Read:
1 Timothy 4:6
If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.
Have you ever heard the "name it claim it" message. Put a little offering in the basket, and you can get what you want. You put a hundred dollars in the basket as if the basket was a vending machine or something, you cross your fingers, and boom! there you have it. It seems to me that this is the biggest deception among Christians today then ever before in the protestant church. You see the hype-prosperity message, crazy prophetic message, and other things in the church that is down right embarrassing to us as the church. If Martin Luther was here in the 21st century he probably would have fell over dead seeing the things going on now. There would have been some things posted on the door of the church just like when he posted the 95 thesis on the wall of the Catholic church. The money thing was such a big business between the Catholic church in the 1500's. I believe that the bishops really thought that they were the only one's who could unlock revelation. Martin Luther didn't get revelation from the bishop's. He just opened the new testament and saw that we were supposed to feed the poor, help those in need, and win souls for the Lord Jesus Christ. The Catholic church couldn't understand Martin Luther because they didn't have the revelation of the commandment of Jesus. It was all business. A minister by the name of Mel Montgomery wrote a little article on the front page of His newsletter that I think needs to scream out to the church today. Martin Luther errors and excesses of his day sparked the Protestant Reformation, lighting holy fires that burned around the globe, removing errors and destroying man-made religious traditions and structures. In the same manner, we must again nail the scriptures and sound doctrine back on the church door of our day, rebuking the errors and excesses that are so common, and call on God to forgive us, cleanse us, renew us, and revive us again that we may proclaim the Gospel of Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit to a lost and dying humanity. Wow! I think that this is the most powerful message for us to be nourished in sound doctrine today for correction in our church. The bishop would rob from the poor by telling them that as soon as the coin in the casket rings, so shall the soul from purgatory spring. These poor people would get so scared that they would give there money away to this corruptness. I'd probably get hung inside of some protestant churches today for what I'm about to say but I believe it is needful for us. Here is a saying that I made up that is sadly true for today. "As soon as the coin in the basket rings, so shall the etravagant lifestyle of the evangelist spring. While the corrupt evangelist's and false prophets are flourishing, the poor are dying. There is nothing wrong with God's blessings and the minister's getting paid for there ministering, but we see alot of garbage out there that is watering down the gospel of Jesus Christ. I want to encourage you today to have a hunger for sound doctrine and the truth of God. Be nourished up in good sound doctrine and God's truth. Take the name it claim it message to a whole new level. Speak over yourself who you are in Christ Jesus. Speak over yourself today that you are going to walk in the spirit, desire holiness, and walk in the truth. God will take care of those who are walking in the spirit. Speak these words with me today. Lord, I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. I will walk in the spirit today with a hunger in my heart for your word. I put on and walk in that which I have received. I am created in your image. Help me to be nourished up now Lord with your ways, In Jesus name.
prayer:
Lord we come to you and ask your forgiveness if we have strayed from your truth by a mixture of error. We long to walk in your ways and to hear your voice. We ask that you purify our hearts and that You would help us to walk in you word. Amen
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Friday, June 11, 2010
Thursday, June 10, 2010
June 10th Devotional
Read:
James 1:21,22,26
21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.
In India, a native wrote to friend about a great revival in the area and he said, “We are having a great rebible here!” Revival means "new life" and it always starts with the bible totally saturating His bride through the bride repenting for the condition of the church.Throughout history we see Christendom with many distinctions that mark a particualar denomination. We have the baptists' that center on conversion and evangelism, eastern ortodox denomination that even centers on pentecostal gifts', the reformed church who centers on justification by faith, and pentecostal which is motivated by revelation and power of the baptism. You can get revelation from different types of denominations, but wouldn't it be nice if we could just be the new testament church. It would be nice to have a bit of each denomination and just be the church, going forth in our calling, advancing God's Kingdom, and moving forth in the power of the Holy Spirit, yet rooted in sound doctrine. If you look at each type of denomination, you will see what they empasize is clearly taught in scripture. We see sacrament taught in scripture, conversion is definitely an essential to our protestant belief, the power of the Holy spirit is taught, and we see doctrine is taught as well. Sometimes though we see a particular denomination lift there head up in arrogance and say, "We are right, and you are wrong!" This will absolutely kill revival, because the world sees this hate among the protestants. Its amazing to see when something is wrong with our society, you will see some reformed group get together and make a declaration or some type of article dealing with a particular thing. There's nothing wrong with bringing forth sound doctrine and truth to a certain situation that needs to be dealt with, but I'm talking about the venom that is sometimes shot through the veins of the church. This can kill the fire of a productive church. Revival shoud be a lifestyle and not just a season. You can see some strengths and weaknesses in different denominations, but before a powerful pure revival can break lose, we have got to bind together and be the church. We sometimes get so caught up with fads and theologically issues, that we lose sight with what we are really here for. Revival shouldn't be confined within the four walls of the church building, but should be out on the highways and byways. Our devotional life should be a revival. Our lifestyle should be changed day by day to reflect Christ more and more, and so we what we really need is a rebible. We need to let the word of God weed out and water the seed that is engrafted within us. We have a garden within us, and that garden has been unattended and the church has lost it's fire. The world has lost it's faith because the church has lost it's fire. I want us to concentrate on three things in this devotion that will bring forth a great revival in our world again. One, recieve the engrafted word which will pull out the weeds and rocks of sin out of our soul for revival to spring up again. Two, we need to be a doer of the word of God and not just a hearer only, and this will bring forth a salt to this world as we become a living epistle right before their eyes. Three, we need to watch the words we speak out by the power of the Holy spirit and our daily devotion. Lets get the bible back in the church, and watch and see how a rebible will bring forth a revival.
Prayer:
Lord, we ask that you will forgive us for attacking each other, and we pray that you help us bind together as one body. Help us to hold hands with one another with such a great seriousness of sacrament, yet rooted in good doctrine, and going forth in the power of the Holy Spirit. We desire Lord for many to be converted, and we want our life to be a revival, and we know Lord that this kind of life saturated with your precious word will bring forth revival all across the land, Amen.
by Keith Edwards
James 1:21,22,26
21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.
In India, a native wrote to friend about a great revival in the area and he said, “We are having a great rebible here!” Revival means "new life" and it always starts with the bible totally saturating His bride through the bride repenting for the condition of the church.Throughout history we see Christendom with many distinctions that mark a particualar denomination. We have the baptists' that center on conversion and evangelism, eastern ortodox denomination that even centers on pentecostal gifts', the reformed church who centers on justification by faith, and pentecostal which is motivated by revelation and power of the baptism. You can get revelation from different types of denominations, but wouldn't it be nice if we could just be the new testament church. It would be nice to have a bit of each denomination and just be the church, going forth in our calling, advancing God's Kingdom, and moving forth in the power of the Holy Spirit, yet rooted in sound doctrine. If you look at each type of denomination, you will see what they empasize is clearly taught in scripture. We see sacrament taught in scripture, conversion is definitely an essential to our protestant belief, the power of the Holy spirit is taught, and we see doctrine is taught as well. Sometimes though we see a particular denomination lift there head up in arrogance and say, "We are right, and you are wrong!" This will absolutely kill revival, because the world sees this hate among the protestants. Its amazing to see when something is wrong with our society, you will see some reformed group get together and make a declaration or some type of article dealing with a particular thing. There's nothing wrong with bringing forth sound doctrine and truth to a certain situation that needs to be dealt with, but I'm talking about the venom that is sometimes shot through the veins of the church. This can kill the fire of a productive church. Revival shoud be a lifestyle and not just a season. You can see some strengths and weaknesses in different denominations, but before a powerful pure revival can break lose, we have got to bind together and be the church. We sometimes get so caught up with fads and theologically issues, that we lose sight with what we are really here for. Revival shouldn't be confined within the four walls of the church building, but should be out on the highways and byways. Our devotional life should be a revival. Our lifestyle should be changed day by day to reflect Christ more and more, and so we what we really need is a rebible. We need to let the word of God weed out and water the seed that is engrafted within us. We have a garden within us, and that garden has been unattended and the church has lost it's fire. The world has lost it's faith because the church has lost it's fire. I want us to concentrate on three things in this devotion that will bring forth a great revival in our world again. One, recieve the engrafted word which will pull out the weeds and rocks of sin out of our soul for revival to spring up again. Two, we need to be a doer of the word of God and not just a hearer only, and this will bring forth a salt to this world as we become a living epistle right before their eyes. Three, we need to watch the words we speak out by the power of the Holy spirit and our daily devotion. Lets get the bible back in the church, and watch and see how a rebible will bring forth a revival.
Prayer:
Lord, we ask that you will forgive us for attacking each other, and we pray that you help us bind together as one body. Help us to hold hands with one another with such a great seriousness of sacrament, yet rooted in good doctrine, and going forth in the power of the Holy Spirit. We desire Lord for many to be converted, and we want our life to be a revival, and we know Lord that this kind of life saturated with your precious word will bring forth revival all across the land, Amen.
by Keith Edwards
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Daddy! You Still Love Me? June 9th Devotional
Read:
Romans 8:39
39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
There was a story about a Father and Son who went hunting together. They went to an old log cabin to spend the night, and the Father told his Son to stay in this cabin until morning and don't leave this cabin. Later on in the night the son got a little curious. He got his little shot gun, sneaked out the back door, and headed out to adventure his first hunting experience all alone. As he was walking through the woods he got caught in a bear trap. He screamed the words, "Daddy! help me! His Father ran as fast as he could, found his son, and pulled him out of the bear trap. The son looked up at his Father and said, "you still love me?" Of course I do son. You are my Son and that will never change. How many times do we mess up in our Christian walk and feel like God isn't there to forgive us. Can I get a witness? You didn't say enough prayers a particular day. You didn't obey a list about a mile long. You didn't obey the Lord in a particular area and now you feel abandoned and exiled from God forever. We'll I have and still do at times, and I have to call out to God in bear traps that I get myself into and call upon His blood in time of need. We all make mistakes and it it a growing process of His pruning to make us more like Him. But if you have missed it in some area you are not abandoned from God's love today. His love is unconditional, and His love is beyond any love that this world has to offer. We will become less likely to disobey God as we submit and grow in Him daily, but I promise you that if you step out to grow in the Lord your are going to stumble. I've got alot of behind prints in the sand where God had to drag me at times but it was for my own good and I can see it know where it was God all along protecting me. My bottom is sore to this day from God spanking me at times as a Father. You know the old saying, "Put it on the south side of a north bound mule!" You may be feeling down today because you didn't do everything right yesterday. I want to encourage you to let Daddy God wrap His loving arms around you and enter His presence today so that you won't have to go around that same mountain with Him time and time again in a certain area. We have to sell all out to God, and make Him Lord in every area through obedience. His love is like no other love, and when we get ourselves in life's bear traps, we can call out to Him and He will be there for us.
Prayer:
Lord we come to you and ask that you will forgive us for any sin that we may have gotten ourselves trapped in. We call out to you for your rescue and ask that you would wrap those big arms around our heart and guide us by your Spirit. Help us by your grace to receive your pruning, and help us by your mercy to call out to you in time of need. Amen.
Romans 8:39
39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
There was a story about a Father and Son who went hunting together. They went to an old log cabin to spend the night, and the Father told his Son to stay in this cabin until morning and don't leave this cabin. Later on in the night the son got a little curious. He got his little shot gun, sneaked out the back door, and headed out to adventure his first hunting experience all alone. As he was walking through the woods he got caught in a bear trap. He screamed the words, "Daddy! help me! His Father ran as fast as he could, found his son, and pulled him out of the bear trap. The son looked up at his Father and said, "you still love me?" Of course I do son. You are my Son and that will never change. How many times do we mess up in our Christian walk and feel like God isn't there to forgive us. Can I get a witness? You didn't say enough prayers a particular day. You didn't obey a list about a mile long. You didn't obey the Lord in a particular area and now you feel abandoned and exiled from God forever. We'll I have and still do at times, and I have to call out to God in bear traps that I get myself into and call upon His blood in time of need. We all make mistakes and it it a growing process of His pruning to make us more like Him. But if you have missed it in some area you are not abandoned from God's love today. His love is unconditional, and His love is beyond any love that this world has to offer. We will become less likely to disobey God as we submit and grow in Him daily, but I promise you that if you step out to grow in the Lord your are going to stumble. I've got alot of behind prints in the sand where God had to drag me at times but it was for my own good and I can see it know where it was God all along protecting me. My bottom is sore to this day from God spanking me at times as a Father. You know the old saying, "Put it on the south side of a north bound mule!" You may be feeling down today because you didn't do everything right yesterday. I want to encourage you to let Daddy God wrap His loving arms around you and enter His presence today so that you won't have to go around that same mountain with Him time and time again in a certain area. We have to sell all out to God, and make Him Lord in every area through obedience. His love is like no other love, and when we get ourselves in life's bear traps, we can call out to Him and He will be there for us.
Prayer:
Lord we come to you and ask that you will forgive us for any sin that we may have gotten ourselves trapped in. We call out to you for your rescue and ask that you would wrap those big arms around our heart and guide us by your Spirit. Help us by your grace to receive your pruning, and help us by your mercy to call out to you in time of need. Amen.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
June 8th Devotional
Read:
17"So now, our God, listen to the prayer of Your servant and to his supplications, and for Your sake, O Lord, let Your face shine on Your desolate sanctuary.
Have you ever just felt like giving up on praying for the church and nation? You see the mess out there, and its humiliating to the body of Christ. You pray and pray and feel like God as forsaken you. I know I have and still do at times. Here in Daniel chapter 9 he is praying for Jerusalem. He knows the seventy years of captivity in Babylon is almost up, but prophetically he knows that Jerusalem will be destroyed once again in the future. However, God gives Daniel some encouragement concerning the "spiritual Temple" which is the church of Jesus Christ. He tells him that a messiah will come, which pertains to Christ Jesus. Daniel remained patient through his prayer and God came through immediately in Chapter 9. However, in chapter 10 it took twenty-one days for God to come through because of the evil spirit that was hindering. Daniel remained faithful through fasting, prayer, and devotion to the Lord. God came through and He can come through for you today. God is much concerned with the new Jerusalem temple today as He was with physical Jerusalem during the seventy-year captivity in Babylon. There will be a physical temple built in Jerusalem during the tribulation, but we need not to be concerned too much with that. We do need to pray for the peace of Jerusalem according to scripture, but our main focus is the spiritual temple of the church, and the Jerusalem in our own home as the temple, for we are a temple individually and corporately as a body.It's good to know prophetically what is going on in Jerusalem though as a believer. A journalist went to Jerusalem to see how far along they were to getting the utensils, priestly garments etc. for rebuilding the temple in the early 1900's. He went every decade, and in the early part of 2000 he went and asked them how far along they were? They said, "We have everything we need to start it!" They say it takes three and a half years to build it. This should not make us fear, but to motivate us to pray for God to shine His light upon His spiritual temple. The bible says, "that no man knows the day nor hour when Christ will come and there will be a "catching away" but we would know the season. We will soon reign with Jesus forever and ever. Want that be a great time! However, we need to stay focused as the body of Christ, and allow Him to work through us in these last days that we are living in. I believe we are living in the last season of this earth age, and it's time that we do the works of Christ like never before. Right now there are Daniel's in our midst who are praying for the temple of the body of Christ today, and they are weeping like Daniel for the mixture, greed, and other things that have leaked into the body of Christ. There are also Zechariah's, Joshua's, Ezra's, and Nehemiah's who are helping with the building of the spiritual temple. We have seen many minister's rise in the power of the Holy Spirit, who brought forth a motivation and revelation to build as living stones, and we will see this increase in the days ahead. Will you be a Daniel today and pray with fervent prayer? Let's start out our day with a desire for God to shine upon His temple. Let's ask God to forgive us as the body of Christ for things we let in our marriage as the bride of Christ, and let's focus on divorcing those things in the name of Jesus.
Prayer:
Lord we come to you in repentance and ask that you will forgive all of us for letting your body get to the place it is in. We have let money ruin your name, and we have loved the gifts and the things that you give more than you Lord. We ask that you would filter out the mixture, and that you would bring us to a pure place with you in patience as we pray for your light to shine down upon us. Amen
by Keith Edwards
17"So now, our God, listen to the prayer of Your servant and to his supplications, and for Your sake, O Lord, let Your face shine on Your desolate sanctuary.
Have you ever just felt like giving up on praying for the church and nation? You see the mess out there, and its humiliating to the body of Christ. You pray and pray and feel like God as forsaken you. I know I have and still do at times. Here in Daniel chapter 9 he is praying for Jerusalem. He knows the seventy years of captivity in Babylon is almost up, but prophetically he knows that Jerusalem will be destroyed once again in the future. However, God gives Daniel some encouragement concerning the "spiritual Temple" which is the church of Jesus Christ. He tells him that a messiah will come, which pertains to Christ Jesus. Daniel remained patient through his prayer and God came through immediately in Chapter 9. However, in chapter 10 it took twenty-one days for God to come through because of the evil spirit that was hindering. Daniel remained faithful through fasting, prayer, and devotion to the Lord. God came through and He can come through for you today. God is much concerned with the new Jerusalem temple today as He was with physical Jerusalem during the seventy-year captivity in Babylon. There will be a physical temple built in Jerusalem during the tribulation, but we need not to be concerned too much with that. We do need to pray for the peace of Jerusalem according to scripture, but our main focus is the spiritual temple of the church, and the Jerusalem in our own home as the temple, for we are a temple individually and corporately as a body.It's good to know prophetically what is going on in Jerusalem though as a believer. A journalist went to Jerusalem to see how far along they were to getting the utensils, priestly garments etc. for rebuilding the temple in the early 1900's. He went every decade, and in the early part of 2000 he went and asked them how far along they were? They said, "We have everything we need to start it!" They say it takes three and a half years to build it. This should not make us fear, but to motivate us to pray for God to shine His light upon His spiritual temple. The bible says, "that no man knows the day nor hour when Christ will come and there will be a "catching away" but we would know the season. We will soon reign with Jesus forever and ever. Want that be a great time! However, we need to stay focused as the body of Christ, and allow Him to work through us in these last days that we are living in. I believe we are living in the last season of this earth age, and it's time that we do the works of Christ like never before. Right now there are Daniel's in our midst who are praying for the temple of the body of Christ today, and they are weeping like Daniel for the mixture, greed, and other things that have leaked into the body of Christ. There are also Zechariah's, Joshua's, Ezra's, and Nehemiah's who are helping with the building of the spiritual temple. We have seen many minister's rise in the power of the Holy Spirit, who brought forth a motivation and revelation to build as living stones, and we will see this increase in the days ahead. Will you be a Daniel today and pray with fervent prayer? Let's start out our day with a desire for God to shine upon His temple. Let's ask God to forgive us as the body of Christ for things we let in our marriage as the bride of Christ, and let's focus on divorcing those things in the name of Jesus.
Prayer:
Lord we come to you in repentance and ask that you will forgive all of us for letting your body get to the place it is in. We have let money ruin your name, and we have loved the gifts and the things that you give more than you Lord. We ask that you would filter out the mixture, and that you would bring us to a pure place with you in patience as we pray for your light to shine down upon us. Amen
by Keith Edwards
Monday, June 7, 2010
June 7th Devotional
Read:
Philippians 4:19
19 And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus
Are you in need today? If we keep our eyes focused on God then He will take care of us, and He will meet our need. As we seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness God will meet our needs not our wants, yet so many snap there finger and expect it right now and no later. I can remember many times having to be patient even when I prayed earnestly, and the answer did come. There have been times where I had forgotten a particular prayer that I had prayed, and that prayer was answered eventually. God works that way at times. But then there are times when God will intervene in a certain situation at that very moment we pray. I remember when I was in full time ministry, and many would come in from other ministries. There were pastors, evangelists, and ministries that would come in to this particular ministry to partner with us. That morning I was in need for new tires on my car, and I prayed for exactly three-hundred dollars for some tires. That morning an evangelist came in and came up to me. After the worship he told me that he felt like the Lord told him to give me a bible. It was a very expensive bible. He told me that he just bought it for a hundred dollars, and for some reason he really felt like the Lord wanted him to bless me with it. He also wanted me to come by his house later that night and fellowship with him and his family. Little did I know what a blessing it was going to be. When I got there he told me to pull my car in the shop next to his house. He put my car on the rack and said that He felt like the Lord wanted him to bless me with two hundred dollars worth of tires. I couldn't believe it. coincidence? No, I believe it was God. They owned the tire shop, and this all come out to about three hundred dollars. Friend, God is concerned with us. He wants to meet our need but not our greed. Sometimes God wants us to ask him for a need so that it can build our faith, but our asking will never be out of line with our union in Christ. He will automatically take care of us as we are seeking him, but sometimes it is a faith builder. I still have that ole' bible, and I read it and have been blessed by it. Let's realize today that God is concerned with us, and He will supply all of our needs.
Prayer:
Lord we ask that you meet our needs that we have today. We pray that you will first bless us with knowing you more, and that you will meet any needs we have, whether it is financial, physical, or emotional. Move us into a new season with you Lord, and grow us up in the ways we should go with you, Amen.
by Keith Edwards
Philippians 4:19
19 And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus
Are you in need today? If we keep our eyes focused on God then He will take care of us, and He will meet our need. As we seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness God will meet our needs not our wants, yet so many snap there finger and expect it right now and no later. I can remember many times having to be patient even when I prayed earnestly, and the answer did come. There have been times where I had forgotten a particular prayer that I had prayed, and that prayer was answered eventually. God works that way at times. But then there are times when God will intervene in a certain situation at that very moment we pray. I remember when I was in full time ministry, and many would come in from other ministries. There were pastors, evangelists, and ministries that would come in to this particular ministry to partner with us. That morning I was in need for new tires on my car, and I prayed for exactly three-hundred dollars for some tires. That morning an evangelist came in and came up to me. After the worship he told me that he felt like the Lord told him to give me a bible. It was a very expensive bible. He told me that he just bought it for a hundred dollars, and for some reason he really felt like the Lord wanted him to bless me with it. He also wanted me to come by his house later that night and fellowship with him and his family. Little did I know what a blessing it was going to be. When I got there he told me to pull my car in the shop next to his house. He put my car on the rack and said that He felt like the Lord wanted him to bless me with two hundred dollars worth of tires. I couldn't believe it. coincidence? No, I believe it was God. They owned the tire shop, and this all come out to about three hundred dollars. Friend, God is concerned with us. He wants to meet our need but not our greed. Sometimes God wants us to ask him for a need so that it can build our faith, but our asking will never be out of line with our union in Christ. He will automatically take care of us as we are seeking him, but sometimes it is a faith builder. I still have that ole' bible, and I read it and have been blessed by it. Let's realize today that God is concerned with us, and He will supply all of our needs.
Prayer:
Lord we ask that you meet our needs that we have today. We pray that you will first bless us with knowing you more, and that you will meet any needs we have, whether it is financial, physical, or emotional. Move us into a new season with you Lord, and grow us up in the ways we should go with you, Amen.
by Keith Edwards
Sunday, June 6, 2010
June 6th Devotional
Read:
2Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men:
One of the greatest ways to win someone to the Lord is by being a living epistle. To be that light to someone who is in darkness is powerful when done the right way. You can talk about great revelations and how much you know, but people don't care how much we know until they know how much we care. I can remember my mom telling me the time when Dad worked at a factory. He was a pastor of his first church, and was on fire for the things of God. My father was a great man and he lived what he preached. The Lord spoke to him and he felt like the Lord wanted him to witness to one of his co-workers. He witnessed day after day for several months. One day my father said, "Lord this is getting old. I just don't feel like I'm getting through to him. He felt like the Lord told him that he was done with talking to this one particular employee. He went to work that next day. As he started out his daily routine, a man on a fork lift came riding up to him. He said, "pastor, I've been watching you witness to that employee day after day. I've also watched how you deal with your co-workers. I've seen you live out what you believe. I want this Jesus you have been talking about." My father led this man to the Lord and to this day I believe he is still living a christian life. I was only five years old when this man and his family would come to our church on Sunday's. I remember becoming friends with his family, and I can remember years after this me and my brother going to this man's house and staying a whole week there with his family during the summer. My Father has gone to be with the Lord but he has made an imprint in my life as his son. I'll never forget the great things he did to live out the gospel. I want to encourage you this morning to never underestimate the power of seed planting, but never underestimate the power of reflecting Christ by being a living epistle.
Prayer:
Lord we ask that you help us be that living epistle to those around us. Let your light shine from within us, and we pray God that you would help us to not only talk to those around us, but live a holy life right before the most worst sinners around us. it could be the least one we would expect Lord that comes crawling to you, or it could be someone peeking around the corner watching very closely. We pray Lord that our devotional life would be so strong with you to show forth character to an unbelieving generation. Amen.
by Keith Edwards
2Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men:
One of the greatest ways to win someone to the Lord is by being a living epistle. To be that light to someone who is in darkness is powerful when done the right way. You can talk about great revelations and how much you know, but people don't care how much we know until they know how much we care. I can remember my mom telling me the time when Dad worked at a factory. He was a pastor of his first church, and was on fire for the things of God. My father was a great man and he lived what he preached. The Lord spoke to him and he felt like the Lord wanted him to witness to one of his co-workers. He witnessed day after day for several months. One day my father said, "Lord this is getting old. I just don't feel like I'm getting through to him. He felt like the Lord told him that he was done with talking to this one particular employee. He went to work that next day. As he started out his daily routine, a man on a fork lift came riding up to him. He said, "pastor, I've been watching you witness to that employee day after day. I've also watched how you deal with your co-workers. I've seen you live out what you believe. I want this Jesus you have been talking about." My father led this man to the Lord and to this day I believe he is still living a christian life. I was only five years old when this man and his family would come to our church on Sunday's. I remember becoming friends with his family, and I can remember years after this me and my brother going to this man's house and staying a whole week there with his family during the summer. My Father has gone to be with the Lord but he has made an imprint in my life as his son. I'll never forget the great things he did to live out the gospel. I want to encourage you this morning to never underestimate the power of seed planting, but never underestimate the power of reflecting Christ by being a living epistle.
Prayer:
Lord we ask that you help us be that living epistle to those around us. Let your light shine from within us, and we pray God that you would help us to not only talk to those around us, but live a holy life right before the most worst sinners around us. it could be the least one we would expect Lord that comes crawling to you, or it could be someone peeking around the corner watching very closely. We pray Lord that our devotional life would be so strong with you to show forth character to an unbelieving generation. Amen.
by Keith Edwards
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Priority In The Home June 5th 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.
by Keith Edwards
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.
by Keith Edwards
Friday, June 4, 2010
Time To Bind Together June 4th Devotional
Read:
Acts 2:42-47
42And they continued steadfast in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
43And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.
44And all that believed were together, and had all things common;
45And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.
46And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
47Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
A Pastor said one day that the church would be alright if it were not for people. This sounds kind of humorous, but the way we act sometimes, including some ministers, we would think that the church is all about me and not we. Someone said one time, "To live above with those we love will be full of glory, but to live below with those we know we'll, that's another story." God never attended for us to be that Lone Ranger type christian who sits in there 8X8 closet and that is the only fellowship that they have. For so many years I spent more time by myself just in my own little world studying. There is definitely nothing wrong with this when done in balance. We need that quality time in our prayer closet. The secret to a successful life of a believer is the success of there secret life in the prayer closet. This will build character and cause the anointing of God to increase in our lives. But we need the fellowship of other believers in the church. This is how God builds. God builds in three ways. He builds by revelation, relationally, and by generation. All throughout the bible God was looking after His holy seed for the coming messiah. After Christ came He was a seed for all of humanity through all ages, and that seed was by generation. God also builds by revelation. Jesus asked His disciples one day, "Who do men say that I am?" Some said this and some said that, but Peter spoke and said with power and revelation, "You are the Christ the Son of the living God!" This was by revelation of who Jesus was as God the Son. The third way God builds is very important for us as believers. He builds relationally. There is such a power in cell groups, prayer meetings, and bible studies branched from the home church itself. I can remember back two years ago when we had a prayer meeting, worship music, and bible study in the basement of a minister friend of mine. God move miraculously. There were some healed, delivered, and set free by the power of God. The minister's wife prayed for a young girl who had breast cancer. The young girl's mom come running in to her office crying. She said I know you believe in miracles, and I'm pleading with you to pray with us. Will you? She said yes let's pray. She laid her hands on her and the mom took her young daughter to the doctor and they couldn't find a trace of that cancer. Many other things happened there. I can remember just leading worship and lifting Jesus up. You see, when you lift Jesus up together in unity, things will happen. So many Christians get caught up in lifting miracles and other things up instead of lifting Christ Jesus up. We need each other. I want to encourage you today to get connected and plugged in to your home church like never before. Yes it's going to make your flesh go crazy. One revelation that helps when I feel the pressure of connecting to believers in a more powerful way is realizing that it's the enemy that don't want you to get connected. He knows the power in it. Don't try and fight the body of Christ when this happens. This is how the enemy works. The devil hates relationships and always will. Will you say with me today, "I am a part of the body of Christ, and I will get connected like never before with bible studies, corporate worship, and other ways in the church." I want to encourage this day to re-focus on how God builds.
prayer:
Lord we come to you in your mighty name. We know that the enemy hates anything to do with you Lord and the fellowship of believers. We know that we need to bind together as a body of believers like never before. Help us Lord to plug in greater than ever with the body of Christ and help us pick up a stone as living stones and carry it back with the other stones of other believers if we have strayed away with our own little stone. We long to be a part of the building of the temple. Lord we also pray for our youth. We understand Lord that if you tarry the youth will be the next generation. God we lift up our youth pastor's today, and we pray protection upon this generation in Jesus name we pray. Amen.
Acts 2:42-47
42And they continued steadfast in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
43And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.
44And all that believed were together, and had all things common;
45And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.
46And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
47Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
A Pastor said one day that the church would be alright if it were not for people. This sounds kind of humorous, but the way we act sometimes, including some ministers, we would think that the church is all about me and not we. Someone said one time, "To live above with those we love will be full of glory, but to live below with those we know we'll, that's another story." God never attended for us to be that Lone Ranger type christian who sits in there 8X8 closet and that is the only fellowship that they have. For so many years I spent more time by myself just in my own little world studying. There is definitely nothing wrong with this when done in balance. We need that quality time in our prayer closet. The secret to a successful life of a believer is the success of there secret life in the prayer closet. This will build character and cause the anointing of God to increase in our lives. But we need the fellowship of other believers in the church. This is how God builds. God builds in three ways. He builds by revelation, relationally, and by generation. All throughout the bible God was looking after His holy seed for the coming messiah. After Christ came He was a seed for all of humanity through all ages, and that seed was by generation. God also builds by revelation. Jesus asked His disciples one day, "Who do men say that I am?" Some said this and some said that, but Peter spoke and said with power and revelation, "You are the Christ the Son of the living God!" This was by revelation of who Jesus was as God the Son. The third way God builds is very important for us as believers. He builds relationally. There is such a power in cell groups, prayer meetings, and bible studies branched from the home church itself. I can remember back two years ago when we had a prayer meeting, worship music, and bible study in the basement of a minister friend of mine. God move miraculously. There were some healed, delivered, and set free by the power of God. The minister's wife prayed for a young girl who had breast cancer. The young girl's mom come running in to her office crying. She said I know you believe in miracles, and I'm pleading with you to pray with us. Will you? She said yes let's pray. She laid her hands on her and the mom took her young daughter to the doctor and they couldn't find a trace of that cancer. Many other things happened there. I can remember just leading worship and lifting Jesus up. You see, when you lift Jesus up together in unity, things will happen. So many Christians get caught up in lifting miracles and other things up instead of lifting Christ Jesus up. We need each other. I want to encourage you today to get connected and plugged in to your home church like never before. Yes it's going to make your flesh go crazy. One revelation that helps when I feel the pressure of connecting to believers in a more powerful way is realizing that it's the enemy that don't want you to get connected. He knows the power in it. Don't try and fight the body of Christ when this happens. This is how the enemy works. The devil hates relationships and always will. Will you say with me today, "I am a part of the body of Christ, and I will get connected like never before with bible studies, corporate worship, and other ways in the church." I want to encourage this day to re-focus on how God builds.
prayer:
Lord we come to you in your mighty name. We know that the enemy hates anything to do with you Lord and the fellowship of believers. We know that we need to bind together as a body of believers like never before. Help us Lord to plug in greater than ever with the body of Christ and help us pick up a stone as living stones and carry it back with the other stones of other believers if we have strayed away with our own little stone. We long to be a part of the building of the temple. Lord we also pray for our youth. We understand Lord that if you tarry the youth will be the next generation. God we lift up our youth pastor's today, and we pray protection upon this generation in Jesus name we pray. Amen.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
June 3rd Devotional
Read:
Ezra 8:21
21 There, by the Ahava Canal, I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions.
Life can get so stressful at times. Things can change in an instant, and we need to know how to get strength from God in those rough times. We can learn a great deal about our daily walk with the Lord by looking at Ezra. Ezra is going to Jerusalem concerning the reconstruction of Jerusalem. Fifty-Thousand Jews come before Ezra to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem Eighty years before Ezra actually takes the journey from Babylon to Jerusalem. When Ezra starts his journey to Jerusalem, he stops at the river of Ahava with the three-thousand he has with him. The Greek definition for Ahava is "I Shall Subsist" and subsist means to gain nourishment needed to carry on. It was just as much a spiritual nourishment as it was concerning food and raiment. Ezra proclaims a fast, and he gathers leading men to lead with him. Ezra not only knew the importance of humbling himself before God to help them make it to Jerusalem, but he knew the importance of plotting leaders all around him to bind together as one as they carried on the journey. I want us to stop today and gain the nourishment needed to walk this Christian walk. Let's open our hearts today for His spirit to strengthen us and make us strong in Him. We need to stop at that place like the River of Ahava, and we need to draw strength from the Father. He is so willing and able to help us in trying times, and He can help us through restoration to build the little Jerusalem that we may have in our heart. Maybe you have a dream and you have given up on that dream. Maybe you are going through a very hard time right now and don't know what to do. Just reach out to God today, and gain the nourishment needed to go forward in the things of God.
Prayer:
Lord we ask for strength as we face another day. Give us the power to walk out this walk in your grace, and help us to hear your voice and learn of your ways in Jesus name we pray. Amen.
by Keith Edwards
Ezra 8:21
21 There, by the Ahava Canal, I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions.
Life can get so stressful at times. Things can change in an instant, and we need to know how to get strength from God in those rough times. We can learn a great deal about our daily walk with the Lord by looking at Ezra. Ezra is going to Jerusalem concerning the reconstruction of Jerusalem. Fifty-Thousand Jews come before Ezra to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem Eighty years before Ezra actually takes the journey from Babylon to Jerusalem. When Ezra starts his journey to Jerusalem, he stops at the river of Ahava with the three-thousand he has with him. The Greek definition for Ahava is "I Shall Subsist" and subsist means to gain nourishment needed to carry on. It was just as much a spiritual nourishment as it was concerning food and raiment. Ezra proclaims a fast, and he gathers leading men to lead with him. Ezra not only knew the importance of humbling himself before God to help them make it to Jerusalem, but he knew the importance of plotting leaders all around him to bind together as one as they carried on the journey. I want us to stop today and gain the nourishment needed to walk this Christian walk. Let's open our hearts today for His spirit to strengthen us and make us strong in Him. We need to stop at that place like the River of Ahava, and we need to draw strength from the Father. He is so willing and able to help us in trying times, and He can help us through restoration to build the little Jerusalem that we may have in our heart. Maybe you have a dream and you have given up on that dream. Maybe you are going through a very hard time right now and don't know what to do. Just reach out to God today, and gain the nourishment needed to go forward in the things of God.
Prayer:
Lord we ask for strength as we face another day. Give us the power to walk out this walk in your grace, and help us to hear your voice and learn of your ways in Jesus name we pray. Amen.
by Keith Edwards
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
From A Mess To A Message June2nd Devotional
Read:
John 15:1-4
1"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 3You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
One day my son and I were at the park we would go to quite frequently. He was only four at the time, and at the back part of this park were some tractors and old trucks that were fenced in at an old truck parts junkyard. Me and my son would walk up this big hill and you could see his eyes get big as saucers as he would stare in amazement. One day there was this one truck that actually had some grass growing out of the bed of the truck. My son said, "Daddy, how can something grow in something so dirty?" Immediately, I thought about us. God took a sinner like us who had a dirty old truck bed, and God came and made something out of us. Our mess became a message. He takes us and makes us brand new in Him in the born again experience. That ole' truck bed becomes a new Christ bed and God plants new seeds in us rooted in His word. It's not all about us anymore, but it's all about him. You see, we were so self-centered before we met the Lord, and now that we have been saved we need to allow our lives and our mind, will, and emotions to tap deep into that place with Christ. We need to remain in Christ as one with Him. But Oh! there are times as Christians when we start allowing some things to come in our lives. We begin to stop growing as a christian and lose focus. We plant different things in our soul that is not good. It's like that ole' truck bed. When we get to this place in our lives, We can let God heal us and bring us back to a deeper relationship with Him. We can find that place in Him again that is birthed from our spirit instead of the soulish things that we created ourselves. Friend if you have gotten to this place just remember that your mess can become a message, and your tests can become a testimony. God can bring forth restoration for you today. Oh! but how it hurts when he disciplines us to bear fruit again, when He prunes us to bear more fruit in our lives. We have run away with our own agenda and tried to get impatient as we walk this Christian walk in our own way at times as children of God. This brings us to our next but last thing. As I turn around I can see my Son running ahead of me. He knows better than to leave me like that, so I say, "Son! get back over here this instant!" Let's get real. How many times do we run ahead of Him exploring our gifts and talents our self. How many times do we find that without God holding our hand and guiding us we would get frustrated at times because we have lost our Daddy God. Let's let God hold our hand today as we walk out our Christian walk. We can walk with our Daddy God and experience the great things that we long to see with Him. Do you have a mess in your life from maybe a tragedy or trauma in your life, and you don't know what in the world your going to do. Look to your Father God today and let Him heal you and pull any weeds or grass out of your ole' soul and find that root again that is deep within your spirit.
prayer:
Lord we come to you in your mighty name and ask that you pull any rocks and weeds out of our soul that shouldn't be there. We need your touch today Lord in a mighty way. We know that it's going to hurt when you start to pull the weeds and grass that we planted our self, but we know that we can't bear fruit in the right way without you being our everything. We are sorry Daddy God for running without you at times, and we long to hold your hand today as you take us down the path of your ways. Amen.
by Keith Edwards
John 15:1-4
1"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. 3You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
One day my son and I were at the park we would go to quite frequently. He was only four at the time, and at the back part of this park were some tractors and old trucks that were fenced in at an old truck parts junkyard. Me and my son would walk up this big hill and you could see his eyes get big as saucers as he would stare in amazement. One day there was this one truck that actually had some grass growing out of the bed of the truck. My son said, "Daddy, how can something grow in something so dirty?" Immediately, I thought about us. God took a sinner like us who had a dirty old truck bed, and God came and made something out of us. Our mess became a message. He takes us and makes us brand new in Him in the born again experience. That ole' truck bed becomes a new Christ bed and God plants new seeds in us rooted in His word. It's not all about us anymore, but it's all about him. You see, we were so self-centered before we met the Lord, and now that we have been saved we need to allow our lives and our mind, will, and emotions to tap deep into that place with Christ. We need to remain in Christ as one with Him. But Oh! there are times as Christians when we start allowing some things to come in our lives. We begin to stop growing as a christian and lose focus. We plant different things in our soul that is not good. It's like that ole' truck bed. When we get to this place in our lives, We can let God heal us and bring us back to a deeper relationship with Him. We can find that place in Him again that is birthed from our spirit instead of the soulish things that we created ourselves. Friend if you have gotten to this place just remember that your mess can become a message, and your tests can become a testimony. God can bring forth restoration for you today. Oh! but how it hurts when he disciplines us to bear fruit again, when He prunes us to bear more fruit in our lives. We have run away with our own agenda and tried to get impatient as we walk this Christian walk in our own way at times as children of God. This brings us to our next but last thing. As I turn around I can see my Son running ahead of me. He knows better than to leave me like that, so I say, "Son! get back over here this instant!" Let's get real. How many times do we run ahead of Him exploring our gifts and talents our self. How many times do we find that without God holding our hand and guiding us we would get frustrated at times because we have lost our Daddy God. Let's let God hold our hand today as we walk out our Christian walk. We can walk with our Daddy God and experience the great things that we long to see with Him. Do you have a mess in your life from maybe a tragedy or trauma in your life, and you don't know what in the world your going to do. Look to your Father God today and let Him heal you and pull any weeds or grass out of your ole' soul and find that root again that is deep within your spirit.
prayer:
Lord we come to you in your mighty name and ask that you pull any rocks and weeds out of our soul that shouldn't be there. We need your touch today Lord in a mighty way. We know that it's going to hurt when you start to pull the weeds and grass that we planted our self, but we know that we can't bear fruit in the right way without you being our everything. We are sorry Daddy God for running without you at times, and we long to hold your hand today as you take us down the path of your ways. Amen.
by Keith Edwards
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Monday, May 31, 2010
Fight For Freedom May 31st Devotional
Read:
1 Timothy 2:1-2
I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone 2 For kings and all those who are in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.
Also read:
Romans 13:1
Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. the authorities that exist have been established by God.
All Throughout history beginning with even years before Christ was born, there was always a fight for freedom. There were great men that fought on the front line with valor and character. There was David, Joab, Joshua, prophets, and not to mention all of the other Kings that stood for freedom. One that comes to my mind is Nehemiah. Nehemiah stood when all hell was breaking loose towards him by false prophets, governors, and others, but Nehemiah stood his ground for freedom. The tragedy of September 11 caused this nation to fall on our knees and pray. There have been services and vigils all across the land. The bible says to pray for our nation. Does God love war? absolutely not, but God doesn't put any in authority that hasn't been established by Him. Even the ungodly rulers of this world suppresses sin and keeps a certain kind of peace, and it is our job to pray for our government, president, and all of those who are in authority and fighting for our freedom. I think that alot of judgement falls at the foot of the church. All through the bible we see that when the Jews got complacent, judgement came. Even though we are not under the old covenant, there is still a type of judgment that falls upon our nation when the church isn't doing what they supposed to do. We have gotten complacent, and the Babylonians attacked. Now, God is wanting His people to pray like never before for our nation. He wants us to pray against abortion, fight for pure marriage, and He wants us to stay on our knees for peace to be upon our land. America was founded upon Christian principles, and that will never be forgotten. God bless this land. We pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under GOD, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. This year is going to be another hard year for our soldiers that have stuck there neck out to fight for the red, white and blue. Many soldiers haven't seen there family in years. Lets be soldiers for the Lord and pray like never before for our great soldiers, especially the one's that are reflecting Christ to many out on the battlefield. Let's also pray for our missionaries over seas that are doing a great work for freedom and for God's kingdom.
Prayer:
Lord we pray for our nation. We pray for wisdom upon congress and for our president. We pray Lord that you will protect the soldiers who are away from their family, who have took a stand for that precious breath of freedom that we breathe today. Lord we ask that you forgive us for our complacency as the body of Christ and that you will bring our soldiers home safely. Amen.
by Keith Edwards
1 Timothy 2:1-2
I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone 2 For kings and all those who are in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.
Also read:
Romans 13:1
Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. the authorities that exist have been established by God.
All Throughout history beginning with even years before Christ was born, there was always a fight for freedom. There were great men that fought on the front line with valor and character. There was David, Joab, Joshua, prophets, and not to mention all of the other Kings that stood for freedom. One that comes to my mind is Nehemiah. Nehemiah stood when all hell was breaking loose towards him by false prophets, governors, and others, but Nehemiah stood his ground for freedom. The tragedy of September 11 caused this nation to fall on our knees and pray. There have been services and vigils all across the land. The bible says to pray for our nation. Does God love war? absolutely not, but God doesn't put any in authority that hasn't been established by Him. Even the ungodly rulers of this world suppresses sin and keeps a certain kind of peace, and it is our job to pray for our government, president, and all of those who are in authority and fighting for our freedom. I think that alot of judgement falls at the foot of the church. All through the bible we see that when the Jews got complacent, judgement came. Even though we are not under the old covenant, there is still a type of judgment that falls upon our nation when the church isn't doing what they supposed to do. We have gotten complacent, and the Babylonians attacked. Now, God is wanting His people to pray like never before for our nation. He wants us to pray against abortion, fight for pure marriage, and He wants us to stay on our knees for peace to be upon our land. America was founded upon Christian principles, and that will never be forgotten. God bless this land. We pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under GOD, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. This year is going to be another hard year for our soldiers that have stuck there neck out to fight for the red, white and blue. Many soldiers haven't seen there family in years. Lets be soldiers for the Lord and pray like never before for our great soldiers, especially the one's that are reflecting Christ to many out on the battlefield. Let's also pray for our missionaries over seas that are doing a great work for freedom and for God's kingdom.
Prayer:
Lord we pray for our nation. We pray for wisdom upon congress and for our president. We pray Lord that you will protect the soldiers who are away from their family, who have took a stand for that precious breath of freedom that we breathe today. Lord we ask that you forgive us for our complacency as the body of Christ and that you will bring our soldiers home safely. Amen.
by Keith Edwards
Saturday, May 29, 2010
God Will Always Provide A Ram May 29th Devotional
Read:
Genesis 22:13,14
13 Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son.
14 So Abraham called that place The LORD Will Provide. And to this day it is said, "On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided."
Have you ever felt like God left you out to dry. You sometimes find yourself wondering, "How in the world did I get here, and where am I going?" God is in control of our life, and we need to let Him guide us and direct us in the way we should go. God will test us sometimes to see if we love Him more than the desires and dreams of our heart. This is what He did with Abraham. Abraham loved His son so much, and to do this deed was absolutely crushing to him, but Abraham knew that God would have to provide for him or the seed not go forth like God had promised. God did provide for him a sacrifice in place of His son, and God was very pleased with him. His seed went forth. You may have a dream or goal that you need to put on the altar today. God will provide the desire that you have once we give our desires and concerns to Him. There's nothing wrong with having dreams and desires because God put those things in us. The problem is that we can take the dreams and desires that we have in our life and try and bring it to pass at the wrong timing. We find that an Ishmael has been born, and while God has to get us back on the right track we find that the Ishmael's in our life have to be dealt with. Let's go forth today with letting the Lord perfect the things that we have inside of us in His timing. If doors aren't opening right now it could be that God has to deal with some things in our life. God is concerned with the condition of our soul more than we are concerned with the dreams and desires that God does want in our life. There is always a ram in the bush, we just need to open our eyes and believe that He will provide.
Prayer:
Lord we come to you by faith and ask that you forgive us for not trusting in you. You are the Lord that provides, and you will provide us with the things that we need. The greatest thing we can offer up to you Lord is the faith that we have in your Son Jesus. Because of Jesus, we can stand when the winds blow, fulfill our destiny here on earth as we grow, and offer worship to you as we walk down life's road. We long to be more obedient Lord. Amen.
Genesis 22:13,14
13 Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son.
14 So Abraham called that place The LORD Will Provide. And to this day it is said, "On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided."
Have you ever felt like God left you out to dry. You sometimes find yourself wondering, "How in the world did I get here, and where am I going?" God is in control of our life, and we need to let Him guide us and direct us in the way we should go. God will test us sometimes to see if we love Him more than the desires and dreams of our heart. This is what He did with Abraham. Abraham loved His son so much, and to do this deed was absolutely crushing to him, but Abraham knew that God would have to provide for him or the seed not go forth like God had promised. God did provide for him a sacrifice in place of His son, and God was very pleased with him. His seed went forth. You may have a dream or goal that you need to put on the altar today. God will provide the desire that you have once we give our desires and concerns to Him. There's nothing wrong with having dreams and desires because God put those things in us. The problem is that we can take the dreams and desires that we have in our life and try and bring it to pass at the wrong timing. We find that an Ishmael has been born, and while God has to get us back on the right track we find that the Ishmael's in our life have to be dealt with. Let's go forth today with letting the Lord perfect the things that we have inside of us in His timing. If doors aren't opening right now it could be that God has to deal with some things in our life. God is concerned with the condition of our soul more than we are concerned with the dreams and desires that God does want in our life. There is always a ram in the bush, we just need to open our eyes and believe that He will provide.
Prayer:
Lord we come to you by faith and ask that you forgive us for not trusting in you. You are the Lord that provides, and you will provide us with the things that we need. The greatest thing we can offer up to you Lord is the faith that we have in your Son Jesus. Because of Jesus, we can stand when the winds blow, fulfill our destiny here on earth as we grow, and offer worship to you as we walk down life's road. We long to be more obedient Lord. Amen.
Friday, May 28, 2010
May 28th 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
Thursday, May 27, 2010
May 27th 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 communiate 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 communiate 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
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
May 26th devotional
Read:
John 14:12
12 I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.
Also Read:
Colossians 1:18
18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.
One of our favorite pictures of the church comes from the chaplain of the U.S. Senate, but before that he was pastor of Washington D.C.'s large Fourth Presbyterian Church. He had been leading that church for years when suddenly, one night, he saw his church clearly for the very first time. He was flying into Washington one day at dusk. At that time the approach path to Washington's Reagan National Airport happened to pass directly over Fourth Presbyterian Church. He pressed his face against the window to catch a glimpse of the building from the air. But everything on the ground was shrouded in the shadows falling over the city as the sun set. Dick could not find his church. He leaned back in his seat, gazing at the Washington skyline, always an inspiring sight. As his eyes followed the Potomac River, he could see the skyscrapers of Rosslyn, just across Key Bridge from Georgetown. Then, in the distance to the left, the White House, the lights of the Labor Department, the distant glow of the Capitol dome. As he stared out the window, he began mentally ticking off the names of members of his congregation who worked in those office buildings and government bureaus. Disciples he had equipped to live their faith. And suddenly it hit him. "Of course!" he exclaimed to the startled passenger in the next seat. "There it is! Fourth Presbyterian Church!" You see a church isn't marked by a sanctuary or steeple. The church was poured out into homes, Washington, and neighborhoods. I want you to see yourself looking below the plane today. How many lives have you impacted in some way or another. You look down and you can't seem to find your church, but you see your school where you might have impacted someone. Then you see a large building where you led someone to Christ. As you are flying a little further, you see a neighborhood where you might have led a cell group, or touched someone. Maybe you haven't made an impact like you needed to as a Christian, and you want to. Just look below the plane today. You can make a difference.
Prayer:
Lord, we want to be the church in the way you want us to be the church. Give us a revelation of how Your church is not marked by a steeple or religion alone. It is marked by the church making an impact upon our community and world. Help us to see ourselves as the new testament church, and we repent today Lord for seeing Your church in any other way but how you want us to see Your body, Amen
by Keith Edwards
John 14:12
12 I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.
Also Read:
Colossians 1:18
18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.
One of our favorite pictures of the church comes from the chaplain of the U.S. Senate, but before that he was pastor of Washington D.C.'s large Fourth Presbyterian Church. He had been leading that church for years when suddenly, one night, he saw his church clearly for the very first time. He was flying into Washington one day at dusk. At that time the approach path to Washington's Reagan National Airport happened to pass directly over Fourth Presbyterian Church. He pressed his face against the window to catch a glimpse of the building from the air. But everything on the ground was shrouded in the shadows falling over the city as the sun set. Dick could not find his church. He leaned back in his seat, gazing at the Washington skyline, always an inspiring sight. As his eyes followed the Potomac River, he could see the skyscrapers of Rosslyn, just across Key Bridge from Georgetown. Then, in the distance to the left, the White House, the lights of the Labor Department, the distant glow of the Capitol dome. As he stared out the window, he began mentally ticking off the names of members of his congregation who worked in those office buildings and government bureaus. Disciples he had equipped to live their faith. And suddenly it hit him. "Of course!" he exclaimed to the startled passenger in the next seat. "There it is! Fourth Presbyterian Church!" You see a church isn't marked by a sanctuary or steeple. The church was poured out into homes, Washington, and neighborhoods. I want you to see yourself looking below the plane today. How many lives have you impacted in some way or another. You look down and you can't seem to find your church, but you see your school where you might have impacted someone. Then you see a large building where you led someone to Christ. As you are flying a little further, you see a neighborhood where you might have led a cell group, or touched someone. Maybe you haven't made an impact like you needed to as a Christian, and you want to. Just look below the plane today. You can make a difference.
Prayer:
Lord, we want to be the church in the way you want us to be the church. Give us a revelation of how Your church is not marked by a steeple or religion alone. It is marked by the church making an impact upon our community and world. Help us to see ourselves as the new testament church, and we repent today Lord for seeing Your church in any other way but how you want us to see Your body, Amen
by Keith Edwards
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
May 25th Devotional
Read:
2 timothy 1:13,14
13 What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus.
14 Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us
Whenever you have a treasure, there is always a thief. The enemy wants to destroy the word from our mind and soul that we lay down as foundation. Our mind, will, and emotions need to line up with the very Christ within us, and Satan wants nothing more than to totally stop us in our tracks as a believer. These current dark ages we are living in is bringing us to a place where we need to shine the light of Jesus to others like never before, and I feel like God wants us to beware of the enemy today in these dark ages we face. One night at work I was meditating on this scripture, and it seemed like the Lord spoke to my heart about this. He said, " Son, be very careful. Many are watching your every move, and the enemy wants to steal that treasure from you so that you won't be effective to those around you. Guard that word son with extreme caution, and don't let the enemy steal it even for one second. Keep watch!" This is what the Lord wants for you today. I don't know how much of the word you have been storing up in your mind, will, and emotions, but be very careful to guard it with all diligence. The bible also says for us to guard our heart with all diligence, for out of it flow the issues of life. Entrusted in the Greek is paratheke, and the definition is a deposit, and used of correct knowledge and pure doctrine of the gospel. Treasure in the Greek is Kalos, and the definition for treasure is beautiful by reason of purity of heart and life. As a living epistle, we need to be the reflection of Christ Jesus and make His name attractive to those who don't have that name. We need to shine forth His truth to those who need truth, and we need to shine forth the love of Christ for those who don't understand or don't know His love. We are carriers of the very attributes of God, and He has made a deposit of all of the attributes in our inner spirit where we have been born again. We are sanctified through spiritual growth, and spiritual foundation is established in our soul. I want to encourage you today to hold on to the word of God with all diligence, and be that light to a dark and deceptive world. Many need to see some of that treasure that has been entrusted to you.
Prayer:
Lord, we ask that you will help us by the help of the Holy Spirit to guard that good treasure that has been deposited in us. Help us to renew our mind to the word, and help us to be that living epistle to those around us, Amen.
by Keith Edwards
2 timothy 1:13,14
13 What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus.
14 Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us
Whenever you have a treasure, there is always a thief. The enemy wants to destroy the word from our mind and soul that we lay down as foundation. Our mind, will, and emotions need to line up with the very Christ within us, and Satan wants nothing more than to totally stop us in our tracks as a believer. These current dark ages we are living in is bringing us to a place where we need to shine the light of Jesus to others like never before, and I feel like God wants us to beware of the enemy today in these dark ages we face. One night at work I was meditating on this scripture, and it seemed like the Lord spoke to my heart about this. He said, " Son, be very careful. Many are watching your every move, and the enemy wants to steal that treasure from you so that you won't be effective to those around you. Guard that word son with extreme caution, and don't let the enemy steal it even for one second. Keep watch!" This is what the Lord wants for you today. I don't know how much of the word you have been storing up in your mind, will, and emotions, but be very careful to guard it with all diligence. The bible also says for us to guard our heart with all diligence, for out of it flow the issues of life. Entrusted in the Greek is paratheke, and the definition is a deposit, and used of correct knowledge and pure doctrine of the gospel. Treasure in the Greek is Kalos, and the definition for treasure is beautiful by reason of purity of heart and life. As a living epistle, we need to be the reflection of Christ Jesus and make His name attractive to those who don't have that name. We need to shine forth His truth to those who need truth, and we need to shine forth the love of Christ for those who don't understand or don't know His love. We are carriers of the very attributes of God, and He has made a deposit of all of the attributes in our inner spirit where we have been born again. We are sanctified through spiritual growth, and spiritual foundation is established in our soul. I want to encourage you today to hold on to the word of God with all diligence, and be that light to a dark and deceptive world. Many need to see some of that treasure that has been entrusted to you.
Prayer:
Lord, we ask that you will help us by the help of the Holy Spirit to guard that good treasure that has been deposited in us. Help us to renew our mind to the word, and help us to be that living epistle to those around us, Amen.
by Keith Edwards
Monday, May 24, 2010
May 24th Devotional
Read:
Nehemiah 6:9
9 They were all trying to frighten us, thinking, "Their hands will get too weak for the work, and it will not be completed." But I prayed, "Now strengthen my hands."
In our Christian walk there is going to come persecution rise up against us. If we are doing anything for God, the enemy will come with everything he has got to stop us dead in our tracks in the race that God wants us to run. I have seen in my life persecution come against me from every angle. I remember getting harrassed at this one particular place, and I know it was because of my walk with the Lord. God came through however, and it worked out perfectly. It just took some patience and lots of prayer. Here in Nehemiah we see the walls getting built. Nehemiah had opposition come his way by Sanballat, Geshem, and Tobiah. They were coming at Nehemiah as strong as they could to stop the completion of the temple. Nehemiah kept on going though, and in fifty-two days the walls of the temple was completed. God does this with us. We start building some walls of our destiny as living stones, and opposition comes our way. The enemy will use people to try and stop you from reaching that place. It could be a deeper walk with the Lord, or it could be ministry, whatever it is rest assure that the enemy is right there waiting to find a soft place to paralyze us spiritually from reaching that goal. The enemy will place thoughts of fear in our thinking, and he will tell you that you are no good and you won't never make anything of yourself. I want to encourage you today to keep building. Ask God to strenghten your hands like Nehemiah did, and shake off that Tobiah and Sanballat spirit. Shake it off today and walk in that new season that God wants for you.
Prayer:
Lord, we come to you and ask that you will strengthen our hands to walk in your Spirit, fulfill our destiny here on earth, to advance your Kingdom by making disciples, walking in love with our bretheren, and staying committed to our home church. Help us to carry on with the work you have for us as soldiers of the most high, Amen.
by Keith Edwards
Nehemiah 6:9
9 They were all trying to frighten us, thinking, "Their hands will get too weak for the work, and it will not be completed." But I prayed, "Now strengthen my hands."
In our Christian walk there is going to come persecution rise up against us. If we are doing anything for God, the enemy will come with everything he has got to stop us dead in our tracks in the race that God wants us to run. I have seen in my life persecution come against me from every angle. I remember getting harrassed at this one particular place, and I know it was because of my walk with the Lord. God came through however, and it worked out perfectly. It just took some patience and lots of prayer. Here in Nehemiah we see the walls getting built. Nehemiah had opposition come his way by Sanballat, Geshem, and Tobiah. They were coming at Nehemiah as strong as they could to stop the completion of the temple. Nehemiah kept on going though, and in fifty-two days the walls of the temple was completed. God does this with us. We start building some walls of our destiny as living stones, and opposition comes our way. The enemy will use people to try and stop you from reaching that place. It could be a deeper walk with the Lord, or it could be ministry, whatever it is rest assure that the enemy is right there waiting to find a soft place to paralyze us spiritually from reaching that goal. The enemy will place thoughts of fear in our thinking, and he will tell you that you are no good and you won't never make anything of yourself. I want to encourage you today to keep building. Ask God to strenghten your hands like Nehemiah did, and shake off that Tobiah and Sanballat spirit. Shake it off today and walk in that new season that God wants for you.
Prayer:
Lord, we come to you and ask that you will strengthen our hands to walk in your Spirit, fulfill our destiny here on earth, to advance your Kingdom by making disciples, walking in love with our bretheren, and staying committed to our home church. Help us to carry on with the work you have for us as soldiers of the most high, Amen.
by Keith Edwards
Sunday, May 23, 2010
May 23rd Devotional
Read:
Hebrews 12:2
2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
There are seasons in our walk with God that He will begin to purify us and heal us of different things in our soul. It could be some trauma that we have been through, or maybe some hurts that linger deep within us. During those times we have to look "unto" Jesus in these seasons. One day I was driving down the road and meditating on this scripture. I felt like the Lord said, "Son, you have to be broken before there can be a healing. Son, when I start to heal you of hurts and other things within you, you stand up strong in the wrong way and try to be tough when you need to be broken and totally dependent upon me as you look unto me." The preposition unto in this scripture means total dependency. We need to look with total dependency upon Jesus. Sometimes we try and be so strong when we need to be so broken before Him. He is continually sanctifying us to conform to the image of Himself. Do you have hurts down deep inside of you that you can't seem to let go of? I want to encourage you today to give it to Him. Give it all to Jesus. Don't worry about where He is going to take you, but rather trust Him to get you through the rough places in the road that He takes you down. You may not be able to trace His hand, but you can trust His heart. His heart for you as a born again believer is that He loves you like a son or daughter. As we walk in the Kingdom of Christ, we can remain in that walk with Him by looking unto Jesus.
Prayer:
Lord, we come to you with a contrite and broken spirit. We need you Lord to help us trust you as you conform us in the image of your Son Christ Jesus. Let us know that you are guiding us in some way, but help us to still trust you when you don't give us that clear answer that we hope for. It's all about you Lord, and we look unto with total dependence upon you to get us to the next place you have for us.
by Keith Edwards
Hebrews 12:2
2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
There are seasons in our walk with God that He will begin to purify us and heal us of different things in our soul. It could be some trauma that we have been through, or maybe some hurts that linger deep within us. During those times we have to look "unto" Jesus in these seasons. One day I was driving down the road and meditating on this scripture. I felt like the Lord said, "Son, you have to be broken before there can be a healing. Son, when I start to heal you of hurts and other things within you, you stand up strong in the wrong way and try to be tough when you need to be broken and totally dependent upon me as you look unto me." The preposition unto in this scripture means total dependency. We need to look with total dependency upon Jesus. Sometimes we try and be so strong when we need to be so broken before Him. He is continually sanctifying us to conform to the image of Himself. Do you have hurts down deep inside of you that you can't seem to let go of? I want to encourage you today to give it to Him. Give it all to Jesus. Don't worry about where He is going to take you, but rather trust Him to get you through the rough places in the road that He takes you down. You may not be able to trace His hand, but you can trust His heart. His heart for you as a born again believer is that He loves you like a son or daughter. As we walk in the Kingdom of Christ, we can remain in that walk with Him by looking unto Jesus.
Prayer:
Lord, we come to you with a contrite and broken spirit. We need you Lord to help us trust you as you conform us in the image of your Son Christ Jesus. Let us know that you are guiding us in some way, but help us to still trust you when you don't give us that clear answer that we hope for. It's all about you Lord, and we look unto with total dependence upon you to get us to the next place you have for us.
by Keith Edwards
Saturday, May 22, 2010
May 22nd 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
Friday, May 21, 2010
May 21st Devotional
Read:
Ezra 3:3
3 Despite their fear of the peoples around them, they built the altar on its foundation and sacrificed burnt offerings on it to the LORD, both the morning and evening sacrifices.
Also:
1 Corinthians 3:11
11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Have you ever faced situations in your life where you just said, "man! I don't know if I can go on?" We'll I have and still do at times. One thing that I learned through tough times is that it's not the foundation of myself that is going to get me through those hard times. It's the foundation of Christ Jesus that's going to carry me through. In Ezra 3:3 the first 50,000 Jews came back to Jerusalem after a 70year bondage in captivity. It was under the leadership of Zerubbabel and Joshua. Zerubbabel was a great righteous governor, and Joshua was a High Priest. Then 80 years later Ezra came with another 3,000 Jews to Jerusalem in the rebuilding of the temple. Then we have Nehemiah some years later to rebuild the wall. One thing I want us to see is that when the first 50,000 Jews got to Jerusalem in Ezra 3:3, they didn't have anything built as of yet, but they had hope. All they had was an altar. They placed the altar upon the foundation when they got there, and they offered burnt offerings to the Lord. You may be at a place today where you are just tired and worn out by life, but you can say with me, "All I have is an altar!" It's more than just having an altar. We need to praise God with the realization that we have a foundation that is unshakable. It is the foundation of Christ Jesus, and Christ is the sure foundation that absolutely cannot be shaken. There are times in my life as a christian that I have to place my faith and trust upon that foundation, and when I find myself at a place of no hope, I turn my focus upon that sure foundation which is Jesus Christ. My friend, don't lose focus. If you do, you can praise and worship God now upon that beautiful foundation that is a powerful and unshakeable foundation. Many of you fight the feeling of not having things in your life complete. You may be at a place where you missed it and feel like you had to take a dead end road to nowhere. Think about this with me for a moment. The Jews felt that way. When they got there everything was in ruins, and the temple of Jerusalem was totally destroyed. All you may have is a little altar. This is enough my friend, and the altar is your heart before the Lord almighty. Look up to Him today, and trust in His foundation that absolutely cannot be shaken. Notice that the Jews didn't even have Jerusalem built as of yet, but they understood the need for restoration of worship. We need revelation upon the foundation for the situation that we are facing. In the middle of restoration in our life, whether it is financial, physical, or emotional, we can stay focused on the one and only, Christ Jesus.
prayer:
Lord we come in your precious name, the name that is above every name. We place our praise and worship today upon that powerful foundation. We know Lord that the foundation consists of your name and your blood. We appropriate you blood upon the situation we are facing today, and we look to
you in a deeper way for restoration in our lives. Holy Spirit teach us today about that great foundation. Lord we acknowledge you as we stand in all of you. In Jesus Name we pray, Amen.
by Keith Edwards
Ezra 3:3
3 Despite their fear of the peoples around them, they built the altar on its foundation and sacrificed burnt offerings on it to the LORD, both the morning and evening sacrifices.
Also:
1 Corinthians 3:11
11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Have you ever faced situations in your life where you just said, "man! I don't know if I can go on?" We'll I have and still do at times. One thing that I learned through tough times is that it's not the foundation of myself that is going to get me through those hard times. It's the foundation of Christ Jesus that's going to carry me through. In Ezra 3:3 the first 50,000 Jews came back to Jerusalem after a 70year bondage in captivity. It was under the leadership of Zerubbabel and Joshua. Zerubbabel was a great righteous governor, and Joshua was a High Priest. Then 80 years later Ezra came with another 3,000 Jews to Jerusalem in the rebuilding of the temple. Then we have Nehemiah some years later to rebuild the wall. One thing I want us to see is that when the first 50,000 Jews got to Jerusalem in Ezra 3:3, they didn't have anything built as of yet, but they had hope. All they had was an altar. They placed the altar upon the foundation when they got there, and they offered burnt offerings to the Lord. You may be at a place today where you are just tired and worn out by life, but you can say with me, "All I have is an altar!" It's more than just having an altar. We need to praise God with the realization that we have a foundation that is unshakable. It is the foundation of Christ Jesus, and Christ is the sure foundation that absolutely cannot be shaken. There are times in my life as a christian that I have to place my faith and trust upon that foundation, and when I find myself at a place of no hope, I turn my focus upon that sure foundation which is Jesus Christ. My friend, don't lose focus. If you do, you can praise and worship God now upon that beautiful foundation that is a powerful and unshakeable foundation. Many of you fight the feeling of not having things in your life complete. You may be at a place where you missed it and feel like you had to take a dead end road to nowhere. Think about this with me for a moment. The Jews felt that way. When they got there everything was in ruins, and the temple of Jerusalem was totally destroyed. All you may have is a little altar. This is enough my friend, and the altar is your heart before the Lord almighty. Look up to Him today, and trust in His foundation that absolutely cannot be shaken. Notice that the Jews didn't even have Jerusalem built as of yet, but they understood the need for restoration of worship. We need revelation upon the foundation for the situation that we are facing. In the middle of restoration in our life, whether it is financial, physical, or emotional, we can stay focused on the one and only, Christ Jesus.
prayer:
Lord we come in your precious name, the name that is above every name. We place our praise and worship today upon that powerful foundation. We know Lord that the foundation consists of your name and your blood. We appropriate you blood upon the situation we are facing today, and we look to
you in a deeper way for restoration in our lives. Holy Spirit teach us today about that great foundation. Lord we acknowledge you as we stand in all of you. In Jesus Name we pray, Amen.
by Keith Edwards
Thursday, May 20, 2010
May 20th Devotional
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.
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.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
May 19th Devotional
Read:
Proverbs 18:10
The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run in to it and they are saved.
Imagine yourself right now standing upon a huge tower. It’s dark and you can’t see a thing. You have truly repented and turned your life over to the Lord, but now you feel like He has abandoned you. Then you feel like there is no hope when all of the sudden, God says to you, “child you are mine. I have placed you child upon this tower of my name, of my character, and who I am within you. Stand in me and let your hope so trust in the fact that my name needs to be a revelation of who you are in me and who you are standing upon.” Then as the darkness subsides, you look and see that the tower that you are standing upon starts to lean. You hear God speak to you again that He is your balance. He is your rock and your foundation. The foundation and the tower is strong and mighty. Nothing can separate us from that place in God. Then you see the tower stand in an upright position. How many times do we start losing sight of what God did for us on the cross. How many times do we feel unbalance as a Christian and we feel like God has abandoned us. It’s all about revelation. The greek definition here for name in proverbs is shem and it means the character and reputation of God. The greek word for tower here is milgda and it means to be elevated to a high place. We are elevated and lifted in His name, his character, His might. For he is Jehovah, Elohim our Creator, El Elyon most High God, Adonai our Master, Elroi God Who Sees, El Shaddai God Almighty, Jehovah Ezer the Lord our Helper, Jehovah Jireh the Lord Will Provide, Jehovah Rapha the Lord our Healer, Jehovah Roi the Lord our Shepherd. He is our banner, our peace, and His name can be trusted as we stand upon his foundation, upon His tower, and in His name has been given to us by the Spirit of His trust. His name is the very revelation that we need to have when we enter into worship, prayer, and that devotion with Him everyday, and when that revelation is mixed with the spirit of Christ in that moment of revelation is a power of the choice of our will that starts instilling foundation in our soul. It will renew our mind, heal our emotions, and set our will on course to the things of God, and when we see ourselves lean upon our own name at times, we should look to Him to straighten us in the right position of revelation of who we are in Him and who He is in us. Oh! Friend it’s a much powerful place to stand upon His name. It will tear down faulty little foundations that we might have placed in our soul, and God will take out things and put good sound doctrine within us. Then as you are standing upon that tower you hear the Lord ask you, “Is that tears in your eyes?” and you feel the Holy Spirit wrap His arms around you and comfort you. You feel healing taking place. It’s a place like no other place. As you go through each day remember to stand in His name in your Christian walk. Remember to let God hold you when you need to be held. Let’s be elevated and lifted up in His name.
Prayer:
Lord we come to you in your name. Help us to see us how you see us. Righteous by the blood of Your Son, delivered by the power of the cross, and set free by trusting in you. Help us Lord to submit to you upon that tower so that we can walk in holiness, purity, and be the salt of this earth to those that don’t know you. Give us revelation of the very rock and foundation that we have within us. Amen
Proverbs 18:10
The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run in to it and they are saved.
Imagine yourself right now standing upon a huge tower. It’s dark and you can’t see a thing. You have truly repented and turned your life over to the Lord, but now you feel like He has abandoned you. Then you feel like there is no hope when all of the sudden, God says to you, “child you are mine. I have placed you child upon this tower of my name, of my character, and who I am within you. Stand in me and let your hope so trust in the fact that my name needs to be a revelation of who you are in me and who you are standing upon.” Then as the darkness subsides, you look and see that the tower that you are standing upon starts to lean. You hear God speak to you again that He is your balance. He is your rock and your foundation. The foundation and the tower is strong and mighty. Nothing can separate us from that place in God. Then you see the tower stand in an upright position. How many times do we start losing sight of what God did for us on the cross. How many times do we feel unbalance as a Christian and we feel like God has abandoned us. It’s all about revelation. The greek definition here for name in proverbs is shem and it means the character and reputation of God. The greek word for tower here is milgda and it means to be elevated to a high place. We are elevated and lifted in His name, his character, His might. For he is Jehovah, Elohim our Creator, El Elyon most High God, Adonai our Master, Elroi God Who Sees, El Shaddai God Almighty, Jehovah Ezer the Lord our Helper, Jehovah Jireh the Lord Will Provide, Jehovah Rapha the Lord our Healer, Jehovah Roi the Lord our Shepherd. He is our banner, our peace, and His name can be trusted as we stand upon his foundation, upon His tower, and in His name has been given to us by the Spirit of His trust. His name is the very revelation that we need to have when we enter into worship, prayer, and that devotion with Him everyday, and when that revelation is mixed with the spirit of Christ in that moment of revelation is a power of the choice of our will that starts instilling foundation in our soul. It will renew our mind, heal our emotions, and set our will on course to the things of God, and when we see ourselves lean upon our own name at times, we should look to Him to straighten us in the right position of revelation of who we are in Him and who He is in us. Oh! Friend it’s a much powerful place to stand upon His name. It will tear down faulty little foundations that we might have placed in our soul, and God will take out things and put good sound doctrine within us. Then as you are standing upon that tower you hear the Lord ask you, “Is that tears in your eyes?” and you feel the Holy Spirit wrap His arms around you and comfort you. You feel healing taking place. It’s a place like no other place. As you go through each day remember to stand in His name in your Christian walk. Remember to let God hold you when you need to be held. Let’s be elevated and lifted up in His name.
Prayer:
Lord we come to you in your name. Help us to see us how you see us. Righteous by the blood of Your Son, delivered by the power of the cross, and set free by trusting in you. Help us Lord to submit to you upon that tower so that we can walk in holiness, purity, and be the salt of this earth to those that don’t know you. Give us revelation of the very rock and foundation that we have within us. Amen
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
May 18th 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.
Monday, May 17, 2010
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Keith Edwards May 16th Devotional
Read:
Judges 7:2
"And the Lord said unto Gideon 'The people that are with thee are TOO MANY for Me to give the Midianites into their hands..."
What a predicament...to have too much for God to work! Most would blame not having enough for their not working; but God here blames having TOO MUCH for His not working! And that is exactly where Gideon found himself. From living in a cave to leading as a captain, Gideon had done everything right in preparation for this national deliverance God was about to work through him.
1) He had become officially right with God - 6:17-23
2) He had, in his new rightstanding, brought down his family's idol - 6:25-32
3) He had received and responded to the Holy Ghost (in an Old testament way) - 6:34
4) He had affirmed through two divine signs that this calling was truly of God - 6:36-40
But there was another event that took place between #3 and #4 that was not of Gideon's doing: people from all over Israel began to rally to his side. As Gideon had responded to the Holy Ghost by blowing a trumpet, the people responded to the trumpet and began to naturally amass an army. Now what could be wrong with that? Not a thing...except that what began by the Spirit was now being finished in the flesh!
In our zeal for the Lord, our imagination (of course under the more spiritually sounding tag of an "open vision" or the "discerning of spirits") often takes over from the Holy Ghost that which He has started; and we usually end up adding way more to the "mix" than God originally intended. We mean well! We really only wanted to help! Like Namaan, we just thought it ought to happen this way or that (II Kings 5:11).
Nevertheless, God said to Gideon "You've got too much for Me to work"!
I wonder if He might be saying that to the American Church?! I wonder if through the years of abundant "revelation", proseprity and freedom, we believers in this country have accumulated way too many "accessories" for the worship and work of the Lord?!
If we have, then before the "revival" move, we can like Gideon expect a "downsizing" move, where God whittles away at the excess add-ons of our ministries and lives until we are left with only that which He originally called us and graced us to walk with and in!
Let this word from the life of Gideon be like a spotlight on our multiple "irons in the fire" for God; and let it be a great release from the stress of trying to maintain more than we were meant to carry out! And let it finally be a great big "governor" on our zealous engines; so that we never again outrun and overshoot God in His working out of His will in our lives and thus have to carry the burden of "TOO MUCH" in our own strength.
II Kings 10:16
"And he (Jehu) said 'Come with me, and see MY zeal for the Lord..."
Our zeal usually embellishes (sprucing up the truth with extras that are "not so true") God's instructions and words. Yet, only HIS zeal (Isaiah 9:7) can perform His own will!
He started this thing - let Him finish it!
Comment by Keith Edwards:
Today I want us to take heed to this devotional and let God do His perfect work in our life, ministry, and workplace. We have accumlated much here in America and the church, and God wants us to put Him first place in everything. Let's be like Gideon and open our hearts to the Holy Spirit. Lets ask the Holy Spirit to reveal any mixture that we may have, and lets Let Him burn it out of us.
Prayer:
Lord, we desire you and only you today. We ask that you will forgive us for adding to your mighty work by letting things creep up in the body of Christ that is fleshly. We want to be like Gideon and trust you Lord as we fight the good fight of faith as we blow the trumpet in Zion, Amen.
by Joel Hawkins and Keith Edwards
Judges 7:2
"And the Lord said unto Gideon 'The people that are with thee are TOO MANY for Me to give the Midianites into their hands..."
What a predicament...to have too much for God to work! Most would blame not having enough for their not working; but God here blames having TOO MUCH for His not working! And that is exactly where Gideon found himself. From living in a cave to leading as a captain, Gideon had done everything right in preparation for this national deliverance God was about to work through him.
1) He had become officially right with God - 6:17-23
2) He had, in his new rightstanding, brought down his family's idol - 6:25-32
3) He had received and responded to the Holy Ghost (in an Old testament way) - 6:34
4) He had affirmed through two divine signs that this calling was truly of God - 6:36-40
But there was another event that took place between #3 and #4 that was not of Gideon's doing: people from all over Israel began to rally to his side. As Gideon had responded to the Holy Ghost by blowing a trumpet, the people responded to the trumpet and began to naturally amass an army. Now what could be wrong with that? Not a thing...except that what began by the Spirit was now being finished in the flesh!
In our zeal for the Lord, our imagination (of course under the more spiritually sounding tag of an "open vision" or the "discerning of spirits") often takes over from the Holy Ghost that which He has started; and we usually end up adding way more to the "mix" than God originally intended. We mean well! We really only wanted to help! Like Namaan, we just thought it ought to happen this way or that (II Kings 5:11).
Nevertheless, God said to Gideon "You've got too much for Me to work"!
I wonder if He might be saying that to the American Church?! I wonder if through the years of abundant "revelation", proseprity and freedom, we believers in this country have accumulated way too many "accessories" for the worship and work of the Lord?!
If we have, then before the "revival" move, we can like Gideon expect a "downsizing" move, where God whittles away at the excess add-ons of our ministries and lives until we are left with only that which He originally called us and graced us to walk with and in!
Let this word from the life of Gideon be like a spotlight on our multiple "irons in the fire" for God; and let it be a great release from the stress of trying to maintain more than we were meant to carry out! And let it finally be a great big "governor" on our zealous engines; so that we never again outrun and overshoot God in His working out of His will in our lives and thus have to carry the burden of "TOO MUCH" in our own strength.
II Kings 10:16
"And he (Jehu) said 'Come with me, and see MY zeal for the Lord..."
Our zeal usually embellishes (sprucing up the truth with extras that are "not so true") God's instructions and words. Yet, only HIS zeal (Isaiah 9:7) can perform His own will!
He started this thing - let Him finish it!
Comment by Keith Edwards:
Today I want us to take heed to this devotional and let God do His perfect work in our life, ministry, and workplace. We have accumlated much here in America and the church, and God wants us to put Him first place in everything. Let's be like Gideon and open our hearts to the Holy Spirit. Lets ask the Holy Spirit to reveal any mixture that we may have, and lets Let Him burn it out of us.
Prayer:
Lord, we desire you and only you today. We ask that you will forgive us for adding to your mighty work by letting things creep up in the body of Christ that is fleshly. We want to be like Gideon and trust you Lord as we fight the good fight of faith as we blow the trumpet in Zion, Amen.
by Joel Hawkins and Keith Edwards
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Equip The Body May 15th Devotional
Read:
1 Corinthians 12:27
27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.
Also Read:
Ephesians 4:11,12
11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up
We are living in a time where the church as a whole has forgotten what ministry is all about. We go to church and pay money to our home church so that the pastor's and minster's in the church can be there for a particular body , and this is needful and necessary, but not the end all. It's biblical to give unto the work of the Church, but the body of Christ as a whole is one body involved in the Great commission of Jesus Christ and His Kingdom. The minister's in the church is to equip or prepare the body of Christ for the work of ministry. The bible says here in verse 28 of 1 Corinthians that there are minister gifts in the body of Christ and this is very important. The minister gifts in verse 28 is to prepare and equip the whole body of Christ to advance God's Kingdom. We advance God's Kingdom by ministry. We are all called as one in the body of Christ. Many in the protestant church doesn't really understand this concept, and the pastor is doing everything in the church. We have to get out of our little shell and be a light to those in our workplace, our neighbors, or wherever we are at. You may have an administrative gift. You may have a gift to fix things. Whatever gift you have you are very special to the body of Christ. We are all called to advance God's Kingdom. My wife and I own a cleaning business, and we have a friend that got diagnosed with cancer. My wife told her and her husband that we want to use our business and clean there house for free. I'm also going to make a bunch of sandwiches and cook a big pot of spaghetti for them. We are going to keep them lifted up in prayer and believe for a good report from the doctor. This is ministry, and you can reach out to people in a unique way by just doing things like this to reach out to them. My wife and I were helping with a church years ago with a pastor from our apartment complex. I was doing some teaching and worship, and the pastor would have all of us find ministry right there in our apartment complex. Somebody from our small group baked a cake for a police officer that just had surgery on his back, and you should have seen his face when we took that cake to him. He was ministered to. There are so many things we can do as the body of Christ. Its great to come to church and get lifted up, but that's not where it ends. We are to take the message of Christ to the hurting, lost, and those in need. I want to encourage us today to be the body of Christ, whether it is baking a cake, sending someone a card, or whatever your can do to be a part of the body. What do you have to give today that maybe you never gave? You might not of understood what ministry is all about and that we are "all" called in ministry as the body.
Prayer:
Lord, we ask that you will shed light on what our place and position is in the body of Christ. Let us know Lord that there is something we can do to be a part of your Kingdom. Help us Lord to use the gifts that we have and not only use them inside the four walls of the church, but use them also out in the world that many would come to repentance and be touched by your Spirit, Amen.
by Keith Edwards
1 Corinthians 12:27
27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.
Also Read:
Ephesians 4:11,12
11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up
We are living in a time where the church as a whole has forgotten what ministry is all about. We go to church and pay money to our home church so that the pastor's and minster's in the church can be there for a particular body , and this is needful and necessary, but not the end all. It's biblical to give unto the work of the Church, but the body of Christ as a whole is one body involved in the Great commission of Jesus Christ and His Kingdom. The minister's in the church is to equip or prepare the body of Christ for the work of ministry. The bible says here in verse 28 of 1 Corinthians that there are minister gifts in the body of Christ and this is very important. The minister gifts in verse 28 is to prepare and equip the whole body of Christ to advance God's Kingdom. We advance God's Kingdom by ministry. We are all called as one in the body of Christ. Many in the protestant church doesn't really understand this concept, and the pastor is doing everything in the church. We have to get out of our little shell and be a light to those in our workplace, our neighbors, or wherever we are at. You may have an administrative gift. You may have a gift to fix things. Whatever gift you have you are very special to the body of Christ. We are all called to advance God's Kingdom. My wife and I own a cleaning business, and we have a friend that got diagnosed with cancer. My wife told her and her husband that we want to use our business and clean there house for free. I'm also going to make a bunch of sandwiches and cook a big pot of spaghetti for them. We are going to keep them lifted up in prayer and believe for a good report from the doctor. This is ministry, and you can reach out to people in a unique way by just doing things like this to reach out to them. My wife and I were helping with a church years ago with a pastor from our apartment complex. I was doing some teaching and worship, and the pastor would have all of us find ministry right there in our apartment complex. Somebody from our small group baked a cake for a police officer that just had surgery on his back, and you should have seen his face when we took that cake to him. He was ministered to. There are so many things we can do as the body of Christ. Its great to come to church and get lifted up, but that's not where it ends. We are to take the message of Christ to the hurting, lost, and those in need. I want to encourage us today to be the body of Christ, whether it is baking a cake, sending someone a card, or whatever your can do to be a part of the body. What do you have to give today that maybe you never gave? You might not of understood what ministry is all about and that we are "all" called in ministry as the body.
Prayer:
Lord, we ask that you will shed light on what our place and position is in the body of Christ. Let us know Lord that there is something we can do to be a part of your Kingdom. Help us Lord to use the gifts that we have and not only use them inside the four walls of the church, but use them also out in the world that many would come to repentance and be touched by your Spirit, Amen.
by Keith Edwards
Friday, May 14, 2010
Keith Edwards may 14th Devotional
Read:
Acts 16:31
"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved."
Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. St. John 14:6
This word Saved comes from the Greek word Sozo, and this word is mighty, Heavenly, and presented by the Holy Ghost. Sozo is a revelation of the Healing power of Christ, for God Himself is emanating from the name of Jesus for the believer. Life and Healing are found in this wonderful name. Jesus! How lovely is His Name! Sozo gives us a glimpse into the healing virtue of the Christ. He is the Great Physician. The Greek word sozo means Deliverance, Safety, soundness, Healing, Health, Preservation, and Life. The name of Jesus is filled with this Saving, Healing, and Delivering power of God. Deliverance is flowing from the name of Jesus and it is ours as we stand upon His Word. Safety is flowing from the name of Jesus.
It surrounds us as we walk with Him. Soundness is flowing from the name of Jesus, as it strengthens us as we reach out to God in faith. Healing is flowing from the name of Jesus, as it makes us whole as we touch His Hand. It refreshes us as we believe His promises. Preservation is flowing from the name of Jesus, as it upholds us as we trust in the name of the Lord. Eternal Life is flowing from the name of Jesus. It quickens us as we look unto Him. “In Him was Life; and the Life was the light of men.” St. John 1:4.
Comment by Keith Edwards:
Lets look to the name of Jesus like never before in our walk with Him. God's name is above every name, and we have inherited that precious name to walk in victory and power. That name died upon the cross, but was raised from the dead by the power of God.
Prayer:
Lord, we ask that your name that we have within us will flow to others in these days we are living in. Help us to make your name attractive as we seek to walk in your holiness, Amen.
by Drew Kaylor and Keith Edwards
Acts 16:31
"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved."
Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. St. John 14:6
This word Saved comes from the Greek word Sozo, and this word is mighty, Heavenly, and presented by the Holy Ghost. Sozo is a revelation of the Healing power of Christ, for God Himself is emanating from the name of Jesus for the believer. Life and Healing are found in this wonderful name. Jesus! How lovely is His Name! Sozo gives us a glimpse into the healing virtue of the Christ. He is the Great Physician. The Greek word sozo means Deliverance, Safety, soundness, Healing, Health, Preservation, and Life. The name of Jesus is filled with this Saving, Healing, and Delivering power of God. Deliverance is flowing from the name of Jesus and it is ours as we stand upon His Word. Safety is flowing from the name of Jesus.
It surrounds us as we walk with Him. Soundness is flowing from the name of Jesus, as it strengthens us as we reach out to God in faith. Healing is flowing from the name of Jesus, as it makes us whole as we touch His Hand. It refreshes us as we believe His promises. Preservation is flowing from the name of Jesus, as it upholds us as we trust in the name of the Lord. Eternal Life is flowing from the name of Jesus. It quickens us as we look unto Him. “In Him was Life; and the Life was the light of men.” St. John 1:4.
Comment by Keith Edwards:
Lets look to the name of Jesus like never before in our walk with Him. God's name is above every name, and we have inherited that precious name to walk in victory and power. That name died upon the cross, but was raised from the dead by the power of God.
Prayer:
Lord, we ask that your name that we have within us will flow to others in these days we are living in. Help us to make your name attractive as we seek to walk in your holiness, Amen.
by Drew Kaylor and Keith Edwards
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Coming and Going May 13th Devotional by Joel Hawkins and Keith Edwards
I Corinthians 14:26 - How is it then, brethren? When you come together...
Philippians 2:24 - But I trust in the Lord that I also myself shall come shortly...
Hebrews 4:16 - Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace...
Whether it is saints with saints, saints with ministers or saints with their God, the word "coming" seems primarily to be associated in the New Testament with saints. We are (and should be) always coming together with one another!
Contrast now the word used between saints and sinners:
Matthew 28:19 - GO ye therefore and teach all nations...
Mark 16:15 - GO ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel...
Luke 14:23 - GO out into the highways and hedges and compel them to come in...
There are many saints that are severely handicapped in their spiritual health, not because of poor preaching but because of no fellowship - they will not COME together with God or other saints.
There are even more whose handicap is even more severe...because they ONLY COME together with saints and they NEVER GO to sinners!
Our Christian DNA is divinely designed with both a "COME YE" and a "GO YE". These two concepts are innate in every born-again person - they come up naturally and spontaneously from the regenerated heart without outside suggestion or manipulation. It is totally inherent and instinctive for believers to seek out both saints and sinners, one for communion and the other for conversion.
How is your spiritual health today? Have you been avoiding, neglecting or just outright resisting your DNA as a child of God? You'll feel alot better if you will just come out of your cave of solitude, plead the Blood of Jesus Christ for victory over the fear of being hurt, and seek out fellowship with believers and friendship with sinners (for the opportunity to testify)!
When the Lord returns or calls us home, may He always find us COMING AND GOING!
Comment by Keith Edwards:
The greatest thing that we can do as a believer is getting connected in our home church and outward ministry outside of the church, to reach out to sinners, make disciples, and do the works of Christ. As we become more and more faithful with our coming and going, so shall our destiny here on earth as a Christian unfold before us. We will find our placement in the body of Christ, and we will feel fulfilled as a child of God.
Prayer:
Lord, help us to plug in to our home church like never before in this time we are living in. Help us to do what you called us to do as your children, Amen.
by Joel Hawkins and Keith Edwards
Philippians 2:24 - But I trust in the Lord that I also myself shall come shortly...
Hebrews 4:16 - Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace...
Whether it is saints with saints, saints with ministers or saints with their God, the word "coming" seems primarily to be associated in the New Testament with saints. We are (and should be) always coming together with one another!
Contrast now the word used between saints and sinners:
Matthew 28:19 - GO ye therefore and teach all nations...
Mark 16:15 - GO ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel...
Luke 14:23 - GO out into the highways and hedges and compel them to come in...
There are many saints that are severely handicapped in their spiritual health, not because of poor preaching but because of no fellowship - they will not COME together with God or other saints.
There are even more whose handicap is even more severe...because they ONLY COME together with saints and they NEVER GO to sinners!
Our Christian DNA is divinely designed with both a "COME YE" and a "GO YE". These two concepts are innate in every born-again person - they come up naturally and spontaneously from the regenerated heart without outside suggestion or manipulation. It is totally inherent and instinctive for believers to seek out both saints and sinners, one for communion and the other for conversion.
How is your spiritual health today? Have you been avoiding, neglecting or just outright resisting your DNA as a child of God? You'll feel alot better if you will just come out of your cave of solitude, plead the Blood of Jesus Christ for victory over the fear of being hurt, and seek out fellowship with believers and friendship with sinners (for the opportunity to testify)!
When the Lord returns or calls us home, may He always find us COMING AND GOING!
Comment by Keith Edwards:
The greatest thing that we can do as a believer is getting connected in our home church and outward ministry outside of the church, to reach out to sinners, make disciples, and do the works of Christ. As we become more and more faithful with our coming and going, so shall our destiny here on earth as a Christian unfold before us. We will find our placement in the body of Christ, and we will feel fulfilled as a child of God.
Prayer:
Lord, help us to plug in to our home church like never before in this time we are living in. Help us to do what you called us to do as your children, Amen.
by Joel Hawkins and Keith Edwards
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Keith Edwards May 12th Devotional
Read:
Matthew 14:14 - "Jesus...saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick"
Luke 7:13,14 - "And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her...and he said...'Arise'"
John 4:35 - "Look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest."
If I have heard it once, I have heard it a thousand times - "Where's the power of God today". Believers all over the country are flocking to seminars and conferences on how to retrieve the old-time power back in our churches and ministries. Dozens of formulas have been presented that explain the loss of power as a lack of faith, a lack of prayer or maybe a lack of praise and worship. Then, upon getting these areas back on track, healing and delivering power are guaranteed to come back into your hands when you touch the sick.
However, according to the above Scriptures, the reason for the absence of power is not just a lack of faith or a lack of prayer but a LACK OF CARE! It was compassion that proceeded the above mentioned miracles - enough compassion, in fact, to MOVE the Lord! THE POWER IN HIS HANDS STARTED WITH THE BREAKING OF HIS HEART! I'm not so sure if many would come to a seminar for power today if they knew that they would have to "hurt" before they could "help"!
Sometimes, we have to use several extension cords to connect a power source to a power need. In these two accounts in Matthew and Luke, there were TWO cords from the One who had the power to the one who had the need...and this second cord of heart-moving compassion for many today in our fast-paced culture has come unplugged! We don't really mind praying for the sick - we just don't want to get so involved!
And the first cord before compassion is simply "LOOK"! I think that cord has not only been unplugged but wrapped up and hidden somewhere! Oh how quickly we change the TV channel when the hungry-children commercials come on! We dare not tarry and LOOK at someone troubled in a hospital waiting room, lest we become moved and get involved! But Jesus LOOKED! He opened His eyes and His heart to the full intensity of the need in front of Him.
In John's Gospel, Jesus tells us to look at something else...the harvest. He was actually talking about the Samaritan woman and her neighbors that were about to experience salvation (in an Old Covenant way), and He was calling them a "harvest". He looked beyond their ethnicity and viewed them spiritually, as God sees them - the harvest! We are to stop overlooking people (ignoring them as though we didn't know they were there) and we are certainly to stop "under looking" people or looking at them as something less than they are.
Exodus 2:11 - "And it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown, that he went out unto his brethren, and LOOKED on their burdens..."
Yes, Moses was willing to look and willing to get involved...but only with his own view and his own feelings. His well-intentioned efforts ended up in murder and him running for his life. God then had to hide him away for 40 years in order to show him the bigger picture - how GOD saw things, how GOD felt about them and what GOD intended to do. God saw more than just one Hebrew being abused. He saw a nation that needed to answer their calling, as well as other nations (Egypt and the nations of Canaan) that needed to answer for their idolatry. Moses' passion was not deep enough or wide enough to cover these other parts of the whole. With God, it is always bigger than just the immediate need in the particular individual in front of us! As Moses took on God's will in his fresh "look" at the situation (Exodus 3), then and only then was Moses ready to have divine power!
So where's the power? Its all in the look!
Comment by Keith Edwards
I want to encourage you today to "look" at what is around you. Ministry is all around us, but so many times we turn the other way. This devotion from Joel Hawkins really compels me to pay attention to ministry that is around me. It may be baking a cake for someone who is sick, reaching out to the downcast, whatever it may be, there are hurting people all around us that need that compassion of Jesus stretched there way.
Prayer:
Lord, we ask that you will forgive us for not looking at ministry in our day to day routine. We want to be used by you Lord, but we don't want to get our hands dirty at times. We don't' want to reach out the that homeless man that needs a touch, that mother that is trying to support her child, or that orphan that needs a hug. Help us to see ministry around us, Amen.
by Joel Hawkins and Keith Edwards
Matthew 14:14 - "Jesus...saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick"
Luke 7:13,14 - "And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her...and he said...'Arise'"
John 4:35 - "Look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest."
If I have heard it once, I have heard it a thousand times - "Where's the power of God today". Believers all over the country are flocking to seminars and conferences on how to retrieve the old-time power back in our churches and ministries. Dozens of formulas have been presented that explain the loss of power as a lack of faith, a lack of prayer or maybe a lack of praise and worship. Then, upon getting these areas back on track, healing and delivering power are guaranteed to come back into your hands when you touch the sick.
However, according to the above Scriptures, the reason for the absence of power is not just a lack of faith or a lack of prayer but a LACK OF CARE! It was compassion that proceeded the above mentioned miracles - enough compassion, in fact, to MOVE the Lord! THE POWER IN HIS HANDS STARTED WITH THE BREAKING OF HIS HEART! I'm not so sure if many would come to a seminar for power today if they knew that they would have to "hurt" before they could "help"!
Sometimes, we have to use several extension cords to connect a power source to a power need. In these two accounts in Matthew and Luke, there were TWO cords from the One who had the power to the one who had the need...and this second cord of heart-moving compassion for many today in our fast-paced culture has come unplugged! We don't really mind praying for the sick - we just don't want to get so involved!
And the first cord before compassion is simply "LOOK"! I think that cord has not only been unplugged but wrapped up and hidden somewhere! Oh how quickly we change the TV channel when the hungry-children commercials come on! We dare not tarry and LOOK at someone troubled in a hospital waiting room, lest we become moved and get involved! But Jesus LOOKED! He opened His eyes and His heart to the full intensity of the need in front of Him.
In John's Gospel, Jesus tells us to look at something else...the harvest. He was actually talking about the Samaritan woman and her neighbors that were about to experience salvation (in an Old Covenant way), and He was calling them a "harvest". He looked beyond their ethnicity and viewed them spiritually, as God sees them - the harvest! We are to stop overlooking people (ignoring them as though we didn't know they were there) and we are certainly to stop "under looking" people or looking at them as something less than they are.
Exodus 2:11 - "And it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown, that he went out unto his brethren, and LOOKED on their burdens..."
Yes, Moses was willing to look and willing to get involved...but only with his own view and his own feelings. His well-intentioned efforts ended up in murder and him running for his life. God then had to hide him away for 40 years in order to show him the bigger picture - how GOD saw things, how GOD felt about them and what GOD intended to do. God saw more than just one Hebrew being abused. He saw a nation that needed to answer their calling, as well as other nations (Egypt and the nations of Canaan) that needed to answer for their idolatry. Moses' passion was not deep enough or wide enough to cover these other parts of the whole. With God, it is always bigger than just the immediate need in the particular individual in front of us! As Moses took on God's will in his fresh "look" at the situation (Exodus 3), then and only then was Moses ready to have divine power!
So where's the power? Its all in the look!
Comment by Keith Edwards
I want to encourage you today to "look" at what is around you. Ministry is all around us, but so many times we turn the other way. This devotion from Joel Hawkins really compels me to pay attention to ministry that is around me. It may be baking a cake for someone who is sick, reaching out to the downcast, whatever it may be, there are hurting people all around us that need that compassion of Jesus stretched there way.
Prayer:
Lord, we ask that you will forgive us for not looking at ministry in our day to day routine. We want to be used by you Lord, but we don't want to get our hands dirty at times. We don't' want to reach out the that homeless man that needs a touch, that mother that is trying to support her child, or that orphan that needs a hug. Help us to see ministry around us, Amen.
by Joel Hawkins and Keith Edwards
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