Read:
1 Corinthians 12:12
The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ.
One night I was preaching at this church, and was in full time ministry working as a counselor and worship coordinator, and also did some evangelistic work teaching at different churches in Texas and Oklahoma. The message I felt like speaking about at this one church was that everyone in this church is important and has a specific place in the body of Christ, and told them that it's not just the Pastor or those involved in full time ministry in the church that only does the works of Christ. It's all of us. I told them that the minister's in the church supposed to equip the body of Christ to go out and advance God's Kingdom and do the works of Jesus. I looked back in the back row and immediately saw a young man who seemed like he got lost in the shuffle. I spoke that I felt like there is someone here who feels like you don't have any part in what is going on in the church, and spoke that God does have something for everyone here, and He is speaking to all of you right now to take that step of faith and walk in what He called us all in. That young man that I was focusing on came running to the altar. I walked down from the pulpit and prayed with him. We should never let the devil tell us that we are not special in God's eyes. We have a part to play. One of the tactics that the enemy uses is to make us think that we don't have a part to play in the church. We have to cast down all imaginations and thought patterns that tempts us to disconnect from the body of Christ. We all have a part to play, and we are a body made up of many parts. That young man that I prayed with was touched that night and exhorted to play a part in what God is doing. How many times do many get lost in the shuffle. I'm talking about born again Christians. You may feel like this young man, and you feel like you don't fit in or you can't be used by God. I want to encourage you today to get plugged in like never before. As the faithfulness to the body of Christ increases, so shall our destiny here on earth unfold before us. As we get plugged in to the church with a good attitude we will find out what God has really called us to.
Prayer:
Lord we ask that you help us to plug in to the church in such a powerful way. We ask that you give us a revelation of why we are here, and help us Lord to find that placement in the body of Christ like never before, Amen.
by Keith Edwards
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
The Greater One In Us July 28th Devotional
Read:
4You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.
It's great to know that we have a God that is not far away, but is living and abiding within us as believers. God breathed His life within us and we can walk in the spirit because of the blood of Jesus. The Greek word here for greater is megas, and one of the definitions is "powerfully affecting the senses." As we walk with the Lord day by day, His word begins to affect our emotions, mind, and even our health. A minister friend of mine whom I talk by phone and email said that there was a time in his life that he had lost his first love with God. He went to a meeting and everyone there seemed so joyous and full of life. He was doing all of the right things, but there was something missing in the season of his life. He went back to his hotel room and tears streamed down his face as Christ within him began affecting his every fiber. He went back home from the meeting, and he went to the doctor about some medicine that he had been taking. The medicine was making him sick. He came to find that the physical condition totally went away when he returned to his first love. Why? Because God's spirit is powerful within us and upon us. We have something on the inside of us that is more powerful than the thoughts the enemy throws our way, more powerful than the lies the world throws at us, and more powerful than the satanic force that tries to paralyze us from being effective as believers in Christ. Many , bless there heart, think they have to say a bunch of prayer formula's before the Lord, do a millions things to be accepted by the Lord, and they are just going through the motions without having that loving relationship with the Father. I want to encourage us today to realize that the very Christ within you as a believer is bigger and greater than the very problem you are facing. We need to find that place in the holy of holies from a revelation of who is really inside of our hearts.
Prayer:
Lord we ask you today to open our spiritual eyes to see who is really within us. We ask Lord that we try and not take advantage of the great power that is in us, and keep our gifts and talents that you have given us pure before you. Help us to return to our first love with you by expressing our love for you by that which is within us, and help us to really see who we are in you, and who you are within us.
by Keith Edwards
4You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.
It's great to know that we have a God that is not far away, but is living and abiding within us as believers. God breathed His life within us and we can walk in the spirit because of the blood of Jesus. The Greek word here for greater is megas, and one of the definitions is "powerfully affecting the senses." As we walk with the Lord day by day, His word begins to affect our emotions, mind, and even our health. A minister friend of mine whom I talk by phone and email said that there was a time in his life that he had lost his first love with God. He went to a meeting and everyone there seemed so joyous and full of life. He was doing all of the right things, but there was something missing in the season of his life. He went back to his hotel room and tears streamed down his face as Christ within him began affecting his every fiber. He went back home from the meeting, and he went to the doctor about some medicine that he had been taking. The medicine was making him sick. He came to find that the physical condition totally went away when he returned to his first love. Why? Because God's spirit is powerful within us and upon us. We have something on the inside of us that is more powerful than the thoughts the enemy throws our way, more powerful than the lies the world throws at us, and more powerful than the satanic force that tries to paralyze us from being effective as believers in Christ. Many , bless there heart, think they have to say a bunch of prayer formula's before the Lord, do a millions things to be accepted by the Lord, and they are just going through the motions without having that loving relationship with the Father. I want to encourage us today to realize that the very Christ within you as a believer is bigger and greater than the very problem you are facing. We need to find that place in the holy of holies from a revelation of who is really inside of our hearts.
Prayer:
Lord we ask you today to open our spiritual eyes to see who is really within us. We ask Lord that we try and not take advantage of the great power that is in us, and keep our gifts and talents that you have given us pure before you. Help us to return to our first love with you by expressing our love for you by that which is within us, and help us to really see who we are in you, and who you are within us.
by Keith Edwards
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
To Serve Others Is To Serve The Lord July 27th Devotional
Read:
Ephesians 6:7
7 Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men.
There is such power in reaching out to those who are in need. We pray that God will use us and ask Him to bring somebody our way to help, and when people who need help come around we seem to miss them. Ministry is all around us. We just have to open our eyes. I can remember going to church one Wednesday night, and in our worship time the Lord began to speak to me about ministry. I started thinking how many there had needs and needed some help. The person behind me could use a little money to buy groceries for there children, and the person beside me maybe needed a ride to church tonight. The person in front of me could use some extra prayer, and on and on it goes. It really opened my eyes that ministry is all around us. People who need help in certain areas don't care how much we know until they know how much we care, and sometimes it just takes us reaching out to them without words. There are times to speak an encouraging word to somebody, but just a little smile or touch from the Lord can be worth a million dollars to someone. I want to encourage you today to really reach out to those in need, and just remember that we are doing it unto the Lord and not men.
Prayer:
Lord we ask that you will open our eyes to see those in need. We want to be used Lord to be your hands and your feet to reach out to many, and to walk in places that you would walk to. Help us to be the body of Christ, amen.
by Keith Edwards
Ephesians 6:7
7 Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men.
There is such power in reaching out to those who are in need. We pray that God will use us and ask Him to bring somebody our way to help, and when people who need help come around we seem to miss them. Ministry is all around us. We just have to open our eyes. I can remember going to church one Wednesday night, and in our worship time the Lord began to speak to me about ministry. I started thinking how many there had needs and needed some help. The person behind me could use a little money to buy groceries for there children, and the person beside me maybe needed a ride to church tonight. The person in front of me could use some extra prayer, and on and on it goes. It really opened my eyes that ministry is all around us. People who need help in certain areas don't care how much we know until they know how much we care, and sometimes it just takes us reaching out to them without words. There are times to speak an encouraging word to somebody, but just a little smile or touch from the Lord can be worth a million dollars to someone. I want to encourage you today to really reach out to those in need, and just remember that we are doing it unto the Lord and not men.
Prayer:
Lord we ask that you will open our eyes to see those in need. We want to be used Lord to be your hands and your feet to reach out to many, and to walk in places that you would walk to. Help us to be the body of Christ, amen.
by Keith Edwards
Monday, July 26, 2010
The Functioning Temple July 26th Devotional
Read:
Ephesians 2:21
In whom all the building fitly framed together growth unto an holy temple in the Lord.
Also Read:
1 Corinthians 3:16
Know ye not that you are the temple of God, and that the spirit of God dwelleth in you?
In the book “Another Wave Of Revival Frank J. Bartleman wrote: “In the beginning of the Pentecostal work, I became very much exercised in the spirit that Jesus should not be slighted, ‘lost in the temple,’ by the exaltation of the Holy Spirit and of the gifts of the Spirit.” Let’s bring out the two Greek words for temple in the old testament and new testament, and how the two words can really relate to us as the functioning church. The first Hebrew word is heykal. It means palace of God as King. The second Hebrew word is bayith, and it means a house containing a family. It also means a palace or household. Temple in 1 Corinthians chapter 3:16 and Ephesians chapter 2:21 is a body or church. The definition for temple in the new testament is naos, and the definition is a spiritual temple consisting of the Saints of all ages joined together by and in Christ. We are his temple, and he is our Lord. I want to encourage us to bind together like never before as a church or temple. One thing that will cause God's holy temple to rise stronger is exalting Christ Jesus completely, ands as we exalt Christ individually and corporately, then things will begin to unfold before us. We thank God for the great things that He gives us, but we need to exalt Him first and foremost for those things He gives us. The temple has been delayed as the body of Christ because of exalting the glory of God instead of the one who is the giver of glory. We have exalted the prophetic more than exalting Christ, and when we exalt Christ Jesus as who He is, we will function properly as the temple. Let's beging to build again as the temple.
Prayer:
Lord help us to be that functioning temple you desire us to be. We exalt you today Lord, and we lift you far above everything, and we desire to go forth in your mighty name as a temple. Amem.
by Keith Edwards
Ephesians 2:21
In whom all the building fitly framed together growth unto an holy temple in the Lord.
Also Read:
1 Corinthians 3:16
Know ye not that you are the temple of God, and that the spirit of God dwelleth in you?
In the book “Another Wave Of Revival Frank J. Bartleman wrote: “In the beginning of the Pentecostal work, I became very much exercised in the spirit that Jesus should not be slighted, ‘lost in the temple,’ by the exaltation of the Holy Spirit and of the gifts of the Spirit.” Let’s bring out the two Greek words for temple in the old testament and new testament, and how the two words can really relate to us as the functioning church. The first Hebrew word is heykal. It means palace of God as King. The second Hebrew word is bayith, and it means a house containing a family. It also means a palace or household. Temple in 1 Corinthians chapter 3:16 and Ephesians chapter 2:21 is a body or church. The definition for temple in the new testament is naos, and the definition is a spiritual temple consisting of the Saints of all ages joined together by and in Christ. We are his temple, and he is our Lord. I want to encourage us to bind together like never before as a church or temple. One thing that will cause God's holy temple to rise stronger is exalting Christ Jesus completely, ands as we exalt Christ individually and corporately, then things will begin to unfold before us. We thank God for the great things that He gives us, but we need to exalt Him first and foremost for those things He gives us. The temple has been delayed as the body of Christ because of exalting the glory of God instead of the one who is the giver of glory. We have exalted the prophetic more than exalting Christ, and when we exalt Christ Jesus as who He is, we will function properly as the temple. Let's beging to build again as the temple.
Prayer:
Lord help us to be that functioning temple you desire us to be. We exalt you today Lord, and we lift you far above everything, and we desire to go forth in your mighty name as a temple. Amem.
by Keith Edwards
Sunday, July 25, 2010
The Sun Still Shines July 25th Devotional
Read:
2 Kings 20:1-6
1 In those days Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to him and said, "This is what the Lord says: Put your house in order, because you are going to die; you will not recover. 2 Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord, " Remember, O Lord, how I have walked before you faithfully and with wholehearted devotion and have done what is good in your eyes." And Hezekiah wept bitterly. 4 Before Isaiah had left the middle court, the word of the Lord came to him: 5 "Go back and tell Hezekiah, the leader of my people, "This is what the Lord, the God of your father David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will heal you. On the third day form now you will go up to the temple of the Lord. 6 I will add fifteen years to your life. And I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the King of Assyria. I will defend this city for my sake and for the sake of my servant David.
Have you ever felt like you couldn't run the race of a christian any longer? You have had so many things come your way, and it feels like life has drained every ounce of strength you had within you. It's like your'e in a very deep dark hole and you can't even see your hands in front of you. You've come to the end of your rope with any faith you might have had. You try to climb out of this hole of discouragement to no avail. Then you pray and you see a very small light in front of you, and you hear God speak these words. "Child, meet me where you are at!" How many times do we try and climb out of a hole that we dug ourselves. We get to the place where we can't seem to find our way. God can meet you at any crossroad and situation that you may have gotten yourself into. He can pick you up when you fall, dig you out when you call, and love you when you need love. Sometimes we focus on our past instead of pressing towards the future. This can kill your faith. Just remember that yesterday is in the tomb, and tomorrow is in your womb, and birthed within you is great things that the Lord wants to show you. There lies within you a hope that will give you a desire to hold on when times are tough. In the story of King Hezekiah, Isaiah prophesied to him to set his house in order, for he is going to die. The bible says that King Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to God. Then God spoke to Isaiah and told him to go and tell King Hezekiah that He will not die and he shall live. Why? because King Hezekiah didn't look at his situation. He didn't look at where he might of missed it. The only thing that King Hezekiah could see was God. You may be at a place where there are clouds in your sky, but that doesn't mean that the sun isn't shining right behind those clouds. The clouds will eventually fade away, and the sun will shine. You may feel like you can't go on, but you can. Just look to Jesus and do what King Hezekiah did. See nothing but God. The Son still shines.
prayer:
Lord we come to you in your name and ask that you help us in our times of trouble. Help us Lord to call on you in the bad times and the good times. Let us see the sun shine Lord when we don't see any light beyond the horizon, and help us to forgive ourselves when we feel like we can't. Lord forgive us of any sin that brought unnecessary pain, and help us to still serve you with our whole heart in the middle of restoration. Amen.
by Keith Edwards
2 Kings 20:1-6
1 In those days Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to him and said, "This is what the Lord says: Put your house in order, because you are going to die; you will not recover. 2 Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord, " Remember, O Lord, how I have walked before you faithfully and with wholehearted devotion and have done what is good in your eyes." And Hezekiah wept bitterly. 4 Before Isaiah had left the middle court, the word of the Lord came to him: 5 "Go back and tell Hezekiah, the leader of my people, "This is what the Lord, the God of your father David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will heal you. On the third day form now you will go up to the temple of the Lord. 6 I will add fifteen years to your life. And I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the King of Assyria. I will defend this city for my sake and for the sake of my servant David.
Have you ever felt like you couldn't run the race of a christian any longer? You have had so many things come your way, and it feels like life has drained every ounce of strength you had within you. It's like your'e in a very deep dark hole and you can't even see your hands in front of you. You've come to the end of your rope with any faith you might have had. You try to climb out of this hole of discouragement to no avail. Then you pray and you see a very small light in front of you, and you hear God speak these words. "Child, meet me where you are at!" How many times do we try and climb out of a hole that we dug ourselves. We get to the place where we can't seem to find our way. God can meet you at any crossroad and situation that you may have gotten yourself into. He can pick you up when you fall, dig you out when you call, and love you when you need love. Sometimes we focus on our past instead of pressing towards the future. This can kill your faith. Just remember that yesterday is in the tomb, and tomorrow is in your womb, and birthed within you is great things that the Lord wants to show you. There lies within you a hope that will give you a desire to hold on when times are tough. In the story of King Hezekiah, Isaiah prophesied to him to set his house in order, for he is going to die. The bible says that King Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to God. Then God spoke to Isaiah and told him to go and tell King Hezekiah that He will not die and he shall live. Why? because King Hezekiah didn't look at his situation. He didn't look at where he might of missed it. The only thing that King Hezekiah could see was God. You may be at a place where there are clouds in your sky, but that doesn't mean that the sun isn't shining right behind those clouds. The clouds will eventually fade away, and the sun will shine. You may feel like you can't go on, but you can. Just look to Jesus and do what King Hezekiah did. See nothing but God. The Son still shines.
prayer:
Lord we come to you in your name and ask that you help us in our times of trouble. Help us Lord to call on you in the bad times and the good times. Let us see the sun shine Lord when we don't see any light beyond the horizon, and help us to forgive ourselves when we feel like we can't. Lord forgive us of any sin that brought unnecessary pain, and help us to still serve you with our whole heart in the middle of restoration. Amen.
by Keith Edwards
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Say The Name July 24th Devotional
Read:
Matthew 4:1-4
1Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. 2After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread."
4Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.
There is such power in the name of Jesus. Notice that Jesus didn't scream a spiritual type warfare for the enemy to leave. He didn't take over territorial spirits like some believe. He just simply, "spoke the word" and was able to overcome the temptation that the tempter came with. So many believe that you have to say a bunch of spiritual type warfare prayers, but Jesus nor the disciples ever did this type of warfare. They simply spoke the word. They never started a great spiritual warfare club or poked holes in the clouds of darkness. Now there were times in the bible that the apostles cast out demons, but they were so in tune with Christ. They never exercised their faith outside the realm of God. They heard his voice. I can remember in my younger days of ministry going through a season of this spiritual type warfare. It seemed appealing, but I found that it basically was works apart from walking in the spirit. I found myself thinking that I had to put on the whole armor of God literally every morning when I woke up, and it seemed that I was magnifying these things instead of just being obedient to Christ Jesus. It was like walking in the law. I would pray and put on the girdle of truth, etc. and couldn't remember if I put on the helmet of salvation. I would focus on that instead of focusing on Jesus. There's nothing wrong with speaking forth the armor of God if this increases your faith, but the best warfare is sitting at the feet of Jesus and learning of His ways, and as we do this we will know His voice. I've seen minister's in the being in full time ministry do so much binding and loosing that Christ seemed to be lost in the middle of it. Great men of God in the past always received direction from the Lord, whether it was healing or spiritual things. Many times we just jump into things without waiting and getting direction from the Lord. As I was praying last week about this devotional, I wanted God to speak to me about how we speak His name. It seemed like God spoke to my heart about this devotional. God wants us to realize that we are more than conquerors in His blood, and when the enemy tries to draw us into warfare we need to be like King David and put the praise and worship in the front and the warfare in the back. We need to realize that the battle has already been won, and we can rest and walk in what has already been done for us on the cross and through His resurrection. We are more than conquerors. conquerors fight! More than conquerors walk in what has already be defeated. As a worship leader, I found the greatest strength over negative thoughts or darts of the enemy was just entering into the presence of God and speaking that precious name of Jesus. I found strength by just opening my heart out to God. He will strengthen us as we lift Him up. Obedience is the key for great spiritual warfare in our life. Habits and strongholds automatically get broken when our heart is towards God, when we feed upon the word, and through our pure devotion. There will be times when God will have us speak directly in a relevant way towards a certain situation, but we shouldn't go around thinking there is a demon around every corner. Being submissive and sitting at the feet of Jesus is a weapon that will destroy every negative thought and dart the enemy throws our way. The battle is between our ears. It is our mind. We can't control the birds flying over our heads, but we can keep them from building a nest there. This is so true. Our flesh is the greatest hindrance that comes against us. Paul said that he puts his flesh under subjection everyday. It says in 2 corinthians 10 to cast down all imaginations or speculations. We have all of the tools and weapons within us as believers, and we learn how and when to use those tools as we are so close to Father God. Let's walk in that which we have received. The Greek word for put on in Ephesians chapter 6 is enduo, and it means to be endued and to walk in. We have truth, peace, we are righteous by His blood, we have the mind of Christ as we walk with Christ, we have faith, and we have that precious name to speak over our life.
Prayer:
Lord we ask that you help us to not meditate all of the time on what the enemy speaks to us, but what you speak to us. We pray that we will hear your voice like never before, and that we would be obedient to you. Lord give us such a revelation today that we are right with you by our faith in you, and because of that righteousness by your blood we can stand today with your word upon our lips and the sword in our hand. Help us Lord to walk in that which we have received. Amen.
by Keith Edwards
Matthew 4:1-4
1Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. 2After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread."
4Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.
There is such power in the name of Jesus. Notice that Jesus didn't scream a spiritual type warfare for the enemy to leave. He didn't take over territorial spirits like some believe. He just simply, "spoke the word" and was able to overcome the temptation that the tempter came with. So many believe that you have to say a bunch of spiritual type warfare prayers, but Jesus nor the disciples ever did this type of warfare. They simply spoke the word. They never started a great spiritual warfare club or poked holes in the clouds of darkness. Now there were times in the bible that the apostles cast out demons, but they were so in tune with Christ. They never exercised their faith outside the realm of God. They heard his voice. I can remember in my younger days of ministry going through a season of this spiritual type warfare. It seemed appealing, but I found that it basically was works apart from walking in the spirit. I found myself thinking that I had to put on the whole armor of God literally every morning when I woke up, and it seemed that I was magnifying these things instead of just being obedient to Christ Jesus. It was like walking in the law. I would pray and put on the girdle of truth, etc. and couldn't remember if I put on the helmet of salvation. I would focus on that instead of focusing on Jesus. There's nothing wrong with speaking forth the armor of God if this increases your faith, but the best warfare is sitting at the feet of Jesus and learning of His ways, and as we do this we will know His voice. I've seen minister's in the being in full time ministry do so much binding and loosing that Christ seemed to be lost in the middle of it. Great men of God in the past always received direction from the Lord, whether it was healing or spiritual things. Many times we just jump into things without waiting and getting direction from the Lord. As I was praying last week about this devotional, I wanted God to speak to me about how we speak His name. It seemed like God spoke to my heart about this devotional. God wants us to realize that we are more than conquerors in His blood, and when the enemy tries to draw us into warfare we need to be like King David and put the praise and worship in the front and the warfare in the back. We need to realize that the battle has already been won, and we can rest and walk in what has already been done for us on the cross and through His resurrection. We are more than conquerors. conquerors fight! More than conquerors walk in what has already be defeated. As a worship leader, I found the greatest strength over negative thoughts or darts of the enemy was just entering into the presence of God and speaking that precious name of Jesus. I found strength by just opening my heart out to God. He will strengthen us as we lift Him up. Obedience is the key for great spiritual warfare in our life. Habits and strongholds automatically get broken when our heart is towards God, when we feed upon the word, and through our pure devotion. There will be times when God will have us speak directly in a relevant way towards a certain situation, but we shouldn't go around thinking there is a demon around every corner. Being submissive and sitting at the feet of Jesus is a weapon that will destroy every negative thought and dart the enemy throws our way. The battle is between our ears. It is our mind. We can't control the birds flying over our heads, but we can keep them from building a nest there. This is so true. Our flesh is the greatest hindrance that comes against us. Paul said that he puts his flesh under subjection everyday. It says in 2 corinthians 10 to cast down all imaginations or speculations. We have all of the tools and weapons within us as believers, and we learn how and when to use those tools as we are so close to Father God. Let's walk in that which we have received. The Greek word for put on in Ephesians chapter 6 is enduo, and it means to be endued and to walk in. We have truth, peace, we are righteous by His blood, we have the mind of Christ as we walk with Christ, we have faith, and we have that precious name to speak over our life.
Prayer:
Lord we ask that you help us to not meditate all of the time on what the enemy speaks to us, but what you speak to us. We pray that we will hear your voice like never before, and that we would be obedient to you. Lord give us such a revelation today that we are right with you by our faith in you, and because of that righteousness by your blood we can stand today with your word upon our lips and the sword in our hand. Help us Lord to walk in that which we have received. Amen.
by Keith Edwards
Friday, July 23, 2010
The Darious In Our Life July 23rd Devotional
Read:
Zechariah 4:6,7
6 So he said to me, "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: 'Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the LORD Almighty. 7 "What are you, O mighty mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become level ground. Then he will bring out the capstone to shouts of 'God bless it! God bless it!' "
Have you ever gotten to a place in your life where you said, "I have no strength left to continue on." You've done great things for the Lord, and there has been unbelievable things happen in your life, but you feel you can't continue with what God has got for you. You are tired and exhausted by the hammer of life, and every swing of that hammer just brought you to your knees in complacency. Zerubbabel is feeling this here in the rebuilding of Jerusalem. They have laid the foundation, and there has been a fifteen year delay in the reconstruction and they are tired. Zechariah is a prophet of God that sees a vision and is awaken by the angel of the Lord. The angel of the Lord tells Zechariah to tell Zerubbabel that the work of the temple will go forth and will be completed. The mountain in verse seven was symbolic to Darius I who made a decree that the work on the temple should cease. Zechariah spoke to Zerubbabel that this mountain will become plain and that the chief capstone, which refers to the chief top stone or the crowning of the building, will be laid by the builders with shouting of grace. Is there a Darius in your life. I feel like the greatest Darius that is in our life is our own will and sin in our life. It is our flesh that screams out, No! It is our own desire to do things contrary to what God wants. If you have gotten to a place in your life where you don't feel like you can go on, I want you to shout grace in your mountain. I want you to scream to the Darius in your life, whatever that Darius or mountain in your life may be. Hear the words of Zechariah the prophet today in the growth of your temple corporately and individually, and realize that God is almighty and more powerful than any King, any situation, or any devestating decree. You may have had words decreed over you that has paralyzed you spiritually from walking in the Spirit and doing the things of God. The decree for you today as a Christian is, "Begin To build again!"
Prayer:
Lord, we ask that you will breathe a fresh breath of your spirit upon us to build and grow in you as your temple. We need your grace to speak grace Lord, and we need your power to speak to the Darius in our life. Let your power be with us as we put the capstone that is engraved with the words, "return to that first love." Amen.
Zechariah 4:6,7
6 So he said to me, "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: 'Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the LORD Almighty. 7 "What are you, O mighty mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become level ground. Then he will bring out the capstone to shouts of 'God bless it! God bless it!' "
Have you ever gotten to a place in your life where you said, "I have no strength left to continue on." You've done great things for the Lord, and there has been unbelievable things happen in your life, but you feel you can't continue with what God has got for you. You are tired and exhausted by the hammer of life, and every swing of that hammer just brought you to your knees in complacency. Zerubbabel is feeling this here in the rebuilding of Jerusalem. They have laid the foundation, and there has been a fifteen year delay in the reconstruction and they are tired. Zechariah is a prophet of God that sees a vision and is awaken by the angel of the Lord. The angel of the Lord tells Zechariah to tell Zerubbabel that the work of the temple will go forth and will be completed. The mountain in verse seven was symbolic to Darius I who made a decree that the work on the temple should cease. Zechariah spoke to Zerubbabel that this mountain will become plain and that the chief capstone, which refers to the chief top stone or the crowning of the building, will be laid by the builders with shouting of grace. Is there a Darius in your life. I feel like the greatest Darius that is in our life is our own will and sin in our life. It is our flesh that screams out, No! It is our own desire to do things contrary to what God wants. If you have gotten to a place in your life where you don't feel like you can go on, I want you to shout grace in your mountain. I want you to scream to the Darius in your life, whatever that Darius or mountain in your life may be. Hear the words of Zechariah the prophet today in the growth of your temple corporately and individually, and realize that God is almighty and more powerful than any King, any situation, or any devestating decree. You may have had words decreed over you that has paralyzed you spiritually from walking in the Spirit and doing the things of God. The decree for you today as a Christian is, "Begin To build again!"
Prayer:
Lord, we ask that you will breathe a fresh breath of your spirit upon us to build and grow in you as your temple. We need your grace to speak grace Lord, and we need your power to speak to the Darius in our life. Let your power be with us as we put the capstone that is engraved with the words, "return to that first love." Amen.
Thursday, July 22, 2010
don't Wither Up by Philip Edwards & Keith EdwardsJuly 22nd Devotional
Read:
Mark 4:3-6
I have been working to get at least 30 minutes a day in the bible. I found that we need to take root in the bible as it reads in Mark 4:3-6
3"Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds
came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.
def. of wither::- to become dry and sapless
I don't want to become sapless or dry. I want to become saturated with GOD, and in order to do so we need to study the bible, have consistent prayer, and have a heart of true worship and praise.
As our prayer, worship, and devotion increase we begin to walk in the spirit. Paul told us that everyday he puts his flesh under subjection, and that the flesh is an unruly evil ready to rise up at any time. We need to walk in the spirit, and not walk in the flesh.
Be ready! test and trials will come, but as we Study and pray we can stand strong, and not wither.
by Philip Edwards
comment by Keith Edwards
This is a powerful word from my brother Philip Edwards. God wants us to become saturated with the presence of God. God don't want us as Christians to just sit on the sideline, but He wants us to go forth in His mighty name and win souls for Him. Let's find that time for him everyday, and let's let His word saturate us until we decrease and He increase.
Prayer:
Lord we ask that you help us to spend more quality time with you. Give us such a strong desire to read your word, and to have that pure devotion with you. Amen.
by Philip and Keith Edwards
Mark 4:3-6
I have been working to get at least 30 minutes a day in the bible. I found that we need to take root in the bible as it reads in Mark 4:3-6
3"Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds
came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.
def. of wither::- to become dry and sapless
I don't want to become sapless or dry. I want to become saturated with GOD, and in order to do so we need to study the bible, have consistent prayer, and have a heart of true worship and praise.
As our prayer, worship, and devotion increase we begin to walk in the spirit. Paul told us that everyday he puts his flesh under subjection, and that the flesh is an unruly evil ready to rise up at any time. We need to walk in the spirit, and not walk in the flesh.
Be ready! test and trials will come, but as we Study and pray we can stand strong, and not wither.
by Philip Edwards
comment by Keith Edwards
This is a powerful word from my brother Philip Edwards. God wants us to become saturated with the presence of God. God don't want us as Christians to just sit on the sideline, but He wants us to go forth in His mighty name and win souls for Him. Let's find that time for him everyday, and let's let His word saturate us until we decrease and He increase.
Prayer:
Lord we ask that you help us to spend more quality time with you. Give us such a strong desire to read your word, and to have that pure devotion with you. Amen.
by Philip and Keith Edwards
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Being Fruitful In The Land Of Famine July 21st Devotional
Read:
Genesis 41:33-36
33 "And now let Pharaoh look for a discerning and wise man and put him in charge of the land of Egypt. 34 Let Pharaoh appoint commissioners over the land to take a fifth of the harvest of Egypt during the seven years of abundance. 35 They should collect all the food of these good years that are coming and store up the grain under the authority of Pharaoh, to be kept in the cities for food. 36 This food should be held in reserve for the country, to be used during the seven years of famine that will come upon Egypt, so that the country may not be ruined by the famine."
Also Read:
Psalms 119:11
11 I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.
We are living in a time where are nation is crumbling before the eyes of the church. The problem is that most of the church don't even know that the church is in need of the sound word of God. We have a lot of television minister's that minister the word of God, but with a mixture of greed and pride. The only thing this does is bring forth a deception that we are totally alright with no need of repentance as the body of Christ. I believe we are living in a time where a great famine of the word of God is going to come stronger upon our nation, yet the candy coated messages from many preachers will become stronger as well. The messages will be mixed with more humanistic teachings and the sheep of God will become so thirsty for the pure word of God like never before. Joseph had two sons. One was named Manasseh, meaning God has caused me to forget, and the other is Ephraim, meaning God has caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction. I want us today to realize that God wants us to store the word of God in our hearts for the famine that will get stronger in the years to come. The bible says to hide the word of God in our hearts that we may not sin against God, and we see many sinning today by lack of sound doctrine. Joseph told Pharaoh to put a wise man and overseers over the land of Egypt and store up food for the famine that will come upon the land. I believe that God has raised up true teachers in the past few years to speak to the body of Christ as a whole through Internet ministry and other means. I believe that the message from true minister's of God has touched many, and there will be some that will repent during the famine of the word of God in our nation. I want to encourage you today to listen to the greatest wise man who ever lived who is Jesus Christ, and listen to the voices of true teachers who are speaking and storing fresh words from heaven for the days we are living in and the days to come.
Prayer:
Lord, we need you today like never before in the famine of the word of God that has been with us, and is going to get greater in the years to come. Help us Lord to follow sound doctrine, and help us to discern between what is right and what is wrong. We desire to store the word of God in our hearts today Lord, and we long to be fruitful during the land of affliction, Amen.
Genesis 41:33-36
33 "And now let Pharaoh look for a discerning and wise man and put him in charge of the land of Egypt. 34 Let Pharaoh appoint commissioners over the land to take a fifth of the harvest of Egypt during the seven years of abundance. 35 They should collect all the food of these good years that are coming and store up the grain under the authority of Pharaoh, to be kept in the cities for food. 36 This food should be held in reserve for the country, to be used during the seven years of famine that will come upon Egypt, so that the country may not be ruined by the famine."
Also Read:
Psalms 119:11
11 I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.
We are living in a time where are nation is crumbling before the eyes of the church. The problem is that most of the church don't even know that the church is in need of the sound word of God. We have a lot of television minister's that minister the word of God, but with a mixture of greed and pride. The only thing this does is bring forth a deception that we are totally alright with no need of repentance as the body of Christ. I believe we are living in a time where a great famine of the word of God is going to come stronger upon our nation, yet the candy coated messages from many preachers will become stronger as well. The messages will be mixed with more humanistic teachings and the sheep of God will become so thirsty for the pure word of God like never before. Joseph had two sons. One was named Manasseh, meaning God has caused me to forget, and the other is Ephraim, meaning God has caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction. I want us today to realize that God wants us to store the word of God in our hearts for the famine that will get stronger in the years to come. The bible says to hide the word of God in our hearts that we may not sin against God, and we see many sinning today by lack of sound doctrine. Joseph told Pharaoh to put a wise man and overseers over the land of Egypt and store up food for the famine that will come upon the land. I believe that God has raised up true teachers in the past few years to speak to the body of Christ as a whole through Internet ministry and other means. I believe that the message from true minister's of God has touched many, and there will be some that will repent during the famine of the word of God in our nation. I want to encourage you today to listen to the greatest wise man who ever lived who is Jesus Christ, and listen to the voices of true teachers who are speaking and storing fresh words from heaven for the days we are living in and the days to come.
Prayer:
Lord, we need you today like never before in the famine of the word of God that has been with us, and is going to get greater in the years to come. Help us Lord to follow sound doctrine, and help us to discern between what is right and what is wrong. We desire to store the word of God in our hearts today Lord, and we long to be fruitful during the land of affliction, Amen.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Monday, July 19, 2010
Sunday, July 18, 2010
The Seed Of Praise July 18th Devotional
Read:
“The Seed Of Praise”
Isaiah :11
11 For as the earth brings forth its growth,
and as a garden enables what is sown to spring up,
so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise
to spring up before all the nations.
So many times in our christian walk the enemy tries to draw us into fleshly warfare with him. There are times that we need to fight the enemy with certain words, but most of the time it is our praise that is the biggest weapon against the tactics of the devil, and when purity and sound doctrine is mixed with our praise and worship it will cause the enemy to run. We just need to enter into praise and that praise will spring forth great fruit in our lives. In the act of praise is the revelation of faith and our righteousness in the blood of Jesus Christ. As we grow in the knowledge of righteousness we begin to bear fruit just like a seed in the ground, and the fruit of the spirit begins to manifest from within us more and more each day. Our praise and worship is so powerful and it will bring us to that most holy place as praise turns into worship for Christ. There is something that we need before we enter into praise and worship, and that is revelation of what God has done by his mighty hand through praise, and revelation of who God is through our worship. We need praise and worship. The greatest revelation we could have is a revelation of what God has already done on the cross. We need to enter the presence of God with the realization that he has won the victory already. There is no need for us to fight a war that Jesus Christ has already defeated. We can enter into that rest through our praise and worship. Today I want us to enter prayer and devotion with this revelation, and I want us to reflect on what God has already done. We need to shout the victory in the presence of the enemy.
prayer:
Lord we enter into your presence now with the realization of what you already did on the cross. We thank you Lord for your many blessings through our praise, but we seek your face today through our worship. We sit at your feet today and ask you Lord to make us more like you in everything we do. We want our praise to spring forth to all nations. Amen.
by Keith Edwards
“The Seed Of Praise”
Isaiah :11
11 For as the earth brings forth its growth,
and as a garden enables what is sown to spring up,
so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise
to spring up before all the nations.
So many times in our christian walk the enemy tries to draw us into fleshly warfare with him. There are times that we need to fight the enemy with certain words, but most of the time it is our praise that is the biggest weapon against the tactics of the devil, and when purity and sound doctrine is mixed with our praise and worship it will cause the enemy to run. We just need to enter into praise and that praise will spring forth great fruit in our lives. In the act of praise is the revelation of faith and our righteousness in the blood of Jesus Christ. As we grow in the knowledge of righteousness we begin to bear fruit just like a seed in the ground, and the fruit of the spirit begins to manifest from within us more and more each day. Our praise and worship is so powerful and it will bring us to that most holy place as praise turns into worship for Christ. There is something that we need before we enter into praise and worship, and that is revelation of what God has done by his mighty hand through praise, and revelation of who God is through our worship. We need praise and worship. The greatest revelation we could have is a revelation of what God has already done on the cross. We need to enter the presence of God with the realization that he has won the victory already. There is no need for us to fight a war that Jesus Christ has already defeated. We can enter into that rest through our praise and worship. Today I want us to enter prayer and devotion with this revelation, and I want us to reflect on what God has already done. We need to shout the victory in the presence of the enemy.
prayer:
Lord we enter into your presence now with the realization of what you already did on the cross. We thank you Lord for your many blessings through our praise, but we seek your face today through our worship. We sit at your feet today and ask you Lord to make us more like you in everything we do. We want our praise to spring forth to all nations. Amen.
by Keith Edwards
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Friday, July 16, 2010
No Reputation July 16th Devotional
Read:
7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
Have you ever wondered how Jesus was always there from the beginning? Some believe that Christ Jesus was a created angel, Some believe that he was just a prophet, and some believe that he was just a good teacher. According to the bible He was always there from the beginning because He is God the Son. Theologically, the word reputation means that He emptied himself. It is called the Kenotic Theory, which means he emptied himself. He became what He was not without ceasing to be what He was. He never stopped being the second person of the trinity. He emptied Himself not literally, but metaphorically. By taking-not subtraction. Even as a child in the manger He was still"...holding all things together by the power of His Word." Hebrews 1:3. If Christ in not God, then the work of Jesus in not eternally valid, but temporal, contingent, and relative. The good news is that our salvation is anchored in eternity. Thank God for Jesus coming to earth and dying on the cross, and this gives us the ability to repent and allow Christ to save us. I want us to reflect on what Christ really did when He came to earth. This was such a love for Christ to reach come down and make Himself of no reputation. This love is speaking to you today. Jesus is calling out to you in love and extending an invitation to cast all of your care upon Him today as Christians understanding what He really did, and He is extending His love for those who need salvation.
Prayer:
Lord we thank you for what you did upon the cross. We thank you Lord for coming down from heaven, and dying for us. You were the perfect Lamb Lord who fulfilled the many prophecies of the bible concerning your death, burial, and resurrection.
by Keith Edwards
7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
Have you ever wondered how Jesus was always there from the beginning? Some believe that Christ Jesus was a created angel, Some believe that he was just a prophet, and some believe that he was just a good teacher. According to the bible He was always there from the beginning because He is God the Son. Theologically, the word reputation means that He emptied himself. It is called the Kenotic Theory, which means he emptied himself. He became what He was not without ceasing to be what He was. He never stopped being the second person of the trinity. He emptied Himself not literally, but metaphorically. By taking-not subtraction. Even as a child in the manger He was still"...holding all things together by the power of His Word." Hebrews 1:3. If Christ in not God, then the work of Jesus in not eternally valid, but temporal, contingent, and relative. The good news is that our salvation is anchored in eternity. Thank God for Jesus coming to earth and dying on the cross, and this gives us the ability to repent and allow Christ to save us. I want us to reflect on what Christ really did when He came to earth. This was such a love for Christ to reach come down and make Himself of no reputation. This love is speaking to you today. Jesus is calling out to you in love and extending an invitation to cast all of your care upon Him today as Christians understanding what He really did, and He is extending His love for those who need salvation.
Prayer:
Lord we thank you for what you did upon the cross. We thank you Lord for coming down from heaven, and dying for us. You were the perfect Lamb Lord who fulfilled the many prophecies of the bible concerning your death, burial, and resurrection.
by Keith Edwards
Thursday, July 15, 2010
July 15th Devotional
Read:
Philippians 4:11
11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.
Also Read:
Psalms 138:8
8 The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me;
your love, O LORD, endures forever—
do not abandon the works of your hands.
Have you ever felt like giving up on your dreams and goals in this life. God has put dreams and gifts' within each and every Christian, but we need to let God move us to that place we need to be to fulfill that which is within us. It can get so frustrating at times, but God sometimes has to deal with us about different things in our life so that those things won't become a hindrance down the road. I know from experience of great financial stress how discouraging it can get. Can I get a witness? You go through the Dave Ramsey course and drive an old "cash for clunker" type car, with the ceiling falling in your coffee on your way to work. Every time you push in the clutch it squeaks lol. You look up to God in your devotion and say, "Lord I just can't take it anymore!" I want to encourage us in our daily walk with the Lord to be content with what we have. Maybe you got to a certain place in your life and it has caused unnecessary pain. It brought your dreams and visions to a screeching halt. Don't give up. God promised in His word that He will perfect that which concerns us. He will open that door that once was open, and He will get you back to that place that will lead you to the fulfilling place that God has for us. The Lord didn't bring you all of the way here to just let you go. It's not too late for you and I. However, we need to stay totally focused on the Lord as we go through that door again. Sometimes that door of our dreams and visions may only be cracked open. We see a little bit of hope on the other side of that door, but we sometimes doubt if God is in the middle of the door opening up for us. God is for us and not against us. Have you gotten to this place friend where it just seems like you are at a dead end job. You failed somewhere and you find yourself settling for where you are at. Pray to God today to help you be content where you are at, but also pray to God that He will give us wisdom on how to pray for restoration in our life. The last thing I want us to see today is have a good attitude where you are at. Attitude is very important. Attitude and being content go hand in hand, and our good attitude along with that content heart will allow God to open that door just a little further each day, until one day you look and see you are in a place that God wanted you to be in. A teacher at the bible college talked to us about when he graduated from bible school and went to his pastor and told him, "Man! I know what God wants me to do now. He's called me into full time ministry." The pastor looked at him with that serious grin and said, "Good! now go get a job! God needs to shape and mold you before you step into the ministry." He did that, and worked at arby's scrubbing toilets and cooking arby sandwiches. We'll not in that order..lol. About three months after he got a job at arby's, God moved him out of there and put him into full time ministry. I feel something right now for you and I as I'm writing this devotional. God didn't move him out of arby's because of necessarily his calling. God moved him out of there into the place he had for him in ministry because of his attitude. Here is what I feel for us as we go through another day wondering why God hasn't totally moved us to that certain place here on this earth as Christians. It's all about attitude, and I said this in one of my devotional's but I want to bring it to the table again. Our attitude will affect our character, our character will affect our calling, and our calling will ultimately affect our destiny here on earth. We just have to remember that even when we are in that particular place that God has for us, we still have to be content in whatever state we are in. Sometimes we can get to a place where we feel like we don't need God. We have everything. This is a very dangerous place to be in. We need God in the good, bad, and the ugly.
Prayer:
Lord help us to be content with where we are at. Help us to be content even when we are feeling good. But we need you so much Lord in every situation. Lord help us to cry out to you in not only in the hard times, but good times as well. Help us to realize in whatever state we are in that we need you the same in any situation. Amen.
by Keith Edwards
Philippians 4:11
11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.
Also Read:
Psalms 138:8
8 The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me;
your love, O LORD, endures forever—
do not abandon the works of your hands.
Have you ever felt like giving up on your dreams and goals in this life. God has put dreams and gifts' within each and every Christian, but we need to let God move us to that place we need to be to fulfill that which is within us. It can get so frustrating at times, but God sometimes has to deal with us about different things in our life so that those things won't become a hindrance down the road. I know from experience of great financial stress how discouraging it can get. Can I get a witness? You go through the Dave Ramsey course and drive an old "cash for clunker" type car, with the ceiling falling in your coffee on your way to work. Every time you push in the clutch it squeaks lol. You look up to God in your devotion and say, "Lord I just can't take it anymore!" I want to encourage us in our daily walk with the Lord to be content with what we have. Maybe you got to a certain place in your life and it has caused unnecessary pain. It brought your dreams and visions to a screeching halt. Don't give up. God promised in His word that He will perfect that which concerns us. He will open that door that once was open, and He will get you back to that place that will lead you to the fulfilling place that God has for us. The Lord didn't bring you all of the way here to just let you go. It's not too late for you and I. However, we need to stay totally focused on the Lord as we go through that door again. Sometimes that door of our dreams and visions may only be cracked open. We see a little bit of hope on the other side of that door, but we sometimes doubt if God is in the middle of the door opening up for us. God is for us and not against us. Have you gotten to this place friend where it just seems like you are at a dead end job. You failed somewhere and you find yourself settling for where you are at. Pray to God today to help you be content where you are at, but also pray to God that He will give us wisdom on how to pray for restoration in our life. The last thing I want us to see today is have a good attitude where you are at. Attitude is very important. Attitude and being content go hand in hand, and our good attitude along with that content heart will allow God to open that door just a little further each day, until one day you look and see you are in a place that God wanted you to be in. A teacher at the bible college talked to us about when he graduated from bible school and went to his pastor and told him, "Man! I know what God wants me to do now. He's called me into full time ministry." The pastor looked at him with that serious grin and said, "Good! now go get a job! God needs to shape and mold you before you step into the ministry." He did that, and worked at arby's scrubbing toilets and cooking arby sandwiches. We'll not in that order..lol. About three months after he got a job at arby's, God moved him out of there and put him into full time ministry. I feel something right now for you and I as I'm writing this devotional. God didn't move him out of arby's because of necessarily his calling. God moved him out of there into the place he had for him in ministry because of his attitude. Here is what I feel for us as we go through another day wondering why God hasn't totally moved us to that certain place here on this earth as Christians. It's all about attitude, and I said this in one of my devotional's but I want to bring it to the table again. Our attitude will affect our character, our character will affect our calling, and our calling will ultimately affect our destiny here on earth. We just have to remember that even when we are in that particular place that God has for us, we still have to be content in whatever state we are in. Sometimes we can get to a place where we feel like we don't need God. We have everything. This is a very dangerous place to be in. We need God in the good, bad, and the ugly.
Prayer:
Lord help us to be content with where we are at. Help us to be content even when we are feeling good. But we need you so much Lord in every situation. Lord help us to cry out to you in not only in the hard times, but good times as well. Help us to realize in whatever state we are in that we need you the same in any situation. Amen.
by Keith Edwards
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Do You Still Believe In Miracles? July 14th Devotional
Read:
Psalms 77:11
11 I will remember the deeds of the LORD;
yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.
Can you remember when God came through for you? Probably more than you can count. He will come through for us, and he is still in the miracle working business. I can remember when my wife was going through a physical thing that tested my faith in a great way. She was almost in a paralyzed state, and couldn't even get out of bed. My kids were very young at the time, and I can remember taking her to the hospital with my kids a few times to find out what was going on. I felt so helpless. They ran test after test but couldn't figure out what was wrong. I began to fast and pray, and I called some prayer intercessor's that I knew of at the time to pray for her. God brought us through with the help of friends, family, and prayer warriors. We never figured out exactly what it was, but I really believe that it was a miracle. Another memory that comes to mind is with my brother and his wife. They were at an office max, and this little boy ran away from his mother at a very fast pace. My Sister-in-law saw the little boy run to the automatic doors and immediately said the word, "Jesus!" The doors would not open at all. When the mother got to her little boy, the doors opened and a car was driving very fast in front of those doors at the same time the little boy would have ran in front of that car. Coincidence? I don't think so. It's the miracle working power of God almighty stepping in and honoring our prayers. I believe there were angels at that automatic door. Today I want us to reflect on the memories that kept us alive. I believe that God does intervene many times in our life, and there are times that we will never know that He was right there. God wants us to realize that He holds us in the palm of His hand to never ever let us go. He does love us.
Prayer:
Lord help us today to trust you like never before. Lord we know that we need to trust you in the good times and the not so good times. You never change Lord, and you hold us in the palm of your hands. Help us to never forget the times you allowed us to cross the red sea, and help us to reflect on you in a great way today, Amen.
Psalms 77:11
11 I will remember the deeds of the LORD;
yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.
Can you remember when God came through for you? Probably more than you can count. He will come through for us, and he is still in the miracle working business. I can remember when my wife was going through a physical thing that tested my faith in a great way. She was almost in a paralyzed state, and couldn't even get out of bed. My kids were very young at the time, and I can remember taking her to the hospital with my kids a few times to find out what was going on. I felt so helpless. They ran test after test but couldn't figure out what was wrong. I began to fast and pray, and I called some prayer intercessor's that I knew of at the time to pray for her. God brought us through with the help of friends, family, and prayer warriors. We never figured out exactly what it was, but I really believe that it was a miracle. Another memory that comes to mind is with my brother and his wife. They were at an office max, and this little boy ran away from his mother at a very fast pace. My Sister-in-law saw the little boy run to the automatic doors and immediately said the word, "Jesus!" The doors would not open at all. When the mother got to her little boy, the doors opened and a car was driving very fast in front of those doors at the same time the little boy would have ran in front of that car. Coincidence? I don't think so. It's the miracle working power of God almighty stepping in and honoring our prayers. I believe there were angels at that automatic door. Today I want us to reflect on the memories that kept us alive. I believe that God does intervene many times in our life, and there are times that we will never know that He was right there. God wants us to realize that He holds us in the palm of His hand to never ever let us go. He does love us.
Prayer:
Lord help us today to trust you like never before. Lord we know that we need to trust you in the good times and the not so good times. You never change Lord, and you hold us in the palm of your hands. Help us to never forget the times you allowed us to cross the red sea, and help us to reflect on you in a great way today, Amen.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Forever Settled by Rev. Drew Kaylor and Keith Edwards July 13th Devotional
Read:
Psalms 119:39
39 Forever O Lord, thy word is settled in Heaven
Forever Settled
The Word of God is from everlasting to everlasting. The Saviour is calling, and you can be made whole? There is a river flowing from Calvary today, and it is the River of Life and Healing, for the Bible is God's Healing Stream for all. Everything is there. How lovely is His Word, for Life, Peace, Joy and Strength are flowing from the Father, and we can Learn the secret of touching the hand of God. His Word alone holds the Key. The psalmist David wrote, "Forever, O Lord, thy Word is settled in Heaven." Psalm 119:39. Redemption is Complete in Jesus. Healing belongs to you now! Rejoice in God Today. Jesus Lives!
Posted by Drew Kaylor
comment by Keith Edwards:
It's good to know that we have a God that will never ever change. His word is settled, His character will always be the same, and His love will remain forever and ever. Drew and I want you to have hope today. Have hope in the fact that God has breathed His life into every believer, and that is forever settled as well.
Prayer:
Lord we ask that you will give us hope today. We need hope in a lost and dying world, and we need to see that we have been bought by a price and that price came from your very love. Amen.
by Rev. Drew Kaylor and Keith Edwards
Psalms 119:39
39 Forever O Lord, thy word is settled in Heaven
Forever Settled
The Word of God is from everlasting to everlasting. The Saviour is calling, and you can be made whole? There is a river flowing from Calvary today, and it is the River of Life and Healing, for the Bible is God's Healing Stream for all. Everything is there. How lovely is His Word, for Life, Peace, Joy and Strength are flowing from the Father, and we can Learn the secret of touching the hand of God. His Word alone holds the Key. The psalmist David wrote, "Forever, O Lord, thy Word is settled in Heaven." Psalm 119:39. Redemption is Complete in Jesus. Healing belongs to you now! Rejoice in God Today. Jesus Lives!
Posted by Drew Kaylor
comment by Keith Edwards:
It's good to know that we have a God that will never ever change. His word is settled, His character will always be the same, and His love will remain forever and ever. Drew and I want you to have hope today. Have hope in the fact that God has breathed His life into every believer, and that is forever settled as well.
Prayer:
Lord we ask that you will give us hope today. We need hope in a lost and dying world, and we need to see that we have been bought by a price and that price came from your very love. Amen.
by Rev. Drew Kaylor and Keith Edwards
Monday, July 12, 2010
Say The Name July 12th Devotional
Read:
Matthew 4:1-4
1Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. 2After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread."
4Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.
There is such power in the name of Jesus. Notice that Jesus didn't scream a spiritual type warfare for the enemy to leave. He didn't take over territorial spirits like some believe. He just simply, "spoke the word" and was able to overcome the temptation that the tempter came with. So many believe that you have to say a bunch of spiritual type warfare prayers, but Jesus nor the disciples ever did this type of warfare. They simply spoke the word. They never started a great spiritual warfare club or poked holes in the clouds of darkness. Now there were times in the bible that the apostles cast out demons, but they were so in tune with Christ. They never exercised their faith outside the realm of God. They heard his voice. I can remember in my younger days of ministry going through a season of this spiritual type warfare. It seemed appealing, but I found that it basically was works apart from walking in the spirit. I found myself thinking that I had to put on the whole armor of God literally every morning when I woke up, and it seemed that I was magnifying these things instead of just being obedient to Christ Jesus. It was like walking in the law. I would pray and put on the girdle of truth, etc. and couldn't remember if I put on the helmet of salvation. I would focus on that instead of focusing on Jesus. There's nothing wrong with speaking forth the armor of God if this increases your faith, but the best warfare is sitting at the feet of Jesus and learning of His ways, and as we do this we will know His voice. I've seen minister's in full time ministry do so much binding and loosing that Christ seemed to be lost in the middle of it. Great men of God in the past always received direction from the Lord, whether it was healing or spiritual things. Many times we just jump into things without waiting and getting direction from the Lord. As I was praying last week about this devotional, I wanted God to speak to me about how we speak His name. It seemed like God spoke to my heart about this devotional. God wants us to realize that we are more than conquerors in His blood, and when the enemy tries to draw us into warfare we need to be like King David and put the praise and worship in the front and the warfare in the back. We need to realize that the battle has already been won, and we can rest and walk in what has already been done for us on the cross and through His resurrection. We are more than conquerors. conquerors fight! More than conquerors walk in what has already be defeated. As a worship leader, I found the greatest strength over negative thoughts or darts of the enemy was just entering into the presence of God and speaking that precious name of Jesus. I found strength by just opening my heart out to God. He will strengthen us as we lift Him up. Obedience is the key for great spiritual warfare in our life. Habits and strongholds automatically get broken when our heart is towards God, when we feed upon the word, and through our pure devotion. There will be times when God will have us speak directly in a relevant way towards a certain situation, but we shouldn't go around thinking there is a demon around every corner. Being submissive and sitting at the feet of Jesus is a weapon that will destroy every negative thought and dart the enemy throws our way. The battle is between our ears. It is our mind. We can't control the birds flying over our heads, but we can keep them from building a nest there. This is so true. Our flesh is the greatest hindrance that comes against us. Paul said that he puts his flesh under subjection everyday. It says in 2 corinthians 10 to cast down all imaginations or speculations. We have all of the tools and weapons within us as believers, and we learn how and when to use those tools as we are so close to Father God. Let's walk in that which we have received. The Greek word for put on in Ephesians chapter 6 is enduo, and it means to be endued and to walk in. We have truth, peace, we are righteous by His blood, we have the mind of Christ as we walk with Christ, we have faith, and we have that precious name to speak over our life.
Prayer:
Lord we ask that you help us to not meditate all of the time on what the enemy speaks to us, but what you speak to us. We pray that we will hear your voice like never before, and that we would be obedient to you. Lord give us such a revelation today that we are right with you by our faith in you, and because of that righteousness by your blood we can stand today with your word upon our lips and the sword in our hand. Help us Lord to walk in that which we have received. Amen.
by Keith Edwards
Matthew 4:1-4
1Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. 2After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread."
4Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.
There is such power in the name of Jesus. Notice that Jesus didn't scream a spiritual type warfare for the enemy to leave. He didn't take over territorial spirits like some believe. He just simply, "spoke the word" and was able to overcome the temptation that the tempter came with. So many believe that you have to say a bunch of spiritual type warfare prayers, but Jesus nor the disciples ever did this type of warfare. They simply spoke the word. They never started a great spiritual warfare club or poked holes in the clouds of darkness. Now there were times in the bible that the apostles cast out demons, but they were so in tune with Christ. They never exercised their faith outside the realm of God. They heard his voice. I can remember in my younger days of ministry going through a season of this spiritual type warfare. It seemed appealing, but I found that it basically was works apart from walking in the spirit. I found myself thinking that I had to put on the whole armor of God literally every morning when I woke up, and it seemed that I was magnifying these things instead of just being obedient to Christ Jesus. It was like walking in the law. I would pray and put on the girdle of truth, etc. and couldn't remember if I put on the helmet of salvation. I would focus on that instead of focusing on Jesus. There's nothing wrong with speaking forth the armor of God if this increases your faith, but the best warfare is sitting at the feet of Jesus and learning of His ways, and as we do this we will know His voice. I've seen minister's in full time ministry do so much binding and loosing that Christ seemed to be lost in the middle of it. Great men of God in the past always received direction from the Lord, whether it was healing or spiritual things. Many times we just jump into things without waiting and getting direction from the Lord. As I was praying last week about this devotional, I wanted God to speak to me about how we speak His name. It seemed like God spoke to my heart about this devotional. God wants us to realize that we are more than conquerors in His blood, and when the enemy tries to draw us into warfare we need to be like King David and put the praise and worship in the front and the warfare in the back. We need to realize that the battle has already been won, and we can rest and walk in what has already been done for us on the cross and through His resurrection. We are more than conquerors. conquerors fight! More than conquerors walk in what has already be defeated. As a worship leader, I found the greatest strength over negative thoughts or darts of the enemy was just entering into the presence of God and speaking that precious name of Jesus. I found strength by just opening my heart out to God. He will strengthen us as we lift Him up. Obedience is the key for great spiritual warfare in our life. Habits and strongholds automatically get broken when our heart is towards God, when we feed upon the word, and through our pure devotion. There will be times when God will have us speak directly in a relevant way towards a certain situation, but we shouldn't go around thinking there is a demon around every corner. Being submissive and sitting at the feet of Jesus is a weapon that will destroy every negative thought and dart the enemy throws our way. The battle is between our ears. It is our mind. We can't control the birds flying over our heads, but we can keep them from building a nest there. This is so true. Our flesh is the greatest hindrance that comes against us. Paul said that he puts his flesh under subjection everyday. It says in 2 corinthians 10 to cast down all imaginations or speculations. We have all of the tools and weapons within us as believers, and we learn how and when to use those tools as we are so close to Father God. Let's walk in that which we have received. The Greek word for put on in Ephesians chapter 6 is enduo, and it means to be endued and to walk in. We have truth, peace, we are righteous by His blood, we have the mind of Christ as we walk with Christ, we have faith, and we have that precious name to speak over our life.
Prayer:
Lord we ask that you help us to not meditate all of the time on what the enemy speaks to us, but what you speak to us. We pray that we will hear your voice like never before, and that we would be obedient to you. Lord give us such a revelation today that we are right with you by our faith in you, and because of that righteousness by your blood we can stand today with your word upon our lips and the sword in our hand. Help us Lord to walk in that which we have received. Amen.
by Keith Edwards
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Are You Living In Rubble City? July 11th Devotional
Read:
Nehemiah 4:10
10 Meanwhile, the people in Judah said, "The strength of the laborers is giving out, and there is so much rubble that we cannot rebuild the wall.
There is a large percentage of the body of Christ today that is needing restoration in there personal life. I'm talking about true born again Christians that have repented of there sins and have been washed in the blood of Christ. We have been living in rubble city for far too long. If we don't know what to do in the middle of restoration, then we will be overtaken by discouragement, a lack of hunger for God's word, and loss of hope to let God help us rebuild whatever is wrong in our life. It could be things that have come into our life by the Lord to produce more fruit, or it could be some unnecessary pain that we caused ourselves by wrong choices. We see this in the book of Nehemiah. Nehemiah is a great leader and minister to follow today in the reconstruction of the walls that need to be built in our life. I can remember going through some very tough times financially. I lost all of the overtime at my job, and other things hit us from every angle, but I focused on God through my worship to Him. I'm not saying that I didn't get discouraged and throw in the towel at times. I did, but I found that entering God's presence will change our situation. It's not fixing all of our problems and then we say, "Lord! I can enter you presence now." I've done this, and that, and now I can enter on in. We don't wait until something in the natural is completed before we have devotion and prayer with the Lord. It's the devotion and the prayer that is going bring forth a completion in the natural. I'm not saying that we don't stay in true repentance during restoration. Our lifestyle should be a lifestyle of true healthy repentance, but there are some things that may take some time. We don't have to live in rubble city any longer. If you look at the whole chapter in chapter four of Nehemiah, you will see three things that can help us as we build. First, Nehemiah had every vulnerable space covered with family and there weapons. This can be true unity in the body of Christ. Second, there was a trumpet player next to them as they built. This can be the worship we have for God corporately and individually. Third, Nehemiah kept the moral up by praying to God that He would protect them as they built. We need to protect our mind from the enemy. He will shoot darts of discouragement our way, and when those darts come, we need to pray to God as we worship Him, and as we worship Him God will give us hope to carry on the great journey of building. I want to encourage you today to pick up a stone of worship and start building. I know it doesn't make sense to worship the Lord first before all of the things in our life here on earth is completed, but it's the first priority that all Christians should understand. We see the Jews coming to Jerusalem to rebuild. The bible says that everything was in ruins, but they started out with a heart of worship as they built their first altar. They kept on building as they worshiped the Lord. Lets have the heart of Nehemiah today and get out of rubble city, and move on in to the new city that God has called us to as the body of Christ.
Prayer:
Lord we come to you and ask that you help us focus through the restoration in our lives. Lord if we have any sin in our lives, we ask that you will forgive us and wash us anew in your blood. We ask that you will be that wall of fire around us as we build the wall as the body of Christ. We ask that you will be that wall of fire around us as we worship you and seek you first as you begin to bring forth a shift in the natural, and help us to remain steady in the things of you as you move us into a new season, Amen.
by Keith Edwards
Nehemiah 4:10
10 Meanwhile, the people in Judah said, "The strength of the laborers is giving out, and there is so much rubble that we cannot rebuild the wall.
There is a large percentage of the body of Christ today that is needing restoration in there personal life. I'm talking about true born again Christians that have repented of there sins and have been washed in the blood of Christ. We have been living in rubble city for far too long. If we don't know what to do in the middle of restoration, then we will be overtaken by discouragement, a lack of hunger for God's word, and loss of hope to let God help us rebuild whatever is wrong in our life. It could be things that have come into our life by the Lord to produce more fruit, or it could be some unnecessary pain that we caused ourselves by wrong choices. We see this in the book of Nehemiah. Nehemiah is a great leader and minister to follow today in the reconstruction of the walls that need to be built in our life. I can remember going through some very tough times financially. I lost all of the overtime at my job, and other things hit us from every angle, but I focused on God through my worship to Him. I'm not saying that I didn't get discouraged and throw in the towel at times. I did, but I found that entering God's presence will change our situation. It's not fixing all of our problems and then we say, "Lord! I can enter you presence now." I've done this, and that, and now I can enter on in. We don't wait until something in the natural is completed before we have devotion and prayer with the Lord. It's the devotion and the prayer that is going bring forth a completion in the natural. I'm not saying that we don't stay in true repentance during restoration. Our lifestyle should be a lifestyle of true healthy repentance, but there are some things that may take some time. We don't have to live in rubble city any longer. If you look at the whole chapter in chapter four of Nehemiah, you will see three things that can help us as we build. First, Nehemiah had every vulnerable space covered with family and there weapons. This can be true unity in the body of Christ. Second, there was a trumpet player next to them as they built. This can be the worship we have for God corporately and individually. Third, Nehemiah kept the moral up by praying to God that He would protect them as they built. We need to protect our mind from the enemy. He will shoot darts of discouragement our way, and when those darts come, we need to pray to God as we worship Him, and as we worship Him God will give us hope to carry on the great journey of building. I want to encourage you today to pick up a stone of worship and start building. I know it doesn't make sense to worship the Lord first before all of the things in our life here on earth is completed, but it's the first priority that all Christians should understand. We see the Jews coming to Jerusalem to rebuild. The bible says that everything was in ruins, but they started out with a heart of worship as they built their first altar. They kept on building as they worshiped the Lord. Lets have the heart of Nehemiah today and get out of rubble city, and move on in to the new city that God has called us to as the body of Christ.
Prayer:
Lord we come to you and ask that you help us focus through the restoration in our lives. Lord if we have any sin in our lives, we ask that you will forgive us and wash us anew in your blood. We ask that you will be that wall of fire around us as we build the wall as the body of Christ. We ask that you will be that wall of fire around us as we worship you and seek you first as you begin to bring forth a shift in the natural, and help us to remain steady in the things of you as you move us into a new season, Amen.
by Keith Edwards
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Let It Be The Inward Man July 10th Devotional
Read:
2 Corinthians 4:16
16 Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day
A young china man wanted to change the world. When he was twenty, he said, "I'm going to change the world." When he was thirty, he said, "I'd like to change Asia." when he was forty he said, "We'll, I'd just like to change China." When he was fifty he said, "I'd like to change my province." When he was sixty, he said, Maybe I can just change my village." When he turned seventy, he said, "I need to change myself." How many of us have such a heart to do great things for the Lord. We really have a sincere heart, but our soul hasn't been strengthened enough to do the things we want to do. We may go for a while, but ultimately we will give up and faint. Our soul is our mind, will, and emotions. The bible Say's to renew our mind, and the word of God will touch our emotions and our will becomes disciplined to do those great things for the Lord. Some of us need a spiritual rebirth, but some of us need a character rebirth. When we build our house (soul) upon the rock (Christ) we will surely stand in the winds of trials and hard times, but when we build our house (soul) upon the sand (worldly principles) then we will surely fall. Our inner man has been born again, but our flesh has to be put under subjection, and our soul has to be built upon the rock of Christ. As our inner man grows our mind, will, and emotions grows as well, and will always glorify Christ Jesus. Spiritual growth is crucial for moving into the calling that God has got for us here on earth. As our devotional life and faithfulness in our home church increases, so shall the calling and gifts' begin to increase and unfold before us. I want to encourage you today to let God's word so fill your heart. It is always internal, then external.
Prayer:
Lord we ask that you fill our hearts with you beautiful word. We long to trust you Lord and have patience. You will move us Lord at the right time, and you will take us where we need to go in our destiny here on earth. Touch us by your spirit. Amen
2 Corinthians 4:16
16 Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day
A young china man wanted to change the world. When he was twenty, he said, "I'm going to change the world." When he was thirty, he said, "I'd like to change Asia." when he was forty he said, "We'll, I'd just like to change China." When he was fifty he said, "I'd like to change my province." When he was sixty, he said, Maybe I can just change my village." When he turned seventy, he said, "I need to change myself." How many of us have such a heart to do great things for the Lord. We really have a sincere heart, but our soul hasn't been strengthened enough to do the things we want to do. We may go for a while, but ultimately we will give up and faint. Our soul is our mind, will, and emotions. The bible Say's to renew our mind, and the word of God will touch our emotions and our will becomes disciplined to do those great things for the Lord. Some of us need a spiritual rebirth, but some of us need a character rebirth. When we build our house (soul) upon the rock (Christ) we will surely stand in the winds of trials and hard times, but when we build our house (soul) upon the sand (worldly principles) then we will surely fall. Our inner man has been born again, but our flesh has to be put under subjection, and our soul has to be built upon the rock of Christ. As our inner man grows our mind, will, and emotions grows as well, and will always glorify Christ Jesus. Spiritual growth is crucial for moving into the calling that God has got for us here on earth. As our devotional life and faithfulness in our home church increases, so shall the calling and gifts' begin to increase and unfold before us. I want to encourage you today to let God's word so fill your heart. It is always internal, then external.
Prayer:
Lord we ask that you fill our hearts with you beautiful word. We long to trust you Lord and have patience. You will move us Lord at the right time, and you will take us where we need to go in our destiny here on earth. Touch us by your spirit. Amen
Friday, July 9, 2010
July 9th Devotional
Read:
Psalms 40:2
2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.
There was a Baptist preacher who had a large church. He was a very devout Christian, and people were drawn to his love for the word and for people, until his life totally changed. He found himself in a pit and didn't know why all of this happened. He also made records, and would record songs and loved to worship the Lord. He developed a flu that attacked his vocal chords. For three years he couldn't talk, sing, and the pastor said that it felt like two big hands were pressing against his vocal chords. The doctor told him that he would never talk again. It was getting worse and worse, and the church prayed for healing but it never came, at least not when he expected it to. He never gave up hope. He had to resign from being pastor, and it made it hard financially for the whole family. He had a lovely family that was behind him, but they didn't know how to deal with all this pit stuff. One day, after a long three years of chaos, the baptist preacher went to church to teach. They set up a vocal microphone that was very sensitive, and he would have to literally scream just to get a small scratchy sound out of his vocals. It was about all over for this pastor. He went to church that morning as usual, and he began to read a scripture in psalms about God delivering us from the pit. Immediately when he said the word pit his voice began to come back. Tears filled the church as he began to preach his first message without a scratch in his voice at all. They began to worship the Lord that morning for his healing power. The pastor went to the doctor and the doctor couldn't explain what had happened. The doctor told him, "I can explain away the nerves that could possibly rebuild itself, but the scar damage is a mystery. I have no answer why you are talking today." It is an impossiblity that you are standing here talking to me. It was doctor Jesus that got a hold of him. I want to encourage you today to hang in there when you find yourself in a pit. I don't have all of the answers why God doesn't just snap his finger in a pit experience, but the Lord will deliver us as we stay focused on Him. There was a miracle that early Sunday morning, and many were touched and faith was built in that pastor. If you find yourself in pit experience land just keep your eyes upon Jesus. Be patient in His presence, and don't let your pit experience define who you are for God is there with you the whole way.
Prayer:
Lord, we ask that you help us through those pit experiences. Sometimes Lord you snap your finger, and sometimes you build character in those trials we seem to face. We ask that you give us the grace in times of trouble, Amen.
by Keith Edwards
Psalms 40:2
2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.
There was a Baptist preacher who had a large church. He was a very devout Christian, and people were drawn to his love for the word and for people, until his life totally changed. He found himself in a pit and didn't know why all of this happened. He also made records, and would record songs and loved to worship the Lord. He developed a flu that attacked his vocal chords. For three years he couldn't talk, sing, and the pastor said that it felt like two big hands were pressing against his vocal chords. The doctor told him that he would never talk again. It was getting worse and worse, and the church prayed for healing but it never came, at least not when he expected it to. He never gave up hope. He had to resign from being pastor, and it made it hard financially for the whole family. He had a lovely family that was behind him, but they didn't know how to deal with all this pit stuff. One day, after a long three years of chaos, the baptist preacher went to church to teach. They set up a vocal microphone that was very sensitive, and he would have to literally scream just to get a small scratchy sound out of his vocals. It was about all over for this pastor. He went to church that morning as usual, and he began to read a scripture in psalms about God delivering us from the pit. Immediately when he said the word pit his voice began to come back. Tears filled the church as he began to preach his first message without a scratch in his voice at all. They began to worship the Lord that morning for his healing power. The pastor went to the doctor and the doctor couldn't explain what had happened. The doctor told him, "I can explain away the nerves that could possibly rebuild itself, but the scar damage is a mystery. I have no answer why you are talking today." It is an impossiblity that you are standing here talking to me. It was doctor Jesus that got a hold of him. I want to encourage you today to hang in there when you find yourself in a pit. I don't have all of the answers why God doesn't just snap his finger in a pit experience, but the Lord will deliver us as we stay focused on Him. There was a miracle that early Sunday morning, and many were touched and faith was built in that pastor. If you find yourself in pit experience land just keep your eyes upon Jesus. Be patient in His presence, and don't let your pit experience define who you are for God is there with you the whole way.
Prayer:
Lord, we ask that you help us through those pit experiences. Sometimes Lord you snap your finger, and sometimes you build character in those trials we seem to face. We ask that you give us the grace in times of trouble, Amen.
by Keith Edwards
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Jesus should Be More Like Santa by Mel Montgomery July 7th Devotional
Jesus Should Be More Like Santa
by Mel C. Montgomery
Read:
18 I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,
I stood in a mall during Christmas time years ago and watched a mall Santa. It was interesting. Children came right up to him without any fear at all. He was sitting there alone, and I watched this little 3 or 4 year old girl pull away from her mother, walk all by herself with no prompting, and she climbed up on Santa's lap and put her arm around his neck. To see a child leave her mother and go to a stranger caught my attention. After the girl left, I walked up to the man who was portraying Santa and I asked him, "What I just saw that girl do--walk up to you with no fear--is that normal?" He replied, "Oh yes." I asked further, "You mean children aren't sometimes afraid of you? You're sitting there, a large man, dressed in bright clothes, wearing a long beard which children rarely see--children never react in fear to you?" He said, "I've done this for a number of years, and for a child to be afraid of me is a very rare occurrence. Perhaps only once or twice in all the years I've done this. They know Santa loves them and can be trusted." This made a deep impression on me. Another incident that made a strong impression on me was visiting a prayer room in an old-line Pentecostal church before the service began. People were hollering and praying. I looked over at a young child, a boy perhaps 5, kneeling on the floor. He was crying and screaming hysterically. His father was standing over him, shouting, "You better let Jesus know you're sorry!" The child fearfully screamed, "I'm sorry Jesus! I'M SORRY JESUS!" The father continued, "I MEAN YOU BETTER LET JESUS KNOW YOU'RE REALLY SORRY BOY FOR WHAT YOU DONE OR HE WON'T FORGIVE YOU!" Even more hysterically the child screamed, "I'M SORRY JESUS FOR WHAT I DID! I'M REALLY, REALLY SORRY!" The father continued, "BOY, YOU BETTER REALLY MEAN IT!" The boy screamed even louder, "I REALLY MEAN IT JESUS! I'M REALLY, REALLY, REALLY SORRY JESUS!" Sickened, I could listen to no more, and I left. Strange how so many Christians teach children to have no fear of Santa, because Santa loves them unconditionally. But they teach their children to fear a disapproving Jesus who loves them only when they are good. It is surprising how many children, raised in traditional Pentecostal or extremely strict Christian homes, reject the faith when they are older and throw themselves into sin. That boy in the prayer room--where will he end up? Probably out in the world, hating God, hating Christ, and bitter against the faith that you and I have found to be so rich and life changing. Or he may very well end up screaming at his own fearful son in a prayer room somewhere. The people brought children to Jesus, hoping he might touch them. The disciples shooed them off. But Jesus was irate and let them know it: "Don't push these children away. Don't ever get between them and me. These children are at the very center of life in the kingdom. Mark this: Unless you accept God's kingdom in the simplicity of a child, you'll never get in. Then, gathering the children up in his arms, he laid his hands of blessing on them."--Mark 10:13,14 The Message Bible.
Children's image of Jesus needs to be more like their understanding of Santa--trustworthy, on their side, with them in the difficult times of life, ready to quickly forgive their sins and mistakes, and loving them with a love that survives the ages.
comment by Keith Edwards:
I want for us to see ourselves how God really sees us. He love us, and we need a revelation of His love in our lives like never before. To see ourselves how God sees us will give us that strength and power to walk in the spirit of God. It will help us to do what we can't do in our own strength, and it will give us a healthy fear that will allow us to look up at Daddy God and tell him, "I love you Father!"
Prayer:
Lord we ask that you give us the right perspective on who you really are. We pray for our children and youth of today, and we ask that we would impart who you really are in a world that is full of self, pride, and lack of trust. Amen.
by Mel C. Montgomery
Read:
18 I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,
I stood in a mall during Christmas time years ago and watched a mall Santa. It was interesting. Children came right up to him without any fear at all. He was sitting there alone, and I watched this little 3 or 4 year old girl pull away from her mother, walk all by herself with no prompting, and she climbed up on Santa's lap and put her arm around his neck. To see a child leave her mother and go to a stranger caught my attention. After the girl left, I walked up to the man who was portraying Santa and I asked him, "What I just saw that girl do--walk up to you with no fear--is that normal?" He replied, "Oh yes." I asked further, "You mean children aren't sometimes afraid of you? You're sitting there, a large man, dressed in bright clothes, wearing a long beard which children rarely see--children never react in fear to you?" He said, "I've done this for a number of years, and for a child to be afraid of me is a very rare occurrence. Perhaps only once or twice in all the years I've done this. They know Santa loves them and can be trusted." This made a deep impression on me. Another incident that made a strong impression on me was visiting a prayer room in an old-line Pentecostal church before the service began. People were hollering and praying. I looked over at a young child, a boy perhaps 5, kneeling on the floor. He was crying and screaming hysterically. His father was standing over him, shouting, "You better let Jesus know you're sorry!" The child fearfully screamed, "I'm sorry Jesus! I'M SORRY JESUS!" The father continued, "I MEAN YOU BETTER LET JESUS KNOW YOU'RE REALLY SORRY BOY FOR WHAT YOU DONE OR HE WON'T FORGIVE YOU!" Even more hysterically the child screamed, "I'M SORRY JESUS FOR WHAT I DID! I'M REALLY, REALLY SORRY!" The father continued, "BOY, YOU BETTER REALLY MEAN IT!" The boy screamed even louder, "I REALLY MEAN IT JESUS! I'M REALLY, REALLY, REALLY SORRY JESUS!" Sickened, I could listen to no more, and I left. Strange how so many Christians teach children to have no fear of Santa, because Santa loves them unconditionally. But they teach their children to fear a disapproving Jesus who loves them only when they are good. It is surprising how many children, raised in traditional Pentecostal or extremely strict Christian homes, reject the faith when they are older and throw themselves into sin. That boy in the prayer room--where will he end up? Probably out in the world, hating God, hating Christ, and bitter against the faith that you and I have found to be so rich and life changing. Or he may very well end up screaming at his own fearful son in a prayer room somewhere. The people brought children to Jesus, hoping he might touch them. The disciples shooed them off. But Jesus was irate and let them know it: "Don't push these children away. Don't ever get between them and me. These children are at the very center of life in the kingdom. Mark this: Unless you accept God's kingdom in the simplicity of a child, you'll never get in. Then, gathering the children up in his arms, he laid his hands of blessing on them."--Mark 10:13,14 The Message Bible.
Children's image of Jesus needs to be more like their understanding of Santa--trustworthy, on their side, with them in the difficult times of life, ready to quickly forgive their sins and mistakes, and loving them with a love that survives the ages.
comment by Keith Edwards:
I want for us to see ourselves how God really sees us. He love us, and we need a revelation of His love in our lives like never before. To see ourselves how God sees us will give us that strength and power to walk in the spirit of God. It will help us to do what we can't do in our own strength, and it will give us a healthy fear that will allow us to look up at Daddy God and tell him, "I love you Father!"
Prayer:
Lord we ask that you give us the right perspective on who you really are. We pray for our children and youth of today, and we ask that we would impart who you really are in a world that is full of self, pride, and lack of trust. Amen.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Fellowship With Believers July 6th Devotional
Read:
1 Corinthians 12:27
Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.
1 Corinthians 1:9
9 God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.
A man told his wife one Sunday morning that he didn't feel like going to church, and to give him three reasons why he should go? His wife was trying to encourage him and told him the three reasons why he should go. One reason is that you are the head of the house and you need to set an example. The second reason is that the bible says to not forsake the assembling of others. The third reason is that you're the pastor. This sounds about how we get sometimes. It can happen to any of us, whether we are a called into full time ministry, or we are advancing God's kingdom at our job. We get weary in our soul, and we sometimes can't find the strength to carry on. Fellowship with other believers and our own devotion are the two essential keys to grow in the Lord. There is power in fellowship. Great things happened in Acts when the church had fellowship together. It can be tough at times to fellowship with one another, but it is such a blessing as well to bind together as one. There's an old poem that was written and it is true at times. "To live above with those we love, we'll, that will be full of glory, but to live below with those we know, we'll, that's another story." The scriptures teach that Christ is the head and we are the body. We need to reach out our hands to a world that don't know Christ. We can't be the body of Christ in a pure way if we don't have consistent fellowship with a home church. There is such a power with small groups, bible studies, and other home groups branched from the church. We need to be the body of Christ to a hurting world, and we need to bind together like never before. If we are the body, then why aren't His arms reaching? Why aren't His hands healing?. why aren't His words teaching? Let's be the body of Christ and lets go forth in His mighty name.
Prayer:
Lord we ask that you give us the revelation of coming together as one. Give us wisdom as the church, and help us to reach out to a hurting world that needs to see Jesus. Help us to be your hands and touch those around us in your name we pray. Amen.
by Keith Edwards
1 Corinthians 12:27
Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.
1 Corinthians 1:9
9 God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.
A man told his wife one Sunday morning that he didn't feel like going to church, and to give him three reasons why he should go? His wife was trying to encourage him and told him the three reasons why he should go. One reason is that you are the head of the house and you need to set an example. The second reason is that the bible says to not forsake the assembling of others. The third reason is that you're the pastor. This sounds about how we get sometimes. It can happen to any of us, whether we are a called into full time ministry, or we are advancing God's kingdom at our job. We get weary in our soul, and we sometimes can't find the strength to carry on. Fellowship with other believers and our own devotion are the two essential keys to grow in the Lord. There is power in fellowship. Great things happened in Acts when the church had fellowship together. It can be tough at times to fellowship with one another, but it is such a blessing as well to bind together as one. There's an old poem that was written and it is true at times. "To live above with those we love, we'll, that will be full of glory, but to live below with those we know, we'll, that's another story." The scriptures teach that Christ is the head and we are the body. We need to reach out our hands to a world that don't know Christ. We can't be the body of Christ in a pure way if we don't have consistent fellowship with a home church. There is such a power with small groups, bible studies, and other home groups branched from the church. We need to be the body of Christ to a hurting world, and we need to bind together like never before. If we are the body, then why aren't His arms reaching? Why aren't His hands healing?. why aren't His words teaching? Let's be the body of Christ and lets go forth in His mighty name.
Prayer:
Lord we ask that you give us the revelation of coming together as one. Give us wisdom as the church, and help us to reach out to a hurting world that needs to see Jesus. Help us to be your hands and touch those around us in your name we pray. Amen.
by Keith Edwards
Monday, July 5, 2010
Saturday, July 3, 2010
True Worship July 3rd Devotional
Read:
24God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."
W-Who God is in us
O-One with God
R-Restoration through our worship
S-Stand upon the foundation
H-Heed to His call
I-Insight for our destiny in Him
P-Producing fruit will come from our worship
Praise and worship is so important for us as believers. As a praise and worship leader, I understand the importance of the need for revelation mixed with my worship to God. Praise is an expression of faith, either through song or devotion of what God has done for us. Worship is an expression of special love to God by song or devotion of who God is, and who God is in us. We praise God for his acts, and we worship God for his character. I want to encourage you today as you worship the Lord in song or devotion to bring with you a revelation of who God really is. Great things will happen in your walk with God when you magnify and lift Jesus up. Many magnify the moves of God instead of the one who pours down His glory upon us. Many magnify the things of God rather than lifting the one who creates all of the things. There's nothing wrong with enjoying the things that God created when are heart is fixed upon Him. There is such power when we think upon God's name. Name in Hebrew is Shem, and it means his reputation and character, and we need to reverence His character and His reputation. The power of the worshiper doesn't come from the mind, but it does go through the mind. What we think upon as we are praising and worshiping God effects our whole life to be consecrated to Christ fully. God's word in our heart begins to renew our mind, heal our emotions, and gives us the strength to walk in the spirit.
Prayer:
Lord we ask that you give us such a revelation of your name as we enter your presence. You said in your word that we can enter the most holy place by the blood of Jesus. We enter today Lord by that revelation, and we seek your holy face. We seek you Lord for who you are. Because of who you are we are accepted and can express our love for you because of that acceptance. Amen.
24God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."
W-Who God is in us
O-One with God
R-Restoration through our worship
S-Stand upon the foundation
H-Heed to His call
I-Insight for our destiny in Him
P-Producing fruit will come from our worship
Praise and worship is so important for us as believers. As a praise and worship leader, I understand the importance of the need for revelation mixed with my worship to God. Praise is an expression of faith, either through song or devotion of what God has done for us. Worship is an expression of special love to God by song or devotion of who God is, and who God is in us. We praise God for his acts, and we worship God for his character. I want to encourage you today as you worship the Lord in song or devotion to bring with you a revelation of who God really is. Great things will happen in your walk with God when you magnify and lift Jesus up. Many magnify the moves of God instead of the one who pours down His glory upon us. Many magnify the things of God rather than lifting the one who creates all of the things. There's nothing wrong with enjoying the things that God created when are heart is fixed upon Him. There is such power when we think upon God's name. Name in Hebrew is Shem, and it means his reputation and character, and we need to reverence His character and His reputation. The power of the worshiper doesn't come from the mind, but it does go through the mind. What we think upon as we are praising and worshiping God effects our whole life to be consecrated to Christ fully. God's word in our heart begins to renew our mind, heal our emotions, and gives us the strength to walk in the spirit.
Prayer:
Lord we ask that you give us such a revelation of your name as we enter your presence. You said in your word that we can enter the most holy place by the blood of Jesus. We enter today Lord by that revelation, and we seek your holy face. We seek you Lord for who you are. Because of who you are we are accepted and can express our love for you because of that acceptance. Amen.
Friday, July 2, 2010
From Filthy Garments To Righteous Robes July 2nd Devotional
Read:
Zechariah 3:1-6
1 Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him.
2 The LORD said to Satan, "The LORD rebuke you, Satan! Indeed, the LORD who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is this not a brand plucked from the fire?"
3 Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments and standing before the angel.
4 He spoke and said to those who were standing before him, saying, "Remove the filthy garments from him " Again he said to him, "See, I have taken your iniquity away from you and will clothe you with festal robes."
5 Then I said, "Let them put a clean turban on his head." So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him with garments, while the angel of the LORD was standing by.
6 And the angel of the LORD admonished Joshua, saying,
7 "Thus says the LORD of hosts, 'If you will walk in My ways and if you will perform My service, then you will also govern My house and also have charge of My)courts, and I will grant you free access among these who are standing here.
The Branch
8 'Now listen, Joshua the high priest, you and your friends who are sitting in front of you--indeed they are men who are a symbol for behold, I am going to bring in My servant the Branch.
How many times do we put a filthy garment of negative perception on top of our beautiful robe of righteousness that we have received in the new birth. You’ve been born again through true repentance, and you felt you could do the works of Jesus right then, but oh! Then you see that growth is necessary in your walk with Jesus. You see that Jesus needs to be the Lord of your life in every area. Then the devil comes and starts whispering things in your ear like, your no good! You are not really saved! You will never make it in this life! etc. Here in Zechariah chapter 3, Zechariah the prophet is there to speak a message to the Jews about rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem. The Jews became complacent and lost hope bringing a fifteen year delay in rebuilding the temple. Joshua was a high priest who came to Jerusalem years before with Zerubbabel the governor with the first fifty-thousand jews to return to Jerusalem under the Kings order. Zechariah saw a vision for Joshua. Satan was standing next to Joshua as an accuser. Wow! How many times does the enemy stand there to accuse us. Then Zechariah sees the angel in the vision rebuke Satan. This was so that Joshua could see who he really is again through the eyes of God. Then the angel took the filthy garment in the vision off of Joshua and put a new revelation before him to show him his state of position as priest. The greek word for remove in Zechariah 3:3 is cuwr and it means to come to an end, and the greek word for festal robes upon Joshua in the vision is machalatsah and it means a state of position. The branch in verse 8 is Christ Jesus coming from the Davidic tree being born as the branch or messiah, God the Son. Life application here is that sometimes we do put a filthy garment of negative perception on top of the beautiful robe of righteousness, and our life walk with Christ seems to come to a halt. We feel pain, guilt, misery, and every other other sort of emotion that keeps us from advancing God’s Kingdom and living a fruitful life as a believer. I can hear the words of the Holy Spirit speaking to you now in this devotional. Take off that filthy garment of legalism and religion. Take off that filthy garment of negative things that maybe family or even friends have spoken over you. Take off that filthy garment of lies that the enemy has told you. I can hear the Holy Spirit tell you that you are great. You are a child of the King. You are a chosen generation, new Jerusalem, living stones, and I clothe you now with a “revelation” of who you are in me says the Lord God almighty. Let’s go from filthy garments to a fresh revelation of the robe of righteousness that God has already placed upon us in the new birth.
prayer:
Lord we come to you in the name of Jesus and ask that you give us revelation of who we really are in you. We are so tired Lord of seeing you the way that others portrayed you to be, and we want to see you through the eyes of your spirit with such a fellowship and devotion that brings forth a power to submit to you in such a powerful way. We rise up in the name of Jesus and stretch out our hands with the glow and light of a robe that was washed clean by the blood of Christ. Amen
Zechariah 3:1-6
1 Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him.
2 The LORD said to Satan, "The LORD rebuke you, Satan! Indeed, the LORD who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is this not a brand plucked from the fire?"
3 Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments and standing before the angel.
4 He spoke and said to those who were standing before him, saying, "Remove the filthy garments from him " Again he said to him, "See, I have taken your iniquity away from you and will clothe you with festal robes."
5 Then I said, "Let them put a clean turban on his head." So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him with garments, while the angel of the LORD was standing by.
6 And the angel of the LORD admonished Joshua, saying,
7 "Thus says the LORD of hosts, 'If you will walk in My ways and if you will perform My service, then you will also govern My house and also have charge of My)courts, and I will grant you free access among these who are standing here.
The Branch
8 'Now listen, Joshua the high priest, you and your friends who are sitting in front of you--indeed they are men who are a symbol for behold, I am going to bring in My servant the Branch.
How many times do we put a filthy garment of negative perception on top of our beautiful robe of righteousness that we have received in the new birth. You’ve been born again through true repentance, and you felt you could do the works of Jesus right then, but oh! Then you see that growth is necessary in your walk with Jesus. You see that Jesus needs to be the Lord of your life in every area. Then the devil comes and starts whispering things in your ear like, your no good! You are not really saved! You will never make it in this life! etc. Here in Zechariah chapter 3, Zechariah the prophet is there to speak a message to the Jews about rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem. The Jews became complacent and lost hope bringing a fifteen year delay in rebuilding the temple. Joshua was a high priest who came to Jerusalem years before with Zerubbabel the governor with the first fifty-thousand jews to return to Jerusalem under the Kings order. Zechariah saw a vision for Joshua. Satan was standing next to Joshua as an accuser. Wow! How many times does the enemy stand there to accuse us. Then Zechariah sees the angel in the vision rebuke Satan. This was so that Joshua could see who he really is again through the eyes of God. Then the angel took the filthy garment in the vision off of Joshua and put a new revelation before him to show him his state of position as priest. The greek word for remove in Zechariah 3:3 is cuwr and it means to come to an end, and the greek word for festal robes upon Joshua in the vision is machalatsah and it means a state of position. The branch in verse 8 is Christ Jesus coming from the Davidic tree being born as the branch or messiah, God the Son. Life application here is that sometimes we do put a filthy garment of negative perception on top of the beautiful robe of righteousness, and our life walk with Christ seems to come to a halt. We feel pain, guilt, misery, and every other other sort of emotion that keeps us from advancing God’s Kingdom and living a fruitful life as a believer. I can hear the words of the Holy Spirit speaking to you now in this devotional. Take off that filthy garment of legalism and religion. Take off that filthy garment of negative things that maybe family or even friends have spoken over you. Take off that filthy garment of lies that the enemy has told you. I can hear the Holy Spirit tell you that you are great. You are a child of the King. You are a chosen generation, new Jerusalem, living stones, and I clothe you now with a “revelation” of who you are in me says the Lord God almighty. Let’s go from filthy garments to a fresh revelation of the robe of righteousness that God has already placed upon us in the new birth.
prayer:
Lord we come to you in the name of Jesus and ask that you give us revelation of who we really are in you. We are so tired Lord of seeing you the way that others portrayed you to be, and we want to see you through the eyes of your spirit with such a fellowship and devotion that brings forth a power to submit to you in such a powerful way. We rise up in the name of Jesus and stretch out our hands with the glow and light of a robe that was washed clean by the blood of Christ. Amen
Thursday, July 1, 2010
July 1st Devotional
Read:
Matthew 5:13-15
13"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.
I can remember back years ago when I worked at this particular place. I was a cell leader and did some worship and teaching at my Father's church he was a pastor at. I was on fire for the things of God, and I would bring my bible and read during lunch time. They probably called me a Jesus freak. I don't know, but I really didn't care. I cared for the things of God more than life itself. There was this one guy I couldn't stand. We will call him John Doe. John had a filthy mouth and loved to drink. I told the Lord, "Lord, this guy will never come to you!" John made me so mad. I would be reading during my lunch break, and he would just cuss and carry on. Months later, John Doe sat down at the table I was at one night, and he had tears streaming down his face. He said, "I want this God you serve!" I couldn't believe it. I had to shake my head and wipe my eyes to see if this was really happening. He was in front of everyone in the lunch area, but it seemed like he didn't even care. His car was in the shop that morning, so I was able to take him home. I led him to the Lord that Sunday morning and he repented of his sins and was washed by the blood of Jesus. He began to weep and cry and you can really tell that it was a true conversion. It gets better. Years down the road, I was at my brother-in law's house, and I asked him how his job was coming along? He worked at the same grocery retail store that I worked at but a different location. He was an assistant store manager and told me that he had a pretty good crew. He said, "There is this one fellow there though that is kinda weird." I asked him about this fellow. He said his name was John Doe. He said that he brings his bible to work every night and talks about Jesus to all of us. Man! you talk about a chill running down my spine. This John Doe is the same exact John Doe that I led to Christ Jesus years past. I said all of that to let us realize that we are the salt of the earth and just remember that there is always somebody watching us. They want to see that what we believe is really real or not. Let's be the salt of this earth, and let's be the reflection of Jesus to a lost and dying world.
Prayer:
Lord we thank you today for your power and salvation. We pray that we would shine forth your light like never before to this generation. Lord we never know sometimes that there is the most unlikely prospect that is studying our every move to see if we really believe what we believe. Help us Lord to be the salt of this earth. Amen.
by Keith Edwards
Matthew 5:13-15
13"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.
I can remember back years ago when I worked at this particular place. I was a cell leader and did some worship and teaching at my Father's church he was a pastor at. I was on fire for the things of God, and I would bring my bible and read during lunch time. They probably called me a Jesus freak. I don't know, but I really didn't care. I cared for the things of God more than life itself. There was this one guy I couldn't stand. We will call him John Doe. John had a filthy mouth and loved to drink. I told the Lord, "Lord, this guy will never come to you!" John made me so mad. I would be reading during my lunch break, and he would just cuss and carry on. Months later, John Doe sat down at the table I was at one night, and he had tears streaming down his face. He said, "I want this God you serve!" I couldn't believe it. I had to shake my head and wipe my eyes to see if this was really happening. He was in front of everyone in the lunch area, but it seemed like he didn't even care. His car was in the shop that morning, so I was able to take him home. I led him to the Lord that Sunday morning and he repented of his sins and was washed by the blood of Jesus. He began to weep and cry and you can really tell that it was a true conversion. It gets better. Years down the road, I was at my brother-in law's house, and I asked him how his job was coming along? He worked at the same grocery retail store that I worked at but a different location. He was an assistant store manager and told me that he had a pretty good crew. He said, "There is this one fellow there though that is kinda weird." I asked him about this fellow. He said his name was John Doe. He said that he brings his bible to work every night and talks about Jesus to all of us. Man! you talk about a chill running down my spine. This John Doe is the same exact John Doe that I led to Christ Jesus years past. I said all of that to let us realize that we are the salt of the earth and just remember that there is always somebody watching us. They want to see that what we believe is really real or not. Let's be the salt of this earth, and let's be the reflection of Jesus to a lost and dying world.
Prayer:
Lord we thank you today for your power and salvation. We pray that we would shine forth your light like never before to this generation. Lord we never know sometimes that there is the most unlikely prospect that is studying our every move to see if we really believe what we believe. Help us Lord to be the salt of this earth. Amen.
by Keith Edwards
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
June 30th Devotional by Keith Edwards
Read:
Philippians 2:5
Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus
Also:
Philippians 2:15
so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world,
We are living in a time of a crooked and corrupt generation. We are living in a time where we need to show forth character and be a light to the world like never before. All the world can see is a plastic type Christianity with no fruit. You see the hype-prosperity message, strange prophecies, and other things that have been going on in the church and this would have shocked great protestant ministers during the great reformation. Martin Luther in the 1500’s would have fallen over in disbelief at how corrupt the protestant movement has gotten off to. He would have placed ninety-five more thesis at the foot of the church. We have tv evangelist’s begging for seeds, asking for mortgage payments so that God will pay off there mortgage payment, and every other ridiculous move that has embarrassed the protestant church. This is not the most popular devotional but it is needed. I’d probably get hung in some churches if I taught this message. But friend, we need a character rebirth like never before. The greek word for attitude in Philippians 2:5 is phroneo, and it means to be like-minded with the same views. Could you imagine Jesus teaching on the sermon of the mount and saying, “For ten dollars I’ll give you my teaching of the sermon on the mount.” Could you imagine Jesus saying, “I’ll pray for you for a whole year with a little love offering of one thousand dollars, and two years for two thousand dollars." This sounds unbelievable, but just go online or watch some of the tv channels and you’ll see this nonsense. I've seen it first hand, and I about fell over when I saw this mess, being so so grieved in my spirit. I know that I’m being a little sarcastic about what would Jesus do, but we need to be lights in the world. How do we get a good attitude and walk in the spirit? By our devotion, prayer, and our faithfulness. You see, the secret to a successful life as a Christian is the success of our secret life in our prayer closet and our personal life. It goes hand in hand with our commitment to the body of Christ and faithfulness in our home church. Character is determined by the inner-life of a person. It reflects either the sinful nature being influenced by the world, or the devine nature influenced by the Holy Spirit. Our character will affect our attitude, our attitude will affect our calling, and our calling will ultimately affect our destiny here on earth. God’s got a destiny and place here on this earth for us, and our character is the foundation for unleashing God’s will in our life. Some of us need a new birth, but many of us need a character rebirth. Let’s be like Jesus and show something to this generation.
By Keith Edwards
Prayer:
Lord, we come to you in your precious name and ask that you search our hearts. Show us if there is anything that is not right, and help us to shine our light to this fallen world. We sit at your feet Jesus in prayer and we ask that we would have the same mind and attitude that you have Lord. Help us Lord to hear your heartbeat as your church and body. We ask this all in your name. Amen.
Posted by Keith at 12:00 AM
1 comments:
Sandy Groom MSW said...
Thank you Keith for your blog.
Our most powerful work begins in our prayer closet -- that quiet place where we spend alone with our mighty God.
It is easy to turn our eyes on those who make a mockery of walking with Jesus; who choose hype over committed faith. In fact, it's easy to become distracted by many things. Yet so important to draw close to the Lord and spend time with him, looking at him and who he is, praising him, crying out to him, loving him, and his Word - the Bible.
He is the one who gives us a character re-birth; he will make us and mold us each day, if we allow him to work in us and through us.
He loves us that much.
Thanks
Sandy Groom at hopeforhurtinghearts.blogspot.com
Philippians 2:5
Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus
Also:
Philippians 2:15
so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world,
We are living in a time of a crooked and corrupt generation. We are living in a time where we need to show forth character and be a light to the world like never before. All the world can see is a plastic type Christianity with no fruit. You see the hype-prosperity message, strange prophecies, and other things that have been going on in the church and this would have shocked great protestant ministers during the great reformation. Martin Luther in the 1500’s would have fallen over in disbelief at how corrupt the protestant movement has gotten off to. He would have placed ninety-five more thesis at the foot of the church. We have tv evangelist’s begging for seeds, asking for mortgage payments so that God will pay off there mortgage payment, and every other ridiculous move that has embarrassed the protestant church. This is not the most popular devotional but it is needed. I’d probably get hung in some churches if I taught this message. But friend, we need a character rebirth like never before. The greek word for attitude in Philippians 2:5 is phroneo, and it means to be like-minded with the same views. Could you imagine Jesus teaching on the sermon of the mount and saying, “For ten dollars I’ll give you my teaching of the sermon on the mount.” Could you imagine Jesus saying, “I’ll pray for you for a whole year with a little love offering of one thousand dollars, and two years for two thousand dollars." This sounds unbelievable, but just go online or watch some of the tv channels and you’ll see this nonsense. I've seen it first hand, and I about fell over when I saw this mess, being so so grieved in my spirit. I know that I’m being a little sarcastic about what would Jesus do, but we need to be lights in the world. How do we get a good attitude and walk in the spirit? By our devotion, prayer, and our faithfulness. You see, the secret to a successful life as a Christian is the success of our secret life in our prayer closet and our personal life. It goes hand in hand with our commitment to the body of Christ and faithfulness in our home church. Character is determined by the inner-life of a person. It reflects either the sinful nature being influenced by the world, or the devine nature influenced by the Holy Spirit. Our character will affect our attitude, our attitude will affect our calling, and our calling will ultimately affect our destiny here on earth. God’s got a destiny and place here on this earth for us, and our character is the foundation for unleashing God’s will in our life. Some of us need a new birth, but many of us need a character rebirth. Let’s be like Jesus and show something to this generation.
By Keith Edwards
Prayer:
Lord, we come to you in your precious name and ask that you search our hearts. Show us if there is anything that is not right, and help us to shine our light to this fallen world. We sit at your feet Jesus in prayer and we ask that we would have the same mind and attitude that you have Lord. Help us Lord to hear your heartbeat as your church and body. We ask this all in your name. Amen.
Posted by Keith at 12:00 AM
1 comments:
Sandy Groom MSW said...
Thank you Keith for your blog.
Our most powerful work begins in our prayer closet -- that quiet place where we spend alone with our mighty God.
It is easy to turn our eyes on those who make a mockery of walking with Jesus; who choose hype over committed faith. In fact, it's easy to become distracted by many things. Yet so important to draw close to the Lord and spend time with him, looking at him and who he is, praising him, crying out to him, loving him, and his Word - the Bible.
He is the one who gives us a character re-birth; he will make us and mold us each day, if we allow him to work in us and through us.
He loves us that much.
Thanks
Sandy Groom at hopeforhurtinghearts.blogspot.com
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Our Actions Do Speak Louder Than Words June 29th Devotional
Read:
It was a hot day at Jakarta airport. Chuck Colson, who is an author and minister of the gospel, was standing in line waiting for his next flight. Passport in his sticky hand, he was exhausted and exasperated at the long, inefficient line snaking ahead of him. He was worried he and his ministry colleagues would miss their next flight, and some ministry friends were waiting for them. He remained calm and not let the frustration get to him. He talked with his friends; they laughed and made the best of the situation. Two years later, he got a letter from a businessman who lived in Singapore. He told me he was a follower of Confucius, but that he had sent his children to a Presbyterian church so they could get some moral training in Sunday school. When he picked up his children one Sunday, he happened to hear the end of the sermon. A visiting missionary held up a copy of a book called Born Again, and on the cover the businessman saw a picture of Chuck Colson. Then, a few months later, he was stuck in a long line in the steaming Jakarta airport. He looked over into the next line and saw the same face he had seen on the cover of Born Again. He was so impressed by my calm demeanor and cheerfulness, the man wrote, that when he went back to Singapore, he got the book Born Again, read it-and committed his life to Christ. Our actions do speak louder than words. Wherever we are at we are called to advance God's Kingdom. If you are a doctor, you are called to advance God's Kingdom. If you are a cake decorator, you are called to advance God's Kingdom. Wherever we are at, we are called to the great commission of Jesus Christ. Our actions will shake faulty foundations, evil spirits, and will make those around us see something that is different. I have seen my actions stir things up without me saying a word. I want to encourage you and I today to let our actions speak to others around us. It could be at a hot steamy airport, or it could be at your workplace. Wherever you are at, shine the light of Jesus.
Prayer,
Lord, we ask that you would shine forth your spirit to others around us. Help us Lord to have character and calmness as you use us in a mighty name, Amen.
by Keith Edwards
It was a hot day at Jakarta airport. Chuck Colson, who is an author and minister of the gospel, was standing in line waiting for his next flight. Passport in his sticky hand, he was exhausted and exasperated at the long, inefficient line snaking ahead of him. He was worried he and his ministry colleagues would miss their next flight, and some ministry friends were waiting for them. He remained calm and not let the frustration get to him. He talked with his friends; they laughed and made the best of the situation. Two years later, he got a letter from a businessman who lived in Singapore. He told me he was a follower of Confucius, but that he had sent his children to a Presbyterian church so they could get some moral training in Sunday school. When he picked up his children one Sunday, he happened to hear the end of the sermon. A visiting missionary held up a copy of a book called Born Again, and on the cover the businessman saw a picture of Chuck Colson. Then, a few months later, he was stuck in a long line in the steaming Jakarta airport. He looked over into the next line and saw the same face he had seen on the cover of Born Again. He was so impressed by my calm demeanor and cheerfulness, the man wrote, that when he went back to Singapore, he got the book Born Again, read it-and committed his life to Christ. Our actions do speak louder than words. Wherever we are at we are called to advance God's Kingdom. If you are a doctor, you are called to advance God's Kingdom. If you are a cake decorator, you are called to advance God's Kingdom. Wherever we are at, we are called to the great commission of Jesus Christ. Our actions will shake faulty foundations, evil spirits, and will make those around us see something that is different. I have seen my actions stir things up without me saying a word. I want to encourage you and I today to let our actions speak to others around us. It could be at a hot steamy airport, or it could be at your workplace. Wherever you are at, shine the light of Jesus.
Prayer,
Lord, we ask that you would shine forth your spirit to others around us. Help us Lord to have character and calmness as you use us in a mighty name, Amen.
by Keith Edwards
Monday, June 28, 2010
June 28th Devotional
Read:
1 Timothy 3:5
5 If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church?
One night I did an experiment with both my children and my son's friend from down the street. Earlier that day, I told my little boy to come down stairs and spend some time with me. He and His friend wanted to wrestle, so we spent a little time throwing each other around a little, and then just spending that quality time together. Before I got dinner together, I told my daughter, who was on facebook to come down stairs and walk the dog with me. My little boys friend wanted to take a walk with us as well, so we got everything together and took off down the street. It was a nice walk around the block. Then me and my daughter played a card game. After I got dinner prepared I did a little experiment with them. I looked at my little girl and asked, "So, what is the best thing you did all day?" My daughter said, "It was playing cards and taking a walk with you Daddy!" I was shocked! She said, "Yes daddy, I love spending time with you." Then, I asked my little boy's friend what was the best thing He did all day long? He said, "Taking a walk with you and Avery." Then I got to my little boy who absolutely loves playing games. I asked, "What was the best thing you did all day?" He said, "Wrestling and spending time with you daddy." Through all of these three experiments I come to the conclusion that spending time and paying attention to your family is crucial, especially in these current dark ages we are facing with family values. It's time that we turn that television and computer off and get back to family values. I'm not saying that we can't watch some good programs or get on the internet. I'm talking about balance. It is so easy to get unbalanced in the day to day life, and God is wanting us to get back to that place of priority. The greek word for rule in 1 timothy 3:5 is proistemi, and the definition is to give attention to. It also means to care for and manage. We as parents need to spend more time with our children. The television and internet is taking over our kids and it is causing them to become calloused to what is really important. This will shock you! they did a survey with a bunch of five year old kids. They asked each one of them what they would rather give up, their daddy or the television? 1/3 of the kids said, "I'd rather give up my daddy." This was shocking. I don't know if these kids were getting abused or not, but it just goes to show that we are losing are precious little kids to technology. I believe that God wants us to get a balance in our home like never before. One more thing. The night before, I was praying that God would show me what I needed to give up in my house, and praying that He would make me a better Father and husband to my family. Huh???
Prayer:
Lord, we ask that you would help us as parents to manage and pay attention to our children. We ask that you would make us a better spouse. Give us the wisdom and balance in our home Lord, and help us to put the first things first. We need priority in our homes and lives in Jesus name, Amen.
by Keith Edwards
1 Timothy 3:5
5 If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church?
One night I did an experiment with both my children and my son's friend from down the street. Earlier that day, I told my little boy to come down stairs and spend some time with me. He and His friend wanted to wrestle, so we spent a little time throwing each other around a little, and then just spending that quality time together. Before I got dinner together, I told my daughter, who was on facebook to come down stairs and walk the dog with me. My little boys friend wanted to take a walk with us as well, so we got everything together and took off down the street. It was a nice walk around the block. Then me and my daughter played a card game. After I got dinner prepared I did a little experiment with them. I looked at my little girl and asked, "So, what is the best thing you did all day?" My daughter said, "It was playing cards and taking a walk with you Daddy!" I was shocked! She said, "Yes daddy, I love spending time with you." Then, I asked my little boy's friend what was the best thing He did all day long? He said, "Taking a walk with you and Avery." Then I got to my little boy who absolutely loves playing games. I asked, "What was the best thing you did all day?" He said, "Wrestling and spending time with you daddy." Through all of these three experiments I come to the conclusion that spending time and paying attention to your family is crucial, especially in these current dark ages we are facing with family values. It's time that we turn that television and computer off and get back to family values. I'm not saying that we can't watch some good programs or get on the internet. I'm talking about balance. It is so easy to get unbalanced in the day to day life, and God is wanting us to get back to that place of priority. The greek word for rule in 1 timothy 3:5 is proistemi, and the definition is to give attention to. It also means to care for and manage. We as parents need to spend more time with our children. The television and internet is taking over our kids and it is causing them to become calloused to what is really important. This will shock you! they did a survey with a bunch of five year old kids. They asked each one of them what they would rather give up, their daddy or the television? 1/3 of the kids said, "I'd rather give up my daddy." This was shocking. I don't know if these kids were getting abused or not, but it just goes to show that we are losing are precious little kids to technology. I believe that God wants us to get a balance in our home like never before. One more thing. The night before, I was praying that God would show me what I needed to give up in my house, and praying that He would make me a better Father and husband to my family. Huh???
Prayer:
Lord, we ask that you would help us as parents to manage and pay attention to our children. We ask that you would make us a better spouse. Give us the wisdom and balance in our home Lord, and help us to put the first things first. We need priority in our homes and lives in Jesus name, Amen.
by Keith Edwards
Sunday, June 27, 2010
First Love June 27th Devotional
Read:
Revelation 2:4,5
4 Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love.
5 Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.
Have you ever came to a place in your walk with the lord, where you feel like you are doing everything right. You are faithful and committed to your home church, giving of your first fruit, and it seems like there's nothing else that you need. I can remember doing this a few times in my walk with the Lord, and found myself crawling to God in tears for leaving that first love with Him. There's nothing wrong with doing the things of God as long as the motive of why we are doing them is pure. There are many faithful church members that are just going through the motions. It's great that they are faithful for this is crucial to grow as a Christian, but we can just be maintaining our walk with the Lord instead of having that healthy fellowship with Him. It's as if we serve the things we do instead of serving the one that is the giver of those things. Are you feeling like you are doing all of the right things yet there is something missing? Sometimes we can be oblivious to it though, and that's why we need to search our hearts and let God show us the things we need to change so that we can be that burning candle to a dark and lost world. We usually lose our first love by not lifting Christ up in everything we do. We have to focus on Christ Jesus through the things we do, our worship, and even our commitment to the body of Christ. Let's repent today for losing our first love, and let's focus totally on the one who has redeemed us from the jaws of hell.
Prayer:
Lord we ask that you forgive us for losing focus on you. Sometimes Lord we magnify the things we do instead of magnifying your name that causes us to do the works of you. Sometimes Lord we endure, are faithful, and have not grown weary in church things, but we have somehow lost that first love. Light that fire within us in your name we pray. Amen.
by Keith Edwards
Revelation 2:4,5
4 Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love.
5 Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.
Have you ever came to a place in your walk with the lord, where you feel like you are doing everything right. You are faithful and committed to your home church, giving of your first fruit, and it seems like there's nothing else that you need. I can remember doing this a few times in my walk with the Lord, and found myself crawling to God in tears for leaving that first love with Him. There's nothing wrong with doing the things of God as long as the motive of why we are doing them is pure. There are many faithful church members that are just going through the motions. It's great that they are faithful for this is crucial to grow as a Christian, but we can just be maintaining our walk with the Lord instead of having that healthy fellowship with Him. It's as if we serve the things we do instead of serving the one that is the giver of those things. Are you feeling like you are doing all of the right things yet there is something missing? Sometimes we can be oblivious to it though, and that's why we need to search our hearts and let God show us the things we need to change so that we can be that burning candle to a dark and lost world. We usually lose our first love by not lifting Christ up in everything we do. We have to focus on Christ Jesus through the things we do, our worship, and even our commitment to the body of Christ. Let's repent today for losing our first love, and let's focus totally on the one who has redeemed us from the jaws of hell.
Prayer:
Lord we ask that you forgive us for losing focus on you. Sometimes Lord we magnify the things we do instead of magnifying your name that causes us to do the works of you. Sometimes Lord we endure, are faithful, and have not grown weary in church things, but we have somehow lost that first love. Light that fire within us in your name we pray. Amen.
by Keith Edwards
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