Mar 14

“And he smote Moab, and measured them with a line…” 2 Samuel 8:2

David had previously been friendly to the king of Moab, and had even entrusted his parents and siblings into his care. However the Moabites had determined to become David’s enemy, even when it was not necessary, and they appear to have killed his parents and brethren. Usually the way Israel treated enemies and prisoners, reflected the mercy of God, and not the harsh severity of the heathen nations around them. In this case severity was in order, and Moab’s wrong allegiance became their own judgment. Even so, we read mercy in the narrative, as we are told that a ‘full’ line was used to keep some alive.  The measurement of our mercy should always be greater than that of our punishment. Certainly we see a reflection of how God deals with us. He wants us to be on His side, the winning side and the blessed side. Too often we sell Him out, and form alliances with the enemy of God and of our own souls! In vain God deals with us, and patiently sends messages to warn us away from our choices. His longsuffering love, waits for a season, giving us space to recognise our dangerous situation. Finally when we have ignored Him, pressed Him and forced His hand, we find ourselves under the punishment and judgment, we so rightly deserve. It is wise for each of us to avoid being found in that position in the first place! The alternative is simple and effective – yield to God, do His will and serve Him sincerely. Never turn back on God or allow any association with sin and the ways of the world. Stay close to God in prayer and love His precepts, living them every day. Finally for all the imperfections and flaws through which, in spite of our best efforts we are still likely to fail Him, let us daily fall in repentance upon His great mercy and amazing grace!

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

Mar 13

“…I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go.” Exodus 5:2

The Pharaohs of Egypt, considered themselves to be gods in their own right. Pharaoh was stating he had neither respect for, nor obligation towards Yahwah, and His command through Moses. Such is the arrogance and ignorance of humanity. Often blinded by position or status among other men, some think they are beyond the Almighty’s reach, or that because they choose not to acknowledge Him, that He does not know them, or that He is not Lord over them regardless of their indifference! This is a typical case of humankind functioning with an inflated ego and overstated self-importance. Pharaoh might have been the greatest and most cherished king in the Israel’s early history, had he listened to God and facilitated God’s will towards His people. Instead, he hardened his heart and resisted God, and might be considered a fool, in line with the biblical definition of the word, for denying God and His directive. Certainly this man paid severely for his haughtiness; losing position, control, respect, children, the kingdom and ultimately his life! It is important for all mortals to realise that in spite of our grand talk and boast against God, we are only ever a breath away, from demonstrating how weak and frail we really are! It is futile and foolish to defy God and the purposes He has set for us. The end result cannot be good, when we dare to superimpose our will onto God’s. That was true of Pharaoh, and it is true of anyone who can be so impertinent. Yet we find most of humanity still blissfully and blindly, existing as if they have not a single responsibility toward God. Even when shown, with love and patience, they deny knowledge of the Lord, or duty towards Him. It is prophesied that God will come with judgment, to repay the disobedience and disregard of His word, for which so many men and women, are guilty. On the Day of Judgment, there will be no human boast or self-aggrandisement! Ignorance, defiance or indifference will not be possible, when we are face to face with Almighty God! Every knee shall bow, and every tongue shall confess the supremacy and Lordship of Jesus Christ! Yet this acknowledgment will have come too late, to make a positive difference to the eternal destiny of our souls. Doesn’t it make very good sense, to willingly bow a knee now, and receive the amazing benefits that come by serving Jesus!? 

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

Mar 12

“…it shall be performed, even to the half of the kingdom.” Esther 7:2

Persia was at this time an immense and powerful kingdom. Some have pegged Ahaseuerus, with the rather unwarranted reputation, of being a frivolous, gluttonous drunkard, given to flights of fancy, and childish tantrums! A careful reading of the story of Esther, without personal bias or pre-conceived ideas, will show a very different picture. This man was not petty, childish and given to peevishness, but a wise man and one who carried a great deal of responsibility. He was king over one hundred and twenty-seven provinces and ruled with firmness and fairness. In fact because of the love, wisdom and generosity he displayed, as relayed in the story of Esther, he has been deemed by some commentators, as an apt type of the Most High God. The scriptures describe how that fearing for her life, Esther came unsummoned in the presence of the King. The law of the country stated this was not to be done, and could merit punishment by death! Instead of the judgment she was dreading, she found favour, audience and assistance with the king. The statement before us, shows the largeness with which the King was willing to meet her request – even before he heard it! The parallel for us, is discernible, when we think that we too, came as needy sinners before the King of Kings. He was in the position to judge and destroy us, but in pity and love, he stretched forth the sceptre of His power and authority and provided for us the solutions and answers for our souls! He gave us what we needed to rid our souls of sin, the only and greatest fluid capable of washing away sin – the blood of Jesus! Like Esther, we came trembling and left triumphant - He kept nothing from us! Not only made us new, and granted us new life here and now, but has also made available for us, in His great wisdom, love and power, the kingdom of heaven for eternity! We serve a great God and Almighty King!

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

Mar 11

“Which is not another…” Galatians 1:7

Paul had laboured hard with the church at Galatia. He had ensured that they were exposed to the whole counsel of God and understood the gospel of truth. Here we find him expressing surprise and concern over how quickly and with little discernment, they were influenced to follow teaching, which did not support or reflect the truth they had learned from him. Sadly this is not an uncommon fact among many believers. Those who instead of aligning what they hear to God’s Word, as the plumbline and benchmark, merely accept anything that ‘sounds like truth’, will inevitably end up accepting error and a false gospel. False doctrine, promulgated by false teachers, was a serious concern in the early church, and it remains a primary cause of alarm in our day and age. Far too many subscribe and too easily consent to teachings of men, that cannot be satisfactorily substantiated by the Holy Scriptures. Tradition and cultural preferences, often play a major part of bending understanding, and twisting the truth of the Bible to suit the customs and practices of the people being addressed. To some degree this was happening in the early New Testament church, where people of various cultures and established religions, came into the relatively new Christian faith, in spite of accepting Christ, they also tended to include and impose factors of their own beliefs, upon others. Paul speaks against these troublesome individuals, and sees them as perverting the pure and true gospel of Christ. Satan has been intent in manipulating humanity to adulterate and pollute the purity of God’s Word. During the establishment of the church, and often since, many ‘gospels’, so called, have been formulated, and offered as ‘truth’. Paul makes it clear that though some may present alternatives as ‘another gospel’, they are not really “the Gospel” at all! We too must take a stand the way he did. We live in a time when all kinds of substitutions, changes and replacements are being inflicted upon the established Word of God. Many gnostic writings, which had in the past already been disqualified from being included as part of the revealed and inspired message from God, are being resurrected, and presented as viable options and choices of belief for Christians. We should view this as Paul did - a perversion and falsification of the truth! When we hear or read material which cannot be aligned with the revealed Word of God, the Bible, as it has been known and established now for many centuries, let us stand firm and resolute for the truth. It has been correctly stated that "if we do not stand for truth, we will fall for every lie". We are encouraged to distinguish and discern truth from error, through the Spirit of God and the inspired text. It ultimately becomes our personal responsibility to stay true to God and not be moved, affected or persuaded by any of the winds of false doctrine and false gospels, published and proclaimed by false teachers. Let us carefully buy into, treasure and never sell out, the truth God reveals to us from His Word!

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

Mar 10

“…and David enquired of the LORD…” 2 Samuel 2:1

Problems, difficulties and things hard to understand, can appear and take place in all of our lives, without regard to our person or position. This is true of believers also, as can be seen in the life of a man who was indeed close to God in all aspects of life. When unexpected and prolonged famine appeared in the land, David, whose life had been in favour with God, sought Yahwah and enquired from Him, about this hard to reconcile problem. Without God or without correct relationship with God, we would be inclined to panic, or get angry and react in our own strength when faced with unknowns. This leads to many mistakes and unwarranted actions. The man of God has another solution for the problems which may afflict him or his, and which he finds difficult to comprehend or accept. He can talk to the Lord and ask Him for wisdom and understanding! In our example, God answered David very specifically, allowing him to act in righteousness, and make things right. God is willing to answer sincere prayer, and respond to genuine petitions. He will supply answers, directions, instructions and lead those who trust in Him to happier, superior solutions, and victories otherwise not possible. As believers we need not fear, or become angry, frustrated and anxious, when faced with hard to fathom difficulties in life. If we will trust God and pray to him from open and earnest hearts, we will find answers and directions from God, or at the very least, the strength, courage and resignation to bear the load and continue on faithfully, until relief is brought to us! Our starting point is always the same, on our knees before God in communication and contact with Jesus! At the altar of prayer, are found the best solutions to life’s hardships and challenges. They are sourced from the mind and heart of the One who is omniscient, and for Whom there are no limits or difficulties! 

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

Mar 9

“No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life…” 2Timothy 2:4

One of the difficult realities of Christian living, is to accept that as believers, we are at war. Our battle is not against ‘flesh and blood’, but a life-long confrontation against spiritual powers, against our own flawed human nature and against the swelling tide and influence of the world. It is a real conflict, a struggle in day to day living, against all that would dissuade us from pursuing God, and cause us to fail in our love and service to Him. Paul instructs Timothy to be a good soldier of Jesus Christ, enduring and tough against anything that would turn him from this first and primary calling. We too are to take note of this instruction, and make it ours. We must settle once and for all the priority of our lives, and ensure that it is and remains - Jesus and our faithful service unto Him. In days of old and particularly among the Romans, when a man became a soldier, it was not a casual undertaking or a part time profession. The army became his entire life, calling and vocation. He was not allowed to pursue any other occupation in life. A soldier could not also be a farmer, trader or business owner. His focus, interest and time could not be split or given to anything else, but being the best soldier he could be. Paul takes this fact, as an illustration to show us the reality of our calling and vocation to God. Like a good soldier for Christ, we cannot afford to become ‘entangled’ with other affairs of life. Successful Christian living is the result of making our obedience and service to Jesus, the priority of our lives. Paul is not saying we cannot have family, a job or own a house. He is saying that as true Christians, we should be soldiers unto the Lord, and therefore cannot become ‘entangled’ that is, ensnared, caught up and limited by these things, so that we can no longer effectively serve God, and fight the good fight of faith. Honesty on our part would declare how real and common this mistake is. It is easy to become so absorbed and engrosses in pursuing a ‘living’, providing for our families and generally taking care of the physical needs and necessities, that we lose sight of spiritual ones. When the cares of life have taken over in our priorities, and service in God’s army is a mere façade rather than a true profession, prayer ceases amidst the busyness of daily life, or at best becomes a recited repetition. Meditating on God’s Word is relegated to a quick read of words from ‘the book’, with little or no thought attached to them; and evangelism becomes something someone else is called to do. Attending church becomes optional, and secondary to other interests, responsibilities or our feelings at the time; while Christian fellowship with brethren, becomes a luxury we have no time for. Jesus warned that the cares of life, if allowed place, would be like thorns growing, choking and destroying our spiritual life. If we find ourselves in these conditions, we have clearly lost sight of who we are meant to be, and what we are enlisted by God to do. Paul’s reminder is most appropriate. We are soldiers called by God to serve Him, to fight as part of His army, in valiant combat for the faith. We are God’s family whose primary task in life, is to please God who has called us and chosen us to be His ambassadors in this world. Our life’s commitment and goal is to do God’s will, and fulfil the purposes He has set for us, and never allow this to become secondary to any other interest or responsibility!

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

Mar 8

“That thou mayest regard discretion…” Proverbs 5:2

Words can sometimes mean different things in different situations. There is also a difference between the meanings of some words when taken in a scriptural context, and when understood by the common or cultural context. Discretion is a good example of the above. According to the dictionary for instance, when someone does something ‘at their discretion’, they are exercising the power or right to decide or act according to their judgment. The ‘age of discretion’ in context, was considered the age at which a person was old enough to determine their own affairs. However the same word can mean to act with prudence or decorum, so as not to be offensive in a social setting. The biblical emphasis of the word as used in the text before us, and in other, similar passages of scripture, actually highlights neither the freedom of judgement or choice, nor the necessity for being cautious of social feelings. In the word of God, discretion is an aspect of spiritual wisdom, as it relates to the conduct of one’s life toward God. God instructs His people to observe ‘discretion’ - the wisdom of conducting their lives in line with His precepts, and being careful not to be offensive or affronting to Him! The focus of our discretion in other words, should be to have prudence that we remain pleasing to God in what we say and in the way we behave. This means taking care to obey God, and is quite the opposite of asserting our own rights or preferences! It also sets straight the issue of ‘Who’ we should care more to be inoffensive towards.  We should emphasize right and harmonious relationship with our God, ahead of that which we strive for, with our society, particularly when culture and social practices contravene God and His Word! It can even be seen by various examples of scripture that at times in serving God and pleasing Him, some, including Jesus, were not at all ‘discreet’ with regards to the sensitivities of the cultural ways around them, choosing rather to act discreetly unto God! The spiritual wisdom of obeying and following God’s ways, and honouring Him above anyone else, whilst not a licence for rudeness or inappropriate behaviour towards our fellow-man, prioritises our diligence and allegiance, and reminds us that in all things, we are to please God ahead of man! 

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