Feb 29

“…the secret…cannot... the soothsayers, shew unto the king;” Daniel 2:27

This was a tough call by any measure. The king was demanding, on threat of death, that he be told by his ‘seers’, his own dream, which he claimed to have forgotten, along with its interpretation! Mere mortals, in spite of training, skills and experience would find this a hard task to comply with. Such was the position of the ‘tellers of truth’ in the king’s employ, and all of them having failed to meet the challenge, were soon to be put to death! There are situations where we all feel totally inadequate and out of our depth. The ‘odds’ are stacked against us, we sense the reality of the ‘impossible’ task before us and feel like we might as well be required to fly to the moon by flapping our arms! We might not be in danger of our lives, but then again there may be a lot at stake and dependent on our ability to meet the test facing us. The equation is impossibility, but that is without factoring in the power and wisdom of God - for what things are impossible with men are possible with God! Daniel knew and believed this truth, having experienced and carrying a personal relationship with Yahwah, the Almighty, Omniscient, Eternal God! His confidence as he approaches the challenge is nothing short of amazing, because it rests not on himself and his own ability, but in the Lord. Daniel admits openly that he has no more capacity than any other man, but that he believes the God of Heaven Who knows and can reveal all things! In God’s anointed wisdom, he then proceeds to fulfil the demands of the king. He tells the king the dream he had ‘forgotten’ and its interpretation. Astounding and unlikely things are possible, when a man believes and relies on the power of the Lord! Human boundaries and limits are removed, and temporarily, he is given ability and wisdom beyond his natural resources. God is glorified by the humble servant who gives the Lord the opportunity to work through him, and show Himself strong and mighty. May we like Daniel, not wilt at the difficulties and ‘impossibilities’ which may test us in life, but use them as a platform from which the power and glory of God may be proclaimed!

http://www.pentecostalfamilychurch.com.au/devotion

Feb 28

“And let us bring again the ark of our God to us…” 1 Chronicles 13:3

No sooner was David made king over Israel, that he renewed the nation’s consciousness for the presence of God. Revival comes to God’s people, when we determine to return to a close relationship with God, and enquire from Him how to direct our lives! Israel had not sought God’s directives during the reign of Saul. They had contented themselves to worship elsewhere, or not to worship at all. They had all but forgotten the importance and place of the ark of God. This remarkable piece of furniture, which had travelled with Israel through the wilderness journey to the Promised Land, had been the earthly ‘seat’ of the presence and glory of God and the centre of worship for the Israelites. Without a temple for it to be housed in, it had become neglected and with that neglect, had come also the negligence and failure of enquiring at the face of the Lord. David fully intended to change all of that! His zeal and enthusiasm to restore the ark to its rightful place, as the soul and centre of Israelite worship, was contagious, appreciated and agreed to by the people over whom he now reigned. The whole instance speaks to us of the importance of keeping God in the centre of our lives and focus. How easy it is to get so busy with life, work, family and a host of other mind occupying things, and pay little attention, or forget altogether, the One to whom we owe all else we have! How typically human is the trait of feeling capable to captain our own lives, and fail to ask God and enquire from Him what He wants us to do and how He wants us to do it. This shifting of the patterns established by God, from spirituality to carnality, sets us back in our relationship with the Lord, and costs us and our families very dearly! Like David, we must be champions for the consciousness and worship of Yahwah. Like him, we must always work to restore and maintain Jesus as the centre and focus of our lives; as the priority and prime purpose of our existence.

http://www.pentecostalfamilychurch.com.au/devotion

Feb 27

“Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves…” 2 Corinthians 3:5

The principles and teaching of God’s word often stand in stark contrast to those of the world. In the natural we are taught to be ‘self-sufficient’. We treasure the ability to need no-one else, and be as much as possible ‘independent’ and self-reliant. While there may be some benefit in these views and to some degree they are necessary in our personal survival, often the concept of self-sufficiency, is taken too far, and once mingled with the pride and arrogance of our human nature, it is applied in the wrong ways. What was intended as a demonstration of personal ability, then becomes a weapon for self-destruction and the cause of antipathy of others. As Christians we do treasure the ability to grow personally and be strong as individuals, recognising the necessity to carry our personal load and not to become too burdensome to others. Along with that conviction however, is another dimension in understanding sufficiency. Biblical sufficiency, clearly is well beyond ourselves and while it involves us, it is not from or by us! Paul expresses this wisdom in his writings. It all starts by recognising that in reality we can do nothing of ourselves; in other words that the actual ‘power’ to think, speak and act, comes from God. Once we have settled the question of power, ability or capacity and its Divine source, it becomes easier to see that what we do, or how we function is not really ‘our own’, but ultimately the result of His creation, His opus in us! Now let’s be clear that God doesn’t do the thinking and acting FOR us, which is why we can so easily abuse the power and ability He has granted, and use it for the wrong reasons. Most in fact, use their God-given capacities against the very God that empowered them, by sinning and defying His commandments and directives! So while we are clearly responsible for our own thoughts and actions, and will be judged for them, yet as believers we find no trouble or disparity, in acknowledging that the ‘sufficiency’ (power, ability, skill) of anything we think, say and do comes from the Lord. To Him therefore we give glory and honour for these divine endowments. When applied from natural, every-day existence, to the spiritual element of life, this truth becomes even more relevant and tangible. Without a special ability given by God to His ministers and workers, nothing of any spiritual value or consequence could ever be accomplished. This power and special capacity is the anointing of God’s Holy Spirit! Without God’s anointing a sermon is merely a collection of human thoughts, with no power to reach the soul; a minister is just doing a job; a church is just a club; and worship is just singing! Without the anointing we could never hope to reach a soul for Christ, understand or teach a single spiritual truth or remain faithful in our walk with God. Truly with the apostle we can say that we are not sufficient of ourselves, and cannot look to our own ability for any of these things, but that our sufficiency is of God!

http://www.pentecostalfamilychurch.com.au/devotion

Feb 26

“The LORD hear thee in the day of trouble…” Psalms 20:1

It is reassuring to know we have audience with the Almighty God. He is interested in our troubles and does not avert His attention from us when we suffer. He is compassionate and capable. The reality and sense of this ever-ready Ear we can speak to, and the blessing and comfort of knowing He not only listens intently, but also responds and directs, is a great joy and strength to the believer, whose relationship is intimate with the Lord. Our fellow humans are not always present, interested or concerned about our troubles, but Jesus always cares, is present and nothing is too difficult or burdensome for Him to hear and bear with us. In fact we are taught by the scriptures that He is fully qualified to understand every difficulty and trauma we may experience, and much more than we will ever have personal knowledge of! He, in His humanity was tempted, tested and tried in every point and through Calvary experienced every possible human condition and detriment! Jesus has the heart to listen to our distresses and calls of help, can be touched by the feeling of our afflictions and infirmities. He understands our cares, and is willing to help us lift our load, and carry our burden. The line to heaven is never engaged, does not require appointment, is never broken or under repairs. No money is required to call, and there are no automated messages on the other end! Each of us have all the equipment we need to call on the LORD! Let us faithfully call on Yahwah, every day and more so in the day of trouble, for He will faithfully hear us!

http://www.pentecostalfamilychurch.com.au/devotion

Feb 25

“Who gave himself a ransom for all…” 1 Timothy 2:6

In order to free a slave from his captivity, a redemption price or ransom had to be paid. Clearly from his enslaved position, the slave himself would never be able to pay such a price. To free such a man then, someone else would have to pay the price of his freedom, on his behalf. Such is the picture painted in our text. Like poor and hopeless captives, we too were all slaves to sin, under the hand of the tyrannical and wicked master, the devil, who cared nothing if we died. Our situation was so beyond repair because the price for our liberty could not be paid by any other human being. Everyone else was in the same condition as us, for all have sinned and as such, were in the same chains and bondage that defined and restrained us. How could such a situation be remedied? What price could possibly be paid, as a ransom for all of humanity? Jesus is the answer! This is the motto some have puzzled over. They wonder if Jesus is the answer then what was the question! The question was they, me, us, all of humanity, our sin and lost condition and the how we could ever be delivered from our slavery and the captivity of Satan – that is the question to which only Jesus is the answer! He is the True Redeemer, who didn’t just give in order to ransom, but gave Himself, His precious sinless blood, as the price and full payment for our freedom from slavery! To further expound the dimension of Christ’s redemption, consider this: He became the ransom price for ALL! Yes - all of humanity; all who have been enslaved by sin and iniquity; all who are in captivity and spiritual chains! This is a remarkable thought! The price of delivering on slave from his slavery was considerable but the price of delivering humanity from its slavery is incalculable! The praises and hymns of thanks should continually flow from the mouths and hearts of every human being on earth! Yet what is obvious is that so many remain in the bondage of their sin and enslaved by satan - why is this the case? The single and simple requirement for receiving this freedom is accepting the salvation Jesus has provided! So many remain in spiritual slavery, for several reasons. Firstly because they do not know about the Saviour and the price He paid on their behalf, and therefore cannot in faith act and partake of His salvation. This is why the task of those who are saved, is to share the ‘good news’ of the gospel of salvation and help others receive their freedom! Let’s remember that every effort is made by the powers of darkness which enslave the souls of men, to stop this process of evangelism, quench the passion and vision of Christians to share the gospel, and to adulterate the message of salvation, minimise it, compromise it or alter it, in any way possible to lessen the chances of a slave becoming free from sin. The second reason why so many are yet in chains of spiritual slavery, is that the salvation and ransom given freely on their behalf, astonishingly is rejected by them! Although it may seem unthinkable, illogical and unlikely, that a slave would reject the only means of his liberty, yet this is exactly what is happening on the spiritual plane! Either deceived in believing that is not really their spiritual condition, or that there is some other way to freedom, or worse unwilling to make Jesus their new Master and Lord and serve Him for the love He has shown to them, they reject ‘The Ransom’, and choose rather to remain in spiritual bondage and slavery, where they will die eternally for their sin! Through all this, the grand plan and message of God continues to sound out for all who will hear it, and His salvation is still available to all who will receive it – Jesus – The Ransom for all! Jesus is still the Answer!

http://www.pentecostalfamilychurch.com.au/devotion

Feb 24

“…yet ye have not, because ye ask not.” James 4:2

The two children seated in the back seat of the car fought and tugged at each other over a sweet which one of them had, and the other wanted. Their cries and fuss attracted their mother’s attention who listened to their stories amidst sobs and accusations. After a brief and stern caution, she produced a second sweet and settled their matter in an instant. James addresses the human trait we are all so familiar with. We quarrel and fight, envy and want but fail to get, because instead of coming to the Source of all things, we attempt to get what we want by our own means. Never satisfied, we no sooner manage to snatch some advantage or prize, that we turn our attention and craving to something else, for which we will again struggle and fuss. Just like those children, but in a much more severe way, and for all sorts of reasons, we litigate, afflict, battle and attack others, for the things we think we want, when our Heavenly Father has all we need and want at heart right there at our disposal. All we need do is ask in faith, without pride, and empty of envy towards others. Ask for the correct and righteous reason of receiving from God, so that we may bring glory to Him, by that which He gives us. Many times we remain ‘empty handed’ only because we fail to ask God, or because we do ask, but with the wrong motives in heart and mind. God is a fair and just Father, He will give to us what He knows is best for us to serve Him and to do His will. Should something be withheld, it is probably because in His wisdom God knows it is better that it is not given to us – either at this time, or ever. In all things He has our best interests at heart. Accepting this relationship, in true ‘child-like’ faith, will probably spare us a great deal of heartache and strife. Ultimately we need to remember that all we have or are likely to receive, will come from the Lord through sincere asking in prayer. To that we may only add the willingness to work hard, labour honestly and willingly, while giving due consideration to the needs of others.

http://www.pentecostalfamilychurch.com.au/devotion

Feb 23

“…that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me…” Philemon 1:13

As he sends him back to Philemon, Paul gives reference of the servant Onesimus, in such a positive light, that he compares the services he is rendering to Paul while in prison, equal to and as valuable as those that Philemon himself would have offered, had he been with Paul. There is an affinity which grows among fellow ministers. This is the result of the calling that is placed on their lives by the Lord. It is a precious fellowship, one that goes beyond mere organizational ties, or academic connections. It is borne of the like precious faith which joins and makes a common bond and purpose, for those who are part of it. It is a spiritual fellowship; a companionship and friendship ordained by God’s Spirit and supported by His Word. The called ones, who are privileged to experience such excellence of ministry, benefit not only from the gift of God to minister to others, but the blessing of receiving the ministry of others. In difficult times, times of trials and afflictions, when few understand the heart and burden of the minister, God sends one who is called, to help carry the load, encourage the heart and remind the wearied servant to remain yet faithful. Paul was in bonds not for some misconduct or crime, but for being a preacher of the gospel of Christ. He might have been limited in his space and movements, but was not impoverished in the faith and in his zeal for the Lord. Onesimus proved profitable, as he willingly helped to support the weight of Paul’s cross! Helping him to carry the burden of his prison bonds and ministering to his needs, as Paul in turn, concentrated all he had left to minister the word of God to others! Might we pray that God may supply us with more ‘Pauls’ to see the gospel go forth and God’s kingdom spread, but that he may also provide more precious workers, like useful Onesimus, to minister to the needs of the ministers, faithfully and without complaint. This is what true service and ministry to God, is really all about, each doing what God has called us to do, lovingly, humbly, patiently and joyfully, as unto the Lord!

http://www.pentecostalfamilychurch.com.au/devotion

Feb 22

“…Man shall not live by bread alone…” Matthew 4:4

Jesus had been fasting for forty days. When tempted to miraculously supply for Himself bread to sustain His physical life, His scriptural response to the tempter was taken from Deuteronomy. There we are reminded not to think that our survival depends upon bread alone, for that is at best only sufficient for the physical being, but that true life in a man, is produced by adherence to “every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God”. It is a common mistake among humans to judge and measure our sufficiency and success by physical, temporal and fiscal factors alone. We usually consider a person to be successful, when they have money, own property and are generally ‘well-off’ in physical, financial terms. God measures by a different yardstick, and clearly being economically well placed, does not amount to being spiritually successful or wealthy in God. Many are financially rich and socially well positioned, but are yet destitute in their soul, empty of godliness, impoverished in spirit and untouched by the grace of God! Having all that satisfies the physical needs and wants, does not preclude the necessity to seek that, which is essential for the health and wealth of our mind, heart, soul and spirit. ‘Man shall not live by bread alone’, as a divine principle, reaches into the deepest recesses of our human intuition, and tears out all our pre-conceived ideas and ideologies! It destroys the endless human pursuit of the tangible, material and temporal world only, and lifts our gaze to a higher plane. It is there we see the bigger picture. God made man to be more than just a physical being! His mind, soul and spirit require life giving sustenance also, and that ‘food’ can only come from the word of God! No other source will do, no spiritual life can result from the philosophies and thoughts of man. The human replacements of man’s wisdom to feed the mind, human experience to feed the emotions and pseudo spiritualism to reach the soul, cannot bring to man the spiritual and eternal life God had intended for him. Without the spiritual plane of life given by Yahwah, we have only a temporal physical existence and are brought face to face with the futility of our struggles and briefness of our earthly survival! We need divine, heavenly food, for true life on earth, for worship and service unto God, and for life eternal. That is what we were designed and created for, and nothing short of fulfilling our created purpose will satisfy. Man shall not live by bread alone, for that life will soon pass and an eternity of death will follow - unless during this brief passage on earth, we realise, accept and make ours the eternal life which comes from hearing and obeying every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God!

http://www.pentecostalfamilychurch.com.au/devotion

Feb 21

“A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame…” Proverbs 17:2

The wise and the fool are often contrasted in the book of Proverbs. In the normal course of human government, a master’s son would naturally have rule over a servant. Wisdom however, can make a huge difference to the status, position and responsibility of any individual. In the presence of titled foolishness, servant wisdom may well be preferred and given place. In our verse, it may be because the son’s father recognises the son’s looseness and foolishness that he places him under the authority of the wise servant in question; or perhaps simply through sagacity and diligent application, the servant progressively wins the favour and authority of the father over his foolish son. Either way we learn by comparison, the powerful value of wisdom, its application and benefit in every area and dealing of life, versus the poverty and shame which foolishness and irresponsibility, inevitably will bring. God is intent in teaching His people to be wise people with a godly, heavenly, kind of wisdom. This is not an astuteness to be used against others, for personal glorification or gain, but rather an endowment, by which to glorify God and be of service to our fellow-man. God blesses those who navigate the seas of life, steering with the helm of godly discernment, and powered by the sails of obedience, filled with the winds of divine principles! It matters not what our initial status in life may be, if we prove ourselves wise and faithful, God has greater plans and purposes ahead for us! Yahwah is no respecter of persons! His blessings and opportunities for life, His endowments - both present and eternal, are open and available to all, without reference to family heritage, entitlement or position. Indeed we are all servants of the Almighty God, and as such none above another. The difference in the position He grants us then, may well come down, to just how much in love and regard for God, we each individually submit to His ways, learn His wisdom, and become profitable servants for His Majesty’s glory!

http://www.pentecostalfamilychurch.com.au/devotion

Feb 20

“…Solomon clave unto these in love” 1 Kings 11:2

Though many have emphasised the number of Solomon’s wives, as being the cause of his heart becoming less than perfect in his old age, this does not appear to be the emphasis of scripture. The stress of the text highlights the fact that the women he ‘loved’ were ‘strange’ women. In context with the listing of the various nations from which God warned Israelites regarding intermarriage, this must be taken to mean ‘foreign’ women, but more importantly, foreign women which had not become proselytes to the Hebrew faith! God does not rebuke Solomon for the many wives and concubines he loved, but for loving and cleaving to them, to the detriment and loss of his love for God! Evidence would show that this is just as possible with one wife as with many, or with one sole possession as easily as with much wealth! Should Solomon not have had as many wives? As a king, this man was indeed ‘excessive’ in many ways; with his wealth, his horses and with his wives, yet nowhere do we find God reprimanding him for any of those things. Should Solomon not have loved his wives? Clearly both loving and cleaving to one’s wife, or as in this case, wives, is not against God, but rather encouraged and even commanded by the Lord! The simple fact and truth we are presented with in these verses, is that Solomon failed when it came to the comparative love he gave his wives, as against the quality of love He had and lost for his God! He failed to ensure the conversion of his foreign wives; then tolerated his foreign wives’ idols; then facilitated their idolatry by building temples and shrines to them; and lastly ended up himself influenced by them to enter into their idolatry! This was the cause of the deterioration of his relationship with God. It was descent by degree, born from the misplaced consent of his heart. The prime reason this happened, appears to be because he loved and clave to unconverted women, more so than he loved and clave to God! Could not this have happened just as easily with loving and cleaving to just one unconverted wife, and displacing the love he had for God, if a man’s heart was so inclined? The lesson we learn from his life, in the context of these verses, is that we must be extremely careful not to yield the love and passion we owe to God, to anything or anyone else, at any time! Interestingly, this was the very righteous and godly example, Solomon had seen from his father David, a man who also had been much blessed of God, allowed a great deal of wealth, position, influence and a large family with multiple wives. David was the standard of upright and ‘perfect’ heart by whom, the Lord compared and judged Solomon’s heart! Seeking God and His will, loving and pleasing Him, must take priority, remain first, and be in importance, above all other people, pursuits or purposes in our lives! 

http://www.pentecostalfamilychurch.com.au/devotion

Feb 19

“…for who can stretch forth his hand against the LORD'S anointed, and be guiltless?” 1 Samuel 26:9

Persecuted and hated through no fault of his own, David had found himself a fugitive. King Saul, a man he had supported, defended and blessed by his ministry and skill, on his heels and after his life! We too may experience attacks and deliberate injustices acted against us. There are times when we may uncover in our hearts a desire for revenge, against those, who without just cause, turn on us or determine to become our enemies. While we may try to defend our ‘feelings’ and minimise the true motives which fuel them, such a condition of heart, is not appropriate in a believer. The greatest injustice which was ever perpetrated by human beings, was the false accusation and crucifixion of Jesus Christ! Unlike any of us who though innocent in some respects are nevertheless sinners, there was no sin or fault to be found in Jesus. He lived the perfect and sinless human life and died, not because He deserved death, but because we did! In His great love He died in our place and paid the price of sin He did not owe, for us who owed the price of sin we could not pay! No other human injustice ever before or since equates in severity and guilt, to what took place that day at Calvary! Jesus could have commandeered an immense host of angels, who at His mere nod would have destroyed every enemy and persecutor! He could have avenged Himself of their abuse, beating, mocking and cruel torture. Yet He did not! Instead, He even stopped the hand of his disciple which had been stretched forth to strike a blow at the Lord’s enemy! He had the opportunity, the power and the means to take revenge against the injustice, yet in His love Jesus prayed for you and me, along with the physical persecutors of His day saying “Father forgive them”! He chose to do the righteousness of the Father, to fulfil His will and die for those who were His enemies! In light of Christ’s example, any thought of personal revenge or retaliation for any hurts or offenses made against us, should simply vanish and be vanquished from our hearts!  If we are honest however, we will see that often we waste no time in ‘paying-back’ for those things which we perceive have been done against us. If an opportunity presents itself to us, where we can inflict an injury, ‘bite back’, or give them a bit of ‘their own medicine’, we might be tempted to take it with glee. David found himself in just such a situation with the man who unjustly tried to kill him and continued to pursue him for his life. He found himself presented with the opportunity to finally end his torment, and cease from being a fugitive from family and country. He could have reasoned that God had delivered his arch-enemy into his hand and with the support of probably every human being around him, put an end to Saul and his threats! His own men encouraged him to do exactly that, in fact, they volunteered to do it for him! Let’s not forget also that by time David also knew he had been anointed to be the next king. A lesser man, a man who walked in the desires of his own flesh and not sensitive to God and His Spirit, would have caved at the temptation and justified his actions. After all, as the next anointed king, eliminating his enemy could have been seen as defensible by the people, but not David. A man after God’s heart, he reasoned spiritually, acted correctly, did the righteousness of God and gave no place to his pride or hurt. He wanted what was acceptable to God not man! He would not stretch forth his hand against the man whom God had set up as king, even if clearly this man has lost favour with God and was floundering in every way. David did not take things into his own hands but relied on the Lord to be his strength, his Defender and Avenger. He would be king, but only at the time, and in the way that God would bring it about! Do we have the courage, confidence and constancy of character to stand as David did, in the face of fleshly opportunities to take our revenge? Can we really justify any thought of avenging the hurts and injuries done to us, in the light of Christ’s example?

http://www.pentecostalfamilychurch.com.au/devotion

Feb 18

“Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” Ephesians 4:3

As can easily be verified by a reading of the Epistles, even from its beginnings, the church was adversely affected by the factions, divisions and strife so common and peculiar to our flawed human nature. The exhortation before us is a hearty encouragement to work hard and consistently, at the maintenance of the ONE mind and accord, identifying the ONE Body of Christ, into which we have all been baptised by the ONE Holy Spirit! There is no division in God! His unity should be reflected in us as His people. Firstly, by each of us being truly one with Him. This means taking on His life, His ways, His will, and making it our own, and in this way aligning ourselves with Him. Secondly, by being united one with another, in purpose, manner, desire, peace and love. This harmony clearly does not happen automatically, nor is it our natural bent. It takes effort, and it is a clear Christian duty and endeavour, to instigate and keep the kind of unity and accord which pleases God, and correctly reflects His nature. Without God’s Spirit in us, and a willingness on our part to yield to His influence, we will not be able to remain close, even less in true concord. This is one of the wonderful aspects of the ministry of the Holy Spirit, which God pours into each believer, when we come to salvation! God’s Spirit strives in us, to preserve the unity God desires in His church. When we yield our personal preferences, agendas and control, to the Holy Ghost, and humbly follow His lead, we place ourselves in the best and most favourable position, to help maintain the kind of harmony and connection, God wants for His people. Our carnally induced contentions, frictions, criticisms and discontents, cannot but produce divisions and obstruct the condition of peace and unity, which must exist among believers. The bond of peace is a strong bond if we remain ‘in the Spirit’, but can conversely become fragile, when we step out of the flow of the Spirit of God and into our own fleshly mode. Those who claim to be believers yet insist on bellicose opinions, antagonistic behaviour, negative conversations and contentious unedifying attitudes, are not walking worthy of the vocation of peace-keeping to which the Lord Jesus has called us, and which we must in all humility of heart fulfil.

http://www.pentecostalfamilychurch.com.au/devotion

Feb 17

“…the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive” Revelation 2:8

Like the many facets cut into a precious stone, each gleaming and reflecting light, so too, the many aspects of Christ’s nature and work, reflect the glory of God in all His dealings with man. In this verse we again read the ‘calling card’ of the Saviour, in titles apt only to describe Him. It is fitting that as the Almighty who was revealed in flesh, Jesus be seen as the ‘first and the last’. This is a statement exalting His divinity. He is the source of all things and to Him must all return in the end. As the Beginning and Creator of all things, He is the Progenitor of all! Nothing and no-one precedes Him and naught or anyone can outlast Him. He is eternal in time and everlasting in nature. Nothing is beyond His grasp and no-one can evade His judgment. He is above all and through all and in charge as Master of all! It is also appropriate to recognise Jesus as, He ‘which was dead and is alive’. This proclaims His perfect and genuine humanity, His death for our sins and His victory over death and the grave by His resurrection! How encouraging to the persecuted church He is addressing, and to us as we read and meditate on these words today. We depend and trust on He Who is Almighty God, and Sinless Humanity! We have partaken of His resurrected life and benefit daily from His indwelling Holy Spirit. His victory over death has been imputed to us, and one day we will be changed from this mortal to immortality and forever abide in His presence, delivered and conquerors through Him!  

http://www.pentecostalfamilychurch.com.au/devotion

Feb 16

“But the captain of the guard left of the poor of the land to be vinedressers and husbandmen.” 2 Kings 25:12

The captivity of Israel in the hands of foreign nations, was always a result of their sin and disregard for God’s law. Time and again the land was ravaged, the city walls broken down and anything of value taken by the oppressors, who would now rule them. The ancient Assyrians when conquering the land of Israel were motivated by the Lord not to massacre its people, but to take them captive. Occupants of the land with their possessions were relocated to the conqueror’s country to help with local industry, commerce and development. In this we see an evidence of God’s mercy towards His people, in spite of their sins and the need for their punishment. The temple which represented the worship of the True God which the Jews had despised and ignored in favour of false gods, was robbed of all its treasures and valuables, and the city walls which had offered them some protection were thrown down, but nevertheless God maintained His promise to Israel. Instead of being destroyed, the people were kept alive, to one day return to their own land, rebuild and re-instate true worship. A second instance of God’s mercy is seen in the action the king of the Chaldeans authorised towards the poor of the land. These individuals had no personal resources to contribute to their conquerors, and might therefore being considered completely dispensable. Again instead of being exterminated by the foreign ruler, they were left to tend to the fields and crops of the land. Whilst more than likely under tribute to the conquering ruler, these individuals not only escaped with their lives, but were also given opportunity to survive from the harvests of their crops, and maintain a workable state of land, which would otherwise have laid waste. It is clear in all the dealings of God with man, and in particular with His chosen people, that in spite of their failure to remain consistent in their love and worship of Yahwah and obedient to His law, the Lord’s desire toward them was and remains always, one of love, protection and restoration. We truly serve a Great and Loving Saviour and One that is worthy of all our thanks and praise!

http://www.pentecostalfamilychurch.com.au/devotion

Feb 15

“Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness…” Proverbs 20:6

There is a general tendency for humans to want to be seen, noticed, appreciated and even praised when doing acts of benevolence or generally ‘good things’. Certainly in a world which majors on wrong doing and wickedness, any act of compassion, kindness and care, should be thoroughly appreciated. Genuine humility in doing ‘right’, and letting that be a reward in and of itself, is difficult to find. When from time to time this quality still surfaces, it is noticeable and thus a rare and precious commodity indeed! For the most, even when ‘good things’ are done among humans, it is usually with all the due credit giving and taking, and the fanfare, which leaves no doubt as to whom the ‘benefactor’ is. Jesus in the Gospels, taught His disciples the correct attitude in giving, when He showed the difference between the trumpet-blaring-attention-seeking of the hypocrite, and the faithfulness of the giver who does so ‘in secret’, as unto the Lord.  Faithfulness to God at this level is hard to find. There are that will give, but not without due credit, and sadly ‘giving’ even among believers, has become a means of personal positioning or credit taking. When we do ‘good’, it should be for Christians, a natural reaction to reflect all the glory and the praise to the Lord. We know without doubt that any goodness that can be found in us or from us, doesn’t belong to us, but comes from the Lord, and that it is to Him the praise and thanks should be given. We might summarise our correct position on this matter in this way: Firstly, let us to all the good we can possibly do with all our heart, strength, passion and resources. Secondly, let us say nothing of the good we might have done, but quietly and prayerfully thank the Lord for the opportunity and privilege to be used in this manner. Thirdly, in spite of our intentional lack of self-proclamation, should anyone notice and desire to acknowledge us in any manner, let us then remember that our reward is in heaven, and that the glory, praise and credit for all we are and have, belongs unto the Lord! Lastly, let us always analyse our reasons and motives in doing ‘good’. We should ensure that they are never tainted with cravings for the appreciation and accolades of man, false humility, or other egotistical motivations, but rather filled only with a passion to love, serve, please and glorify God!

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Feb 14

“For thou hast maintained my right and my cause…” Psalms 9:4

We constantly hear of individuals ‘standing up for their rights’. We witness entire countries entering into conflict because they believe their cause to be right. The world propounds ways and means by which to achieve our own ends, and uphold our particular inclination. Society teems with groups filled with supporters for their peculiar viewpoint, reason or position. The ‘causes’ range from the sublime to the ridiculous, but nevertheless, some support them! It seems everywhere and in many ways, we each believe we are right and have a just cause. David took a different approach to that taken by those who, with a militant manner, just insist on their own ‘rights’. He reminds us that, when ‘fighting’ for our rights, the correct stance for those who believe, is to lean on God, and trust Him to uphold our cause. We must never forget that for the Lord to support and help our ‘cause’, it must be a ‘right’ cause. This doesn’t mean it is judged correct by our own preferences, biases or leanings. It is deemed right because it is righteous according to the righteousness of God as declared in His word, and in that sense therefore, it is His cause. We must also be sure how God wants us to ‘fight’ in upholding His cause, after all He is meant to be our General and Commander in Chief! David was a military man and clearly fought for a cause, but he made a point of making that reason, not a motive of his own choosing, but that which was right in the sight of God. He also carefully followed the instruction of the Supreme Leader in all battles, giving place to the Lord's way, in how each encounter with the enemy should be met! The Lord can support a cause which fulfils His righteousness and maintains the truth and directive of His revealed will for mankind. On a more personal basis, we do well to lean on the Lord, and have Him advocate us instead of attempting to promote ourselves. It is evident from God’s word that promotion is of the Lord, and that in His own way and time, He lifts up, blesses and upholds the individuals and groups of people, who sincerely walk in His ways and obey Him. 

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Feb 13

“…I will prove thee with mirth…” Ecclesiates 2:1

We have not really changed a great deal as humans, when it comes to our basic functions and outlook on life. We continue to believe, in spite of the mountains of evidence which has been accumulated by the testimony of others that somehow, we have to experience all things of life, to ‘prove’ to ourselves whether there is anything worthwhile in them. Travelling this path, seeking satisfaction, most of us end up, at times battered and bruised, and almost always poorer in time and finances from the ‘proofs’ we so badly thought we needed. Somewhere along the line, we resign to the inevitable and join the crowds of others who also did similarly, and with a nod acknowledge that what we had been told about life, was actually quite correct in the first place! We might have spared ourselves the heartache, but something in our fallen human nature rebels at ‘being told’ what to do. Not until we have tried it ourselves are we contented to consider many issues settled, though they were really settled for us long ago by the Lord in His Word, and through the experiences of those who have gone before us! Solomon was no different from the rest of us in these pursuits of self-discovery and determination of the ‘facts of life’. Unlike most of us, he had at his disposal just about anything any human could ever want or choose to experience. The test highlighted in the portion of the text under scrutiny, speaks of tying to satisfy oneself, by gratification through entertainment and merriment. No doubt this man known for his wisdom and his enormous wealth, left no stone unturned to make his judgement on this matter. He would have been as thorough here as with all the other ‘tests’ of life he conducted. Neither need we think that he had to necessarily partake of evil or sinful practices to come to his conclusion. Once he had tested himself and his own heart and soul with the very things we so often ardently pursue, he determined without doubt or hesitation that no lasting joy or satisfaction can be obtained by mere entertainments and amusements, even if legitimate and rational. A man whose wisdom was ordained by God is able to share his findings with us and tell us that along with all his other experiences, this too on its own and without God, is nothing but vanity and futility, it will not fulfil and will leave us always wanting and searching for more! Clearly the essential outcome of Solomon’s research in life is that, nothing outside of God satisfies! While we readily accept we do not have to ‘re-invent the wheel’ in so many other areas of life, yet in seeking our personal fulfilment, we often insist on wasting time and life on costly and futile pursuits, instead of just accepting the established proofs supplied to us by the wisdom and love of God!

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Feb 12

“...separated themselves…and stood and confessed their sins..” Nehemiah 9:2

God’s people are to be a holy people. In this account we see three important actions which are relevant to all who call on the name of the Lord. In an act of restoration of commitment and closeness with God, the Israelites ‘separated’ themselves, ‘stood’ and ‘confessed’ their sins. If we are to remain people consecrated to God, it is necessary that we are willing to ‘separate’ ourselves. The call of God for His people to pursue holiness and purity is a continuous theme in scripture. What differentiates believers from the unsaved should be obvious and should shout the holiness of God through their actions, thoughts and choices. It is necessary if we are to be and stay close to the Lord, that we separate ourselves from the world and its ways. These things should be foreign and distant from us. The people then ‘stood’. This is significant for it represents a position of determination for the Lord. One of the greatest problems we face as Christians today, is the lack of willingness among believers to ‘stand’ for God, His ways, His principles and His absolutes. Close relationship with Jesus can only be maintained if we are prepared to stand for Him. He taught that if we are not ashamed of Him (who He is, His doctrine and example), then He will not be ashamed of us! In an age of weakness and compromise, let God’s true people stand in love and humility. The next thing they did was to ‘confess’ their sins. When we partake of the holiness of God and stand in the strength of His power, we don’t do so to point a finger at others and find fault in others but to first and foremost make sure we stand right in God personally! This means an inward look, an inspection and examination of our own heart and soul, followed by heartfelt confession to God and repentance of our sins. Jesus made it clear we cannot spiritually help anyone in their shortcoming or sustain them in their need, if we ourselves are at fault with God and our vision impaired by carnal obstacles, and our convictions weakened by compromises. Taking an example from the Israelites in our text, let us renew our dedication to God and reconsecrate our lives and living unto Him.

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Feb 11

“If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above…” Colossians 3:1

The apostle Paul raises here a powerful argument for our consideration. He establishes in previous chapters that we are buried with Jesus in baptism, and our sins removed, we rise with Him into a new life by His Spirit. This fact accepted and proclaimed, he then sets for us a ‘litmus test’ (a simple test that produces a clear, objective answer) of that which should naturally follow the resurrected life! IF we are in fact new creatures, resurrected individuals, born again believers, THEN our desire, affinity and passion should now be DIFFERENT to what it USED TO BE! Our minds and hearts cannot possibly still long for the dead things of sin and degradation we were saved from! It should be inconceivable that we should want anything to do with that which we claim to have left in the grave! IF we are resurrected with Jesus, we should make our priority and propensity the maintenance of spiritual life and sturdy spiritual health. No longer can our proclivities be of the world and the things of the world. Our appetite, inclination and taste should be for those superior things, the things ‘which are above’, the things of God! How self-defeating and injurious to the cause of Christ are those who claim to be ‘born-again’, but still live like they are dead in trespasses and sins! They have changed neither manner nor habits; neither company nor preferences; neither vision nor desire! Carnality is their banner and they know nothing of the holiness of God. They are just as empty of spiritual life as they ever were, but wear on the dead toe of their spiritual corpse, the tag of ‘born-again Christian’! They remain in the mortuary of dead religiousness and have the zeal and passion of those confined to the morgue! Where is the evidence of the resurrected life in Christ? Where is the hunger and seeking after God first and ahead of all else? How can we tell that we are genuinely new creatures? The test is simple! We should take it regularly! What do we pursue? What is our primary desire? Is it for God or for our flesh? Do we long more for the things of God or are we still totally taken and attracted by the things of the world? Let true believers stand and show the testimony of the resurrected life they have in Christ by their fear of God and hatred for sin, their love for others, the spiritual nature of their choices, the quality of their service to God, the Christ-like humility of their self-image and the intense passion  to obey God's word and to fulfil God’s will and purpose for their lives!

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Feb 10

“…it was accounted to him for righteousness.” Galatians 3:6

Abraham walked by faith. Faith and righteousness are presented as related yet distinct in scripture. It is because we believe God that His righteousness is imputed to us. The mental assent of faith and even the action of faith, does not of itself beget righteousness, until the ‘object’ of that faith is clearly exhibited – that object is Jesus! Abraham’s action of faith was not the reason for righteousness being accounted to him, but the fact that his faith and obedience was placed in the Lord and His word. We can say then, that what authorises and validates our faith, whether it is expressed in our heart or shown by our actions and obedience, is the fact that it is located and fixed in Christ! As such it displays in us Christ’s righteousness, and we become a reflector of Him and His virtue! This is important because many have a ‘faith’ which can be considered genuine, though misplaced. Their ‘faith’ may be in human abilities such as science or technology, or in entities which they may consider ‘divine’. Never will such faith bring about righteousness with the One True God however, regardless of how well intentioned, strong or sincere it may be! Not until Jesus Christ is the sole and central object of a person’s faith, can true and godly righteousness be attributed and assigned to that individual! Even with Christians faith can often be misplaced. Some place their faith and make their belief system, their church organization, human ministry or acts of devotion. These things cannot of themselves bring about the righteousness of God! Abraham-like faith, a faith which acts and demonstrates its value through genuine obedience, is accounted for righteousness because it has as its clear object the Lord Jesus, it is firmly placed in God as the absolute authority, and is based on the validation of His Word!

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Feb 9

“I would seek unto God, and unto God would I commit my cause:” Job 5:8 

It seems always easier to give advice when we may not have experienced, or are not personally in the situation we may be addressing. Eliphaz - one Job’s ‘comforters’, makes a point here however, which we may all benefit from. The reasoning supporting his statement, is that if we believe that all things (including our afflictions), are ultimately in the merciful hand of the Divine Potentate, the Lord Yahwah, the Almighty One - then complaint, anger, foolish accusations or attributing blame to others for our condition or situation, is not going to help resolve matters, improve our state or lift our smitten morale. In fact even in attempting to gain a basic understanding or at least become reconciled to some degree, with the troubles and sorrows which life inevitably brings to us all, we will be better served if in humility and openness of heart, we seek God and commit our cause to Him! What God does and how He does it, belongs to Him alone and is the privilege and right of His Supreme Deity. This is an essential aspect of what it means for us to be His servants, and to claim Him as our Lord and God! If we rebel or cannot accept His Lordship at every level, and in all circumstances of life, even those we cannot grasp or comprehend, then the veracity and quality of our faith and submission to the One we call our God, must be audited. As we “wait on Lord”, patiently and faithfully accepting His will and direction in our lives, we will find the strength and resolve through Him, to be delivered from, or overcome, the most difficult of life’s challenges. When it is all said and done - only Jesus can help us over those afflictions and setbacks of life for which we have little or no explanation, as in Job’s case! It is with Him then, we should cast our vote of trust and confidence; searching in prayer for His wisdom and understanding, strength and ability, as we constantly, willingly and thankfully deposit our burden and cause at His feet.  

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Feb 8

“…but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.” Proverbs 10:4

The first ‘hand’ referred to in this verse signifies a manner of slackness and looseness, without discipline and clearly results in poverty. The ‘hand’ referred to as being of the diligent, has the meaning of being ready and prepared for energetic effort! In this we see the different dealings the diligent takes with life. Diligence implies a prompt effort without delay or constant procrastination; a sustained effort which does not give up in difficulties or opposition; and an effort which is meaningfully applied to the task, in other words it is appropriate and relevant to the job and duty at hand! Though in the past these were the object of many maxims and stories with a moral, often in our modern world, qualities such as diligence are often scoffed at and belittled. For the believer however, there can be no other attitude and manner taken towards his work in whatever sphere it may exist. Slackness whether in physical or spiritual matters is not an apt reflection of true Christian values, or an appropriate testimony to the unsaved world around us. There was a time in western society, when Christians were sought after by prospective employers, because of their reputation for honest, diligent and dependable hard work! This verse goes on to show the reward of the ready, hard-working and energetic, diligent person – he is enriched! This does not mean only in a financial sense, but clearly in all areas of life, wherever we choose to be diligent and work as ‘unto the Lord’, we grow and become rich in knowledge, understanding, experience and ability. It is true to say that when Christians behave the way God prescribes, they are improved and blessed. In turn they influence their community to share in the blessing and richness of God’s principles and promises.

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Feb 7

“…and a time to every purpose under the heaven” Ecclesiastes 3:1

God in His benevolence has set a time for every purpose under heaven. ‘Every purpose’, must be understood to indicate all the good things which God intended to be ‘correct’ purposes, in the life and existence of the human race on earth, not the sinful determinations and aberrations of fallen mankind. This can be seen firstly, by the fact that He has stipulated and governed the way seasons and natural processes take place on earth. This is God’s blessing to man, in that we can by these pre-set parameters, better plan our crops, make decisions, prepare and clothe ourselves, shelter appropriately and much more. An added blessing is recognising that God is the Author of these over-arching purposes, and that in His love He has given them place and time and made them available to us. The second way we could look at this portion of the holy text, is to note that in His benevolence, God has made time available to every person. Everyone is given time, and what purposes we use it for, is all important! Naturally the Lord instructs and directs in His Word what the best usage of this time is. The ultimate purpose, for which it was granted to each human, is to worship Him in all our actions and deeds of life. He does however, allow us to determine how we will use or spend much of the time we are granted in our lives. Apart from portions invested in many legitimate human purposes of just living life and survival, (some of which are listed in the passage), sadly much of humanity spends and wastes this precious commodity in committing sin and in actions which are not only offensive to God and detrimental to their own souls, but that also were not meant to be a part of the ‘purposes under heaven’ for which God has given us the blessing of time. It is every bit as irresponsible, as using money which should pay the bills, for other things such as entertainment, vices, frivolous habits or unnecessary wants. Naturally this type of behaviour, when insisted on, will end up in financial ruin and loss. Similarly, time has been given to each of us to invest wisely and to fulfil every one of God’s determined purposes. When we choose to do otherwise with it and waste the time of our lives on that which affronts God, we cannot expect but to be found culpable for its misuse! 

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Feb 6

“…He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly…” 2 Corinthians 9:6

The law of sowing and reaping is well established in scriptural teaching. It applies to each one of us and is an apt reminder that not only we reap what we sow, but as we are taught here, we also reap mainly to the degree and proportion to which we sow. This principle is readily seen in the natural. Given proper conditions, if we sow wheat, we will reap a wheat crop; and the size of the crop, will largely depend on how much wheat we sowed in the first place. Whilst it all seems logical and obvious in the physical application, we sometimes tend to miss the value of this concept, and its application in other areas of life. What we ‘sow’ by our actions and deeds, and how much we ‘sow’ - in the form of giving of ourselves, our time, attention or talent, can also greatly affect what, and how much we reap in the course of life . In the context of the passage, service in work of God and the giving unto the Lord for God’s work and the needs of His people, should not be done stingily! Self-control and frugality are great qualities when applied to the management of our personal expenditures or the management of our family funds and resources. In serving God however, and particularly in our giving unto the Lord, the biblical recommendation is to do so liberally, cheerfully and with all our hearts. Unlike our wheat crop example, above however, Christian giving should not be motivated by what we might receive in return. That aspect should be left to the Lord’s better judgement, and often if we give from a pure heart, we receive truly ‘good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over’ from the hand of the Lord. We already know from scripture that the rewards of heaven far outweigh anything we could possibly receive on earth anyway, so we are not likely to ever ‘out-give’ the Lord! This kind of giving is more like the quality and nature of God’s giving to us, the example of which, we see all around us and in everything He has created so freely for our benefit both now and in the future. Some spend a lifetime struggling over the measly ‘pennies’ of their giving and finding nothing but stress, insecurity and loss in the effort of ‘holding onto’ what they have. Others have found the joy of giving, truly exceeds that of receiving, and regularly, freely and willingly give all they can in time, money and effort, to benefit others. It is true that we can be takers or givers, and that givers are the happiest and most fulfilled individuals in the world. The choice remains with each of us as to whether we will follow God’s direction, and be one who not only sows good things, but does so plentifully.

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Feb 5

“…but every fool will be meddling.” Proverbs 20:3

Some people seem to find pleasure in strife. They do not seem satisfied unless they are involved in some contention, crisis or problem even when to begin with, it has nothing to do with them! Meddling is getting involved unnecessarily into things that do not concern us. It takes wisdom to know and differentiate between what things we are capable of and responsible to help and assist in, and what is simply none of our business. The scriptures often refer to ‘the fool’, as being the person who doesn’t see the obvious, doesn’t recognise boundaries and has no respect for wisdom. For instance, it is a fool, according to scripture that believes there is no God, speaks his entire mind, and in this verse, meddles in matters unnecessarily. This proverb indicates the good sense and honour of a man who makes efforts to cease from contention, and contrasts it with the foolishness of the person who insists on involving themselves with strife wherever they find it and worse, making a point of creating their own, almost every time they have a conversation. The notion that one has to speak their mind about everything, even when they are not asked, and particularly when it is not their place to direct or correct, is hardly evidence strength or wisdom! The Bible calls it foolishness! Yet many consider it their life calling to ‘straighten out’ whoever it is they are speaking with. Maybe if we were wiser and stopped ‘meddling’, we would find agreement more frequently and be more like the ‘peacemakers’ which Jesus blessed. God desires for us to live peaceably and as much as we can, to maintain harmony with those around us. Naturally this doesn’t mean we should compromise our values and stand in God, but ‘getting along’ and avoiding being overcritical, or making comments that engender discord, is most definitely a Christian virtue!

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Feb 4

“Unto you therefore which believe he is precious:…” 1 Peter 2:7

A stark contrast is drawn here of what Jesus means to believers, as against those who refuse Him. Christians are often called ‘believers’, because of the common characteristic which distinguishes them - their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. It is for believers both an honour and a privilege to know Jesus and in this relationship they find their greatest comfort. True believers know the value and preciousness found in Jesus, and know that nothing else in life equates to it. This is evidenced by the fact they consider Him to be their closest and most intimate friend, the source and purpose of their being, the One they commit their souls to, and the answer that settles all the questions of life! There is no question that this is a personal, voluntary, real knowledge and experience, so much so, that believers have been willing to lay down everything they have, including life for Jesus. They who shun the Lord, turn away from His principles and reject the salvation He has provided, unknowingly discard the very peace, joy and fulfilment they are seeking in life. They will in vain search for this preciousness in a million other experiences and conditions; yearn for it in all the wrong places and people, but it will be found nowhere - except in Christ Jesus.  To the believer Jesus is the ‘Pearl of great price’, the ultimate gift of God, and the most precious ointment. He is the essence of life itself and the very breath in the lungs. Jesus is our all, for in Him we live, move and have our being!

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Feb 3

 “…the firmament sheweth his handywork.” Psalms 19:1

Everywhere we look we find the evidences of God’s great work! Creation proclaims loudly and clearly the love, power and glory of the Lord. When our strength fails, we are directed to ‘look up’. There is something in this upwards look that reminds us of the Power and Strength that is greater than ourselves, the One to whom there are no limits. The firmament comprises the ‘observable’ heavens above us, with all the heavenly bodies which populate it and illuminate it. It is a true wonder to behold, and a reflection of the skilled workmanship of God’s hands. The greatest mind is challenged by what can be observed in the expanse above us; the feeblest heart is encouraged and inspired and the unconverted soul is reminded that creation declares God’s eternal power and Godhead, leaving no excuse for unbelief! From ancient times to the present, man has benefited from the protection, direction and provision God has given by the awe inspiring creation with which He has surrounded us. His faithfulness is affirmed by the predictable precision of the sunrise and the phases of the moon. We owe Him praise and gratitude, each day we live, and our earth system functions in all its glory to sustain life. Some have lifted their voices to speak against the veracity of the God of Creation. To them creation itself replies with a faith demanding shout, the irrefutable evidences that this is indeed the workmanship of Yahweh, the Creator, Designer and Sustainer of the universe, the Lord God Almighty!   

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Feb 2

 “And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words” Nehemiah 5:6

It may be counterintuitive to think of a godly person, a servant of God as being angry. There however such thing as righteous anger; the expression of displeasure or outrage at wrong doing and sin. Nehemiah was indignant and righteously angry when the people forsook the ways of God. They were not dealing with their brethren according to God’s principles and did not show the fear of God in their lives. His ‘anger’ was not expressed to bring them down or destroy them, but to edify them and help them return to the righteousness of God. His motivation therefore, was love. The believer cannot but experience and give place to righteous indignation at the wrong doing and unrighteousness of some who profess to be followers of Christ, but act like they know nothing of Him! In our modern day particularly, such liberality has been espoused by some so-called Christians, that it is difficult to tell them apart from unregenerate sinners who hate God. In a warped effort of being ‘relevant’ in our contemporary culture, many who attend churches and say they are Christians, also adopt the foul language of the world, the sinful sexual practices, the lose lifestyle, the sensual and immodest mode of dress and the worldview which supports rebellion and rejection of God and His principles. Yet somehow all this is justified even by their leaders, as acceptable and even desirable behaviour. Is it possible for light and darkness to dwell together? Or as James put it – can sweet and bitter water flow from the same fountain? In an astonishing case of spiritual blindness, such individuals cannot seem to discern the differences that should be evident between Christians and non-believers. Many of them simply state the warped dogma that it doesn’t matter how they behave or if they sin - Christ’s love simply covers it. It is true that Jesus forgives us, but He is also looking for a genuine repentant heart, one who not only admits the sin, but is willing to abandon it and turn from it. To the woman caught in adultery Jesus showed mercy, but also commanded her to go and sin no more! Some ‘believers’ misguided by false teaching, take this grace to mean they can just continue to sin and please their own flesh, showing no regard to God. By their actions they despise His commands, and yet merely because they claim to believe in Him, and say they ‘love’ Him, they also believe that God allows and accepts what they do! Paul in Romans 6:1-2 says ‘GOD FORBID! - Surely not! We who have been delivered from the ways of sin should not merrily continue in sin and then just claim God’s grace will cover it and abound over it - this is not God’s will. It is not hard to imagine then, that those who as true Christians, love God and obey His Word could be vexed, outraged and indignant at the damage these pretenders do to the cause of Christ. Their injury extends to those who do not yet believe, and also among those in Christ who are younger, and may follow their wayward example. In fact it would be wrong if there was no incensed response to such bent and twisted beliefs, from true Disciples of Christ. Nevertheless, in all our ‘righteous anger’, we need to be extremely careful and honest, to first look at our own selves. To first be ‘angry’ at our own shortcomings; to genuinely evaluate our own lives and values, measuring them against the Word of God. Yes, it necessary that we defend truth with passion and vigour, but we are instructed by Jesus, that before we try to help our brother with whatever may encumber their spiritual vision, we ought to first clear our own eyes of any foreign matter. This noble exercise will not only better equip us to help others, but also to do so in a more excellent spirit, in an attitude of genuine love – even if it has to be it some rather tough love !

http://www.pentecostalfamilychurch.com.au/devotion

Feb 1

“...his own wife….her own husband.” 1 Corinthians 7:2

The necessity to keep marital relations within marriage, are clearly expressed in these verses. Mankind has abused the God-given right and gift of sexual expression, by taking it outside of the boundaries of biblical marriage. In doing so, man has created a culture and an alternate belief, which is opposed to and in contradiction to God. This has opened the floodgates to much sin, disease, heartache, emotional and mental illness and a host of associated abuses of fellow human beings. This destructive behaviour is the direct result of ignoring God’s principles and deriding His word. God intends for the beauty, closeness and commitment of the marriage relationship to be kept between a man and his wife.  Sexual relationship outside of the bond of marriage are referred to in the Bible, by the general term of ‘fornication’- meaning ‘sexual impurity’, and should not be entered into by anyone who fears God and wants to please Him. It is of interest in this portion of scripture, that two very distinct words were used by the Holy Ghost in inspiration, for the Greek word translated ‘own’ in English. It is not unusual to find that God’s Word is gender-specific in certain teaching, and that God wants His people to remain faithful to the truth He reveals, in spite of personal or cultural preferences. When God said ‘his own wife’, the emphasis of the word used, expresses the meaning of ‘the wife he possesses and belongs to him’. The term ‘her own husband’, on the other hand, emphasises the idea that ‘he is the husband of whom she is a part, to whom she belongs’. The teaching here is in line with the biblical understanding of the dynamics of what adultery, (a specific aspect of sexual impurity) is taught to mean scripturally – relations by a man (married or single), with a married woman - a woman who ‘belongs to another man’ in marriage! The line upon line and precept upon precept building of truth in the Holy Scriptures, is a wonderful and powerful safeguard against false doctrine and misinterpretation. Praise the Lord for the accuracy and precision of his Word, and for the beauty and strength of His teaching.

http://www.pentecostalfamilychurch.com.au/devotion