May 31

“…it is the voice of my beloved that knocketh,…” Song of Solomon 5:2

In the vignette presented to us in these verses, we find the woman, who represents the church, to be ‘sleepy’, not quite soundly asleep, but yet not thoroughly awake either. The ‘knocking’ on the door, is a verbal call and appeal to her and the position she fills in the life of her beloved. Indisposed to answer the door, and apparently unwilling to make the efforts necessary, she leaves him locked out, and he is forced to move on. This is an apt description of what happens all too often with the people of God. The Lord comes knocking and calling at the door of our hearts, seeking entry, communion and fellowship with us. He wants to bring, blessing, revelation, provision and direction. Taken over by the spiritual sleepiness of our choices, we are not quick to respond, though we may hear the call. When we are too much attuned to the things of the world, and our own fleshly desires, we will become too ‘sleepy’ to pray, less attentive to the leading of God’s Spirit, and insensitive or indifferent to His encouragements or directives. We know it is ‘our beloved’, the Lord that calls, but we excuse ourselves with perceived impediments, bad timing, or other difficulties. What we are really saying is that what we have to do, or want is more pressing and necessary, than what He wants to do with us! It is not necessarily a lack of love towards the Lord that causes our indifference, but a lack of passion in that love, that makes us choose poorly, and miss the blessings He brings to our heart’s door. We might convince ourselves that sleep, other interests, friendships, work or other cares and necessities in our lives, are more pressing and urgent, than prayer, fellowship with God over His Word and the gathering of the saints together to worship, but when do, we soon find we have made the wrong choice or set the wrong priority. Let us remain attentive and awake spiritually, unencumbered by the world and the things of it, that we may always hear and quickly respond to the initiatives of God’s Spirit in our lives, and make the most of building close and intimate relationship with Jesus!

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

May 30

“Who will have all men to be saved…” 1 Timothy 2:4

God is love! This is the basic and prominent feature of His character and it is reflected in His will. Two aspects of His love can be readily seen in the way we understand the will of God from this portion of scripture. Firstly, God does not desire anyone to remain unsaved. This means that God’s choice is for every human being to inherit eternal life and undying joy. To that end He has made provision through the atoning death of Jesus the Messiah on the cross of Calvary, for just such salvation to be made available to everyone, without preference or restriction. The great theme of God’s love can be found summarised in one verse, in John 3:16. Here we read that ‘God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten son’ so that without leaving anyone out, ‘whosoever believeth in Him, should not perish but have everlasting life’! We can set aside any notion of partiality or preferential treatment with God. When it comes to salvation, God who is no respecter of persons, places no difference between one or another, and will have all men to be saved! Secondly, we see God’s love identified in scripture from the fact that while He wills for all humanity to be saved, He does NOT enforce His will upon all humanity to be saved! God loves us enough to allow each of us to decide for ourselves whether we will accept the extended hand He offers in eternal salvation, or whether we will reject it! This amplifies the magnificence and perfection of God’s love! He will not impose His will upon us as humans, though He could, and will not force on us what His will is, even though it is the best possible thing we could do for ourselves! Such love surpasses all we know in the world and in the manner and workings of human behaviour. This is divine kind of love! It is a love we should learn to imitate and make ours in our dealings one with another. It is also the reason why so many, not understanding, seeing or accepting the love that God gives, will inevitably end up in a place of eternal torment and suffering. Let us be clear, God is love, but He is also Holy and Just! He is not willing that any should perish or die, but when a man makes that choice for himself, then provision has been made for that choice also! The notion that a person can do what they like, live as they please, sin and offend in any and all aspect of godliness, and yet still ‘go to heaven’ when they die, is simply wishful thinking and pie-in-the-sky belief! God, who IS love, has made provision so that no one has to die, but when we turn our backs on His love grace and gift of eternal life, we reap what we choose for ourselves - and the only alternative to eternal life, is eternal death! 

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

May 29

“The LORD reigneth, he is clothed with majesty…” Psalms 93:1

The Lord Jesus Christ, Yahwah, reigns! The verb here is in the continuing form, signifying an ongoing status that has not, and will not cease. He is King over all. This is a truth affirmed time and again is scripture. Many Psalms begin with this declaration, and in many other portions of the Bible we find the same statement of truth asserted. It is therefore a fact we must remember and keep present on our minds, while as weary pilgrims we travel these tumultuous times of life, through a troubled world, to our heavenly home. When we see the ugliness of much that is taking place in our world today, it may be sometimes difficult to reconcile in our minds the fact that God still reigns. In fact many use this very evidence to excuse themselves from believing in God. They say something like “if God existed, He would not cause such and such things to happen”! They fail to see the bigger picture, or understand how God works. God does not ‘rule’ or reign as we imagine in our carnal and limited minds. His ways are far above ours and His power beyond our understanding. He reigns from a platform of love and longsuffering towards us, His creation, not willing than any of us should perish, but that all should come to repentance! With this in mind, we should consider briefly why then we can without fear believe that our Lord reigneth. Firstly, the reign of God is seen in the fact that He continues to employ the nature He has created, to function, sustain and maintain life on this planet. All things depend upon Him and consist by Him, and without the upholding of His Almighty hand, nothing would function or remain in place as it is. Secondly, we can verify He still reigns by the testimony of the millions of faithful, those individuals who desire and allow for His presence and His will to be carried out in their lives. This experiential evidence is too large a body of proof, and too enduring an empirical factor to be ignored. It includes humans from all nations, all walks of life, all backgrounds and varied upbringing, all of whom are willing to bow a knew to the King of Kings, and even by itself this is compelling evidence that He still reigns! Thirdly, we acknowledge that as supreme ruler, God allows for man to impose his own will, at least to a certain point, and to a degree. This proves His supremacy and demonstrates that He still reigns, because He is not influenced, changed or derailed by man’s evil or iniquity. He has demonstrated in the past, and will do so again in His own time, that when He, as supreme ruler deems it enough, He will bring judgment upon all those who have disregarded His authority and violated His laws. Man may think himself powerful and in control, but Jesus made it clear to Pilate, who at the time appeared to have control over Him, that he would have no such power except it was given him from above. This means that above and beyond what appears to be man’s power and autonomy, is a greater Power, a Supreme Ruler who yet reigns over all! For those who accept the reign, control and power of God as King and ruler of all, there is an added blessing! They can see and appreciate the majesty with which He is clothed! It is unlike anything any human king or ruler has ever even remotely approached to or imagined! It is breathtaking Majesty, awe inspiring Majesty! In glory, power and wonder, His Majesty is something truly and literally ‘out of this world’! One day every eye shall see it and behold it, and every knee shall bow to His Majesty, and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord! Some will do so to their everlasting destruction, and some to their eternal salvation! 

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

May 28

“…his eyes began to wax dim, that he could not see;” 1 Samuel 3:2

The high priest Eli was getting older and more feeble, his sight was diminishing, and he could no longer see well. This was probably the main reason why he needed the help of young Samuel, who no doubt worked closely with him, and learnt from him to perform the tasks and procedures of the temple. This was also possibly why Samuel thought it was Eli that called him, when he heard the voice of God. He was perhaps used to being summoned through the night for various reasons by the aging Eli, who once in his chamber or in bed to sleep, may not be able to see clearly to get the things he needed. Ageing physically can affect our eyes, so that we may not see as clearly up close or as far as we used to. Most of us need to use the aid of spectacles to correct our sight as we get older. The exact opposite should be true of our ‘spiritual sight’. As we get older in the Lord, more mature in His ways, more apt in our understanding of His word, and further along in our experience with Him, our ability to see spiritual truth, understand His precepts and sense after His Spirit, should actually increase. Sadly this is not always the case. In the days of Eli, it is recorded that there was scarcity of the word of God, and not much was being seen by way of revelation and direction from God. In this sense then, not only Eli, but the people of God as a whole, ‘could not see’! This can also be true of us as Christian believers today. Our ability to ‘see’ spiritual things, understand God’s word and follow the leading of God’s Spirit, is largely dependent on our closeness and relationship with the Lord. We cannot expect to ‘see’ what God is saying or doing, if our eyes are fixed on the things of this world, blinkered by the desires of our flesh, or distant from the Lord, who is the source of spiritual light! Just like the eyes of an older person, our spiritual eyes also will grow dim and we will not be able to see, unless we remain close to Jesus, sensitive to His Spirit, and attentive to prayer and the directions of His word.  

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

May 27

“Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught…” Titus 1:9

Among the several qualities listed as necessary for a man to hold the office of bishop in the church, is the attribute of stability in the word. This necessity is ever clearer today, in an age when so many so quickly change their stance and beliefs of God’s word. Few nowadays, will endure sound doctrine, and many will easily turn away to fanciful fables and deleterious doctrines. This does great damage to the cause of Christ, and particularly when the individuals who so violate, are ministers who are in a position to impact others, and often hold sway over large congregations, or may have international influence through their programs and publishing, as is the case in many instances at present. The men who are entrusted with the positions of leadership in the church, should be men who have proven to be faithful in the doctrine of the Bible, have not swayed or strayed from it, and have continued to preach and teach the message of salvation in its entirety, without compromise or alteration. God’s word is faithful in that it does not change, and similarly those who are assigned the privilege and task to bear it to others, ought to do so with the utmost precision and faithfulness. Far too many individuals have been hurt in churches where ministers have assumed the right to do or preach as they choose, without regard to the word of God. They behave as if the church, that is, not the building but the people, the body of Christ, somehow belongs to them, and they have the right to speak whatever they want, rather than what God wants. Such disregard, neglect and arrogance are among the violations of the scriptural code, which can turn many away from God, convincing them that Christianity is a farce. Let us uphold the high standard of ministry and love of truth that is required in scripture, at all levels, but especially so among the ranks of the ministry.

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

May 26

“And when he heard of Jesus…” Luke 7:3

The centurion’s servant was on point of death. It seems clear from the narrative that being dear to him, the centurion would have made all efforts possible and perhaps expended all he could on physicians, and to seek medical help for his servant, but to no avail. This is not an unfamiliar set of circumstances. Both in what we read in scripture and in what we may experience in our lives, we find many situations, where we come to the end of our resources. We seek help but cannot find it, we hope for solutions but none appear. When empty of answers and without hope, we may become taken with despair, and perhaps become a little more sensitive to the fact that there is One who can help! Christ’s reputation as a healer had come to the centurion’s ears! Someone had spread the news about Jesus and what He could do, and the centurion heard it! When he heard of Jesus, new hope filled his heart.  When he heard of Jesus, a door was opened where there had been none. When he heard of Jesus, faith took hold in place of despair. When he heard of Jesus, he acted quickly on behalf of his servant, pleading that his urgent need may be met. How important it is for us all to remember Who Jesus is; what is can do and what He has already done! How vital for us to allow faith in Him to fill our minds and hearts, and displace the distress and anguish that may plague us, believing that He is the answer to our problems. He holds the key to the door, and is willing to help and meet us in our difficulty with strength, encouragement and answers. Faith and trust in God are both necessary when we walk with Him. Faith says that He is God, and is able to do whatsoever it is we have need of. Trust causes us to rely on His wisdom and will, and accept that He is God and He knows what is best in every circumstance of our lives! We are no doubt personally glad we heard of Jesus, and have verified for ourselves that He loves us and is there for the challenges which face us. We need to make sure that others hear of Him also, so they too can have an opportunity to find out what a close Friend and wonderful Provider He really is! 

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

May 25

“And the LORD discomfited them before Israel…” Joshua 10:10

Attempting to defend themselves, five Amorite kings formed an alliance to fight against the Gibeonites, who had become servants to the already feared Israelite intruders. Their plan was probably to draw Israel into a defensive battle; it succeeded, but not to their advantage. God reassured Joshua not to fear them, and preceded Israel in battle, disturbing, confusing and disadvantaging the enemies. Though Joshua and the people fought valiantly and the battle is described as a great slaughter, yet it is clear that God’s intervention in the battle made the greatest impact by raining huge hailstones on the enemy, which accounted for the larger number of those slain! Throughout the Old Testament we find that whenever God’s people trust in the Lord and keep His commandments, Yahwah is present and prompt to fight their battles. This is a principle we can also rely upon in our day, as Christian believers. Although our enemies are not ‘flesh and blood’, and our battles do not involves human weaponry, we certainly are faced with real spiritual enemies, and are involved in spiritual warfare. The weapons of our warfare, the scripture says are not carnal, but they are mighty through the Holy Ghost! We have Jesus to our General, and He will fight our battles with us, helping us to overcome the enemies of our souls, the devil, the world and the flesh! Some may feel that the battles we face are not as ‘real’ as those we read of in the scriptures, but they are in fact even more definitive. Whereas the battles Israel fought were largely for physical survival and conquest of land, our battles are for our souls and will impact our eternity! It is our task as Joshua did, to lean on, and trust in the leading and direction of God’s Spirit, and with courage and faith, face the enemy and consider that while we remain in Christ, we have the assurance of His overcoming power! 

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

May 24

“…for ye were the fewest of all people:” Deuteronomy 7:7

It is said that there is ‘strength in number’. This usually means that the more numerous a group of people, or a nation, the more powerful, noticeable or resourceful it may be. When God selected Israel to be His people and to be a nation that would proclaim His principles and be an example of His Holiness, there were already many large and powerful nations, which could have commandeered His attention. Before Israel was a nation, God called one man, who through faith, became the father of the faithful whom God would make His. Abraham, his family and the families that would follow, remained a relatively small number of people among the many and larger nations of the world that surrounded them, for quite some time. By His choice, Yahwah emphasised that His motivation was not how impressive and numerous they were as a people, or what resources they had accumulated by their own ability, for none of those things mattered to Him. God showed that His choice of Israel was based on His love, and His faithfulness to the promises He had made to their forefathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. God keeps His promises.  Predicated upon His unchanging faithfulness, constant love and inimitable longsuffering, Israel survived, and remained His people. The same can be said of the church today. Those same qualities which God displayed with them, He continues to demonstrate to us. Yahwah is unchanging; He is the same yesterday, today and forever. His laws and ways are established from everlasting, and His purposes are determined from eternity. Like the Hebrews, the church also has grown. Yet though it may number many more followers than just the early disciples, by comparison to the unsaved - the Christless masses of the world, the term used by Jesus calling the apostles a ‘little flock’, is still applicable to the church today! We are encouraged therefore, by the fact that God’s love and not our numbers, defines our calling. We are sustained with the knowledge that it is not by our works and ability, but by His love, grace and power that our salvation is provided. We are strengthened in the conviction that He, who has elected the church, will fulfil the promises He has made, and that if we remain faithful till the end, we will live forever, because ‘he is faithful that promised’!

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

May 23

“But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:” 2 Corinthians 4:3

The gospel is described here as ‘our gospel’, not because it belongs to us alone, but because it is entrusted by the Lord to all who believe. This message of God’s salvation has been made available and open for all. It is not hidden by God, nor should it ever be hidden by those who believe and have benefited from it. It has been given freely as an endowment of all mankind. The only limitation on it being appropriated as ‘ours’, is our own will and desire as individuals. We might say similarly that the sun shines and all can see it, unless they close their eyes to it and choose not to. The flow of a river is there for all to benefit and satisfy their thirst, unless they select not to drink from it. In context then, the gospel is not hid by divine mandate. If it remains hidden to some, the fault is not with God or with the gospel He has given, but rather with those that through their own pride, sinfulness, indulgence and self-centredness, remain blinded to the sight, beauty and power of it and therefore are deemed ‘lost’, without hope and without Christ. This however, is not a condition which must inevitably remain, as can be seen by so many of us who were indeed lost and yet are now found. What corrects our lost-ness is as simple as making a change in our will to ‘see’, give place to and accept that it is we who are blinded to the beauty of God’s gospel, and in need of spiritual surgery! Once that admission is made in our personal hearts and minds, we begin to find that which had been ‘hidden’ by our own doing or lack of! It is probably for this reason that many, when referring to their conversion say something like ‘when I found God’, as if God had been somehow lost! In reality what we mean by such statements, is that though God was in plain sight, like the light of the sun, we had our blinders on and could not see Him! We were the ones who were lost, and only when we finally and willingly removed the impediments from our eyes, did we begin to see God! In that sense then, we ‘found Him’. It was from that moment onwards that we became conscious and aware of Him, His plan for our lives, His salvation, His beauty and Majesty and at that point, we ceased to be lost and by accepting Jesus, we became found in Him! The glorious message of salvation, which powerfully presents the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and the way by which we can identify with and make ours what He did for us, is plain and manifest; but if it remains veiled, hidden and out of sight, then it is so to those who are among the countless lost, and who so desperately and in spite of themselves need to found! The task and commission is left to those who believe, to make every effort and try every means, by which we may help someone else who may be willing, to see what is yet hidden to them!

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

May 22

“…but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.” Philippians 2:3

A desirable and commendable quality of heart and its natural outflow are described here. Translated elsewhere as humility and humbleness, lowliness of mind is true modesty and genuine unpretentiousness. Much false humility has been given rise, by those who would apply this concept out of it intended context. It is natural to find some ability, skill, talent or knowledge in one man which is greater than that found in another. To this of course, humility should immediately defer. The context of the humility spoken of here however, is that which is required when considering the effects of God’s grace in another person’s life. This lowliness of mind causes one to see and highlight the importance, growth or experience of his brethren, in preference to his own. This is not to say that we must believe everybody ‘better’ than ourselves in every sense, or pretend we cannot see the faults in others. Quite to the contrary, true humility is capable of seeing self in a true light. It is able to step in the position God sees fit to give or call one to, without losing sight of personal dependence on Him. True humility can acknowledge progress or achievement without once attributing any aspect of it to mere self. It has as its outflow, the ability to look beyond the flaws in another’s life or character, remembering all too well  the vileness and insignificance which describes and defines us all, outside of Christ. This humility principle flies in the face of all pride and ambition, associated with spiritual pursuit or progress. It remembers that each of us owe all we are, have and do, to Jesus Christ. It knows and proclaims unashamedly that without Him, we have no achievement, no success or accomplishment to present as our own. This is why such humility can always find some detail, some experience, and some personal aspect of God’s grace fulfilled in our brother, as ‘better’, more worthwhile and exemplary than our own, and is willing to gladly state so! It glorifies Jesus, in others, and therefore it is ‘better’ and greater than us in our natural state! It highlights what God does in someone else’s life, and that is always a greater work than we could ever do for ourselves! This is God’s recipe for total annihilation of pride! Should all believers genuinely be clothed in such pure humility, foolish and destructive pride would not be known among Christians, and the praises of God would be sung, as believers testify of the wonderful works God has done and they can see in the life of their brethren!

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

May 21

“…but we glory in tribulations also:…” Romans 5:3

Christian living is not for the faint-hearted or for anyone who unduly fears pain and discomfort. The path of eternal life is narrow and fraught with difficulties and challenges, but for all these, God has made provision. He does not say that as believers we will never face trauma or hardship, but He does say He will make available all we need to overcome our worst life’s situations. There is therefore, something counterintuitive yet extremely powerful, expressed in this portion of the Holy Text! We are all naturally disinclined to difficulties, trials, persecutions and afflictions, and thus logically avoid and decry these things, desiring nothing of them in our lives. The true believer however, though he will not purposely seek out affliction, finds ‘glory’ that is, rejoicing in these times and circumstances also. Along with the great blessings and provisions of salvation and sanctification, he who trusts in Jesus, can find reason to rejoice in difficult and troubled times. This may be contrary to our usual disposition, but becomes more ‘natural’ in concept and more acceptable in practice for the believer, the more and further he trusts the Lord. In fact, this truth holds a powerful and invincible principle, which over the centuries has seen many, face even their martyrdom as Christians, with calmness, quiet resignation and even welcoming joy! What could possibly cause a human being to actually rejoice, when faced with some of the worst possible circumstances and threats of life? It is an inner knowledge and divine peace, which strengthens and steels the soul of a man, into a conviction that God can transform the pain, suffering and distress of any affliction, into patience, hope, strength and power greater than ever known before! In other words, rather than seeing defeat, detriment or destruction, the believers ‘sees’, and finds God-ordained victory, improvement and life, from the times of distress which face him! Here then is the remarkable power of the Christian life that is truly committed to Christ – it is built up and improved by the wonderful blessings and privileges God provides, and it is also enriched, strengthened and enlarged by the sufferings He allows! In this context, the yielded life is impregnable and beyond conquest! It continues and improves regardless of what it is faced with or challenged by. This is true life in Jesus, it is the overcoming life, and it is His will for all who believe. 

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

May 20

“…whoso provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own soul.” Proverbs 20:2

Royalty was in scripture what ultimate civil authority may be to us today. The decision of a king was final and his authority in the sphere of ruling his people, virtually unlimited. In this sense he is compared to a lion as the ‘king’ of the jungle, and his anger as something which no man under his power, would want to raise. Perhaps not in the same context of royalty, but we have a concept here, which is very much applicable to us, in living lives marked by wisdom and uprightness. Firstly then it is clearly unwise to provoke the antagonism of those who are in ‘authority’ over us. We live in a time when to be purposely rebellious to all that is authority is in fashion. This is not necessarily due to some legitimate issue or wrong to protest and speak up against, but simply because overall, authority of any kind is viewed by many as restrictive and undesirable. This mentality, which would claim that an absence of authority is an idyllic condition, fails to recognise that without prescribed power in place, the imagined ‘liberty’ of doing one’s own thing without restraint, would quickly cease or be hampered and even violated, by someone else’s self-asserted liberty, so that no real peace or personal safety could ever be achieved! Authority and more specifically godly authority, is therefore necessary to the well-being, growth, protection and overall living quality of every individual. Man’s attempts at governance, even when at their best are flawed, but it is the best we, as flawed and sinful humanity can achieve. Even so, it is a wise and proper manner and attitude of life, when we live under a ‘reasonable’ government, which overall takes care of its citizens, not to purposely or without legitimacy, provoke its ‘anger’. There is a Government however, over which the Perfect and Holy God reigns as King absolute, and under which all humans, whether they recognise it or not, are responsible and accountable. This Governance is not flawed, fickle or corrupted. It does not allow for human manipulation, preference or election. This King is the King of Kings, and reigns supreme. His law and precepts are perfect and cannot be altered, amended or tampered with in any manner. When we as humans attempt to do so, we cause the ire of the King; when we openly violate His laws and in bare-faced rebellion disregard His precepts and choose rather our own ways, we provoke His anger! The advice of our text is that we do this to our own detriment, and to the demise of our own soul! We literally err or ‘sin’, and thus cause death to our souls that is, an eternal dying – this is an awful indictment! Wise humans choose to stay of the ‘right’ side of God, the side of His mercy, love and provision, by obedience and observance of His law and counsel. God is the Eternal and Almighty King, there is no God like Him in love, mercy and longsuffering, if we choose to be His faithful subjects. Conversely there is no comparable enemy, and no surer way to condemn our souls, should we choose to refuse His authority, provoke His anger, and continue to antagonise Him! 

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

May 19

“And when he had broken down the altars and the groves…” 2 Chronicles 34:7

Josiah was but a young boy eight years of age, when he began his reign as king over Israel. In spite of his youth, he did righteousness in the sight of God and walked according to the precepts of God’s law, in imitation of his forefather, the great king David. Josiah brought reform to Israel by thoroughly destroying all the places where idols were being worshipped. He journeyed throughout the land and wherever he found altars or groves dedicated to any heathen idol, he not only tore them down, but eradicated them, destroying them so completely that they could not be rebuilt again from the same materials! Revival broke out in Israel as a result of this ‘boy king’ and his actions of faithfulness to God. Josiah is a bright star shining in the dark sky of Israel’s history of backsliding. He reminds us to be faithful and to take a stand for God and His Word. We learn that when we stand for the Lord we must do so, totally and without compromise. God’s people must be faithful people and cannot stray from the truth of His ways. They cannot espouse means of worship and religion which are not acceptable to God. It is a mistake to think that we can imitate and adopt the ways of unconverted people around us, as suitable means or expressions for the worship of Yahwah, the true God. The message of Josiah’s life, is that there is no room for compromise in the life of the believer; that we must stand for God, His ways and His righteousness at all times and in all places; and that we must do so thoroughly and completely without giving place, not for a moment, to the enemy of our souls. Removing any contamination of the world from our lives, should be thorough. The systematic, methodical and comprehensive analysis of our minds, hearts and lives in the sight of God, and the removal of anything that may be offensive to God and contravening His Word, is a good practice for retaining a healthy spiritual life in Christ.

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

May 18

“But ye have despised the poor…” James 2:6

Poverty, though not of itself a disease, may be seen as an affliction of pandemic proportions in the human race. It is rarely something a person may consciously or purposely choose. While it is true that an individual’s conduct may contribute to and ultimately bring about his poverty and undoing, overall it is safe to say that poverty is a condition experienced by a large portion of humanity, and over which they have little or no control. It is at this level that our text makes its exhortation to our hearts. It is a fact of human behaviour that a difference of preference and partiality, is made towards the status (real or perceived) of any one particular person we may meet. Poor people and rich people exist equally all over the world and are treated differently, as if their financial status actually gives them more or less worth as a person! We may all rationalise that this is not correct, but in our natural response to individuals, we all mostly fall into the same trap of attributing the quality of our attention, interest, service to people, in line with what we perceive their ‘status’ to be. Tests have been conducted by richer individuals, purposely dressing down to look as paupers, to verify this inbuilt human negligence, and see how differently they were treated by those they met. We are very much geared to what our eyes see and what we perceive of people, and to that degree we give them trust, attention and place. Sadly this oddity continues to plague us as believers also. In fact to some degree we may be even guiltier of this neglect, for another dimension is added to us when we are Christians. There is such thing as spiritual poverty. Those who are not yet converted are spiritually afflicted, lacking, and in need. It is true to say that not only from a physical, financial standpoint, but also from a spiritual one, we can lack in the kind of love required of us, to give and support our fellow man, without regards to his status! If meeting the need of a financially poor person means sharing our financial wealth with them, then meeting the need of a spiritually impoverished individual, means sharing our spiritual wealth with them! Yet it is at this level that we can fail, and despise those around us, forgetting that without Jesus, and what He has provided for us spiritually and physically, we would be no better than the person we are viewing! Such despising or as the text implies, preferential treatment of others, is deemed sin before God, something we must repent of and desist from! May the Lord help us to never be guilty of despising the poor, but rather stretch forth a helping hand, whether we perceive them to be needy in a socio-economic sense or in the even more relevant spiritual sense of soul poverty.

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

May 17

“…remember that thou wast a bondman in the land of Egypt…” Deuteronomy 15:15

Debts owed and remaining unpaid in Israel, sometimes resulted in the debtors becoming slave servants to the creditor. While God allowed for this as an appropriate way to repay what was owed, rules and laws were also given to the people to control and limit the use, and avoid the abuse of slaves. Everything from the treatment of the slave to the manner of their dismissal when the debt was finalised, was legislated by God. Beyond the actual ‘lawful’ practice, God also added an emotional and personal consideration to this aspect of Israelite life. God appealed to His people to remember that they had all been slaves to the Egyptians, had suffered at their hands, and that God had delivered them by His might, and in mercy provided for them. Strangely sometimes we too can forget where God has brought us from! There is often no greater critic of a sin or conduct, than the person who was very guilty of the same thing at some time in his past! We also can find it naturally easier, to shake our head or censure conduct in others, which in various ways, upon scrutiny, can be found in our own lives. Sadly we can to forget, the wrongs, errors and imperfections of our own lives.  For instance, it is easy when we get older, to forget what we were like when we were younger, and how we too may have failed in the same or similar things for which we now so readily judge others or look ‘down’ on. Remembering where the Lord brought us from, what we were, and how still on a daily basis, He lovingly and patiently deals with us, may give us a little more latitude with our brother and sister, and help us remain a little more patient, a little longer! 

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

May 16

“And also I have withholden the rain from you…” Amos 4:7

In a repetitious pattern of disobedience, Israel again had fallen out of favour with God. When as God’s people we multiply our transgressions in total disregard to the Lord, and without repentance, we can be sure to encounter God’s punishment and correction. In our text this took the form of God withholding rain from His people. God is in control of His creation, and whilst overall He allows it to ‘rain on the just and the unjust’, it is error to think that God is limited by, or a slave to His own laws of nature. No, He remains in control and His will reigns supreme. Nature does not distinguish where to deposit its resources, but God can control nature at will and direct its course. In this particular instance, just to ensure that the Israelites knew this wasn’t merely a circumstance climatic difficulty they were facing, He caused it to rain on one city, but withheld rain from another adjoining it. He made it rain on one parcel of ground, but the next was dry and parched, this was done for the three months prior to their harvest, clearly making it a supernatural phenomenon, and marking it as a judgment upon their iniquity. Rain was and is still a basic necessity of life. Without it crops will not grow, and animals we use for food will not survive. Without water in our reservoirs, even in our modern world, we quickly become victims to the ravages of hunger and thirst. It is interesting also that the rain was withheld in the critical time preceding the harvest, when it was most needed to provide a rich and plentiful crop. Without rain at such times, the produce is scanty, dry and unusable. God is always ready and willing to bless and prosper His people, but time and again, our actions, indifference and disobedience, demand discipline from the Lord. This correction is not given to us because God hates us, or because He is a vehement, unreasonable, angry God. Castigation from the Lord is motivated out of love for us, to redirect us to a correct path and holy conduct. When we stray from God’s ways and violate His laws, we are placing ourselves in the way of judgment and making it our choice to be corrected by whatever means may be necessary, and at times these may be stern. How much better to listen carefully to God’s Spirit, obey His word and remain faithful and obedient to His ways, so that we can learn by God’s coaching and gentle leading, rather than His sterner hand. It is God’s will and purpose however, to fulfil the ultimate goal of His love toward us, which is our sanctification. This is a spiritual work and it takes precedence over every physical need, creature comfort and temporal provision. To that end He will continue to protect, direct and correct in whatever manner He sees fit, that our souls may be provided for and saved. When the blessing fails to ‘rain’ on our souls, let us be swift in analysing our hearts and conduct, and equally quick to repent and turn back to God from any conviction and righteousness we may have strayed from!

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

May 15

“…he is the saving strength of his anointed.” Psalms 28:8

God is the stronghold of salvation! His strength is displayed in many different ways, but not in the least, it is seen in the way by which He saves. In this undertaking God’s strength is glorified and magnified, for whilst power which destroys is often considered strength, power which saves is immensely stronger, and by far more significant! God is ‘saving strength’. His primary desire for the use and manifestation of His power is in showing Himself mighty ‘to save’. Some question His power and ability to bring the promised judgement on mankind. Yahwah will in due course show He is the Almighty, and the above all Potentate, who will subdue and judge by His power the mightiest and loftiest among humans. Yet it is by His power to save, that Yahwah chooses to be known and understood. We learn the greatest lesson about the use of our own ‘power’ or influence, from the manner by which God uses His. In whatever way we can and are able to exert strength, and wield power of position, resources, knowledge or experience, we should always do so to help, assist, encourage and yes improve someone else’s situation. We should also do so in humility, knowing that we are merely passing on that which God has given to us freely, and blessed our lives with time and again. This is true divine use of the abilities and privileges God has given us, and a reflection of Yahwah’s intention toward mankind. This verse also highlights the object of the Lord’s saving strength – His anointed! In David’s case that may have meant, himself as the king, yet God’s saving power is not limited to some, but all of His anointed, and includes all of the people, every individual who believes and follows His principles and lives by His Word. To be the recipients of God’s saving power then, we not only come to the place of salvation to which he brings us at the beginning, but we must remain in the position of His anointing, that is, in the place of His holiness and righteousness. By staying obedient to His precepts and guided by His Spirit, we continue under His anointing, and maintain a right standing with Jesus, securing the promises He makes to those who abide in Him; promises which include the keeping and saving of His anointed, by His eternal power. 

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

May 14

“…thou hast strengthened the feeble knees.” Job 4:4

In his days of prosperity and wellness Job had succoured others. He assisted the troubled, visited the sick, and supported individuals who were weakened by sin, and whose strength of life and resources had failed. Job had lived righteously before God and man, and his reputation was that of a man of value and worth. He had willingly fulfilled his responsibility of care of those in need, consistently supplying comfort, advice, assistance and protection. We now find Job himself on the side of the needy. Those who are criticising him, his so called ‘comforters’, are fully aware of his good deeds towards others, and they raise them to his attention, however they do so not to praise him, or in commendation, but in accusation. Their message is essentially “You were giving out all the good advice and help when it was someone else’s trouble, but what about now you are in their shoes?” instead of returning the kindness, which they acknowledged Job had given to others, and imitating his conduct by giving him genuine comfort, they prided and gloated in his difficulty, and added to his burden by their comments and explanations. It is strange how often this can actually happen among believers even today. There is an almost wicked sense of triumph with some individuals, when trouble or difficulty befalls a brother or sister. This is the opposite of what should take place. We are supposed to ‘mourn with those who mourn’, not rejoice in their calamity! There should be a genuine sense of empathy for those who suffer, and a desire to uphold them in prayer! This should be in the heart of fellow believers, but alas all too often, there is either indifference or worse even rejoicing at someone else’s trouble. This is a sure sign of a serious and sad lack of God’s love. Among the many lessons that can be learned from Job’s experiences, we could include the fact that clearly afflictions, trials, and setbacks, can be found and observed in the lives of good and righteous men, every bit as much as in the lives of those who are in rebellion against God. The just are not preserved from all difficulties, but they are promised deliverance and strength to make it through. It is however a serious mistake to simply assume that just because a person is facing trial or opposition, they must be in sin or have erred before God. Another important fact to remember is that we must teach the principles of God, in their entirety even if there is the possibility that we may personally have to face some aspect or another of those things, and be measured by the values we have proclaimed and affirmed. In other words we should not fear or hold back on truth, but wholeheartedly teach it and affirm it, not because we have already mastered it or have personally succeeded in it, but for its own value and benefit. Paul taught not that if he had already achieved, but that as one yet striving towards the mark. Lastly, we must accept that all believers when faced with affliction may react less than perfectly in the circumstances, in one aspect or another. Rather than behave as Job’s discomforting ‘comforters’, we should find in our heart the love, kindness and tenderness to support, lift and encourage to the best of our abilities such a one, through their time of trouble, and not add to their load by our unthoughtful comments or behaviour. Such magnanimous hearts will be a blessing to others, and be in turn blessed and commended of God.

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

May 13

“…that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands…” 1 Timothy 2:8

Prayer is and remains the top priority in the Christian’s life. Every day and in every way, prayer should form the core of our spiritual experience and expression. It should be the forerunner and the follower, to all our decisions and actions. Prayer holds prominence in scripture, and here again, Paul writing to Timothy, expresses his intense desire and gives direction, under the inspiration of God, that prayer be present in believers’ lives, for all occasions.  It was considered necessary and appropriate by the Jews that prayers be offered only in the temple. The effectiveness of prayers lifted in such a holy place, was thought to be increased and merit the attention of God. Contrasting this view, and reflecting the tenor of Christian teaching, Paul calls for prayer to be made in all places. God can be reached and touched in any place, at all times, and our prayer can heard and be effective, without the limit of location. This is a liberating and empowering ability! It is also a God-given opportunity, which removes any excuse for lack of prayer, due to not being in the ‘right place’. The lifting up of hands is recognised as a sign of reaching towards heaven in prayer, denoting petition, pleading and surrender to the Lord. Paul again reminds us that the lifting of our hands remains a part of our prayer and calling to God, as we entreat Him and make our requests known. He also points out that hands employed in this manner should be holy hands. Hands are significant and represent the things we do and participate in. The importance of washing our hands physically, and keeping them clean and free from germs and other contaminants, has become a well-accepted fact and necessity in our society. Sadly the same attention is not given to the ‘cleaning’ of our hands in a spiritual sense! When we sin or participate in that which is offensive to God, we may be said to have ‘touched’ that which is unclean, and have become spiritually defiled. It is clearly inappropriate to lift hands to God in prayer, which are sullied and soiled with sin, unrighteousness or rebellion against His word. Our hands should be used in the service of God, and reflecting in their actions and involvement, the love and respect we have for God and His ways, they should not be employed in any aspect of iniquity. We need to cleanse our beings of that which is against the Lord, and wash clean our mind, heart and soul. God has made provision for this cleansing through Calvary, and it is only through Jesus that we can have and retain ‘holy hands’. Holy hands are gifted hands; they are hands of love, patience and care. They are hands given to peace, hard work and usefulness. They are willing hands, helping where ever they can, lifting burdens and opening doors. Most of all holy hands are worshipful, praying hands, reflecting the purity, honesty and righteousness, imparted to the believer by the Lord Jesus Christ! May God’s men, be men of prayer, whose hands are holy in the sight of the Lord!

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

May 12

“Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart.” Psalms 26:2

David was willing to undergo the same judgment of God, he might have recommended for anyone else. He was willing to be put under scrutiny by the Lord and be thoroughly tested. He uses three words here to represent the thoroughness of the inspection he invokes – examine, prove, try. Each of these words emphasise depth in analysis and examination. David offered up both his affections or emotions (reins) and his thoughts or intellect (heart), for examination. He was not saying he was perfect or without flaw, for we know from his own writing and expression that he asks God not to remember his transgressions. David was simply not afraid of the Lord’s evaluation of his life, because he knew that God is a righteous and just Judge, and that he as a man, had walked uprightly both in regards to God and to his fellowman. Calling for God to note and weigh out his life, is a way of obtaining validation and approval from God. There is a beautiful and humble confidence in this statement that is worthy of notice. How willing would we be to call for God’s thorough scrutiny of our lives?  Are we happy for God to know us intimately, and comfortable with allowing and welcoming His careful inspection of our innermost mental and emotional space? The quality of the relationship we hold with Jesus, and the value we place on it, has a lot to do with the level of comfort we naturally hold and feel, with the proximity and interaction of the Holy God! When we want to keep our Lord and Saviour at ‘arms’ length’, or feel like we are intruded upon by the check of His Spirit, we are in fact declaring that He is not our Lord over all. We are saying that there are some aspects of our being, or areas of our lives, which are ‘out of bounds’ to the Lord, and into which He is not welcome! God will not push His way into our lives, but our joy of living for Jesus will augment or diminish, in proportion to the degree by which we are willing to surrender ourselves to Him, the searching of His Spirit and the direction of His word. May we all become so close to Jesus that we too like David, can joyfully welcome the Lord’s inspection, and willingly ask for His evaluation.

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

May 11

“…as cedar trees beside the waters.” Numbers 24:6

Balaam the prophet had been employed by king Balak to curse the people of Israel, whom he viewed as his enemies and a potential threat to his kingdom. On three separate occasions, however Balaam could not but utter blessings and praises to God over Israel, a fact which angered the king immensely. In this third instance Balaam praises Israel of God, with unfettered admiration and beautiful comparisons. He speaks of the people of God as being like rich valleys spreading out in front of him, fruitful gardens, and beautiful forests, and finally compares them to the most majestic of trees – the cedar. Balaam then goes on to sing of the blessing which God will bestow on Israel and the protection He will give His people. The use of the cedar tree in scripture to describe strength, majesty and beauty is not infrequent. The tree is known for the size it can grow to, usually straight timber with branches spreading out horizontally and parallel all the way to its top forming a ‘cone’ shaped silhouette. The strength and quality of the wood made it a preferred building material, and it was used in important structures and edifices. Solomon employed it extensively in the building of the temple in Jerusalem. Although it is generally a mountain tree, this particular description places the cedar beside waters, where most trees would naturally best thrive. Balaam’s anointed description is an apt summary of how God views and values His people. In the same manner that He created the cedar and gave it the qualities that make it unique, God has given believers distinctive qualities by which they too can be known. The people of God can be recognised, like the cedar tree. They have a distinctive manner and spirit to them. They bear the signature of God in their soul and are different from the world around them. They are strong in their convictions, values and purposes, not easily moved and durable; stable in whatever position they are used. God utilizes such people in positions of leadership, and responsibility, to carry load and bear burden for others. Better still, God supplies His people with an in exhaustible supply of living water, which keeps them spiritually alive, strong and growing. He ensures that they are supplied all that is necessary to function and do the work they were intended for and purposes in His will! We are truly blessed to be counted among God’s people and valued in this manner by the Creator God!

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

May 10

“For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven…” Colossians 1:5

A life without the knowledge of Jesus Christ is a hope-less life! In Christ we have hope, both for this life and the life to come. In this life the hope that Jesus provides, gives meaning and form to our existence. Despair and emptiness are vanquished by this hope, and we can live a fruitful, purposeful and directed life. This hope is secure and does not pass away, nor is it diminished by the changes of time and circumstances. God has established this hope, and its bond is kept safe for all believers in the treasury of heaven. In the life to come, we will experience the full meaning and benefit of the eternal hope God has given us. Eternal life received through salvation, is intended here by the word hope. Hope is an apt metonymy for salvation with its eternal rewards, for in one word it captures all we long for and hold on to in our hearts! For the believer hope is not found in any worldly or material achievement or possession. Prosperity and success in life are not the ingredients which formulate the hope of the true Christian. The saint’s hope is based on that which is ‘out of this world’, in the realm beyond the physical, in the kingdom and home eternal! That is what drives the desire, passion and vision of the believer. It is this knowledge and reality held personally in Christ, by those who believe Him, which causes them to endure the greatest hardships, persecutions and remain steadfast and faithful through the worst torments and troubles of life! The hope is greater, it far outweighs, is richer and more valuable than anything else a man can own! With courage and determination we must as believers, hold fast to the hope which is laid up for us in heaven and not lose sight of our eternal reward.

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

May 9

“As newborn babes…” 1 Peter 2:2

It seems a concept reiterated and stressed in scripture, that believers should retain the simplicity of children as to their malice and desire for spiritual food. Babies are known by their cries for mother’s milk. Their desire for food is intense and all consuming; to the point that it becomes the main focus of their young lives. Although it is necessary that we grow and become mature Christians in our attitudes, abilities and consecration to God and His work, it is also essential that in faith and desire for all things spiritual we have the ‘hunger’ of babes! Interestingly most of us can look back to the early times of our conversion to Christ, and recall from those days, the enthusiasm, desire and hunger we had for God. A worthwhile test of our integrity and quality as believers is to see whether that ‘first love’, is still present. Do we still make a point of not missing a meeting? Does our time of prayer still stoke the fire in our souls? Is reading the Bible and understanding what it says, still as exciting and thrilling as back then? Do we look forward to times alone with God, and then in fellowship with brethren as we used to do? Are we still so excited about our new found faith in Christ, that we cannot but to share the great news of the gospel and what Jesus has done for us, with just about everyone we meet? Perhaps, like the Christians Peter was addressing in his epistle, we too could do with some fresh newborn babe hunger and desire! Should we develop such child-like faith and craving for God, we would find that He is ready and willing to supply all our needs, and satisfy us beyond what we may think to ask, for this Heavenly Parent knows all too well how to provide for His children!

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

May 8

“And next unto him builded the men of Jericho…” Nehemiah 3:2

Several points of interest can be gathered from this text. It is significant that right beside the priests who jump started the operation by rolling their sleeves up and getting into the work, the first group of people mentioned are the ‘men of Jericho’. This had been the first city which had fallen to Joshua and Israel in the conquest of Canaan, and now the posterity of the inhabitants of that city, lend a hand to rebuild the city of Jerusalem, how amazing the hand and power of God! We can without doubt learn from the events which surround the leadership of Nehemiah and the work of the people in this great task of rebuilding the walls of the city, we might consider the following three aspects. Firstly it is clear that there was a great, pressing and difficult task at hand. We have today as Christians a very similar task. Much of what once stood strong for God and His word has been demolished and left in ruins. It is our task to rebuild and to do so unto the Lord. The task is great, pressing and very difficult. It is fraught with opposition, ridicule and disdain. It requires great amounts of time, effort and money. It is at face value ‘an impossible’ task, too great for anyone to even consider. Yet this is what we are called to do as believers; we are to strengthen that which is weak, lift up that which is fallen and restore the ways of God in our lives. Secondly, there were many willing workers were present to help with the work. It has been said that ‘many hands make light work’. This is true where the ‘hands’ are willing to work together, not for personal glory or gain, but for the greater and common goal, without thought of self and selfish motives. Often however, due to the wrong motivation for being involved in a common task, it has been more beneficial to have fewer, dedicated, genuinely eager, selfless, one minded individuals, than ten times the number without those qualities. This is sad and causes much more weight and burden to be carried by few, but it often results in better outcomes. It is desirable that God’s work be carried by all of God’s people, each willingly and faithfully bringing personal skills, time and effort into play. Everyone can contribute and make a difference regardless of their background, age or ability. Thirdly, the project was undertaken in an organised and mutually supportive manner. The other important lesson we can learn from our text in doing the work which is set for us as followers of Jesus, is God’s work must be done in an organized, orderly fashion. Not in a spirit of competition against our brethren, but of support and encouragement. For this to take place, God has supplied His Word, His Holy Spirit and His ministry. Much more can be achieved in the work of God, when we are willing to follow the mandates of God’s word, carefully sense after His Spirit and listen to the instructions and direction of anointed ministry of God. If God ordained leadership tools are left out and ignored, the work of the Lord will suffer and probably remain an unfinished task. It is up to us to fit in with the guidelines and principles the Lord has established for our benefit and blessing, as we work and labour for the King of Kings. There is much work to be done and the task is pressing, let us determine in our minds and hearts to serve God willingly and selflessly in any way we can!

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

May 7

“…then shall ye also appear with him in glory.” Colossians 3:4

There is more to the Christian’s life, than what transpires while we are here on earth. There is a great and powerful spiritual dimension, yet this remains unknown or largely forgotten and disregarded. The Apostle reminds here believers that our main interest and focus in life should not be on material, temporal things. Our ‘affections’, that is our love for, what attracts us and what makes us contented, should be found in Jesus. He is our life and the flow in which we move, plan and live our lives. We are also reminded that soon Jesus will return, He will ‘appear’, that is He will manifest Himself and He will judge the world. In that day nothing of the material, temporal realm will matter at all. Only what we have built by way of a spiritual life, a relationship with Him will be significant. We are encouraged by this exhortation to take note and stock of our lives. Where do our main interests lay? What do we spend our time with? Where are our energies mostly invested? We are to be people whose desire for this world is disabled, and whose lives are a living sacrifice to the Lord! This is the condition and the necessity if we are to appear with Jesus, that is, be at His side, the winning side, the side of right, power and glory at His coming! Nothing and no-one in this world is an adequate trade-off for the eternal life and the position we can fill at the Lord’s side. Let us carefully weight out and carry the responsibility of our Christian calling, for it is a high and glorious call from the Holy God!

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

May 6

“Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name…” Psalms 29:2

This is a wonderful exhortation to all who believe and know the Lord. We are encouraged to render to God the glory of His name. This means to give to the Lord the worship and praise appropriate to Him because of Who He is, fitting to the perfection of His nature and proportionate to the mightiness of His works! This exercise of glorifying God on its own will doubtlessly be conducted and continued into eternity. The infinite God has infinite aspects to the glory associated and revealed by His name. His signature is in every aspect of His creation. He has revealed His name in all dealings with mankind. He has proven Himself higher and greater than any god or deity, which man has chosen to recognise. His name is integral to the salvation He has provided and by which He answers the sin problem of lost humanity. Every aspect of our lives, survival and existence is touched by the power and glory of the Almighty. All over the world, millions continue to call on His Holy name to receive blessing and favour, protection and direction. Each one of these areas and a host more would keep us busy giving glory and praise to Yahwah for a long time to come! Sadly, the many that do recognise and give Him His rightful praise, are but few when compared to the throngs more who do not, and are wilfully antagonistic, or otherwise ignorant of Him and the glory that is due to His name. Humanity is overall given and more concerned with the accolade and recognition which they desire for themselves, or willingly give to fellow humans on every level of achievement or ‘success’. Yet the rendering of honour and glory to God, which is most obvious of all, most appropriate of all and most necessary of all, is withheld from the Lord, and rather redirected elsewhere. The rest of creation faithfully sings God His praises, but humanity fails miserably to even acknowledge Him. The faithful to God will nevertheless, continue to be spurred on by biblical reminders and give Yahwah, the glory which is rightly His! The only limitation we have in this task of glorifying the infinite Lord, is our present finite-ness. It restricts us from seeing the full picture of all Lord is and has done, and confines the scope of what we do understand and perceive. This too our God will soon take care of, when He will change our mortal and corruptible bodies into eternal and immortal ones! Then with one accord, with everlasting thankfulness we will share His eternal life, fulfil the purpose for which He created us. With full hearts and complete understanding we will sing His praises around the heavenly throne, and give Him the glory due unto His name!

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

May 5

“…the fire came down from heaven…and the glory of the LORD filled the house.” 2 Chronicles 7:1

God demonstrates His commendation of His people’s actions and faithfulness, in many different ways. The common denominator in all of them is the blessings He gives by His presence and glory, as the reality and power of His Spirit and holiness becomes manifest in their lives. The instance in our text is a sublime example of God’s pleasure being expressed and visited on Solomon as in faith and obedience, he established the temple for the worship of Yahwah, in Jerusalem. A similar manifestation of God, took place when the tabernacle was dedicated by Moses in the wilderness. In both cases, God marked His approbation, by sending a fire from heaven, which consumed the sacrifices. The response from the people in both cases, was to fall on their faces in honour and worship to the Lord, as they saw the might power of His glory, and experienced the touch of His presence and the perfection of His holiness! It is an occasion for great rejoicing among God’s people when such blessing and visitation from God takes place. We are so privileged to live in a time when God’s Spirit indwells us as believers, making us, our beings, the very temple of God and His abode! What an honour to know and feel God so intimately and personally! We may not see the fire fall down from heaven and burn up the offering physically, but we can experience the fire from heaven just the same, spiritually. The effect is alike and the glory of the Lord is identical. He still wants to show His approval of those who faithfully consecrated their temple to Him and for His use; those who regularly offer themselves on the altar of prayer and worship; those who treasure the presence of the Lord and desire His holiness so much that they go about as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to God! God is still the same, loving, caring, blessing and enriching God, willing to show and give more of His strength, wisdom and provision, to any faithful servant who will serve Him and by faith please Him. God is faithful, He wants to bless, He desires to commend and longs to reward. He has not changed in His desire, but have we changed in ours? When was the last time, fire from heaven purified your soul, and God’s glory filled your temple?

May 4

“O come, let us sing unto the LORD…” Psalm 95:1

We have here an invitation to a joyful celebration. All people of God should encourage and invite one another to lift praise and song unto the King Eternal. Among all the voices and songs sung in the world, glorifying and exalting just about anything, most of which is untoward, unholy and unkind, it is always refreshing to hear the praises of God sung out of thankful and pure hearts. The inspiration to sing out to God, should flow freely from the souls of those who have been delivered from their sins; and it ought to take next to no reminder and incitement, to join in the song of praise brethren are offering to God. The object of our song and praise is Yahwah the Messiah! The Holy One, Who has delivered our souls, and whose mighty acts merit celebration and glorification. His entire creation in so many ways declares His glory and sings His praise. Humans also owe to their Creator the most sincere and heartfelt praise and worship they can raise. The Lord is not so interested in the most ‘professional’ sounds we can make, or the perfection of our performance and impeccable musical tone, we can deliver in His presence. He is more attracted and attentive to the sound of the heart and soul, who are sincere and genuinely thankful and joyful in His sight. This makes praise and worship an opportunity and ability available to anyone, regardless of their age, background or skill. It is such a blessing that God is not insistent on melodious sounds, which some of us possibly could not produce, but is appreciative of our ‘noise’ if it be joyful and soulful! In our own way and time then, as well as with other likeminded people, let us join in heartfelt, glad and thankful song to the Lord our God, who is worthy of all our praise!

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

May 3

“If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.” Proverbs 24:10

Strength is tested in all of us, not in times of ease and comfort, but in days of adversity, trouble and distress. The nature and degree of the difficulty we may face can have a lot to do with the response we give to it. Naturally the concept is relative to each individual. This can be seen by the fact that various people react and deal differently when faced with similar adversarial situations. One factor of this concept is what the bible here calls ‘strength’. This quality has a great deal to do with whether we ‘faint’, that is become easily depleted and defeated by the challenge which faces us. The strength, by which we are able to withstand trials and difficulties in life, is not a personal or character asset alone. It is a fortitude which comes from the faith which we are able to place in God, whose ability never fails or runs out. Time and again Jesus admonished His disciples for having ‘little faith’ in God. This did not mean they were not sincere or able to believe at all, but that they had not yet matured or grown sufficiently in their relationship with the Lord to believe further, and last the distance with the challenges that faced them. The Lord’s caution to His disciples was to encourage them to further growth, stretching their hearts with faith and trust in God. In other words a measurement of our ‘strength’ in spiritual terms, has to do with how much we are able to lean on God and believe in Him. This is not automatically related to our ‘age’ physically or even spiritually, but is more so, the outflow of a maturity found in holding and fostering a deep and loving, holy relationship with Jesus! If we fail to nurture a closeness and intimacy with God, we are more than likely going to faint easily in the day of adversity. Our spiritual resolution and determination, will easily give way to despondency and dejection. We are not all that durable when we face life and trials in our own strength alone! As believers particularly, we have the responsibility to learn how to lean on Jesus, rely on His strength, through faith in His principles and closeness to Him. This trust and dependence on the Lord provides the strength, wisdom, courage and steadfastness we need to remain, persist and endure in times of difficulty and trial. 

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

May 2

“Buy the truth, and sell it not…” Proverbs 23:23

Consider that by truth here is meant all that proceeds from God in His revealed will and word. Jesus taught He Himself is the Truth. With that in mind - how precious is truth? The value of it exceeds the air we need for our lungs, the water and food we require for our bodies, gold, silver, or the most precious commodity we could find on earth! Such is the importance and worth of the truth of God! It is sad to see how devalued it has become among the human family, and at what tragic and disastrous cost and consequences, it has been discarded and sold out. The instructions in our text concerning it are twofold. We must ‘buy’ this truth, it is not something we can afford to put off, or postpone till we may find it at bargain price! The direct command to ‘buy’, signifies we are not to spare the sacrifice, personal cost or price we should pay to obtain it. Ahead of any other ‘purchase’ in life, our time, energy, mind-space, desire and heart, should be settled on taking share and participating promptly and abundantly in the personal ownership of God’s truth, His word, His principles, His wisdom. This acquisition is of paramount importance! It is not made by just buying books which report the truth, or supporting financially those who propagate the truth. It is a personal necessity and can only be fulfilled when we hide the truth in our own hearts. It takes place when we, as the apostle Paul did, make the knowledge, power, and excellency of this truth personally ours, by understanding it and practicing it; when we esteem it so highly that we consider it greater than all other possessions in life. Once we have it and are growing in it daily, there is another directive regarding it. We are to hold on to God’s truth at any cost, never part with it, never lessen its influence in our lives, never replace it or sell it in favour of anything else! Great men and women who have gone before us, have shown how determined they have been to hold on to this treasure from heaven, that their very lives were not considered too high a price to pay. They give testimony to the fact that God’s truth is to live for, and to die for. Such precious commodity cannot be found anywhere else, but in God. To forsake His truth for worldly advantages and temporal pleasures, is to forsake Him. We should therefore defend it in our lives from anyone or anything which could damage or reduce it, taint or adulterate it, modify or manipulate it, compromise, twist or profane it! Absolute care should be taken and prioritised, to ensure that we do not lose sight of the value of it, or forsake the excellence it produces. Keeping this precious truth of God at all costs and increasing in daily in it, must become our ardent, personal desire. 

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

May 1

“Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance…” Luke 3:8

The Lord had shown that He would not turn away a contrite heart and a repentant spirit. The Pharisees however, believed they were ‘justified’ and able to escape the wrath of God to come, through the value of their descent from Abraham. This basis of their righteousness therefore was not obedience to God and His law, but the fact that they were born Israelites! Jesus made quick work of their self-righteous beliefs, with His rebuke and retort, that God could raise children to Abraham from stones, if He so desired! In other words, their ancestry was an invalid measurement of justification or right standing with Yahwah! For us also there is a right way to salvation, life and victory. It is the way of the cross, the way of death, burial and resurrection through Jesus Christ. The gospel message is clear in what a believer must do, in order to be saved. Mentally assenting a belief in God, without true obedience to His word, is a righteousness equivalent to that of the Pharisees. In Matthew 5:20 Jesus said that “except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.” This is a standard applicable to all who would be Christ-followers. We cannot like the Pharisees of Jesus’ day, rely on our own abilities, religiousness, pedigree or rank. We must have the righteousness of God imputed to us through the Lord Jesus! This process begins when we come to a place of repentance. There we identify with the Lord’s death, for repentance is death to our flesh, our own desires, our ways and practices. It means turning away from the worldly way we have participated in thus far, and turning 180 degrees in the opposite direction, to walk in the ways of God, by obedience to His Word! This kind of repentance bears tangible fruit, evidences which can be seen, felt and known. The evidences are ‘worthy’- that is appropriate, equal to, and correctly reflecting the reality and genuineness of repentance! They include heartfelt sorrow for our sins of the past, hatred for those sins, and desire for God so strong that we will resist temptation, and never return to the ways of sin and death. In a world where much lip service is paid, we owe God to produce more than the Pharisees of old! Let our repentance and desire for God, be fresh each day, stronger along the way, sincere and marked by plentiful evidences to His glory!

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

Apr 30

“…Hast thou considered my servant Job…a perfect and an upright man...” Job 2:3

Twice, God held up as a shining example of righteousness and godly perfection, the very man that Satan had determined to make his conquest and trophy. The Lord knows the heart of a man and He recognises and upholds the integrity found within us, as a result of being in close relationship with Him. Like the false comforters of his day, Job still finds many critics today, who would malign him, his motives, his speeches, and his responses to the difficulties he faced. It is from God Himself that we can safely take our position on the kind of man Job was. God calls Him a perfect and upright man, one that feared God and avoided sin and evil! He is given a good character reference by the Lord, and we find him being praised and rewarded as a faithful servant of God, at the end of his ordeal. We understand that this does not make Job a perfect man in the absolute sense, but like many of the men who faithfully obeyed and stood for God, he did so with the kind of perfect heart and righteous spirit, that God honours. How desirable that we also should live the kind of life of which God can be proud enough, to present it as exemplary! Jesus instructed that the quality of our service to the Lord should be such that men who see how we conduct ourselves, might be brought to give God praise! Clearly we have a high calling to live up to, and should walk worthy of our vocation. God wants us to bring forth a witness which glorifies Him. We are His people, His children and He has invested in us His Spirit, His righteousness and His holiness. When we walk faithfully and obediently with the Lord, the world gets a taste of godliness and a glimpse of God through us! We must remember however that when do not walk right with God, we still give forth a ‘witness’. In this case a poor and damaging testimony. This could contribute to the destruction of someone’s chances to believe and accept Christ as their Saviour! This is a daunting thought and it should motivate us to make certain that we align with Job in the quality of our service and faithfulness to God, by being people who walk uprightly, and in purity of mind and heart before the Lord!  

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