Courage / Fear, Faith / Trusting God, Forgive Others / Seek Forgiveness, Purposeful / Intentional, Share the Good News, Submitted / Servant

Everyone Who Does Evil Hates The Light

Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people. For many, this wonderful evidence of God likely led them to accept Yeshua as Lord, for others it truly helped them grow stronger in their faith, but for others who dwell in darkness… they hate the light and they will rise up to attack those who genuinely stand for God.

John 3:19  19“This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. 20“For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21“But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.”

Wicked men, who love to do evil will always come against those who bring the light of Yeshua to the spiritually dark places throughout this world. It is not enough for them to choose to live in darkness, they feel driven to extinguish the light.

Acts 6:8-15  8And Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people. 9But some men from what was called the Synagogue of the Freedmen, including both Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and some from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and argued with Stephen. 10But they were unable to cope with the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking. 11Then they secretly induced men to say, “We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God.” 12And they stirred up the people, the elders and the scribes, and they came up to him and dragged him away and brought him before the Council. 13They put forward false witnesses who said, “This man incessantly speaks against this holy place and the Law; 14for we have heard him say that this Nazarene, Jesus, will destroy this place and alter the customs which Moses handed down to us.” 15And fixing their gaze on him, all who were sitting in the Council saw his face like the face of an angel.

We must remember and prepare to face persecution when we stand boldly for God and proclaim the truth of the gospel. Prepare by daily study of God’s word in the Bible and through daily prayer time with Yahweh. Ask the LORD to work through You in the power of the Holy Spirit, which is available to us as followers of Yeshua. Prepare for Spiritual battle, for it will come when we stand for Christ. Pray for Yahweh’s help that you stand strong when the persecution comes, as Stephen did. Do not apologize for or water down the true gospel to make it more acceptable to the wicked and worldly… for this would essentially be dimming the light ourselves to blend with darkness and shadow. A dim light is of little use to anyone.

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, please help the righteous stand strong against the wicked. Help the light overpower the darkness and bring honor and glory to Your name. Thank You for Your Spirit and Your word to strengthen us. Thank You for sending Messiah that we may be reconciled to You despite our sin. Help prepare us for any confrontations we may face, even though they likely will not be as severe as what Stephen faced. Help remind us to pray for those who do face that kind of persecution around the world. Amen. 

We encourage you to review the following teachings as part of basic preparation.

Shalom

Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Church / Body of Christ, Holy Spirit / Ruach HaKodesh

All Are Not Prophets, Are They?

Yahweh calls true believers of Yeshua to work together like a human body. Not all are the same parts. Each has different gifts and should work together to glorify God and help one another using these gifts God has provided them. The hand should not try to be the foot as the one who is gifted in administration should not try to be the teacher or prophet, unless God has given them that gift as well.

1 Corinthians 12:27-30     27Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it. 28And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues. 29All are not apostles, are they? All are not prophets, are they? All are not teachers, are they? All are not workers of miracles, are they? 30All do not have gifts of healings, do they? All do not speak with tongues, do they? All do not interpret, do they?

Acts 6:1-7 provides a very practical, hands-on example of how to apply this principle. It is as relevant in Christian communities and organizations today as it was two thousand years ago.

      1Now at this time while the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint arose on the part of the Hellenistic Jews against the native Hebrews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily serving of food. 2So the twelve summoned the congregation of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables. 3“Therefore, brethren, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task. 4“But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” 5The statement found approval with the whole congregation; and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch. 6And these they brought before the apostles; and after praying, they laid their hands on them.

      7The word of God kept on spreading; and the number of the disciples continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were becoming obedient to the faith.

It is important for all believers to genuinely and wholeheartedly turn from sin and turn toward God, seeking forgiveness and changing their behaviors and attitudes to be more like that of Christ. It is important for all believers and especially leaders in the church to learn how to live in the power of the Holy Spirit provided by God. However, each of us has different gifts and must learn what they are and how to use them for helping the local and global community of brothers and sisters who make up the body of Christ.

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, please show each of us the gifts You have given us and help us to find joy operating within those gifts. Help us not to envy the gifts You have given to others. Help us to use our gifts not only for our own benefit but also to honor You and show kindness and love to others. Amen. 

 Shalom

Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Children, Holy / Set Apart, Humility, Obeying God, Parenting, Seeking God, Submitted / Servant, Teachable

Jotham Learned from His Father’s Right and Wrong Choices

The message of 2 Chronicles 27 is fairly simple on the surface. Do right in the sight of the LORD and draw near to Him. Things will go well for you. Of course, this does not mean everyone will be a powerful king. However, the principle is there… seek the LORD and live according to His ways.

A second principle that pops out is that the son learned from what his father did well, honoring God, and also from the mistakes his father made, entering the temple where only the priests should go. I hope to help my children learn from me in the same way.

2 Chronicles 27

Jotham Succeeds Uzziah in Judah

      1Jotham was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Jerushah the daughter of Zadok. 2He did right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Uzziah had done; however he did not enter the temple of the LORD. But the people continued acting corruptly. 3He built the upper gate of the house of the LORD, and he built extensively the wall of Ophel. 4Moreover, he built cities in the hill country of Judah, and he built fortresses and towers on the wooded hills. 5He fought also with the king of the Ammonites and prevailed over them so that the Ammonites gave him during that year one hundred talents of silver, ten thousand kors of wheat and ten thousand of barley. The Ammonites also paid him this amount in the second and in the third year. 6So Jotham became mighty because he ordered his ways before the LORD his God. 7Now the rest of the acts of Jotham, even all his wars and his acts, behold, they are written in the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah. 8He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. 9And Jotham slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David; and Ahaz his son became king in his place.

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, please help us learn from one another and draw nearer to You. Help fathers realize the impact they have on their children to lead them to live godly lives, following after You. Help them to make good choices. Where mistakes are made, help us to learn from them and our children as well. Amen. 

Shalom

Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Devotions by John, Help / Serve Others, Kindness / Gentleness, Money / Finances / Wealth, Purposeful / Intentional

Give A Man A Fish Or Teach Him How To Fish? How Do We Really Help The Poor?

Many in the world are united in the desire to use their limited resources to help those who are poor and less fortunate or just going through difficult times. Unfortunately, there seems much debate about how best to do so. Whether as an individual, family, community, church, or nation, we must ask ourselves the following question.

“How do we efficiently use limited resources to help as many as possible?”

Common sense and life experience should easily show us that if we simply give money away to everyone who asks without limit or boundary any individual or even a nation will quickly find themselves bankrupt. If you don’t agree… do an experiment with your own money or resources. Set aside a set amount you can afford to lose and offer it to anyone that asks in any amount they ask. You will not long have money to help people and in fact you likely did not help as many people as you could have if you were more disciplined and structured in your approach.

So then, how to proceed? Let us begin with the story of two fishing villages a long time ago.

In each village lived one man who knew how to fish and fish well. Both men prospered.

One day a hungry man came to the fisherman in the first village and asked for help. The fisherman wanted to help so he gave him a fish. The next day the hungry man came back and brought friends and the fisherman again gave them fish. “I can fish a little longer to help others”, he thought. The pattern continued for weeks, each day the crowd was bigger. Eventually the fisherman was discouraged. He could no longer catch enough fish to help everyone. Not only were people going hungry, but they were now angry with him also, shouting “You helped others, why will you not help us?!” Finally, the man was not able to even feed his own family on what he kept for himself and he left the village for another. The village now was left with many looking for free fish, but no one there to provide them.

In the second village, the story begins like the first. A hungry man came to him one day, asking for help. The fisherman gave the man a fish because he saw that he was very hungry. But before the hungry man left, the fisherman also offered that if he would return tomorrow, the fisherman would teach the hungry man how to fish on his own. The hungry man agreed. The fisherman challenged the hungry man that he would offer him lessons only for a short while and offer him free fish even shorter time than that. The hungry man thought this was more than fair… after all, the fisherman owed him nothing… and he was very eager to learn. He showed up early and stayed as late as the fisherman was willing to teach him. He paid close attention and asked good questions. He learned. At the end of the time both were good fishermen. By that time a crowd of others had made a practice to come by to watch. They, too, were hungry and wanted to learn how to fish. Now the two fishermen were able to teach more and when that class learned to fish their impact was even greater. Each new student not only received food to meet their needs for a short while, but then also learned how to provide for themselves and their families. At the end of each class, there were more who knew how to fish and were willing to teach others. The whole village learned to fish and provide for their families. Before long they even heard of a village down the river that was going hungry and a group of them started off to go teach those people how to fish.

Which fisherman truly helped the poor more effectively? The first did for awhile, but then his efforts collapsed. They were unsustainable. The second created capability within those in need to provide for themselves while meeting their immediate needs for a short while. The impact of the second was much more sustainable and changed lives.

Whether an individual, family, community, church, or nation… giving away free stuff without limitations and boundaries to all who ask for as long as they ask encourages sloth and laziness and in the end is unsustainable. At the very least, it does not multiply the impact of the help as effectively as teaching others to be able to provide for themselves and then teach yet more people how to do so.

The most significant example of the success of this strategy may actually surprise you. It started over two thousand years ago with a poor carpenter who had a very important message to share with the world. He helped many people, feeding the poor, healing the sick, and sharing His message with people. His ministry lasted only three years and yet it has global implications even today, over 2000 years later. That carpenter was Jesus Christ.

Jesus took time to help those in immediate need, and did so with great compassion. However, he ensured that he also invested time in teaching his 12 disciples how to learn and then teach others. Additionally, he spent even more dedicated time and invested more in three closest to him… Peter, James, and John. This method that Jesus used is called discipleship. He made disciples, or “learners” who then could go and teach others. It creates a wonderful multiplication effect that magnifies the impact of what you are trying to accomplish.

If Jesus had not focused his efforts through discipleship, but rather only spent all his time meeting the short term needs of the poor, the message would have been contained and died with him or at best with his closest followers.

We should take similar approach in our efforts to help people both physically and spiritually today. Help to meet the immediate needs, within established boundaries and guidelines that help ensure sustainability and teach and prepare those in need how to grow and develop skills to take care of themselves so they are not dependent forever on an individual… a church… or a nation’s government. When individuals are completely dependent on another in this way, they become like slaves or indentured servants rather than enjoying the fullness of freedom God intended for them.

Shalom

This post was created in partnership with GrowGodsMoney.org. 

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, please grant me, and all those who follow You, wisdom and compassion in helping others. May we be loving, kind, and effective as we reach out to help one another. Thank You for teaching us Your ways. Please continue to open our eyes to how You want us to live and to love one another and You. Amen. 

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

All Powerful / King of All, Arrogance, Blessed, Consequences of Sin, Curse, Discipline / Guidance From God, Disobeying, Rebelling Against, Ignoring God, Humility, Justice / Judgment, Worthy of Fear / Reverence

As His Children, We Rise and Fall With the LORD

Yahweh’s people often rise and fall with His favor or displeasure. Once again in 2 Chronicles 26 we see the pattern of a blessing for one who obeys, growing strong when he was not, and a curse for one who goes against the LORD’s ways, even when he was strong. The LORD can make or break us. He is ruler over all.

2 Chronicles 26

Uzziah Succeeds Amaziah in Judah

      1And all the people of Judah took Uzziah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king in the place of his father Amaziah. 2He built Eloth and restored it to Judah after the king slept with his fathers. 3Uzziah was sixteen years old when he became king, and he reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem; and his mother’s name was Jechiliah of Jerusalem. 4He did right in the sight of the LORD according to all that his father Amaziah had done. 5He continued to seek God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding through the vision of God; and as long as he sought the LORD, God prospered him.

Uzziah Succeeds in War

      6Now he went out and warred against the Philistines, and broke down the wall of Gath and the wall of Jabneh and the wall of Ashdod; and he built cities in the area of Ashdod and among the Philistines. 7God helped him against the Philistines, and against the Arabians who lived in Gur-baal, and the Meunites. 8The Ammonites also gave tribute to Uzziah, and his fame extended to the border of Egypt, for he became very strong. 9Moreover, Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the Corner Gate and at the Valley Gate and at the corner buttress and fortified them. 10He built towers in the wilderness and hewed many cisterns, for he had much livestock, both in the lowland and in the plain. He also had plowmen and vinedressers in the hill country and the fertile fields, for he loved the soil. 11Moreover, Uzziah had an army ready for battle, which entered combat by divisions according to the number of their muster, prepared by Jeiel the scribe and Maaseiah the official, under the direction of Hananiah, one of the king’s officers. 12The total number of the heads of the households, of valiant warriors, was 2,600. 13Under their direction was an elite army of 307,500, who could wage war with great power, to help the king against the enemy. 14Moreover, Uzziah prepared for all the army shields, spears, helmets, body armor, bows and sling stones. 15In Jerusalem he made engines of war invented by skillful men to be on the towers and on the corners for the purpose of shooting arrows and great stones. Hence his fame spread afar, for he was marvelously helped until he was strong.

Pride Is Uzziah’s Undoing

      16But when he became strong, his heart was so proud that he acted corruptly, and he was unfaithful to the LORD his God, for he entered the temple of the LORD to burn incense on the altar of incense. 17Then Azariah the priest entered after him and with him eighty priests of the LORD, valiant men. 18They opposed Uzziah the king and said to him, “It is not for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the LORD, but for the priests, the sons of Aaron who are consecrated to burn incense. Get out of the sanctuary, for you have been unfaithful and will have no honor from the LORD God.” 19But Uzziah, with a censer in his hand for burning incense, was enraged; and while he was enraged with the priests, the leprosy broke out on his forehead before the priests in the house of the LORD, beside the altar of incense. 20Azariah the chief priest and all the priests looked at him, and behold, he was leprous on his forehead; and they hurried him out of there, and he himself also hastened to get out because the LORD had smitten him. 21King Uzziah was a leper to the day of his death; and he lived in a separate house, being a leper, for he was cut off from the house of the LORD. And Jotham his son was over the king’s house judging the people of the land.

      22Now the rest of the acts of Uzziah, first to last, the prophet Isaiah, the son of Amoz, has written. 23So Uzziah slept with his fathers, and they buried him with his fathers in the field of the grave which belonged to the kings, for they said, “He is a leper.” And Jotham his son became king in his place.

We can certainly point to wicked and worldly men who have much success in an earthly sense in terms of money and power. We see examples in the Bible as well. We may not always understand why Yahweh will allow some to prosper even when they are not walking with Him or why He may seem to punish those who are closer to Him when they sin. We do see a trend, however, where the closer someone is to walking with Him, the higher the LORD’s expectations. One way to think about this is a father who disciplines his own children rather than those who are not his.

Hebrews 12:4-11

A Father’s Discipline

4You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin; 5and you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons,

“MY SON, DO NOT REGARD LIGHTLY THE DISCIPLINE OF THE LORD,

NOR FAINT WHEN YOU ARE PUNISHED BY HIM;

6FOR WHOM THE LORD LOVES HE DISCIPLINES,

AND HE PUNISHES EVERY SON WHOM HE ACCEPTS.” 7It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 9Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits, and live? 10For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness. 11For the moment, all discipline seems not to be pleasant, but painful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterward it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.

Let us not focus on second guessing the LORD when we encounter situations like 2 Chronicles 26, but rather understand that we need to be vigilant to avoid pride and continue serving and seeking Yahweh with humility according to His ways. I will admit, however, that I am curious as to whether or not Uzziah ever repented and if he would have if his fate would have been different.

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, please help us as your people to continue to seek and serve You. Thank You for the Bible with Your holy instructions and for Your Spirit to lead and guide us. Help us to hold fast to a spirit of humility even when we seem to be strong and doing well. Help us to live lives that are pleasing to You. Amen. 

Shalom

Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Envy / Jealousy / Coveting, Obeying God, Persecution / Glorifying God, Protector / Deliverer, Share the Good News, Strong in Our Weakness

Obey God Rather Than Men

True followers of Jesus Christ have faced persecution since Yeshua came to walk among us in His earthly ministry. In truth it may actually serve at times for an external measure of our personal testimony for Christ. If we claim to follow Christ but never suffer even the slightest bit of persecution or rejection from others, there is likely one of two things happening. Either we have compromised the true message of the gospel and watered it down such that it no longer makes non believers uncomfortable or we are not proclaiming Yeshua among non believers.

When Yeshua and His disciples preached, people were moved in one direction or the other… there is no middle ground. You either accept Yeshua and follow Him, changing your life to be more like His example, or you reject Him as God and probably get tired of hearing genuine Christians keep telling you about Him.  Someone who hears the true gospel of Christ, that we go to hell and suffer for eternity because of our own sinful nature unless we submit to follow Christ, can not accept it as true and then continue to ignore it, changing nothing in their lives. If this message does not move you to change your life… you have not accepted it genuinely and wholeheartedly. You are just going through the motions, or “checking a box” on a checklist. Perhaps you are just following traditions of what your parents did before you… but this will not lead to salvation through Christ.

Because the message of Christ makes people uncomfortable, many will come against you when you live and share a life and message that truly reflects Yeshua and God’s revealed word in the Bible.  We must decide whom we shall obey… will we obey God or men. The disciples faced strong persecution over and over following the death of Christ. All but John ultimately died for their faith in Jesus. John was exiled to an island, Patmos. Acts 5 shows one such example of persecution and how the disciples reacted to it.

Acts 5:17-32

Imprisonment and Release

      17But the high priest rose up, along with all his associates (that is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with jealousy. 18They laid hands on the apostles and put them in a public jail. 19But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the gates of the prison, and taking them out he said, 20“Go, stand and speak to the people in the temple the whole message of this Life.” 21Upon hearing this, they entered into the temple about daybreak and began to teach. Now when the high priest and his associates came, they called the Council together, even all the Senate of the sons of Israel, and sent orders to the prison house for them to be brought. 22But the officers who came did not find them in the prison; and they returned and reported back, 23saying, “We found the prison house locked quite securely and the guards standing at the doors; but when we had opened up, we found no one inside.” 24Now when the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed about them as to what would come of this. 25But someone came and reported to them, “The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people!” 26Then the captain went along with the officers and proceeded to bring them back without violence (for they were afraid of the people, that they might be stoned).

      27When they had brought them, they stood them before the Council. The high priest questioned them, 28saying, “We gave you strict orders not to continue teaching in this name, and yet, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.” 29But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. 30“The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you had put to death by hanging Him on a cross. 31“He is the one whom God exalted to His right hand as a Prince and a Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. 32“And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.”

What a powerful testimony! Imagine yourself in their place… arrested when you stood up to proclaim Yeshua. Then Yahweh sets you free in a powerful way. How many of us would then run and hide? The disciples, filled with courage from the Holy Spirit, obeyed Yahweh and went to a public place where they could be easily found and preached the truth of the gospel of our Messiah!

I pray my Father would prepare me to respond in a like manner as the disciples. I am convinced it requires the presence of the Holy Spirit. We must each pray for Yah’s help in this area so that we would proclaim the gospel boldly in all circumstances. We must also prepare through consistent, daily study of His word.

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, please prepare my heart to stand firmly for You even when I am threatened by those who seemingly have power or authority over me. Thank You for being our provider and protector. Let me not be easily discouraged from boldly proclaiming the gospel. Please give me the words to speak and the opportunity to speak them. I pray these things also for others who follow You, locally, across my state, across my country and the world. Amen. 

Shalom

Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Blessed, Interceding for Others, Learning To Pray Effectively, Seeking God

What Can We Learn from Solomon’s Benediction?

The full detailed account around Solomon’s presentation celebrating and dedicating the temple is almost overwhelming to take in, but it is worth reading and reflecting on. It is all about going over the top for honoring and respecting YHWH.

There are a few points I would highlight in today’s scripture.

  • Solomon praises YHWH for fulfilling all He promised.
  • Solomon asks that YHWH would never leave nor forsake them.
  • He asks for YHWH to incline their hearts toward Himself so that they would walk in all His ways.
  • He wants everyone to know there is only one God and it is YHWH.
  • He comes back again to the importance of obeying all YHWH’s statutes and commands as a sign of our devotion to Him.

All of these points are still very important for us today in our relationship with our Father.

1 Kings 8:54-61

Solomon’s Benediction

      54When Solomon had finished praying this entire prayer and supplication to the LORD, he arose from before the altar of the LORD, from kneeling on his knees with his hands spread toward heaven. 55And he stood and blessed all the assembly of Israel with a loud voice, saying:

      56“Blessed be the LORD, who has given rest to His people Israel, according to all that He promised; not one word has failed of all His good promise, which He promised through Moses His servant. 57“May the LORD our God be with us, as He was with our fathers; may He not leave us or forsake us, 58that He may incline our hearts to Himself, to walk in all His ways and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His ordinances, which He commanded our fathers. 59“And may these words of mine, with which I have made supplication before the LORD, be near to the LORD our God day and night, that He may maintain the cause of His servant and the cause of His people Israel, as each day requires, 60so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the LORD is God; there is no one else. 61“Let your heart therefore be wholly devoted to the LORD our God, to walk in His statutes and to keep His commandments, as at this day.”

—-

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

Demons, Healer, Help / Serve Others, Joy / Happiness / Rejoicing, Kindness / Gentleness, Miracles, Share the Good News

We Are In The World, But Do Not Be Of The World

Consider what is more convincing… to tell someone about Yeshua, our Messiah, and what a difference He has made in your life? or to show them? We often hear the expression that “a picture is worth a thousand words”… and it is true. There is no better way to demonstrate the reality of Yeshua and the grace and forgiveness He represents to change our lives for the better than to live it and live it with other believers!

Acts 5:12-16

     12At the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were taking place among the people; and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s portico. 13But none of the rest dared to associate with them; however, the people held them in high esteem. 14And all the more believers in the Lord, multitudes of men and women, were constantly added to their number, 15to such an extent that they even carried the sick out into the streets and laid them on cots and pallets, so that when Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on any one of them. 16Also the people from the cities in the vicinity of Jerusalem were coming together, bringing people who were sick or afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all being healed.

What is particularly significant in this scripture is that all God’s people were of one accord… aligned and working together in the Spirit of God to the good of the community of believers. Scripture specifically calls out Solomon’s portico, which refers to part of the temple. The followers of Yeshua did not leave the Jewish ways behind them, but simply recognized Messiah had come. They continued participate in activity at the Temple. It was not Yeshua’s intent to create a “new religion”, but rather that His followers would continue to obey Torah and build upon that in recognition that Yeshua was the promised Messiah.

The believers were set apart from the non believers. They were set apart and holy. They did not blend and mix with non believers. God always calls His people to be set apart for His use… separate and distinct from the non believers. God never wants us to be a “melting pot” with pagans for He knows it results in pulling His people away from Him and toward pagan worship of false gods.

As a result of being in one accord and being set apart as a community of believers, there were many signs and wonders taking place among the people. When non believers witnessed these things, they came in multitudes and continued to add to the number of those who followed Yeshua.

Neither illness nor unclean spirits could overcome the power of Yeshua expressed through the apostles.

Another amazing perspective to consider… because the people were set apart and honoring God of one accord… they were held in high esteem even by non believers.  Today, by contrast we see this is not the case, primarily because those who claim to be Christian are many and most do not live a Spirit filled life of victory in Yeshua! They fight and squabble one denomination against another and preach false or watered-down gospels that allow people to feel comfortable living in their own sin rather than recognizing a need to change their behaviors and attitudes to become more like Christ. Many churches change what they teach to accommodate the sin of the people and keep them attending. A timely example is how churches have suddenly decided that homosexuality is no longer a sin against God, despite the scriptures, which speak plainly that it is detestable (the words of scripture, not my words). Instead, many churches say it is fine now… I guess they feel God changed His mind to accept the detestable behavior and sin of the people. Those with eyes to see can, who study God’s word and seek Him humbly in prayer know full well that God’s word calls us to change our sin, rather than letting our sin call us to change God’s word.

The end result is that the world can not tell any difference in the community of those who identify as Christian when compared to the rest of the world… with the exception perhaps of violent Islamic jihad. Churches even embrace many elements of pagan worship such as easter bunny, a Santa Clause that has god like powers and is embraced by people of many faiths, worshipping Mary or other men and women identified as “saints”. Truly it is difficult to show the world a Christian community that is different than the world, because there are so many who claim Christianity and then support abortion, the murder of the unborn babies in the place they should be most safe… their mother’s womb.

For us to show the world what it means to follow Yeshua, we must be set apart from the world and be holy, set apart for God’s use. We must be a community of believers that do not accept the ungodly beliefs of our culture but only rely on the steady, unchanging word of God in the Bible as our guide. We must make choices to act and think differently than those around us. We must not “fit in”. We must be willing to be mocked to stand up for Yeshua and show others what it means to be a true follower of Yahweh.

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, please strengthen me and my brothers and sisters in the faith around the world to stand apart for You as true followers of Yeshua, unafraid of representing Him by separating ourselves from the pagan ways of the world. Let us rely only on You and Your unchanging word. It is our anchor, to keep us from drifting off course and into troubled waters. It keeps us securely moored in the safe port that is the life of a Spirit filled believer in Yeshua our Messiah. Amen. 

Shalom

Devotion by John in service to Christ

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Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

All Knowing, Consequences of Sin, Discipline / Guidance From God, Lying / Deceiving, Money / Finances / Wealth, Pride, Rebuke Wrong Behavior, Worldliness

Do Not Seek To Appear Holy, But Rather To Become Holy

Do you ever feel inadequate about your actions, motivations, or attitudes when you compare yourself to God’s standard? Perhaps you even feel inadequate comparing yourself to others? You may find yourself trying very hard to rationalize, to convince yourself, that you are not driven by your own desires but instead are motivated by a desire to honor God? Some will even take to lying to others… to themselves… even to God about these things to justify their wrong behavior or to try to impress others.

Take great care when assessing your actions and motivations. Do not lie and deceive. Instead deal honestly with others, yourself, and God. If your actions, motivations, or attitudes are wrong… admit that, work to change it, and pray God would help you to become more like Yeshua.

For those who think this is a minor issue to God, let’s explore the fate of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5. You can not fool God and He takes it very seriously when you lie to Him.

Acts 5:1-11

      1But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, 2and kept back some of the price for himself, with his wife’s full knowledge, and bringing a portion of it, he laid it at the apostles’ feet. 3But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back some of the price of the land? 4“While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not under your control? Why is it that you have conceived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.” 5And as he heard these words, Ananias fell down and breathed his last; and great fear came over all who heard of it. 6The young men got up and covered him up, and after carrying him out, they buried him.

      7Now there elapsed an interval of about three hours, and his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8And Peter responded to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for such and such a price?” And she said, “Yes, that was the price.” 9Then Peter said to her, “Why is it that you have agreed together to put the Spirit of the Lord to the test? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out as well.” 10And immediately she fell at his feet and breathed her last, and the young men came in and found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11And great fear came over the whole church, and over all who heard of these things.

Ananias and Sapphira owned the land. When they chose to sell it, they owned the entire amount of money. It was theirs. They were under no obligation to sell the property or to share any of the profit.  They could have just said they sold it for the actual sum, and were choosing to donate a portion. That would have been fine. Instead, they lied to and tried to deceive God and His followers. For what purpose? Maybe they suffered from pride as they watched others giving generously to support the community of believers. Perhaps it was as simple as trying to impress others with their donation to appear more holy. Scripture does not say why, so we are left to wonder.

God does call us to be genuinely holy, set apart for God’s use. He does not want us to lie about it and pretend. He wants us to wholeheartedly seek after the things of God. One can not please and honor God by donating money, when one is breaking God’s law (lying) while doing it.

Do not seek to appear holy, but rather seek to become holy. It begins not by donating money to impress others, but by following the commands of God and applying His instruction in our lives. As we become more like Jesus, we will want to give to help others and will do so joyfully and honestly.

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, please forgive me for the times when I have not been completely honest with You or with others. I know it is foolish, as You already know everything. Please help me to seek holiness with integrity. Let me not try to impress others but rather submit to You and seek to please You. Help me to give generously when You call for it and help me to be completely honest when I give less or choose not to give. Amen. 

 Shalom

Devotion by John in service to Christ

Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

All Powerful / King of All, Arrogance, Blessed, Consequences of Sin, Curse, Discipline / Guidance From God, Disobeying, Rebelling Against, Ignoring God, His Ways Are Not Our Ways, Humility, Idols / False Gods, Justice / Judgment, Obeying God, Pride, Provider, Repenting from Sin, Righteous, Submitted / Servant, Teachable, Unteachable / Foolish, Worldliness

Serve the LORD, but with a Whole Heart

It is good when we do right in the sight of the LORD and serve Him. However, let us learn a lesson from Amaziah to do so with our whole heart. It can be too easy to compromise and blend with the world and culture around us and then get defensive and angry at those who would rightly speak the word of the LORD to us calling us to repent.

2 Chronicles 25

Amaziah Succeeds Joash in Judah

      1Amaziah was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem. 2He did right in the sight of the LORD, yet not with a whole heart. 3Now it came about as soon as the kingdom was firmly in his grasp, that he killed his servants who had slain his father the king. 4However, he did not put their children to death, but did as it is written in the law in the book of Moses, which the LORD commanded, saying, “Fathers shall not be put to death for sons, nor sons be put to death for fathers, but each shall be put to death for his own sin.”

Amaziah Defeats Edomites

      5Moreover, Amaziah assembled Judah and appointed them according to their fathers’ households under commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds throughout Judah and Benjamin; and he took a census of those from twenty years old and upward and found them to be 300,000 choice men, able to go to war and handle spear and shield. 6He hired also 100,000 valiant warriors out of Israel for one hundred talents of silver. 7But a man of God came to him saying, “O king, do not let the army of Israel go with you, for the LORD is not with Israel nor with any of the sons of Ephraim. 8“But if you do go, do it, be strong for the battle; yet God will bring you down before the enemy, for God has power to help and to bring down.” 9Amaziah said to the man of God, “But what shall we do for the hundred talents which I have given to the troops of Israel?” And the man of God answered, “The LORD has much more to give you than this.” 10Then Amaziah dismissed them, the troops which came to him from Ephraim, to go home; so their anger burned against Judah and they returned home in fierce anger.

      11Now Amaziah strengthened himself and led his people forth, and went to the Valley of Salt and struck down 10,000 of the sons of Seir. 12The sons of Judah also captured 10,000 alive and brought them to the top of the cliff and threw them down from the top of the cliff, so that they were all dashed to pieces. 13But the troops whom Amaziah sent back from going with him to battle, raided the cities of Judah, from Samaria to Beth-horon, and struck down 3,000 of them and plundered much spoil.

Amaziah Rebuked for Idolatry

      14Now after Amaziah came from slaughtering the Edomites, he brought the gods of the sons of Seir, set them up as his gods, bowed down before them and burned incense to them. 15Then the anger of the LORD burned against Amaziah, and He sent him a prophet who said to him, “Why have you sought the gods of the people who have not delivered their own people from your hand?” 16As he was talking with him, the king said to him, “Have we appointed you a royal counselor? Stop! Why should you be struck down?” Then the prophet stopped and said, “I know that God has planned to destroy you, because you have done this and have not listened to my counsel.”

Amaziah Defeated by Joash of Israel

      17Then Amaziah king of Judah took counsel and sent to Joash the son of Jehoahaz the son of Jehu, the king of Israel, saying, “Come, let us face each other.” 18Joash the king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, “The thorn bush which was in Lebanon sent to the cedar which was in Lebanon, saying, ‘Give your daughter to my son in marriage.’ But there passed by a wild beast that was in Lebanon and trampled the thorn bush. 19“You said, ‘Behold, you have defeated Edom.’ And your heart has become proud in boasting. Now stay at home; for why should you provoke trouble so that you, even you, would fall and Judah with you?”

      20But Amaziah would not listen, for it was from God, that He might deliver them into the hand of Joash because they had sought the gods of Edom. 21So Joash king of Israel went up, and he and Amaziah king of Judah faced each other at Beth-shemesh, which belonged to Judah. 22Judah was defeated by Israel, and they fled each to his tent. 23Then Joash king of Israel captured Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Joash the son of Jehoahaz, at Beth-shemesh, and brought him to Jerusalem and tore down the wall of Jerusalem from the Gate of Ephraim to the Corner Gate, 400 cubits. 24He took all the gold and silver and all the utensils which were found in the house of God with Obed-edom, and the treasures of the king’s house, the hostages also, and returned to Samaria.

      25And Amaziah, the son of Joash king of Judah, lived fifteen years after the death of Joash, son of Jehoahaz, king of Israel. 26Now the rest of the acts of Amaziah, from first to last, behold, are they not written in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel? 27From the time that Amaziah turned away from following the LORD they conspired against him in Jerusalem, and he fled to Lachish; but they sent after him to Lachish and killed him there. 28Then they brought him on horses and buried him with his fathers in the city of Judah.

Yahweh does indeed have the power to help or to bring down, to bless or to curse. He can have much more influence in this matter than all of our best and most creative efforts. We should take great caution not to turn from His ways in order to pursue our success. We are called to serve Him and live according to His ways wholeheartedly, not half heartedly. It is not a matter of being less wicked or more righteous than the average person. It is about are we fully submitted to the LORD with all our heart, soul, mind and strength.

Prayerfully reflect on your own life. What evidence is there in your actions and words and thoughts that you may not be fully submitted? Honestly evaluate the evidence that would indicate you may be compromising or blending with the world and culture around you, even if unintentionally. Engage the help of a trusted friend and godly advisor or mentor. Avoid being defensive and angry. Listen. Don’t make the same mistake Amaziah made by dismissing the wise counsel.

I invite you to pray with me:

Father, please show me where I am blending with the world around me. Help me to see clearly and to set myself and my family apart for your use. May your Spirit open my eyes to areas in my life where I need to make changes and be more fully devoted and submitted to You. Send wise counsel and help me listen to it. Help me to serve as wise counsel for other believers. Amen.

Shalom

Devotion by John in service to Christ

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Do you know for sure if you will go to heaven or hell when you die? Are you experiencing in your life the peace and joy of a personal relationship with our Creator and Father? Learn more about salvation through The Message of the Cross.

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