Apr 8

“But we preach Christ crucified...” 1 Corinthians 1:23

The Apostles didn’t know or preach a stately triumphant Messiah, who would conquer their physical enemy, establish a new earthly kingdom, and retrieve for them the position and privileges they once held. This was the expectation of many of the Jews, but the crucified Christ, the Christ who suffered and allowed Himself to be humiliated, was what they were presented with! The message of the Apostles exalted the sacrifice of Jesus for the atonement of our sins. Little wonder it was a ‘stumbling block’ to them! It was the opposite of what they had expected! It was inglorious, ignominious and ignoble! How could such a slain Messiah save or even inspire! This is exactly the mentality of so many today and the error they make. They misunderstand the cross of Calvary. Without God’s revelation, His understanding and light on the plan of salvation He so lovingly made available for us, we would surely miss the mark and totally misconstrue the Divine purpose. The power of Christ crucified, is like nothing else on earth! It doesn’t depend on the grandeur and pomp, or the force and violence that the human mind expects, when strength or authority is described. It is based in, and functions from the very essence of God – His love! This is the most powerful force in the universe. It conquers in a manner otherwise unknown to man, and incomparable to anything else. This power is able to reach the heart of humans, across the boundaries of culture, language, age and education. It grips the soul and cleans it; makes inroad in the darkest places of the heart and turns the light on; devastates the devil and the sin that enslaves man, and frees him, in the most complete sense; reaches down to fallen man and lifts him from the slime pit of perdition, upon the solid rock of salvation! That is why ‘we’ – all who believe and know Jesus – preach the crucified Christ! Like the apostle Paul we want to know nothing but ‘Christ and Him crucified’, this is the core of the faith, the centre piece of exaltation, and the focus of life - there is power in the message of the cross! 

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

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