Read:
3 For the revelation awaits an appointed time;
speaks of the end
and will not prove false.
Though it linger, wait for it;
it will certainly come and will not delay.
There are times as Christians when we have to wait patiently for something to come to pass in our lives. Many believe that you can just snap your finger and boom! there it is. sometimes God does bring forth a miracle or answer right away, but sometimes it may take some time to materialize in the natural. Notice here in Habakkuk that God tells him that the vision will come at an appointed time. Habakkuk is really upset about what is going on, and he starts questioning God about why is this happening to your people? Where are you Lord? Why are the wicked prospering and we are just out there in the cold it feels like? I think that Habakkuk's' name says it all. His name means to embrace. Whatever we face in life we need to embrace Christ in the middle of the things that come our way. The greatest weapon the enemy throws our way is darts of thoughts and speculations in our thinking. I know that I have had these kind of thoughts come my way over the thirty years of knowing God. If God is really real then why does God allow evil in the world? If God really exists then why does He seem to ignore you? If God really exists then......and on and on it goes. There's nothing wrong with being real with God and asking Him questions that are in your heart, but we don't want to let the devil steal the word from our heart by speculations and questions that keeps us from embracing the cross each and every day. I want to encourage us to embrace Christ Jesus today in your devotion. Embrace the cross like never before in a world that is much like the world that Habakkuk was in the middle of. Embrace His love and His ways today, and remember, God will bring our visions and our dreams to pass at the appointed time.
Prayer:
Lord, help us today to be real with you. Help us to ask you questions from our heart, but not let the questions take over our devotion with you. Sometimes Lord we don't understand why you do the things you do the way you do them, but we worship you today with a whole heart. We wait patiently today for you to help us in every area, and we thank you for the mercy and grace in the middle of you perfecting that which concerns us, Amen.
Friday, September 10, 2010
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Side Roads September 9th Devotional
Read:
Proverbs 4:26
26 Watch the path of your feet And all your ways will be established.
One day I was walking my two kids down some trails behind our house. We have a large amount of woods, and my kids love to take walks with the dog. We walked about twenty minutes, and when we got to the other side we ended up at a house just a few houses from our house. I told my kids to turn around and lets go back down the trail we came from because it was getting dark. On the way, my little boy tripped over some branches, lost his shoe, and got stuck with some thorns. My little girl was tripping over some branches as well. As we got down the trail a little ways, my little boy looked up at me with those big brown eyes and said, " I love you so much daddy!" My heart just melted, and in return I told him that I love him also very much. Immediately I began to think about how we as Christians take detours and it takes much longer to get to a certain place that God wants for us. It may be a character growth in our walk, placement in the body of Christ, or sin in our life that needs to be dealt with by the Holy Spirit. How many times does Daddy God have to take us by the hand and walk us down that same path time after time? Many times it is our own will wanting to take control, and our own will will cause thorns, unnecessary trips along the way, and heartaches. I want to encourage you today to walk down the road with God, and guard your heart as you walk with Him. There are trials of thorns, trips etc. that happens in our walk with Him, but the unnecessary pains can cause such a delay in the destination God has got for us here on earth. Many times we find ourselves getting tired and weary, and we find it got so dark down that long trail. We can't find our way back down that road God paved for us because we paved other roads on our own. The enemy wants to steal that word from our soul down those side roads. He wants us to walk down that same trail over and over again tripping over branches of life not bearing fruit for the Lord. I also want to encourage you today to realize that God still loves us even when we are on a detour. He loves us so much that He gave His life for us on the cross. Look up to Daddy God today and tell Him you love Him. I know you'll hear His voice speak back to you if you will just open your heart to Him.
Prayer:
Lord, we ask that you will hold our hand in the middle of those detours that we might walk down. Help us to listen to your direction by crucifying our own will. We ask Lord that you will give us a revelation of who you really are
by Keith Edwards
Proverbs 4:26
26 Watch the path of your feet And all your ways will be established.
One day I was walking my two kids down some trails behind our house. We have a large amount of woods, and my kids love to take walks with the dog. We walked about twenty minutes, and when we got to the other side we ended up at a house just a few houses from our house. I told my kids to turn around and lets go back down the trail we came from because it was getting dark. On the way, my little boy tripped over some branches, lost his shoe, and got stuck with some thorns. My little girl was tripping over some branches as well. As we got down the trail a little ways, my little boy looked up at me with those big brown eyes and said, " I love you so much daddy!" My heart just melted, and in return I told him that I love him also very much. Immediately I began to think about how we as Christians take detours and it takes much longer to get to a certain place that God wants for us. It may be a character growth in our walk, placement in the body of Christ, or sin in our life that needs to be dealt with by the Holy Spirit. How many times does Daddy God have to take us by the hand and walk us down that same path time after time? Many times it is our own will wanting to take control, and our own will will cause thorns, unnecessary trips along the way, and heartaches. I want to encourage you today to walk down the road with God, and guard your heart as you walk with Him. There are trials of thorns, trips etc. that happens in our walk with Him, but the unnecessary pains can cause such a delay in the destination God has got for us here on earth. Many times we find ourselves getting tired and weary, and we find it got so dark down that long trail. We can't find our way back down that road God paved for us because we paved other roads on our own. The enemy wants to steal that word from our soul down those side roads. He wants us to walk down that same trail over and over again tripping over branches of life not bearing fruit for the Lord. I also want to encourage you today to realize that God still loves us even when we are on a detour. He loves us so much that He gave His life for us on the cross. Look up to Daddy God today and tell Him you love Him. I know you'll hear His voice speak back to you if you will just open your heart to Him.
Prayer:
Lord, we ask that you will hold our hand in the middle of those detours that we might walk down. Help us to listen to your direction by crucifying our own will. We ask Lord that you will give us a revelation of who you really are
by Keith Edwards
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
It Is Finished September 8th Devotional
Read:
Matthew 27:51
51 At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split.
Also Read:
Matthew 27:54
54When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, "Surely he was the Son of God!"
There are many things that happened when Jesus took His last breath on the cross. Jesus hung there, and He took all of the sin for us upon that cross. The bible says that we have been crucified with Christ, baptized with Christ, and risen with Christ as new born again believers. How many times though, do we really repent of our sins, are washed in His blood, but somehow down that road of salvation start loosing that focus and revelation of what Christ really did for us on that cross. I know I do at times, and I have to get back in pure worship with Him completely or my joy will go down the tubes, my lack of hunger for God's word will not be pure, and the enemy will attack us with thought after thought. One day I was in my devotion with the Lord. I saw an image in my head of the veil. The veil that I saw in a vision was the Lord's body being torn spiritually upon the cross. Then I saw the actual veil in the temple of Jerusalem as well. I looked at the veil and it was only torn about seventy percent of the way down. I asked the Lord, "what is this?" I felt like the Lord was telling me that many who have truly repented don't have the full revelation of what I did for them, and neither do you son." I had to repent for not walking in the revelation that the veil of the temple was torn, I was buried with Him, and I was resurrected with Him. The torn veil gave us entrance now to enter into the most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus Christ. The bible tells us in Hebrews that we can enter boldly into this place by the blood. Thank God for the blood that was spilled for us, but we really need to thank God for the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead can quicken unto us our position in Him. I want to encourage you today to see yourself complete in Him. See yourself today as God sees you in Christ Jesus. I want to yell a word to you right now by the spirit of God. IT IS FINISHED!
Prayer:
Lord, forgive us for not walking in the victory of what you already did for us. So many times Lord we try and put you back on that cross. Help us see us how you see us by your spirit, and help us realize today that It is finished, Amen.
by Keith Edwards
Matthew 27:51
51 At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split.
Also Read:
Matthew 27:54
54When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, "Surely he was the Son of God!"
There are many things that happened when Jesus took His last breath on the cross. Jesus hung there, and He took all of the sin for us upon that cross. The bible says that we have been crucified with Christ, baptized with Christ, and risen with Christ as new born again believers. How many times though, do we really repent of our sins, are washed in His blood, but somehow down that road of salvation start loosing that focus and revelation of what Christ really did for us on that cross. I know I do at times, and I have to get back in pure worship with Him completely or my joy will go down the tubes, my lack of hunger for God's word will not be pure, and the enemy will attack us with thought after thought. One day I was in my devotion with the Lord. I saw an image in my head of the veil. The veil that I saw in a vision was the Lord's body being torn spiritually upon the cross. Then I saw the actual veil in the temple of Jerusalem as well. I looked at the veil and it was only torn about seventy percent of the way down. I asked the Lord, "what is this?" I felt like the Lord was telling me that many who have truly repented don't have the full revelation of what I did for them, and neither do you son." I had to repent for not walking in the revelation that the veil of the temple was torn, I was buried with Him, and I was resurrected with Him. The torn veil gave us entrance now to enter into the most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus Christ. The bible tells us in Hebrews that we can enter boldly into this place by the blood. Thank God for the blood that was spilled for us, but we really need to thank God for the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead can quicken unto us our position in Him. I want to encourage you today to see yourself complete in Him. See yourself today as God sees you in Christ Jesus. I want to yell a word to you right now by the spirit of God. IT IS FINISHED!
Prayer:
Lord, forgive us for not walking in the victory of what you already did for us. So many times Lord we try and put you back on that cross. Help us see us how you see us by your spirit, and help us realize today that It is finished, Amen.
by Keith Edwards
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Being Able To Discern September 7th Devotional
Read:
12In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! 13Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 14But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.
According to George Barna, 45 percent of all born-again Christians believe if people are good enough they can earn a place in heaven. This is a denial of the central issue of the Reformation, of which the born-again movement today is heir. Barna's research also shows that one-third of born-again Christians do not believe that Jesus was sinless or that He was bodily resurrected from the dead. That means that one-third of those who call themselves evangelicals deny the central belief of Christianity. Similarly, George Gallup reported in 1999 that 20 percent of self described born-again evangelicals believe in reincarnation, 26 percent in astrology, and 16 percent have visited fortuneteller. The Spiritual Marketplace, says that one-quarter of born-again baby boomers claim to communicate with the dead. I say we are living in some current dark ages, and God has been raising up some Martin Luther's in the church to bring forth a balance and repentance to the body of Christ. Another incident happened when a certain actor was on a christian television show, and this particular actor played in a Christian oriented show. But the fact noted on the Christian show that this particular actor is a new thought minister who believes, according to the Christian Research Institute (CRI), that every person is part of God(pantheism) and who rejects Christ's unique divinity and atoning sacrifice on the cross. According to the CRI report, She explained her spiritual beliefs while the host nodded approvingly and offered no objection or biblical perspective. The audience applauded and cheered as the false religion began to rise up more powerfully right in the middle of the church. Discernment? Where have we gone to church? It's time that we seek God's truth like never before, and it's time that we get back to the principals and elementary gospel so that we can righteously discern the mixture that has infiltrated the gospel.
Prayer:
Lord, forgive us. Forgive us for not being able to discern between good and evil. Let your spirit rise up within us, and let your word so fill our hearts that we will allow the Spirit of your Resurrection to reveal that which needs to be revealed and discerned, Amen.
by Keith Edwards
12In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! 13Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 14But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.
According to George Barna, 45 percent of all born-again Christians believe if people are good enough they can earn a place in heaven. This is a denial of the central issue of the Reformation, of which the born-again movement today is heir. Barna's research also shows that one-third of born-again Christians do not believe that Jesus was sinless or that He was bodily resurrected from the dead. That means that one-third of those who call themselves evangelicals deny the central belief of Christianity. Similarly, George Gallup reported in 1999 that 20 percent of self described born-again evangelicals believe in reincarnation, 26 percent in astrology, and 16 percent have visited fortuneteller. The Spiritual Marketplace, says that one-quarter of born-again baby boomers claim to communicate with the dead. I say we are living in some current dark ages, and God has been raising up some Martin Luther's in the church to bring forth a balance and repentance to the body of Christ. Another incident happened when a certain actor was on a christian television show, and this particular actor played in a Christian oriented show. But the fact noted on the Christian show that this particular actor is a new thought minister who believes, according to the Christian Research Institute (CRI), that every person is part of God(pantheism) and who rejects Christ's unique divinity and atoning sacrifice on the cross. According to the CRI report, She explained her spiritual beliefs while the host nodded approvingly and offered no objection or biblical perspective. The audience applauded and cheered as the false religion began to rise up more powerfully right in the middle of the church. Discernment? Where have we gone to church? It's time that we seek God's truth like never before, and it's time that we get back to the principals and elementary gospel so that we can righteously discern the mixture that has infiltrated the gospel.
Prayer:
Lord, forgive us. Forgive us for not being able to discern between good and evil. Let your spirit rise up within us, and let your word so fill our hearts that we will allow the Spirit of your Resurrection to reveal that which needs to be revealed and discerned, Amen.
by Keith Edwards
Monday, September 6, 2010
Road To Apostasy September 6th Devotional
Read:
Jude 1;3
3 Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints.
A writer said one time: "That the apostasy of the early church came as a result of a greater desire to see the spread of its power and rule than to see new natures given to its individual members. The moment we covet a large following and rejoice in the crowd that is attracted by our presentation that we considered truth, and have not a great desire to see the nature of individuals changed according to the divine plan, we start to travel the same road to apostasy that leads to Rome and her daughters." This is so true for how the church can fall from God's first love and how she can be more concerned with power rather than concern for lost souls. We see this in some of the prophetic and apostolic movement. They are more concerned with the gifts' of God versus the giver of those gifts. A minister said one time that, "You know that God is in the midst when miracles and great things happen." Although this can be true, the greatest way you can tell a true revival is the repentant hearts of the people concerning our next generation, our nation, and concern for God's heart. If we put this as first priority then the gifts and power of God will be pure. We need to contend for the faith that was once delivered to the saints and stay true as the bride of Christ. I want to encourage us today to keep Christ the center of our life in every area, and let Him bring forth the glory in His way and His timing.
Prayer:
Lord, we ask that you will forgive us for loving the power more than loving you and what you are concerned with. Help us to keep our hearts fixed upon you in such a great way, and give us your heart for your temple, Amen.
by Keith Edwards
Jude 1;3
3 Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints.
A writer said one time: "That the apostasy of the early church came as a result of a greater desire to see the spread of its power and rule than to see new natures given to its individual members. The moment we covet a large following and rejoice in the crowd that is attracted by our presentation that we considered truth, and have not a great desire to see the nature of individuals changed according to the divine plan, we start to travel the same road to apostasy that leads to Rome and her daughters." This is so true for how the church can fall from God's first love and how she can be more concerned with power rather than concern for lost souls. We see this in some of the prophetic and apostolic movement. They are more concerned with the gifts' of God versus the giver of those gifts. A minister said one time that, "You know that God is in the midst when miracles and great things happen." Although this can be true, the greatest way you can tell a true revival is the repentant hearts of the people concerning our next generation, our nation, and concern for God's heart. If we put this as first priority then the gifts and power of God will be pure. We need to contend for the faith that was once delivered to the saints and stay true as the bride of Christ. I want to encourage us today to keep Christ the center of our life in every area, and let Him bring forth the glory in His way and His timing.
Prayer:
Lord, we ask that you will forgive us for loving the power more than loving you and what you are concerned with. Help us to keep our hearts fixed upon you in such a great way, and give us your heart for your temple, Amen.
by Keith Edwards
Sunday, September 5, 2010
He's Got The Keys September 5th Devotional
Read:
Matthew 27:52
52 The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life.
Also Read:
Revelation 1:18
18 I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.
It's good to know what Jesus really did for us on that cross. What Adam and Lucifer did was beyond what we can even imagine. God allowed a trust to be there for Lucifer and Adam, because fellowship can't be true without a will and a trust that can be broken. God didn't set Adam and Lucifer up for a fall. He didn't create them and say, "Now I want you to sin Adam!" Go ahead Lucifer! Do your thing. God didn't want any of this to happen, but it did. Gods' heart was so broken when this happened. That trust was broken. God had a plan though, and He told Satan in Genesis 3:15 that He was going to bring forth a seed that would crush the power that he had. Thank God that Jesus has the keys of death and Hades. Hades was a place where the saints of old were until Jesus died on the cross. His death brought forth a power that shook not only the earth, but scared the devil to death. I believe that every demon in hell shook with terror when Jesus took His last breath on the cross, and Jesus holds the keys. I remember meditating on this subject about the cross and how the devil wanted Jesus to die on that cross and that would be the end all. I fell asleep, and in a dream there were these people who didn't believe in God. I was the only one in the room that believed in Christ. The people in the room were Satan worshipers, and they shouted, "God is dead!" God is dead!" I immediately shouted back to them and said, " God is not dead but He is alive!" He is alive!" Then one of them brought a book to me and showed me a picture. In this picture was Jesus on the cross with demons rejoicing and dancing around the cross. I stood up and preached to them that God is not dead but He is alive and He was resurrected. Then I felt a hand grab me and pull me out of this room. I believe it was an angel. This angel took me outside and said these words. "Son, they don't understand that Jesus really died and is alive. Satan wants everyone who will ever be born to believe this lie, and many do. I awoke to realize that Jesus is alive, He does have the keys, and He was resurrected. Thank God for the resurrection today. I want you to realize and have a revelation today that Christ Jesus does live and He can strengthen you today in whatever you are facing. You can have hope today that there is a living God not only in the heavens, but within us.
Prayer:
Lord, we ask that you will give us that revelation that you do live. You are alive and you live within us as believers. Help us to cling on to the resurrection like never before, and help us to draw strength from you today. Thank you Lord for what you did on that cross, Amen.
by Keith Edwards
Matthew 27:52
52 The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life.
Also Read:
Revelation 1:18
18 I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.
It's good to know what Jesus really did for us on that cross. What Adam and Lucifer did was beyond what we can even imagine. God allowed a trust to be there for Lucifer and Adam, because fellowship can't be true without a will and a trust that can be broken. God didn't set Adam and Lucifer up for a fall. He didn't create them and say, "Now I want you to sin Adam!" Go ahead Lucifer! Do your thing. God didn't want any of this to happen, but it did. Gods' heart was so broken when this happened. That trust was broken. God had a plan though, and He told Satan in Genesis 3:15 that He was going to bring forth a seed that would crush the power that he had. Thank God that Jesus has the keys of death and Hades. Hades was a place where the saints of old were until Jesus died on the cross. His death brought forth a power that shook not only the earth, but scared the devil to death. I believe that every demon in hell shook with terror when Jesus took His last breath on the cross, and Jesus holds the keys. I remember meditating on this subject about the cross and how the devil wanted Jesus to die on that cross and that would be the end all. I fell asleep, and in a dream there were these people who didn't believe in God. I was the only one in the room that believed in Christ. The people in the room were Satan worshipers, and they shouted, "God is dead!" God is dead!" I immediately shouted back to them and said, " God is not dead but He is alive!" He is alive!" Then one of them brought a book to me and showed me a picture. In this picture was Jesus on the cross with demons rejoicing and dancing around the cross. I stood up and preached to them that God is not dead but He is alive and He was resurrected. Then I felt a hand grab me and pull me out of this room. I believe it was an angel. This angel took me outside and said these words. "Son, they don't understand that Jesus really died and is alive. Satan wants everyone who will ever be born to believe this lie, and many do. I awoke to realize that Jesus is alive, He does have the keys, and He was resurrected. Thank God for the resurrection today. I want you to realize and have a revelation today that Christ Jesus does live and He can strengthen you today in whatever you are facing. You can have hope today that there is a living God not only in the heavens, but within us.
Prayer:
Lord, we ask that you will give us that revelation that you do live. You are alive and you live within us as believers. Help us to cling on to the resurrection like never before, and help us to draw strength from you today. Thank you Lord for what you did on that cross, Amen.
by Keith Edwards
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Where's The Proof September 4th Devotional
Read:
Hebrews 11:3
3 By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.
I can remember back about six years ago playing racquetball, and played some tournaments getting a chance to meet different people from doctors, lawyers, Police officers etc. One particular day I went to work out and hit some ball a little at the gym and an attorney was there wanting to hit. We call it "hit" as a racquetball term. We played for an hour or so and came out of the court to sit down and shoot the breeze. On his shirt was written in big letters, "EVOLUTION" and thought this would be a good chance to witness. I asked the opening rhetorical question, "So, do you believe in God?" "No! I believe in evolution." I asked him if he thinks that evolution is science. His response was, "Oh yes, without a doubt!" and then asked him to tell me a time that scientists proved by observation and repeatable experimentation that evolution really exists, and I mentioned to him that there is an evolution that does exist and that's to change from one species to another species of the "same" kind. There is micro evolution and then there is macro evolution, but the other type of evolution has not and cannot exist as of today. Scientists have even tried to do it and it became mutated and fizzled out to destroy their conclusion. We talked for probably an hour, and my last statement to him was, "Id rather tell my kids that there are angels and there is a God then to tuck them in at night with no hope whatsoever after this life. I don't know exactly what my message to him did, but I'm sure it made him think just a little. How many times do we just accept something because we think that it is real. One day my little girl asked me the question, "Daddy! if evolution does exist, then why didn't the monkey's stop being monkeys?" That's a good question. In bible college we studied a little theology, and I can remember studying about God. The word for how God was always there and was not created is a word that means, "God Needs Nothing To Exist" and even though we can't necessarily prove that evolution or God exists by science doesn't mean that God doesn't exist. It is by faith that many believe in evolution, and it is by faith that we believe in Christ Jesus as our Lord. All throughout the old testament there are prophecies after prophecies about Jesus. It talks about where Jesus would be born, how Jesus would be crucified, the manner of Jesus' death, and God speaks in Genesis 3:15 about Jesus destroying the power of the devil by the seed. Even historians from the past that didn't necessarily believe in God documents that the words spoke about Jesus did come to past to the letter. Scientists can prove that there were earthquakes and other things that did happen according to the bible. I encourage you today to not just accept something because someone else says it, but accept the word of God that He is the only true and living God of our universe.
prayer:
Lord, even though we can't put you in a glass tube and study you, we know that you exist by faith. Help us Lord to walk this walk with your hand in our hand, and help us to increase in faith of your Son Jesus. We ask that you would give us the words to say to those that don't believe in you, and help us to continue on in what we believe. Amen.
by Keith Edwards
Hebrews 11:3
3 By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.
I can remember back about six years ago playing racquetball, and played some tournaments getting a chance to meet different people from doctors, lawyers, Police officers etc. One particular day I went to work out and hit some ball a little at the gym and an attorney was there wanting to hit. We call it "hit" as a racquetball term. We played for an hour or so and came out of the court to sit down and shoot the breeze. On his shirt was written in big letters, "EVOLUTION" and thought this would be a good chance to witness. I asked the opening rhetorical question, "So, do you believe in God?" "No! I believe in evolution." I asked him if he thinks that evolution is science. His response was, "Oh yes, without a doubt!" and then asked him to tell me a time that scientists proved by observation and repeatable experimentation that evolution really exists, and I mentioned to him that there is an evolution that does exist and that's to change from one species to another species of the "same" kind. There is micro evolution and then there is macro evolution, but the other type of evolution has not and cannot exist as of today. Scientists have even tried to do it and it became mutated and fizzled out to destroy their conclusion. We talked for probably an hour, and my last statement to him was, "Id rather tell my kids that there are angels and there is a God then to tuck them in at night with no hope whatsoever after this life. I don't know exactly what my message to him did, but I'm sure it made him think just a little. How many times do we just accept something because we think that it is real. One day my little girl asked me the question, "Daddy! if evolution does exist, then why didn't the monkey's stop being monkeys?" That's a good question. In bible college we studied a little theology, and I can remember studying about God. The word for how God was always there and was not created is a word that means, "God Needs Nothing To Exist" and even though we can't necessarily prove that evolution or God exists by science doesn't mean that God doesn't exist. It is by faith that many believe in evolution, and it is by faith that we believe in Christ Jesus as our Lord. All throughout the old testament there are prophecies after prophecies about Jesus. It talks about where Jesus would be born, how Jesus would be crucified, the manner of Jesus' death, and God speaks in Genesis 3:15 about Jesus destroying the power of the devil by the seed. Even historians from the past that didn't necessarily believe in God documents that the words spoke about Jesus did come to past to the letter. Scientists can prove that there were earthquakes and other things that did happen according to the bible. I encourage you today to not just accept something because someone else says it, but accept the word of God that He is the only true and living God of our universe.
prayer:
Lord, even though we can't put you in a glass tube and study you, we know that you exist by faith. Help us Lord to walk this walk with your hand in our hand, and help us to increase in faith of your Son Jesus. We ask that you would give us the words to say to those that don't believe in you, and help us to continue on in what we believe. Amen.
by Keith Edwards
Friday, September 3, 2010
The Darius In Our Life September 3rd 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 devastating 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.
by Keith Edwards
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 devastating 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.
by Keith Edwards
Thursday, September 2, 2010
The Four No More September 2nd Devotional
em>Read:
Ephesians 2:21
21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord.
So many in the church today doesn't understand what the church is really all about. They think it's going maybe a few times a year for certain functions. It seems like it's all about programs and shows in most churches today. The church was never supposed to be like an organization. It is a people who have been washed in the blood of Jesus and going forth to make disciples, be a temple that is built upon the foundation of Christ, and going forward outside the four walls of the church. The four no more! It's time that we get outside the four walls of the church and touch our community in a great way. It's time that we use what we have been taught in the church, and do the works of Jesus in this hour. The church is not a building or steeple. It is a people going forward to make new converts and grow in Him. Scripture teaches us that the minister's in the church equips the body of Christ to go out and do the very works of Jesus. Unfortunately, the pastor in some churches is doing everything and the sheep are just sitting in there little pew getting spiritually fat. Maybe you have been caught in a complacent spot today. You go to church, but you feel like you are not part of the body of Christ. I want to encourage you today to get connected like never before. Find that place in the body of Christ. If you haven't been born again you can today so that you can be a part of the body of Christ. It doesn't stop though with salvation. We should be a living epistle as a part of a local body going forward and advancing God's kingdom in a mighty way. It's surprising to me how many churches don't see outside there little church. They have there own agenda, and God is wanting His temple to shine outside those four walls. He wants us to extend our love for God to a hurting generation. The four no more.
Prayer:
Lord, we ask that you help us to see outside the four walls of the church. Help us Lord to be a true follower of you, and help us to see what you really called us to, Amen.
by Keith Edwards
Ephesians 2:21
21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord.
So many in the church today doesn't understand what the church is really all about. They think it's going maybe a few times a year for certain functions. It seems like it's all about programs and shows in most churches today. The church was never supposed to be like an organization. It is a people who have been washed in the blood of Jesus and going forth to make disciples, be a temple that is built upon the foundation of Christ, and going forward outside the four walls of the church. The four no more! It's time that we get outside the four walls of the church and touch our community in a great way. It's time that we use what we have been taught in the church, and do the works of Jesus in this hour. The church is not a building or steeple. It is a people going forward to make new converts and grow in Him. Scripture teaches us that the minister's in the church equips the body of Christ to go out and do the very works of Jesus. Unfortunately, the pastor in some churches is doing everything and the sheep are just sitting in there little pew getting spiritually fat. Maybe you have been caught in a complacent spot today. You go to church, but you feel like you are not part of the body of Christ. I want to encourage you today to get connected like never before. Find that place in the body of Christ. If you haven't been born again you can today so that you can be a part of the body of Christ. It doesn't stop though with salvation. We should be a living epistle as a part of a local body going forward and advancing God's kingdom in a mighty way. It's surprising to me how many churches don't see outside there little church. They have there own agenda, and God is wanting His temple to shine outside those four walls. He wants us to extend our love for God to a hurting generation. The four no more.
Prayer:
Lord, we ask that you help us to see outside the four walls of the church. Help us Lord to be a true follower of you, and help us to see what you really called us to, Amen.
by Keith Edwards
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
The Greatest Stumbling Block September 1st Devotional
em>Read:
23 Jesus turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men."
I can see Peter's heart drop when Jesus spoke these words. One moment Jesus is telling Peter that he is a rock, the next moment he is rebuking him. Peter struggles time after time with his own flesh and the thoughts that the enemy comes at us with. It is all with good attentions of course. After all, Peter was just concerned with Jesus not dying a horrible death. We see Peter pulling Jesus aside and trying to persuade Him not to go the way of God. We do this. We may not do this in a church setting, but we do this at times in our walk with the Lord. We pull Jesus aside and say, "Lord, I can't die to this flesh." Lord, I don't think that I should go through this trial the way I am going through this trial." The greatest stumbling block is our self. It is our mind, and I want to encourage us today to keep our mind fixed upon Christ Jesus. Lets keep our mind on the things of God instead of the things of men. It's amazing to see how God would wrap His loving arms around Peter even though he knew that Peter would deny him, rebuke him, and do other things that would cause us to think, "Jesus would never forgive this thing." God sees potential in us, and we need to let Christ do that perfect work in us. Lets let God do things His way in our life today, and lets remember that we need to carry the cross of Jesus in our walk with Him.
Prayer:
Lord, we ask that you shed light upon our hearts concerning your work in us as Christians. Help us to have a healthy repentance in our day to day walk, and help us to lay down this flesh when it starts to rise up against your work in us. We need you Lord today, and we ask this in you name, Amen.
by Keith Edwards
23 Jesus turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men."
I can see Peter's heart drop when Jesus spoke these words. One moment Jesus is telling Peter that he is a rock, the next moment he is rebuking him. Peter struggles time after time with his own flesh and the thoughts that the enemy comes at us with. It is all with good attentions of course. After all, Peter was just concerned with Jesus not dying a horrible death. We see Peter pulling Jesus aside and trying to persuade Him not to go the way of God. We do this. We may not do this in a church setting, but we do this at times in our walk with the Lord. We pull Jesus aside and say, "Lord, I can't die to this flesh." Lord, I don't think that I should go through this trial the way I am going through this trial." The greatest stumbling block is our self. It is our mind, and I want to encourage us today to keep our mind fixed upon Christ Jesus. Lets keep our mind on the things of God instead of the things of men. It's amazing to see how God would wrap His loving arms around Peter even though he knew that Peter would deny him, rebuke him, and do other things that would cause us to think, "Jesus would never forgive this thing." God sees potential in us, and we need to let Christ do that perfect work in us. Lets let God do things His way in our life today, and lets remember that we need to carry the cross of Jesus in our walk with Him.
Prayer:
Lord, we ask that you shed light upon our hearts concerning your work in us as Christians. Help us to have a healthy repentance in our day to day walk, and help us to lay down this flesh when it starts to rise up against your work in us. We need you Lord today, and we ask this in you name, Amen.
by Keith Edwards
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Crippled Love August 31st Devotional
Read:
Ephesians 5:2
2 and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
Also Read:
1 Corinthians 3:11
11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.
One day while I was at work some Jehovah's witnesses came to my home. My wife was unloading her car when they approached her. They asked if they could talk with her for a while about what they believed, but my wife said, "no, I'm a Christian, but my husband would love to talk with you..lol. My wife set me up. She wanted me to convert them. She set a time for Monday, and I thought this would be a good time just to listen to what they had to say and see where they were coming from. I made some coffee and here they came right on time. He was in a wheel chair and was pulling himself up on to my porch and to my front door. I reached down to help him but he insisted that he was alright and he would make it by himself. He had a young convert with him who was probably in his early twenty's. I pulled a couple of chairs out for them, and got them something to drink while I sat there and just listened to him talk. Being in bible college I studied about all of the different types of other religions, cults etc. and was prepared. They came to my house for about a month, and after hearing him talk for that whole month, he asked me if I had any questions? As I took another sip of my coffee, I said, "Yes, I have a few questions. First of all, I want to bring to the table who Charles Taze Russell really was, and how the prophecy of 1914 which claimed that Jesus would personally establish His kingdom then never came to pass as the prophecy claimed it would. While still in his teens and without formal theological education, Russell organized a Bible class whose members eventually made him "pastor." Before 1914, the Watchtower was predicting that God's Kingdom was to be set up on earth (not in heaven) in 1914! He said, " I'll have to look that up. Any other questions? Yes! Also, why did the Jehovah's witnesses take out the word God in John 1:1 and insert "a god" in there? He couldn't answer me, and that young kid was so confused as to what to say. He looked at me with such a hurt and said, "You protestant Christians are not who you claim to be! He began to proceed by telling me how he lost his legs. He told me that when he was in his teens, he got involved in a train accident and lost both of his legs. He told me that not one Christian from his church came to visit him, but one day he heard a knock on the door and there stood the Jehovah's witnesses extending their love to him. I was deeply touched by what he said, and told him that I am so sorry that this happened. I did pray with the two of them in Jesus name, and I told him that I understand your hurt, but there are Christians out there that do extend the love of Christ to the hurting. He got upset and told his convert to pack up and get out of here. I helped him out the door. Crippled love? How many of us as Christians reach out to a hurting generation. I know that I need to do more of this, and it's a shame for us to let the hurting reach out to crippled religions because they are doing more than we are concerning this. I want to exhort us today to reach out to the hurting. They are all around, and we can find ministry in a million places if we just open our eyes.
Prayer:
Lord forgive us. As Christians we've done all but walk in love to a hurting generation. Help us to walk in love and show forth your heart to those around us. We long to be the church that you desire for us to be. Turn our crippled love to a pure love in your name we pray. Amen.
by Keith Edwards
Ephesians 5:2
2 and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
Also Read:
1 Corinthians 3:11
11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.
One day while I was at work some Jehovah's witnesses came to my home. My wife was unloading her car when they approached her. They asked if they could talk with her for a while about what they believed, but my wife said, "no, I'm a Christian, but my husband would love to talk with you..lol. My wife set me up. She wanted me to convert them. She set a time for Monday, and I thought this would be a good time just to listen to what they had to say and see where they were coming from. I made some coffee and here they came right on time. He was in a wheel chair and was pulling himself up on to my porch and to my front door. I reached down to help him but he insisted that he was alright and he would make it by himself. He had a young convert with him who was probably in his early twenty's. I pulled a couple of chairs out for them, and got them something to drink while I sat there and just listened to him talk. Being in bible college I studied about all of the different types of other religions, cults etc. and was prepared. They came to my house for about a month, and after hearing him talk for that whole month, he asked me if I had any questions? As I took another sip of my coffee, I said, "Yes, I have a few questions. First of all, I want to bring to the table who Charles Taze Russell really was, and how the prophecy of 1914 which claimed that Jesus would personally establish His kingdom then never came to pass as the prophecy claimed it would. While still in his teens and without formal theological education, Russell organized a Bible class whose members eventually made him "pastor." Before 1914, the Watchtower was predicting that God's Kingdom was to be set up on earth (not in heaven) in 1914! He said, " I'll have to look that up. Any other questions? Yes! Also, why did the Jehovah's witnesses take out the word God in John 1:1 and insert "a god" in there? He couldn't answer me, and that young kid was so confused as to what to say. He looked at me with such a hurt and said, "You protestant Christians are not who you claim to be! He began to proceed by telling me how he lost his legs. He told me that when he was in his teens, he got involved in a train accident and lost both of his legs. He told me that not one Christian from his church came to visit him, but one day he heard a knock on the door and there stood the Jehovah's witnesses extending their love to him. I was deeply touched by what he said, and told him that I am so sorry that this happened. I did pray with the two of them in Jesus name, and I told him that I understand your hurt, but there are Christians out there that do extend the love of Christ to the hurting. He got upset and told his convert to pack up and get out of here. I helped him out the door. Crippled love? How many of us as Christians reach out to a hurting generation. I know that I need to do more of this, and it's a shame for us to let the hurting reach out to crippled religions because they are doing more than we are concerning this. I want to exhort us today to reach out to the hurting. They are all around, and we can find ministry in a million places if we just open our eyes.
Prayer:
Lord forgive us. As Christians we've done all but walk in love to a hurting generation. Help us to walk in love and show forth your heart to those around us. We long to be the church that you desire for us to be. Turn our crippled love to a pure love in your name we pray. Amen.
by Keith Edwards
Monday, August 30, 2010
You Done It Unto Me August 30th Devotional
Read:
Matthew 25:40
40And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
I can remember back about ten years ago my wife and I was involved with helping the homeless. It was through our church we were members at. My wife is very good with that, and she flows in that type of ministry, but this is not really what I wanted to do I said to myself. Well, I knew the Lord was about to show me something. In this program we would minister to them, feed them, and then we would guide them to the showers that the church had there designated for the homeless. The one homeless person that I got to help had MS, so it took a while to walk him down, what I thought was the longest hallway ever. I helped him to the showers and waited on him outside the door there. I began to hear him yelling for help. I was out there just doing a little praying. I don't remember exactly what I was praying about, it might have been somewhere along the lines of "Lord I want to know your will" lol. Anyway, he still was yelling as I was in my own little world with the Lord. I then peeked in the door and saw him trying to put on his socks. I immediately ran to him and grabbed the socks. I told him that I would help him get his socks on. As I pulled one of the socks on, I heard a voice speak right through me, "You've done it to the least of these you've done it unto me." I felt the Holy Spirit so strongly in that room. I helped him get his socks and shoes on and lead him back to the cafeteria for more ministry. The Lord taught me something that Friday night. How many times do we get caught up in the hype of church things. We love the programs and the worship music. We maybe love the preaching and the teaching. There's nothing wrong with these things when our heart is right, but Sometimes we love the things of God more than the giver of those things. Oh! that we may hear the heartbeat of God today like never before. We are always praying for God's will and get frustrated because we can't seem to "hear" His voice when He specifically told us His will. James 1:27 tells us that Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. Jesus wants us to have His heart and to have His heart is to be concerned for the poor, to have a heart for lost souls, and to care for the orphanage and widows. When we do this God will move us to that place that we earnestly pray for. These things will never be forgotten in God's eyes, and when judgment day comes for the righteous these things will be brought to our attention. We will have bad motives judged as well. We all have them. We need to have the heart for the very things that Jesus has a heart for. I want to challenge you today. Find a ministry to feed the poor or do something along these lines. I need to do more of this myself. When we have a heart for these things we have the very heartbeat of God. It may be helping a homeless man put his socks on, or it could be giving a meal to a homeless person, or it could be getting a glass of water to someone who is thirsty. There is ministry all around us. We just have to open our eyes.
prayer:
Lord we come to you in humbleness now. Forgive us Lord if we are doing everything but what you commanded us to do. We pray Lord that we would hear your voice concerning your heart like never before. We long to follow you Lord, and to seek your face and not just your hand. We long to stretch out our love to even the very least in the worlds eyes. Help us to open our eyes to what we need to do in Jesus name we pray. Amen.
Matthew 25:40
40And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
I can remember back about ten years ago my wife and I was involved with helping the homeless. It was through our church we were members at. My wife is very good with that, and she flows in that type of ministry, but this is not really what I wanted to do I said to myself. Well, I knew the Lord was about to show me something. In this program we would minister to them, feed them, and then we would guide them to the showers that the church had there designated for the homeless. The one homeless person that I got to help had MS, so it took a while to walk him down, what I thought was the longest hallway ever. I helped him to the showers and waited on him outside the door there. I began to hear him yelling for help. I was out there just doing a little praying. I don't remember exactly what I was praying about, it might have been somewhere along the lines of "Lord I want to know your will" lol. Anyway, he still was yelling as I was in my own little world with the Lord. I then peeked in the door and saw him trying to put on his socks. I immediately ran to him and grabbed the socks. I told him that I would help him get his socks on. As I pulled one of the socks on, I heard a voice speak right through me, "You've done it to the least of these you've done it unto me." I felt the Holy Spirit so strongly in that room. I helped him get his socks and shoes on and lead him back to the cafeteria for more ministry. The Lord taught me something that Friday night. How many times do we get caught up in the hype of church things. We love the programs and the worship music. We maybe love the preaching and the teaching. There's nothing wrong with these things when our heart is right, but Sometimes we love the things of God more than the giver of those things. Oh! that we may hear the heartbeat of God today like never before. We are always praying for God's will and get frustrated because we can't seem to "hear" His voice when He specifically told us His will. James 1:27 tells us that Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. Jesus wants us to have His heart and to have His heart is to be concerned for the poor, to have a heart for lost souls, and to care for the orphanage and widows. When we do this God will move us to that place that we earnestly pray for. These things will never be forgotten in God's eyes, and when judgment day comes for the righteous these things will be brought to our attention. We will have bad motives judged as well. We all have them. We need to have the heart for the very things that Jesus has a heart for. I want to challenge you today. Find a ministry to feed the poor or do something along these lines. I need to do more of this myself. When we have a heart for these things we have the very heartbeat of God. It may be helping a homeless man put his socks on, or it could be giving a meal to a homeless person, or it could be getting a glass of water to someone who is thirsty. There is ministry all around us. We just have to open our eyes.
prayer:
Lord we come to you in humbleness now. Forgive us Lord if we are doing everything but what you commanded us to do. We pray Lord that we would hear your voice concerning your heart like never before. We long to follow you Lord, and to seek your face and not just your hand. We long to stretch out our love to even the very least in the worlds eyes. Help us to open our eyes to what we need to do in Jesus name we pray. Amen.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Overworked & Under Prayed by Heidi & Keith Edwards August 29th Devotional
Read:
Matthew 11:28 Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.
“Overworked and under Prayed”
What is your time spent on? Where is your focus?
Are you a gap filler? Do you run to and fro, back and forth everyday? Do you feel like your constantly busy and you don’t have enough time for yourself or to do the things you want to do.
How much time to you spend with the Lord during a typical day?
In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3
You don’t have to be the gap filler, or the activity leader, cupcake baker etc. to be a good mom, Christian, or servant of the Lord. As stay at home moms a lot of people would love to have our valuable time. It’s ok to say no to things. I am not saying to say no to everything, just some things.
If I get so busy that I don’t have time for my family, that doesn’t make sense. I chose to make the sacrifice to stay at home to serve my family right? If other commitments are keeping me from doing what needs to be done at home, I have lost balance and my peace. By the end of the day I want to collapse not spend time with God or my hubby, nor have I spent quality time with my kids during the day.
Rest doesn’t necessarily mean just sleep. It also means resting in the Lord, putting your cares upon Him. Spending time with Him, a few stolen moments.
A good example of this is Mary and Martha. One was running to and fro while the other was just sitting at feet of Jesus. Which would you rather do? Who do you think was calmer and refreshed after dinner?
Now as they were traveling along, He entered a village; and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home.
She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord’s feet, listening to His word.
But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me.”
But the Lord answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things;
But only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:38-42 (I am so Martha….)
Ask the Lord to put balance back into your life.
Even the Lord rested –
And God rested on the seventh day from all His works Hebrews 4:4
Our bodies need rest to rejuvenate and to restore. So does our spirit. We need our time with the Lord a quiet restful peaceful time.
I always feel better after my time with the Lord and I feel like I can tackle anything afterward.
Now how do you do it? (I have kids,… right.)
SAY NO to things. I’m not saying everything. Just some things. If you don’t fill the gap someone else will and you will give them an opportunity to serve.
Spend more time with the kids. I find if I give the kids some undivided attention that they are more apt to play a little by themselves, freeing up my time. (you will be able to do this if you say no to other commitments)
NAP TIME!
Plan out other necessary things like shopping, errands, bill paying. Organize them and things will run more smoothly.
Get up a little early, this is my favorite.
Think of all the times you have to STOP. At a light, in a line, waiting for the doctor, in traffic, etc. use those moment to reflect upon the Lord. Ask for His direction, REST or cast your cares upon Him.
S – Seriously
T- Taking
O - Opportunities to
P - Pray
by Heidi Edwards
prayer:
Lord we come to you with the weights we seem to carry sometimes. Help us Lord to know when to say no and when to stop and pray at times we can be praying. We give you all Lord and give us the grace in every situation that we're facing in this year. We ask it all in your name. Amen.
Matthew 11:28 Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.
“Overworked and under Prayed”
What is your time spent on? Where is your focus?
Are you a gap filler? Do you run to and fro, back and forth everyday? Do you feel like your constantly busy and you don’t have enough time for yourself or to do the things you want to do.
How much time to you spend with the Lord during a typical day?
In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3
You don’t have to be the gap filler, or the activity leader, cupcake baker etc. to be a good mom, Christian, or servant of the Lord. As stay at home moms a lot of people would love to have our valuable time. It’s ok to say no to things. I am not saying to say no to everything, just some things.
If I get so busy that I don’t have time for my family, that doesn’t make sense. I chose to make the sacrifice to stay at home to serve my family right? If other commitments are keeping me from doing what needs to be done at home, I have lost balance and my peace. By the end of the day I want to collapse not spend time with God or my hubby, nor have I spent quality time with my kids during the day.
Rest doesn’t necessarily mean just sleep. It also means resting in the Lord, putting your cares upon Him. Spending time with Him, a few stolen moments.
A good example of this is Mary and Martha. One was running to and fro while the other was just sitting at feet of Jesus. Which would you rather do? Who do you think was calmer and refreshed after dinner?
Now as they were traveling along, He entered a village; and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home.
She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord’s feet, listening to His word.
But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me.”
But the Lord answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things;
But only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:38-42 (I am so Martha….)
Ask the Lord to put balance back into your life.
Even the Lord rested –
And God rested on the seventh day from all His works Hebrews 4:4
Our bodies need rest to rejuvenate and to restore. So does our spirit. We need our time with the Lord a quiet restful peaceful time.
I always feel better after my time with the Lord and I feel like I can tackle anything afterward.
Now how do you do it? (I have kids,… right.)
SAY NO to things. I’m not saying everything. Just some things. If you don’t fill the gap someone else will and you will give them an opportunity to serve.
Spend more time with the kids. I find if I give the kids some undivided attention that they are more apt to play a little by themselves, freeing up my time. (you will be able to do this if you say no to other commitments)
NAP TIME!
Plan out other necessary things like shopping, errands, bill paying. Organize them and things will run more smoothly.
Get up a little early, this is my favorite.
Think of all the times you have to STOP. At a light, in a line, waiting for the doctor, in traffic, etc. use those moment to reflect upon the Lord. Ask for His direction, REST or cast your cares upon Him.
S – Seriously
T- Taking
O - Opportunities to
P - Pray
by Heidi Edwards
prayer:
Lord we come to you with the weights we seem to carry sometimes. Help us Lord to know when to say no and when to stop and pray at times we can be praying. We give you all Lord and give us the grace in every situation that we're facing in this year. We ask it all in your name. Amen.
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Father! Will You Accept Me Now august 28th Devotional
Read:
Romans 15:7
Therefore, accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God
On April 26 2007 around 10:00 p:m in my prayer time, I was worshiping the Lord in song and music. The Lord began to speak to me about being accepted by him. I laid my guitar down and began to pray and humble myself before the Holy Spirit. I prayed a prayer that God would help me to believe that he is for me. I began to weep before the Lord, and God spoke to me, “Son, stop presenting the gifts that I have given you to be accepted by me.” It’s only by faith alone that we are accepted. The Holy Spirit is grieved by this. Lord, here is my teaching gift. Do you accept me now Lord. Lord here is my attendance to church. Here is this and here is that. Now we do these things unto the Lord, but we need to have the right motive from why we do these things. Maybe you just love the idea of God than God himself. My friend, God accepts you because you repented and was made new in Him. We do the things of God not because we do them alone but rather because we have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit helping us by His grace to do the things that we need to do. It's so easy to get to this place and God has His hands out to you today to bring you back to that first love with Him, a love that surpasses the idea of God, our gifts, or anything else that we seem to enjoy and move in apart from the inner strength of Christ within us. It’s by faith alone, and that faith alone will cause our father to shine his love down upon us as sons and daughters of the most high, and with that anointing of God will come the strength and desire to walk in the spirit. It will give us that assurance that he does love us, and he does care for us. When we don’t feel like he really cares for us, we may be very well walking the works of our own righteousness. It’s not the question of will God accept us, but the realization that he already accepted us when we accepted him as our Lord and Master. Now let’s worship him with that realization that he has accepted us. Let’s present our gifts to the body of Christ to encourage and come into the unity of Christ Jesus as one. It is very important what we bring into the presence of God. We need to understand who we are in Christ Jesus, and we will understand that the Father God does accept us.
Prayer
Lord we come to you in your name and thank you that we are accepted by you, not because of the things we necessarily do alone, but because of who you are within us, and who you are within us will help us walk in your spirit. Thank you Lord for the gifts and talents we have, but most of all we thank you for who your are. Amen.
by Keith Edwards
Romans 15:7
Therefore, accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God
On April 26 2007 around 10:00 p:m in my prayer time, I was worshiping the Lord in song and music. The Lord began to speak to me about being accepted by him. I laid my guitar down and began to pray and humble myself before the Holy Spirit. I prayed a prayer that God would help me to believe that he is for me. I began to weep before the Lord, and God spoke to me, “Son, stop presenting the gifts that I have given you to be accepted by me.” It’s only by faith alone that we are accepted. The Holy Spirit is grieved by this. Lord, here is my teaching gift. Do you accept me now Lord. Lord here is my attendance to church. Here is this and here is that. Now we do these things unto the Lord, but we need to have the right motive from why we do these things. Maybe you just love the idea of God than God himself. My friend, God accepts you because you repented and was made new in Him. We do the things of God not because we do them alone but rather because we have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit helping us by His grace to do the things that we need to do. It's so easy to get to this place and God has His hands out to you today to bring you back to that first love with Him, a love that surpasses the idea of God, our gifts, or anything else that we seem to enjoy and move in apart from the inner strength of Christ within us. It’s by faith alone, and that faith alone will cause our father to shine his love down upon us as sons and daughters of the most high, and with that anointing of God will come the strength and desire to walk in the spirit. It will give us that assurance that he does love us, and he does care for us. When we don’t feel like he really cares for us, we may be very well walking the works of our own righteousness. It’s not the question of will God accept us, but the realization that he already accepted us when we accepted him as our Lord and Master. Now let’s worship him with that realization that he has accepted us. Let’s present our gifts to the body of Christ to encourage and come into the unity of Christ Jesus as one. It is very important what we bring into the presence of God. We need to understand who we are in Christ Jesus, and we will understand that the Father God does accept us.
Prayer
Lord we come to you in your name and thank you that we are accepted by you, not because of the things we necessarily do alone, but because of who you are within us, and who you are within us will help us walk in your spirit. Thank you Lord for the gifts and talents we have, but most of all we thank you for who your are. Amen.
by Keith Edwards
Friday, August 27, 2010
Good! Now Go Get A Job August 27th Devotional
Read:
Philippians 1:6
6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
A teacher from our bible college told us that when he graduated from bible college, he went up to his pastor and said, "I know what the Lord has called me to do! He has called me into full time ministry." The pastor looked at him with a grin and said, "Good! now go get a job! God needs to mold and shape some things in you. This teacher did what he said and went to Arby's to work scrubbing toilets and cooking hamburgers, we'll, not in that order lol. Anyway, he did it for three months and after those three months of God shaping things in him, God moved him into full time ministry. This is so important for us to realize that one, if we have been called to full time ministry we can have hope that God will move us to the place we need to be in. Two, if you are not called in full time ministry, you can have a good attitude where you are at, and God will begin to unfold you destiny and dreams here on earth. As we are faithful in our home church, the pastor will see the gifts' in each one of us, and our calling will unfold before us as well. I want to encourage us today to remain as faithful as we can as God moves us where we need to be. God will be faithful to complete our calling, and love us too much to let us do our own thing, and our own thing will kill our first love with our Father God.
Prayer:
Lord, we ask that you will help us to remain faithful where we are at until you move us where you want us to be. Help us Lord to keep our first love with you in the middle of it all.
Philippians 1:6
6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
A teacher from our bible college told us that when he graduated from bible college, he went up to his pastor and said, "I know what the Lord has called me to do! He has called me into full time ministry." The pastor looked at him with a grin and said, "Good! now go get a job! God needs to mold and shape some things in you. This teacher did what he said and went to Arby's to work scrubbing toilets and cooking hamburgers, we'll, not in that order lol. Anyway, he did it for three months and after those three months of God shaping things in him, God moved him into full time ministry. This is so important for us to realize that one, if we have been called to full time ministry we can have hope that God will move us to the place we need to be in. Two, if you are not called in full time ministry, you can have a good attitude where you are at, and God will begin to unfold you destiny and dreams here on earth. As we are faithful in our home church, the pastor will see the gifts' in each one of us, and our calling will unfold before us as well. I want to encourage us today to remain as faithful as we can as God moves us where we need to be. God will be faithful to complete our calling, and love us too much to let us do our own thing, and our own thing will kill our first love with our Father God.
Prayer:
Lord, we ask that you will help us to remain faithful where we are at until you move us where you want us to be. Help us Lord to keep our first love with you in the middle of it all.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Priority In The Home August 25th Devotional
Read:
Ephesians 5:25
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her
Also 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?)
It was late that one night, and my son looks up at me with those exciting eyes and says, "Daddy, will you play little cars with me?" I was thinking that I could do the usual and spend about five minutes with him just to get it over with. For some reason or another I spent about twenty minutes with him playing cars. Then I felt compelled to play chase around the house, and then I spent some quality time with my little nine year old girl. Then I felt like I needed to read the bible kids book to my kids, so I reached over to get the book and read to them for about twenty minutes. My little boy looked up at me with those huge colorful brown eyes, and he said with the most gentle voice, "I love it when you read the bible book to me Daddy." WoW! what a night. You know, I felt good though when I spent that quality time with my family. I had forgotten what I prayed for earlier that day. You know, "Lord I want to know your will?" Give me direction Lord! As I was on my way to work that night, the Lord began to discipline me. I don't ever cry, so for me to shed some tears was quite unusual. I shed alot of tears that night. The Lord began to show me where I was missing it in my time management. Although I was living a moral life and wasn't sinning in my personal life with lust or anything else like that, the Lord told me that my sin was not having a balance with my family. Many times we can even do good things, and our family is suffering right before us. Yet we are oblivious to it for some reason or another. We can be doing ministry and good things, but we need balance in our family. Ministry is in our home, and we need to set an example as Husbands and Fathers to our wife and children. I found myself working on my new Christian album, working on my ministry, and other things that was not a good balance in my own home. My wife was very excited and she called me later that night while I was at work and told me that God was dealing with her about some things because of the example I was showing to her. You may be at that place minister of God where you are too busy to spend quality time with your family. You may not necessarily be in full time ministry, but as a Father and Husband you are a Priest to your own home. Ministry is definitely in the home, and God can touch your life and set you on that course that you try and fulfill yourself apart from managing your family. Last thing in this devotion that I want to bring forth to you as we depart is the definition for manage here in 1 Timothy 3:5. It means to pay close attention to. I want you to reflect on this scripture today, and I encourage you to pray about time management in your own home.
prayer:
Lord we come to you in repentance for not watching over our family like we need to. We've done all but this one thing, and this is very important to you Lord. Help us to spend quality time with our family, and give us wisdom on how to make the changes in our lives. Amen.
Ephesians 5:25
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her
Also 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?)
It was late that one night, and my son looks up at me with those exciting eyes and says, "Daddy, will you play little cars with me?" I was thinking that I could do the usual and spend about five minutes with him just to get it over with. For some reason or another I spent about twenty minutes with him playing cars. Then I felt compelled to play chase around the house, and then I spent some quality time with my little nine year old girl. Then I felt like I needed to read the bible kids book to my kids, so I reached over to get the book and read to them for about twenty minutes. My little boy looked up at me with those huge colorful brown eyes, and he said with the most gentle voice, "I love it when you read the bible book to me Daddy." WoW! what a night. You know, I felt good though when I spent that quality time with my family. I had forgotten what I prayed for earlier that day. You know, "Lord I want to know your will?" Give me direction Lord! As I was on my way to work that night, the Lord began to discipline me. I don't ever cry, so for me to shed some tears was quite unusual. I shed alot of tears that night. The Lord began to show me where I was missing it in my time management. Although I was living a moral life and wasn't sinning in my personal life with lust or anything else like that, the Lord told me that my sin was not having a balance with my family. Many times we can even do good things, and our family is suffering right before us. Yet we are oblivious to it for some reason or another. We can be doing ministry and good things, but we need balance in our family. Ministry is in our home, and we need to set an example as Husbands and Fathers to our wife and children. I found myself working on my new Christian album, working on my ministry, and other things that was not a good balance in my own home. My wife was very excited and she called me later that night while I was at work and told me that God was dealing with her about some things because of the example I was showing to her. You may be at that place minister of God where you are too busy to spend quality time with your family. You may not necessarily be in full time ministry, but as a Father and Husband you are a Priest to your own home. Ministry is definitely in the home, and God can touch your life and set you on that course that you try and fulfill yourself apart from managing your family. Last thing in this devotion that I want to bring forth to you as we depart is the definition for manage here in 1 Timothy 3:5. It means to pay close attention to. I want you to reflect on this scripture today, and I encourage you to pray about time management in your own home.
prayer:
Lord we come to you in repentance for not watching over our family like we need to. We've done all but this one thing, and this is very important to you Lord. Help us to spend quality time with our family, and give us wisdom on how to make the changes in our lives. Amen.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
The Mercy Seat august 24th Devotional
Read:
Romans 3:25
25 Whom God put forward before the eyes of all as a mercy seat and propitiation by His blood [the cleansing and life-giving sacrifice of atonement and reconciliation, to be received] through faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in His divine forbearance He had passed over and ignored former sins without punishment.
The greatest thing that a Christian can learn in his or her walk with the Lord is having a deeper revelation everyday of Christ, and His death, burial, and resurrection. What we focus on through prayer and worship is very important how deep will can enter into the holy of holies. The bible says that because of Jesus shedding His blood upon the mercy seat of God, it appeased the wrath of God upon man. God now sees us as righteous by the blood of His son Jesus Christ. The Greek word for propitiation is hilastarion, and it means mercy seat for our sins. The secret for walking in the spirit is by first submitting to what God has already done for us. We need to walk in that which we have recieved. In the old testament the priest would take the blood of animals and sprinkle it upon the mercy seat upon the ark of the covenant. This would not take away the sins completely, but it would cover their sins temporarily. The priests would have to do this periodically for the sins of Israel. Christ was the ultimate sacrifice, and through our faith in this revelation will come a deeper revelation of how God really sees us through our worship and prayer. Christ' death and resurrection caused us to be a child of God now. I want us to focus on how much God really loves us today. He loved us so much that he allowed His very Son to die upon a cross for us. Christ' blood satisfied God, and now we are righteous by that ultimate sacrifice. Another thing that the propitiation of the blood upon the mercy seat did is cause the Holy spirit to come and indwell within us as believers, which Jesus told His disciples would come after He was crucified. When Jesus blood satisfied God it brought forth the anointing.
prayer:
Lord, we enter in your holy of holies by that precious blood. It's only by that blood Lord that we can enter, and your blood heals us, delivers us, and saves us. Thank you for that blood you shed Jesus, and as we offer up incense of worship to you today let your glory so fall upon us as your children and priests of your holy throne, Amen.
by Keith Edwards
Romans 3:25
25 Whom God put forward before the eyes of all as a mercy seat and propitiation by His blood [the cleansing and life-giving sacrifice of atonement and reconciliation, to be received] through faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in His divine forbearance He had passed over and ignored former sins without punishment.
The greatest thing that a Christian can learn in his or her walk with the Lord is having a deeper revelation everyday of Christ, and His death, burial, and resurrection. What we focus on through prayer and worship is very important how deep will can enter into the holy of holies. The bible says that because of Jesus shedding His blood upon the mercy seat of God, it appeased the wrath of God upon man. God now sees us as righteous by the blood of His son Jesus Christ. The Greek word for propitiation is hilastarion, and it means mercy seat for our sins. The secret for walking in the spirit is by first submitting to what God has already done for us. We need to walk in that which we have recieved. In the old testament the priest would take the blood of animals and sprinkle it upon the mercy seat upon the ark of the covenant. This would not take away the sins completely, but it would cover their sins temporarily. The priests would have to do this periodically for the sins of Israel. Christ was the ultimate sacrifice, and through our faith in this revelation will come a deeper revelation of how God really sees us through our worship and prayer. Christ' death and resurrection caused us to be a child of God now. I want us to focus on how much God really loves us today. He loved us so much that he allowed His very Son to die upon a cross for us. Christ' blood satisfied God, and now we are righteous by that ultimate sacrifice. Another thing that the propitiation of the blood upon the mercy seat did is cause the Holy spirit to come and indwell within us as believers, which Jesus told His disciples would come after He was crucified. When Jesus blood satisfied God it brought forth the anointing.
prayer:
Lord, we enter in your holy of holies by that precious blood. It's only by that blood Lord that we can enter, and your blood heals us, delivers us, and saves us. Thank you for that blood you shed Jesus, and as we offer up incense of worship to you today let your glory so fall upon us as your children and priests of your holy throne, Amen.
by Keith Edwards
Monday, August 23, 2010
Holy Seed August 23rd Devotional by Keith Edwards
Read:
Ezra 9:1,2
1Now when these things were done, the princes came to me, saying, The people of Israel, and the priests, and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the people of the lands, doing according to their abominations, even of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites.
2For they have taken of their daughters for themselves, and for their sons: so that the holy seed have mingled themselves with the people of those lands: yea, the hand of the princes and rulers hath been chief in this trespass.
All throughout the old testament God wanted to keep the seed or lineage pure for the birth of Jesus, and marrying unto foreign wives who were involved in idolatry was forbidden from God for the Jews. Eighty years prior to Ezra coming to Jerusalem as a spiritual leader, the Jews had done this, and Ezra gets there with sadness in his heart. He knew this is what destroyed Jerusalem, so he falls on the ground and cries out to God for forgiveness. The leaders came to Ezra and said that they to were sorry for this sin and told Ezra that we can't do this all at one time, but we will begin the process of divorcing the foreign wives. They did do this in time, and Jerusalem carried on the journey of completing the reconstruction of Jerusalem with Nehemiah coming on the scene a few years later. I want us to see two things here for us as the body of Christ. The bible tells us in the new testament that we are living stones and are a temple not made with hands, but a spiritual temple called by a new name. We have a holy seed that is the great commission, and we are to go forth in the mighty name of Jesus to win souls and do the works of Christ, and the seed will bring forth pure fruit as the Holy Seed. The other thing I want us to see is that the leaders told Ezra that it would take some time but that they would divorce the foreign wives they intermingled with. It's like this today. God is in the process of filtering out any mixture that does not belong in His marriage as the body of Christ, and He is wanting His body to be pure and holy. Also, restoration is a process, and many today are in that process of repentance and divorcing those things that we let in the church. We have allowed politics and things into the church and it has hindered the move of God. I believe that in the tip end of the last days we are going to see something that hasn't been in the church in a long time. We are going to see millions come to Christ by true conversion, and we are going to see many minister's repent and change some of the things they have been teaching, but we will see a great apostasy the bible teaches come forth as well. It is a separation of the tares and wheat. I don't think that God wants us as the body of Christ to just sit around and watch the great apostasy unfold before us. God needs His body to still go forth in His name and proclaim the message of the cross to an ungodly world. It is the same process that Ezra and the Jewish leaders went through. We need to get the mess out and bring the real in. We need true revival, and true revival will always fill so pure and holy. The church is looking for the next revival, and what they are looking for won't come unless there is a heart of repentance and humbleness for Christ Jesus. Let's look to Jesus today and lift Him up.
Prayer:
Lord we come to you in your mighty name and ask that you will forgive us for letting a mixture come in to that holy seed. We know Lord that this is what happened to Jerusalem when they sinned, and this is what can happen to us if we fail to stay pure and holy. Help us Lord to focus on you, and help us to repent so that great revival can be born again. Amen.
by Keith Edwards
Ezra 9:1,2
1Now when these things were done, the princes came to me, saying, The people of Israel, and the priests, and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the people of the lands, doing according to their abominations, even of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites.
2For they have taken of their daughters for themselves, and for their sons: so that the holy seed have mingled themselves with the people of those lands: yea, the hand of the princes and rulers hath been chief in this trespass.
All throughout the old testament God wanted to keep the seed or lineage pure for the birth of Jesus, and marrying unto foreign wives who were involved in idolatry was forbidden from God for the Jews. Eighty years prior to Ezra coming to Jerusalem as a spiritual leader, the Jews had done this, and Ezra gets there with sadness in his heart. He knew this is what destroyed Jerusalem, so he falls on the ground and cries out to God for forgiveness. The leaders came to Ezra and said that they to were sorry for this sin and told Ezra that we can't do this all at one time, but we will begin the process of divorcing the foreign wives. They did do this in time, and Jerusalem carried on the journey of completing the reconstruction of Jerusalem with Nehemiah coming on the scene a few years later. I want us to see two things here for us as the body of Christ. The bible tells us in the new testament that we are living stones and are a temple not made with hands, but a spiritual temple called by a new name. We have a holy seed that is the great commission, and we are to go forth in the mighty name of Jesus to win souls and do the works of Christ, and the seed will bring forth pure fruit as the Holy Seed. The other thing I want us to see is that the leaders told Ezra that it would take some time but that they would divorce the foreign wives they intermingled with. It's like this today. God is in the process of filtering out any mixture that does not belong in His marriage as the body of Christ, and He is wanting His body to be pure and holy. Also, restoration is a process, and many today are in that process of repentance and divorcing those things that we let in the church. We have allowed politics and things into the church and it has hindered the move of God. I believe that in the tip end of the last days we are going to see something that hasn't been in the church in a long time. We are going to see millions come to Christ by true conversion, and we are going to see many minister's repent and change some of the things they have been teaching, but we will see a great apostasy the bible teaches come forth as well. It is a separation of the tares and wheat. I don't think that God wants us as the body of Christ to just sit around and watch the great apostasy unfold before us. God needs His body to still go forth in His name and proclaim the message of the cross to an ungodly world. It is the same process that Ezra and the Jewish leaders went through. We need to get the mess out and bring the real in. We need true revival, and true revival will always fill so pure and holy. The church is looking for the next revival, and what they are looking for won't come unless there is a heart of repentance and humbleness for Christ Jesus. Let's look to Jesus today and lift Him up.
Prayer:
Lord we come to you in your mighty name and ask that you will forgive us for letting a mixture come in to that holy seed. We know Lord that this is what happened to Jerusalem when they sinned, and this is what can happen to us if we fail to stay pure and holy. Help us Lord to focus on you, and help us to repent so that great revival can be born again. Amen.
by Keith Edwards
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Worship Through Revelation August 22nd Devotional
Read:
John 4:24
24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."
Today I want us to focus on worship. The Lord wants us to worship Him in spirit and in truth. The definition for truth here in John 4:24 is the truth as taught in the Christian religion, respecting God and the execution of his purposes through Christ, and respecting the duties of man, opposing alike to the superstitions of the Gentiles and the inventions of the Jews, and the corrupt opinions and precepts of false teachers even among Christians. We need such a revelation through our worship and adoration to our Lord Jesus Christ. What we focus on through our revelation is the difference between hearing God's voice, and not hearing His voice clearly. In this type of worship will come a strength within us to understand His will for us here in our lifetime. I have found that as I worship the Lord and sit at His feet, there is such a fulfilling of what sometimes we seem to miss in our Christian walk with Him. What are you thinking about in your worship? Have you gotten to a place where you think about all of the things you have done and haven't done as you come to the table of worship? Have you gotten to a place where you think upon the things of God only, instead of seeking His face first and foremost in spirit and in truth. I know I need to get to this place in a deeper way, and it is such a crucial place to be in as we go through this life. Lets bring to the table of worship a revelation of the cross, the blood that was spilled upon the cross, and His resurrection. This attitude of worship will bring forth a mixture of character and integrity within us to produce pure fruit and make disciples.
Prayer:
Lord, we ask for such a revelation of who you are and how you see us today. Let our worship be pure Lord before you, and we desire to find that first love for you increase day by day as we walk this journey with you. We repent Lord for thinking upon the wrong things in our worship. Cleanse us by your blood, and touch our lips by your spirit to speak your truth to a corrupt generation.
John 4:24
24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."
Today I want us to focus on worship. The Lord wants us to worship Him in spirit and in truth. The definition for truth here in John 4:24 is the truth as taught in the Christian religion, respecting God and the execution of his purposes through Christ, and respecting the duties of man, opposing alike to the superstitions of the Gentiles and the inventions of the Jews, and the corrupt opinions and precepts of false teachers even among Christians. We need such a revelation through our worship and adoration to our Lord Jesus Christ. What we focus on through our revelation is the difference between hearing God's voice, and not hearing His voice clearly. In this type of worship will come a strength within us to understand His will for us here in our lifetime. I have found that as I worship the Lord and sit at His feet, there is such a fulfilling of what sometimes we seem to miss in our Christian walk with Him. What are you thinking about in your worship? Have you gotten to a place where you think about all of the things you have done and haven't done as you come to the table of worship? Have you gotten to a place where you think upon the things of God only, instead of seeking His face first and foremost in spirit and in truth. I know I need to get to this place in a deeper way, and it is such a crucial place to be in as we go through this life. Lets bring to the table of worship a revelation of the cross, the blood that was spilled upon the cross, and His resurrection. This attitude of worship will bring forth a mixture of character and integrity within us to produce pure fruit and make disciples.
Prayer:
Lord, we ask for such a revelation of who you are and how you see us today. Let our worship be pure Lord before you, and we desire to find that first love for you increase day by day as we walk this journey with you. We repent Lord for thinking upon the wrong things in our worship. Cleanse us by your blood, and touch our lips by your spirit to speak your truth to a corrupt generation.
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Faith Through Fellowship August 21st Devotional
Read:
John 20:29
29 Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."
There are times in our Christian walk where we seem to want just a little more than this faith stuff. I know there have been times in my walk with Christ that I wanted to see Him with my own natural eyes. Lord, just let me see you to really really believe that what I am having faith for is real. Then it seems like the Lord tells me, "Son, I am spirit and I am not of this world." God tells us in His word that the natural man receives not the spiritual things of Him because they are spiritually discerned. We know that there is a God because of salvation through repentance, but the best way to have faith is to fellowship with God with a pure heart. Many speak faith in the wrong way and this sets a distorted picture of who God really is. Faith is really just learning of God's ways through His word. Faith is reaching out to God when all hell is coming against you to not reach out. Faith is seeking God when everyone of this world is saying that you have to be crazy to pray. I want to encourage you today to reach out to God in your fellowship with Him. His arms are opened wide ready to receive you.
Prayer:
Lord, we come to you by faith today with our hands lifted high. We seek you with all of our hearts and ask that you will give us some more of your glory to carry on the great commission and to walk in your Holy love. Faith works by love Lord, and we want to extend your love by faith to those who need your love, Amen.
by Keith Edwards
John 20:29
29 Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."
There are times in our Christian walk where we seem to want just a little more than this faith stuff. I know there have been times in my walk with Christ that I wanted to see Him with my own natural eyes. Lord, just let me see you to really really believe that what I am having faith for is real. Then it seems like the Lord tells me, "Son, I am spirit and I am not of this world." God tells us in His word that the natural man receives not the spiritual things of Him because they are spiritually discerned. We know that there is a God because of salvation through repentance, but the best way to have faith is to fellowship with God with a pure heart. Many speak faith in the wrong way and this sets a distorted picture of who God really is. Faith is really just learning of God's ways through His word. Faith is reaching out to God when all hell is coming against you to not reach out. Faith is seeking God when everyone of this world is saying that you have to be crazy to pray. I want to encourage you today to reach out to God in your fellowship with Him. His arms are opened wide ready to receive you.
Prayer:
Lord, we come to you by faith today with our hands lifted high. We seek you with all of our hearts and ask that you will give us some more of your glory to carry on the great commission and to walk in your Holy love. Faith works by love Lord, and we want to extend your love by faith to those who need your love, Amen.
by Keith Edwards
Friday, August 20, 2010
Preparing The Child August 21st Devotional
Read:
Psalms 144:12
12 Then our sons in their youth
will be like well-nurtured plants,
and our daughters will be like pillars
carved to adorn a palace.
Statistics show that for the first time in history, adults sixty-five and over will surpass those that are five years and under. This is a scary statement. How can our kids be ready for the next generation if life itself is diminishing right before our eyes. As a manager at a grocery retail store for eight years, I have seen good kids from this generation and they are good kids that have potential. I believe in our children today, and we should be behind them all of the way. It's not over for us yet. I don't know when the Lord will come back and we are definitely living in the last days, but even if God was coming back tomorrow He still wants us to do things today as if we were going to be here another decade or more. We need to prepare the child for the path, not the path for the child. Show the child how to pray and they will know, but allow them to pray and they will do and be ready for the next generation by preparation. I want to encourage all of us today to not give up on our children. They are special in God's eyes, and there are some dynamite kids today that our in the midst of our generation. Lets teach our children the ways of the Lord so that they can make the palace of Jesus Christ as a temple attractive to those who need salvation.
Prayer:
Lord, we ask that you would birth in us such a desire to instill in our youth truth that will sustain them for our next generation. help us not to give up on them in a corrupt world, and help us to pray for them and our nation in your name we pray, Amen.
Psalms 144:12
12 Then our sons in their youth
will be like well-nurtured plants,
and our daughters will be like pillars
carved to adorn a palace.
Statistics show that for the first time in history, adults sixty-five and over will surpass those that are five years and under. This is a scary statement. How can our kids be ready for the next generation if life itself is diminishing right before our eyes. As a manager at a grocery retail store for eight years, I have seen good kids from this generation and they are good kids that have potential. I believe in our children today, and we should be behind them all of the way. It's not over for us yet. I don't know when the Lord will come back and we are definitely living in the last days, but even if God was coming back tomorrow He still wants us to do things today as if we were going to be here another decade or more. We need to prepare the child for the path, not the path for the child. Show the child how to pray and they will know, but allow them to pray and they will do and be ready for the next generation by preparation. I want to encourage all of us today to not give up on our children. They are special in God's eyes, and there are some dynamite kids today that our in the midst of our generation. Lets teach our children the ways of the Lord so that they can make the palace of Jesus Christ as a temple attractive to those who need salvation.
Prayer:
Lord, we ask that you would birth in us such a desire to instill in our youth truth that will sustain them for our next generation. help us not to give up on them in a corrupt world, and help us to pray for them and our nation in your name we pray, Amen.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Be Not shaken In The Shaking August 19th Devotional
Read:
Hebrews 12:26-28
26And His voice shook the earth then, but now He has promised, saying,YET ONCE MORE I WILL SHAKE NOT ONLY THE EARTH, BUT ALSO THE HEAVEN."
27This expression, "Yet once more," denotes the removing of those things which can be shaken, as of created things, so that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.
28Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe;
We are living in a time and season when our economy is collapsing right before our eyes. In 2008 I was praying about our economy and nation. I was very discouraged in what has already been happening and was meditating on the scriptures in psalms to find strength in what is about to take place. I don’t have any direct answers to what is going to come about, but I do have a word that I feel God gave me to strengthen me in the shaking that is going on in our nation. I heard the word “Be Not Shaken In The Shaking” The Lord is doing a shaking in the motives of the hearts of his people, and the Lord is allowing some shaking to take place in the stock market and deceptions of the Kings and leaders that are leading us. God is unveiling some things, and it is a shaking that is very scary but needful. I asked the Lord, “What do we do in this time?” I felt like the Lord told me that He is doing a shaking in not only the world, but his people. If you look at the whole book of Hebrews chapter 12, you will see that God wants us to run the race with endurance, put our total focus on Christ everyday through our devotion, and receive His discipline. The Greek word for discipline is paideia, and the definition is to cultivate the soul by correcting mistakes and curbing passions. God wants our spirit, soul, and our body to be in balance. It also says in Hebrews chapter 12 that without holiness no one will see the Lord. The greek word for see here in this verse is harao, and it means to become acquainted with by experience. This pertains to a sanctifying growth of grace mixed with God's discipline. Ouch! and man that discipline can hurt at times but it will make us trained to follow the Lord each and everyday shining the light of Jesus before the world. So we see that God wants us to endure, focus on Christ, and receive His discipline in the shaking that flows through His body of believers. The greatest revelation that we need in our christian walk with the Lord is realizing that God's Kingdom is a Kingdom that absolutely cannot be shaken. When we place our faith in that foundation, it will set our mind, will, and emotions in alignment to the things of God. It will also put this crazy flesh under subjection. Can I just be transparent with you right now? There are days that I just want to "flesh out" so to speak. But I have found that each and everyday is such a special day with the Lord, and we don't want to miss a day without seeing and experiencing a growth with the Lord. You can make it today by focusing on the one that can lift you up by His grace and set you in that place with Him. You may feel like throwing in the towel today, but don't do it. Focus on the one that loves you and cares for you. Don't grow weary in well doing. It gets exhausting at times, but those times are the times where we need to fall down at the the feet of Jesus and let him share with us that drink of living waters that quenches the very thirst we feel at times in this race we run. As I was praying about the upcoming years, I feel like the Lord is in the process of getting anything out of His body that would harm us in the days ahead, getting our steps firm in His strength and direction, firm in understanding His Kingdom to the fullest degree, and firm in His love. He’s rooting out all of the weeds and rocks out of our soul, and He’s making us strong in His word placing our soul firm upon His foundation. This is what the Lord is doing to those who are of His kingdom. Then I heard the word “THRIVE” I felt like the Lord wants us to thrive no matter what is going on around the world. However, God wants us to be careful with our finances, and concentrate on things that don’t have the value of money, but rather the value of time with the family, home church, and friends. The Lord wants us to spend quality time with our family. The Lord also wants us to remember that America was founded upon Christian principles, and that should never be forgotten. Those principles still live on today. Many will shed tears upon the mighty dollar and that’s as far as those tears will drop, but many will look to God in the shaking and will cry out to Him tears that are needful. I believe that some leaders will soon look to Christian leaders whom have stood the test in moral character, and they will ask for advice in the tragedy that we are facing. The Lord doesn’t want us to let up on doing the things of His Kingdom, but plug in greater than ever in our home church. God can bring forth a great revival in our land, but before great revival can begin, great repentance needs to be born from within His people. He’s judging the intents and the motives of His people greater than He has have ever judged them, and He doesn’t want greed to be in His people. This is 2010, and this year and the upcoming years need to be a year of repentance and order in our Christian walk. As the world gets hit with earthquakes, fires, and other disasters, we need to live like the days of Joseph in the seven year famine, but what we need for the current dark ages that we are facing concerning the sound word of God is the word of God in our hearts as foundation. We also need to pray for Jerusalem like never before, and pray that the United States will stand behind Jerusalem as the state capitol. Many want to destroy and divide Jerusalem, but God is for Jerusalem. If we let up on support and prayer for Israel, then that will make Israel vulnerable from other countries. Are you tired today and feel like there is no hope in sight? There is hope, and that hope is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. I also heard the words “GO TO THE ROCK” from the book of psalms.
Psalms 62:6
6He only is my rock and my salvation,
My stronghold; I shall not be shaken.
Psalms 27:5
5For in the day of trouble He will conceal me in His tabernacle;
In the secret place of His tent He will hide me;
He will lift me up on a rock.
prayer:
Lord we get at your feet right now in prayer. We need you to show us a fresh anointing of your love in this time that we are in. We repent Lord for any weights or sins we shouldn't be carrying upon our back, and we give you our whole life in Jesus name, Amen.
Hebrews 12:26-28
26And His voice shook the earth then, but now He has promised, saying,YET ONCE MORE I WILL SHAKE NOT ONLY THE EARTH, BUT ALSO THE HEAVEN."
27This expression, "Yet once more," denotes the removing of those things which can be shaken, as of created things, so that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.
28Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe;
We are living in a time and season when our economy is collapsing right before our eyes. In 2008 I was praying about our economy and nation. I was very discouraged in what has already been happening and was meditating on the scriptures in psalms to find strength in what is about to take place. I don’t have any direct answers to what is going to come about, but I do have a word that I feel God gave me to strengthen me in the shaking that is going on in our nation. I heard the word “Be Not Shaken In The Shaking” The Lord is doing a shaking in the motives of the hearts of his people, and the Lord is allowing some shaking to take place in the stock market and deceptions of the Kings and leaders that are leading us. God is unveiling some things, and it is a shaking that is very scary but needful. I asked the Lord, “What do we do in this time?” I felt like the Lord told me that He is doing a shaking in not only the world, but his people. If you look at the whole book of Hebrews chapter 12, you will see that God wants us to run the race with endurance, put our total focus on Christ everyday through our devotion, and receive His discipline. The Greek word for discipline is paideia, and the definition is to cultivate the soul by correcting mistakes and curbing passions. God wants our spirit, soul, and our body to be in balance. It also says in Hebrews chapter 12 that without holiness no one will see the Lord. The greek word for see here in this verse is harao, and it means to become acquainted with by experience. This pertains to a sanctifying growth of grace mixed with God's discipline. Ouch! and man that discipline can hurt at times but it will make us trained to follow the Lord each and everyday shining the light of Jesus before the world. So we see that God wants us to endure, focus on Christ, and receive His discipline in the shaking that flows through His body of believers. The greatest revelation that we need in our christian walk with the Lord is realizing that God's Kingdom is a Kingdom that absolutely cannot be shaken. When we place our faith in that foundation, it will set our mind, will, and emotions in alignment to the things of God. It will also put this crazy flesh under subjection. Can I just be transparent with you right now? There are days that I just want to "flesh out" so to speak. But I have found that each and everyday is such a special day with the Lord, and we don't want to miss a day without seeing and experiencing a growth with the Lord. You can make it today by focusing on the one that can lift you up by His grace and set you in that place with Him. You may feel like throwing in the towel today, but don't do it. Focus on the one that loves you and cares for you. Don't grow weary in well doing. It gets exhausting at times, but those times are the times where we need to fall down at the the feet of Jesus and let him share with us that drink of living waters that quenches the very thirst we feel at times in this race we run. As I was praying about the upcoming years, I feel like the Lord is in the process of getting anything out of His body that would harm us in the days ahead, getting our steps firm in His strength and direction, firm in understanding His Kingdom to the fullest degree, and firm in His love. He’s rooting out all of the weeds and rocks out of our soul, and He’s making us strong in His word placing our soul firm upon His foundation. This is what the Lord is doing to those who are of His kingdom. Then I heard the word “THRIVE” I felt like the Lord wants us to thrive no matter what is going on around the world. However, God wants us to be careful with our finances, and concentrate on things that don’t have the value of money, but rather the value of time with the family, home church, and friends. The Lord wants us to spend quality time with our family. The Lord also wants us to remember that America was founded upon Christian principles, and that should never be forgotten. Those principles still live on today. Many will shed tears upon the mighty dollar and that’s as far as those tears will drop, but many will look to God in the shaking and will cry out to Him tears that are needful. I believe that some leaders will soon look to Christian leaders whom have stood the test in moral character, and they will ask for advice in the tragedy that we are facing. The Lord doesn’t want us to let up on doing the things of His Kingdom, but plug in greater than ever in our home church. God can bring forth a great revival in our land, but before great revival can begin, great repentance needs to be born from within His people. He’s judging the intents and the motives of His people greater than He has have ever judged them, and He doesn’t want greed to be in His people. This is 2010, and this year and the upcoming years need to be a year of repentance and order in our Christian walk. As the world gets hit with earthquakes, fires, and other disasters, we need to live like the days of Joseph in the seven year famine, but what we need for the current dark ages that we are facing concerning the sound word of God is the word of God in our hearts as foundation. We also need to pray for Jerusalem like never before, and pray that the United States will stand behind Jerusalem as the state capitol. Many want to destroy and divide Jerusalem, but God is for Jerusalem. If we let up on support and prayer for Israel, then that will make Israel vulnerable from other countries. Are you tired today and feel like there is no hope in sight? There is hope, and that hope is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. I also heard the words “GO TO THE ROCK” from the book of psalms.
Psalms 62:6
6He only is my rock and my salvation,
My stronghold; I shall not be shaken.
Psalms 27:5
5For in the day of trouble He will conceal me in His tabernacle;
In the secret place of His tent He will hide me;
He will lift me up on a rock.
prayer:
Lord we get at your feet right now in prayer. We need you to show us a fresh anointing of your love in this time that we are in. We repent Lord for any weights or sins we shouldn't be carrying upon our back, and we give you our whole life in Jesus name, Amen.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Threshing Floor August 18th Devotional by Keith Edwards
Read:
2 Samuel 24:24,25
24 But the king replied to Araunah, "No, I insist on paying you for it. I will not sacrifice to the LORD my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing." So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen and paid fifty shekels of silver for them.
25 David built an altar to the LORD there and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. Then the LORD answered prayer in behalf of the land, and the plague on Israel was stopped.
Have you ever felt like King David? Sometimes you find yourself counting all of the great things you have done to enter into God's presence, or to be accepted by God. I know that I do at times, and I have to fall at the threshing floor of God's grace in time of need and find that revelation that it's all about Jesus and not all about me. We look to the law to be made right at times, and the law is a good positive guide to go by, but it doesn't produce fruit by God's grace. Grace is knowing God and having that personal fellowship with him through our relationship that we have been given through His blood covenant. Now we have a covenant that is beyond any covenant ever made. There are times where we produce other type of covenants that were never attended for us to be a part of. David knew his covenant with God almighty, and David found God's grace in the middle of his failure. We must decrease so He can increase. Here we see that David had Joab count the fighting men of Jerusalem. This was not trusting God, and Joab didn't want to do this thing. He knew that this was not trusting the Lord. God sent prophet Gad to David and gave him a prophetic choice of what he wanted done to him for this sin. However, God withheld the judgement upon David. David fell on his face at the threshing floor, and God was very pleased with David's heart. God told the angel to stop the judgement. It is enough. If you are struggling today with counting your good deeds, then fall at the threshing floor today. This threshing floor is your heart. God wants your heart and not your deeds alone. When our heart is right we will show forth good fruit, and we will walk in the spirit. Lets fall at the threshing floor today.
Prayer:
Lord, we come to that threshing floor today with our hands lifted high and our mouth filled with praise. We ask that you will forgive us for counting all of the good things we do to make us right with you. We are made right because of our faith in your blood, Amen.
by Keith Edwards
2 Samuel 24:24,25
24 But the king replied to Araunah, "No, I insist on paying you for it. I will not sacrifice to the LORD my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing." So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen and paid fifty shekels of silver for them.
25 David built an altar to the LORD there and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. Then the LORD answered prayer in behalf of the land, and the plague on Israel was stopped.
Have you ever felt like King David? Sometimes you find yourself counting all of the great things you have done to enter into God's presence, or to be accepted by God. I know that I do at times, and I have to fall at the threshing floor of God's grace in time of need and find that revelation that it's all about Jesus and not all about me. We look to the law to be made right at times, and the law is a good positive guide to go by, but it doesn't produce fruit by God's grace. Grace is knowing God and having that personal fellowship with him through our relationship that we have been given through His blood covenant. Now we have a covenant that is beyond any covenant ever made. There are times where we produce other type of covenants that were never attended for us to be a part of. David knew his covenant with God almighty, and David found God's grace in the middle of his failure. We must decrease so He can increase. Here we see that David had Joab count the fighting men of Jerusalem. This was not trusting God, and Joab didn't want to do this thing. He knew that this was not trusting the Lord. God sent prophet Gad to David and gave him a prophetic choice of what he wanted done to him for this sin. However, God withheld the judgement upon David. David fell on his face at the threshing floor, and God was very pleased with David's heart. God told the angel to stop the judgement. It is enough. If you are struggling today with counting your good deeds, then fall at the threshing floor today. This threshing floor is your heart. God wants your heart and not your deeds alone. When our heart is right we will show forth good fruit, and we will walk in the spirit. Lets fall at the threshing floor today.
Prayer:
Lord, we come to that threshing floor today with our hands lifted high and our mouth filled with praise. We ask that you will forgive us for counting all of the good things we do to make us right with you. We are made right because of our faith in your blood, Amen.
by Keith Edwards
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
True Revival August 17th Devotional by Mel Mongomery & Keith Edwards
Read:
1 Timothy 4:6
In pointing out these things to the brethren, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, constantly nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound doctrine which you have been following. Many are seeking from Him today another Great Awakening, and they read these old accounts of the Falling and Laughing that took place in the old revivals, and believe that if we just get enough people praying, falling, and giggling, we will have a revival that will sweep the world. But those who believe this overlook a major component of these previous revivals. Namely, the preachers preached Jesus Christ to the people. They warned that the Judgment of God was about to fall on sinners. They preached sound theology and doctrine. They preached the Cross, the sufferings of Christ, the mercy and grace of God, and the preciousness and effectiveness of the Blood to cleanse from all sin. They did not merely preach, “Have you Fallen in the Spirit yet? Have you Laughed in the Spirit? Come up now and let me lay my hands on you!” As the Laughing and the Falling occurred in the days of old—as the Lord chose to manifest these experiences—the revivalists kept everyone’s attention focused firmly on Calvary. There is no dispute that God blessed this approach. He gave them revivals that lasted decades, as compared to the revivals we see today which we consider to be major “outpourings” if we can somehow keep them going for a few weeks. Those old revivals also transformed this country, and the revivals we have today barely go outside our church walls, as we watch our country and world descend into degredation, darkness, and madness. My brethren, I believe we will NEVER have the revival from God that we seek, until we handle these special manifestations of the Holy Spirit in a more mature way, and refuse to allow ourselves to be distracted from the clear preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We must follow Elijah’s example of pressing past the wind, earthquake, and fire of his day, which is the Laughing and Falling of our day, and join him going on in God until we hear His “still small voice” again giving us specific wisdom, breakthrough, and earth-shaking
revival.
Comment by Keith Edwards
I feel like the Lord wants us to focus on Christ Jesus so powerfully for the next wave of revival that has started. We can't lose that focus upon Jesus in the middle of the glory that may fall. This revival will be a revival of powerful repentance from His church. No tears, no revival. We should be crying out to God for where the church and the nation has gotten to. We should be crying out to God for the lack of focus upon Christ, and we should be crying out for lost souls dying and going to hell. Let's see revival today as a place of tears and not giggling, laughing, crazy prophetic etc. If these manifestations happen then so be it, but our primary focus should be on Jesus Christ of Nazereth.
Prayer:
Lord, we ask that you will help us to keep you the center focus of our life. Purify ur hearts to keep sound doctrine flowing in the middle of great things you do, and help us to magnify Christ in a pure way, Amen.
by Mel Montgomery & Keith Edwards
1 Timothy 4:6
In pointing out these things to the brethren, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, constantly nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound doctrine which you have been following. Many are seeking from Him today another Great Awakening, and they read these old accounts of the Falling and Laughing that took place in the old revivals, and believe that if we just get enough people praying, falling, and giggling, we will have a revival that will sweep the world. But those who believe this overlook a major component of these previous revivals. Namely, the preachers preached Jesus Christ to the people. They warned that the Judgment of God was about to fall on sinners. They preached sound theology and doctrine. They preached the Cross, the sufferings of Christ, the mercy and grace of God, and the preciousness and effectiveness of the Blood to cleanse from all sin. They did not merely preach, “Have you Fallen in the Spirit yet? Have you Laughed in the Spirit? Come up now and let me lay my hands on you!” As the Laughing and the Falling occurred in the days of old—as the Lord chose to manifest these experiences—the revivalists kept everyone’s attention focused firmly on Calvary. There is no dispute that God blessed this approach. He gave them revivals that lasted decades, as compared to the revivals we see today which we consider to be major “outpourings” if we can somehow keep them going for a few weeks. Those old revivals also transformed this country, and the revivals we have today barely go outside our church walls, as we watch our country and world descend into degredation, darkness, and madness. My brethren, I believe we will NEVER have the revival from God that we seek, until we handle these special manifestations of the Holy Spirit in a more mature way, and refuse to allow ourselves to be distracted from the clear preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We must follow Elijah’s example of pressing past the wind, earthquake, and fire of his day, which is the Laughing and Falling of our day, and join him going on in God until we hear His “still small voice” again giving us specific wisdom, breakthrough, and earth-shaking
revival.
Comment by Keith Edwards
I feel like the Lord wants us to focus on Christ Jesus so powerfully for the next wave of revival that has started. We can't lose that focus upon Jesus in the middle of the glory that may fall. This revival will be a revival of powerful repentance from His church. No tears, no revival. We should be crying out to God for where the church and the nation has gotten to. We should be crying out to God for the lack of focus upon Christ, and we should be crying out for lost souls dying and going to hell. Let's see revival today as a place of tears and not giggling, laughing, crazy prophetic etc. If these manifestations happen then so be it, but our primary focus should be on Jesus Christ of Nazereth.
Prayer:
Lord, we ask that you will help us to keep you the center focus of our life. Purify ur hearts to keep sound doctrine flowing in the middle of great things you do, and help us to magnify Christ in a pure way, Amen.
by Mel Montgomery & Keith Edwards
Monday, August 16, 2010
August 16th Devotional
Read:
2 Corinthians 4:17,18
17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
I had someone tell me one time that what if this Christianity stuff isn't real? I told him "Even if it wasn't real, I lived a good holy life!" You don't have anything to lose if living for God wasn't real. We believe in God even though we can't see Him. We believe in the resurrection even though we didn't see it in the natural. We can have faith in God today. sometimes we have to press on into the things of God even though all hell has come against us. The enemy wants us to give up, but we have a hope today. We have a hope that may not be seen in the natural, but is eternal. The bible says to fix our eyes on that which is eternal, and eternity lives within us as believers. I'm reminded of the Jews going back to rebuild Jerusalem under the leadership of Zerubbabel and Joshua. When they got there everything was in ruins, but they had hope, and the very first thing they did was they built an altar. This may be all we have today, but our altar today can be the eternal word abiding and living within us. I want to encourage you today to take a breath of His spirit in a new way. Have faith in God, and let Gods' Spirit take all of your burden that you try and carry alone.
Prayer:
Lord, we ask that you will help us focus on you in a deep way today. We look to you with faith, and we fight the good fight of that faith. Help us to stand in your name when the winds of life blow our way, and help us to rely upon your marvelous grace, Amen.
by Keith Edwards
2 Corinthians 4:17,18
17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
I had someone tell me one time that what if this Christianity stuff isn't real? I told him "Even if it wasn't real, I lived a good holy life!" You don't have anything to lose if living for God wasn't real. We believe in God even though we can't see Him. We believe in the resurrection even though we didn't see it in the natural. We can have faith in God today. sometimes we have to press on into the things of God even though all hell has come against us. The enemy wants us to give up, but we have a hope today. We have a hope that may not be seen in the natural, but is eternal. The bible says to fix our eyes on that which is eternal, and eternity lives within us as believers. I'm reminded of the Jews going back to rebuild Jerusalem under the leadership of Zerubbabel and Joshua. When they got there everything was in ruins, but they had hope, and the very first thing they did was they built an altar. This may be all we have today, but our altar today can be the eternal word abiding and living within us. I want to encourage you today to take a breath of His spirit in a new way. Have faith in God, and let Gods' Spirit take all of your burden that you try and carry alone.
Prayer:
Lord, we ask that you will help us focus on you in a deep way today. We look to you with faith, and we fight the good fight of that faith. Help us to stand in your name when the winds of life blow our way, and help us to rely upon your marvelous grace, Amen.
by Keith Edwards
Sunday, August 15, 2010
How Righteous Are We? August 15th Devotional
Read:
Romans 6:19
19 I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh For just as you presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness, resulting in further lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness, resulting in sanctification.
A professor at a college asked his students, "How many here believe that you are just as righteous as me?" Most of them raised their hands. He then asked, "How many here believe that you are just as righteous as the greatest Evangelist who ever lived?" Some of them raised their hands. He then asked, "How many here believe that you are just as righteous as Jesus?" Hardly anyone raised their hands. The word resulting here in Romans 6:19 is the Greek word "eis" and it means for sanctification. We see that we are sanctified and live a holy life because of us submitting to the revelation of righteousness that has been given us by His blood. Thank God for His blood. "For" (as used in Acts 2:38 "for the forgiveness...") could have two meanings. If you saw a poster saying "Jesse James wanted for robbery", "for" could mean Jesse is wanted so he can commit a robbery, or is wanted because he has committed a robbery. The later sense is the correct one. So too in this passage, the word "for" signifies an action in the past. Otherwise, it would violate the entire tenor of the NT teaching on salvation by grace and not by works. There is not a thing we can do in our own strength to make us right with God. We need to submit to God with a heart of true worship, and when we submit to God by faith, we will walk in the spirit, advance God's Kingdom, and do the works of Christ. We can grow in the revelation of righteousness, and that revelation of us being righteous will compel us to live for Him. I believe that many will stand in the judgement of God and say, "I have a degree Lord! Can I enter in now? I believe that many will say, "I did this, and I did that. God does not grade on a curve! Jesus died but Christ arose from the dead, and Jesus Christ is alive today for us. We can believe in the risen Christ today. Friend, I want to encourage you today to have the revelation of what Christ did on that cross, and our believing in what He did on the cross. If we died on that cross we still couldn't satisfy God. I find myself at times looking to the things I do to make me right with God versus what Christ did for me, and me submitting to what He did for me will cause good works to be produced from within. We do need to produce good works, but the produce that comes from us has to be because we submitted to God through Christ Jesus.
Prayer:
Lord, we ask that you give us a fresh revelation of who we are in you through the blood of Christ. Help us to realize that it's not the works that we do alone, but us being dressed within that causes good works to be shown to many, Amen.
by Keith Edwards
Romans 6:19
19 I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh For just as you presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness, resulting in further lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness, resulting in sanctification.
A professor at a college asked his students, "How many here believe that you are just as righteous as me?" Most of them raised their hands. He then asked, "How many here believe that you are just as righteous as the greatest Evangelist who ever lived?" Some of them raised their hands. He then asked, "How many here believe that you are just as righteous as Jesus?" Hardly anyone raised their hands. The word resulting here in Romans 6:19 is the Greek word "eis" and it means for sanctification. We see that we are sanctified and live a holy life because of us submitting to the revelation of righteousness that has been given us by His blood. Thank God for His blood. "For" (as used in Acts 2:38 "for the forgiveness...") could have two meanings. If you saw a poster saying "Jesse James wanted for robbery", "for" could mean Jesse is wanted so he can commit a robbery, or is wanted because he has committed a robbery. The later sense is the correct one. So too in this passage, the word "for" signifies an action in the past. Otherwise, it would violate the entire tenor of the NT teaching on salvation by grace and not by works. There is not a thing we can do in our own strength to make us right with God. We need to submit to God with a heart of true worship, and when we submit to God by faith, we will walk in the spirit, advance God's Kingdom, and do the works of Christ. We can grow in the revelation of righteousness, and that revelation of us being righteous will compel us to live for Him. I believe that many will stand in the judgement of God and say, "I have a degree Lord! Can I enter in now? I believe that many will say, "I did this, and I did that. God does not grade on a curve! Jesus died but Christ arose from the dead, and Jesus Christ is alive today for us. We can believe in the risen Christ today. Friend, I want to encourage you today to have the revelation of what Christ did on that cross, and our believing in what He did on the cross. If we died on that cross we still couldn't satisfy God. I find myself at times looking to the things I do to make me right with God versus what Christ did for me, and me submitting to what He did for me will cause good works to be produced from within. We do need to produce good works, but the produce that comes from us has to be because we submitted to God through Christ Jesus.
Prayer:
Lord, we ask that you give us a fresh revelation of who we are in you through the blood of Christ. Help us to realize that it's not the works that we do alone, but us being dressed within that causes good works to be shown to many, Amen.
by Keith Edwards
Saturday, August 14, 2010
The High Places by Anita Mundorf & Keith Edwards August 14th Devotional
Read:
11 Corinthians 10:3-5
3 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
Also Read Joshua 24:15
15 But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."
Operational Definition of Spiritual Stronghold:
Strongholds are patterns of thought etched into the mind over a period of time or through a traumatic experience. Strongholds are seldom recognized, and if recognized not understood to be choices.
We learn of strongholds the hard way, in battle. I would not trade His lessons, but sometimes find it VERY hard battling for those who attack the "perceived enemy". We step into warfare when God directs, and our weapons are strong and mighty. God's Words will pull down strongholds, yet satan's words are thoughts often in Christians, and exalt themselves above the thoughts of the mind of Christ. Satan then begins his stirrings within minds not prepared with Word defenses, usually through demonic whisperings of confusion, suspicion and division. Often people are clueless to his wiles. They see strongholds through their own strongholds. They then go to war against who ever the enemy points to, armed with human reasonings and satan's weapons being, the wrong attitudes, thoughts, imaginations, actions, and carnal weapons which is futile in Christian warfare. God entrusts some with the holding of keys of truth, keys to free for those held by lies and choices not submitted to the mind of Christ. The enemy knows exactly who holds these keys. They love truth, have singleness of purpose, **stand against compromise** they fear Him over men, and have an ability to convey God's truth. We need to always ask, "does this friend truly understand warfare?" It is not those demons about us or in others which pose great harm to the Christian. It is those long at home within! Those having ..squatters rights..to ground willing given. Those within being (wrong thoughts, leading to wrong attitudes and actions) which prompt us to use those well fitting old boxing gloves to do all the bashing. They fit so well, and are quite comfortable. He fails to tell us, they are his weapons, and we lose the war, for we are fighting for him. If God tells us that His weapons, thoughts (within our minds), are not carnal but spiritual and mighty, then even so, satan's weapons, thoughts (within our minds) are carnal and weal..failing the pulling down of any strongholds in others. They actually strengthen those strongholds of the enemy!
comment by Keith Edwards:
We need to have a "more than a conqeuror revelation" when it comes to overcoming the thoughts and attacks of the enemy. Revelation of who we are in Christ jesus will take us above with the mind of Christ. We are seated in heavenly place in Christ Jesus, and we are above and not beneath. The greatest weapon the enemy has upon us are those thoughts of a defeated mentality. Satan tries to lure us into uneccessary warfare, and we start fighting it out in the flesh insteaed of understanding how to pray, discernment in a given situation, and letting the Holy Spirit do work needed apart from our "extra" help. Sometimes we just need to enter into praise like King David and put the praise up front and the warfare in the back. We are more than conqeurors. Conquerors fight, but a more than a conqueror will enter into the rest of what Christ has already done with the finished work of calvary. Let's have the revelation today that we were buried with Jesus, but we were also raised with him through that beautiful resurection.
Prayer:
Lord, help us to choose to serve you with a whole heart. We seek you today Lord with the choice of seeking your face. As we seek your face give us that revelation of who we are in you, and help us to cast down all imaginations as we choose to think meditate upon you in all of our ways, Amen.
by Anita Mundorf and Keith Edwards
11 Corinthians 10:3-5
3 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
Also Read Joshua 24:15
15 But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."
Operational Definition of Spiritual Stronghold:
Strongholds are patterns of thought etched into the mind over a period of time or through a traumatic experience. Strongholds are seldom recognized, and if recognized not understood to be choices.
We learn of strongholds the hard way, in battle. I would not trade His lessons, but sometimes find it VERY hard battling for those who attack the "perceived enemy". We step into warfare when God directs, and our weapons are strong and mighty. God's Words will pull down strongholds, yet satan's words are thoughts often in Christians, and exalt themselves above the thoughts of the mind of Christ. Satan then begins his stirrings within minds not prepared with Word defenses, usually through demonic whisperings of confusion, suspicion and division. Often people are clueless to his wiles. They see strongholds through their own strongholds. They then go to war against who ever the enemy points to, armed with human reasonings and satan's weapons being, the wrong attitudes, thoughts, imaginations, actions, and carnal weapons which is futile in Christian warfare. God entrusts some with the holding of keys of truth, keys to free for those held by lies and choices not submitted to the mind of Christ. The enemy knows exactly who holds these keys. They love truth, have singleness of purpose, **stand against compromise** they fear Him over men, and have an ability to convey God's truth. We need to always ask, "does this friend truly understand warfare?" It is not those demons about us or in others which pose great harm to the Christian. It is those long at home within! Those having ..squatters rights..to ground willing given. Those within being (wrong thoughts, leading to wrong attitudes and actions) which prompt us to use those well fitting old boxing gloves to do all the bashing. They fit so well, and are quite comfortable. He fails to tell us, they are his weapons, and we lose the war, for we are fighting for him. If God tells us that His weapons, thoughts (within our minds), are not carnal but spiritual and mighty, then even so, satan's weapons, thoughts (within our minds) are carnal and weal..failing the pulling down of any strongholds in others. They actually strengthen those strongholds of the enemy!
comment by Keith Edwards:
We need to have a "more than a conqeuror revelation" when it comes to overcoming the thoughts and attacks of the enemy. Revelation of who we are in Christ jesus will take us above with the mind of Christ. We are seated in heavenly place in Christ Jesus, and we are above and not beneath. The greatest weapon the enemy has upon us are those thoughts of a defeated mentality. Satan tries to lure us into uneccessary warfare, and we start fighting it out in the flesh insteaed of understanding how to pray, discernment in a given situation, and letting the Holy Spirit do work needed apart from our "extra" help. Sometimes we just need to enter into praise like King David and put the praise up front and the warfare in the back. We are more than conqeurors. Conquerors fight, but a more than a conqueror will enter into the rest of what Christ has already done with the finished work of calvary. Let's have the revelation today that we were buried with Jesus, but we were also raised with him through that beautiful resurection.
Prayer:
Lord, help us to choose to serve you with a whole heart. We seek you today Lord with the choice of seeking your face. As we seek your face give us that revelation of who we are in you, and help us to cast down all imaginations as we choose to think meditate upon you in all of our ways, Amen.
by Anita Mundorf and Keith Edwards
Friday, August 13, 2010
We Will Not Recant August 13th Devotional by Keith Edwards
Read:
2 Timothy 1:14
14 Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.
In the presence of rulers and leaders of the Roman Catholic Church stood a man of great character named Martin Luther. Martin Luther spoke these words, “I will not recant” and these are the very words that we as the body of Christ need to live for the faithful word that God has breathed within all who have been born again by faith in Christ through repentance. However, we need to guard the great treasure of God's word with the help of the Holy Spirit. In the council of powerful men he spoke that he cannot and will not recant anything, for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. Here I stand, I can do no other, so help me God Amen. The same revelation and strength that Martin Luther had gotten from the spirit of the Lord is the same revelation that we need as the church. It is a revelation that can only be obtained by God Himself, and no man can give it to you, not even the pope himself. There is no man that can save nor deliver, and this is what got Martin Luther in trouble. They were so drunk with themselves and the money that they saw coming in, that I think they actually believed that they were the only one’s that could save sins. It is a delusion that has gotten many in trouble throughout history, and it is what has gotten us in trouble today. I made up a quote for the corruption that is going on today in parts of the church. "As soon as the coin in the basket rings, so shall the extravagant lifestyle of the evangelist spring." Sad but true! Leaders branched from the Roman Catholic church would beg for money from the poor people of there land, and make a fortune from them. I'm not afraid to confront this mess today. It's embarrassing to us as Christians, and we need to not recant true sound doctrine, pure worship, and the advancing of God's kingdom. We need to keep a child like faith when we study and meditate on the scriptures. Martin Luther got a revelation of salvation by opening the new testament scriptures, and the corrupt leaders thought that Luther's new and strange teaching was odd. Jesus' teaching is odd to those who don't have the revelation of who Christ really is. Martin Luther would help those in need, strengthen the believers in Christ Jesus, and do great and mighty works that came only by the spirit of Christ. I want to encourage us today to not recant the very breath of God that has been breathed within us, and to guard our heart with all diligence. Let's guard the very treasure that has been given to us. Say with me today! "We Will not recant!"
Prayer:
Lord we love you today. We ask that you help us to guard that deposit that has been given to us by your word, and we ask for your spirit to give us the strength to stand up for the teachings of Christ. Amen.
by Keith Edwards
2 Timothy 1:14
14 Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.
In the presence of rulers and leaders of the Roman Catholic Church stood a man of great character named Martin Luther. Martin Luther spoke these words, “I will not recant” and these are the very words that we as the body of Christ need to live for the faithful word that God has breathed within all who have been born again by faith in Christ through repentance. However, we need to guard the great treasure of God's word with the help of the Holy Spirit. In the council of powerful men he spoke that he cannot and will not recant anything, for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. Here I stand, I can do no other, so help me God Amen. The same revelation and strength that Martin Luther had gotten from the spirit of the Lord is the same revelation that we need as the church. It is a revelation that can only be obtained by God Himself, and no man can give it to you, not even the pope himself. There is no man that can save nor deliver, and this is what got Martin Luther in trouble. They were so drunk with themselves and the money that they saw coming in, that I think they actually believed that they were the only one’s that could save sins. It is a delusion that has gotten many in trouble throughout history, and it is what has gotten us in trouble today. I made up a quote for the corruption that is going on today in parts of the church. "As soon as the coin in the basket rings, so shall the extravagant lifestyle of the evangelist spring." Sad but true! Leaders branched from the Roman Catholic church would beg for money from the poor people of there land, and make a fortune from them. I'm not afraid to confront this mess today. It's embarrassing to us as Christians, and we need to not recant true sound doctrine, pure worship, and the advancing of God's kingdom. We need to keep a child like faith when we study and meditate on the scriptures. Martin Luther got a revelation of salvation by opening the new testament scriptures, and the corrupt leaders thought that Luther's new and strange teaching was odd. Jesus' teaching is odd to those who don't have the revelation of who Christ really is. Martin Luther would help those in need, strengthen the believers in Christ Jesus, and do great and mighty works that came only by the spirit of Christ. I want to encourage us today to not recant the very breath of God that has been breathed within us, and to guard our heart with all diligence. Let's guard the very treasure that has been given to us. Say with me today! "We Will not recant!"
Prayer:
Lord we love you today. We ask that you help us to guard that deposit that has been given to us by your word, and we ask for your spirit to give us the strength to stand up for the teachings of Christ. Amen.
by Keith Edwards
Thursday, August 12, 2010
That Precious Blood August 12th Devotional
Read:
Hebrews 9:12
12 and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.
All over the world there have risen religions and beliefs that doesn't acknowledge Jesus Christ as our ultimate sacrifice. Their god is a god of war, indulgences, and other faulty foundations that is very shaky. The scripture here in Hebrews chapter 12 states that Christ entered the most holy place once for all by His own blood, having obtained eternal redemption. Hebrews 10:19,20 says to enter the Most Holy Place boldly by the blood of Jesus by a new and living way. We have a perfect covenant which is Jesus Christ and His blood. The blood of Jesus will convict of sin, bring someone to salvation, pluck one from the jaws of hell, and cleanse us of sin. We would die and go to hell if it were not for the blood that saves us. Every prophecy about Jesus in the old testament came to pass to the letter. Where Jesus was going to be born, the manner of Christ's death, Zechariah speaks of Jesus riding on a donkey, and of course we can't forget the very first prophecy in Genesis 3:15 where God tells the Devil that because of what he did, God would put enmity between him and the woman, and between his seed and hers. This was the first greatest prophecy about Jesus being born of the virgin Mary. Jesus did crush the satanic power of hell when He died upon the cross. The blood of Jesus gives us entrance into His presence. The blood of Jesus will never lose it's power, and we can put our past mistakes under His blood and He will cleanse our conscience from dead works. Oh! that precious blood of Jesus. There is surely something about that name. The blood of Jesus pours from the foundation of Christ to you today. You may need healing in your body. The blood is there to heal. You may need deliverance. The blood is there to deliver you. You may need salvation. The blood can save you now. There is no other foundation that will stand the wind of God's judgment other than the blood of Jesus Christ and the work of the cross. When we stand in judgment this will be the only thing that will allow us into Heaven. It's going to be our faith in that precious blood. Many will say, "Lord I have a doctorate degree. I did many good works" etc. But my heart to you today is rely upon the blood everyday to enter in His presence and purge your conscience, and if you don't know the Lord Jesus as your Lord, then repeat this prayer with me now. Lord, I realize that I was born into sin because of Adam's fall. I ask you now Lord to save me from the power of Satan, and make me new in you. Give me new life Lord. I repent now and turn to you as King of Kings and Lord of Lord's. Oh! that precious blood. If you have prayed that prayer with me you can go to my website and click awaken on my front page. It will guide you through steps of finding a church, baptism, and get you on your way to a great adventure with your new Lord.
prayer:
Lord we come to you in your precious name. We thank you Lord for your blood and what you did on the cross. We don't take it lightly. We ask that your blood cleanse us of every sin and make us clean by your spirit. Create in us Lord a clean heart, and wash anything in us that needs to be washed by your blood, we ask it all in your name. Amen.
by Keith Edwards
Hebrews 9:12
12 and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.
All over the world there have risen religions and beliefs that doesn't acknowledge Jesus Christ as our ultimate sacrifice. Their god is a god of war, indulgences, and other faulty foundations that is very shaky. The scripture here in Hebrews chapter 12 states that Christ entered the most holy place once for all by His own blood, having obtained eternal redemption. Hebrews 10:19,20 says to enter the Most Holy Place boldly by the blood of Jesus by a new and living way. We have a perfect covenant which is Jesus Christ and His blood. The blood of Jesus will convict of sin, bring someone to salvation, pluck one from the jaws of hell, and cleanse us of sin. We would die and go to hell if it were not for the blood that saves us. Every prophecy about Jesus in the old testament came to pass to the letter. Where Jesus was going to be born, the manner of Christ's death, Zechariah speaks of Jesus riding on a donkey, and of course we can't forget the very first prophecy in Genesis 3:15 where God tells the Devil that because of what he did, God would put enmity between him and the woman, and between his seed and hers. This was the first greatest prophecy about Jesus being born of the virgin Mary. Jesus did crush the satanic power of hell when He died upon the cross. The blood of Jesus gives us entrance into His presence. The blood of Jesus will never lose it's power, and we can put our past mistakes under His blood and He will cleanse our conscience from dead works. Oh! that precious blood of Jesus. There is surely something about that name. The blood of Jesus pours from the foundation of Christ to you today. You may need healing in your body. The blood is there to heal. You may need deliverance. The blood is there to deliver you. You may need salvation. The blood can save you now. There is no other foundation that will stand the wind of God's judgment other than the blood of Jesus Christ and the work of the cross. When we stand in judgment this will be the only thing that will allow us into Heaven. It's going to be our faith in that precious blood. Many will say, "Lord I have a doctorate degree. I did many good works" etc. But my heart to you today is rely upon the blood everyday to enter in His presence and purge your conscience, and if you don't know the Lord Jesus as your Lord, then repeat this prayer with me now. Lord, I realize that I was born into sin because of Adam's fall. I ask you now Lord to save me from the power of Satan, and make me new in you. Give me new life Lord. I repent now and turn to you as King of Kings and Lord of Lord's. Oh! that precious blood. If you have prayed that prayer with me you can go to my website and click awaken on my front page. It will guide you through steps of finding a church, baptism, and get you on your way to a great adventure with your new Lord.
prayer:
Lord we come to you in your precious name. We thank you Lord for your blood and what you did on the cross. We don't take it lightly. We ask that your blood cleanse us of every sin and make us clean by your spirit. Create in us Lord a clean heart, and wash anything in us that needs to be washed by your blood, we ask it all in your name. Amen.
by Keith Edwards
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Be Sincere With God by Joel Halkins & Keith EdwardsAugust 11th Devotional
Philippians 1:9,10 - And this I pray...that you may be sincere...
In the profession of a stone mason, the craftsman may once in awhile strike the stone in a wrong manner and thus create a flaw in his work. If he is a bona fide artisan, he will simply start over. If however he is half-hearted in his ethics, he may try to "patch" the flaw with a little wax. Once the wax hardens, it would be virtually invisible to the untrained eye...except on a really sunny day. Just as soon as the heat sets in good on that wax, it will begin to melt and thus reveal that the carving was not in truth what it had appeared to be.
The word "sincere" means literally "to be without wax"; and here in our text, Paul prays that the believers in Philippi will be "without wax", that they will always be in truth what they seem to be and that there will never be a part of their heart that they reserve in secret for themselves alone while the other part of their heart is given to God and their brethren. This latter condition is of course called hypocrisy - when what appears is not what really is.
Besides the quality of faith, if there is anything that God requires in order to walk with Him, it is sincerity. GOD WANTS US TO BE REAL...or better yet...TO BE REALLY AND COMPLETELY HIS!
Genesis 6:9 - Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.
Genesis 17:1 - The Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him "I am the Almighty God; walk before me and be thou perfect."
These two men were certainly far from being "flawless" (as some take the word "perfect" to mean); but they were REAL with God - there was no passion, desire or any part of their heart held back from Him!
Deuteronomy 4:29 - But if from thence thou shalt seek the Lord thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with ALL thy heart and with ALL thy soul.
"...ALL thy heart..." The bottom line in walking with God is not a condition where we will never fail again; but it is keeping ALL of our heart before God and belonging to God!
When I was in my twenties, I went on a hunting trip with some brethren out in the woods of northeast Mississippi. Our number was divided between some older, experienced hunters and some younger, unseasoned "deer chasers". As we quietly plodded along a certain trail with our guns resting back on our shoulders, one of the older gents up front slyly whispered
"Got your safety on, Brother Jay (what I was called back then)?"
There could then be heard a slight "click" coming from my direction, followed by my reply
"Oh, yes sir...always got that safety on."
Can you say "wax-covered hypocrite"? By close observation, I had learned how to mimic the walk of those experienced hunters, possibly fooling my peers; but the shrewdness of that "real McCoy" veteran of the woods melted the wax of my disguise and revealed a "green horn" just trying to fit in!
Ananias and Sapphira were not wholehearted with the Holy Ghost, and it cost them their lives (Acts 5). Paul feared for the Corinthian believers that they would be corrupted from the "simplicity" (singleness, wholehearted devotion to Jesus that has no competitors) that is in Christ (II Corinthians 11:3). Christ Himself commanded in Matthew 5:48...that word again was "commanded"...that we be perfect (wholeheartedly devoted) even as our Father which is in heaven is perfect (wholeheartedly devoted)!
Weaknesses and yet-to-be-refined flaws all included, GOD WANTS US TO BE REAL WITH HIM AND REALLY HIS...or simply said...sincerely perfect!
coment by Keith Edwards:
If we could just have revelation about the condition of the heart. I can remember back years ago in my child-hood days, where the women would wear their hair two feet high and think that this was holiness. I also remember when the preachers would spit and scream like a bull, and this was a sign of power. I'm not against a woman wearing their hair two foot high, or a preacher getting a little excited, but when you think that this is holiness we are sincerely wrong. Yes,there was something in the heart I believe some of the holiness movement had that God saw, but not the "outward" things alone. Lets be sincere with God today, and lets let God breath upon our inner soul and spirit, so that we will display holiness ways by our inner character. Lets be sincere with God today church.
Prayer:
Lord, we come to you with a sincere heart. Help us to endure the fire of your holiness as you are that consuming fire that burns and molds us as gold and silver. We need you Lord in our life, and we want to be sincerly right by our heart to you, instead of being sincerely wrong in the things we do.
by Joel Hawkins & Keith Edwards
In the profession of a stone mason, the craftsman may once in awhile strike the stone in a wrong manner and thus create a flaw in his work. If he is a bona fide artisan, he will simply start over. If however he is half-hearted in his ethics, he may try to "patch" the flaw with a little wax. Once the wax hardens, it would be virtually invisible to the untrained eye...except on a really sunny day. Just as soon as the heat sets in good on that wax, it will begin to melt and thus reveal that the carving was not in truth what it had appeared to be.
The word "sincere" means literally "to be without wax"; and here in our text, Paul prays that the believers in Philippi will be "without wax", that they will always be in truth what they seem to be and that there will never be a part of their heart that they reserve in secret for themselves alone while the other part of their heart is given to God and their brethren. This latter condition is of course called hypocrisy - when what appears is not what really is.
Besides the quality of faith, if there is anything that God requires in order to walk with Him, it is sincerity. GOD WANTS US TO BE REAL...or better yet...TO BE REALLY AND COMPLETELY HIS!
Genesis 6:9 - Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.
Genesis 17:1 - The Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him "I am the Almighty God; walk before me and be thou perfect."
These two men were certainly far from being "flawless" (as some take the word "perfect" to mean); but they were REAL with God - there was no passion, desire or any part of their heart held back from Him!
Deuteronomy 4:29 - But if from thence thou shalt seek the Lord thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with ALL thy heart and with ALL thy soul.
"...ALL thy heart..." The bottom line in walking with God is not a condition where we will never fail again; but it is keeping ALL of our heart before God and belonging to God!
When I was in my twenties, I went on a hunting trip with some brethren out in the woods of northeast Mississippi. Our number was divided between some older, experienced hunters and some younger, unseasoned "deer chasers". As we quietly plodded along a certain trail with our guns resting back on our shoulders, one of the older gents up front slyly whispered
"Got your safety on, Brother Jay (what I was called back then)?"
There could then be heard a slight "click" coming from my direction, followed by my reply
"Oh, yes sir...always got that safety on."
Can you say "wax-covered hypocrite"? By close observation, I had learned how to mimic the walk of those experienced hunters, possibly fooling my peers; but the shrewdness of that "real McCoy" veteran of the woods melted the wax of my disguise and revealed a "green horn" just trying to fit in!
Ananias and Sapphira were not wholehearted with the Holy Ghost, and it cost them their lives (Acts 5). Paul feared for the Corinthian believers that they would be corrupted from the "simplicity" (singleness, wholehearted devotion to Jesus that has no competitors) that is in Christ (II Corinthians 11:3). Christ Himself commanded in Matthew 5:48...that word again was "commanded"...that we be perfect (wholeheartedly devoted) even as our Father which is in heaven is perfect (wholeheartedly devoted)!
Weaknesses and yet-to-be-refined flaws all included, GOD WANTS US TO BE REAL WITH HIM AND REALLY HIS...or simply said...sincerely perfect!
coment by Keith Edwards:
If we could just have revelation about the condition of the heart. I can remember back years ago in my child-hood days, where the women would wear their hair two feet high and think that this was holiness. I also remember when the preachers would spit and scream like a bull, and this was a sign of power. I'm not against a woman wearing their hair two foot high, or a preacher getting a little excited, but when you think that this is holiness we are sincerely wrong. Yes,there was something in the heart I believe some of the holiness movement had that God saw, but not the "outward" things alone. Lets be sincere with God today, and lets let God breath upon our inner soul and spirit, so that we will display holiness ways by our inner character. Lets be sincere with God today church.
Prayer:
Lord, we come to you with a sincere heart. Help us to endure the fire of your holiness as you are that consuming fire that burns and molds us as gold and silver. We need you Lord in our life, and we want to be sincerly right by our heart to you, instead of being sincerely wrong in the things we do.
by Joel Hawkins & Keith Edwards
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)