"And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God." 1 Corinthians 6:11
The list of sins and violations in the preceding verses, is an awful reminder of our past spiritual condition and ultimate end. The focus of this verse, is the past tense of what we were, contrasted with the gloriously blessed present tense of what we are in Jesus! We were filthy in degradation and sin, but are now washed; we were rebellious, unrighteous and vile but are now sanctified; we were without excuse and under sentence of eternal death but are now justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God! Hallelujah!
http://www.pentecostalfamilychurch.com.au/devotion
Saturday 29 September 2012
Friday 28 September 2012
Sept 29
"Be strong......O ye Philistines.... quit yourselves like men, and fight." 1 Samuel 4:9
Afraid of the God who had saved Israel out of the grasp of the Egyptians, the Philistines chanted their self-confidence inspiring 'mantra' in an effort to raise their courage and fight valiantly against the spiritually ailing and backslidden Israel. It is a sad day when the self-confidence of evil men is greater than the faith and confidence God's people hold in their God! Just like Israel, those who stray from their faithfulness to the Lord, can expect loss of the presence, power and protection of God. The result is confusion, sorrow, hurt and a sense that truly the 'Glory' has departed! There is only one answer and solution - an immediate return to the Lord and the values that should govern our lives.
http://www.pentecostalfamilychurch.com.au/devotion
Afraid of the God who had saved Israel out of the grasp of the Egyptians, the Philistines chanted their self-confidence inspiring 'mantra' in an effort to raise their courage and fight valiantly against the spiritually ailing and backslidden Israel. It is a sad day when the self-confidence of evil men is greater than the faith and confidence God's people hold in their God! Just like Israel, those who stray from their faithfulness to the Lord, can expect loss of the presence, power and protection of God. The result is confusion, sorrow, hurt and a sense that truly the 'Glory' has departed! There is only one answer and solution - an immediate return to the Lord and the values that should govern our lives.
http://www.pentecostalfamilychurch.com.au/devotion
Sept 28
"The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses; and as horsemen, so shall they run." Joel 2:4
The delays of God in bringing judgement, are sometimes wrongly interpreted as impotence against sin or indifference to it. Nothing could be further from the truth. They are all too often God's exceptional mercy, longsuffering and love extending to man another opportunity to repent. When finally judgement does come however, it comes swiftly and severely! Judah experienced this when because of their unrepented sin, judgement came in the form of a plague of locusts which devoured and destroyed. Highlighting the swiftness of this judgement, the locusts are described in strength and speed as horses; as loud as chariots on a charge; as fire leaving desolation in its wake; and as a mighty army of men set in battle array and able to scale walls!
http://www.pentecostalfamilychurch.com.au/devotion
The delays of God in bringing judgement, are sometimes wrongly interpreted as impotence against sin or indifference to it. Nothing could be further from the truth. They are all too often God's exceptional mercy, longsuffering and love extending to man another opportunity to repent. When finally judgement does come however, it comes swiftly and severely! Judah experienced this when because of their unrepented sin, judgement came in the form of a plague of locusts which devoured and destroyed. Highlighting the swiftness of this judgement, the locusts are described in strength and speed as horses; as loud as chariots on a charge; as fire leaving desolation in its wake; and as a mighty army of men set in battle array and able to scale walls!
http://www.pentecostalfamilychurch.com.au/devotion
Wednesday 26 September 2012
Sept 27
"And the LORD said unto Gideon, The people are yet too many; ............" Judges 7:4
Gideon's 32,000 strong army was being culled and reduced before his very eyes and to the natural mind, so were the chances of success in battle - but God had determined to give Israel a victory over the enemy. His power does rely on the the numbers or the might man can muster up, and His glory is best seen when we are in the weakest and most vulnerable condition. Our minority plus God equals a mighty majority! Our little in God's hands is much! Trust Him!
http://www.pentecostalfamilychurch.com.au/devotion
Gideon's 32,000 strong army was being culled and reduced before his very eyes and to the natural mind, so were the chances of success in battle - but God had determined to give Israel a victory over the enemy. His power does rely on the the numbers or the might man can muster up, and His glory is best seen when we are in the weakest and most vulnerable condition. Our minority plus God equals a mighty majority! Our little in God's hands is much! Trust Him!
http://www.pentecostalfamilychurch.com.au/devotion
Tuesday 25 September 2012
Sept 26
"..... All that thou sayest unto me I will do." Ruth 3:5
Ruth had made a personal and selfless sacrifice in following and caring for her aging mother in law, with much love and industry. She had determined to make the God of Naomi, her God. Ruth was obedient and teachable, she willingly followed the ways of God through the instructions given to her by Naomi. God is looking for and blesses such hearts who wholeheartedly will do His will and perform His ways. He greatly rewards, sincerity, honesty, obedience and industry.
http://www.pentecostalfamilychurch.com.au/devotion
Ruth had made a personal and selfless sacrifice in following and caring for her aging mother in law, with much love and industry. She had determined to make the God of Naomi, her God. Ruth was obedient and teachable, she willingly followed the ways of God through the instructions given to her by Naomi. God is looking for and blesses such hearts who wholeheartedly will do His will and perform His ways. He greatly rewards, sincerity, honesty, obedience and industry.
http://www.pentecostalfamilychurch.com.au/devotion
Monday 24 September 2012
Sept 25
"And he said unto them, Take nothing for your journey......" Luke 9:3
There is a time to prepare, to work and to provide for our needs and those of our families. The Lord has through His Word, given plenty of instruction on those principles also. Yet here His directions to the disciples, as they were being sent forth to do His work, were to 'travel light'! No excess baggage or superfluous anything was to be carried on this mission!
Faith, trust and reliance on God are indispensable when we are sent to serve Him, yet nothing of the material things we consider important, is really necessary for the task. We are to function with the knowledge that He will provide along the way all that we need to get the 'job done'. In context, this reliance is wise and appropriate in every aspect of our lives. Material things when accrued and multiplied have a way of becoming unrealistically important to us. They weight us down and can impede our spiritual progress as they interfere with our leaning on Jesus!
http://www.pentecostalfamilychurch.com.au/devotion
There is a time to prepare, to work and to provide for our needs and those of our families. The Lord has through His Word, given plenty of instruction on those principles also. Yet here His directions to the disciples, as they were being sent forth to do His work, were to 'travel light'! No excess baggage or superfluous anything was to be carried on this mission!
Faith, trust and reliance on God are indispensable when we are sent to serve Him, yet nothing of the material things we consider important, is really necessary for the task. We are to function with the knowledge that He will provide along the way all that we need to get the 'job done'. In context, this reliance is wise and appropriate in every aspect of our lives. Material things when accrued and multiplied have a way of becoming unrealistically important to us. They weight us down and can impede our spiritual progress as they interfere with our leaning on Jesus!
http://www.pentecostalfamilychurch.com.au/devotion
Sunday 23 September 2012
Sept 24
"For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:" 1 Timothy 4:4
Unlike the OT dietary laws which forbade certain animal foods, in the NT we have a new liberty to eat without the same restraints, but with this condition: there must be thanksgiving. We have here then, the basis for giving of thanks or praying over our food prior to eating. It makes us mindful of its source and thankful for its faithful, daily provision. In a society and time when appreciation for the basic things of life and thankfulness for their ready availability is almost non-existent, we would do well to be thankful to the Lord and teach our children the same!
http://www.pentecostalfamilychurch.com.au/devotion
Unlike the OT dietary laws which forbade certain animal foods, in the NT we have a new liberty to eat without the same restraints, but with this condition: there must be thanksgiving. We have here then, the basis for giving of thanks or praying over our food prior to eating. It makes us mindful of its source and thankful for its faithful, daily provision. In a society and time when appreciation for the basic things of life and thankfulness for their ready availability is almost non-existent, we would do well to be thankful to the Lord and teach our children the same!
http://www.pentecostalfamilychurch.com.au/devotion
Saturday 22 September 2012
Sept 23
"For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:" Colossians 3:6
The list in the preceding verse names the things for which God's wrath will fall. Covetousness is the sin by which a person's heart is given to the object of his greed or desire, and not to God. It is thus labelled - 'idolatry'. This among the other sins identifies the 'children of disobedience'. Christians should carefully guard against these sins and particularly the often 'hidden' and unnoticed sin of covetousness, to which we can all fall prey in our very materialistic, affluent society.
http://www.pentecostalfamilychurch.com.au/devotion
The list in the preceding verse names the things for which God's wrath will fall. Covetousness is the sin by which a person's heart is given to the object of his greed or desire, and not to God. It is thus labelled - 'idolatry'. This among the other sins identifies the 'children of disobedience'. Christians should carefully guard against these sins and particularly the often 'hidden' and unnoticed sin of covetousness, to which we can all fall prey in our very materialistic, affluent society.
http://www.pentecostalfamilychurch.com.au/devotion
Friday 21 September 2012
Sept 22
"I sleep, but my heart waketh: it is the voice of my beloved that knocketh,....." Song of Solomon 5:2
Asleep and yet awake! Though asleep in our necessary physical rest, lest us never enter spiritual unconsciousness or 'switch off' at the heart. In our relationship with Jesus our hearts should remain awake and conscious to His call, ready to hear and respond to the knocking of His voice. It is the voice of the loving Saviour of our souls. Anytime He calls, we should be prompt to listen, anytime He knocks, He should have ready access to our hearts.
http://www.pentecostalfamilychurch.com.au/devotion
Asleep and yet awake! Though asleep in our necessary physical rest, lest us never enter spiritual unconsciousness or 'switch off' at the heart. In our relationship with Jesus our hearts should remain awake and conscious to His call, ready to hear and respond to the knocking of His voice. It is the voice of the loving Saviour of our souls. Anytime He calls, we should be prompt to listen, anytime He knocks, He should have ready access to our hearts.
http://www.pentecostalfamilychurch.com.au/devotion
Thursday 20 September 2012
Sept 21
"....... I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be as thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare unto you." Judges 2:3
Israel had made league with the heathen nations around, in disobedience to the command of God to drive them out. Those associations became an entrapment in their lives and a hindrance to their relationship with the Lord God. When we associate with and adopt the ways of the world around us, we too can become trapped in thinking and practices which are antagonistic to God and His word; that will sicken our spiritual health and break our relation with the Lord.
http://www.pentecostalfamilychurch.com.au/devotion
Israel had made league with the heathen nations around, in disobedience to the command of God to drive them out. Those associations became an entrapment in their lives and a hindrance to their relationship with the Lord God. When we associate with and adopt the ways of the world around us, we too can become trapped in thinking and practices which are antagonistic to God and His word; that will sicken our spiritual health and break our relation with the Lord.
http://www.pentecostalfamilychurch.com.au/devotion
Sept 20
".......the thing is gone from me..." Daniel 2:5
We are not told in the text whether the king really had forgotten the dream or if he was testing the men who were 'seers' in his employ. Be that as it may, this man who held power in their lives, now demanded to be shown not only the interpretation but the dream itself! The dismayed 'seers' complained this would be an impossible thing with any man. What is certain is that his demand necessitated a man who could hear from the One true God - Daniel was such a man! When we are faced with the things 'impossible' to man, we must be like Daniel in close relation to the God to whom all things are possible!
http://www.pentecostalfamilychurch.com.au/devotion
We are not told in the text whether the king really had forgotten the dream or if he was testing the men who were 'seers' in his employ. Be that as it may, this man who held power in their lives, now demanded to be shown not only the interpretation but the dream itself! The dismayed 'seers' complained this would be an impossible thing with any man. What is certain is that his demand necessitated a man who could hear from the One true God - Daniel was such a man! When we are faced with the things 'impossible' to man, we must be like Daniel in close relation to the God to whom all things are possible!
http://www.pentecostalfamilychurch.com.au/devotion
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