provided, so He created, miraculously, a Son that would mirror the Father, but yet He would live among us to show how personal and caring He truly is. I wonder how often we stop to ponder that when God created us, it was in His image that He chose to create us. So the choice He gave us then is: what will we decide to do personally? God strategically placed here on earth for such a time as this? To be ‘Christ-like’ and then act like Christ’s oppressor, His enemy; His mocker, His persecutor, wouldn’t that make us extremely miserable inside? Friends, these verses from Isaiah reminds us of the awesome God who created us. What He told us through the prophet has already been proven, so to sit back and question, or analyze whether God can do these things through us, is nothing short of you looking for an excuse to be disobedient and follow your own imperfect will, or to give Satan full reign in your life. Where are you at today, friends? Are you convinced that you are God’s and that He is yours? Are you convinced that what He says is actually true, possible and in fact happening in and through you as you place your faith and trust in Him and allow Him to love you, guide you and give you strength for each day? I would like to encourage you friend, not browbeat you into a feeling of guilt and worthlessness. I am just like many of you, where I struggle with the temptations of life every day, and find it extremely challenging to live in total opposition to the world around me. But praise the almighty power of God, I am a child of the King, saved from my sin by the grace offered through Jesus. Although I live on earth and face the challenges of this world, greater is He that is in me, than he that is in the world. My whole purpose in sharing these journals with you friends, is that you might be encouraged by my experiences and in my joys with the Lord. Today will be a perfect day for you to place yourself before the Master and ask Him to examine you and see if there be, any fault or sin that might separate you from His most gracious Son, Jesus. Please read my ‘Footnote’ for Scripture references surrounding a close(er) walk with the Lord. Please contact me so that I may pray with You as you strive to draw closer to the Lord.

PRAYER:   Lord You are good, and Your mercies endures forever! Thank You for being patient with me and for prompting me through Your gracious Holy Spirit each and every day. Lord, may You be glorified in everything that I do and through everyone that I encounter, for I want so bad to be a living sacrifice for You, and a mirror of all that You want sinners to learn and witness from You. Lord, may You be praised, lifted up and honored this day, especially while sinners surrender their lives to You. This is my prayer, my deepest requests and my plea as I walk with You daily, AMEN!

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

 

Renewal

On By Ed AlgreenIn Renewal, SalvationLeave a comment

SCRIPTURE  FROM:   Isaiah 40:27-31 (TLB)

TEXT:  27 ….. how can you say that the Lord doesn’t see your troubles and isn’t being fair? 28 Don’t you yet understand? Don’t you know by now that the everlasting God, the Creator of the farthest parts of the earth, never grows faint or weary? No one can fathom the depths of his understanding. 29 He gives power to the tired and worn out, and strength to the weak. 30 Even the youths shall be exhausted, and the young men will all give up. 31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

OBSERVATION:   These verses speak to the ever daunting problem of mankind, where one becomes overwhelmed with the differences between what they desire, or want, and the perfect way that they feel something should be done, versus the actual way and means in which things occur. Added to this, mankind will often feel like no one listens, or cares about their explanation of how they feel. Not personally being a psychologist, I’m sure that there are lots of holes that you might poke into that description of what might cause one to become disheartened or disillusioned or depressed. Let’s meditate on how God responds to us through His servant Isaiah on similar matters….

APPLICATION:   I was encouraged when I read these verses again, and was reminded that the God we serve is the one who created this world! He created mankind, to live in this world, and because He carefully put everything into place around the globe, where might He ever send us, that He wouldn’t best direct our path and make sure that we would wind up serving His children for His ultimate glory? There are times in our life that we feel like no one truly understands how we feel, or why we act the way we do. In fact, we may embarrass some very close to us, and we may actually look to God and question why we are so unique. Friends, we are talking about the God who created us with every piece of individuality that exists in us. The One who would one day cause a scientist to stop and question, how in the world can everyone have a truly unique fingerprint? Can you imagine a time that something would be going on in our lifetime, or that awaits in our future, that God is surprised about, or caught unawares about? May I be the first to remind you today that: There is nothing too big for our God! Nothing that He is unaware of; Nothing that He wouldn’t do for His precious children (us); Nothing that He would lead us into that He will not bless and carefully help us succeed in; and no one that He would place in our presence that He would not allow our influence, or Christ-likeness to rub off on! Therefore friends, please tell me: Why would you not trust your Father? Why would you not consult with Him when you feel like you don’t have all of the answers? Why would you not consult with the only One who knows the future, when you look for direction in making the right decisions about tomorrow? Why would you not be faithful to the end, after being reminded of how faithful Jesus was right up to His final moments? Why would you not share often about the Savior who stood in the gap for you and saved you from eternal damnation. The same One who declares the best news ever heard of, when He assures us of our eternal home in Heaven, where we will rejoice around the feet of He and His Father for all eternity? Friends, for those of us that rest our faith and trust in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Word of God declares that He Will Renew our Strength! For it is then that we will spread our wings like eagles, run but yet not get tired or weary, and walk our daily path of life without growing faint! Run to the source of all this friends, and you too can enjoy the exciting benefits that I have given you a hint of today! Jesus loves you, and wants you to love Him also! Praise Him for His goodness, and Chat with Him about your uncertainties, for He’s your Friend, your Savior and Your everlasting King!

PRAYER:   Precious Lord, thank You for reminding us yet again how awesome You are, and how truly powerful You are. We are such spoiled children, who forget so easily about the Savior who gave His very life for our salvation. Please forgive us Lord, and please renew a right spirit within us – one that will open our blinded eyes and cause us to become obedient, humble and totally surrendered to You. Please help us to connect these dots first, so that in the eyes of the lost, they will truly see ‘children of God’ and not spoiled children wandering around trying to gain the world for our own selfish needs and wants. Thank You Lord for saving my soul, thank You Lord for making me whole, thank You Lord for giving to me, Thy great salvation, so rich and free! AMEN!

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